Why Earphones Are More Popular than Ever
Earphones and headphones are two different audio listening devices. They are commonly used and have several advantages and disadvantages. Both devices can be used while doing other activities such as exercising, working, or playing. In this article, we will explore headphones and earphones.
Earphone vs Headphone
Earphones and headphones have one important commonality. They both provide privacy to the listener. Whether you are watching a movie, listening to songs or on speaker phone, both listening devices prevent surrounding people from listening in. Earphones do not cancel out surrounding noise, while headphones do. Earphones are worn in the ear while headphones are worn over the ear. Earphones are lightweight and small. Headphones are larger in size and are somewhat heavier. Ear health is important. Headphones are healthier for the ear than earphones.
Types of Earphones
Wireless and wired earphones are the two different types to choose from.
Wireless earphones
Wireless earphones are lightweight and not connected to a wire. Rather, they are connected to your device via Bluetooth. If the device has a high Bluetooth range, the listener is not required to carry their device with them all the time. Ear pods and neckband earphones are two different wireless earphone options.
Ear pods
Ear pods are two small speakers which are separate and not connected by a wire. They are easy to transport and are generally comfortable to use. Ear pods must be charged in order to function. A charging case is used to charge the ear pods. Air Pods come with a charging case. Connected by Bluetooth, the mic is provided for speaking purposes. Also, pause and auto play functionalities are available. Some ear pods are waterproof. Apple, Bose, RHA, Sony, and Boat are all common brands of ear pods.
Neckband earphones
Neckband earphones are two speakers connected through a wire. The wire comes from the back of the user’s neck which is why they are considered neckband earphones. They are also worn in-ear and are connected to a device via Bluetooth. Neckband earphones are lightweight, easy to care for and relatively comfortable. They require charging and therefore a charging slot is built in. Also, neckband earphones include a mic and have auto play and pause options. Common neckband earphones include Boat, One plus, Sony, JBL, Realme, Boult, Bang and Olufsen, Jabra, and Bose. Every brand varies in price.
Wired earphones
Wired earphones differ from wireless because they are connected by a wire. They are worn in the ear and do not require charging in order to function. The earphone cord is connected to the device and should be handled with care. Some popular brands of wired earphones are Boat, One Plus, Sony, JBL, and Realme. Just like wireless earphones, wired earphone prices vary.
Types of Headphones
There are also both wireless and wired headphones types to choose from.
Wireless headphones
Wireless headphones are connected to a device via Bluetooth. The headphones have two larger speakers which are connected by a fiber or a plastic rounded belt. They are heavyweight compared to earphones. Wireless headphones require charging. A charging slot and adapter cord are included to charge the headphones. Playback time in hours is displayed after full charging. The pause and autoplay functionality are available in these headphones. Some headphones provide the slot for sd cards, on-off buttons, and FM also. Wireless headphones include a mic. Some popular brands of headphones are Boat, Infinity, Leaf Bass, and Garbo Labs.
Wired headphones
Wired headphones are connected to a device through a wire. The user must handle the device with care. There is no need to charge it and it also has a mic. The price of it varies according to the brand. Some popular brands of wired headphones are Boat, HP, Sony, Philips, Abyss, Bose, Faro, and Hosa Technology.
Over the Ear vs In-Ear Headphones
There are a variety of headphones to choose from. Over the ear or in the ear headphones are the most popular options.
Over the ear headphones
Over the ear headphones are exactly what they imply and sit on top of your ears. Some key advantages of over the ear headphones include sound quality, comfort, and sound isolation.
Sound quality
There are many cheap, flimsy over the ear headphones available. However, good sound quality over the ear headphones are an investment. You can easily find great quality over the ear headphones for $200 or in that range.
Comfort
Over the ear headphones tend to be the most comfortable. This is because full size headphones can pinch down on your ears if they are worn for long periods of time and cause your ears to get hot. In-ear headphones are not always the most comfortable because they can get stuck in your ears or become uncomfortable after extended use.
Sound isolation
Over the ear headphones have relatively good sound isolation. They can block out more outside noises than even the absolute best in ear headphones can. Noise canceling headphones can easily shut out all outside distractions.
One downside to over the ear headphones is that they are not as portable as in ear headphones.
In-ear headphones
In-ear headphones have become a very popular option because of their size. Some key advantages of in-ear headphones are portability, convenience, and affordability.
Portability
In-ear headphones are the most portable headphone options on the market. If you are looking for something to easily store, in-ear headphones do not take up much space at all.
Convenience
In-ear headphones are also convenient because of their small size and portability. Some other helpful features of in-ear headphones is that they are wireless and waterproof. This gives you the option to swim or shower with in-ear headphones.
Affordability
Affordability is the last benefit of in-ear headphones. They are generally the cheapest on the market. However, high end in-ear headphones cannot compare to a high end over the ear headphones. If you are not looking for high quality sound, in-ear headphones are an acceptable option.
Finally, like with anything, choosing the right headphones is an individually based decision. It all depends on how you use them and what features matter the most to you.