In today’s fast-paced world, almost everyone uses earbuds and headphones. We listen to music, talk on the phone, and get lost in podcasts and audiobooks with them. Even though earbuds are convenient and fun, you might want to use headphones instead.
The risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the biggest problems with earbuds and headphones.
The World Health Organisation says that unsafe listening habits put over a billion teenagers and young adults at risk of hearing loss, and these small gadgets are part of the problem. If you listen to loud music for a long time, it can hurt the delicate hair cells in your inner ear that send sound to your brain.
Earbuds are risky because they are so close to the eardrum. Unlike headphones, which rest over the ears, earbuds sit directly in the ear canal. This makes it more likely that even at lower volumes, they will cause more damage. Users often turn up the sound to drown out background noise, which makes the risk of hearing damage even higher.
Getting an ear infection is another risk of using earbuds. By putting them in our ears often, we risk bringing germs into our ears, which can cause irritation, inflammation, and infections in the ear canal.
Read also: Sony unveils WF-1000XM5 earbuds with heavy-duty ANC, 360 audio for $299
Why headphones are better than earbuds
Noise-cancelling headphones are better than noise-cancelling earbuds in six ways:
Feel good
Noise-canceling headphones usually have bigger ear cups than earphones, which makes them more comfortable and less tiring to use for long periods of time.
Sound quality
Headphones usually have bigger drivers, which means that the sound quality is better and the listening experience is more intense than with earbuds.
Getting rid of noise
Over-ear headphones have better passive noise isolation because they cover the whole ear. This means that even without active noise reduction, outside noises are less noticeable.
Batteries
Noise-cancelling headphones are bigger than earbuds, so they can hold bigger batteries. This means that noise-cancelling headphones have a longer battery life than earbuds.
Lasting power
Because of how they are made, headphones tend to be stronger and last longer, making them better for regular use and travel. It’s easy for earbuds to fall out and get lost.
Customization
Some noise-cancelling headphones have settings that can be changed, so the user can adjust the amount of noise cancellation to their liking.
Noise-cancelling headphones vs earbuds: conclusion
Keep in mind that everyone has different likes and needs and that both noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds have their own benefits.
Still, if we know the dangers of these gadgets and use safe ways to listen, we can keep listening to our favourite music and protect our hearing.