How to choose in-ear headphones

Although the in-ear headphones do not provide high quality sound, using them outside the home is much more convenient than overheads. The number of models of in-ear headphones is very large, so their choice is a difficult problem.

Key Features of In-Ear Earphones

It is  advisable to buy in-ear headphones for everyday use on the street or in public transport. They have the following features:

·         Effective fixation in the ear with silicone inserts.

·         High soundproof properties.

·         Compact size.

·         Low sound quality compared to over-ear headphones. This is due to the small area of ​​the membrane, which in the liners is not more than one centimeter in diameter. This is especially true for low frequencies.

·         Harm to hearing. When using in-ear headphones, a person’s hearing aid is subjected to an increased load, as the sound is transmitted directly to the ear canal. For this reason, you should not listen to loud music in such headphones.

The main criteria for choosing in-ear headphones

Since the sound characteristics of the in-ear headphones are not their strong point, when choosing these devices, you need to focus on other parameters, including:

·         Connection method. According to this criterion, headphones are classified into wired and wireless. The advantage of the latter over the former is that there is no need to use a cable, but their cost is higher.

·         Type of mount. For these purposes, ear hooks, occipital arches, ear pads and clips are used.

·         Impedance. This parameter determines the resistance of the liners. The larger it is, the higher should be the power of the amplifier. For liners, a value range from 16 ohms to 32 ohms is appropriate.

·         Sensitivity. This parameter determines the volume of the earbuds. The larger it is, the louder the earbuds sound. For comfortable listening, about 100 decibels is enough.

·         Duration of autonomous functioning (for wireless models). It is advisable to purchase headsets capable of reproducing sound continuously for at least ten hours.

To choose the right in-ear headphones, you must proceed from the purpose of their use. Preference should be given to products manufactured by well-known manufacturers. It should be understood that the higher the quality of the headphones, the more expensive they are.