Ear-hook Headphones

Ear-hook headphones are in-ear headphones with a cable that runs over the outer ear and down behind it, often with a shaped ear hook. Singers, drummers and guitarists wear in-ear monitors this way on stage because the earpiece stays in place as they move and the cable does not pull it out. Here you will find monitoring models such as Shure SE215, Behringer SD251, Stagg SPM-435 and Mackie MP-240, alongside headphones from Moondrop and FiiO for listening to music. When choosing, look at the driver type and count, ear tips, connector and whether the cable is detachable.

Why wear the cable behind your ear?

A cable routed behind your ear rests on the outer ear, so it does not pull the earpiece out when you walk, play or sing. On stage, you run it behind your neck to a receiver worn on your belt, or to a headphone amplifier connected to the mixer's monitor output. A closed earpiece with the right size of ear tip also reduces stage noise, so you do not need to turn your monitor mix up as loud.

For the stage or for listening to music?

Dynamic, balanced armature or hybrid drivers?

Shure SE215, Behringer SD251 and Moondrop Chu II, for example, each use a single dynamic driver. Balanced armature drivers are small, so several can fit inside one earpiece: Shure SE425 has two, while Shure SE846 has four. Hybrid headphones combine dynamic drivers for the bass with balanced armature drivers for the mids and treble. FiiO FH3 has one dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers in each earpiece, while Moondrop Blessing 3 has two dynamic drivers and four balanced armature drivers. FiiO FP3 uses a planar driver.

Impedance, connector and signal source

Most models with a stated impedance are rated between 16 and 32 ohms. When choosing headphones for a phone, music player or in-ear system receiver, also check their sensitivity and the power of the headphone output, as impedance alone does not determine whether you need an external amplifier. A 3.5 mm jack is the most common connector, and some models also include a 6.3 mm adapter for a mixer or headphone amplifier. You can use a balanced 4.4 mm connector with music players and amplifiers that have a matching output, while a model with a USB-C connector plugs directly into your phone. If you also want to make phone calls with your headphones, choose a model with a microphone on the cable.

What should you check when choosing?

• Ear tips: the earpiece only blocks out ambient noise and delivers full bass when the tip seals in your ear, so try the sizes included in the box.
• Cable: if it is detachable, as on Shure SE215, you only need to replace the cable if it gets damaged, rather than the entire pair of headphones.
• Case: a case or pouch is useful for gigs and travel, and is included with some models.

You will find receivers and transmitters for cable-free monitoring in the wireless In-Ear Systems category. If you want to listen to music with no cables at all, take a look at wireless In-ear headphones. Models with a headband are in the over-ear and on-ear headphones category, with other models that fit in your ears under in-ear headphones. You will find extras under headphone accessories and the full range under headphones.