Given the different types of headphones on the market, it shouldn’t be surprising that you’re having a hard time choosing what type to buy. From the two major divisions, it’s quite obvious that you should choose wired headphones for a calm setting and wireless ones when you’re on the go. But given all the types of headphones that are wireless and definitely great choices for you, what is it that would make you choose infrared headphones over the rest?
Why choose IR (infrared) headphones?
Of course, infrared headphones would be similar with Bluetooth headphones and other wireless headphones, but there are quite a few differences that might just convince you to choose infrared.
Infrared headphones will bring your music to you without all of the frustrating static that some other earphones might be annoying you with. You can also hear your radio or television for up to 30 ft. away. For as long as you are still within the range of your headphones and you can see your transmitter, you can be sure that you will be getting the quality you paid for, which means that your sounds will always be as good as possible. The sound quality you will be receiving from your headphones would definitely be similar to those that are connected to your devices, but you wouldn’t be burdened by all the tiresome cords. One of the key advantages of IR headphones is the fact that are very cheap in comparison to the average wireless headset, however, their design tends to be very simple and rather minimalistic. Having said that, IR headsets are great for those who are looking for a value for money wireless headset, but are not ideal for those who are looking for a stylish and super comfortable headset.
A few initial things to look out for
Although it can be said that infrared headphones would definitely be ranking high on your wish list at this point, you have to remember that not all infrared wireless headphones were built the same way. Before we talk about a few different infrared headphone products, it seems smart to first mention the characteristics that you should be looking for in an infrared headphone. Once you have decided to find an infrared wireless headphone, make sure that you have these traits checked before you buy anything to make your investment very worthwhile.
- Aesthetics & Design
The aesthetics of your headphones is another very important aspect because your headphones will be a very visible technological aspect for you when you choose to use it. Its colours and overall design will not only affect the way you like it in general, but it might also affect your comfort and approval of the infrared headphones. Aside from its basic general appearance, you also have to consider many of its structural additions and other basic aesthetic characteristics.
You might think that a certain set of infrared headphones are too heavy, or that another might be too small. In this matter, you should find and choose the infrared headphones that you believe will suit you the most. The infrared headphones can definitely make your sound experience far more satisfying than other wireless headphones, but if you’re not enjoying its design then you won’t be able to enjoy the experience as much.
Other samples of design concerns are how long it will take for your headphones to charge, what is necessary for its upkeep and storage, and even whether it is a set of wireless foldable headphones or even those with swivel ears. Every infrared headphone has its own design strengths and weaknesses, but the best designs are definitely those that will be easy to use, comfortable, and will last very long in your hands.
- Features
The final part of the trio that you have to consider before buying your infrared headphones is the type and number of features that it might have available. Some earphones might have a range that is too small for your taste, so you might want to make sure that the headphones you purchase will have a very large effective range. Keep this in mind when you’re purchasing your headphones because you might believe that a certain distance is good enough, but when you reach home you might find that the headphones will not be able to satisfy your needs since its effective range isn’t good enough for you.
Other features that might be on your headphones would be an automatic shutdown function, which can help you extremely when it comes to preserving your battery. A lot of people tend to forget that their headphones are open, and it might surprise them when they find that their headphones have already died because of a drained battery. With this very helpful feature, your infrared headphones will shut down on their own, so that if you start idling and you forget to turn them off, you will not be losing any battery.
Although there can be a lot of overwhelming features on the different infrared headphones on the market, remember that there should always be one thing on your mind when you’re shopping: convenience. If some feature seems like an accessory but it comes with a very large price jump, you might want to think about the worth of the headphones before buying it. Try to place everything into the perspective of convenience. If a feature seems convenient to you, then it might probably be worth it.
General divisions of infrared headsets
Since there are simply so many choices of infrared headphones on the market, it seems only fair that you receive a quick rundown of a couple of different types of headphones before you start searching for the perfect one. Keep in mind, however, that although these divisions tackle the infrared headphones themselves, they don’t necessarily mention the transmitters that may or may not be included in your purchase. The transmitters are the partner gadgets that are connected to your sound emitting gadget, and those are the ones that create the infrared waves that your infrared headphones will be receiving.
- Single channel infrared wireless headphones
The most common type of infrared headphones is the single channel version. These are the headphones that connect to only one frequency of infrared which means that they are dedicated to a single transmitter. These transmitters can be connected to your TV, car, or other gadget, and then it will emit infrared waves that will be received by your headphones and converted into audio. If you are using single channel infrared wireless headphones, you will only be able to listen to the one gadget that you connected your transmitter to.
- Dual channel infrared wireless headphones
As opposed to single channel infrared wireless headphones, dual channel infrared wireless headphones can connect to two different channels. This means that even if you have two transmitters that are emitting infrared waves in different frequencies, you can simply switch your headphones to be able to detect them both. Although this might be quite confusing for some users, dual channel wireless headphones can still be very useful when it comes to people who simply prefer the convenience of flipping a switch as opposed to transferring your transmitters between two different signal sources.
