# イヤホンを走る時と泳ぐ時と会議で使い分ける二人 - Show: 限界突破ライフハック - Published: 2026-10-05 - Canonical: https://podc.club/en/episode/1866434136_bb1d8a2589da.html - Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/10d527f20/podcast/play/126777622/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-9-4%2F433277296-44100-2-c1156f05014f5.mp3 - Source: Edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. Not an official summary. Tanaka (田中さん) walks into the studio carrying seven audio devices—three premium wired earphones, three Shokz bone-conduction models, Beats, a budget Chinese brand, and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50—while the second host covers AirPods, Nothing, and a Sony monitor headphone. Together they break down which gear belongs on a run, in the pool, and in a video-call setup, then dive into just how deep the audiophile rabbit hole goes. The episode is a two-perspective tour of earphone obsession, from ¥2,000 disposables to custom-molded in-ears costing a small fortune. ## What this episode answers ### What are the three premium wired earphones Tanaka introduces, and who is each one suited for? Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 is a three-driver design for rich, quiet-environment listening; Sennheiser IE100 Pro is a single dynamic-driver balanced model favored by professional musicians in noisy settings; the custom in-ear monitor from a Tokyo shop uses an ear-impression fit for near-total passive isolation, suited to performers who need to block out everything around them. ### How do the Shokz OpenRun Pro, OpenSwim Pro, and OpenFit differ, and how should you choose between them? OpenRun Pro is the main running model; OpenSwim Pro is waterproof with internal music storage for underwater playback and has survived multiple washing-machine cycles, doubling as a capable running earphone; OpenFit is the highest-sounding model in the range, with a tilt system that shifts stereo imaging to match the direction you're facing, though its lack of a rear cable risks losing an earbud during intense activity like mountain running. The hosts rotate among multiple units to manage battery life. ### What should people whose ears can't hold AirPods use instead? The article does not name a single replacement; the second host tried Nothing Earphone on Android but found the usability unsatisfying and continues searching for alternatives. ### How do audiophiles explain the sound-quality gap between wired and wireless? True enthusiasts consider wireless audio fundamentally flawed—transmitting sound over radio waves makes meaningful quality claims moot—and instead optimize every link in the chain from source component to amplifier to cable to earphone. ### Which headphone is comfortable enough for long video-call sessions at home? The second host uses a Sony monitor headphone (model unknown, marked 'Professional') without noise cancellation, paired with a wired microphone; its natural sound causes no listening fatigue over long sessions. ## Article ## Three Premium Wired Earphones **Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10** (roughly ¥100,000 at launch; possibly discontinued) houses three dedicated drivers—one each for bass, midrange, and treble—compared with the single driver found in most earphones. It is not built for loud environments; it rewards listeners who settle into a quiet room and want a rich, immersive sound. The detachable cable is a standout practical feature: a broken cable means you replace only the cable, not the whole unit—a benefit rarely available at lower price points. **Sennheiser IE100 Pro** is a single dynamic-driver earphone used by professional musicians. It locks onto the center of the frequency range—vocals especially—so the sound stays clean even in chaotic surroundings. Drummers wearing it on stage during live shows is one cited use case, and it was summed up as "the balanced all-rounder you can use for anything." **Custom in-ear monitor** requires a trip to a Tokyo shop to have ear impressions taken, after which a shell is manufactured to the exact shape of your ear canal. There is no active noise cancellation; the physical seal alone is so complete that the host described hearing "frighteningly nothing." Walking or running in traffic while wearing them is genuinely hazardous, making them a specialist tool for performers who need to shut out the world. ## Shokz: Three Models Built for Exercise **OpenRun Pro** combines bone conduction and air vibration in a dual system. Because nothing sits inside the ear canal, ambient sound passes through freely, keeping runners safe on busy roads. Earlier casual-grade Shokz models were fragile, but this one is described as highly durable and currently serves as a primary running companion. **OpenSwim Pro** (approximately ¥18,000) is a fully waterproof earphone. Because Bluetooth signals don't travel through water, the device stores music internally and plays it back directly; the host noted—with the caveat "I may be misremembering"—that it can sync subscription music from Apple or Spotify. It has survived multiple accidental washing-machine cycles. Because it also works for running, it earned the label "the one model to buy if you want to cover everything." **OpenFit** is a true-wireless, no-cable design and the best-sounding model in the Shokz lineup. During initial setup the companion app reads the orientation of your face, then engages a tilt system that shifts stereo imaging to match wherever you're looking—described as feeling like standing inside a live stage. The trade-off is that without a rear cable, there's a real risk of losing an earbud during intense activity such as mountain running. ## Beats, Budget Chinese Earphones, and the ATH-M50 **Beats**—specifically a first-generation New York–exclusive release purchased on launch day by waiting in line—sits close to AirPods in positioning but leans harder into audio quality, excelling at deep bass. It lives permanently in the bag as a versatile everyday option. The budget Chinese brand **Dacom** (Amazon, around ¥2,000) was the go-to choice before settling on Shokz, during a period when intense exercise was destroying earphones every two to three months. The logic: "if it's going to break anyway, buy the cheapest one." Dozens were purchased and swapped out over time, and they were described as perfectly functional in practice. **Audio-Technica ATH-M50** (roughly ¥10,000–¥20,000) was the only full-size headphone brought in. In DJ circles it carries the reputation that "if you stick with it long enough, you always come back to Audio-Technica." It folds without breaking and is easy to handle day to day. ## The Second Host's Lineup **AirPods** earn their place entirely on connection stability with MacBook and iPhone. Other wireless earphones occasionally drop the signal; AirPods do so least often. The catch: this host's ears cannot hold AirPods for even a second, and that frustration has driven an ongoing exploration of alternatives. **Nothing Earphone** was tried when using an Android device. Its transparent design and the case's talk button for speaking directly to an AI were appealing, but day-to-day usability fell short and it is now rarely used. **Sony monitor headphone** (model unknown; marked "Professional") is the main headphone for home meetings. Running without noise cancellation, it produces natural sound that causes no listening fatigue over long sessions, and is paired with a wired microphone. ## Wired vs. Wireless and the Audiophile Rabbit Hole Serious music enthusiasts argue that the moment you transmit audio over radio waves, discussing sound quality becomes meaningless—so they stay entirely wired. In that world the entire signal chain—source component, amplifier, cable, earphone—must be optimized as a whole, and the conversation can extend to the gauge of a power cable and whether the supply is AC or DC. On the source side, MP3 and AAC are criticized for cutting high and low frequencies, leading some to prefer SACD (Super Audio CD), which exceeds CD in resolution—though SACD is now nearly extinct as a format. On a lighter note, speakers and amplifiers from fifty years ago often still perform perfectly, unlike smartphones, making high-end audio gear far more durable as a long-term investment. ## Takeaways - Match the earphone to the activity: bone-conduction for outdoor runs, internal-storage waterproof models for swimming, and custom passive-isolating IEMs for live performance. - The Shokz OpenSwim Pro covers both swimming and running, stores music internally for underwater playback, and survives the washing machine—making it the single-model pick for active users who want to simplify. - Committed audiophiles reject wireless outright and optimize the entire signal chain from source to power supply, treating SACD-quality lossless audio as the floor rather than the ceiling.