updated May 15, 2023
Get Ahead with Headphones
Resellers, do you know the top 5 headphone features your customers are looking for? We do!
Granted, you won’t find a headphone that incorporates all of them. So, you’ll need to determine what their top one or two are and work your way from there.
But before we dive into today’s headphones and their most outstanding features, let’s look at some early predecessors.
A Brief History of Headphones
Amazingly, the concept is nearly 150 years old!
Headphones have come a long way from the 1880s, when switchboard telephone operators sported very awkward and heavy 2-piece headphones. Note the microphone on her right shoulder!
Courtesy Twitter/Histoire & Odysee
An early version of earbuds was patented June 16, 1891. Called the Bi-Telephone, it too was designed for use by telephone operators. As you can see, it bears a striking resemblance to today’s in-ear wired earbuds.
Courtesy US Patent Office
Post-World War II, headphone designs morphed from stereo over-the-ear ones invented by Koss to lightweight cheapies that accompanied Sony Walkmans. Noise canceling ones were invented by Bose for use by pilots and became available to consumers in 2000.
And then, in 2001, Apple changed the world of headphones when they introduced the iPod music player with its white earbuds. As the iPod began to fill people’s pockets with thousands of songs, consumers began to realize they were listening to an entire new world of music through cheap, tinny-sounding, and bland-looking earbuds.
In 2006, Beats by Dr. Dre was formed, introducing a new generation of music lovers to the old-school styling of over-the-ear headphones. And it proved consumers weren’t afraid to drop some bucks for improved sound and styling.
Now add in Bluetooth headphone technology, which has greatly improved since its introduction in 2004. The end result? The headphone and earbud market has soared into success.
Today, headphones and earbuds are essential companions to every mobile device. They are available with a wide variety of features and price points. From cheapies to audiophile, portable headphones and earbuds are a vital part a of the consumer electronics market.
Here are the 5 best headphone features to focus on when you’re selling headphones to your customers.
1. Wireless Capability
According to the CTA U.S. Consumer Technology One-Year Industry Forecast, 2019-2023 (January 2023), © 2023 Consumer Technology Association, sales of wireless earbuds and headphones now surpass their wired counterparts.
Courtesy CTA
Bluetooth is the most popular wireless technology. It’s why Petra has a huge variety of Bluetooth headphones and earbuds.
One of our fastest growing categories are True Wireless Stereo earbuds, also known as TWS for short. These completely wire-free earbuds are compact and travel in their own charging case. Recharging times are fast. Plus, they are shareable, since there is no wire linking the two earbuds.
CTA in their report also noted devices using the new LC3+ low-energy (LE) Bluetooth codec should debut in 2023. One of the most exciting aspects of this new codec is called Auracast. For example, your customers will be able to personally share a Bluetooth stream with someone close by—and that’s just scratching the surface! You can read more about it in our Petra blog devoted to the subject.
As with many technologies, all devices in the loop must have the same Auracast technology to reap the benefits. How long it will take for LC3+ to gain widespread acceptance remains to be seen. But certainly, keep an eye out for it.
Wired Headphones
Take a second look at the CTA chart above. Wired still has a big fan base. Don’t dismiss these numbers! Most gamers still insist on wired connectivity so there’s no lag in their gameplay. And many audiophiles prefer wired for cleaner, purer reproduction because there are no compression artifacts to overcome.
Petra’s selection of wired headphones include over-ear, in-ear, and on-ear. And for gamers, check out this colorful selection.
Petra does carry True Wireless Earbuds specifically designed for gamers. HyperGear has their CobraStrike with ultra-low latency mode. Raycon’s Gaming Earbuds utilize HyperSync low latency mode that minimizes lag. And their Bluetooth over-ear Gaming Headphones can also connect via 2.4 GHz or cable.
2. Noise Cancellation
Noise cancellation is ideal for use in noisy environments. Frequent fliers and students in crowded dorms are among the users who value a product that shuts out the world around them. Noise canceling headphones also help ensure users listen to their music at a natural volume instead of blowing out their eardrums by trying to drown out ambient noise.
Almost any earbud or headphone could be considered noise canceling simply due to the way they physically fit. This is called passive noise cancellation. However, ANC or Active Noise Cancellation is a different story. ANC headphones are wireless—and more expensive. They have additional microphones that monitor outside noise. The headphones then generate out-of-phase variants that cancel them before they reach the ears. That’s quite a bit of tech to put in such small devices!
ANC does decrease battery life. So it’s not unusual for over-ear headphones to include an aux cable as a hardwired backup, like what you’ll find in Skullcandy’s Hesh.
3. Bone Conduction
Technically, bone conduction headphones are wireless. But they are so unique your customers may well ask for them by name. CTA in their January 2023 report even called them out as emerging tech—as you can see below.
Courtesy CTA
Bone conduction is basically for the opposite application of noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds. The bone-conduction plates rest on the face’s cheek bones, allowing the user to listen to their music while still being able to hear ambient sounds. They’re ideal for anyone who exercises outside and needs to be aware of their surroundings for safety. They are also great for in-office use. Reproduction quality is not as good as more traditional in-ear and over-ear headphones. But for those who value situational awareness, it’s an excellent trade-off.
