# Let's talk earbuds/earphones **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944 "2012-08-28T16:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/1 "2012-08-28T16:44:11Z")
I have an iPhone, and occasionally need to use it for long periods of time for conference calls, going on runs/walks, and other such activities. I’ve found that the earbuds that come with the phone tend to irritate my ears when used for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time. So I’m looking for alternatives. Either better earbuds that don’t irritate my ears (if such things exist) or headphones or… ? I guess I don’t really know what’s out there. I don’t really want Bluetooth because I already have a Bluetooth borg-like earthingy that I don’t especially like, and I hate Bluetooth in general. So do you have a wired earbud/headset/whatever that you like and that you use for long periods of time that doesn’t bug your ears? What is it? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/2 "2012-08-28T16:54:34Z")
Watching this thread with interest. My problem isn’t that the earbuds irritate my ears though because I can’t get them to stay in long enough to irritate them. They seem to be spontaneously ejected within seconds of inserting them. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/3 "2012-08-28T17:39:13Z")
I can’t do earbuds because my ears “reject” them like **UncleRojelio**. But I also find that, at least with my iPods (Mini and Touch) that the sound doesn’t go up very high because they are made to work with earbuds. Apple doesn’t want you to be able to turn it up to 11 then bust an ear drum and sue them. I can get away with regular headphones ([I use something like these](http://salestores.com/panaso451.html)) at the gym, with the iPod turned all the way up. But mowing the lawn or even on an airplane forget it - there is no way to hear the iPod. I have a set of expensive [waterproof earbuds](http://www.h2oaudio.com/store/waterproof-headphones/surge-2g-waterproof-headphones.html) that go with my waterproof iPod case, and that’s what I use on the mower or on a plane. I also use them when swimming. I had to buy a $12 [earplug kit](http://www.h2oaudio.com/store/pro-fit-kit.html) to find the right bits that would fit in my stupid ears. I find that the Large Tree Tip works great. Anyway - regular headphones might work fine for you if your environment is quiet enough. But if you have some background noise, you’re going to need buds. I am going to need to replace my gym headphones soon, and I’m looking at buds that [clip over the ear](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-MDRAS20J-Sport-Headphones/13904742?findingMethod=rr) so that I don’t have to rely on my ear canal to hold them in (and don’t have to wear $50 waterproof buds at the gym). Hopefully that will greatly reduce the irritation. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/4 "2012-08-28T18:00:30Z")
I own these. > **[Earbuds - Comfortable & Secure Wireless Bluetooth Earphones with Mic | Bose](https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/earbuds.html)** > > Experience true wireless Bluetooth earbuds from Bose. Find earphones that deliver a powerful audio performance with noise cancellation in a small comfortable in-ear design. They are way expensive, to me, and I was worried after I bought them but before they arrived in the mail that I would be disappointed and feel like I wasted my money. Now I think they are worth every penny. My complaint with earbuds was that they never seemed to have any bass. These seriously have bass and comparing them to my old ones that I paid $30 for there is a huge difference in the bass. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/5 "2012-08-28T18:00:37Z")
Every set of earbuds I’ve ever gotten has eventually shorted out, perhaps because I’m a runner and so sweat gets in. So now I buy 'em cheap as dirt in bulk (usually five sets at a time) and toss 'em as they go bad (or as I lose them, to be honest). This [most recent set](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SP2X5U/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00) has had its own problems–the plastic bud that goes in my ear has been staying in there when I try to take 'em out, so I wind up having to go fishing with a tweezers. Sound quality is nothing special, but I’m using them to listen to podcasts while running–not really a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/6 "2012-08-28T18:31:55Z")
I would recommend the ones that make the air-seal with your ear canal. They are more comfortable, and produce much better sound. Like [these](http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-MK-II-Precision-Enhanced/dp/B001EZYMF4/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1346178646&sr=1-6). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/7 "2012-08-28T18:36:50Z")
Thanks all. For those of you recommending earbuds, can you tell me why you’d think the ones you recommend wouldn’t end up irritating my ears the way the standard ones do? I’m open to thinking that some might not, but I’d rather not spend a pile of money just to find out that there’s no way they’d fix the basic problem. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/8 "2012-08-28T18:39:45Z")
I’ve used a few types of cheap earbuds over the years. Skullcandy stuff, while not top of the line, is one of the best budget brands I’ve found. The key is to get the kinds with rubber tips, with those you can different sized ends and get them to fit properly, whereas with the plastic earbuds it’s luck of the draw with regards to size. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-earbuds-earphones/632944/9 "2012-08-28T21:02:15Z")
I use [these made by Sony](http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666308078). I used to be okay with the stock iPod buds, but they really irritated my ears even after just 30 minutes or so of wearing them. My buddy turned me on to these at the airport when my buds crapped out, and I’ve never looked back. They’re relatively inexpensive, they’re GREAT for cutting out background noise, and I can sleep with them in. I can wear these on a plane, and won’t even be able to hear the engine noise during the flight. Hope that helps…