Headset Reviews

Ready to buy a new headset but feeling overwhelmed with all of the choices? It's really not surprising considering all of the various models, qualities and price points that can be found in the marketplace. If you're like most people, you're happy to spend the money on a quality set, but don't really want to throw money away on features that you don't need, or a product that doesn't live up to its expectations.

For the most part, the qualities and features to consider when choosing the best headset will be similar, no matter what the intended use.

To narrow down your choices, you'll need to decide what is most important to you, then start comparing and contrasting different models, dig into some consumer headset reviews, and finally, do some comparison price shopping. [Continue Reading]

Intended Use - What are the Most Important Headset Features?

The first thing you'll need to consider is the intended use for your new headset. Will you be gaming? Are you planning to use it for your MP3 player, or listening to music? Or, perhaps you need a Bluetooth headset for taking phone calls. The best headset will vary depending on what you plan to use it for.

No matter what your intended use, you'll find that the basic features can be related to any headset; however, there are some qualities that will need to be considered more carefully depending on what you need to use the headphones for. Here is a brief rundown of the most important factors to consider for some of the more common uses of headsets.

1.) Gaming Headsets

When choosing a gaming headset, you'll want to look carefully at noise cancellation and comfort. There are also various styles of microphones that are available for gaming headphones. If you're looking specifically for a wireless set, you'll also want to look at the battery life for each one you're considering.

2.) Cell Phone or Telephone Headsets

When purchasing a headset for phone use, noise cancellation will again, be an important feature you'll want when determining the best headset to use. Call quality is obviously another important thing to consider, and you can get a good idea of what to expect by reading several headset reviews. Finally, comfort and battery life should be considered.

3.) Stereo Headsets or MP3 Headphones

Since these types of headsets will be used primarily for listening to music, you'll want to look at features like sound isolation, noise cancellation and frequency response. Form factor (ear buds vs over the head) will also be another thing to think about.

When choosing the best headset, one thing to consider is whether you'll be using the headphones casually, or in a professional setting. Obviously, this will weigh heavily in determining which features are most important.

Form Factor - Most Common Types of Headsets

Generally speaking there are 3 different types of headsets: in-ear speakers, or earbuds, ear pads, and full size headphones. The ear pads and full size headphone are similar in that they both fit over the ears. Ear buds fit within the ear and, often, MP3 players and other such devices come with a pair included.

When determining the best headset for you, think about how often, and for what, you'll be using them. Will you need them to be lightweight, compact or easy to travel with? Or, will the headset be used at home or in a studio?

1.) Ear Buds

The advantage to having ear buds is that they're very small, lightweight and therefore, they're easy to travel with. Most people find them to be very comfortable, although this can really depend on the person. As with most thing, the more expensive the ear buds, generally, the higher quality they will be and, thus, more comfortable.

Most MP3 players do come with a set of in-ear headphones; however, they tend to be very basic and low quality. For a better listening experience, you're probably going to want to upgrade them.

The drawbacks to ear buds are that the sound just isn't going to be as good as with ear pads or a full size set of headphones. Some people find that having the bud in the ear isn't very comfortable.

If you need an easily portable and lightweight option for casual use, ear buds may be the best headset type for you.

2.) Ear Pads

Ear pads are another common type of headset. Ear pads usually have a band that goes over or behind the head, and they look very similar to full-size headphones. The major difference is that ear pads are flat and therefore don't completely surround the ears the way a full-size set does.

The advantages of ear pads are that they tend to be lighter weight than a full size pair of headphones, yet they provide better sound than typical ear buds. They're also comfortable wear, and don't completely cover your ear - which can lead to sweating.

Probably the biggest con to ear pads is that the sound experience isn't going to be as good as a full size pair, merely because they don't fully cover the ear and so will allow external sound in easier. While they are usually fairly light, they're still large enough that traveling with them isn't as convenient as ear buds.

3.) Full Size Headsets

Full size headsets also have a band that goes over the head or behind the neck. The cups of the headphones completely cover the ear, which assists in keeping out external noise.

Full size headphones have great sound, generally the best of any of the choices in terms of headset types. They are heavily padded and, so, are usually fairly comfortable. The design allows users to hear more music, and less external noise.

The biggest issue with a full size headset is that it's not really conducive to travel. They're large and bulky and really intended more for home or studio use. That being said, a full size set is the best headset type if you're looking for the highest quality sound experience.

Some Best Headset Qualities

1.) Sound Isolation

When considering specific qualities or features in a headset, sound isolation is one of the most important in terms of sound quality. The best headset will feature good sound isolation, which makes for a better listening experience.

Sound isolation simply refers to how well the headset is able to keep external noise out, while not leaking the sound you're listening to. Noise isolation is accomplished by literally creating a seal around your ear (or inside your ear) that blocks out noises, so that you are able to only hear the music or audio you're trying to listening to. The better the headphones, the better external noise will be blocked.

It's important to keep in mind that sound isolation isn't the same as noise cancellation. Generally speaking, however, the best headset for most users will be one with good noise isolation. The nice thing is that they are far less expensive than those with true noise cancellation.

2.) Noise Cancellation

For good quality noise cancellation headphones, expect to pay a pretty penny. Noise cancellation does exactly what its name implies. By taking a sampling of the ambient noise around you, the headset is able to cancel that noise out, offering a better listening experience.

A headset with noise cancellation is going to require batteries, so this is something to keep in mind if you'll be traveling with it.

For most people, the best headset will be one with decent sound isolation. Noise cancellation will likely be overkill.

3.) Frequency Response

Frequency response refers to the range of sounds that the headphones will be able to reproduce. This is especially important when using the headset primarily for listening to music. The wider range, the richer the sound will be.

You can find the frequency range when looking at the specs of a headset. Keep in mind that humans can generally only hear frequencies from 20 to 20,000 Hz, so frequency range much wider than that is really a waste.

A better set of headphones is going to reproduce frequencies more equally, so that the sound is balanced. For example, quality headsets won't sound bass or treble heavy, but will have a good, equal balance.

Finding the Best Headset

Once you've narrowed down what qualities are most important to you in a headset, it's time to do a little comparison shopping.

If at all possible, visit a local store and test out some of the various headsets. If you can, bring along an MP3 that has music you like to listen to. This way, you'll have a good idea of what you can expect sound-wise.

Read as many headset reviews as you can. There are some great places online (including this site!) where you can find headset reviews including Amazon.com and Consumer Reports for consumer ratings. CNet provides reviews from professionals, which are always good to consider as well.

When coming up with your top choices, you should also take a look at the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Especially for more expensive headsets, you'll want to make sure you're covered in the event of a defective product.

When you've finally decided on the headset you want to buy, do a little comparison shopping. This will not only help you to find the best price on headsets, but it will also give you a chance to take a look at shipping times and return policies. Many stores have stricter rules in place for returning electronics, so you'll want to know exactly what to expect before ordering or purchasing.

Due to the many choices and types of headsets available, it would be nearly impossible to cover every possible feature or use. Likewise, the best headset for one person or purpose may not work well for another. Hopefully, this article and the following headset reviews will help you to narrow down your choices and allow you to find the best headset for you a bit easier.

Photo Credit 1: trimmer741