How to choose the right Earbuds / Headphones?

Many customers base their headphone or earbud purchases on the recommendations of salespeople, friends, or family. Trying out earbuds before purchase is often impossible due to sealed packaging, making it challenging to sell opened products. This is understandable, as earbuds come into contact with the skin and may pick up dirt and oil during trials.

After COVID, trying out earbuds is not recommended or allowed, and even review units are typically retained, except for expensive ones that can be cleaned before being sent to another reviewer. This makes it challenging for customers to choose the right earbuds.

Brands Recognition & Advertising

Consumers examine advertisements or promotions on TV, newspapers, and websites. Some brands have earned decades of market presence, establishing a reputation for quality and confidence in their products. Consumers trust these brands blindly, and often, they are not mistaken. However, at times, consumers pay more for sound quality solely based on brand recognition.

Online Review & Influencer

When brands launch earbuds, they engage reviewers for comprehensive assessments. These reviewers, often from reputable technology media companies, conduct extensive testing over 1-3 weeks, exploring scenarios like office use, workouts, and prolonged usage. Their evaluations cover critical aspects such as Battery Level, Noise Cancellation, call quality, and Water Resistance, aligning with the brand’s specifications.

To boost product visibility, brands frequently collaborate with renowned artists and actors, leveraging their influence to attract consumers. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these celebrities, though effective endorsers, may lack the technical understanding of the product.

A new wave of influencers has emerged, gaining followers through video content or fashion rather than technical expertise. These influencers emphasize earbuds as a style statement, prioritizing aesthetics over functionality and sound quality. Unfortunately, in this region, only a handful of influencers offer credible technology reviews.

I approach influencer reviews with caution, as their followers may not necessarily translate into reliable sales data or provide detailed insights into product performance.

This raises the question: how can consumers navigate this landscape to choose the right earbuds for their specific needs?

• Determine your budget to narrow down the earbud options available in the market.
• If budget is not a constraint and you’re buying earbuds for a style statement, choose any brand that suits your preference.
• Verify the compatibility of the earbuds with your smartphone. Many earbuds work with both iOS and Android devices, but some brands offer additional sound quality support that complements their smartphones. For example, sound quality may improve with features like Dolby B, Hi-Res Audio, and more. Note that Apple earbuds work seamlessly only with iOS devices.

• The best way to choose the right earbuds is to explore online reviews globally, excluding certain devices exclusive to your market. Check reviews from reputable technology media companies, considering ratings provided by reviewers. Don’t rely on a single reviewer; examine multiple reviews from diverse regions like the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Ensure the credibility of both the reviewer and the website on a global scale, matching the suitability for your market. Conduct a thorough analysis of all available online reviews before making a decision.
• If you have friends or relatives who have purchased the same device you’re interested in, inquire about the sound quality, battery life, and comfort. If possible, try the device yourself, as trusting your ears is crucial.
• Most earbud packaging includes details about the device, such as material, size, weight, sound frequencies, and audio drivers.
  • Most earbud packaging includes details about the
    • Earbud’s Audio Drivers – The earbud’s audio driver serves as the raw speaker component driving the air, converting electrical energy into acoustic energy. It’s a transducer that influences sound in your ear canal. Larger drivers generally result in better bass quality. Mids and treble frequencies rely on lower movement, allowing most earbuds to deliver high-frequency treble and mid-range sound. Comparing an 8mm driver to a 15mm driver, the latter will produce better low-range frequencies and enhanced bass quality.
    • Earbud’s Frequencies Range – Earbuds come with a frequency range that determines sound quality through the audio drivers. An ideal speaker frequency response covers the full spectrum of human hearing, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, with a smooth response across this range.
    • Earbud’s Fit & Design – When purchasing earbuds, fit and design are crucial factors. Some premium brand earbuds may look stylish but prove uncomfortable for extended periods. The weight of the earbuds is essential, especially for prolonged use. Various types of earbuds fit and designs are available.
    • Earbuds serve specific purposes, offering various designs for consumers to choose from:
      • Classic Earbuds – Wireless but non-in-ear, they rest on earlobes in front of the ear canal.
      • True Wireless Earbuds – Popular for their wire-free design, they come with a portable charging case to extend battery life.
      • Wireless Earbuds with a Cable – In-ear headphones that receive audio wirelessly via Bluetooth but have a wire connecting the right and left earbuds.
      • Wired Earbuds – Niche and popular mainly in the audiophile community.
      • Bone Conduction Headphones – Transmit sound through cheekbones, leaving ears open to surroundings.
      • Open-Ear Headphones – Similar to bone-conduction but use small speakers to play audio directly into ears.
      • In-ear Air Tube Headphones – Wired, with air tubes delivering sound to the drivers, emitting minimal EMF radiation.
      • Each design caters to specific preferences and needs.

