With wireless gadgets you will hardly surprise anyone, as well as sound without wires. But if you recall the inconvenience that tangled wires caused us at crucial moments in games or let the memory down, we got up to open the door or answer the call with the headphones, bending the 3.5 mm “jack”. Wireless headphones for a computer pushed this whole nightmare into the past, but the cable nevertheless does not lose its position and is considered a quality standard for music lovers.
Users who relate to quality without special claims and consider convenience to be the decisive factor are probably not averse to lie down on the couch to watch TV or to play their favorite game, without any constraining movement of wires.
Let's try to figure out how to choose wireless radio headphones and not get confused in a huge assortment of brands and models, especially since the price of such a gadget is far from small. The absence of a cable is not the most important criterion, because I also want to hear a great sound. This is where the dilemma arises - to trust the venerable manufacturer or the technical characteristics of the gadget. This will be discussed in today's article.
Headphone Types
Depending on the design features of the design, the headphones can be divided into overhead and monitor. Both species have soft cushions adjacent to the head, and monitor ones are also divided into open and closed, where the latter isolate you from the outside world by almost 100%.
Open-type wireless radios create a more holistic picture in terms of sound, while closed ones are prone to resonant phenomena. However, the latter is extremely rare, so it is still better to give preference to closed ones.
Classes
In addition to design differences, wireless radios are divided into classes: Hi-Fi, Hi-End, professional, amateur, etc. However, it is not worth trusting the seller, and sometimes even the manufacturer, in the sense that his model is not amateur, but the most “Hi-Fi” one, because the marketing goal of the latter is not to promote their products at all costs Shy about misleading the buyer.
Therefore, before you purchase a wireless radio headphone for a TV or computer, carefully read the technical specifications, which just reflect the degree of belonging to a particular class.
Principle of operation
Naturally, the main advantage of wireless gadgets is the lack of restrictions for the user along with the ability to connect to various devices. In music lovers there is a deep-rooted opinion that wireless radio headphones transmit a signal worse in comparison with wired counterparts. Such an accusation is not unfounded, and the main argument is a large number of signal transformations: first it is transmitted to the receiver, then it is encoded, then it goes to the headphones, it is decoded, and only after going all this way does the sound go to the user.
In words, it looks like a long chain, but modern models perform all these steps extremely quickly, and the average user is not able to catch the difference between a wired and a wireless gadget (if the latter is not a junk model for little money).
Wireless protocols come in several forms: infrared, Bluetooth or radio. Radio gadgets are the most "long-range", as they can provide a stable signal at a distance of up to 100 meters from the base. However, over such a long distance, wireless headphones pay with a relatively large amount of interference from home or office electrical appliances. Infrared models perfectly cope with all kinds of interference, but their radius of action is very small - no more than ten meters, and even then, provided that the model is notable for good reception and, therefore, high price.
Headphones with Bluetooth technology are a cross between infrared and radio models: a good level of resistance to interference and a distance of just over ten meters. However, this technology has one very noticeable minus - weight. The built-in “Bluetooth” module weighs a lot, and the design on the head is bulky.
Portability
Wireless radios do not have to burden your user, and this is a fact. Of course, high-quality sound for the music lover is above all, but if at the same time the gadget will weigh under a kilogram, you can hardly enjoy music for a long time. Therefore, obviously, you will need to pay attention to the weight and dimensions of the device you like.
In addition to these factors, it is also worth considering that some manufacturers make their models folding and very compact - this is useful if you decide to take them with you on nature or on a trip.
Extra options
There are several more factors that you should pay attention to before you finally make your choice. The instructions should indicate the operating time of the device on one battery. It is worth considering this option if you do not want to turn watching a movie or a game on your computer into an endless series of recharging your gadget or changing batteries.
Be sure to look at the scope of delivery of the device and its full compliance with the one stated in the list. Almost every self-respecting manufacturer will provide its consumer with branded batteries (so that they know which ones to buy next).
A reference to the warranty period (the more the better) and the availability of nearby service centers will not be out of place. Also, before buying, specify the conflict of the device: some devices are extremely scrupulous to competing brands.
Now let's move on from theory to practice and consider wireless radios that have especially distinguished themselves (the review is relevant in the spring of 2016).
Sennheiser RS 170
A good model, worth 10 thousand rubles, which has gained popularity among a very enviable circle of both gamers and music lovers. The gadget is capable of reproducing sound in the range from 18 to 21,000 Hz, which is an excellent indicator for low frequencies.
The impedance (resistance) is 32 ohms, and the signal-to-noise ratio ranges from 110 decibels. These headphones weigh only 200 grams with a small one, and the battery capacity is as much as 600 mAh (two AAA cells). This is enough for a day of continuous use along with high-quality sound. The mounting type is standard, with a 6.3 mm variable adapter.
Users respond very warmly about this model, noting that no interference is heard in it, such as negotiations between taxi drivers and telephone surges, but the only thing owners complain about is the inconvenient location of the function keys, which is difficult (but possible) to get used to.
Philips SHB9250
Philips Wireless Headphones have a beautiful design, commendable ergonomics and great sound. They cost 9,000 rubles. Unlike the previous model, this gadget can be connected to the base, that is, if your battery is dead, then you can continue your favorite activity, but with a “binding”. Judging by user reviews - this is a very useful and popular feature.
Branded batteries and 6.3 mm adapter are included. It is also possible to use a radio headset with a microphone (wireless technology "Wi-Fi"). Alas, the microphone is not included in the kit, so you have to buy it separately.
Of the pluses, user reviews note an excellent touch control system and excellent sound for almost any genre of music (excluding industrial and heavy metal). Some owners complain about the occasional pickups and the bass enhancement feature - sometimes it works too hard to cope with low frequencies.
Summarizing
The article provided basic information on the selection of various wireless headphones. Some subtleties of tuning can be left to music publications, but one thing can be said: the human ear is unique, and the exact same composition sounds different for everyone - one hears an extraneous sound or tip, and the other does not.
If you are a person without special music lovers and use headphones as a gamer, streamer, or just like to watch a movie on the couch, you can safely dwell on the above models.