Walking into a shop and seeing all those different kinds of headphones feels just like stepping into a candy store with endless colourful options. So many choices can make anyone’s head spin! Each pair looks more promising than the last. Whether you’re after the booming bass or the crystal-clear treble, there’s a perfect fit waiting. It’s a bit like hunting for that rare treasure amid a sea of possibilities. Imagine finding the one that makes every beat sound like magic in your ears! Curious? Let’s dive in and find that ideal pair together.
From classic over-ear models that surround you with rich sound to cool, true wireless earbuds that free you from wires, there’s something for everyone. Each type has its quirks, pros, and cons, which we’ll discuss.
Want to find out which headphones will be your next perfect match? Keep reading!
Different types of headphones
Before we can start to think about which type of headphones would be right for you, let’s first begin to understand the main types of headphones and how they differ from one another.
Closed-back headphones
Closed-back headphones refers to the casing on the outer part of the headphone cup that covers your ears.
When headphones send sound out through their speakers, they actually send sound waves in two different directions.
One direction is towards your ears, and the other is away from it. And, when you have closed-back headphones, much of the sound being sent away from your ear is blocked by the closed-back part of the casing. This means that this noise gets mixed back into the music you are hearing.
As a result, the music you are listening to will sound much more like it’s coming from inside your head rather than from the outside world and going into your ears.
Some people prefer this and love closed back headphones, some find it a little disorienting. But that’s just personal preference.
However, there are some other considerable upsides to closed-back headphones.
First of all, they will give you a lot more privacy and minimise ambient noise. If less noise can escape from them, then other people won’t be able to hear what you are listening, too. Perfect for those occasions when you’ve got your “guilty pleasures” Spotify playlist on full blast!
You’ll also notice less background noise too. Again, the closed-back design will block out a lot of background noise meaning you can focus on your music much more easily. And this will only be enhanced if you choose a closed-back pair of noise cancelling headphones. But more on those later.
Here’s a great pair you might want to consider.
COMES WITH: Noise Cancelling
FEATURES: Text
Anker Life Q30
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable
- Great sound quality for the price
- Wireless headphones
- Limited quality compared with more premium models
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Open-back headphones
As the name suggests, open-back headphones lack the outer casing that closed-back headphones have.
This means that more of the sound can escape the ear cup. So yes, this does mean less privacy but it also means a very different listening experience too.
The sound of open-back headphones will sound much less “in your head” than closed-back headphones. Many who don’t like the disorienting feeling of music coming from inside their own head rather than through their ears prefer open-back headphones for this reason.
In short, they sound much more like listening to a performance of music rather than a recording.
Open-back headphones are also used in some more specialized and professional settings such as mixing and mastering.
They still have an over-ear design which many find very comfortable but, the open-back design will mean that they aren’t as good when it comes to noise isolation.
You won’t feel as cut off from the rest of the world when using them and, if you really value your privacy, this might be an issue for you.
Should you feel that open-back headphones are the way to go, then take a look at this great pair.
COMES WITH: Noise Cancelling
GREAT FOR: Beginners
AKG K702 Premium Studio Headphones
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable
- Good sound for mixing
- Fairly flat sound
- No accessories included
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
On-ear headphones
To many, on-ear and over-ear headphones seem to be the same thing, but there’s a subtle difference.
Over-ear headphones have an ear cup that covers the ear completely. On-ear headphones have a flatter, panel-like ear pieces which simply sit on top of the ear without covering it in the way that over-ear headphones do.
Many find on-ear headphones less than ideal for music listening because they are a relatively poor half-way house between earbuds and over-ear headphones without a unique set of benefits.
They don’t offer the privacy of other models so the sound output they give can be heard by others, but they also don’t cover your ear, so they often feel less comfortable to wear.
Obviously, each can choose their own, so if you are interested in on-ear headphones, then take a look at this pair.
COMES WITH: Up to 35 hours
FEATURES: Nice design
Sony WH-CH510
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Ideal for travel
- Affordable high quality headphones
- Wireless headphones
- Uncomfortable
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Over-ear headphones
Most decent headphones these days are over-ear headphones. As mentioned above, this type of headphone has an ear cup which covers the entire ear completely.
Over-ear headphones can be both open and closed back in their design and if you’re unsure about which of those is best for you then it’s best to simply try a pair out and go with your preference.
Due to the design of over-ear headphones, you will find some more innovative designs and features with this type of headphone.
First of all, over-ear headphones tends to produce the best noise cancellation. And this means that, within the ear cup itself, some manufacturers have been able to make some incredible leaps forwards in the quality of listening experience.
A great example of this is Nuraphone.
Nuraphone’s over-ear model (simply named Nuraphone) has an over-ear style ear cup which also has an earbud style headphone inside it.
