Headphone Shopping? 5 Key Qualities To Look For | Music Think Tank

So your old pair of headphones has bitten the dust and it’s time to find a new pair. If you have tried out more than a couple pairs of headphones, you know by now that finding a pair you like is a tricky business. Some produce only treble sounds, canceling out your well-loved bass. Others allow you to hear noise around you or let people around you hear your music. When you are buying your next set of headphones, consider these five qualities that are integral in purchasing the right set for you.

 

Noise-Cancelation

Noise-cancelation ensures that you will be completely ensconced in your music and unable to hear anything else going on around you. These types of headphones are often on the pricey end of the cost spectrum because of the added technology. Noise-cancelation devices make recordings of background noises before using an inverse sound wave to remove the ambient noise. These work best in situations where you experience mild background noise, such as engine noise, rather than in situations with sudden bursts of noise.

 

Comfort

There are numerous styles of headphones, and which ones are the most comfortable depends on your preferences and on the shape of your ears. Earbuds and in-ear headphones are very small and sit directly in the ear. On-ear headphones rest on the outermost part of the ear and are larger than in-ear headphones while being generally more comfortable as well. Over-ear headphones are very large and completely circle the ears, allowing little to no noise to be leaked. However, they can be hot and uncomfortable for some.

 

Wireless Compatibility

If you like to be wire-free, consider headphones that communicate with your music-playing device via Bluetooth. Many of these options allow you to control your music from the headphones. Be aware that you will have to recharge these often and that you may not get the best sound quality from them.

 

Sensitivity

Sensitivity refers to the amount of sound you can get out of your headphones. This number is often measured in decibels of SPL per milliwatt. Most headphones have ranges from 85-120, and ranges higher than 120 could cause ear pain.

 

Impedance

Impedance refers to how much power is needed to make sound come out of your headphones. This number is important to note based on what you plan on connecting to your headphones. For example, if you are connecting them to a mobile device, headphones with low impedance will be just fine. However, if you are connecting them to a more powerful amplifier, you will need high-quality headphones with a higher impedance.

 

Just because your friends rave about a certain brand or style of headphones does not mean it is the right set for you. You need to consider how you plan on using your headphones, what feels comfortable to you and what sound qualities are important to you. Once you answer these questions, be sure to try on the headphones in the store and listen to music on them before finalizing your purchase. Visit a site like Tivoli Hi-Fi Pty Ltd for more information and options.

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