Florida 4-H Consumer Choices 2011-12: Teacher Guide
Headphones
_________________________________________________________
Situation
Shopping for headphones is designed to teach youth more about the different levels of sound
quality, which headphone is best for the user’s intended purpose, fit, and aesthetics. Because of
the growing trend in portable electronics, there are now a variety of headphones on the market,
many of which are designed to bring you an optimal audio experience. Headphones can vary in
price from very inexpensive to costing thousands of dollars. Understanding how to select them
based on their intended use, fit, and price will assist youth in better managing their resources.
Objectives
Youth will gain knowledge about selecting headphones that will best suit their personal
audio experience.
Youth will become aware of the various types of headphones.
Youth will learn benefits associated with each type of headphone.
Recommended Agenda
1. Read the “Headphone Shopping Information” and “What to Look For” sections first.
Discuss and take any questions that students may have about the different types of
headphones.
2. Pass out the Worksheet 1 “What is Important to You?” and have the students fill them
out. Then review some of the students’ answers and discuss them.
3. Then review the “Headphone Information Guide”, to view the information and features
of the four different headphones used in the examples. Discuss with the students the
different features and price points of each type of headphones.
4. Have the students fill out Worksheet 2 – “Rate the Headphone”. Discuss each category
with the students and why they chose their rating.
5. Finally do the 3 Consumer Choice Situations that are provided within the Teacher Guide.
Extra Activities
Have examples of different types and qualities of headphones. Discuss the different
styles, qualities, and prices.
Have several pairs of headphones:
o Discuss the different sound qualities
o Discuss the different intended purposes
o Discuss the prices
o Discuss which is a good buy, which is a poor one
Have them bring their own headphones (or provide some for the ones who do not have a
set) and evaluate them.
Take a field trip (or a virtual field trip online) to two or more stores (discount,
department, specialty) that carry headphones.
o Was the same brand and style in more than one store, was it the same price?
o Compare quality of the headphones and prices
o Compare types of headphones (different purposes)
Compare the quality of 3-5 sets of headphones that are of the same style.
State a shopping situation. Let them select a set of headphones. Have them give reasons
for their choice.
Discuss the care of headphones.
Compare the quality of “unknown” brands to “known” brands of headphones.
Headphone Shopping Information
With the growing trend of people using portable electronics such as MP3 players, tablets, and
portable dvd players, the demand for headphones has increased. Some of the portable devices
include headphones with the product when sold; however, some electronics require the
headphones to be purchased separately. Whether you are searching for a new set of headphones
to upgrade from your current set, you lost your old set, or you just purchased a new portable
device that requires them to be purchased separately, you will have a wide variety of types,
designs, and price levels to choose from. Therefore, you must be sure to evaluate your options
according to your intended headphone usage.
What to Look For
When shopping for any product it is important to consider what you should be looking for in
your purchase. Some things are obvious, like budget and functionality, but others are not so
obvious. The most important consideration in the purchase of headphones is to determine what
you will primarily be doing when you use them. For example, if you intend to use your
headphones mostly while studying, you may want to look into purchasing noise-cancelling or
noise-isolating headphones. If you wish to use headphones while exercising, you may want to
look into purchasing clip-on headphones. Remember:
Use – What am I primarily using the headphones for? Listening to music while…
running? Studying? Talking on the phone?
Consider your budget – How much are you willing to spend? How much can you afford
to spend?
Get Smart Before You Buy!
Types of Headphones:
Headphones can either be open or closed
o Open headphones include all headphones that allow you to listen to music or
other audio without blocking all external noise. These are beneficial in many
circumstances in which hearing some external noise is necessary, such as while
jogging near the road. These headphones have pads that rest directly on your ears,
instead of inside or around your ears. Open headphones usually come with the
standard over-the-head style headband, but can also be found in Street Style and
clip-on style.
o Closed headphones are headphones that have a solid backing on the outside of
the headphone, which is designed to block outside noise from entering and to
prevent your music from being heard by the people near you.
How they fit your Ears:
Headphones either be circumaural or supra-aural
o Circumaural headphones fully surround your ears. This style is typically more
comfortable on your ears than supra-aural headphones.
o Supra-aural headphones rest on your ears (i.e. most clip-on headphones and
street style headphones, although these can sometimes be found in circumaural
style).
Headphone Styles
Earbuds are headphones that are placed in the concha, which is the open area in your
outer ear, but do not enter your ear canal. This style is typically sold with most portable
music players such as the iPod. Earbuds can be relatively inexpensive, but they do not
block out external sound and are not generally known for providing great sound quality.
In-ear headphones (or canal phones) are headphones that are placed in your ear canal.
These are typically more expensive than earbuds but they provide a much better sound
quality. In-ear headphones are great for commuting because they offer excellent isolation
from outside noises such as all the noises associated with airplane travel, bus travel, and
subway/train travel.
Clip-on headphones are designed for the purpose of attaching the headphones to each
ear to make sure your headphones are secure while you are running, jogging, walking,
skateboarding, etc. Most clip-on style headphones will fit on your ears while you are
wearing a bicycle or skateboard helmet.
Street Style headphones have a band that rests behind your neck. This style allows you
to wear a helmet or hat without interference. These are great for walking, jogging, and
running. This style is also helpful in that it should not mess up your hair.
