Anyone who has ever owned a pair of IEMs (in-ear monitoring headphones) must know that ear tips are a vital headset component. However, many people, especially newcomers, think that the ear tips fit the ears. Some think it might be to add a bit of color to the headset. Those things are not completely wrong, but there are more things to pay attention to with ear tips. A slight difference in the appearance of the ear tips makes a huge difference in sound that you can’t see. This article will help you see that.
COMFORT
Of course, ear tips always come in many different shapes and sizes. Simply because no two people have the same ears, it was necessary to create something that can fill your ears perfectly. However, in some cases, even if the ear tip is 100% suitable for a person’s ear, the material of those ear tips will affect the comfort and the final sound that our ears hear.
Comfort is at the core of the audio experience with IEM headphones. Assuming that the ear tips do not affect the sound, the uncomfortable feeling of wearing a rough, stiff pair of ear tips will distract you. You will no longer have the mind to enjoy the music fully. A prime example is the Dunu DK-3001. Although the discomfort when wearing does not originate from the pair of ear tips but from the odd housing design itself, it proves that no matter how good the headphones’ sound is, the first experience is COMFORT. The roof is not met, your headphones will no longer be worth enjoying.
HOUSING DESIGN
The headset’s design (in some cases) will affect the choice of size and characteristics of the ear tips. For example, some types of headphones with housing designed to be inserted not deep into the ear canal will require larger ear tips; in contrast, headphones that require being inserted deep into the ear canal will require ear tips of a larger size.
For the above reason, choosing ear tips of different sizes is extremely important if you plan to have a collection of IEMs headphones.
Of all the ear tips I’ve used, Spinfits is my favorite. However, the choice of size depends on the design of the housing. For example, for the ProPhile 8, I use a small size, while for the Pinnacle P1, I use a medium size.
EARTIPS MATERIAL
It sounds like you are choosing clothes that are not equal, but for ear tips, there are only two main types of materials that you need to care. Silicone and Sponge. The material of the ear tips is very important; it will directly affect both the comfort and the sound of the headset. Sometimes you will see ear tips that combine these two materials, and they call them hybrid ear tips (available in some Sony products).
Most famously Comply Foam, Sponge ear tips are made from memory foam to create a “custom fit” feeling for the user. That’s because the memory foam’s ability to expand when worn fills your entire ear canal. However, some people will find this type of ear tips more uncomfortable to wear than silicone ear tips; they will also break down faster and have to be replaced more quickly.
Silicone ear tips are more popular as they are more durable and cheaper than sponge ear tips. That is also why many brands have dozens of different types of silicone ear tips on the market. Unlike sponge ear tips, you have to squeeze and wait for the ear tips to expand; with silicone ear tips, all you need is to insert them directly into the ear.
DESIGN OF EAR TIPS
Not only is the material considered, but the design of the ear tips is also something that we need to pay attention. We have traditional 1-layer, modern 2-layer, or even 3-layer silicone ear tips on Etymotic headphones through years of development. These designs affect the fit, comfort, sound insulation, and even sound quality of the headset.
Not only can headphones “tune” the sound, but also ear tips. Take silicone ear tips as an example. The manufacturer’s selection of the thickness of the cap, the softness of the material, the diameter of the sound pipe, the shape of the hat is entirely within the manufacturer’s intention. Normally, the core of the ear tips will always be thicker and stiffer than the top of the hat. The reason is that if they are too soft when inserted in the ear, they will shrink and block the sound escape on your headphones.
The pipe diameter and the length of the pipe are also important. If you’ve had your hands on DIY CIEMs projects, you probably know this. In the case of ear tips, a wide-diameter sound pipe will usually reduce the volume of the bass band while increasing the volume of the treble band, making the sound brighter. The opposite will happen when the soundhole gets smaller. That is just one of the design factors that affect the sound quality of ear tips; there are many other factors that each manufacturer keeps for themselves.
SOUNDPROOF
After all, the main function of a pair of ear tips is to create a soundproof wall in your ears. If your ear tips do not fill the space in your ears, the sound quality of the headphones will drop dramatically. The sound will become harsh, lack bass, or lose bass completely.
EFFECT ON SOUND
We already know that ear tips affect the sound to make it clearer and easier to visualize.
The first is the experiment between having ear tips and no ear tips. The headphones used are Fiio F9, and the ear tips are Crystal Foam.
A significant change in the negative graph when using ear tips. The bass range is greatly improved, and the sharp peaks in the treble range are smoother. The peak at 7kHZ, the classic design error of the FiiO F9, has also been softened.
Quite similar in the bass and mid-range, but in the high range, it is clear that Comply Foam has shaved off quite a few sharp peaks, making the treble sound less sharp and dazzling.
As you can see, the bass range of these two ear tips is quite similar, but the mid-range and high range, the Ostry Blue OS200, has changed significantly.
CONCLUDE
With all the information above, I hope you have a broader and more general view of the importance of ear tips with your headphones.