What to Look For in Bluetooth Headphones

Bluetooth headphones transmit audio via a wireless technology that utilizes radio transmission signals that have low power. These signals are transformed into analog audio using the built-in DACs and then transmitted to the headphone drivers for output as sound waves.

Before you can connect your Bluetooth headphones, they must be "paired". The process of pairing creates an information connection between the headset and parent device.

Audio Quality

Bluetooth utilizes radio waves with a short range to transmit audio data, eliminating the necessity for wires. Its range is up to 30 feet, which is ideal for use around your home. It also ensures that your music doesn't cut out when you move around rooms. It also helps keep interference from other Bluetooth-enabled devices to an absolute minimum, so that your headphones don't become overloaded with other sounds that could hinder your enjoyment of the music.

Bluetooth was not intended to be used for audio entertainment. The limited bandwidth of Bluetooth forces it to compress music files to transmit wirelessly. This is suitable for phone calls, but it could reduce the quality of the audio.

To counter this, some headphones come equipped with aptX or aptX HD audio codecs which eliminate the requirement for data compression. This results in a much more natural and accurate representation of the original audio file, which allows you to listen to hi-res music over Bluetooth without loss. These superior quality Bluetooth codecs are supported by a variety of audio apps and music services, such as Spotify and Apple Music.

The most reliable Bluetooth headphones will at a minimum support an audio format that is basic like SBC. However there are many that will support more advanced audio formats to meet your needs for listening. If you're planning to use your headphones to stream videos from YouTube or Netflix select one that supports aptX Low Latency or aptXHD. This will allow the audio and video to sync, giving an even more immersive listening experience.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are among the best Bluetooth headphones for great sound quality. These headphones are a worthy winner of our Product of the Year award and provide a superior experience that rivals cannot match. They are a clear winner in noise cancellation too and their user experience is top of the line class. Bowers & Wilkins' Px7 S2 headphones provide superior audio experience and a better design if you're willing to spend more.

Simple to Use

Wireless headphones offer a great alternative to corded headphones. Bluetooth is an established wireless technology that uses radio waves with a short range to connect devices, like headphones and music players. Bluetooth requires that a transmitter and a receiver be connected to an audio source. The source encodes the audio signal and transmits it to the Bluetooth chip. This chip then broadcasts the audio using radio waves to headphones.

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

Modern Bluetooth headphones also come with an in-built headphone amplifier to increase the output power and reduce distortion. Most headphones have a microphone for hands-free calling and some models can have Apple's exclusive codec aptX to improve audio quality when streaming films or podcasts.

Certain wireless headphones come with internal storage for data, allowing you to store up to a few gigabytes worth of music to playback with ease without the requirement of an external audio device or a connection. This is ideal for those who prefer to listen to a specific playlist or prefer to work out. However, the transfer and updating of songs stored in internal storage will require an internet connection and, if your musical tastes change, you'll have to update the music.

Bowers & Wilkins' Px7 S2 headphones are more premium than their predecessor from 2020, and offer a neutral sound that is engaging and stands out amongst the competition. They offer a long battery life and quick charging, and support aptX Adaptive and aptX HD for audiophiles with sources that can accommodate these superior Bluetooth codecs. They are also affordable and sport a sleek minimalist design.

Long Battery Life

When buying headphones, long battery life is one of the most important characteristics to look for. You want headphones that can keep you entertained for an extended flight or on your daily commute and without the need to recharge.

The majority of Bluetooth headsets are made to fulfill this promise. The top picks in our rankings, such as the Cleer Enduro ANC or the Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless headphones, offer up to 60 hours on charge. In our testing, these pairs proved to be a fantastic price, with top audio quality and a lengthy list of desirable features for an affordable price.

The average Bluetooth headphone can play for up to 8 hours on a single charge. However, if you are trying to maximize the number of hours you can listen to music before having to reconnect them, it is best to pick a model that utilizes high-efficiency charging technology. These models charge in 1.5 to 2 hours, while traditional headsets can take 3 to 4 times longer to charge the same amount.

In addition, the type of Bluetooth headphone you purchase can also have a significant impact in battery life. Class 2 and Class 1 headsets are the two most common kinds. Class 2 headsets typically run on up to 2.5 milliwatts, while Class 1 headsets can consume up to 100 milliwatts of power.

Another way you can reduce the time spent on your battery by choosing a pair of Bluetooth headsets that are compatible with your mobile device. You can find headphones that are compatible with all smartphones as well as tablets and computers. You can verify compatibility on the manufacturer's website or referring to the documentation for your device for instructions on how to accomplish this.

In the early days of Bluetooth headphones, connections would drop out often and pairing was a nightmare and audio quality was the equivalent of the old tin-can phones you used to make as a child. Bluetooth technology has advanced and the wireless headsets offer a great sound experience with a variety of features to make your phone or tablets even more useful.

Noise Cancellation

Look for headphones with noise cancellation capabilities. The best noise cancelling headsets will reduce ambient noise, allowing you to concentrate on your audio without distractions. Noise cancelling technology is based on acoustic isolators, which makes use of a physical barrier such as ear cups or headsets to block out external sound waves. The most advanced headsets use multiple microphones to block the sound from the listener's ears and head which results in superior audio quality.

Modern headsets and headphones are equipped with noise cancellation. You can control the level of noise cancellation by using the built-in controls, or through an app. Some also have the option to allow the user to hear ambient sound this feature is helpful when you commute or work in the office.

The Headphone Audio Profile (HSP) is used to transform the digital audio signal sent by the Bluetooth transmitter into analog. The HSP codec encrypts digital signals to an A2DP format. It is then transformed by the Bluetooth UHF carrier and wirelessly sent to the headset receiver. The Bluetooth receiver decodes modulation, and then uses an integrated DAC in order to convert the A2DP audio signal back into analog audio. This is then sent wirelessly to the headset's receiver.

The main difference between RF and BT headphones is that RF signals are able to be interfered with by other electromagnetic transmissions however, BT uses specific frequencies for Bluetooth. The latest Bluetooth 5.0 protocol reduces the effects of interference. However, older models may still be affected by electronic devices emitting electromagnetic signals in the same frequency range.

Bluetooth-enabled headphones are available in various sizes and styles, such as circumaural, over-ear and on-ear. Some headsets are designed to be discreet such as the Plantronics Discovery 925 and wireless Jawbone Icon XR however, others are more flamboyant, such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or TaoTronics soundLiberty 79. The size and design of a headset can be influenced by its function and size, with smaller models typically being more portable and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.