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The top headphone brands have entered the market from a variety of places, and each brings their own strengths. Sennheiser is the only brand that is predominantly a headphone brand. Sony and Shure manufacture are wide range of electronics products. Bose started as a speaker company, but has made great strides in developing noise cancelling headphones. Logitech is predominantly a computer peripheral company, and makes great headphones for gaming.
You can purchase decent sounding headphones for $40 or spend over $300 for premium headphones. There are many headphones with sound great available for $85 to $160. If you want active noise cancelling headphones, expect to spend and additional $50 to $75 for this feature.
There are many types of headphones being sold today. Here are the three most common form factors:
In Ear/Ear bud: These do not have a frame and fit directly into the ear. They are the type that come with an iPod and most other MP3 players. Excellent to use while working out.
Over Ear Headphones: These completely enclose the ear, blocking out many of the surrounding sounds. Ideal for getting immersed in your listening experience.
Open Air Headphones: These are kept in place by an over head band or frame. They sit lightly on top of the ears, enabling some outside sounds to be heard. Good for listening to audio if you need to remain aware of the phone, doorbell, or baby.
The most common types of headphone plugs are 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm (1/4 inch). The 3.5 mm fits into the stereo output found in most MP3 players, portable stereo devices, PDA's, and computers. The 6.35 plug fits into the stereo output found on stereo receivers. The 6.35 mm connector is found on many over ear and open air headphones, while the 3.5 mm connector is found on most ear buds and lightweight headphones. Adapters are available to enable 3.5 mm headphone to fit 6.35 mm plugs, and 6.35 mm headphones to fit 3.5 plugs
Headphones are available in either wired or wireless configurations. Wireless headphones enable you to move around freely, untethered from whatever device is generating the music. The negative is that the sound quality is not as good as wired headphones, and there can be interference and noise generated by other devices in your home. Wired headphones have superior sound quality, but must maintain a physical connection to the music source.
Many headphone manufacturers now sell noise cancelling headphones.
There are two types of noise cancelling/noise reducing technologies used in headphones, passive noise reduction or active noise reduction: Passive noise reduction attempts to create a seal that protects the ear from outside noise. This is done by insulating the cups of over ear headphones, or by designing the earbuds so they create a seal with the ear canal and block other sounds from entering.
Active noise reduction, also called noise cancellation, is a relatively new innovation. Noise cancelling headphones use a microphone to register the sounds around the listener, and then they create sound waves of the same amplitude but the opposite polarity to those sounds. The effect is that the sounds outside the headphones are either significantly reduced or affectively cancelled.
NOTE: It is dangerous to wear noise cancelling or noise reducing headphones while bicycling, jogging, and performing other activities that require you to maintain an auditory connection to your environment.
Here are some common features available in headphones:
The most important design issue with headphones is comfort, and comfort is a subjective evaluation requiring personal testing. When you narrow down your selection, try wearing the headphones your are considering for fifteen minutes each, ideally while listening to music. This will give you a sense of how they will feel during extended use. Are they comfortable around your ear and every place they touch you? Does the music remain pleasant during an extended listen, or does the sound begin to sound harsh or shrill?
One consideration for style is how obvious you want it to be that you are wearing headphones. Ear buds are discrete. Over ear headphones are obvious.
Damage to hearing occurs when a person is exposed to loud sounds over time. The risk of hearing loss increases as sound is played louder and for longer durations. Therefore, the recommended listening time varies as the volume control changes.
Studies suggest that MP3 players produce high enough sound levels to pose a risk of hearing loss, if used at high enough volumes for extended durations. As technology improves, with greater music storage and longer battery life, it is possible that people will choose to listen for long periods of time. Users of MP3 players must be aware of their volume levels, and the maximum amount of time they can listen at their chosen volume without risking hearing loss.