I’ve got a few questions, regarding bluetooth headphones, if you don’t mind, please?
(4 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
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I’m a bit bothered, my good old headphones that I wear to work out are starting to work poorly, the quality of their sound is getting bad. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise, I’ve been using them for way over a decade. I’m now searching for a replacement for working out.
I thought I’d look at bluetooth models, it must be SO much more convenient than the ones I’m with, with their wire getting in the way… But, damn, the market is a whole horrible confusing mess.
So, I thought, why not ask on Hentairules for generic advice, it makes sense, no?
… No, okay, it doesn’t make sense, but I don’t know where else to ask anyway 
The reason I’m asking is that I’m, basically, lost.
There are multiple criteria to choose among, and I don’t really get which ones matter.
To make things worse, I keep my purse’s strings tight, I am not willing to spend more than 85 $ / 80 € on something I use in a noisy environment while I don’t focus that much on the music. So, there will be compromises on quality, I know it’s unavoidable.
The 1st thing I find puzzling, you’ll find headphones with a sort of semi-rigid plastic band going behind the head, from one ear/earphone to the other. Other headphones are just separate pieces to plug into both ears and you’re done. Would one or the other kind of headphones be better for working out, I’m not doing anything so intense than my good old wire headphones ever risked to fall out, after all. Also, band behind the head or not, which of the two options pulls the price up?
There’s also the matter of the time it can play music without needing to be recharged. I’ve seen Amazon reviews of headphones giving up after 20 minutes despite promising 4 hours of battery, this is madness, right?!?
Which brings me to another generic question, are there manufacturers to trust, manufacturers to distrust?
For a 85 $ / 80 € budget target I can’t expect high fidelity with all-day battery, of course, but I would like to be able to place my trust in the product to not betray me after two years of service.
Sorry those are generic questions like that, but maybe your replies could help me (and “dude, stick with wire headphones” answers are totally OK, it’s what I will do if I am not confident enough), so thank you ^^
An update: thank you so much for all the useful information! I’ve got lots of reading to do now, which is good.
If I may add a question: for those of you who recommend a model you use, could you tell if you’re also using it for running, and, then, if there is, or isn’t, a loss of sound with the phone held on an arm bracer while you run? Context: I’ve seen quite a few online comments pointing it as a flaw in other otherwise satisfactory models…
Erm, just a precision, I’m not talking about the headphones I have with my PC, they’re a different model and with them I have different requirements. No need to comment on them, they’re off-topic, and they work well now their faulty wires were welded a pair of months ago.
Here, these are my workout headphones. A clearly different situation
hello!
I have two JBL t110bt with the cable behind the neck, and BOTH of them have the left plug dead
so, maybe avoid them
Duly noted. They also get mixed reviews, yeah…
I have been using the Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo wireless headphones for a few months now, and I love the sound quality and how they feel. They seem to meet all of your requirements, and I can verify that the charge on them lasts at least 3 hours. I got them from Amazon for about US$40, so they should be within your budget.
Added to my to-check list, I didn’t see them mentioned until now, thanks ^^
Points to note when buying a wireless/BT earphones:
1. the advertised “# hours of play” is normally divided into time on ear and time after recharge using case (as most comes with in-case charging) – not all brands will advertise both separately
2. the smaller the earphones, the amount of charge the batteries can hold is limited
3. volume levels affect play time
I have a couple of smaller in-ear earphones, and battery life does degrade after 1+ years of usage. The larger over-the-ear headphones have better and more durable battery life but will not be as portable. You will have to decide which one suits your usage pattern most.
Regarding size, it’s a difficult decision when you don’t have a brick and mortar store nearby to let you test them.
Well, there’s one, but I’m the kind of shy guy who won’t enter to try and then buy it off the internet elsewhere ^^;;
Eh for 80 euro I’d say stay with wired headphones. headphones that loop around your earlobe have been a success in working out for me, not the seperate pieced ones. 2 years of service is going to hard for a cheaper wireless Bluetooth set. Sony are generally what I’d say are the minimum quality, audio technica can be good and Bose are overpriced no matter which country you come from
I’ve inherited respect for Bose, but it’s true their added brand has that impact on the price.
I don’t give up on wireless headphones, not yet. I have the wire on my mind far too much time when I work out, either it gets in the way, or I must avoid pulling accidentally on it and throwing my phone to the ground, it’s annoying.
