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Buying Guide for Headphones |
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Ubiquitous, unobtrusive, utilitarian! If this is what you have always thought about
your headphones, think again. Primarily considered just accessories to big brothers like walkmans, cd-players,
mobiles, mp3 players, etc. the unassuming headphones are now coming on their own. Open or closed, noise cancellation,
bass and frequency clarity, sound quality – the choices amplify as the jargon does. Welcome to the new-age
headphones! Headphones also dubbed earphones, ear buds, stereo phones, headsets, or the slang term cans, have been
around for as long as the telephone and the radio. They work by converting the electrical signals they receive from
their big brothers into audible sound waves from the speakers placed next to the ears. |
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Types | In-ear | Style | Noise Cancellation | Price |
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1 - Types of Headphones
The commonly used headphones are the detachable variety connected using a jack plug to your walkmans, PCs, mp3 players, etc. However, they may also be attached to full-size stereo components, may be self-contained with a radio, or cordless with a radio or infrared to receive signals. Your choice of headphones may depend on the price, the usage characteristics, the look and feel, the sound quality it offers and other features it boasts of. |
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2 - Intra-aural, Circumaural or Canal earphones
The usage characteristics usually determine whether you want small, portable headphones or the ones that are padded
and fully envelope the ear and come with bands on top of the head or around the neck. The small earphones or earbuds
(also called intra-aural) as they are often called are inexpensive but do not provide isolation i.e. allow other sounds
in and allow for lower volumes. The circumaural earphones are the other end of the spectrum. They are padded around the
ear for sound isolation with bands around the head and are very comfortable. But they are also rather cumbersome and while
good at home or in recording studios aren’t so portable. Canal earphones are ones that sit right inside the ear canal
and have the best of both worlds as they are small, light and portable, but also have better sound isolation, and deep bass
response, some thing that earbuds often lack. However, they are more expensive than earbuds.
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3 - Style
A lot of manufacturers offer different models headphones in similar price points and these usually have style, look
and feel as the main differentiation. So you choose which appeals most to the eye or ‘goes’ with you walkman.
You may wish to choose between open and closed models. Open models are apt when jogging or walking or anywhere you wish
for some sound from your surrounding. Closed ones on the other hand offer great sound isolation and you don’t have
to turn up the volume to listen better.
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4 - Noise Cancellation
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Noise cancellation is the next hot thing in headphones as these enhance the listening experience. High-end models offer these also for just some peace and quite in very loud surroundings! Gone are the days when headphones just meant loud ‘n’ clear. |
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5 - Price
Price is the key as headphones are available for less that $5 and also for more than $500 with a frequency response range of 8-35000 Hz. The usual ones have frequency responses such as 10-24 / 12-22 KHz.
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Headphone links
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Price Ranges
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Popular brands
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