Choosing a pair of headphones these days is not unlike buying shoes: They have to fit, be the correct color, be kept out of the rain and be absolutely you. Also, they shouldn’t be too loud. Or too hot.
Just as one requires sneakers and boots as well as heels and flats, certain headphones work in specific situations.
We’ve got traditional ‘phones for critical listening and serious studio monitoring (big, heavy, sealed ear cups); ‘phones tailored for a run or the gym (light, snug, bass boost); gaming headphones (over the ear, surround-sound effect for all the murders in Halo); noise cancellation for the subway ride or that trans-Atlantic flight (medium size, fat ear cushions); sound-isolating earbuds when you want … well, isolation.
The latter have recently found a wide audience, thanks to the iPod and its cousins. Here’s a look at some of the other, new-to-market headphone flavors and their targeted uses. [ prices and availability subject to change. ]
NOISE CANCELLATION
Creative Aurvana X-Fi
$299 at us.creative.com
Creative’s noise-cancellation formula goes a step or two beyond the norm by adding two “sound-enhancing” circuits, called the Crystallizer and the CMSS 3D. The former works by first identifying the components of an audio track that have been damaged or cut off during the compression process. Then it selectively fills in the gaps. The effect is higher resolution and revelation of the details. The 3-D feature simulates the surround aura by moving the music away from the ears and toward … outer space.
Others to consider:
— Bose QuietComfort 3, $299, the classic in this range
–Audio-Technica QuietPoint, $219.95
DJ HEADPHONES
Technics RP-DJ1200
$179.95 at panasonic.com
Most so-called DJ headphones try to be cool, but they’re not what you’d find on a pro DJ’s head. Sure, they’ve got over-the-ear cups that swivel for effect and one-sided monitoring, but sonically they’re ordinary. Stanton, Sony, Pioneer and Technics are among the with-it companies that turn out DJ gear, but we like the RP-DJ1200. It shines at high volume levels — as it should — with prodigious bass thumping out of the 41mm drivers.
Other choices:
–Pioneer SE-DJ5000, about $90
–Skull Candy SK Pro, at $100, folds neatly and looks the part
GAMING
Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA2
$99.95 on sale at turtlebeach.com
The resonance of a big bass boost and scads of ambient surround-sound effects are what make a gaming headset exciting, whether its connected to a PC or a game console. The Ear Force, designed to work with a sophisticated PC sound card, go far into surround: eight speakers with dual subwoofers, all driven by a multichannel amplifier with bass enhancement. Whoosh. There’s also a removable microphone for getting it on with other online gamers. It’s a big package, but fairly comfortable.
Other choices:
— Plantronics Audio-550, about $110, also works well with voice and Internet applications
–Zalman 5.1 Surround Sound Ultimate Gaming Headphones, $45
BUDGET
Apple iPod in-ear headphones
$39.99 at store.apple.com
These in-ear ‘phones fit snugly and comfortably and are a vast improvement over the tacky ‘phones bundled with most iPods. Fashion-wise, they complement the Apple players neatly.
Others:
— Sennheiser PX-100, $59.95, open-air design for comfort, portable, wide dynamics
— Sony MDR-J20, clips on the ear, $19.99
