They got smaller, wireless, deeper bass, better latency and a whole other bunch of features that just keep piling up with the most modern headphone models. If you follow the current trend, you are probably amongst the 7 in every 10 people who prefer mobility over wires.
That means the headphones you choose will probably run through a Bluetooth connection with the output device. That was also a great achievement for headphone manufacturers as users no longer needed to handle wires fraying, bending, faulty connections or damaged jacks.
Additionally, the Bluetooth technologies also aided in the development of new features, such as voice control, calling and even messaging through headphones.
However, with all the new technologies that are being developed currently, some people were not sure what their Bluetooth headphones required in order to deliver their optimal performance. That led to the enquiries regarding the need of a wireless network connection to use Bluetooth headphones.
So, should you have ever found yourself asking that same question, bear with us as we walk you through all the relevant info you need.
Do You Need WiFi For Bluetooth Headphones
You probably have a few, or even a lot of electronic devices in your home. Phones, laptops, computers, tablets and even home appliances run wireless connections nowadays, and there are many devices that do not require cables to perform connections anymore.
When it comes to sound equipment, headphones are the choice for most instead of speakers. This is mostly due to the mobility headphones have and speakers usually don’t.
Even though there are numerous options of wireless speakers nowadays, users constantly report to have the best audio experience with headphones.
Amongst the most mentioned reasons is that with headphones, the audio is directly sent into your ears, instead of the ambient-filling aspect of speakers.
In a nutshell, it comes to the type of experience you wish to have, even though many users were not sure if they prefer to share their music and series or enjoy them on their own.
No matter what choice you make, if you opt for wireless devices, most of the devices you have in the market run either on Bluetooth or wi-fi technologies.
For audio, manufacturers invested a lot of time and money into Bluetooth advancements, as that has proven to be the most chosen option by customers.
Considering all that, let’s get to the point and analyse the question: Is a wireless connection necessary to use Bluetooth headphones? The answer is no, you don’t.
So, bearing that in mind, let us walk you through the information you need in order to choose the best device to enjoy your music or video streaming sessions.
What Has A Bluetooth Connection To Do With A Wi-Fi One?
For starters, both Bluetooth and wi-fi connections are wireless technologies. Also, both are present in headphones nowadays, even though Bluetooth ones are far more common than wi-fi ones.
What they do not have in common is the technology of data transmission. Whereas Bluetooth technology, the very name of the info transmission method for that kind of headphones sends and receives waves through radio signals, wi-fi headphones perform the exchange of data through internet signals.
That is probably not information enough for you to make a decision on which technology to go for, so let us walk you through the particularities of each one and help you choose the one that better suits your demands.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Wi-Fi Technology?
Since its first release, Wireless connection technology has been deemed innovative and futuristic . No longer having to attach cables or dealing with all sorts of malfunctions, dust gathering, space limitations and extenders was indeed a remarkable advancement.
Nowadays, even home appliances can benefit from wi-fi connections for better control or even for automated functions that make them behave exactly like users would like them to.
It’s plainly possible nowadays to command your air conditioner to switch on at a specific time, and even the temperature of your fridge can be controlled remotely.
Regarding headphones, the gadget of choice herein, wi-fi technologies allow them to perform connections with a variety of devices, amongst which are mobile phones, laptops, desktops, tablets, loudspeakers and many other electronic devices.
The best feature of wi-fi connections is the larger radius of activity, as internet signals are more stable and reach longer distances, especially when a router is aiding the device to transfer data throughout the ambient.
On the other hand, that same remarkable feature comes with a price, as the internet connection has to be up and running optimally for you to get the top performance of your wi-fi headphones.
Even though carriers offer huge data allowances or infinite wi-fi thresholds, there is always the chance either your equipment or your carriers undergoes some sort of malfunction and leave you high and dry.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Bluetooth Technology?
As mentioned before, Bluetooth technology emits and receives signals through radio waves, differently from wi-fi devices, which transmit data through internet signal. But that is not the only difference between the two technologies.
One of the best features of the Bluetooth technology is that it does not require an active internet connection to transfer data. That means you get to listen to your music even when your monthly data allowance is gone and you find yourself away from any wi-fi zones.
Also, a Bluetooth connection is usually established quicker than a wi-fi one, as the series of protocols and permissions wireless devices require are not in play.
The disadvantage of the Bluetooth technology is that, since it transmits data through radio waves, the radius of activity is considerably shorter than the internet signal coverage of a wi-fi device. Also, there are no pieces of equipment that perform an expansion of the radius, as a router can do with wi-fi signal.
That means you will need to keep the output device and speaker/headphones close together, which is usually not a problem.
Most of the time, people are either listening to music or streaming videos from their mobiles or computers and they are looking right at them or have them in their pockets. So, the distance aspect might not be an issue for most uses.
Secondly, many devices allow multiple devices to connect through wi-fi, but the same is quite rare with Bluetooth. Most devices only allow one connection at a time for this kind of technology, which can be a hassle when you want to share a music or video experience with someone.
What Do I Need To Know? Should I Opt For Bluetooth Headphones?
The first thing you have to acknowledge is that Bluetooth headphones will not require active internet connections to deliver an outstanding audio experience, which means a whole other deal when it comes to mobility.
As Bluetooth signals are transmitted through electromagnetic radio waves, all you need to do is have the output device nearby. This means you can forget about messy wires and faulty jack connectors.
Also, most audio playing electronics come with a built-in Bluetooth system, so you rarely have to wonder if your device has that feature.
So, should you opt for a Bluetooth technology device to enjoy your music or video streaming, or even to make audio or video calls with your family, friends or colleagues, all you have to do is:
- Swipe down on the notifications and control centre tab. Android mobiles swipe down and iOS ones swipe up.
- Locate the Bluetooth function and click on it to switch it on.
- A screen will pop-up with a list of nearby devices that have Bluetooth technology. Locate the device you want to connect to and click on it to prompt the pairing.
- Some devices will require a one-time pairing authorisation command, so keep an eye out for that.
- Should the device require authorisation, simply allow the pairing to be performed and wait a moment for the connection to be established.
And that is all.
The Last Word
In the end it comes to what technology suits you the best. Wi-fi delivers more stable connections and a larger radius, but it requires an active internet connection. Bluetooth headphones do not require an active internet connection but have a smaller radius of activity.
Both devices will probably deliver the same quality of audio, at least the ones in the same tier. Wi-fi headphones take longer to connect to output devices but only for the first time, while Bluetooth headphones are faster to connect but will prompt a pairing most of the time.
Check which technology suits you better and go shopping for your new headphones.