I Must Use Headphones – What’s Most Important? Part 1 – Comfort

There are situations where headphones make sense over a full-blown home theater setup. Maybe it’s late at night and you don’t want to wake up the family. Or you are a new parent and just got the little one down for a nap, but still want to rock some tunes! Heck, maybe you are the mythical “good neighbor” who doesn’t want to blast their music against paper-thin apartment walls and annoy their neighbors. Thus begins the four-part series, “I Must Use Headphones”. Let’s discuss.

Comfort

I don’t care how great a set of headphones sounds if you can’t wear them for long periods. There are lots of things that will factor into this.

Clamping Force

Clamping force is simply how tightly your headphones squeeze your noggin. Too much clamping force means that they will crush your head and be generally unpleasant. Too little and they will fall off your head if you barely move. Plus, they won’t seal properly against your ears, allowing sound to leak out.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many headphones that have adjustable clamping force. It is a matter of trying them and returning them if they don’t fit well. If you have access to a store with lots of headphone options, take the opportunity to try on as many sets as you can. And if you wear glasses, make sure to bring them with you!

Cup Material

The headphone cup (the part that sits around your ear) must be comfortable. If there is too little padding, you can feel the plastic or metal from the headphones pressing against your skull. Too much also makes the cups bulky and uncomfortable.

However, the material can also play a role in this. I have a set of cheap gaming headphones that use faux leather to cover the cups. The material doesn’t allow for ventilation and my ears get super hot and I can feel the sweat dripping down inside of them.

Speaking of which, you want a cup that is easily cleaned or is replaceable. My Audeze MM-100s have leather earcups that are easy to clean and maintain. Some other headphones have cups that can be thrown in the wash. Choose wisely!

Weight

Like clamping force, weight is a serious consideration when choosing a set of cans. Too much weight gets you neck fatigue. Lightweight points to cheap construction! Plastic joints break over time, and a bit of weight helps them sit atop your head.

Cups are a mixed bag. I have seen them made from wood, plastic, carbon fiber, and pads made from leather, cotton, and synthetics. Each choice adds or subtracts from the weight. If possible, I recommend you try on as many different pairs of headphones as you can and evaluate their comfort before you move to the next steps.

Build Quality

I won’t spend a lot of time here. Build quality and longevity go hand-in-hand. Headphones that are made entirely from plastic tend to be throwaways. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but in my experience, plastic doesn’t last long.

Like most things, you want it Goldilocks – just right. I look for headphones that use of mix of materials. You want headbands to be light and flexible, so aluminum or alloys are great. The joints should be robust and take a lot of wear and tear. Steel and magnesium tend to be popular here.

Just know that with better quality comes additional cost. My motto, as always, is buy once, cry once.

Our Take

When you must wear headphones, comfort matters. Too light, and they flop around. Too heavy, and they weigh your noggin down. Same with materials. If the cups don’t breathe, you get swamp ears. Yet, if it’s not robust enough, it will break down and not stand the test of time.

Remember, take your time and get what you want the first time. Try on the headphones before you lay out the cash. I say this often: buy once, cry once. That will be especially poignant in the next part of this series, where we focus on price.