Your Headphone Questions, Answered
TL;DR
Wirecutter audio expert Lauren Dragon answers listener questions about headphones, testing over 2,000 pairs to recommend solutions for poor call quality, fit issues for small ears and glasses wearers, and specialized options like bone conduction for swimming and situational awareness.
🎙️ Microphone Quality & Call Clarity 3 insights
New pick features magical AI voice isolation
The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro ($170) uses a dedicated chip that trains to your voice and eliminates background noise for callers, making it Wirecutter's upcoming top pick for noise cancelling earbuds.
Budget option handles wind noise effectively
The Earfun Air Pro 4 (around $70) offers solid background noise reduction and specifically performs well at eliminating wind noise for clear calls on a budget.
Testing methodology targets real-world conditions
Lauren Dragon tests every microphone in quiet rooms, against fans, near running sinks, and by busy traffic to ensure picks avoid the common issue of tiny mics picking up ambient sound due to poor positioning.
🎧 Fit Solutions for Ears and Glasses 3 insights
Small ears require stabilizing hooks or wings
For small ear canals, choose earbuds with over-ear hooks like the Powerbeats Pro 2 or soft wings like the Sony Link Buds Fit to prevent slippage caused by concentrated tech weight.
Glasses wearers need memory foam cups
The Sony WH-1000XM6 ($450) or older XM5 ($250-300 on sale) feature lightweight frames and supple memory foam ear pads that conform around glasses arms without creating painful pressure points.
Tethered earbuds now require DIY solutions
Since manufacturers discontinued tethered models due to low demand, users wanting connected buds can buy third-party tethers for stem-style earbuds like AirPods Pro on Amazon.
🏊 Bone Conduction & Swimming Tech 3 insights
Bone conduction leaves ears open for safety
These headphones transmit sound through skull vibrations rather than air, allowing runners and cyclists to hear surroundings, though they sacrifice some bass response due to vibration limitations.
Swimming requires offline music storage
Because Bluetooth cannot penetrate water, swimmers should choose waterproof bone conduction units with built-in MP3 players like the H2O Audio Tri 2 or pair headphones with the Mighty Wave device for offline streaming access.
Hearing damage remains possible despite open ears
Bone conduction can still cause hearing damage at high volumes, and users in loud environments should wear earplugs instead of cranking the volume to compete with external noise.
Bottom Line
Choose the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro for superior call quality and customizable fit, but opt for waterproof bone conduction models with built-in storage if you need swimming capabilities or situational awareness during outdoor activities.
More from New York Times Podcasts
View all
The Implosion of Graham Platner
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces imminent campaign collapse following explosive sexual assault allegations, triggering a chaotic scramble to replace him on the Maine ballot by a July 13 deadline while exposing deep fissures between the party's progressive and establishment wings.
Ask Me About My Dead Son
Bereaved mother Susie Shaw shares a roadmap for supporting parents who have lost a child, explaining that asking specific, curious questions about the deceased—rather than offering generic condolences—provides the greatest comfort and keeps their memory present.
The Light Switches That Changed My Life
Wirecutter editors demonstrate how installing basic smart light switches transformed daily life for accessibility editor Claire Pearlman, who uses a wheelchair, eliminating her dependence on caregivers for lighting control and reducing mental load through voice-activated home automation.
Jill Lepore on What to Read This Fourth of July
Historian Jill Lepore examines America's upcoming 250th anniversary as a moment of profound political tension, comparing today's divisions to the cynical, protest-filled Bicentennial of 1976 while advocating for constitutional deliberation and collective reading as acts of civic participation.