Did you know that the first truly successful and modern pair of headphones were developed in 1910 by Nathaniel Baldwin?
He actually made them by hand in his kitchen, and they were sold to the US Navy so that submarine pilots and crew could listen to radar and sonar.
We’ve come a long way in headphones technology since those long-ago days of military use only. Headphones have become one of the most popular personal audio devices, used to transmit our music, audiobooks, podcasts, and news programs right into our ears.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the humble pair of headphones, discussing each of the different types, comparing all the styles available on the market, and providing a brand overview.
All, so you can choose the best headphones for your audio needs after reading this guide on types of headphones brands!
There are so many you can choose from, that it’s helpful to have this handy, headphone guide.
Let’s get started!
On-Ear vs. Over-Ear Headphones
You’ve probably noticed when headphones shopping that, depending on the model, there are two distinct ear cup sizes. On-ear headphones have smaller ear pads that sit directly on your ears.
Over-the-ear, or over-ear, headphones have really large ear pads with rimmed cups that create a complete seal around the outside perimeter of your ear. Both varieties can come in either wired or wireless options.
What are some other differences between the two – and which ones are best for which purposes?
On-Ear Headphones
On-ear headphones were the first kind of headphones back in the early days of portable cassette listening, and their popularity is still going strong.
The design has also changed little since those analog days. Two padded ear cups are connected by a wire head band. In the beginning, the ear cups were padded with foam and the head band was just flimsy adjustable metal.
Nowadays, on-ear headphones are manufactured with much more high quality materials, including leather and memory foam. The head bands are made from stainless steel or aluminum and are also padded for comfort and long-term use.
Pros
- Portability: On-ear headphones can often be folded and put into a special carrying case for portability. This makes a pair ideal for travel and taking back and forth to the office.
- Weight: On-ear headphones are considerably lighter than over-ear headphones, since the ear cups are smaller. The head bands are also thinner and lighter, for the simple reason they don’t need to support the weight of larger ear cups.
- Short-Term Comfort: On-ear headphones have improved greatly over the past ten years in terms of how comfortable they are to wear, especially for short periods of two-five hours at a time. They sit right on top of your ears, distributing the weight evenly, and the head bands are adjustable.
- Colors and Styles: On-ear headphones are pretty ubiquitous, so you can find any color, color combination, and style that you prefer. The ear pads can be round or more angular, too. You can really have fun personalizing on-ear headphones.
- Price: With a few exceptions, on-ear headphones are the least expensive of padded ear cup headphones. Especially if you choose wired ones, which aren’t as pricy as wireless.
Cons
- Sound Leak: You can still hear the surrounding environment with on-ear headphones, and there’s a good possibility a bit of what you’re hearing is also escaping, so others can hear it. These aren’t the best headphones for really busy places, like airports, crowded commuting buses or trains, and noisy gyms.
- Not as Many Colors: Over-ear headphones are still relatively new to the personal headphone market, so they don’t come in as many colors and styles. If you want a fancy style, you’ll also have to pay more. Basic styles and models are usually only offered in black or white.
- Pricier: Expect to shell out much more money for a basic pair of over-ear headphones. You will pay more due to the design, the superior sound quality, and the added weight. Most start at the price point of $100 and just climb higher from there.
Over-Ear Headphones
Have you ever tried on a pair of over-the-ear headphones?
At first, it feels like you’re an air traffic controller because the ear cups are so large.
These heavy-duty headphones are designed for noise cancelling and sound isolation.
These types of headphones are fairly new to the personal audio market, but have exploded in popularity thanks to the rise of MP3 players and smartphones.
We take our music, audiobooks, and podcasts with us wherever we go, so we want a wider range of headphones. Over-ear headphones are much bulkier and larger than on-ear headphones.
Occasionally you’ll find a wired pair, but most of them are wireless. They take up more battery power than on-ear headphones, so don’t forget to compare battery life when comparison shopping.
Pros
- Sound Isolation: If you’re a music lover or an athlete who needs to get pumped up before the game, then you’ll love the sound isolating quality of over-ear headphones. They really do block out all other noise and immerse you in a private audio environment.
- Excellent Sound Quality: The ear cups are concave, creating a bowl-like shape around your ears. This enables sound waves to bounce off the ear cups and create a much fuller sound than on-ear headphones. It’s like you’re sitting in an orchestra, with the instruments played all around you.
