Nowadays, headphones have become more than an accessory – they’re practically an extension of ourselves. Whether we’re watching videos, listening to music, or joining video calls, we’re often doing it with headphones, transforming the listening experience on our smartphones, MP3 players, and beyond.
But with so many different types of headphones out there, choosing the right one isn’t always an easy task.
Luckily, with a little help from LyxPro, you can find the perfect fit for your audio experience.
This headphone buying guide will help you choose which headphones are right for you. And, with back-to-school shopping in full swing, we’ll also highlight what makes the best headphones for students.
Let’s get started!
Cost
First things first, decide how much you’re willing to spend. Headphones can range anywhere in price from $10 - $1,000, with the lower end perfect for everyday use, and the higher end a better option for more discerning audiophiles.
That being said, a good pair of headphones doesn’t have to break the bank – LyxPro offers plenty of durable headphones at a lower price point, perfect for the student on a budget.
Headphone Type
Next, consider what form factor works for you, whether it’s in-ear, over-ear, or on-ear. All offer different levels of portability, with a level of comfort unique to the wearer, so the best headphones for students will depend on your personal preference.
In-Ear Headphones
The most portable option, in-ear headphones rest in your ear – either on the antiragus section (earbuds) or slightly deeper in the ear canal (earphones). These are generally considered the least comfortable option, and can even damage your ear cartilage, though such instances are rare and usually only happen after severe overuse.
Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones offer the greatest level of comfort and sound quality, at the expense of portability, making them a great option for listening at home or in a studio, but less convenient for taking on the go. As the name suggests, these durable headphones clamp around your ears, offering comfortable wear in a larger size that easily accommodates larger drivers.
A common type of over-ear headphones is studio headphones, which are purpose-built for professional applications with a focus on sound reproduction and durability.
On-Ear Headphones
The happy medium between in-ear and over-ear headphones, on-ear headphones have the same general shape as over-ear headphones but are often foldable for easy travel. Generally, these are considered more comfortable than in-ear headphones, but with better sound quality, making them a great choice for experiencing quality sound on the go.
Headphone Design
When it comes to headphone designs, there are three basic types – closed-back, open-back, and semi-open back.
Closed-Back Headphones
Most headphones are closed-back, keeping your music in and outside sounds out. These durable headphones are better for listening on the go or in public areas, making them the best headphones for students on the go, but the sound quality isn’t as great as its open-backed counterparts. The difference is negligible though, and likely won’t be noticed by most.
Open-Back Headphones
While closed-back headphones keep your sound isolated, open-back headphones allow some sound to escape, creating a tighter soundstage and more natural sound. This comes with significant drawbacks, though – they’re only suitable for home environments, allow some outside noise to get in, and are more prone to damage, due to the lack of barrier between the outside world and the inner electronics.
Semi-Open Back Headphones
The least common option, semi-open back headphones cover most of the outside of the headphones while leaving a bit of space for airflow. This allows for a slightly more natural sound but with all the drawbacks of open-back headphones.
Wired vs. Wireless
While wireless headphones seem to be the go-to for many, wired headphones are a great option and offer several advantages over their wireless counterparts.
Wired Headphones
Wired headphones are generally cheaper, though low-cost wireless headphone options do exist. More importantly, however, wired headphones usually sound better, since their larger size allows for higher-quality amplifiers and drivers.
Wireless Headphones
Despite their poorer sound quality, wireless headphones may be the best option for use in certain scenarios, such as the gym. If you don’t have such a keen ear for audio differences, it may not be worth dealing with the inconvenience of a wire in these settings. When choosing wireless headphones, it’s important to consider battery life – non-true wireless headphones should have about 8-10 hours of playback on a single charge, on-ear headphones should be able to offer about 15+ hours, and over-ear should provide at least 16-17 hours, with some ranging up to 25+ hours.
Audio Quality
Next, consider some of the specs that make up your headphones. While there are a lot of factors to consider here, the most important are driver type, frequency range, impedance, and sensitivity.
Driver Type
The driver is what vibrates the air, creating sound. There are a few different driver types to consider.
- Dynamic Drivers – These are the cheapest to produce and can generally create a solid bass response without much power, though they may distort at higher volumes.
- Balanced Armature Drivers – Only used in in-ear headphones, these can be tuned to specific frequencies or coupled with dynamic drivers for even more frequency response.
- Planar Magnetic Drivers – Because of their larger size, these are generally found only in higher-end, over-ear headphones. They produce the best sound, don’t distort as easily, and deliver excellent bass response, but must be used with a headphone amp.
- Electrostatic Drivers – These produce a largely undistorted sound and a wide, natural soundstage with a very natural frequency response, but they’re more expensive to make, need to be used with a headphone amp, and are typically only found in over-ear headphones, due to their larger size.
Frequency Range
Frequency response refers to the different frequencies that headphones can produce. The frequency range of human hearing is 20Hz – 20kHz, and this is the advertised range of most headphones. The best headphones for students will fall within this range.
Impedance
Impedance refers to the opposition your headphones give to the flow of current from your headphone amp. This can range from 8Ω to the hundreds. Headphones with an impedance under 25Ω are usually sufficient for use with a phone or computer, but if you have a headphone amp, you can get higher-impedance headphones, depending on your amp.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity refers to how loud the headphones get relative to their power, usually measured in decibels per milliwatt. So, if headphones have a sensitivity of 120dB/mW, they can produce 120dB of volume using one milliwatt of power. The best headphones for students will usually have a sensitivity somewhere between 90dB and 120 dB / 1mW.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones vs. Noise-Isolating Headphones
Higher-end headphones generally feature either noise-cancelling or noise-isolating technology.
Noise-canceling headphones use a microphone to detect outside noise, then play back an opposite version of that sound, effectively cancelling it out.
In contrast, noise-isolating headphones physically eliminate sound by using soundproof materials to create a physical seal around your ear. These are the best headphones for students who want to keep out the background noise while studying.
Final Thoughts
And just like that, you have all the information you need to make sure you buy the best headphones for students, professionals, and everyone in between.
Remember, whatever headphone type is right for you, you can’t go wrong with the affordable, durable headphones by LyxPro.
We hope the tips here help you find the perfect headphones and get ready for an unparalleled audio experience. Happy shopping!
