Author Archives: Oscar

JDS Labs Brand Story

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This is the JDS Labs Brand Story, they are known for creating objectively neutral headphone amps that don’t cost a fortune, with humble beginnings they have gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years.

John Seaber founded JDS Labs in 2007 in his college bedroom, disappointed in lack of power from his iPod, and the mediocre bass response from his headphones, he hacked Chu Moy’s open source (cMoy) portable headphone amp design and added a bass boost circuit. He started building these and selling them on eBay as the cMoyBB – this was the birth of JDS Labs as we know it. John now holds a BSEE from Missouri S&T and is still the lead electronics engineer on all JDS Labs designs, he works with a team of talented developers and fellow audio enthusiasts.

Fully built cMoy BB:

JDS Labs designed a few portable amps in the early years, the C421 was an excellent portable amp that was well received within the community, later they released the C5 and C5D which included an internal DAC too. All of these were slim portable amps at a time where using a source with an amp strapped to it was all the rage (the golden years of portable audio if you wish).

JDS Labs C421 – came with either AD8620 or OPA2227 op-amps installed for different sound signatures:

In 2011 “NwAvGuy” created the design of the Objective2 Headphone amplifier – there was however growing dissonance between this blogger and the HiFi community. JDS Labs decided however to fully support the Objective2 amplifier and helped secure its position as the face of the objective movement. This gamble paid off, JDS Labs tripled in size within a year due to the popularity of the Objective2 and ODAC models, moving out of a basement and in to a much larger office space. In just a year, JDS Labs moved again to a larger space and set up CNC machining facilities to help keep up with the growing demand for their products.

Fast forward and JDS Labs have cemented themselves as a top player in the Headphone amplifier and DAC market – releasing the Element line that is gorgeous to look at, measures well and is a pleasure to use, along with their Atom line which are more basic in terms of looks, but still provide that JDS Labs signature sound that is neutral and linear. The Atom Amp for example quickly became the go-to headphone amp recommendation at it’s price point, offering up leading benchmark performance for an affordable price.

JDS Labs Atom Amp+:

JDS Labs Atom Amp+

In 2020 COVID19 hit – and it hit hard – JDS Labs had to battle with supply chain issues which delayed the release of the Atom DAC. They invested deeper in to robotic automation too, which helped keep up with the manufacturing side of things as the company continued to grow – new CNC machinery helped triple their manufacturing productivity. To top all this off there was a fire at the AKM factory – the supplier of DAC chips used in JDS Labs products. This led to JDS Labs acquiring an Audio Precision ApX555 audio analyzer that has allowed them to redesign their digital products in record time.

JDS Labs are an innovative company, they have an excellent team behind them along with a solid product lineup – they are also known to have some of the best customer support in the industry. All their products are engineered, machined and assembled at their facilities in Collinsville, IL, USA.

Full history: https://jdslabs.com/true-performance

The LDS Labs lineup currently consists of:

Atom Amp+ Headphone Amplifier

Atom DAC+ Optical and USB DAC

EL Amp II+ Headphone Amplifier

EL DAC II+ Optical, Coaxial and USB DAC

JDS Labs Element III Headphone Amplifier with built in DAC

Campfire Audio Release Supermoon Planar CIEM

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Campfire Release a Solid-body Custom-Fit In-Ear Monitor featuring a new custom Planar Magnetic Driver

Campfire have released the Supermoon, a Planar Magnetic custom IEM; they are a brand that often takes risks, be it in design or sound signature. It is notoriously hard to make a small planar sound good, and offering it in a custom fit earphone makes it even more interesting, Campfire Audio have done this so they can optimise the performance of the driver for each individuals ear shape.

Campfire Audio have tuned the Supermoon to sound coherent and balanced, but I would not say they are a studio neutral sounding earphone, with a mild sub-bass lift and effortless treble they are mildly u-shaped without making vocals sound recessed. We have a demo set in universal fit, so book an appointment if you want to hear these (they will also be at CanJam London).

Campfire Audio offer two different fit options, artist-fit and audiophile-fit, with artist fit offering up a more traditional deeper fit and audiophile offering up a more comfortable fit due to a shorter nozzle, perfect for long listening sessions.

Campfire Audio use a unique Solid-Body design – When crafting the solid body of the earphone, the design is 3D printed as a single component before being meticulously hand-finished. Putting the work into the earphone design before the print means the only moving part in Supermoon is the diaphragm. This also means that the earphones you will receive will be a robust and reliable partner.

