st237

TECH FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

Get the perfect fit

Earbuds slide comfortably and snugly into the ear using soft silicone tips that create a sonic seal. Maintaining this seal ensures optimal sound quality, so achieving the perfect fit is important. Not all ears are created equal, however, so you’ll generally find different sized gel eartips with a new pair of earbuds. Experiment with the sizes by gently twisting the buds into the ear canal to achieve the best seal. Excellent ANC and deep bass are reliable indications that the fit is right. Many apps now include a handy feature that will test the fit and relay feedback if any adjustments are required.

IN-EAR AUDIO

In-ear headphones, more commonly known as earbuds, are small in size but big in sound, and can feature cutting edge tech like spatial audio, active noise cancelling, and multipoint pairing.Their lightweight design, subtle profile, and wireless convenience are perfect for commuting, working out, and enjoying audio content on the go or on the couch. Words Bec Summer

A s the name suggests, in-ear headphones – let’s call them earbuds – send audio directly into the ear canal with incredible clarity. Sporting a minimalist design, they are lightweight, portable, and better suited for active lifestyles than a heavier pair of headphones. And while being more discreet than a pair of cans, the sound quality can be comparable.

The battery, microphone, and controls are all housed within the buds, with touch sensors on the outside for volume, track selection, noise cancellation, and taking calls. If you’re on the lookout for a quality pair of buds, consider how you’ll mostly use them and and where – listening to music and podcasts, exercising, or during the daily commute. Most earbuds are ideal for all-purpose use, but here are several bud-specific things to check off the list beforehand.

Durability The portability of earbuds exposes them to the elements, as well as perspiration from exercise sessions, so it’s important to check the IP or IPX rating for the level of dust and water resistance. Many earbuds are IPX4-rated, which means that they're splashproof, while more premium buds can have a higher waterproof rating of IPX7.

What to look for Wired or true wireless?

Battery life True wireless earbuds can deliver an average five to eight hours of playback time – often more – from a single full charge, and their pocket-sized carry case conveniently doubles as a power source when fully charged, giving them an edge over wireless headphones. The battery in the case generally has enough juice to top up the buds two or three times before the case itself needs charging, so you’ll often get more than 24 hours continuous use. Remember, just like headphones, the total battery life depends on personal usage, and can be reduced when noise cancelling is continuously enabled.

Wired earbuds are physically joined bud to bud by a thin cable, and connect to devices

via a 3.5mm headphone jack or USB-C lead. There’s no battery to charge, and you can hang them around your neck when not in use. True wireless earbuds have no internal and external cables and connect using Bluetooth – one bud connects to the device and then sends a signal to the other bud for synchronisation.

14 JULY 2024

jbhifi.com.au