Choosing between headphones and earbuds should not be hard if you want to upgrade or buy your first personal audio gear. You need to consider several factors to make sure you get the best out of your new purchase. Size, sound quality, portability, comfort, and your preferences – are some of the considerations that will influence your final decision.
In this article, I’ll share the pros and cons of headphones and earphones to help you make a better decision. For this article, headphones will collectively refer to devices that rest on the pinna. Earphones will refer to devices that go inside the pinna.
Headphones
In their simplest forms, headphones are speakers (headphone drivers) attached to a headband. Headphones, unlike earphones, are worn over or on the ear. Over headphones, also called circumaural, are large and usually cover the whole ear. On-ear headphones, also called supra-aural headphones, sit on the ear. Both on-ear and over-headphones have their advantages and disadvantages.
Audeze LCD 2 and Schiit Headphone Amplifier
Over-ear headphones include all the biggest headphones around. Over-ear headphones are better than on-ear headphones because of the larger headphone speakers, which mean more power and better sound for a good listening experience. The sound quality – from the bass to the mids and the treble response, is usually better in over-the-ear headphones. Over-ear headphones are also some of the most comfortable headphones around. However, they also have disadvantages. First, the big design makes them less portable, and they also tend to be more expensive compared to on-ear headphones and earphones.
Audeze Over-Ear Earpads
On-ear headphones sit on the ear and are more versatile and compact than over-ear headphones. They are easy to carry because they can be folded into compact designs. They are also light in weight and have a flexible design. On-ear headphones might be better than over-ear headphones, but some still offer good sound quality. The main disadvantage of supra-aural headphones is comfort. Because they sit on the ear, the pressure exerted can get uncomfortable after a while. However, the build materials and clamp still affect the headphone’s comfort.
Sony On-Ear Headphones
Earphones/Earbuds
In this article, the term earphones will refer to any in-ear headphones. Earphones might also be called earbuds, in-ear monitors (IEMs), or custom in-ear monitors (CIEMs). Earphones are small and sit either shallow into the ear pinna or some like IEMs or CIEMs deeper inside the ear.
Apple Airpods Pro Earbuds
Earbuds sit shallow in the ear pinna. They are comfortable, but they will not isolate well like IEMs. IEMs sit deep inside the ear and offer the best isolation by completely blocking the ear canal. CIEMs are IEMs that are custom molded to the shape of your ear. They require getting your ear impressions to get a custom fit. They are much more expensive, unlike IEMs or earbuds, but they offer the best comfort levels of all in-ear headphones.
Wearing Custom In-Ear Monitors
Compared to headphones, earphones tend to be the cheapest on average. These days you can even get earphones with a new smartphone.
Headphones or Earphones, Which is Better for You?
Comfort/Fit
Both headphones and earphones have their strengths and weaknesses. Comfort is largely subjective, but earphones tend to be worse than headphones. The shape of the ear canal is different among different people. Earphone manufacturers try as much to provide a universal fit that will fit most people. Unless you get a pair of CIEMs, you must use universal IEMs and earbuds. Earphones can quickly become irritating and even painful at times. However, you can lessen or eliminate the pain using a correctly sized ear tip or an earphone with short breaks.
Headphones, especially over-ear headphones, go over the ear. They cover the whole ear, which is much more comfortable than going into the ear. A plus for headphones is that they keep your ears warm during the cold season. On-ear headphones are less comfortable, but using better cushy materials like memory foam can drastically improve comfort. However, some factors, like wearing headphones with glasses, can affect headphone comfort.
Portability
Portability is one of the main reasons people turn to Earphones. They can fit into your pockets and slip easily into a small pouch or your bag without you ever worrying about the weight or size of the earphones. For working out or sports, earphones offer better flexibility and will stay put when you are running or lifting weights. There are plenty of sweat-resistant in-ear headphones you can try on the market.
Headphones are mostly best for use around your home or at the office. This is because headphones are bulky and less portable. No matter how compact they fold or whether they come with a carrying case, they could be better for portability than earphones.
Noise Isolation
A good-fitting earphone will have the best noise isolation—no ambient sound in and no sound out. The better a pair of in-ear earphones seal the ear canal, the better isolation you get. Unless you want to be aware of your environment, earphones are the way to go.
Headphones, even over-ear headphones, cannot match noise isolation from earphones. To better enhance noise blocking, headphones will employ active noise cancellation. Because they are bigger than earphones, there is more room for adding active noise-cancellation circuitry. Though some earphones come with noise cancellation, the small size limits them. Headphones are better at active noise cancellation, while earphones perform better at passive noise isolation.
Sound Quality
Earphones have been largely associated with poor audio quality. Though this is common with earphones, not all of them suck. Some earphones sound great, but these tend to be more expensive than average. Compared to earphones, headphones will deliver a rich sound. Larger drivers result in better sound reproduction across the entire audio spectrum. Everything from the lowest to the high-end frequencies is well reproduced.
Earphones, however, seem good at reproducing deep and punchy bass. This is largely because of their good seal, and they also go deeper into the ear. With headphones sitting outside your ear, it gives the music more room to breathe, which results in better virtual soundstage perception, imaging, and realistic details. This is why headphones, especially over-the-ear headphones, are preferred for critical listening.
Overall, both in-ear-earphones and headphones have their pros and cons. I find headphones better in comfort and sound quality. This makes headphones best for critical listening or in long sessions where comfort matters. Earphones offer better portability and flexibility when moving around or working out. Personal preferences should weigh in on your final decision to choose headphones or earphones.
If you’re looking for better sound quality, you can also check out our article on speakers vs headphones for an in-depth read.
