As a Stringer you are in the public arena daily where the news environment will vary. When you are packing your equipment to hit the news trail one very important tool is headphones. One reason is that If you are too far away from the subject matter then your hearing is impaired. Also, if you are recording voices and sounds, you must portray an accurate interpretation.
Headphones have several features that are vital to a Stringer’s work. These features include a closed back or open back feature. The difference is in the headphone drivers which are inside each earpiece. A driver converts an electrical signal into sounds. An open headphone allows airflow to give you clear open sounds. Closed headphones completely block extraneous noise.
Another important feature is the frequency range. The human ear picks up sounds between 20 to 20,000 Hz. Therefore, headphones must be able to match this and take ambient sounds to a higher level. The advanced headphones noted below help you to get all the right sounds to news agencies and other media venues.
Audio-Technica ATH-M70x Pro Monitor Headphones
The Audio-Technica ATH-M70x Headphones are well-known for their high-quality and well-balanced frequency technology. Their unique 90-degree swivel earpiece features are a circular closed-back design. Why is this important? When you are trying to stay on top of a story, headphones are used to capture voices and sounds associated with your storyline. Often, photographers must move the earpieces around or take them off and on.
Circumference earpieces help to keep your ears from becoming sore after hours of wear. The Audio-Technica Headphones feature a padded plastic headband that is durable and which folds up for easy mobility. The headband pads keep your ears and head from becoming too hot and sweaty. The headphones have detachable coiled and straight cables. They connect to an earpiece for better stability when Stringers are running and to keep from falling off your head.
Sennheiser HD 569 Closed-Back Around-Ear Headphones
The professionally wired Sennheiser HD 569 features a closed headphone design. This gives freelance photographers/videographers low high-quality audio sounds. When you wear Sennheiser headphones, they help to lessen distortions or unnecessary ambient sounds. This technology is known as the “ergonomic acoustic refinement” or E.A.R. This innovative sound system allows the audio to arrive directly into your ears for a more personal listening experience.
The headphones are also supported with two detachable cables and a jack for on-the-go plug-ins. This enables freelancers to stay connected to their power sources. Given their long hours, freelancers will enjoy wearing these headphones with soft replaceable ear pads. The HD 569 headphones are designed ergonomically for comfortable all-day wear.
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones
The Sony MDR 7506 wired headphones are a closed-back hearing tool that gives Stringers many hours of great hearing connections. The closed-back design isolates sounds and lessens ambient background noises. The MDR-7506 series by Sony has been a quality headphone for 28 years. Stringers are wearing durability when they wear the MDR-7506 headphones.
These lightweight (8 oz) headphones feature padded headbands to help them feel comfortable on your head. This is especially important when freelancers are chasing a photo opportunity for long periods. Drivers that are built into the earpieces are important because they keep directional sounds clearly between your ears. Its earpieces also feature a coiled cable that will not become entangled as the Stringer takes the headphones off and on as needed.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Monitor Headphones
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Headphone works well in the field when listening intently is a work requirement. They are designed as a closed-back circular ear headphone. Also affixed to an earpiece is a long cable (9.8 ft.) with a single-side exit. This feature keeps it from becoming entangled and distracting you. As part of the wired M-series headphone design, they deliver comfort and will help to accurately identify voices and sounds.
Its headband is heavily padded giving you comfortable wear. There are 40mm drivers inside the earpieces. They are automatically tuned for low high-quality frequencies. Also, at a weight of only 6.7 ounces, the ATH-M20x is an excellent wearing field tool. These headphones are designed to aptly capture background voices and sounds. They provide the right interpretation of sounds so that you can sell a perfect product to your clients.
Headphone Endnote
As a Stringer, using the right equipment is important to your day to day success. Only you will know which headphones work best for your success. The above-named headphones will help to identify the right equipment for you. Headphones are just a small portion of the required tools needed by freelancers. Over-the-ear headphones identified above gives your fieldwork a more immersive experience. They will help to set you apart from your competition.
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