A guide to selecting the perfect headphones for you

There are many headphones in the market, each with its own set of features, making it difficult to purchase a new pair without first doing some research. Our headphone guide should assist you in choosing the right set of headphones for your needs.

Your keys, wallet, phone, and headphones fit into a list of must-have items before heading out of the house. Headphones are more than just a way to listen to your favorite music; they’ve matured into a way to augment your daily life. In your commute, during intense gym workouts, or just to unwind, we look up to headphones as our daily companions. It can be hard to decipher through all the tech specifications and software jargon to understand which pair fits your needs better, particularly if you're a newbie to purchasing headphones.

Hopefully, our guide will help you choose your new everyday sidekick.

Selection criteria for picking out your headphones

Here are the most important things you should consider before making a purchase.

1) Usage

The right headphones for you mainly depend on when you want to use them. Is it while working out? Or is it to shut out all outside clamor on journeys? Maybe you use them in your studio for long recording or producing sessions?

Many different types of headphones are available, in many different configurations, with various connection types, etc. to complement different human activities. The basic headphone styles are over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear headphones.

To put it in layman’s terms, think of it as adding (-1) to (+1) to end up with zero. The issue with active noise cancellation technology is that the microphone needs to record ambient sounds accurately to provide the best degree of noise cancellation. 100% active noise cancellation is impossible, but it reduces the ambient sound by 1 quarter or 1 sixteenth of its original level, which is a considerable amount.

Should you go for over-ear headphones?

Over-ear headphones cover the entire ears and stay on by applying light pressure to your temple and lower jaw. These are the largest of the headphone types. They do a superb job of reproducing audio frequencies, which other types of headphones struggle to do. With their huge size, you also get bigger batteries enabling longer battery life and supreme wearing comfort as they distribute weight more evenly over your ears.

Over-ears are the go-to choice for a majority of sound engineers and music producers. They also come in two types:

• Open-back headphones let outside sound in and inside sound out, resulting in a more natural sound.

• Close-back headphones naturally keep your music in and prevent others from hearing what you’re listening to.

The only downside of over-ear headphones is their size. They take up a lot of storage in your bag and are a hassle to carry around. Also, they don’t make the perfect workout companion due to their size.

Should you go for on-ear headphones?

Unlike over-ears, these headphones apply pressure directly on your ears to sit right on top of them. On-ears are the perfect choice for people who want the benefits of over-ears, minus their heftiness. Many recent on-ear models are designed with rotating or collapsible hinges for easier storage. They’re also pretty good at reproducing audio over the frequency spectrum, but not as good as a pair of over-ears. They also let ambient noise in, making them an ideal pair for listening to music at home or the office.

The main downside of going for an on-ear pair is that they don’t fit snugly. They get off-set from their position even with a light jerk. Your ears hurt after some time. On-ears also can’t reproduce the deep bass tones that over-ears can due to lack of audio isolation.

Should you go for in-ear headphones?

Popularly referred to as earphones or earbuds, these are the smallest of the three types and fit in the ear canal. These are the most convenient to use out of all three types. In-ear headphones are unbeatable when doing any activities since they fit snugly in your ear and are portable.

The downsides to in-ear headphones are that the wired ones get entangled, and the wireless ones are too easy to lose. The overall quality of music gets significantly degraded due to the small design.

2) Wired or wireless headphones

This criterion depends solely on your personal preference, though our recommendation would be to go for the wireless option. With advances in audio technology, the sound from Bluetooth headphones is virtually indistinguishable from wired headphones. Wireless headphones offer you unfettered freedom and a sense of detachment from the audio source. Plus, most wireless headphones come with a connecting wire.

The primary reason to go for wired headphones is if you’re a music producer or sound engineer and want enhanced audio quality. Bluetooth headphones cause a huge drain on your battery, and the battery levels drop lower with usage.

3) Budget

A high-end pair of headphones cost a bomb because of their high-end construction quality, the materials used, and the finish. They are most often hand-made, tailored to fit the buyer’s requirements. It’s but natural that high-end headphones deliver what they cost through exceptional audio quality.

You still get good sound quality for a lot less though. You should invest in a pair of headphones according to your usage.

To conclude

Remember to choose headphones after a lot of research, since there are several brands in the market. We would recommend going for a renowned brand, even if it means shelling out a few more extra bucks, as their longevity comes in handy for the long term. Make sure to choose a brand that offers a warranty and has authorized service centers in your city in case of a mishap.

If you’re a person who wants to utilize premium headphones in a professional capacity, you can go for the beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X. beyerdynamic is a world-class brand that handcrafts its headphone pieces using the finest German sound technology and precision. The sound quality is unmatched, and they simply are the best headphones for music production.