All You Need to Know About Buying In-ear Headphones

If you're like most people living in a busy metro, you spend a lot of time on the road traveling to and fro from work and home. Again, if you're like most, you miss listening to your favourite music when on the go.

That's when you need a really good pair of in-ear headphones like the Sony MDR-EX250AP In-ear Headphones or the Sony MDR-EX750NA In-ear headphones. But what should you look for when in the market for a pair of these headphones? This detailed guide will tell you just that...

1) Choose the correct driver type: Most in-ear headphones come with either dynamic or balanced armature (BA) drivers. Dynamic drivers are the most common because they are the cheapest to manufacture. These drivers are miniature versions of your regular loudpeakers. They employ a magnet and moving voice coil to oscillate a diaphragm, in order to reproduce sound. Balanced armature drivers have a similar setup, but the voice coil is stationary. The diaphragm is moved by an armature that's suspended frictionless between two opposing magnets and the voice coil. To put it simply, dynamic drivers are cheap and produce great bass, whereas BA drivers are expensive but deliver great high-frequency detail at the cost of a stunted low-end performance.

2) Get the specs right: Those details at the back of the product packaging actually does mean something. If you can read it right, you will know if you should invest in a headphone amplifier. Most in-ear headphones have a nominal impedance between 16 and 32 ohms, such as the Sony MDR-EX250AP In-ear Headphones, which makes them easy to drive without the need for separate amplification. Other important things to consider include sensitivity, frequency response and the type of magnets employed.

3) Choose headphones with the right ear tip, isolation, and sound signature: Ear tips are those tiny cushioning interfaces between your auditory canal and your in-ear headphones. These ear tips play a significant part in the overall audio signature of your earphones. These earphones are at their best efficiency when the seal between the tips and ear canal is perfect. Any amount of leakage results in a loss in the sound pressure levels, which directly affects bass performance. Ear tips typically come in three different materials: rubber, silicone, and foam.

4) Look for fit and comfort: Comfort is important. Most in-ear headphones will feel fine, if worn briefly, but when worn for long periods, many become uncomfortable. Wear the in-ear headphones for at least 20 minutes before deciding about comfort.

5) Choose noise cancellation earphones, if necessary: As many commuters know, listening to music while traveling by car, train, or airplane is made difficult by the general level of background noise. For critical listeners, this can be frustrating because it blurs the nuances of the music. Noise-cancelling headphones, such as the Sony MDR-EX750NA in-ear headphones are designed to remove the background noise. They do this by means of phase-canceling technology. Some models incorporate Bluetooth technology for cable-free convenience plus connectivity with computers and smartphones.

So, now you know more about what to look for when buying in-ear headphones. Do check out the in-ear headphone of your choice, wear it for some time, and then decide whether to buy or not. Choose a brand you love and in-ear headphones you are comfortable with, and enjoy your long commute like never before!