Best Retro and Vintage Headphones

Ideally you want the headphones to be over-ear as this means they will provide noise isolation, which reduces ambient noise to a minimum. On-ear headphones can have noise isolating capabilities, but not as good as the over-ear design. It’s a great feature, but if you’re going to use the headphone to travel with then consider one the lets air to flow through as this means you will be able to hear your surroundings.

In addition, check out the frequency response as this is a great indicator of how much depth the audio will have. You want the frequency response to be wider than 20 Hz – 20k Hz as this is the average range and anything wider will naturally sound better.

The audio drivers used should be made out of premium materials so the audio quality sounds great. Neodymium magnet drivers are one of the best options as they provide long lasting durability and excellent audio quality. Also, you can tune the drivers yourself via apps on your smartphone, which allows you to adjust the bass and treble.

The method of connection used is very important as this play a big role in whether or not the music will sound great. There are 2 main options used:

• AUX wire: One of the best methods is AUX wire as it provides stable connections since there are no obstructions between the headphone and smartphone. However, make sure that the cable cord is made from high quality materials because otherwise it will wear out faster and won’t provide premium audio. Some headphones have removable AUX wires so you can replace them with your own, which is a handy feature to have in case it gets damaged.
• Bluetooth: Having wireless freedom is a great as this means you can control the audio from a distance. Also, make sure to stay in the connection range to keep the audio from dipping in and out. Some headphones have built-in buttons that you can use to adjust the volume, shuffle between songs, and answer calls without the need to touch your smartphone.

The ideal headphone should be comfortable to wear at all times and for long durations. Frequently headphones are not padded well and don’t deliver adequate comfort. Here are some pointers to take note before buying headphones:

• Headband: The headband plays a big part as if it’s not padded well it will provide too much pressure and lead to head strain. You can see via the product images if there is a lot of padding and make an informed decision if the headphone is suitable. Also, it should be easily adjustable so that it can take the form of your head and provide a secure and stable fit.
• Earpads: The earmuffs should be padded effectively to provide a comfortable musical session. Check to see if the earmuffs are noise canceling as this means they will be padded extensively to not let any ambient noises leak through.
• Cable cord: The wire used should be made from durable materials so that it’s long lasting. Also, it should be relatively long so you can tether it under a t-shirt when traveling. Some headphones allow removable AUX wires so you can replace it with a longer or shorter one depending on the activity you are doing.

The brand you go with is a great deal because some companies produce better quality products than others. Consider going with a well-known brand as this guarantees the product you get will be high quality. Also, another benefit of going with a bigger company is that there will be multiple online reviews about the product, so you can get a better understanding of how good the headphone will be.

However, some premium brands will increase their prices simply due to their name. You can counter this by going with a small brand as they will have better prices since they have to compete with larger brands.