It was only recently that I developed an appreciation for headphones, thanks to my husband who, tired of hearing me complain about my ear buds tumbling out, bought me a set of Shure SRH240A full-sized sealed headphones ($59.99) last Christmas.
Breaking news about the arts, coverage of live events, critical reviews, multimedia and more.
A sortable calendar of noteworthy cultural events in the New York region, selected by Times critics.
Klipsch S3 in-ear headphones.
I quickly discovered what a difference it makes to have your ears completely covered — no more shrieks from babies seated next to me on planes, or sirens distorting my music during workouts, but even better, they were as comfortable as a cashmere cap and the sound was spectacular from the deep bass to the high riffs.
Discussing my new headphones with friends, I learned that there is a huge world of audiophiles out there. There are Web forums, like www.Head-Fi.org, devoted solely to discussing high-end personal audio and headphones, with readers providing strong opinions on every product from simple in-ear plugs to wireless headphones. I also learned that heaphones can range in price from $20 to $2,000 (the latter buys you the Audeze LCD-3, a high-end headphone that comes with a military-grade secure travel case).
“The whole home stereo and Hi-Fi rig that took up an entire wall is a thing of the past ever since the iPod showed up and began changing the headphone industry,” said Jorge Cervera, vice president of sales and operations for the 20-year-old HeadRoom Corp., which is based in Montana. Through its Web site, www.headphone.com, HeadRoom sells an array of headphones and personal audio gear that has been individually tested in the company’s own “audio lab” with a “listening team.”
“Today, every big audio company out there is getting into headphones because they have made such a cultural ascendency that even your grandmother probably has a pair now,” Mr. Cervera said. “But you also need to know, you get what you pay for in terms of sound.”
In the headphone world there is a definite hierarchy when it comes to cost and clarity. Ear buds, by far the most common type of headphone, are the cheapest, with some selling for less than $10. But they tend to fall out easily, do not shield the outside noise, and often require turning up the volume to unhealthy levels because the sound leaks, which can in turn annoy your neighbors.
More popular, but still affordable, are the “in-ear” plug options, which seal into the ear canals like ear plugs, offering what Mr. Cervera said was the “greatest isolation from ambient sound.”
Klipsch, Skullcandy and Etymotic are the top brands in the earphone market. But a newer earphone, Soul by Ludacris SL99, which is promoted by the rap star Ludacris, is getting positive reviews on Apple’s Web site, with most reviewer giving it five out of five stars.
One friend’s college-aged son, Dan Tamarkin, said of his Souls, “I really like the headphones because of their heavy-duty cord, solid construction, and great sound quality.” Like most other earphones, Souls SL99, which sell for $99.95, come with different sized ear tips to create an ideal fit.
Those looking to spend less, however, might prefer Klipsch in-ear plugs, at $49.99, or Skullcandy’s line that come in a myriad of colors and prices ($29.99 to $69.99, depending on the number of features desired such as a rear acoustic port for deep bass,www.skullcandy.com).
But for some people, in-ear plugs are uncomfortable. Enter the next solution — over-ear headphones, which include “full-size,” (cups that go all the way around the ear), “closed” (an acoustic seal isolates you from outside noise), and those that are “noise canceling” (a battery and some internal electrics stop noise from reaching ear). Full-size headphones can also be open-backed and wireless.
For travel, Bose leads the market in noise-canceling headphones, having invented them 20 years ago and perfected their research into their latest model, the Quiet Comfort 15, which though expensive ($299.95 at www.bose.com), are a favorite among frequent fliers.
“For me they make flying durable as they cancel out all the plane rumbling and allow me to listen to my music at a much lower volume, which I need to relax on a long-haul flight,” says Caroline Straessle-Brown, who lives in London but flies back to the United States frequently. “They are also really comfortable,” she added. “But don’t forget extra batteries,” in case they run out in midflight.
Scott Goddard, an editor and cameraman who travels all over the world and uses headphones professionally swears by his Sony MDR V 6 cup headphones (priced between $60 and $100), which he has owned for five years. “They are not too heavy, and they fold up, making them easy to travel with,” Mr. Goddard said.“They have great frequency, sound amazing and are built to last.”
Durability is the key factor for the newest entrant in the headphone market — exercise personal audio equipment. “In the last six months to a year, the exercise headphone market has grown enormously,” Mr. Cervera said. One of the top new sellers in this market, he said, is the Sennheiser Adidas headphones — the result of a partnership between the German-based audio company and the sporting-goods company. With a price between $50 and $100 this “neckband” headphone has cables reinforced with the highly durable Kevlar, making them capable of withstanding sports like running and exercise as well as adventure sports. The headphones even have a reflective yellow and black striping for added nighttime visibility.
For water sports, Mr. Cervera recommended H20 audio brand, which for $50 makes a tough in-ear waterproof headphone. The company sells its headphones with its line of Amphibx waterproof armband cases for MP3 players.
But for some audiophiles, one set of headphones isn’t enough. Ronald Shmyr, a U.S.-based banker and a self-professed audiophile, owns several different pairs, each for a different purpose: Sony in-ear buds for music, Shure in-ear buds for athletics, over-ear padded Sennheiser headphones for comfort, and the full-size Bose for noise canceling. The newest addition to his collection is his favorite — the Bluetooth wireless Beats by Dr. Dre ($279.95, www. Beatsbydre.com). “They have great sound and great ease of use as I love not having wires,” Mr. Shmyr said. “They also have a rechargeable battery, and although the bass is a bit too much for my taste, the handy wireless feature is overwhelmingly worth it and makes up for that. They are amazing,” he says of the D.J.-promoted brand, adding that they may be the last set he buys — for a while anyway.
