Can Swapping in Foam Tips Save Your Sound Quality? Engadget Editor Tests a Simple Upgrade for AirPods Pro 2

How much difference can swapping silicone ear tips for memory foam ones really make? Engadget editor Adnan Ahmed ran that experiment on his own AirPods Pro 2, and the result was noticeably fuller bass — plus he no longer had to reach up and readjust the buds every few minutes. He admits he doesn't consider himself part of the "hard-to-fit ears" crowd; he swapped the tips purely out of curiosity, which makes this piece read more like a personal experience than a formal product review.

The problem comes down to the inherent limitations of the tip material itself. True wireless earbuds rely almost entirely on the tips to form a seal inside the ear canal, unlike over-ear headphones that can wrap around the entire ear with cushioned pads. Silicone tips are cheap to produce, easy to clean, and durable enough to last roughly as long as the earbuds themselves — which is why most brands include two or three sizes in the box to improve the odds of a good fit. But human ear shapes vary enormously. The piece cites a cross-population study covering more than 1,400 people, which found that ear structure carries fingerprint-like biometric uniqueness. When the size doesn't match, the seal is incomplete, letting sound leak out and outside noise leak in at the same time — bass thins out and active noise cancellation performance takes a hit too.

Foam tips work differently: the material expands slightly to conform to the shape of the ear canal, creating a tighter seal than silicone can achieve. For Adnan Ahmed's AirPods Pro 2, the most immediate benefit was improved stability — no more constantly having to reseat the buds. The second was punchier bass. He's careful to note that foam tips don't magically make the earbuds "sound better" out of nowhere — rather, by reducing sound leakage, they let the music sound fuller and more complete without needing to crank up the volume. A tighter seal also boosts passive isolation, which means active noise cancellation has less noise to deal with in the first place, letting it work more effectively.

What to Look For, and the Hassles You'll Run Into

The piece calls out two brands by name — Comply and Sonicfoam — and stresses the importance of checking compatibility before buying, since the AirPods lineup uses a proprietary stem-fit design that requires tips specifically made to match. Engadget notes it hasn't formally tested these products, but Adnan Ahmed has personally used Sonicfoam's memory foam tips for over two years, offering his own hands-on experience as a vote of confidence for the brand.

Foam tips aren't without trade-offs. With daily use, they typically wear out within two to three months, and their ability to spring back and expand starts declining well before they're completely done for. They also attract dust more easily than silicone. Prices range from $10 to $40, depending on the brand and how many tips come in the pack. Once you've found the right size, it's worth checking whether the brand sells single-size refill packs, so you're not stuck buying a whole set of sizes you'll never use.

There's also a simple way to tell when it's time to replace them: pinch the tip between your fingers, and if it doesn't spring back and re-expand well, the seal has already degraded. Obvious deformation or damage is another clear sign to swap them out. As for upkeep, the piece recommends making it a habit to wipe the tips down before each wear, since built-up earwax and skin oils can make them start smelling less than pleasant over time.