Compare in-ear earphones
In-ear earphones seal off your ear canal with a silicone tip. This provides better sound isolation, more bass and noise-cancelling that really works, but not everyone finds that sealed-off feeling comfortable. This page lists all in-ear models, from entry-level to top-of-the-range, with current prices from all retailers side by side and compared 100% independently. Use the filters for brand, price and noise-cancelling to find the earbuds that suit you straight away.
In-ear or open-back earphones: what’s the difference?
In-ear earphones feature a silicone tip that fits inside your ear canal and seals it off. Open and semi-in-ear models rest in the outer ear, leaving the ear canal open. That single design choice determines almost everything you hear afterwards: the sound isolation, the bass, how well noise cancellation works, and how long you can wear them comfortably.
The seal determines how much outside sound you hear
A well-fitting earbud physically keeps ambient noise out, even before any electronics come into play. This is called passive isolation and makes a bigger difference on the train or in the office than you might think. An added bonus: you don’t need to turn the volume up as high, which is better for your hearing. Open-back models let everything through, as that’s what they’re designed for.
Without a good seal, noise-cancelling barely works
Active noise cancelling adds anti-noise to whatever sound still gets in. If noise leaks in past the earbud, the electronics face a problem they cannot solve, and high-frequency sounds in particular will slip through. That’s why the same earbuds sound noticeably quieter with a well-fitting tip than with one that’s too small. Semi-in-ear models often do have ANC, but the effect is limited to low-frequency hums such as a motor or air conditioning. The bass also disappears if the seal is poor: thin-sounding audio is more often caused by an ill-fitting tip than by poor-quality earbuds.
The drawbacks: pressure, sweat and fit
In-ear headphones aren’t for everyone. The sealed sensation puts pressure on the ear, as if your ears are blocked, and for some people this can cause headaches or itching after an hour. You also hear your own voice and footsteps more loudly – the so-called occlusion effect – which can be distracting whilst running. And because air can’t get in, it gets warm and clammy inside your ear canal whilst exercising. If you exercise a lot, make a conscious choice to go for dust- and waterproof earplugs that can withstand sweat.
Many issues can be resolved by changing the ear tips. Almost every set comes with three or four sizes, and the standard medium size that comes fitted doesn’t suit everyone. It’s perfectly fine for the left and right sides to be different.
When should you opt for open-back or semi-in-ear models?
Open-back and semi-in-ear models offer some sound isolation and bass, whilst still allowing you to hear your surroundings. For those who wear earbuds all day at work or exercise outdoors, this often outweighs even the best noise-cancelling features.
Choose in-ear if you want peace and quiet on the train, in the office or on a plane, and if noise-cancelling is your top priority.
Choose open-back or semi-in-ear models if you’ll be wearing them for hours at a time, want to hear your surroundings whilst exercising or in traffic, or if you simply don’t like having an earbud in your ear canal.
Still not sure? Then start by ruling out what you definitely don’t want. If you suffer from pressure on your ears, in-ear earphones rarely work well for you, no matter how good they are otherwise.
