How far in should in-ear headphones be?

I don't have the Apple in ear headphones but I do use in ear headphones. You're correct, placing the headphones fairly deep (that's why their sometimes called in canal earphones)you will get you much better bass response. The Etymotic ER6i's that I use are quite comfortable. The other advantage to placing them fairly deep in the ear is the passive noise cancellation. Much of the ambient noise is blocked out, allowing you to keep the volume turned to a safe level.

I think I know the kind of noise you're hearing. It's the movement of the wires transmitted up into your ears. I find it a bit of a problem when I'm running. If the cord has a little clip on it, clip the wires so that there isn't a lot of slack. You may also try putting the cord behind your head. I find that I bump the wires less that way.

no i don't think thats normal. i have never experienced that. just take ur earphones and insert them in the first part of the ear, not the canal. you shouldn't have your music turned up so loud that you can't hear a person right beside you talking, this could cause long-term hearing damage. If the pounding in ur head contunies you should go see a doctor.

hope this helps ya.

The earphones should go in the ear canal as far as they can go. It is helpful to pull the back top of your ear back to straighten out the canal.

See Etymotic's instructions. Go to the Etymotic website, then click the ER4-MicroPro, then click on "Instructions for Use."

that's weird. most people have found large ear tips which provide more bass. because they seal ears perfectly so that air pressure can be more different. I hve used this headphone about a week. I haven't satisfied with bass or low range even with large ear tips. so I changed another in-earphone tips. it is midsize. ironically, it gives me more bass that is reach to similar level like v-moda vibe II. I use iSkin Cerulean X1 in-earphone tips. actually I didn't expect that it boost enough bass. so I just made a conclusion. apple just designed ear tips wrong way. I think that the hole of silicon tips are too small to produce bass. it also doesn't have enough gap, which is between mesh cover and ear tip, for bass. I also tried Ultimate Ears tips which are midsize. they actually boost more bass than apple ear tips. if you doubt, try it yourself.

Everyone is going to have (1) different ear canal shape and response, and (2) different taste. No problem! Enjoy what you find to be the best for you, of course. That's what we should all do. No product will satisfy all.

You mention most people like large ear tips because they get a better seal. Well, for some ear canal shapes (and they can be widely different), smaller tips will seal better because they can be pushed in further for a better seal. Apple provides three sizes of cover for this. Etymotic, on the other hand, provides a rubber seal that has a cone shape so it can be pushed in until the taper seals. They also provide a different kind of foam seal that you compress, and then within several seconds it expands and shapes itself to the ear. These are spectacular. They provide maximum isolation because the foam is very sound-insulating, and they also shape exactly to the shape of the canal. These foam seals are extremely comfortable. You have to change them often, though, because after several uses, they don't compress as well.

Also, the Apple earphones are designed to be flat (that is, reproduce what was recorded), while some other earphones are designed to accent base. There's not really a right or wrong (although audiophiles will tell you that a flat response is best because you're hearing what the recording engineers expected you to hear).

More base is good for some songs, but not necessarily for others, and if the boost is artificial -- like boosting the base on an equalizer for a high-end room stereo -- then it might sound better but it is not truer.

Now if earphones cannot reproduce the base at all or are muting it substantially (and I know that is what some are claiming is going on with the Apple in-ears), that's of course a big problem. But there is a difference between not reproducing and artificially boosting.

And I think, for some, it is a matter of not getting a good seal. Without a good seal, the Apple in-ears can't provide the sound they were designed for.

He is using headphones that are designed to be inserted in the ear canal, not like the earbuds that come with the iPods.

ohhh ok, thanks.