- Short-Term Comfort: Once you have a pair of over-ear headphones on, you’ll be happy with the comfort level. The rimmed ear cups sit on your head outside the perimeter of your outer ears, not directly on the ears. This creates a seal of sound and gives you incredible long-term comfort. You can listen to music, play games, or follow an audiobook for hours
- No Sound Leak: Believe me, nobody else can hear what you’re listening to! Over-ear headphones produce no sound leak. You can crank up the volume to whatever level you prefer and not have any fear that your coworker, neighbor, or the guy sitting next to you in the airplane can hear a thing.
Cons
- Heavy: The larger ear pad size means added weight, so over-ear headphones are considerably heavier than on-ear ones. While the ear pads themselves are comfortable, you might find the extra weight produces strain and aches.
- Not as Many Colors: Over-ear headphones are still relatively new to the personal headphone market, so they don’t come in as many colors and styles. If you want a fancy style, you’ll also have to pay more. Basic styles and models are usually only offered in black or white.
- Pricier: Expect to shell out much more money for a basic pair of over-ear headphones. You will pay more due to the design, the superior sound quality, and the added weight. Most start at the price point of $100 and just climb higher from there.
In the end, it’s really which kind that you prefer when listening to your tunes. Just like the differences between desktop computers and laptops, there’s pros and cons for each. Happy headphone shopping!
Headphones vs. Earbuds
Now that you’ve learned about the differences, pros, and cons of on-ear vs. over-ear headphones, what are the features that separate headphones from earbuds?
Headphones
If you could time-travel back to the 1970s and 1980s, you’d see huge on-ear and over-ear headphone styles that were all the rage.
Those two types of models still exist of course, but now there are much more variety of size and shape, as opposed to just being large.
Headphones have thousands of dedicated users who wouldn’t switch to earbuds, and far prefer their ‘cans’ to listen to music and audio.
Pros
- Comfort: A well-made and decent pair of headphones will be more comfortable than earbuds. They’ll also be comfortable and longer, lasting for hours.
- Sound Isolation: Earbuds could never produce the listening booth, sound isolation of amazing, high quality over-ear headphones.
- Sound Quality: You’re going to get a superior quality of sound from headphones. They can have advanced speaker designs, booming bass, and an overall top audio level earbuds can’t match.
Cons
- Bulky: Some headphones can fold, but even those that can are bulky can’t compete with earbuds for portability.
- Stand out: You might not want to broadcast your headphone design to others, especially in a public place like work or walking in a neighborhood. Earbuds are much easier to conceal.
- Heavy: Over-ear headphones, especially, are quite heavy. They can put a strain on your head and neck.
Earbuds
The first pair of earbuds were the small white ones shipped with Apple’s iPod starting back in 2001.
They revolutionized the headphone market and introduced a design that’s been really popular ever since.
Earbuds continue to remain a favorite way to listen by plenty of users. They’re still shipped with some of Apple’s music players, too.
Pros
- Inexpensive: Earbuds are much less expensive than traditional headphones, simply because there’s less material and less technology. You can pick up a cheap pair for $10 or less.
- Great for Fitness: Headphones aren’t good for working out and sports. They’re too bulky and bounce around. Earbuds stay snugly in your ears and are great for your morning jog.
- Portable: Just fold them up and stick them in a pocket or case. Earbuds are small and can be taken anywhere – work, travel, library, etc.
Cons
- Sound Leak: There’s no such thing as noise-cancelling earbuds, so there will be some sound leak. They’re not the best for privacy.
- Uncomfortable Long Term: Earbuds are not ideal for all day listening, since they can chafe against your ear canal. They’re better for short term.
- Fragile: Earbuds are not as durable as headphones, so they won’t last as long. You’ll need to replace them more frequently.
So, what do you think? Since earbuds aren’t that expensive, you might want to consider getting a pair just for those occasional times you’d use them. Headphones are better for long term listening and giving you the most important feature: awesome sound quality.
Different Types of Wireless Headphones
So, you’ve decided to graduate from the corded to the cordless and get yourself a pair of wireless headphones. There was a time not too long ago when wireless technology was reserved only for the privileged.
