
Headphones are a pair of small loudspeakers which are designed to be held in place close to a user’s ears. Headphones have wires which allow them to be connected to a signal source such as a portable media player. They are also known as stereo phones. The in-ear versions are known as earphones or ear buds.
Cordless headphones are not connected via a wire, receiving a signal encoded using a transmission link, like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. These are powered receiver systems of which the headphone is only a component. Cordless headphones are used with events such as a Silent disco.