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Speakers or Headphones, Which are Better for Online Learning at Home?

BenQ treVolo U dialogue speaker tells you why speakers are better for you over headphones in remote learning at home
 

With online learning and videoconferencing from home becoming a viable long-term option for those in higher education and those already in the workplace, many are doing their best to ensure that the conditions from which they log into their courses or meetings are optimized to make the experience as close to actually being there as possible. Beyond making sure that their broadband connection at home is both fast and reliable, and choosing a tablet or monitor that can provide the clearest view of the teacher, one of the most important components of the learning environment is the audio equipment that they will be using. In dealing with this issue, one question tends to always come up: Which is the best option to use for online learning (particularly language students), speakers or headphones/earphones? To deal with this question, it’s best to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both choices, and how they affect the ability to learn.

The Pros and Cons of Using Headphones/Earphones

The headphones close off from the surrounding environment

A Closed Design Optimizes the Sound and Cancels out Noise

The main advantage of headphone use is the heightened sound levels they provide. With a design that usually covers the entire ear, closing it off from the surrounding environment, and the resulting proximity of the speaker to the ear, headphones ensure that at almost any volume the audio from the class will be heard by the wearer without distraction from outside noises.

 The 'Headphone culture' is a way to find privacy in public

A Closed Design Also Means the Sound is Meant Only for You

The most common reason many choose to use headphones, regardless of situation, is that they ensure that the audio is only heard by the wearer. This not only means added privacy, but also prevents the wearer from being a nuisance to others in their general vicinity. For online learners, this means that they will be able to continue their courses outside of their homes and in spaces such as libraries, offices, and others.

Overuse of headphones may cause hearing loss

Long-Term Use May Lead to Hearing Loss

The flipside of the main benefit of headphone use (its closed design) is that it comes with some major disadvantages, including its biggest one: the harm it may cause to the listener’s hearing. With headphones, if the volume level is not closely monitored, or if regardless of the volume level, usage is prolonged, multiple portions of the ear can be easily damaged. Even in instances when the volume level starts high but has been quickly lowered, the initial loudness may already cause irreparable damage. As a result, any headphone use must be constantly monitored and adjusted in terms of both volume level and length of use.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Speakers

BenQ treVolo U dialogue speaker give the student a greater sense of the teacher’s presence

An Open Design Means Life-like Sound

When put in the context of online learning, one of the major benefits of using speakers over headphones, is their ability to give the student a greater sense of the teacher’s presence. This is due to the open, multi-directional nature of a speaker such as a desktop dialogue speaker’s acoustics, which allows for an increased perception of space, helping re-create the overall feel of a classroom for the learner.

BenQ treVolo U dialogue speaker provides greater flexibility in terms of control

An Open Design Also Lets You Keep an Ear on Your Surroundings

Though ideally online learners should be in situations where their complete focus is placed on the lesson, the reality is that in settings such as the home or office, they will still need to be cognizant of what’s going on around them, which speakers will allow them to do. So, in instances such as when their baby cries or when the doorbell rings, a learner who uses a desktop dialogue speaker for their e-learning will be able to quickly pause their lesson and attend to the more urgent matter at hand.

BenQ treVolo U dialogue speaker protects hearing from the longer distance to the ears

The Distance Between You and Speaker Protects Your Hearing

Beyond a greater sense of presence, another advantage to using speakers is actually the mirror image of one of the shortcomings of headphone use, this being the safety of speakers compared to headphones. As with eye safety, one of the main principles that governs how to protect your hearing is that the farther the distance, the lesser the damage; so, since speakers are mainly used at a distance, a speaker will help protect a learner engaged in long-term online learning from permanent damage and prevent subsequent hearing loss.

How a Speaker Geared for Human Voice Enhancement Technology is the Best Choice

BenQ treVolo U dialogue speaker is perfect for remote learners or workers for high a frequency of use while preventing hearing damage

In the end, the best bet for both the online learner and the remote worker is to choose a speaker like a desktop dialogue speaker that can broadcast and receive sound. This choice will heighten the user’s attentiveness and protect their hearing while doing so. The article that follows is an exploration of why we feel investing in a desktop dialogue speaker that emphasizes human speech will help resolve issues related to not being able to hear the online lesson or teleconference’s audio clearly.

Speaker Mic All Bluetooth Wireless Portable Desktop Dialogue Speaker Dialogue Bluetooth Portable

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