When listening to music or playing games, do you use earphones or a headset?
This article explains the advantages and disadvantages of each, so please use it as a reference for those who have only ever used either earphones or a headset, or those who want to buy something new but don't know which one to buy.
Until a few years ago, headsets were the norm for gaming.
This is just my personal impression as a gamer, but it seems to me that up until a few years ago, headsets were more popular than earphones.
I think this is because headsets are said to have better sound, and there was a trend of using a headset when playing games.
Headset benefits
The advantages of a headset are
- The headphone has a microphone
- Many headsets allow you to adjust the volume and mute the microphone.
I think it's something like this.
The headphone has a microphone
A headset is a pair of headphones with a microphone attached, and I think that for those that cost a certain amount of money, the microphone typically extends when you want to use it and tucks away when you're not.
You can bring the microphone to the side of your face, so you can clearly hear your voice to the person you're chatting with. Unlike in-line microphones on earphones, they don't rub against your body or clothes, so you don't have to worry about touch noise.
You can adjust the volume and mute the microphone on the device.
Although it depends on the product, some headsets allow you to adjust the volume and mute the microphone on the headset itself.
The volume adjustment feature is very convenient as it saves you the trouble of having to open the volume settings in the game.
The same goes for microphone muting; you can instantly mute the device when you go to the bathroom by simply pressing the mute button, without having to open the settings every time.
I wondered whether to write that the sound quality is good, but in my personal opinion, I don't think there is that much difference in sound quality between earphones and a headset.
Disadvantages of a headset
Next, I will summarize the disadvantages of headsets, which I personally think are very important.
Disadvantages of headsets:
- My hair is crushed and I can't fix it unless I wet it thoroughly.
- If it doesn't fit, your ears will hurt.
- The head is pinched, so if you wear it for a long time, your side will hurt.
I think this is the point.
If you wear it for a long time, your hair will get crushed.
Anyone who has worn a headset for long periods of time each day knows that wearing it for long periods of time can crush the hair on the top and sides of your head, resulting in strange hairstyles.
Once this happens, the only way to fix it is to wet your hair as vigorously as you would shampoo it.
Therefore, on days when I want to play games in the morning but have plans to go out in the afternoon, I hesitate to turn it on.
If your hair is flat, you'll have to wash it before going out, which can make it difficult to use a headset, especially considering the time it takes.
It gets crushed so clearly that it makes me worry that it will cause hair loss on the top of my head.
If the ear pads don't fit properly, your ears will hurt.
Headsets come with cushions called ear pads. These are meant to prevent your ears from hurting, but sometimes your ears can hurt even with these.
When this happens, the pain makes it difficult to concentrate, so you have no choice but to take it off and take a break.
Also, because your head is pinched from both sides, the force can cause pain in the temples if you wear it for a long time.
This pain also makes it difficult to concentrate on the game, which interferes with your play.
Headsets are not suitable for long-term use
These disadvantages mean that headsets are not suitable for long-term use.
I'm sure there are many others like me who have stopped using headsets for these reasons.
Earphones are becoming mainstream
Recently, it seems like more and more people are playing games with earphones. I haven't used a headset for several years, and now I use Shure earphones.
Earphones don't have the disadvantages that headsets have, and I think they are easier to use for long periods of time than headsets.
The benefits of earphones
The benefits of earphones are
- In-line microphone for easy volume adjustment
- Does not crush hair even after long-term use
- No headaches
Something like this, perhaps?
In-line microphone for easy volume adjustment
An in-line microphone is a microphone attached to the earphone cable and also has functions such as volume adjustment.
It's the same as a headset, but has the advantage of being able to easily adjust the volume and play and stop music.
Does not crush hair even after long-term use
Unlike a headset, you don't have to wear it on top of your head, so you don't have to worry about your hair getting crushed.
It's easy to use even on days when you plan to go out.
No headaches
Since it doesn't put pressure on your head like a headset does, your head won't hurt even if you wear it for a long time.
It's also lightweight, so it reduces strain on your neck and shoulders.
Earphones can be used for long periods of time with less stress
What we can say from these things is that earphones are easier to use for long periods of time than headsets, and they don't crush your hair, so they cause less stress.
It takes time to fix crushed hair, and if you get a headache, in addition to the stress of the pain, you'll also feel stressed about not being able to play games.
Earphones eliminate this stress, which is why earphones are becoming more popular than headsets.
Disadvantages of earphones
If there are any drawbacks to earphones,
- Not as bad as a headset, but it can hurt your ears
- In-line microphones can result in poor sound quality or touch noise.
Is it around here?
Your ears may hurt
Earphones come in a variety of shapes, so if you use earphones that don't fit your ears for a long period of time, your ears may hurt.
I think this is less likely to happen than with a headset, but it's still possible.
There may be a problem with the microphone
When it comes to earphones, I think most of them, except for wireless earphones, have an in-line microphone.
Some earphones do not have a microphone, so you need to be careful when looking for earphones.
In-line microphones can sometimes have poor sound quality and can pick up noise when they rub against your clothing or body.
I think it's difficult to avoid it completely, since you can't put the microphone next to your face like you can with a headset.
Summary: Earphones are recommended for long-term use
To sum up my opinion, if you are going to play games for long periods of time, I recommend earphones.
The disadvantages of the headset are a major drawback.
Although earphones do have some disadvantages, such as having to be careful of touch noise, we still recommend them!
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