[Q] Why people prefer wired headphones vs. Stereo Bluetooth?

[AllGamer]

There are a lot of topics in the forum about people having trouble finding compatible headphones to work for music and "remote" control the phone playback.

the Bluetooth A2DP works perfectly fine in SGS for both Car Receivers and Stereo headset, and it switch transparently between music to phone calls and back without a glitch.

(i can't say the same for WM phones, another reason why i left WM platform, PalmOS was good, but is no longer produced)

There are lots of excellent Stereo BT headphones in the market now, both Studio like or simple 1 ear type, whatever ticks your fancy, the studio type offers the best audio quality even over BT.

yes it might consume more battery, but battery replacements are very inexpensive. (see accessories section)

I've not looked back to use a wired headphones since BT Stereo was invented, i used to have wired headphones for breakfast, it was a mass murder of headphones every time you get in the bus or subway, i've saved a lot of money since i moved to BT, so it's very surprising to still see people trying to work out the wiring problems with the headsets

I've been there before, every time i switched to a new phone, i needed to find another adapter to convert this to that, so that i can do something as simple as answer the phone on the headset, it was a major PITA.

so it'll be interesting to hear your side of the story to prefer wire over BT (other than "saving" battery and "better sound quality")

 

[andrewluecke]

I find the bluetooth headsets to be kind of douchie personally. I also don't like the idea of keeping a radio transmitter attached to my head for extended periods (same goes for stereo bluetooth). Whilst I don't particularly believe in the freaks who claim they are radio sensitive, we don't really have any way of knowing how safe they are.

Extra convenience perhaps? Not for general usage. I work unpacking boxes all night and I use hardwired headphones, and it has never gotten in the way (so why bother coughing up a lot of extra money for a technology with potentially worse sound quality and negligible benefits).

IT also chews through battery as you mentioned, but i'm also learning to fly. You never know when you regret sucking up the battery earlier in the day for a technology whose only benefit is no cord.

There are benefits for Bluetooth, such as integrating with a car stereo, some flight headsets have bt built in, transferring files and connecting to special adapters which normally would need USB (such as NMEA GPS or OBD2 devices). But realistically, replacing hardwired headphones with bluetooth seems to be a case of doing so because some people think it gives them an identity. There are very few I believe who actually benefit. But that's only an opinion....

 

[alovell83]

More battery consumption on both the phone and the headset. Which means more cost and more responsibility (buying or keeping batteries charged). Worse sound quality is present with bt than what you'll get in high end headphones, I am always using either high end buds or noise cancelling headsets.

I find the bt thing a bit like nutrasweet, it might sound like a good idea, I just don't want to touch the stuff.

 

[Mithent]

I'd have to buy a stereo Bluetooth headset, as I don't own one, and then I'd have to remember to keep it charged and carry it with me.

I'm sure it would work okay, but I don't have a problem with a wired headset, so a Bluetooth one would only really cost money and make me liable to forget to charge it.

 

[The.Opethian]

Interesting post AllGamer. Care to point me with some recommendations on good stereo bluetooth headphones?

 

[AllGamer]

i replied back to some other topic with that info in the accessories section, i'll need to dig it out

here is the topic i was posting on the reviews
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7611857&postcount=4

+1 vote for Motorola HT820, it is simply the VERY BEST! of them all; in funtionality, ease of use, sound purity, and comfy level.

other ones i've and still using but don't like are:
Jabra BT8010 (good but always breaks the earloop)
Sony HBH-DS980 (too much wire, it defeats the purpose of bluetooth)
Sony DRBT21G (pales in comparison to Moto HT820, but it's passable, not comfy though)
BlueTake BT420Rx (Gen1 bluetooth, no A2DP, limited features, very comfy, good sound, but it looks like princess leia specially if you have the white version)
Plantronics Voyager 855 (pure garbage, no A2DP)
Motorola S9 (dies easily with sweat dripped into the device, bad design, it's a total failure compare to its big brother HT820)

my top 2 choices for sound are:
HT820
BT420Rx

my top choice for formar work/fun mix
BT8010

unfortunately the BT8010 is very prone at breaking the earloop even with careful use, i went through 3 sets of it already.

