When we talk about different headphone types, we include earphones too in the same list. But these two are different, with different pros and cons. Today we will discuss the types of headphones.
By the end of this article, you will get different types of headphones. What type of headphones should you choose? Difference between headphones and earbuds. Difference between Headphone and Headset and many more.
Let's list down the four major types of headphones. Please note that headphone is a broader term.
The headphone has four Major categories
- Headphones
- Headset
- Earphone
- Earbuds
Headphone: As the name suggests, wearing speakers around your head is called headphones. It has two speakers. Each of them is placed on your Left & right ears.
These two speakers are joined together with a headband worn around the head. The headphone is a broad term that includes many sub types.
Based on the Earcup's design and fit. We can classify the headphones into four parts.
Sub-types of Headphone
- Over-ear headphones
- On-ear headphones
- Open-back headphones
- closed-back headphones
Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones
As the name suggests, over-ear headphones sit over your ears. Earcups are bigger and, overall it's heavier than on-ear headphones. Over-ear headphones have their pros & cons.
Pros
- Over-ear headphones block outside noise more effectively than On-ear headphones due to larger Earcups
- Over-ear headphones are comfortable because they don't press on your ears. So they are more suitable for longer listening sessions
- Over-ear headphones detach you from the outside noise so you can enjoy music with low volume, which better protects your ears. Because, high volume may damage your ears.
- Sound quality is better
Cons
- Over-ear headphones are bulkier than On-ear headphones
- Due to their size, they are not much portable. Difficult to fit in your travel bags
- Over-ear headphones are slightly costly compare to On-ear headphones
- Over-ear headphones aren't suitable for some places, like when you are on a heavy traffic road, you need ambient noise, which is difficult with over-ear headphones
On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones
When headphones rest on your ears, it's On-ear headphones. Earcups of on-ear headphones are smaller than over-ear headphones.
They are portable. Easy to carry. Better to use it in public places where heavy traffic is there. Let's count the pros and cons of on-ear headphones.
Pros
- On-ear headphones are portable. Easy to carry
- They are lightweight
- On-ear headphones are cheaper compared to over-ear headphones
- Over-ear headphones are better to use in public places. They allow ambient noise that keeps you aware of your envoirment around you.
- On-ear headphones are suitable for workouts and running as they are stable compared to over-ear headphones
Cons
- On-ear headphones are less comfortable as the earcups cushion press on the ears, that may hurt. It means they aren't suitable for long listening sessions
- They don't provide perfect sealing against outside noise that negatively affect your listening experience.
- The sound quality isn't as good as over-ear headphones
Open-Back Headphones Vs Closed-Back Headphones
When the drivers are closed in the earcups, it's closed-back headphones. Vice-versa, When drivers are open to the outside air, it's open-back headphones. Open-Back headphones have grills through which air can freely flow around the drivers.
People who love natural sound prefer Open-Back headphones mostly. Each of them has its pros and cons. Your purpose of using the headphones will decide the type of headphones suitable to you.
advantages of Open-Back headphones
- Excellent sound quality
- proper weight distribution
- No sweaty ears as air can freely pass through drivers
- Less listening fatigue
- Wide sound stage
- natural sound
- Freedom to use different types of drivers as per requirement
We have impressive open-back headphones like Sennheiser HD 660 S on our list. Do check if you love the airy and natural sound.
Disadvantages of Open-Back Headphones
- Open-back headphones are expensive compared to closed-Back headphones
- Poor noise isolation due to open-back design
- People near you can also hear what you are listening. That means sound leakage is an issue in open-back headphones.
- Open-Back headphones aren't suitable to use in traffic or crowdy places.
Closed-Back headphones
Closed-back headphones are the most popular type of over-ear headphones. Due to their pros and convenience, they became popular among general users. Let's list out the pros and cons of Closed-back headphones
Advantages of Closed-Back headphones
- Closed-Back headphones are widely available in different price segments.
- Closed-Back headphones are cheaper than Open-Back headphones.
- Closed-Back headphones prevent sound leakage as well as block outside noise.
- They are portable and easy to carry.
- Active noise cancellation is one of the crucial functions Closed-Back headphones can perform, Which isn't possible with Open-Back headphones.
- It can produce better Bass due to the closed chamber
Cons of Closed-Back Headphones
- Closed-Back headphones aren't breathable due to the design of the closed-Back Ear cups. Hence they aren't as comfortable as Open-Back headphones.
- Less airy and less natural sound
- They aren't ideal for sound reproduction and mixing. Professionals don't prefer closed-back headphones for music production.
- Closed-Back headphones don't produce wide soundstage
Headset
Headsets have a very similar construction to headphones with a significant difference. The headset has a microphone, which you won't get with headphones. it's suitable for Gamers as well as online communication.
The sound quality of a headset is average because its primary function is communication. Headsets can be wired or wireless. The Mic can be detachable or fixed depending on the design.
If you are a passionate gamer, you know the importance of a good headset. In the same way, if you often attend online webinars, bad headsets can spoil your day. We also reviewed a few gaming headsets like Audeze Mobius, Turtle beach elite pro 2 and HyperX cloud orbit S.
Let's talk about earphones.
We say earbuds and earphones as interchangeable terms. Though they look similar, one difference is there. Headphone that can insert into ear canals is earphones, whereas earbuds sit outside the ear canals.
Earphones have a benefit over headphones. It contains a mic and delivers a decent sound quality compared to the headset. We can say that it's a golden mean between Headphones and headsets
As we said, Earbuds and Earphones often use as interchangeably, but earphones have their pros & Cons. The same is true for earbuds.
Advantages of Earphones
- Earphones are more comfortable than earbuds because they have cushions that are absent in earbuds.
- Earphones fit more securely than earbuds
- Earphones are ok to wear for couple of hours. Earbuds aren't comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.
- The sound quality of earphones is better than earbuds.
- Earphones cancel the noise better than earbuds.
Disadvantages of earphones
- Earphones or In-ear headphones are costly compared to earbuds
- Earphones sound better than earbuds but not as good as headphones
Earbuds also consist of some advantages over earphones.
- Earbuds are cheaper than earphones
- Earbuds don't cancel out the noise completely, which is good when you are in traffic. You can't completely ignore the surrounding when you are in crowdy places.
- Earbuds are easy to operate. Many TWS earbuds can be operated with the touch of a button placed on them.
Cons
- Average sound quality & weak Bass
- They can be lost easily because they can use separately. you don't need to use both earbuds which increase the chances of loosing them
Conclusion
Your purpose is the deciding factor for buying headphones, earphones, or earbuds. We suggest you purchase headphones if
- You have long listening sessions
- You want ultimate comfort
- You don't have budget constrain
- You need premium sound quality
- You want the Best active noise cancellation
Your purpose is the deciding factor for buying headphones, earphones, or earbuds.We suggest you purchase headphones if
- You are searching headphones for running or Gym
- you want an extremely portable audio listening device
ANC headphones like Sony WH-1000 XM4 or XM5 have ambient mode. So, you can also wear them in a crowdy place. But they are expensive. And what's the point of investing heavily in premium ANC headphones if you can't utilize the ANC?
We suggest buying a headset if you are a gamer or often need to attend online webinars. Because the headset is a headphone with a microphone.
Last but not least. Earphones are the golden mean between headphones and headsets. They offer a good sound quality as well as a microphone.
Though earphones aren't as good as headphones to block noise. They do the job well if you choose the proper fit.