Corded headphones are making an unexpected return • Hacker News Board

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#121

Post by ddingus » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:46 AM UTC

theshrike79 wrote: post #114

arpa wrote: post #72

Corded earphones: * never run out of juice * never have internal noise/audible hiss * never have trouble connecting * you can hear your vinyl rip FLAC as it is, not subjected to lossy psychoacoustic compression * you can use a variety of devices spanning decades to listen your music on

* will at one point start mysteriously crackling unless you hold the wire in that one weird angle from that one spot

And can be soldered / repaired. I have patched up my wired gear many times in my life.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#122

Post by makapuf » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:46 AM UTC

NobodyNada wrote: post #40

jrm4 wrote: post #17

The 1/8th inch RCA stereo jack is the best interface ever created. The fact that it's essentially unchanged from when this 44 year old used it in middle school is pretty good proof.

It has some very significant design flaws. The ground pin is connected last, and while a plug is being inserted or removed the connections get all jumbled up and even shorted together. This causes all sorts of hums, crackles, and pops while inserting or removing a plug, which may be only a minor annoyance for headphone users but can be extremely loud and/or damaging when using large amps & speakers. (It's also very e…

Sure, but using XLR on you phone may be going a bit too far.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#123

Post by ilvez » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:47 AM UTC

It does not have to be one or the other. I use wireless outside to listen audio books and podcasts and for this purpose they are ideal. Audio quality not so important. Wouldn't want to go back messing with wire on the street, have been destroying many wires and pairs because I'm clumsy. At home when listening music, have some wired higher end comfortable overears, perfect sound quality and comfort. Working with noise cancelling overears, most important are ANS and when meetings one can move around freely and not be attached to device.

So I'm using them in combination, based on what's the situation.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#124

Post by ddingus » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:48 AM UTC

invalidname wrote: post #110

arpa wrote: post #72

Corded earphones: * never run out of juice * never have internal noise/audible hiss * never have trouble connecting * you can hear your vinyl rip FLAC as it is, not subjected to lossy psychoacoustic compression * you can use a variety of devices spanning decades to listen your music on

Yes! And: * Cheap * Better for the environment by a mile * Much harder to lose The one downside is the damn tangled wire.

Materials can help with this to some degree. When good materials are in use, the tangles are fewer and easier to sort out.

I like materials that resist bending after a fairly large minimum radius. More could be done IMHO.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#125

Post by dagmx » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:48 AM UTC

zaptheimpaler wrote: post #94

Wireless headphones suck. I have a good pair (WF-1000XM3) because my phone doesn't have an audio jack and they are always a pain. They connect to the wrong device frequently, the battery life is barely a few hours and the sound quality is ok. Always have trouble with voice quality on calls too. Often only one headphone will turn on but not the other. They are supposedly easier to carry because no cords, but they are…

I had the same Sony's. Pairing and reliability was a nightmare.

I switched to AirPods (Pros and Max) and a lot of my issues dissapeared.

Honestly it's a shame because the audio quality on the XM3 was better than the Airpod Pro but the software is just not there.

The AirPods aren't perfect either of course, but it's a night and day difference between the reliability of them vs the Sony.

I found the Sony was extra bad when there was either a busy area or if I took out just one ear. Often I'd start dropping connectivity to one ear and then they'd just crap out altogether till I reset them.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#126

Post by deanc » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:49 AM UTC

I consider myself somewhat of a sceptic when it comes to a lot of technology. I'm quite surprised at the level of discontent with bluetooth headphones and "buds" in this thread.

I own 1000XM4's and Airpods and absolutely love them. I never have bluetooth drop-outs. My only issues are:

- Multi-device on the Sony's is still a bit shit. Works pretty well on Airpods. A little too well at times (e.g. time on phone interrupts audio from laptop) - The seal of airpods is not great, but this not unique to the airpods. You can supposedly buy custom memory-foam tips but I've not gone down that path yet.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#127

Post by Buldak » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:51 AM UTC

I don't mind wireless earbuds for walking around town, but my primary use for earbuds is running and cycling, and I've found wired earbuds more practical here. The wireless earbuds I've tried are heavier, bulkier and more prone to falling out (they're especially bad for running); they don't work with the devices I prefer (like my iPod shuffle); and they don't have enough battery life for longer activities (which can last six hours or more). Meanwhile, a cord is just not much of an inconvenience to me.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#128

Post by starky » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:52 AM UTC

arpa wrote: post #72

Corded earphones: * never run out of juice * never have internal noise/audible hiss * never have trouble connecting * you can hear your vinyl rip FLAC as it is, not subjected to lossy psychoacoustic compression * you can use a variety of devices spanning decades to listen your music on

Exactly. Plus they are better for the environment where wireless headphones have a finite lifetime built in due to the integrated lithium-ion cell.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#129

Post by hellbannedguy » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:52 AM UTC

ddingus wrote: post #121

theshrike79 wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

* will at one point start mysteriously crackling unless you hold the wire in that one weird angle from that one spot

And can be soldered / repaired. I have patched up my wired gear many times in my life.

I used to repair, but with the cheap China genetic earphones, I just order 5 at a time.

I don't like worrying about earphones.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#130

Post by ddingus » Mon, Nov 15, 2021, 6:53 AM UTC

poink wrote: post #38

I love my AirPods Pro because I can take them on a run with my Apple Watch and be able to listen to music + do guided runs without having to carry anything else. Glad I bought them just for that. They suck otherwise. I have these wired earphones I bought 5 years ago for $99 that I use most of the rest of the time. They sound better, fit better, connect 100% reliably, and I don't have to worry about their batteries dy…

I like this idea. Tried a few early on when jacks were being omitted from phones. The whole thing put me off big.

So I dug in, bought a backup phone with jack and am just camping on good gear to wait a while and see what comes.

Maybe I will put a set in my carry bag.