Stop Headphone Headaches: 6 Tweaks I Use for All-Day Comfort
Equipped with better drivers, the latest Bluetooth technology and improved chipsets, full size headphones offer increasingly powerful performance at more affordable prices. However, some headset models can cause real headaches.
In the past, I generally used lighter headsets for studying or communicating, so headaches were never really a problem until I started reviewing larger books. game and hard hats early in my career as a technology journalist.
After a few long sessions of Overwatch and Destiny, I noticed that my head was hurting and my temples were hurting – and after researching the problem, I discovered that many people have headphone-related headaches, especially when gaming or working for long periods of time with headphones tight. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
These headphone-induced headaches usually result from a combination of pressure, weight, heat, wearing glasses, and similar factors. But I have good news: It is possible to deal with such headphone problems with a few careful adjustments to your setup. Here’s what I’ve found to work best, even when headphone sessions last for hours.
1. Try over-ear or open-back headphones
Larger, off-ear headphones can relieve many pressure-related headaches.
Over-ear headphones are smaller and lighter than the larger earbuds of over-ear models, and often more affordable, but they can also cause headaches. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s due to the grippy design of the headphones and the lack of padding in the over-ear models. This includes popular music headphones like the Sony WH-CH520 or the Beats Solo 4.
The smaller design of over-ear headphones generally puts more pressure directly on the ear, which becomes very tiring with prolonged use. This is especially true for people who wear glasses, who often experience pain with these headphones.
The best alternative, without sacrificing too much audio quality or additional features, is to upgrade to over-ear headphones. These headphones feature significantly larger, softer earcups that create less pressure and improve sound isolation. In this case, going big may be the best way to relieve your pain.
The other option is to use innovative open-back headphones or earbuds like Shockz, which use bone conduction and other methods to reduce hearing fatigue. You may lose out on audio quality compared to over-ear models, but it’s a painless option, especially for those who rely on their glasses while working, studying, or gaming.
2. Switch to better earbud material
The material of the headphones is very important when you wear headphones for hours.
If you absolutely want to use over-ear headphones, consider a better cushion material for your headphones, as it can significantly reduce pain. If your headset is limited to basic foam covers, it’s time to find a model with thick memory foam or a similar material.
Likewise, if you find that the cushioning material on your headphones is scratchy, stiff, or pulls on your ears, try changing the covering material. Velvet tends to work better for comfort levels, as does suede. If you find that your headphones are overheating your head and causing headaches, consider trying a mesh cover instead.
If you already own a gaming headset or professional over-ear headphones, research your brand to see if they offer earbud replacements in different materials. It can be expensive, but you can explore affordable alternatives like earmuffs for $10 this may help some headphones feel smoother and cooler.
3. Experiment with adjusting your headband
If your headphones have adjustment options, experiment to see what feels comfortable.
Do your current headphones offer headband adjustments or similar customization? Otherwise, I highly suggest looking for a pair that supports them. Even standard headsets can be heavy: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5for example, reaches almost 10 ounces – leaving it on your head for a few hours can cause discomfort. This is why weight distribution is important.
The tension in your headband can directly affect the tension in your head. Too tight and the earbuds will apply uncomfortable pressure and pull on your hair. Too loose, your headphones can feel like dead weight. If you have frequent headaches, try loosening your headband a little while still keeping it firm. Ear cup height adjustments can play a similar role.
Additional note: Some earbuds are heavy, like the AirPods Max (13.6 ounces), but distribute the weight well. But lighter is often better. Check out our reviews and recommendations to see which headphones we call out for their stress-relieving design.
4. Adjust your volume to lower settings
Headphone volume can also trigger headaches.
I know you may want to identify the sound of footsteps or hear every environmental sound possible, but it’s important to keep the headphone volume at a safe level. Beyond a certain point, volume can be an active trigger for painful headaches, even if you don’t usually experience them.
If you want to explore this topic further, I highly recommend my colleague Anna Gragert’s story on headphone-related health concerns and what she learned from speaking with audiologists. If your volume is high enough to trigger ear pain and headaches, there’s a good chance it will cause long-term hearing loss or other problems.
The general rule for headphone volume is to keep it well below 85 decibels, a tip recommended by Turtle Beach and other headphone brands. I suggest going into your headphone app (if available) and changing your audio settings so that the emphasis is on the sound details you want, allowing you to keep the overall volume lower.
If you prefer headphones for listening to music and are listening to your favorite album at a higher volume than usual, it’s a good idea to lower the volume to a quiet level and relax with more lo-fi music to give yourself a break.
Brands like SteelSeries also produce headphones with volume limiting features for this purpose, placing a universal volume cap on the headphones to help curb bad habits or protect children’s ears.
5. Lower the screen brightness or enable a blue light filter
Many devices and apps have blue light filter options to make viewing a screen easier.
Headphone pressure and volume aren’t the only causes of headaches. Your screen is also an important factor, especially if you stare at it for long periods of time in a dark room.
This is why I also recommend lowering your screen brightness if you suffer from headphone-related headaches. Set your computer or TV to dim or dimmer mode when you start a session, and see if that saves headaches.
If your display supports it (usually in software settings or some game settings), you can also enable a blue light filter. These filters reduce the cooler, bluer light from the screen, which is the main culprit for eye strain. This will shift the visuals slightly towards warmer hues and can also provide significant relief.
For glasses wearers, there’s another option: You can find glasses with blue light blocking lenses for continued protection, no matter what screen you’re on. Again, these are best paired with over-ear or open-back headphones to complete a comfortable headphone setup.
6. Remove noise canceling features for a while
Noise cancellation affects people in different ways, not always beneficial.
Are active noise canceling headphones giving you headaches? These high-tech features, found in popular lines like Bose QuietComfort, the larger Sony WH models, and the AirPods Max, might actually be the problem. Active noise cancellation uses sound waves to cancel out ambient noise. It’s an interesting tip, but not everyone reacts the same way.
Some people report feelings of pressure, dizziness, and general weirdness when using noise cancellation. Similar to sudden changes in altitude, this can trigger headaches in people trying to concentrate.
If your headphones have active noise cancellation, turn it off to see if it helps reduce the pain and strain of long-term use. If it makes a noticeable difference, you should probably stick with passive noise cancellation on your headphones.
Once your headache issues are taken care of, it’s a great time to take a look. the best PC games we tried And the best monitors for action.