Wireless headphones are designed to allow you to transmit your music/television long
distance without being limited by the length of the cable. This style of headphones is
mostly used within the home and requires either a wireless transmitter (known as an
audiophile) or Bluetooth capable electronics to function.
Different features that relate to comfort and fit. Some of these are:
Noise-cancelling feature – an active noise reduction system that uses an electronic
frequency that cancels out constant background sounds such as the noise bade by
airplane/bus/train engines.
Noise Isolating feature – a passive noise reduction system that simply seals the ear canal
to prevent external sound from entering your ear.
Retractable cord – allows you to adjust the length of the cable. This feature can be
beneficial when exercising to reduce the flopping around of the cable.
Built-in microphone - headphones that have this feature incorporate the ability to have
two-way communication. These are useful for talking hands-free on cell phones, talking
with friends online using services such as Skype or Gchat, and for online gaming.
Headphones Information Guide
Use the following chart to help you learn more about each set of headphones and its features. As
discussed in the ‘Get Smart Before You Buy’ section, you learned about the different headphone
styles. When reviewing this table take into consideration the features as well as the prices of each
set of headphones.
Category
Style
Name
Price
Usefulness
Noise
Cancelling/Isolating
Color Choices
Sound Quality
Cable
Durability
Earbuds
Koss KE5
4.88
Great set of
inexpensive
replacement
earbuds. Can be
used for
casually
listening to
your portable
electronic
device
No
White
Average
Standard
Below average
Headphones
In-ear
Clip-on
Street Style
Sennheiser CX
Sony KSC75
Koss KSC 17
300-II Precision
24.99
9.99
12.99
Great for
Great for
Great for
listening to
casually listening casually listening
portable
to your portable
to your portable
electronics while
electronic
electronic
studying,
device, listening device, listening
commuting, or
to music while
to music while
relaxing.
running/walking running/walking
indoors/outdoors indoors/outdoors
Isolating
No
No
Black, Gray
Great
Standard
Above average,
comes with a
protective case
White, Gray
Average
Standard
Average
Black
Average
Retractable
Above average,
ability to fold
and store in
compact places
Worksheet 1
What Is Important to YOU?
Below are listed 10 different categories that may be important to you when considering which set
of headphones is best for you. Circle the number that corresponds to how important each element
is to you when selecting a set of headphones by rating it from 1 to 3:
1 means the element is very important to you
2 means the element is of medium importance to you
3 means the element is not very important to you
Category
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
Budget
Style
Brand
Color
Sound Quality
Durability
Retractable Cable
Comes with carrying case
Comfort
Noise-cancelling
Noise-isolating
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Rating
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Worksheet 2
Rate the Headphones
Use this worksheet to help you decide what is important to you about each set of headphones.
Review the ‘Headphone Information Guide’ before completing this worksheet. Use this
worksheet and the ‘Headphone Information Guide’ when completing the problems your
instructor provides. Rate each category from 1 to 3:
1 means the element is very important to you
2 means the element is of medium importance to you
3 means the element is not very important to you
Category
Headphones
Koss KE5
Earbuds
Price
Brand
Durability
Sound Quality
Retractable Cord
Comfort
Color Choices
Style
Noise Cancelling
ability
Noise Isolating
ability
Overall Rating
Sennheiser CX
300-II Precision
In-ear
Headphones
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Sony KSC75
Clip-on
Headphones
Koss KSC 17
Street Style
Headphones
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Consumer Choice Situation 1
Junior Consumer Choice Situation
for Headphones
Rebecca loves listening to her music on her portable music player while riding the bus to and
from school! Unfortunately, her new puppy found her headphones and decided to use them as a
chew toy. She only has $2 in her piggy bank, but her parents gave her $5 for walking the dog
every day when she got home from school. She doesn’t really care about sound quality, she just
really wants to replace the chewed up headphones so she can listen to her music on the way to
school tomorrow. Can you help Rebecca find a replacement set?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Koss KE5 Earbuds
Sennheiser CX 300-II Precision In-ear Headphones
Sony KSC75 Clip-on Headphones
Koss KSC 17 Street Style Headphones
Consumer Choice Situation 2
Intermediate Consumer Choice Situation
for Headphones
John is 14 years old and is looking for a new set of headphones. He enjoys listening to her music
all the time, especially while running around the neighborhood after school. She is looking for a
set of headphones that she can use while running. She only has $13 to spend, and she would
prefer them to be gray. Which headphones would you recommend she buys?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Koss KE5 Earbuds
Sennheiser CX 300-II Precision In-ear Headphones
Sony KSC75 Clip-on Headphones
Koss KSC 17 Street Style Headphones
Consumer Choice Situation 3
Senior Consumer Choice Situation
for Headphones
Michelle just received a new portable music player for her birthday. She has been using the
headphones that came with the music player (earbuds), but she is interested in purchasing
headphones that have better sound quality. She plans on using some of the money she received
on her birthday towards purchasing a new set of headphones. She is willing to spend up to $40
on a new pair. Her two main preferences are that the new pair has better sound quality, and that
they are more durable than the headphones that came with her music player. Which pair should
she select?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Koss KE5 Earbuds
Sennheiser CX 300-II Precision In-ear Headphones
Sony KSC75 Clip-on Headphones
Koss KSC 17 Street Style Headphones