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How to Choose the Best Headphones Headphones allow you to listen to music without disrupting other people. With so many options, it can be difficult to pick the right pair for you. Research has shown that listening to music throughout the work day can increase productivity. Additionally, headphones can aid in focusing by removing distractions. Comfort It is important to have headphones that you can wear for a long period of time. If the headphones aren't snug enough, they can cause pain in the ears or around the head, particularly when used for long gaming sessions or listening to music. The level of comfort can depend on the shape and size of the head, which is why it is important to try them on before you buy them. If you're unable to test the headphones in person, make sure to check the return policy of the retailer you are buying the headphones from. Many retailers offer hassle free exchanges and returns for items purchased online. Headphones with a lot of padding and soft materials that feel pleasant to the touch usually provide a high level of comfort. The padding is a big factor in over- and on-ear headphones that rest on the head and ears because it helps distribute pressure evenly. We seek padding that is thick, luxurious, soft, and uniformly smooth to the touch. Pads made of mesh fabric, plastic or foam are less likely to be comfortable than pads that are covered in soft and breathable velour or faux leather. The fit of the ear cups around the ears is also crucial. Headphones with fixed earcups tend to have more trouble in this regard because they can create an unnatural and rigid clamping force on the ears which can cause fatigue and discomfort after prolonged use. The most effective earcup design allows the pads to move horizontally and laterally on the ears. This allows them to have some flexibility. Avoid headphones that are too tight on the head because they can cause headaches. This could be due to the weight of the headphones digging into the scalp or a tight headband. It can also be caused by poorly-designed ears that are not properly positioned. Also, headphones with loose padding can become uncomfortable after long-term use, as the padding gets worn down or is moved around. Noise-Cancelling If you're serious about using headphones for listening to audiobooks, music, podcasts and shows or making calls or focusing at work, noise cancelling is the best choice. These headphones use well designed ear cups that block out any ambient noises and are available in both over-ear and in-ear (aka earbuds) options. They feature built-in microphones to allow you to converse with others, as well. The ability of headphones to cancel out noise are based on two different technologies that function in different ways. They are passive noise isolation and noise cancellation. Both can cut down background sound, but each has its own pros and disadvantages. Passive noise isolation is the most commonly used form of noise cancellation and involves an actual barrier to external sounds. These are the large, bulky headphones you've seen that wrap around your ears and provide padding to muffle the sounds around you. They don't have as much flexibility, though they also require that you don't remove the headphones to hear what's happening around you. Noise-canceling headphones for over-ear as well as in-ear headphones are more complicated due to the fact that the technology has to be integrated into the ear cups and the electronics. Noise-canceling headsets have processors and microphones that monitor the surrounding environment with sensors onboard. The microphones detect sounds and analyze them using the onboard software. The processors create an “fingerprint” of the noise and create an anti-sound wave, which is played back to cancel the background sound. This is achieved by creating a wave that's 180 degrees off from the sound coming in, so it blocks it out, so you only hear your own audio. The anti-sound is fed to the headphones' speakers and then played to you in addition to your normal audio. The most advanced headphones have an onboard sensor that monitors the environment and adjusts noise cancellation accordingly. The level of ANC can be adjusted by a slider in the headphones app or on the device itself. It can be turned off completely so that you can be aware of what's happening around you. This technology is particularly effective at reducing low-frequency noises, such as the hum of airplane engines or traffic. Higher-frequency sounds, such as the sound of a conversation or a sneeze, are less responsive to noise-canceling technology and cannot be slowed down effectively. Immersion Headphones are electroacoustic transducers worn around the head or over the ears of a user to amplify and transmit audio signals. They allow one listener to listen to a source of sound at a distance without disturbing anyone else, as opposed to loudspeakers that broadcast sound for everyone to hear. Headphone manufacturers design headphones with many features to meet different users' needs. Some headphones are equipped with microphones that allow for two-way communication as well as active noise cancellation which reduces the background sound when listening to music or using your mobile phone. Other types of headphones use high-end audio drivers to provide audiophile-quality sound. Some headphone models can be used without the use of a portable audio device such as a home theater system, CD player or personal computers. They are typically small enough to fit in bags or carry-on luggage for travel, and they may be powered by batteries. They can also be connected to other devices that have the standard headphone jack, including mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Many types of headphones can block ambient sounds by blocking them out from the ear using active or passive sound cancellation. Noise isolation is a common feature in over-ear, circumaural and closed-back models. Active noise cancellation is only available with closed-back headphones. Other kinds of headphones can isolate the ear from external noises by vibrating the user's inner ear, as in bone conduction headphones. In addition to their ability to reproduce sub-bass and bass frequencies, headphones can also provide a level of sound fidelity that is higher than loudspeakers, because of their direct coupling with the human ear. They are smaller and their diaphragms on earphones are often thinner than the ones on speakers which allows them to move more air in order to achieve the same perceived volume. Bone conduction headphones do not have the traditional headband and cup structure, but instead employ bone-conducting technology to transmit audio signals to the ear's inner part via the cheekbones and jawbone. They're a great alternative to traditional headphones for use in noisy environments where it is essential that your ears remain unobstructed like in a public library or while traveling on a plane. Health In a crowded marketplace of products designed to attract attention, headphones allow you to block out distractions and remain focused on your work. This boost in productivity can boost your mood and help you get through a boring task or a day at work. Headphones are also useful for listening to podcasts as well as audiobooks. They can be useful for people who are learning to speak and require hearing the words being spoken. They can also help those who have trouble falling asleep in noisy surroundings. However, there are some health concerns associated with headphones. Overly loud sounds can cause hearing damage and prolonged use can cause tinnitus. The best way to minimize these issues is to limit the time you spend listening to music or other media using headphones and to listen at a reasonable volume. Many people have experienced dizziness or vertigo after using active noise cancelling headphones (ANC). This is because the absence of sound can disturb the balance mechanism in your ears. headphones shopping assists your brain in determining the location of your body in space. You should consider if headphones are the right choice for your office. Depending on the position you're in you might need to be able to interact with your colleagues or customers which can be difficult if you're wearing headphones. There are also safety concerns when wearing headphones at work. Headphones can cause neck, shoulder, and back problems if you wear them for extended periods of time. You tend to hold the device close to your face, which could put stress on your neck, shoulders and back. A study conducted by headset maker Plantronics found that headset users experience 35 percent more shoulder and neck strain than people who don't use headsets. Another problem with headphones is that they expose users to EMF radiation. Headphones with a wire have a traditional plug which connects to an audio source. The sound then travels up metal wires and into plastic hubs that house external speakers. The headsets then emit a low-energy form of electromagnetic field radiation that could cause health issues. Air tube headphones reduce your EMF exposure by eliminating the metal cables.