These days, headphones are an item of necessity. Some may use them for listening to their favorite music or podcast. Some may use them for telephone conversations or prolonged office calls.
There are various models with plenty of features suited to the specific need of the individual purchasing the product. This article aims to provide an overview of the major kinds of headphones widely available in the market and the uses they are suited for.
Classification Based on Size:
- Over-the-ear:
Another word for such gadgets is ‘circumaural’. These products are large enough to fit over the entire ear of the user. They have a headband that connects two ear cups.
These devices are good in terms of passive isolation. Since the ears of the user are fully covered, therefore, there is very minimal chance of external noise creeping in. these earphones typically provide better and more realistic sound effects.
- On-ear:
These products, often called ‘supra-aural’, are very similar to their over-the-ear counterparts; however, their ear pads are smaller. Therefore, the pads rest on the earlobes.
These rank lower on the comfort quotient since, if the pads are not well-padded, they may press against the earlobes, thus irritating the prolonged user.
- Earbuds:
These are also called in-ear headphones. These are the most concise earphones available in the market for retail usage. Their USP is that they are portable, extremely handy and usually not very expensive.
Earbuds are primarily of 3 types:
- True Wireless Earbuds: TWS devices do not have any wired mechanism. They are wireless Bluetooth headphones. They come with a charging case, and all necessary components, such as DAC and DSP, are built into the housing.
- Wireless Earbuds with Cable: these gadgets receive audio signals via Bluetooth but have a wire connecting the left to the right earbud.
- Classic Earbuds: these devices rest on the earlobes and do not go inside the ear canal.
Classification by Technology:
- Noise-cancellation:
These gadgets are designed to block outside noise. Isolation is their strong suit.
- Bone Conduction:
In this device, the sound is transmitted through the user’s cheekbones instead of by air. These products allow the user to keep their ears open to their surroundings while listening to music. They are extremely popular among joggers who wish to listen to music while being aware of their surroundings.
Classification by Connection:
- Wireless Headsets:
They have all components, such as DAC, Bluetooth chip, battery, amplifier and DSP, built into the housing. They mainly use two kinds of connections – Bluetooth connection or wi-fi technology.
- Wired Headphones:
These make use of a cable to transmit an audio signal. Most of these devices use a 3.5 mm plug, while some also use 6.3 mm ones. Some argue that they provide better sound quality than their wireless counterparts.
Tips to Purchase the Right Headphones for Your Specific Need:
With the huge number of choices available in the market, choosing a device suited to your specific taste and need might seem overwhelming. Below are some pointers that may help you in your quest:
- Check for Battery Life:
If you buy a wireless product, you must check whether it has a prolonged battery life. It is essential to remember that the real battery life obtained from a single charge is usually one or two hours less than the claimed battery life.
- Sound Quality:
Before buying, make sure you ask the store for a demo. Preferably try to create external noise by playing some music in the background so that you can test the noise cancellation feature.
Try to do proper market research before investing your hard-earned money to avoid repentance in the future.
