A pair of earphones is a highly personal purchase, since every person has varying needs and wants, as well as budget limitations. With dozens of different options available, knowing what to look for is key. So, this blog post will guide you through the main considerations when buying new earphones.
Types of earphones
There are two primary types of earphones to choose from. The first one, in-ear models, are small, compact, and put into your ear canal. Originally, this type of earphones came with a cable that plugged into your phone. However, in the last decade or so, wireless Bluetooth earphones, like AirPods, took over. These come with a portable charging station, which also acts as a holder.
The other type of earphones is over-ear, also known as headphones. These cover your entire ear, with a band across your head, so they tend to be a lot less compact. On the other hand, they are known to provide a superior sound quality and noise isolation. Similarly, these can come either with cables or, in the case of AirPods Max, with wireless Bluetooth technology.
Sound quality
Regardless of the type of earphones you prefer, the sound quality is the most important thing. Look for features like custom-designed drivers or adaptive EQ, which can help improve the audio quality significantly. For instance, both AirPods Apple and AirPods Max apple utilise advanced technologies to ensure high-quality sound in whatever genre of music or audio you are listening to.
If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music, make sure your earphones emphasise lower frequencies. If you mostly watch films, look for a pair that has Spatial Audio features, simulating the experience of a cinema sound effects. Ideally, your earphones could do both things well. If you aren’t sure, it’s a good idea to check online customer reviews.
Noise cancellation
Noise cancellation has been a game-changing feature in the earphone industry, and most well-established brands now include it in their products. This means that your earphones are able to cancel out any external sounds, allowing you to hear your audio better and immerse yourself in it fully.
This feature is particularly useful in situations such as travelling on the plane, where the external noises are particularly loud and can take over the sound of your audio. Keep in mind, however, that the quality of noise cancellation will vary from model to model. So, if this feature is important for you, choose a brand that invests heavily in the technology.
Battery life
Those using wired earphones will not have this issue but, if you’re looking for a wireless model, the battery life will be a critical factor. You want your earphones to last at least a couple of hours, while their case should offer over 10 hours of charge. For example, AirPods and AirPods Max both offer charge times of up to 20 hours in their cases, while the earphones themselves get fully charged in just 5 minutes. The case can be re-charged easily, with a USB-C cable.
Conclusion
Modern earphones come with many more advanced features than these, as some also offer things like voice control or automatic device switching. However, above are the main things to get right, before looking for additional functionalities.