But your comment comes in addition to plenty of other similar ones, and it’s yelling at me not to buy brand new models, gotta choose something that’s been on the racks for a while now, just to see how it fares in the long term. So, thank you =)
Yeah, I had a similar problem with the wire, I bought a wire extension cable and just swung the rest of the wire behind my head or in my pocket for $10 so I wouldn’t have to see my phone skidding across the ground again.
rtings have plenty of reviews for bt earbuds.
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table/6319
and they have a few recommendations as well
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-bluetooth-earbuds-in-ear-headphones#recommendation_82199
I’m adding this to my to-check list (it was big before I asked on Hentairules, it’s not getting better lol), thank you =)
Well I do not really know if this type is something you are looking for Oliver, but in this video link below, there are some earbuds tests in case you are interested in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a30Hnuzgr6s
Hope it can be helpful in your search.
I usually shy away from yt vids, the best way to lose time with very little results (or worse, if there are, you have to rewatch it if you forget the minute details). But I’m adding it to my to-read list, thanks DS
the weak link ( i think the pricing too) of a bluetooth earphone is the battery. the bluetooth circuit board is cheap compare to the battery in price. good brands like sony, have better battery quality (normally can last 2 years). personally, i get the cheap ones ( around MYR 20) use a few months, and dump it. because…. no matter the quality, in the end everything will spoil and bluetooth battery is hard to replace
Erm, I’ll say something silly probably, but manufacturers don’t want us to replace the batteries instead of buying new models, so the batteries aren’t standard, or welded, something like that, usually, this would be it? ¬_¬
Or are some manufacturers decent in that regard, allowing to replace without too many issues?
(if you don’t know, no worries, I’ll just have to google it ^^)
You are totally correct. Expect sealed units with soft plastic and absurdly strong glue, so you end up completely destroying the unit when you take it apart. Which is pretty sad, because everyone except for cell phone makers are using standardized lithium ion batteries so you SHOULD be able to pop one out and put a new one in its place.
Soundcore (by Anker) makes pretty pieces earphones (like this one https://www.amazon.fr/Soundcore-Liberty-%C3%89couteurs-Wireless-Anker/dp/B07MCGZK3B ) but right now I’m very happy with this bt receiver https://www.gearbest.com/headphone-accessories/pp_663674.html and there are different Mi-store in France (at least 3 in Paris) so you can try it directly.
Added to the to-check list, thanks TF
That said, I don’t see why you’re mentioning a bt receiver, what’s the relation with the topic at hand? Or else I’m missing something O_o
You are right, it’s OT, but i’ve used so far for as backup with every wired headphones. It works fine and it’s just 20eu.
As you say there are a ton of criterias… an qualities even the same maker. The best advice would be you go to a store and TRY by yourself what type of earphones are you confortable (every head an every ear are a world). Then, once you know the type of you want, you can narrow your search by price an features (example noise cancelling). When you found one or a few models you like, search for reviews abouth them in the web, then you can have an idea about what could you buy. An again, if you can, TRY the device before buy. There is no guarantee of getting the best, but life is so. PS,be careful with very cheap earphones, they could explode in your ears (no joke)
Problem, there aren’t that many shops where you are allowed to try things that you place into your ear cavity
And I wouldn’t dare try one model, two, three, and then just say “nah, I don’t like them” and walk out. Or worse, try and then buy from the internet where it’s 30 % cheaper, I’d feel too guilty -_-
The reason for the plastic band between the headphones is to hold and protect the wires from one side to the other. If your headphones are one piece then you only need one battery, one bluetooth radio, and one charge socket. Apple hates wires and cost is no object, so you get two unconnected devices, each with a battery and a radio. But users are finding out that it’s easier to lose two small units vs a headband. Are you going to lose these? Do you care?
If you’re getting these for working out, I agree with wireless. I remember the first time that I DIDN’T garrote myself with wireless headphones. You get tired and clumsy when you’re working out, wireless makes a lot of sense. Batteries aren’t usually a problem if you just charge them after every workout.
