Types of Unusual Headphones
Headphones are small loudspeakers worn on or over the ears. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.1 billion youths worldwide are at risk of hearing loss due to inappropriate earphone use. Headphones can be unusual in shape, color, or design. Unusual headphones have unique features that distinguish them from standard models. These include binaural beats, noise cancellation, and augmented reality. Based on the design structure, headphones come in the following types:
- Over-ear headphones: This type of headphone has large ear cups that completely cover the ears. It is comfortable to wear for a long time and provides an excellent seal for the ears. As a result, artificial sound transmitted to the ear drum does not interfere with the real sound of the environment. Noise from the environment cannot disturb the wearer while listening to music.
- On-ear headphones: The flat headphone design makes the ear pads sit on the ears rather than around them. It is smaller and lighter than over-ear headphones. Although on-ear headphones are more comfortable than over-ear models, wearing them for extended periods may cause discomfort.
- In-ear headphones (earbuds): Some people may refer to it as earphones. In-ear headphones are small enough to fit inside the ear canal or rest against the outer ear. Because it is compact, it can be carried or stored easily. The sound quality may be inferior to on-ear and over-ear headphones.
Function and features of unusual headphones
Unusual headphones have different functions and features that excite people about music. Here are some of them:
- Ambient noise: Some unusual over-ear headphones have an ambient noise feature that allows people to hear sounds around them while listening to music. This feature creates a perfect balance by suppressing the noise around and simultaneously letting people hear sounds around them. It improves situational awareness and allows people to interact while wearing headphones.
- Active noise cancelation: Some unusual-shaped headphones come with an active noise cancelation feature that blocks ambient noise, especially for those who work in noisy environments. Many kinds of unusual headphones use ANCs to reduce unwanted sounds. The technology uses compact microphones to detect and counter the noise. The listened-in sound waves meet the noise waves, and the waves cancel each other through the ANC technology.
- Waterproof and sweatproof: Unusual long headphones can be waterproof and sweatproof. These kinds of headphones have an IPX rating that indicates how much liquid they can withstand. Buyers can find headphones with IPX1 to IPX6 ratings that can withstand a little water from rain or a spill. Headphones with IPX7 to IPX10 rating are ideal and designed to fully submerge in water. The IPX rating is usually printed on the product or packaging. Waterproof and sweatproof headphones are used for workouts and sports.
- Bone conduction: Some unusual headphones are designed with bone conduction technology. They use vibrations that travel through the bones near the ears instead of typical air conduction. The conduction technology allows people to hear ambient noises like cars honking when running or riding a bike. Bone conduction headphones have an open-ear design that is comfortable for people to wear.
- Bluetooth version: The Bluetooth version determines how far the unusual headphones can go within range. Headphones with Bluetooth version 5.0 and above use less energy. They can work at a range of 240 meters in open air, twice the distance of version 4.0 and 4.2, and four times more than the 4.1 version.
- Voice controls: Some unusual computer headphones have voice control features that allow users to give commands using their voices. Users can make phone calls, check messages, and find directions with virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Uses of Unusual Headphones
Unusual headphones have a normal, over-ear, or earbud shape, but the contraption is unique. Their regular use is sound enjoyment as with traditional ones, but because they are different, they serve other purposes.
- Sound visualizations: Unusual headphones can be used to create sound waves that can be fun to see. The sound waves become visuals that can be great to see during concerts or when the listener is in a space where sound vibration can be felt.
- Art installations: Unusual headphones can be used in art installations that incorporate sound. The headphones can add an interactive feature where a person can wear them, and sounds can be directed to them from different speakers that create a piece of art.
- Research and development: In sound research companies, these weird headphones can help scientists understand sound vibrations better than with regular headphones. Headphones with open-ear designs can help researchers in driving and flying tests to measure real-world conditions.
- Music production: Musicians worldwide use headphones with private listening features to monitor and track recordings. Unusual headphones that help musicians listen to sound with great clarity. Studio headphones are an example of unusual headphones that help in music production.
- Medical facilities: Unusual headphones can be noise-canceling that help medical and military personnel by blocking noise in emergency situations. This can help individuals make crucial decisions if they were exposed to a lot of noise. Headphones can also be open ear for patients undergoing ear surgery to keep the earl open while they listen to sound. Because it is unusual, the ear can remain open while listening to sounds. Normal earphones can keep the ear closed, but these headphones allow the ear to remain open.
- Sound therapy: Unusual headphones can be bone conduction headphones that provide sound through vibrations. They are used for sound therapy for people with tinnitus or other hearing problems. The vibrations can help reduce symptoms.
How to Choose Unusual Headphones
Headphones are a necessary gadget that many people use every day. They are the
best way to listen to audio material privately and are often used for numerous
purposes, such as working out, playing PC games, listening to music, and much
more. Unusual headphones are designed to stand out and give exciting audio
experiences.
Choosing unusual headphones depends on several factors. Here are some
important ones to consider:
- Unique Features: Unusual headphones are different because of the
unique features they possess. This can include headphones with built-in
speakers, like the Bone Conduction, that are placed outside the ear canal and
on the head. Headphones with hearing protection made for people in noisy
workplaces are another unusual feature. Select unusual headphones with
features that suit your needs and are different from others.
- Comfort: Every type of headphone has a different
design/structure, which determines how comfy/uncomfortable the headphones feel
when worn. Headphones with cushioned ear cups or adjustable headbands offer
a more comfortable fit because users can wear them for long hours without
feeling any pains. Unusual headphones can cause discomfort if they don't fit
well. This is because of their weird shape or size. When choosing
uncomfortable headphones, it is important to look for the right-fitting
pair.
- Sound Quality: The sound quality of an unusual headphone is
affected by its design. For example, a pair of in-ear headphones or ear
pods produces good sound quality than an old-fashioned model because it can
fit nicely in the user's ear. Headphones with a higher frequency range can
reproduce unusual sounds, like subtle details in unusual soundtracks or music
tracks.
- Style or Design: Unusual headphones come in many different
designs. Some common designs include artistic designs, unusual color
combinations, and patterns. Headphones that catch the user's eye are called
unusual based on style. Select a style that suits the user's personality and
taste.
- Type: The type of unusual headphone should be considered.
Unusual headphones can be Open-Back or Closed-Back. Open-back designs allow
air to flow openly, which makes the unusual sound clear. Closed-back designs
trap unusual sounds within the ear cups to create a unique audio experience
without outside noise. Each type offers a different take on sound quality,
which is unusual.
Q&A
Q1: What are the unusual types of headphones?
A1: Uncommon headphones might be as per the following: bone conduction, open-air, in-situ, underwater, wearable art, and virtual reality headphones.
Q2: How does bone conduction headphones work?
A2: Bone conduction headphones work by vibrating the wearer's bones through the bone conduction technology. The equipment bypasses the eardrums, directly stimulating the vestibular system or auditory nerves.
Q3: What are wearable art headphones?
A3: Wearable art headphones are lovely-headphones pieces of jewelry that can be worn as headphones. They combine functionality and aesthetics, making them visually appealing while delivering quality sound.
Q4: What are underwater headphones?
A4: Underwater headphones are designed to work perfectly in places with no air, such as underwater. It delivers sound through vibrations that work even in wet environments.
Q5: What is open-air headphone styling?
A5: Open-air headphone style allows sound to enter the ear cups. This enables the listener to be more aware of the surrounding spaces while still enjoying audio output from the device.
