How to choose wireless headphones

There are a dime a dozen miniature wireless headphones on the market. There are advanced models for audiophiles and simple gadgets for ordinary users. Difficulties in choosing are due to the variety and breadth of the model range. Finding a suitable option among thousands of offers is almost “mission impossible”.

Analysis of such specifications as reproduced frequencies, impedance, noise/signal ratio is unlikely to give anything to the average person. This is a complex matter that needs to be thoroughly delved into. It is better to pay attention to more mundane criteria that are understandable to everyone.

Manufacturer

There are many good brands available in the market. There are cult “old-timers” like JBL, Sennheiser and Sony, and newcomers to the world of headphones – Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei. Huawei freebuds headphones, models from the AirPods family, as well as many other earbuds from well-known brands deserve attention.

It is better to choose a manufacturer based on three parameters:

1. Reputation and user reviews

The Internet is full of information confirming or, conversely, refuting the integrity of well-known brands.

2. Production policy

It is important to know what materials and technologies the manufacturer uses and whether it cares about the environment.

3. Pricing policy

A sign of a progressive brand is an adequate price-quality ratio.

Audio-Technica ATH-IM70 headphones with coaxial symphonic drivers

This model has an isobaric design, due to which two emitters located on the same axis begin to work as one and reproduce frequencies equally. By the type of functioning, such headphones resemble a subwoofer. Thanks to parallel connection, the emitters reduce the likelihood of harmonic distortion and reduce resistance to 10 ohms. In addition, this technology makes it possible to significantly reduce the amount of power input to 2 mW, which is enough to ensure the nominal sound pressure.

Advantages:

a large frequency range from 5 to 25 thousand Hz, allows you to get powerful bass, detailed high frequencies and a wide sound stage when playing songs;
the body, made of a special alloy, reduces excessive resonance, making the sound clear;
if necessary, the cable from the headphones can be disconnected;
The kit includes a storage case and sound-isolating ear pads made of silicone and foam;
the wire adjacent to the headphones has reinforcement, thanks to which it can be used as earphones;
The weight of the headphones is only 3 grams.

Flaws:

poor fit of ear pads;
price – 6 thousand rubles.

Connection technology

In-ear models are used to pair Bluetooth or TWS technology. You can even distinguish devices by their appearance:

Bluetooth headphones are connected to each other by a short wire,
There are no wires in the design of TWS headphones.

In 2022, completely wireless devices are considered more relevant. They are more ergonomic and functional. However, if you are afraid of losing one earphone from a pair, it is advisable to think about buying a Bluetooth model.

How to choose the most compact and comfortable headphones

When choosing compact headphones, a number of criteria are taken into account:

Connection method. Depending on the type of connection, headphones can be wired or wireless. The first ones are classic and do not require daily charging. Bluetooth headphones are more versatile because... guarantee freedom from wires.
Construction type. Based on the method of execution, headphones are divided into: in-ear, in-ear, and on-ear. At the same time, among the earbuds and earplugs there are TWS models, in which the headphones are separated from each other and charged from the case (example: AirPods). These devices are the most compact and suitable for use primarily outdoors. On-ear models sound better, but they are often used to connect to a PC.
Device dimensions. The dimensions of the headphones depend on their design. For example, for TWS models the standard weight is 4-7 g for each earbud. If the model is overhead, it is desirable that it weighs up to 200 g.
Sound characteristics. These include frequency range, sensitivity and impedance. The first parameter is responsible for the frequencies at which the headphones operate (usually 20-20000 Hz). And sensitivity and resistance affect volume.

Autonomy

Wireless headphones must work for a long time without recharging, otherwise there is no point in using them. The constant need to connect to a power source overshadows the operating experience. Even the purest sound cannot justify poor battery life.

Typically, in the specifications of headphones, manufacturers indicate operating time on a single charge. If this information is not available, autonomy indicators can be determined by the energy capacity of the battery. The minimum permissible battery life is from 3 to 5 hours (depending on the mode of use).

An additional selection parameter is price. When buying the cheapest model, you should be prepared for reduced battery life and average sound quality. In order not to sacrifice ergonomics and quality, you should give preference to models from the middle and higher segments.

JVC HA FD7H – wired headphones with the best sound quality

Of all the new models, JVC HA FD7H can be called the unique headphones that reproduce Hi-Res Audio. With minimal sizes, they have a huge range of reproduced frequencies of 8–40 thousand Hz, which allows you to accurately reproduce every note of the compositions, regardless of the performance style. Such characteristics are not always found even in full-size professional models. Additionally, the positive effect is enhanced by a membrane made of nanocarbon tubes and an all-metal body, which eliminates unwanted resonances.

