7 ms·

The main thing I can't stand about many sealed in-ear headphones is that lightly jostling the wire causes a massive bass thump in my ear. Regardless of fit, ef

The main thing I can't stand about many sealed in-ear headphones is that lightly jostling the wire causes a massive bass thump in my ear. Regardless of fit, effectively this means I can't move at all while listening to them. The effect is so loud that I marvel that anybody can ignore it.

bluedino 5y ago
They sell them without wires
- rectang 5y ago
  Yes, of course. I'm still amazed on some level that the wired versions are considered acceptable, because the thumping is so prominent — as far as I'm concerned, it's a fatally flawed design. But that's the human perceptual mechanism for you — highly optimized for filtering out unwanted sensory input.
  - formerly_proven 5y ago
    I have a bunch of cheap in-ears (each comes with a bag of different seals) and none of them have the issue you describe. Sure, you can hear it when the cables bump against something, but it's not a "massive bass thump".
    - rectang 5y ago
      Stick your forefinger in your ear, well enough to form a bit of a seal. Then move your finger around a little bit. That causes a ton of rumbling/thumping noise as the air in the ear canal moves much more dramatically than it does when encountering sound waves in open air. The same effect happens when you jostle a sealed in-ear monitor. I don't doubt that you are not perceiving this rumble, but my explanation is that your brain is filtering it out. EDIT: It occurs to me now that if you listen at consistently high volume (which many in-ear headphone users do), jostling rumble will be relatively lower.
      - formerly_proven 5y ago
        I don't listen at high volume and my hearing is quite excellent. I'm guessing that there's something about your ear canal that causes a really good seal (maybe wet ears), or maybe something about my ear canal that I don't get these perfect air-tight bass-thumping seals. FWIW I don't force in-ears deeply into my ear canal, because that's uncomfortable as heck (and tends to make the bass way to boomy and overpronounced in my experience). I only stick the soft rubber part in.
  - thom 5y ago
    The situation seems a bit more complicated now given that only wired headphones can support the best lossless codecs, as I understand it. I wouldn't currently by anything that couldn't plug in with a wire, at least optionally.
- initplus 5y ago
  Microphonics can be just as much of an issue with wireless headphones.
noisem4ker 5y ago
It depends on the material the wire is made of and the way it's coupled to the ear piece. Try braided ones, for example. I've had a pair with "anti-tangle" plastic wire that transmitted remarkably little movement noise. Fixing the wire to the clothing, with a clip at shoulder height, also helps reducing vibratons.
flotzam 5y ago
Try looping each side of the cable over and behind your ear, with the little plastic splitter tab positioned relatively snugly under your chin. That should stabilize it.
camgunz 5y ago
I have Etymotic ER4SRs which came with this clip [1]. It broke, and I soon found out the microphonics (sound traveling through the cable) were strong, and the extra weight the cable put on the drivers in my ears was surprisingly distracting. I bought a new one and, even though it's super nerdy, wear it. There are cables that are less microphonic, and I think it might be possible that if you wrap the cable around your ear instead of going straight up it's supposed to help also. I don't personally like the around the ear thing--feels like a bridge too far for me look-wise, but I'm not everyone. But I'll get on my shtick for a second: I love my ER4SRs. They've basically saved my career. They're small, there's no latency, there's infinite battery life, essentially everything is replaceable, the sound _perfect_. I super wish they made a (non-Lightning) cable that had a mic in it (I know there's 3rd party ones but haven't had a lot of success there yet and quit trying), but it's a small inconvenience. I can mostly work anywhere under almost any conditions, which has turned out to be important. [1]: https://www.etymotic.com/product/shirt-clip-for-er-series-earphones/ https://www.etymotic.com/product/shirt-clip-for-er-series-ea...
- the_only_law 5y ago
  I bought some Etymotics last year and I was frankly disappointing given the price. They broke not too long after getting them. The right earpiece seems to have bad contact with the cable and don't cant get any sound in that ear. It may be as simple as replacing the cable though, I'm not entirely sure.
  - aalam 5y ago
    I had a similar problem, and the solution was to change out the filter in the non-functioning earpiece [0] with the tool and replacement filters that came with the device. I also bought a replacement cable, which didn't work, then contacted support for a replacement. Their suggested fix of changing the filter worked. I suspect the reason may have been moisture; I washed the silicon tip with soap and water, then put it back on the earpiece and filter without waiting for it to fully dry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgTa8Htzo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgTa8Htzo
amelius 5y ago
> a massive bass thump in my ear Definitely a no-no for audiophiles.
aaaaaaaaaaab 5y ago
This phenomenon is called “microphonics”. It can he mitigated by wrapping the cable around your ear from the top. Indeed, this is how professional in-ear monitors are worn (e.g. Shure).
- rectang 5y ago
  I see that "microphonics" is indeed the popular term for this phenomenon. To be pedantic, microphonics was originally used to describe inducement of electrical signals in wires, similar to how a microphone works. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphonics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphonics > Microphonics, microphony, or microphonism[1][2][3] describes the phenomenon wherein certain components in electronic devices transform mechanical vibrations into an undesired electrical signal (noise). There's no electricity involved in this phenomenon, which arises through pure mechanical coupling when the wire causes the sealed earpiece to move and air pressure in the ear canal to swing wildly. But that's like complaining about URL vs. URI...
  - cma 5y ago
    It still may not be the right word, but microphones predate electricity (ear horns were called microphones).
- Rd6n6 5y ago
  It helps, but it doesn’t get rid of it
worldsayshi 5y ago
I bought a pair of jaybird in ear wireless headphones for listening to music while running. But even without wires the bass disturbance caused by even the slightest step makes them completely unusable. I don't understand how people are able to use in ear headphones. I realized I can't.
- benatkin 5y ago
  It started off the same for me, but I found best fitting of the 3 or 4 tips it comes with, which weren't the ones I thought were best while standing still, and got used to it, and ended up liking my jaybirds.
- mertd 5y ago
  Try wearing them with an imperfect seal. The sound will be quite sub par but it will be consistent. It works for me, because I'm out for a run not an audiophile experience. You'll also get to hear some of the ambient noise which helps with balance, safety etc...
ThePadawan 5y ago
Jostling how? I have been wearing in-ears for years, running the wire down my spine and into my pants pockets. That limits the parts of the cable that can still move to between the device and my beltline, which doesn't cause any noise whatsoever.
- rectang 5y ago
  > Jostling how? I've already explained this multiple times elsethread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738221 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738221 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738280 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738280
  - ThePadawan 5y ago
    Just making sure I understand you! (I genuinely don't think I encounter this noise, but that's alright)
Rd6n6 5y ago
I aimed for noise isolating headphones so I could listen at lower volumes and keep my hearing safe. However, to cover up that wire noise I end up having to turn them up pretty loud when walking my dogs. I just gave up after a bunch of expensive iems broke and just use cheap EarPods now. They’re good for the price and they’re open back, so there is no cord noise or movement noise
- rectang 5y ago
  I totally agree with your take on EarPods, they're a great value. EarPods have rolled off bass response, but to me the full experience is superior to what I get with in-ear, at least as soon as I start moving. They don't deliver that "sealed off from the world" effect, but I don't actually want that most of the time. For better fidelity, I prefer my old Grado SR-80 headphones, but they're an open air ear-cup design, so not good in an office environment or similar.

