Anyone know anything on wireless earbuds?

[MadPlumbarian]

Pretty much as the subject says, I have a pair that I picked up at some store in the mall, I figured they were only $20 but yet when I paid for them they were on sale and only $15, so I was like ok cool, the Mrs got them all set up with my iPad and it took me a while to figure them out since there’s buttons on each to control the music and everything, heck it was nice that I could just put everything down and not have to take everything off, my main thing was working on a model and not having any wires in my way, but heck to just get up and go get a snack then come back all while keeping everything still  playing, totally great, my only thing is there sound is not the best! So what’s  everyone know on them? I’d like to get another pair but I don’t have like $150 to spend on these things, so I was wondering if anyone knows a good pair for a cheap price, maybe even a noise canceling? The only other thing is good play time cause there mostly for when I work on my models, and I can be at that for 5hrs straight,, thanks..
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

I guess no one on the forum know anything one earbuds
Besides the fact that they go in your ear?
JR

[Gareth]

Sorry mate.  Just had a couple of cheap pairs myself.  Be interested in hearing about some good mid-priced buds as well. 

[MadPlumbarian]

Good luck, but I think everyone on here still uses headphones, 
JR

[old Lefty]

I've only experience from Walker's protection gear with bluetooth and Air Pods.
Both work for me. Air Pods especially have pretty ok voice quality methinks

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[McStitchy]

Hey JR, if you're still looking for some feedback here's my 2c.

I gave up asking others for the sound quality of speakers and headphones long ago. It seems to be a very subjective matter.

That being said, I had in-ear noise cancelling ones from Huawei that seemed great at first, but they discharged themselves while resting in their charging case within 4 days if not being used.
And there was that noise baseline in noise cancelling mode ...  ... that I didn't like either.

I'm now using a pair of...

House of Marley Positive Vibration 2 BT wireless Bluetooth On-Ear headphones

... and am very happy with them.  They last forever.
And they come with additional cable to plug into them for devices that don't have BT or if you cannot recharge them.

They're not ear-buds though 

[MadPlumbarian]

I had, I think I still have them somewhere, something like those but they were wired, I bought them like originally $79 and were talking 15yrs ago, but I got them for $10 brand new, they were John Deere, the tractor company and they required three AAA batteries, thus why I think they stopped working but they were not only a noise canceling, but also a earmuff, but there was a earphone Jack on them, so I had to get a double ended wire and bam, not only did it muffle everything but then made everything drowned out, and then the sound was great, they were just a little heavy and with a wire, the Mrs has a pair of cordless headphones that she hasn’t used in over a year which even sits over by my recliner where I do my models, I guess I could try those, although she’d probably get pissed..
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Update:
I walked over and picked up the Mrs headphones as she was watching something on her phone, I just unzipped the pouch and she yells at me, “what are you doing with my headphones, put them back”! I then asked her, “it’s been over a year are you ever going to use them again”? Now normally she yells at me to throw my stuff away if I haven’t used it in like 3months, but since I don’t she thinks I’m a freaking hoarder, yet she yells at me and tells me to put them back! Gee..
JR

[Aloha]

SO are you going to use hers since its been a year since they've been used? 

As for ear buds wireless, thats very subjective.  I've heard the more you pay the better you get.  I've also heard you can get some really good one for the $50-$75 price range.   

I'd suggest decide whats most important.  If you have a list of must haves then making your buying choice will be easier. 

I only really wanted good battery life and good sound. 

GOOD sound, I didn't have to have audiophile, studio engineer level sound.  Noise canceling is great but it was not a MUST have. 

My lovely partner decided since my list was not a real list nor were my wants high as some are she'd get me a pair and see how I like them. 

I am not saying I recommend these I am saying this is what I have with NO comparison to anything but my wired earbuds. 

Soundcore life P2 Mini.  She had a gift card so she paid less that the $39 asked.

Wireless has their pluses.  I am pleased so far.  I mostly listen to books or music.  I have taken a call and it was eh.  If I paid the 39 I would be fine.  My kids like their airbuds but I cant see myself paying that.

Hope that helped 

[MadPlumbarian]

I ain’t touching hers, I’m surprised she didn’t get a ruler and wack my hand for touching hers even though she hasn’t used them for over a year!  Like dang!
JR

[Aloha]

 

Can you rent them by the hour?   

I picked up some cheap wired ones but they really were awful. 