Full Details HERE

Buy them now: https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/products/campfire-audio-supermoon

Top 5 sub £100 Portable Audio Devices

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We often show off high end equipment, but here are our top 5 sub £100 bargains!

Periodic Audio Rhodium – £49

To begin with our top 5 sub £100 bargains we have the Periodic Audio Rhodium. It’s a compact USB-C DAC/Amp perfect for getting better quality audio from your phone. It undeniably increases the clarity and separation. While it has not been designed to drive some of the more demanding over-ear headphones, for earphone users this is an excellent choice to improve your portable setup.

Final E500 – £19.99

The Final E500 show that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good clarity and a controlled sound. These are not designed to impress you with massive bass, or an exaggerated v-shaped sound. Instead opting for balance and detail. This means that the sound provided is very refined for the price and while these small earphones might not look like much, they sure do kick out a lot for the money.

SoundMAGIC E11c – £52.99

SoundMAGIC are kings at making affordable earphones and headphones. Furthermore, their products consistently win awards and they really do know how to make an excellent sounding product. The E11c is no exception. Originally designed an upgrade to the E10c, it has delivered in every single way. Coupled with more modern looks and a sound that is more controlled yet still punchy and fun: It is a fantastic earphone for everyday use.

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 – £99

Another fantatic product and the only wireless model in this list, there is simply no better option for under £100. Overall, these earphones offer up a very fun and enjoyable sound. The PurePlay Z3 2.0 has a 70 hour battery life and an extremely stable bluetooth connection. In addtion to this they’re comfortable and look great, without compromising at all on audio quality.

SoundMAGIC P23BT – £49

Finally, it is SoundMAGIC once again that have made a killer headphone for a super price. The P23BT doubles up as a headset too with the included cable. In addition, the headphone is lightweight and comfortable. On top of that it has an incredibly impressive battery life and is super easy to use. The sound is full and warm yet never bass heavy. They really do sound incredible and can easily take on the big brands should they wish to.

Enjoyed our Top 5 Sub £100 list? Check out more from our Best Of Series HERE

Bonus round: Other great products that deserve their own Top 5 Sub £100 list!

Periodic Audio Release new IEMs

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Periodic Audio release new models: Periodic have always been an interesting company – they opt to do things differently to most and approach audio in a scientific way, using different diaphragm coatings to help tune the sound.

This has led them to acquire quite a following and those who have heard their creations often thoroughly enjoy them. This new Periodic Audio release shows a new range that includes a detachable cable which uses a mono 2.5mm jack into each earpiece along with cosmetic changes. The new housing is super lightweight and they use a conventional straight down cable which many users prefer.

The Periodic Audio house sound is one that is energetic and punchy, and their single dynamic drivers can dig deep when asked to, however they manage to be very detailed and open sounding at the same time. This leads to a really engaging listening experience, and one that is perfectly suited to daily use.

Periodic Audio are also offering silver plated cables for the new earphones, this cable will bring out a little more control and clarity – if you haven’t heard of Periodic Audio yet we suggest you check them out to see and hear what they are all about.

The whole range has been updated, and can be found HERE

Oriveti OV800 – Product Release

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The Oriveti OV800 brings the incredible sound of O800 but adds switches to allow users to tailor the sound to their liking.

The OV800 are handmade, this means there is a high level of attention to detail and each set are a masterpiece. The driver setup consists of 2x BA woofers, 4x BA midrange drivers and 2x BA tweeters. The woofers are from Knowles while the mid and high BA drivers have been produced in-house to Oriveti’s desired specifications. This is impressive, and has allowed Oriveti to really tune the sound of the OV800 to their specification.

The OV800 come with all-new stained wood faceplates, these look incredible in person and are sure to stand out in your collection. The new 8-wire SPC cable is supple and comfortable in use and elevates the sound too. The port on the earphones alleviates listening fatigue along with improving the soundstage, with out impacting the excellent isolation these provide.

The sound is tuned to be smooth and resolving, much like the O800, but this time Oriveti have incorporated tuning switches. These allow you to add a little more sub-bass presence for a warmer sound, or a little added treble brightness for increased presence and clarity. You can also turn both of these on for a slightly more v-shaped sound signature – so you can choose what you personally prefer.

You’ll be able to own a pair very soon: https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/products/oriveti-ov800-eight-drivers-balanced-armature-iem-earphones-with-sound-mode-switch-and-detachable-cable?

Final ZE3000 is on a roll!

