What are in-ear headphones Why is in-ear so popular

1/ What are in-ear headphones?

In-ear headphones are headphones with a nozzle that can be inserted inside the user’s ear canal.

We have the following main components:

– The first is the housing used to contain the components of the headset. Sometimes the housing will act as a negative chamber

– Next is the driver part; these are the parts that help reproduce the sound

– Nozzle helps to transmit sound directly into the user’s ear

– At the end of the nozzle, the company will usually add a filter to prevent dust, earwax, or sometimes tune the sound.

– Eartips help the ear fill in the gaps in the ear canal, and at the same time, bring comfort to the user

– Especially in in-ear headphones with detachable cords, they all have a jack connector

2/ Difference between in-ear headphones and earbud:

The difference between earbud and in-ear comes from the design of these two types of headphones. In contrast, all in-ear headphones have a nozzle that conducts the sound and is located inside the ear canal. The earbud headphones use a separate shell between the sound-emitting driver and the inner layer of the ear canal.

Actually, in the previous time, earbud headphones are somewhat more popular than in-ear headphones. However, over time, the convenience and the technology to solve many problems in in-ear headphones make these headphones more and more popular. So what is the reason why in-ear headphones are so dominant over earbuds?

Compare advantages and disadvantages between in-ear and earbud.

Besides the traditional earbud earphones, today, we can see some hybrid in-ear designs. That is the solution for some of you who have problems with in-ear headphones and an earbud. Apple’s Airpods can also be said to be an earbud with a unique hybrid design. However, these types of headphones are not very popular, and of course, like the earbud, there are not too many choices.

3/ Types of in-ear

Unlike the earbud, due to its growing popularity and development, the in-ear has many different designs that can be extremely diverse to suit many people and serve many purposes uses. Here I will take a look at some of the common types that you often see.

– Universal in-ear is the most popular type with the most basic design. This in-ear has different housing and nozzle sizes, but it still has the common feature of being compact and has a nozzle that can be tucked inside the ear canal very simply.

– The next and also the most expensive are the Custom headset models. That is an ear model that uses a housing molded from acrylic or silicone (can combine both 2) based on the earmold of each user. A single user can only use these results in each custom headset, but in return, the sound quality and soundproofing are much better than regular universal models. That is also the reason that many singers and artists choose custom headphones when performing on stage.

– In-ear has a hybrid design with earbud: this type has a nozzle that is usually not inserted too deeply into the ear, for a slightly more comfortable wearing feeling and for those who cannot wear a traditional in-ear. However, this type has limitations, such as being difficult to fit for some people with small ear molds and poor sound insulation.

– There is a type that can still be classified as Universal, but I want to mention that it is headphones with large housing such as Audeze’s iSine line, Stax in-ear. Both of these types have large housing and are difficult to use without the help of an ear hook or accompanying accessories.

– Besides, there are also some unique in-ear designs

4/ Different types of connections:

Cheap in-ears usually have attached wires. Previously, only high-end headphones were equipped with the ability to disassemble the cord. However, thanks to the development and increasing sales, mid-range and low-range in-ears are also equipped with detachable cords.

There are two main types of connectors on the market today, 2-pin and MMCX. A few years ago, 2-pin headphones were more popular, but now MMCX has an overwhelming number because of its convenience and durability.

In addition to these two connectors, there are other variants such as the Fit-Ear 2-pin, Audio Technica A2DC, or Sennheiser, which recently created a new connection standard for the IE80 model. Besides, there are several brands with their proprietary connection jacks. However, the limitation of these connection standards is that once damaged, it is difficult to find replacement wires, or if so, the price will be quite high.

5/ Different types of ear tips:

That is also a controversial issue among many brothers because some think changing the ear tip will change the sound quality. That is both true and false, in my opinion. The basic material of the eartips will also be partially affected. Good ear tips also fit better, providing a comfortable wearing feeling with better sound quality than non-genuine eartips. However, please don’t put too much weight on it and hope that the eartips will completely change the sound quality of the in-ear. Instead, choose for yourself the right eartips, fit well and bring the most comfortable feeling.