The Most Comfortable Earbuds, According to Audio Experts
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Whether it’s via audiobooks, podcasts, or Beyoncé’s latest and greatest, audio makes up much of the best media around. Getting through it all — particularly while around others who might not want to hear it — means long hours wearing earbuds. And while it can feel like a certain pair of white ‘buds are the only ones out there, the earbud market is big and getting bigger, so there are plenty of comfortable options for every preference and budget.
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Over- and on-ear headphones are great, but they can’t match the compact size or true wireless freedom of modern earbuds. And while that classic 3.5 headphone might still be the standard for some, it’s harder to find a smartphone, tablet, or computer today without Bluetooth than with it.
The right pair of comfortable earbuds can also make listening a more enjoyable experience, particularly in settings like long-distance running or overnight travel. Sound quality, battery life, and other features are important, but comfort is paramount given the ear pain that can arise from wearing bad earbuds for long periods of time. The good news is that there are plenty of reasonably priced options that excel in all of these areas.
What the Experts Say
Sources within the audio industry say that comfort often comes down to personal preference, but is also a big consideration for earbud designers. For this story, SPY spoke with tech YouTuber and experienced earbud reviewer Juan Carlos Bagnell, audio expert and AllAxess founder Joel Smith, and Grooveshark founder Sam Tarantino to help sort through the most comfortable earbuds available now.
“Ears are funky. It seems simple to plop a driver in front of your ear canal, but fit and comfort often require a little experimentation,” Bagnell sauys. That means there’s no such thing as objectively comfortable earbuds; it doesn’t mean that ears-on testing is the only way to evaluate.
Tarantino says prospective buyers should consider factors like weight and ergonomics when looking for comfortable earbuds. “Lightweight earbuds with customizable ear tips can offer a more personalized fit, which greatly enhances comfort over long listening periods.”
More often than not, finding the right fit doesn’t happen right away. Instead, it requires trying on a few before you find the right pair.
“It takes a little trial and error, but finding the right fit earbud for you is a great feeling,” Bagnell notes. (Given that he previously worked as a voice casting director, he certainly knows the feeling after using many pairs of headphones and earbuds over the years.)
BEST OVERALL
Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds
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Tarnatino says these earbuds are a favorite within the music community. They stand out “not only for their superior sound quality, but also for their effective noise cancellation and comfortable fit,” he says. “The design touches, including the ergonomic shape of the earbuds, make long listening sessions much more enjoyable.” Their memory foam-like ear tips are impressively soft, and their oval shape is very comfortable.
SPY contributor William Goodman also praised Sony for its class-leading noise cancellation technology in his review. “Sony’s XM4 earbuds are an absolute game-changer in the noise-canceling earbud space,” he says.
In terms of price, Tarntino feels they’re a great investment: “While they are on the pricier side, their features and reliability justify the investment if you’re serious about your on-the-go music experience,” he says.
BEST FOR APPLE USERS
Apple AirPods Pro 2
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iPhone owners seem to opt for AirPods by default, but their ubiquity isn’t only due to their manufacturer. Smith says they “offer customizable silicone tips for a snug fit and impressive [active noise-cancellation] to block unwanted noise.”
A marked upgrade over the classic AirPods, the second Pro model has a snug fit with sound ports uniquely shaped to sit within but not pressed against the ear. They come with ear tips and a fit test, and they’re easy to connect to all kinds of Apple devices using Siri voice activation.
Price-wise, AirPods aren’t cheap, but their cost is in line with other premium options that come with features like active noise canceling and adaptive sound.
BEST FOR ACTIVE USE
JLab Air Sport Earbuds
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The first thing you’ll notice about these earbuds are the hooks — a design feature that’s fallen out of favor, but largely for aesthetic reasons. They still work well at keeping earbuds in place. And although they don’t feature active noise-cancellation, the tight seal creates good passive noise cancellation.
Joey Tyler, a co-owner of Verellen Music Academy, says he looks “for lightweight designs and soft, ergonomic materials that fit snugly without causing discomfort” when evaluating comfortable earbuds. Each of these earbuds weighs just 8.7 grams and they come with JLab’s expanding and moisture-wicking Cloud Foam earbud tips — check and check.
For just $60, these earbuds offer an array of comfort-focused features. They’re not the best-sounding earbuds around, largely thanks to the lack of noise cancellation, but for exercisers, comfort and staying in place are more important factors.
BEST CUSTOM FIT
Ultimate Ears UE Fits Earbuds
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UE’s patented Lightform technology, an app-enabled feature that conforms the earbuds to the specific shape of one’s ear in just 60 seconds, is the game-changer. (That means they’re not great for sharing, but sharing earbuds is kind of gross anyway, isn’t it?)
The individualized fit means these earbuds fit snugly without unnecessary pressure points, staying in place and blocking out external sound even without noise cancellation. Tyler says to look for “water resistance, long battery life, and compatibility with voice assistants for added convenience.” With sweat resistance, 20 hours of playtime, and Siri and Google Assistant compatibility, these succeed on all counts.
UE Fits are priced just below AirPods and the like, likely thanks to the lack of noise cancellation. Whether they’re worth it depends on how important that feature is to you and how effective the Lightform tech ultimately is for you.
BEST FOR SLEEP
Anker Soundcore Sleep A10
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Whether it’s soft music or a particularly calming podcast, listening to audio before bed is a sleep aid for many. Comfortable earbuds are a must in that situation, and these Anker earbuds fit the bill.
Smith says that these earbuds “fit comfortably for side sleepers, offer great noise isolation, and have features designed to improve sleep, like auto-pause.” This latter feature is particularly great, pausing whatever’s playing when their sensors detect sleep, preventing sore ears (and weird dreams) that can come from having earbuds playing audio all night.
The $130 price tag is a bit much for earbuds of this quality, but the onboard sleep-sensing features make them a solid deal for those interested in their own sleep data.
Frequently Asked Questions About Earbuds
What Makes a Pair of Earbuds Comfortable?
It differs for everyone, but the most comfortable earbuds tend to be lightweight and well-fitting. Figuring out what that means for one’s individual ears is the challenge of shopping for and trying comfortable earbuds.
What’s a Reasonable Amount to Pay For Comfortable Earbuds?
Decent earbuds can be had for around $50, but features like active noise canceling, multiple eartips, or even custom fit technology can push the price past $200. Paying more is well worth it for power users of earbuds, but more casual listeners can get by with cheaper pairs if need be.
What About Wired Headphones?
We admire the throwback appeal of wired headphones, but having accidentally yanked earbuds out far too many times in the pre-Bluetooth era is a feeling that puts them out of contention for the most comfortable earbuds.
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