Choosing the perfect headphones is a highly individual choice. Many listeners find insert-style earphones that fit in the ear canal or earbuds that rest in the ear bowl agreeable, while they irritate others. Some users prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones, while others are put off by their size or the fact that they obstruct their glasses or jewelry. You might also want to consider getting wireless and/or noise-canceling models, depending on your needs. Use this guide to determine the type that best meets your requirements.

Headphones for Over-the-Ear

There are two types of them. Models with “closed back” ear cups have sealed ear cups, which keep more sound in and block ambient noise. However, they may filter out certain sounds that you wish to hear, such as a doorbell or a ringing phone. The ear cups of “open back” headphones feature openings in them to give the audio a crisper, more natural sensation. They let more external sound in, and noise can flow out as well, potentially disturbing someone nearby.

Headphones for On-Ear Use

These are usually lighter than over-ear models and press against the ears rather than the sides of your head. They are more comfortable than over-ear devices for certain users, and they are less prone to get their ears heated during long listening sessions. On-ear headphones, like over-ear models, come in open-back and closed-back varieties, but because they don’t establish as tight of a seal with the ear, they often let in more outside sound.

Headphones for In-Ear Use

Earbuds are located outside the ear canal, in the bowl of the ear, though a portion may extend into the canal. Earbuds have become indispensable tools for millions of individuals, and they’ve become ubiquitous companions for cellphones. Visit Addicted To Audio In-Ear-Headphones to know more.

Headphones with no wires

Wireless models, which were once considered a curiosity, have become crucial in recent years as most phone makers have abandoned the headphone jack. They have a range of capabilities, including Alexa and another digital assistant compatibility, as well as ambient sound monitoring settings, which let in noise from your environment on purpose so you can keep an eye on what’s going on around you.

Headphones with Noise Cancellation

Many headphones include a noise-isolating construction that physically muffles ambient sounds, which is known as “passive noise-canceling.” Noise-canceling models that are active go much further. These battery-powered headphones analyze the frequencies of ambient noise with small microphones, then generate those same frequencies out of phase to suppress them.

Headphones that are truly wireless

True wireless headphones are those that have no chord or cable connecting the earpieces. They’re the pinnacle of mobility, and the technology has advanced over time, resulting in better sound and more options at cheaper prices. They come with a carrying case that also serves as a charging station.