Advantages:

despite the fact that the body is made of metal, the headphones have a very small weight, not exceeding 9 grams;
high sensitivity reaching 102 dB;
The audio cable is made of copper, which ensures high-quality transmission of the audio signal without distortion and delays;
the cord is protected from noise that occurs when the braid rubs against other surfaces;
The ear pads are cone-shaped, which allows the headphones to be placed tightly and comfortably in the ear.

Flaws:

very expensive. The price of this model reaches 10 thousand rubles;
lack of microphone.

Recommendations: 10 Best Wireless Headphones

, 5 best micro-earphones for passing exams, 5 best headphones under 1000 rubles

News

Yes, it was the Japanese who came up with the idea of making the smallest wireless headphones in the world. And they, it is worth admitting, succeeded. Two Japanese companies, Battles Design and Okada Works, immediately took up the development of the Grain project, the money for the implementation of which was decided to be raised from future buyers. For this, the Japanese chose the crowdfunding platform Geen Funding. It is noteworthy that the assembly process of Grain will be carried out in Japan, which was very important for the ideological masterminds of the project. Grain (“grain” in English) is a pair of miniature Bluetooth headphones, in which each piece weighs only 1.3 g, with a length of only 18 mm and a thickness of 9.5 mm. With its dimensions, Grain resembles an ordinary capsule with medicine.

Earplug and prototype of the future Grain earphone

The final version of the Grain case

At a time when all manufacturers are only increasing the size of their devices, the Grain developers decided to take a step back, reducing all the components of the headphone as much as possible. The 4mm dynamic driver has been reduced by almost half. To increase the power of the antenna, it was decided to place it not on the board, as is usually done, but along the entire inner surface of the case. Paired with a modern Qualcomm QCC3026 processor, this fixation gives an increase in both autonomy and the quality of reception and transmission. A 19mAh mini-battery is built into the body of each headphone, which ensures operation for approximately 3 hours. The headphones charge to 100% in about 1 hour.

Significant disadvantages of Grain include the absence of a noise reduction system and microphones with which the user could give commands or communicate with the interlocutor. It was decided to abandon this functionality for the sake of weight and dimensions, which ultimately made it possible to obtain a copy half the size of what was originally planned.

Finger, speaker, circuit board, battery

Like all devices of this type, Grain nests and automatically recharges in an original base no larger than a lipstick. The base battery capacity is 60 mAh, which will provide one and a half additional charging cycles. The weight of the base capsule is 20 grams. Grain supports Bluetooth 5.0, and in combination with eligible smartphones, it also supports True Wireless Stereo Plus technology, which allows the headphones to connect to the audio source separately from each other, which significantly saves battery power.

Against the cradle for the base

The headphones support SBC, AAC, aptX codecs, so when watching a video, you definitely won’t notice any mismatch between the video and audio tracks. Supported A2DP profile. The Grain body is protected from splashes according to the IPX4 standard, which will allow them to be used during active sports. In general, the scenarios for using Grain are quite simple. Considering the impossibility of using headphones as a headset, they are suitable exclusively for listening to music or audiobooks. Grain's limited functionality may affect the positive purchasing decision of a significant portion of potential buyers. Many people simply cannot imagine wireless Bluetooth headphones without voice communication capabilities. In addition, some owners actively use voice commands in dialogue with Siri or Google Assistant.

To bring their project to life, the creators plan to raise 10 million yen. The Japanese intend to stop fundraising on August 30th. At the time of writing this article, 73% of the required amount has already been collected (link). And something tells me that the idea will gain much more than planned. As for the price, Grain is priced at 27,200 yen. The expected start of shipment is late November-early December of this year. Personally, I found the idea interesting. I’ll definitely order a copy for review, and at the same time I’ll give myself a New Year’s gift to my loved one.

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Sony MDR-EX155 – compact headphones with built-in microphone

Highly sensitive headphones with dome-type speakers, designed for high-quality reproduction of both high and low frequencies. Their range varies from 5 to 24 thousand Hz. This model has a narrowed cone-shaped body and small anatomically shaped ear pads that fit comfortably in the ears and do not jump out during movement, providing good noise insulation.

Advantages:

the presence of a built-in microphone, which makes it possible to use this model as a headset on any smartphone;
the headphones have a durable corrugated wire that is tangle-free and resistant to bending;
Includes ear pads in four sizes;
cheap. The cost of the device varies from 700 to 1500 rubles.

Flaws:

too sharp high frequencies;
weak connection of the wire to the connector.

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