What Are Headphones?
Headphones are personal audio devices worn over or inside the ears that convert electrical audio signals into sound waves, allowing private listening without speakers.
Unlike loudspeakers, headphones sit directly on or near your ears, delivering sound without interacting with the room.
How do headphones work?
Most headphones use small speaker drivers inside each ear cup or earbud. These drivers function in the same basic way as loudspeakers:
- An electrical signal enters the driver.
- A voice coil interacts with a magnet.
- A diaphragm moves air to create sound waves.
Because headphones are positioned close to the ear, they require far less power than room speakers.
Types of headphones
Over-ear (circumaural)
Large ear cups fully surround the ears. Often preferred for home listening and hi-fi use.
On-ear (supra-aural)
Sit directly on the ears rather than around them. More compact but may provide less isolation.
In-ear (earbuds or IEMs)
Fit inside the ear canal. Highly portable and commonly used with mobile devices.
Open-back vs closed-back headphones
Open-back
Allow air and sound to pass through the ear cups. Often provide a more natural, spacious sound.
Closed-back
Fully sealed design. Provide better isolation and prevent sound leakage.
Wired vs wireless headphones
Wired headphones connect directly to an amplifier or device using a cable.
Wireless headphones use Bluetooth technology and include built-in amplification and batteries.
In hi-fi systems, wired headphones are typically preferred for consistent signal quality and lower latency.
Key headphone specifications explained
Impedance (Ohms)
Indicates how much power the headphones require. Higher impedance models often benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Sensitivity (dB)
Measures how loud the headphones will play at a given power level.
Frequency response
Shows the range of frequencies the headphones can reproduce, often listed as something like 20Hz–20kHz.
Do headphones need an amplifier?
Some headphones can run directly from smartphones or laptops. Others, particularly high-impedance models, perform best with a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are headphones better than speakers?
Headphones provide private listening and eliminate room acoustics. Speakers create a wider soundstage and shared listening experience.
What is the difference between open-back and closed-back headphones?
Open-back headphones allow air and sound to pass through, often creating a more natural sound. Closed-back headphones seal the ear cup to reduce leakage and external noise.
Do expensive headphones sound better?
Higher-end headphones may offer improved materials, driver technology, and tuning — but performance also depends on proper amplification and personal preference.
In simple terms
Headphones are small, personal speakers worn on or in the ears, designed to deliver private, direct sound without using room speakers.