Whether it’s for music, audio books, podcast or even just for some good old peace and quiet, earbuds and headphones have been playing a big role for people to enjoy audio. Through constant innovation and technology updates, there are lots of different types of earbuds available in the market, each model offering unique features, fit and design.
If you are looking for earbuds who offer improved sound quality, or who have an ergonomic fit, there are several types of earbuds that can offer a wide range of options for audio lovers. In this article, we will be featuring types of earbuds along with its specific fit. Hopefully, this will guide you in making an informed decision on your next earbuds purchase.
Table of Contents
- Types of Earbuds: Wired vs Wireless
- Wired Types of Earbuds
- Wireless Types of Earbuds
- Headphones Vs. Earbuds
- Types of Earbuds and Headphones- Fit
- Types of Earbuds – Design
- Types of Earbuds – In Ear
- Noise Cancelling Types of Earbuds
- Sports Types of Earbuds
- Types of Earbuds – Microphone, Safe Volume Limiting
- Choosing Among The Types of Earbuds
Types of Earbuds: Wired vs Wireless
The primary factor that a consumer needs to consider when browsing through the types of earbuds is whether he or she needs a pair with wire or if it’s more fitting to go wireless. Choosing between wired or wireless is a personal decision based on individual preferences and can make or break the experience of a listener.
Wired types of earbuds have a basic characteristic and that is they need to use a standard wire to be able to connect to any audio device such as a mobile phone, computer, MP3 player or laptop. The benefit of using wired types of earbuds is that they do not need batteries nor do they need an external power source to be up and running. Wired types of earbuds also belong to products that do not need charging.
Meanwhile, wireless types of earbuds are working through Bluetooth technology, digitally transmitting and encoding audio over a small distance, like from mobile phones or a laptop to your earbuds. Types of earbuds that are working via Bluetooth technology is very common nowadays. These types of earbuds are also more preferred by people who are frequenting fitness studios to exercise so they can forget about annoying wires and cable putting on some weight on their neck.
In terms of syncing, wireless types of earbuds have a pretty straightforward setting, easily connecting or pairing with devices that have built-in Bluetooth compatibility. Bluetooth enabled types of earbuds can also have noise cancellation applications as well.
It is worth noting that wireless types of earbuds may still have a wire running or connecting both buds or headphones. If you are really looking for wireless and wearable types of earbuds, you can research specific models that provide individual or separate units for both ears.
For wireless types of headphones to provide optimum performance, they need to have fully charged batteries or a separate power source. Fortunately, manufacturers have already developed most wireless types of earbuds to come with portable charging cases so that users can still listen to music even through long periods of travel, commute or running. There are also wireless types of earbuds that have a portable design yet actually offer powerful charging cases that can be charged themselves to store power that can be transferred to the earbud anytime.
If you don’t consider yourself to be a techie or you end up being confused when it comes to choosing among the types of earbuds or headphones fit for you, the differentiation below may be a big help:
Basically, a headphone links two earphones together with a band or a wire. The band rests on the head while the earphones are designed to cover the ears. Many consumers prefer headphones over any other types of earbuds because the former can block all kinds of external and ambient sounds so that a listener can enjoy music without being interrupted by external noise. However, one disadvantage of headphones is that it is not really that comfortable to use while exercising. This is where the different types of earbuds enter the scene and provide a much more comfortable and wireless alternative for people who live an active lifestyle. Additionally, headphones are also bulkier than most types of earbuds so it is not advisable to go on an outdoor adventure using wired headphones.
Meanwhile, earbuds are designed to be inserted in the ears. Most types of earbuds are significantly lighter than headphones and since they are lightweight, they are also easier to carry around. Depending on your lifestyle and daily activities, both headphones and earbuds can be very convenient and can bring your listening experience to a whole new level. Just make sure that you review the product specifications and features carefully so that you can maximize the full potential of whatever types of earbuds or headphones you choose to use.
Types of Earbuds and Headphones- Fit
Types of earbuds can also depend on the types of fits and comfort. People’s heads and ears come in different and unique shapes and sizes, which is why shopping for certain types of earbuds is really a personal choice and preference.
To accommodate different ergonomic and sound quality requirements, both models come in several different designs forms. Certain models are focused on providing better audio quality while others are more concerned with overall fit and comfort.
Types of earbuds can be categorized based on how they fit – on-ear, over-ear and open-ear. You don’t really need to be sound engineers or expert to recognize the types of earbuds based on fit; based on their descriptive names, it’s pretty clear to see how they are designed to be worn. However, let’s take a closer look with each fit for you to familiarize the types of earbuds better.
On-ear types of earbuds or headphones have cushions that are positioned on top of the outer ear. These types of earbuds are known to deliver good sound quality performance but lack a little bit when it comes to bass. This is mainly due to its lower bass response frequency setting compared to other types of earbuds in the market.
On-ear types of earbuds or headphones can not completely isolate external noise and sounds because they are literally sitting on top of the ears. If you are not a fan of being able to hear external sounds in your environments while listening to your music or playlist, you may want to skip the on-ear types of earbuds and look for headphones that have better noise cancelling features.
