Headphones

Headphones are for music, calls, working from home, and travel, so one model is rarely ideal for everything. Here you will find large over-ear headphones, compact on-ear models, and in-ear buds, wired and wireless, with a microphone for calls and children's models with volume limitation.

How to choose

• Shape. Over-ear headphones cover the entire ear, isolate better, and are comfortable for long listening. On-ear models are lighter and more compact. In-ear headphones are the smallest and are suitable for travel and sports.
• Connection. Wired models with a 3.5 mm jack or USB do not need charging and have no latency. Bluetooth headphones offer freedom, and newer versions of Bluetooth have a more stable connection and lower battery consumption.
• Microphone. For calls and online meetings, choose a model with a microphone. Headphones with a boom mic capture the voice more clearly than those with built-in mics.
• Purpose. There are headphones for office and call center use with comfort for all-day wear, sports models that are sweat-resistant, and children's headphones with volume limitation.
• Closed or open. Closed headphones isolate ambient noise and do not leak sound. Open ones provide a more natural and wide sound but can be heard by those around.

What to watch out for

• For wireless models, check the battery life on a single charge.
• Active noise cancellation is useful in a noisy office, public transport, and on airplanes.
• For computer work, USB headphones often have a clearer microphone than those with a jack.
• For children, choose models with volume limitation to protect their hearing.
• Replaceable ear pads extend the life of the headphones since the soft part wears out first.
• Foldable models with a case take up less space in the bag and are better protected during travel.

Compatibility

Headphones with a 3.5 mm jack work with computers, laptops, and many phones, while USB-C models connect directly to new phones and laptops. If the desktop computer does not have Bluetooth, add a small Bluetooth adapter. USB-connected headphones have their own sound card and sound the same on any computer, while with the jack, the quality also depends on the motherboard's sound. If you game, check out gaming headphones, and if you need better sound for streaming – a separate microphone.