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Wired headphone sales are exploding

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11–20 of 752 posts

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#11
It's simple, I can buy some IEMs that sound better, cost less than a third of a barely-even-comparable wireless earbud, and roughly conforms to market standards so I can swap out the cable and tips. And I never have to charge them.

I have a pair of Airpod Pros that I use solely for audiobooks and podcasts when I'm doing chores or shopping, but the audio quality is so garbage that's all they're really good for.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#12
Backlash is probably wrong. There was some hype around wireless technology, but that always fades eventually. You can see this in other electronics like "smart" home appliances: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/01/half-of-smart-applia...

It seemed cool, people bought it, and then eventually many realized they didn't care about the fancy feature(s).

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#13
post #10

Please let this mean that they'll start bringing back the headphone jacks to phones. usb-c is too unstable, and I prefer not having to deal with charging more devices and with pairing shenanigans when switching devices.

> usb-c is too unstable

Would you share more? I've never had an issue with a USB-C cable. Helps to buy well constructed ones with legit specs.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#14

I bought a pair of IEMs. A while back, the cable broke, and I was able to repair by just buying a new cable. Also, I enjoy not having another device to charge. I recently have been wearing a traditional Casio watch more often instead of my smartwatch.

I love my IEMs but I actually want a Bluetooth version. Heck a dongle that made them act just like AirPod Pros would be my dream gadget.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#15
For me, using Bluetooth headphones with my (Samsung) phone is smooth and trouble-free. The experience is miles better than wired headphones, and I would never go back. Meanwhile, connecting to my TV with Bluetooth is an exercise in pure frustration.

So it seems to me like the problem isn't Bluetooth, it's shitty implementations of it.

And it's not just cheap devices. My TV is a fancy LG OLED. For the price I paid it should handle Bluetooth just fine.

It's a real shame. When Bluetooth works, it's awesome, but a lot of people have had their opinions tainted by bad devices.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#16
post #14

I bought a pair of IEMs. A while back, the cable broke, and I was able to repair by just buying a new cable. Also, I enjoy not having another device to charge. I recently have been wearing a traditional Casio watch more often instead of my smartwatch.

I love my IEMs but I actually want a Bluetooth version. Heck a dongle that made them act just like AirPod Pros would be my dream gadget.

Shure makes some for their IEMs. I have an older model which has worked great for several years.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#17

My wired headphones never run out of battery. They also don't drop the connection if my pocket is at the wrong angle from my ears.

Same here. And also unlike airpods, you can't easily lose one that you can't replace. Which also renders the one left useless because you can't pair it with another orphan, what a waste.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#18
post #13
post #10

Please let this mean that they'll start bringing back the headphone jacks to phones. usb-c is too unstable, and I prefer not having to deal with charging more devices and with pairing shenanigans when switching devices.

> usb-c is too unstable Would you share more? I've never had an issue with a USB-C cable. Helps to buy well constructed ones with legit specs.

I'm talking about this specific context, rather than in general. I find that for usb-c earphones and small dongles/dacs, they disconnect more when I'm walking around with phone in pocket. They also tend to wear down with use much faster than normal aux cables. Usually, they last a few months for me before I start having issues.

And when usb-c phones disconnect just a little, usually the phone will pause the music completely and disconnect, whereas the aux headphones will just keep playing. So if the connection isn't perfect, the usb-c cable becomes unlistenable because I can't walk 20 steps without it pausing.

edit: I've tried many cables and dongles, so if you don't have this problem, it might be just that I move around more? Biggest problem for me is commutes and walking around.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#19

It's simple, I can buy some IEMs that sound better, cost less than a third of a barely-even-comparable wireless earbud, and roughly conforms to market standards so I can swap out the cable and tips. And I never have to charge them. I have a pair of Airpod Pros that I use solely for audiobooks and podcasts when I'm doing chores or shopping, but the audio quality is so garbage that's all they're really good for.

Airpods Pro audio quality "garbage"? That is beyond harsh, and a quick search will find countless reviews extolling their audio quality.

e.g. https://www.soundguys.com/apple-airpods-pro-3-review-close-t...

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#20
post #4

here's hoping that someday headphones without pressure (e.g. active/passive noise cancelling) will make a comeback, too. But then again I think there still exist cheap wired ones without such "advanced" technology. As one woman in the article said best: "'I don't like how this feels' and we're all kind of returning to the last place we were comfortable."

> here's hoping that someday headphones without pressure (e.g. active/passive noise cancelling) will make a comeback, too

What do you mean? There are tons of wired headphones that don't do noise cancelling at multiple price points.

I can still pick up a new pair of headphones that I started using 10 years ago (AudioTechnica m50x if you want the recommendation).

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