Over-ear headphones vs IEMs vs earbuds? Compare Apple AirPods, Sony headphones, and more of the top models and see which is the best fit!
noise-canceling earbuds. Athletes may want to hone in on the Jaybird Vista 2 to get into beast mode. And if you’re on Team iPhone, you might want to take a look at the standard-setting Apple AirPods Pro.
In-ear monitors, like the Sennheiser IE 900, are often cabled and more capable and customizable for high-resolution audio.Although they tend to look kind of similar when worn, in-ear monitors are not the same as earbuds. They’re commonly confused, but there are fundamental differences when it comes to IEMs vs earbuds, including where they fit in your ear and audio quality—as well as how they transmit sound and protect your hearing.
IEMs, vs earbuds, are designed to be placed deeper inside the ear and into the ear canal. Most earbuds aren’t made with protecting your hearing in mind and aren’t helpful in that department, but IEMs have superior noise isolation and are used by live performers and studio musicians to hear the audio they want clearly without having to push the volume to compete with the rest of the band plus the cheering crowd.
So why go to all this trouble? Depending on the size and intention, IEMs can have multiple drivers of various types for far better audio quality than earbuds, which may manage a couple but typically rely on either one dynamic driver or a balanced armature, which is a mechanism originally invented for hearing aids. Dynamic drivers, which physically push more air, are known for a sound that’s bigger, richer, with visceral bass.