February 16, 2008
Apartment and condo living can be tough. The sound of life around you makes its way through the walls and can disrupt your enjoyment of movies, music, and electronic games. And, admittedly, many of us would like to enjoy our entertainment at the volume level WE want to enjoy it at without worrying about getting in trouble with the neighbors or the landlord.
That’s the value of noise canceling headphones. Strap these on after a long day and work and you’re suddenly transported out of your noisy dorm or apartment block and into the quiet comfort of silence.Enjoy these devices purely for the silence they give or choose to listen to your entertainment the way it was meant to be enjoyed, without the background noise of life around you.
Hear musical notes you didn’t know existed in songs you know by heart. Hear background sounds in movies that enhance its reality. Hear footsteps behind you or the revving of a passing car that improves your experience of a video game.
But that’s not all they’re good for. You can also use them in a work situation where you may want to be more productive but the noise of the office gets in the way of your concentration. Offices are surprisingly noisy places in spite of the need for productivity. As such, noise canceling headphones are the perfect way to listen to music without disturbing others and enjoy the quiet that you need to get your work done.
One interesting thing you may find about noise canceling headphones is that you don’t need to turn up the volume on these devices as much as you would on other earphones. This is because the sound doesn’t have to compete with background noise in order to be heard. So you’ll not only get crystal clear sound – clearer than from other headsets – you’ll also be able to enjoy it at a quieter level, possibly saving your ears from permanent damage caused by listening at too loud of a volume.
There are a number of providers of noise canceling headphones. They include Shure, Sennheiser, Jensen, AKG, Phillips, and Iawa. Be sure to read comparative reviews on these brands since they are constantly changing and upgrade their product line-up.
Also, be willing to shop around for a discount. Headphones, including noise canceling headphones, come in a range of prices. Depending on how well the headphones cancel out background noise is a determining factor in the price, but so is design, comfort, competition, and the introduction of new models.
Find out what you want in this type of headphone and compare prices. You’ll not only enjoy a quieter world and better sound quality, you’ll also save some money… and that is music to your ears!
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October 17, 2007
I love my wireless headphones! They give me the freedom to move anywhere I want in the house. This freedom of allows me to roam through the house and not miss a thing on tv. No longer do I have to wait for a commercial to get a snack or make a pit stop to the bathroom.
They work like this. The base unit plugs into your stereo or television or even Ipod…whatever it is you want to listen to. The base usually is the cradle for recharging the head set as well. Some of the base units are designed for all types of devices such as the personal computer or laptop. They can be used with televisions and even hand held devices.
This is a great thing for someone who wants to exercise and is always fumbling with the cord on the head set. Many people trying to work out are so bothered by the cord, the only thing done during the whole session is untangling the cord or fixing it for more comfort and better fit. Someone who finds themselves bothered by the cord which can tangle into a mass of self destruction, will find this advancement wonderful.
You need to remember the difference between wireless and cordless. A lot of people think they’re the same, but they’re not. Wireless means you most likely have to stay in the line of sight of the base unit. The technology behind this is similar to that of your remote control for the television. The standard range is about 30 feet. Some units are available with more mobility, but signal strength can be lost. This makes most of these units more compatible with home or office use than anywhere else.
There are units available which have multi-user capabilities. This is great for one or more persons to share the same audio signal. It makes music sharing easy between friends.
These are available for home office and standard office applications. Telemarketers are no longer strapped to the desk. This allows freedom of movement. Sitting for long periods can actually tire someone out. With the current systems on the market the telemarketer can stand and take a brief walk or stretch without the cumbersome burden of cords. The work environment can become a more productive and enjoyable experience.
More and more they are becoming more and more popular in learning institutions. It makes it easy for an instructor to section the class room into groups. Each group can share the media from a single device. The entire classroom is able to enjoy freedom of mobility while still remaining productive. No longer are the students tethered to the desk. The possibilities this mobility opens up are endless. Structured settings just became more relaxed. When the student does not feel so burdened, the learning experience can become more enjoyable.
Wireless headphones and the technology along with them is no longer limited to just a home stereo. The world is on the move and taking their songs and music with them.
