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Pass Me The Headphones, Please! |
By:
Erica Cuffsmith |
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Pass me the Headphones, please!
by Erica Cuffsmith
Markets for headphone have drastically changed over the years. Earlier there were just a few choices in the market from the studio monitor sets to the inexpensive mobile units.
All that has changed now due to the great strides taken in headphone technology over the last few years. An amazing array in varying shapes and sizes, styles and technologies is available to suit nearly everyone's needs.?Ear buds?, ?canal phones?, ? back phones? and ?electrostatic phones? are just some of the items on offer in this very high-tech market. Each comes equipped with its own features, its own plusses and minuses as will be evidenced below.
If you are a home user, a 'studio monitor? headphone is likely to be the most suitable for your needs. Its tried and tested technology that has been around for years has proved so successful that certain models have not changed over the years. It is typically worn over the ears and is in popular use in radio and music studios. It is connected using a ? inch plug, as opposed to the 'mini? 1/8 inch one and is manufactured by such companies as Sony, Sennheiser, Grado, Labs, and Fostex.
If you are a discerning listener, opt for an ?open? headphone as this will provide a richer timbre to the tone the music and affords a fuller soundstage. This of course can allow others to listen in to your music. If you are particular about the latter, then a ?closed? system might be better as it allows a more effective degree of sound isolation.
For the listener on the go, there are many varieties to choose from. Ear ?buds? are a very popular type of headphone which are commonly included in the packaging when you purchase a new audio player. These bud type headphones slip into the outer ear and provide minimal isolation from the outside world. While there are a few exceptions, the majority of bud type headphones on the market are cheap and do not sound very good to the discerning ear.
If you like the small form factor of buds but want something with a little more ?oomph?, you may wish to consider ?canal? phones. Canal phones are much like buds, but actually fit inside the ear canal (buds never make it past the outer ear lobe). Because they actually fit inside the canal, canal phones provide a much better seal than ear buds which allows for a higher degree of sound isolation and bass response for the listener. Silicone or foam ear plug type tips allow for comfort and safety during prolonged use. Be prepared to shell out a little more cash for the better quality canal phones, as vendors such as Etymotic and Ultimate Ears have models which sell between $350-$1000 USD.
The last type of phone we will discuss is ?back phones?. Back phones are very similar to the open, circum aural phones popularized in the 70s and 80s, with the notable exception of the headband's placement which, instead of being over the head like the older variety, is behind the head, which results in a more comfortable fit for athletics or the listener on the go.
There are so many types of headphones that can cater to your needs. Thus enjoy your shopping and happy listening.
Copyright 2006, Erica Cuffsmith, All Rights Reserved. This article may be published on web sites or in newsletters provided this notice and the resource box is included without ammendment.
Erica Cuffsmith strives to help people to review the different types of headphones available today and touch on the features and benefits of the individual types. Why not go to her web site at: All Headphones, to see the information sources available to you. Visit: http://www.allheadphones.com Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article53699.html |
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