11. Headphones and earphones

Headphones and earphones consist of a pair of small loudspeakers which are worn over or in the ears.

They are connected either by cable or wirelessly to a device such as a computer, radio or MP3 player.

A transducer converts the electronic signals from the device into sounds which can then be heard by the user via the phones.

Advantages

• The sound can only be heard by the user (mostly)
• Portability - lightweight and easy to carry around
• Can listen to music on the move
• Although prices vary, many headphones and earphones are inexpensive

Disadvantages

• If music is played too loudly or for long periods of time there is a risk of permanent hearing loss
• Often not aware of surrounding noises such as cars in traffic or people talking
• If the music is too loud or the headphones not fitted correctly then others can hear an annoying sound from them.
• Can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
• If the device is large e.g. a computer, it is not easy to move about the room while wearing the headphones