Best in-ear headphones 2022: Recommended models with good sound
With or without noise reduction, cheap or high-priced: the range of in-ear headphones is enormous. These are the best models of 2022.
By Sebastian Weber
They are tiny and rightly a trend of recent years. In ear headphones are hardly noticeable and still offer every imaginable comfort for audio enjoyment on the go. The nice thing about the great variety of products is that there are models for every budget and requirement.
JBL Wave 100 TWS: True wireless at an attractive price
True Wireless offers a truly cable-free listening experience, here the left and right headphones are not connected with a cable. This contemporary and practical technology is no longer expensive like that Wave 100 TWS by JBL to prove.
In the entry-level class under 50 euros, JBL offers you a surprising amount. The 8 mm drivers deliver powerful bass in the smallest of spaces. A charging case for 15 additional hours of playback time is included. However, you have to do without noise canceling in this price range.
Per:
+ Attractively priced entry into the segment of true wireless headphones
+ JBL’s deep bass sound for powerful bass
Cons:
– Relatively short battery life
– No convenience features like noise reduction
Huawei FreeBuds 4i: everything you need
There are many in-ear headphones for around 50 euros, but hardly any with active noise canceling. If the feature is important to you, you will Huawei FreeBuds 4i to like. Practical: the attention mode can be switched on at any time, with which you can perceive ambient noise again.
The 10 mm drivers for rich sound and the special dual microphones are amazing, which, thanks to beamforming technology and artificial intelligence, enable high call quality without unwanted background noise when making calls.
Per:
+ battery life up to ten hours (music playback)
+ Active noise canceling with attention mode
Cons:
– Unspectacular design
– No IPX4 certification (splash water protection)
Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Hey Google!
the Pixel Buds A Series are specially made for smartphones with the Android operating system – this has advantages: Say “Hey Google” to start the language assistant and control music with your voice. The Google Assistant is perfectly integrated into the in-ear headphones.
Even without voice control, the Pixel Buds A-Series offer you great quality at a reasonable price, for example on your iPhone. Google has developed dynamic 12mm speaker drivers for a brilliant sound, and a comfortable fit and optimal grip were also important to the manufacturer. And if you ever misplace your Pixel Buds, you can use the Find My Device feature on your phone to track them down. Practical.
Per:
+ Coherent integration of the Google Assistant
+ High wearing comfort
+ Outstanding sound
Cons:
– No active noise reduction
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Optimal noise cancellation
Bose stands for high quality audio products, that is with the Quiet Comfort Earbuds not otherwise.
The highlight is the “world’s most effective noise reduction” according to the manufacturer. In Quiet mode you completely reduce outside noise, in Aware mode you still perceive the environment. Tap the earbuds to switch modes. The highlight: Thanks to ActiveSense, the earbuds adapt to the ambient noise so that you always get the optimal volume.
The QuietComfort Earbuds also offer a high level of comfort and clever operation.
Per:
+ Active noise canceling for noise reduction
+ Microphone for making phone calls and using the voice assistant
+ Dynamic adjustment of bass and treble
+ Protected against splash water thanks to IPX4 certification
Apple AirPods Pro: listening experience for Apple users
The premier class for your iPhone, iPad, Mac or even Apple TV: The AirPods Pro contain sophisticated technology and the best that Apple can build into in-ear headphones.
heart of AirPods Pro is the H1 chip that guarantees very low audio latency. There is also active noise cancellation and a transparency mode to perceive the environment. Nice: Have Siri read you messages and share a stream with friends via audio sharing.
Special high-excursion woofers produce a pleasant bass, and the integrated amplifier has a large dynamic range. The earphones also offer 3D audio with dynamic head tracking and two beamforming microphones.
But: The AirPods Pro are primarily recommended for Apple devices. With smartphones with Android you can only use rudimentary functions and do not fully exploit the potential of the earphones.
Per:
+ Work perfectly with Apple devices
+ Active noise canceling
+ Charging case can be charged wirelessly (MagSafe, Qi)
+ Numerous comfort functions and sophisticated technology
Cons:
– Limited functionality with Android smartphones
What you should consider when buying in-ear headphones
The Bose headphones are controlled by touch.
Image: © Bose 2020
What matters when buying in-ear headphones? You should pay attention to this:
- Cable, wireless or true wireless? The first question that arises before buying: cable or not?
- Classic wired in-ear headphones usually have a 3.5 mm connection, which many current smartphones no longer have. But they are inexpensive and do not have to be charged. A sufficient solution for infrequent listeners.
- Wireless: Cordless in-ear headphones are connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth, the two in-ear buds via a cable. This type is hardly produced anymore.
- True Wireless: There are no longer any cables here, and some of the charging cases can even be charged wirelessly. Both headphones are charged separately, together they establish a Bluetooth connection to the playback device. True wireless in-ear headphones have now replaced the wireless and wired versions.
- Active noise canceling (ANC): If you want to hide the surroundings as much as possible while enjoying music and podcasts, the noise cancellation ANC is recommended. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to hear the ambient noise on the go, you can do without it, which saves you money. Most headphones with ANC also allow you to turn off active noise cancellation.
- Battery life: Manufacturers usually provide two pieces of information: the pure battery life and a “mixed battery life”. The latter means that you temporarily charge your in-ears in a charging case when not in use, giving you additional usage time. An indication like “up to 20 hours” always means that you cannot listen continuously. More important is the pure battery life, which is usually between four and seven hours.
- Bluetooth: The latest version of the wireless standard is version 5.2, while 5.0 and 4.0 are common for in-ear headphones. Bluetooth version 5.0 or higher makes sense, since this standard offers energy-saving functions and a lower delay (latency) in the audio output (aptX Bluetooth).
- Wearing comfort: Make sure that the earphones come with two to three differently sized attachments. This ensures optimal wearing comfort to suit your ears.
- Apple vs. other manufacturers: Apple in-ear headphones work best with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. If you want to use it with other devices, certain functions cannot be used.
Reference-www.turn-on.de
