Headphones Types for Music Lovers, Gamers & Travellers

Do you know there are different headphones types for different users? You probably didn't.

Most of us wear headphones far more than we realize. A 2025 survey of 250 healthcare students, published in Cureus, found that 84% of them used headphones or earphones regularly. Lectures, calls, music, games. Half the day, they're just there.

Before we go deeper, here's a rundown of the headphones types you'll see in stores: over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, true wireless, open-back and bone conduction.

Who's buying matters too. Music lovers usually care about sound quality first. Gamers want low latency and a mic that doesn't crackle. Travellers just want to be comfortable and get some peace from the noise. Some pairs are also designed with a specific wearer in mind, like FASTER’s Soluna S7, which is made for women but suits everyone. 

The trouble is that the market is crowded, and half the listings sell anything as anything. A big number on the box tells you nothing about how a pair feels on your head at hour three.

FASTER handles this differently. Every product page states the driver size, Bluetooth version, battery life and the one year warranty up front, so you can compare before you spend a rupee.

For the past few weeks I've been gaming on my PlayStation 5 with FASTER's Straygos, and the Soluna S7 covers my everyday laptop and phone use.

Disclaimer: The product picks in this article come from FASTER's range. Specs and prices are taken from FASTER's website at the time of writing (September 2026) and can change, so check the product page before you buy. This article is general information, not medical advice.

There are six headphones types you'll run into when you shop:

• Over-ear: big cups that sit fully around your ears.
• On-ear: smaller pads that rest on top of them.
• In-ear: tips that go into the ear canal. This group also covers several different types of earphones, from wired earphones to neckbands.
• True wireless: earbuds with no cable between them, charged in a case.
• Open-back: vented cups that let sound move freely in and out.
• Bone conduction and open ear: designs that leave the ear canal uncovered. (currently FASTER doesn’t offer this type)

Here is our complete FASTER headphones collection:

1. S4 HD: Bluetooth 6.0, 40mm drivers, 15 hours playback, AUX and SD card input
2. S5 Pro: Bluetooth 6.0, 40mm drivers, ANC+ENC, up to 60 hours playback, dual device connection
3. S6 HD: Bluetooth 5.3, 40mm drivers, IPX7 water resistance, long lasting playtime, multiple device compatibility
4. Straygos: 50mm drivers, ENC mic, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired modes
5. GEKKO: 50mm drivers, 3.5mm TRRS wired connection, RGB lights, environmental noise cancellation
6. Rove S8: Bluetooth 5.3, advanced noise cancellation, up to 43 hours
7. Soluna S7: Bluetooth 5.4, ANC, up to 43 hours

The uses of headphones have moved well past just music, and no single style wins at everything. Here's how I'd think about the headphone types for each kind of listener.

For Music Lovers

What you're after is balance (bass, mids and treble that aren't fighting each other), a decent soundstage, codec support and, if you can get it, a wired option.

Codecs first. iPhones lean on AAC, while LDAC and aptX turn up on plenty of Android phones. Plug in a cable and the whole question disappears, which is why the S4 HD's AUX input is handy.

Music is what I listen to most, so I'm picky. A pair has to sound good and fit right. I think fit and balance decide that more than any spec sheet.

For Gamers

Look for low latency, a clear mic, decent positional audio and comfort that holds up over a long session.

The connection matters more than people think. A wired cable adds essentially no delay. A 2.4GHz dongle sits right behind it. Bluetooth is the easiest to live with but usually lags the most, though how much depends on the codec and the device. If you play anything competitive, go wired or 2.4GHz.

You'll also have to pick between a headset and headphones with a separate mic. A headset is one piece, so console setup is easier. Headphones with a standalone mic can sound better, but it's more clutter on your desk.

For Travellers

Active noise cancellation, battery, portability and comfort in the air are what to weigh.

Over-ear ANC cuts more of that low engine drone and gives you a physical barrier on top. True wireless ANC slips into a pocket, which suits light packing, but the batteries are smaller. 

A few extras help: a carry case, a power bank, an airplane adapter for the seat jack and multipoint pairing, so you can hop between phone and laptop.

