I am helping my father in law re-do his entertainment system. He has all his components behind a cabinet and has IR extenders going to each component. Here is my question....

Some of the component have an IR sensor on a component that is the red while some have some that have the little glass ball. Is there any difference in these two and do they both receive and send the same type signal. I am sure this is a basic question but I am not sure the difference.

The reason I ask is that I need to add a few of these and not sure whether I need the red ones or the glass ball type or it doesn't matter.

Thanks for your time.