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The new Final ZE3000 True Wireless earphones keep getting praised by reviewers and customers alike – with a no-frills approach to wireless audio without any fancy features or app to get in the way of you and your music. Sporting an unusual look with impressive comfort and sound quality what’s not to enjoy. Read the latest review below to find out more!

“The ZE3000 did not let me down and it was quite nice to see Final’s first entry to the TWS field” – Headfonia

https://www.headfonia.com/final-audio-ze3000-review/

“Stellar build quality and unmatched audio quality in its price range make up for the lack of features that you would normally expect.” – PrimeAudio

https://primeaudio.org/final-ze3000-review/

“The wait for final to produce a pair of true wireless earbuds that it was happy with was well worth the wait.” – Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2022/02/04/these-new-ze3000-true-wireless-earbuds-from-final-are-a-triumph/?

64 Audio Nio Review

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64 Audio’s latest hybrid creation give you a bit of everything, from studio neutrality to hard hitting bass, all the while retaining a very refined sound signature.

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Fit and Comfort

The Nio are the same shape as the rest of the 64 Audio universal line-up, which have quite an interesting shape and is a tried and tested design. Offering up smooth edges with a good length nozzle for a secure fit and great comfort. Once you settle on the right size tips for your ear canals, they fit securely with the new included cable being more ergonomic and comfortable.

Compatibility

With high sensitivity (105db dB/mW) and low impedance (6? @1kHz) the Nio are easy to drive out of most sources, and they use 64 Audio’s LID technology which means the sound signature shouldn’t drastically change beween sources. This isn’t to say they don’t benefit from higher end sources though, as things like resolution and detail are important and they definitely scale up with better source equipment.

The Nio use 64 Audio’s apex modules, these help relieve internal ear pressure along with offering different levels of isolation and also slightly different sound signatures. Normally you get an M15 and M20 module, which offer 15dB and 20dB reduction in outside noise respectively, by new for the Nio is the MX module which offers a mere 10dB reduction of outside noise. The more isolation, the more bass is the rough rule of thumb, and the lower the isolation the more open and airy the sound is.

Sound

Bass:

The low end on the Nio is very dynamic and depending on the module used you can range from full bodied to neutral in presence. One thing that always stands out on 64 Audio models is how well controlled and refined the sound is. They can offer up more than enough punch to satisfy most needs but the bass never becomes bloated. It offers a solid foundation for the rest of the sound, and is very articulate. There is great depth to the Nio, and the use of a dynamic driver here works really well here. The M20 module gives you a slight lift in sub-bass and moderately more mid-bass punch over the M15 which is more linear and the MX which is very controlled and not boosted. One thing that stands out here is the coherency and fluidity of which the bass blends in to the midrange.

Midrange:

Depending on the module used the lower midrange changes slightly, with the MX giving the most neutral and least coloured presentation whilst the M20 adds a little body and smoothness to the lower midrange that makes things sound a little fuller. The Nio has excellent control overall and the midrange is crisp and clean, yet tonally accurate. There isn’t any peak in the upper midrange to bring out sibilance, instead you get a linear and intimate insight into the recording. The layering is good and you can easily pick apart the recording without any difficulty. The MX definitely sounds like it reveals a bit more micro-detail over the M20, so it greatly depends on your personal preference.

Treble:

64 Audio are using their usual tia driver up top and these drivers really do offer up excellent resolution and an openness that other BA drivers fall short of. The M20 gives the smoothest sounding treble due to the increased bass response but it still has good presence and resolution. Using the MX still gives the most open and airy treble as would be expected but it never falls onto the side of being harsh or bright. There is refinement up top without sounding too present, yet there is excellent detail retrieval and effortless extension on hand. Overall the treble is always present, allowing the Nio to sound well balanced without any fatigue inducing spikes.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Nio is a superb all-rounder, due to the different Apex modules. The M20 giving you a full bodied sound with good impact while the M15 gives a well balanced and refined sound. In addition, the MX giving a close to neutral presentation without much emphasis on any part of the spectrum. This means they play well with pretty much anything you throw at them, the control down low and the layering means they don’t sound congested with complex mixes either.

The soundstaging varies slightly with the modules, with the MX giving the most air and space. But overall it is wider than it is tall and there is good separation between instruments and layers.

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Passive Isolation VS ANC

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Here’s a question that is asked a lot, and one that many don’t quite understand. What’s the difference between ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and Passive Isolation? We hope this article helps explain the difference between them.

ANC and Passive noise isolation are very different in how they try to block out unwanted outside noise. ANC uses an electronic circuit and sound waves while passive isolation is a purely mechanical system without any additional sound trickery. But their goal is the same, to allow you to enjoy your music to its fullest, without any unwanted distractions.

