| You wouldn't take your sports car off-roading, | | | | to mean lovers of sound) are people with a real |
| neither would you race your pickup truck around | | | | passion for music. If that describes you, it |
| an oval against NASCAR drivers. It's a no | | | | probably means that you have a serious sound |
| brainer...you use the right equipment for the right | | | | system at home. You will want headphones that |
| job. | | | | perhaps have their own amplifier and you will |
| For recreational audio enjoyment (like listening to | | | | definitely want noise canceling headphones. Noise |
| music or chatting on your cell phone with friends), | | | | canceling headphones are usually closed back |
| there are several different kinds of head phones | | | | headphones with padding around the side and fit |
| you can choose from, but just a few that will do | | | | over the entire ear. They use special circuitry and |
| the job you want them to do. We'll look at some | | | | electronics, as well as insulation, to block out |
| of the more common uses for headphones and | | | | exterior noise. Obviously these kind of |
| give some suggestions as to which headphone | | | | headphones are only appropriate in a music |
| might be the right one for you. | | | | theatre style of home entertain systems. They're |
| When you are simply hanging out and relaxing - | | | | also good if you want to watch a move but have |
| on your own or with friends - a regular set of | | | | to keep the sound down because other people |
| headphones is probably appropriate: by regular, | | | | want it quiet in the house. |
| we mean ones that are commonly found in music | | | | Video gaming is increasing in popularity as |
| or electronic stores and are fairly affordable. | | | | computer games and game systems compete |
| Often these are in the earbud style, which means | | | | for you to race or fight villains or play sports on |
| they are small speakers that fit into your ear and | | | | the screen. Headphones are great for this |
| connect with a cord that either goes over your | | | | because it not only keeps the game from |
| head in a headband or (more commonly today) | | | | disturbing those around you, it also allows you to |
| are connected under your chin at your neck to | | | | hear elements of the game that could be lost |
| your ipod. These are appropriate for casual use | | | | because of background noises or the way your |
| because they don't block out outside sound so | | | | room deadens that sound. (One example is in first |
| that if your friends decide to go to the mall, you | | | | person shooter games, where headphones might |
| won't be left bopping to the music because you | | | | allow you to hear footsteps coming up behind |
| can't hear them. These are also good if you are | | | | you). |
| out on a bike ride, for example, and want to be | | | | Remember that your enjoyment of sound is best |
| able to hear the traffic noise but still enjoy music. | | | | kept turned slightly down. Don't turn the music up |
| These same earphones can be appropriate, with a | | | | all the way as permanent hearing loss can result |
| microphone, for your cell phone. | | | | from listening to music too loudly. |
| Audiophiles (which is a phrase derived from Greek | | | | |