Music has always been a safe space for everyone to revel in. While engaging in this recreational activity, we find ourselves challenged by problems like trying to decipher the lyrics when in a noisy background and getting rid of the external sounds that disrupt the music. Musicians face the problem of improper music detail recognition because of the noises in the surroundings disrupting these details.
This is where headphones are required. Headphones are the mode of escape that we all need at some point or another. While most of today’s generation have headphones, it is still a commonly faced challenge to decide which ones to buy.
Frequently asked questions address the confusion that headphone buyers face, with regard to the wide variety that is available online. This article focuses on answering these FAQs and helping you make the correct choice of headphones, and buying decisions for extracting the best musical experience from the headphones of your choice.
The various types of headphones that are available:
Closed Back headphones
These headphones are mostly employed by musicians, to block the sounds in the background. The purpose of these closed-back headphones is to restrain the interruption that the external sounds can cause to the music being listened to and block the sound in the headphones from escaping.
Other than musicians, individuals who seek an isolated and focused music experience will find these headphones satisfactory to their expectations.
Closed-back headphones are professional headphones that are also used in studios, to play the music track for the singer to record a song. Their ability to prevent sound from escaping to the environment is reflected in the fact that the recorded songs do not have subtle sounds of the track playing in the background. They also capture the intricate structure of songs which further contribute to a fulfilling musical experience. Closed-back design is also popular in the case of TV Headphones.
A downside for some people can be the size of these headphones. Since they block sounds within and without, the ear cuffs cover the entire ear, which makes these headphones bulkier than most headphones. Overlooking this downside, closed-back headphones are the ideal gadget introducing better quality and sound clarity to musicians and music lovers.
Open-back headphones
Open-back headphones work in contrast to closed-back headphones. In closed-back headphones, the sound is isolated, which makes it seem like it is being generated from inside of your head. On the contrary, open-back headphones liberate the sound into the external environment, making it sound like the music is coming from speakers within your space.
It is a more airy and enjoyable experience because it provides a studio effect. Open-back headphones are often used by people in studios who are willing to mix music.
The effects of mixing are often lost in a closed-back headphone pattern, where every detail is heard with all of its structure, making mixing music a challenging task. With open-back headphones, the blending of music with a continuous flow of air leads to better music dynamics for mixing.
If you are a music maker or a DJ, Open back headphones are the most beneficial for you. The essence of the tunes is not lost, and making music becomes easier. Even for those who are seeking a consuming studio musical experience, these headphones are the right choice to indulge in.
The only potential drawback is that some sound is generated into your surroundings. If the people around you do not mind subtle sounds while you engage in listening to music, then these headphones are the ones to purchase.
On-ear headphones
These headphones are different from the ones already listed in their structure and size. As the name suggests, they rest on your ears, not necessarily covering the entire ear.
Their features are similar to that of the open-back headphones, where the sound is liberated to the surroundings, and the sound from outside can enter the headphones and interfere with the music. The only benefit of these headphones is their sleek structure that rids the user of the bulkiness experienced.
Comparing these headphones to the closed-back ones, it can be safely stated that the later ones are better in fulfilling the goal of a satisfactory musical experience. Closed-back headphones do not allow sound to escape or enter the headphones, making the experience better.
In open-back headphones, the bulky size and studio-like sound make the experience equally engaging. But for on-ear headphones, the size and the features are not very favorable unless the headphones bought are of a good quality brand.
A limitation to be noted is the structure of the headphones. Since they rest on the ears, instead of creating a cushion around them, they can sometimes become too fitted for the user. However, these limitations do not dampen the usefulness of these headphones. If you place your comfort over the musical experience, then these headphones are for you.
Over-ear headphones
The over-ear headphones are similar in their features to the closed-back ones. These headphones have a cushiony layer that creates a vacuum over the ears, cutting out on all the external sounds. It is beneficial to musicians who want to record songs, and want an isolated musical experience.
Because of the velvety cloth cushioning in the headphone cuffs, your ears can sweat an immense deal, and the bulky structure can tire the head and the ears when used for long intervals.
Over-ear headphones are available in two options- open back and close back. Ideally, they fall in the latter category, but the open back headphones provide for the better option. Because of the fully covered vacuum created between the ears and the cushiony layer, the music will start sounding very isolated and concentrated. The open-back headphones help regulate the airflow in the headphones, allowing for improved comfort and sound quality.
However, if you are looking for escaping the worldly stressors and indulging yourself in an isolated zone of music, then these headphones are your go-to gadgets, combining the comfort and privacy you require.
In-Ear headphones
These headphones differ only slightly yet significantly from closed-back headphones. In-ear headphones are easier to carry, and diminished in size as compared to the closed-back ones.
They are small pieces with silicon or other protective endings that reach inside farther into the ear. Because of this innovative structure, the sound is delivered directly to the ear, preventing it from escaping into the environment. Its structure is such that the portability and sound quality both are ensured.
