What could be better than listening to your favorite song on a relaxing day? How about not being forced to stay in one place or carry a device around with you everywhere you go as you listen to your favorite song on a relaxing day? Technology has made a ton of advancements over the years that now allows us to evolve from the Walkman tape player with headset, to the CD player with headset, and now to the iPod or MP3 player with headset. But wouldn’t it be nice to go one step further to just have the headset, minus the device attached, to listen to your songs? Of course, it would! That’s why many people are falling in love with their wireless headphones with Bluetooth capabilities. Want to learn more about them? Read on!
About Bluetooth
Over the last decade, Bluetooth has quickly become a household name. They first became very popular for their earpiece that connected wirelessly to a capable cell phone. This meant there were tons of people walking around appearing as though they were talking to themselves, only to find they had a contraption glued to their ear that allowed them to talk to someone on their phone that was hidden away in their pocket or purse.
Now, however, we have seen a total evolution with this wireless technology. The reasoning behind Bluetooth become so big is their desire to create communication capabilities between varying electronic components. So now, instead of just being able to have your earpiece communicate wirelessly with your cell phone, you can have your cell phone communicate with your printer to print pictures, you can have your video game console communicate wirelessly with your computer, and you can even have your blood pressure machine communicate wirelessly with your doctor’s server at a central location so that your vital stats can be monitored on a regular basis.
In the midst of all of the evolution, you can find great Bluetooth wireless headphones that provide you with the ability to listen to everything from your iPod, computer, cell phone, stereo and even TV. To get an idea of the different companies that offer these wireless headphones, as well as the features they bring in tow, let’s look at some of the more popular brands and models on the market today.
Wireless Headphones Brands
Sennheiser
Sennheiser is revolutionary in the world of microphone technology, having begun their research and production in 1945. They didn’t stop there however, and now are leaders in the creation of headphone transducer technology and active noise-cancellation. Here is one of their more popular headphone models that is not only wireless, but has other great features for you to enjoy:
RS 130 Headphones – Considered a headphone system, this headset is filled with style and is light to carry and wear. It has what is known as switchable surround sound technology which is great for those who want to listen to their movies in surround sound without having to disturb the family members during the dramatic scenes. They can connect to your stereo and of course your TV or DVD player. And since they are wireless, they can allow you to move around the house without having to turn up the volume. When you’re finished with them, you can place them on their metal stand, which is also used to charge the battery. All of these features and more come at a price of $159.00 – not bad!
Sony
Sony has two brands that I thought were worth mentioning, one because they have such unique features, and two, because they are of completely different styles.
DR-BT22 Headset – These specific wireless headphones are great because they allow you to connect to your cell phone or your audio devices. So, let’s say for instance you were on the phone listening to one of your favorite songs when you received a call. You can simply accept the call and talk through your headset, then switch right back over to your favorite song, which should have paused right before you answered the phone. In addition to this capability is your option to use the complimentary remote control that allows you to manage the headset’s basic functions, including stopping and rewinding a song. Also, it comes with rechargeable batteries and folds up easily to be stored when not in use. But the best part of it all is the ability to move about freely without being attached to your device – you can’t beat all of the features you get with this headset.
DR-BT10CX Stereo Earbud Headset – These wireless headphones are not only able to give you the freedom you want, but they are also extremely lightweight and convenient. Why, you ask? Because they are earbuds instead of headphones – this means they fit in your ears instead of over your head. This is a great option for those who enjoy going out to jog with their iPod but don’t like to carry the device in their hands to avoid tugging at the wire. The only wire you have to worry about with these earbuds is the transmitter attachment that can clip anywhere on your body. The iPod itself would be in your pocket – or even in your workout bag if you can keep it near you while in the gym. The headphones provide you with up to 11 hours of talk time and up to 100 hours of standby time. Additionally, because of their adaptability, you can connect them to your stereo or PC too!
Logitech
FreePulse Bluetooth Headphones – These wireless headphones were meant to work specifically with your iPod, and have integrated controls right on them that allow you to change the volume, your song, or stop the player when you’re across the room from the device. While these are not as highly-recommended (or expensive) as the above headsets, they are definitely considered a great upgrade from the complimentary earbuds that come with the iPod.