• Codecs – Smartphones support various codecs to enhance sound quality in wireless earbuds. These codecs decode digital audio signals transmitted via Bluetooth, ranging from 16-bit to 24-bit audio. Brands incorporate multiple codecs for improved audio quality, including SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL (Low Latency), aptX Lossless, LC3, LDAC, LHDC, LHDC-V, LLAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec.
• In-ear Buds comfort with ear-tips – Wireless in-earbuds are equipped with silicone or different types of ear tips, providing comfort for extended use. Typically, earbuds come in three sizes – Small, Medium, and Large ear-tips. Some brands offer 6 to 12 pairs of ear-tips to ensure a perfect fit for every consumer’s preference.
• Battery and charging – Wireless earbuds’ battery consists of the battery in the charging case and the earbuds. Wireless Earbuds with a Cable generally have a built-in battery that requires charging when not in use. Earbuds with a charging case allow simultaneous charging while in use. Single charge usage ranges from 3 to 8 hours, and with the charging case, it extends to 24 to 48 hours. Faster charging is preferred, making the earbuds more in demand compared to slower charging ones.
• Control features – Most new-generation wireless earbuds feature touch controls, enabling users to manage music playback, accept/reject calls, adjust ambient noise, and control Noise Cancellation, among other functions. Some earbuds support virtual assistants like Alexa, Google, Bixby, and Siri, allowing users to control and access features without physically touching the earbuds.

Many of my readers and friends have asked me to suggest the best earbuds for them, given the numerous varieties in the market.
Please note: that these choices are my suggestions and may differ for different consumers.

Earbuds for Exercise and Workout

During a workout or exercise, increased breathing and body heat are common. The ear canal plays a crucial role in balancing the body and managing head pressure. Keeping the ear canal open maintains proper balance; if blocked, it may affect equilibrium, leading to a temporary blackout.

For workouts, it is recommended to use classic earbuds, Open-Ear Headphones, Wireless Earbuds with a Cable that does not insert into the ear canal, and Bone-Conduction Headphones.

Important Note: If you use in-earbuds with ear tips that block the ear canal, periodically remove them to maintain proper air balance in the ear canal. During intense workouts, keep the ear tips slightly loose to ensure smooth airflow in the ear.

Audiophile listeners

Audiophiles prioritize a broad range of audio frequencies and the highest audio quality from the source. Looks and style may not matter as much as sound quality. Audiophile listeners prefer wired headphones and earbuds as they are believed to provide the full range of sound without loss. The shift from Bluetooth 4.0 to Bluetooth 5.0 marked a significant leap in sound quality and wireless audio range. Despite claims of Lossless Audio support with Bluetooth 5.3, many audiophiles still prefer wired connectivity over wireless.

Earbuds for Business people

Business professionals focus on call quality for receiving and making calls, making the microphone, speaker, and battery life crucial. Business individuals typically spend 1 to 6 hours daily on phone calls, requiring noise cancellation in both the microphone and speaker for effective communication. Wired earbuds pose no battery issues as power comes from the smartphone. For wireless earbuds, long-lasting battery life on a single charge is crucial, and individual earbuds should work independently. In case the left earbud’s battery depletes due to extended use, business people should be able to use the right earbud while recharging the left one in the charging case. Additional features like touch controls and audio assistants like Google, Alexa, and others are valuable for business professionals.