Whoever you buy from should have a good return policy. Those Amazon reviews where the battery lasts minutes instead of hours are just defective hardware. If someone makes 10 million headphones and 1% are defective, that’s actually a pretty damn good rate! Sometimes you just get unlucky. Return them, get another set. Can you imagine paying a $1000 for hand-crafted headphones, because that’s what it costs to get guaranteed functionality. Some people like to get refurbished headphones. They’ve been through the testing cycle twice, the price is marked down, sometimes you get a hell of a deal. On the other hand, if they don’t find the problem during the refurbish, you’re going to be returning those as well!
You didn’t mention the shape of the headphones section. Over-ear is bad, because your sweaty hair will saturate the foam of the cup. Earbuds are nicely portable and give you good sound isolation, but be aware that they shove your ear wax back into your eardrum. Maybe that’s not a problem for you, but I used to have to get my ears washed out roughly every year and a half. Just part of the fun! On-ear cups are cheap, common, and you probably won’t be wearing them long enough for your ears to get sore.
I can’t give you advice on specific headphones, my needs are too different from yours. Oh! It’s also nice that my headphones double as a phone headset so if someone interrupts my music with a phone call, I can just answer the call without picking up my phone! Not really a need during a workout, but you might look into it if it fits your lifestyle.
Edit: I took a look on Amazon afterwards. I know you just *love* them, but what the hell, it’s an easy place to see what’s on the market. Connected earbuds were around $20, non-connected were around $30, on-ear were around $30, presumably for the cost of the larger speaker. It was pretty easy to find headphones that last multiple hours, how long are you planning to work out? If you’re just wanting to charge once a week, you’re going to have to drop more cash for a heavier battery. Hell, just get a power bank of some kind. Also, fast-charging is probably worthless to you and costs more. Just plug the headset in after your workout and unplug it before the next workout. That anvil-of-a-battery pack can sit in your bag while you wear the lightweight battery.
BTW, on those reviews, I generally ignore the 5-stars, they’re either paid reviews or they’re trying to justify their purchase and haven’t even had them for a day. Likewise, I ignore the 0-stars, they’re usually venting about something stupid like UPS or Amazon in general. The in-between reviews are usually more constructive, although you should still apply a credibility filter.
Very informative, many thanks Pavlov!
Randomly sorted answers: I don’t have hair getting in the way (I shave the hair that baldness forgot to wipe) so all shapes are fully OK lol.
I didn’t understand the point of having that band between the earbuds, but now it’s making sense; as such I view it as a sign of quality, the manufacturer has less cause to cut corners and create quality/durability bottlenecks.
The returns policy: totally.
The comments: Amazon may be evil, but they’re a good information source at least, as you wrote. The information’s display is standardized, it shows product generations (new model, etc) and the reader comments, once you take the median (exclude most laudatory and most petty) are worthy information. I don’t detest browsing them for quick information gathering (and yet their search engine is garbage, but maybe it’s like e-hentai, so complex I never got the hang of it.)
Used goods: no. Not when electronics have a short average lifespan, I’d rather deal with the returns policy.
I’ve been home sick the last few days so I spent more time thinking about your headphones than most people would consider normal (feeling better now!) I also noticed that you’ve written several posts about your headphones over the years. Heck, your headphones are practically family!
On your other postings, you mention not wanting to go into brick-and-mortar stores to try things out. Here’s a thought: take a notebook with you when you go in. In fact, print out this web page and take it as well. Anyone who sees you with all this paper and prep is going to know you’re comparison shopping and they’ll be lucky if you buy ANYTHING in the store. They won’t spend time on you and you won’t feel guilty about not giving them a commission. Total honesty! I’m not sure why, but my natural body language always screams out, “Not ready to buy yet.” Seriously, I have to hunt down salesmen in the back room when I actually want to buy things, they just completely ignore me!
get creative outlier gold… best bang for buck… got aptx… and it last u more than 1 hour in a single charge… excluding the case charger
A google search led me to discover the world of bluetooth codecs. Never heard of it before, but now I know my phone’s got aptx non-hd as best option huhu ^^
For the model your recommend, thanks, I’m taking a note.
