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Making Earbuds That Fit (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the heat-them-and-squish-them-and-scrunch-them-over-and-over dept.

Decibullz creator Kyle Kirkpatrick talks as fast as an old-time carnival barker and is as enthusiastic about his product as Dr. Ironbeard was about his potions. A lot of people are probably satisfied with $10 earbuds, but it's kind of a cool (more accurately a warm) idea to have earbuds you can heat in your microwave, then shape and reshape as often as you like to fit perfectly in your ears.They're just one of many interesting items on display this year at CES (annoying sound if you click the "CES" link).

7 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Tinnitus Sufferer Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know this is off-topic, but as someone who suffers from 24 hour shrieking in my ears, please be careful with these in-ear buds. If I can prevent just one person from my fate, my work is done.

    1. Re:Tinnitus Sufferer Here by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If anything, buds may help prevent tinnitus. If listening to music in a loud environment (like an airplane), the isolation provided by in-ear buds allows you to listen at MUCH lower volume levels than you might with non-isolating headphones.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    2. Re:Tinnitus Sufferer Here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      > as someone who suffers from 24 hour shrieking in my ears

      Yeh - I'm married as well.

    3. Re:Tinnitus Sufferer Here by Zaatxe · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Tinnitus has a lot of causes. I had my ears tested for the constant hiss I hear in my left ear. After having my ears tested, we discarded the usual suspects (like a tumor in the auditory nerve or lesions in the internal ear), the doctor said that there are over 200 possible causes for tinnitus. The most common apart the ones I already told are: insuline peaks (caused by not eating for too long and then eating a lot of carbs), and teeth grinding. In my case is a combination of these two last ones. Besides grinding teeth while sleeping, I feel the urge of being biting something all the time (stress-related). When you bite with too much strenght, you press the auditory nerve, causing the hiss.

      Earbuds are not always your enemies.

      --
      So say we all
  2. DIY available now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can roll your own custom fit ear buds for about $10 using moldable ear plugs: http://makeprojects.com/Project/Custom+Fit+Earbuds/199/1#.UPAvIKwyAtc. Not perfect, but a lot cheaper than the professional versions. Makes for a much more comfortable in-flight experience.

  3. How about no by Stormwatch · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This looks nice for people who can stand earbuds, but I'd just go for old-school headphones.

    --
    Circumcision is child abuse.
  4. The other end by ISoldat53 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's the other end I have problems with. Why is the ear bud connection to my iPod strong enough to pull the iPod out of my pocket when it gets hung up on something but not strong enough to keep the iPod from popping off and landing in the toilet?