But now these headphones have come down enough in price for many audiophiles to enjoy. All wireless headphones use Bluetooth technology to connect to the devices you’re using, like computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players. What’s on the market for wireless headphones?
Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
Wireless over-ear headphones give you that extraordinary sound quality that you can only get with the noise-cancelling, sound isolating properties.
They also come with the most advanced computer software audio drivers to both receive and transmit sound coming from devices.
Keep in mind the wireless over-ear headphones use a lot of battery life, so you might not get as long a time to listen as you would on-ear headphones.
Wireless Earbuds
Some companies, like Beats, Bose, and Apple Airpods, are starting to manufacture wireless earbud headphones.
They are not completely without wires, though – you’ll see that the two earbuds are connected by a looping cord that is held in place at the base of your neck.
Wireless earbuds can come in standard ‘small microphone’ size just like corded earbuds, or they can also be found in an over-the-ear design for more stability and security.
Wireless earbuds are especially popular with those in the fitness and athletics industry, since they stay in place while you move.
The Best Headphones for Music
Calling all music lovers! What are your favorite headphones to use while listening to your favorite artists, bands, or composers?
For music lovers, a preferred pair of headphones is probably one your most prized possessions. They just can’t compete with speakers in terms of really getting the most out of the entire song-listening experience.
Hearing music played on headphones is probably the best way to be truly immersed in the song. You also get the full range of sound that the songwriters and composers intended, from the lowest, softest notes all the way up to the higher pitched and louder instruments. Vocals sound as if the singer is right next to you.
What are the best headphones for listening to music?
Well, that is going to depend on your personal preferences. It is important to have the best headphones possible within your budget. However, there are plenty of options to choose from, so you’ll want to compare models and read reviews from actual users.
There are, though, a couple of types of headphones that are not suited for listening to music.
Earbuds
While there may be some dedicated earbuds fans out there, these tiny headphones are not the best for listening to music.
They are okay for short-term track listening, for fitness, or if you have a small budget and can’t afford to spring for something truly high end.
But earbuds have so many negatives for music listening.
They’re not immersive, they’re not meant for long-term use, and they’re certainly nowhere near as comfortable as ear pads. Bypass the earbuds for listening to music.
Gaming Headphones
These are meant more for gaming, and they often have built-in microphones, so they’re not the best for listening to music.
You’ll only want to invest in a proper pair of gaming headphones if your current on-ear or over-the-ear headphones aren’t giving you the experience you’re looking for. They’re not for music.
So, that rules out what not to use for listening to music. Which headphones are the best?
Best – Noise – Cancelling Headphones
Yes, these are the absolute best for listening to music, especially long-term for many hours a day. What music lover wouldn’t want blissful hour after uninterrupted blissful hour?
Find the most comfortable pair that you can, with soft ear cups that are padded like pillows, and an adjustable headband that isn’t too tight and won’t squeeze your skull.
Depending on your price point, you can choose either wired or wireless noise-cancelling headphones, as well as on-ear or over-the-ear.
There are several brands that offer superior noise-cancelling headphones, including Bose, Skullcandy, Beats, V-MODA, Oppo, Sennheiser, Sony, and Marshall.
For those audiophiles who can’t stop listening to music, these are the best ‘cans’ that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Great – Over-the-Ear Headphones
Not a fan of noise-cancelling headphones or simply can’t spring for such a luxury pair?
Then at least go for over-the-ear headphones. They deliver a crisp, even sound that still gives you a bumping bass underneath that you can feel.
Over-the-ear headphones are far superior to earbuds or on-ear headphones for listening to music.
The ear cups are really large and are rimmed with a concave space for your ear to fit.
The pads can be made of synthetic leather, real leather, or even memory foam. A seal is formed around the perimeter of your ear, isolating you completely from background noise and giving you a complete song-listening experience. It’s similar to having a pair of small, shaped speakers on your ears.
Over-ear headphones are not necessarily noise-cancelling, so you’ll want to be aware of that as you are comparison shopping.
They are designed with larger, thicker headbands and can be much heavier than on-ear headphones. You can choose from wired or wireless options, as well as closed back or open back headphones.
Good – On-Ear Headphones
Most of us start our lifelong headphone-wearing experience with a simple pair of black cushioned on-ear headphones.
There’s nothing inherently ‘wrong’ with using on-ear headphones for music.
