There are two distinct categories here.

First, there are the Bluetooth headsets which are generally attached to one ear and are primarily used for making and receiving phone calls – although many can be used for listening to music as well.

Second, there are traditional headphones used for gaming and listening to music, but which use Bluetooth technology to avoid the hassle of a wired connection.

This guide will focus primarily on the first group.

Bluetooth headsets have been around for a while now. Your first encounter with them was probably seeing someone apparently talking to himself in a mall, at an airport or lining up for a movie.

With a Bluetooth headset you can keep your phone in your pocket or purse, and still make and receive calls through your headset.

For the people around you, it might just appear odd. For you it can be a major productivity boost, allowing you to make calls and listen to music hands-free.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a Bluetooth headset.

1. Consider sound quality and noise-reduction.

Unless you want to struggle with hearing or being heard while on the phone, it’s important that you choose a headset with good audio quality. This is particularly true if you are going to be making calls in public places, or even outside on a windy day.

As an example, consider the Jawbone Prime. The Jawbone's Voice Activity Sensor (VAS) enables the headset to identify the sound of your voice, while filtering out all the other sounds around you. It’s pretty incredible technology and works really well.

Other headsets, like the Plantronics Discovery 975, have wind-noise resistance that make them particularly helpful with wind noise, and the Motorola HX1 claims to block out ambient sound altogether.

2. Design and comfort.

While you will want a headset that looks good, your first consideration should probably be to make sure it is comfortable. This is particularly true if you plan on wearing it for hours at a time.

There are two main design styles – with over-the-ear loop support and the earbud style.

While Bluetooth headsets which just push into your ear canal are usually lighter and less obtrusive, not everyone is comfortable having a foreign object stuck in their ear for long periods of time.

The alternative is to get a headset with an over-the-ear support. Much more secure, even if a little heavier and bulkier.

Also, when you consider the size of your headset, keep in mind that apart from those headsets which support voice commands, there are some buttons to push. The smaller the headset, the trickier it is to find the right button at the exact moment you need it.

3. Don’t forget the features and functionality.

If you want to use a single headset with more than one device, make sure the one you choose includes multipoint technology. And if you want to listen to music, either get yourself a stereo headset, or a mono headset that that is compatible with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), like the Jabra Stone.

If you want a headset that responds to speech commands, consider the BlueAnt Q1.

4. Price -- Pay for the quality and features you want.

As with most electronics, you pretty much get what you pay for. You can pick up a Bluetooth headset at your local pharmacy for as little at $30. But if you want quality, and some of the more advanced features available, be prepared to pay up somewhere between $75 and $100.

        

Whether for yourself, or someone you love, these noise-canceling headphones would make the perfect gift this holiday.

They are not cheap, but they are the best of the best.

Bose has been at the forefront of noise-canceling technology from the start. Of course, they also have a lot of imitators.

You can buy noise-canceling headphones from a number of manufacturers now. How does Bose stay in the game? They keep innovating and staying one step ahead of the competition. The QuietComfort 15 headphones are a case in point. They not only leapfrog all the competitors out there, but also Bose’s own range of models.

Put simply, the QuietComfort 15 headphones are the best there are, cutting out ambient noise far more effectively than any of the alternatives.

As with all noise-canceling headphones, they do the best job at blocking noise at the lower end of the spectrum. In other words, they will cut back the noise of an airplane engine or train to almost zero, but won’t do quite as well with the sound of a baby screaming.

The only complaint about these headphones, from a small number of buyers, is the feeling of pressure they create on your eardrum when flying. But don’t worry, as with all Bose headphones, you get a 30-day trial period. If you don’t like them, just send them back.

Here’s what you get in the box:

* QuietComfort 15 headphones

* Detachable audio cable

* AAA battery

* Airline adapter

* Carrying case

Get your QuietComfort 15 headphones from Amazon for just $299.95.

        

These are not inexpensive headphones. So if you are looking for something modest, keep scrolling down the page.

But if you truly love your music, and wish headphones could deliver the kind of clarity you get from your home speaker system, keep reading.

How good are the Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones?

Here is what one professional reviewer wrote:

“I've been listening to these headphones for a few weeks now for at least a couple of hours a day, and I can safely tell you that they are, by a distance the best value item of hi-fi equipment I have ever bought, borrowed or built. These headphones are so good that even connected to a humble MP3 player they sound almost as good as my four grand hi-fi set-up. That's something I'm still having trouble coming to terms with.”

Maybe this isn’t the kind of expense you can afford too often. But hey, holiday season is coming and maybe it’s worth treating yourself.

