
Passive isolation: Our earlobes aren’t flat, which is why on-ear earpads don’t create a perfect seal. Eventually, your skin becomes hot and starts sweating. Sweating: Much like over-ears, earpads press against your skin, preventing the air from circulating. After a while, it becomes painful, which will force you to take a break. Comfort: If earpads aren’t well-padded, the pressure against your earlobes can be irritating. Portability: Due to their smaller size, they’re slightly easier to carry around. Stability: On-ear fit and the overall lighter construction give better stability during physical activities compared to over-ear headphones. What are on-ear headphones good and bad at? On-ears are the most portable from full-sized headphones. Consequently, the earpads rest on your earlobes. Supra-aural headphones are constructed the same way as over-ear headphones, but have smaller earpads. If tuned correctly, they’re a go-to for studio workers in music production who want their mixes to have natural, accurate sound. They’re an excellent choice for traveling and commuting since they offer good isolation and are, in general, very comfortable. To tackle this problem, some of them are foldable and come with a carrying case. Portability: Due to their size, they take up a lot of space. Price: High-end over-ear headphones can be expensive, priced over $300 or even $1000. Stability: Big and heavy headphones can’t withstand rigorous movements, and they fly right off your head. Also, some can be pretty heavy or have strong clamping force to hold them in place. As a result, your ears touch the hard plastic inside earcups, which eventually causes aching. Comfort (with cheap headphones): Sometimes cheaper over-ear headphones come with thin earpads. Soundstage: Since drivers are further away from your ears, over-ears create a wider soundstage.
Sound Quality: Over-ear headphones produce sound that feels bigger and more realistic than smaller alternatives (earbuds).That ensures you hear more details without cranking up the volume.
Better passive isolation means less interference from the outside world. Leather earpads ensure the best isolation.
Passive isolation: Since your ears are fully enclosed, little ambient sound passes through.High-quality headphones with premium materials feel particularly luxurious. Comfort: Big over-ear earpads are comfortable and usually well-padded.