4-H Cotton Boll and Consumer Jamboree

2015Headphones

Over-Ear

• Also called full-size

• Completely cover the ears and create a seal to block ambient noise

• Heaviest variety

• Padded headband and ear cups reduce discomfort from weight

On-Ear

• These rest on the ears

• Comfort varies with ear cup material

• Typically smaller and lighter than over-ear headphones

• Have a headband or clips usually

In-Ear / Canal Phones• Fitted in the ear canal

• Seal blocks out ambient noise, unsafe for situations that require awareness of surroundings

• Ear canal plugs made of silicon, rubber, or foam

• Excellent noise isolation and sound quality

• Can be custom made and fitted

Canal Buds

• Middle ground between earbuds and in-ear canal

• Sit just on the inside of your ear instead of deep inside

• Tend to be more confortable

• Tend to be less expensive

Earbuds

• Sits in the outer ear

• Portable and convenient

• Ambient noise will seep in, listener may turn up the volume to a dangerous level to compensate

• Least expensive variety

• Sometimes uncomfortable

Specialized Headphones

Sports

• Designed to stay in the ear during intense workouts

• Water and sweat-resistant

Studio Monitoring

• Used in recording studios• Expensive• Neutral sound quality

Open Vs. Closed

Special FeaturesNoise Cancelling

Passive noise control

Insulating materials (usually foam and artificial leather) block out sounds.

Noise IsolationActive noise control (requires

power)

1. Incoming ambient sound is picked up by microphone

2. Noise cancellation circuitry inverts sound wave and sends it back to headphone speaker

3. Ambient sound and new waveform cancel each other out.

Wireless functionality• Most common

technology for wireless listening

• Compatible with most smartphones and computers

• Compression of audio files from device to headphones means sound quality is affected

• Listen up to 10 meters (32 ft.) from the transmitter