If you are planning to grab a pair of headphones, you’d probably be interested in looking at the different types available. In-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, over-ear headphones, and Bluetooth headphones are some of the options you should be looking at. There is also a considerable amount of jargon to deal with as far as headphones audio is concerned. Here are some common terms you will have to encounter while shopping for headphones.
Frequency Response
This audio specification essentially indicates the range of sound that the headphones can produce. Measured in hertz (Hz), this spec is usually described as a range with the lowest and highest frequency coming in first and second, respectively. The frequency response range varies considerably. But headphones with a wider frequency range of produce relatively better sounds.
Noise Isolation and Noise Cance
llation
These two parameters might sound similar despite meaning entirely different things. Noise isolation, for instance, describes the earphones ability to block outside noise from getting into your ear. Active noise cancellation, on the other hand, relies on special microphones that actively cancel out unwanted sounds. The result is similar, but their working is entirely different.
Soundstage
Soundstage essentially describes the earphone’s ability to convince your brain that the sound is coming from a certain direction. This feature varies from one set of headphones to another, though over-ear headphones tend to be much better than smaller in-ear headphones. Earbuds pump sound into the ear, which makes it difficult for them to create an illusion for space.
These three features are important while looking for a pair of headphones. Nevertheless, while assessing the features, it is worthwhile to examine how you will be using your headphones.