The overall technology of headphones has improved so much since the old Sony Walkman metal wire-and-foam days that you’re enjoying a better quality than even five years ago.
On-ear headphones also have the added bonus of being inexpensive, usually less than $50 even for top brand wireless ones, so anyone can afford a pair.
On-ear headphones sit directly on your ears and have padded ear cups. You’ll want to choose a comfortable, adjustable pair that can be worn for many hours without giving you a headache.
Some of the most popular brands include Bose, Beats, Bowers & Wilkins, Plantronics, Beyerdynamic, Marshall, and Skullcandy. In addition to a high quality sound, these come in wired or wireless options.
The Best Headphone Brands [Types of Headphones Brands]
As you can imagine, there are plenty of headphone brands available on the market today. From Apple’s traditional earbuds up to large and colorful Beats over-ear headphones, these are the best headphone brands, in alphabetical order, available on the market today.
Apple
Apple was the first company to come out with earbud headphones, which were introduced back in 2012. Now they’re called EarPods and are shipped with some Apple products, like the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano.
EarPods are still being manufactured, although they’re not as highly rated as some other brands.
Apple has also introduced their wireless AirPods, which come with their own charging case. These instantly turn on and connect to your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook, or Mac.
They use Siri technology to change the volume or change the song. They contain the Apple W1 chip, which is designed for seamless wireless connectivity.
Audio – Technica
Looking for a wide range of over-ear headphones that deliver professional sound with a heavy duty look?
Audio-Technica has a great reputation in the field for their gaming headsets, noise-cancelling, open back, high fidelity, and sound isolating over-ear headphones. They also have earbuds, both wired and wireless.
The look of Audio-Technica headphones is unmistakable. Their designs are thick, heavy, and look indestructible.
So, they’re definitely durable for long term use. These headphones aren’t cheap, but if you want a pair that’s built like a tank and will deliver some of the best sound you can buy, then go ahead and splurge on a pair.
Oh, and did we mention the company has won countless awards in the industry? They are a top choice for professionals.
Beats by Dre
The Beats by Dre brand changed the on-ear headphones market with the introduction of their signature sleek, modern, and bass-pumping headphones back in 2008.
Together with the launch of updated MP3 players and smartphones, the Beats headphones took off and are still massively popular.
Beats was bought by Apple, so you can find their products in the Apple store or on the separate www.beatsbydre.com website. The brand-new 2017 color of rose gold coincides with the introduction of the new iPhone 8.
Beats offer a small but very high quality selection of headphones.
You can get on-ear or over-ear styles, in both wired and wireless. They also have professional headphones and wireless earbuds, too. See below later in this article for a complete in-depth look at the Beats by Dre line.
Bose
Bose has been known for decades for superior world class performance and top quality sound in their stereos, and nowadays, with their headphones.
As of 2015, the company made $3.5 billion in revenue, and they have 190 stores in the U.S.
Bose currently is featured on numerous Top 10 lists of best wireless headphones, and is one of the leading manufacturers of over-ear headphones, especially.
The QuietComfort line of models is particularly popular for complete noise cancellation and silence.
They also have a 20-hour battery life, which is very long in the wireless headphone market. Bose has been a leader of the noise-cancellation technology, and they’ve perfected it in their headphones.
Bose also has their own app, which helps you connect to and switch between devices. So, it makes it that much easier to use their wireless headphones.
Bose also makes completely wireless and cord-free headphones called the SoundSport. Preferred by athletes, these small earbuds are an innovation in technology. Look for others to copy this unique design!
Beyerdynamic
How would you like German engineering at the core of your headphones design? Beyerdynamic made a name for itself by introducing wireless microphones back in the 1960s!
Nowadays, they have become known for their impressive and large professional over-ear headphones line.
They also manufacture wireless on-ear headphones, gaming headsets with microphones, interestingly designed earbuds, and open back headphones.
With rave reviews from the ‘headphone snobs’ who have fallen in love with this brand, you’re encouraged to check them out. The price point is not as high as some other brands, like Bose or Beats by Dre, but you’re still getting excellent quality.
Bowers & Wilkins
This is one of the best headphone brands you’ve probably never heard of, though they have been around for about 50 years.
They offer a small, but very popular selection, including over-the-ear, on-ear, earbud, and wireless models.
