- 1). Untwist your insert earphones and identify which side is right and left by finding the "R" and "L" symbols on each ear bud. Place the bud snugly inside the entrance of your ear canal. Repeat the insertion process on the other side. Although the insert earphones allow the most flexibility and privacy of the earphone styles, they are also considered the most detrimental to your hearing, as reported by a 2009 study at the Masan Samsung Hospital in South Korea.
- 2). Hold each side of your on-ear earphones and gently pull the headband apart until it's large enough to slide over your head. If the headband is too small or too large, remove the earphones and slide the adjustable side tabs up or down as necessary. Move the tabs upward to make the headset smaller and pull them downward to make it larger. The top of the headband should be on top of your head, bridging the two earphones. Because on-ear earphones go over the outer part of your ear, they are considered somewhat less damaging. The drawback to this type of earphone is that they are less likely to stay in place while exercising and can become wet with perspiration on the outer layer of foam.
- 3). Pull apart the headband to your over-ear headphones and adjust the side tabs until each earphone rests comfortably on the outside of your ear. Unlike the previous two models of earphones, the over-ear variety cups the perimeter of your ear like a sound cave. Professional musicians and recording artists often use this type of headset for the complete musical immersion the earphones offer. The downside to over-ear headsets is they eliminate nearly all external noise, making them unsafe to use outside where you might not hear oncoming traffic or someone approaching behind you.
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