When we put on our earphones, we enter a world of our own. As Jason Mraz famously put it, “people who wear headphones while they walk are much happier, more confident, and more beautiful individuals than someone making solitary drudge work without acknowledging their interests and power.”.
Headphones are one of the most essential gadgets that we use on a daily basis. We wear them so frequently that we almost can’t do without them. When traveling, while in bed, while on the move, our earphones are always with us, just as much as our smartphones are.
Hence the need to carefully select the perfect type of earphones to experience music on a whole new level. In this article, you’ll find hints that will help you narrow down your choices and make the best decision regarding your new earphones.
Identify the Intended Purpose
Different headphones work best in different situations. What purpose will you be using your earphones for the most? Is it at the gym or at home? Will you need them for traveling, or in a completely different setting altogether? Figure that out first — your intended purpose will nudge you in the right direction.
What are The Different Types of Headphones?
Over-ear headphones: Generally, over-ear headphones such as those recently reviewed by headphonesaddict.com provide better audio quality over other types of headphones because they are made of larger casings that can hold bigger drivers which are more powerful than that of in-ear headphones.
These headphones are also incredibly comfortable as they are made with headbands and padded ear cuffs. They can produce a wide range of frequencies and bring out the natural sounds of instruments.
Over-ear headphones provide good isolation with a complete sound stage when you enclose your ears completely inside the cups. By keeping your ears inside these cups earcups, over-ear headphones can provide good isolation while allowing you to experience the full range of sounds in your music.
Listeners who want an easy-to-achieve, comfortable fit should consider going for over-ear headphones, provided that they do not care about the bulkiness. Besides, if it is essential for you to safeguard your ear, over-ear headphones are the best choice as there is a sizeable distance between the sound and your eardrums, thereby preventing sounds to penetrate them.
On-ear headphones: On-ear headphones are usually smaller, lighter, and more compact than over-ear headphones. They have smaller ear cups, with slightly less bass and rest on your ears, rather than go around them.
Like over-ear headphones, on-ear headphones offer noise cancellation, although they do not provide the same passive noise cancellation level. They are ideal for people who commute a lot. On-ear headphones also come in open and closed designs. They also permit for a more ambient sound than over-ear headphones.
Hence, listeners who want a decently comfortable fit but in a more compact format should consider choosing on-ear headphones. It is ideal for use when you’re in your office or a quiet room at your house.
In-ear headphones: In-ear headphones are often referred to as earbuds or earphones. They are the most portable types of headphones, which makes it easy for you to carry them in pockets or bags. In-ear headphones give the most passive noise isolation due to its ability to block high-frequency noise, making it possible for listeners to be isolated from the outside world.
In-ear headphones are perfect for listeners who want ultra-portable headphones and are comfortable with the in-ear fit. In-ear headphones are great for working out or doing any other activity that requires a lot of movement since they’re easily portable and are often made of water/sweat-resistant materials. They also work great in a library or inside an office.
However, due to their small size, they can’t pack the same driver as over-ear or on-ear devices. Thus they aren’t as good in terms of audio quality and power.
Furthermore, since they’re really small, the sound won’t leak as easily from in-ear headphones. The size also allows direct positioning in the ear (which makes a big difference in terms of your overall auditory experience) canal and requires less power, even at a high volume.
Conclusion
Over-ear Headphones are the perfect choice for you if you prefer comfortable headphones and don’t mind their large size. Generally, over-ear headphones leak more than other types of headphones, which could disturb people around you. However, they can also block ambient noise exceptionally well.
On-ear Headphones are ideal for people who want a comfortable, high-definition choice of headphones, but in a more compact design than over-ear headphone types. On-ear headphones do not block noise as much as over-ear headphones do, and they usually leak quite a bit of sound.
In-ear headphones are great for listeners who want an ultra-portable design, easy-to-carry and comfortable headphones, with an in-ear fit. They do not leak much sound and can block ambient noise. They are perfect for use in an office or a library, but also for running or workout sessions at the gym. Check our recommendations for the best in-ear headphones to find out more.
In summary, your choice of headphones will depend on a variety of factors such as comfortability, sound leakage, portability, noise isolation, and the sound quality you desire. Remember to always keep your own comfort and preferences in mind and not just go off the internet reviews as the ultimate authority.
