Listen only earpieces are often used for two way radios.  They are useful for reducing transmission noise, and may be used by police officers, security personnel, and others who communicate via two way radio.

However, there are things that need to be considered when shopping for listen only earpieces.  Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you get the type of earpiece you need.

Get the Right Connector

Listen only earpieces come with different types of connectors.  Be sure you know what type of connector you need for your <a href="http://www.headsetusa.com/2-way-radios/">2 way radio</a>.  The various types of connections available include, for example, 2.5 millimeter, 3.5 millimeter, threaded, and straight or right angle connectors.  If you accidentally get the wrong kind of connector, your earpiece may not work with your radio, so find out what you need before placing your order.

Color Choices: Black or Clear

Thanks to Hollywood, most people are familiar with the clear coil wires worn in the movies by police officers, CIA, FBI, and even characters such as Agent Smith in The Matrix.  As you can probably imagine, these types of <a href="http://www.headsetusa.com/listen-only-earpieces/">listen only earpieces</a> are used in order to make the wires more discreet and professional, but they are not the only kind available.  There are also a variety of black ear clips and wires to choose from.  The deciding factor here is what you need: whether you need to be discreet about your earpiece or not.

Earhook Style or Coil Style

There are two primary styles of listen only earpieces to choose from: earhook style, and coil style.  The earhook style earpiece has a plastic hook that fits over the ear to hold the earpiece in place, and a black wire that runs behind the ear and down to clip to the shirt.  The coil style earpiece, on the other hand, has no clip.  Instead, it has a fitted earpiece that stays in the ear by fitting into the opening.  A wire, usually clear, that runs behind the ear and twists into a coil between the ear and the shirt collar.

The choice of earhook or coil style earpieces has as much to do with comfort as whether the earpiece needs to be discreet and professional in appearance.  The coil style earpiece is generally more discreet, particularly since the wire is usually clear, but some people find the fitted earpiece more uncomfortable.  You may find the earhook style to be more comfortable, although sometimes the plastic hook puts some pressure over and behind the ear, making it equally if not more uncomfortable, just in a different place.  Also, the plastic hook is more obvious and less professional in appearance than the clear coil.

Right or Left Sided Earpiece

Be sure to know whether you need a certain sided earpiece, right or left.  Some listen only earpieces are made so that they can be worn in either ear, but others are made only for one side.  For example, some earpieces with an earhook are designed to swivel so that they can be worn over either ear, while others are fixed and can only be worn on one side.  Also, some earbud style earpieces are so specialized in their design that they are only comfortable in one side, whereas others are designed to be worn in either ear.

The Comfort Factor

It is particularly important for an earpiece to be comfortable, especially if you are planning on wearing it for long periods of time.  A poorly fitting earpiece can cause headaches, earaches, and other discomforts that can interfere with your job.  Therefore you should be sure that the type, shape, and the material your earpiece is made of are all comfortable enough for you to wear for long periods at a time.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to be considered when shopping for listen only earpieces.  Your best bet is to take your time, check out all of your options, and consider how all of these factors will impact your satisfaction with an earpiece.