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Wired headphone sales are exploding

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Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#621

Post by 4k93n2 »

sandreas wrote: post #488
beloch wrote: post #83

This isn't a Vinyl vs CD thing where a clearly inferior technology lives on due mainly to sentimental reasons. There are a number of concrete advantages to wired headphones over bluetooth headphones. - They don't need charging. Charging may seem like a minor inconvenience, and we're used to charging a lot of devices. However, even a minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience. - They're harder to lose. When Apple a…

Here are some lesser known facts about wired headphones that I wish I had known earlier: - there are TRS (3 rings) and TRRS (4 rings) connectors - TRRS has integrated mic, also ofen implements playback control via buttons - Apple headphones volume controls won't work on non-apple devices, because they implement a proprietary protocol based in an ultrasonic chirp authentication chip[1] - 1more headphones seem to have…

i use an android app called keymapper (by sds100) that lets you remap the volume buttons so that a long press will change the track.

my wired earbuds only have 1 button on the in-line remote but the app can detect the button being pressed whether its a single, double tap or long press, and you can just assign whatever you want to them

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#622

Post by twelve40 »

crote wrote: post #204
mcdeltat wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What annoys me the most is that the industry collectively decided that 3.5mm jacks are obselete, removing the option of using wired headphones, for no(?) good reason. We could at least agree that wired and wireless each have their own pros and cons, but no, we're shoehorned into wireless because corporate decided it. Here, you must use simply because we said so! It's just the peak of trend following bullshittery and…

> removing the option of using wired headphones I am personally a fan of wired headphones with USB-C connectors. I am only ever going to use it with my phone, laptop, or desktop anyways - and all of they have at least one USB-C port. In theory it could also be the best option for audio quality: if you move the DAC all the way to the headphone itself you minimize the length of the analog chain, which should also reduc…

i don't know what i'm doing wrong but my mac has terrible time recognizing any USB-C headphones. First, it takes a while to recognize, then it never switches over by default so i often end up blasting on speakers if i forget that it's oh, USB-C headphones. Same confusion on Zoom. At the same time, Mac's 3.5mm just works, instantly.

But i realize that it might be hard to have 3.5mm on phones due to insane amount of size optimizations on these sophisticated devices we kind of take for granted by now.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#623

Post by butterNaN »

I can attest to this. I gave away my Sony WH-1000MX and my €80 Soundcore earbuds stopped charging. Headphone emergency! I got myself €30 AKG USB-c IEMs off a local shop. The sound quality is far, far superior to even the €350 wireless Sony headphones. I'm not even an audiophile, it's just noticably better. I had forgotten all the little details from the music I regularly listned to.

With your popular wireless headphones, you're really paying for the computer with ANC (and branding, packaging, depending on which version of the series the latest model is on).

The wired IEMs don't have an ANC but I realised I don't need it as often as I thought. I'm certainly going to look for Wired over-the-ear ANC cans next, but honestly I'm not sure if I need them.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#624

Post by twic »

alpineman wrote: post #401
twic wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're talking about microphonics: https://zikman.audio/blog/cable-microphonics-what-it-is-and-... Also sometimes called the stethoscope effect. I think strictly speaking, this isn't actually microphonics, because that means that mechanical noise causes electrical noise, which then results in audible noise, whereas what is happening is just transmission of vibrations up the cable into the ear. Anyway, it can…

Thanks! I'm probably just being cheap with my 20 euro headphones and need to upgrade to at least mid-range

Well, those KZ ZS10 Pro X are still fairly cheap (40 euros), and i really like them. But there is a huge range of amazing value for money earphones out there. You just have to wade through dozens of pages of forum posts and Reddit threads to find them.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#626

Post by lta »

MrDresden wrote: post #181
beloch wrote: post #83

This isn't a Vinyl vs CD thing where a clearly inferior technology lives on due mainly to sentimental reasons. There are a number of concrete advantages to wired headphones over bluetooth headphones. - They don't need charging. Charging may seem like a minor inconvenience, and we're used to charging a lot of devices. However, even a minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience. - They're harder to lose. When Apple a…

> "Too many android phones copied Apple and ditched the venerable audio jack" I understand this is a personal preference, but I never understood the anger some people had over the removal when it's as easy as just using a small USB-C to 3.5mm audio jack converter to use wired headphones.

