Tired of having headphones or ear buds that break easily? We all know the frustration of having only one side that works, having to listen to poor quality sound, or having your music drowned out by background noise when you are in a public place.

How do you go about choosing the best headphones for you? Often it depends on a variety of factors; your budget, what you are going to use them for and in what type of setting. Here are five things to consider when choosing headphones.

1) Firstly you need to decide whether you want ear buds or headphones.

Do you exercise frequently? Do you like to travel light? If so, then you should consider in ear headphones, or ear buds. However, you should make sure the product comes with a carry case or pouch, extra tips for different sized ears, and a clip to stop the wires dangling about.

Ear buds also tend to be less expensive than headphones, but you often get what you pay for. A cheap pair can be poor in terms of sound quality, be less comfortable to wear and be less durable if it is made from plastic. A higher priced product, from about £25-40 will generally fit better in your ears and last longer. However, to get really top quality sound for ear buds, it will usually cost you £50 or more.

If you are going to use the product more in a home setting, definitely consider purchasing a pair of headphones. You can also use them on the move if you don’t mind them hanging around your neck when you are not using them. However, unlike ear buds, storing them in safe place can be difficult because of their size and if there isn’t a case to keep them in, they can get dirty.

The best headphones are ones that will fit comfortably, not to snug or tight, whilst providing you with quality sound. However, having all these features can cost a lot depending on your budget.

2) Do you like listening to a lot of bass in your music? If so, you want to look for headphones with bass boosting capability. However, you should check this carefully because some cheaper products may sacrifice quality in the middle and treble frequencies in order to have this feature.

3) Does background noise bother you when you are listening to your favorite tracks? Some of the more quality types of headphones are those that have a noise-canceling feature. This is very important if you are going to use the headphones in noisy environments; say for example, you are a frequent traveler or live in a crowded household!

However unless you are prepared to spend anything less that £150 on a product with this feature, you will most likely be disappointed with the outcome.

4) Do you want your headphones to keep the sound in and not disturb others? Look for the sound-isolation feature. It is never pleasant to have to turn up the volume when you are on a plane or bus just so you can hear your music. Not only is this annoying for you, it can also inconvenience other passengers who are forced to hear your favorite dubstep or hip-hop track!

5) Finally, test them out!

If at all possible, see if there is a way to try out headphones before you buy them. Is the sound quality good across the frequency range and at different volumes?. Are they comfortable? Do they seem durable and well made? At certain establishments you can do just that.

However, if you are purchasing online make sure you check reviews and ratings of the best headphones before you buy. The last thing you want to do is buy what you think is the best product for your situation, only to find out they have fallen well short of your expectations.

Do you want to find the best headphones or ear buds? Read independent reviews of the latest headphones and discover the best product for you at http://best-headphones.org.uk