Comparison A4Tech Bloody G575 vs A4Tech Bloody G521

The length of the cable supplied with the headphones with the appropriate connectivity.

The optimal cable length depends on the planned format of the "ears". So, for pocket gadgets, 1 metre or less is often enough, for a computer it is already desirable to have a wire for 1 – 2 m, and preferably 2 – 3 m. And models with a longer cable length — 3 – 5 m or even more — are mainly designed for specific tasks, such as connecting to a TV or using in recording studios.

Recall that in some models the cable is removable (see below) and can be replaced if necessary with a longer or shorter one. Also note that there are extension cables that allow you to increase the length of the main wire; such a cable may even be included in the delivery, this point (and the length of the additional cable) is usually specified in the notes.

The type of cable provided in the design or delivery of the headphones. Note that this parameter is relevant both for wired or combined models (see “Connection type”), and for some wireless models - in particular, earbuds and in-ear headphones without a mount, where a wire connects one earphone to another.

- Round. The classic round wire is straight, without braiding or other additional accessories. It is inexpensive and in most cases quite practical, which is why it is found in most modern headphones. The disadvantage is that if the thickness is small, the round wire is prone to tangling; therefore, this option is considered not very convenient for compact headphones, such as in-ear or in-ear (see “Design”), which often have to be carried in a pocket or bag.

- Flat. The main advantage of a flat cable is that it does not get tangled as much as a round cable, and if something happens it is much easier to untangle. This is especially important for earbuds and in-ear headphones, which are often rolled up for storage or transport. However, larger overhead models can also be equipped with a flat wire.

— Round, braided. A round wire with an outer braid, usually fabric. See above for details on round wire. And the presence of a braid gives such a cable a number of advantages over the classic one with “bare” insula...tion. Thus, the wire turns out to be more durable, reliable and resistant to kinks and pressure, tangles less, has a solid appearance, and in some models the braiding also provides shielding from external interference. The downside of these advantages is the increased price.

— Spiral. A round cable, coiled into a spring. The main advantages of a spiral wire are that it practically does not tangle and can significantly stretch relative to its original length. The latter is very convenient if, as you use your ears, you have to change the distance to the signal source. The disadvantages of spiral cable are bulkiness and relatively high cost. Therefore, it is often used in mid-range and top-end headphones (including professional models).

- Round, braided. A cable in the form of two wires twisted into a spiral. This option should not be confused with a spiral wire - in this case we are not talking about a spring. This cable is notable primarily for its unusual appearance; For greater originality, the wiring can be made in different colors. It is also somewhat more tangle-resistant than the classic round one, although a lot depends on the thickness. At the same time, individual wires can be noticeably thinner than a solid round wire, which somewhat reduces reliability.

The location of the microphone, which the headphones are equipped with (if available, of course).

— On the cable. A microphone installed on the headphone connection wire (or on the connection cable in non-TWS wireless headphones). Can be combined with volume control. This option allows you to separate the microphone and headphones, reducing the weight and dimensions of the "ears" themselves; on the other hand, the microphone when worn is often quite far from the face, which can be inconvenient. Therefore, this design is mainly used among earbuds and in-ear headphones, where the size of the "ears" is critical.

— Built into the body. A microphone located in the housing of one of the headphones. This arrangement is convenient because there are no extra protruding parts outside (as in headphones without a microphone), while the microphone is close to the face, and in some models it is also able to perceive sound according to the principle of bone conduction. However installation in close proximity to the speaker gives additional interference and may degrade the quality of voice transmission. However, these shortcomings are not critical: interference can be compensated, and the built-in headphone microphones, in fact, do not need perfect sound transmission accuracy. Therefore, this option is quite popular nowadays, and it is fo...und not only in miniature models, for which the absence of unnecessary details on the outside is important, but also in rather large overhead "ears".

— On the bow. A microphone mounted on a small boom that is attached to one of the headphones. The microphone on the bow is the most popular among overhead headphones: a large cup can be supplemented with a boom without sacrificing convenience, and the microphone itself is located far from the headphones, which has a positive effect on the purity of the sound. The boom often has a swivel or detachable mount, which allows you to remove the microphone from the face until it is needed (by lifting the boom vertically along the headband).

