What are vacuum headphones and how to choose them?

Headphones are a very convenient and useful invention, you can listen to music loudly without disturbing anyone. Among the huge selection, vacuum models are very popular today, and we will talk about them.

Vacuum headphones differ from conventional ones in that they are inserted into the ear canal. The silicone gasket provides a vacuum and helps to achieve the required tightness without causing inconvenience to the user. These are kind of gags that are simple. They look stylish and neat.

Thanks to this solution, it was possible to achieve excellent sound insulation and sound purity. After all, when the user puts the headphones into the ear, it turns out that the sound from the speaker goes directly to the membranes through a channel that is reliably isolated from external vibrations. At the very beginning, this technology was invented specifically for musicians who should perform on stage.

In-channel models have both advantages and disadvantages, which are definitely worth mentioning. From the pros:

• small size and weight;
• a large number of models;
• high quality sound;
• versatility.

The vacuum headphones have a standard connector, so they can be easily connected to a player, phone, computer and even a radio.

As for the shortcomings, they are:

• Harmful to hearing, as long-term use may cause problems;
• good sound insulation increases the risk of being outside;
• if the size of the headphones is not suitable, it causes discomfort;
• the cost can be high.

Vacuum headphones can be ducted, with a microphone, or even with bass. There are expensive professional ones. Despite this diversity, they can be classified into two large groups.

Most common models. We got this name thanks to the wire through which the connection to the device is carried out.

This species has its own classification:

• bluetooth;
• with radio communication;
• with infrared port.

There is no wire in such models.

The attachments can be universal and size-dependent. The former have special protrusions through which the immersion in the ear can be adjusted. The latter are sold by size, so the user has the opportunity to choose the most suitable option.

Also, nozzles are made from different materials:

• acrylic;
• foamy;
• silicone.

Acrylic models cause discomfort most of all, as they put more pressure on the ear canal. Foam nozzles give good sealing, they are soft and pleasant, but quickly crumble.

High-quality and inexpensive vacuum headphones are not uncommon today.On sale from well-known and novice manufacturers there are options with a case and without it on the wire. White devices are very popular. In the top of the most popular models, not only budget, user-tested reliable headphones, but also expensive ones. In terms of build quality and materials, they all differ from each other, and the choice is always up to the user.

The model has a wide frequency range, reproduces bass well. The construction has a classic design without any fasteners. The wires are strong, the headphones themselves are in a metal case, which helps to maintain their integrity for a long time. The model is universal, ideal for listening to music on a tablet, smartphone or player. Some users have noticed the lack of volume control.

The manufacturer is known for making studio-type models, however, its vacuum version is no less good. The design is simple and the device is particularly sensitive, but the frequency range is weak. This can only be noticed when the headset is connected to high quality equipment. Of the minuses, it is worth noting a not very strong wire that wears out quickly.

These are excellent and inexpensive earbuds for your phone or tablet. Of course, for this money, the user will not get super high-quality sound. However, the device has a simple design and a standard frequency range, which guarantees powerful bass. As practice shows, this is a durable headset. The headphones are quite comfortable and come in a wide range of colors. Of the minuses - a thin wire.

I want to say a lot about these headphones. This model is quite heavy (8.5 g each) due to its shape. In comparison, AirPods Pro weigh 5.4 grams each. Available in black and white. The logo and trim of the microphone are made of beautiful copper wire. They look significantly more expensive than even Apple.

On the front there is a touch control panel. The headphones are very sensitive, they turn on even from the impact of a strand of hair. The surface is glossy and fingerprints are visible under lighting.

Since the earbuds are quite heavy, it is important to choose the size of the eartips and find the optimal position in your ear, otherwise the earbuds will fall out. The set includes four pairs of silicone and three pairs of foam options.

Like other models in this class, there is a charging case. It is made of plastic and consists of two parts. The paint will quickly peel off, especially if you carry the device in a bag with keys.

These headphones are water, sweat and dust resistant. 200mAh battery together with Bluetooth 4.2 technology, which consumes less power, gives 10 hours of music playback or 8 hours of talk time. The oxygen-free copper cable is designed for Hi-Fi sound, the remote control with microphone is compatible with Apple and Android, and the metal parts are covered with a special tear-resistant fiber.

