Count on Reviews · Guides and advice
Headphones advice and explainers
Practical explanations of features, compatibility and the decisions behind a useful product shortlist. Start with a buying guide, then explore the focused advice below.
Start with the headphones buying guide
Headphones are personal equipment: fit, seal, controls and comfort can matter as much as codec names. Choose by where and how long you listen, whether you take calls and how easily you can replace pads, tips or a cable. Reviews are particularly useful for comfort, microphone behaviour and sound at ordinary volume.
Read the buying guide →25 October 2026
Headphone batteries and wired fallback
Battery life figures do not tell you what happens when the charge runs out or the battery ages. Establish which listening and call functions remain available in each connection mode.
2 October 2026
Headphone pads, tips and long-term fit
Fit can change how comfortable headphones feel and how consistently they seal. Replacement pads and tips are therefore part of the purchase decision, not just an afterthought.
29 September 2026
Bluetooth headphone codecs and latency explained
A practical guide to Bluetooth headphone codec and latency, including the specifications, setup constraints and trade-offs that change the right choice.
29 September 2026
Gaming headset vs headphones and separate microphone
A practical guide to gaming headset vs headphones, including the specifications, setup constraints and trade-offs that change the right choice.
29 September 2026
Over-ear vs on-ear headphones: comfort, sound and portability
Compare wearing style through pressure, heat, isolation, glasses and travel rather than assuming the larger design is automatically more comfortable.
29 September 2026
Noise cancelling vs passive isolation in headphones
A practical guide to noise cancelling vs passive isolation, including the specifications, setup constraints and trade-offs that change the right choice.