What are the best headphones for you? It really depends on your needs. For example, do you need noise-canceling headphones to block out background sound? Or are you looking for a lightweight, budget option? If so, maybe earbuds are best for you.
All of these questions can be answered, but to make it a little easier, we’ve gathered a few of the most popular options and looked at them head-to-head.
In this article, we’ll compare 3 popular types of headphones: Over-Ear, In-Ear and In The Ear. Because they’re all pretty different from each other it’s going to be an intense comparison that will have you rethinking your next headphone purchase.
In addition to knowing what your personal needs are, understanding the anatomy of a headphone is key.
Table of Contents
A Comparison on Kinds of Headphones
Choosing the right kind of headphones is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your ears are protected. But, which one should you buy? There are so many types to choose from!
We’ll explore all your options, compare them side-by-side, explore what they’re perfect for, and give you some helpful advice on which ones are best for your lifestyle. We will also list some reviews (only affiliate links) for each type of headphones as well as a short buying guide.
1. Condenser Headphones
As is obvious from its name, these headphones are best used in the studio recording. They are best suited for professional applications, but can also be used by audiophiles at home. These headphones generally have a large diaphragm and operate with a small current. This makes them very sensitive though. They are usually built to fit snugly around the ear and the head, and they may even cover one or both ears. They also leak a lot of sounds, so isolation is their greatest concern.
2. In-Ear Headphones
This is a popular type of headphone that has a very small speaker that fits into your ear. There are many options available, but the best ones have a noise-canceling feature to improve the quality of the sound. They come in different sizes to cater to different people, and they can cost anywhere from $10 to $500 or more. In this article, we will take a look at the price range and what features they have.
Basically, headphones are a device that you wear over your ears and over your head to improve the quality of the sound. Although they make a digital audio signal available to an attached device(s), they don’t allow you to hear sound from the outside world. They also protect your ear from external noise pollution.
5 Types Of Headphones Compared & Explored
1. Bluetooth Headphones
Bluetooth headphones are a wireless audio technology that connects wirelessly with your Bluetooth device to provide audio. They are less complicated than traditional wired headphones and make it simple to walk around with your music without getting tangled up or strangling on wires.
Pros:
- Bluetooth headphones are a great way to enjoy your music while also freeing yourself from the constraints of cords
- They make wearing earphones while running or working out much more enjoyable.
- No cord means no longer having to worry about accidentally pulling your smartphone out of your pocket and destroying it
Cons:
- Bluetooth headphone users may experience a decreased volume level, a poor audio connection, or a weak signal.
- In rare cases, some Bluetooth headphones have been known to stop working even when new batteries are inserted.
2. Over Ear Headphones
When you are walking, riding a bike, or just listening to your favorite music in your room, an important issue can arise when wearing headphones. The issue is that if someone else is walking by it can be quite uncomfortable for them. Additionally, when you walk in public without playing music it can be quite annoying for others around you.
Pros:
- More natural sound because you’re not blocking outside noise
- Better, more accurate sound
Cons:
- Some brands of these headphones advertise the “sound quality” but what they don’t say is that these claims are not actually true.
- These headphones might sound good, but other brands sound much better.
3. In Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. Some people prefer the traditional, foam earbuds that come with iPhones, while others may choose the high-quality silicone earbuds. Some enjoy so-called “ear hooks” that wrap around the outside of your ears to keep them from falling out. Others want to totally immerse themselves in their music by going for noise-blocking headphones or stylish earbuds with a microphone/remote for hands-free communication on their smartphone.
Pros:
- Reduce outside noise
- Switched to a different sound without fiddling with other settings
- Provide better audio quality than headphones with built-in speakers
- Can be used in combination with other devices, such as an iPhone or tablet
Cons:
- They’re not noise cancelling
- They’re wired and bulky
- Sound is often distorted and flat
- Can cause ear pain and electronic hearing loss
4. Noise Cancelling Headphones
The first thing to know about noise-canceling headphones is what the term actually means. Sometimes called active noise reduction or ANC, this technology uses miniature microphones on the inside of the ear cups to monitor ambient sounds. The mic system then creates equal but opposite sound waves that cancel out most outside sounds.
Pros:
- Noise cancelling headphones can reduce or eliminate up to 99% of background noise, making them a great option for people who need to concentrate
- There are a variety of brands and models on the market, including many from reputable companies such as Audio-Technica, Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser
Cons:
- They’re not cheap
- They won’t cancel all noise, at least not completely
5. Closed Back Headphones
Closed-back headphones, also known as circumaural headphones, isolate the air in the ear cups from the outside noise. They are particularly good for listening to music or watching a movie without disturbing anyone around you. They come in a range of price points and sizes and there are many brands available across the market.
Pros:
- Better noise isolation.
- More natural sounding audio.
- Less chance of outside noise and interference.
Cons:
- Can be uncomfortable for some people.
- May not satisfy those who like listening to music with lyrics or those who like a wider range of sounds such as bass, treble, etc.
- Soundstage is sometimes narrowed…
Conclusion
Headphones offer many different options for you to choose from, whether it’s the noise-canceling capabilities that are essential for many commuters or the Bluetooth capability that can connect two wireless headphones together.
If you prioritize sound quality over any other features – such as cheap noise cancellation headphones – then an over-ear is your best bet. If your priority is comfort, then earbuds will fit better than on-ear headphones and if battery life is a top priority then Bluetooth is your best option.
FAQ:
Q: Which type of headphones are the best?
A: – Wireless: Usually have lower sound quality than similarly priced wired headphones. – Color and Style: If you don’t like the way your headphones look, it’s not going matter how they sound if you never wear them. … – Noise-cancelling: If you fly often you might want to have active noise-cancelling headphones that will cancel out background noise. …
Q: What are the best brands of wireless headphones?
A: Angry. Founded in 1964,the company has always been based in the US state of Massachusetts. … Sony. … Sennheiser. … Audio-Technica. … Beyerdynamic. … JBL Headphones. … Beats by Dr. … Jaybird Headphones. … Jabra. … Skullcandy. …
Q: What are the top 10 headphones?
A: Headphone Deals. The 1More ColorBuds ( 8/10,WIRED Recommends) are excellent earbuds for under$100,and they’re an even sweeter deal now. Game Deals. We’re only a month away from October so it’s only appropriate to stock up on spooky,scary games for All Hallows’ Eve. Home Deals. … Self-Care Deals. … More Great WIRED Stories. …
Q: What are the different types of headphones?
A: Earbuds Headphones. These are simply called as Earbuds. … In-ear Headphones. In-ear Headphones are its peak of popularity…These types of headphones offer excellent price-to-performance ratio… On-Ear Headphones. … Over-the-Ear Headphones. … In-Ear-Canal Headphones. … Wireless Headphones. …