How-to IEMs
How to choose eartips for your IEMs: size, material and fit
The right tip size and material change bass, isolation and comfort more than most upgrades. Here is how to choose, with the in-stock eartips we sell.
The short version
- Pick the largest tip that is still comfortable and gives a steady seal. Bass that gets fuller when you press the IEM into your ear usually means the tip is too small or the wrong shape.
- Silicone is the easy default. Foam gives a snugger seal and comfort for many people, but it is a consumable. Hybrids combine both.
- Our eartips start from ₱99, and you can have different sizes in each ear. Prices and stock checked 11 November 2026.
In this guide
What is the best eartip for your IEM?
For most people, start with silicone in the size that seals without hurting, then try foam if silicone slips or feels hollow. Both Etymotic and Shure base their fit advice on the seal: a good seal blocks outside noise and keeps the bass, and a poor one lets both leak. A tip is the cheapest change you can make to an IEM.
Why does eartip size matter so much?
An IEM is not only a driver; the ear canal is part of how it sounds. When air leaks around the tip, low frequencies escape first, so the IEM sounds thin even if the tuning is fine. Shure's guidance says the same: weak bass usually means the sleeve is not sealing, and the fix is a deeper insertion or a different tip, without pushing past the ear-canal opening. Our article on why IEMs have no bass shows a quick press test.
How do you pick the right size?
- Start with the medium tip that came with the IEM.
- Insert the IEM gently until it sits comfortably; do not push past the ear-canal opening.
- Play familiar music at a comfortable volume. If bass fills in when you press the IEM gently, go one size up.
- If the IEM feels like it presses on the ear or you feel pressure, go one size down.
- Test each ear separately. Your left and right ears do not have to use the same size.
Silicone, foam or hybrid: which material?
- Silicone is easy to clean, lasts, and is what most IEMs ship with. Our ET1 at ₱99 is soft silicone in three sizes, and the ET2 at ₱149 is a wide-bore spiral design for a more secure hold.
- Memory foam molds to the canal. Our ET3 (₱199) is described as avoiding the occlusion effect (the plugged-up feeling). Shure says foam sleeves are compressed before insertion, then held in place for about ten seconds while they expand and seal. Foam wears out faster and holds moisture, so replace it more often.
- Hybrid puts a foam layer inside a silicone dome. The ET4 (₱249) combines silicone flexibility with foam comfort for long sessions.
Comparison: eartips we have in stock
| Model | What it is | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tic Tech Toe ET1 Earphone Tips Soft Silicone Upgrade Replacement IEM 3 Pairs Set Eartips With Case | Soft silicone, S/M/L, 3 pairs with case | ₱99 | 4.6 (5 reviews) |
| Tic Tech Toe ET2 Wide Bore Turbo Whirlwind Soft Silicone Upgrade Replacement IEM Eartips With Case | Wide-bore spiral silicone, S/M/L, with case | ₱149 | 5.0 (10 reviews) |
| Tic Tech Toe ET3 Memory Foam Earphone Tips Upgrade Replacement IEM 3 Pairs Set Eartips With Case | Memory foam, S/M/L, 3 pairs with case | ₱199 | 4.67 (3 reviews) |
| Tic Tech Toe ET4 Hybrid Silicone + Memory Foam Upgrade Replacement IEM 3 Pairs Set Eartips With Case | Silicone + memory foam hybrid, S/M/L, 3 pairs with case | ₱249 | No reviews yet |
| Moondrop Spring Tips Premium Silicone Earphone IEM Ear Tips | Silicone with acoustic wave-guide nozzle, per Moondrop | ₱599 | 5.0 (8 reviews) |
Prices and stock checked 11 November 2026. Selection: active IEM eartips in stock, lowest in-stock price, ordered by price. Sizes and materials come from each product's own page (Tic Tech Toe tips are our own products).
The Moondrop Spring Tips are a premium silicone tip. Moondrop says its nozzle has an acoustic wave-guide structure to reduce treble resonance; we have not measured that. Moondrop sells them in separate sizes, so check the size variant before ordering.
Will any eartip fit my IEM?
Not always. The tip must grip the IEM nozzle tightly so it does not fall off in your ear. Shure advises replacing sleeves that do not grip the nozzle. Tip stems come in different diameters, so if your IEM has a thin or wide nozzle, check that the listed tip fits before buying. Our ET5 tips are made for AirPods Pro and are not for standard IEMs.
How often should you replace eartips?
Replace tips when they stretch, tear, stay dirty after cleaning, or stop sealing. Foam sooner than silicone. Follow the cleaning advice from your IEM's maker, and let tips dry fully before reuse.
Delivery and warranty in the Philippines
We ship from Valenzuela, Metro Manila, through J&T nationwide. Delivery takes 1–3 days in Metro Manila, 1–5 days in Luzon, and 3–7 days in the Visayas and Mindanao. Orders placed before 2 PM, Monday to Saturday, ship the same day. Express Metro Manila delivery costs ₱250 by Lalamove, and standard shipping is free on orders over ₱500. Items carry a 3-month warranty with replacement for manufacturing defects, and we pay the J&T return postage for covered claims, which you file through facebook.com/tictechtoeph.
FAQ
Can I use different sizes in each ear?
Yes. Most ears are not identical, and a size difference between left and right is common.
Do eartips change the sound?
They can, mainly through the seal. A better seal brings back bass and reduces outside noise. The material and bore width can also change how the sound feels, but we have not measured our tips.
Are foam tips better than silicone?
Not better, different. Foam is more comfortable for some people and seals well, but wears out faster.
Which tips are cheapest to try?
The ET1 silicone set is the lowest-priced option in our range (₱99) and includes three sizes.
Where can I buy eartips?
See our earphone accessories collection.