Passive Isolation

Both earphones and headphones aim to create a seal around your ears or in your ear canal itself to block out outside noise. Many earphones and headphones have venting on them to help tune the sound signature. But these vents also often compromise the sound isolation of the model – this is mainly in models that use conventional dynamic drivers. Balanced armature models are easier to fully seal and some of these, such as models from Etymotic, offer up extremely high levels of passive isolation that are much more effective than ANC.

Etymotic claim that their ER series earphones offer 35-24 dB of attenuation depending on the eartips and depth of insertion. This is much higher than most earphones. Westone Pro X series earphones offer up around 25 dB of attenuation. Some studio headphones such as the Sennheiser HD380 Pro also offer up to 32 dB of attenuation. However more consumer friendly closed back headphones will likely offer around 20 dB of attenuation.

When it comes to what frequency range is most affected, the bass is the hardest to isolate from with a passive isolation model. In fact only some good earphones can effectively isolate in this region. Whereas ANC does a better job at blocking out low frequency noise. Midrange and Treble regions however are usually well isolated with passive designs, especially in the treble region where ANC designs don’t attenuate very well.

For most uses, passive noise isolation is actually more than enough to enjoy your music without outside distractions. It can be argued that ANC seems to have been pushed via marketing to sell a feature many don’t fully understand. Also, a pair of fully sealed earphones will likely work better than a pair of ANC headphones for example. So it is wise to carefully consider where you will be using your earphones/headphones.

ANC

Now on to ANC, shorthand for Active Noise Cancellation. As mentioned before ANC takes a very different approach to noise attenuation. One that oin fact has some benefits but also some drawbacks. ANC uses external microphones to monitor noise levels and create a phase-inverted sound wave to cancel out the ambient noise before it reaches your ears. This system requires a power source, so will only work if there is power supplied (often via a rechargeable internal battery), and this can make them heavier.

ANC works in tandem with passive isolation normally. If the earphones/headphones already have great passive isolation the ANC circuitry will only help a marginal amount and often compliments the downfalls of passive isolation (low frequency attenuation). However, this does cause some confusion, as some people may think that ANC is not working well if the passive isolation is already high. But due to the passive noise isolation doing a great job already, it will seem like ANC is hardly working. However, if the passive noise isolation is mediocre, then it may seem like the ANC is better on that particular model due to having more of an apparent effect. This backfires if the battery runs out though, as models with high passive isolation can be easily enjoyed with ANC on or off.

Another thing to consider is the environment where the earphones/headphones are going to be used. ANC is best used in environments where there is persistent low-mid frequency noise as this is where they work best. This is why they often work well on planes and public transport where there is a constant background noise. However, they do not handle impulse noises very well and don’t cancel out higher frequency noise as effectively either.

Another issue common with ANC models is wind noise. Some models do not handle wind noise well at all, while others are better. So you need to read up on reviews of specific models to see if this could be an issue. ANC can reduce some low frequency noises up to 60 dB but again this is only in certain environments and frequency ranges. Overall usually only reduces noise by up to 30 dB and puts it in line with most passive earphones/Headphones.

When it comes to sound quality, ANC nearly always has an impact, and it’s a negative one. There is an additional circuit influencing the sound, as much as the designers will want it to impact the audio as little as possible, it still has an impact. Those seeking the best sound quality should stay away from ANC, ANC can create constant white noise and also introduces distortion due to the way it cancels out noise.

So what’s better?

Well, it’s not quite as simple as one being better than the other. For sound purists ANC is never going to cut it, but for your everyday listener ANC will sound just fine. The problem is that marketing has over-hyped ANC’s capabilities and people expect them to cut out everything, which they don’t. Wind noise can be problematic for ANC, as can impulse noises. These won’t be filtered out and people will assume the ANC is poor on such models.

ANC is best suited to constant noise environments where there is a steady low-frequency noise that can be effectively cancelled out. Passive models tend to work better in day-to-day use as they more evenly attenuate outside noises and present the music in a more realistic way.

ANC needs power and consumes a lot if active, this will lower the operating time of any wireless models that have this feature, so if you are not in an environment where it is effective, it is worthwhile leaving it off.

We hope this article has helped clear up some misunderstandings when it comes to ANC vs Passive noise isolation, and if you have any further queries don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Did you Enjoy our Passive Isolation Vs ANC? Check out our other How To’s HERE

Final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphone Review

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We review the Final ZE3000 True Wireless earphones from Final, they have a clear focus on sound quality over gimmicks, all wrapped up in a comfortable yet stylish shell.

