Assume the following: You are an audiophile. You can’t enjoy music in any situation unless it is at “audiophile-acceptable quality.” You have money to burn, and yes, that’s in “today’s economy.” Now consider the following account, by Mark Jaquith:

Canal phones offer much better sound than their “in ear” cousins, but in order to hear the full range of the sound (especially the bass), they must be inserted properly. This is definitely a subjective thing (ergo the different insertion tips), and something that takes practice and intimate knowledge of they layout of your ears. The phones come with a handy insertion guide, and Etymotic has a video on their site with even more detail.

Here’s what I’ve learned. First, make sure your ears are clean and dry! This is a great excuse to start being an adult about ear cleanliness. For the flanged tips, it helps to slightly moisten the flange prior to insertion. Don’t get it too wet! While a drop of water may help the tip slide into your ear canal, too much will make it easily slip back out. Use as little water as possible. To insert, slightly open your jaw, and pull on your ear, to straighten and open your ear canal. Which way you pull your ear will depend on which way your canal goes or bends. For me, I grab in the back, slightly above the lobe, and pull down and back. [...]

Seriously? Finagle your ear to accommodate canal buds? In order to listen to music at Godly quality while flying or waiting at the doc’s office? It might be worth the trouble, until you get a case of otitis externa. I still go by the old adage, Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.