Wired vs Wireless Headphones – Making the Right Choice
” Are you looking for a new pair of headphones? “
It would be easy to assume that wireless headphones are the only option for the tech-minded audiophile, but there is a strong market for wired headphones.
If you’re looking for the best type of headphones, it’s important to look at all the available options. Whether wired or wireless, there are differences in their capabilities and purpose.
There is a good number of supporters on either end of the wired vs wireless headphones argument. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both types of headphones?
Read on to discover whether wired or wireless headphones are right for you.
Bluetooth
This is the most common type of wireless headphone for use by the general public on phones and laptops. Sound quality is good, and Bluetooth has become relatively cheap thanks to the sheer multitude of options available on the market.
The most recent iteration of Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5.0 has excellent sound quality compared to older versions.
With each new iteration of Bluetooth technology, the improvements are closing many of its previous limitations. They are fast becoming equal with the top-range of wireless audio quality alternatives.
Wireless 2.4GHz
Compared to Bluetooth, the sound quality of headphones using a 2.4GHz signal is much better, and the range is also superior. Gamers prefer such wireless headsets due to their low lag and high sound quality.
The drawback to 2.4GHz headphones is that they often require a separate dongle because most devices won’t have a 2.4GHz transmitter.
Infrared
For ultimate sound quality, IR headphones are the champion of wireless headsets.
Unfortunately, the range is sacrificed in order to achieve this which limits their capabilities. IR headphones are also generally more expensive than both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz headphones.
Wired vs Wireless Headphones
With so many options for wireless headphones out there, why are wired headphones still so prevalent? True audiophiles will often say they’d never use wireless headphones.
Is this a refusal to “move with the times”, or are there legitimate reasons to stay plugged in?
Price
Wireless headphones are generally more expensive, purely for the reason that they’re wireless. This can be seen as a needless expense. If you have no real need for your headphones to be wireless, why pay more?
This is especially true for infrared – since the range is so poor, the usual benefits of the “freedom” of wireless are lessened.
Sound Quality
For the average person listening in the gym or on a games console, sound quality differences will seem negligible between wired and wireless headphones. However, it is the main selling point for those who are in professions like music production.
For this reason, most people who need high-quality sound and have their trust in wired headphones will not see the need to make the move to wireless.
Reliability
Both wired and wireless headphones have their shortcomings when it comes to reliability. We are all too familiar with tangled headphone cables – the ease of use of wireless headphones is certainly an attraction.
Wires can break, and become knotted. Wired headphones are more prone to suffer from wear and tear than their wireless counterparts.
However, batteries can be a nuisance and the older a set of Bluetooth headphones gets, the less time the battery will last.
The Verdict on Different Types of Wireless Headphones
The answer to the question of wired vs wireless headphones is down to what you personally need from your headphones. For those who value range, style, or functionality over sound quality, wireless headphones may be for you.
However, for those who need the highest possible sound quality without breaking the bank, there is really no better option than a great pair of wired headphones.
Check out this article for our list of Best Bass Headphones : Amazrock Brands Opinion Editorial Top 7 Recommendations.
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