Headphones and What's Important To Know

Shure E5c Sound Isolating Earphones.

These versatile devices improves our lives with the many great uses they do for you and I. From giving us mobility and privacy as well as being compatible with computers to enjoy our video games with great sound.

We can choose from many designs and types. Of course, the type you purchase all depends on how you want to listen to your music, how much money you're willing to spend, and a biggy...how much comfort you want. The current main name brands are: Ultrasone, Sennheiser, Koss, AKG, Sony, Panasonic, SkullCandy, Shure, Motorola, Etymotic Research, Audio Technica and many others.

1. Canalphones... these go inside the ear canals and because they block outside noise are called passive noise reducing earphones. Examples: Ultimate Ears Super FI5, Shure E5C, Etymotic Research ER-4. Compact and portable with very good sound quality.
2. Earbuds...are the main type that normally come with iPods. They go in the outer ear and sort of just hang there. Normally considered the poorest quality and most dangerous to a person's hearing. Why? Because they don't block any outside noise. So, to hear them properly the volume is usually turned up to dangerous hearing levels. Usually average to poor sound quality.
3. Circumaural... these are big and cover your ears. Examples: Sennheiser 695, Ultrasone Proline 750, AKG K701. These are normally considered to be the "best" of the "best in sound. They are the largest physically so not well suited to carrying with your Ipod, but also provide the highest sound quality.
4. Supra aural... these go on top of your ears. Examples: Sennheiser PXC300, Koss Porta Pro, Sennheiser PXC250. Somewhat smaller size than the circumaural. Many times this design is used in noise cancelling headphones.
5. Noise Cancelling...like the name says, these cancel outside noise. There are basically two different types. They are:

a. Active noise cancelling... these use electronic circuitry to match and cancel the ouside sounds the electronics hears. Result? Most of the popular reducing units reduce the outside noise about 19db.
b. Passive noise reduction... these are mostly the in the ear canal type of earphone. By being in the ear, they essentially block the outside noise by plugging up the ear.

There are different drivers in a headphone. (the drivers are what make the sound quality either good or bad). Drivers range from the cheapest ferrite dynamic driver to better electrostatic diaphragms.

Other factors on which you can choose the headphone are the backing and how you want to wear them.

1. Open backing... Will not usually give good sound quality due to the surrounding disturbances (outside noise).
2. Closed backing... blocks outside noise better than the open backed ones.

Remember, try to get the best headphone you can afford. Not only will get better listening enjoyment, the better headphones can actually protect your hearing more than the cheaper quality (means more volume) sound devices.