Micro earpiece guide
How they work, how to choose the earpiece and the loop, which batteries to buy, how to look after the kit and what to do when it goes silent.
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How does a micro earpiece work? Induction explained simply
No cable, no Bluetooth in the ear and no antenna. A micro earpiece relies on one of the oldest phenomena in electrical engineering, and that is exactly why it can be so small.
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Types of micro earpiece: nano, induction and magnetic
In photos they all look alike: a small skin-coloured cone. Inside, though, they hide completely different designs, and that affects volume, comfort and price.
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Induction loop for a micro earpiece: Bluetooth or jack?
A micro earpiece is only as good as the loop sending to it. Choosing between Bluetooth and a cable decides convenience, reliability and which devices the kit will work with at all.
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How to choose a micro earpiece: 8 things to check
You rarely buy a micro earpiece, and you usually use it in situations with no room for surprises. Before adding a kit to your basket, go through this list.
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Micro earpiece batteries: SR416SW, running time and replacement
The most common cause of a "broken" micro earpiece is a flat or badly fitted battery. Here is everything you need to know about powering the smallest electronics in your ear.
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How to insert and safely remove a micro earpiece
A micro earpiece sits deeper in the ear canal than ordinary earphones. That is why you cannot see it, but it also calls for a few simple rules to keep it comfortable and safe.
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Micro earpiece hissing, too quiet or silent: what to check
Nine times out of ten a "broken" micro earpiece is actually fine: you just need to change the battery, tighten the cap or reposition the loop. Here is a checklist, from the simplest things to the trickier ones.
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An invisible prompter: micro earpieces for presenters, speakers and actors
TV presenters have had an earpiece for hearing the director for decades. A micro earpiece does the same job, just without the curly cable behind the ear that shows someone is "hearing something".
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What is a micro earpiece used for? Professional and everyday uses
A micro earpiece is associated with spy films, but it most often ends up with people who simply need to hear something without showing everyone around them that they have an earpiece in.
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Is a micro earpiece legal? What is allowed and what is not
In short: anyone can buy and own a micro earpiece without any permit. The restrictions concern where and why you use it.
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Rent or buy a micro earpiece? Which is better value
Renting a micro earpiece sounds sensible if you need it for one day. In practice the sums often come out differently than you expect, especially once you add shipping, the deposit and hygiene.
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How much does a micro earpiece cost? Kit prices and what you pay for
The price of a micro earpiece depends on what you buy: the earpiece alone, the loop alone or a complete kit. We explain what each costs and what you are actually paying for.
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Micro earpiece with iPhone and Android: pairing and settings
A micro earpiece does not connect to the phone by itself, only through the induction loop. The phone sees the loop as an ordinary Bluetooth headset, so a few settings are enough to make everything work predictably.
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The microphone in a micro earpiece kit: built-in or external?
A micro earpiece only receives sound. For the other side to hear you, you need a microphone, and its type and position decide whether they hear your voice or your shirt rustling.
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Cleaning a micro earpiece and replacing the wax guard
The sound outlet of a micro earpiece is a fraction of a millimetre wide. A little earwax is enough to make it noticeably quieter, so cleaning is basic maintenance, not an extra.
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A micro earpiece without a phone? SIM-card GSM module vs. loop
In a classic kit the phone makes the call and the loop only passes the sound to the ear. GSM modules combine both jobs in one box with their own SIM card. It sounds simpler, but it is not always.
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Digital or analogue micro earpiece? What these labels really mean
Micro earpiece descriptions often use the words "digital" to promise clean sound without noise. It is worth knowing what lies behind them, because the label alone says little about quality.
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A micro earpiece in an exam? Risks, consequences and health
"Exam earpiece" is one of the most common searches for this equipment. Instead of promises, we set out plainly what it looks like from the point of view of the rules and your health, before anyone decides to take the risk.
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Micro earpiece for security: with a two-way radio, phone and PTT
The classic security earpiece with a curly cable behind the ear can be seen from far away. Sometimes that is the point, sometimes the opposite. A micro earpiece lets you receive messages without anyone knowing you are listening in.
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Hearing loops for people with hearing loss vs. micro earpiece loops
Induction loops are associated with micro earpieces, but you are far more likely to meet them in an office, cinema or church. There they help people with hearing aids. Same principle, completely different purpose.
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The smallest micro earpiece: how small can an in-ear earpiece be?
"The smallest in the world" appears in the description of almost every micro earpiece. But size has a lower limit, and it is set not by technology but by the anatomy of the ear.