How to choose the perfect pair of headphones for you

Headphones come in many shapes and sizes, from small and portable to huge and clunky. But most people today will probably only have the set of headphones that came with their cell phones. They might be fine for a while, but they’re usually only good for making hands-free calls on your phone. Sound quality is usually not their strong point. They probably aren’t great to use at the office or while gaming, so you should probably consider buying something better.

so many options

For a first-time headphone buyer, the options can be overwhelming. If you only need headphones for a specific purpose, the choice is quite simple. With an unlimited budget, you can even buy a specialized set for each different purpose. But since most people don’t have that luxury, it makes more sense to buy something fairly versatile, one that works best for the purpose you use it for the most.

It can take many pages of writing to explain all the different specs headphones can have. To keep this guide simple, we’ll focus instead on the best types of headphones for some popular uses.

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Many people like to listen to music on the bus or train to work, usually on their phones. You have two upgrade options here, a better set of in-ear headphones or a set of closed-back, over-ear headphones. In-ear models have the added benefit of being highly portable and often come with a carrying case.

Public transportation can be a noisy environment, so you’ll probably want to turn up the volume to drown out other noise. Whichever option you choose, it’s very important that you don’t spill any sound. If other people can listen to your music, you will surely receive death stars or even death threats. Noise canceling headphones can be a great option here. Another useful feature is a built-in microphone, so you can still use it for hands-free phone calls.

listening to music at home

If you just want to use your headphones to listen to music at home in a quiet environment, open-back headphones are for you. They have a very transparent, airy and natural sound. The best audiophile models are also very expensive and will require a headphone amplifier.

Gaming

Gaming headsets are a different breed entirely. They don’t always sound great for music, but they can add some punchy bass to explosions. They also help you pinpoint the exact location of your enemies. They will almost always have a boom mic for voice communication. Some of them feature surround sound that works through a USB interface, which means they’ll only work on your computer.

To work

The ideal work headset will have a lot in common with a shift headset. The only thing you may not need is a microphone. You will probably connect them to your work computer. Closed-back headphones are a must so you don’t disturb your colleagues with your music. If your office is very noisy or you are a freelancer working in a coffee shop, you will be very happy with a model with noise cancellation.