Seeking: Really tiny earphones for sleeping
Feb 9, 2007, 7:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Sweden
Posts: 195
Seeking: Really tiny earphones for sleeping
I am looking for really small earphones that are soft (or attaches to earplugs), the ones I have now are all to hard on the end to comfortably wear when I sleep on my side. I would prefer no hard plastic parts at all, atleast not outside of the earlobe.
SQ is almost entirely irrelevant since I tend to listen to spoken word material at night.
If this fails someone might have a recommendation for a good very directional under pillow speaker.
SQ is almost entirely irrelevant since I tend to listen to spoken word material at night.
If this fails someone might have a recommendation for a good very directional under pillow speaker.
Feb 9, 2007, 8:04 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 229
Take a look at the entire Shure line - http://www.shure.com/PersonalAudio/P...ries/index.htm
Feb 9, 2007, 9:05 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD
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My recommendations would be the Shure E3C, E4C, E500 and Westone UM-2. The Shure E2C is, IMO, a little on the bulky side, and the E5C is extremely uncomfortable compared to the others. Ultimate Ears models should not be taken into consideration because their design juts out of your ears at an angle that prohibits side-sleeping.
Feb 9, 2007, 3:36 pm
#8
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Ety's are smaller but stick directly out, whereas the Shure's lay against your ear surface. I think the Shure's would be easier to sleep with. Actually, I know they are for me, as I have both. I just stuck the Shures in my ear and put a flat surface up against it - it rested against the circumfrence of the ear and didn't even touch the earphone.
Those are the E3c's. If the 2's are bigger/bulkier, which would seem odd, then the 3s are a better recommendation. I recommended the 2's as the OP stated the sound quality wasn't of high importance.
A custom ear mold could be ideal, but a bit pricey for the purpose.
Those are the E3c's. If the 2's are bigger/bulkier, which would seem odd, then the 3s are a better recommendation. I recommended the 2's as the OP stated the sound quality wasn't of high importance.
A custom ear mold could be ideal, but a bit pricey for the purpose.
Feb 9, 2007, 3:55 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 37,486
Etymotic claims these people have them: http://www.ljudmakarn.se/
But they are not listed on their site.
Amazon may be your best bet:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Etymotic-ER-...&s=electronics
Especially given their liberal return policy.
But they are not listed on their site.
Amazon may be your best bet:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Etymotic-ER-...&s=electronics
Especially given their liberal return policy.
Feb 11, 2007, 4:47 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA GLD; UA 2P; HHonors GLD; SPG
Posts: 793
Feb 11, 2007, 8:26 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
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Posts: 1,604
Since you mentioned the listening material is almost always spoken word, perhaps a single mono earphone like what you used to get with shirt pocket transistor radios. I listen to NPR or BBC news when I'm trying to go to sleep, I'm a side sleeper and use a mono earphone in the ear facing away from the pillow. Radio Shack has these in several varieties for $2-$3. The more expensive version is like a single earbud which fits in the ear. The cheaper one sticks out so does not meet your no hard plastic criteria.
Feb 11, 2007, 8:41 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Sweden
Posts: 195
A mono earpiece would work, I tend to change sides quite a few times during the night so it would still have to fill my other criterias. One would think that it wouldn't be hard to make a tiny driver to fit inside an earplug for this purpose. I don't need high volume, I even have to use an old firmware for my player to get the lowest possible volume output.
I often listen to NPR at night as well.
I often listen to NPR at night as well.
Feb 11, 2007, 8:51 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA GLD; UA 2P; HHonors GLD; SPG
Posts: 793
The advantages of going IEM are twofold. First, IEMs are inherently isolating, an IMMENSELY useful trait during travel. Second, most IEMs come with soft tips that literally meld into the shape of your ear canal. Very comfortable.
Sony offers a model labeled the EX71 that is extremely soft all around. It's a tad bass heavy, but highly recommended if you are on a budget and don't require audiophile-level sound quality.
Sony offers a model labeled the EX71 that is extremely soft all around. It's a tad bass heavy, but highly recommended if you are on a budget and don't require audiophile-level sound quality.
