Wireless technologies have brought a major contribution to the mobility we have nowadays. We can travel 3-4 hours a day by train or by plane, meanwhile do some work, and send our reports from the next station network. Or, we can have the stereo in our living room and the music in our garden. Or, we can have music while the people around us enjoy their silence (this would be nice in a library).
Is it cordless or wireless?
Wireless and/or cordless headphones operate by two technologies: infrared and radio frequency transmission. But no matter the technology, they use a transmitter (base) that plugs into the sound source (the stereo). The transmitter sends electric signals to the headphones, more exactly to their built-in receiver and amplifier. The amplifier turns the electric signals into sound waves that we can hear.
As we previously mentioned, "wireless" usually refers to infrared-based systems, while "cordless" to radio frequency (RF) transmission systems. But for the sake of convenience, most RF transmission based headphones manufacturers call their system "wireless" instead of cordless.
Infrared vs. RF transmission
Infrared systems have a range of around 10M from the base unit and must be in "line of sight" of the base for clear reception. Useless to mention that any person passing between transmitter and receiver will alter the reception. RF systems can transmit up 100M from the base unit - even through walls.
On the other hand, infrared systems that encode the signal digitally before transmitting it, are not so susceptible to backgrounds hiss as the other systems. Background hiss is also produced when a noise cancelling circuitry is activated.
The problem with both technologies is interference.
Headphones that operate on radio bandwidth have a wider range of transmission. However, while wandering around your house with your headphones on, you may observe they interfere with other electronics that use radio signals (older models of cordless phones, baby monitors). This will practically limit your mobility.
The answer would be to have all these devices working on different frequency ranges. Wireless headphones usually operate at 900MHz, just like most wireless speakers do. Wireless headphones manufactured by Amphony work at 2.4GHz (H1000 and H2000). That's also newer cordless phones range, so if you have one of those, maybe it's not wise to buy Amphony headphones. Or, choose Amphony's H2500 headset, that operates at 5.8GHz.
Newer models of headsets transmit via infrared signals. They highly eliminate the interference problem, but you have to settle for a unidirectional transmission. So, you have to remain in the transmitter's "line of sight". And children running back and forth in this area will ruin the quality of your audition.
Wired vs. Wireless
This is another subject with lots of pros and cons. It is highly accepted that up to this moment, wireless technologies are either:
- lower performing than wired technologies at a similar price;
- as good performers as wired technologies, but more expensive; much more.
If you want the "best budget buy", you would probably set for Amphony's H1000 headset. If you want the best sound at any price, Pioneer SE-DIR800C Headphones might be best for you.
More info on wireless headphones and their manufacturers in the subsequent sections: Sennheiser, Sony and other wireless headphone reviews.