Be it listening to music, watching some video, playing games, making a call, or joining a meeting online, headphones find utility everywhere. And quite possibly you’re thinking of buying one which has made you land here. Headphones are being added with exciting features each passing day which may or may not be useful for you, making it difficult to decide which one to buy. But you are at the right place since we have made a complete headphones buying guide which will surely help you to short-list the headphones that have tailor-made features for you.
A buyer needs to keep certain features in mind and access them well before going out to purchase a pair of headphones. One needs to choose headphones that are comfortable and portable, and at the same time, do not compromise on sound quality and battery backup. Compatibility and connectivity need also to be taken care of. All such features have been discussed in detail in this headphones buying guide to provide you with better knowledge of them and ease your purchase. You might also like to read about the
Quick tips
- Design: Generally, two types of headphones are available – over-ear headphones and on-ear headphones. Over-ear headphones sound better whereas on-ear headphones are lightweight and portable.
- Audio and Mic: Check for the audio and mic quality practically before purchasing. Headphones with bigger drivers and noise-reduction features should be preferred.
- Connectivity: Wired and wireless headphones are available. Choose the wireless headphones with an updated Bluetooth version but if the wire doesn’t bother you, go for the wired one.
- Protection: Prefer headphones that offer water and dust resistance. Headphones with different IPX ratings are available which offer different degrees of protection.
- Battery: To consider this feature is a must for the ones purchasing wireless headphones. Headphones with longer battery life are available and some also provide the option of quick charging.
- Hands-free features: Many headphones come equipped with a number of buttons on the headphones itself and certain headphones support voice assistants to make their usage hands-free.
Headphones Buying Guide
Design of the Headphones
The first thing you might want to consider before buying headphones is the design of the headphones. The manufacturers of headphones style the headphones in a number of designs giving you the choice to choose the one that suits you the best. Generally, we see two types of headphones – over-ear and on-ear headphones, with over-ear headphones being the most common.
Over-ear headphones have larger earpads that completely cover your ears whereas on-ear headphones simply rest on your ear. Over-ear headphones do have reasons to be more common. They sound better and the quality of their audio output is enhanced because their earmuffs provide a complete enclosure for the ears so that no sound is lost in the environment and no noise from the outside disturbs you while you are listening to your favourite song or while you are hearing important details over a meeting.
On-ear headphones, on the other hand, might not sound as good as over-ear headphones, but they do have plus points when it comes to being light and portable, providing you more comfort and convenience especially if you travel frequently with your headphone. Also, on-ear earphones sound more natural.
Audio Output and Mic Input
Irrespective of whether one is a music enthusiast or not, a good quality sound is everyone’s preference. Listening to your favourite music while the sound is muffled can completely ruin your mood. And asking the other person on a call to repeat again and again just because you were not able to hear properly, seems too awkward. So if you do not want to get stuck in such situations, take care of the audio quality of the headphones while purchasing.
Check for the driver of the headphones. Bigger drivers produce better sound quality along with an enhanced base. Also, check whether the headphones you’re buying provide the option of noise reduction or not. The mic of the headphones should also feature noise reduction so that a clear voice is recorded. And above all, check the headphone practically for their sound and mic before you buy them.
Wired or Wireless Connectivity
Another important feature you need to consider is the type of connectivity you want. Wireless headphones are available which provide connectivity through Bluetooth. Choose the headphones which support the latest version of Bluetooth. Newer versions have the least drawbacks. So for the ones who do not want any hassles with the wire, wireless headphones are an option. Wireless headphones often become the choice of those people whose handsets come with sophisticated ports, like iPhone users.
But if the wire and ports are not an issue for you, wired headphones are a better option. They sound better and they have low latency, besides being budget-friendly. They are easy to connect and easy to repair. Though the latest wireless headphones come with a good battery backup, wired headphones relieve you from the job of charging the battery.
IPX Rating and Protection
Headphones are something we use regularly and with regular use, the headphones have more chances to get exposed to water and dust. One might try to remain as cautious as possible, but accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. And no one would want to lose their headphones because of a splash of water or merely sweat. That is why it is better to purchase those headphones which provide water and dust resistance. Even if it costs you some extra bucks, this feature is worth investing in. Headphones with different IPX ratings are available in the market with IPX4 providing the least protection and IOX8 providing the highest degree of protection.
Battery Life and Fast Charge
For those people who are thinking of buying wireless headphones, this is an important feature to consider. Nobody would want their headphones to run out of battery when they are out travelling or when they are watching an interesting movie. But with headphones brands equipping their headphones with batteries having a great backup, you won’t miss out on anything on your movie. Headphones with excellent battery life and playback time are available and do not need charging every now and then.
To make battery charging more convenient, headphones nowadays also come with a fast charging option. even if you are in a hurry, a short quick charge will give you a good playback time. So this headphones buying guide emphasises buying headphones whose battery life lasts longer besides providing you with the option of a quick charge.
Hands-free Features
In this headphones buying guide, we’ll also discuss this quite an amazing feature. As technology advances, headphones are being made hands-free as much as possible. All the buttons to control your headphones are provided on the headphone so that you do not need to take out your phone every time you need to level up or down the volume and answer or hang up a call. Headphones nowadays are being provided with Voice Assistant features like Google Assistant and Siri which work at just the press of a button, although such features will make the headphones cost you more.
