Wireless headphones, the convenience of the absence of wires

Thanks to their practicality and comfort, wireless headphones have quickly climbed positions in the list of technological accessories.

Available in many versions and for many uses, wireless headphones allow you to get rid of the physical and cumbersome limit of the wire, bringing connectivity to levels never seen before.

Wireless headphones, what they are and what are the differences with wired headphones

This technology has been declined in various forms based on the needs and requirements of users. In fact, we usually find two categories of wireless headphones , which differ in shape, technical characteristics and intended use.

The most common format, because it is very discreet and takes up little space, is that of the supra-aural, i.e. on-ear. This type of headphone is small in size and involves "hooking" directly over the auricle, possibly also thanks to a headband that helps maintain the position. Another type are the circumaurals. This type of headphones known by the English name of over-ear/around-ear is characterized by completely covering the auricle, guaranteeing greater isolation from external noise, despite greater weight and bulk.

Types of wireless headphones

Headphones, based on their format, are divided into on-ear (supraural) and over-ear/around-ear (circumaural): the former are smaller and rest directly on the earcups, the latter are larger and they have protruding “cushions” that allow the ear cups to be enclosed in the headphone cups. Over-ears are heavier and bulkier than on-ears, but ensure greater isolation from the external environment. You need to choose them based on your needs and which ones you feel are most comfortable to wear.

Both types of headphones can also be equipped with a microphone, volume controls and advanced features.

Convenience of wireless headphones

Wireless headphones allow for an incredible level of convenience. In fact, they allow you to play sports freely without the hindrance of wires and in the office or at home you can move freely without distance limitations or the need to always carry your smartphone or multimedia player with you.

Types of wireless headphones

We normally find two connection technologies at the basis of wireless headphones . On the one hand, the certainly most widespread one, the Bluetooth headphones. This type of headset allows a range of approximately 10 metres.

The signal transfer via Bluetooth uses sound compression, this manipulation, in the cheaper models, can lead to a reduction in audio quality, a problem not present in high-end solutions, where this process makes no difference in sound quality.

Among the many advantages of Bluetooth we also find the possibility of connecting to multiple devices, such as computers, televisions, smartphones and tablets.

Even from a functionality point of view, Bluetooth headphones allow a lot of freedom, thanks to the presence of buttons on the body of the headphones themselves which allow the basic management of phone calls and management of audio tracks.

Pairing to the device is then very simple, given that after the first pairing it is practically automatic when the headphones are activated.

An alternative to Bluetooth headphones are radio frequency (RF) headphones, usually more expensive and with less choice, but with the great advantage of allowing a range of up to 100 meters with excellent audio quality.

Third alternative, certainly the cheapest, but also the most limiting is that of infrared headphones. In this case the range is very limited and in fact the typical application is that of the connection between a TV and the user who is in front of it (for example on the sofa).

Functionality

Almost all modern Bluetooth headphones offer a built-in microphone that allows you to make phone calls and interact with the voice assistants present in smartphones. Again via voice commands, in some models, it is possible to "command" the smartphone, managing for example the volume level or the choice of sound track.

The controls and their availability may vary based on the brand of the headset and that of the device, with the highest level of integration possible when choosing two devices of the same brand.

Microphone management also varies depending on the brand and model of the headset. Many brands are in fact implementing headphones with double microphones, one of which is dedicated to picking up external noise with the aim of neutralizing it at a software level.

Autonomy

Another very important factor is the autonomy of the headphones. Again, each drivetrain technology prefers a different charging system. For example, Bluetooth headphones are equipped with rechargeable batteries, usually in a dual configuration. What is charged is in fact the headphone container, which in turn charges the earphones when they are placed inside. With this configuration you can therefore get a few hours' charging for the headphones themselves and a charging cycle that can be used three or four times simply by putting the earphones away.

Radio frequency and infrared headphones can instead be powered by the classic mini stylus.

Noise reduction

Headphones that cover the entire auricle allow better insulation thanks to their construction structure and the possibility of using more material. The software also helps with isolation in both types of headphones, which with the help of special dedicated microphones can intercept environmental noise and compensate it so as to eliminate it or at least reduce it.

The modularity of the software then allows different levels of isolation, from complete to the lightest one which allows environmental sounds to "filter" through the headphones, guaranteeing safety when doing sports or when on the move.

Some headphone models naturally isolate from external noise thanks to their structure, but in some cases this is not enough. To obtain maximum isolation, you need to purchase headphones equipped with active noise reduction technology , which uses the microphones integrated into the headphones to eliminate (or partially limit) external noise even in the most chaotic situations, for example on an airplane.

There are therefore various possibilities for those looking for wireless headphones , various solutions that allow anyone to find the perfect pair of headphones for their needs.