Wireless headphones today sport a larger feature set, and cater to a wider spread of lifestyles than they did a few years ago, so it can be difficult to know what to look for. In those days, it seemed the go-to options were either a pair of Beats or Apple EarPods. Today there are not only better options for traditional types of headphones, but entirely new headphone concepts have entered the fray.
In the recent past, things like wired earbuds with noise canceling were considered rare. If you wanted that set to be waterproof or wireless, those were virtually non existent. Now, it’s easy to find all of those options in a pair of wireless headphones, that ship with a charger, and work with Alexa/Siri/Google Home.
The best features of wireless headphones can vary depending on one important decision: what purpose do you want the headphones to serve? People most often use headphones for exercise, musical quality, or as a way of downing out noise. Each of these scenarios can lead to a different set of required features.
Choosing Wireless Headphones for Exercise
Headphones can get sweaty during a workout, so the first feature to consider is waterproofing. This can mean water-resistance to withstand sweat or water encountered during a workout. It can also mean waterproof headphones with a certified IP rating, indicating they can be submerged in water to a certain depth. Yes, there are wireless headphones you can reliably wear while swimming.
Next is the decision between over-the-ear headphones with a band, wireless earbuds with a cable between the buds, or true wireless headphones – the style with separate, wireless buds, as seen with Apple AirPods. This is important for two major reasons. The first is the obvious one: comfort. The way a pair of headphones is designed to be worn determines how much of a distraction the pair will be, and the more distracting they are, the less likely they are to aid in your workout. The second reason is portability. True wireless headphones usually come in a compact charging case. A larger set might be more comfortable for people who don’t like the feeling of having earbuds in their ears, but they can also be harder to transport.
Choosing Wireless Headphones for Sound Quality
If you’re not an audiophile, the best way to determine audio quality is to shop by brand. Most major headphone manufacturers cater to a target audience. Beats are known for heavy bass, and preferred by hip-hop listeners. Bose headphones prioritize clarity of sound. Sennheiser and Sony make studio recording equipment, tuned to detect smaller details in music. Many brands even mention these tendencies right in their marketing, so if you’re looking for the best sound quality, research the brand.
Another, somewhat smaller factor with sound quality is the ear pad itself. This won’t apply to earbuds, but on over-the-ear sets, having rubber or leather pads instead of cloth can mean you’ll hear that “rubbing” sound when you turn your head. Some people are better at blocking these noises out, but there are actually headphones with the option to swap out ear pads. You’ll want to try a few pairs physically to determine what works for you.
Choosing Wireless Headphones for Tuning Out the World
The clear solution here is noise-cancelling headphones and the tech has never been better. Some sets achieve this by putting microphones on the outside to pick up the sound, and then process those sounds out of what plays in your ears. These headphones also have the advantage of letting you pipe outside noise into your ears, so you can communicate with people without removing your headphones. Again, this requires some research, but if you want immersive audio, look for noise cancellation.
The second consideration is battery life. True wireless earbuds usually come with charging cases, but larger sets tend to last longer. This is less of a concern for people buying headphones to exercise (most of us aren’t spending hours in the gym), but a long flight can be ruined by dead batteries. Wireless headphones that offer upwards of 10 hours of use on a charge are commonplace these days.