The next time you go shopping for Bluetooth wireless headphones consider the ones listed here. They each have a good reputation for being of decent quality, and their prices are not unreasonable for the features you receive. However, if you think you need to conduct more research, know there are tons of Bluetooth-enable wireless headphones out there to choose from. Just research wisely, choose well, and enjoy your great, wire-free listening experience.
By: Jeffrey Meier
Posts Tagged ‘Earpiece’
Which Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are the Best?
March 24th, 2010Cranking the Volume on Your iPod Or MP3 Player Can Damage Hearing
November 26th, 2009
Kids have always loved listening to their favorite music, and the louder the better – much to their parents’ dismay. In the 1980s, the portable tape recorder with headphones – which came to be known as the “Walkman” – enabled teenagers to listen to their music as loud as they wanted, anywhere they wanted, without disturbing anyone around them.
But the more modern rendition of the Walkman – portable MP3 Players and iPods – pose a major threat to our children’s hearing health, and to ours.
The problem is a combination of the technology of portable digital devices that creates a non-buffered crystal clear sound, and the type of headphones typically used with them, which do not have a buffer either. In December 2005, Dean Garstecki, an audiologist and professor at Northwestern University reported that more and more young people were being diagnosed with the types of hearing loss typically found in older adults. He attributed this trend to the “earbud” type headphones that usually accompany iPod and MP3 Players. With the earbud headphones, the sound frequencies are not buffered as they are with the more traditional, ear cup-style headsets.
Newsweek Magazine recently reported that researchers at the House Ear Institute found that listeners can unfortunately increase the volume of today’s portable digital devices without the “signal distortion that occurs with traditional analog audio.” The older-model headphones that were popular just 15 to 20 years ago – that have ear cups outside of the ears – had that distortion when the volume was turned up, which functioned as a much-needed buffer to protect our hearing. Today’s technology does not provide that buffer – the earpiece is placed in the ear, not outside of it, and the digital devices do not create that distortion, no matter how high the volume.
In addition, people often listen to these devices while they are on the go, and have a tendency to crank the volume in an attempt to drown outside noise, further posing a risk to our hearing. Using the earbud style headphones during activities such as exercise, for example, puts the user at a greater risk. During exercise, blood, which can act as a buffer, is diverted from the ears to other parts of the body – so our already vulnerable hearing is in even more jeopardy.
Headwize reports that a study conducted on music listeners using headphones revealed that while indoors with no background noise, the participants were comfortable with their music at 69 decibels. Outdoors, where the background noise was recorded at 65 decibels, participants using their headphones turned the volume up to 82 decibels and as high as 95 decibels to drown out the surrounding noise. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines limit exposure to noise at this level to no more than four hours each day. The study concluded that the participants were at risk for hearing damage and recommended “avoiding continuous use of [portable stereos] in noisy conditions.”
Northwestern University’s Dean Garstecki offers more specific guidelines: His 60 percent/60 minute rule – listen to MP3 Players and iPods for “about an hour a day and at levels below 60 percent of maximum volume.” The problem is, most of the population using headphones – young music fans – listen to their music for much longer than one hour per day. But, you can help minimize hearing loss, damage and problems while listening to your favorite music as long as you want to – the secret is in the headphones.
Headphones such as the EX29 Extreme Isolation Noise Reduction Headphones help block out external noise allowing you to hear the fine details of your music without blowing out your ear drums. The ear cup fits over the ear, and not in it, and the headphones are lightweight, don’t require batteries and can be used with your MP3 Player or iPod. With 29 decibels of isolation from outside sound, the quiet headphones block outside noise and there is no need to crank the volume of your music.
Aging rock stars like the Who’s Pete Townsend, who has some permanent hearing loss from years of exposure to loud music, and Mick Fleetwood, who has teamed up with Energizer batteries to promote hearing loss prevention, have brought public attention to the fact that many of us take our hearing for granted. But there’s no need to turn off your music – just be smarter about how you listen to it. If you are using your MP3 Player or iPod when you’re exercising, in a noisy environment or you just want to hear the fine details of your music, ditch the earbud headphones and reach for a set of noise reduction ones instead. And you’ll be enjoying your favorite music for a long time to come.
By: Lee Blue
