Wireless Headphones

Wireless Headphones have the same basic build and form factor of other /audio/headphones with two headphone cups housing left and right speakers that are fitted on to a headband. Most use Bluetooth to pair with other Bluetooth devices which play Audio by sending a signal to the headphones to produce sound. Some sets can be used both Wirelessly and Wired.

Because so many modern tech devices feature Bluetooth connectivity, Wireless Headphones can be used in a wide variety of situations. In addition to a Mobile Phone or Tablet, Wireless Headphones can connect with many PCs, TVs and Gaming Hardware. This is great for watching TV or playing games without disturbing anyone else at home and may even sound better than a current TV does.

Wireless Sports Headphones can be great for listening to music while working out as they have no worries around cords tangling, snagging or whipping as they move around rapidly.

Most Wireless Headphones available today use Bluetooth to wirelessly communicate with other Bluetooth devices. Because of this ubiquity the terms ‘Bluetooth Headphones’ and ‘Wireless Headphones’ tend to be used interchangeably, but it's worth keeping in mind that there are Wireless Headphones that don’t use Bluetooth.

Other Wireless Headphones may use infrared or radio waves to transmit audio. These tend to be used in older Headphone models and will not be as widely compatible with modern devices as models that use Bluetooth. Some Wireless Headphones come with a corresponding receiver that needs to be plugged in to a player like a Phone, Home Stereo, Laptop or TV to send the audio signals from.

Wireless and Bluetooth technology has limited bandwidth so audio gets compressed as it is sent. Some Wireless Headphones can also connect using detachable cables which enables higher quality audio file playback with no compression.

If listening to audio with a visual component such as streaming video or Gaming, then audio can potentially be noticeably out of sync with the visuals. This is known as latency and occurs when data is transferred from a device to an output in this case Headphones or Speakers.

The audio latency for Wireless Headphones, Earbuds and Speakers tends to be more pronounced than Wired counterparts. Limited bandwidth, the Bluetooth audio file compression process and other environmental factors like interference and the distance between the headphones and the source can cause higher latency levels (measured in milliseconds).

Using Bluetooth 5.0 for Headphones and Media Players will lower audio latency. You may also be able to improve latency from devices by doing things like turning off Power Saving modes or using software to help manually correct delays between audio and visuals.

It’s important that Bluetooth Headphones have long enough battery life for your regular use, with a good set of Wireless Headphones usually running for 20 to 30 hours on a full charge. True Wireless Earbuds have a much shorter battery life but come with a carry case that can charge the earbuds a few times.

Consider the size and form factor of Headphones during commutes or travel. Some Headphones are designed to fold inward into a more compact size or include a case for protection in a carry on or checked bag.

Bluetooth codecs have improved over time which allows for better quality audio between compatible devices with reduced latency. This needs to be supported on the player as well as the Headphones so it’s worth checking what devices support what standards before deciding on a new set of Wireless Headphones.