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Wize Buying Guide for Headphones

Headphones Brands and Types

Do you want to purchase new headphones to improve the quality of your listening experience? Maybe you decided that you need headphones to block out ambient noise when listening to music. Headphones provide a quality listening experience to those who are in noisy environments, or just want the privacy. However, headphones are only as good as their design, and the quality of sound they provide. As you learn about all the brands and types on the market, the big question becomes "Which headphones I should buy?" Top brands include: Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, Koss, Panasonic , Phillips, and many more. Specific types include:

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

Considerations and Features

Serious thought should be given when figuring out the features of the headphones you want.

•   Ear Buds – uncomfortable if they do not fit the ear canal properly, but less intrusive

•   Behind the Head – tends to move around less, your ears don't get hot, more ambient noise sneaks in, good for driving or riding a bike because you hear the traffic around you

•   Closed – cushioning over the headphone head, largely eliminates environmental sounds, tends to resonate sound more, which in turn results in reduced sound quality

•   Open – quality sound, but lets in ambient noise, ears do not get hot

•   Noise Canceling – excellent for traveling because it eliminates droning sounds like aircraft engines, works well in noisy environments

•   Wireless – blue tooth compatible, there are mixed reviews on quality of sound

•   Voice Only – designed for communication and intercom systems

•   Gaming – usually provides 5.1 surround sound capability, less ambient noise

•   Frequency Range – the frequency range for human hearing is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, anything advertised outside this range may only be felt

•   SPL Rating – decibel (db) level of sound, listening continuously to sound at 80 db may result in permanent hearing loss, spikes to 130 db will result in hearing loss

Price Ranges

Prices range from less than $10 to greater than $800. The rule of thumb with Headphones is that you pay for what you get.

Additional Tips

Once you have narrowed your headphones choice(s) be sure to remember:

•    Compatibility: Does the headphone plug fit your audio player?
•    Wireless: Are they compatible with your audio player? Be sure to determine if any software required to install
•    Sound: Difficult to check in stores because of the packaging, and in the case of demo models store acoustics can be problematic. You best bet is try your fiends out if you can, do your pre-purchase homework regarding quality and fit.
•    Features: Are they open or closed? Do they fit from over the head or from behind the ears?
•    Ear buds: see if it has removable and extra sizes for proper fitting
•    Construction: If they feel well built it means they will probably last longer.
•    Weight: The heavier over the head style will get bothersome after a period of time, but the lightweight ones may indicate a poor of quality sound
•    Head Band Cushion: This is important for over the head style

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