Our JBL fit checker can help you find the comfiest earbuds

STORIES

Not all earbuds are the same—because not all ears are the same.

Ears—we’ve all got ‘em. But like fingerprints, every ear is special and unique. Small drums, big canals, chunky cochlea, teeny tragi: ears come in all shapes and sizes. But tragically, many earbuds do not.

And if you’ve ever worn poorly fitting earbuds for even a few hours, you’ve definitely felt the pain (in your ear) or the loss (of your earbud). We believe your ears deserve better.

We’ve stepped up to the challenge with three different shapes and fits—from a full ear canal seal to a gently floating piece. And when it’s time to find your next earbuds, our JBL Fit Checker uses some nifty technology to find you the right pair without visiting an ENT or getting a crash course about ear anatomy from WebMD.

For discreet noise-cancellation: Buds

First up, we’ve got Buds, which are dot closed earbuds. That means they come with ear tips to help them sit firmly in the ear without any bits sticking out (technical term), so they close off your ear canal.

They’re great for people with larger concha because you can place them snugly inside the natural cupping. (In case you were wondering, we’re talking about the big, conch-shell shaped part of your ear—what you think about when you picture an ear.)

Because they have an ear-sealing effect, Buds offer complete noise cancellation, making them a really good option for people who like working in cafes, but hate the sound of other people working in cafes.

Explore All JBL Buds

For stable, long-term wear: Beam

Our Beam buds are stick closed, meaning they sit well in the ear, too—but are meant for people with more shallow concha.

They have a little stick that slides in between your tragus (the little flap of cartilage you use to block your ears) and lobe, hence the name Beam.

This helps stabilize the fit, so you can commute, work out, or dance around without living in fear of losing a bud. These also fully seal off your ear canal, so they’re another good option for noise-cancellation seekers.

Explore All Beam Headphones

For a gentle, sound transparent fit: Flex

For those with a cutesy little concha—and also people who don’t love their earbuds taking up valuable real estate in their ear canal—we have the Flex series.

These stick-open buds rest gently in the ear without any tips to push in—and like the Beams, they have a stick that rests outside the ear, between the tragus and lobe.

Because they don’t seal off the ear canal, they’re great for people who are sensitive to too much pressure in their ears or like to eavesdrop on public transit.

See All Flex Headphones

So what kind of ears do I have?

Just in case you don’t have your ear measurements committed to memory, we developed the world’s first-ever handy dandy algorithmic JBL Fit Checker. It starts by using your device camera to take a quick scan of your head and ears to measure 50 different ear landmarks (yep, really) to compare against thousands of other ear types. Then, we’ll ask a few questions about your listening habits, like, “Do you want more natural ambient sound?” and “Do you want full sealing from your earbuds?” Badabing, badaboom. This metaphorical deep dive into your ears will reveal which of our buds are your buds.

With your new comfy earbuds, you’ll be able to fly eight hours in serene silence, binge watch your favorite series late into the night without bothering your roomies, and keep your favorite playlist shuffling all day long. And after reading this article, you may even be able to impress people at parties with all your knowledge of ear anatomy.

JBL FIT
CHECKER

Our Fit Checker uses your device camera to scan your ear and asks a few questions to learn about your prefences to help you find the earbuds best suited to you.

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