Best Headphones for Tinnitus

If you are among the 15% to 20% of people affected by tinnitus, you may be wondering which headphones will be best for you. You want to enjoy the freedom and intimacy afforded by personal listening devices without aggravating the ringing in your ears. And you care about sound quality, so you don't want to settle for just any old headphones.

Tinnitus is generally experienced as a phantom ringing in the ear or ears, but it can cause other noises such as buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, or humming. Sometimes the sound can be so loud that it interferes with a person's ability to concentrate or to hear external sounds. Tinnitus can be constant or intermittent, and it can very much affect a person's quality of life.  

Tinnitus is most commonly triggered by excessive noise exposure. This could be one-time loud noises such as explosions or gunshots; time spent in noisy environments; or repeated triggers like loud music at concerts or years of listening to headphones at too-high volumes. Loud sounds can injure the hair cells in your inner ear and can also lead to hearing damage or loss.

Other causes of tinnitus include age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), ear injury, a problem with the circulatory system, infections, or medications. Note that tinnitus doesn't cause hearing loss, but rather is a symptom of hearing loss.

Is it safe for tinnitus sufferers to listen to music or talk radio/podcasts on headphones? Some people with the condition find that listening on headphones helps to distract them from the incessant sounds in their ears. Background noise like this can serve as a therapeutic form of white noise. In fact, sound therapy can be an effective treatment for tinnitus.

So the answer is yes, you can use headphones if you have tinnitus -- but the type of headphone will matter.  

2. Warm or Neutral-Sounding Headphones are Best for Tinnitus

Warm headphones put more emphasis on lower frequencies, giving a more relaxed and immersive sound where you're not hyper-focusing on details or higher-pitched sounds. Bright-sounding headphones are not recommended, as harsh or screechy high notes can be irritating to tinnitus sufferers. A headphone is said to be "bright" when there is too much emphasis on the treble. Now, treble is where we get detail, air, and definition in our music, but for tinnitus sufferers, it's best in moderation. Likewise, analytical-sounding headphones, which highlight micro-details, can be fatiguing for people with tinnitus. You want to enjoy your music without fatiguing or irritating your ears.

3. People with Tinnitus Should Avoid Earbuds, Earphones, and IEMs

In-ear monitors (IEMs), also called earphones, sit directly inside the ear canal. The pressure and nearfield of the drivers can aggravate tinnitus. The sound energy in IEMs is directed directly into the eardrum, which can be irritating or even harmful for people already suffering from hearing loss or tinnitus. While IEMs offer a level of convenience and portability, they are best avoided if you have tinnitus.

An open-back, warm-sounding headphone like the Ether 2 from Dan Clark Audio is a good choice for tinnitus sufferers.

Headphone sensitivity is another measure that will determine the loudness of your headphones. You can think of it as how much power the headphones will need to output higher volumes. The higher the sensitivity, the louder the headphones, and the less you will need to crank the volume to reach the sound level you desire. Scientists recommend that prolonged listening should be between 60 and 85 decibels to stay safe. As a rule of thumb, lower volumes will always be better. Always consult an audiologist for medical advice.