STACK #189 Jul 2020

FEATURE LIFE TECH

Blutooth 5.0 Why is Bluetooth 5.0 important to you? Using smart devices and

In-ear headphones The ubiquitous earphone or earbud is designed to fit right into your ear canal, providing an often immovable

investing in a pair. Noise cancellation technology was originally designed for long distance pilots to aid concentration and communication, before making its way

headphones/earbuds that are Bluetooth 5.0-enabled will give you the benefits of

less power usage and thus increased battery life. Bluetooth 5.0 is four times faster than its predecessor; you can connect two devices – headphones, in this instance – to the one device, pairing is quicker and use at a distance much greater, so you don’t experience that annoying drop out if you move to another room without your smartphone.

to consumer technology. While it won’t eliminate all ambient sound completely, a good set of noise cancelling headphones, wireless or true wireless earbuds, will go a long

proposition. As such, this style is particularly popular in the fitness and active sector. Easy to stow away in a pocket or bag, earbuds are also extremely convenient. And they won’t mess up your hairstyle or dislodge glasses. So what’s the deal with wireless and true wireless earbuds? Are they not the same thing? No. Wireless earbuds are joined via a cord, but that cord doesn’t connect directly to your device. Think of it as a necklace with an earbud on each end. True wireless, on the other hand, is exactly that – the earbuds are powered individually and, ingeniously, use the carry case they come in as an additional power pack, keeping you going for longer. Should I go wired or wireless? This is strictly a matter of personal preference

way to blunting traffic noise, aircraft engines or that distracting office banter, leaving you to listen to your music – or noise-cancelled silence – in peace. What about the sound? The sound quality of a pair of headphones or earbuds is totally subjective. We can’t emphasise that enough. What sounds incredible to you might conflict with the opinion of somebody else. A budget pair may suit the needs of an occasional user, while others will strive for the highest fidelity irrespective of the price. But remember, you don’t always have to spend a fortune to get a good quality pair.

but wired headphones are, by and large, more popular with musos, studio and sound engineers and audiophiles. Bluetooth has come a long way since its introduction 20 years ago when the connections and sound were appalling, and can now comfortably compete with its wired counterparts. Wireless is favoured for many reasons: you won’t accidentally rip them off your head reaching for your phone and they don’t snag when you’re exercising. For our busy lives, wireless offers the ultimate in convenience. Many headphones come with a wired option as standard in the box these days, so you can have the best of both worlds. I’ve heard a lot about noise-cancellation. Is it worth it? Well that really depends. If you frequently use public transport or fly, where noise is at an optimum, then perhaps it’s time to consider

A Little Hearing History

It was German company

Beyerdynamic who produced the first dynamic headphones – the DT-48s – designed for use in the home in 1937.

US musician John Koss had

an idea to design a pair of headphones to use with portable phonographs. However, once he arrived at the final product, he decided to market them as stereophones, developing the same design and look we still see today.

Engineer Nathaniel Baldwin is credited with developing the first pair of headphones in his kitchen in 1910, but failed to interest investors. That was until the US Navy picked up on it and ordered 100 pairs.

The humble Walkman ushered in a new

design of lightweight foam headphones that, along with the 3.5mm

jack, led the way in the explosion of personal headphones.

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