These in-ear Headphones are available in two varieties- wired and wireless. The wireless headphones are connected to your device through Bluetooth which makes the process of listening to music more efficient. Wired headphones, however, require you to connect them with a wire to your desired device.
This feature makes listening to music a tedious task because the liberty of the headphones’ movement is controlled by the device. Wireless headphones are a better option in this case because along with sound quality and portability, they do not hamper the movement of your device.
Some limitations to look out for while considering to purchase these headphones are the danger of loud volume exposure to the eardrum. Because the headphones are close to your eardrum, any loud volume can damage it, leaving behind hearing impairment. The only solution to this is committing to cautiousness while using these headphones.
All in all, in-ear headphones are the ideal option of purchase for people looking for recreational music experience. Travelers, people in the workspace and college students often find them the most useful.
Earbuds
Earbuds are headphones that are similar to in-ear headphones in their size. They differ from the latter in terms of the sound quality and the level of depth in the ear that they reach. Unlike in-ear headphones, earbuds do not reach close to the eardrum.
They remain on the periphery. Because of this structure, the isolated musical experience is not felt. Sounds from and to the surroundings are escaped.
It can be stated that the type of sound they provide is similar to open-back headphones. It is an airier music experience where the music is affected by the continuous airflow within and without.
These headphones are an ideal purchase for people looking for casual musical experiences because the details required for a professional is lost in between. Other than the low sound quality, these buds also fit loosely in the ears, increasing the risk of falling out.
They are beneficial to people who prevail in the workspace, where these buds are required to make calls consistently. Since their use as musical tools is not quite efficient, they can be employed for other tasks such as for people who require to make calls on a daily basis, or for travelers looking for a freer sound experience, preferring the comfort, safety, portability of the buds over the potential danger posed by the in-ear headphones.
Bluetooth Headphones
Bluetooth Headphones are wireless headphones that rid the user of the perpetual frenzy of having to deal with wires. These headphones can be connected to your desired device by Bluetooth. It can be a rather confusing feature, to know that they are run by Bluetooth. The explanation is not too challenging to comprehend. There is a chip placed inside the gadget that carries out the task of connecting your device with it.
The headphones incorporate the features of both headphones and earphones. As headphones, they provide a bulky and covering structure around the ears, making the process of sound entering from or escaping to the environment negligible. As earphones, they are easier to carry because of their wireless structure.
The absence of the wires does not have any effect on the functioning of these headphones. They are ideal for people looking for an isolated and soothing musical experience. However, due to the connectivity dependence on Bluetooth, there is a slight probability of the connection falling weak every now and then. Other than that, these headphones require to be charged regularly, unlike wired headphones.
The economic value of these headphones is often set at high prices because of the technology employed in them. If wires have always been dreadful to maintain, these headphones are the ideal ones to purchase. However, it is advised to purchase wired headphones that are close backed for people looking for professional gadgets.
Noise-canceling headphones
The experience of isolation while listening to music is most required in today’s world because of the continuous stress that is inflicted upon every individual. In such stress and the noise-driven world, a little piece of the day should be reserved for some time for yourself.
Noise-canceling headphones have become increasingly popular, because of their ability to not only block sounds from the outside but also create equal frequencies as those of the disturbing sounds to cancel them. This prevents the disruption of your piece of isolation.
The mic for this is provided on the outer side of the headphones. They are bulky closed-back headphones that are similar to them. The only added feature is that of noise cancellation. The addition is a small yet significant change made to the original closed-back headphones.
Because of the superior feature, these headphones can be employed for use by musicians who require every detailed note of the music to be recognized and heard. There are no limitations that can be observed or noted.
They are ideal for escaping from the noises around you, for traveling when the vehicle sounds hinder your peace, and for professional musicians who require the detailed audio. All in all, noise-canceling headphones are a novel advancement in the market of headphones.
To conclude
As a conclusion, it can be said that all the headphones have varying functions, and are suitable for various target audiences. For people looking for more professional music gadgets, noise-canceling and closed-back headphones are most useful. Open-back headphones are useful for mixing music. People listening to music for recreational purposes can choose in-ear headphones or Bluetooth ones. These are not professional gadgets and can be employed for other purposes.
For people in the workforce, earbuds are the most convenient headphones, because in the constant hassle of work-life, dealing with wires can become exhausting. It depends on the expectations every individual has put forward with regard to the headphones, that decides the correct choice for them. Recognizing this correct choice has been a challenging task, which has been made easier in this article as the questions frequently addressed are answered throughout.
Some brands that offer superior quality headphones are Bose, Skull Candy, JBL, Sony, Sennheiser, among several others.
In a world where escaping from the mundaneness of life seems like an unachievable task, headphones act like the heroes that extend their cuffs of support for the ideal escape plan that we all need. More than shutting out sounds, it is important to replace these noises with soothing tunes that are lifeboats to the drowning people in a sea of worries. These lifeboats are the headphones we all need, and this article provides us with a guidebook of making the right choice to gain the best musical experience.
