How to Get In-Ear Headphones to Fit Properly

posted by Robert E. Calem on February 15, 2013
in Phones and Mobile, Headphones, Music and Video, Tips & How-Tos, Tech 101 :: 1 comment

Even the best in-ear headphones, or earphones, can sound awful and quickly become uncomfortable if they're too loose, too tight or aren't seated well in your ear. So get the most out of your earphones by following these tips to getting the proper fit.

Size Matters

The key to a proper earphone fit is using the right size ear tip. So try the various sizes of foam and silicon tips that come with your earphones. Foam tips are more forgiving for size differences, so are a good option for hard-to-fit ears. If your earphones don't come with foam tips, look for compatible tips from a quality manufacturer like Comply. 

Also, one ear may be slightly larger than the other, so you may need to use a different size tip for each ear.

Seat the eartip firmly

To get the best sound, you need to seal your ear canal with the eartip. So simply pushing an eartip into your ear often isn't enough to create a proper seal. Try gently pulling on the outer rim of your ear to ease the tip into a comfortable position. You should notice a drop in ambient noise when the tip is seated correctly. And when you're listening to music, you'll notice more range, especially bass.

Secure the tip for sports

Getting headphones for working out to fit well is particularly tricky. The constant pulling on the eartip as you move can loosen even well-inserted eartips.

Try looping the cable that connects them behind your head and around the top of each ear. For eartips that are angled to fit in the ear canal, place the side marked “L” in your right ear and the side marked “R” in your left ear. Some headphones, like those made by Shure are designed to be worn this way, so check before swapping sides.

Make sure to use any stabilizers that may have come packed with the earphones. These plastic pieces basically wedge the eartip into place to keep it from wiggling as you move.

If your earphones come with eartips that have double or triple flanges, you may find they stay put better than the regular tips. Check to see if your earphone manufacturer has additional tip packs for purchase.

You can also try anchoring the headphone cable to your shirt with a clothing clip so it doesn't flop around as much. If your earphones don't come with one, you can pick one up for a few dollars on amazon.com.