How to Choose the Right Headphones for You

Before you compare prices, ask yourself where you will listen most of the time. The answer makes half the decision. Question one: on the move or at home? For commuting and travel, choose closed-back wireless headphones, ideally with active noise cancelling. For home and a quiet office, open-back headphones are worth a try: their sound is wide and natural, but people near you hear them and they do not shut out the room. Question two: wired or wireless? Wireless is easier on the move and needs no jack on your phone. Wired has no battery and no audio delay, which matters for playing an instrument, recording and some games. Many wireless pairs come with a cable, so you get both. Question three: do you game a lot? A gaming headset adds a microphone close to your mouth and a fast wireless link through a dongle in the console or PC, so the sound arrives with no delay you would notice. Question four: comfort. If you wear headphones for hours, look at the pads and the weight before anything else: pads that sit around the ear are more comfortable than pads that press on it, and a padded headband spreads the weight. And if the pads can be replaced, the headphones will stay with you for years longer.