It’s no surprise that headphones are one of the fastest-moving market segments of consumer electronics. Why shouldn’t they be? They enhance audio for any listening situation.
Everyone seems to be on the go and nearly everyone has a smartphone or tablet to play audio. Not to mention people listening on their work computers or trying to watch videos in a less than quiet spot like a bustling coffee shop. With so many different options at price points from $5 to $500, there is a pair of headphones for literally everyone.
That being said, your customers may feel intimidated by so many options. With our headphone rundown below, your business can be prepared to answer any of the questions your customers have and offer them a personal audio solution that’s sure to be a hit.
In-Ear Headphones
As the most common headphones on the market, in-ear headphones are typically an item included with any MP3 or smartphone purchase. They’re super-convenient because they’re small, lightweight and can easily fit in a pocket or purse. They feature a tiny ear tip that rests inside the ear canal and some styles, like the Audiofly AF331, even include multiple sized ear tips for a more tailored fit. Another plus to in-ear headphones is the slim cords don’t interfere with glasses, earrings, hats or hairstyles. Athletes tend to favor in-ear headphones because they offer a less cumbersome design, are typically more sweat proof and some specific sport models have ear-clip options.
In-ear headphones can also offer extra features like in-line controls, varying ear tip sizes and materials (foam, rubber, etc.) and ear clips. Some downsides of these headphones are that they don’t necessarily offer all the mids, highs and lows that a true audiophile wants. The cords can also cause acoustic coupling from rubbing on clothing and transfer that noise to the listener. Also, there are some people that find in-ear headphones to be uncomfortable.
Over-Ear Headphones
Technically, these headphones are called circumaural and are sometimes called full-size headphones. They’re designed to go over the head and feature earcups that fully enclose the listener’s ears. Because of the larger speakers and the full ear enclosure, these headphones can accurately reproduce a greater portion of the audio spectrum, which is why they tend to be favored by DJs and audiophiles. The ATH-A900X from Audio Technica is an example of an over-ear headphone that offers all the mids, highs and bass that a true audiophile would want. But over-ear headphones are definitely not ultra-portable and can cause some discomfort during long listening sessions as they become too warm covering the ears. Optional features include in-line controls, removable or replaceable earpads, a detachable cord, cable attachments and more.
On-Ear Headphones
These are the more traditional style of headphones that go over the head and sit on top of the ear without completely covering it. Many users feel that they offer a more comfortable fit than the in-ear or over-ear headphones. However, that comfortable fit also allows sound to escape to anyone in the listener’s vicinity. There is also less bass because of the overall lack in noise-isolation. On-ear headphones offer a more portable option in that many models, like the JVC HAS400W, feature foldable earcups and are generally more lightweight than over-ear models. Optional features include: in-line controls, foldable designs, removable or replaceable earpads, a coiled cord and more.
Wireless Headphones
Wireless headphones offer sheer audio bliss without the hassle of cords. Wireless audio is transmitted to the headphones in three different ways: Infrared, Radio Frequency and Bluetooth®. All three-headphone types are available in a combination of the multiple styles just mentioned and vary in price range. Infrared headphones (IR), like the Innovative ITGSH-150, use LEDs to transmit from the audio source to the headphones. They’re ideal for home theater or in-vehicle use because they eliminate the possibility of radio interference and have a fairly short transmission range. Like a remote control to a television, they require a clear line of sight from the earphones to the transmitter.
Radio frequency headphones (RF) use a low-power radio transmitter that’s plugged into the output of an audio source, such as a TV, stereo, computer, etc. That signal is broadcasted to a receiver in the headphones, which is tuned to the same frequency as the transmitter, much like a cordless phone. Unlike the IR headphones, RF models can work through walls and have a much wider transmission range. The RCA WHP141B can transmit up to 150 feet. RF headphones are ideal for home or office use but may have interference noise from other radio frequency transmissions.
The final and most popular wireless headphone option is Bluetooth, which is another form of radio frequency that requires a pairing of devices to make a connection. These headphones use the technology that is already supported in nearly every mobile phone and syncs with a phone or a tablet to transmit the audio to the headphones. These headphones are super portable and great for commuting, exercising or day-to-day activities. That being said, what they add in convenience they do lack in audio performance when compared to the IR and RF options, and they also must be charged regularly.
Noise Isolating & Noise Cancelling
Some audio listeners want to get the purest form of audio possible. For these purest, noise canceling or noise isolating headphones are ideal matches. Plus, these headphones come in the multiple styles previously mentioned. Noise Isolation is sometimes called Passive Noise Cancellation and Electronic Noise Cancelling is referred to as Active Noise Cancellation. Active and passive noise cancellation use different strategies in blocking out ambient noise. Noise Isolating headphones use a seal against the ear to create a physical barrier from outside noise. Different brands and styles can vary in effectiveness depending on the listeners’ ear shape and size.
Noise Cancelling headphones will generally employ some noise isolation, but they also electronically filter out ambient noise. These headphones use microphones that listen to incoming sound and cancel it out with equal and opposite (out of phase) sound waves. Active noise cancellation, however, will not completely block out the world. The microphones don’t react quickly enough to cancel out dynamic changes in frequency. They’re ideal for filtering out constant noise at a particular frequency, like the noise inside an airplane in flight. Another downside is that noise canceling headphones require battery power, which could have a user changing batteries more often than they’d like.
Now that you’re knowledgeable in all things headphones, you can point your customers towards the pair or pairs that will suit their every need. Because headphones offer a solution to a problem every consumer will face at one time or another, they should be a pretty simple add-on sale. Petra has many models in all the types and styles mentioned here. Talk to your Petra sales consultant to take advantage of this diverse segment and choose the right assortment of products for your customers. Consumers are just as interested in style and looks as they are about form and function, so stock your shelves or website with a variety of options today.