Bluetooth Earbuds / Earphones

Unfortunately I have the type of ear shape that will not hold Apple Airpods or any similar type earbuds. They fall out.

While Apple supported the 3.5mm stereo jack, I had almost unlimited choice but I usually made do with those ultra cheap “hook over the ear / earhooks” corded ones for a few dollars at Woolworths. These do not have a mic but so what. I just answer the phone the normal way. They do the job for listening to podcasts and music and it doesn’t matter much if they get broken or lost.

I did own a pair of over the head Bluetooth headphones but I rarely used them. The corded cheap ones did the job and you don’t have to remember to charge them.

All that changed when Apple did away with the 3.5mm jack. Even today there is not a great choice for corded headphones with the lightning connector. Beats have them but they are all “in ear” types and expensive. As yet I have not been able to find reasonably priced “Earhook” types with a lightning connector – at least not from an Australian retailer.

I do have the lightning to 3.5mm adaptor so it is not a great crisis. (Although, the adaptor costs more than the Earphones.)

A friend of mine ( I will call him “G”) has a similar problem so we decided to test Bluetooth earphones. I went ultra cheap and he went ultra expensive.

MY CHEAP SOLUTION

Jam Live Large Wireless Bluetooth In-Ear Earbuds from JB HiFi. Current price is $49-95 but I got them on special for $40. They do the job, sound OK, battery lasts a long time (7 hours) and have a mic BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY they have ear hooks. They are also joined by a cord so you cant lose one of them. They charge via USB.

I am very happy with them. They work as advertised and sound OK to me. Be aware that I have no appreciation of sound quality so take my statement that they sound OK with a grain of salt. They are not noise cancelling or anything fancy like that but I like that you can hear what is going on around you. It saves from getting run over by a car or hit by an ankle biter on a bike on his/her way to school and riding on the footpath. My only minor complaint is that it is a bit fiddly to get the charging plug in. But this is because I am ham fisted with big fingers.

FRIEND “G” – EXPENSIVE SOLUTION

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless for around $500. (Although he got them for about half that with Flybuys.)

These are “top end” and all of the reviews confirm this.

G has used them for nearly a year. He reports that they are great, work really well and sound excellent. However he is “not a great fan”.

His reasons –

They are in ear types which don’t appeal to G very much. He says that you are certainly aware your ears are blocked.
The App is good but when you turn on “transparent hearing” to hear local noise, you also get whistling wind noise and can hear your own footsteps.
The right earphone tends to fall out regularly when walking.

So G has now also opted for a cheaper solution. He bought an “Apple AirPod” knock off from Kogan

Kogan W8 True Wireless Earphones (White)

The usual price is $59 (delivery included) but he got them on special for less.

He reports that he is pleasantly surprised. They have excellent sound, hang securely in his ears ## and are not noise cancelling so you remain aware of your surroundings. They can also operate with only one piece as well. (## They would not work for me. They would fall out.)

The negatives he reports are; (The first one made be laugh).

You look like an absolute dork, just like the Apple ones ,
They flash a bright led blue light every 5 secs.

CONCLUSION

Even if your ears are the correct “Apple Approved” shape and can hold AirPods, why spend the money.