If you want to wander around the world or just around the house without being tied to your phone or speaker system, then a good set of wireless headphones is a must. These smart headphones connect to your gear via Bluetooth, removing the need for any cables.
Bluetooth & Other Wireless Headphones
Bluetooth is now the preferred wireless protocol and comes integrated into an array of devices and equipment to support audio-streaming functions. Even headphones and in-ear headphones can now feature Bluetooth functionality, so they can be wirelessly connected up to your phone. Bluetooth has actually been around since 1994 and since the audio quality was noticeably bad compared to cabled audio, Bluetooth has undergone a lot of development over the years, so the audio quality has been vastly improved. As good as Bluetooth is now, not all headphones feature Bluetooth. There are also wireless headphones that operate over radio frequencies (RF), so these models will always come with a separate transmitter.
Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
Wireless headphones that feature active noise cancelling (ANC for short) are perhaps the Holy Grail of all headphones. The noise cancelling function ensures that any continuous noise like someone mowing their lawn or a plane flying overhead, is completely shut off. While ANC has a reduced effect on noise like people talking nearby, it's currently the most efficient way of cocooning yourself up in your music while out and about. You can also use ANC when you're not even listening to anything, so you can seal yourself off from the noise of the world and fully focus on what you're doing.
Wireless Headsets
By headset, we mean any headphones that sit on your head or a set of in-ears with a microphone. This could be an invisible internal microphone or an external microphone. Headsets fitted with an external microphone are ideal for online gamers that need to maintain comms with their team mates, and for extra convenience, some of these headsets connect wirelessly.
Different Wireless Headphones
Just like normal headphones, wireless headphones can come in many different forms. So, you can get on-ear or over-ear wireless headphones, where a set of on-ears rest on the ear and over-ears literally cup the ear, covering it completely. Over-ears are considered the most comfortable, so are the go-to for a lot of dedicated audiophiles, while DJs tend to prefer set of on-ear headphones.
Wireless Headphones for Your TV
You can even watch films or game via a smart TV with a set of wireless headphones. Most new TVs will be Bluetooth capable, so you can directly couple your wireless headphones up and enjoy full sound without bothering your house mates. You can even get headphones that have been specifically designed for gaming, but in principle, any set of wireless headphones will do the job.
Wireless Headphones for Children
If you're looking for a set of wireless headphones for children, then you'll be able to find models in fun colours, and more importantly, models with a fixed volume limit to protect sensitive growing ears. Some models even come with an app so you can set a volume limit yourself. And, since kids aren't necessarily that careful with their headphones, most wireless headphones for children are also pretty reasonably priced.
Frequency Asked Questions About Wireless Headphones
How do wireless headphones work?
Wireless headphones almost always connect with a phone or other device via Bluetooth. These days, the difference in sound quality between using Bluetooth and using a cable is less than it's ever been, so the average listener usually won't be able to tell the difference.
What are the best wireless headphones?
When picking out a set of wireless headphones it's a good idea to check features like the lifespan of the rechargeable battery and whether or not they have active noise cancelling (ANC). On top of that, you have the quality of the design and parts to consider and, of course, the sound quality. For example, some people always want extra-powerful bass from their headphones.
How do you connect wireless headphones to a TV?
Most new TVs come with a Bluetooth function built in, so you can directly couple your wireless headphones via Bluetooth. If your TV isn't Bluetooth capable, then you can connect a wireless transmitter to your TV before linking your wireless headphones to the transmitter.
How do you connect wireless headphones to a computer?
Almost all computers will have Bluetooth. Simply turn on the Bluetooth function of your computer, and you can easily couple it up to your wireless headphones. If your computer doesn't support Bluetooth, then you can use a Bluetooth dongle or a wireless transmitter to connect your headphones.
How do you couple up wireless heapdhones?
Turn your wireless headphones on and then turn on the Bluetooth function of the device you want to connect to. The device will search for any Bluetooth signals nearby and will detect your headphones. So if you're coupling with your phone, your phone will list your headphones as a nearby Bluetooth device. Simply select your headphones from the list to couple them up.
How much do wireless headphones cost?
The cheapest wireless headphones can cost as little as £20. While the sound and build quality of cheaper headphones isn't all that great, this shouldn't be a problem if you take care of them and don't push the sound too hard.
