First of all, let us get a quick idea about which are the type of headphones
available in the market. The types which we will be going through is based on the availability and popularity. Open this link for the type of headphones and we will go through the options one by one for the easy understanding. At the end of this exercise, you will be able to choose the headphone according to your need.1. Earbud Headphones
Earbuds
usually do not have cushions, although they can. They are meant to be held in place by the concha ridge at the center of your outer ear, rather than sitting inside the ear canal.
They are often one-size-fits-all, which may not be comfortable to wear. Depending on the shape of your ear ridges, they may not fit securely and may fall out frequently. That is annoying, especially if you are wearing them for sports and exercise. Some have wings or loops to tuck under the ridges of the ear to help keep them in place. usually do not have cushions, although they can. They are meant to be held in place by the concha ridge at the center of your outer ear, rather than sitting inside the ear canal.Earbuds allow in ambient noise so you can hear what is going on around you. You don't feel sealed off from your environment. That provides a small measure of safety for outdoor exercise such as running or walking while wearing earbuds.
Earbuds have generally not had the same performance as high-end headphones, often lacking bass and sounding tinny. If you're buying earbuds, the good news is they are often less expensive than earphones and in-ear headphones
. If you want something for the gym that you don't care if you step on them on the treadmill, or if you need the thirty-umpth pair for your teenager, earbuds are your friends.
SWM recommendations: Option 1, Option 2, Option 3
2. Over-Ear Headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
are also commonly known as full-size, circumaural 
or around the ear headphones
. They are the traditional large headphones with ear pads that typically fit around the entire ear on most listeners. Over-Ear headphones come in either open or closed ear cup designs and can offer stellar sound quality and excellent comfort. These are not highly-portable headphones. That’s not to say that you can’t take them on a plane, but they won’t be as compact as a pair of in-ears. Over-ear headphones are what sound engineers use and what you’ll find in many sound design rooms in Hollywood. They do a great job at providing natural isolation and you hear exactly what you need to, and very little else.Over-ear headphones can be either extremely comfortable or extremely uncomfortable. You need to look for a thick, padded headband that will distribute the weight well across the top of your head. You also want ear cups that won’t sweat easily, so you can wear the phones longer. Look for pliability and a design that doesn’t have all the weight focused at a single point on the top of your head. It’s unfortunate that the new wave of headphones is to encase the entire system in plastic. With these new designs, it's comfortability and flexibility is greatly hampered compared to the headphones of just a few years ago.
SWM recommendations: Option 1, Option 2, Option 3
On-Ear headphones
are ideal for listeners who want a good level of comfort but in a more compact format than over-ear headphones. However, they are usually mediocre at blocking noise and often leak quite a bit of sound. On-ear headphones (also called “Supra-aural
” headphones) are popular because they can be made using lightweight materials and present a nice portable alternative to bulkier over-ear models. They also give you that more natural “open” sound and tend to allow more of the environment in since they don’t completely close off the surroundings like (closed) over-ear models. They are also a bit more portable than full over-ear headphones
and offer some comfort advantages as well.
are ideal for listeners who want a good level of comfort but in a more compact format than over-ear headphones. However, they are usually mediocre at blocking noise and often leak quite a bit of sound. On-ear headphones (also called “Supra-aural” headphones) are popular because they can be made using lightweight materials and present a nice portable alternative to bulkier over-ear models. They also give you that more natural “open” sound and tend to allow more of the environment in since they don’t completely close off the surroundings like (closed) over-ear models. They are also a bit more portable than full over-ear headphones and offer some comfort advantages as well.
