A brief discussion on deep-ear and shallow-ear headphones

What is deep into the ear and what is shallow into the ear? There is no standard for this at present. My personal opinion is that all tubes + earmuffs are deep into the ear, and vice versa. (As shown in the figure below)

Features of deep-ear earplugs

1. Better guarantee of the consistency of audio performance. This is why the current high-end in-ear earplugs are deep-ear type. For example, the PX200 that everyone often talks about, some say it has strong bass, and some say it has no bass. Apart from excluding personal listening preferences, one thing that cannot be ignored is that the sound leakage of PX200 is different on ears of different shapes. This leads to a big difference in the sound that everyone hears, but as long as everyone covers the PX200 hard on their ears, I believe that few people think it lacks bass. Since ordinary portable headphones and earplugs must make certain compensation for the low frequency of the sound, this limits their improvement in sound quality, while deep-ear earplugs can have a relatively consistent sealing effect on different ears.

2. Earplugs that fit deep into the ear can effectively reduce external noise and sound leakage.

3. Earplugs inserted deep into the ear canal can cause great irritation.

4. Hygiene and cleanliness are a big problem.

Features of shallow in-ear earplugs

1. Compared with deep-ear earplugs, shallow-ear earplugs are much less effective in reducing external noise.

2. Costs are greatly reduced. Various complex earplugs and special parts are saved. Shallow earplugs are basically a silicone ring. In noisy environments, high-end deep-ear earplugs have a unique advantage in protecting hearing due to their excellent sound insulation capabilities.

2. Since in-ear earplugs produce unnatural sounds, long-term listening will cause damage to the brain nerves. (Note: not the auditory nerves. After a person receives a sound, the brain will analyze and locate the sound. This unnatural sound will cause brain nerve fatigue.)

3. High-frequency sounds are the most harmful to the ears, mainly damaging the auditory nerves, while strong bass mainly destroys the eardrum.

4. The human body produces various internal noises (such as the sound of internal organs). A considerable part of these sounds are transmitted out of the body through the ears. In-ear earplugs will block and reflect these sounds when used, which can easily cause tinnitus.

5. In-ear earplugs may scratch the ear canal and cause bacterial infection, thus affecting hearing and ears.

6. The length of the human ear canal is generally 2.5 to 3.5 cm. According to physics knowledge, when the ear canal length d = (λ/4) + (kλ/2), the ear canal will resonate. Under normal circumstances, the frequency of the sound wave that resonates is between 2500Hz and 3300Hz. However, since in-ear earplugs shorten the ear canal, the frequency of the sound wave that resonates will increase to between 4000 and 5000Hz. Note that the sound in this frequency band is the most harmful to the ears! [λ is the wavelength of the sound wave; k = 0, 1, 2, 3...]

in conclusion

1. Listening to high-end in-ear earphones at an appropriate volume for a short period of time (no more than 1 hour) will not cause serious damage to hearing.

2. Wearing earplugs for a long time (regardless of whether they make sound or not) can easily cause tinnitus.

3. Low-end shallow-ear earplugs that use bass as a selling point can be considered ear killers.

4. Using good soundproof earplugs in a noisy environment can protect your ears.

5. It is strongly recommended that users of in-ear earplugs pay attention to personal hygiene and avoid cross-use.