Starting with a budget and design (wireless versus wired, in-ear or over-ear, etc.)
can be helpful first steps.
Headphones can be relatively cheap or costly based on the technology at play.
Lifewire / Andy Zahn
Budget-friendly models don’t offer a lot of flourishes, but can fit the bill for casual use.
Mid- and upper-range headphones introduce desirable features like noise cancellation.
Here’s a glimpse at the features you’re free to expect within the most common price ranges.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
What Types of Headphones Should You Consider?
Headphones come in three main styles: in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear.
Deciding between them is personal, but your comfort and portability preferences can guide you.
As the name suggests, in-ear headphones rest in your ear.
They go by two names:earphones and earbuds.
Earbuds rest on your outer ear, specifically on a section of the ear called the antitragus.
The 2024 AirPods Max still come with the same folding case as the previous version.Lifewire / Jerri Ledford
In-ear headphones are considered the least comfortable.
Some pairs can even damage your ear cartilagethough those instances are infrequent and usually only happen after severe overuse.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones offer a happy medium between in-ear and over-ear headphones.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
For comfort, on-ear headphones compromise between comfortable over-ear and less comfortable in-ear models.
As the name suggests, on-ear headphones have padding on the outer ear.
For this style, the rigidity of the clamp defines comfort.
Lifewire
Lifewire / Jerri Ledford
Bone-Conduction Headphones
Different from theother types of headphonesdescribed above are bone-conduction headphones.
Bone-conduction headphones don’t go in, on, or around your ear like other headphones.
This punch in of headphone isn’t ideal for high-quality sound.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
We recommend picking bone-conduction headphones if you should probably stay alert to outside noises like traffic or kids.
What Headphone Design Should You Get?
There are some advantages and some disadvantages to this.
Closed-back headphones are better for on-the-go listening or when you’re near others.
The main drawback is the sound quality.
Most audiophiles looking for the best sound argue that open-back headphones sound more natural.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that closed-back headphones don’t sound good.
Some of the best headphones in the world are closed-back headphones.
They sound slightly less natural, but many won’t even be able to tell the difference.
They create a much more natural sound.
Open-back headphones have significant disadvantages, making them only suitable for home listening.
For starters, as the sound inside the headphones can get out, outside sound can also get in.
The flip side is that the headphones have all the disadvantages of open-back headphones.
Should You Get Wired or Wireless Headphones?
Wireless headphones may be more convenient than wired ones, but wired headphones almost always offer better sound quality.
You’ll also have to consider the battery life of wireless headphones.
While wireless headphones are often more convenient than wired ones, wired headphones still have a few significant advantages.
They’re a little cheaper than their wireless counterparts, though plenty of low-cost wireless headphones exist.
Perhaps more importantly, however, wired headphones usually sound much better.
Wireless Headphones
Sound quality is vital to consider, but sometimes convenience is more important.
It’s not worth suffering through the inconvenience of wired headphones if you don’t specifically need those advantages.
Within the wireless headphones category, a few different types exist.
Non-true wireless earbuds should have at least eight to 10 hours of playback on a charge.
What Audio Quality Do You Need?
Many factors (frequency range, impedance, driver punch in, etc.)
are only worth considering if you’re an audiophile looking for the best sound quality.
But even if you’re not, knowing more about how your headphones work can be helpful.
Guitars, other drums, the body of a vocal, and so on all live between these frequencies.
The driver is what vibrates the air, creating sound.
There are a few main kinds of drivers.
Impedance varies from 8 (ohms) to the hundreds of ohms on high-end models.
Most consumer headphones are low impedance and can get sufficient power from smartphones or computers.
On the other hand, high-impedance headphones require a dedicated headphone amplifier to output enough sound.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity refers to how loud headphones can get relative to their power.
It’s measured in decibels, which, in basic terms, is a volume measurement.
Generally, sensitivity is calculated per 1 mW (milliwatt).
Usually, a sensitivity between 90dB and 120dB / 1mW is acceptable.
Do You Need Noise-Cancellation in Your Headphones?
Generally, Bose and Audio-Technica offer excellent noise-cancellation, while other companies are improving.
There is a downside to noise cancellation, which usually affects the audio quality in small ways.
Another way to cut outside sound is with “noise isolating” headphones, also called passive noise-canceling headphones.
These headphones physically eliminate outside noise by creating a good seal around your ears and using sound-proof materials.
Is the Brand Name Important for Headphones?
The brand name can also be important.
After all, there’s often a reason why big-name brands are more trusted.
What Other Considerations Are There?
Headphones are getting increasingly high-tech and offering more cool features.
Some of these features might be important to you.
