Main points
- Proper earplug fit can block out external noise, resulting in better sound quality.
- Use ear tips with the correct angle and size for comfort and stability.
- Consider materials and additional stability features for a personalized fit.
A perfect fit for your earbuds is the way to ensure you get the best sound quality for your money. Earplugs Earplugs that are inserted into your ears block external noise and prevent sound leakage through passive isolation, which means the earplugs isolate your ears from the music in the outside world. Getting a good fit also helps with noise-cancelling earbuds, since if it doesn’t seal well, it’s essentially useless. Ultimately, if you don’t have the right headphones, you may not be able to hear what you want to hear because of the sounds around you.
Ultimately, if you don’t have the right headphones, you may not be able to hear what you want to hear because of the sounds around you.
So, to make sure you get a good fit, there are a few things you can check and make sure. Once you get the perfect fit, you’ll be able to get the most out of your earbuds.
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1 It’s all about angle
Make sure you wear your earplugs correctly
The first step to getting the best fit is to make sure the headphones sit properly in your ears. This means pushing them in just enough to seal the ear, and making sure the earbuds are angled correctly.
Make sure that when you put the earbuds in your ears, they look exactly as they say on the manual or packaging and aren’t rotated too much or upside down.
If the angle in the manual doesn’t quite suit you, you can adjust the earbuds slightly by tilting them forward or back a little, as not all ear canals are the same. But if you stray too far from the intended fit, you risk not getting a perfect fit.
2 Use the correct size earplugs
Avoid discomfort and earplug loss
Many earbuds come with different sized tips to ensure you are comfortable. Most only come in three sizes: small, medium and large, but if you’re lucky you might get a larger range.
To get the best fit for your earbuds, try them all to see which one fits your ears best without putting pressure on your ear canal. You want to push them in just enough so that they fit snugly and big enough that they don’t fall off when you shake your head. But if you feel pain after wearing them for a while, or if you push them too far in and cause discomfort, you need to try a different size. You may also need to use a different earplug for each ear, as not all ear canals are created equal. For example, one ear may require a small and the other may require a medium.
You want to push them in enough so that they fit snugly so they don’t fall out when you shake your head.
If none of the included earbuds fit your earbuds, you can buy more online. Many of the earplugs you find online will fit most earbuds, but you should check carefully before purchasing to make sure they are compatible with your earplugs.
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3 Earplug material is also important
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The material the earbuds are made of can also affect how well the earbuds fit in your ears. The vast majority of earplugs come with silicone tips, which are more durable and cheaper to make. But foam earplugs are more comfortable than silicone earplugs and conform to the shape of the ear canal better, resulting in a better seal.
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You can buy foam earplugs online that will fit more earplugs, but it’s a good idea to check that the ones you buy actually fit your earplugs.
4 Wing tips and hooks add extra stability
This is for athletes
Wearing earplugs is more than just wearing them. Many earbuds designed for exercise have stabilizing wings or hooks that go around your ears to keep them in place while you exercise. The wing tips work by being fixed in the antihelix of the ear, adding stability to the top of the ear tip of the earbud. They’re usually made of silicone and are replaceable, so you can try different sizes to get the right fit. Ear hooks go around your ears to keep things stable as you move around and are usually not replaceable.
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If your earbuds have replaceable wing tips, try different sizes to see how they feel in your ears. Ask yourself if you feel pressure against the helix, if you feel any resistance in your ear, and if you can comfortably wear them for an hour or more. If the answer to any of these questions is no, you may be wearing the wrong size.
5 In-app adaptation testing
It’s not perfect, but it’s worth a try
Many truly wireless headphones with accompanying apps now feature fit testing. This usually tests the fit by playing audio to make sure you’re hearing everything at the correct volume and no sound is leaking. The app will tell you if your fit is appropriate so you can better understand if you should change the size of your earbuds.
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These tests are not perfect and do not replace your own judgment, so use them as a supplement and not the sole determining factor. Sometimes the test will fail no matter which earbuds you use, or the test will pass even if your fit is objectively wrong. Software can malfunction, and there are a large number of variables that can cause a test to pass or fail. If you have trouble testing, I recommend you make your own judgment about which earbuds are best for you.