The first thing to decide is whether to buy a wired or wireless option. For a phone, you can also choose a cheaper model with a wire, for a computer, a wireless one is better. The type of nozzle also plays an important role, loud headphones with clear sound usually come with a foam nozzle. They are perfect for music.

As for the silicone tips, this is not only a budget option, but also not entirely practical. Due to their shape, vacuum headphones without a nozzle become completely useless, and it is very easy to lose silicone. Therefore, it is very important to have a set of additional attachments for replacement. The shape of the ear is individual for each person, it may happen that the standard silicone model does not fit, so good manufacturers try to supply two sets of eartips to their headphones.

Vacuum models differ in the depth of fit in the ear. Many are afraid to buy too impressive in size, because the question immediately arises: "How can I insert them into my ear?" Or they are simply afraid that placing the speakers too close will negatively affect the membrane. In fact, on the contrary - the larger the headphones, the higher the volume when listening to music, and deep-set ones provide better sound insulation and allow you not to increase the volume in noisy places.

When choosing a model, design and ergonomics are not in the last place. In this case, the size does not affect the quality. In this regard, it is possible to choose a headset of such a size that even while listening to music, you can safely wear a hat.

When choosing a wired option, it is better to pay attention to the length of the cord. It should be enough to connect to your phone and put it in your pocket. In this way, damage can be minimized.

As for the price, the goods of well-known brands are not cheap, but the quality of such models is much higher. It manifests itself in everything: in the materials used, in the assembly, in the quality of the sound.

The wider the frequency range, the better. You can ask a fair question: "Why overpay for those frequencies that the human ear cannot hear?" This is especially true if the buyer is interested in choosing headphones for the phone.

Please remember that our hearing aids can handle frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. It's just that many people don't hear anything after 15. At the same time, on the packaging of headphones from especially insidious manufacturers, you can see that their devices are capable of reproducing even 40 and 50 kHz! But not everything is so simple.

It has already been proven that classical music is perceived not only through the ears, but also through the whole body, since such sounds even affect the bones. And there is some truth in this statement. So if headphones can reproduce frequencies that a person can't hear, that's not a bad thing.

The optimal result for this parameter is 95-100 dB. More is not needed for a music lover.

The degree of stability is a parameter that is no less important. If you are interested in choosing headphones for your computer, you can pay attention to the high values ​​of this parameter. Very often, this type of technique can only function normally with microphones in which the impedance does not exceed 32 ohms. However, if we connect a 300 ohm microphone to the player, it will still sound, but not too loud.

Harmonic distortion - this parameter shows directly the sound quality of the vacuum headphones. If you want to listen to music with high fidelity, choose a product with a distortion rate of less than 0.5%. If this figure exceeds 1%, it can be considered that the product is not of very high quality.

The lifespan of the vacuum headphones, comfort and sound quality also depend on how correctly the user inserts them into their ears. There are several rules on how to put on the device correctly:

• the headphones are gently inserted into the ear canal and pushed with a finger;
• the lobe must be slightly pulled;
• when the device stops entering the ear, the lobe is released.

There is a list of recommendations useful to the user:

• nozzles need to be changed periodically - even if you constantly clean them, over time they become dirty;
• when discomfort appears, you need to change the nozzle or even change the device;
• Only one person should use the headphones.

It also happens that the purchased vacuum headphones simply fall out and do not stay in the ears. There are several life hacks that will solve this problem:

• the wire on the headphones must always be up;
• a long cord is often the reason why the device can fall out of the ears, in this case it is best to use a special clothespin;
• when the wire is thrown over the back of the neck, it holds better;
• from time to time it is necessary to change the nozzles, which wear out, lose their shape.

Caring for vacuum headphones is simple, you need to wipe them with a special solution and proceed as follows:

• mix 5 ml of alcohol and water;
• the part that is inserted into the ears is dipped in the solution for a couple of minutes;
• removing the device from the solution, wipe it with a dry napkin;
• it will be possible to use the headphones only after 2 hours.

Hydrogen peroxide is often used instead of alcohol. The headphones are soaked in this mixture for 15 minutes. It is very easy to clean the device with a cotton swab or a toothpick with wound cotton wool, which are pre-moistened in a solution. Care must be taken not to damage the mesh.