Getting the best out of Earplug type 'phones

[Dinan]

Originally posted by rfaison
This is going to sound more complicated than it actually is - wish I could show you a picture! A "fit tip" for most earbuds is to, with the opposite hand (ie, use right hand for left ear - reaching over or behind your head) and gently tug the top/rop-rear (think 1-2:00 on a clock face - for someone looking at your left ear) of the ear up, and slightly away from head as you press the earbud into the ear canal.

The tug seems to open the canal, so when you let go there is a better seal than if you simply press the earbud into the canal. I found doing this made a difference - though it took a little practice to get the technique.

I've used these Sony's, and now have Shure's - both benefit dramatically from the above technique. I found that when not properly fitted, if I pressed in with my fingers right under my earlobes - the sound improved dramatically - especially the bass.

As someone else mentioned earlier, moistening them can also help obtain a complete seal. When they're in right, you should feel a bit of suction when you remove them - when the seal is broken.

My ex71s held up fine and while I didn't abuse them, I didn't baby them either. Still have 'em around just in case.

Good luck

see now this is a better explaination.. i think i tell a little bit of a difference, but i think im going to listen to my stock buds for a while then try again and see if i like the change.. thanks

edit: also changed to small bud size and they seem to go in the canal better

[misper666]

also try different rubber tips. i have fitted the ones from a set of ear jams i was using before (same size), onto my sharps. they fit on the phones better & dont invert when i pull them out.

[Deslock]

I just bought a pair of Sony EX51s (my first earplugs) and I was so disappointed with the sound that I put them in the package to bring back to the store.

Then I came across this thread. Tried them again, this time shoving them deep into my ear. Christ-in-a-sidecar, what a difference. These actually sound pretty good (a lot cleaner than the iPod earbuds and slightly crisper than my Koss KSC 35s and 50s).

Thanks for posting this!

[rfaison]

Glad it helped. This is the lounge at it's best ... passing on the tidbits. It is amazing what a difference getting the proper seal makes in the quality of the sound - which is what it's all about after all.

Playing with the different sizes of rubber tips can also be useful as previous poster says.

Enjoy!! ("Christ-in-a-sidecar" - where's that from? Made me laugh out loud!).

[Deslock]

^ Yeah, I tried the other tips; the standard ones worked best. Picked that phrase up from a guy I used to work with.

[catbc]

Hey, here's a good tip - make sure when your brand new Ety ER6s come through in the post that you push the jack ALL THE WAY IN so you don't think that one side is defective.

*kicks self for own stupidity*

[tomj]

Thanks for the great advice. I just received a pair of Ex-81's, and like many others thought they were defective until I managed to insert them in my ear properly. I've read everything I could, and have tried every trick recommended. I'm sure they're not defective!

But . . .

They sound much better now, but if use the 'pull-up-and-out-on-the-ear-with-the-hand-reaching-over-the-top-of-the-head' method I can improve the seal more and they sound AMAZING! I think that's what they're supposed to sound like, but I just can't get that seal without pushing my ear around. Furthermore, as it is they're pushed pretty hard into my ears and aren't very comfortable at all anymore.

I'm using the largest seals; the smaller ones make it sound worse.

My question is: is it possible that I have ears that just won't seal completely with these buds? Has anyone else reached this conclusion?

[rfaison]

It does seem that you're not getting a seal that holds with the ear pieces you're using now. Am glad I just re-read your post as I was getting ready to ask if you'd tried the largest size ... geez, and I hate it when someone does that to me!!

Hmm ... definitely seems possible that your ears and those earphones just don't fit. Perhaps your canals are just a bit larger than most. Not that you'd want to for these 'phones, but it's possible to have custom earmolds for earphones. The high end Shures and Etymotics provide some info about having this done - if you Google and/or search in the lounge you'll find more info. Have seen info about 'do-it-yourself' ear canal casts. Anyway, info's out there.

