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Ask HN:Why do in-ear plugs have left and right marked on them?

3 points by sinamdar ↗ HN
Is there anything different in how the two plugs are built?

Is there any difference in how our left and right ear works?

I find that due to my obsessive compulsiveness, I waste a few seconds every time I use them in making sure that I am putting them on correctly!

EDIT: In addition, does it have an effect on your hearing experience if you put the left ear plug in your right ear and vice versa? If not, then why bother marking them?

6 comments

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RBerenguel
Songs are recorded in left and right channels, for the stereo effect.
sinamdar
Can you provide some links to more details on "left and right channels", "stereo effect" etc.?
RBerenguel
Well, I didn't want to link to Wikipedia in my answer, but here you are:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound

Everything is here: from history to how it works. I hope this gets you satisfied! And btw, I also check which one is the correct... and in my brand new Sennheiser, it is pretty hard to find where it is engraved!

sinamdar
Thanks a lot! I should have found that on my own! DUH!
RBerenguel
Nevermind, two hours ago I would have had a hard time finding it (after lunch almost-sleep-state)