Time to Upgrade your Headphones!

The Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and a pair of headphones can be a great buy for people who like entertainment on the go. Depending upon the use, you can choose the ones best suited for music, gaming, or workouts. A good pair of headphones fit comfortably, deliver great sound quality, and match your style. Headphones come in a variety of designs, like on-ear, over-the-ear, open, and closed back. You can also go for wireless and Bluetooth options that offer convenience. The kids will soon be back to school and this may be one item you might want to add to their list of essentials.

Open and closed back refer to the ear cups. Most models have closed backs, which means the ear cup is totally closed on the outside. On an open back model, there is a grille on the outside. Open back models have good sound detail and depth because sound waves do not bounce off the back of the ear cup and move back towards your ear.

On-ear models rest on top of your ear, while over-ear ones have larger cups that go around the entire ear. Over-ear designs are more isolating. The difference mostly comes down to comfort and preference, because both types will deliver the same kind of sound. Joggers in particular may want over-ear models, because they will stay in place more easily while in the act of running.

Soundstage is that feeling of hearing the instruments arranged around you, as if you are sitting in the middle of the band. For gaming, it is what helps you identify the direction a sound is coming from. Some headphones specialize in soundstage. Ear cups with open backs have good soundstage because they allow for perceived spacing between the instruments and depth in the sound. Having strong soundstage makes audio engaging and realistic.

Coloration refers to the change that the speakers and circuits impart to the audio. Some models, called monitors, try to be as neutral as they possibly can so they pass on the source with no changes. Others add, for example, enhanced bass, warmer midranges, or sharper high notes. This comes down to a matter of taste, and coloration makes different models suitable for different genres and uses. Often, a brand will be known for having a "house sound." Grados is known for detailed bass and Sennheiser for soaring highs, among others. Gamers will typically want an accurate and detailed sound, so they want a more even coloration. In some cases, a model will have an option to switch on some kind of modification, such as a bass boost. This adds coloration, or will have its own equalizer that you can use to modify the sound.