Over-ear closed-back headphones. Bigger cups and drivers give the bass and mids room to breathe, the seal keeps outside noise from covering quiet detail, and they stay comfortable enough that you keep listening.

Out of all the headphone types, this is where I'd send most music lovers first. Open-back pairs beat them on soundstage in a silent room, but hardly anyone listens in one.

FASTER pick for the best headphones for music lovers: the S5 Pro. It has 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, ANC+ENC, up to 60 hours of playback and dual device connection. The ANC helps on a noisy commute, and with that battery you'll rarely think about charging.

An over-ear gaming headset with a 2.4GHz wireless mode and a clear mic. Among the headphones types, it's the one that pairs a closed cup, which helps you focus, with a connection that keeps up.

FASTER pick: the Straygos. I've had it for the past few weeks, and I recently played the new Wolverine game on my PlayStation 5 with it. The experience was out of this world.

Here's what's behind that on paper:

• Latency: 25ms in 2.4GHz dongle mode.
• Drivers: 50mm, with 360° sound coverage for positional cues.
• Mic: ENC noise cancelling, listed at -38±3dB sensitivity.
• Connections: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 or a 3.5mm TRRS cable, so it works with PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
• Controls: volume and mic mute sit right on the earcups.
• Battery: up to 10 hours of continuous play.

Travel is rough on headphones. Engine drone, packed gates, tight seats, hours of wear and not much chance to charge. A pair that's fine at hour one can be a pain by hour six.

My answer: ANC headphones, either over-ear or a foldable on-ear, with true wireless ANC if pocket space is the priority.

FASTER pick: the Soluna S7. It has Bluetooth 5.4, ANC rated at -20±3dB noise reduction, up to 43 hours on Bluetooth alone and 32 with ANC on, USB-C charging, and an adjustable, foldable frame with leather pads.

That much ANC softens engine hum and chatter. It won't silence a cabin.

One catch: no multipoint, so it only connects to one source at a time. If you jump between phone and laptop a lot, the S5 Pro lists dual device connection.

Whichever headphone types you shortlist, run through these first:

• Driver size and type: FASTER's models use 40mm and 50mm drivers. A bigger driver can help bass, but tuning matters as much as size.
• Noise cancellation quality: ANC reduces what you hear. ENC cleans up what your mic sends. Look for real numbers, like the S7's -20±3dB.
• Battery life and charging: listed hours often assume no ANC. The S7 drops from 43 to 32 hours with it switched on.
• Bluetooth version and codec support: the version isn't the codec. Check both if sound quality is a priority.
• Microphone quality: ENC helps on calls and in games.
• Build quality and warranty: FASTER lists a 1 year warranty and a 7 day exchange policy on its headphones.
• Price tiers: below Rs.5,000 (S4 HD) you get the basics. Between Rs.5,000 and Rs.7,000 (S5 Pro, S6 HD, GEKKO, Rove S8, Soluna S7) you get ANC and longer battery. Around Rs.9,800 (Straygos) you're paying for connection flexibility and a better mic.

Choosing among headphone types goes wrong in a few predictable ways.

• Buying on brand name or bass hype alone. Last year I bought a pair from one of the biggest brands, and within a day I was disappointed. I'd paid for the name, not for something that fit how I listen. Don't repeat my mistake.
• Ignoring fit and comfort. A pair that squeezes or slips ends up in a drawer, whatever the specs say.
• Assuming a higher price means better sound. Price often buys features, not always better sound.
• Overlooking latency for gaming. Bluetooth is fine for videos and casual games. In fast games, it can hurt.
• Turning the volume up to beat noise. In that Cureus survey, every student who listened above 80% of maximum volume for more than four hours a day reported multiple symptoms. Among those listening just as long at under 50% volume, only about one fifth reported any. It's a small, single institution survey with self-reported data, so treat it as a nudge, not a rule. Good ANC helps here, because you won't crank the volume to cover a noisy room.

The right choice comes down to how and where you listen. Music lovers get the most from over ear closed back pairs. Gamers should look for a low latency headset with a clear mic. Travellers should put noise cancellation, battery and comfort first.

If you can, try fit and comfort in person or check the exchange policy, because no spec sheet can tell you that. Pick the pair that fits your routine, not the one with the loudest marketing.