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People use headphones for a variety of reasons, so it only makes sense that there are so many different kinds available, designed in a specific way to serve a function. The problem is, there are so many options that it becomes difficult to understand which one works best for you and what you’re using the headphones for in particular.
There are a couple of factors that you need to keep in mind when picking the perfect pair of headphones. In order to be better informed in understanding audio quality, you need to do a bit of research. If you’re a DJ, for example, then there are specific headphones designed for this purpose and it’s important that you know what the features are, as opposed to headphones that you’re going to be using for online video calls for instance. This is why we’re going to give you a comprehensive list with all the pros and cons so that you’re able to make a more calculated decision when you go to buy your next pair.
Different Types of Headphones with thier Pros and Cons
On-Ear
On-ear headphones are designed to wrap around the neck comfortably and have the earphones fit into the ear, but they don’t aim to isolate the surrounding noise entirely and are wireless as well.
- Lightweight
- Wireless makes them easy to carry
- Not overbearing on the ears
- Needs to be charged to have a limit to how long you can use it
- The surround sound is not as powerful
- Let’s in noise from the surrounding environment
Over-Ear
The over-ear fits perfectly around your ears, but they offer complete sound isolation. This is because the ear cups enclose the ears in such a way that no external noise is allowed to infiltrate.
- Extremely comfortable
- Surround sound options
- Noise cancellation feature
- Heavy
- May cause a bit of sweating around the ear area
In-Ear
These kinds of headphones are one of the most commonly used as they are very convenient to use with cell phones and don’t fall out easily. As the name suggests, they fit into the ear rather than around it. While they may not provide the best sound quality available on the market, they’re certainly the best option for functionality.
- Small and easy to carry
- Perfect on the move
- Can have noise cancellation feature
- Doesn’t fall out
- If low quality can damage ears at high volume
- Sound quality not as good as other options
- May cause discomfort
Noise Cancelling
While there are plenty of headphones that offer earphones as a feature, there are actually specific headphones that are designed solely for this purpose. You’ll find that people that work within the field of sound engineering, or even just people who need absolute isolation from their surroundings go for buying these kinds of headphones. They’re definitely worth the cash because the design is impeccable.
- 100% successfully isolates external noise and sounds
- Comfortable
- Great for professional use
- Can be quite large and difficult to carry
- May not be convenient to use in public situations, especially when active
Bluetooth
Getting a pair of Bluetooth compatible headphones are all the craze now because they don’t need to have a wire and can connect to pretty much any device. There’s no compromise on the quality of sound and it gives a sense of freedom in the sense that you don’t have to think about whether the cord is long enough. You can put the device away in a bag or somewhere close within range, and move freely.
- Wireless
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Good quality sound
- Has to stay within range of the device
- Needs to be recharged
Closed Back
You’ll find that people who need to work with computer based jobs such as transcription or video calls like to use closed back headphones. This is because the earcups are completely sealed. They’re great if you need attention to detail because they completely block out outside noise and give crisp sound.
- Comfortable
- Cancels out external sounds
- Great for attention to detail
- Quite expensive
- Bulky and heavy
Open Back
With these headphones, the backs are usually open and meshed, and this is done so that a certain degree of external sounds can come in. These are convenient for people that are using their headphones outdoors and need to be aware of their surroundings, or even at home.
- High quality sound while keeping you aware of surroundings
- Comfortable
- Suitable for use outdoors
- The noise can be heard outside
- Can be bulky
Earbuds
It can be very easy to confuse in-ear headphones with earbuds, but the difference is that earbuds don’t go all the way into the ear. They rest on your ear canals and provide the sound close, but not as intensely as in-ear headphones do.
- Effective in cancelling outside sounds
- Easy to carry
- Great sound quality
- Fall out easily, so not convenient for active people
- Noise cancellation may not be suitable for driving or sports
Headphones can be categorized in so many different ways, and it’s very easy to get lost in it all. The trick here is to narrow it down by specifying the purpose of its function. If you’re going for noise cancellation, then there are either the headphones that sit over your ear or are placed inside. The same goes for those that do not cancel the noise so that you can be aware of your surroundings. If you’re using it for work and meetings online, or transcription, then you need to focus on the noise cancelling headphones with the perfect crisp sound features rather than the ones that provide a lot of bass, which will be better utilized for DJs or people who want to solely listen to music.
The important thing to remember when you’re picking out the perfect pair of headphones for you is to know exactly for what you’re buying them for, and where you’re going to be using them so that you make the right choice. If you’re going to use them for longer periods of time, then it would be wise to go for the models that sit comfortably on your ears rather than the ones that might make you sweat. Whatever your choice is, make sure that you try them out before you purchase them.
