Audio

Sound – how to pick the best mic and headphones 

What to keep in mind when buying headphones 

Headphones are a piece of equipment that many of us can’t imagine life without. Their enclosed form closely envelopes the ear and does a great job of blocking off the ambient sound. This makes them great for gaming or taking a walk and, for the models that come with a mic, chatting with your friends or a video call at work. To choose a pair of headphones that best suits your needs, consider the following: 

• Purpose of the headphones – headphones for running are somewhat different than work headphones. The former should, for instance, have ear cups made of a breathable material that will not cook your ears after a long jog. So, it’s a good idea to consider where and how you’ll use the headphones before making the purchase. 
• Wired vs. wireless – this is directly related to the headphones’ purpose. In simplest terms – the more you move, the less you want a cable. 
• Parameters – such as driver size, impedance and headphone sensitivity. These are among the factors that influence how clean the sound is, so it’s good to give them more thought. 

It’s also a good idea to take into account the availability of additional accessories, such as swappable ear cups, a detachable microphone or an external sound card. Even if you don’t need those on the day of the purchase, one they just might be indispensable. 

Earphones vs headphones 

One of the first questions to ask before buying headphones is related to their construction. At first glance, earphones are a clear winner – they’re small, they weigh little, and they don’t stand out when you wear them out on the town. Unfortunately, they offer lower sound quality compared to headphones and can even damage your hearing in the long run. 

When making this choice, buying headphones may be worthwhile. They have no equal with regard to sound quality. On top of that, they muffle ambient sounds well, so you can fully immerse yourself in your favorite music (or a chat). However, they are slightly larger than earphones, so you might need a dedicated stand for them on your desktop. 

Streaming microphone – the most important features 

Are you considering launching an Internet career? Thinking of buying your first mic for steaming? Or perhaps you’ve had an online presence for a while now and you’re looking for a new model that will meet your rising expectations? If you said “yes” to any of these, we suggest you take a look at the checklist below before you buy. We specified what we consider to be the most important features of a streaming microphone. These are: 

• Sensitivity – how accurately the equipment records sound waves. The principle is simple – the more sensitive the mic, the softer the sounds it’s capable of recording. 
• Directionality – some microphones are capable of capturing sound around the membrane (or at its selected spots), which makes them ideal for recording a group of people.  
• Pop filter and shock mount – they help you reduce the amount of noise (such as the sound caused by vibrations through the mic’s handle) in the recording. 

See all ENDORFY products in the SOUND category