How to find the best earbuds for you
Bec Summer
STACK Writer
Earbuds (aka in-ear headphones) are small in size but big in sound, and can feature advanced tech like spatial audio and noise cancelling. Their lightweight design and wireless convenience are perfect for commuting and enjoying audio content on the go.
Earbuds send audio directly into the ear canal with incredible clarity.
Sporting a minimalist design, they are lightweight, portable, and better suited for active lifestyles than a heavier pair of headphones. And while being more discreet than a pair of cans, the sound quality can be comparable – and sometimes better.
The battery, microphone, and controls are all housed within the buds, with touch sensors on the outside for volume, track selection, noise cancellation, and taking calls.
If you’re on the lookout for a quality pair of buds, consider how you’ll mostly use them and and where – listening to music and podcasts, exercising, or during the daily commute. Most earbuds are ideal for all-purpose use, but here are several bud-specific things to check off the list beforehand.
Wired or true wireless?
Wired earbuds are physically joined bud to bud by a thin cable, and connect to devices via a 3.5mm headphone jack or USB-C lead. There’s no battery to charge, and you can hang them around your neck when not in use.
True wireless earbuds have no internal and external cables and connect using Bluetooth – one bud connects to the device and then sends a signal to the other bud for synchronisation.
Battery life
True wireless earbuds can deliver an average five to eight hours of playback time – often more – from a single full charge, and their pocket-sized carry case conveniently doubles as a power source when fully charged, giving them an edge over wireless headphones.
The battery in the case generally has enough juice to top up the buds two or three times before the case itself needs charging, so you’ll often get more than 24 hours continuous use.
Remember, just like headphones, the total battery life depends on personal usage, and can be reduced when noise cancelling is continuously enabled.
Durability
The portability of earbuds exposes them to the elements, as well as perspiration from exercise sessions, so it’s important to check the IP or IPX rating for the level of dust and water resistance. Many earbuds are IPX4-rated, which means that they're splashproof, while more premium buds can have a higher waterproof rating of IPX7.
Get the perfect fit
Earbuds slide comfortably and snugly into the ear using soft silicone tips that create a sonic seal. Maintaining this seal ensures optimal sound quality, so achieving the perfect fit is important.
Not all ears are created equal, however, so you’ll generally find different sized gel eartips with a new pair of earbuds. Experiment with the sizes by gently twisting the buds into the ear canal to achieve the best seal. Excellent ANC and deep bass are reliable indications that the fit is right.
Many apps now include a handy feature that will test the fit and relay feedback if any adjustments are required.
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