Benjamin Levicek There was a time when the term "headphones" conjured up tangled wires and inconvenient movement around town. But that is no longer the case today. In addition to wireless headphones, which are classically connected to each other, there are also so-called True Wireless headphones, which do not need to be connected to each other by a cable or a bridge to communicate. But it is clear that these technologies will affect the price and the resulting sound. In today's article, we will show what it is good to focus on when choosing.
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Choose the correct codec
Communication between the phone and the wireless headphones is quite complex. The sound is first converted into data that can be sent wirelessly. Subsequently, this data is transferred to the Bluetooth transmitter, which sends it to the receiver, where it is decoded and sent to your ears in the amplifier. This process takes some time, and if you don't choose the correct codec, the audio may be delayed. Codecs also significantly affect sound delivery, so if you don't choose headphones with the same codec as your phone, the resulting sound quality can be noticeably worse. iOS and iPadOS devices, like all other phones, support the SBC codec, as well as Apple's codec called AAC. It is more than enough to listen to from Spotify or Apple Music, but on the other hand, it is not worth subscribing to the streaming service Tidal with songs in lossless quality for such headphones. Some Android phones support the AptX lossless codec, which can transmit sound in really high quality. So when buying headphones, find out what codec your device supports and then find headphones that support that codec.
Check out the second generation AirPods:
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True Wireless or just wireless?
The sound transmission process mentioned in the paragraph above is quite complicated, but it is much more difficult with completely wireless headphones. As a rule, the sound is sent to only one of them, and the latter transfers it to the other earphone using the NMFI (Near-Field Magnetic Induction) chip, where it must be decoded again. For more expensive products, such as AirPods, the phone communicates with both headphones, which makes the process much easier, but at that moment you have to invest even more money. So if you're looking for cheaper headphones, you'll have to go for those connected by a cable/bridge, if your budget is bigger, you can look at True Wireless.
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Dan Pražák Endurance and stability of the connection, or we return to codecs again
In the specifications, headphone manufacturers always state the endurance for one charge under ideal conditions. However, several aspects affect how long the headphones last. In addition to the volume of the music and the distance from the smartphone or other device, the codec used also affects the endurance. In addition to durability, this also affects the stability of the connection. You will not feel a significantly reduced stability at home, but if you move in the center of a larger city, interference may occur. The cause of interference is, for example, transmitters of mobile operators, other mobile phones or Wi-Fi routers.
Check out AirPods Pro:
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Tracking lag
If you only want to listen to music with headphones and possibly watch videos or movies, then the choice is easier for you. When using wireless headphones, it takes some time for the sound from the device to reach the headphones themselves. Fortunately, many applications, such as Safari or Netflix, are able to delay the video slightly and synchronize it with the audio. The main problem occurs when playing games, here the real-time image is more important, and therefore developers cannot afford to adjust the sound. So, if you are looking for wireless headphones that can also be used for gaming, it will again be necessary to sacrifice a larger amount of money for a shorter delay time, i.e. for headphones with better codecs and technologies.
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Flying around the world with Apple Ensure the best possible reach
A huge advantage of wireless headphones is the ability to move freely without having to have your phone in your pocket all the time. However, you need a good connection to be able to move away from the device. The connection is mediated by Bluetooth, and the newer its version, the better the range and stability. If you want to get the best possible experience, it is necessary to purchase a phone and headphones ideally with Bluetooth 5.0 (and later). The oldest Apple model with this standard is the iPhone 8.
