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Fairbuds XL review: noise-cancelling headphones you can fix

theguardian.com

101–110 of 239 posts

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

#101
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.

Dekoni Audio do great and relatively inexpensive replacements for ear cushion pads. I’ve bought pads for my Sony ANC phones and they are at least as good as the factory ones.

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

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't tried XM4's or XM5's but I do have both XM3's and AirPods Max. The XM3's have excellent cancellation and are more comfortable, but have more of a bass-cannon sort of sound profile compared to the AirPods Max, which have cancellation almost as good but have a generally more balanced sound.

I have sony XM3 earbuds and the app has EQ. I assume the XM3 headset app does as well since its the same app.

I'll have to play with that some. I knew of it but assumed the EQ was done on the phone rather than on the headphones, which if true kind of renders it moot because I use my headphones on several devices that the app doesn't run on.

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

#104
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.

I have the same issue with my earpods pro, it occurred after a couple of falls while wearing them, seems to be damage to a microphone or something.

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

#105

I stopped reading at “Vegan Leather”. Can we call it what it is? Plastic.

Because that's not what people care about in this context. People are looking at this picture and they see something that looks like leather. You say "Vegan Leather" and the message they get is "No animals were killed for this product." "I want the look and feel of leather, but not the specific ethical concerns."

I see "vegan" and I think "plant-based", which I doubt is the case here.

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

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because that's not what people care about in this context. People are looking at this picture and they see something that looks like leather. You say "Vegan Leather" and the message they get is "No animals were killed for this product." "I want the look and feel of leather, but not the specific ethical concerns."

I see "vegan" and I think "plant-based", which I doubt is the case here.

Especially since we had the term "fake leather" or "imitation leather" for a long time.

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

#107

I stopped reading at “Vegan Leather”. Can we call it what it is? Plastic.

Because that's not what people care about in this context. People are looking at this picture and they see something that looks like leather. You say "Vegan Leather" and the message they get is "No animals were killed for this product." "I want the look and feel of leather, but not the specific ethical concerns."

There's a term for that that's been used for decades: pleather, or plastic leather.

Rebranding just confuses the already confusing world of materials. It's a violation of the cooperative principle to sell a product: a shitty practice and not something on brand with "fair" and "open". Why not rebrand it "fossil fuel-based leather"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_leather

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/when-did-we-start-c...

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

#108
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.

Do you think this is a hardware or a software problem? I have these headphones myself, and I really like them. This sounds awful. I had to do a factory reset on them recently because they stopped connecting to one of my devices.

I have a similar issue with my airpod pros. I believe it is a microphone issue, especially since they work in non-noise cancelling mode just fine.

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

#109
post #103

No frequency response testing? Mic response testing? Head pressure measurement? Kinda hard to take this seriously as a review when they don't even show anything about performance of the product.

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.

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

#110
post #103

No frequency response testing? Mic response testing? Head pressure measurement? Kinda hard to take this seriously as a review when they don't even show anything about performance of the product.

Exactly. I'm gonna have to wait for the rtings.com review, the only source I use for headphones when the model I'm reviewing is on their site.

I'm not aware of any other site (suggestions welcome) that do in-depth product reviews

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