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Headphone vs Earcup - What's the difference?

headphone | earcup |

As nouns the difference between headphone and earcup

is that headphone is a listening device placed or worn in the ear, usually sold in pairs while earcup is one of the two cup-like sections of a pair of headphones that enclose the listener's ears.

headphone

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A listening device placed or worn in the ear, usually sold in pairs
    • She handed me one headphone so I could listen too.

    Usage notes

    Also used as a noun modifier: e.g. headphone plug, headphone socket.

    earcup

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One of the two cup-like sections of a pair of headphones that enclose the listener's ears.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2007, date=June 14, author=David Pogue, title=Headphones to Shut Out the World, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=The pleasantly smushy-edged earcups on this new model do an excellent job of isolating your ears. }}