When using public transportation to commute to work, you need a good set of corded earphones with mic. Corded earphones are one of the most important items carried as not only do they give you access to a hole range of entertainment options to pass the time, they never, ever run out of battery charge!
While wireless earphones often provide better options for noise-cancelling and overall sound quality, the fact corded earphones never run out of battery is super important to commuters like you and I.
It’s also important to spend the money on a set which has a corded microphone attachment because it makes controlling your music, volume control and phone calls much much more convenient in an often cramped train carriage.
But with so many varieties of corded earphones with mic out there, how do you know which set is best?
What’s the difference between earphones and headphones?
Earphones (also known as earbuds) fit into the ear canal itself while headphones rest over the ear. Because of this, headphones can be more effective at blocking outside noise (which also tends to provide better sound quality) but due to their size aren’t nearly as portable nor comfortable to wear over longer periods of time.
Some people (like my mother) just can’t get used to putting something inside their ear and prefer going for a smaller pair of headphones. Others (such as myself) like to carry both so you’ve got the best of both worlds.
Why buy corded earphones instead of headphones?
- Convenience: Earphones are lightweight and can be easily carried in a pocket. Far less cumbersome than headphones.
- Comfort: Due to their light weight, earphones can be more comfortable when worn over longer periods as you barely notice they’re there.
- Utility: When equipped with an in-built remote control with microphone, things such as music control and portable phone calls become an absolute breeze.
- Awareness: Being able to easily remove one earphone from your ear allows you to hear instantly – such as important train announcements or hearing cars passing when walking in busy city areas – something that can be very annoying when using headphones.
A great set of corded earphones with mic needs to:
- Be comfortable: Physically inserting a device into your ear canal over long periods can be uncomfortable if you choose the wrong shape for your ear. There are different sizes and styles to suit different ear types.
- Have great sound quality: There can be a very noticeable difference in sound quality between the various types of earphones.
- Be durable: This applies more to the cables than the ear component – thin or flimsy cables can wear out leading to various issues.
- Have a built-in remote with mic: This is optional and not usually found on the cheapest offerings but once you’ve become used to using a built-in remote there’s no turning back.
Why corded earphones and not wireless?
For one reason: they don’t need to be charged. It has to be said that compared to wireless headphones having a cord *can* be cumbersome, but not having to worry about how much charge you have left means they’re always guaranteed to be usable, so when those headphones die…boom, let the music continue.
Without further ado, here’s a selection of some of the best corded earphones with mic currently available – perfect for the long train commuter:
1. Sennheiser Momentum In Ear
I’ll say it right now, I love Sennheiser earphones. I’ve owned several different pairs over the years and they’re always been consistently good. A good pair such as the Sennheiser Momentum’s sit about in the middle end of the spectrum price wise (particularly with a remote), but you’re getting a pair of terrific sounding headphones from one of the most reliable brands out there.
Reasons to buy:
- Sennheiser quality – I’m definitely biased towards this brand but that’s only because they’ve consistently performed.
- Superb sound quality.
- Sleek, stainless steel design which makes them durable if you happen to step on them (sadly I’ve done this more than once).
- Adjustable earbuds with multiple sized ear tips.
- Comes with a carry case.
- Full-featured built-in remote & microphone (some remotes have only basic functionality).
Other considerations:
- The in-ear canal design might not be for everyone (see below)
Additional observations: It took me time to get used to the in-ear design of Sennheiser earphones. Unlike some brands, to achieve best sound quality they need to be pushed right into the ear, sealing the hole which can feel a little weird at first makes a considerable difference to outside noise reduction (a problem that over the ear headphones gets around). Due to this, this style of earphone may not be for everyone. This particular brand is very adjustable however.
** Note – the above earphones are iOS only – if you have an Android phone or don’t have a lightning adapter, click here to find the Android version of the Sennheiser Momentum In Ear earphones on Amazon
2. Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector
By no means the best earphones on the market but for the price the Apple Earpods are one of the best all-rounders currently available – even if you don’t have an Apple cellphone. They’re a good combination of value and quality and perfect as a starting point. Due to the lightning connector non-Apple users will need to purchase an adapter although the older phone jack variants are still also available.
Reasons to buy:
- Surprisingly comfortable, rounded design based on the geometry of the ear. Perfect for people who don’t normally like to wear earphones.
- Great sound quality for this price point.
- Has one of the better built-in remotes allowing things like volume adjustment, skipping forward and back through music tracks, and taking phone calls.
- Comes with a standard 1 year replacement warranty on purchase (keep proof of purchase!)
- Reliable Apple quality
Other considerations:
- The cable is on the weaker side and can wear out after a solid year’s worth of use.