The design of over-ear types of earbuds or headphones are pretty much on the same page with that of on-ear types of earbuds. Based on its name, the cushioned cups cover the entire ear, and you may come across a page or citation referring to it as “around ear” or “full size” types of earbuds or headphones.
Over-ear types of earbuds are able to wrap the entire ear with its cushioned earcups, perfect if you prefer to be swimming in your own music and not hear external noises. The noise reduction and sound quality are much better than on-ear types of earbuds. The noise cancelling feature of over-ear types of earbuds or headphones are also better compared to the on-ear types.
If you are the type of consumer who constantly monitors designs of the products that you intend to purchase, you would definitely notice that the design of open ear types of earbuds are much different than the on-ear and over-ear types of earbuds.
Open-ear types of earbuds don’t cover the ears at all. Instead, it uses bone conduction technology, a special form of technology that is designed to bypass the eardrum by transmitting the vibrations through the bone into the inner ear.
Earbuds are considered to be smaller forms of headphones and are also available in different designs, functions and varieties. That being said, most types of earbuds sit directly in the ear canal. There are also types of earbuds that come with a band that may be worn around the neck or sits up behind the ears.
Earbuds that consist of small drivers placed at the opening of the ear canal are the most common types of earbuds being used today. Standard earbuds provide less reliability and noise isolation but they come with a very affordable price tag.
In-ear types of earbuds, also known as in-ear headphones or in-ear monitors (IEMs) are quite similar to standard earbuds but the difference is that it can provide better noise isolation and sound quality. In-ear types of earbuds fit snugly in the ear canal which is why they can create improved noise reduction and audio performance. In-ear types of earbuds are usually designed with rubber tips and soft foam for added comfort. Professional-grade in-ear types of earbuds are easier to fit and mold into the ears, providing more comfort that any other types of earbuds in the market.
Noise Cancelling Types of Earbuds
There’s a certain kind of peace people seem to get when listening to their own music without hearing external sounds. If you are one of those people who want to enjoy stereo quality sound or studio quality audio, noise cancelling types of earbuds are a decent choice.
Noise cancelling types of earbuds gives off an opposite sound wave to counter the external noises of the outside world. If you want a pair of effective noise cancelling headphones, it would be best to choose over-ear types of earbuds or headphones because they are known to offer better noise reduction and noise isolation than standard types of earbuds or in-ear types of earbuds.
If you live an active or sporty lifestyle, then a pair of sporty earbuds may just be the perfect product for you. Sporty types of earbuds are usually sweatproof, waterproof and have a stable fit that can be used during active sessions.
Types of Earbuds – Microphone, Safe Volume Limiting
There are also types of earbuds that come with a microphone that allows a user to make calls on the go. There are also types of earbuds that come with a safe audio limit to ensure that the hearing health is protected from loud, harmful decibels. The safe audio limit feature is especially important for kids because hearing health of youngsters are quite sensitive and damages acquired at a young age can cause lifetime damages.
Choosing Among The Types of Earbuds
There are so many types of earbuds available in the market today and it may get quite overwhelming if you were to choose one, especially if you are not so well versed on the techie side. That being said, below are some of the factors you need to check out when choosing among the types of earbuds to purchase:
Frequency Response Most types of earbuds provide a frequency rage of 20 to 20,000 Hz. Earbuds that are marketed to work within a lower frequency range are known to give a rich, bass quality so if you’re a fan of bass centered sound, make sure to check this out.
Impedance is the power that makes the earbuds work and it is usually measured in Ohms. The ideal impedance for any types of earbuds is below 500 Ohms.
Weight The lightweight quality of most types of earbuds is what most consumers prefer over headphones. No matter how lightweight a headphone may be marketed, the bottom line is, most types of earbuds will still end up to be lighter than any pair of headphones.
Comfort Most types of earbuds are designed to be worn inside the ear, hence, it is highly important that you check out its comfort factor. Wearing an uncomfortable pair of earbuds can be really annoying and simply a waste of money.
Mono Vs. Stereo Types of earbuds available in the market offer either mono or stereo audio. Basically, the volume in mono types of earbuds cannot be adjusted separately while stereo audio types of earbuds allows such adjustment. However, if you are an audiophile and are quite picky when it comes to flat/neutral sounds, you might be better off with a pair of audiophile headphones.
You may be asking, what is flat/neutral sound? In terms of audio lingo, neutral sound means without any emphasis while flat sound literally means having a flat frequency response. Again, if you are more particular with sound signature and want to have a full on listening experience with all the signature highs and lows of a certain audio device, you may want to skip skimming through the types of earbuds and go directly into headphones that offer a rich, professional and dynamic sound experience.
At the end of the day, there is really no one size fits all types of earbuds in the market. Choosing among the different types of earbuds in the market, a consumer must consider the design, comfort fit, microphone, call features, volume, budget, etc to ensure that the product would suit the user perfectly. If you need decent earbuds that won’t break your budget, check out our list here.
Exploring the different types of earbuds can be really fascinating, especially if you prefer devices that are portable, lightweight and comfortable. Listening to your favorite tracks while exercising, riding a train or while simply working in the office can be enjoyed with most types of earbuds. Personal listening experiences have been revolutionized thanks to the birth of several types of earbuds that come in different designs, functions and colors.