Headphones: Sometimes It’s What You Don’t Hear that Makes the Difference
Selecting the right headphones for your MP3 player or home stereo is a very personal choice. A friend might swear by a pair of earbuds, but they drive you crazy because having something in your ear canal is not comfortable. On the other hand, some people don’t like headphones with a neck/headband because it messes up their hair or they can’t wear a hat. As you can see, headphones are not a one-size-fits-all decision.
Don’t scrimp on your headphones. The reason for this is that the best MP3 player will sound horrible with cheap headphones but a mediocre MP3 player will sound much better with high quality headphones. Picking out headphones involves four major purchase considerations — style/type, fit/comfort, acoustics and overall sound, and lastly … the price.
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Although headphones come in two basics forms — in the ear and over the ear — there are actually several different types of headphones that fit into three categories: lightweight, traditional, and wireless.
Lightweight
Headphones in this category are very lightweight — usually due to the removal of the neck/headband that connects the earpieces. The support of the speakers is now derived from your ears, specifically your ear canal. The features of lightweight headphones are that they can be worn for very long periods of time and stay stationary when moving around (walking, running, exercising, etc).
Also fitting into the lightweight category are earbuds that have an ear hook to hold the speakers on the outside of your ear. Some listening devices come with earbuds that have are connected with a lightweight neck/headband, which usually isn’t padded and adjustment to head size isn’t as accurate.
Traditional
This category of headphone comes in two flavors: open and closed (over the ear). The ear pieces on the open style rest on the outside of the ears and are supported by an neck/headband. Similar to earbuds, this style can be used during exercising or other activities without worry of them falling off or moving. Another benefit to this style is they allow some ambient noise to bleed though, which can be great if you’re jogging and listening for traffic.
The over-the-ear closed style of headphones are heavier, but also sturdier — and in many cases, more comfortable. That’s because more detail and thought is put into how the headphones rest on your head and over your ears. Thick padding can be found around the speakers and under the headband.
Wireless
First introduced in 1990, wireless headphones are an audiophile’s dream. If you’ve ever tripped over the cord of your headphones or had an earbud ripped out of your ear, then you understand. There are two types of wireless headphones: infrared and 900 MHz.
Infrared headphones use an infrared signal to link the amplifier to the headphones. The drawback to this style is a direct line communication must be maintained between the headphones and the amplifier. This means if you walk out of room, you might lose your signal.
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| JVC 900 MHz Headphones (Model No: HAW600RF) |
RCA 900 MHz Headphones (Model No: WHP141) |
The 900 MHz style eliminate that problem altogether. In fact, you can wander around the house — upstairs, downstairs, through floors and walls — and still be listening to your favorite music. They operate as far away as 150 feet (45.5 m) using a tiny radio transmitter located in the amplifier communicates with a receiver found in the headphones.
hhgrergg proudly carries the Acoustic Research, JVC, RCA, and the Skullcandy lines of headphones.
Still have questions? Feel free to speak to an expert hhgregg sales associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed!