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October 13, 2007
How can a headphone review can help you decide what kind of “can” to purchase… like it did me?
Listening to my music through a set of hi fi home studio quality stereo speakers gives me a feeling of being there. I like hearing the vocals come out clear and crisp. I also like the feel of the bass. The problem comes when everyone else wants to go to bed and I still want to listen to some old song. So, in my quest to feed the audiophile inside me, I finally determined headphones were the answer. It was either that or live alone.
But, this presented an entirely new set of problems.
I discovered “these cans” had some a long way since the last time I was looking. I had choices and a lot of them. I could get them with open end or closed end. In my case, I determined closed end would be best so the sound could not go out and disturb anyone around me. It seems with an open can, the sound is still dispersed somewhat into the surrounding area.
I found out about passive and active noise reduction. I had to choose whether I wanted the background noise canceled by just the ear pieces themselves (passive) or were those little electronics inside going to stop the ambient noise (active). This is actually a big question. Doing a lot of traveling, the active noise reducing headphones would make the plane noise disappear. Background noise like people talking and appliances running would also have no affect on my streaming audio. I liked this idea. I found models that allowed me to switch between active and passive mode. This was perfect.
In my quest for the best headphones, I ran into a technology I had never heard before about stereo head sets. Bluetooth. What is bluetooth? Wireless? In ear? No cords? You have got to be kidding. This cordless stuff was the ultimate dream for me. I could move with my music and not land on my keester because I tripped on the cord. All I had to do was buy a wireless set for my stereo and I was good to go. I could move up to 300 feet away and still enjoy my tunes. This meant I could be all over the house and listen to the radio or my favorite CD. I was REALLY liking this option. I can not stand to sit for very long.
Finding all this out about a simple set of headphones made me realize it was not a simple thing and a little more complex than I initially thought. What else was I to discover?
Well, how about the ultimate in any audiophile’s dream…surround sound. I could get a head unit that gave me true theater quality sound with the touch of a button. I have since found out many wireless sets like the Koss, Sony and Sennheiser RS-110, RS-120, RS130 and RS140 from www.HeadphoneWarehouse.com all have single button surround sound. This was sounding pretty good to me. I learned I could switch from stereo sound to better music any time I wanted.
Unearthing the wireless units revealed a whole different level of technology. It seems I could answer a call on my cell phone right from my head set while I was listening to my music. No longer could I use the excuse of not hearing the phone because I was reviewing a new CD. I am not entirely sure I liked this idea. Yet I could see the benefits and so could my friends and family. It seems all I had to do was push a button and put the music on hold while I answered the phone. After the call was through I could go back to my world.
With all this great knowledge, I was able to make my choice of the headphones I wanted. They are perfect for me. I am pleased with what I bought. There is a set out there for you, too. Just do some research and some reviews like I did and you can discover a complete listening experience like no other.
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October 6, 2007
Ipod headphones…boy have things changed in the last couple of decades! In the beginning were portable transitor radios. Then came cassette playing Walkmans. Then came portable CD players. Today, we all love the choice and flexibility that comes with owning our Ipods. They’re convenient so we can choose to listen to whatever we want. And they carry so much memory (and improving all the time). Amazing!
Having a great portable listening device like these means choosing the right headphones. After all, the music may be good, but there’s a long way between the Apple and your ears. So, if the source between the two is cheap and poor quality, obviously sound loss is bound to occur. Now, I agree that the earbuds that come out of the box can’t be too bad…right? Let’s face it, millions of people use them and life still goes on. However, they really are not the best options to protect your hearing. Mainly because they don’t block a lot of the outside noise…so the volume has to go up to compensate.
So, that said…where do you get good quality Ipod headphones? You can buy them online at quality Ipod headphone sites like www.HeadphoneWarehouse.com. (surprised?) Manufacturers and brands to watch for include Sennheiser, Shure, AKG, Etymotic Research, Ultimate Ears, V-Moda, SkullCandy and others.
When buying Ipod headphones, you’ll want to take into consider several factors, including comfort level, affordability, durability, and ability to accurately transmit the sound.
Let’s consider affordability.
