Buying the Right Headphones

Headphones are an interesting species of electronics. There are so many varieties with so many different styles and attributes that one does not often realize the difficulty in choosing the right pair of headphones until they're confronted with the possibilities. This guide will hopefully help you to narrow down the choices of headphones so that you can make a more informed decision about the purchase.

First, you want to ask yourself what you're going to primarily be using the headphones for. This will have a profound impact on the type of headphones that will suit your needs the most. If you are planning on using the headphones for when you go jogging or running, then you would do best choosing a wrap-around style headphone. This type contains a bar that loops around the back of the head as well as special clips that hold the earpieces to the ear. This design makes wrap-around headphones the most suitable for constant and bouncy movement. Ear bud headphones would not be a good idea for a runner because they tend to fall out of the ears more easily while running. Also, large earmuff-style headphones would be ungainly and add too much weight to the head to allow for smooth running.

If you're buying headphones primarily for use in your Ipod or Discman while walking or sitting, then ear bud headphones are probably the best choice. These are the smallest kind of headphones you can buy and are very comfortable to wear since they rest just inside the ear canal. They are very light and perfect for casual movement and sitting in places like the subway. If you're a studio musician, then you probably want to go with earmuff-style headphones. These headphones cover the ears completely and help to block out outside noise so that the wearer can concentrate on what is coming out of the earpieces. These headphones also are known for the best overall audio quality, which is essential for mixing tracks and creating music.

Now that you know what you're generally going to be using the headphones for, you can start to look at the attributes of the headphone style you selected. One of the most important features of headphones today is noise reduction. If you're in the studio a lot or on a noisy subway on your way to work, you might not want all the outside noise interfering with your listening experience. Many headphones offer noise-reduction features, but some are more effective than others. A good way to get a feel for a product's integrity is to check out online retailers like amazon.com or tigerdirect.com that allow users to submit product reviews. Generally, the consumers are pretty honest and informative about their purchases, much more than biased companies are with press releases. You should always check out user feedback before you decide to buy a particular electronics item.

Other useful features to know about are whether or not the headphones can collapse or fold in any way. If you're on the road a lot, it can be difficult to pack a pair of headphones without the risk of squashing the earpieces or breaking the hard plastic components. Certain headphones can be folded in on themselves to make packing easier. However, if you can use them, there is really no substitute for ear bud-style headphones because they hardly take up any space in a bag or carrying case.

Some headphones have better audio capabilities than others. For example, many new-generation headphones have a built in Dolby 5.1 capability, which gives the wearer the impression that they are surrounded by five sound sources. These headphones are perfect for computer gamers or DVD viewers who want to enhance their experience, but keep the listening environment quiet for others. Although Dolby 5.1 headphones have impressive audio processing capabilities, they usually come with a much higher price tag, often $100 or higher.

Next, there's a question of connection. This is much less of an issue than what it once was. In general, there are three ways that headphones are connected to an audio source: a headphone connection, a quarter-inch connection, or a wireless connection. Headphone connections are small and compatible with all portable audio devices. Quarter-inch connections are primarily used for studio recording equipment or other stationary audio interfaces. However, most headphones that have a quarter-inch connection come packaged with a headphone jack converter. If these converters aren't included in the packaging, one can find them at Radio Shack easily enough. The final connection, a wireless connection still needs one of the aforementioned connections for a special headphone receiver. However, the headphones themselves don't have to be connected via a cord, and audio integrity can be maintained so long as the wearer is within range of the receiver. Wireless headphones are great for people who listen to music in a particular place, but like to move around a lot.

Finally, now that you've taken all of these factors into account you need to consider price. How much are you willing to spend on a pair of headphones? If you are only going to use the headphones occasionally, then it doesn't make sense to drop a couple hundred dollars on a top-end model. But if you're a professional or someone who listens to music constantly, you might want to consider a more reliable, expensive model. Hardcore gamers would benefit from Dolby-capable headphones. At this point it is really a question of personal judgment and individuality. Don't pay for something you're not going to get good use out of, and don't skimp on a poorly-designed model that might not hold up for very long!

That's about it. Following this guide will help to narrow the possibilities of headphones in your search. Good luck, and happy listening!