Earphones for small ears

[esmita]

I am so glad to see that I am not alone with this problem and thankful to this forum that I have potentially found some earphones that may fit my small ears. I shall buy one of the above recomendations asap.

However before I do so, are there any noise cancelling earphones for small ears? What are the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC3 Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones like for small ears? I don't want to throw away more money just for painful ears.

[alextech]

Originally Posted by esmita

However before I do so, are there any noise cancelling earphones for small ears? What are the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC3 Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones like for small ears? I don't want to throw away more money just for painful ears.

Hey. I don't know very much about the ATH-ANC3 but I use the Klipsch Image s4s noise-cancelling iems (in ear) and they're really good. I don't know how small your ear canals are but if you can try replacing the klipsch earbuds with comply foam tips. Because the comply foam tips come in a range of sizes and if I'm not wrong, the smallest one is rather small. Plus it's really soft and comfy.

You can read more about it at Klipsch Image s4 Review.

[batfinksdad]

Originally Posted by ShaunG

Just spotted this old post and wanted to add that the Phonak Audeo PFE range is the absolute best earphone design we have tested for smaller ears. Phonak Audeo earphones fit just about anyone's ears, due to the ergonomic design of the earphone body and small earphone nozzle..

hi .

I just googled this and found all this helpful info.

i have never been able to find an in ear headphone that isn't painful to wear and that doesn't constantly pop out , so i read this thread with interest.

could someone give me an update on this as i'm a bit confused. shaun g updated saying that Phonak Audeo is the best, after recommending Klipsch before. I would go out and get a pair of the phonak's but want to make sure i am doing the right thing as it's a fair amount of money to spend. or has there been any new products recently that are better?

please advise.

many thanks

[RobinHiFi]

Hi Batfinksdad

The phonaks are an excellent bet for anybody who has fit problems. The size of the nozzle is small and these headphones have their own size of comply tips which is T-130. Phonak have an unrivaled knowledge of the human ear and have shaped the Audeo series of headphones so that their fit really is superb.

Obviously as we humans differ so much from each other there will be instances where an individual must pick using different criteria due to the shaping of their ears. As a rule though if you do have fit problems an ergonomically shaped body with a thin nozzle and a well though out tip coupled with the over ear fit which helps stability, is what you need to look for.

Hope that helps

[CAB]

Just registered to add my experience.

I have *very* small ears - never found anything that fitted, even the SoundMagic P11 (?) as recommended in some places did not fit.

The PHONAK PFE 012 are excellent - great fit, especially with the T-130 Comply foam tips. Sound isolation is very good - dangerously so!

Sound is superb, pretty neutral to my ears, even though these are the 'perfect bass' version.

Only wish I had got the silicon guides at the same time, I will have to order separately and pay the postage.

All in all, an expensive outlay, but if nothing else fits then these will. A very satisfied customer.

*****EDIT*****: don't get the Comply tips that show up at the bottom of the page, they won't fit! The T-130's do, don't know if anything else does but I'm sure the staff here would advise.

[small_ears]

Thanks Cab, I'm going to check out Phonak immediately but am concerned that they will be too isolating for my purpose.

I have small ears and have religiously stayed away from earphones in favour of headphones in the past due to fit problems and the pain caused by regular phones. I had never tried earbuds, I could never be sure they would not be painful.

Recently I got a faster bicycle and feel its good to wear a helmet, hence I decided to give earbuds a whirl. Given that its for riding a bike in traffic, I'd like to hear music but not have the earphones isolate too much.

I have a Sennheiser headset so I tried the CX 270 earbuds. I wished I'd seen these posts first! As ShaunG said they are too big, even on the S bud there are numerous problems:

1. Still pain on wearing them, granted less than with older earphone designs
2. If I wear them properly (pushed in) I feel like I'm underwater or have ear wax. Yuk! I get similar problems with closed large headphones, esp if the earpads are leather.
3. Cable sounds...oh god the cable sounds.... Please tell me there are phones or buds out there that don't make it feel like someone is tapping a mike in my ear every time the cable moves??

Any advice for earphones for small ears that are not too isolating and where the cable noise wont drive me demented?
Would comply foam tips redeem my CX 270? or should I scrap those and try something else?
Will Phonak be too isolating for bike riding?

(Note also, I have not been able to find wraparound head/ear phones that fit me in the past. Small head as well as small ears, I guess.)

[MicroEars]

Big bump for a year old thread

I was wondering if people tried the PL21s and, if so, any comments?
Or if anything else has come along in the same price range that would also be suitable for very small ears?

Thanks

[RobinHiFi]

SoundMAGIC PL50 have quite a small nozzle with a little length to it - this helps as the most common nozzle (the bit where the sound comes out) sizes are bigger. As a way to check how large the nozzle is without having to see the headphone in question try visiting the Comply Foam website. Here you will find most well regarded headphones with the corresponding Comply Foam tip size T-#00 number - T-100 is a thin Nozzle and T-500 is a fat nozzle.

[MicroEars]

Thank you, Robin. Excellent way to compare - has shown me that the earphones I have, which I thought were small, are actually T-400 size.

[SwimSonny]

Originally Posted by speedy gonzalez

I have small ear canals as well but could do with something cheaper. Ideally less than £30 at a push less than £50.

Have you seen the hisoundaudio crystals? Bout 60 quid though!