Headphone Buying Guide
Are you confused about which headphone to buy? With so many brands and models on the market we can understand that, so hopefully we can help you by explaining some of the differences between the products on offer, and guide you enough to find the right headphone for your needs.
The Basics
There are two basic types of headphones: ‘open back’ and ‘closed back’. This refers to the outside of the earpiece on a standard headphone being either sealed or open with some type of grille.
In the early days, headphones were all closed back until one manufacturer found that it was possible to get a better sound by allowing the diaphragm to move freely in open air. This is logical since enclosing the back of the headphone makes the diaphragm push and pull against a fixed mass of air that operates like a spring, opposing the movement of the diaphragm.
So open headphones today generally sound better than closed, and it is in fact easier to get an open back headphone to sound good, than it is a closed back headphone. However, with technology today, there are some extraordinary headphones on the market that are closed back, most of which come from Audio-Technica.
The situation in which the headphone will be used is what will determine the type of headphone you should buy.
The draw back of an open back design, is that the sound leaks out of the headphone. This can annoy those around you in a work environment, or when listening to the TV while your partner sleeps etc. If this is not an issue for you then you want an open back headphone.
In the recording studio, closed back headphones are the ONLY option as they prevent the headphone mix from leaking back into the microphone you are singing in to, in the case of vocal tracking. So generally, for best sound, buy an open back headphone, but ONLY if your situation permits.
As mentioned earlier, the top end Audio-Technica headphones such as the ATH-W5000 are an exception to this rule. Through some clever engineering they have developed what is easily one of the finest headphones on the planet, and it is a closed back design! Other models in their range like the ATH-A1000X and the ATH-A2000X are also superb closed back designs.
Ear-Canal Headphones
Ear-Canal or Sound Isolating Headphones provide sound quality far beyond the technical ability of the most expensive earbuds and isolation that’s superior to the best headphones. By creating a secure fit between the sound source and your ear canal, unwanted background noise is blocked out while the music comes straight in.
What are Ear-Canal Headphones?
Ear-Canal Headphones were originally developed as Personal Monitor Systems to allow musicians to hear their own performances in loud onstage environments. Ear-Canal Headphones work by using soft, pliable sleeves inserted right down into the ear canal to block background noise, allowing small, high-performance drivers to deliver incredibly precise sound directly to the ear.
Is isolation different from noise cancellation?
The seal created by an Ear-Canal Headphones physically blocks most frequencies of background noise. Active noise cancelling “headphones” are generally larger, heavier and battery-driven. The active cancellation process negates selected frequencies through a complex process that can even introduce unwanted artifacts into the resulting audio. The natural sound isolation properties of a properly fitted Ear-Canal Headphone exceeds the performance of even the most expensive active noise cancellation alternatives.
How are Ear-Canal Headphones different from other headphones?
They are designed to fit inside your ear canal, where they create an isolated listening area that is responsible for their superior acoustic properties.
Which Model to Buy?
With 60% of all headphones sold in Australia being ear-canal headphones, the market is swamped with models and prices range from under $100 to well over $600. So without knowing the budget of a buyer it is difficult to make recommendations. The new JAYS headphones are the most popular under $100, particularly the a-JAYS One which is amazing for the price.
Reviews (0)
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a-JAYS One comes loaded with a 8.6mm dynamic speaker engineered by JAYS. It is the perfect partner for on-the-go music enjoyment as it efficiently blocks out ambient noise.
$49.95
$39.00
Incl. 10 % TAX
and FREE SHIPPING
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Other models to consider are the ever popular Shure SE series models, which offer unique benefits such as replaceable cables, and great isolation. Audio-Technica also offer a great range of ear-canal headphones that, like the Shure products cover all price points.
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Featuring Dynamic MicroDriver, the Shure SE215 delivers detailed sound with enhanced bass.
$125.00
$107.00
Incl. 10 % TAX
and FREE SHIPPING
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Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise Cancelling Headphones are designed for use in noisy environments such as planes, trains and…well even noisy work places. Once you have traveled with a pair of noise cancelling headphones, you will never leave home without them again!
So how do they work?
Active Noise Cancelling is based on the principle of phase inversion, where sound waves are cancelled out by their own 180° phase inversion. In other words, the headphones 'listen' to the ambient noise around you via a built-in microphone, and then 'invert' the sound wave and apply it to the sound from your source, which 'cancels' the noise.
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b
The first thing you notice about the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b is the stunning build quality. In terms of size they are a full ear covering headphone, but they are far more compact that the Sennheiser PXC 350 and PXC 450 models (and better value).
Reviews (1)
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These lightweight, compact headphones effectively reduce distracting background noise by up to 85% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio-Technica a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology.
$249.00
$189.00
Incl. 10 % TAX
and FREE SHIPPING
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Audio-Technica ATH-ANC3
The Audio-Techncia ANC3 is a product which falls into two categories as it is both a Noise Cancelling headphone and an ear-canal headphone. They offer a viable alternative to both products by being the smallest Noise Cancelling headphone we sell, and as such is the easiest model to take with you on overseas trips.
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Audio-Technica’s ATH-ANC3 Active Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones reduce distracting background noise by 85% while offering the superior sound that makes Audio-Technica a world-leading pro audio company.
$99.00
$79.00
Incl. 10 % TAX
and FREE SHIPPING
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Audio-Technica ATH-ANC1
The release of the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC1 late in 2009 has really heated up the Noise Cancelling market. Do not let it's low price sway you, this is a very good headphone. The Noise Cancelling is very good, and the sound reproduced by this light weight and compact design is excellent.
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The new Audio-Technica ATH-ANC1 offers the same noise cancelling ability of the larger ATH-ANC7b, but in a smaller, lighter and foldable headphone. The ANC circuitry allows high-precision with 85% lower noise than the environmental noise around you.
$179.00
$129.00
Incl. 10 % TAX
and FREE SHIPPING
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