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Q. What are the best options for headphones?
A. Who hasn't let out a sigh of disappointment when they rip open a new CD or digital audio player only to discover the cheap set of headphones which accompanies it? For those looking to upgrade, there are several options you should consider which will set the bar (and the price) of what you are looking for. When shopping for the ideal set of headphones, consider the following:
- Fit and Sound How exactly does the ideal headphones fit on your head? Do you like the standard ear bud design, which usually rests comfortably in the ear canal but produces a not so hot sound? The higher end (i.e. price) option is closed-ended, where the headphones are usually padded and the enclosed environment produces a better, richer sound because of the built-in dynamic transducer. Do you like a headset which is tight on your head, or one that wraps behind so you can look like a DJ?
- Noise Cancellation At 35,000 feet, it's common to hear hissing in your standard airplane headphones, which can quickly ruin the in-flight movie. To remedy this, consider a noise-cancellation option (usually available on closed-ended models only) which, with the flip of a small switch, reduces the low frequency background sounds so you are left with cleaner dialogue.
- Wireless Driving your spouse insane with video game noises? Want to listen to your music from across the room with out wires? Wireless headphones are the way to go. The range can be somewhat limited though if you get a line of sight model, so consider one which broadcasts like a small range radio station so you have more freedom to wander.
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