Last year, over 80 percent of U.S. teenagers expressed a desire to buy a pair of headphones from audio giants such as Beats, Apple, or Skullcandy, leaving historically powerful audio brands such as Sennheiser, Sony, and Bose to fight amongst themselves for the ears of the remaining 20 percent of teenagers.
Beats Electronics, the leading company in headphone sales, holds a massive following.
“I think a lot of people buy headphones based on aspects such as aesthetic and comfort, and Beats have those qualities locked down,” says junior Miles Olson. “Now, whenever anyone wants to buy a nice pair of headphones, Beats is the first thing that comes to mind.”
However, Olson prefers the ATH-m50x, a pair of over-ear headphones that many DJs and producers endorse. “[The ATH-m50x] is definitely a lot better than Beats,” says Olson. “it has really, really good sound, and it’s pretty comfortable for an over-ear headphone.”
Senior Horace He also prioritizes comfort in his headphones. “A lot of headphones at this price point [$100] are really bulky,” says He. “The bulkiness makes the earphones less comfortable. Besides, without comfort, wearing the headphones for a long time will hurt.”
He owns a pair of Sennheiser Momentums, a headphone that retails for $100. “I think people choose Sennheiser headphones because they have decent sound quality,” says He. “They’re priced around $100, and they look nice because they have a pretty slim form-factor.”
Decent sound quality is precisely what senior Daniel Ho, an avid gamer, looks for in a pair of headphones. He owns a pair of HiFiMan HE 400s, which easily runs over $300. Ho justifies this price point because of the HiFiMan’s durability, astounding sound quality, and overall utility.
“Above all else,” Ho says, “sound quality is important when I’m listening to music, and when I’m playing games. While many prefer Beats for their bass and style, this isn’t what gamers are looking for. Usually, gamers want sound clarity, for example, so they can listen to the footsteps of an enemy that might be approaching from behind. Having Beats headphones or a similar brand might muddy the nuanced sound — which isn’t an ideal quality from a gamer’s perspective.”
Sound quality may be especially important for gamers, but Olson, a more casual gamer, cites Bluetooth as another positive perk offered by some headphones. He owns a pair of Plantronics, an in-ear headphone that features Bluetooth technology for under $100.
Says Olson, “Bluetooth is super convenient; [the headphones don’t have wires that can] get knotted up, and I never have to worry about yanking my phone out of my pocket.”
Rose Umeda, a sophomore at Hillsdale High School, also owns a pair of Plantronics. As an athlete, she feels that the Bluetooth technology is a major bonus.
“The Plantronics were about a hundred bucks, but I like having Bluetooth,” says Umeda, “especially for workouts. I think people who workout probably like Bluetooth a lot more, due to not having to need their phone connected to their headphones the entire time.”
Although Bluetooth might be a compelling perk due to its convenience, the technology doesn’t seem to hold the same appeal for audiophiles as it does for casual listeners and athletes.
Cameron Edwards, a homeschooled senior, works with DJ equipment in his free time. Unlike Umeda, Edwards doesn’t feel like Bluetooth is an important specification when he’s looking at the quality of a pair of headphones.
“Bluetooth isn’t that important to me,” says Edwards, “because I don’t have a big need for it. I use my over-ear headphones to DJ and Bluetooth doesn’t really matter. Also, Bluetooth doesn’t have the same quality as direct connection or the responsiveness that [direct connection] has.
Bluetooth is more convenient, but the quality of sound is warped for comfortability. Personally, I look for good bass [in headphones].”
Aside from sound range and bass quality, Umeda, much like Olson, also looks for comfort when buying a pair of headphones.
“If you have no comfort,” says Umeda, “there’s really no point in wearing them. I wear headphones for a majority of the day, so comfort is always a must. It’s all about sound quality and comfort.”