bluedino 5y ago

They sell them without wires

rectang 5y ago
Yes, of course. I'm still amazed on some level that the wired versions are considered acceptable, because the thumping is so prominent — as far as I'm concerned, it's a fatally flawed design. But that's the human perceptual mechanism for you — highly optimized for filtering out unwanted sensory input.
- formerly_proven 5y ago
  I have a bunch of cheap in-ears (each comes with a bag of different seals) and none of them have the issue you describe. Sure, you can hear it when the cables bump against something, but it's not a "massive bass thump".
  - rectang 5y ago
    Stick your forefinger in your ear, well enough to form a bit of a seal. Then move your finger around a little bit. That causes a ton of rumbling/thumping noise as the air in the ear canal moves much more dramatically than it does when encountering sound waves in open air. The same effect happens when you jostle a sealed in-ear monitor. I don't doubt that you are not perceiving this rumble, but my explanation is that your brain is filtering it out. EDIT: It occurs to me now that if you listen at consistently high volume (which many in-ear headphone users do), jostling rumble will be relatively lower.
    - formerly_proven 5y ago
      I don't listen at high volume and my hearing is quite excellent. I'm guessing that there's something about your ear canal that causes a really good seal (maybe wet ears), or maybe something about my ear canal that I don't get these perfect air-tight bass-thumping seals. FWIW I don't force in-ears deeply into my ear canal, because that's uncomfortable as heck (and tends to make the bass way to boomy and overpronounced in my experience). I only stick the soft rubber part in.
- thom 5y ago
  The situation seems a bit more complicated now given that only wired headphones can support the best lossless codecs, as I understand it. I wouldn't currently by anything that couldn't plug in with a wire, at least optionally.
initplus 5y ago
Microphonics can be just as much of an issue with wireless headphones.

noisem4ker 5y ago

It depends on the material the wire is made of and the way it's coupled to the ear piece. Try braided ones, for example. I've had a pair with "anti-tangle" plastic wire that transmitted remarkably little movement noise. Fixing the wire to the clothing, with a clip at shoulder height, also helps reducing vibratons.

flotzam 5y ago

Try looping each side of the cable over and behind your ear, with the little plastic splitter tab positioned relatively snugly under your chin. That should stabilize it.

