Sometimes when we go to buy new headphones, we don't know which one is the most suitable for us, and the differences between one type of headphones and another depend greatly on the features we are looking for.
That's why we've visited the Design and Innovation department at Energy Sistem and asked our fellow audio engineers to help us write this post and give us some very useful tips, such as what open or closed headphones are and the difference between supraaural , circumaural and intraaural .
If you have no idea what these features are, or you know but aren't entirely sure and are about to purchase a pair of headphones or earbuds, you've come to the right place to learn something new about the world of audio and determine which headphones are best for your needs. Let's get started!
Also known as over-ear headphones, these types of headphones are the largest in size, as the ear cushions completely cover the ear, offering great comfort and good weight distribution between the ears and the head.
In terms of sound, this may be the type of headphone that offers the highest sound quality, due to the large size of the drivers that occupy the entire ear canal, which allows for a better appreciation of the nuances and details of sound.

The quality offered by this type of headphones can be affected by the size of the drivers, although there are models that offer very good sound quality and comfort.
These types of headphones are perfect for transporting. Thanks to their small size, you can take them with you anywhere and store them comfortably in your backpack, since most are foldable.

In recent years the in-ear or in-ear headphones They have greatly improved the sound quality they can deliver, with a high capacity for detail. Their driver technology is constantly improving to deliver a surprising sound experience.

Their isolation capabilities are unlike any of the previous headphones we've seen; their shape prevents them from sealing to the shape of the ear, allowing sound to escape to the outside, preventing them from faithfully recreating extreme sounds like bass or treble. This type of headphone is designed to be carried with you at all times, due to its small size and more affordable price.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Closed-back headphones or earphones are characterized by isolating external sound and preventing it from escaping, allowing you to enjoy music without being disturbed and at the same time not disturbing others.
These types of headphones tend to have powerful bass and sub-bass due to their structure without allowing the earpiece to “breathe,” which does not mean that their sound is not natural.
In addition, by allowing air to pass through, they heat up less and are more comfortable for long listening sessions.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Active noise-cancelling headphones are characterized by canceling out outside noise through the technology they include.
This type of headset is the most isolating, as it can completely or partially cancel out ambient sound, isolating you completely from the world, such as the ambient noise of an airplane or train. It is ideal for those who like to travel without being bothered by anything.

Wireless headphones offer comfort and freedom of movement so you can listen to music without cables.
There are different wireless technologies for playing music from devices, including radio frequency, infrared, or the most common and widely used, Bluetooth. This allows you to quickly, conveniently, and easily sync your devices directly with your headphones so you can listen to your music. Discover the model that best suits you among all our Bluetooth headphones .
This concludes our explanation of the different types of headphones. We hope it helps and gives you a little more insight into which headset best suits your needs.
If you have any questions about which type of Energy Sistem headphones to choose, please leave a comment and we'll help you answer any questions.
That's why we've visited the Design and Innovation department at Energy Sistem and asked our fellow audio engineers to help us write this post and give us some very useful tips, such as what open or closed headphones are and the difference between supraaural , circumaural and intraaural .
If you have no idea what these features are, or you know but aren't entirely sure and are about to purchase a pair of headphones or earbuds, you've come to the right place to learn something new about the world of audio and determine which headphones are best for your needs. Let's get started!
CIRCUMAURAL
Also known as over-ear headphones, these types of headphones are the largest in size, as the ear cushions completely cover the ear, offering great comfort and good weight distribution between the ears and the head.
In terms of sound, this may be the type of headphone that offers the highest sound quality, due to the large size of the drivers that occupy the entire ear canal, which allows for a better appreciation of the nuances and details of sound.

Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Supra-aural headphones, also known as on-ear headphones, are smaller than circumaural headphones, both in the size of the cup and the driver itself. They rest on the ear, which compromises their comfort by putting pressure on the auricle.
- It offers top quality sound.
- Comfort thanks to the size of the pads that completely cover the ear.
Disadvantages:
- Its large size can make it cumbersome to transport.
- The possibility of using them outside the home is reduced.
SUPRAAURAL
Supra-aural headphones, also known as on-ear headphones, are smaller than circumaural headphones, both in the size of the cup and the driver itself. They rest on the ear, which compromises their comfort by putting pressure on the auricle.
The quality offered by this type of headphones can be affected by the size of the drivers, although there are models that offer very good sound quality and comfort.
These types of headphones are perfect for transporting. Thanks to their small size, you can take them with you anywhere and store them comfortably in your backpack, since most are foldable.

Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Known in English as in-ear, they are a type of headphones that fit directly into the ear canal, adapting perfectly to the shape of the ear and isolating it from outside sound.
- Convenient size to take your music anywhere.
- Most are foldable, making them easy to transport.
Disadvantages:
- Quality may be compromised by not fully covering the ear canal.
- Less comfort when resting on the ear and exerting pressure.
INTRA-AURAL
Known in English as in-ear, they are a type of headphones that fit directly into the ear canal, adapting perfectly to the shape of the ear and isolating it from outside sound.
In recent years the in-ear or in-ear headphones They have greatly improved the sound quality they can deliver, with a high capacity for detail. Their driver technology is constantly improving to deliver a surprising sound experience.

Advantages:
Disadvantages:
This type of earphone is inserted directly into the ear, just like in-ear headphones. The difference between the two is that they are inserted shallowly, meaning they don't enter the ear canal. Therefore, their sound quality is slightly lower due to their position in the ear and the size of the drivers.
- They offer very good sound quality.
- Perfect for transport thanks to their small size.
- They isolate outside sound very well.
Disadvantages:
- It may be uncomfortable to have the earpiece inserted into the ear canal.
- It may affect the sense of spaciousness compared to other types of headphones.
EARBUDS
This type of earphone is inserted directly into the ear, just like in-ear headphones. The difference between the two is that they are inserted shallowly, meaning they don't enter the ear canal. Therefore, their sound quality is slightly lower due to their position in the ear and the size of the drivers.
Their isolation capabilities are unlike any of the previous headphones we've seen; their shape prevents them from sealing to the shape of the ear, allowing sound to escape to the outside, preventing them from faithfully recreating extreme sounds like bass or treble. This type of headphone is designed to be carried with you at all times, due to its small size and more affordable price.
Advantages:
- More economical than any other headset.
- Easy transport thanks to its small size.
Disadvantages:
- Zero insulation capacity.
- Lack of bass frequency.
CLOSED AND OPEN HEADPHONES
CLOSED
Closed-back headphones or earphones are characterized by isolating external sound and preventing it from escaping, allowing you to enjoy music without being disturbed and at the same time not disturbing others.
These types of headphones tend to have powerful bass and sub-bass due to their structure without allowing the earpiece to “breathe,” which does not mean that their sound is not natural.
Advantages :
Disadvantages:
Open-back headphones or earphones don't isolate outside noise and instead allow sound to escape. Although at first glance this may seem like a disadvantage, as outside noise can interfere with our ability to better appreciate the nuances of sound and also disturb those around us, the sound produced by these types of headphones is more natural, providing a more direct listening experience.
- They are ideal for listening to music in noisy environments.
- Great insulation capacity thanks to its structure.
- Powerful sound with powerful bass.
Disadvantages:
- Some models and brands offer a congested sound or provide poor isolation.
OPEN
Open-back headphones or earphones don't isolate outside noise and instead allow sound to escape. Although at first glance this may seem like a disadvantage, as outside noise can interfere with our ability to better appreciate the nuances of sound and also disturb those around us, the sound produced by these types of headphones is more natural, providing a more direct listening experience.
In addition, by allowing air to pass through, they heat up less and are more comfortable for long listening sessions.
Advantages:
- More natural and true-to-life sound.
- Comfortable for long listening sessions.
Disadvantages:
- They are not recommended if a high level of isolation from external sound is required.
NOISE CANCELING
Active noise-cancelling headphones are characterized by canceling out outside noise through the technology they include.
This type of headset is the most isolating, as it can completely or partially cancel out ambient sound, isolating you completely from the world, such as the ambient noise of an airplane or train. It is ideal for those who like to travel without being bothered by anything.

WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Wireless headphones offer comfort and freedom of movement so you can listen to music without cables.
There are different wireless technologies for playing music from devices, including radio frequency, infrared, or the most common and widely used, Bluetooth. This allows you to quickly, conveniently, and easily sync your devices directly with your headphones so you can listen to your music. Discover the model that best suits you among all our Bluetooth headphones .
This concludes our explanation of the different types of headphones. We hope it helps and gives you a little more insight into which headset best suits your needs.
If you have any questions about which type of Energy Sistem headphones to choose, please leave a comment and we'll help you answer any questions.
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