Why don't more people use throat mics? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#281

Post by antiterra » Fri, Jul 01, 2022, 11:25 PM UTC

IshKebab wrote: post #132

soared wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You pulled out a sentence fragment to completely change the meaning, not really a cool thing to do. > > tl;dr - Don’t chuck the Sony 1000XMs/AirPods just yet. Throat mics are an improvement over a standalone wired microphone (if that’s what you are using), and have better background noise reduction but in a quiet room your usual bluetooth headset is still way more convenient

That seems like the same meaning to me? Throat mics are absolutely not an improvement over a standalone wired microphone.

They are if you prioritize mobility, and possibly otherwise, if you are talking about something like the plastic microphone with a wobbly mini plug that popped into my mind’s eye.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#282

Post by hardwaresofton » Fri, Jul 01, 2022, 11:29 PM UTC

recursive wrote: post #277

hardwaresofton wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noted, thanks for the honest feedback, looks like the tech is just not ready for primetime. I don’t think it’s so bad but people definitely have strong (mostly negative) feelings towards this experiment! The reactions after adding the audio sample are also pretty negative… > No. Absolutely not. Any podcast using such a microphone will bomb hard. Well I wouldn’t go as far as to say it would tank a podcast — but I agre…

> I wouldn’t go as far as to say it would tank a podcast I would. It seems like you have a rosier impression of how this sounds than anyone else who listens. It's not completely unintelligible, but it's worse than "not good" to me. It just sounds plain bad. If I started listening to a podcast, and it sounded like this, I would just turn it off. Unless I was keenly interested in the subject material. Subpar audio reco…

> Unless I was keenly interested in the subject material.

That's what I was thinking! Most of the time people who stick with podcasts stick with it because of content and/or creators, so that's more the case I was thinking of.

The terrible mics would probably become a shared joke, if anything -- though you'd lose some people like you who really expect at least a good mic out of a podcast (which is a very reasonable expectation!)

> But thanks for publicizing this. It's good to know that it exists, and what it sounds like.

No problem! Glad it was useful

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#283

Post by numpad0 » Mon, Jul 04, 2022, 2:40 PM UTC

hackerlight wrote: post #270

numpad0 wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With properly inserted hardcore isolating earphones, and with music playing at low volume(important), I just don’t notice any other sound. Including landline ringing. Perhaps fire alarms too. It’s an auditory anesthesia. Like if I’ve put on a VR goggle, but for my ears. And that is natural, after all it’s 40dB advertised isolation with ~15dB? sound on top. There’s no way those ANC earphones with small drivers powered…

I trust you, I'd like to delve a bit deeper into why this is the outcome to understand it better. I hear people sometimes use Etymotics with Comply tips. Wouldn't that create the same seal as using WF-1000X with Comply tips? Also do you have a recommendation of an Etymotic IEM model plus a tip I can try for maximum effect

ANC earphones are not designed with maximum sealing in mind(sometimes intentionally). Doesn't matter how plug and ear canal is tightly fit together, if what is suspended in the middle was a pipe with open ends.

ER4SR is the most classic/standard Etymotic model currently sold, other models complementing in both direction of prices. Perhaps more important than tip selection is correct insertion, or Practice and patience, which is unbelievably the exact wording used in their instruction manuals at least for my ER-6i. It is definitely not the healthiest earphones in the market.

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#284

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 05, 2022, 6:56 AM UTC

numpad0 wrote: post #283

hackerlight wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I trust you, I'd like to delve a bit deeper into why this is the outcome to understand it better. I hear people sometimes use Etymotics with Comply tips. Wouldn't that create the same seal as using WF-1000X with Comply tips? Also do you have a recommendation of an Etymotic IEM model plus a tip I can try for maximum effect

ANC earphones are not designed with maximum sealing in mind(sometimes intentionally). Doesn't matter how plug and ear canal is tightly fit together, if what is suspended in the middle was a pipe with open ends. ER4SR is the most classic/standard Etymotic model currently sold, other models complementing in both direction of prices. Perhaps more important than tip selection is correct insertion, or Practice and patienc…

[deleted]

Re: Why don't more people use throat mics?

#285

Post by hackerlight » Tue, Jul 05, 2022, 7:10 AM UTC

numpad0 wrote: post #283

hackerlight wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I trust you, I'd like to delve a bit deeper into why this is the outcome to understand it better. I hear people sometimes use Etymotics with Comply tips. Wouldn't that create the same seal as using WF-1000X with Comply tips? Also do you have a recommendation of an Etymotic IEM model plus a tip I can try for maximum effect

ANC earphones are not designed with maximum sealing in mind(sometimes intentionally). Doesn't matter how plug and ear canal is tightly fit together, if what is suspended in the middle was a pipe with open ends. ER4SR is the most classic/standard Etymotic model currently sold, other models complementing in both direction of prices. Perhaps more important than tip selection is correct insertion, or Practice and patienc…

What do you think of IEM silicon tips that are custom made for your ears, in order to improve the passive noise blocking? Unnecessary?