In previous chapters [1] we talked about basic headphones, which consists of three parts – Source , amplification and transducer. Now we’re going to leave the structural part of a headphone system and delve deeper into the subject of headphones.
Here we begin a new stage that will help guide you in choosing the best phone for you using some criteria that I will address in this and the next chapters. In this chapter we will talk about something that is one of the basic points when choosing a headset: The types of headphones. People prefer a certain type of headphone for several reasons, whether for comfort, portability, the type of activity that will be used or simply because they feel very uncomfortable when using a certain type.
[1] Headphone article series
There are basically four types of headphones:
earbud headphones
earbud type headphones [2] are the portable format most popular among people because of the great success of Apple’s first MP3 player, the iPod. It is undeniable that Apple collaborated to spread the headphones and portable audio in the world market. So much so that when you ask someone about an earbud and they don’t know what it is, you just say: “It’s those headphones that came with the iPod”.
[2] Article “Earbuds, alternatives for those who have not adapted to in-ears”
Earbuds are headphones made to be portable and fit in the outer part of our ear. Its rounded shape is comfortable with good foam covering its structure and many prefer it to in-ear headphones because they do not enter the ear canal.
The structure of the earbuds is very simple and the type of driver is also one of the most used in headphones, the dynamic driver. [3]which makes its price lower compared to other types of headphones.
[3] Article “What types of technologies exist in headphones”
Many may think that there are only very cheap earbuds, poorly built, poorly made and with inferior sound quality compared to other types of headphones. But that’s not quite the case, because thanks to the Asian market, there is now a good variety of earbuds from the cheapest to the high-end ones, for example, the earbud from the Japanese manufacturer Audio Technica ATH-CK2000Ti.
Examples of earbud manufacturers:
- astrotec
- Audio Technica
- Cypherus Audio
- FAEAL
- Linsoul BLD
- qianyun
- Rose Technology
- RY Earphone Store
- Sennheiser
- Ty Hi Z
- Venture Electronics
- Vido
- WillSound
- Wooeasy EMX500
- Yuin
The weakness of the earbuds [4] it is the issue of isolation from external noise, as its structure is hollow (it has openings in the housing) for better driver performance. In addition, this type of headphone does not fit well in the ear like in-ear headphones and, consequently, the person cannot practice activities that involve sudden movements. This type of headphones also has difficulties in reproducing bass, as this frequency depends a lot on the insulation of the headphones and sealing (good fit in the ear so as not to leak sound) between the headphones and the person’s ear to gain strength, impact and extension.
[4] Article “In-ears vs Earbuds: Which one is better for you?”
In-Ear Headphones (In-ears or IEMs)
In-ear headphones are currently a favorite for activities that require portability to walk and carry anywhere. What made them a popular format was the passive isolation of external noise due to the insertion of part of the structure inside the auditory canal of the person’s ear using, for example, silicone structures (silicone tips, rubbers, eartips) for more comfort and molding to the ear canal [5].
[5] Article “What are ear tips and ear pads? Where are they used?”
In-ear headphones date back to the late 19th century, when Thomas Edison connected the stethoscope-like ear tubes to a phonograph. The first patent for headphones dates back to 1891, when French electrical engineer Ernest Jules Pierre Mercadier designed the “bi-telephone” for communications use. Headphone technology improved over the next 90 years, with most developments going into hearing aids and other devices. But it wasn’t until the 1980s, after the launch of the Walkman, that the headphones we know today began to evolve.
In the Brazilian market, we find many uncomfortable in-ear headphones and, because of this, many headphone users end up having a preconception with this type of headphone. As the headphone market in our country is very restricted and not widespread, with little variety in stores to try and few options on websites to buy, this view is totally understandable. However, if the person searches the internet for this type of phone a little deeper, he will discover that there is a variety of headphones of this format much, much greater than he imagined! And consequently and naturally you will see that there are more elaborate in-ear headphone designs, with higher quality materials, with greater ergonomics (more comfort), better fitting (to obtain greater sealing and fixation) and with removable cable (possibility of exchanging for another cable when it breaks, change it for a lighter and more comfortable cable).