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Design: 10/10

The Final ZE3000 true wireless has an angular design that looks stylish and stands out. The overall look eschews quality. They also come with an interesting finish on the buds and case known as “Shibo”. “Shibo” means crease on paper or leather in Japanese and is used on many cameras. This textured finish is also a great deterrent against fingerprints and other marks.

As expected from final, the build quality is fantastic. The hinges of the case and the USB-C connector are rigid and durable. you can even open and close the lid on the case singlehandedly. The case is very compact, therefore easy to carry around or keep in your pocket. Overall, the ZE3000 feels as unique as it looks and clearly sets itself apart from other earphones in the £120 price range.

Fit and Comfort: 9/10

Final has designed the earphone not to fully enter the canal, but to sit comfortably at the entrance. The comfort is excellent, you really do forget you have them in sometimes, they might not be the smallest earphone out there but the shape and weight does mean they are comfortable to wear for hours on end. They are also good to use for the gym and manage to stay firmly in place and comfortable in your ear, even during intense workouts. 

Final E eartips are some of the best in class and widely used by other brands for their earphones. Their TWS E-tips are no exception to this rule of thumb.

Features: 7/10

The ZE3000 do not have ANC or any other the other bells and whistles that come with wireless earphones these days. Instead Final have decided to focus on the audio quality and should be praised for this. Battery life is fairly normal at 7hrs continuous playback, along with an extra 28hrs from the case. More than enough to not be constantly charging them.

The ZE3000 use Bluetooth 5.2 (QCC3040 chip) and support ABC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive. This means you will get the best sound out of these if your device is aptX Adaptive compatible. But even normal aptX is still a step above AAC. The microphone quality is excellent and is perfect for taking calls at home or on the go.

Sound 10/10

Final have focussed on the sound aspect of the ZE3000, giving them a natural yet fatigue free sound signature. The bass is great. It is tight and digs deep when called for but it never sounds like the main focus of the sound. It isn’t bloated or up-front, instead it is happy to just do its thing without drawing attention to itself.

The midrange is also really impressive. It sounds realistic and natural without being pushed forwards. There is loads of detail on offer. Vocals are crisp and well presented, with both male and female sounding excellent. Electric guitars have plenty of crunch, yet acoustics sound subtle and full. They also never sound congested with great layering and space between instruments.

These won’t suit the bassheads out there, but for average everyday listening these are brilliant.

The treble is smooth with that signature Final airiness that brings out a sense of space in recordings that many earphones fail to capture. They are very resolving for such a budget earphone. They extract tons of detail and are very well placed within the soundstage.

Instrument Separation and Soundstaging

The ZE3000 manage to remain well separated and airy throughout. This means they can handle anything you throw at them and still remain open sounding with excellent separation and layering. It is easy to pick out single parts in mixes whilst sounding completely coherent overall.

The soundstaging is really impressive for the price and throws out a broad image that is accurate and realistic. It is wider than many of the more consumer models out there and the airiness in the treble range really helps to add a sense of air to the sound.

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Enjoyed our review of the final ZE3000 True Wireless? Check out all things Final throughout our blog here.

JDS Labs Optical input drop-outs with LG/Samsung TV’s

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This will be an issue that will effect a few users of JDS Labs DACs, so JDS Labs have issued a statement along with a fix

** We first shared our findings with engineers at LG in August 2021. LG has acknowledged the behavior, but no official resolution has been shared by LG as of December 2021. Please see below for a high level explanation, or skip to Solution. **

Symptom: While using the optical output from an LG C8/C9 or Samsung TV in conjunction with a high-performance DAC, you may experience audio dropouts several times per minute.

Cause: In short, the optical output of symptomatic TVs show pronounced jitter and low level n*100Hz transients throughout the audible frequency range. The default jitter rejection values used by ESS based DACs recognize the extreme noise as signal errors, so the DAC automatically disconnects and reconnects in attempt to achieve a more stable lock of the incoming S/PDIF signal.

This behavior is the result of the ESS’s otherwise excellent jitter recovery logic. The patented jitter eliminator must periodically unlock and re-sync because the digital stream is so poor. AKM and Wolfson S/PDIF receivers are not asynchronous, so they pass along any significant jitter from an optical source, thus, eliminating any chance of a momentary pause for an S/PDIF re-locking event. Re-locks are ordinarily quite rare–you should never encounter this behavior with default jitter rejection values. And under typical circumstances, ESS’s asynchronous jitter elimination results in dramatically higher jitter performance than older DACs without this technology.

