Ask HN: Looking for a decent pair of wireless headphones

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6727059

by octo_t • 13 years ago

8 17 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I do a lot of development listening to music and I'm looking for a (price no real object here) pair of wireless headphones.

pezh0re• 13 years ago

I don't personally use wireless headphones - instead I've opted for a set of cans with about a 6ft cable that give me more range of motion. I would check out the head-fi forums for recommendations (http://www.head-fi.org/) - they have some of the best/in-depth reviews out there.

softwareman• 13 years ago

http://www.amazon.com/Rocketfish-High-Definition-Headphones-...

Try these out. These are extremely practical Bluetooth headset. Good battery life, 7-10 hours continuos hearing. If battery is a problem, buy two of them, that's what I did.

727374• 13 years ago

http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTH220-Bluetooth-Stereo-Headpho...

Sound quality is average, but battery life and ease of use is unbelievable. Plus, you can take calls on them. The battery will go for a week or two with heavy use. This is after using them a couple hours a day for the last 2 years. I'm amazed that I don't see more people with these things.

killnine2• 13 years ago

I'm taking you up on your suggestion.

killnine2• 13 years ago

Approved.

whichdan• 13 years ago

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-S305-Bluetooth-Headset-Microp...

I've been using these daily for over three years straight. They're comfortable for 3-5 hours at a time, and they pair effortlessly with most smartphones. I wouldn't really recommend them for 40 hours a week, but if you just need something cheap and versatile, they're great.

Zigurd• 13 years ago

I own a pair of these. They are excellent for phone calls in the car though I think they are technically illegal for car use in Massachusetts. I recall seeing some sign about "one ear only." I find using both ears for phone calls is subjectively much better for comprehension.

But they are quite mediocre compared to even the cheapest Sennheiser wired headphones for listening to music. Sennheiser has some Bluetooth products, but they are expensive and only the most expensive model has ear cups that enclose the ear. Parrot makes some that are similarly expensive. So does Monster.

These AKGs are not ear-enclosing but they are reasonably priced if they deliver AKG quality: http://www.amazon.com/AKG-K830BT-High-End-Wireless-Bluetooth...

These Sony's do nfc and speakerphone for a very reasonable price: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Drbtn200b-Bluetooth-Headset-Black...

I use Meelectronics IEMs as my airplane isolation earphones. Very good, and cheap enough I wouldn't get pissed if I lost them, and they do make Bluetooth headphones, too: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA09M0N034...

freshhawk• 13 years ago

If you are looking for some big around the ear headphones with excellent sound quality then I can't help you, I use these very often while commuting or walking around so I've only tried out the in-ear and on-ear headphones that don't support themselves with a band over the top of your head.

I've gone through a bunch of bluetooth headphones and the only ones I would recommend are these weird looking ones from LG (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009A5204K/). They are comfortable, well made, the battery lasts forever and the form factor is really convenient to use, you can wear them forever with no fatigue at all, there is nothing that gets uncomfortable. If they ever stop making them I am going to buy another one, maybe 2, to make sure I have good headphones until someone makes a decent replacement.

I've also tried the plantronics backbeat line (http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-BackBeat-903-Headset-Frust...) and they are OK, but they broke often and while they were comfortable for bluetooth headphones thats not saying much. The firmware seemed crappy, they were flaky to pair and to use any buttons but the volume ones.

I have a pair of Jaybird Freedom Sprints for running (http://www.amazon.com/Jaybird-Freedom-Sprint-Bluetooth-Headp...) because they are water resistant and I can run in them. There is literally no other good feature. Uncomfortable, batteries can't hold a charge and iffy buttons. I unplug them from the charger when I go for a run and plug them back in when I get back. If I break that habit then they are guaranteed to be dead when I want to use them.

I had a pair of Motorola S305's or one of the same line, can't remember. I returned them because they were too uncomfortable to wear for more than an hour or so. I find all the ones with that form factor with a solid band that loops over your ear and then down and behind your head along your lower neck to be like that.

If you are looking for wireless "cans" then you have a lot of great options from what I understand, but if you are valuing comfort, portability and battery life over sound quality then, seriously, get the LGs.

workhere-io• 13 years ago

http://steelseries.com/products/audio/steelseries-h-wireless

devicenull2• 13 years ago

Linking to a product that's seemingly not out yet. That's impressive!

devicenull2• 13 years ago

I just bought these not too long ago: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SOU2Y0

I've been happy with them so far. I also like the fact they use standard NiMH AAA batteries, so replacements are cheap and it's easy to keep a spare pair around.

I'm able to wander around my apartment with no signal issues.

bmelton2• 13 years ago

Relevant to the conversation, but these were very recently released:

http://www.beatsbydre.com/headphones/studio-wireless/beats-s...

I don't generally endorse products that I consider to be overpriced, but 1) I have no experience with them, so I can't say that they are or aren't, and 2) the list of features is quite impressive (12 hours battery, bluetooth, headset controls, and supposedly fantastic quality sound).

frigg• 13 years ago

Oh come on, beats, seriously? If you don't have any idea of the quality/price ratio then why post them? They are horribly overpriced.

bmelton2• 13 years ago

Because they're continually reviewed as being good quality?

Because the author said that price is no object?

Because the new model is wireless?

Because the new model looks less like a toy and more like something people might wear?

By most accounts, the quality is there, and with the feature set, they don't appear to be that overpriced. Or at least, not so much so when compared to its nearest competition.

I qualified my lack of first-hand experience, so I don't feel remotely guilty about the suggestion. Why does it offend you so much? Why do you feel yourself to be the arbiter of what's worthwhile and not?

hackaflocka• 13 years ago

This is a fantastic pair of headphones I bought recently off Amazon... they're cheap (20 bucks), bluetooth wireless, very comfortable, snug. They charge via ordinary USB cables, and a single charge lasts about 16 hours. Love 'em and would buy 'em again: http://amzn.to/19m3z4G

aw3c2• 13 years ago

OP is abusing HN for affiliate spam. Referer-free link (no endorsement, just battling an [censored]): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7JIBN0

rshlo• 13 years ago

Check out The WireCutter recommendation: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bluetooth-headphones-u...

Ask HN: Looking for a decent pair of wireless headphones

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