On-ear, in-ear, over-ear: Which headphones are right for me?

Classic headphones where the left and right speaker are connected together by a headband are particularly favoured by music lovers. — Photo by C D-X on Unsplash

COLOGNE: On-ear, in-ear, over-ear. Wireless or wired. With a headband or without. Headphones come in every conceivable variety. Which ones are right for you depends primarily on how you plan to use them.

True wireless earbuds are currently particularly popular. "This means completely wireless headphones in the form of two in-ear earpieces that can also be conveniently carried in a trouser pocket when not in use," says audiophile and audio tester Christoph de Leuw.

Wireless in-ear models can work for sporting and fitness activities such as running, but there are limitations.

"In principle, wireless headphones are of course ideally suited for sports, but many small in-ears fall out quickly during fitness routines because they only have a loose fit in the ear," says hi-fi specialist Herbert Bisges.

For some, the limited battery life of wireless in-ear models can be a disadvantage. "True-wireless in-ears often have to be put back in their charging case after just four to five hours, whereas typical headphones with Bluetooth last 20 to 40 hours on a single charge," de Leuw says.

Classic headphones where the left and right speaker are connected together by a headband are particularly favoured by music lovers. These models can be wired or wireless. For a comfier fit and better sound insulation, the speakers wrap around the ears and don't just sit on top of them.

"If it's about the perfect sound, wired headphone models are unrivalled because a Bluetooth connection with the current codecs always brings a loss in quality compared to the classic CD resolution,” says Jörg Dames who works in the audio retail industry.

But the in-ear trend is trying to include the audio purists as well, although these headphones are not wireless.

"High-end in-ear models are definitely on the rise," Dames says. Hardcore music fans can even have models custom-made to the shape of their own ears.

"As a result, you have excellent comfort wearing them, excellent bass response and, depending on the concept, less external noise," he says.

The spatial sound experience is still less pronounced than with over-ear models, but this is generally a weakness of all earbuds.

Cabled headphones have other advantages besides offering the best sound.

"With the cable, headphones almost always work. It doesn't matter how much power is still in the smartphone or charging socket. And there's also no uncertainty whatsoever as to whether the headphones will connect to the device," says Bisges.

Standard jack plugs will always fit and if your smartphone doesn't have a jack socket you can use a converter.

While Bluetooth headphones in the past could often only be paired with one device, today there are more and more models with multi-pairing coming onto the market.

"These headphones can then store multiple devices such as smartphones, laptops and televisions, which saves the user from having to always re-pair the headphones when changing use," says Bisges.

Active noise cancelling to filter out distracting ambient sounds is a useful feature if you use public transport lots and want to hear as little of your surroundings as possible. "This technology usually works via a counter-sound that is generated," Bisges explains.

So with so many types to choose from, which one should you buy?

"There are very good all-round headphones that are suitable for all conceivable uses thanks to splash water protection, small dimensions, long battery life and good sound and voice quality," de Leuw says.

However, it can make sense to buy more than one set of headphones, "for example, a true wireless model for mobile use and a large pair of headphones for enjoying music at home." – dpa