headphone and earbud discomfort

How To Stop Headphones & Earbuds From Hurting Your Ears

Almost every music enjoyer has had the misfortune of buying a pair of headphones or earbuds that quickly turn excitement into regret. This is often a result of the headphones or earbuds not fitting the user correctly, causing mild or even moderate pain when being used. In this article, I’ll run you through some useful steps you can take to improve the comfort of your current headphones and also teach you how to avoid the problem on future purchases.

Improving The Comfort Of Your Headphones & Earbuds

There is good news and bad news for those struggling with pain from headphones or earbuds. The bad news is that there are often limited solutions, the good news is that most of the available methods are cheap or even free to try out.

What Causes Discomfort In These Products?

Before we look at ways to improve comfort levels, it’s useful to understand what is causing them. In most cases, it is due to one of the following factors.

Headphones

  • The clamping force of the headband or earcups
  • Earcup padding
  • Earcup size and shape

Earbuds

  • Size and shape of the earbud tip
  • Variance in individual ear shape
  • Material of the earbud tip
  • Hooks and fins

The next step is identifying which of these common causes is the one creating your discomfort. I’ve created a short form you can fill out that will help give you the most likely causes.

Step 1 of 5
Understanding the location of the pain can help narrow down specific design or fit-related issues.

Fixing The Problem

Now that you’ve got an idea of the likely causes of your discomfort, we can look at ways to fix the problem. Some problems are easier to rectify than others, for instance replacing earpads or earbuds can be quick and affordable. On the other hand, core problems like conflict with ear shape aren’t as easy to resolve and may only be fixed by buying a pair that fits correctly.

Headphone Problems

Excess Clamping Force

Clamping force is a frequently measured metric that indicates how strongly the headphone clamps onto the user’s head. It refers to the pressure you feel on either side of your head, where the earcups sit more than the top of your head and where the headband is pushed on the top of your head. The most common symptom of excess clamping force is pain around the ears or a headache.

Excess clamping force is usually caused by smaller headphones being fitted on a larger head. When buying a pair of headphones, it is beneficial to read comments from customers who often provide insight into how compatible they are with different head sizes.

Resolving clamping force problems can be challenging without investing in a new headset. If you have an adjustable headband size, try increasing its size. You can also try bending the headband a bit, but this has the chance of causing damage and should be done as a last resort.

Other methods to try include replacing the earcups with softer ones that can reduce the harshness of the pressure. You could also implement some DIY tricks like wrapping material around your headband to see if that softens the pressure. In some cases, it’s less about the clamping force and more about insufficient padding for how tight it is.

Earcup Sizing Problems

Earcups should fit around the ear, encasing the ear and not applying any pressure to it. If your headphones are pushing on your ear, it’s a sign that the earcups are not the right size for you. This is common for cheaper headphones that may be marketed more towards children than adults.

If you find that the earcups rest on your ears instead of around them, there is a possibility of reducing the discomfort by swapping out the earpads. However, this is usually only a possibility on higher-end headphones which are less likely to create this problem to begin with.

While not common, some headphones even have aftermarket adapters that allow you to use a wider range of earpads.

Irritation & Itching

Itching and irritation are most frequently caused by a sensitivity to the materials used on the earpad or headband. Materials used can range from foam, leather, velour, or fabric to hybrid materials. Most commonly skin reactions occur with synthetic leather and low-quality foam.

In the case of a skin reaction to the material, you’ll need to either replace the ear padding or the headphones. Once you’ve established the type of materials you’re sensitive to, ensure future purchases offer a less harsh option.

Another cause of irritation and itching can be a build-up of sweat. Breathable earpads often provide more comfort than plastics or rubber which can trap moisture. This can also occur on the headband and is particularly impactful to bald individuals.

In-Ear Earbud Problems

Earbud Shape & Design

Earbuds are notorious for their varying comfort levels. Even slight variations in ear shape can change how comfortable they are and since many fit into the ear itself, it’s not uncommon for users to return their earbuds after purchase until they find one that works with their ear shape.