You are unlikely to find the Grado Prestige Series SR325is Headphones in your local electronics store, but you might find them at a specialty hi-fi store.

Or you can buy them at Amazon.com for $295.

        

The Sennheiser 810 is perfect for watching TV when you want to watch alone, without disturbing others.

It’s also great for when you are not watching alone, but one of you wants or needs a different volume level.

These are not designed for listening to music or game playing. But for watching TV they are perfect, and have received a big thumbs up even from people who are hard of hearing and generally have trouble hearing the sound from their TV sets.

There are two parts to the system. You plug the transmitter into the headphone socket on your TV, and then wear the “stethoset”. They don’t call these headphones. They call them a stethoset because they hang from your ears like the earpieces of a stethoscope.

The transmitter and the stethoset communicate by infrared, so there are no wires to tangle or trip over.

When you are not watching TV, simple set the stethoset into its recharging cradle, so you’ll be ready for next time.

If you want to watch TV without disturbing others around you, or if you need a different volume level, these are a great buy.

They’re not inexpensive, but they do the job they were design to do really, really well,

The Deal: Get your Sennheiser 810 Personal Infrared TV Listening System from Amazon for $343.99.

        

You’re not going to get an outstanding pair of headphones for under $20. But you can get a pair that are a whole lot better than the earbuds which came included with your MP3 player or phone.

The JVC Marshmallow Headphones are pretty much exactly as you would expect. The earpieces come in one size, but are one-size-fits-all, because they are made from memory foam (the marshmallowy stuff) and make for a snug fit, whatever the size of your ear canal.

Regardless of the price, the soft earpieces are a good idea. Although more expensive in-ear headphones come with sleeves in several sizes, they are often quite hard, and harsh on the skin inside your ear canal.

As for the sound quality, don’t expect the moon from these headphones. But they are plenty good enough for casual listening with your portable player.

You can see them in red in the photo above, but they also come in four other colors, all of them quite bright.

Bottom line? They are very comfortable and the sound is better than you get with the freebie earbuds that come with players and phones.

But they are under $20, so don’t expect amazing highs and lows in the sound quality.

The Deal: Get your JVC Marshmallow Headphones from Amazon for just 6.70.

        

Aesthetically pleasing, the Koss KSC22 wired sport headphones have a terrific price that matches their sleek design, making them a must-have for athletic types who want to listen to music as they exercise.

With a one-of-a-kind Sportclip design that slips easily and snuggly over the ears, the Koss KSC22 headphones are lightweight, comfortable and not prone to slipping off. Best of all, they do deliver the goods in regards to sound quality for their price range.

Another positive aspect of these sport headphones is that they have a noise filter that eradicates street and commute ambiance when wearing them outdoors. They are also compact and fit easily into a purse or carrying case.

The only real complaint is that those expecting the kind of sound you get with more expensive sport headphones will be disappointed. Customers who loved the comfort were willing to waive sound quality for their easy wearability.

Others may find that they are giving up too much, as there is degradation in sound the higher the volume goes. Some consumers even noted static and a mid range tinny sound that could be aggravating.

In regards to Koss KSCC22 sport headphones, the appeal could very well be their comfort, portability, affordability and decent audio quality.

Technical specs:

-Product dimensions: 4 x 8 x 1 inches

-Product weight: 0.12 lbs

-Frequency response: 60-20,000 Hz

-Connector: 3.5 L Plug

-Sound output: Stereo

- Impedance: 16 Ohm

The Deal: Get your Koss KSC22 Sportclip Headphones from Amazon for just $39.95.

        

It’s time to do some serious shopping before the new term starts. Among other things, it’s time to replace those headphones you treated so shabbily over the summer break.

What are you going to get? This can be a tough question, because no single pair is going to suit every situation.

We have come up with a list of three types of headphones that might interest you. Your job is to decide which to buy.

1. Earbud or in-ear headphones for when you’re on the move.

Whether you walking from class to class, relaxing out on the grass or taking some exercise, you’re going to need some portable earphones. You need to be able to stuff them in your pocket, purse or backpack.

And you for sure need something a bit better than those earbuds that came free with your player. The sound is poor and they have a habit of falling out when you’re running.

We have reviewed plenty of earbuds and in-ear headphones, and there are some good ones in every price range.

Find our earbud headphones picks here...

2. Get yourself some good gaming headphones.

If you like to play video games in between long stretches of studying (or the other way around), you should get yourself a good gaming headset. This is particularly true if you are rooming with other people who are trying to study or sleep.

We have reviewed a number of different gaming headphones over the years, some of them wireless and some of them not.

