2023-11-24 15:03:07
Choosing a headset may seem like an easy task initially, but over time, I realized that it’s not quite like that. I discovered that it’s not enough to look for the cheapest or the most durable, for example. True satisfaction in using a headset will appear when a set of characteristics is met.
What to consider when buying a headset?
Points to consider when choosing the ideal headset. Source: Unsplash (Photo by Dollar Gill)
When purchasing a headset, you should analyze the environments where you are routinely located, the types of activities that are normally carried out, the quality of the materials, the warranty policy and the price range you are willing to invest.
1 – The environments where you are and their characteristics
To start determining which headphones to buy, the first thing to do is list the environments where you normally are and observe the noise level (noise) and the average temperature that each of them has. This is important, as the objective is to hear the sound reproduced by the headphones clearly, without the need to increase the volume excessively, and not to suffer from thermal discomfort.
If there is a lot of noise in the places you go frequently, opt for in-ear headphones (those that are inserted into the ear canal) or on-ear headphones (these have ear pads (“cushions”) that are over the ears). They must also be closed-back.
A closed headphone is one that has the “back” (or “bottom”) of its body closed, featuring a solid piece made of plastic, metal alloy or wood. In on-ear headphones, the part where there is a solid piece is called ear cups. In the in-ears, this same region is called “faceplate”.
The great advantage of using closed-back headphones is passive isolation, where their structure itself helps to attenuate ambient noise. Depending on the headphone model, this isolation can be considerably more efficient than ANC (Active Noise Cancelling). An example of this are CIEMs (Custom In-Ear Monitor), which I explained regarding in this article.
2 – Activities that are normally carried out
The second issue to consider before purchasing a headset is the number of hours you will spend with it throughout the day. The reason for this is due to the fact that there are different types of headphones, which will provide different levels of comfort, which may vary according to the format and material used.
3 – Quality of headphone materials
Assessing the material quality of a headphone before purchasing it is tricky. But one way to find out if there are fragility problems with the product is by accessing groups on social media, Reddit and forums (in Portuguese and English).
However, in the case of ear pads (“cushions”) on over-ear and on-ear headphones, there is something that can be avoided right away. Those made from materials that imitate leather (made of PVC/PU) tend to peel over time and make the ear very hot.
Another issue worth taking into consideration is the quality of the headphone cable. If your headphone cable started to feel bad following just a short time of use, it might be worth considering buying one that is of better quality, even if it costs more than the headphone itself. However, this only applies to headphones that have a detachable cable.
If you don’t want to spend on an extra cable anytime soon and don’t want to spend a lot on the phone, look for models that have a fixed cable. Generally, US$20 (R$100) headphones with a fixed cable tend to have better cable quality than those that have 2-pin or MMCX connectors.
4 – The warranty policy
The warranty policy is extremely important for Bluetooth headphones, as they tend to have a higher rate of problems compared to wired ones. The biggest reason for this is the use of several extra components in addition to the speakers (drivers). The battery and charging contact are usually the biggest culprits in causing a headset to stop working, but you may also encounter failures or inconsistencies in signal transmission via Bluetooth due to a hardware (parts) or software (firmware and application installed on the cell phone).
5 – The price range you are willing to invest
Before simply looking for the cheapest headphones, it is important to define a price range and from there see which model is the most cost-effective.
Bonus: Invest in headphone audio equipment
Using the 3.5mm headphone jack on your notebook, desktop, cell phone or tablet to test headphones is a big mistake. The reason for this is the high impedance of the headphone output on these devices, in addition to the low output power. Therefore, if you do not use a USB DAC/amp, there will be a major limitation to the optimal reproduction of headphone sounds.
The exception to the rule are, in part, Bluetooth headphones, which have an integrated DAC/amp (inside the housing). However, if you have an iPhone, for example, you will be limited to the Bluetooth AAC and SBC audio codecs, which are rudimentary compared to aptX and LDAC, for example.
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