luckily enough when you buy these they come in pairs with the stereo side, so i always use the stereo side of the earloop to replace the main headset, as i seldomly use the stereo side of the headset, i mostly just use the single side of it.

for real stereo i'll much prefer to use the HT820

and some related one for car
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=726403&highlight=bluetooth

 

[Arkymedes]

I have a Jabra BT8010 and it's an amazing piece of hardware. Excellent battery life, rich bass, equalizer, comfortable and great sound quality.

In my opinion, BT headsets are a convenience, and I sincerely disagree with being related with "douchebaggery" or "looking for an identity".

Sent from my toilet.

 

[obakesan]

Hi,

Used the Sony Ericsson HBH-IS800's before when I had a SE phone and they work a treat on the Galaxy S too. There are no controls, but I like to use the phone as the "remote" which is fine.

I find them convenient for listening to music on the tube when packed in and shouldering a bag. Sounds good enough to me, though I am not an audiophile.

BTW: I noticed on the 2.2 test frimware JP3 that the eq effects worked across BT unlike current version that says you need to plug in headphones.

In terms of battery I manage approx 3 hours a day which does my commute to and from work. They also work quite good with Galaxy S when watching videos too.

Cheers,

 

[BuddyLee]

well for the galaxy s its simple ... the 5.1 audio enhancement says enough for u to use wired.
I got 3 sony stereo bt headsets and the only reason why i use it is for the convenience during commute. I dont want my phone getting tangled up somewhere in the metro and end up falling out being damaged or lost because of my headphone cord.
I feel much safer knowing its deep in my pocket without fear of it accidentally slipping out.
But when I am at work by my desk i use wired ... saves battery as well.

 

[andrewluecke]

In my opinion, BT headsets are a convenience
.

Explain convenient.. What exactly is so convenient for them over normal headphones, which deliver better quality sound for cheaper? There are some people who do get benefits by using them (at work), where they need to free their hands and cant really have cables swinging around, such as computer technicians, but most people seem to use them whilst they are simply walking around..

 

[AllGamer]

quality wired headphones cost as much, if not more than a stereo bluetooth headset.

for example Sennheiser HD 448 (average $100)
those $30 ones just doesn't cut it, you need the base, the sub.

but if you go up the next level Audio-Technica ATH-M50 (average $150)

and if you go higher Sennheiser HD 800

but it's too big for my head, and wallet too (almost $1500)

in the past i broke a lot of those $100 entry level headphones

another down side of using headphones, you can't talk/answer the phone with them, you have to unplug, remove the headphones then talk.

with bluetooth it is just a simple click of a button in the ear

 

[snapper.fishes]

Using a sony DR-BT21G. Loving it so far. Only downside is the massive charger. Kinda wish it can run on usb charger instead. It only needs 3V after all.

 

[andrewluecke]

another down side of using headphones, you can't talk/answer the phone with them, you have to unplug, remove the headphones then talk.

Expect mic adapters to be released with a 3.5mm jack. That's how sony ericsson did it..

You can get quality for cheap, if you know where to look...

 

[Arkymedes]

Explain convenient.. What exactly is so convenient for them over normal headphones, which deliver better quality sound for cheaper? There are some people who do get benefits by using them (at work), where they need to free their hands and cant really have cables swinging around, such as computer technicians, but most people seem to use them whilst they are simply walking around..

You answered your own question. In MY case, is convenient and a personal thing. I absolute HATE cables of all sorts. I have a wireless headset in my PC, wireless KB and mouse and use a wireless printer. I also use a wireless home theater at home (ok, not 100% wireless but it's 2 cables less...)

