When you love listening to music or audiobooks with headphones, but you don’t want to be hooked into the device you are listening to, that’s when you want to invest in wireless headphones. If you like to watch TV late at night without disturbing your partner, wireless headphones are a perfect solution. There are many different headphone options available today to suit anyone’s style.
With wireless headphones, you can connect to many types of devices such as your PC, your smartphone, a stereo speaker, TV, or gaming machine with no wires or cables required. The way they work is by pairing or connecting with devices you’re using through an infrared or radio signal. These new and emerging technologies are revolutionizing the music industry
Radio Frequency (RF) Headphones
RF headphones use a stereo frequency modulation system signal for transmission of sound from your audio device back to your headphones. You must have a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver in order for the wireless headphones to work. However, you can connect your headphones to any TV, even if it doesn’t have a transmitter. The signals from RF wireless headphones can range from 3 kHz to about 300 GHz. However, most wireless headphones use 2.4 GHz RF technology. This gives the headphones a great signal range of up to 300 ft.
Pros & Cons of RF Headphones
Of course, the main pro about RF headphones is that they are wireless. Another great thing is that you can use RF headphones even in another room if you don’t exceed the range of the transmission and receiving signal. Numerous headphones can be used by a single transmitter which means you can have a true group audio experience.
As for the cons of RF wireless headphones, there are really only a couple. There can sometimes be an issue with static or interference. Some models of these headphones available today can lack bass capabilities.
Infra-red (IF) Headphones
Aside from just audio, infrared technology can be used in a great number of different ways. Wireless headphones are one way, but also in things like spa treatments and telescopes. Light-emitting diodes or otherwise known as LEDs are the core of infrared technology. A focused beam of invisible pulsating light is what the LED uses to work. In order for infrared wireless headphones to work, the light is sent from the transmitter to the headphones.
Pros & Cons of IF Headphones
If you invest in high-end IF headphones, you will be sure to get a much better quality of sound that rivals the long used wired headphones. If you absolutely hate any kind of static or interference when you are listening to the audio, you won’t have to worry about that when you use quality IF headphones. As with other types of headphones, you won’t disturb others if you want to stream your music or other audio.
Bluetooth (BT) Headphones
Bluetooth headphones are the latest form of headphones. Many people love their versatility. The proprietary open wireless technology standard that Bluetooth uses is what is most often used with cellphones. It allows for exchanging data at short distances. Bluetooth technology uses a spread spectrum. This is a frequency-hopping signal and helps eliminate problems that could be caused by other wireless devices. This helps ensure a more stable and robust sound.
Pros & Cons of Bluetooth Headphones
The wonderful thing about Bluetooth wireless headphones is that they can usually connect to any other Bluetooth devices. They also have limited interference. They offer secure frequency. They have a fairly low power consumption.
As far as cons go, there are only a couple. They generally have a limited range of about 10ft to 33ft. They have before been typically used with cell phones, but there are other Bluetooth devices that they can be compatible with also like your Mac or PC.