Why are earphones marked left and right? Doesn't seem to make a difference to me.?

Answer 1

Because some people are idiots and will try to stuff both in one ear hole!! I really am not kidding!! This is why the instructions on stuff like eg. Frozen Pizza have to actually spell out that you need to take the plastic wrap and cardboard off before placing in the oven!!

You're right about one thing-with headphones I can see why but with EARphones -that's just stupid!! The only practical purpose I can see in knowing which one to put in each ear is if you had an ear infection in one ear only and didnt want to contaminate the other ear bud. =))

Answer 2

Most music, while recorded in stereo, does not actually have much noticable difference between the Left and Right tracks. Some, however, particularly live concert recordings, will have been recorded in true stereo where some sounds will seem like they're coming at you from one side or the other. If you're using them while playing games, it can be even more important, as you might hear a sound effect out of one ear that would tell you which direction you'd need to turn to see an approaching enemy character. Likewise, if you're watching an action movie, sound effects will sometimes be skewed left or right to match stuff that's supposed to be taking place off-screen or even on the far edge of the screen. The Left and Right notations on headphones and speakers are there to tell you which one is more suited to being on a given side of your head, so that if you are listening to a true stereo feed you'll be hearing it the way it was intended. Also, on headphones where the two earpieces are not shaped identically like earbuds, the Left and Right notations will tell you which one is designed to fit into/over which ear. There is a more noticable difference when using behind-the-neck or clip-on headphones, but even my bulky wireless headphones have angled earpads that feel awkward when worn backwards.

Answer 3

It relies upon on what you're listening to, on stereo sound the sound is chop up into 2 channels,the left and the terrific so for the sound to sound terrific you're able to have the earphones interior the terrific ear. you are able to merely rather tell although once you have a music that mutes one factor and performs the different then swaps over (damaging clarification i understand).

Answer 4

Panning, when some musicians record their music the put certain instruments in the left or right earphone/speaker. It makes it sound more spread out and unique.

Answer 5

music is recorded in stereo - and for those musicians who spend the time , imaging (separating left from right sounds) is a big deal - if you were watching a movie with ear buds (or headphones) and the truck moves from left to right - haveing the units in your head properly means you hear and see the sound from left to right

Answer 6

Music and movies recorded in stereo have some music/action/speech on one side (with a movie this will correspond with the picture). Imagine seeing a movie and someone on the left is hammering a nail and you hear the "pound, pound, pound" on the right. You have your headphones on backwards :)

Answer 7

Because they have adjustable volume for individual sides, and you need to know what side the controlling device is going to turn down - like for audiology tests.