Petra carries bone conduction headphones from Shokz. OpenRun sport headphones are weatherproof and ideal for intense workouts. OpenMove models are more of a lifestyle headphone and are water-resistant.
Another option for those seeking to keep their ears unblocked is called open ear. Nearphones, from headphone giant JVC, are True Wireless and are designed so the offset drivers are precisely aimed at the ear canal. This keeps the audio private. They are also waterproof and sweat-resistant.
In addition, we’ve noticed a trend for earbuds to offer a transparency setting to let in ambient sound, like the XYST ETW300W True Wireless Earbuds.
4. Microphone
Don’t assume, like many of your customers will, that all headphones have a built-in microphone for taking and making calls. So, be sure to ask if they plan to use their headphones in conjunction with their cell phones. If so, odds are they’ll need to go wireless. 3.5 mm jacks on phones are becoming increasingly rare. Only select Android users can still use a corded headphone unless your customer has a legacy Apple device.
Many brands and stores have dropped the “with Microphone” designator on item names because they are so ubiquitous. So be sure to read the fine print, especially on newer products.
For a sure-fire selection of headphones with microphones, check out this lineup at Petra.
5. Volume Limiting Headphones for Kids
Kids, just like their parents, use headphones and earbuds. And more and more parents are becoming aware of the need to protect their children’s sensitive ears from high audio volumes.
So, if someone asks about headphones for kids, it’s important to lead them to volume limiting ones, because the CDC reports:
“Noise-induced hearing loss can result from a one-time exposure to a very loud sound, blast, or impulse, or from listening to loud sounds over an extended period.
“An estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (approximately 5.2 million) and 17% of adults aged 20–69 years (approximately 26 million) have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise.”
The use of volume limiting headphones is a great way to limit noise-induced hearing loss among children. You’d think teens and adults, who can better appreciate the negative effects of hearing loss, would simply turn down the volume. However, Healthy Hearing notes:
“…it can be hard to know how loud is too loud when listening via headphones. On an ordinary music device, you might hear sounds as high as 94-110 dBA. Less than two minutes at 110 dBA can damage anyone’s ears.
“Listening to these blasts—or at more reasonable volumes but for too long—leaves its mark. It can damage the hair cells in the ears that transmit sound to the brain. It can also interrupt the connection between those cells and nerve cells, and the auditory nerve may degenerate.”
Ideally, headphones and earbuds should max out at 85 dBA. The World Health Organization suggests 70—that’s about 50% volume on devices.
Courtesy Healthy Hearing
Petra stocks noise-limiting kids headphones and gaming headsets, so be sure to check them out.
In particular, the Skullcandy Cassette Junior, Skullcandy Grom, JVC Tinyphones, and JVC HA-KD7 kids headphones limit volume to 85 dB.
Volume-Reducing Headphones for Adults
Adults need to protect their hearing too. Even if it has already been damaged, additional exposure makes things worse. Walker’s Game Ear Electronic Muffs are not for listening to other devices. Rather, they are for use in loud situations such as shooting ranges. The company does make a Passive Muff with boom microphone that offers Bluetooth connectivity as well as a Digital AM/FM Radio Muff that also has an aux input for an MP3 or CD player.
Other Asked-for Features
Other popular headphone features include:
- Headphones with their own voice assistant
- The ability to locate a missing earbud
- Compatibility with Hi-Res Audio/FLAC and/or audiophile quality
- Water resistance/waterproof
Using the Skullcandy Skull iQ app, users can launch Skullcandy’s own voice assistant for hands-free voice control. You can find this feature on earbuds such as Grind and Push Active.
Skullcandy also has Tile tracker, a technology that helps locate lost earbuds. This is found in all Skullcandy True Wireless earbuds.
Most earbuds and headphones will sport a 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency rating. But excellence in sound reproduction is more than frequency response. Driver size, sound profiles, internal design, and other unseen components are also in play.
Raycon’ Everyday over-ear Bluetooth headphones not only feature ANC, but they are also Hi-Res Audio compatible because they can plug directly into devices. And full size headphones from mainstay brands like JVC, Koss, and Panasonic provide excellent sound. And Skullcandy’s Crusher Evo not only provides adjustable sensory bass but also analyzes the hearing in left and right ears and automatically adjusts audio to optimal levels.
A number of earphones are labeled water-resistant or waterproof. Shokz OpenRun bone conduction headphones are waterproof, although they should not be used for underwater swimming. Their OpenMove devices are sweatproof. JVC and Skullcandy have TWS earbuds that are water-resistant while a number of Raycon TWS earbuds are waterproof.
Although many “sport earbuds” are designed for fitness, they are not necessarily designed to deal with sweat and moisture. They may have that designation due to their secure fit, not their water resistance. Be sure to read the descriptions and selling points carefully.
Selling with Headphone Features
There are so many different types of headphones and features to sell that it can be hard to keep tabs on all of them. But Petra offers you a large selection from which to choose, as well as easy ordering, in-house customer support, and frequent updates on the state of the industry via Petra Blogs. We give you both the products and the knowledge you need to capitalize on this vital segment of the market.
Be sure to check out all of our headphones and headphone accessories at order.petra.com or speak with your Petra sales rep to incorporate more headphones into your business today. Not signed up with us yet? Click here to get started.