How did he test the sound with those IEMs on backward? Asking for a friend.
Tech writer Alex Bracetti reviewed the US$99 EarFun EH100 in-ear monitors (IEMs) on a known tech site, only to be ridiculed for failing to do one of the basic requirements of reviewing something: knowing how to use it.
In this review, he claimed that these earbuds are âperfect for audiophilesâ as they âsound better than AirPodsâ. But, a glaring mistake in how he wore them left audiophiles in disbelief. Multiple users have pointed out that the reviewer wore the earbuds backward, in the wrong ear, and out of phase.
The oversight called into question his knowledge and credibility as a reviewer, as well as the qualifications of online audio reviewers in general.
âWearâ It All Went Wrong
In his review, Bracetti displayed a fundamental misunderstanding of properly wearing IEMs.
First, as photographs showed, he wore the earbuds the wrong way, inserting the right earpiece backward into his left ear.
Second, he had inserted the leads in reverse, causing the drivers to be out of phase â a mistake that can significantly impact audio quality.
Despite wearing them the wrong way, however, Alex made a lot of bold claims in his review, particularly on the earbudsâ sound quality.
Why it Matters
Wearing in-ear monitors (IEMs) improperly, such as reversing them or wearing them out of phase, can significantly compromise their performance in several critical ways.
First, sound distortion can become an immediate issue. When IEMs are not aligned with the ear canal correctly, the direction and clarity of the sound waves entering the ear are affected, leading to a loss of detail and clarity.
The way earbuds sit in the ear can also affect the frequency response. An incorrect fit can alter the balance of frequencies, making the audio sound different than intended. Basically, an incorrect fit can lead to a noticeable loss of bass, muffled treble, and overall poor sound quality.
Noise isolation, a key advantage of IEMs, is also reduced when they do not fit snugly, allowing external noise to seep in and dilute the listening experience.
Stereo imaging, where each ear receives distinct audio channels to create a sense of spatial audio, also suffers. Reversing the earbuds can invert the intended left-right channel positioning, confusing the listener’s spatial awareness.