Headphones for MP3 Player

Manufacturers of MP3 players like to save the supplied headphones. The earbuds, however, have a decisive influence on the listening session. The editorial staff has undergone cheap and expensive alternatives, a detailed test.

Are expensive headphones necessarily better?

The survey shows 76 headphones from ten to more than 100 $. The best (Etymotic Research) is among the most expensive copies and falls into the category of in-ear headphones. Significantly cheaper and yet compelling models of this type you get with the Philips SHE9850 in fifth place and the absolute bargain - Panasonic RP-HJE120 - in 15th place For fans of the clip headphones cheap, but somewhat dowdy-looking Koss recommends fourth. A more modern design with a similarly good sound delivers not much more expensive, AKG K 518 LE from tenth place. The price does not always have the music!

Open or closed - which are you?

Open headphones can pass sound waves - in both directions: Ambient sounds should be heard, the user does not feel completely cut off from the outside world. The other way round to get to the neighbor, which plays the MP3 Player straight. An open structure is found in many temples in traditional headphones and in-ear type models that sit flat in the ear.

Closed headphones can penetrate hardly music to the outside and seal off ambient noise from. Generally, you will deliver powerful bass, because sound waves are focused on the ear of the user. Closed structures are found in some large bracket headphones as well as many modern in-ear models. Important for the latter: To maximize the full sound, the ear plugs to seal the ear canal. For different sized ears therefore lie with different silicone sleeves.

The comfort of different constructions

Headband Headphones can sit up easily, but do not hold well while jogging. These factors are headphones with ear-or neckband. If you run with closed in-ear models, there is a risk, bicycle bells and other warning signs to ignore.

The ear plugs of closed in-ear models usually cause a slight feeling of pressure in the ear - that some people find unpleasant. Manufacturers such as Sennheiser, Ultimate Ears and Etymotic Research offer a special service for certain models: A hearing care professional takes impressions of your ears and the plugs formed accordingly. This makes for the perfect fit.

Active noise cancellation

They want when listening to music are not bothered by ambient noise, such as noise from the turbine in an airplane? There are special headphones with built-in electronics to hide the disturbing frequencies. Such models you can not find in the big overview, but the following link.