Student Life October 2019

TECH
CO-EDITOR JOSHUA HODGKIN
AUDIO
BY JACK MACEY
Did you know that on average we each
listen to more than 4.5 hours of music a
day? Chances are that right now you’re
listening to music too. But what’s the
best way to maximise your listening
experience – and what’s the cost? This
month, Ashley from Hughes Electrical
gave us the highs and lows on all the
options available so you can get back
to tapping your feet or singing along
without worrying about a gaping hole in
your pocket.
One of the most popular ways to listen to
music is through a pair of headphones.
Whether it’s a fancy new wireless pair
or the freebies you got with your phone,
there’s no doubting that the convenience
of earphones, combined with their good
sound quality, makes them a great choice
for everyday life. On-ear headphones
typically provide a better sound whereas
in-ear earbuds are a bit less bulky and
similarly, wired headphones have a
higher sound quality but lose some of
the convenience that comes from being
wireless.
Bluetooth speakers are another great
way to easily listen to music. Starting
around £20, they provide a great option
for playing music out and about when
you’re in a group and usually last around
6hrs when charged. As is to be expected,
as the price increases so does the sound
and build quality with a top-of-the-range
speaker from Bose costing around £100.
Hi-fi systems are another alternative,
especially for those who like to listen in
one room as they trade portability for
better hardware and bigger speakers
allowing for a very impressive sound.
Though more expensive, they provide a
mix of traditional features like physical CD
players alongside more modern internet/
streaming services, which can all be
integrated into one sleek box unit.
Blending both the Bluetooth speaker
and hi-fi systems are the SONOS home
speakers. At the upper-end of the price
range (£399), these offer an unrivalled
sound with the portability factor too! The
software customisation options where
each user can set up their own ‘sound
profile’ and lasting support for updates
from SONOS ensures the speaker will
remain up to date for years to come.
That sounds like music to my ears!
89 • TECH • STUDENT LIFE