Why Headphones Are Usually Marked With L And R? (R Headphones Or R/Headphones)

We live in an era where technology is a big part of our everyday lives. You probably own a smartphone, a laptop, and a tablet, probably even an iPod, or even more gadgets than just those mentioned. And when you decide to purchase a new one, they probably come with headphones. Maybe you have noticed that headphones these days are labeled with L and R to signal.

Well, now that you have noticed those markings you are still probably not giving them that much thought. You just automatically place the headphones marked with L in your left ear and the R headphone in your right ear. But there are actually a few quite good reasons for labeling those earphones and wearing them just as they are labeled.

If you are still using r/headphones, after reading this article you will maybe decide to go and purchase a new labeled pair.

Now, let’s get familiar with these earphones, explain why those marks are even on them, and talk about l & r meaning and how they improve your user experience in general.

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#1 - Ergonomic Design

This is probably of the most obvious reasons.

In a tech world, whenever they decide to place a new product on the market, creators are making sure you are getting the best customer experience. Basically, they are making sure you are enjoying your new purchase and that you will possibly recommend it some of your friends or family members. This means for them even more buyers and purchases.

Also, it's about the efficiency of those headphones as well. Headphones should be comfortable, but companies are also looking to deliver the best sound quality so the whole experience of using headphones is complete.

Many people are using headphones while doing different activities like jogging, walking, going on a hike or cycling. Imagine going for a jog, listening to music and that one earbud is constantly falling out. It can definitely be a distraction and you are just trying to focus on what you are doing. That is also one of the reasons for the ergonomic design of earphones.

#2 - Human Brain Unconsciously Divides Most Sounds By Ear

There are many things happening in our body which we are completely unaware of. One of those things is how our ears pick up different types of sounds. One of the ears is better at picking up words and speeches and other at picking up general music sounds.

The following has happened to me on many occasions – one of the earphones would stop working. The music I played on my phone and listened to using my headphones was not the same, I felt like some beats where missing. Even though I could still listen to music using one earbud, the incomplete listening experience was quite irritating. Here is a simple explanation why was I experiencing this with my marked headphones.

Whenever producers are creating new music it is usually recorded in stereo. There are actually different recordings for left and for your right ear. Your brain is tricked to believe the music is playing from various places and not just one source. You are allowed to listen to the track as it is recorded only by wearing those headphones just like they are marked.

You probably know that there are low and high notes. If you wanted to focus on low notes, you should wear an earbud marked with L because your left ear will pick up those sounds easier. For high notes, your right ear is your best friend.

Try playing a track of a concert and listen to sounds first with your left ear and after with your right ear. You might notice that softer sounds, like music played on violin, will be heard better with a left ear. However, any bass sounds should be booming in your right ear.

 If you put your headphones in and sounds coming for earbuds are completely the same, then a source of the sound is mono and whatever you are listening to is recorded in a way that both sides get the same sound.

#3 - How Marked Headphones Work When It Comes To Gaming?

Gamers are usually quite picky when it comes to the equipment they are using. Some of them even buy separate parts of a computer and then put it together themselves. In this way, they are making sure they are using the best gadgets and they are guaranteed to have the most amazing gaming experience while playing. So choosing which headphones to use is no different.

Many people find games quite noisy and the sounds of a game pretty unpleasant. Real gamers, however, are totally used to these sounds and playing a game without them is just not the same. They give a lot of thought when it comes to choosing which headphones to use. Most of them probably use labeled headphones.

There are many types of games available and getting a clear sound is quite important for a lot of them, but for one type it is even more essential. I'm talking about games called first-person shutter games like Counter-Strike. With the good sound quality, gamers can easily establish from which way sounds are coming in a virtual world and that can help them to conclude where their enemy is. 

#4 - How Marked Headphones Work When It Comes To Watching Videos?

When it comes to watching a video with your headphones it is all about trying not to confuse your brain.

The major role in delivering sounds the right way have people who made the movie. They will probably do their part of the job correctly and all you should do is put on your headphones the right way.

Let’s assume you are watching a movie with a lot of fast vehicles. In one scene a car is driving from the right part of the screen to the left part. The sounds car is making firstly should be the loudest in your right ear and slowly reduce, while in your left ear the volume should rise. If you decide to flip those earbuds and wear the opposite of what they are labeled, you might confuse your brain for a moment while watching this scene.

So, before you throw away those unmarked headphones, make sure to actually understand all the benefits of the marked ones. Maybe what they are offering is not something you are looking for and something you generally don't care about, or maybe by purchasing labeled headphones, you will start using them even more because the amazing sound they deliver. Here are a few benefits of these earphones:

• Better sound quality – each ear is getting the type of sound it can pick up the best
• Design – they are quite more comfortable because they are designed for different ears
• You are listening to music just like it is recorded
• Better hearing of both high and low tunes.

If you don’t already own any marked headphones and have just decided to purchase new ones, then this r headphones buying guide is for you.

• Determine in which situations you plan on using them – not all types of headphones are for everyone. For jogging, you might want to go wireless and for gaming, big r headphones could be a good choice;
• Read reviews – Before making a purchase, consider scrolling through a comment section and read what other people have to say about the model you have chosen
• Budget and Sound – Be real about what you can get for your money and if you want the outstanding sound quality, be prepared to pay a little bit more then you might have expected.

1. Why are my headphones marked and when I wear them the other way around there is no difference?

This is actually a quite common question and the answer to why they are marked is already given through this article. If there is no difference when you flip them, it is because of the sound you are listening to. It is probably recorded for both sides to get the same sound.

2. Is there any difference if I use the right headphone in my left ear or the other way around?

It could be a little bit more uncomfortable. But when it comes to sound, it depends on what you are listening to. You probably will experience a difference because most songs are recorded in two channels and not all tunes are playing in your left or right earbud.

Now you know all there is about labeled headphones and hopefully, we gave answers to all of those burning questions: why there are l and r headphones, how they work and is the sound quality really better with them?

If you don’t already own a pair of marked ones, you might rush to the store after reading this article, purchase a labeled pair and enjoy a superb listening experience.