OEM memory foam earbud tips

bazzabear · 15 Mar 2023 at 13:10

Why?

I got a pair of Sony WF-1000XM4's for Christmas, and very pleased with them. But the tips have always been a bit of a chore. Getting them to seat properly (as indicated by the test you can run through the app) required me to practically screw the things into my head. It would take multiple tries to get it to register them as properly fitted, trying to force the things through my own head.

I've been persevering, assuming I just need to get used to them. But on a whim yesterday I ordered some aftermarket silicone tips, they were only £6.

The difference is revelatory. Immediately fitted properly with little effort. And, what I wasn't expecting, the sound quality is immediately improved. Bass is absolutely booming now.

Has anyone else found the same? And why on earth are the standard fits memory foam anyway?

SexyGreyFox · 15 Mar 2023 at 14:16

Did you buy silicon or foam? - foam are way better.
A little trick I use on foam tips without screwing them in hard is to wet them first and they go in easily then just attach to the inner ear and don't drop out.
I tried all the squeezing tricks but the wet is better.
These are awesome - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00THKPJ5A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

bazzabear · 15 Mar 2023 at 14:46

Well the originals, which I wasn't getting on with at all, were memory foam.
So I have replaced with with silicon, which is what every other earphone I've ever had has used.

The ones you've posted look exactly like the OEM ones. I found them really hard to get seated (but certainly they never fell out). And while the silicon ones can be cleaned with a simple wipe over, the foam ones seem to go ... crusty.

The noise cancelling, which I expected to be a downside of this change, I would tentatively say is working better too - presumably because I am actually able to form the seal which is required.

Still, the world would be boring if we were all the same.

Next time I'm bored and in the frame of mind to do so, I may try refitting the foam ones and trying your wetting trick.

SexyGreyFox · 15 Mar 2023 at 14:56

bazzabear said:
Next time I'm bored and in the frame of mind to do so, I may try refitting the foam ones and trying your wetting trick.

That's why Comply sell the best foam ones but at a premium, the bass end is sublime on the right equipment that silicone can't match.
The In-Airs are the best I've found next to Comply.
I'll be honest, in all the years I've been buying in-ears and buds you're the first to say silicone are better.

Smeghead · 15 Mar 2023 at 15:31

I've had a few earbuds that use Comply tips. Wasn't too difficult getting them in - Just give them a pinch first to compress the foam, then stick them in your ear and let them expand. I guess the theory is foam should give a better seal.

SexyGreyFox · 15 Mar 2023 at 15:53

Smeghead said:
I guess the theory is foam should give a better seal.

and the bass end should be much better which I can vouch for.

bazzabear · 15 Mar 2023 at 16:13

SexyGreyFox said:
That's why Comply sell the best foam ones but at a premium, the bass end is sublime on the right equipment that silicone can't match.
The In-Airs are the best I've found next to Comply.
I'll be honest, in all the years I've been buying in-ears and buds you're the first to say silicone are better.

I think that the likely reason is that as I was managing to wear the foam ones, they were compressed and half blocking the port. The bass is dramatically better with silicon for me - but I think likely due to this.
I tried using smaller tips, but it was utterly impossible to get the app to agree those were sealed properly.

That said - what tempted me to try to silicon ones was reading multiple people complaining that they couldn't get foam ones to sit properly, that's why I allowed that it might not just be me. (Can't remember where I read those! Possibly on Sony's own forum, or a subreddit for their 'phones?)

After your feedback, I will - at some point - go back and try a different approach to getting them to fit.

SexyGreyFox · 15 Mar 2023 at 16:20

Did you buy the correct size for your in-ears, that makes a drastic difference.
I always thought I'd got big cavities so bought large, I then found that I was actually small and like you said, the foam was compressing in too much.

bazzabear · 15 Mar 2023 at 16:24

They came with small, medium and large. Using either medium or small it was completely impossible to get them to seat in such a way that the app declared they were in place properly. With large, I can get it to declare they're correct, but usually after several tries of wiggling, pressing, swiveling, and generally trying to drill the entire bud halfway into my head.

With the silicon large, gently pressed in to place, one wiggle to ensure seated - app declares it's right.