Secrets of the iPod and iTunes (Fifth Edition) [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

The Ears Have It

The iPod's earbuds are perfectly serviceable. But this style of headphone is inherently problematic, because (a) not all ear canals are the same size, so a one-size-fits-all set of earbuds may not fit all and (b) some people get the heebie-jeebies when items are lodged inside their ears. For these reasons, your list of accessories may include an additional set of headphones. Headphones come in a variety of stylesincluding earbuds, neckband, open-air, and closedfrom such companies as Etymotic, Shure, Sony, Koss, Aiwa, Panasonic, Philips, and Sennheiser.

Earbuds

If you like earbud-style headphones but find those included with the iPod (Figure 9.19) to be uncomfortable (particularly if you have the original earbuds, which many users thought were too big), earbuds are available from a variety of manufacturers. Look for earbuds that fit well, don't require a lot of fiddling to focus (meaning that you don't have to move them around continually to make them sound good), and offer reasonably well-balanced sound.

Apple recently began offering in-ear headphones priced at $39, called, aptly enough, Apple In-Ear Headphones. Although they produce decent sound, they're not for everyone. Their shape can cause them to slip out of some people's ears, which defeats the purpose of having a pair of in-ear headphones. These aren't the kind of headphones that you can try before you buy, so see if a friend has a pair that she'd be willing to let you borrow.

High-quality in-ear headphones include those made by Etymotic ([www.etymotic.com]), Shure ([www.shure.com]), and Future Sonics ([www.futuresonics.com]). If sound quality is of paramount importance to youand you have a fair chunk of disposable incomecheck out Etymotic's $330 ER-4P earphones. These earphonesand others such as Shure's $180 E3c and $500 E5c headphones and Future Sonics' $160 EM3 headphoneswere designed specifically for portable players such as the iPod.

If money really is no object, Future Sonics and Ultimate Ears ([www.ultimateears.com]) offer custom-fitted earpiecesheadphones that are shaped to match the exact dimensions of your ear canals.To obtain such headphones, you must visit an audiologist to have a silicon mold taken of the inside of your ears. You ship this mold to the headphone company, where your custom earpieces are created. Such headphones cost between $300 and $600. For between $100 and $200, Westone Laboratories ([www.westone.com]) will make custom earpieces that fit headphones such as Shure's E5c and Etymotic's ER-4P models.

Neckband Headphones

These popular headphones are secured to your head with wires that drape over the tops of your ears. Imagine putting on a pair of tight glasses backward, so that the lenses are on the back of your head, and you'll get the idea (Figure 9.20). Neckband headphones are comfortable but easy to dislodge if you tug on the cable. Also, they don't provide a lot of sound isolation, which means that sounds from outside tend to filter through. (This isn't necessarily a bad thing if someone's trying to get your attention or your smoke alarm goes off.)

Open-air Headphones

Open-air headphones sit over the ears without enclosing them completely (Figure 9.21). When you bought your portable CD or cassette player, open-air headphones likely were included in the box. These headphones are comfortable, but the less-expensive models can sound thin. Like neckband headphones, they don't provide much isolation.

Closed Headphones

Closed headphones cover your ears completely and provide a lot of isolation, leaving you undistracted by outside sounds and those around you undisturbed by a lot of sound bleeding out of your headphones (Figure 9.22). Some closed headphones can be a bit bulky and uncomfortable, particularly if you wear glasses, so be sure to try before you buy. And because of their size, these headphones aren't terribly portable.

Shopping for Headphones

You wouldn't purchase a pair of stereo speakers without listening to them, would you? Of course not. It's just as important to audition a set of headphones that you intend to spend a lot of time with. When you're auditioning those headphones, keep the following factors in mind:

Sound quality.
A good set of headphones provides a nice balance of highs and lows without emphasizing one band of frequencies over another. Listen for a natural sound. If the headphones lack brightnessor if you can't clearly discern low-frequency instruments (such as bass guitar, cello, or a kick drum), and hearing your music clearly matters to youmove on. These aren't the headphones for you.

Comfort and fit.
If you're an enthusiastic listener, you may wear those headphones for long stretches of time. If they pinch your ears or head, slip out of your ears, or fall off your head, you'll grow tired of them quickly.

Size.
If you plan to take your headphones with you, look for a pair that fits easily into a pocket or iPod case.

It's also a good idea to seek the opinions of others before purchasing a set of headphones. The HeadWize ([www.headwize.com]) Web site is a wonderful repository of information for headphone enthusiasts. Check HeadWize's forums for user reviews of popular (and more-obscure) headphones.