In-ear, open-ear or over-ear: which type suits you
Three ways of wearing music
By how they sit on the ear, headphones come in three types. In-ear buds go into the ear canal with a silicone tip. Open-ear buds sit on or in front of the ear and do not enter the canal at all. Over-ear headphones are the big ones, with a band over the head and cushions that cover the whole ear.
Each type has clear strengths. None is better than the others, only better suited to what you do. Many people actually have two pairs: one for the road and sport, another for home or travel.
Below are the types of earbuds and headphones explained in short: how each sits on the ear, what you hear around you and what each suits.
In-ear: small and sealed
The tip seals the ear canal, so outside noise is quieter and the bass is full even at low volume. In-ear buds are small, fit in a pocket and go almost anywhere: on the metro, at the gym, at the office. With active noise cancelling, as on the Free7, the isolation goes further still.
The downside: some people cannot stand the feeling of a tip in the ear for hours, and on the street the isolation means you hear less of the traffic.
Open-ear: the ear stays free
Open-ear buds leave the ear canal free. You hear your music and, at the same time, cars, colleagues or children in the next room. They do not press, do not heat the ear and are easy to wear all day. They are the safest for running on the street and very comfortable at the office: the EA16, for example, weigh 7.4 g a bud and are made for a working day.
The downside: they do not block noise, so on the metro or a plane the noise covers part of the sound, and the bass is lighter than on in-ear buds.
Over-ear: comfort and quiet
Over-ear headphones cover the whole ear with soft cushions. They block the most noise, especially with active noise cancelling, have large drivers and the biggest battery. The Pods Ultra have adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, 48 hours with ANC on and a 3.5 mm cable for flights.
The downside: they take up room in a bag, are warm in summer and do not suit sport.
Compared briefly
Isolation: over-ear and in-ear with ANC block the most; open-ear blocks none. Long-term comfort: open-ear and over-ear; in-ear depends on how well the tip fits you. Sport: open-ear with a hook or small in-ear buds; not over-ear. Safety on the street: open-ear. Battery: over-ear, then in-ear with a case. Size: in-ear and open-ear fit in a pocket; over-ear does not.
By situation
Running and cycling on the street: open-ear. Gym: open-ear with a hook or small sweat-resistant in-ear buds. Office: open-ear for a full day, in-ear with ANC for noisy offices. Metro and bus: in-ear with ANC or over-ear. Flights: over-ear with ANC, or in-ear with ANC if you want light luggage. At home in the evening: over-ear, for comfort.
If you wear glasses, open-ear clip buds and over-ear headphones with soft cushions press least on the arms.
About sound
Each type can sound good, just differently. In-ear and over-ear have fuller bass because they seal or cover the ear. Open-ear buds have an airier sound with lighter bass, especially in noisy places. For podcasts and calls the difference matters little; for bass-heavy music it matters more.
Do not compare types only by numbers such as driver size: the way they sit on the ear changes the sound more than any specification.
And bone conduction?
Besides the three types, there are bone conduction headphones, which rest on the cheekbones and pass sound as vibration through the bones straight to the inner ear. They also leave the ear free, like open-ear buds, but you feel the vibration on your cheek, especially at high volume, and the bass is weaker.
TESNA open-ear buds use air conduction: a small driver sits next to the ear and sends sound through the air towards the ear canal, with no vibration on the cheek. The S7, for example, have directional drivers that aim the sound at the ear so people nearby hear less. Our guide to air conduction and bone conduction compares the two in full.
Every model is in the shop, under true wireless earbuds, open-ear sport earbuds and over-ear headphones.