I Have Fallen in Love With Open Earbuds (and You Should Too)

"They're called open earbuds (or open-ear buds, depending on the brand), and just about every audio brand has a pair (or three). They come in a slew of styles, but most either loop around your ears like older Beats buds, or clip on like funky-futuristic earrings. Whatever the style, they're designed to deliver satisfying sound while keeping your ear canals open to the sounds of the world around you."

"Buying such a specified item might seem extravagant when buds with noise-canceling and transparency modes work in the vast majority of scenarios. That was my stance at first, too. Like many things in life: sometimes you need to try something in real life to see if you'll like it. Over the last year or so, I've gone from open earbuds skeptic to evangilizer-and now I can't imagine living without them."

Open earbuds keep ear canals open while delivering satisfying sound through designs that loop around the ear or clip on like earrings. They prioritize environmental awareness and are well suited for outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking, and cycling, where wind renders tiny microphones in traditional buds ineffective. They generally do not match the fullness or detail of sealed earbuds, but high-end open models can still produce very good sound. Open designs and solutions like bone-conducting headphones resolve occlusion—the plugged-up feeling from in-ear buds—allowing a more natural sound and long comfortable wear.

Read at WIRED