How To Choose a Headphones for Listening at Home
If you are looking for headphones for listening at home, we recommend models with an over the head design and without a microphone. Compared to comparable in-ear headphones (earplugs and buds), they are more comfortable and play better. At the same time, they will cost you a little less than a similar model with a microphone.
What is important when choosing headphones for home listening?
Connection
Wired headphones
Compared to similar wireless headphones, they usually play a little better. They do not lose quality during transmission. The disadvantage is that your freedom of movement is limited by the length of the cable.
Wireless headphones
The great advantage of wireless headphones is that they provide freedom of movement. They are connected to the sound source, not by a cable, but wirelessly, most often via Bluetooth. Unlike wired headphones, they are (usually) powered by pencil or micro-pencil batteries. They can be recharged, either in the supplied charging case or with a USB cable. Nowadays, it is no longer the case that wireless headphones necessarily have to play worse. They match the plug models reliably, and nowadays many models will satisfy even the most demanding listeners.
What devices do you connect wired headphones to? What to watch out for?
- You connect them to a laptop and desktop computer via a 3.5 mm jack or USB.
- Wired headphones can usually only be connected to a mobile phone, tablet, MP3 or other portable player via a 3.5mm Jack.
Tip: If you want to use your headphones with a mobile phone, tablet, or portable player, make sure that the device has the same connector as the headset. Watch out for headphones equipped with a 6.3mm Jack. In the vast majority of cases, you won't be able to connect them to a laptop, desktop computer, mobile phone, tablet or portable player if they don't come with an adapter.
Tip 2: Headphones with two jack connectors can only be connected to smartphones, tablets and laptops with one jack connector using an adapter.
What types of wireless headphones are there, and what devices can be connected to them?
Bluetooth headphones usually need to be within 10 meters of the device from which you are playing music. For them to work properly, it is essential that the device to which you plan to connect them is also equipped with Bluetooth technology. You can connect Bluetooth headphones to most smartphones, tablets, and also to some laptops and desktop computers.
True Wireless headphones Bluetooth headphones, which are free of any wires, so the user has absolute freedom of movement with them. They offer an average of 5 hours on a single charge (with a case in which they have their "base charge" of up to 24 hours), they can be completely hands-free or come with a control directly on the plugs/ buds.
You can only connect WiFi (radio frequency) headphones with a USB transmitter to a desktop computer or laptop. Just insert the included USB receiver into your computer's USB port. It then transmits music to the headphones up to a distance of about 10 meters.
You can connect WiFi (radio frequency) headphones with a broadcasting station to a computer, laptop and television. Whether you will be able to connect them to portable devices (mobile phone, tablet and others) depends on the connectors of the broadcasting station. When connected to a compatible device, it transmits sound / music to headphones across a distance of up to 100 meters.
- RCA connector – for connection to a television and some computers or laptops.
- 3.5mm Jack – for connection to most smartphones, tablets and portable players.
- Optical audio cable – for connection to a TV and some computers or laptops.
Tip: Before buying headphones, always make sure that the device to which you plan to connect them is equipped with the same/ corresponding technology or the connector needed to connect the headphones.
Construction
Open
Open design headphones offer more faithful music reproduction with less distortion. The disadvantage is the greater transmission of sound out of the headphones, so playing at a louder volume is more likely to disturb those around you. At the same time, it muffles the surrounding sound less, so you are more likely to hear people talking in the room.
Closed
The closed design dampens the surrounding noise much more, so you can enjoy your music even on a busy street. It also doesn't let the sound out of the headphones, so your very loud music will be less disturbing to others.
Semi-closed
The semi-closed design is a compromise between open and closed headphones. At normal volume, they will partially attenuate the surrounding noise, and again the surroundings will hear your music to some extent.
Sensitivity and impedance
Sensitivity
This is the acoustic power of the headphones, which is given in dB / Wm. With higher sensitivity, the headphones play louder and consume less power, which you will appreciate if you connect them to devices with batteries (such as a mobile phone, tablet, MP3 player, and also a laptop that is not connected to a network).
Impedance
This is a designation for the electrical resistance of the converters in the headphones. Impedance also affects the volume and power consumption of headphones. In addition, it also affects the quality (faithfulness) of music reproduction. The lower the impedance of the headphones, the less energy they consume and the louder, but less accurately they play.
What headphones are best for use with a desktop computer or laptop?
If you only connect headphones to a desktop computer, you don't need to pay any attention to sensitivity and impedance (just don't choose headphones with an impedance greater than 130-150 Ohms - higher than this/ without an amplifier they could play too quietly or not at all). The same applies for a laptop as for a desktop computer. The only exception is if you will be solely/ primarily using a laptop powered by its own battery, not/ rarely plugged into the mains. Then choose headphones with a lower impedance up to 50-60 Ohms and a sensitivity above 100 dB / Wm. The laptop’s battery will then last longer.
Will you often connect headphones to portable players (mobile phones, tablets, MP3s and more)?
If you will also use the headphones with portable players, we recommend choosing a model with a sensitivity above 100 dB / Wm and an impedance of up to 50-60 Ohms. Such headphones will not consume as much battery power and will play loudly enough.
At what impedance do I need an amplifier?
You will need an amplifier for headphones with an impedance greater than about 200-250 Ohms (it always depends on the specific model).
Frequency range
Measured in Herz (Hz), this states what frequencies of sound the headphones can reproduce (the average adult hears frequencies from 16 Hz to 16,000 Hz (kHz)). Nowadays, this is only an indicative figure, which is not very informative.
To determine the frequency range of the headphones correctly, it is important to know at what attenuation they are measured. According to recognized standards, it should be measured at an attenuation of +/- 3 dB. However, many manufacturers test their models at much higher attenuation values, or do not state this value at all.
Power cable length
For headphones for home listening, it ranges from a few tens of cm to 6 meters. Choose the cable length based on your needs. If you are looking for wired headphones that you will also use to listen to the TV, we recommend a model with a cable at least 1 meter longer than the distance between the TV and the viewing point. This will avoid unpleasant cable tension.
Glossary - headphones
Earphones/ Ear cushion
The part of the headphones that comes in contact with the ear. Earphones are soft and comfortable even when listening for several hours. They are made of suede, fabric or artificial leather.
Head band
The head band connects the shells of the headphones. It can be made of iron or steel, or plastic for cheaper headphones. The head band is usually designed so that it can be adjusted to fit different head sizes.
Shells
The shell is the name for the part of the headphones in which the components through which it produces sound are located. Headphones are fitted with earbuds on the inside, which makes the use of the headphones comfortable. The designation "shell" is associated primarily with over the head headphones (those with a headband). This designation is not used with earpods.
Other concepts
Performance
You will only use them at home
If you know that you will use the headphones primarily at home, we recommend over-the-head models (headphones on or around the ears). Compared to similarly priced earplugs and buds, they play better and tend to be more comfortable when listening for long periods of time.
You will occasionally use them outdoors and on the road
If you plan to use the headphones universally (i.e including outdoors), choose either on-ear headphones (usually smaller and lighter than the headphones around the ears) or in-ear headphones (earplugs or buds), which are small and light. They easily fit in your pocket or backpack. However, do not expect such high-quality playback compared to similarly priced over-the-head headphones. They will also be less comfortable when listening for longer.
Tip: We do not recommend keeping earplugs/buds in for more than 2-3 hours. After this time, they become uncomfortable for most users.