These great noise-cancelling headphones also come with an app that analyses the unique way that you hear, creates a listening profile for you and then adjusts the way that the headphones perform and create sound to make it sound at it’s best for you.
They are very expensive but, if you’re a serious listener, they’re well worth the money!
COMES WITH: Personalized Sound
FEATURES: Innovative sound design
Nuraphone
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Ideal for serious listening with great sound quality
- Inovative app included
- A unique listening experience
- Comfortable ear cups
- Expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
In-ear headphones
Most people will be familiar with in-ear headphones (or wireless earbuds) without realising it.
In-ear headphones feature a much smaller speaker than sits within the ear canal and produces sound for the listener.
An example would be Apple’s famous wireless earbuds or airpods.
The advantages of having a smaller speaker that sits inside the ear canal is that they tend to be much smaller and much more portable.
However, since these types of phones have gone wireless, they have become much easier to loose.
Some models do come with noise cancellation but, since in-ear phones only sit inside the ear canal rather than covering it as over-ear headphones do, the noise cancellation tends to be less effective and you’ll likely still notice sound outside intrusion from noise as you would when using open back headphones.
That all being said, many still love this type of headphones for their simplicity, portability and that they look far more discrete.
If this sounds like what you’re in the market for then take a look at this pair.
COMES WITH: Comfortable Sound
FEATURES: Charging case included
Apple AirPods
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Ideal for travel
- Charging case included
- Wireless headphones
- Expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Earbuds
Earbuds are remarkably similar to in-ear headphones. They tend to be a wireless version of in-ear headphones.
As such, this type of headphones will have many, if not all, of the same drawbacks and advantages that in-ear headphones have.
However, the key difference is that whilst in-ear headphones can be wired or wireless, earbuds tend to be completely wireless.
Should you feel that earbuds are a good option for you then take a look at this great pair.
COMES WITH: Competitive Price
FEATURES: Portable
Anker Life A1
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Great for travel
- Affordable
- Wireless headphones
- More noise intrusion
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Speciality headphones
Bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones are something of a newcomer to the market. They are rooted in technology that is meant for those with hearing difficulties.
Whilst they are a Godsend to those who have hearing issues, bone conduction headphones are likely something that most people would want to avoid buying.
Here’s why.
The bone conduction technology works by having the headphones rest on top of the cheekbones rather than over the ears in more traditional headphones.
This means that the ear itself is still exposed when using these types of headphones and this means that noise isolation will be a huge issue should you use this type of headphone.
Secondly, the bone conduction model needs to rest in a specific area on your head to work and there’s not much within the design of the headphone itself to keep them there.
That’s fine if you’re sitting still in a cafe listening but, if you’re like most people, and you use your headphones whilst walking, running or exercising, they’ll slip out of place easily and quickly get on your nerves.
Whilst the technology behind them is impressive, I wouldn’t recommend most people get bone conduction headphones unless you have a hearing impairment and if you do have a history of hearing problems, it’s always best to consult a specialist on what to buy before buying anything.
Bluetooth headphones
Wireless bluetooth headphones are a very broad category. Technically, all of the models we’ve discussed so far could fall under the category of Bluetooth headphones because “Bluetooth” simply refers to the way the headphones connect to the audio source such as a phone or laptop.
In short, it’s a style of connection. Not an actual style of headphone in the same sense that over-ear or in-ear headphones are.
However, that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth discussing.
The Bluetooth technology brings several added benefits; the first obvious one is that they are all wireless headphones.
First of all, most bluetooth models tend to also be noise cancelling so noise isolation won’t be an issue should you get some.
Secondly, many will sync with phones, tablets and other devices meaning you can take phone calls on them, control your music and access apps all from the controls on your headphones rather than having to use your phone.
This is very useful for cyclists and runners in particular.
Here’s a great option to look at.
COMES WITH: 30 Hours Battery
FEATURES: Great value for the money
Sony WH-1000XM3
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Great sound quality
- Bluetooth connection
- Great noise cancellation
- Limited battery life compared with more expensive models
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Noise-cancelling headphones
Noise-cancelling headphones use some very clever technology to reduce outside noise meaning that the listener can not only hear their music with greater clarity, they also don’t have to have their headphones at such a loud volume to hear it.
Personally, I’ve loved having noise-cancelling headphones for the better sound quality but also, because they’re much safer for my ears.
However, a side benefit is that you can turn them on, block outside noise and simply get some quiet wherever you are.
If you’re a serious music listener then you’ll likely find that these headphones are well worth the investment.
COMES WITH: Amazing noise cancellation
FEATURES: Three levels of world class noise cancellation for a better listening experience in any environment
Bose Quiet Comfort 35
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Long battery life
- Great noise cancellation
- Wireless headphones
- Great sound quality
- App that comes with them is a little clumsy
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Connections for headphones
The two main types of connection for headphones are wired and wireless.
These are fairly self-explanatory.
