Festive Season Special : headphones and DSLR cameras - CHOICE # 362 (December 15, 2006)

Contemplating buying a headphone for your own enjoyment or as a gift for the festive season?

The choice can be baffling with so many models and types over so vast a price range. But help is at hand.

In this December issue of CHOICE is a timely test report on 33 models of wired and wireless headphones priced from $70 to $2,800. They were tested for acoustic and other performance, and ease of use.

In general, the test showed that wired headphones performed better than the wireless, capable of delivering loud music without much distortion. In particular some bigger circum-, supra- aural samples scored highly.

Some models are featured with noise cancellation function which actively cuts noise from the outside with the aid of a built-in microphone. The feature was found to be effective but, in some samples, activating the feature could in itself generate some noise.

Research has shown that headphone listeners tend to increase volume for the same satisfaction as they would listening to the music with open loudspeakers.

They are advised to beware of the potential risk of permanent damage to the auditory system under loud music for a prolonged period of time.

Parents should also ensure that when young children are listening to music on headphones, the volume is suitably adjusted. Headphone users on the street should keep the volume down, and be alert to respond to approaching vehicle.

In the test, Bluetooth wireless headphones were found to be operable in relative smaller vicinity than RF (Radio Frequency) models which, on the other hand, could be interfered by similar models in the neighbourhood in adjacent channels. There are usually two or three selectable channels for RF headphones to reduce the effect of interference.

Meanwhile, also in CHOICE this month is a test report on 9 DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras which are now selling at attractive prices ($4,480 to $23,200), compared to a few years ago.

Digital SLR cameras are mainly for professional use. The advantages are that interchangeable lenses can be used and many manual controls or settings are easily and directly accessible.

The picture resolution for these camera bodies ranges from 6 upto 12 million pixels. Picture quality, viewfinder and monitor quality, flash performance, battery performance and ease of use were compared. Most samples performed well all round in various aspects.

In addition, 14 zoom lenses with zoom ratios from 2.8 to 11.1 were included in the test. Some samples come bundled with the camera bodies in the market. Image quality and ease of ease were compared for the reference of consumers.

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