A band having opposed ends and adapted for spanning the head of a user between opposed ears, with each end of the band including an ear phone mounted in a base attached to said band and an interchangeable and replaceable decorative cover for each base mounting an ear phone to permit interchange with another cover of different design. In a method of customizing a set of headphones, the steps include (A) applying a removable decorative outer cover to at least one ear phone of the set; and (B) removing the outer cover and replacing it by a different decorative outer cover.

A telephone headset uses extruded thermoplastic with a pair of embedded steel wires to make the headband and microphone boom. The extrusion is formed by feeding the two wires through the extruding die along with the hot plastic. The two wires serve to stiffen the extrusion and also as electrical conductors. The material is cut to length and joined to earphones, microphones and telephone cable to make the headset; the two wires conduct the sound signals to the earphone distal the telephone cable attachment. The extrusion material retains a twist, which allows for angular adjustment of the earphones. A hinge and spring cant the headphone inward at the bottom for greater comfort, and to adjust the angle to the user's head. In a second embodiment, one of the wires is removed after extrusion to leave a tunnel through the extruded material. Small electrical leads can be passed through the tunnel, and the remaining wire remains as a stiffener. The fine leads allow rotation of the boom about the earphone or headband without the need for a complicated electrical connection.

Stereo apparatus having angled speakers so as to direct sound at a desired angle relative to the ears of the listener. The disclosed arrangements enhance the stereo sound effect and provide accurate stereo imaging, as well as sound stage expansion, through the proper placement and orientation of speaker units relative to the ears of a listener. The speaker units may be positioned at optimum angles of incidence and distances relative to the ears of a listener. Adjustable positioning means are provided to enable control over the horizontal spatial dimension of the stereo sound. The speaker units may be fixed at a preset orientation, or pivotally mounted for positional adjustment by the listener. Speaker units and releasable mounts may be provided for attachment to eyeglass-style temple pieces for added convenience and comfort. A number of mounting arrangements for simplifying selection of the desired earphone angle are disclosed.

A headphone capable of preventing foreign substances, dust and the like from entering a housing and of enhancing acoustic characteristics in which a hanger of a headband in a housing having a speaker unit is of a storage type and the housing can be swung in a driving direction or a twist direction with respect to the headband, includes an opening provided between the housing and the headband that is blocked by a shielding plate formed on one side of the hanger and a protruded portion formed on the side opposite to the shielding plate.

An earmuff having anatomically correct ear cups, which are axially rotatable to ensure a proper fit over a person's ears and laterally rotatable when the earmuff is disposed in a storage position around the person's neck.