Another thought is to buy some foam ear plugs at the drug store, and if they seem to seal in your ears, then figure out how to get a hole in them for the earphone - I saw this idea a while ago on another forum.

Good luck in your quest for better sounding tunes!!

Ruth

[DevilMayCry]

holy smoking bacon.....
i thought i did it the right way but after reading...uhm..4pages
geeze the difference of the sounds is awesome
i'm using the EX71 btw
thanks for the info guys

[shad0w913]

I can't tell if I have my sony 51's in right. I experience the stethescope effect, but sound isn't blocked out completely. There is some base, but I don't feel any tug or suction when taking them out. Any suggestions?

I've tried all the sizes, but the larger sizes just make things sound worse. I keep trying to shove them in my ears harder, but to no avail. It still sounds the same.

[rfaison]

There seems to be a range among folks as to the degree of sound blocked oub. Personally, like you it is not all blocked out - definitely quieter, but if someone were standing in front of me talking, I can hear them.

Are you doing the tug-on-top-of-ear while inserting the plug? That usually does more than shoving harder only.

Also, for me, I compare the sound when inserted with the sound when pressing firmly with my fingers right under the front of each earlobe. That seems to really seal the plugs in the canals. If doing that makes the sound dramatically better, than you're not getting a good seal.

And if that is the case - bummer - hopefully someone else can chime in. This is the extent of my experience.

Compare sound with other plugs and phones too if possible. The original Apple buds, any other phones lying around. I remember wondering what it was supposed to sound like - feeling like I didnt have any context for comparing.

[shad0w913]

Originally posted by rfaison
There seems to be a range among folks as to the degree of sound blocked oub. Personally, like you it is not all blocked out - definitely quieter, but if someone were standing in front of me talking, I can hear them.

Are you doing the tug-on-top-of-ear while inserting the plug? That usually does more than shoving harder only.

Also, for me, I compare the sound when inserted with the sound when pressing firmly with my fingers right under the front of each earlobe. That seems to really seal the plugs in the canals. If doing that makes the sound dramatically better, than you're not getting a good seal.

And if that is the case - bummer - hopefully someone else can chime in. This is the extent of my experience.

Compare sound with other plugs and phones too if possible. The original Apple buds, any other phones lying around. I remember wondering what it was supposed to sound like - feeling like I didnt have any context for comparing.

I've tried the tug-on-the-ear trick, but it has no effect. I also tried your method and got the same results as before. I've also tried wetting the silicone pads, but that doesn't help either.

When comparing to the regular Apple buds, the Sony's seem to be offering nothing spectacular. There is a little more base, and the high's are a little bit more crisp, but otherwise, they sound almost exactly the same

[rfaison]

I'm not too surprised that there's not a great difference btwn them - don't take this the wrong way, but the EX51's aren't a huge step up from the Apple buds. They're easy to find for under $30 - I think you're probably getting what they have to offer: a bit more bass and crispness in the highs. And, for some folks (I'm one) they are better bc the Apple ones don't fit/stay in my ear. To expect a spectacular difference is asking too much.

Now if you have a chance to check out earphone in the higher price/quality range - you'd probably hear more differences. The Etymotics and Shures have models running from $99 to 300 (? not sure what the high end is). And there's another brand mentioned in the recent iLounge product review that's unbelievably outrageously expensive - hopefully it's truly spectacularly better too!!

[leFrenzy]

After reading these 4 pages, what are the best in-ear earphones with great bass, I mainly listen to techno. I would prefer spending LESS than $70

Am I stuck buying the ones from Sony? 71s series or something?

[misper666]

sharps hp - md33s last quite well (still using them over a year now, no probs so far), in the same ball park for sound (some say slightly better) & they don't disintegrate. have a look on audiocubes . after using canal type phones, earbuds just hurt your ears.

the rubber tips on these are a bit flimsy however - i swapped them with the ones off my old griffin earjams.