camgunz 5y ago

I have Etymotic ER4SRs which came with this clip [1]. It broke, and I soon found out the microphonics (sound traveling through the cable) were strong, and the extra weight the cable put on the drivers in my ears was surprisingly distracting. I bought a new one and, even though it's super nerdy, wear it. There are cables that are less microphonic, and I think it might be possible that if you wrap the cable around your ear instead of going straight up it's supposed to help also. I don't personally like the around the ear thing--feels like a bridge too far for me look-wise, but I'm not everyone. But I'll get on my shtick for a second: I love my ER4SRs. They've basically saved my career. They're small, there's no latency, there's infinite battery life, essentially everything is replaceable, the sound _perfect_. I super wish they made a (non-Lightning) cable that had a mic in it (I know there's 3rd party ones but haven't had a lot of success there yet and quit trying), but it's a small inconvenience. I can mostly work anywhere under almost any conditions, which has turned out to be important. [1]: https://www.etymotic.com/product/shirt-clip-for-er-series-earphones/ https://www.etymotic.com/product/shirt-clip-for-er-series-ea...

the_only_law 5y ago
I bought some Etymotics last year and I was frankly disappointing given the price. They broke not too long after getting them. The right earpiece seems to have bad contact with the cable and don't cant get any sound in that ear. It may be as simple as replacing the cable though, I'm not entirely sure.
- aalam 5y ago
  I had a similar problem, and the solution was to change out the filter in the non-functioning earpiece [0] with the tool and replacement filters that came with the device. I also bought a replacement cable, which didn't work, then contacted support for a replacement. Their suggested fix of changing the filter worked. I suspect the reason may have been moisture; I washed the silicon tip with soap and water, then put it back on the earpiece and filter without waiting for it to fully dry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgTa8Htzo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbDgTa8Htzo

amelius 5y ago

> a massive bass thump in my ear Definitely a no-no for audiophiles.

aaaaaaaaaaab 5y ago

This phenomenon is called “microphonics”. It can he mitigated by wrapping the cable around your ear from the top. Indeed, this is how professional in-ear monitors are worn (e.g. Shure).

rectang 5y ago
I see that "microphonics" is indeed the popular term for this phenomenon. To be pedantic, microphonics was originally used to describe inducement of electrical signals in wires, similar to how a microphone works. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphonics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphonics > Microphonics, microphony, or microphonism[1][2][3] describes the phenomenon wherein certain components in electronic devices transform mechanical vibrations into an undesired electrical signal (noise). There's no electricity involved in this phenomenon, which arises through pure mechanical coupling when the wire causes the sealed earpiece to move and air pressure in the ear canal to swing wildly. But that's like complaining about URL vs. URI...
- cma 5y ago
  It still may not be the right word, but microphones predate electricity (ear horns were called microphones).
Rd6n6 5y ago
It helps, but it doesn’t get rid of it

worldsayshi 5y ago

I bought a pair of jaybird in ear wireless headphones for listening to music while running. But even without wires the bass disturbance caused by even the slightest step makes them completely unusable. I don't understand how people are able to use in ear headphones. I realized I can't.

benatkin 5y ago
It started off the same for me, but I found best fitting of the 3 or 4 tips it comes with, which weren't the ones I thought were best while standing still, and got used to it, and ended up liking my jaybirds.
mertd 5y ago
Try wearing them with an imperfect seal. The sound will be quite sub par but it will be consistent. It works for me, because I'm out for a run not an audiophile experience. You'll also get to hear some of the ambient noise which helps with balance, safety etc...

ThePadawan 5y ago

Jostling how? I have been wearing in-ears for years, running the wire down my spine and into my pants pockets. That limits the parts of the cable that can still move to between the device and my beltline, which doesn't cause any noise whatsoever.

rectang 5y ago
> Jostling how? I've already explained this multiple times elsethread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738098 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738221 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738221 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738280 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28738280
- ThePadawan 5y ago
  Just making sure I understand you! (I genuinely don't think I encounter this noise, but that's alright)

Rd6n6 5y ago

I aimed for noise isolating headphones so I could listen at lower volumes and keep my hearing safe. However, to cover up that wire noise I end up having to turn them up pretty loud when walking my dogs. I just gave up after a bunch of expensive iems broke and just use cheap EarPods now. They’re good for the price and they’re open back, so there is no cord noise or movement noise

rectang 5y ago
I totally agree with your take on EarPods, they're a great value. EarPods have rolled off bass response, but to me the full experience is superior to what I get with in-ear, at least as soon as I start moving. They don't deliver that "sealed off from the world" effect, but I don't actually want that most of the time. For better fidelity, I prefer my old Grado SR-80 headphones, but they're an open air ear-cup design, so not good in an office environment or similar.