Within the type of in-ear headphones, we still have subdivisions. Are they:
Universal in-ear headphones (with silicone eartips)
Custom in-ear headphones (they have the shape of the person’s ear canal, where the person takes the mold of his ear and sends it to the manufacturer’s laboratory for the headphone to be manufactured)
Wireless in-ear headphones (a wire connects one side of the headphones to the other, but there is no cable connecting to the music player)
True Wireless in-ear headphones (there are no wires connecting the headphones and no cables connecting the music player)
Examples of in-ear headphone manufacturers:
- 64 Audio
- Advanced Acousticwerkes (AAW)
- AKG
- Audeze
- Audio Dream (national manufacturer of custom headphones)
- Audio Technica
- Custom Badge
- beyerdynamic
- bose
- campfire audio
- Denon
- Dunu
- Earsonics
- Earsound (national manufacturer of custom headphones)
- Empire Ears
- Etymotic
- fidue
- FiiO
- final audio
- Fit Ear
- FLC Technology
- degree
- Hifiman
- iBasso
- jaybird
- JH Audio
- jomo audio
- JVC
- Kinera
- klipsch
- Noble Audio
- oriolus
- Phillips
- QDC Custom EMI
- Sennheiser
- Shure
- sony
- Ultimate Ears
- Unique Melody (Chinese manufacturer of custom headphones with representation in Brazil)
- Vision Ears
- westone
- Xtreme Ears (national manufacturer of custom headphones)
On-ears (Supra-aural) headphones
Supra-ear headphones are still portable headphones, but more cumbersome to store and carry around. People who choose these types of headphones generally want the portable characteristics of earbuds and in-ears, but at the same time want some of the benefits that circumaural headphones provide (greater comfort and soundstage).
The structure of on-ear headphones has pads (cushions) that are on top of our ear. Usually dynamic drivers are used in this type of headphones. The pads provide greater comfort for users compared to other portable types of headphones. The larger dynamic drivers (compared to in-ears and earbuds) due to the size of the headphone structure provide a greater possibility of resourcefulness in sound reproduction, but there are always exceptions to the rule, so always research well before choosing a headphone.
Supra-aural headphones also have a variation where the cups (shells) of their structure (learn more about the structures here) can be open (with grids) or closed (sealed by some material such as metal, plastic or wood, for example) [6]. Open headphones generally have a larger soundstage, greater ventilation and a more balanced sound while closed headphones generally have better isolation from external noise, more developed bass, a more “colorful” sound and a “tighter” soundstage. [7].
[6] Article “Open or closed headphones? Which is better and why?”
[7] Article “Know which sound subscription is best for you”
Best-made on-ear headphones, you can change the pads (pads) and cables (they are removable) easily and depending on the manufacturer, even other parts that make them up as well.
There are wired and wireless over-ear headphones.
Examples of over-the-ear headphone manufacturers:
- AKG
- Audio Technica
- beyerdynamic
- bose
- degree
- JVC
- Kuba Audio (domestic manufacturer)
- koss
- Sennheiser
- sony
- ultrasound
- V-Moda
Over-ear headphones (Circunaural)
Circumaural headphones are designed to provide the maximum comfort possible with the maximum performance that technology offers in terms of sound. These are headphones that are not portable due to their size and the need sometimes (not always) for dedicated amplification, which is usually done by a desktop amplifier connected to an outlet.
The over-ear headphones cover our ears with pads (cushions) making the comfort excellent. There are headphones of this type in different sizes, because here you can spend a lot of money in this regard, since they are made for non-portable use, that is, to be used at home sitting in an armchair for example. Because of this, manufacturers try their best (thinking about the ideal, it doesn’t always happen) to develop the technology of the drivers and the structure of the headphone itself to obtain a good sound response that reaches the objective they intend. That’s why there are several types of driver structures and technologies that are first developed here and then developed in miniature for portable headphones.
Headphones also have a variation where the cups (shells) of their structure (learn more about the structures here) can be open (with grids) or closed (sealed by some material like metal, plastic or wood, for example). Open headphones generally have a larger soundstage, greater ventilation and a more balanced sound while closed headphones generally have better isolation from external noise, more developed bass, a more “colorful” sound and a “tighter” sound stage.
More well-made over-ear headphones have the possibility of changing the pads (cushions) and cables (they are removable) easily and depending on the manufacturer, even other parts that compose them as well.
There are also wired and wireless circumaural headphones.
Examples of manufacturers of circumaural headphones:
- AKG
- Audeze
- Audio Technica
- Denon
- final audio
- degree
- Hifiman
- JVC
- koss
- Meze Audio
- monoprice
- mr speakers
- Phillips
- Sennheiser
- Shure
- sony
- Stax
- superlux