Analysis: Audio Precision’s APx555 has the ability to interpolate a digital stream into time and frequency domains to analyze how it would render if perfectly converted from digital back to analog (i.e., without a DAC in the test setup). We used the ASIO4ALL driver to observe SINAD of a 1kHz test tone reconstructed directly from the digital S/PDIF output: 

  • LG 50UN7300PUF Optical S/PDIF Output: 81 dB
  • AsRock Motherboard Optical S/PDIF Output: 141 dB

Solution: DACs featuring asynchronous jitter recovery require relaxed jitter rejection to support noisy optical signals.

For Atom DAC+, please install one of the custom firmware builds below to eliminate dropouts from poor optical signals:

https://jdslabs.com/support/troubleshooting/#category-1-question-3

Eartips! The guide by HiFiHeadphones

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So you’ve just invested in some good earphones, but you have no idea whether you are getting the most out of them?

Here is our definitive guide on eartips and first thing first: There are a lot of people who take their earphones out of the box, put them in their ears and think that’s it, let’s listen to some tunes. Little do most people know is that taking a bit time to figure out which eartips fit best. Will help a long way to get the best sound quality from along with a secure fit.

Most earphones have a set of tips fitted to them out of the box, these tend to be a medium size silicone tip – which will fit quite a few peoples ears but it’s worth looking in the box or case for the rest of them to try out the different sizes.

Finding the right Seal

Ear canal width doesn’t seem to depend on how big or tall a person is, so we would recommend trying the smallest size first to see if this provides a good seal – you should be able to tell you have a good seal as they will effectively block out outside noises and when you speak it will sound very odd (occlusion effect). The earphones should not fall out of your ear either, if the tip is too small they will have a tendency to fall out, so try the next size up.

Another way you will tell you have achieved a good seal is the bass should be present, if there is a distinct lack of bass (unless the earphones are specifically tuned this way) a poor seal is often the cause of this problem. A poor seal often is the cause of earphones sounding thin, tinny and lacking body – this is because in-ear earphones rely on an air-tight seal to deliver the sound pressure waves to your eardrum, disrupt this and the pressure isn’t there so you lose out on a big part of the sound.

Lack of Bass?

This is also one of the most common reasons for people returning earphones – lack of bass – and often we find that the other sizes of eartips are still in their packet and haven’t been touched.

When it comes to actually inserting the earphones, with silicone tips you can sort of just push them in, but using the below method to gently pull the top of your ear up and back will allow the canal to open slightly and makes it easier to insert your earphones. With memory foam tips, you need to roll them between your fingers to compress them before inserting and letting the foam expand, there is a small window before them start to expand and with practice you should get used to compressing and inserting them swiftly and efficiently.

Materials – Silicone

The most common eartip material will be silicone, but not all silicone tips are created equal and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. More budget earphones will often come with just 3 pairs of standard single flange silicone tips (Small, Medium and Large), more premium products sometimes include different types of silicone tips (different grades / consistency of silicone) or different shapes (bowl, bullet, double and triple flange). Etymotic are well known for their triple flange eartips that offer a deep insertion depth and excellent isolation, at the expense of some comfort. There are a few aftermarket brands of silicone tips that are popular such as Azla SednaEarfit and Spinfit, these both offer premium made tips that are often more comfortable and provide more size options than come in the box of most earphones.

Memory foam

Often also included are memory foam eartips, these have a very different consistency than silicone and often conform to odd shaped ear canals better. Depending on the consistency of the memory foam, these tips do change the sound a little more than silicone tips, often absorbing some of the treble making the earphones sound a little warmer/fuller – this can be a benefit to some but may also rob other models of a little clarity and openness.

Custom tips?

In addition to the above you can often get custom made eartips for many models of high-end earphones, this is something to consider if you wish to have the best comfort and isolation for a pair of earphones you plan to be using for a long time. Doing this means that selling the earphones in the future will be easier than if you decided to go full-custom.

Conclusion

Here at HiFiHeadphones we test and demo a lot of earphones and each member of staff has their go-to eartips. As well as a healthy collection of random ones they have acquired over time it should be added. Some earphones work best with silicone tips, others with foam. But what we do know is that spending some time to find the best tips for your ears definitely helps you to enjoy your music to the fullest. By providing the most comfortable and secure fit for yourself you also get that optimal sound.