[Old Happy Tiger]

Interesting topic as my wireless Bluetooth full headphone set just broke! Had them for a while, my fault as I dropped them and they developed a stress crack and could not tape or fix them otherwise. I bought some $20.00 USD ones from Amazon, I'll let you know how they are,.. Not ear buds but maybe more comfortable. Not sure how good the sound quality but we'll see, I'm using them cross hardware platform between Windows 11 desktop, Android smart phone and tablet.

[MadPlumbarian]

Can you rent them by the hour?   

I picked up some cheap wired ones but they really were awful.

Like I said I bought some funky ones for dirt cheap, at first they sound horrible, but after 5min I’m just so drowned out with what I’m doing and the music is just a off in the distance thing it just doesn’t really matter, but I just want a half decent pair for not so much, if the Mrs will even let me get them..
JR

[Aloha]

These are my first pair.  So far so good.  I have nothing to compare to other than wired ones.  I was happy with those ( supplied with phone ). 

Good luck.    

[MadPlumbarian]

Thanks, I mean not only was it great not to have a wired dangling in front of my work but to put my pad off to the side and then be able to control everything without having to reach for the pad and possibly hitting the model or knocking pieces off with the wire, just made it sooo much easier, just clicking so many times on this side for this, or so many times on the other for something else, so much better!
JR

[Zephon]

At one point I sort of got into Bluetooth earbuds before I diverted the funds over to Leatherman stuff.

Here’s the thing, my threshold was USD30. I guess reading reviews plus looking at what’s conveniently available is what I can suggest.  I don’t spend too much on a pair coz ‘a better one’ usually comes along the way.  If they survive a year or two, the battery might not be the best anymore.  I got everyone a pair to go with their iPads during the start of the outbreak last 2020. We’ve lost 3 pairs so far - 2 pairs weren’t charging and 1 pair was left behind in a beach resort.

I use this site as quick reference:
https://www.scarbir.com/

I don’t bother with anything more than USD30. Plus I look for reputable sellers and steer clear of big name retailers.
 

[Gareth]

At one point I sort of got into Bluetooth earbuds before I diverted the funds over to Leatherman stuff.

Here’s the thing, my threshold was USD30. I guess reading reviews plus looking at what’s conveniently available is what I can suggest.  I don’t spend too much on a pair coz ‘a better one’ usually comes along the way.  If they survive a year or two, the battery might not be the best anymore.  I got everyone a pair to go with their iPads during the start of the outbreak last 2020. We’ve lost 3 pairs so far - 2 pairs weren’t charging and 1 pair was left behind in a beach resort.

I use this site as quick reference:
https://www.scarbir.com/

I don’t bother with anything more than USD30. Plus I look for reputable sellers and steer clear of big name retailers.

Good site there.  Cheers mate. 

As it happens they have the set I'm currently using; https://www.scarbir.com/tws/bomaker-sifi-ii-review?rq=bomaker

I bought them as these for only £10 but arrived in full Bomaker branded box etc. Seems like I got a good deal. 

As to the sound; I mostly use them to listen to podcasts and whatnot while out walking the dog and they're fine for that.  Quite tinny and scratchy for high volume music though.  More modest levels are OK.   

[Sos24]

You might want to try Shure Aionic Free earphones.

I have not tried these specific headphones, but I have experience with a couple of Shure earphones.

My current ones I have had for about 15yrs and changed the cord to wireless adapter about 2 years ago.  They have nice sound quality and are sound isolating.

[MadPlumbarian]

I honestly just don’t know I’ve been looking around and all these companies say their the best, oh no we’re better and cheaper! I just want something with some good sound, good fit, 6hr run time, and noise cancellation is 50/50, I just don’t know?
JR

[Aloha]

All doable and available.  Did you check the site that was linked?  I saw some nice options. 

[Etherealicer]

I have several (no cheap ones though), the 3 models I currently use are: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Sony LinkBuds and Sony WI-C600N (technically not buds, but I will come to that).

