Headphones come in different types but fall into four major designs, i.e., Over-ear, On-ear. In-ear, and Earbuds. All these have pros and cons, affecting their sound quality, comfort, noise isolation, sound leakage, and portability. Choosing a design that works best depends on your preferences and listening habits.
Which headphone design should you get? In this post, I analyzed these four headphone designs to help you make an informed decision. Enjoy. You can also read through our headphone buying guide.
Here are the Four Different Types of Headphone Designs
Over-Ear Headphones
Over headphones, also known as full-size, around-the-ear, or circumaural headphones, are one of the popular headphone designs among audiophiles and audio enthusiasts like me.
The over-ear design is adorned by some of the best audiophile headphones like the Sennheiser HD820, Focal Utopia, and Meze Audio Empyrean.
Here are The Huge Earpads of The Audeze LCD-X
You can identify over-ear headphones by their big and clunky designs, covering the whole ear when worn. They provide better comfort and seal compared to on-ear headphones or earbuds. Because of their sheer size, over-ear headphones can accommodate features like noise cancellation for improved noise isolation.
The sound quality is usually better with over-ear headphones compared to on-ear headphones. A bigger design usually translates to a better sound (Not always), and their comfortable designs give an immersive listening experience.
On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones, also called on-the-ear or supra-aural headphones, are the ones that sit directly on your earlobes.
Because they sit directly on the ear, their size is smaller than over-ear headphones. This makes them more versatile and portable, best for casual listeners, DJs, and people on the move.
Grado SR80 On-Ear Headphones
The comfort of supra-aural headphones depends mainly on the model in question. However, high clamping pressure is needed to keep them firm on your head. Because of this, they become uncomfortable after a while, and you might experience soreness on your earlobes.
The sound quality of on-ear headphones is best for casual listening. However, some audiophile on-ear headphones, like Grado headphones, offer good sound. Lack of a proper seal also means less noise isolation, and thus noise will interfere with your listening experience. On the plus side, these are great for situational awareness when using busy streets.
In-Ear Headphones – Earbuds vs. In-Ear Monitors
In-ear headphones, also known as earbuds, in-ear monitors (IEMs) or Intra-aural headphones, are a professional-grade version of what most people call earbuds or earphones.
In-Ear Monitors
IEMs are used mainly by musicians and music band members, audio engineers, and audiophiles. Musicians and band members use IEMs to hear a personal mix of vocals or instruments while on stage. TV broadcasters also use IEMs to receive instructions, breaking news, and other announcements.
Here is The TIN Audio T2 In-Ear Monitors
The comfort of iems mainly depends on the fit inside the ear canal. Universal IEMs do not offer a customized fit, and each will fit every user differently. Custom In-Ear Monitors (CIEMs) are the best for comfort. An audiologist takes ear impressions to create the earpieces so they fit perfectly.
The quality of sound reproduction from IEMs is better than that of earbuds. A good ear canal seal by IEM tips guarantees any headphone design’s best passive noise isolation. The overall sound can be less spacious because of the small drivers. Some of the best IEMs include Shure SE-846 and the Noble Audio Khan. For cheaper options, check out the Shure 215, Tin Audio T2, and Sennheiser IE 40 PRO.
Earbuds
Earbuds are also in-ear headphones, but they rest on the concha instead of going into the ear canal.
They are great if you love the ultra-portable design of in-ear headphones but find the IEM fit uncomfortable. Some of the best earbuds include the Apple Airpods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4, and the cheapest one of all, Venture Electronics VE MONK Plus.
iPod Earbuds
Earbuds might include ear tips, but most don’t feature ear tips in the design. This greatly affects the comfort, and they might hurt from extensive usage. Because some lack ear tips, they are prone to falling off. Manufacturers include ‘wings’ in their designs to offer extra support.
The sound quality of earbuds is dependent on the model in question. Noise isolation is average because they do not seal the ear canal; thus, ambient noise will interfere with what you’re listening to. They are good if you want situational awareness while walking or softly working out.
Read about the differences of IEMs vs Earbuds.
Over-Ear vs. On-Ear vs. In-Ear vs. Earbuds
Sound Quality
Different headphones’ sound quality depends mainly on the price and model. This means a pair of headphones’ sound quality will improve as you climb the ladder or choose a model built for sound instead of famous branding.
The Venture Electronics VE MONK Plus earbud is one of the cheapest and boasts audiophile quality sound. They lack isolation, but you'll be in for a surprise because of their excellent sound.
A good pair of in-ear headphones can sound better than a mediocre pair of on-ear headphones, and vice versa. A good example is most beats headphones cannot compare to a cheaper pair of earbuds like the Venture Electronics VE MONK Plus in terms of sound quality.
Comfort
Comfort is one feature that provides a pleasant listening experience when using headphones. Uncomfortable headphones can cause soreness or pain over time.
Over-ear headphones are mostly one of the most comfortable headphone designs around. They have large earcups that are ear to wear and envelope the ears without causing pain. IEMs apply pressure on the ear canal to maintain the best isolation; thus, they get uncomfortable over time.
On-ear headphones are not bulky, but their clamping pressure is high to maintain a stable fit on the head. Earbuds are not very uncomfortable like IEMs, so they are great alternatives if you have sensitive ears.
Noise Isolation
This is the ability to isolate yourself from the outside world by blocking out or canceling ambient noise from seeping into your audio. Passive noise isolation blocks noise using the headphone structure, while active noise cancellation (ANC) uses circuitry inside the headphone.
IEMs are the best at offering the best passive noise isolation scores because they seal the ear canal entirely. Over-ear headphones come at second best by blocking out a decent amount of ambient noise. However, using active noise cancellation circuity in over-ear headphones improves noise isolation. The efficiency in blocking out noise using ANC is dependent on the manufacturer.
Sound Leakage
Sound leakage is the sound that escapes from the headphone when the seal of the earcups, earbuds, or ear tips is incomplete. Leakage depends on a pair of headphones’ ability to create a perfect seal.
IEMs are least likely to leak out sound because of the perfect fit they create inside the ear canal. Over-ears are great, but the seal can be affected by the material of the earpads. On-ear headphones might have better leakage, but it depends on the model. Earbuds do not create a complete seal and are prone to leakage.
Sound leakage can also be affected by the size of the headphone driver. A bigger headphone driver means more volume and, therefore, more sound leakage.
Portability
The portability of a headphone is the ease of transporting the headphones around. A portable design takes less space or has various easy carrying options for transportation, such as cases or pouches.
IEMs and earbuds are the most portable types of headphones around. They can fit inside your shirt pocket or even a small pouch. Over-ear headphones are bulky in design and weight, making them harder to transport. However, some manufacturers include secure storage boxes for transportation. On-ear headphones come in different sizes, but they are effortless to carry. Some even fold into compact sizes, which help move them around.
