There is currently a mystifying array of headphones available on the market and getting down to the business of choosing just one for yourself can be a daunting task indeed. One of the main ways in which you can narrow down the list and make your decision a little easier is to consider how you intend to use your headphones the most. Different headphones work best in certain situations so here we have provided a few of the more common situations along with a few recommendations to get you started.
Using at Home
For headphones that will be used at home you should mainly be looking at full sized headphones that come with a full sized phono jacks which will fit into your home stereo. Many of the home use headphones on the market nowadays such as Audio-Technica ATH-M50, come with a standard 3.5mm jack along with an adapter to convert them to full size for your home stereo. This means that they can be used in a number of other devices such as MP3s as well.
Traveling
If you travel a lot then you may need a pair of headphones to help you block out all the outside noise and pump some of your favorite tunes into your ear. When looking for a pair of headphones for travel comfort is a priority along with noise cancellation capabilities. Something along the lines of the PSB M4U 2 Noise Cancelling Headphone would be ideal. These provide a good combination of comfort along with excellent noise cancellation.
Exercise
It goes without saying that if you are looking for a pair of headphones for your workouts then you need something which provides a secure fit. Many headphones which are designed for use during exercise seem to lack sound quality but there are a few on the market such as the Polk Audio UltraFit 2000, which provides excellent sound quality, coupled with a nice secure fit and a reasonable price tag.
Fashion Statement
Sometimes you just need a pair of headphones that can complement your lifestyle and demonstrate that you are a trendy individual. If sound quality, comfort and price are not things that concern you then the Beats by Dre range of headphones may be just the thing for you. Dre Beats headphones are leading the current headphone fashion trend and stylish headsets such as the Monster Beats by Dre Solo are ideal for the fashion conscious personal music listener. In terms of audio reproduction they are not the best headphones around, but they are well built, stylish and fashionable.
It is easy to become overwhelmed with all the choice of headphones available these days, but with a little invested time you will be able to find something that is perfectly suited to your taste. It is probably better not to jump on the hype bandwagon which sometimes accompany products such as Beats by Dre headphones, instead take some time to look at a handful of other products which are often better than the over-hyped products.
