Why do some headphones sound better when you turn them?

It’s not always easy to get a perfect, comfortable fit with your headphones. You may already know that you’ve had trouble finding headphones that fit your little ears, struggled with a particularly uncomfortable pair of tips, or spent time twisting your headphones until they fit correctly. Headphone fit is important, not only for comfort, but also to get the best possible sound from your headphones.

When your headphones are properly sealed, your audio quality should be much better. This is because less sound may leak in or out around the ends of your headphones, which can sometimes lead to murkier audio. Headphones are designed with the shape and structure of the ear canals in mind, meaning they should project sound into and around your ear. If other audio leaks in and interferes, or if audio escapes, things can quickly turn sour.

This is why some headphones may sound better when you wrap them in your ear. Twisting them can help create a better seal, keeping the sound as isolated as possible. When sound is well isolated, you shouldn’t have to worry as much about competing frequencies coming from outside your ear or losing valuable frequencies from your music, audiobook, or podcast into the environment. It can also help keep your headphones in place when you move around, preventing your audio quality from further deteriorating.

Twisting your headphones isn’t the only way to improve the overall fit of your headphones. Other options you can try instead of or alongside twisting include replacing the tips on your headphones, keeping your headphones (and your ears) as clean as possible, and choosing a few accessories to use with your headphones.

Generally, the easiest and quickest option is to replace the tips on your headphones. When you bought your headphones, they probably came with a few extra spare parts in different sizes. If you went straight for the pre-attached eartips, usually medium sized, try each size until you find a perfect fit that provides good sound insulation. If none of the tips provided suit you, you can purchase a replacement pack separately. In some cases, you may be able to get a different size that you haven’t tried yet, or you may be able to try a completely different material. For example, you can try switching to foam or rubber tips instead of silicone.

In case switching between sizes and materials hasn’t worked for you – or if you’re using headphones that don’t use tips at all – then you might want to consider accessorizing them. Ear hooks and wings stabilize your headphones, which can prevent them from sliding around when you move around. They’re primarily designed to hold your earbuds during exercise, so they don’t fly off while you run, cycle, or do other strenuous movements, but they can also help keep your earbuds in place at all times.