4 ms·

A few years ago I picked up a pair of Etymotic MK5s [1], and I'm never going back. They're small enough to carry everywhere. They don't require batteries. They'

A few years ago I picked up a pair of Etymotic MK5s [1], and I'm never going back. They're small enough to carry everywhere. They don't require batteries. They're much more effective at blocking out background noise. They can be used as actual hearing protection when I'm operating loud equipment. They don't have that problem where they paradoxically make some kinds of noise more noticeable. (Major exception: tinnitus.) And, unlike the simple on/off of ANC, I can control how much they block out background noise by fine-tuning how they're seated in my ear, so I can go anywhere from, "I want to listen to a podcast without blowing out my years, but I still need to be fully aware of what my kids are up to," to, "I literally cannot hear someone who is standing right in front of me and talking to me." [1]: https://www.etymotic.com/product/mk5/ https://www.etymotic.com/product/mk5/

SomeHacker44 5y ago
I will echo the parent's feelings. I use the version that has a mic and despite having tried various wireless earphones I keep coming back to these for outdoor walks or video conferences. The only downside is noise from the wires.
deeblering4 5y ago
Yup wired in ear monitors and good fitting tips are the way to go. I’m a fan of comply foam tips which compress and expand to fully seal themselves. This is the same approach used by live musicians to hear themselves over concert volume speaker arrays, well sealed IEMs attenuate background noise passively extremely well.
mdp2021 5y ago
If you do not need them to be pocketable and concealable, one trick is to use headphones for drummers. One example is the Vic Firth "Stereo Isolation Headphones".
newsbinator 5y ago
Seconded. I use the Etymtic MK5s and love them. The only challenge I found is it's hard to get replacement tips in Canada, much less other countries. The standard size is often sold out and/or delivery on Amazon costs a multiple of the product price.
- falcolas 5y ago
  Comply tips work with Etymotics as well. They’ll sit differently in your ears, but they work well.
Tsiklon 5y ago
Passive isolation in ears are great, but unfortunately aren’t the best for everyone. I love in ears and have several pairs with different tunings, but I can’t wear them all the time, their presence tends to irritate my ear canal, to the point where I cannot tolerate them. For these cases, if I’m at home a regular closed back headphone with good isolation will be my choice, and if I’m at the office ANC over ear headphones are mandatory for me.
thraxil 5y ago
I had a pair of those Etymotics (maybe a previous iteration, but they looked exactly like those). I loved them, but I made the mistake of falling asleep with them in with my head propped up on my hand. When I pulled the headphones out, one of the silicone tips stayed in my ear canal. It was pushed so far down that I had to go to an ENT to get it pulled out. He said that it was not an uncommon thing for him to see. Now I won't use in-ear headphones that have any kind of detachable piece like that.

SomeHacker44 5y ago

I will echo the parent's feelings. I use the version that has a mic and despite having tried various wireless earphones I keep coming back to these for outdoor walks or video conferences. The only downside is noise from the wires.

deeblering4 5y ago

Yup wired in ear monitors and good fitting tips are the way to go. I’m a fan of comply foam tips which compress and expand to fully seal themselves. This is the same approach used by live musicians to hear themselves over concert volume speaker arrays, well sealed IEMs attenuate background noise passively extremely well.

mdp2021 5y ago

If you do not need them to be pocketable and concealable, one trick is to use headphones for drummers. One example is the Vic Firth "Stereo Isolation Headphones".

newsbinator 5y ago

Seconded. I use the Etymtic MK5s and love them. The only challenge I found is it's hard to get replacement tips in Canada, much less other countries. The standard size is often sold out and/or delivery on Amazon costs a multiple of the product price.

falcolas 5y ago
Comply tips work with Etymotics as well. They’ll sit differently in your ears, but they work well.

Tsiklon 5y ago

Passive isolation in ears are great, but unfortunately aren’t the best for everyone. I love in ears and have several pairs with different tunings, but I can’t wear them all the time, their presence tends to irritate my ear canal, to the point where I cannot tolerate them. For these cases, if I’m at home a regular closed back headphone with good isolation will be my choice, and if I’m at the office ANC over ear headphones are mandatory for me.

thraxil 5y ago

I had a pair of those Etymotics (maybe a previous iteration, but they looked exactly like those). I loved them, but I made the mistake of falling asleep with them in with my head propped up on my hand. When I pulled the headphones out, one of the silicone tips stayed in my ear canal. It was pushed so far down that I had to go to an ENT to get it pulled out. He said that it was not an uncommon thing for him to see. Now I won't use in-ear headphones that have any kind of detachable piece like that.