We decided to make a dedicated list of the best on-ear headphones for 2019 just because so many other sites usually mix on-ear in with a general headphone classification. On ears have their own following and their own unique properties which makes us think they deserve a top 10 all of their own.

There are a lot of people that prefer On-Ear headphone designs and we want to put forward the advantages and disadvantages before giving you our pick for the 10 best models to buy in 2019. We will be covering a wide range of styles and price points so there should be something for everyone.

As always if you have any specific questions about these styles of headphones or want to know our thoughts on models that aren't mentioned, please feel free to ask via email or Facebook and we will get back to you ASAP.

On-ear headphones vs over the ear headphones?

Let's get right into a simple explanation of what on-ear headphones are. As you might have guessed these headphones sit on top of the ear instead of an encompassing it. You may also see the latter referred to as circumaural or full-size headphones but the simplest explanation is the one above.

Complicating things a little further there are a couple of variations of the on-ear headphone. You can have the one that has the circular padding like on full size headphones or the one that is just a single pad usually with perforations.

Which one you choose to buy will of course come down to personal preference and there are excellent options in both styles on on-ear headphones. The circular pads tend to be a bit more breathable and airy sounding whilst the straight pad versions are a bit comfier due to the more even distribution of contact points across the ears.

Why are On-ear headphones better?

There are a few unique advantages to using an on-ear headphone that we want to discuss. Bigger does not always mean better and if you are someone who likes to travel or doesn't like the oversize look then on-ear headphones could be right for you.

Smaller Size - That's right with less space having to be dedicated to the earcups this means that on-ear headphones are usually far more compact. This makes them perfect for traveling and better suited to cases where you don't want to be carrying around a large set of cans.

Lightweight - Whilst not always the case (a lot depends on the material choices) it is fair to say that on-ear headphones are generally a bit lighter than over-ear models. This is down to less material being needed to fully encase the ear and also due to smaller headphones using smaller drivers.

Tuning - Some on-ear headphones have a very unique sound that can't be replicated within a bigger earcup. Many headphones are designed to be on-ear because that is what makes them sound good.

Good for sports - This ties in with the smaller size but when using headphones for working out they tend to be lighter and less obtrusive during movement.

Disadvantages of on-ear Headphones

Of course, it's not all roses and rainbows when using on-ear headphones. Just as they have some unique advantages over larger models there are also some disadvantages that you need to consider.

Ears can get sweaty - With the direct point of contact being your outer ear and there being less air underneath each cushion ears can get a little bit hot. This is usually remedied by taking them off for a couple of minutes but its worth considering before buying.

More pressure - Again because your ear is not sitting unencumbered you will be taking the full clamping pressure of the headphone directly onto your ear. In our experience, this is only an issue for a few days before your body adjusts and any initial discomfort subsides.

Less Tech - On-ear headphones have, until recently, been neglected in many companies headphones lines. Yes, its true that bigger headphones have been the focus in the past but more and more companies are putting a lot of work in on their on-ear models in the past few years.

Some things to consider when buying headphones

On-Ear and Over-ear aside there are a few key areas that you should consider before making any headphone purchase. Many people fall into the trap of going all out and seeking the best-looking headphone, or the best sounding headphone or the cheapest headphone. All of these can be fallacies in unto themselves.

The most important thing I tell anyone when looking to buy headphones is first looking at how you intend to use your headphones then organize your other priorities around that. There is no point in having the best sounding set of headphones if they are completely impractical to wear. There is no point in having the best-looking set of headphones if the sound like junk. Get the point?

So with that said what are the key areas that make up a good set of headphones?

Sound Quality - To me, this is the most important. I want something that sounds good. Not all headphones sound the same and as such some work better with certain genres of music than others. Therefore think about what genres of music you listen to and search out the appropriate headphones sound wise.

Build Quality - Build is incredibly important when choosing headphones. You don't want to be putting down a lot of money only to find out they fall apart after a year. Thankfully companies have started to pay real attention to the construction of their headphones and as such are offering longer warranties.

Comfort - Lets face it, you are going to be wearing these for hours on end so why would you want to wear something that doesn't fit or causes irritation. You wouldn't do it with your clothes so why do it with the headphones. In best case you should look to try them on before purchase and if that isn't possible look for a retailer with a simple (preferably free) returns process.

Styling - A lot of audiophiles don't care about the style of the headphones, they wear to them its a means to an end. They will endure in the pursuit of all out fidelity. While I tend to agree for a home setup that looks don't matter on ear headphones are most likely going to be used by people on the go. Appearance is important to me and many others so I do appreciate a good clean aesthetic when choosing a set of portable headphones.

Open Back vs Closed back headphones

Open back and closed back headphones are yet another area you should be aware of when making a purchase. Closed back simply means that the driver is enclosed inside the housing whereas on open back headphones the driver is heavily vented and open to the outside world.

As I mentioned above, the people who usually use on ear headphones do so when out of the house so open back headphones aren't going to be as well suited due to ingress of external noise through those vents. I have however included a couple of open back headphones in this list just because the sound so good. As a general rule of thumb open back headphones (those with an exposed driver) are best suited for when you are alone and closed back is best for nosier listening environments.