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How to Buy Headphones

Do you want to purchase new headphones to improve the quality of your listening experience? Maybe you have just decided that you need headphones to block out all the surrounding noise where you live when listening to music. Headphones are very popular because they provide quality listening experiences to those who are in noisy environments or just want privacy. However headphones are only as good as their design and quality of sound. As you look at all the brands and types that are on the market, the major question is which headphones I should buy?

Headphones Brands and Types

Brands include: Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, Koss, Audio Tech, Phillips, and many more. Types include:

* Behind the Head wrap around from behind the head
* Ear Buds popular ear plug type
* Over the Head typical headphone style
* Versatile can be used like any of the three other styles

Considerations should be taken seriously when deciding the features of headphones you want. Features and considerations include:

* Ear Buds uncomfortable if they do not fit ear canal properly, less intrusive
* Behind the Head move less, ears do not get hot, hear more ambient nose, good for driving or riding a bike because you hear traffic around you
* Closed cushioned over the top of the head style headphones, eliminate noisy environment sounds, tend to resonate sound more which result in reduced quality sound
* Open quality sound that lets in ambient noise, ears do not get hot
* Noise Canceling excellent for traveling to eliminate droning sounds like aircraft engines, work well in noisy environments
* Wireless blue tooth compatible, mixed reviews on quality of sound
* Voice Only designed for communication and intercom systems
* Gaming provide 5.1 surround sound capability, less ambient noise
* Frequency Range humans hear 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, anything advertised outside this range may only be felt
* SPL Rating decibel (db) level of sound with or without volume adjust, listening continuously to sound at 80 db may result in permanent hearing loss, spikes to 130 db will result in hearing loss

Range of Prices from less than $10 to $800 and sometimes more.

Buying Headphones: once you have narrowed your headphones choice(s) visit your local store and check out its features:

* Compatibility: headphone plug fits your audio player
* Wireless: compatible with your audio player, determine if any software required to install
* Sound: difficult to accomplish in stores because of packaging and store acoustics, try your fiends out if you can, do your home work before shopping regarding quality and fit
* Features: open or closed, over the head or behind the head
* Ear buds: see if it has removable and extra sizes for proper fitting
* Construction: well built means it will last longer
* Weight: heavy over the head style will get bothersome after a period of time, light weight may result in loss of quality sound
* Head Band Cushion: important for over the head style

Learn more about this author, David Wetzel.
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