On-Ear

On-ear headphones are the headphones you remember from years past – they sit on your ears, rather than protruding into them or fully encompassing them. The earpads are typically covered in foam or some other cushion, and have a plastic or metal band connecting the two. Some on-ear headphones clip directly onto your ear, like the Bluetooth ones that are sometimes packaged with cell phones.

Pros and Cons
First, the pros: on-ear headphones often offer better sound quality than in-ear headphones, and can be listened to at a lower volume with better dynamic range. They’re much less portable than earbuds, however, and can let in a great deal of ambient noise because the ear isn’t entirely sealed. In addition, many don’t appreciate the “earmuff look” on-ear headphones give. Still, they are very traditional headphones that deliver good sound quality and comfort for those who don’t like sticking earbuds directly into their ears.

Who Should Use Them?
On-ear headphones are good for those who need to pay attention to the depth and sound of what their listening to – on-ear headphones often provide higher quality dynamic range and sound than their in-ear counterparts. You’ll often see those in music or movie production using on-ear headphones. They can also be used for travel, especially those that offer active noise cancellation, to soften ambient noise.

AblePlanet Clear Harmony NC200 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

The AblePlanet Clear Harmony NC200s are an entry-level pair of active noise cancellation headphones. You can find the NC200s for about $100, making them a decent budget option. Since they're an entry-level option, you shouldn't expect pristine sound quality.
	Added on 2010-02-05 15:14:00

Able Planet PS500MM Headphones Review

The PS500MMs are a set of gaming headphones from AblePlanet. As such, they have a mic on a bendable arm and a volume switch. Unlike most headphones we've reviewed, the mic and headphones don't share the same plug: they follow the "green for playback, red for mic" color scheme that PCs use.
	Added on 2009-07-27 15:46:00

Denon AH-NC732 Headphones Review

The Denon AH-NC732 headphones are a set of noise-cancelling on-ears. With the active noise-cancelling features and a $300 price tag, the AH-NC732s are joining the crowd attempting to dethrone Bose from its pedastel amongst mainstream listeners. Like the Bose headphones, the AH-NC732s are comfortable, don't move around much when your head does, and come with some good cable and adapter options. Unlike the QuietComfort headphones, however, the AH-NC732s can switch their cancellation on or off, letting you conserve battery life when you don't need it. Also, audio quality gets a significant boost from shutting off the noise cancellation.

Added on
2008-11-04 09:25:00

Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9 Headphones Review

The ATH-ESW9s are a sophisticated pair of headphones with a price meant for the upper class. They retail for approximately $450, which is a lot, even for high-end headphones. Fear not, our blue-blooded reader, the headphones aren't simply an attractive piece of furniture: they have good overall audio quality as well.
	Added on 2009-01-15 16:56:00