In-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones: these are the differences

When you buy headphones, you have a wide range of models and styles to choose from. The first question you have to ask yourself: in-ear, on-ear or over-ear? In this practical tip, we will show you what the main differences between these three types are.

Over-ear headphones: these are the advantages and disadvantages

Over-ear headphones are headphones in the form of a temple, in which the ear cup is completely enclosed. The upholstery is designed accordingly large.

• Placement: Since the ears are completely enclosed, the headphones seal outside noise very well and at the same time offer a lot of space for sound development.
• Transport: The disadvantage of this design is its size. The large ear cups make the headphones quite heavy and unwieldy. Especially if you want to use the headphones on the go, you should carefully consider whether over-ears are the right choice for you.
• Fit: Since these models are usually worn over longer periods of time, a comfortable fit is particularly important here. In addition to the size of the ear cup, the quality of the silicone or foam pads also plays an important role.
• Health: In hot environments, the headphones can cause sweating. Due to the closed system, the air can hardly circulate in the ears and it becomes uncomfortably warm.
• Technical data: Over-ear models generally stand for particularly good sound quality. There are a variety of models for different needs. Over-ears are used both in studios and for private use. The larger 6.35mm jack plug is often used here
• Conclusion: Over-ear headphones are suitable for demanding music enjoyment or for the neighbor-friendly home cinema. For gamers, headset variants with surround sound are particularly interesting. Test the fit of the headphones in the store beforehand if possible.

Buy on-ear headphones: this should be noted

On Ears are also temple headphones. In contrast to the over ear, the ear is not completely enclosed. Instead, the pads are on your ears.

• Placement: On-Ears should not be confused with Over-Ears, which not only rest on the ears, but also completely surround them. This means that the on-ears shield less outside noise than in-ears. Since the headphones are further away from the inner ear, they also allow more background noise. Exactly how much varies from model to model.
• Transport: On-Ears are lighter and significantly easier to transport than Over-Ears.
• Fit: You don't feel any foreign objects in the ear with the on-ears, as with the in-ears. The on-ears sit on your ear and hold by headband or neckband. The comfort of these headphones is often higher than that of in-ears.
• Health: On-ears are considered less harmful to health. This is mainly because they are further away from the eardrum. Nevertheless, it also applies here that anything over 85 decibels can damage the ear. However, the EU guidelines apply to MP3 players for the German market, which is why limits must not be exceeded. This is different, for example, in the USA, where up to 110 decibels can sometimes be reached.
• Technical data: Unlike in-ears, on-ears are generally open systems. This means that pressure equalization can take place, which in turn ensures a better spatial sound. With half-open headphones, both principles are mixed. This means that an attempt is made to achieve the best spatial sound and at the same time to provide more shielded acoustics.
• Conclusion: On-Ears are suitable for everyone who wants to avoid the foreign body in the ear. You can also wear these types of headphones for several hours without feeling uncomfortable. In addition, you achieve a good spatial sound, which is particularly useful depending on the area of ​​application. In addition, on-ears are considered to be less harmful to health, which speaks for them.

In-ear headphones: the music in your ear

As the name suggests, in-ear headphones are headphones that you can place directly in the ear.

• Placement: The in-ears insert into your ear and then benefit from a more shielded sound. This is because the in-ears hardly allow outside noise. You can therefore enjoy music clearly undisturbed.
• Transport: In-ears are not bulky and can be easily stowed in your pocket. However, the filigree cables often have kinks and breaks. It is therefore advisable to transport the headphones in a separate box.
• Fit: You can feel the in-ears in your ear, which can be annoying, especially when worn for long periods. For this reason, you should make sure that the manufacturers supply different size attachments. So you can adjust the in-ears to your ear and ensure a more comfortable fit. If you want an exact fit, you can also have so-called earmoulds made, which are optimized for your ear and ensure a better fit.
• Health: In-ears are much closer to the eardrum, which is why doctors classify them as more dangerous. The sound hits the eardrum directly and cannot escape. This puts a strain on the ears when the music is heard loud and for a particularly long time.
• Technical data: Due to the placement, well-fitting in-ears reproduce the bass perfectly. This is because the space between the eardrum and the membrane is very small and can be considered closed. However, this is only the case when the headphones are properly seated, which cannot always be achieved due to the fit. If the headphones are properly seated, the volume does not have to be turned up very much, as background noise is not perceived as strongly in the closed area anyway. Conversely, this also means that outsiders do not perceive your music so strongly. However, if the in-ears are not sitting so well, this closed space does not arise and the low frequencies suffer particularly.
• Conclusion: In-Ears are suitable for everyone who wants to perceive music particularly sonorous and with little background noise. However, this is only achieved if the in-ears fit really well. In terms of health, however, these headphones are less of a concern than on-ears because they penetrate near the eardrum.

Bluetooth speakers: happy wirelessly?

In the meantime there are wireless headphones in all variants. In some situations this makes sense, but it also means more effort.

• With Bluetooth or radio headphones, you should keep an eye on the capacity of the batteries, the operating and charging times, as well as the range, depending on the intended use. Cheap models quickly reach their limits when used intensively.
• You don't have these problems with wired headphones. You should therefore consider whether the additional freedom of movement is worth it to you.