Based on materials from androidcentral.com
Any smartphone owner needs headphones. This material contains a few tips for those who want to go a little further than using a complete pair, so audiophiles are clearly not included in its target audience …
Nobody is going to tell you what these specific headphones should go and buy. The goal will rather be to tell you how to navigate in the real sea of various headphones that various manufacturers are trying to sell you. So let's go.
What type of headphone do you need?
First of all, you have a choice of several types of headphones, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. And you need to understand why you are purchasing them. If only for the sake of consuming various media content, then you do not need models with a microphone. But the microphone is very convenient when, in addition to listening to music, you also want to answer calls, and its presence adds to the price of the headphones.
In this article, we will not talk about Bluetooth, because this is a separate topic for a separate article. Let's assume that we are talking about a device that is stuck into a phone or tablet – or that there you have a sound that you are going to listen to through these headphones.
In-ear headphones. Many people love them. They are small, comfortable to wear, subtle, and can sound good if you choose a good model. In addition, in most cases they are considerably cheaper than other types. The disadvantages are that if you are actively moving, it is difficult for them to stay in places, that they can be uncomfortable, and that it is impossible to get good loud bass in them.
On-ear headphones. It's about the middle ground between earbuds and large, over-ear DJ models. They sound better, you have a variety of models to choose from, and they are not big enough to fit in your bag. But stealth is more difficult here.
Over-ear headphones. For people who want to get the most out of sound and who are not worried about how they look with such a device on their heads. These models are large in size, there is no talk of their invisibility, and they also have to be constantly carried on yourself. On-ear headphones can be open type, when you keep in touch with the outside world, and closed, providing complete noise isolation. In both cases, they will give you the best possible sound when listening on the go.
How to choose them?
There are many factors influencing the search for headphones, and if you ask a dozen people which brand to choose, you can get a dozen different answers. Do not fall into the trap of fashion and do not seek to buy the most popular and talked about model – instead, look for something that suits you personally.
The sound profile is the most important characteristic if you plan to mainly use headphones for listening to music. Headphone drivers are designed and engineered to emphasize specific audio frequencies. 'Audiophile' models have a profile called 'flat' – everything from low-frequency bass to high-frequency sounds is transmitted more or less the same.
Most headphones sound so that the ends of the range – low and high frequencies – are more emphasized than the middle. You will notice the difference with the naked eye. Headphones with a flat profile in the description will usually have characteristics like 'monitor' or 'studio', and tuned to emphasize some frequencies will have instructions like 'Extra Bass'. Premium headphones should be tuned to make the highs and lows stand out with a good-sounding mids.
Now about the price. This is often the most important characteristic. Some people will willingly spend thousands of dollars on headphones, and headphones exist for them (and sound great). And the rest should just remember that you get exactly what you pay for. You can buy a couple of 'plugs' at the supermarket checkout, but they won't make you happy. And you can overpay for the name on the box.
In general, go for brands that are known for making quality electronics, look for a model within a reasonable price range, and then read user reviews.
Impedance. It's an electronics term, but you're bound to come across it when looking for good headphones. To explain what this will mean to you, you have to go a little deeper into the technical jungle. You need to match the output impedance of the source with the input impedance of the electrical load to maximize power transfer and minimize signal loss. If it's not clear yet, that's okay.
Your phone has a certain 'level' of power output at the headphone jack. You need to make sure the headphones you buy perform well at this level. Modern packaging and advertising make it easier than you think. If your phone doesn't advertise any 'Hi-Fi Audio', you need headphones made specifically for smartphones or iPods. Simple tip: Look for something like 'designed for iPod' headphones if you don't want to read the specs.
If your device has a declared DAC and a premium amplifier, values around 60 ohms will suit you, but if you want to choose decent headphones for your smartphone, you will have to think about the characteristics. Internet to help.
Frequency response. It measures what sounds the headphones can transmit. The wider the range, the more sounds. If you are looking for a premium solution, look for headphones that range from 10 Hz to 20 kHz.
If there are other characteristics that can be considered, such as sensitivity or driver size – but that is if you want to start looking into the matter more seriously. The above will be enough to find the right headphones. And, of course, if there is an opportunity to listen to the model before buying, this should be done. Reviews and specs don't mean anything if you don't like the way the headphones sound.
My headphones
This is not a recommendation, but rather a starting point in your search. Below I will cover what I use and why, as well as what I want to buy.
I rarely use earbuds – they give me discomfort, and none of them tend to stay in my ears longer. But I have a pair that I carry in my bag – Samsung Level In-Ear. I like them because they are well tuned, they have a long cable that does not get tangled, a remote control and microphone (I also use them to talk on the phone), and a large selection of eartips so they fit better in my ears than many others. models that I have tried. Well, they sound decent for earbuds.
The most satisfying headphones in my price range are the Sony MDR7506 on-ear headphones. The most important selection criterion here is a fairly flat profile and a relatively low cost (from 8 thousand rubles in Russia). They are large and the thick cord is difficult to get tangled. However, they are comfortable and sound pretty good to my taste. These headphones, along with my V10, are always with me if I am going to listen to music. I love them, and I also know that if I break them or lose them, the cost of the loss is only $ 80.
My friend has a closed Oppo PM-3. Having borrowed them for a while, I am now going to buy these for myself. They do not cost crazy money ($ 400 or about 30 thousand rubles), but this is not an impulse purchase, especially since we are talking about headphones that I already liked. I spent a lot of time listening to headphones in stores (excuse the guy who came to 'just look') and I think these Oppo headphones sound great for my taste.
And remember – someone else's opinion can be very helpful, but don't shop without researching the issue. For example, if you love bass, you won't say anything good about the headphones that I love. But if you take the above tips even a little into account, you will probably be able to buy yourself some great headphones.
Jerry Guildenbrand with Android Central