Which headphones are better? The small in-ears, the large over-ears or the more compact on-ears?
In-ear earphones are placed directly in the ear canal. This means that very little power is needed and the built-in diaphragms only need to be moved slightly to achieve acceptable volume levels. Sometimes in-ears are used with ear buds (the most famous example being Apple’s white AirPods). In this case, the earbuds tend to “hook” into the ear, which some people find more comfortable.
The advantage of in-ear earphones is their size: they are small and lightweight. Their design means that they are usually easy to grip – ideal for sports activities. They are also easy to store. When you’re not using them, they fit easily into a jacket pocket. Thanks to their design, in-ear earphones fit directly into the ear canal or, in the case of ear buds, directly in front of the ear canal. This means that very little power is needed and the built-in diaphragms only need to be moved slightly to achieve acceptable volume levels.
In-ears place the sound source very close to the eardrum, which sounds very direct and close, but also carries the risk of hearing damage and too much isolation from outside noise. This can be life-threatening, especially in traffic. Inexpensive in-ear headphones, in particular, do not offer the depth and spaciousness of over-ear headphones. Also, active noise cancellation is usually not as effective as ANC in on-ear or over-ear headphones.
Over-ear headphones are circumaural and have larger diaphragms. On-ear headphones have cushions that sit on top of your ears.
Over-ear headphones, or circumaural headphones, and their smaller brothers, on-ear headphones, have larger drivers or membranes. As a result, the tonal range – especially in terms of naturalness – is greater. These designs mean that the air in front of the ears and the earcups have a greater influence on the sound image. As a result, the sound is more spatially differentiated, and classical or jazz recordings, in particular, create a wide stage in the head on which we can precisely locate the individual instruments. It can be said that listening with large headphones is closer to our natural hearing. Another advantage is that passive noise cancellation is better with over-ears.
For some, the size and weight may be a disadvantage, but pressure is also a factor not to be underestimated: if the headphones are too tight, there is an uncomfortable feeling of pressure that can be painful. Heat build-up can also be a problem during long listening sessions. Especially in the warmer months of the year, wearing over-ears or on-ears can become a sweaty affair and spoil your enjoyment of the music.
However, it cannot be said that one design is superior to the other in terms of sound. Both in-ears and over-ears offer excellent sound quality.
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