A List of Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Earbuds.
Sound Quality
If you have a large ear canal, you may find it difficult to discern the benefit of expensive earbuds because a large canal requires a large dome for a good seal.
How do you know when you've found the best earbuds? When you go shopping for earbuds you will notice the price range can vary wildly. This usually reflects the quality of the speakers (aka receivers). Receivers are really small and expensive to produce, and they play a big role in sound quality. However, there are other factors to consider.
The makers of stashcord have a history designing hearing aids and know a thing or two about ear anatomy. Believe it or not, the shape of your ear (ear anatomy) can also affect sound quality. For example, if you have a large canal, the earbud might have a difficult time sealing against your canal wall. If that happens, it may be difficult for you to tell the difference between the expensive earbuds and the less-expensive pair.
Comfort / Retention
If your concha is small or if you have a small anti-tragus, you may find conventional earbuds tend to fall out of your ears.
The other factor is comfort. The shape of the earbud and the shape of your ear are the two things that drive how comfortable an earbud is to wear. How comfortable an earbud is can vary greatly from person to person because ear anatomy varies greatly from person to person. Your best strategy, other than to try different pairs, is to first look at your ear anatomy. Generally, the more pronounced your anti-tragus and the larger your concha, the more likely it is that a conventional earbud will stay put.
If your anti-tragus is small or if your concha is small, then most likely you will need to find an earbud that sits deeper in your ear canal. Soft tips or domes are typical for earbuds designed to fit deeper in your canal. So rather than ask, "What are the best earbuds for comfort?" try asking, "What kind of ear do I have?"
Cord / Wire Shape
Since wide flat cords weigh more than round cords they may create a constant tugging sensation in your ear.
Another factor to consider when looking for the best earbuds is earbud cords. Some earbuds come with wide, flat cords that are intended to make them more resistant to tangles; however, wide, flat cords weigh more and can cause discomfort as these heavier cords can make it feel like the earbuds are constantly being tugged from your ear. Thinner, round cords are lighter and will feel like they tug less, leading to a more comfortable earbud experience, but thinner, round cords are also more prone to tangles. Fortunately, a stashcord sleeve can easily solve the tangle problem for you. We like to live comfortably and hassle-free, so round cords with a stashcord get our vote!
Convenience
Sometimes the best earbuds are simply the ones you already have! (Although the frequent tangle sessions may have you feeling otherwise.) A stashcord sleeve may be just the ticket to saying goodbye to tangle sessions and hello to enjoying your earbuds.