Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix • Hacker News Board

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#131

Post by ip26 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:35 PM UTC

chefandy wrote: post #93

fareesh wrote: post #77

One of the problems with headphones is that the cups tend to deteriorate over time - maybe sweat or the oil from the skin or something reacts with it and it starts to peel. After a few years, the cups are no longer available for that model and so you end up having to buy a new one.

Have you looked at 3rd party replacement pads? I've never seen a pair of headphones with removable pads that I couldn't get an aftermarket replacement for-- usually better quality than the factory ones. Big round ones, smaller ovular ones, memory foam, leather velour or whatever finishes... always managed to get something that fit. Just measured and looked for something close. They mostly seem to attach the same way.…

The irony is that you’ll have better luck finding quality 3rd party replacements for popular, widely sold “non-repairable” models (Sony, Bose, etc) than boutique “repairable” cans.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#132

Post by ChuckNorris89 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:36 PM UTC

gizmo wrote: post #123

The "sustainable" and "environment friendly" choice for headphones are wired headphones that are built like a brick. A good pair will last basically forever. Of course that isn't the market these headphones are in, but that's also the problem. New bluetooth standard? New advances in noise-cancellation? You won't get them. Even if these headphones are great (which I doubt) they're still destined for the garbage heap.…

Not everyone wants to go jogging or working out with wired headphones. They always rub on your skin or on your clothes (especially in winter with may thick layers) with the rubbing sound transferring in your ears as you move around, or worse, snag on something and keep tugging down on my head giving me a bad neck posture (when the cable is routed under my shirt/jaket).

The freedom of TWS earbuds can spoil you for life.

Why don't we make TWS manufacturers to build their shit with replaceable cells? Most have normal Varta lithium cells inside. Surely they can make them replaceable the same way they are on the AirTags? They would be a bit bulkier and have less water resistance but I don't go swimming with them and as long as there's no cables I'm happy to tolerate a bulkier size.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#133

Post by Kirby64 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:37 PM UTC

bornfreddy wrote: post #126

duxup wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s funny how that works. I remember when fake leather was generally thought of as a bad thing, granted at times it could be really plastic like and brittle…. but at some point it clearly became both cheaper and really durable. I wouldn’t mind if it just said “plastic” or “imitation leather”. It’s not a bad thing to my ears. I’m remodeling my house and all the flooring I’m looking at looks like wood…. but it is not…

Is the platic leather durable though? Aside from the cars interior, I haven't noticed one that lasted more than a few years. Headphones are especially annoying in that the covers start falling apart long before other parts break.

It can be. The answer is 'it depends'.

The polyurethane based 'vegan leather' used in many automotive applications is typically more durable than leather. It also doesn't have any of the issues with regular leather related to drying out (it tends to crack if you don't add conditioners to it).

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#134

Post by ChuckNorris89 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:39 PM UTC

v3x3366 wrote: post #52

I certainly appreciate this idea. My WH-1000XM4s developed an issue where the NC has a feedback loop that sends a deafening shriek as soon as you place them on your ears and it lasts until you turn off the NC. I have to go through this (quite embarrassing in public) ordeal every time I turn them on. I'd just upgrade if they weren't so absurdly expensive in the first place.

>WH-1000XM4s developed an issue where the NC has a feedback loop that sends a deafening shriek

Interesting. I have the original first gen WH-1000XM1s from 2006 and keep wanting to upgrade them to get the more advance NC and USB-C but they haven't broken down yet and they have no issues whatsoever, even the battery lasts long enough, while the modern ones seem plagued with various issues so I'm hesitant to upgrade.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#135

Post by Throw73849 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:41 PM UTC

jasonlotito wrote: post #18

Throw73849 wrote: post #7

>Weight: 330g That is like Apple AirPods, those are very heavy and extended wear gets you tired. And most over-ear headphones are already pretty fixable. Most brands provide spare parts for like 20 years.