Find our gaming headphones picks here...

3. Block out the noise with noise cancelling headphones.

It can be tough focusing on your work when there is a lot of chatter and other noise around you.

Noise cancelling headphones do a great job of blocking ambient noise and are available as over-the-ear headphones and ear canal headphones.

BTW, you shouldn’t wear noise cancelling ear canal headphones when you are out on the street. They block out too much noise and put you at risk from cyclists and cars. Put simply, you don’t hear what’s happening around you.

Find our noise cancelling headphones picks here...

        

If you have an iPod Shuffle, now you can plug it directly into these wrap-around headphones. No cords, no hassle.

Granted, this isn’t the most attractive looking device, but it certainly wins points for convenience when you start exercising. No cords to get tangled, and no wireless receiver to stash in your pocket. Both the player and the headphones plug into one another.

You don’t have to sacrifice sound quality either, since Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones offer clear, hiss-free tonality and thumping low bass that isn’t too "muddy."

Not everyone loves these headphones. The unit is rather unattractive and can feel a little heavy after long-term use. However, other people are totally devoted to them. My guess is that the biggest fans of the Monster iFreePlay are those people who use them when jogging, running or working out in the gym.

Product Specs:

- Product weight: 1.6 ounces

- Product dimensions: 2.1x 4.8x 9.3 inches

- Sound output: stereo

- Connection spec: wireless

- iPod compatibility: iPod shuffle

- iPod connector: 1 x IPod docking

The Deal: Get your Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones for the iPod Shuffle from Amazon for just $37.46.

        

Ultra lightweight and compact noise cancelling headphones such as these by Audio-Technica are perfect for the frequent flier, train traveler, or just about anybody that would like to drown out background noise from traffic, engines, nearby conversations, or even household noises.

The noise-cancelling feature on the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noisecancelling headphones is described by most as “superb.”

Even when your iPod’s volume is turned down considerably, you’ll be hard-pressed to hear any background noise at all.

This set is also known to have excellent sound quality, especially when it comes to the high and mid-range tones.

The noise-cancelling feature requires one AAA battery, which lasts about 40 hours. Luckily, the headphones still work when noise cancelling is turned off, which is convenient if you’re stuck with dead batteries mid-flight.

According to most reviewers, the comfort and quality construction of these headphones can’t be beat.

Technical specs include:

- ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint active noise cancelling headphones effectively reduces environmental noise by up to 85% with or without audio.

- Ideal for travel and use with MP3, CD, DVD, and in-flight entertainment systems.

- Provides superior audio quality with 40mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems in each earpiece for deeper bass, extended treble, and higher fidelity.

- Fully integrated active noise-cancelling technology - no external modules needed.

- Includes a detachable cable with 3.5 mm mini-plugs and a full-size adapter.

They also included specialized airline adapter and carrying case make these the perfect headphones for travel. No more tangled cords in your carry-on luggage.

Of course, you can buy less expensive noise-canceling headphones. These are not cheap. But my own experience is that every time I try to save a few bucks I end up with headphones that disappoint. This is particularly true of noise-canceling headphones.

The Deal: Get your Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones at Amazon for just $208.95.

        

Music lovers know that the earbud-style earphones that come with most MP3 players, smart phones, and portable DVD players are not designed for optimal sound. In a nutshell, they’re cheap and they sound cheap.

To enjoy rich, stereo-quality sound from your portable digital devices, you need to upgrade.

Fortunately, the Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear headphones fit the bill in terms of improved sound quality and a comfortable, secure fit.

Most users rate the comfort and sound quality of the Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit in-ear earphones as superb.

And the fit of the double-flanged ear tips provides a seal between the unit and your ear canal. This not only prevents the ear tips from falling out even during strenuous activity, but also provides a pathway for exceptional sound. The earphones protrude from one’s ears enough to make them easy to put on and take off, while always achieving a good seal.

Reviewers rave about the incredibly natural sounding bass, highs, instruments, and vocals. Bass response is described as amazingly rich and full, while mid and high frequencies are crisp and clear. Many are happy to achieve true sound isolation, which isn’t typical of your run-of-the-mill in-ear earphones.

Product Specs:

* Snug Fit design delivers passive noise reduction and high fidelity at lower listening levels

* Silicone tips rest comfortably in-ear

* Neoprene Carry Case

* Gold-plated Plug

* Crisp highs and bass you can feel

Overall, these in-ear earphones are a great earbud upgrade at an outstanding value.

The Deal: Get your Altec Lansing UHP336 Snugfit In-ear headphones at Amazon for just $80.37.