Headphones vs. Earbuds: Which Are Better?

Headphones rest on your outer ears. Supra-aural models cover your entire ear surfaces but don't entirely seal them. Over-the-ear models, or circumaurals, fully enclose each ear (think of the ear coverings worn by those who work on airstrips, or inside noisy factories). The biggest advantage with headphones is that they deliver superior sound quality, especially when it comes to capturing bass tones. They're also ideal for offering noise cancellation, which blocks out ambient noise, such as traffic on a street.

Open-cup headphones are quite affordable; you can purchase a pair for as little as $30. Closed-cup models start off a bit pricier, and can run as high as $500 or so. Why such a hefty price tag? Top-quality closed-cup models like Beats by Dr. Dre contain advanced speaker designs, powered amplification and excellent active-noise isolation [source: HP Home & Home Office Store].

But headphones aren't perfect. They're bulky (and even wireless headphones aren't too portable), which is why you don't see runners wearing them, or people strolling around town with a pair on their heads. If you wear headphones for a while, they can get all hot and sweaty, too, especially if you're exercising. And the bigger the headphones, the more they'll smoosh your hair. They can also interfere with glasses and earrings [source: CNET].

Earbuds can also rest on your outer ear — much like on ear headphones — but most are meant to be inserted into your ear canal. Earbuds are typically less expensive than headphones, much lighter and far less bulky. This means they're quite portable, which is why you probably see people with wires hanging out of their ears every day in cafes, on the sidewalk and at work.

Since earbuds only sit in your ear canals, they don't affect your hairstyle, or the wearing of glasses and earrings. Unfortunately, earbuds deliver inferior sound quality, especially when it comes to bass tones. They also don't filter out external noise very well, so earbud-wearers tend to crank up the volume on their tunes, which can wreck their hearing.

Some people find earbuds hurt their ear canals, too, while others simply can't wear them because they always slip out of their ears [source: CNET]. This can be a particular issue if you've invested in true wireless earbuds, which can easily get lost!

Final decision: If you want to enjoy better sound quality — and hear all the sounds in a piece of music — headphones are your best bet. They're also great for enjoying tunes on your audio devices at home. But if you're working out at the gym or commuting, earbuds are probably better, due to their light weight and portability.

But there's one more thing to consider before making any purchase. Both headphones and earbuds are typically "noise isolating" devices, meaning they block some of the noise around you, much like when you place your fingers in your ears or put earmuffs on. But some folks prefer to have headphones or earbuds that are noise canceling, and that's a different thing.

Noise cancellation is an acoustical technology that detects ambient sounds outside of your headphones or earbuds, then reverses the phase of the sound waves, which cancels them out. This technology works best on steady, low-frequency background noise, such as the sounds of a jet engine while you're flying, or steady traffic along a busy street.

However, this technology doesn't work so well with high-frequency and sporadic sounds: a dog that suddenly starts barking, or kids who come running down the street laughing and screaming [source: Noise Cancelling Review]. So, consider your circumstances and surroundings before you make a purchase.

Still not sure which is best for you? Many people purchase both headphones and earbuds, swapping them out depending on their circumstances. That way, you'll always get the sweetest sound of all.