Anyone else just not get on with in ear (eg Pro) earphones?

[MrMister111]

I tried AirPod Pro last year, and even though were normal Apple quality, I just couldn’t get on with them in respect to being shoved in your ear. I had AirPods 1, and now have 3 and much prefer them fit wise.

I just found they caused pressure and worse that even just walking along a road I could feel/hear the steps etc. stopping still was fine from that point of view, but I use them while walking.

As I say I love my AirPods 3, I’m no audiophile and so all have been good enough for me.

I then bought the Norhing ear (1), which are similar to Pro and in ear.

I find a similar thing, although not as bad somehow, maybe a better fit for me? I’m keeping these though, because much cheaper and when I eventually get back on a plane, I think the ANC will be great as that’s where my AirPods always fail. I can’t hear any music/movies because of the engine din etc. I’m sitting still as well so that helps.

So is it just me? I had to send the Pro back as just couldn’t use them when walking, Great noise cancellation, but the flip side was hearing my steps/thumps/walking/head movement etc.

 

[ericwn]

I’ve definitely encountered a few family members who also don’t like in-ears. Everyone is a bit different, so are our ears - and we like different things. Maybe try over the ear big headphones also like the AirPods Max for example.

 

[mebehere]

For me, AirPods Pro equal torture. AirPods 3 equal bliss.

 

[MrMister111]

For me, AirPods Pro equal torture. AirPods 3 equal bliss.

Have you tried other in ear, as in push in/insert in canal type, apart from AirPods Pro? Same experience?

I just found the AirPods Pro worse for when walking with the noise rebounding in my head. The nothing Ear(1) are better but still not perfect, just the type they are suppose.

 

[mebehere]

Have you tried other in ear, as in push in/insert in canal type, apart from AirPods Pro? Same experience?

I just found the AirPods Pro worse for when walking with the noise rebounding in my head. The nothing Ear(1) are better but still not perfect, just the type they are suppose.

For me, all I’ve had is wired EarPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods 3. So not a lot of variation. But I think the 3s are my perfect fit.

 

[James3000]

I think this is a normal experience to be honest.

My wife has the AirPods Pro and I have the AirPods 3. It’s just a preference thing.

It’s a great lineup they have right now. Brilliant devices that cover the market nicely IMO.

 

[MrMister111]

I think this is a normal experience to be honest.

My wife has the AirPods Pro and I have the AirPods 3. It’s just a preference thing.

It’s a great lineup they have right now. Brilliant devices that cover the market nicely IMO.

Agree and hope they keep it this way as it seems some like in ear like Pro, and others in ear-ish like v3.

I was also just wondering if anyone had tried other in ear ones and if Pro were worse/better for my problems above.

 

[dwig]

...

My wife has the AirPods Pro and I have the AirPods 3. It’s just a preference thing.

...

For some of us it is not a "preference thing", but instead it is a "compatibility" thing.

My "issue" is that I wear hearing aids, a type that rests over the top of the ear with a small "speaker" on a stiff wire that is inserted into the ear canal. The totally prevents devices like either the AirPod Pro or on-ear headphones. The only thing I can use without having to remove my hearing aids are classic large over the ear headphones that don't touch the ear at all or earbuds like the AirPods 3 and their many "clones".

 

[perezr10]

Yes, I use my AirPod 3s 90% of the time. I only use my AirPod Pros when I mow the lawn or use my leaf blower. I bought my Pros for air travel but since Covid they’ve become my lawn work earphones.

I just don’t like the feeling of the AirPod Pro tips in my ears after 45 minutes, even with transparency mode on.

AirPod 3s are just about perfection. The sound is so much better than the AirPod 2s and they don’t go in your ears. I can’t believe how good the bass is for just hooking in.

I could literally wear the AirPod 3s all day and forget about them. Not so with the Pros.

 

[MrMister111]

Yes, I use my AirPod 3s 90% of the time. I only use my AirPod Pros when I mow the lawn or use my leaf blower. I bought my Pros for air travel but since Covid they’ve become my lawn work earphones.

I just don’t like the feeling of the AirPod Pro tips in my ears after 45 minutes, even with transparency mode on.

AirPod 3s are just about perfection. The sound is so much better than the AirPod 2s and they don’t go in your ears. I can’t believe how good the bass is for just hooking in.

I could literally wear the AirPod 3s all day and forget about them. Not so with the Pros.

Same scenario as I found, although I got the Nothing ear(1) to see if different, as also liked the fact you could turn up/down via touch control, and I found those not as bad.

Have you tried other in ear canal types to see if it’s just AirPods Pro?

As you say I will use the nothing ear(1) on travel, when not moving and I think be fine. Agree though I’m impressed by AirPods v3 and they are my go to for almost everything else.

 

[I7guy]

I love the sound quality of the AirPods Pro, but hate the feeling of disconnect when I wear them both. It’s not the noise cancelling, as I already have be Bose over the ear noise cancelling headphones.

I have an OG AirPods and those are the ones I use at home. However I do find that the AirPods Pro does a really good job on mass transit.

 

[Novius89]

I always used a Sony xm 4 headphones and AirPods gen 1 and later 2, because for years I hated in ears.
I absolutely loved the headphones, but sometimes it’s not convenient to wear a big headphone.

I always hated the sacrifice in sound quality when I use the AirPods.

My girlfriend has the same in ears I used in the past (some JBL with a neckband) and I used them sometimes to try. They always hurt my ears. So I decided the pro’s are not for me, because it’s in ear.

Fast forward, I still hated the sound sacrifice and on one day I bought the Sony wf4 ear buds when there was a discount.
They have foam ear tips in different sizes and I’ll be damned… used the smallest ear tips and I can wear them for ours on end.

Not all in ears are the same, I can’t use the silicon/rubber tips that are rounded, but foam tips are not a problem!

 

[playtech1]

I find that the AirPod Pro's transparency mode gets rid of a lot of the annoying pressure and amplification of body sounds you get with in ear headphones.

With that turned on I'm happy to use them for walking around town and calls. I save the noise cancelling for travel on noisy trains or planes, or when watching a movie.

I still have a pair of AirPod 2s which I do still find better for calls, but the Pros have gone from being my least favourite to my most favourite AirPod and it was discovering the transparency mode that did it for me.

 

[MrMister111]

I find that the AirPod Pro's transparency mode gets rid of a lot of the annoying pressure and amplification of body sounds you get with in ear headphones.

With that turned on I'm happy to use them for walking around town and calls. I save the noise cancelling for travel on noisy trains or planes, or when watching a movie.

I still have a pair of AirPod 2s which I do still find better for calls, but the Pros have gone from being my least favourite to my most favourite AirPod and it was discovering the transparency mode that did it for me.

I tried that, but although it was good it didn’t relieve the pressure, as I believe it just used mics and clever electronics to let sound in rather than relieve pressure. For me anyway.