Personally, I would not worry so much about sound quality (unless you are a true sound-phile but then you probably would be looking at over-ear headphones). What you should more consider is:
- ANC: ANC has a tendency to create artifacts (like swooshing noises). This is the bigger difference between buds. This is why I would choose a reputable brand with known good ANC (Apple, Samsung, Sony, Sennheiser etc...)
- Transparency mode: pretty much the same as ANC. For me, that is more important than ANC though as I often want to hear my surroundings, hence why I love my LinkBuds (I can highly recommend those)
- Comfort: Honestly, not that much of an issue if they have rubber "plugs" and offer a selection of sizes but be aware of designs like the original AirPods. But buds that stand out more from your ear will fall out easier and you will feel them more (e.g. I had Sony WF-1000, they stand out quite a bit and that  makes them less comfortable)
- Playback time: Careful here, often playback time includes the charge from the case. So, it can be a bit misleading.
- Other features depending on need: Water protection, design/color
- Shoulder strap (hard or soft, e.g. like the Sony WI-C600N): There are several reasons for this: Not gonna lose them, endless playback-time, control easier to reach (and you can actually look at them), often cheaper (though they are slowly vanishing and are becoming a niche product) and you can take them out of the ear and leave them dangling around your neck. My personal preference is a hard plastic neck support.
- Software integration: for most parts that is good (unless you try to use AirPods on Android). Usually, you can find that out by checking the reviews of the software and is certainly worth doing.

I would recommend you look at the cheaper options of reputable brands, e.g. Sony WF-C500 (yeah, I'm a bit of a Sony fanboy , but also, Sony has a wide range of products in different price brackets, while other brands like Sennheiser don't)

[MadPlumbarian]

Yeah in kinda leaning away from the noise canceling, one because there so freaking expensive, but more I just want a rich tone, last night I had to reach for my wired EarPods because I didn’t want to bother the Mrs since she was in a face to face conversation and I was looking up info and an add pops up but the music in it was so freaking rich compared to what I was used to, I was like wow, but I really need the controls on the buds cause I want to be able to just put the pad down and work and not have to keep reaching for it,,
JR

[Etherealicer]

Yeah in kinda leaning away from the noise canceling, one because there so freaking expensive, but more I just want a rich tone, last night I had to reach for my wired EarPods because I didn’t want to bother the Mrs since she was in a face to face conversation and I was looking up info and an add pops up but the music in it was so freaking rich compared to what I was used to, I was like wow, but I really need the controls on the buds cause I want to be able to just put the pad down and work and not have to keep reaching for it,,
JR

Buy a cheap tool, cry every time you use it, buy a quality tool, cry once.

The same applies here (well except a tool might last a lifetime but buds won't)... ask the guy who started this thread

Sony I think starts at $50 (WF-C500), if that is too rich I would look at cheap smartphone brands (Xiaomi/Redmi/Realme*/OnePlus). They usually have decent products at very good prices and they actually have a reputation to loose if they sell garbage. However, you will certainly have some concessions to make (poorer software integration, especially with Apple / poor translations).
*Realme Buds Q2 cost less than $20, but THIS IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION!!!

[Aloha]

 

IMO its not worth spending 100+ US on earbuds.  You can get quality for less.  All the bells a whistles are great but as E said, unless you are a audiophile I wouldn't "worry" too much. 

[GearedForwards]

I use MPOW ones that have touch controls and work really well. For more upmarket ones my girlfriend's pixelbuds are excellent.

[kottskrapa]

I use the jaybird Vista (1gen) and they are great for podcasts and music. I thought the sound was great until I borrowed my wife's Marshall headphones... But they have passive noise canceling and a great app where you can change the equalizers to work for you and how you want the buttons to work

They are made for training and can withstand a lot of abuse

[MadPlumbarian]

I guess I should kinda update this, anyway, for Xmas the wife bought me a pair of AirPods and I fell in love, OMG, I was working on a puzzle and well, I just popped those in, put my relaxing folder on and well, the music was so crisp and just drowned everything else out! I just totally lost track of time. The funny thing was I got a text message for the wife and this voice comes out of nowhere, “you are a receiving a text message from Sab, it says, are you almost done I’m bored” I was like oh cool, the only thing is the pods only have two controls, just double tap either side, that’s it, but you can change them to a bunch of diff settings, like pause, skip, back, and so on, so I don’t need anything special so I just put rewind on left and next on right, yet to top that off as soon as you take on out to listen to something, it automatically stops, ok cool totally found out by accident because the wife was trying to say something and I couldn’t hear her so I pulled one of the pods out and the music just stopped, so I spoke to her and then I went back to work and popped the pad back in and the music just started right back up where it stopped, I was like ohh cool! These are definitely awesome! I so made out this Xmas!
JR