1. If you’re looking for less expensive: supra-aural are the choice to make. (Supra-aural headphones are the kind that sits on the ear). They are inexpensive and mass produced. Admittedly, you’ll be balancing this against frequency loss because they will give up some quality by using them. But, in spite of that there are many good ones out there, and you’ll probably be more than happy…as long as you don’t go too cheap. I’ve found overall, you really can use price as a good general guideline to determine quality. Of course, there are always exceptions.
2. The next most expensive option are styles called circumaural (which go all the way around your ear). These usually give better music quality because they block out a lot of background noise, resulting in higher quality from your Ipod. However, for most Ipod use (which means portablity) they are often impractical because they’re so big. Of course, that the defeats the primary reason for carrying an Apple in the first place.
3. One of the best options, although it can also be one of the most expensive is to use canalphones. These are the Shure, Ultimate Ears type of earphone. This type is inserted directly into the ear canal (almost like earplugs). They have a softer, elongated outer shell which helps to block out excessive background noise (called passive noise reduction) and the sound is directed precisely into your ear. Giving better quality. Disadvantage? They’re more expensive because of the cost to make the tiny components in them.
Although cost is not going to be your only decision-making factor it will figure into your thought process as you weigh the quality of sound against what your pocket book can bear. So, be sure to shop at a quality online dealer like Headphone Warehouse so you can compare the different Ipod headphones… by price, convenience, portabilty and quality.
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October 3, 2007
You know, wireless stereo headphones are the probably best invention since sliced bread. There are no cords to trip you up or tangle with. Mobility has come to the world of the home stereo and the personal computer and your television. The days of tangled cords and wires is a thing of the past.
We’ve all been there. It’s two o’clock in the morning and you can’t sleep. You turn on the television, hoping to catch something besides infomercials…maybe a pretty good late night movie. Just when you’re starting to get interested, you’re told by someone in the house to turn that darn TV down. The noise is keeping them awake.
Or, what about that can’t miss football game when the in laws are visiting. Cordless technology can help solve that problem also. You can be in the other room and still hear the sound with your own personal surround sound unit.
Or, how about the busy housewife with a small baby who can utilize a cordless unit by listening to her favorite music while doing chores. She doesn’t have to worry the music may wake the baby. The mobility is an added bonus. Being free to walk about while listening to the stereo can make the chores seem less stressful and more relaxing.
Many people are now downloading their music online. The media files have to be transferred to an audio device if you want to run upstairs to listen to them. With a wireless head set, there is no download or transfer to worry about. As long as the file is on the personal PC, you can listen to it anywhere in the house. This is great for someone wanting to listen to an audio file while everyone else is wanting to watch television.
It saves on battery life as well. A wire free unit can also come with noise reduction. This is an added benefit when trying to hear your favorite music when the surrounding noise is distracting. An example would be a college student studying for an exam by listening to a lecture while the rest of the dorm is in the middle of a party. With the canceling feature, the student can still make the grade by not being interrupted.
It may surprise you to know the cost is rather low for a good quality set. The benefits are well worth the price, which is reasonable by anyone’s standards. There are units which offer surround sound quality, such as the Sennheiser wireless headphones line of quality units, like the …RS-110, RS-120, RS-130 and RS-140. These are not some cheap brittle noise makers. You can take the concert hall with you into the basement, in the back yard, or into the attic or while watching your favorite baseball or football game.
Most of the quality units on the market are light weight and extremely comfortable to wear (like the Sennheiser, Sony and Panasonic brands). They are rechargeable and you don’t have to remember to recharge them. It’s automatic! After you use them and put them on the storage cradle for storage, is actually the recharger and recharges the headsets automatically. There are many styles to choose from.
It is best to review the product information available for the model you want and purchase from suppliers who only sell quality headphones…like the www.headphonewarehouse.com/ Also, there are some things to keep in mind with the bluetooth (wireless) technology. The devices you use the wireless system with must be compatible. Bluetooth has two operating versions. It would be disappointing to discover your perfect audio head set will not work with your home stereo or personal PC. Go to a quality online retailer for your wireless headphones and you’ll be very happy with your new acquisition and the noise you no longer hear.
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September 29, 2007
Think all noise cancelling headphones are alike?
