Audio is one of the best ways to create a truly immersive gaming experience, but choosing the right headphones isn’t easy. The biggest decision you’ll have to make when looking for a new pair of headphones, whether you’ll use them for gaming or not, is whether you want to wear them over the ear or in the ear. Both have their pros and cons, but just looking at what’s on offer in the store, it’s hard to figure out which option is better.
In this guide, we’ll compare the larger and more powerful over-ear headphones with the more compact and noise-isolating powerhouses of inner-ear monitor (IEM) earphones for gaming to find out which option is best for you.
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Beyerdynamic DT990Pro
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is an audiophile-quality headphone that is ideal for content creators who record and edit their own productions. The DT 990 Pro over-ear headphones perfectly balance low, mid and high tones, providing a transparent listening experience. The headphones feature exceptionally comfortable and stylish gray velour ear pads for hours of pain-free listening. The adjustable steel headband is equally comfortable to wear and is part of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro’s robust yet lightweight construction.
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Fiio FH3
The FH3 uses a hybrid system of a 10mm dynamic driver with a beryllium-coated diaphragm and a silver-plated copper cable, delivering excellent sound in a small package. The beryllium-coated driver is lightweight, thin and highly rigid, enabling powerful yet lightning-fast, responsive and dynamic bass. The sophisticated design of the earbuds guarantees hours of comfortable fit with little to no strain.
Sound quality
The overall sound quality these options deliver is arguably the most important factor. Both overhead and IEMs offer a variety of sound quality levels depending on the model and mode. However, because overhead headphones deliver a fundamentally different sound to your ear than IEMs, two options at similar prices are going to sound quite different.
Over-ear headphones have a distinct advantage when it comes to imaging and soundstage because the drivers are larger and sit slightly away from your ears. That’s not to say IEMs can’t deliver a wide soundstage, but they have to work a little harder to do so because the drivers sit inside your ear canal rather than outside of it.
If we ignore the soundstage and imaging somewhat and just look at the frequency response, over-ear headphones again have the advantage of typically being able to produce more powerful bass due to the larger driver size. However, with finely tuned IEMs like the Fiio FH3, the bass response is just as impressive and in some cases tighter and more responsive than their over-ear counterparts.
Without getting too deep into the physics of sound, typical headphones create sound by vibrating a diaphragm using electrical impulses. Large movements of the diaphragm produce the bass frequencies, and the high frequencies are created by shorter movements in between. So while a larger driver allows for more powerful bass, a smaller driver with good tuning can produce comparable bass and a slightly faster response time. With headphones like the DT 990 and FH3, this difference is barely noticeable when gaming and only becomes apparent when listening to content analytically.
winner: Slight advantages over over-ear headphones
comfort
Comfortable headphones are the key to an excellent gaming experience. There’s nothing worse than having to take a break after an hour because your ears start to hurt or sweat.
Finding a pair of perfectly comfortable headphones is a very personal matter. Even more than sound quality, comfort varies considerably from headphone model to model, whether they are IEMs or over-ear headphones.
However, if you’re prone to sweaty ears and don’t want something covering a large portion of your head, you can’t go far wrong with a pair of IEMs. While they won’t completely prevent sweat from building up, especially in the ear canal; thanks to the much smaller form factor, IEMs also prevent heat buildup when gaming in the warmer summer months. However, IEMs do have their drawbacks when it comes to comfort. Because they sit in your ear canal, they’re much more prone to causing ear strain when listening to content for hours, and getting the right size ear tips is key to getting the most comfortable fit possible.
Just because over-ear headphones are bigger and heavier doesn’t mean they can’t be comfortable. In fact, when done right, over-ear headphones are so incredibly comfortable that it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them after a while, especially when you’re engrossed in a game.
winner: Pull
portability
There’s no denying that IEMs are definitely easier to store and be ready to play anywhere. Whether you’re using a handheld game console or a gaming laptop for a trip, IEMs can easily fit in any bag. As long as you carefully coil the cable, you’ll be ready to play in seconds. Over-ear headphones, on the other hand, are quite bulky and take up a lot of space in your bag, whether they’re in a carrying case or not.
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winner: IEMs
Price
Although price is not the most exciting deciding factor, the price of a headphone is one of the key factors in making the final decision. Both over-ear headphones and IEMs come in numerous excellent options at different price points. Whether you are looking for a budget, mid-range or premium option, both are fantastic choices.
However, since over-ear headphones have been in the mainstream for longer and are a bit easier to manufacture, you’ll have better luck with them if you’re looking for the best possible price and performance. That’s not to say that budget IEMs are outperformed by every budget over-ear headphone; the Linsoul KZ ZSN PRO X is a great example of this, with tremendous performance for just $24.
winner: Over-ear headphones
Over-Ear Headphones vs. IEMs: Which are Better for Gaming?
After these four categories, over-ear headphones and IEMS are still neck and neck, with one of them just barely winning in some categories. If you’re looking for headphones that offer rich sound with a powerful bass response, you’ll probably want to look for a pair of over-ear headphones. However, if you’re looking for a compact pair of headphones that still delivers fantastic sound, IEMs are hard to beat for gaming.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you choose over-ear headphones or IEMs, as long as you get a good pair of headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do audiophiles like IEMs?
Because they are much smaller and more compact than traditional headphones, IEMs offer similar hi-fi sound and are much easier to take on the go than over-ear headphones. Even when used at a desk, IEMs are a great option for a more compact audio device.
Q: Why do gamers use IEMs?
Thanks to better noise isolation, small form factor, and low latency, IEMs are perfect for gaming at home and on the go, especially when compared to similarly sized wireless earbuds. While IEMs may not be as popular as over-ear headphones and traditional gaming headsets, they are definitely gaining traction thanks to these key benefits.
