Wireless earbuds?
Nov 29, 2018, 1:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2018
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I'm personally very tempted by the AirPods - I've heard great things about them from colleagues. Unfortunately they won't let me try them out (for obvious reasons). I'd like to try them though before shelling out £130 - I wonder if you can try them on at the Apple Store? If so, how do they keep the display models hygienic between customers...?
Nov 29, 2018, 4:52 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2008
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I’d like to get some truly wireless earbuds like the Apple AirPods. What do people recommend? The reviews I’ve read seem to say the Jabra Elite 65t and B&O ones are best.
Im mostly looking for sound quality and battery life, but phone call quality (the microphone on the earbuds) is also important.
Im mostly looking for sound quality and battery life, but phone call quality (the microphone on the earbuds) is also important.
Regards
Nov 29, 2018, 4:52 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2018
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Posts: 4
While having a broken 3.5 mm jack removed from my iPad Pro, a clever Apple sales specialist deduced I might need new earphones. He handed me 5 or 6 different products and recommended I listen. I wasn’t planning to even test the AirPods because they would fall out of my ears. But I did. They didn’t. I bought them and they’re my go to earphones. They’ve ample volume, excellent connectivity and the solid tiny case keeps them together and charges quickly. Find My Phone actually led me to one I lost in COSTCO. So many objective pros, but sound is idiosyncratic. They sound good, maybe very good, but they’re not your Sony homies or the onboard Bose you get in in F and J. Only you can judge.
Nov 29, 2018, 10:53 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
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While having a broken 3.5 mm jack removed from my iPad Pro, a clever Apple sales specialist deduced I might need new earphones. He handed me 5 or 6 different products and recommended I listen. I wasn’t planning to even test the AirPods because they would fall out of my ears. But I did. They didn’t. I bought them and they’re my go to earphones. They’ve ample volume, excellent connectivity and the solid tiny case keeps them together and charges quickly. Find My Phone actually led me to one I lost in COSTCO. So many objective pros, but sound is idiosyncratic. They sound good, maybe very good, but they’re not your Sony homies or the onboard Bose you get in in F and J. Only you can judge.
Nov 30, 2018, 7:13 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Nov 2002
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Posts: 14,231
I had initially thought to get them, but I just don't quite trust Apple in the sound quality department for some reason. The reviews I've read seem to confirm that the AirPods are nice but don't provide the best audio quality and may or may not fall out of your ears. Plus I think they look kind of silly.
Dec 1, 2018, 1:00 am
#23
Join Date: May 2003
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I have the XM3 and wouldn't full-time endorse them. Generally, I don't like the bulk or hair-interfering qualities of headphones. Its features are more or less a gimmick. And apparent build quality isn't the best. Finally, noise cancellation is overrated. Airplane is mostly pink noise that my subconscious buries.
But worst of all, their microphone quality is absolutely horrendous.
I don't hate it besides the microphone thing, I think it's merely okay.
If I had to buy again I'd consider the Windows Surface headphones - appears to be built better, and the dual control knobs is a superior implementation. Also the B&W PX.
My only reservation about the fully wireless earphones is imagining myself losing them so easily. Would prefer a corded-wireless system where the 2 buds are wired together.
But worst of all, their microphone quality is absolutely horrendous.
I don't hate it besides the microphone thing, I think it's merely okay.
If I had to buy again I'd consider the Windows Surface headphones - appears to be built better, and the dual control knobs is a superior implementation. Also the B&W PX.
My only reservation about the fully wireless earphones is imagining myself losing them so easily. Would prefer a corded-wireless system where the 2 buds are wired together.
Dec 1, 2018, 2:19 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Of course in the real world we need to take phone and conf calls...
Dec 1, 2018, 7:51 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Well, obviously I can't help you with that one, but my counter question would be do you really believe there are any wireless earbuds that make you look "cool?" 
I was a pretty big skeptic of AirPods, for several reasons, but my wife really wanted/needed a more dependable bluetooth headset for phone calls and I ended up buying her a pair of these as a gift and she absolutely loves them. She uses them more than any other she has every had. The interoperability within the ecosystem (i.e. iPhone, iPad, and even AppleTV) is pretty impressive and very seamless. I tried them out for some phone calls, etc. and was very impressed with the sound quality, etc.
Also, little surprised to hear your concern about sound quality as many of the reviews/articles that I read before buying them for my wife talk about how impressive the sound quality was given the size of the package.
Do you really need Bang & Olufsen quality sound in wireless earbuds paired to a phone? (which isn't exactly an audiophile level delivery device anyhow)
Obviously, the decision is yours of course, but I'm impressed enough with me wife's experience that I will likely purchase for myself as well, but admittedly, I'm now in the waiting camp thinking they may be about to launch new revision soon.
