The right pair of headphones can solve a number of audio/video dilemmas. They can allow you to listen to music and movies late at night without keeping your family awake. They can let you take your favorite music with you — jogging, doing housework, doing yardwork — wherever. They can provide relief from distracting noise while you're at work or traveling. Even if you just want to get better sound from your home A/V system, high-end headphones are a relatively affordable solution.

Open headphones, like this pair, tend to provide the best overall sound quality.

Home headphones

If you want to do a little late-night listening, or if you like to play MP3s or CDs on your computer at work, it's important to have a pair of comfortable home headphones. If you'll be listening for long stretches, look for a headband that's padded and adjustable to comfortably fit the size of your head.

Also, consider whether you want headphones with a sealed or open design. Choose sealed 'phones for listening in noisy environments where you'll need sonic isolation, or in an office you share with co-workers whom you don't want to disturb (sound can leak out of open headphones, especially at higher volumes). If you won't be needing the isolation of a sealed headphone design to block out distractions, open headphones can deliver the best overall sound quality. The earpads rest on the ear and leave room for sound to escape, rather than bounce back and forth between the pad and your ear, which can create unwanted resonance.

Whether you'll be hooking your headphones up to your receiver, or plugging them into your computer, make sure that the cord is long enough. If you've got your eye on a nice pair of 'phones but their cord is too short for your listening setup, an extension cord designed for headphones can bridge the gap. You might also want to consider a one-sided cord — attached to one earcup but not the other — since it can help minimize tangles.

Sealed headphones, like this pair, isolate your ears. They keep outside noise from interfering with your music, and prevent your music from disturbing others.

Virtual surround sound headphones
Some home headphones also offer virtual surround sound, so you can enjoy wraparound sound with movies and TV shows without disturbing friends or family members in another room. These headphones use sophisticated processing to fool your ears into thinking the sound is coming from multiple locations around you, instead of just two. Most new receivers also offer this capability built into their headphone jack, like Silent Cinema on Yamaha receivers and Dolby's own Dolby® Headphone. Some surround sound headphones also work wirelessly, so you can add multiple headsets to one frequency and share a movie with a housemate.

Portable headphones

You may be thinking, "My portable player came with headphones — I don't need to buy any." But if you care about sound quality, that's not the case. The portable headphones included with MP3 players and other similar devices are almost always very basic, and you'll get much better sound if you upgrade your 'phones. The only question is, which features should you look for?

The answer depends on what you'll be doing while you listen. All headphones designed for portable use are lightweight for easy mobility. If you'll be working out, you'll want a set that won't come loose. Earbuds, in-ear headphones, and headphones with clip-on earpieces are designed with active uses in mind. Around-the-ear earcups may also provide a more secure fit and more isolation from outside noise than an on-the-ear design. Some people prefer a behind-the-neck or no-headband design — neither of these will mess up your hair, and you can wear a hat while you listen.

Headphones made for active use are designed to stay securely in place during workouts, and are often sweat-resistant and even hand-washable.

You can also find wireless Bluetooth®-enabled headphones that work with Bluetooth-enabled music devices and cell phones. Most models have built in microphones, so when a call comes through you can pause your music and take the incoming call at the press of a button. Best of all, you can do all of this while your cell phone and music player are safely stored in a briefcase or purse, making it a convenient option for long walks or subway rides to work or school.

One issue that's especially important for portable headphones is impedance. The higher the impedance, the more electrical energy is required to drive the headphones' tiny speakers. Because of the limited power available from a portable player, headphones for portable use should have a maximum impedance of 64 ohms — the lower the impedance, the more efficient the 'phones, and the more battery life you'll get out of your player.