Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

201–210 of 239 posts

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

#201

Post by Gigachad »

paulryanrogers wrote: post #138
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I use Airpods most of the time but wired headphones on my desktop because bluetooth is so broken on desktops. Going back to the wired headphones feels like wearing a leash tied to my desk. Want to just go grab a drink from the fridge but I have to mute myself, take them off, then undo it all when I come back.

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

#202

Post by [deleted] »

lmm wrote: post #196
tylerritchie wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what's the issue here? if you buy large headphones from the same company you buy the your phone from, in a future where fairphone no longer exists (which playing the odds, is likely) at some point your also no-longer-supported phone (which functionally becomes slower every year because mobile application hardware requirements appear to double every year) might advance to support new fancy bluetooth things your headph…

If the headphones are meant to be used with the phone, then the idea that the headphones are future-proofed because they have a 3.5mm jack is pretty meaningless if you can't connect them to the phone with that jack.

[deleted]

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

#203

Post by ElFitz »

calvinmorrison wrote: post #180
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.…

Eh. I've had to do more fiddling with my wired headphones (Sennheiser 380's) and replace the jack and wire more than once. I have had them for over a decade. My wireless set is a pair of quietcomfort 35's I got in 2026.. They've aged remarkably well, but I did have to replace the ear foam for both sets these years. So, I have been served wel by both.

> My wireless set is a pair of quietcomfort 35's I got in 2026

We’ve found the time traveler!

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

#204

Post by dotancohen »

Gigachad wrote: post #200
FeistySkink wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fairphone 4 doesn't have a 3.5 mm jack beacuse reasons. So much for sustainability.

Generic usb-c to 3.5mm adapter for a few dollars, stick it on the end of the cable and leave it there. Problem solved.

The only person that I've ever seen do that had to replace his USB socket after a few months. It turns out that USB C is not designed for long term constant torque being applied, as is the case when it has a dongle attached constantly in a pocket bouncing around. Perhaps if someone sold a dongle that sits flush with the device, and is secured such that no force is transferred to the socket, that would help.

The dongle solution seems to only be good for sitting at a desk. Not for a device that is literally called "a mobile".

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

#205

Post by Faark »

calvinmorrison wrote: post #180
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.…

Eh. I've had to do more fiddling with my wired headphones (Sennheiser 380's) and replace the jack and wire more than once. I have had them for over a decade. My wireless set is a pair of quietcomfort 35's I got in 2026.. They've aged remarkably well, but I did have to replace the ear foam for both sets these years. So, I have been served wel by both.

Same. Ear pads and cable are consumables. Especially the latter rarely lasted more than a year back when I was actually using headphones 12h a day on average.

Thankfully, replacing cables on big headphones is a fitting challenge for newbies as soldering.

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

#206

Post by lmm »

hammyhavoc wrote: post #199
lmm wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the headphones are meant to be used with the phone, then the idea that the headphones are future-proofed because they have a 3.5mm jack is pretty meaningless if you can't connect them to the phone with that jack.

In 2023, most people who give two shits about running wired headphones are using a USB DAC, even if their phone has a 3.5mm socket as the onboard AD/DA chipset is usually mediocre and struggles to drive most high-end cans.

It's not about high-end or whatever. It's about whether these headphones are going to be usable at all in 5 years' time.

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

#207

Post by dotancohen »

Dwedit wrote: post #197
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.…

Ancient outdated bluetooth standards will still play the sound.

While burning through the battery in under 72 minutes, and require you to stay within 3 meters of the phone, and will lose connection if the phone goes into your back pocket. I've got three pairs of wireless headphones that all suffer these three traits.

My daughter's modern Sennheiser headphones though, work across the house, through two walls. And the battery literally lasts over eight hours, for all I know it might have lasted another eight. Seriously impressive.

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

#208

Post by hammyhavoc »

lmm wrote: post #206
hammyhavoc wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 2023, most people who give two shits about running wired headphones are using a USB DAC, even if their phone has a 3.5mm socket as the onboard AD/DA chipset is usually mediocre and struggles to drive most high-end cans.

It's not about high-end or whatever. It's about whether these headphones are going to be usable at all in 5 years' time.

And they will be if they're sound in terms of construction and somebody is willing to spend a few dollars on a USB DAC.

By your same logic, if you need to use dongles with a brand new MacBook, today, is the MacBook thus not useable?

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

#210

Post by lmm »

hammyhavoc wrote: post #208
lmm wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about high-end or whatever. It's about whether these headphones are going to be usable at all in 5 years' time.

And they will be if they're sound in terms of construction and somebody is willing to spend a few dollars on a USB DAC. By your same logic, if you need to use dongles with a brand new MacBook, today , is the MacBook thus not useable?

I see the small number of ports and reliance on dongles as a big mark against the MacBook's sustainability, yes.
Post reply on HN