The ear cups are a distinct, elongated rectangular shape, and they have a classic, traditional design, almost like a fine leather couch. Professional audio engineering makes the price point a bit higher than other brands, but you do get what you pay for.
What about the sound? It’s open, spacious, and all-encompassing, with a balance between treble and bass.
Users have said there’s little sound leak, even for the on-ear headphones, which is a great feature. For the over-ear models, it’s totally immersive. Give these a try, and you might become a convert.
Grado
No list of the best headphones in the world would be complete without the ultra high-end, ultra luxurious Grado Labs headphones.
Made from hard-to-find materials and luxurious attention to detail, these are the crème de la crème of the audiophile’s world.
Each pair of Grado headphones is made by hand in the Brooklyn facility, so they’re manufactured right here in the USA.
Thankfully, some of their headphones are at lower price points, so you can enjoy an excellent sound.
Grado prides itself on offering ‘full spectrum audio’ that puts you in your own private listening booth. They offer both closed back and open back headphones, and are very comfortable.
Some users have reported they have them for twenty years! So, definitely the most durable and long-lasting headphones you can get.
Monster
Founder and CEO Noel Lee came from the audio cable industry before creating the Monster brand of headphones, and it became famous back in 2008, so over 10 years ago.
Beats by Dre were actually made in collaboration with Monster before they became independent.
Just like Beats, some have said these headphones are overpriced for what they deliver. But they continue to be a solid competitor in the market and have a loyal fanbase.
Monster headphones have a surprisingly classic design, with perfectly round ear cups and thick, sturdy head bands.
Occasionally, they will come out with something more interesting, like their Diamond headphones. The sound is more weighted towards the bass, so it’s not as balanced as other brands. Monster also produces gaming headsets, too.
MPOW
A relative newcomer to the headphones market, the MPOW brand stands out for their quirky, modern designs, and competitive lower prices.
You can actually fold their on-ear headphones, which makes them quite portable.
They come in both wireless and wired types. Their large over-ear headphones are top rated and come with memory foam ear cups, and the battery life is up to 13 hours for music or 15 hours for talking.
Users report that they pair well with iPhones, although you won’t get a deep bass sound like you would with the Beats by Dre.
Panasonic
Do you remember your first pair of Panasonic headphones?
These on-ear models have been around for going on three decades now, and are still as basic and inexpensive as they were.
Panasonic stereo earbuds and headphones are light and comfortable, are wired, and are one of the most inexpensive pairs you can have.
Despite the lack of fancy features and modern designs, they continue to have a devoted fanbase. Panasonic has also introduced their own over-the-ear headphones, which have much larger ear cups, but are still a basic black design.
They make wonderful gifts for kids or the elderly.
Sennheiser
Sennheiser is in the headphone business, and they’re serious about it, offering all kinds of models from low price points up to high-end models.
You can choose from virtually any style, including on-ear, over-ear, earbuds, wired, wireless, or even open back headphones.
There’s also smartphone headsets, TV headphones, and noise-cancelling headphones.
For shoppers looking for a wide selection, you’ve got it with this brand.
These headphones are distinct, with a black-and-stainless steel basic look and ear cups that are slightly triangular.
They have an industrial, urban design, with a double row headband. Over-ear models have huge oval ear cushions. These have a long battery life to, up to 16 hours. The main plus with Sennheiser is the great sound quality, so that is the best feature.
Sony
Yes, the familiar electronics brand which has dominated its market also makes a wide range of headphones and earbuds.
As a bonus, you can walk into virtually any store and find a pair to buy, so they’re ubiquitous and extremely easy to find.
There’s a pair for everyone, for every type of activity. They’re consistent for durability and are decently adequate for sound quality, fit, and comfort.
However, sometimes when you are a Jack of all trades, you’re a master of none. For serious
audiophiles looking for a better pair of headphones, Sony is not going to be the best brand.
These are ‘around the house’ headphones, not professional quality and grade for those ready to upgrade. If you are a brand fan, go for the higher quality wireless, noise-cancelling models.
Skullcandy
Looking for excellent sound quality headphones at low price points?
Skullcandy has made a name for itself within this niche: colorful, cool, affordable, and surprisingly good sound.
These are definitely aimed towards the target market of teens and younger adults who are looking for a fashion accessory.
They have a shiny, modern look with smaller sized ear cups. The overall look is thick, padded, and hip.