If you find that your pain primarily occurs around the Triangular fossa or Antihelix (two areas just inside your ear), likely, the shape of your earbuds doesn’t align with your ear shape. If the pain occurs deeper into the ear, around the concha or ear canal, then you may be looking at an earbud tip problem, which is easier to resolve.

Play around with the positioning of the earbud to see if you can’t find a comfortable position. However, the way earbuds are designed means that when they are used in an unintended position, they may lack the seal needed for quality sound.

Pain Caused By Earbud Tips

This is a common problem and one of the easiest to remedy. Most earbuds have tips that fit into the ear canal and the size of the tip needs to match the size of the ear canal. Too small and you lack a good seal, too large and you can experience pain or discomfort, especially when using them for extended periods. This pain is also sometimes referred to the outside of the ear.

Thankfully, most modern earbuds come with various ear tip sizes that can be swapped onto the earbud to align with your ear canal size. The first step to resolving earbud tip pain is to try and use different sizes that come with your earbuds. If you didn’t get additional sizes, you may be able to find some aftermarket options that you can buy separately. They’re typically well-priced and readily available.

If you’re unable to find the right tips, you may need to consider re-investing in a more versatile pair. I recommend the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE for its broad overall support and a large number of additional tips that cater to a larger portion of users.

Irritation From Sweat and Materials

Although less common than with over-ear headphones, earbud tips still come in several different materials and some individuals can experience irritation and discomfort from the type of earbud tips.

If you find your earbud tips cause excessive sweating or irritation from the material, you can look for aftermarket alternatives to swap them out with. Although there isn’t always global support for the mounting type, many earbuds have alternative options for earbud tips to help reduce irritation.

If you find a build-up of sweat is your problem, consider taking the earbuds out every hour or so and drying them and your ear off.

Fixing On-ear Earbud Problems

Earbud Tip or Shape Issues

Pain in the ear canal is rare for on-ear earbuds that rest on the outside of the ear, but when they have a hybrid design that stabilizes them on top of the ear while also having a portion that goes into the ear, this can cause problems for certain ear shapes.

If your on-ear earbuds cause pain to the inside of your ear, check to see whether the earbud tip can be replaced. If they can, try using different sizes to match your ear size. It’s also not uncommon for portions of the earbud to enter the ear without entering the ear canal. This may cause pain just inside your ear and suggests the design doesn’t align with your ear shape.

You may also be aligning them incorrectly. Check out YouTube videos where reviewers discuss or show how to seat the earbuds.

External Fit Problems

Since on-ear earbuds often have a hook that fits over the top of your ear, the thickness of the hook and how it’s manufactured can have a direct influence on their comfort. Those with a narrow gap between the top of their ear and their head frequently encounter discomfort as the hook causes pressure on both the head and the ear. There isn’t much one can do to rectify this problem, as it’s core to the design.

Additionally, some cheaper models often use plastic or rubber hooks which can sometimes be sharp or not properly smoothed down. This can be easier to troubleshoot, as sharp plastic can sometimes be sanded down to become smoother and more comfortable. A common problem here is seam lines where the earbud is joined together. This can sometimes cause a sharp pain at the top of the ear. Sanding these lines down can improve the problem.

Reactions to Materials

Material actions are rare in on-ear earbuds, as there aren’t often a lot of different materials used in the design. However, skin reactions do occasionally occur and can become frustrating. If you find the materials of your earbud, especially the part that fits over the ear problematic. You can consider wrapping it in plastic or duct tape to see if it helps.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting comfort issues online can be challenging, as the symptoms can overlap. And while it’s true that in some cases the only solution is to buy another pair of headphones or earbuds, there are still useful options to try before you get to that point. If you’re still struggling with discomfort after reading this article, drop us a comment below and we’ll try to help you out directly.

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Written by
Bryn De Kocks

Bryn De Kocks is the lead editor for Audiostance, as well as one of our trusted reviewers. He has more than 15 years of experience in online publication and stands firm in being transparent with both the benefits and drawbacks of the products he reviews. Outside of editorial work, Bryn has been an avid online gamer and casual digital music producer since his teenage years, bringing his understanding of audio and especially headphones to the table. His daily driver is a humble pair of Fidelio X2HRs powered by a Fiio E10K. In his spare time he enjoys nature photography.

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