My Endless Search for Comfortable in-Ear Headphones
I’m a fan of headphones. I have headphones of all shapes and sizes, but there is one small problem: I don’t like things that cut deep into my ears, unlike most traditional in-ear headphones. So, I started looking for more convenient options … and it turned out to be more difficult than I expected.
Some people have no problem with in-ear headphones, but there seems to be a group of us who absolutely hate them. It has to be the size or shape of our ears because I have a lot of problems with in-ear headphones that are otherwise well rated – they hurt, they don’t stay in my ears, and none of the sizes seem to fit me. So what’s a headphone lover to do?
Over the past few months, I’ve tried different tricks, products, and solutions to create more comfortable in-ear headphones myself. After a lot of trial and error, I found a few things that worked – some better than others – and gave me the perfect combination of comfort and portability that I was looking for. Which method you use depends on the headphones, the amount you are willing to spend, and most of all your preference (both in terms of sound and comfort).
Option one: foam nozzles
If you find that traditional silicone tips simply don’t fit well, a foam tip may be your best bet. Comply Foam is a popular brand with many different styles that you can read about in our review, although they cost a little ($ 10-17). The Comfort and Active styles are the most comfortable and the Comfort styles are the least intrusive when it comes to the ear canal.
I found that while they were much more comfortable than the silicone tips, they had their drawbacks. They were still not as comfortable as I would have liked (after all, you still stick something in your ear) and take a little longer to insert as you have to “prepare” the tip . They provide excellent sealing, although they change the sound of your headphones, especially by boosting the bass.
If you do not like the Comply tips (or if you do not want to spend money), you can try cheaper nozzle of Bluecell foam or make them their own hands with a pair of ear plugs from foam rubber .
Option two: custom molded ferrules
Truly custom earpieces can cost hundreds of dollars from an audiologist, but there are several cheaper do-it-yourself options that work well enough. I love the custom made Decibullz tips . They fit a ton of in-ear headphones, you stick them to your ears and then they fit perfectly without going deep into your ear canal. (Make sure you buy the custom earpieces separately and use them with your favorite earbuds, rather than buying the mediocre Decibullz earbuds ).
However, they also have disadvantages. They won’t fit into your ears like the foam tips. For example, my favorite Monoprices were too heavy and unwieldy to fit properly. They will also change the sound of your headphones, unlike the styrofoam tips: you will lose a lot of bass because you will not have a good seal. I fixed this by a) ditching the monopixels and using the more traditional earbuds, and b) applying slight pressure to the upper, lower and middle ear shapes as they harden. I did this for about 10 minutes – twice as long as the instructions required – and with my mouth open I bit down on a small piece of plastic. Since the Decibullz are plastic, they actually shrink a little when cooled, so you have to make sure they shape the contours of your ear as closely as possible, and following the usual instructions, they don’t do that very well. (With these tips, they are still far from perfect, but it will be a little better.)
If you don’t like Decibullz, you can try this inexpensive homemade method using Radian earplugs. I found that while they fit my ears better (as they expand as they harden), the sound was downright awful. However, some prefer this (for example, they can make good in-ear headphones for live performances).
Option three: special comfortable headphones
If none of the above options work for you, it might be time to buy a new comfort-focused headphone. Unfortunately, this often means using in-ear headphones rather than in-ear headphones, which means they won’t always sound that good. There are many different models, from the more exercise- oriented Yurbuds and Sennheiser PMX lineup to pseudo-in- ear headphones like the Bose SoundTrue line . I would even say that the Apple EarPods (gasps) are quite comfortable and sound decent, although they are versatile, so it really depends on the size of your ears. I was shocked to find that I really like them.
In the end, I settled on Decibullz (paired with these Panasonics ) for my portable headphones. They are not perfect and difficult to mold properly, but after re-molding, which felt like 100,000 times, they are the best option I have found. I have earbuds that fit right in your ear without going into the ear canal or losing too much bass – for only $ 25. If you are a member of the headphone hate club, experiment with the above to see what works for you.