Gadgets: Comply TX Series Foam Tips

If there's one thing I've always had a problem with, it's keeping earphones in my ear. I once had a rather unfortunate incident with a pair of sports earphones, a treadmill and some rather loose running shorts. Let's just say neither the earphones nor my shorts remained where they should have been by the end of the incident.

I've tried the full spectrum, from ear hugging hook style ones to deep cavity "brain touchers". Comply has a solution with its range of foam replacement tips.

You may well be thinking at this point, "how can a little bit of foam really make such a difference?" The Comply foam tips come in two different models (T series and Tx series), along with four different varieties, all designed to fit different earphones. Comply's online selection tool partners up your earphones with their foamy friend.

So why should you pay 14.99 for six small blobs of foam? Comply use a unique visco-elastic polyurethane memory foam over 30 times softer than the foam you normally find grazing your ear canal. It feels a bit like an ultra soft marshmallow and moulds to the inside of the ear using natural body heat. This not only adds to the comfort factor, but seals the earphones, blocking out a lot of background noise. The Tx-400 model I was testing also came with a handy integrated Wax-guard – no more nasty ear wax between me and my music.

If you've got a decent set of earphones already, I reckon it will be 15 well spent. They're a bit like buying a good mattress – not the most exciting of purchases, but you'll look back wondering how you got on without their cushiony softness.

Comply TX Series Foam Tips

(14.99 for three 3 pairs, www.play.com and www.amp3.co.uk; www.complyfoam.com)

#149 This article was first published in The Scotsman Magazine on Saturday, March 20, 2010