Which headphones do not disturb my environment?

Headphones emit sound in more than just one direction.

Those who like to listen to music with headphones enjoy a very personal sound experience. Unlike loudspeakers, the drivers of headphones sit directly in front of the eardrum. In theory, this creates a closed, intimate space that others can’t (or shouldn’t) hear. In practice, however, this often turns out to be different. Especially in quiet environments, it is quite common for us to hear the music of people wearing headphones. A lot of us feel disturbed by this, for example when our partners are relaxing on the couch reading a book while their ” other half ” wants to watch a movie with headphones.

With the right model, the problem can be minimized or even avoided completely. That’s why closed headphones and in-ears are ideal! Due to their design, hardly any noise penetrates from the inside to the outside and vice versa.

Another important aspect is the contact pressure of headphones. The higher the pressure, the closer the headphones fit to the ear cups. However, the other side of the medal can be increased pressure on the ears, temples and head, which makes long listening sessions almost impossible. All headphones that end up in our test lab are also checked in terms of contact pressure. You can find this information in the respective tests under “Technical specifications → Pressure averaged from big and small head”.

But be careful: These headphones are dangerous for use in the street, since you will hardly be able to hear your surroundings, if at all!

More information:

• the best closed headphones on headphonecheck.com
• the best in-ear headphones on headphonecheck.com
• FAQ: “What are the pros and cons of in-ear and over-ear headphones?”
• FAQ: “Open-back vs. Semi-open vs. Closed-back headphones: Which is best?”