Headphones & Earbuds

Stereo Sound High-fidelity sound produced by (or through) two or more audio channels. A stereo sound creates the impression of hearing the sound from multiple directions. Audio from a stereo source through stereo headphones allows listeners to hear sounds from different channels through each earcup. For instance, students listening to a stereo-based literacy program through stereo headphones might hear spoken directions in one ear and background music in the other ear.

Monaural or "mono" Sound Audio from a single channel, often "centered" in the sound field. When students use mono headphones connected with mono sources, each earcup transmits identical sounds, so there is no "surround sound" effect.