It all comes down to the headphones

The tips you just read can get you started, but one of the best ways to enjoy safe and high-quality listening is to get the right headphones. Most earbud headphones included with MP3 players sit on the outside of the ear canal. Ambient sound slips in through the gap between the earbud and the ear canal, interfering with the sound from the headphones — the sound you want to hear. It's a natural impulse to drown out this unwanted noise by cranking up your music, but this can easily result in dangerously high volume levels. Here are some suggestions on how to avoid that situation.

Earbud headphones let ambient noise (red) into the ear canal, where it interferes with the sound coming from the headphones (green).

In-the-ear headphones position their drivers inside the ear canal. The earpiece is surrounded by a soft sleeve, usually of foam, rubber, or silicone. These sleeves are replaceable, and almost all brands of in-the-ear headphones come with various sleeves to ensure a snug and comfortable fit for different-sized ears.

In-ear headphones act as a barrier, sealing out external noise (red). The headphone sleeves also help keep the sound you want to hear (green) inside the ear canal, maintaining sound intensity and eliminating the need to turn up the volume.

In addition to holding the headphones in place, these sleeves also block most of the ambient sound. As a result, your music can pack the same punch at a much lower — and safer — volume level. The sleeves also seal in the sound waves from your headphones, keeping them from losing any intensity by bouncing out of the ear canal. You'll need less volume to give your music presence.

Although in-the-ear headphones are most effective in diminishing external sounds, not everyone's comfortable with 'phones that rest inside their ear canals. Around-the-ear headphones offer a good alternative, with padded earcups that completely surround the ear, and help to minimize external sounds. As with in-the-ear models, the lessening of ambient sounds lets you enjoy your music at lower volume levels.

Around-ear headphones also help minimize external noise (red), while keeping your ear canal open.

You can even find noise-canceling models that actively combat ambient sound. These kinds of headphones are generally better at minimizing stable-pitched sounds, such as airplane engine roar, rather than irregular sounds, such as conversations around you.

The earbud headphones that come with MP3 players have their uses, too. Because they don't fully cover the ear canal, ambient sounds are more in the foreground. Sometimes that can be a good thing. If you're running or power walking, for example, being able to hear the sounds around you can help keep you safe. That's all the more reason to protect yourself and your ears, by leaving the volume a little lower when using these kinds of headphones.

Regardless of which style you prefer, using better quality headphones can also make a difference. Higher-end headphones have wider frequency response, which means you'll hear more bass and crisper highs. Usually the mid-range will sound fuller, too.

Better sound quality also means you don't have to max out the volume just to hear the instruments playing. As with higher-resolution sound files, you'll be able to listen at safer, lower volume levels and still get the full enjoyment out of your music. And with a little care, you'll be able to do so for years to come.

Special thanks to Audiology Associates of Harrisonburg, Virginia for providing technical information for this article.