People switching back to wired headphones: What to know

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(NewsNation) — In an age of rapidly evolving technology with Bluetooth headphones, some people have decided to go back to using wired headphones.

Just two months ago, former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on a late-night show and said she avoids Bluetooth headphones, specifically pointing out how easily they can be hacked if a person is having a sensitive discussion.

Beyond Harris' comments, wired headphones were extremely popular at one point in time and have made a comeback for several reasons, including sound quality and price.

"Thanks to a wire and its extra data-carrying ability, you don't have to worry about Bluetooth formats and dwindling sound quality and bit-rates," said Tomguide.com's Tammy Rogers. "Cheap wired headphones can often sound better than even mid-range Bluetooth options as a result."

Regarding price, wired headphones are the cheaper alternative. Wireless headphones can be costly for consumers.

"An entry-level pair of Audiophile Sennheiser headphones, like the HD 599 SE, will set you back around $229," added Rogers. "That's hundreds less than their wireless counterparts. And thanks to their open-backed design and sound quality focus, they're going to sound a lot better, too."

Do Bluetooth headphones pose health risks?

Reversals from wireless headphones to wired have also been encouraged by the possible health risks associated with wireless devices.

Research by scientists revealed wireless headphones emit a type of radiation called radiofrequency radiation. Radiofrequency radiation is a type of radiation that falls under electromagnetic radiation, which travels in waves using electric and magnetic fields.

Some have suggested this kind of radiation can put people at risk of cancer. In 2011, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radiofrequency radiation as a Class 2B Possible Human Carcinogen. Three years later, researchers found a potential association between long-term mobile phone use and glioma, a type of brain tumor.

Wireless headphones can also potentially affect male fertility and lead to hearing problems.

A review from 2018 said radiofrequency electromagnetic fields can harm sperm quality, disrupt cellular metabolism and cause oxidative stress. These factors all could contribute to infertility in people with testes.

In addition, analysis published in the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery discovered high-frequency hearing loss was remarkably more common in the dominant ear of cellphone users.