> And most over-ear headphones are already pretty fixable. Most brands provide spare parts for like 20 years. Please, point me to the bluetooth/wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that are pretty fixable at a level comparable to that of the Fairbuds here? Note, it must meat ALL the criteria I listed. Missing anything makes answer worthless. e.g. If it offers everything except for bluetooth or noise-cancelli…

I meant wired headphones.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#136

Post by stavros » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:43 PM UTC

gizmo wrote: post #123

The "sustainable" and "environment friendly" choice for headphones are wired headphones that are built like a brick. A good pair will last basically forever. Of course that isn't the market these headphones are in, but that's also the problem. New bluetooth standard? New advances in noise-cancellation? You won't get them. Even if these headphones are great (which I doubt) they're still destined for the garbage heap.…

But "repairable" and "upgradable" are not synonyms. I don't mind that my phone isn't upgradable, but I'd like to be able to easily change the battery when it dies of old age.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#137

Post by ip26 » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:43 PM UTC

gizmo wrote: post #123

The "sustainable" and "environment friendly" choice for headphones are wired headphones that are built like a brick. A good pair will last basically forever. Of course that isn't the market these headphones are in, but that's also the problem. New bluetooth standard? New advances in noise-cancellation? You won't get them. Even if these headphones are great (which I doubt) they're still destined for the garbage heap.…

Planned obsolescence can be a good thing. Cans from the fifties and sixties still work. Nobody wants to use them; they are heavy, uncomfortable, have poor performance, need an amp to drive, and use huge old school connectors. They are from a time when music was enjoyed seated in one place.

Products that fail prematurely or wear out while the owner still wants them are poorly designed. The pinnacle of design is a product that works flawlessly until the day you are through with it, at which point every part fails simultaneously. Such a product wasted no excess material in being over-engineered, nor consumed exotic high performance materials when they were unwarranted, nor repair visits, nor extra fuel in transport.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#138

Post by paulryanrogers » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:44 PM UTC

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #132

gizmo wrote: post #123

The "sustainable" and "environment friendly" choice for headphones are wired headphones that are built like a brick. A good pair will last basically forever. Of course that isn't the market these headphones are in, but that's also the problem. New bluetooth standard? New advances in noise-cancellation? You won't get them. Even if these headphones are great (which I doubt) they're still destined for the garbage heap.…

Not everyone wants to go jogging or working out with wired headphones. They always rub on your skin or on your clothes (especially in winter with may thick layers) with the rubbing sound transferring in your ears as you move around, or worse, snag on something and keep tugging down on my head giving me a bad neck posture (when the cable is routed under my shirt/jaket). The freedom of TWS earbuds can spoil you for lif…

I second this. After trying with many different kinds, it's just too big a hassle. Clips at strategic places can help, yet only work so long. Eventually something will snag and the headphones will break. Separate, wireless buds are significantly more comfortable.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#139

Post by huehehue » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:46 PM UTC

gizmo wrote: post #123

The "sustainable" and "environment friendly" choice for headphones are wired headphones that are built like a brick. A good pair will last basically forever. Of course that isn't the market these headphones are in, but that's also the problem. New bluetooth standard? New advances in noise-cancellation? You won't get them. Even if these headphones are great (which I doubt) they're still destined for the garbage heap.…

Many IEM earpieces can be disconnected from the cable, so you can switch out between a wired connection and a bluetooth adapter (or replace/repair those as needed, while keeping the drivers). I don't use bluetooth headphones, but it seems like an okay compromise.

I will say that going direct isn't without problems, though. I can't tell you how many adapters and dongles I've lost. At this point it feels like a wash with how much ends up in a landfill. I'd love for everything to support 3.5mm but that's not the world we live in.

Re: Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

#140

Post by paulryanrogers » Sun, May 14, 2023, 8:47 PM UTC

hyperhopper wrote: post #113

Veen wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a review in a general interest newspaper for the average headphone buyer. Almost no one who buys headphones knows what any of those things are.

You are on a site called Hacker News

The AV niche is deep and has plenty of its own communities. HN has a technical audience spanning many niches, yet not all of us are familiar or interested in the finer points of AV hardware.