Skullcandy started with regular on-ear headphones, but has also expanded their line to include earbud, over-ear headphones, gaming headsets, and higher end wireless models.
Customers like the longer battery charges, starting at 10 hours, and they also charge quickly. Below, you’ll find a more in-depth review of Skullcandy’s headphone line.
Skullcandy
Based out of Hollywood and started by a professional DJ, this relatively new brand V-MODA has managed to fuse form and function into excellent top rated and top quality headphone models.
With an interesting angular Italian design and plenty of options to choose from, these headphones have become pretty popular.
They come with hard cases and fold up for easy storage. A high resolution audio, crisp clarity, and a clean bass deliver the signature balanced sound that most users are looking for.
Nowadays, V-MODA collaborates with Apple to both launch and distribute its series. They’ve received amazing reviews from users and will no doubt continue to be a unique, professional brand in the market.
The Different Types of Beats Headphones
Beats Electronics, which creates the Beats by Dre headphones, is a subsidiary of Apple’s audio product line, although it started out with HTC. It was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.
As of 2014, the company was valued at $3 billion when it was bought by Apple, so it’s extremely popular! Beats have become a coveted and much-loved type of headphones known for their modern colors, emphasis on bass, and the preference for pop and hip-hop music.
Beats Wired Headphones
Yes, Beats has two models of wired headphones – the Beats EP or the Pro. The EP model comes in blue, black, red, or white, and are traditional on-ear cupped headphones.
They are lightweight, with a stainless steel band running through the adjustable head band. They also come with a foldable carrying pouch.
One advantage is that you don’t have to worry about battery life. Another is that they’re the least expensive Beats model. They’re compatible with a laptop, computer, smartphone, tablet, or any MP3 player.
The Pro headphones are only in black, and are professional grade for sound engineers and music producers. They’re made with an aluminum frame and leather ear cups. These have a 4.2 mm coiled cable and an audio adapter.
Beats Wireless Headphones
Beats was quick to jump on the wireless bandwagon, so they have two wireless models: the Studio3 and the Solo3.
Of course, all Beats wireless models work seamlessly with Apple products like the iPhone and MacBook.
The Studio3 has an Apple W1 chip and Bluetooth connectivity, plus it’s a noise-cancelling, over-the-ear headphone. It comes in interesting colors, like shadow gray, matte black, blue, red, white, and porcelain rose. The ear cups are large and padded, and the battery life is up to 22 hours. A low power mode increases battery life to 40 hours.
The Solo3 is available in gloss black, gloss white, rose gold, black, gold, silver, ultra violet, or red. These are on-ear headphones and aren’t noise-cancelling. They also have the Apple W1 chip, Bluetooth, and up to 40 hours of battery life.
Beats Earbuds Headphones
Earbuds are popular with those that prefer them, so Beats has introduced two wired models and two wireless models. The wired models are the urBeats3 and the urBeats3 Lightning.
They both have high quality acoustics, flat cables, magnetic earbuds, and come with a carrying case.
The urBeats3 Lightning has a Lightning Connector for enhanced driver-based audio.
The wireless earbuds are the Beatsx and the Powerbeats3 Wireless. The Beatsx looks like regular earbuds connected to each other, with a comfortable curved band to hold them in place during use. They have Bluetooth and the regular Beats sound quality built into them, but only 8 hours of battery life.
The Powerbeats3 Wireless earbuds have up to 12 hours of battery life. They’re good for fitness, since they’re resistant to water and sweat. Their most distinguishing feature is the vertical curved over-ear piece for added comfort and a snug fit. This eliminates a couple of negatives with earbuds – they can fall out and also hurt your outer ear canal. They come in many popular color combinations, too.
The Different Types of Skullcandy Headphones
The Skullcandy brand was created by Rick Alden after he decided to combine headphones and the ability to take phone calls into one product.
The brand is famous for its bold colors, sleek modern designs, and great price points. They carry a great variety of headphones for all customers.
On-Ear Skullcandy Headphones
With a range of bright colors to choose from and a lower price, Skullcandy has a great selection of regular wired on-ear headphones.
They have large, soft, and comfortable ear pads, an adjustable head band, and the clearness of sound that the brand is known for.
You can choose from the Stim, Uproar, Navigator, and Grind models, each of which have slight variations in overall design and color choice.
