by LShun » 09 Nov 2016, 13:29 Headphones is a type of sound output device that specializes at outputting sound at high quality in short distance ( compared to speakers which can also output sound at high quality, but in long distance ). Headphones has two main purposes that most people seek: privacy and isolation. Buying a pair of headphones is sometimes tricky. The best headphones may not be the most expensive ones, some headphone might offer a good feature set but loses to competitors of similar price point in certain points. We will go through a few of some of the useful tips that will help you to decide on your headphone should you buy one.
1. What type of headphones are you seeking
There are a few main options to go down if you decide on buying a pair of headphones.
i) In-ear headphones - This type of headphones reaches until your ear canal to provide sound output. The good points are they provide near perfect sound isolation, and doesn't fall off easily, and also nice comfort levels. The bad side is the noise isolation might be a security concern which could endanger you especially in unsafe areas.
ii) On-ear headphones ( or supra-aural headphones ). This type of headphones sit directly on the ear. They are cheaper than over-the-ear headphones, but tend to be uncomfortable to wear for long periods as they sits directly on the ear.
iii) Over-the-ear headphones ( or circumaural headphones ). This type of headphones sits over the ear with large earcups. They provide good noise isolation or cancellation depending on the wearer, and good comfort. However, they are more expensive compared to other type of headphones for similar quality.
iv) Headset. This type of headphones combine a microphone with a pair of headphones. They are pretty all-in-one, cutting out the need for a purchase of another microphone.
2. Research before you buy.
This is pretty much a rule of thumb when buying a pair of headphones. Simply researching before buying will let you know about the build quality, the sound quality, how it compares to other products and its value for price. Failing to do this step might result in getting a subpar headphones, a headphone with bad build quality that doesn't last long, and much more possibilities. A quick search on Google will reveal a lot of results regarding the pair of headphones you want to get. The more you know, the better it is.
Some main things to watch out for when doing a research is the frequency of the reviews. A single bad review might be suspicious, but more than a dozen of them gives you a general idea. You should also watch out for the customer support in dealing with problematic products. A lack of customer support activity does not mean that the product isn't good, but it might be a clear sign that this manufacturer is something that you want to question yourself twice before buying what they build.
3. Check for alternatives
Wanting to get a pair of headphones immediately is something that everyone will agree when they see the headphone that they like. However, advertisement ( or what you see ) might not prove itself to be the best. Look for alternatives to what you are intending to buy. For example, you might want to get a pair of headphones from a particular brand you know for its superb quality. However, with some research you might found out that it offers less bang for buck compared to another particular brand.
In conclusion, by thinking and doing research before purchasing a pair of headphones could mean the difference between satisfied and having buyer's remorse. What you want might not be what you expect.