I'm one of those person who were extremely pissed. I've stuck with older phones for a long time to avoid the thing.

The USB to Jack things are brittle and low quality. That's yet another stuff to not lose and carry around.

Jacks just work. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#627

Post by ozfive »

shiandow wrote: post #456
NikolaNovak wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- they last forever . I still have sennheiser hd380 pro cans from 25 years ago that sound great. - cannot overstate lack of lag and simplicity. You plug in and it works, perfectly, every time, forever. - easily switch devices. I use my headphone on my phone, tablet, laptop, Synthesizer, Groovebox etc without a blink. And my phone never stops playing music and connects to our car my wife just started the way bluetooth…

It is worth pointing out that not all parts age equally well. The cushions especially are not that durable and should be considered consumables. Sennheiser provides replacements should you need them. The effect they have on the sound is much bigger than you might think.

I have some Sony cans that have lasted for over a decade and multiple third party suppliers have made the foam pieces easy to procure.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#628

Post by adsteel_ »

shiandow wrote: post #456
NikolaNovak wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- they last forever . I still have sennheiser hd380 pro cans from 25 years ago that sound great. - cannot overstate lack of lag and simplicity. You plug in and it works, perfectly, every time, forever. - easily switch devices. I use my headphone on my phone, tablet, laptop, Synthesizer, Groovebox etc without a blink. And my phone never stops playing music and connects to our car my wife just started the way bluetooth…

It is worth pointing out that not all parts age equally well. The cushions especially are not that durable and should be considered consumables. Sennheiser provides replacements should you need them. The effect they have on the sound is much bigger than you might think.

I bought the official ear pad replacements for my PXC450 back when those were available, for 1/4 of what the headset cost. They are so terrible that I stopped using the headphones entirely. I lost faith in Sennheiser after that, now I just use cheaper ear buds.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#629

Post by ronyeh »

adsteel_ wrote: post #628
shiandow wrote: post #456

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is worth pointing out that not all parts age equally well. The cushions especially are not that durable and should be considered consumables. Sennheiser provides replacements should you need them. The effect they have on the sound is much bigger than you might think.

I bought the official ear pad replacements for my PXC450 back when those were available, for 1/4 of what the headset cost. They are so terrible that I stopped using the headphones entirely. I lost faith in Sennheiser after that, now I just use cheaper ear buds.

I bought the $21.99 Chinese replacement “Sennheiser” pads from Amazon. Straightforward to replace (though not trivial). Very comfortable. My headset feels as good as new.

Re: Wired headphone sales are exploding

#630

Post by consumer451 »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #335
beloch wrote: post #83

This isn't a Vinyl vs CD thing where a clearly inferior technology lives on due mainly to sentimental reasons. There are a number of concrete advantages to wired headphones over bluetooth headphones. - They don't need charging. Charging may seem like a minor inconvenience, and we're used to charging a lot of devices. However, even a minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience. - They're harder to lose. When Apple a…

- they last forever . I still have sennheiser hd380 pro cans from 25 years ago that sound great. - cannot overstate lack of lag and simplicity. You plug in and it works, perfectly, every time, forever. - easily switch devices. I use my headphone on my phone, tablet, laptop, Synthesizer, Groovebox etc without a blink. And my phone never stops playing music and connects to our car my wife just started the way bluetooth…

> There's absolutely a time and place for wireless headphones and I probably use them more at this point.

I've had a pair of Sony MD-7506s ever since I assisted in an analog recording studio, years ago. 7506s were the standard then, not sure about now. I am on my 5th set of cushion replacements.

A few years ago I bought a high-ish quality bluetooth adapter I can put in my pocket and walk around. The one I bought is the Boltune BT-BA001. Looks like they are only $30 on eBay now, but there may be better ones out there. That little box is probably my most used piece of inexpensive electronics.

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