What You Can Expect from the World of Modern Headphones

Have you been recently walking around campus with your headphones thinking, "Man, I wish I had headphones that did a better job of cancelling out ambient noise"? I know I think that all the time. Well, not really, but it is quite impressive how far technology has advanced in today's market of headphones. Typically, we rely on the headphones that come with our iPhone, or we get the cheap ones that will last us a few months, simply to tide over our innate desire to enter our world of music and drown out the cares and stresses of the world. Well, in this article I hope to give you a few more options that you might consider pursuing to better your listening experience. All of the following examples can be found on cnet.com with more in-depth reviews of the devices as well as even more headphone options.

High-End Technology on a Tighter Budget

If you're looking for more advanced headphones without having to sell your right arm, check out the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2. These wireless headphones provide multiple options when it comes to jamming out to the new Bruno Mars album in different listening environments. Walking across campus among crowds of students? With a push of a button, the headphones can either muffle ambient noise or allow you to listen to your friends' conversations. Your choice.

Also, the Backbeat Pro sports a 24-hour battery life, multiple control buttons, including volume control, and the headphones can double as a headset when answering calls. It even includes a sidetone feature that allows you to hear your own voice when speaking on the phone. 

The Backbeat Pro is currently on the market for $200, which is definitely a stretch for the typical college student, but if you are looking for reliable headphones to last you longer than two months, the Backbeat Pro 2 is worth checking out.

Affordable Bluetooth Headphones

I would assume a significant amount of people prefer earbud headphones over full headset headphones. If you fall in that category, may I suggest neckband-style Bluetooth headphones? Also from Plantronics, the Backbeat 100 serves as a set of reliable, sleek headphones useful for both listening to music and making calls. The earbuds magnetically adhere to each other to avoid loose cords flopping around when they aren't in your ears. 

The Backbeat 100 will be released this month (October), but there is currently no price for U.S. release. The equivalent to the UK price is around $95.

Other Headphone Options

Obviously, when it comes to technology, you get what you pay for, and headphones are no exception. It is possible to spend upwards of $900 for top-of-the-line custom-made headphones, and it's possible to spend $5 for earbuds from a gas station. I personally enjoy my Vtin Dew series Bluetooth earbuds, mainly because they are waterproof and because of the customizable feature for those (like me) with weirdly shaped ears that make it difficult to listen to music while running. I spent less than $30 on Amazon, and it was money well-spent. In the end, it will depend on your budget and how important it is for you to have quality headphones. There are a multitude of options, and I encourage you to research for yourself. Good luck!