The ear cup design changes a little bit, from more round to having an angular, almost polygon shape. The Knockout Women’s Headphone is lighter and slimmer for girls and women to use.
On-ear headphones are different from noise-cancelling over-ear headphones. It’s not as immersive an experience. That might be seen as a positive, since on-ear headphones might be better for environments where you’d want to occasionally hear what’s going on around you, such as at work or while riding public transportation. As another plus, on-ear headphones are the least expensive of the Skullcandy headphone selections.
Over-Ear Skullcandy Headphones
How would you like to completely tune out the world around you and become ‘submerged’ in sound? The Crusher Headphones from Skullcandy are noise-cancelling over-ear headphones.
You’ll notice immediately that the ear pads are much larger, almost like air traffic controller size.
The ear pad design is much different from on-ear headphones.
These are meant to completely encompass your ears, so the pads are rimmed with an open space for your ears to fit.
The pads have a three-panel cushion wrapped in high quality synthetic leather. There’s a haptic bass response that gives you that deep bass you can actually feel. Also, these come with an adjustment slider on the left hand-side ear cup to control bass levels. It also has a single button in-line remote with a mic to take or make calls, play music, and cycle through tracks. Over-ear headphones are more expensive, because the design is different. You can choose from four colors – black, white, royal blue, or red.
The Crusher over-ear headphones also comes in a wireless option, which is only offered in two color choices: black or gray/tan.
Wireless Skullcandy Headphones
Skullcandy has several options if you prefer wireless headphones – the Uproar, the Grind, the Hesh 2, and the Hesh 3.
These are all on-ear headphones, not over-the-ear like the Crusher model above.
All these headphones have Bluetooth technology with rechargeable batteries.
The battery length depends on the model, but you can expect at least ten hours per charge.
They’re comfortable and suited for all-day wear with soft ear pads and an adjustable headband that won’t make you feel like your head is being squeezed. There’s also a built-in Bluetooth mic and remote so that you can take phone calls, adjust the volume, and perform simple tasks like playing, pausing, and skipping tracks. The buttons are located on the ear cups.
The more pricy the model, the better quality you get in terms of materials for the headphone band and the ear cups (real leather as opposed to synthetic leather), as well as a slightly longer battery life. For example, the Hesh 3 has twenty-two hours of battery life and a feature called Rapid Charge, which means you can play four hours of music after only ten minutes of charging.
Gaming Skullcandy Headphones
Skullcandy’s PLYR 2 Gaming Headset headphones comes with a built-in extendable high sensitivity mic. The mic is a pivoting boom mic that adjusts to clearly pick up your voice without background noise.
You can move it upwards to instantly mute, too. These headphones have a three-position EQ switch for each gaming genre.
You can try Bass Mode, Supreme Mode, or Precision Mode. They are wireless as well, so you and fellow players won’t get tangled up in cords in the middle of fights and missions.
The ear cups are soft and specifically designed for long-term comfort during gaming sessions. There’s also a volume control right on the headset. As a possible negative, they only come in one color: black with mustard yellow contrasting trim. These headphones work with all of your gaming consoles, including your Bluetooth computer, Xbox 360, or PlayStation 3.
Skullcandy Earbuds
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wide range of wired, wireless, and sport earbuds that Skullcandy offers.
They’re also available in plenty of colors, like black, white, red, blue, and gray.
The Ink’d Wireless earbuds are very light and have a neck cord that wraps around the back of your neck to keep them in place.
Enter your text here…There are also mic and function buttons built in, so you can change the volume or skip a track. The Chops Flex Sport Earbuds are designed to fit over your ear, which is more comfortable and they will stay in place no matter how you move.
You can also choose from their basic wired Method earbuds, that have a traditional shape and comfortable cushion to fit inside your ear. Skullcandy’s Supreme Sound balanced audio technology is transmitted through its full line of earbuds.
Getting a Handle on Headphones
Headphones are certainly here to stay, as music and audio technology becomes more and more portable. Many employers let you listen to tracks while working, and there’s nothing like chilling at home with your ‘phones on, enjoying your own personal sound booth filled with music. As you comparison shop, remember to keep an eye out for the features that are most important to you.
Above all, you’re looking for an audio experience. That’s what the best headphones can give you – and nothing else does it better.
