What Factors Should You Consider Before Buying A New Pair Of Wireless Headphones?

Headphones are no longer a piece of technology that just produces sound, they are a necessity for some people who prefer isolated music to loud music. For select audiophiles, a good pair of headphones can draw the line between a good day and a bad day. The average prices for headphones have been rising in the past few years, and the reason for this is very simple. People are spending more on headphones because they are no longer an add-on to a device for just listening to music. It’s basically a culture.

Not that it is relevant, but the first headphones were developed in 1910 and it’s been a long road. Almost a century later, headphones have acquired a completely different look and style. A lot of people are not aware when it comes to buying wireless headphones, owing to the recent surge in their popularity. Most people prefer Bluetooth headphones over wired headphones because of increased convenience and a better style statement. But what things do you need to keep in mind while going for a new pair of Bluetooth headphones?

What Is Your Lifestyle?

This may not be the first benchmark that comes to your mind regarding wireless headphones, but it’s a hurdle that must be crossed if you want to purchase the perfect Bluetooth headphones for you. Headphones are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and getting to know his/her lifestyle will be the first step towards picking the right pair.

If you are a fitness-oriented person who has to run and workout on a daily basis, over-the-ear headphones will probably not work out for you. All the sweat and the humidity may damage the leather/memory foam of the cushioned earcups, thereby reducing the overall quality of the headphones. Furthermore, over-the-ear headphones may restrict movement during working out, which is why on-the-ear headphones or wireless sport earbuds may be the best option for you. Headphones like Plantronics Backbeat 505, or earphones like Jabra Elite Active 65t will work out just fine for you.

On the other hand, people who spend the major part of their staying stationary are able to enjoy more immersive sounds, and they may even compromise some comfort for sound quality. Programmers and Gamers prefer solitude, so noise cancelling headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM3 can be just what they need. For an office environment, noise cancelling headphones may be the reason someone gets fired, so a pair of Sennheiser HD 25 will be just fine. 

The Audio Quality

The sound quality is technically the primary attribute of a good pair of headphones, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Nonetheless, some people limit the audio quality to just bass and treble, but it’s so much more than that. While buying a decent pair of wireless headphones, always be sure to consider the following factors:

• Sensitivity: The measure of how loud the headphones can conceivably be is referred to as the Sensitivity of that device. Some people prefer loud music, others prefer softer tones and lower volumes. Keeping in mind the safety aspect of the headphones, one should always prefer wearables that don’t have a decibel count above 105. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x come under this category.
• Drivers: If you’re a bassophile (someone who loves listening to deeper and louder bass tones), always prefer a larger driver size. It’s not necessary that a larger driver will produce better sound. but it sure is more powerful. Ideally, 20mm drivers produce a good range of lows. Skullcandy’s Crushers Wireless are a good option for the same.

The Audio Codecs

Some people directly relate the sound quality to the audio codecs supported by the headphones. While this may be true to an extent, the audio codecs rule a wide variety of functions on Bluetooth headphones. Some of the majorly used audio codecs are listed below

• SBC: This audio encoder/decoder ensures that the harsh and rough elements of the audio file are eliminated so that the user gets to hear a crisp and clear sound. Over time, the A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) has improved a lot.
• aptX HD: aptX HD was a trending concept in 2018-19, owing to the fact that a lot of smartphones had support for the same. Where the original aptX technology supported 352 Kbps audio, aptX HD streams at a higher bitrate of 576 Kbps. Furthermore, it has a much lower latency than aptX.
• AAC: An upgrade from the aforementioned SBC, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) has a lower bitrate and improves audio performance over wireless networks. It has a comparable audio standard to aptX.
• Latency: Where latency isn’t actually a codec, it plays an important role in ensuring that there is a minimum delay while transferring audio between two devices.

Battery Life

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One of the major shortcomings of powerful Bluetooth headphones is the fact that they suffer from poor battery life. And a bad battery life may create a lot of problems for the listener. Since charging wireless headphones may be tough while you’re on the go, always prefer brands which provide at least 20 hours of continuous listening. For instance, Skullcandy Crushers Wireless have a battery life of nearly 40 hours. 

Another important point to note is that USB Type-C enabled wireless headphones are better from a perspective of convenience since most new smartphones employ USB Type-C ports, which means that you won’t have to carry two different cables while you’re travelling. Instead, you can just use your smartphone charger cable to juice up your headphones.