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Earphones
Tiny, portable and discreet, earphones slip right into your ears to block out background annoyances and deliver your music, whenever you want it. Unlike full-size headphones, earphones are truly portable, so you can keep them in your pocket where they’re always to hand. The only trick is choosing a pair that’s right for you.
Earphones comparison chart for 2024
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Overall
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Sound quality
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Comfort
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Materials
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Help & support
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Frequency (kHz)
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12 - 18kHz | 40 Hz -16 kHz | 1 kHz | 48 kHz | 50 Hz to 16 kHz | 6Hz to 23kHz | 16 HZ 22 KHZ | 10 Hz - 20 kHz | 6 Hz to 23 kHz | 20 Hz-20 kHz | ||||||||||
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Cable length (feet)
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5'10 ft | 4.17 ft | 4.5ft | 3 ft | 5 ft | 3.94 ft | 6 ft | 3.6 ft | 4 ft | 4.5 ft | ||||||||||
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Weight (ounces)
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0.4 oz | 0.46 oz | 2.4 oz | 1.02 oz | 1 oz | 0.3 oz | 4 oz | 4.0 oz | 0.4 oz | 0.74 | ||||||||||
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Ear pads
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Noise cancelling
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Volume controls
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3.5 mm stereo jack
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Telephone support
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Email support
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User manual
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Earphones explained
Earphones are often called ‘in-ear headphones’, for the simple reason that they sit just inside your ear, rather than resting around your ears. This mean they are small and light. Modern earphones are engineered to produce excellent sound, making them the ideal companion to your MP3 player.
Earphones rely on fitting your ears snugly in order to sound at their best. A close fit is also important as it blocks outside sound more effectively. Some earphones come with ear pads of different sizes, so you can find the right fit for you.
It’s worth thinking about how you will store your earphones when you’re not using them. Some pairs of earphones come with a carrying pouch or case, or a spool to wind the cable round so it doesn’t get tangled up.
How will you use your earphones?
When choosing earphones, carefully think about the kinds of situations in which you’ll use them. Many people use them with an MP3 player when they’re out and about. If so, make sure the cord is long enough to reach the pocket you keep your MP3 player in, and check the connection is the right size.
Some pairs of earphones also have an in-line volume control. This is a slider or dial that’s built into your earphone cord, allowing you to control the volume without having to get your MP3 player out of your pocket.
Although the sound quality produced by earphones is important, so – for many people – is the way their earphones look. A common reason for choosing earphones over full-size headphones is that they’re more discreet, so you may want to pick headphones which aren’t obvious when you wear them.
Whichever pair of earphones you choose, you’ll be able to listen to music, anywhere – without having to lug a pair of speakers with you!