Best Laptop Headphones for 2015:
Now that I work from home, the headphones I use for my laptop have suddenly become very important to me. As our laptops (and portable devices like the iPad) becoming our new ‘offices’, having a pair of comfortable, noise-isolating laptop headphones has become an essential productivity tool.
So if you work in an office, at home, or at a cafe, these headphones will help you tune out the world for your laptop work sessions.
I’m assuming that you want laptop headphones that you can simply plug in and go, and all of these headphones can do that. If you want to get a small portable amp to improve your sound quality, check out my list of the best portable amps.
1. Ultrasone HFI-580 Professional Headphones
Sound:
The sound overall is consistently high quality and I couldn’t find any weaknesses to pick apart. While great for work, they’re also outstanding for movies.
The S-logic surround sound means that watching movies and games are a pleasure. I was able to hear the movement of clothes on actors while watching a movie, for example. I never expected that kind of detail.’
Portability:
These are the most portable over-ear headphones on this list. The fold-able design (pictured above) allows them to take up as little room as possible in a backpack. It also comes with a velvet carrying bag.
Noise Isolation:
The Ultrasone headphones are great at attenuating outside noise to the point where you are able to tune it out naturally. Unlike noise-cancelling headphones that actively shut off the outside world (which I’ve always found to be a disconcerting feeling).
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2. Shure SRH840 Professional Monitoring Earphones
Sound:
Although the headphones were designed for work in professional studios, the casual music lover will enjoy the crisp sound clarity, deep bass and pleasant highs.
Durability: The replaceable cable means that you can get a decent sound upgrade with an after-market cable. Shure also includes a pair of replacement earpads.
Portability:
Comes with a leather case with a drawstring that takes up more room in a backpack than it should. Not a huge deal-breaker, but it was enough for Ultrasone to take the top spot in this list.
Noise-Isolation:
For those who want closed-back, not noise-isolating headphones that give you great sound quality and noise isolation, these are the headphones for you.
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3. Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones
Sound:
sound on DVDs is crisp and clear, revealing details that only high end home audio systems tend to reveal. Bass is tight and strong, though not as pronounced as the Ultrasones above.
Portability:
Collapsible earcups help to save space, but do not come with a travel case! Ridiculous!
Noise Isolation:
The HD280s use passive noise attenuation, meaning that the headphones’ attenuate up to 32 decibels of sound through forming a seal around your ears. The force of the seal is strong, however the comfy earpads ensure that the headphones are still quite comfortable to wear for long periods.
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4. Audio Technica ATH-A700 Headphones
Sound:
The ATH-A700s have the widest soundstage of all the headphones on this list. It has a double-air Damping System for rich, deep bass. The mids are lacking, however, and doesn’t have the consistency of The Sennheiser HD280s or Ultrasones.
Portability:
No carrying case, and no folding capabilities to carry around with you. In short, they are a pain to carry around compared to all the others.
Noise Isolation:
The noise isolation is similar in nature to the HD280s, however the earcups on the A700s are more comfortable. That comes at the expense of noise isolation, however, as the HD280s are slightly better at attenuating the world.
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5. Bose Quietcomfort 25 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Sound:
They have a tendency to exaggerate the bass of songs, which can be distracting. It also has muddled mids. It’s not as bad as most audiophiles would like you to think, but there are better options in this price range. Portability:
The Bose Quietcomforts are essentially designed for portability. They come with a slim carrying case that snugly fits the headphones. I like the case: it’s tiny and stylish…almost as if Apple had designed it. Noise-Isolation:
Far and away the most effective noise-cancellation headphones that I’ve ever tried. Bose’s one true stand out feature is their patented noise-cancellation technology. However, since active noise cancellation requires batteries, you better have some extra AAA batteries around for that long flight (although Bose does claim that batteries will last for 30 hours). [DFR:Embedded Comparison Set?p=777700003234042] There you have it! Is there any headphones that you swear by for your headphones? Let me know in the comments below!