What type of headphones are best for me?
Ithink nothing of having one pair of headphones for the gym, one for flying, one for the daily commute and a special pair for listening at home. If you’re after just the one pair, however, there are so many to choose from that it can be hard to kn ow where to start.
Naturally, the more you spend, the better your headphones will sound. There are exceptions (Soundmagic, for instance), but if you want to be impressed, start looking at £100-150. Double it and you’ll really hear the difference.
Firstly, in-ear headphones are pocketable and offer excellent noise isolation. There are hundreds of options, with convenient Bluetooth and true wireless models, although the miniature drivers can’t compete with larger designs – not unless you’re willing to invest in something like the £600 Shure SE846.
On-ear headphones are ideal for someone who wants good sound quality without the bulk. There are some gorgeous designs available from brands such as Bang & Olufsen that sound great too, but remember the on-ear design will let in more ambient noise and leak more sound.
Over-ear designs are the largest and least portable, but pound-for-pound offer the best quality. Larger drivers, bigger batteries for noise cancelling and Bluetooth, plus memory foam
ear pads and comfortable headbands mean they can be listened to for hours on end.
If you’re looking for home headphones, you’ll need to decide between open or closed designs. Open-backed headphones give music room to breathe, which makes them ideal for live concerts, although if you leave the house with open-backed headphones, everyone will hear your music. Closed-back models tend to have a more intimate sound and don’t leak as much.
Wired headphones sound better than wireless models, but things are improving and you can’t deny the practicality of cable-free listening. Aptx Bluetooth headphones can now stream in better-than-cd quality (if your smartphone or media player is compatible) and this is only set to get better as technology has improved.
If you’ve yet to experience the joy of a quiet commute, you’re in for a treat. ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) headphones feature miniature microphones in the earpiece that pick up ambient sound and cancel it out, effectively muting background noise. ANC doesn’t improve audio quality, but you don’t have to turn the volume up to hear your music.
Remember that good headphones are as important as great speakers, so I’d recommend visiting an independent hi-fi shop for a demo.
Over-ear designs offer the best quality, pound for pound