Regards
I had initially thought to get them, but I just don't quite trust Apple in the sound quality department for some reason. The reviews I've read seem to confirm that the AirPods are nice but don't provide the best audio quality and may or may not fall out of your ears. Plus I think they look kind of silly.
Also, little surprised to hear your concern about sound quality as many of the reviews/articles that I read before buying them for my wife talk about how impressive the sound quality was given the size of the package.
Do you really need Bang & Olufsen quality sound in wireless earbuds paired to a phone? (which isn't exactly an audiophile level delivery device anyhow)
Obviously, the decision is yours of course, but I'm impressed enough with me wife's experience that I will likely purchase for myself as well, but admittedly, I'm now in the waiting camp thinking they may be about to launch new revision soon.
Regards
Dec 1, 2018, 8:17 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Re: mic. Many of my coworkers have the Sony something-900 headphones, the model just below the 1000. I bought them all for them, actually - I have the Costco membership 
. They all love them and use them for phone calls all the time. They say it works well. I don’t need to take calls while walking down the street.
Re: AirPods. It’s not that I’m trying to look cool or even really care. I just think the AirPods look a little goofy. I actually talked to another coworker who had them in, and she wasn’t a fan. She said they fall out of her ears all the time, but she has small ears.
I think I’ll wait and see what the AirPods 2 look like when they come out. Else the Jabra 65t are probably the way to go. Unless I make an impulse buy of something else.
. They all love them and use them for phone calls all the time. They say it works well. I don’t need to take calls while walking down the street. Re: AirPods. It’s not that I’m trying to look cool or even really care. I just think the AirPods look a little goofy. I actually talked to another coworker who had them in, and she wasn’t a fan. She said they fall out of her ears all the time, but she has small ears.
I think I’ll wait and see what the AirPods 2 look like when they come out. Else the Jabra 65t are probably the way to go. Unless I make an impulse buy of something else.
Dec 1, 2018, 10:46 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Well, others that are black look more discreet, and without the "tail" dont give the appear of a hanging snot....
Dec 1, 2018, 2:00 pm
#28
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A couple of things. AirPods 2 are suppose to be due any time now but maybe they won't make it before Xmas.
CES is a month away so other products will get introduced.
I am wireless all the time now. I use the Beats X because I prefer in-ear buds. I do have some Backbeat Pro wireless and they're good for flights but they pinch on my earlobes and I can't wear them long.
I also got some cheap bluetooth wireless, which are also in-ear, connected by a cable between them. Good for gym and also on long flights where I swap them with the Beats X while the other one recharges. There are a ton of them from $25-40, good for 4 hours.
Finally I got a pair of no-name wireless buds, again cheap from Amazon. They work okay and since I mostly listen to podcasts, it works to use them one at a time to extend battery life. They are in-ear but since they have to house the battery in each side, they tend to feel bulky on the ear, so they're my last choice.
If Apple made AirPods with in-ear buds, I'd be all over them. Otherwise, I'll see what CES brings. One brand I've kept my eye on are the Anker Spirit Pros, which claim 8-12 hours of battery life. They're $40-50 so I may try those.
CES is a month away so other products will get introduced.
I am wireless all the time now. I use the Beats X because I prefer in-ear buds. I do have some Backbeat Pro wireless and they're good for flights but they pinch on my earlobes and I can't wear them long.
I also got some cheap bluetooth wireless, which are also in-ear, connected by a cable between them. Good for gym and also on long flights where I swap them with the Beats X while the other one recharges. There are a ton of them from $25-40, good for 4 hours.
Finally I got a pair of no-name wireless buds, again cheap from Amazon. They work okay and since I mostly listen to podcasts, it works to use them one at a time to extend battery life. They are in-ear but since they have to house the battery in each side, they tend to feel bulky on the ear, so they're my last choice.
If Apple made AirPods with in-ear buds, I'd be all over them. Otherwise, I'll see what CES brings. One brand I've kept my eye on are the Anker Spirit Pros, which claim 8-12 hours of battery life. They're $40-50 so I may try those.
Dec 1, 2018, 3:13 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
There is the new Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds just came out. Very expansive at $299, but seems like they have good reviews. Personally I would just go with Airpods even though I have android phone. I tried them and they fit fine and don't seem in any danger of falling out. I don't run though.
Dec 1, 2018, 3:27 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2008
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I get the sense that you just don't like them, which is fine, but wouldn't base the decision on one data point from a co-worker with small ears.
Regards