There are a couple of variations when it comes to earbuds and headphones
and we all have our own preferences. It’s best to read up on the
different kinds in order to better choose which type will best suit you.
Each type has something different to bring to the table so knowing what
the advantages of one over the other will allow you to make the most
out of a purchase.
Headphones Reviews
Normal Earbuds
Normal
earbuds are the ones that you get as stock earphones when you buy an
mp3 player or an iPod. They’re the ones that sit just outside your ear.
These are ok but they tend to leak sound when the volume is cranked up
too high. They also have little to no isolation so most people who use
these normally do so only in relatively quite places otherwise they need
to turn up the volume. These are perfect for people who don’t like
invasive earphones though
.
In-ear monitors or Canal Phones
In-ear
monitors are the ones that plug up your ears. They’re naturally great
for isolation and are the cheap alternatives to noise cancelling
headphones. They also usually have better base than most other types of
earphones provided that you’re able to create a good seal. Most in-ear
monitors also come with plugs of different sizes so it’s easy to find
one that’ll fit your ears.
Clip-on, Headband and Neckband Earphones
There
are both normal and canal versions for these. These are mainly used by
people who like to listen to music while working out. The clips/band
keeps the earphones in place while the user is exercising. They also
stabilize the wires as well so that it doesn’t get in the way.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Real
noise cancelling technology is normally only found in headphones. They
use active noise cancellation which is different from passive noise
cancellation used by canal phones. Isolation is great because outside
noise is cancelled so you’re able to listen to the music without any
interference. The problem that most audiophiles have with these types
though is that the noise cancellation technology can often offset sound
quality. There are really good ones in the market that retain good SQ
but they tend to be very expensive. If you can afford them though, noise
cancelling headphones are great for travelling.
Circum-aural Headphones
Circum-aural
headphones are the ones that fully cover your ear. They’re the really
big ones that have pads that can contain your whole ear. These normally
produce better isolation and don’t leak sound because the good seal it
creates. They can be a bit hot though because they’ll work the same way
ear muffs do. So you might start sweating if you’re in a humid or hot
area.
Supra-aural Headphones
Supra-aural Headphones
are the ones that have pads that just sit on your ears. They just clip
onto your ears so they don’t always have good isolation. These are
fairly comfortable though and won’t cause you to sweat when you use
them. Most portable headphones are supra-aural because these tend to be
smaller and lighter than circum-aural ones. These can leak some sound if
volume is cranked up too high.
Open Back Headphones
Some
full sized headphones have open back designs to create an airier and
more open sound signature. It’s not advisable to use this in public
areas because the open design will allow it to leak sound even at low
volumes. These are really only for studio and home listening. The idea
behind them is that the leak is forgivable as long as the desired sound
signature is achieved.
Headphones Noise Cancelling