Bluetooth
is a wireless technology that allows two devices to talk to each other. It can be used to pair any number of gadgets, such as a keyboard 
and a computer
, or a camera 
and a photo printer. One of the most common uses for Bluetooth, though, is to connect a wireless headset to your cell phone
. These headsets are called "Bluetooth headsets
" and allow you to use your phone hands-free, which can be safer and more convenient. Don't get confused with the above 3 categories and Bluetooth enabled headsets. All the above-mentioned category headphones are available with or without Bluetooth.
is a wireless technology that allows two devices to talk to each other. It can be used to pair any number of gadgets, such as a keyboard and a computer, or a camera and a photo printer. One of the most common uses for Bluetooth, though, is to connect a wireless headset to your cell phone. These headsets are called "Bluetooth headsets" and allow you to use your phone hands-free, which can be safer and more convenient. Don't get confused with the above 3 categories and Bluetooth enabled headsets. All the above-mentioned category headphones are available with or without Bluetooth.
When considering what Bluetooth headset to buy, keep in mind that not all headsets fit the same way. Mono Bluetooth headsets typically have an earbud that fits in your ear, and some also offer a loop or an ear hook that slides over the back of your ear for a more secure fit. You may not like the feel--or the size--of the ear hook, though, so consider trying headsets on before making a purchase. You also should look for a headset that offers a variety of earbuds and ear hooks; this allows you to mix and match so you can find a comfortable fit.
Stereo Bluetooth headsets can be either in-ear earbuds that are connected with a wire or some sort of loop, or they can be more like typical headphone, with larger pads that sit over your ears. Again, you should look for a headset that fits comfortably, as not all styles work for all users.
Whatever Bluetooth headset you pick, remember that these wireless devices
run on batteries. So consider the vendor's stated battery life when making a purchase.
run on batteries. So consider the vendor's stated battery life when making a purchase.
As mentioned previously, headphone categories include in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear models, as well as hybrid products that integrate headphones with built-in MP3 players
or RF (radio frequency) radios. Many products have the word "sport" or "fitness" somewhere in their names, but that doesn't mean that they'll work well for all sorts of athletics. A set that's perfect for bodybuilding might not make the grade for cycling, for example. Certain categories of products, such as IEMs (in-ear microphones) and bone-conductive models, are generally better suited for some sports than for others.
or RF (radio frequency) radios. Many products have the word "sport" or "fitness" somewhere in their names, but that doesn't mean that they'll work well for all sorts of athletics. A set that's perfect for bodybuilding might not make the grade for cycling, for example. Certain categories of products, such as IEMs (in-ear microphones) and bone-conductive models, are generally better suited for some sports than for others.
Beyond that, you should consider specific features—such as sound isolation, reflectiveness, or water resistance—you want your headphones to have. If you pursue multiple sports and fitness activities, you might want to pick up different headphones for different endeavors.
Noise-cancelling headphones are headphones that reduce unwanted ambient sounds using active noise control. This is distinct from passive headphones which, if they reduce ambient sounds at all, use techniques such as soundproofing.
Noise cancellation makes it possible to listen to music without raising the volume excessively. It can also help a passenger sleep in a noisy vehicle such as an airliner. In the aviation environment, noise-cancelling headphones increase the signal-to-noise ratio significantly more than passive noise attenuating headphones or no headphones, making hearing important information such as safety announcements easier. Noise-cancelling headphones can improve listening enough to completely offset the effect of a distracting concurrent activity.
Audiophile headphones are custom-tailored for maximum fidelity and uncompromising performance. They are the best of portable audio gear
. As expected, such high quality has to come with an equally premium price tag. Indeed, if you are intending on purchasing a pair of audiophile-grade headphones, be prepared to spend a lot of money. The cost starts with the headphones themselves and extends to other parts of the audio chain. Even the best headphones in the world can easily perform at a fraction of their maximum ability unless everything is of similar premium quality.
. As expected, such high quality has to come with an equally premium price tag. Indeed, if you are intending on purchasing a pair of audiophile-grade headphones, be prepared to spend a lot of money. The cost starts with the headphones themselves and extends to other parts of the audio chain. Even the best headphones in the world can easily perform at a fraction of their maximum ability unless everything is of similar premium quality.
It’s best to think of audiophile sound quality as a path you embark upon, rather than the ultimate goal. That way, you will get to enjoy a fantastic hobby without feeling the need to constantly throw large sums of money at it.
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