What to Look For in Bluetooth Headphones

Bluetooth headphones transmit audio via a wireless technology that uses radio transmission signals with low power. These signals are converted into analog audio by the built-in DACs and then sent to the headphone drivers to be output as sound waves.

You must first pair your Bluetooth headphones. The pairing process establishes a link between the headset device and the parent device.

Audio Quality

Bluetooth transmits audio data via radio waves with a short range, removing the necessity of cables. It can transmit audio data up to 30 feet away making it perfect for use in your home. This prevents music from cutting out when you move between rooms. It also helps keep interference from other Bluetooth-enabled devices at the minimum, ensuring that your headphones aren't overloaded with other sounds which can hinder your enjoyment of the music.

However, Bluetooth was not originally designed for audio entertainment and has a small bandwidth, which makes it difficult to compress data to music files when they are transmitted wirelessly. This is fine for phone conversations, but it degrades the quality of your audio experience.

Some headphones are equipped with aptX audio codecs, or aptX HD, which eliminate the need for compression. This allows for a more accurate and natural representation of the audio file. It is now possible to listen to high-quality music via Bluetooth. Spotify and Apple Music, among others, support these higher-quality Bluetooth codes.

The top Bluetooth headphones will at a minimum support the basic audio format such as SBC. However there are many that will support more advanced audio formats to satisfy your needs for listening. If you intend to use your headphones to stream videos from YouTube or Netflix select headphones that support aptX Low Latency or aptXHD. This will allow the audio and video to sync, providing an even more immersive listening experience.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are among the top Bluetooth headphones that provide excellent sound quality. They are worthy winners of our Product of The Year award, and offer a premium audio experience that competitors can't beat. The noise cancellation is also superior and the app experience is top-quality. If you're willing to spend more than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are a great choice with a stylish design and impressive audio quality.

Simple to Use

Wireless headphones offer a great alternative to corded headphones. Bluetooth is a well-established wireless technology that uses short-range radio waves to connect devices such as music players and headphones. When using Bluetooth the transmitter and receiver must be connected to a source compatible. The source encodes and sends the audio signal to the Bluetooth chip, which in turn broadcasts it through radio waves to the headphones.

When the signal is received, it is decoded by the headphones' Bluetooth receiver and converted to an analog audio signal that it can listen to. Then, the headphone's audio amplifier amplifies the signal to a sufficient voltage level to drive its speakers, thus producing sound. The majority of headphones using Bluetooth come with digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to ensure that audio playback is of high-quality.

The most modern Bluetooth headphones will also have a headphone amplifier built-in to increase the Headphone Store output power to playback music more loudly and reduce distortion levels. Additionally, the majority of headphones have a built-in microphone for hands-free calls. Some models will also support the Apple-exclusive codec aptX for better audio quality when streaming movies or podcasts.

Some wireless headphones have internal storage for data, allowing users to store a couple of gigabytes of music to playback with ease without the requirement of an external audio device or connection. This is great for people who enjoy listening to a particular playlist or prefer to be untethered when working out. Transferring and updating songs from internal storage requires the use of a cable. If your preferences in music change, then you'll need to replace them.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones have been upgraded from their predecessor in 2020 and are now more luxurious than ever before, but they still offer a very comfortable fit for long listening sessions, and a neutral and engaging sound that is distinctive in a class. They have a long battery life, fast charging and support the aptX Adaptive or aptX HD codecs for audiophiles who have sources that support them. They're also very affordable and feature a smart-minimalist design.

Long Battery Life

When buying headphones, the battery's longevity is one of the most important features to look for. You want headphones that can keep you entertained for the headphone store an extended flight or during your commute, without the need to recharge.

Most Bluetooth headsets are built to fulfill this promise. The top models in our rankings, such as the Cleer Enduro ANC or the Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless headphones, provide up to 60 hours per charge. In our tests the headphones proved to be a fantastic value, with premium audio quality and a long list of features that are desirable at an affordable price.

The average pair of Bluetooth headphones will provide the ability to playback for around 8 hours on a single charge. If you're trying to maximize the number of hours you can listen before needing to plug them back in, it is best to choose one that uses high-efficiency charging technology. These models charge in 1.5 to 2 hours whereas conventional headsets could take 3 to 4 times longer to charge the same amount.

The kind of Bluetooth headphones you choose can also have a major impact on the battery life. The two most popular types of Bluetooth headphone are Class 2 and Class 1 headsets. Class 2 headsets typically use the maximum of 2.5 milliwatts, while Class 1 headsets can draw up to 100 milliwatts of power.

You can also prolong battery life by choosing Bluetooth headsets compatible with your mobile phone. There are headphones that work with the majority of smartphones or tablets as well as computers. You can verify compatibility on the manufacturer's website or looking through the manual for your device for instructions on how to check compatibility.

In the beginning of Bluetooth headphones connections would break frequently and pairing was a nightmare and audio quality was the musical equivalent of the old tin can phones you played with as a child. Thankfully, Bluetooth technology has improved and these wireless headsets provide a superior audio experience and come with many features that make your phone or tablet even more useful.

Noise Cancellation

Find headphones with noise cancelling capabilities. The best noise cancelling headphones will reduce ambient noise to allow you to focus on your music with no distractions. Noise cancelling technology relies on Acoustic separation, which is the use of a physical barrier such as headsets or earcups to block out external sounds. The most advanced headsets use multiple microphones to isolate sound from the listener's ears and head which results in superior audio quality.

The majority of modern headsets and headphones feature noise cancelling, with the ability to control the amount of noise cancellation using built-in controls or via an app. Many headsets and headphones let you hear ambient sounds, which can be beneficial for commutes to work or working in the office.

The first step in audio transmission is the conversion of the digital audio signal from the Bluetooth transmitter to analog by using the Headphone Audio Profile (HSP). The HSP codec converts the digital signal to an A2DP format, which is then modulated into a Bluetooth UHF carrier wave and sent wirelessly to the receiver of the headset. The Bluetooth receiver decodes the modulation and uses an integrated DAC to convert the A2DP signal back into an analog audio signal which is then sent to the headphones' drivers.

The main difference between RF and BT headphones is that RF signals can be interferred with by other electromagnetic transmissions while BT utilizes specific frequencies for Bluetooth. The most recent Bluetooth 5.0 protocol reduces the impact of interference. However older models can be affected by electronic devices that emit electromagnetic signals within the same frequency range.

Bluetooth-enabled headphones are available in a variety of sizes and styles, from over-ear and circumaural to supra-aural and on-ear. Some headsets, such as the Jawbone Icon XR and Plantronics Discovery 925 are made to be a little more discreet, while others, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79, are more flamboyantly designed. The size and shape of a headset can be influenced by its functionality, with smaller models generally being more portable and comfortable to wear for extended durations of time.