Whats the difference between open-air and closed headphones?
Also known as supra-aural, open-air headphones sit lightly on or over the ear and are typically more lightweight than their closed-design counterparts. Their acoustically transparent earcups allow more bass leakage and spill-in of ambient noise that’s why you get that “airy” quality. For the same reason, you may disturb others nearby when listening to music at high volumes with open-air headphones. Closed (or circumaural) headphones have earcups that fit around the ear, forming a tight seal against the wearer’s head. The earcups are made of acoustically opaque materials to isolate the ear from ambient noise. Closed headphones typically have more convincing bass response than open-air types and are ideal for listeners who like their music loud. Due to their isolating characteristics, however, they are not recommended in situations where an awareness of outside sounds is desirable, for example, biking in traffic.