If you’re thinking there’s just one basic use for head phones…like maybe just for your Ipod, or portable CD player…incorrect! There are many, many uses for head phones and – more specifically – for noise canceling headphones.
There are basically a couple different styles and types to choose from…active and passive. One is small and portable and the other is a little bulkier and larger.
Active uses electronic circuitry to sense the incoming sounds to lower the amount you hear. These are the type that are over the ears. One of their not so goods is they require batteries to operate. Passive uses no electricity or batteries and are the type that go in the ear canals to block outside sounds….earphones, and to a lesser degree the type that come with the Ipod…earbuds.
1. Use these while you’re traveling. Listen to music at a low volume and the circuitry in the headphone will greatly reduce any background sound. That way, if you need to have some quiet or to get a good sleep, this is the ideal way to do it. They are ideal for the business traveler who wants a little quiet on a loud airplane (have you been near a high school sports team?) or wants to get a great night sleep in a hotel (why do they always seem to put YOU beside the party room?).
2. Use when you have to listen to training and webinars at work when you don’t want to hear other people around you, or the ringing phones or the sound of the fax machine.
3. Use when you want to hear music or watch your favorite movie and you don’t want to subject others to your entertainment while at the same time you don’t want to have to listen other sounds, which will diminish the potential of your entertainment.
4. Use when you want to play video or computer games and you want to truly become a part of the experience. Many games become better when the sound is made to be an integral part of the game. This can happen when you forget that you’re in a busy college dorm or a loud apartment building and you actually feel that you are in the race car or the dungeon or the baseball game (or wherever else your game happens to take place.
5. They are also great if you are a passenger in a car on a cross country outing and have trouble sleeping in the car. The head phones will cancel out the road noise, the rustling of the map, the sound of the car radio, etc. and you’ll be able to sleep peacefully.
6. Use when your child is learning to play an instrument. If they are learning an electric instrument, like guitar, bass, or piano, you can give them these headphones so they don’t hear other noises (and so no one else can hear them!). You’ll have a happy son or daughter with a good musical ear and you’ll also have peace and quiet in your house!
7. Remember, these make a great gift for everyone… and particularly for the man or woman who has everything. These are something they’ll use over and over again…especially if they travel a lot. So, for that hard to buy for person on your list this year give them a pair of noise cancelling headphones. And if they listen to music you don’t like, you can consider it a gift to yourself, too!
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September 21, 2007
Stereo earphones and in ear headphones are usually considered an accessory in themselves… an accessory to the Ipod or cell phone. However, as more and more people are discovering the true enjoyment of being an audiophile (a music lover, especially with their Ipod’s and other MP3 players), they are discovering the value that a earpiece with great sound provides. Not only in reducing exterior sound but by creating an environment to truly enjoy music.
As such, these new earphones are becoming better and better sounding and more and more manufacturers are bringing out their own models. Makers such as: Shure, SkullCandy, Ultimate Ears, Sony, Panasonic, Etymotic Research and many others.
So,what kind of accessories can an audiophile get for his or her favorite music device?
Carrying cases are a must-have. It can be very frustrating when you’re traveling and not being able to find your earphone. Nothing’s worse than being on an airplane and watching, or trying to watch the television while reading lips! A carrying case can be as simple as a little bag to keep them in, or one of the specially made included with your earphones. Shure and Ultimate ears include very nice cases.
Cable clips are a great way to keep your cables from getting out of control as you listen to music. If there is sudden movement while plugged in, it can mess up your hair, pull off your glasses! Clips keep your cables out of harm’s way.
Also, any time you have an intricate piece of machinery you’ll need replacement parts. It’s no different with an earphone. The most common replacement parts include jacks, cables, and ear pads, all of which can become detached from the headset with excessive use. If you just own a cheap set, you could probably buy a new better sounding set for less money than the replacement parts. But if you are a serious audiophile and you want serious sound, you’ll also want some replacement parts just in case the music makes you dance too hard!
Lastly, consider getting some rubber alcohol or cleaning solution to keep your equipment clean, especially the ear pieces. They can get a wax can build up pretty fast and may block the sound holes so you’re not getting the best sound. Keep your stereo earphones clean and you’ll enjoy them more besides getting better sound.
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