Choosing Earbuds Part 2

Aspects of Sound Quality

Last time we talked about understanding what makes sound - and in particular, our listening experience - better or worse. This time, we will get into some of the more technical aspects of earbud performance.

Evaluating Earbud Sound Quality

1. Soundstage and Imaging:

A wide soundstage provides a sense of spaciousness, while accurate imaging allows you to pinpoint the location of instruments and vocals within the music. You can think of soundstage in literal terms of a stage. If you are the audience and you in front of a small, narrow stage with all of the musicians performing in a tight group (like the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show), you will hear everything but it will all seem like it’s coming from directly in front of you. That is a narrow soundstage experience. If, however, you are the audience in front of a large, wide stage with musicians over to the left of you, in front of you, and over to the right of you, you will still hear everything, but it will sound and feel expansive! Almost like you would have to open your arms as wide as possible to catch the sound in your arms (if that were possible). That is a wide soundstage experience.

Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show (1964)

2. Clarity and Detail:

Good earbuds reveal intricate details within the music, allowing you to appreciate nuances such as instrument separation and vocal subtleties. While some of this comes along with a wider soundstage effect, some of it also is a reflection of the driver quality and the ability of the earbud to accurately reproduce the digital signal cleanly and responsively.

3. Frequency Response:

Balanced frequency response adds depth and warmth to the music without overpowering one frequency band over another, offering a well-rounded listening experience. If you really want to geek-out about sound shape and design, I suggest joining the website www.rtings.com where you can do as deep a dive as possible into how various aspects of sound reproduction shape your listening experience.

4. Audio Testing

Putting all of this together, it really comes down to words like “clean”, “big” , and “rich” sound. To help you listen for an earbud’s performance in these areas, I’ve put together a playlist (of course I have, lol!) with music that I think serves as a great obstacle course for you to evaluate them on. These songs all have the ability to have a clean, big, and rich sound if played on the right audio system. So first of all, download these songs to your playback device at the highest quality possible (320 kbps if at all possible), put ANC (if you have it) on full, find a quiet space, close your eyes and play these songs as loudly as you can comfortably listen without feeling any discomfort. What do you hear? Do you feel like you are sitting right next to the performer? Does it sound muddy? Does it sound flat? Rich? Crisp? Immersive? Present?

Choosing the Right Earbuds for You

1. Research and Reviews:

Explore reviews, expert opinions, and user feedback to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different earbud models.

2. Try Before Buying:

If possible, try out earbuds before purchasing to assess comfort, fit, and sound quality. Many stores offer demo units for this purpose. If this is not possible, then make sure you put your new earbuds through its paces as soon as you buy them so you can return them if they don’t fit the bill. Some places make returns easier than others, so be careful when choosing your vendor.

3. Consider Your Usage:

Consider how and where you'll use the earbuds. Are they for commuting, workouts, or casual listening? Different scenarios might require specific features like water resistance or ANC. Be sure of what your feature checklist is and whether your ultimate decision has all (or at least the most important) of those features.

Another question to consider might be wired vs wireless. Although not as “tech forward”, wired earbuds might be a good fit for your needs. Wired earbuds require no charging and never run out of battery, they require less power from your phone as well since the digital signal goes over the wire rather than being broadcast via Bluetooth. Prices can be significantly less expensive with wired, but for Balance Armature drivers, you’ll pay about the same for wired or wireless. You have more flexibility as to where your phone is with wireless earbuds, and the universal nature of bluetooth makes it likely that wireless earbuds can potentially also work with your laptop, your next cell phone, or even your home entertainment center without adapters or conversion cables.

4. Budget and Value:

Look for websites that will give you a “Best Earbuds of 202X” list. Lurk on several of them to see what earbuds are frequently highly-ranked and what their price point is. Look for earbuds that offer the best value within your price range. Expensive doesn't always mean better; sometimes, mid-range earbuds provide exceptional sound quality. Personally, I look for the best earbuds that are just outside of my price range and then wait for a holiday sale or find a set that has been “factory refurbished”. I feel like I am getting a little bit better than I can afford that way.

Wrap Up

Earbud sound quality and the music listening experience are intricately intertwined. The right earbuds can transform a mundane commute into a captivating musical journey or turn a workout into an exhilarating session with energizing beats. Understanding the technical aspects of sound quality, coupled with personal preferences and usage scenarios, enables you to make informed decisions when selecting earbuds. Ultimately, the perfect pair of earbuds enhances the way you perceive and enjoy music, adding an extra dimension to your auditory escapades.

What do I use? I currently use the Jabra Elite 7 Pro. I really like the way Jabra can tune the frequency response to my ears’ capabilities. I also think their ANC works well for me but I can also quickly switch to “hear through” where it passes the ambient sound into my ears (like a waiter’s voice if I’m dining alone or traffic noise if I’m walking along a busy street). I don’t love the silicone they use for their ear tips as after about 30-minutes, it irritates my ear canals. But overall, I’m very happy with these (my third set of Jabra’s).

What other earbuds am I most curious about? Many, actually, lol. Here are three that are a bit less “main stream” that I find intriguing: I would like to try the Status earbuds I see advertised on Instagram. I think they do a fantastic job of storytelling around their design and I’m curious to see if it lives up to their passion. Also LSTN, a lesser-known brand who makes headphones that I really like (their use of wood makes all the sense in the world to me!), also makes earbuds. Knowing how much they love sound, I imagine their earbuds are fantastic. Lastly, when I was doing sound engineering, I used a lot of Sennheiser mics because I felt they did a better job of representing the vocalists’ natural tone. Sennheiser makes a set of earbuds that I imagine are really beautiful sounding, and would like to try someday… their MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 model.