Cordless headphones provide an excellent alternative to regular wired headphones. Jacks and cords can be a pain. They pull out and get tangled. This is the reason why there are many models of cordless headphones out there. However, even with all these models, they fall into 3 main categories, Bluetooth, radio frequency, and infrared (IR) light. They all provide wireless listening but have different features.
Infrared (IR) Headphones
They rely on infrared light to transmit the audio signal. You plug in the transmitter that has infrared LEDs into your home stereo or TV. The transmitter sends sound waves to a receiver on the headphones. The infrared headphones have a short range of about 30 feet.
In case the light beam is interrupted by an object such as a piece of furniture, the signal stops. While this might seem like a disadvantage at home, if you are close to the audio source such as on an airplane, these headphones are just perfect.
Radio Frequency (RF) Headphones
These headphones have a much greater range than IR at around 300 feet. Since radio waves move through walls, they do not require a line of sight for transmission. This makes RF headphones ideal for use at home since you can listen to your audio from anywhere in the house.
Even though you can move around listening to audio on your RF headphones, you should note that it is possible to experience interference since many other home electronics use RF transmission to operate. Signals from these devices can cause buzzing or static. The best way to prevent this is ensuring that your headphones operate on a different signal than the other electronic devices.
One disadvantage with these headphones is that they are not that portable because the transmitter is separate and has to be plugged into the audio source.
Bluetooth Headphones
Curiously, Bluetooth cordless headphones have the susceptibility to interference of RF and the short range of IR but are still very popular. There are two reasons for this. The first thing is that they are the most compact and portable wireless technology. If you are looking for wireless headphones on the go, they are your best bet. The second thing is that the technology is 2-way. This means that you can make calls while using the headphones with your cellphone. An added benefit is how discrete wireless earbuds become
In conclusion, we have looked at the 3 main categories of wireless headphones. Now that you know about the main categories, it will be easier to choose the best ones for your needs. Happy shopping!
If you are interested, have a look at the rest of our site on wireless tech
Infrared (IR) Headphones
They rely on infrared light to transmit the audio signal. You plug in the transmitter that has infrared LEDs into your home stereo or TV. The transmitter sends sound waves to a receiver on the headphones. The infrared headphones have a short range of about 30 feet.
In case the light beam is interrupted by an object such as a piece of furniture, the signal stops. While this might seem like a disadvantage at home, if you are close to the audio source such as on an airplane, these headphones are just perfect.
Radio Frequency (RF) Headphones
These headphones have a much greater range than IR at around 300 feet. Since radio waves move through walls, they do not require a line of sight for transmission. This makes RF headphones ideal for use at home since you can listen to your audio from anywhere in the house.
Even though you can move around listening to audio on your RF headphones, you should note that it is possible to experience interference since many other home electronics use RF transmission to operate. Signals from these devices can cause buzzing or static. The best way to prevent this is ensuring that your headphones operate on a different signal than the other electronic devices.
One disadvantage with these headphones is that they are not that portable because the transmitter is separate and has to be plugged into the audio source.
Bluetooth Headphones
Curiously, Bluetooth cordless headphones have the susceptibility to interference of RF and the short range of IR but are still very popular. There are two reasons for this. The first thing is that they are the most compact and portable wireless technology. If you are looking for wireless headphones on the go, they are your best bet. The second thing is that the technology is 2-way. This means that you can make calls while using the headphones with your cellphone. An added benefit is how discrete wireless earbuds become
In conclusion, we have looked at the 3 main categories of wireless headphones. Now that you know about the main categories, it will be easier to choose the best ones for your needs. Happy shopping!
If you are interested, have a look at the rest of our site on wireless tech