Headphones That Cut Out External Noise

Canalphones

- those that fit directly into the ear channel

- are probably the best choice if you want to cut out peripheral noise.

When these headphones are used in a very noisy environment they are much safer for the user since the volume does not have to set very high.

The canalphones cut out much of the background noise thereby alleviating the need for volume which potentially could damage the listener's hearing.

Imagine having to communicate with colleagues in an airport. The background noise of airplanes landing and taking off is incredible and the volume would have to be set at excruciatingly painful levels.

Then imagine this going on 10 hours per day every day. The hearing of the listener would surely be damaged very soon.

Or what about that busy sales office with phones, people and copy machines clattering away all day. The canalphone allows the listener to set the sound at a comfortable level without damage to the eardrum.

The canalphone is also good for home use. If the kids are noisy, the TV on, the vacuuming being done, you can shut yourself off from all of this noise and listen to that seminar that you have to write a report on!

Young people are the inadvertent victims of hearing loss through inappropriate sound levels. What better way to help them than replacing their headsets with the canalphones.
Not only do they look 'cool' but they ensure the noise does not have to be too loud. Read more...

Headphones Around or On the Ear?

Headphones come in four styles but for the avid music listener the choice really comes down to two styles.

Circum-aural

- pads that sit around the ear, or supra-aural

- pads that sit directly on the ear.

Both have good and bad points and choice can also depend on how much you want to pay.

With the supra-aural headphones the user can feel that the instrument is playing next to the ear giving good and sharp clarity However, this may sound strange to some people since we are used to a more muffled sound.

With the circum-aural headphones the sound is just that

- a little muffled

- but it is a more natural sound.

Imagine sitting in a concert hall. You are not right next to the instruments so you don't get that sharp clarity that the "supra" headphones give.

Of course, the choice is up to the user and what they want out of their headset.

Then there is the headphone that is used primarily in the recording studio. These are usually full sized "circum" style headphones that have soft material on the ear pads to block out sound.

Some have a built-in switch to automatically cut the sound when the headphone is taken off. A much needed feature if recording is going on.

No matter which is your preference on headphones, perhaps the one thing that people do not consider is comfort. If you live in hot climes be sure to get the sets with velvet type pads. Plastic can get very sticky. Read more...

Which Headphones Are Right for You?

There are many headphone sets on offer but they basically fall into four different categories - in-ear, earbuds, supra-aural or circumaural.
All have their different uses and are usually used in specific instances.

Recording studios and the like usually use the circumaural headphones. These have those large round earpads that fit over the ears completely and cut out peripheral sounds. Real sound enthusiasts sometimes use these too.

Supra-aural headphones are the foam rubber covered headsets that sit on the outside of the ear and used to given free with personal stereos or on airlines. They were the cheap and cheerful alternative in those days.

Earbuds are the headphones that are the bane of commuter's life! They sit on the outer part of the ear but does not cut out peripheral noise.

Users usually pump up the volume to compensate for this and leave fellow travelers with the incredibly irritating overflow of tinny sound.
These headphones can cause damage to hearing and also cause distraction when crossing roads or similar. The volume is set so high that normal everyday sounds are drowned out.

Very dangerous!

Last but not least are the in-ear headphones sometimes known as canalphones. As the name implies they are placed directly into the ear canal giving good quality sound and banning peripheral noise.

It may be that you will want a different set of headphones for different circumstances. Be aware though that some are dangerous in both hearing loss and where accidents can occur. Choose wisely. Read more...

Wireless Headphones

If you don't want dangling wires and wires stretched from your music system to wherever you are sitting then you should try out the new wireless, or cordless, headsets.

Bluetooth technology - so named after the King of Denmark in the 10th Century when he united Denmark and Norway - has made this a very simple choice.

All it takes is to place a "dongle" - a small box with a small jack plug - into your music system. The headphones and dongle are then "paired" electronically and you are set to go!

Apart from the usual requirements of headphones - good sound quality, comfort, hands free design etc. - some people just want to look "cool" when it comes to wearing headsets.

