Headphones

Headphones are useful for a number of reasons. For listening to the sound from the computer in a noisy environment, or to keep voice communications private for example.

There are several types of headphones, and choosing the right one for your needs, will depend on how you intend to use it. The four main choices of headphone types are:

Wireless Headphones

As the name suggests, these headphones do not need to be physically plugged into the computer. Wireless headphones are perfect for situations where the user will need to move away from the PC at times, and does not want to have to remove their headphones every time they do.

However, if the battery goes flat, they will no longer work. Using wireless headphones for extended periods can be quite costly in batteries, unless you buy a rechargeable set.

Gaming Headsets

Designed specifically for gamers, gaming headsets typically have a number of features not offered on other types. These features include a mute button, so that the sound can be switched off easily, without interrupting game-play. They also come with a built in microphone, for use with voice communication in games.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

These are advanced headphones that contain intelligent circuitry, which can produce sound that cancels out background noise. They work by negating background noise and producing sound at a frequency which “cancels out” the intrusive sound. These headphones are great for use in noisy environments and travel.

Bluetooth Headphones

Bluetooth headphones work in a very similar fashion to wireless headphones. The difference being that they use a standard Bluetooth connection instead of a special wireless dongle.

Bluetooth headsets also work with other devices, such as smartphones and tablets. So they can be used for multiple functions. Additionally, the range on Bluetooth headphones is usually longer than wireless headphones.