Headphones come in various shapes, forms, kinds, and degrees of sophistication. To be able to make the most informed purchasing decision, you want to know about the various types of headphones and what each of them entails. This is the role we have stepped in to solve.
Our aim in the proceeding conservations is to list and explain these kinds for you to see. We have identified the most outstanding and commonly used headphones and are going to explain each of them here below.
8 Types of headphones on the market
1. Closed-Back Headphones
These are completely sealed headphones. This arrangement allows the sound output to be channeled exclusively to that point they can reach the ear with ease. For this reason, they do emit music and sounds which may not be very natural.
On the flip side, they do block out sufficient amounts of background noise which in turn leads to greater sound clarity. One major downside of these headphones is that they isolate you from the ambient environment. As such, you lose touch with reality and may even get involved in an accident. They are not safe to wear while driving.
2. Open-Back Headphones
Open-back headphones are the exact opposite of their closed-back counterparts. In these headphones, the backs are open as there are no barriers between the drivers and the outside world. As a matter of fact, you can see straight through between the outside and the inside of the headphones in some models.
They do have a wider sound stage i.e. they basically allow you to hear the music and ambient sounds at the same time. They are also less bulky and easy to handle at the same time. Their sound quality is rather poor though. This is due to the fact that the real-world sound is mixed with the audio output. Also, due to the sound leak, there is no confidentiality and is hence unsuitable for use in installations that are sensitive to noise. If you prefer to hear things around you while listening, then open-back headphones will be a good choice.
3. On-Ear Headphones
Also called supra-aural, special headphones are designed to cover the entire ears. They are as such much larger than the standard earbuds. They are however smaller and more compact when compared to their over-the-ear counterparts.
When worn on the ears, they completely immerse you in the sound output and minimize the leaks. This leads to minimal interferences with those around you and is hence great for use in public places. By their sheer sizes, they are larger and bulkier to handle. You will find them quite uncomfortable when worn for long.
4. In-Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones are also called canal phones or in-ear monitors (IEMs). They are so-called because their tips are inserted in rather than over or around the ears. They channel sounds directly into the eardrums and areas pretty effectively. These kinds of earphones are compact in size and are hence suited for use on the go.
If you intend to share the earphones, you are advised against this kind of appliance. That is because they easily pick up dirt in the ears and may hence spread the germs easily. Their sound output is also not so great as compared to the other alternatives.
5. Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones are also called circus-aural. This is to means that they go over and around your ears thus enclosing them tightly. With this arrangement in mind, they do have some great bass responses. This is not to mention that they also have the largest sound stage.
These are the headphone to go for if you intend to listen to music for a prolonged duration of time. They do have a serious drawback in that they predispose your ears to sweat and some discomforts if improper padding is used to make them up. Due to their better shape and form, they are costlier and may even require some amplifiers to work well.
6. Earbuds
Earbuds are very small ‘headphones’ which are inserted into the ears. They are often wireless in nature and are used for non-invasive listening of the sound and audio output. Generally speaking, they are smaller and hence take up less space. For this reason, they are suitable for on-the-go applications and circumstances of use.
Just like their in-ear counterparts, they are not so hygienic to use as they easily spread germs when shared from one person to another. They may also pose some damage to the eardrums when worn and used for longer. You have to use them moderately.
7. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
As the name suggests, noise-canceling headphones are those that are designed to filter out background noise to deliver foreground sounds of crisp clear quality. To do this, they employ many techniques for soundproofing and blocking stray noises. The end result is deeply immersive and clear sounds.
Even though these headphones are great, they might let you lose touch with reality and even involve yourself in accidents. That is because they completely shut you out from the goings-on in your environment. You want to avoid them while on the go.
8. Bluetooth Headphones
These are special kinds of headphones that draw in signals from the source purely through Bluetooth connectivity rather than cables. This wireless nature reduces clutter and diminishes the likelihood of tripping or falling in the course of use. They are also more convenient to utilize on the whole compared to their wired counterparts.
Their major downside though is the fact that they are prone to the risks of signal interferences. This is especially when another wireless is used in their vicinity at the same time. The quality of the sound output may also be compromised.
The Final Words (Conclusion)
Having known about the different types of headphones, isn’t it now wise of you to go ahead and acquire the right one? What are you waiting for? Drag not your feet as you might have to pay more by postponing the decision to a later date.
It is also noteworthy that the manufacturers of these headphones are constantly innovating. As such, there could be newer and different kinds in circulation sooner than you think. Keep tabs on this page as we are always on the lookout for them to update you.
Hey guys …cool job, but wouldn´t it be easier for the person asking google “types of headphones” to use some pictures next to the text explaining them? just a suggestion! thx for the article !
Thanks, hope, we will explain more to our next update.