If I may ask, you’ve tested it for running? Would you know if the sound transmissions remain OK if it’s in a bracer on your arm and you do your strides?
you should also keep in mind latency if you plan to watch videos, and if it matters to you, to see if you can control both the volume and skip/prev on the headphones. many models, eg. the popular anker liberty neo, only supports skip/prev
Thanks but, no ^^
Videos: nope. On-thing controls: well, I wrote I was aware there would be compromise to make if I wanted cheap but quality hardware
More seriously, usually I don’t touch my phone once I started my thing, and I touch it again 60 to minutes later, I’m used to leaving it alone, so it’s entirely optional in my eyes, which is good, it’s one less requirement.
Got the Raycon E50 model recently and love it as its a true wireless bluetooth set of earphones with great audio quality. Goes for $80 but if you use the code MY20 on their site, the price goes down to $64. I did some research before buying and these are considered some of the best. Check it out:
Thanks Logan, I’m adding it to my to-check list!
Have you tested them for running? I’m worried as plenty of earphones share the same kind of criticism, that if they’re worn in an arm bracer and the owner runs, the sound is sometimes lost as the phone becomes too far from the receiver…
Haven’t run in them but they come with several sizes of ear plugs so you can customize the fit so that they stay inside.
Hey, thanks! Pity they’re pretty much nonexistent in my country ^^
I’ve seen them on Amazon at regular price so check there.
I had the same decision to make some months ago and I have decided for the “Sennheiser CX 6.00BT In-Ear-Wireless-Headphones”
https://www.amazon.fr/Sennheiser-CX-6-00bt-Ear-Heapdhone/dp/B077Y3GCD4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=Sennheiser+CX+6.00BT&qid=1567026560&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Price is around that 80€ at Amazon France although at Amazon Germany I got them for 65€.
They have that band behind the head which prevents them from falling to the ground if they may fall out of the ear and it’s easy to take them out and just let them dangle around your neck if you may want to talk to someone.
The sound quality is good imo as I was used from Sennheiser.
The battery life is really good. I think they say it’s 8 hours and I tend to confirm that. At least I can get through a whole day of normal use (with some natural breaks).
So I would recommend those and definitely would buy them again.
Thanks Asgar!
I’m writing the same comment to plenty of people I’m afraid, but: I’m adding it to my to-check list, but may I ask you a bonus question please? It’s because plenty of models have a common negative review on websites, because when you run and your phone is in an arm bracer, sometimes the sound is lost. Would you know if it’s also the case of those ones?
Hey Oliver, I recently did some research on wireless headphones to buy here in Brazil and I may have some tips. My recommendations are based on the headphones I can find in my local market so…
I’m assuming you want over ear headphones with good sound quality and battery life.
Me personally I own a Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT, which sounds good and can last some work days of 8h shifts without a charge. The downside of this headphone is that it clamps my head really hard, so I ended up not using it that much.
Here are some headphones I considered buying and you might be interested:
Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT
Audio-Technica ATH-AR3BTBK
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC500BT
EDIT: If you want earbuds take a look into Redmi Airdots.
Thanks man, but I’m into earbuds of sorts, otherwise it’s not good for working out ^^
You could use this
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/qPZZVoTm
Plus this
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/nvG71PUG
(Fair price is about 60-70$)
Thanks, but the headband part doesn’t fit with working out. Your body shakes, moves, trembles, sweats, and the headphone are on the ground before you realize it
You will want a headphone with the band behind your head. You can use it to take off the headphone if you want to talk to someone at the gym and they can hang on your neck! Two separate plugs are too easy to lose in my opinion.
I don’t see myself losing them, but being able to take them off while keeping them around my neck looks like it would come in handy. I see less popular AND without negative reviews models in that category, though, which is a pity. But I’m still far from having done my homework and read on all the models yet, so here’s to hoping!
Thanks Giiilga!
I can really recommend the Plantronics Backbeat FIT. Awesome sport BT headphones. have a look at them
I’ve seen them getting pretty average reviews on Amazon, though… A much high than average number of “don’t work out of the box / don’t work properly after 2 months”, and a few number of reviews also mentioned the sound was so weak you had to put it at the maximum volume all the time, and there was no box to keep them…
You’d confirm a part of those negative reviews? (not trying to accuse or anything, I try to be squarely candid on the topic ^^)
I think you should try Sabbath e12 or tfz bv2
Good basic info, however quite a few negative reviews to be seen. You’ve tested them yourself?
Would recommend entry-level Q7L (the last iteration I tried – might be up to Q8 these days) or MPOW. Decent for their price point – about 20? but sound quality is not for the discerning