Earbuds for podcasts and audiobooks
Voice needs something else than music
For music, many people look for strong bass and a full sound. For podcasts and audiobooks, it matters more that voices are clear and the earbuds are comfortable for hours. A podcast episode often lasts an hour, and an audiobook dozens of hours, listened to in pieces, on the way, doing chores or in the evening before sleep.
So the right earbuds for voice are those you forget you are wearing, with a battery that lasts a full day and that do not shut you off completely when you are doing something else while you listen.
Open-ear for long days
Open-ear buds suit voice very well: nothing goes into the ear, they do not press, and you hear what is going on around you. You can listen to an audiobook while cooking, cleaning or walking down the street without losing track of what you are doing.
The EA16, with slim aluminium arms at 7.4 g a bud, are discreet and light, and last up to 8 hours on a charge, 34 hours with the case. Voices come through clearly in quiet places; in heavy traffic, the noise covers part of them.
In-ear for the commute
On the metro, bus or train, noise covers voice more easily than music, because voice has less bass. In-ear buds with noise cancelling cut the noise and let you listen at low volume. The Free7, with hybrid ANC up to 38 dB and 3.9 g a bud, are small and comfortable.
At low volume, voice tires the ear less, and on a long commute you feel the difference.
In the evening, before sleep
Many people listen to audiobooks or podcasts to fall asleep. For that, small buds that do not press when you lie on your side matter. The Free7 are among the smallest TESNA earbuds. Set a sleep timer in the app so playback stops by itself, and do not fall asleep with the volume high.
Our guide to earbuds for sleep explains in full what matters at night.
Playback speed and clarity
Podcast and audiobook apps let you listen faster, usually from 1.25x to 2x. At high speed, voice clarity matters even more. If the voice sounds muffled, check the tip first, on in-ear buds, and the driver mesh: wax blocks mostly the frequencies that make speech clear.
Some apps also have a setting that raises quieter voices or trims silences; for unevenly recorded podcasts it helps a lot.
Battery for long listening
Anyone who listens to audiobooks for hours needs battery. Look at the hours per charge: for a day of listening in pieces, 8–10 hours is comfortable. Put the buds back in the case during breaks so they recharge.
At home, over-ear headphones last longest: the Pods M6 have 60 hours, several whole audiobooks' worth.
Safety on the street
Podcasts and audiobooks draw you in: it is easy to stop paying attention to what is around you. On the street, choose open-ear buds or take one bud out, so you hear cars and bikes. Do not listen loud when crossing the road.
For this reason, open-ear buds are the best choice for long walks with an audiobook.
In short
For a full day and listening while you do something else: open-ear, such as the EA16. For the commute and noisy places: in-ear with ANC, such as the Free7. For the evening before sleep: the smallest buds, with a timer in the app. For home, for hours on end: over-ear with a big battery.
Whatever you choose, moderate volume and the occasional break matter more than any other setting.
Every model is in the shop, under open-ear earbuds for the office.