— Retractable on the bow. Headband microphone (see above) with a retractable design: the headband can be pulled out of the cup when needed and can be tucked back inside when not in use. These headphones are more compact and have a neater appearance than models with a headband on a swivel mount: in a hidden position, the microphone takes up almost no space outside. The retractable microphone design is especially popular in gaming models (see “Intended Use”): in single-player games where you do not need to communicate with comrades, the microphone can be folded compactly.

— Removable on the shackle. Headband microphone (see above), which can be completely detached from the headphones if desired. Such a design can be useful, for example, if the “ears” are used both as gaming and as “marching and musical”: in a multiplayer game, the microphone is indispensable, and for listening to music outside the home, it can be removed so as not to carry extra equipment (which besides, you can lose).

— At the receiver. A variant used in wireless headphones with a separate receiver. In terms of design and use, it is similar to the microphone on the cable described above: on the one hand, the headphones themselves can be very light and tiny, on the other hand, the microphone may not be located close enough to the face, and when talking it will have to be brought closer.

— In the mount. In this case, most often means a microphone mounted on a neck mount (see below). This option is found mainly among wireless headphones, which have a signal receiver in the same mount. Such a microphone is located close to the neck, which allows you to achieve good speech intelligibility and at the same time cut off extraneous sounds even without any special additional tricks.

— On the cable and in the case. Headphones equipped with two microphones — one in the case, the other on the cable. The features of these variants are described in detail above. Here we note that their combination is extremely rare, mainly among high-quality "ears" with a combined connection (see "Type of connection"). In such models, when working via a wireless channel, a microphone in the case is used, and when connecting a wire, a microphone on a cable is used, which is less susceptible to interference.

— On cable and removable. Another kind of headphones with two microphones, also quite rare. One microphone in such models is mounted on a cable, the second — on a detachable bow. See above for more on each of these options, and combining them allows you to tailor the headphones to the specific situation. For example, the bow is very convenient for voice communication at home or office computers, but on the street and in transport it is better to remove it and use the microphone on the cable.

— In the case and removable. A rather rare and non-standard option is the combination of a microphone in the case and a microphone on a detachable bow. See above for more details on each of these varieties, and their combination is used quite rarely — in separate premium gaming models with a combined connection. The main point in this case is that it is more convenient to use a removable microphone in one place, with a wired connection, and in the “mobile” wireless mode it is better to remove it and get by with the built-in microphone. However, such features are fundamental mainly for the most demanding users, so this option has not gained distribution.

The sensitivity of the headphone's own microphone.

The more sensitive the microphone, the higher the signal level from it, at the same sound volume, and the better this model is suitable for picking up quiet sounds. Conversely, low sensitivity filters out background noise. At the same time, we note that these nuances are important mainly in professional work with sound. And for simple tasks like voice communication over the phone or via the Internet, sensitivity does not really matter: in headphones of this specialization, it is selected in such a way as to ensure that the microphone is guaranteed to work.

The ability to turn off your own headphone microphone using a special button or switch.

This feature is relevant mainly for phone calls, Skype, etc. It is useful in situations where you need to distract from the main conversation and say something that the interlocutor does not need to hear. Disconnecting the microphone is easier and more reliable than covering it with your hand or disconnecting the headphones entirely.

Note that the ability to turn off the microphone may be provided in the communication programme itself (the same Skype, for example). However, again, using the switch on the headphones is more convenient.

This feature usually means that the microphone is attached to the headphones using a special flexible arm. The flexible design gives additional possibilities for moving the microphone relative to the user's mouth and makes it easier to choose the optimal position that provides the best sound quality.

The headphones have their own volume control. Such a regulator can be placed both on the wire and on one of the cups (the latter is typical for wireless models). Anyway, this function allows you to easily adjust the volume: for this you do not need to go into the computer settings, press the buttons on the player or smartphone, etc., just use the control at hand. On the other hand, additional equipment complicates and increases the cost of the design, and also increases the likelihood of distortion. In light of the latter, volume control is almost never found in professional headphones.