Wired headphones are the more traditional style in which the earpieces are connected to the audio source through a wire or cable.
Should you purchase these then you’ll have to ensure that your audio source – a phone, laptop or tablet for example – has the correct input for that cable.
This was a source of controversy a few years ago when device makers began removing the standard headphone jack and forcing consumers to buy either wireless headphones or some kind of adapter cable so be careful you get the right headphones for your current device.
However, with more and more devices ditching headphone jacks altogether, a wireless connection as you get in Bluetooth headphones is a good way to go, and people are slowly dropping the idea of wired headphones.
Types of headphone comparison chart
| Type of Headphone | Features | Pro's | Con's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired | No latency | More traditional | Less compatible with modern devices |
| Wireless | No cable | More portable and has a wide range of uses | Has limited battery life |
| Over-Ear | Large ear cups | Great for isolation and privacy | Large and less discrete |
| In-ear/Earbuds | Smaller ear pieces | Discrete look | Easy to lose |
| Bone conduction | Uses cheekbones to project sound | Great for those with hearing problems | Impractical for those without hearing problems |
What to consider when choosing headphones
As with most things in life, your own needs and preferences will be a factor when choosing what to buy.
However, if this is your first time making an investment like this then you’ll want some advice on what to think about and how to orient yourself in the marketplace.
Here’s a quick list of things to consider when buying a new pair of headphones.
Comfort
Do you like how they make your music sound? All headphones will shape the sound of music differently because they are designed for different audiences that want different things.
If a certain pair of canal phones have all the latest tech that’s great but if you think the audio quality is awful then you shouldn’t buy them.
Likewise, if you love the audio quality of a cheap pair then don’t be put off by the price.
If they sound good, then they are good!
Portability
Headphones, by their nature, need to be portable. Do you have space to carry round a large set of over-ear headphones or are you looking for something smaller and more discrete such as the Apple Airpods?
Again there’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s just about knowing what your needs are.
Noise isolation
Is it important for you to block outside noise and be able to concentrate on your music? Likewise, is it important for you to block outside noise and just have some quiet to read in?
If you like quiet and isolation then perhaps noise cancellation headphones are the way to go. If not, then don’t spend your money on the extra tech.
Headphones with microphone
Are you on the go a lot? Do you want or need to be able to take calls in your headphones?
Personally, I find this feature to be incredibly useful. I can take calls with a little more privacy, hear the other person with a little more clarity and headphones with an in-built mic simply make long phone calls much more comfortable.
If this is important to you then really give this some thought.
Different type of headphones
Summary
Choosing headphone types depends on what you like and how you’ll use them. I love the variety for commuting, working out, or serious listening. There’s something for everyone.
Over-ear headphones have great sound and comfort for long listening at home. On-ear ones balance portability and sound quality. In-ear headphones are my pick for the gym and daily commutes. They’re small and fit in pockets.
Wireless and true wireless earbuds are super convenient. Wired headphones still have better sound and reliability and are great for work or high-quality audio.
Wireless options with Bluetooth are awesome for moving around, like running or calls. Noise cancellation is impressive for blocking noise and enjoying music more.
Fit and comfort matter since you wear them a lot. Consider your lifestyle, what you like, and where you’ll use them most. The perfect pair is out there to improve your audio!
Best mixing headphones
AKG K702 Premium
Studio Headphones
Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
Bose Quiet Comfort 35’s
Best In-Ear Headphones
Apple AirPods
Regarding the section on connections for headphones—while it’s useful to distinguish between wired and wireless, the article might benefit from a more detailed explanation of Bluetooth codecs and how they affect sound quality and latency. This is especially pertinent for consumers leaning towards wireless options for high-fidelity listening or seamless gaming experiences.
That’s a good point Phil Audio, I’ve noticed a lot of people aren’t aware of how codecs like aptX, AAC, and LDAC can change their listening experience. I think a deep dive into that would help a lot of folks.
While the outline mentions the various types of headphones, it would be more beneficial for readers to have a deep dive into how each type specifically affects sound quality and user experience. For instance, in-ear headphones often suffer from lesser soundstage when compared to over-ear. These nuances are crucial to know before making a purchase, and any potential guide should not gloss over them.
hey, was reading about noise cancelling headphones and got confused. how does it work exactly? like it cancels all the noise around or what? sounds kinda sci-fi to me haha
Open-back headphones are great for home use, but I swear, every time someone says they’re fine in public places, I can’t help but disagree. They leak so much sound. Isn’t it bothersome for people around? Or am I the only one thinking about this?
I gotta say, the section on speciality headphones caught my eye. Never really considered bone conduction headphones before but your outline has piqued my interest. Do they really work as well as advertised? I’m always on the hunt for something that combines quality sound with comfort, especially for my morning runs. Thanks for shedding light on this, always appreciated reading up on genuine advice!