When choosing Hi-Fi headphones, first consider what you will use them for
Hi-Fi Headphones for PC or laptops
For gaming, office work, or as a versatile PC headset, we recommend over-ear headphones. They are comfortable even during extended listening sessions, and compared with similarly expensive in-ear headphones, they offer superior sound quality. For gaming or Internet video conversations, choose a headset with a microphone.
Hi-Fi Headphones for Life on the Go
When travelling on the bus, train, or plane, earbuds and in-ear headphones are the most convenient, as are headphones with a folding design. In short, go for something lightweight and compact.
Hi-Fi Headphones for Sports
In-ear Hi-Fi headphones, such as ear buds, are ideal sports headphones as they fit snugly in your ears, block out ambient noise, and are more comfortable during hot and sweaty workouts than over-ear headphones.
Hi-Fi Headphones for TV
TV Hi-Fi headphones can be connected by a 3.5mm jack or wirelessly. When choosing TV headphones with wires, we recommend a cable length of at least one metre longer than the distance between the TV and the viewing point.
Earbuds
In-ear
On-ear
Over-ear
What Else Should I Look for When Choosing Hi-Fi Headphones?
Connectivity
- Wired Hi-Fi headphones (3.5mm jack, USB) - compared with similarly expensive wireless headphones, they offer better sounds quality but less freedom of movement.
- Wireless Hi-Fi headsets (Bluetooth, radio frequency) - with no wires, they provide greater freedom of movement (Bluetooth headsets have a range of approx. 10 metres from the playback device; radio frequency up to 100 metres). Wireless headphones have built-in batteries and must be recharged.
| Connectivity |
PC & Laptop¹ |
Phone & Tablet |
MP3 Player |
TV |
| 3.5mm Jack |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| USB |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| Bluetooth |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
| RF with USB transmitter |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| RF with transmitting station |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Lightning |
✕ |
iPhone², iPad³ |
iPod⁴ |
✕ |
¹Many of today's PCs come with WiFi and Bluetooth support as standard, and if not, you can make use of a WiFi adapter or a Bluetooth adapter.
²iPhone 5 and newer.
³iPad 4 and newer.
⁴iPod Nano 7, iPod Touch 5 and newer.
Hi-Fi Headphones—Construction
- Closed - transmits almost no sound out of the headphones, dampens ambient noise.
- Open - provides more accurate music reproduction (less distortion), lets sound out of the headphones, does not reduce ambient noise.
- Semi-closed - a compromise between open and closed headphones, partially lets sound out of the headphones, partially dampens ambient noise.
Hi-Fi Headphones—Useful Features, Functions and Technology
- Volume control - located on the headphones or cord.
- Folding design - for easy portability.
- Rotating ear cups - comfortably listen to music in one ear (especially useful for DJs).
- APTX and AAC - codecs for Bluetooth headphones that guarantee higher quality sound.
- NFC - a technology found in Bluetooth headphones that makes it faster and easier to connect them to a playback device. Just put the headphones and your player near each other and enjoy.
