Smartphone headphones are an indispensable accessory. They allow you to listen to music, watch movies, receive calls, and use instant messengers. The headset that comes with gadgets often does not offer the best quality. Therefore, users buy headphones separately. We will help you understand the range of modern devices and choose the best.
Wired And Wireless Headphones: The Main Pros And Cons
The first thing you need to decide when buying a headset is how to connect to the device. It is impossible to say unequivocally which option is better. Each type has strengths and weaknesses.
Wired Headphones
These headphones do not have a battery, so they cannot be discharged at the most inopportune moment. Of the shortcomings, wires can be distinguished, which causes slight inconvenience. For example, headphones left in a bag or pocket get confused. A person cannot immediately connect the device to a smartphone and spends time unwinding the knot.
Another important nuance: not all modern phones have a 3.5 jack connector for connecting a wired headset. So, owners of the latest generations of iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S will not be able to connect standard headphones.
Wireless Headphones
They have no wires, which means that a person’s freedom of action is not limited. True, it is important to monitor the built-in battery – it requires regular recharging. There are two types of wireless headsets:
- Headphones are interconnected by a short wire or rim
- Headphones are two separate miniature devices connected to each other and to a smartphone via Bluetooth
The latter is more compact, and a special case with a built-in battery is used to recharge them. As a rule, one charge of the case is enough for 2-4 recharging of the headphones themselves.
Headphone Types
We figured out wired and wireless, and now let’s move on to the advantages and features of individual types.
In-Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones are quite common. Some smartphone manufacturers immediately include them in the package. The plastic earbuds are compact, easy to insert, and fit well in the ears. However, these headphones do not have high-quality sound, especially budget and mid-budget models. They also cannot provide complete noise cancellation.
Vacuum Headphones
Such headphones are also called “droplets” or “plugs.” They are superior to in-ear headphones in terms of sound quality and provide good sound isolation. By inserting them into your ears, you will hear much less extraneous noise. True, there is a drawback – “plugs” cannot be used for a long time. If you listen to music without interruption, you can damage your hearing due to the proximity of the earpiece to the auditory membrane.
On-Ear Headphones
These headphones have an arc with which they are kept on the head. At its ends are bowls with sound membranes. On-ear headphones completely cover the auricles, providing good isolation from extraneous noise. There are also compact models that are adjacent to the ears but do not completely cover them.
The advantage of such a headset is good sound quality and tight bass. If you’re buying headphones to listen to music on your smartphone, over-ear models are best. Before buying such a headset, it is better to try it on. Some on-ear headphones can put a lot of pressure on your ears and may not always be adjustable.
How To Choose Headphones For A Smartphone
When choosing headphones, you need to consider what and in what conditions they will be used. Athletes fit “droplets,” which are tightly inserted into the ears and do not fall out when running and doing other activities. If you need a headset for telephone conversations, you can buy i7s tws earbuds or vacuum headphones connected by a wire or an arc. They can always hang around the neck and be inserted into the ears only when necessary.
When choosing headphones, it is necessary to take into account some technical features.
Sensitivity
The sound volume depends on this parameter. For comfortable listening to music in transport or other noisy places, a volume level of 90-100 dB is enough. This is enough to drown out the surrounding noise.
A vacuum headset, due to its placement deep in the ear canals, transmits sound better, so 85-90 dB is enough for them. Due to the proximity to the membranes, an indicator of 100 dB is not needed here.
For overhead models, it is better to select 95-100 dB or more, as they provide less sound insulation.
Frequency Range
Manufacturers often indicate on the packaging a frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz. But these numbers are just a marketing ploy. Cheap headphones from Chinese sites have a very narrow range, and this can only be determined by testing.
But if the description contains data on volume deviations – for example, from 20 to 20,000 Hz ± 6 dB – this indicates the quality of the headset. This means that the frequency response curve fluctuates along the vertical axis, and there are no sharp dips or peaks in the indicated range.
Impedance
This parameter must be selected for the device with which the headphones will be used. The indicator should be low. Otherwise, the headphones will not work with a smartphone. The recommended impedance range for portable devices is up to 50 ohms.
Weight And Dimensions
The size and weight of the earbuds will determine how comfortable they are to use. The lighter the device, the less discomfort it creates, especially when listening to music for a long time. Heavy and bulky headphones can put pressure on your ears or simply have a bad hold, causing falling out of motion.
Distortion Factor
This parameter determines the clarity and purity of the sound. It is indicated only for expensive models, usually for a headset costing more than $100. An acceptable option is a range from 0.1 to 0.3%. This indicator is found in most mid-budget models. For cheap headphones, the distortion factor is not indicated, or it exceeds 0.4-0.5%.
