Here’s what you need to do with your new pair of headphones

Have you been eyeing that top-rated pair of headphones and finally managed to snatch a discount on them? Well, you must be jumping with joy and getting ready to enjoy audio nirvana. 

Headphones have become truly sophisticated in noise cancellation, audio quality, and other AI features. It is no longer as simple as buying a new pair of headphones and playing music on them right away. You have to find the best fit, the best sound, and in some cases, even figure out the right integration. With that in mind, here’s what you need to do with your new pair of headphones. 

6 things to do with your new pair of headphones

1. Charge your headphones 

2. Set up 

3. Download the app 

4. Find the right fit 

5. Soundcheck 

6. Audio source 

1. Charge your headphones

If you have brought a new pair of wireless headphones or wireless earbuds then one of the first things you need to do is charge them up. Most audio companies suggest fully charging headphones or earbuds before first use but it’s not mandatory. Your new pair of headphones should come with between 60 to 80 per cent battery out of the box, which is enough to get started. 

ALSO READ: 5 best headphones with microphones to buy in 2024

However, you can fully charge your headphones and then have a pair at your disposal that can go for several hours without a charge. Charging your headphones might be more practical in the case of true wireless earbuds where the earbuds themselves have limited battery and with a full charge, you can extend your listening time further. 

2. Time to set up

Setting up a new pair of headphones is as simple as plugging them into an audio source, adjusting the volume to your desired level, and enjoying the music. However, if you brought home a pair of wireless headphones then you will need to set it up via Bluetooth. In order to do that, you need to first enable pairing mode on your Bluetooth headphones and then head over to your phone’s Bluetooth settings and select the headphones to instantly pair them. 

Some headphones might include NFC so you can tap your NFC-enabled device to the headphones and pair them quickly. There are also new fast pair features available on modern headphones and TWS earbuds that pop up on your smartphone as soon as you bring them closer. This makes pairing really intuitive and doesn’t require you to tinker with any settings. 

3. Download the app

There is an app for everything. If you have heard that saying then you must know that there is an app for your headphones too. Most audio brands now offer an app that allows users to fine-tune the audio performance of their headphones. Most people ignore the app altogether and might suffer from poor audio experience. The first use of a dedicated app is to update the firmware of your headphones and earbuds. 

They are also useful for setting up the active noise-cancellation feature and fine-tuning the sound through EQ settings. You can also use the app to customise the controls. In some cases, you will also get the option to burn in your headphones, a process where the listener lets the headphones play for a period of seven to eight hours and allows the diaphragms to loosen up. This is recommended if your headphone has a moving coil diaphragm or a dynamic driver. 

4. Find the right fit

Your audio experience varies depending on the fit and comfort and thus it is recommended that you take time to find the right fit. In the case of on-ear and over-ear headphones, there is not much flexibility but you can loosen the headband or position it in a way that you find the right comfort and fit. If you have bought a new pair of truly wireless earbuds then finding the right fit makes a big difference. 

ALSO READ: Headphones vs Headsets: Which one is best for you?

Most true wireless earbuds (not the regular AirPods) come with at least three pairs of ear tips in different sizes. You should try them out and find which ear tip offers the best fit and comfort. Please note it is perfectly fine to use different-sized ear tips for your right and left earbuds to get the most comfortable fit. This fit will define how well the earbuds can passively isolate the sound from background noise. 

5. Soundcheck

Now that you have charged your headphones, set them up and even found the right fit, it is time to play some music and see how they sound. There is a good possibility that you may find the bass to be not punchy or the vocals not warm enough. Don’t worry, there is a solution. The app you downloaded earlier offers EQ (equaliser) with presets to choose from. You can try those presets or create your own to get the best sound experience. You can even create presets based on different genres and tune your headphones to sound the way you like. 

6. Audio source

Your headphones are as good as the audio source that you choose. If you have a wired headphone with a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) then you are all set for hi-res audio experience. However, with wireless headphones, you will need support for the right codec to experience hi-res audio. While audiophiles debate about what is even considered hi-res, you will see codes like LDAC, LHDC, ALAC, aptX HD, aptX Lossless thrown around. 

Just don’t settle for standard Bluetooth codecs like SBC and AAC with bit rates of around 320kbps. Hi-res codecs like LDAC or LHDC go up to 1,000kbps while CD quality is 1,411kbps. Do note that both your phone as well as your headphones should support these codecs natively for a true hi-res listening experience. In India, your option for [officially] streaming hi-res audio is limited to Apple Music right now. 

Apart from the above settings, you need to make your new headphones or earbuds your own to get a truly personalised listening experience. Personalise your headphones the way you like and don’t forget to occasionally change the settings a bit to find even better comfort. It doesn’t hurt to ask someone wearing the same pair how they configured theirs and taking time will ensure you don’t regret buying your new headphones in the first place.