The Bluetooth technology allows the user to wear headphones without the trailing wires and styles have certainly improved of late.

I - Phone have come up with a design which looks a little odd. The behind the neck bar attaches to large, egg-shaped ear pieces and are not for everyone.

They look a little theatrical in style and basically are just too big to look "cool". A pointer to watch out for when purchasing new headphones is to try them on for size.

This headsets' bar stood out from the back of the neck way too far.

Whether you want the smaller, more fashionable, or more portable headphones always make sure you get what is right for you in terms of comfort, style and price. Buy the best you can afford for longevity. Read more...

Noise Reducing Headphones

Have you ever been the victim of suffering unwanted noise whether it be in the home or your work environment?

The answer is in a set of headphones that are specifically made to cancel out the offending sound.

They work by producing an "anti-noise" device in the headset. Simply speaking, if a noise is made with the opposite polarity of the offending noise then it cancels it out!

This means that music can be listened to at a lower volume or indeed the intrepid air traveler can sleep on a noisy aircraft.

The anti-noise system was created, not for the home user, but for the workers who are around aircraft or heavy machinery. It was applied to headsets for long haul pilots and eventually for home users.

Some airlines offer the sound canceling headphones in their first-class sections. The "anti-noise" can even be played back through the headrests making a far more peaceful environment for traveling long distances.

The continuous hum of aircraft engines can be rather disconcerting on long flights.

However, if you really want to cut out background noise while you concentrate on the music or perhaps that seminar recording, this type of headphone will be beneficial.

It appears that you only get what you pay for. Some of these headsets can be bought for under $100 but the sound canceling qualities are not as good as the high end headphones.

Here you can pay upwards of $300 - $400. A high price to pay for a little peace and quiet! Read more...

Upgrading Your Headphones

Many pieces of portable equipment on offer today come with their own headphones as standard. But that is exactly what they are-standard!

For a little extra spending the sound quality can be improved tremendously.

Many ipods and mp3 players come with the 'ear-bud' type headphones but for as little as $20 dollars you can get a 'clip-on' style that fits over the ear much like a pair of spectacles.

Design has improved of late and the earpiece does tend to stay where it was supposed to stay.

For something that looks a little more "cool" the style on the street is the "behind the head" style headphones.

These became popular some time back and the improvement in sound justifies the price tag of about $50 for the better quality sets.

Beware though, not all of us have the same size head and trying it on for size is a must! Also, some of these are 'open' style which means sounds can leak out and in.

Be careful if you want to use them in quiet areas e.g. libraries etc.

Then come the "fold down" portables. Less portable than the others mentioned here but still good quality sound. Some fold down flat and are great for packing but others fold into a ball like shape. These can prove difficult to carry around.

So for less than $50 - in some cases $20 - the sound from your equipment can be improved tremendously. If you really like music perhaps you should give this a try! Read more...

Headphones

Headphones have come a long way in the past one hundred years. Back then they consisted of a single earpiece held tightly against one ear and was the only way anyone could listen to transmitted sound.

This was before the days of amplifiers. Headphones were usually use in radio stations and not the home market.

Today, however, there is virtually no one who has not heard of, or used, a set of headphones. They have literally exploded in popularity since the onset of mobile phones, mp3 players, ipods and the like.

The most common used wires to connect the headpiece to the equipment and this restricted the movements of the user to within range - in other words, as far as the wire would stretch!

The advent of the wireless headphones set the user free to move about whilst listening to the preferred channel.

The introduction of Bluetooth technology has given the user freedom unparalleled in history. The headset 'hooks' on to the sound being transmitted from as far as ten meters away.

Since most people carry the transmitter - be it mobile phone with radio or mp3 players - with them distance is not a problem.

However, imagine being able to move around your house while listening to your favorite music without blasting the neighbors!

Perhaps the best thing about today's headsets is the quality of sound. The music is beamed directly to your ears without the distraction of peripheral noise.

You truly are in a world of your own whether you are running or lying in your bed! Read more...