In-ears headphones fit matters a lot • Hacker News Board

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#61

Post by LeoPanthera » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 5:38 PM UTC

wintermutestwin wrote: post #17

I have Air Pods Pro and I bought an aftermarket silicone ear tip that was slightly smaller than Apple's small. The damn things still fall out, albeit after a longer time. They are always uncomfortable and I am constantly having to shove them in. I tried foam and they didn't fit either. I must have freakishly small ear canals. I wish I could find something that works for me. The article linked in the original article…

I actually returned my Airpods Pro because I simply could not get them to fit. iOS even tells you if they don't have a good seal and I could never make it happy.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#62

Post by bryan0 » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 5:45 PM UTC

aalam wrote: post #43

bryan0 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also loved my Etys. Problem for me is that they would only last a year before failing. I’ve since switch over to RHAs which are not quite as good but they have a 3 year warranty.

If you haven't already tried it, a filter replacement with the tool and filters that come with the device could do the trick [0] (fixed a problem I experienced myself). Another common fix is to switch out the cable, though I've only experienced failure due to old filters (3 years usage). [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgTa8Htzo

Yeah my issues were due to failing cables e.g. fraying insulation and exposed wires. I would use them heavily on daily commutes. Now since I primarily work from home it might be less of an issue.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#63

Post by zh3 » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 5:59 PM UTC

Rather agree with the article, having done a lot of trial and error on earbuds - fit really does matter. Good fit actually seems more important to the sound than the underlying speaker tech, also determines how long they stay comfortable for.

Having run through a lot of earbuds, for me personally I've found the Panasonic RP-HJE-125's best (despite the throwaway price). Probably a bit rough on things, I do break stuff a lot and there's really quite little to be had between well-fitting cheap buds and much more expensive offerings (the HJE's come with 3 sizes of tips, don't be afraid to use different sizes each side).

Edit: For more bass try JVC HA-FX10's - too much more bass for me, horses for course etc.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#64

Post by jimkleiber » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

disabled wrote: post #60

jimkleiber wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been looking for something like this, would you mind sharing the name of the product you've been using?

There is a subreddit for DIY in ear monitors. Pay close attention to the first post on this page in particular: https://www.reddit.com/r/DIEMs/comments/kfdwf5/made_my_first... However, you do not need a 3D printer at all to make wonderful in ear monitors. Also, I prefer clear shells (as a color for the headphones) by far. It is also not difficult to make proper ear impressions, too. See this for example: http://stati…

Ahh thank you so much!

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#65

Post by disabled » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:20 PM UTC

willis936 wrote: post #41

I'm glad to see attention drawn here. The only way to get any reasonable sub 500 Hz response out of tiny in-ear transducers is to have a good seal. The standing waves go a long way. Molded in-ear monitors are best, but they're speciality items. It would be cool to see a modern true wireless earbud you can order and ship them your ear molds.

There is actually a subreddit called DIY in ear monitors.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIEMs/

You will be quite impressed and I suggest you take notes and dump great posts into OneNote or something similar to index, so when you make your own, you have a great reference and cheat sheet.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#66

Post by Guillaume86 » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:21 PM UTC

monsieurbanana wrote: post #6

vijucat wrote: post #3

I feel nauseated when I use in-ear earphones that reach deep inside. This entire article is not relevant to me. The earphones that I can bear are these : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y4S55RC/ . The design reaches inside a little bit, but not too much, and they sound quite decent. I suppose the AirPods (but not the Pro) are similar in design.

Have you tried bose earphones? They are the most comfortable I've tried so far. Admittedly, I haven't tried many. They look similar to the ones you linked, they stay very well in my ears thanks to the hook thingy. https://www.amazon.com/Bose-QuietComfort-Acoustic-Cancelling...

+1 for Bose IEMs, the "tip" form factor is in his own tier for comfort, I can barely tolerate wearing other in ears now.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#67

Post by awinter-py » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:32 PM UTC

yes. personalization has taken over information products and is coming for real world objects. there are physical goods where custom size or features are so important that they in essence make it a new product category.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#68

Post by formerly_proven » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:35 PM UTC

rectang wrote: post #19

formerly_proven wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a bunch of cheap in-ears (each comes with a bag of different seals) and none of them have the issue you describe. Sure, you can hear it when the cables bump against something, but it's not a "massive bass thump".

Stick your forefinger in your ear, well enough to form a bit of a seal. Then move your finger around a little bit. That causes a ton of rumbling/thumping noise as the air in the ear canal moves much more dramatically than it does when encountering sound waves in open air. The same effect happens when you jostle a sealed in-ear monitor. I don't doubt that you are not perceiving this rumble, but my explanation is that…

I don't listen at high volume and my hearing is quite excellent. I'm guessing that there's something about your ear canal that causes a really good seal (maybe wet ears), or maybe something about my ear canal that I don't get these perfect air-tight bass-thumping seals. FWIW I don't force in-ears deeply into my ear canal, because that's uncomfortable as heck (and tends to make the bass way to boomy and overpronounced in my experience). I only stick the soft rubber part in.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#69

Post by Zigurd » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:35 PM UTC

ziml77 wrote: post #10

I've been using Comply foam tips on in-ears for years. Most recently got some for my Air Pods Pro. They give a good seal, and they help keep the earbuds from slipping out. The downsides are that they aren't quite as easy to pop in (since you need to squish the foam and then let it expand inside), they can be irritating over long periods of time, and you will need to replace them every few months. Despite those issues…

Can confirm. As others have pointed out, they do not last forever and they pick up grunge if you are not careful about storing the headphones. But they work really well. I prefer moderately priced IEMs with Comply eartips for air travel vs noise cancelling headphones. Just don't drop them on a gross airliner floor.

Re: In-ears headphones fit matters a lot

#70

Post by 14 » Sun, Oct 03, 2021, 6:37 PM UTC

I have a small ear canal on one side I wish there was a product that could cater to my one ear is different in size issue. I haven’t found any that fit. My ear canal is small but not abnormal or anything surely there has to be a brand that has dealt with this before?