Additional observations: My experience with these earphones is their cable can be on the flimsy side and experience issues not long after the 1st year due to excessive coiling of the cable (a bad personal habit of mine!) This can be largely avoided by purchasing an earphone case.
3. Betron BS10 Earphones (Cheap!)
If you’re wanting a first pair of earphones to try them out or just a back-up pair (because let’s face it, if your main earphones die it IS the end of the world!), the Betron BS10 Earphones are a good choice. While very much the ‘cheap and nasty’ end of the spectrum, the BS10’s offer surprising quality for the price. But don’t fool yourself, for that price they very firmly sit in the back-up department.
Reasons to buy:
- Extremely cheap.
- Has a built-in remote which is unusual for this price point.
- Solid sound quality for the price.
- Design based around noise reduction.
- Good bass which is again unusual at this price point.
Other considerations:
- The design may be uncomfortable in smaller ears.
- Phone calls can be affected by static.
Additional observations: Despite the surprisingly good list of features for a pair of earphones that are under $10.00 – they are cheap earphones. Their overall quality (including physical design and sound quality) will definitely not stand up to a higher priced pair of earphones. Fantastic for back-ups or first time users, but with earphones the old adage couldn’t be truer: you get what you pay for!
4. Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Earphones (High end)
No list of earphones would be complete without at least one higher end option, and that’s something the Bose QuietComfort set accomplishes in spades. Bose is well known for its quality but with this set it brings in the kind of noise cancellation technology you’d usually only find in a set of headphones. I don’t need to tell a train commuter how important blocking out surrounding sound is.
Reasons to buy:
- Superior sound quality for a pair of earphones.
- Genuine, battery powered noise cancellation.
- ‘Awareness’ mode which dims the noise cancellation so you can properly hear your surroundings (train announcements etc).
- Come with a well designed carry case.
- Slim, fully-featured remote.
Other Considerations:
- Expensive for earphones (see below).
- Noise cancellation power pack potentially cumbersome (fits into your pocket).
Additional observations: Be aware that despite the superior quality of a more expensive design, all earphones can be prone to cable issues after a period of time (even if properly cared for). Even the sturdier cables wear out after they’ve been bent enough times and for this reason I generally recommend buying within the middle price range which I find to be a good combination of quality and price.
5. Beats urBeats3 Earphones (Lightning or 3.5mm option available)
The Beats urBeats3 is another solid all-rounder. A super slick design coupled with solid, bass heavy sound matched by an ergonomic design for maximum comfort. Of particular note is the flat, tangle free cable and magnetic earbuds – this is a big one for cable longevity.
Reasons to buy:
- Design based around delivering high quality sound.
- Flat-design, tangle free cable (also reduces cable wear).
- Ergonomically designed (rounded) earbuds for maximum comfort.
- Slick design in multiple colors.
- Has lightning or 3.5mm cable option (note- not in same package).
- Fully-featured remote.
- Reasonably priced mid-ranger.
Other considerations:
- Doesn’t come with carry case.
6. SOL REPUBLIC Jax Wired 1-Button In-Ear Headphones
The Sol Republic Jax earphones are another solid choice but on the cheaper end of the spectrum. A decently designed, good looking set of earphones which similar to the Beats set have the flat, tangle-free style cable, but cheaper designs almost always experience cabling issues sooner rather than later and so i’d be putting this set more in the backup pair category rather than my primary set of earphones.
Reasons to buy:
- In-Ear noise isolation for full quality sound (relies on sealing earbud into ear canal).
- Sophisticated minimalist design.
- Available in multiple colors.
- Flat, tangle-free cable design.
- Mic & Music control via remote.
- Comes with multiple ear tip sizes to suit a variety of different ears.
Other considerations:
- Doesn’t come with a case.
- Cheaper end of the spectrum can mean the cable is more prone to issues.
Additional observations: Similar to the Sennheiser Momentum earphones above, this set relies on forming a proper seal in the ear canal to achieve full quality. My experience with smaller, rounded tips such as this set has is they are more prone to not staying in there, and you might find yourself continually needing to push them back in.
7. Skullcandy Strum Maximum Comfort Earbuds
The Skullcandy Strum earbuds are designed for maximum comfort and might be the perfect solution for people who don’t traditionally like wearing earphones, or people wearing them over longer periods…ie commuters! While lacking in the bass department, they’re a solid performing earphone at a cheaper price point.
Reasons to buy:
- Super comfortable design – particularly for people with smaller ears.
- Noise isolating rounded fit.
- Volume control on the remote.
- Comes with 2 replacement gel earbud covers.
- Slick design.
Other considerations:
- Sound quality lacking in bass which can make it sound tinny for certain genres of music.
- Doesn’t come with a carry case.
Now that you’ve got yourself an awesome set of new earphones with mic, check out our 7 Best Messenger Bags for Train Commuters to put em in!
Happy commuting!
