Earphones That Do Not Obstruct the Ear Canal

• Although in-ear headphones, or earbuds, are useful for noise cancellation, some people find them uncomfortable and prefer headphones that do not block the ear canal. Non-blocking headphones are referred to as on-ear headphones, and there are many highly acclaimed headphones of this style available.

Ear-pad Headphones

• On-ear headphones do not seal off the ear. headphones image by Sonar from Fotolia.com

  These headphones are also referred to as supra-aural headphones. This style is the most common type of on-ear headphones. Ear-pad headphones sit on the ears but do not fully seal the ear. This style of headphone helps keep your ears from overheating, but it does not provide as much noise cancellation as in-ear or full-sized headphones.

Sports Headphones

• Sports headphones loop behind the head. Headphones image by bluefern from Fotolia.com

  These headphones, designed for active headphone users, are sometimes referred to as behind-the-neck headphones as they loop behind the head rather than across the top. Sports headphones can be both earbuds and on-ear headphones, but their common feature is the hooks that attach the earpieces to the ear. This design works well when exercising, as the headphones are less likely to shift or fall off the ear.

Full-sized Headphones

• Full-size headphones have better bass sounds than ear-pad headphones. headphones image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com

  This style of headphones includes earpieces that cup around the ear, creating a complete seal. Because of their size, these headphones are not as portable as regular ear-pad headphones. Also, full-sized headphones can cause ear overheating and sweating. Full-sized headphones offer better noise cancellation and bass capabilities than ear-pad headphones.