Home > Headset Info & Help > Headset? Headphone? Earphone?

Headset? Headphone? Earphone?

Headset? Headphone? Earphone?











A lot of people seem to get headphones and headsets mixed up.

►Headphones have earpieces and are mainly used for listening to music.

►Headsets have earpieces (or a single earpiece) plus a microphone, and are used for communications (both listening and talking) on the phone, computer, air traffic control console, and so on.

►An earphone is a tiny receiver that fits in or on your ear, commonly used for listening to a portable radio.

►EarPhone® is a miniature ear-mounted receiver with a short microphone boom (sort of a mini headset), made by Jabra for phones.

►EarSet® is an all-in-the-ear receiver/transmitter, also made by Jabra. Similar products from other companies are called ear buds.

►HeadPHONE is an advertising label that Panasonic uses for some phones that have headset jacks.



AND, just to make life even more complicated, there is a growing group of devices that function as both headsets and headphones. They provide stereo music when connected to a computer, smartphone or MP3 player -- and also have microphones for phone conversations.