Everything that I can do to have wireless I do because it's convenient. It's more organized and as I said before, a personal choice.

I agree that wired headphones AT THE MOMENT offer better sound quality for the price, but since I'm not an audiophile, I'm more then happy with what I have now.

The convenience is the easy to setup, the easy access and safety. As some people pointed before, it's very common for the wires to entangle somewhere in your clothes or other things and you risk damaging both your hedphones breaking the cable or even pulling away your phone and losing/breaking it.

 

[AllGamer]

You answered your own question. In MY case, is convenient and a personal thing. I absolute HATE cables of all sorts. I have a wireless headset in my PC, wireless KB and mouse and use a wireless printer. I also use a wireless home theater at home (ok, not 100% wireless but it's 2 cables less...)



I agree that wired headphones AT THE MOMENT offer better sound quality for the price, but since I'm not an audiophile, I'm more then happy with what I have now.

the only cable i have in my Wireless Home theater is the long arse 1080p HDMI cable going from the PC Receiver to the projector

if and when they come out with a good wireless 1080p HDMI i'll definitely have everything wireless.

for audiophile or not, i'll recommend the Sony DRBT50
as an extension of what i already listed before, for sports fan the Samsung SBH500 is better suited for the task

those 2 are excellent alternative if you can't find the Motorola HT820

the Sony DRBT50 has better bass/base than the moto ht820

there is one that is 100% audiophile but it lacks the handsfree profile for phone calls
it's the Sennheiser PX210BT, that one is guaranteed to sound like the regular wired Sennheiser headphones

 

[seriouser]

I wish I could use my BT headphones. So far I've tried S9-HD, HBH-IS800 and Nokia BH-504 and all of them have horrible sound quality with SGS.

 

[BuddyLee]

I wish I could use my BT headphones. So far I've tried S9-HD, HBH-IS800 and Nokia BH-504 and all of them have horrible sound quality with SGS.

I have the hbh ds 205 and it sounds awesome.
I decided to get a new version of it and purchased the sony mw600 and it sounds awesome. Especially now that froyo was released we could use the 5.1 sound enhancement with our bluetooth devices.

 

[ickyboo]

One reason why I don't use my bluey headset is the damn thing blinks a blue led all the time . Its like a signal for everyone to look at me. I've taken a marker and coloured it black a few times. Another reason is I tend to forget to recharge the thing as it only has about 12hours play time.

 

[DaRkMyk]

I have a DS980 an MW600 both from Sony Ericsson. I seldom use them now.

I'm not that satisfied with the sound quality of the DS980 & the earphone cannot be replaced.

For the MW600 the short earphone that came with the device also does not sound great, so when I use my personal earphone the sound is great buy the cable will be very long...

 

[Soniboy84]

I just have been through myself a headphone buying hassle, and had to send back 2 BT sets to refund due poor music quality. The first was Jabra Halo for around £60. It looks cool, and the most comfortable headset I've ever used, but the sound quality is just not there. It's clear, okay, but it's also quiet, and has absulutely no noticable bass.
Ordered a Nokia BH 504, which is a £10 cheaper, but sound quality is almost the same. Still quiet(not usable in traffic), still no bass, maybe a bit more clarity compare to Jabra. Sent back for refund as well.
Next one was the previously mentioned Motorola HT820(got the geniune one), it cost way less then it's friends(£25), and has much better sound! Maybe it's not as clear as the rest, but definetely has better bass, and louder as well. Through Pc it's somehow still not the best! The range is fine(just like others), the battery life is incredible(got it for 2 weeks, use it every day, but haven't charged yet). The mic is also good via phone, tho i had problems via pc skype, and msn call. It's not as comfortable as the previously mentioned ones, you can't really lay down with this thing on your head, and also after 30 min use, it cuts the top of my ears(big ears maybe?). Still not the best quality I've ever had, but definetely worth £25!