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AirPods don't “just work”

philip.design

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Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#331

Post by freeflight »

dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

I've had a pair of Huawei FreeLace Pro for about a year now, using them with an iPhone, and the only issue out of those you described, I experienced, was the "re-pair once in every blue moon", which is an issue that seems to be pretty universal across bluetooth devices.

They support multiple devices, but no automatic switching, it's just a button short-cut to switch between them, works quite nicely for switching from my iPhone to my iPad and back.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#332

Post by capableweb »

tjpnz wrote: post #312

>After several years of usage, my first two pairs of AirPods both developed a buzzing noise which became unbearable. The only solution I found was to buy a new pair. Is that really acceptable for premium headphones? My Bose QC25s continue to work fine after almost eight years of daily use. I realise that there's more which can go wrong with the AirPods, but two (?) years isn't much at all. The author should've taken…

It's acceptable if it's something you're used to the practice. Many Apple users use their products for seemingly infinite amount of time before retiring the device, but even more users keep buying the newest and greatest when it comes out because A) they want to have the latest and/or B) what they currently had broke and the accepted solution is to buy new.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#333

Post by Godel_unicode »

silent_cal wrote: post #276
yoz-y wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, the fact that I no longer snag my earphones on random protrusions, like doorknobs and bus ticket validating machines is a bliss. Cables inside at a desk: sure, why not. Cables outside: hard pass.

You can just run the wire under your shirt/jacket

For a while, most of the hoodies I bought for workouts actually had a cutout in the kangaroo pocket for routing headphones inside of them. The newer ones don't though, you'd have to cut it yourself.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#334

Post by asdfsd234234444 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #100
dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

Y’know what headphones really did “just work” though? Wired headphones, circa 2017. Their battery life was infinite. You could “pair” them in seconds to any device with a headphone jack, aka any device, because we’re in 2017. Oh, and they were cheaper and better for the environment. Courage, indeed. And this is why I’m currently typing my comment on an iPhone 6S...

lol

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#335

Post by munk-a »

DangerousPie wrote: post #295
openknot wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The mobility, flexibility and convenience of no tangles and accidental wire pulling and causing phone to drop - all worth it. You can thread the wired headphone/IEM cord under your shirt, or even over your ear and down your back [0] to prevent tangles and wire pulling that causes a phone to drop. It's less convenient than wireless earphones, but it solves the problem, and comes with advantages (better noise isolatio…

Sure, you can work around the limitations of wired head phones. But at the end it's just not worth the trouble for many of us. I ditched my wired head phones years ago and haven't regretted it.

Or you can work around the limitations of wireless headphones. At the end of the day both choices have advantages and consumers can freely chose one or the other (or both for different situations!) just so long as no manufacturer is stupid enough to remove headphone jacks from their mobile music devices we'll all be good.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#336

Post by jhaile »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #100
dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

Y’know what headphones really did “just work” though? Wired headphones, circa 2017. Their battery life was infinite. You could “pair” them in seconds to any device with a headphone jack, aka any device, because we’re in 2017. Oh, and they were cheaper and better for the environment. Courage, indeed. And this is why I’m currently typing my comment on an iPhone 6S...

Wired headphones also switch between devices almost instantaneously. Or at least, when you unplug from one device and plug into another, you're guaranteed to have it switched to the right device.

That being said, I use my Airpod Pros almost all the time, because I'm hooked on wireless and being able to stand up and walk around, etc.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#337

Post by pjc50 »

toyg wrote: post #177
yoz-y wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, the fact that I no longer snag my earphones on random protrusions, like doorknobs and bus ticket validating machines is a bliss. Cables inside at a desk: sure, why not. Cables outside: hard pass.

I agree, but the awkward "omg an airpod fell off after bumping into something/someone" is also a real thing. They should have an optional cord between the pair.

I have a pair which have a cord between them and hooks over the outside of the ears, because regular headphones don't retain in my ears. I don't think I could last even a day with airpods without losing one of them.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#338

Post by antihero »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #100
dt2m wrote: post #63

All valid annoyances, but I really think OP should try using another brand of Bluetooth headphones for a week just to get some perspective of how well AirPods "just work" compared to the competition. Manually having to re-pair once in every blue moon, one earbud playing while the other isn't, no automatic device switching without having to go through the Settings app everytime, A/V desync, dodgy mic quality, earbuds…

Y’know what headphones really did “just work” though? Wired headphones, circa 2017. Their battery life was infinite. You could “pair” them in seconds to any device with a headphone jack, aka any device, because we’re in 2017. Oh, and they were cheaper and better for the environment. Courage, indeed. And this is why I’m currently typing my comment on an iPhone 6S...

I found I was just getting sick of the faff and bulk with my wired ATH-M50x + FiiO A3 amp. I have tried most of the big bluetooth buds (Airpods 3, Buds Pro, XM4, Audio Technicas), I absolutely hated them.

I've ended up using the FiiO UTWS5 (over ear bluetooth hooks that connect via standard IEM connectors) + Moondrop Katos, the setup is sublime. Fantastic sound quality, very reliable and great battery life with no faf and can fit it in my pocket.

If you still want wired, the Apple dongle actually has a DAC/amp that is regarded surprisingly highly in the audiophile headphone community. Just remember to charge your phone.

I think most of the mainstream options for wireless stuff will make hi-fi enjoyers miserable, you just have to look at something a bit more interesting.

The only disadvantage is you don't get so much of the supporting features. Ambient mode isn't great, there's no ANC (I don't really care about these things), and it doesn't have the fancy pair-switching integrated stuff, so wouldn't be great if you switch between laptop and phone.

But for audio, we've reached a point where it is absolutely excellent.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#339

Post by bitwize »

You know what Just Work? The $10 Skullcandy headphones I plugged into my phone's headphone jack.

Forces greater than us have decided that something so simple yet so functional is obsolete so we can't have it on our phones without a dongle.

Re: AirPods don't “just work”

#340

Post by openknot »

jmacd wrote: post #254

There is something weird about the AirPods Pro product line. I think a lot of us who are very technology focused can appreciate the marvel of engineering that they are. Long battery life, excellent noise cancellation, the right weight, water resistant, etc. By many of my friends and my wife, all of who work in non tech fields but otherwise are 100% apple device people, all seem pretty much not impressed by them. For…

The price of the AirPods Pro ($329 USD, though they go on sale for a significant discount quite a bit) might be a reason.

I purchased no-name Bluetooth wireless earphones for ~$55 USD before the AirPods Pro, and they were shockingly good for the price (super small, lightweight, long battery; similar observations that your wife reported about the Nothing headphones). I got the AirPods Pro after that, expecting a massive upgrade, but really the only significant difference was the noise cancellation (which is why I still use them primarily). The easier switching between Apple devices is nice too, but for my use case, I mostly use the AirPods on my phone anyways.

So for the price differential between generic headphones, I would expect a massive upgrade, but now it feels like a nice upgrade but pretty expensive for what it does (especially since I'll have to consider replacing them once the battery degrades).

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