When did ear buds give way to headphones?

[MorrisZapp]

I failed to notice it 😂

I was in the gym, struggling as always with my ear buds (tiny ears, need really loud music too) when I noticed the girl next to me had traditional style headphones on.

Looking round the gym, headphones outnumbered earbuds by two to one, and it's the same in the street, on the bus etc.

I bought some headphones and they are HEAVENLY. In fact my workout was twenty minutes longer because the tunes kept me going.

I'm behind the curve obviously - when did headphones take over?

No idea if this lady knew about it but headphones usually have 3 different modes so you can actually have outside sounds coming in a bit louder than usual with a tap on the ear.

I've never been able to wear ear buds, my ear canals are small especially the left one so it's just painful.

I've been wearing these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-RP-HS46E-K-Slim-Clip-Earphone-Black/dp/B002GAXWF2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3H2ED492L75YW&keywords=panasonic+earphones&qid=1707573576&sprefix=panasonic+ear%2Caps%2C288&sr=8-4 for over a decade when out and about. They're very light and comfortable, I can wear just one if I also need to hear what's going on around me. They're cheap so I have a pair in every coat pocket, at my computer, by my sewing machine etc. I cursed Apple to hell and back when I had to change my phone and couldn't get one with a headphone jack, but now I use either this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01LWAUW1P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to plug into my phone or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H5C2BQX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1 if I want to use Bluetooth.

When I'm at home and want noise cancelling then I use my Bluetooth Anker Soundcore headphones which give a great sound and block out my dear family.

I used to wear big over ear headphones at the gym to stop silly boys talking to me (i'm def not that attractive in gym gear, i just went to a gym next to a college so the other members were 90% young men as i could go during the day and so could they) There were also lots of PTs who would come up to try to sell their services and with headphones on i could pretend not to see them.

Same thing sometimes at my desk at work when i need to concentrate. Often not even plugged in :-)

My teens have had both for the last couple of years and use headphones at home and AirPods when out and about. Interestingly neither use Apple headphones and are happy with their choices.

Personally I’m all about the earbuds. Easier to wear, easier to carry, don’t make you look like an idiot 🤣
What about listening to music with headphones makes you look like an idiot? Glib comments on the internet on the other hand...

I must have funny shaped ears as I can't get on with anything that's meant to fit inside them. I got £15 wireless headphones from Amazon and they're great for the gym

@Seagrassbasket headphones aren't the problem, some people just aren't interested. When I was small, it was my mother talking on a brick phone and watching TV constantly. If there were no brick phones, it would be landlines, then newspapers, then stone tablets... you get the idea.

Plenty of parents, including me, listen to stuff whilst walking with LO in the pram or having them on reins etc. even sometimes (shock) at the park. it's a good way to wind down.

Parents who want to engage will lower the volume or simply take them off when their child talks. Those who don't care, won't.

Headphones hurt my ears, my ear buds don't. I can't get on with headsets either, think it's the pressure on my ears.

I have big Sennheisers and the sound quality is fantastic, however they are not a great fit. The band seems too tight so they really press on my ears and at the same time it's too short so it isn't snug on my head. They are great for when I want to block everything out.

I have wired buds for listening in bed because I'm a side sleeper and can't find any Bluetooth ones that fit/last the night on standby. They are these ones:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JBL-In-Ear-Headphones-Black-T110/dp/B06VWPCYFD/ref=pdrhffeessgccprtpbbdsccll11/261-7161793-4399863?pddrdw=1SkjO&content-id=amzn1.sym.beab83a1-d508-4208-83ba-42713efd4aa3&pffrdp=beab83a1-d508-4208-83ba-42713efd4aa3&pffrdr=WMA9YSCA7JK7TR5SKEGY&pddrdwg=Krbkv&pddrdr=bb18ece5-e6f8-4778-b7de-f188c0a09595&pddrd_i=B06VWPCYFD&psc=1

I would really like some new wired Bluetooth headphones if anyone has any recommendations (I was actually going to start my own thread when I saw this one). I don't think buds will work for me. I have small ears and I'm after a shallow, flat base like the ones above. JBL seem to be phasing out their old Bluetooth version of these and in any case they have an older type of Bluetooth. I'm reluctant to pay £35 for something that lasts 2 hours!

I have these too and on the whole I really rate them but mine don't seem to last long so I have to charge them daily.

I would prefer over the ear ones for the gym but the nice pair my husband got me really hurt my face and I can't wear my cheap ones because of my piercings.

The actual in ear ones are awful for me, my right one never stays in so I'm forever putting it back which is really annoying.

I wear both (not apple products though. Won't touch Apple )
My headphones are fabulous and completely block out all external noise, the gym music is ridiculously loud when a circuit class is on 🤨
Can't wear them on a cycle ride though - for safety and because of my helmet.
Ear buds with lower volume are fine for this.

I decided I preferred headphones over earbuds years ago. Had a nasty ear infection and couldn't listen to music so bought some really cheap headphones from Argos. When my ears had cleared up I went back to my earbuds and hated the way music sounded! Tried a few different ones then gave up and fully converted to headphones. I have two lots, lightweight ones for listening to music in bed (as they fall off when I'm asleep) and chunky ones for outside, although not noise cancelling as I like to be able to hear cars and things.

Headphones can suppress more outside noise as the cups fit completely over the ears. They are better at noise cancellation and probably do better bass because of the physical size of the speakers. Also earbuds dont work in everyones ear canals as there are different shapes.

My earbuds fall out of my ears. I put my hands over my ears when walking past drain covers and puddles. 🤣

I would switch to headphones but the buds were a thoughtful Christmas present from DH.

I wear AirPods when I’m running on the treadmill at the gym. My ears must be the right shape for them as they’ve never fallen out.

But I wouldn’t be without my Bose noise cancelling earphones. On a long flight, they are a game changer.

I like both for different requirements and situations. Actually, I have a third set built into a soft headband thing for yoga/sleeping, too. If you don't insist on specific brands or require top-of-the-line quality, they don't cost much, and it's nice to have some flexibility.

I use in ear earphones with over ear clips designed for running.

I prefer headphones generally but I can’t lie down with them on and my ears get too sweaty during exercise 😂

I use echo buds and love them but the pre teens and early 20s dc all have head phones. The 29 year old is with me and also has echo buds. I don't like apple ones at all

She's not fucking obliged to give 100% of her attention to baby 100% of time. In fact if her kids were like mine, that could be the only chance she got to breathe and destress even slightly. It's not "dumb" or "tuned out" to be listening to something, could be a podcast on particle physics or learning Mandarin for all you know.

Ooh go you.

When people realised how much more comfortable they were, and how much better they sounded!

I don't know but I blame this for the scourge of people watching/listening to videos on their phones in public with the sound on.

my old phone had a headphone jack so was easy to just listen in silence. now people lose their ear buds can't be arsed to get them out and so on.

bring back the headphone jack I say.

there will inevitably be a rise in ear infections/blocked ears/accumulated earwax as people of this generation age because having something stuffed into your ear canal repeatedly is pushing the wax back in when naturally it should migrate outwards.

I still have buds but got myself a cheap-ish pair of headphones because they're just more comfortable. They're also great when it's cold out because they help keep my ears warm!

I've used headphones for donkeys years. Some caused pain some didn't.
Although I have had ear buds. I can't wear them for long because they cause agony.

I now have perfect headphones that go over my ear and they're Bluetooth too.
The last time I had perfect headphones was when I was a teen over 30 years ago and they were my dads.

@Sladuf thanks so much this: extremely helpful!