Decide Between Earbuds and Headphones

To be clear, earbuds or earphones are the type of audio hardware that rest in your ear canal and are typically small and portable. Headphones on the other hand, are bigger and bulkier audio hardware that rest on or over your outer ears. It is not uncommon nowadays to see a person walking down the street listening to music using either of the devices. To some, it may be difficult to choose between the two. Both have their pros and cons. Below are tips to assist you in choosing.

Steps

Knowing the Difference

  1. Know that earbuds are the "in-ear" variety of headphone. Earbuds go by many names. They can also be referred to as "earphones", “buds”, “in-ears”, “canal phones”, or even “in-ear monitors (IEM)”. Earbuds can be wired or wireless with Bluetooth capabilities and are more commonly used with mobile devices. It is the much smaller and more portable one of the two. They are worn in the ear canal and usually, much cheaper although they generally have an inferior sound quality to that of headphones.
  2. Understand that headphones go around the ear. Headphones are the larger and bulkier of the two choices mentioned. Like earbuds, they can be wired or wireless and work with mobile devices as well as computers. Usually, they are worn over the head and on or over the ears. The "headband" supporting the two main audio output areas are typically plastic or metal sometimes padded with cloth or some other soft material. These are preferred by professionals and amateurs working with media requiring high sound quality and with DJ's.

Weighing Up Pros and Cons

  1. Consider the positive features of earbuds.
    • Portable and very light
    • Provides very good noise isolation compared to headphones (not to be confused with noise cancellation)
    • Adapts better to the wearer through customization of rubber tip size and shape
    • Generally, much cheaper compared to headphones and can be picked up from nearly anywhere
    • Option between classic wires and Bluetooth.
    • Convenient for athletes and professionals that involve excessive movement in their day to day lives.
  2. Recognize the downsides of earbuds.
    • Being smaller than earphones, they have smaller drivers, therefore lower sound quality specifically bass and treble quality.
    • More susceptible to giving less of a flat frequency (a flat frequency ensures that the signal being outputted is the same as the signal being inputted.)
    • May damage the ear more as it is inserted directly in the ear canal.
  3. Consider the positive features of headphones.
    • Headphones, being larger, have larger drivers. With this, they have better bass, treble, and sound clarity compared to earphones.
    • Headphones provide better noise cancellation (not to be confused with noise isolation)
    • Generally, headphones have better range. Good earphones can go to lower and upper limits of human hearing in terms of pitch and bass.
    • Options between classic wires and Bluetooth.
  4. Be aware of the negative side of headphones.
    • Headphones are large and bulky
    • Most headphones cost more than the average earbud
    • Headphones are easier to forge and you have to be careful where you buy them from.
    • The brands may be famous but not all the ranges are up to maybe one of their headphone's standards. Don't be swayed by brands - be swayed by reviews, critics, and your preferences by listening in person.

Making an Informed Decision

  1. Consider earbuds if you experience the following:
    • Frequent travelling/commutes
    • Frequent jogs/exercising
    • Frequent music listening, especially in public
  2. Consider headphones if you experience the following:
    • Frequent gaming
    • Professional or amateur video editing
    • Desire for flat and clear sound
  3. Do some research on the specific model you're interested in. It is recommended that you check out reviews for any model you're interested in. These will tell you a lot about the pros and cons of any specific model of earbud or headphone. If you have a hearing problem, see your doctor and ask for his recommendation on which would be better molded for your health and comfort.

Warnings

  • Turning the volume up too high can damage your eardrums so be careful with how loud you have the sound.
  • If you decide to have earbuds, be careful how far they go into your ear otherwise it may cause inner ear problems.
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