Consumers Echo Complaints about Earphone Comfort and Fit

OAKDALE, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A recent survey conducted by Hearing Components, the manufacturer of Comply™ Foam products for earphones and hearing devices, found that comfort and fit continue to top consumer’s earphone complaints.

Research indicates that on average consumers use earphones one to two hours per day. Used in the office, at the gym, on the plane and everywhere in between, earphones connected to iPods, MP3 players, laptops and cell phones have become an indispensable — albeit oftentimes uncomfortable — part of our daily lives.

The survey distributed through social networks found that while respondents were generally satisfied with their in-ear headphones, comfort and stay-in-ear fit were areas where improvements could be made. When asked what they would improve about their current earphones, 34 percent stated comfort and another 24 percent stated fit.

“Comfort and fit go hand-in-hand; you can’t have one without the other,” explained Steve Thompson, director of sales and marketing for Hearing Components. “The study reiterates what we’ve been hearing from consumers for years: ‘the earphones’ often detract from the overall listening experience.”

These findings ring true with similar studies conducted by University of Minnesota students in which a majority of respondents felt that earphones sometimes gave them discomfort.

“I hate all my in-ear earphones,” shared an anonymous respondent. “I can’t get any of them to stay in my ears.”

Caused by earphones not staying in place, this frustration resonated across surveys. College students in particular voiced frustration that earphones either always or sometimes fell out during physical activity.

“For many, finding the perfect earphone fit is impossible since the hard plastic or rubber tips used in the major brands do not conform to the individual characteristics of the listener’s ear,” said Thompson. “Issues of comfort and fit can be solved by using soft foam tips that reduce irritation and fatigue, while remaining comfortable during extended use.”

Hearing Components’ Comply^™ Foam Tips are made of high-tech, viscoelastic polyurethane foam and conform to the individual shape of each ear canal, expanding to comfortably stay in place. The foam creates passive noise reduction by sending sound directly into the ear canal while sealing out unwanted noise.

About Hearing Components

Comply^™ Foam Tips, Noise Reduction Earphones, and Whoomp! ^™ Earbud Enhancers are manufactured and sold by Hearing Components, a 3M spin-off founded in 1990 by Dr. Robert Oliveira. The patented technology was developed through several grants by the National Institutes of Health to improve and protect hearing. In addition to applications in consumer electronics, the technology is currently used in hearing aids, military communications, commercial aviation, and in industrial high-noise environments. Hearing Components is located in the Twin Cities suburb of Oakdale, Minnesota. For more information visit www.complyfoam.com

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