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Headphones vs earbuds

Started by ZLoth, November 19, 2024, 12:36:28 PM

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ZLoth

What is your listening preference... earbuds or headphones (including behind-the-head sports headphones)?
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JayhawkCO

On planes I use my Bose QC2s (noise cancelling over-the-ear). For all other purposes, I use my Shokz OpenRun bone-conduction headphones.

ZLoth

For me, it depends on the situation. I have some cheap Active Noise Cancelling earbuds (ANC) that I carry around in my pocket when out of the house so that if I'm waiting, I can listen to an audiobook. However, if I'm on a plane, I prefer a regular set of ANC headphones because the earbuds are too small and too easy to loose.
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vdeane

I have a headset at work for online meetings.  Otherwise it's my earbuds, either the current set I keep at home and take with me when traveling, or the ancient set I keep at my desk at work (which is what I used for our mandatory trainings back before they gave us headsets, but are now mainly used for listening to music/podcasts on my phone while I work).  All wired; I've never bought a phone that didn't have the jack, and my desktop at home can't do Bluetooth (especially given that I get much better sound passing through the headphone jack on my speakers than plugging them in directly).
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

1995hoo

#4
I hate earbuds. I find them very uncomfortable. I don't use headphones often, but when I do I use a pair of over-the-ear Sennheisers. Not sure of the model number.

I have little doubt that, like many other 50-somethings, I probably damaged my hearing listening to loud music through headphones in the 1980s. That's one reason why I seldom use them now.

Edited to add: Forgot to mention that I also have a pair of Grado headphones. They're pretty good, but I got them a long time ago before I started wearing glasses and the problem became that they are very uncomfortable to wear when I also have my glasses on because the Grados' earpieces are quite firm and unyielding. The Sennheisers have much softer earcups that mold around the eyeglasses' earpieces. When I bought the Sennheisers I was specifically looking for something with user reviews saying they were comfortable when worn with glasses.
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Rothman

Earbuds never sit in my ears very well, but I can't deny the sound quality of the pair of noise-cancelling ear buds that I own (might be Samsung Pros or whatever they're called).
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

Max Rockatansky

Headphones for the simple fact that they stay in my ears when I run.

JayhawkCO

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2024, 01:43:21 PMHeadphones for the simple fact that they stay in my ears when I run.

I'm surprised you don't do the bone conduction headphones.

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 19, 2024, 01:44:57 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2024, 01:43:21 PMHeadphones for the simple fact that they stay in my ears when I run.

I'm surprised you don't do the bone conduction headphones.

They aren't bad, I've been through a couple.  I'm hoping my wife buys me one as a Christmas gift so I don't have to purchase myself.

JayhawkCO

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2024, 01:56:15 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 19, 2024, 01:44:57 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on November 19, 2024, 01:43:21 PMHeadphones for the simple fact that they stay in my ears when I run.

I'm surprised you don't do the bone conduction headphones.

They aren't bad, I've been through a couple.  I'm hoping my wife buys me one as a Christmas gift so I don't have to purchase myself.

I just like being able to hear traffic/dogs when I'm running and they don't even budge on my head.

mgk920

I have been constantly losing things for as long as I have been alive, so they MUST be wired.  I don't mind 'ear bud' sized speakers and often use them while out lunching, etc, though.

Mike

Takumi

I use a pair of Bose wireless earbuds. They sound great and are very comfortable. I'm a fairly recent convert to wireless.
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freebrickproductions

Headphones, and wired at that.
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LilianaUwU

I got a $100 wired headset with a mic for gaming and streaming, and I use it everytime I'm on my computer. Other than that, I have some wired earbuds for my phone. Of course, the headset is much better than the earbuds, but they both have their purpose.
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formulanone

#14
I personally don't like the feel of most large headphones and the pressure they create on my ears after about 30 minutes. I've grown to prefer earbuds since take up much less space and don't have to worry about getting crushed. But they also have their drawbacks (easy to drop, misplace, don't always stay in...but it's improved).

I've worn hearing aids for a while now so I don't bother spending too much on them for precise/pricey levels of "quality". Good HAs have Bluetooth and pair nicely with my phone, but using both at the same time is not ideal for any length of time. Still, I won't wear HAs on a plane, when working out, or for situations where I do not need to hear everyone and everything (dog sports, excessive mechanical noise), so that's when I mostly use headphones.

I keep winning work prizes like AirPods (or right now, the JBL equivalent) and Hilton gave me a set of Bose headphones for achieving Lifetime Diamond status, but which I have yet to try out since I just figure I'll lose or break the other set and just put those into service when needed. The active noise canceling is better on the AirPods than the JBLs, but the latter has a surprisingly better battery life (they're both fussy for inadvertent unpairing and the Apple product started to rattle after 18 months).

When I watch stuff on the plane or have to watch/listen to  something on my laptop, I just break out the freebie Apple corded headphones from a decade ago. They're still fine enough for that situation.

JayhawkCO

Quote from: formulanone on November 21, 2024, 09:24:35 AMI personally don't like the feel of most large headphones and the pressure they create on my ears after about 30 minutes. I've grown to prefer earbuds since take up much less space and don't have to worry about getting crushed. But they also have their drawbacks (easy to drop, misplace, don't always stay in...but it's improved).

And I'm more likely to feel discomfort from earbuds stretching my ear canals than I am from any over the ear headphones.

epzik8

I have a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Not fond of earbuds.
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hbelkins

Wired earbuds or headphones. I can't keep wireless earbuds in my ears and my luck is that I would lose one.
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formulanone

Quote from: JayhawkCO on November 21, 2024, 10:21:55 AM
Quote from: formulanone on November 21, 2024, 09:24:35 AMI personally don't like the feel of most large headphones and the pressure they create on my ears after about 30 minutes. I've grown to prefer earbuds since take up much less space and don't have to worry about getting crushed. But they also have their drawbacks (easy to drop, misplace, don't always stay in...but it's improved).

And I'm more likely to feel discomfort from earbuds stretching my ear canals than I am from any over the ear headphones.

That's how I felt about the first generation of earbuds several decades ago; it was like cramming a pebble in one's ear. Then again, "standard" headphones at my price point were generally spindly things.

I still have a set of Sony MDR headphones that are over 30 years old; broke the plastic sliders but taped them closed so my son could use them, since he disliked earbuds.

Bruce

For long stretches (working at home, plane trips, train rides), over-the-ear headphones are the most comfortable.

For short stretches (transit, walking, zoning out), earbuds are more convenient and better for my phone's battery. I prefer wired ones, but they don't really offer ANC + wired earbuds nowadays, sadly.
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MATraveler128

I just use standard Apple earbuds on my iPhone 13. Nothing fancy.
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