How to choose headphones: types, noise cancelling and connection

We use headphones for music, calls and work, but the choice is huge and the prices varied. Some suit sport, others travel and others company calls. Let us explain what types exist and how to choose the right ones.

Types of headphones

• In-ear are small earbuds, light and portable, ideal for travel and sport.
• Over-ear cover the whole ear, offering the best sound and comfort for long wear.
• On-ear are something in between, smaller than over-ear.

Wired versus wireless

• Wireless connect via Bluetooth, are comfortable and cable-free, but need charging and have a slight delay.
• Wired need no battery, have no delay and tend to be cheaper at the same sound quality.

Mind the earcup design too. Closed-back headphones isolate the surroundings better and do not leak sound out, so they suit public transport and an open-plan office. Open-back ones sound airier and more spacious, but people around hear what you play and you hear the noise around you, so they are more of a home choice.

Noise cancelling (ANC)

Active noise cancelling (ANC) filters out the surrounding noise, which you appreciate on a plane, public transport or in a busy office. It works by having small microphones pick up the ambient noise and the headphones play an opposite sound wave that cancels it. It tames steady, low rumble best (an engine, air conditioning) and sudden sounds like speech less well. Many headphones also have a transparency mode that lets the surroundings through when you need to hear what is going on.

Codecs and delay

Wireless sound is carried by a so-called codec, and it determines both quality and delay. SBC is handled by every Bluetooth headphone but is basic. AAC is preferred by iPhones, aptX and aptX Adaptive are common on Android, and LDAC carries the most data for demanding listeners. The delay (latency) is usually around 150 to 200 ms, which does not matter for music but can show up in gaming or video. Gaming headphones therefore often use their own USB receiver (a dongle) that cuts the latency to a minimum.

Impedance and sensitivity

For wired headphones, impedance (in ohms) matters. Ordinary headphones up to 32 ohms are driven even by a phone. Models with high impedance (250 ohms and more) need a separate amplifier, otherwise they play quietly. Sensitivity tells you how loud the headphones play at a given power, a higher value meaning louder sound from the same source.

What to look at

• Purpose: music, calls, work or gaming.
• Comfort, especially if you wear them for a long time.
• Microphone quality, if you make calls often.
• Battery life for wireless ones.
• Codecs for better wireless sound, which we write about in the article on Bluetooth.

What for whom

• Sport: sturdy in-ear that stay in the ear.
• Travel: over-ear with ANC for peace and quiet.
• Calls and work: headphones with a quality microphone, similar to a webcam and microphone.
• Gaming: low delay and a good microphone.

If you are looking for sound from a computer, see also how to choose speakers.

This article is part of our Hardware and components overview.