- Wireless foldable headphones
Apart from having a single or dual channel headset, a lot of different headphones also have the extra feature of being foldable. Some people might complain that making some headphones foldable would sacrifice the quality of the music, but this can still be argued in light of the convenience that this feature offers. Most foldable headphones even come with a handy carrying pack that will make your headphone not only easy to carry around and use whenever you wish, but will also make it easy to store. The combination of these two features can definitely lengthen the life of your headphones and also make it more flexible when it comes to the places where you can use them.
The best rated infrared headphones
Given that we’ve already mentioned that infrared headphones can give you the quality of a normal corded headphone but with so much more mobility and comfort, it seems apt to finally mention a few examples of recommended infrared headphones. These headphones will offer you the best quality in experiencing sound, but without the hassle of all the additional cords.
XO Vision IR620PR Universal IR
The XO Vision Universal IR Wireless Headphones are a type of infrared headphones that are optimized for usage within the car. Listening to videos in the car can be quite boring without the great quality that good headphones can offer, so the XO Vision Universal IR decided to get rid of that problem for you. The great thing about these earphones is one of its most remarkable features: noise cancellation. The XO Vision is wonderful for usage on airplanes and buses because they can get rid of all the ambient sounds of the people around you. Additional features that should be appreciated are its automatic shutdown function and its built-in volume control. Sprinkle in its ability to fold and you have remarkable and portable headphones.
Audio Vox IR 2CFF IR Wireless dual channel headset
The Audio Vox headset is another example of remarkable infrared headphones. It has a sleek design and has been newly upgraded to include a more comfortable earpiece. These headphones are also perfect for you if you value portability and convenience. It features an automatic shutdown function that turns the headphones off if it hasn’t received a signal source for at least three minutes. It also has automatic level control to make sure that the input signals won’t overload the headphones, making sure that your gadget will have that much longer of a life span. Its portability comes in the form of adjustable bands and its ability to be folded flat so that it can be stored better. If you’re looking for a headset that can promise great sound quality as well as comfort, convenience, and receiving all your money’s worth, the Audio Vox IR 2CFF IR Wireless Dual Channel Headset is a good contender for your headset. It can give you the great sound experience you have been trying to get as well as receive the most comfortable sound enjoyment while you’re at it.
Bravo View IH -05A- Single Source Automotive IR Wireless Headphones
The Bravo View headphones are single source automotive infrared wireless headphones. This means that the headphones can be connected to a single source. Its design features optimal portability in two aspects. The first is that it can be folded strategically to create optimal storage design. The second is that the headphone features a headband that can be adjusted into many different levels to ensure comfort when it is worn. The headphones also feature an automatic shutdown function, but it has a new feature: an auto mute function. The Bravo View includes a mini-jack audio input for MP3s and iPods, and can be used efficiently in automobiles.
Fahrenheit HP -11S Swivel Ear pad single
The Fahrenheit HP -11S Swivel Ear Pad headphones has a characteristic trait that is relatively unique: it has swivel ear pads. Of course, why would you ever have to worry about headphones that won’t properly stay on your head, or would force your ears into very uncomfortable positions? Instead of having to go through any of those issues, just buy a set of headphones that have swivel ear pads and give your ears the comfortable luxury of perfectly fitting headphones! Not only does the Fahrenheit have that advantage, it also has adjustable straps to give you the optimal comfort you are looking for when you are listening to music. The headphones also come with an automatic shutdown function, as well as a handy automatic mute function. It also has a built in on/off switch for when you simply want to turn off the headphones just in case. They can also connect quite flawlessly with different cars, and since they are very portable, they are also quite convenient. The Fahrenheit comes with a very efficient carrying case.
SSL SHP32 Dual Channel Infrared Foldable Cordless Headphone
The SSL has a few more technical features than other infrared headphones. This is primarily because the SSL has the ability to accept the signals of two different channels with an impressive channel separation of less than 1%. If you can predict that you will have a need for headphones that are able to accept two separate channels then this is probably the headphone for you. The SSL has been commended to having a very sleek design and is therefore an aesthetically pleasing choice if you prefer to buy one that looks impressive. The SSL also works flawlessly with cars. The two carrier frequencies of the SSL are 2.3/2.8 MHz and 3.2/3.8 MHz. The SSL is also a high ranker in portability since it can be folded into a small and very handy storage case.
Practical benefits of infrared headphones
Infrared headphones are definitely becoming more and more popular because of its advantages when it comes to music listening. It makes your options more portable since it is wireless, and can be used without fail in many different situations. Infrared headphones can be used while you’re doing chores; simply plug your transmitter in an iPod and use your headphones’ effective range to its limit. The headphones can also be used while running errands. Place your transmitter in your car, and if it permits, you can get money from the ATM or even buy a few things without having to stop listening to your favourite song or radio station. Another great place to try your infrared headphones would be when you’re in a car and the people around you would prefer to listen to something else. Use your headphones and you can listen to your music without having to worry about a tangled mess of cords when you wake up.
Infrared headphones offer the same music quality as those you can get from normal headphones with the tiresome cords. Now, you can wear wireless headphones that look great, feel great, and don’t take up that much space. All you have to do is to consider a few characteristics beforehand, and then you can simply choose the best set for you to use according to your needs.
