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Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

wsj.com

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Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#391

Post by ashtonkem »

makecheck wrote: post #3

I have never really gotten used to wireless buds, and still find myself reaching for wires half the time: - Wireless buds don’t connect 100% reliably; sometimes I get one and not the other, or neither. Sometimes they will randomly disconnect during use. - Sometimes the sound glitches out randomly, which is so irritating that I don’t care how good the sound supposedly is the rest of the time. - Gestures and voice are…

That’s not been my experience. In fact I can leave my phone inside and still get Bluetooth out close to the street.

I was originally very upset about Apple removing the headphone port, but after getting my first AirPods I basically stopped caring. They just worked so well, I never wanted wires again.

By the by, I had more headphones yanked out by door handles than I’ve had wireless buds fall out, but I’ll grant that the latter is strongly affected by individual ear geometry.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#392

Post by ddingus »

Wildgoose wrote: post #357
zwirbl wrote: post #314

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've connected a cheap (~15€) Bluetooth audio receiver to the Aux-In. No phone functionality, but I always ignore calls and texts while driving (and some of the time not driving) anyways

I did try that, but the quality was dreadful and it's just something else needing recharging/eating batteries. The decision to drop a universally supported headphone jack really doesn't make any sense unless you are trying to force people to buy your expensive wireless ear-buds, (which I can't wear because they are uncomfortable and fall out of my ears within seconds).

Same. The quality is just not there.

Even a cassette adapter beats BT.

When I rent newer cars, which I do frequently, I am amazed at the diversity of general conbobtwinkulating required to connect, looking hard at you Dodge, and quality, latency is never worth the hassle.

End up just using earbuds every time.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#393

Post by vorpalhex »

Gigachad wrote: post #141
vorpalhex wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of those batteries are probably easy enough to source the cells for. Usually just the adapter is what differs. Larger packs are usually discrete cells at that.

Most of them would be those flat lithium batteries. You can find endless replacements on eBay. Only they are all just as dead as the one you have.

You can buy them directly from any electronics shop. It's not as if your device maker is rolling their own packs.

I would avoid buying sketchy batteries.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#394

Post by ddingus »

raydev wrote: post #221
ddingus wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clear startup opportunity? Seriously. More of us would jump on board if it were not Bluetooth.

Apple has pretty much solved all Bluetooth problems in their AirPods and Beats lines.

No, they haven't. Comments are here and elsewhere, easy to see.

Apple has done well, make no mistake. I applaud them for that.

But the fundemental issues remain, despite what appears to be a solid effort.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#395

Post by ddingus »

weberer wrote: post #313
ddingus wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clear startup opportunity? Seriously. More of us would jump on board if it were not Bluetooth.

I've had really good experience with the SteelSeries Arctis 7. It uses some kind of low latency 2.4GHz protocol, but requires a USB transmitter dongle.

Interesting. I should look those over just to understand what is out there.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#396

Post by aksss »

eertami wrote: post #292
nemof wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i've destroyed so many wired headphones by forgetting i'm wearing them and trying to take off my bag and tearing them out of my ears forcefully. it got to the point where i ended up using wired headphones like a consumable. switching over to wireless has been bliss just for this simple reason. my biggest gripe with wireless so far, and this might be specific to galaxy buds+ is that their batteries suck after a years…

Do you exclusively use a messenger bag/shoulder bag? I've never had a problem with a backpack and wired headphones. There's an auxiliary benefit as well in that a backpack seems to be way better for my back than a shoulder bag.

A downside being that backpacks (outside of hiking context) are so visually associated with schoolchildren that wearing them as a professional is kind of impossible, image-wise. For someone fresh out of college maybe; for thirty+ it starts communicating a very juvenile appearance. The key with messenger and shoulder bag ergonomics is all in positioning (vertically and in orientation relative to body).

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#397

Post by _emacsomancer_ »

thrashh wrote: post #149
_emacsomancer_ wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

*As long as you don't need to connect to any non-Apple devices.

I use my AirPods Pro with my main laptop that uses Windows.

Their codec availability for non-Apple is not great. They really work best inside the Apple ecosystem.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#398

Post by Vingdoloras »

The reason I don't use wired headphones is that I'd need an adapter for them to work with my iphone. I used to use those adapters (both from Apple and aftermarket ones), but they would last two months at max, sometimes even just around 2-3 weeks. Since I wear headphones at work any time I'm not in a meeting, and my phone is always in my pocket (with half of the adapter hanging out), after around two months, the adapter dies from the strain on the cable. Adapters that lasted less long seemingly didn't die to physical damage, but insteadto static charges, just from me moving (and I work a desk job, so not much extreme movements). Could that be my clothes? Sure, but am I really going to change my wardrobe just so I can use some stupid adapter?

Since getting airpod pros, I've fallen in love with their anc, so that's one more reason for me to stay wireless (never heard of any wired anc headphones).

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#399

Post by SeanSpearo »

soneca wrote: post #299
ksec wrote: post #298

I am surprised the vast majority of the 280 comments seems to be about bluetooth connection, fitting, sound quality and not a mention about TCO ( Total Cost of Ownership ). May be I am cheap, but I cant get myself to buy another Wireless Earphone again with non -replaceable battery. They are basically consumables. And Apple expect you to buy a new pair every 1-2 years. And even if you dont use it much the battery wil…

I never had a wired in-ear earphone that lasted more than 2 years. My guess is 90% didn’t pass the one year mark. I use it while commuting, going to the supermarket, cleaning the house, etc. Any recommendation of a wired in-ear earphone that could last a decade?

I got Sennheiser 300 S earphones at least a year and a half ago and they don't show any signs of deteriorating. They cost 50 euro, double what standard throwaway earphones cost here from any old shop. Yes they're not an audiophile's wet dream or anything, but they sound way better than the throwaways. Great amount of bass and top end, with a little more top end than bass but not at all tinny or noticeable in any way. To buy anything good to last nowadays you have to go a bit higher than the standard. That's just the world we live in, and wired are the same.

Re: Corded headphones are making an unexpected return

#400

Post by VortexDream »

makecheck wrote: post #3

I have never really gotten used to wireless buds, and still find myself reaching for wires half the time: - Wireless buds don’t connect 100% reliably; sometimes I get one and not the other, or neither. Sometimes they will randomly disconnect during use. - Sometimes the sound glitches out randomly, which is so irritating that I don’t care how good the sound supposedly is the rest of the time. - Gestures and voice are…

Honestly, I'd be surprised to find out that most people used wireless 100% of the time. I have a few good wired headphones that I didn't throw out just because I got myself BT earbuds. What do people use with their PCs?
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