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Which Headphones Should I Buy?

In-Ear Headphones

In-ear headphones, also known as earphones, can have fantastic passive noise isolation, so long as they form a proper seal in your ear canal. This is achieved by using the right size ear tips, which most earphones included multiple sizes of. If the ear tips are too small, the earphones will rattle around in your ear, letting noise both in and out. If, on the other hand, they're too large, you won't be able to insert the earphones deep enough. This will impact sound quality, and they'll be more liable to fall out. So, be sure to try out all the different ear tips which come with your earphones.

Also, it's worth noting that earphones aren't the same as earbuds. Earbuds, like the ones Apple used to include with their iPhones, just sort of hang from your ear, offering next to no passive noise isolation. Earphones are the most portable out of all the types of headphones, especially if they're wireless, making them ideal for exercise, travel, and general pottering around.

Over-Ear Headphones

They may not be as isolating as a well-fitting pair of earphones (which effectively act as ear plugs), but by their nature over-ear headphones will still block out a lot of noise. And if you want to kick back and watch a long movie all the way through, or settle in for an all-night gaming session, over-ear headphones are probably your best bet when it comes to comfort.

Rubbing against the inside of your ears, earphones can get fatiguing after a while. Some people do not like wearing earphones for any amount of time. Over-ear headphones with soft, plush cushioning are generally more comfortable for more people. Though do keep in mind the material the headphones are made from. A fine-mesh material will be more breathable in those sweaty summer months compared to a faux-leather.

What's more, as they sit back further from your ears, over-ear headphones offer up a wider, more natural soundstage for your audio. It'll feel less like the audio is being played in the middle of your head, but rather all around it.

On-Ear Headphones

As they don't form a seal either in or over your ear, on-ear headphones exhibit weak passive noise isolation. As a result, you'll still be able to hear a lot of what's going on around you when wearing on-ear headphones, providing you don't have your music turned up too loud.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however. If you like to listen to a podcast on your walk to work, for example, on-ear headphones let you be more aware of your surrounding environment: cars, passing cyclists, and so on. In-ear and over-ear headphones can be too isolating in this regard.

However, be aware that for as easily as they let audio in, on-ear headphones just as easily leak audio out. Other people in close proximity will be able to hear what's pumping out of your on-ear headphones.

Active Noise Cancellation vs Passive Noise Isolation

If you want to completely divorce yourself from outside noise, consider a pair of headphones with active noise cancellation, rather than relying solely on passive noise isolation. Active noise cancellation, or ANC for short, can block out nearly all sound, whether it's the hum of an air conditioner, the roar of a plane engine, or chatter in a busy café.

ANC uses an array of microphones built into the headset to listen to whatever's going on around you. Then an on-board computer chip generates the inverse of this noise in the headset to actively cancel it out, hence the name.

Today's ANC technology is remarkably good, but as with any technology, there's some caveats. Enabling ANC will drain a wireless headphone's battery faster than having it off. For example, Razer rate their Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earphones for up to 18.5hrs battery life with ANC on, but 30hrs with ANC off. So, while ANC can provide some much-needed respite from a noisy environment, it's at the expense of battery. And you tend to pay a premium for ANC headphones, so you need to weigh up if it's worth it.

Headphones at Ebuyer

Here at Ebuyer, we stock a range of headphones from all the top brands, including Sony, Apple, and more.

If you want your new headphones by tomorrow, next-day delivery is available. We also offer finance packages for added flexibility. And don't forget the Ebuyer Price Match Promise - we won't be beaten on price.