Portable, noise-cancelling, DJ, home use, gaming

Choosing headphones, aside from quality concerns, should be guided principally by the environment in which you choose to use them and the components with which you wish to use them. There are models suitable for very sophisticated systems that have the capability to offer advanced audio features such as surround sound and there are models that are built around being convenient for mobile technology applications.

Headphones which are intended to be used with portable players should be chosen for a combination of sound quality, comfort and for promoting battery life. Headphones require power to work. The amount of power they consume is expressed in ohms as impedance. The higher the number, the more power the headphones will consume. In general, mobile headphones should have a maximum impedance value of 60 ohms. Beyond that, battery life may be an issue.

Other concerns for mobile headphones include:

• Comfort, whether they are a ear bud, back of the head or traditional head band design
• Weight, be sure to choose a model that doesn't become heavy after long wear
• Awareness of your environment: In general, noise cancelling headphones are a bad idea on streets, when bicycling and when jogging. The ambient sounds should always be somewhat audible.

Headphones for home systems are generally more sophisticated than their mobile peers. Because home audio components are powered by home electric current, there is no need to be particularly concerned about impedance. Generally, the biggest concerns are how advanced one wishes to go. There are headphone models available that use advanced technology to offer surround sound, an excellent addition to one's home theater. Aside from the audio quality, the amount of isolation the listener prefers is usually the biggest concern.

Some headphone models cancel outside noise either by using noise blocking materials in their manufacture or by using electronic methods. These models are excellent choices for those who live in a noisy household. Noise cancelling headphones can make the movie watching and music listening experiences very intense. Some models also prevent audio from being heard outside of the headphones. For those who wish to watch movies at a comfortable volume at hours when it's inconvenient for others, these headphones are a great choice. They're also excellent for apartment-dwellers who prefer to watch movies and listen to music at odd hours.

Remember that headphones come with different jack sizes. Generally, home systems use a 1/4 inch jack and mobile systems a 1/8 inch jack. Adapters can allow one to use their headphones on systems with jacks of either size.

Keep in mind that listening via headphones means that the audio is focused directly in your ear canal. Listen at sensible volumes.

Types of headphones include:

Earcup/ On-ear
• open (backed) or closed (sealed back)

Circumaural
• can be noise-isolating

Supra-aural
• light pads that sit on the ear

Earbuds
• portable

Canalphones
• fitted for listener

Some quick facts about headphones…
• The Dynamic driver (or the moving coil) is the most common type of headphone
• The French government has limited all music systems from exceeding 100 dB (80 dB can cause damage to your hearing); every 3 dB is approximately double the sound
• Headphones were invented at the turn of the century for radio operators

Featured headphones

AKG K 271 Studio
: Studio professional quality stereo headphones

Klipsch Image X5
: lightweight in-ear design headphones

Jamo R 907
: noise canceling earbud headphone