15-year-old Anastasia Kulikova explores the dos and don’ts of headphone and earphone use
Consumer Reports tests audio devices in the anechoic chamber at its lab in Yonkers, New York.
February 14, 2025
For your listening pleasure: A guide to the best and safest headphones
At the end of each year, social media is flooded with posts about ‘Spotify Wrapped’, a culmination of that year’s listening. Harbingers’ Magazine decided to look at an often overlooked part of the listening experience: headphones.
Headphones and earphones (or earbuds) have made their way into the staple list of items that almost every device user in the 21st century carries, whether it be for entertainment or work.
Types of headphones differ on the basis of connectivity (wired or wireless); fit (over-ear, on-ear, open-ear, earbuds, in-ear); design (closed-back, open-back, headset); and whether or not they are noise-cancelling. All of these elements come together to decide how enjoyable – and healthy – your listening habits are.
The sophistication of today’s technology is a far cry from the earliest forms of headphones, back in the 1880s, when women telephone operators used an apparatus that weighed 10 lbs and rested on the shoulders to aid their listening.
In 1891, French engineer Ernest Mercadier created the first ‘earbuds’, which were lightweight but not accessible for everyone due to their high price. In 1910, American engineer Nathaniel Baldwin invented the first pair of modern-style headphones – in his own kitchen.
When the Sony Walkman came out in 1979, it catalysed the transition to a new era of listening pleasure. Bluetooth launched at the turn of the 21st century and soon became integrated into the headphone industry. The first wireless earbuds, from Onkyo, appeared in 2015.
Apple launched its now-famous AirPods in 2016; by 2018 they had become the company’s top-selling accessory. More than 100 million pairs are sold each year.
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Advice on headphone use
In a survey of teenagers in Sydney, Australia and in Galle, Sri Lanka (mostly aged 14–15) conducted by Harbingers’ Magazine, the majority said they preferred to use wireless headphones. They felt they were more comfortable, provided better noise-cancelling and were great for mobility during physical activity. Respondents said that comfort was the most important consideration, followed by sound quality.
The users of wireless earbuds, such as AirPods, were also popular for the same reasons, although a respondent stated that headphones were “easier on the ears”.
Half of those surveyed said they listen at volumes higher than 60%. This can pose significant risks to long-term ear health, as explained to Harbingers’ Magazine by a Sydney audiologist with nearly 20 years’ experience, Dr Signe Steers.
She explained that there are risks of noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL), which is most often permanent hearing damage that significantly affects a person's quality of life.
Tinnitus(the perception of a sound in the ears or head such as ringing or buzzing) is also a potential issue.
People can reduce such risks by adopting a few sensible listening habits, such as following the 60/60 rule (listen for no more than 60 minutes at a time, at 60% volume or less).
If you really want or need to listen for longer, the maximum duration (for over-ear or on-ear headphones) is eight hours a day at moderate volume (below 60%) or up to two hours a day at higher volume (80% or above). In-ear models should be used for much less time due to their proximity to the eardrum and lack of noise-blocking capabilities.
Volume is a key factor: it should be below a maximum of 85dB, which is equivalent to a food blender or the sound in a cinema. Noise-cancelling headphones can help with maintaining a low volume, as these minimise external sounds that interfere with your listening.
However, headphones do lessen awareness of the outside world, which is problematic or even dangerous for certain activities that require attention to your surroundings, such as cycling.
Considering Dr Signe Steers’ advice, the least damaging types of headphones are over-ear or on-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Both keep the ear canal open which is much safer than in-ear models, which also risk trapping earwax or moisture.
Good hygiene is crucial too. To prevent bacteria from entering the ear canal and causing infections, clean your headphones after each use. To avoid hearing fatigue, even if it is only temporarily, you should also let your ears rest.
Headphones remain a crucial part of many people’s lives – whether buried at the bottom of their handbag, or always in their ears. They allow us to disconnect from the world around us, and take joy in the music we listen to. However, it’s important to remain safe when listening to music and our tips can help with that!
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