Apple's AirPods vs. Jabra's Elite 65t Wire-Free Earbuds

[The Reasonable One]

Yeah and you forgot the other part of that paragraph: "and Jabra hasn't been able to condense these features down in the same way that Apple is able to."

Uh, based on what the Editor just said doesn't that mean that listing the battery and other components is useless at best and misleading at worst? I love my airpods, but I read it the same as Kimmen. Though I knew what the author meant it is extremely useless to write everything Kimmen quoted. Like if I'm comparing a Mac and a PC I wouldn't say "Macs lighter than PC's because PC's have hard drives or SSDs, keyboards, and trackpads, and PC manufacturers haven't been able pack these features into lightweight chassis."

Bad example, I know, but I hope it makes it clear that this line is heavily misleading or at the very least confusing. You can eventually understand what the author meant, but it requires the reader to think and this isn't a novel. The wording should be concise and easy to understand so people don't have to do a double take imo.

BTW, I love you guys at MacRumors. You're far better than the 9to5Mac people who literally keep pumping out useless stories to drive viewership. You will always have my viewership, but I gotta call out bad writing if someone tries to defend it by saying that the reader should git gud at reading. Especially when its just a bad sentence.

 

[hebus]

Many thanks for your honest and clear reply.
A response curve would definitely help especially if it amplified the right over the left. However, it is a shame there is no control between the left/right ear buds.

As to your final question:- Not sure what you are asking sorry. I do wear hearing aides. The only issue being they cannot connect to say my iPhone. For general conversation I wear them but for listening to podcasts/TV over Bluetooth and music I would wear ear buds. My current headphones (Plantronic Backbeat Pro) are great but heavy and hot.

Ok, you wear ear aides, like me, my new ones that allows me to use also AirPods :

https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/invisible-hearing-aids

I am n process to test them, the setup is not perfect yet.

They does solve the iPhone connection, they are not visible, which is better than I thought and we can use AirPods... no Larsen effect despite the proximity.

 

[mangonights]

I have the Jabra’s. They fail miserably in one area: the charging case. It’s not magnetic. Hard to open. And the ear buds fall out.

If they make a magnetized case, it’d win hands down (minus the W-1, which they can’t do anything about).

AirPods are a horrible product. Steve would **** on them. They make people wearing them look like morons with tampons out their ears.

 

[MrGuder]

I almost bought the Jabra’s before I got the Airpods. I kinda wish I got them, not entirely happy with the Airpods.

 

[itsmemuffins]

Havit G1

 

[Mayostudent]

Bluetooth is 1980s technology youngling.

The first Bluetooth enabled phone on the market was 2000.

 

[Michael Goff]

Bluetooth is early 2000s technology. Really it's not improved since around 2005, before the first iPhone came out, and it's got all the problems the wired connection never had. Nobody used it until they had to.

I'm not opposed to wireless audio, but cmon, we need something new. First thing to be ditched should be the idiotic pairing system. Shouldn't be any harder than plugging in a cable.

If you think it hasn't improved since 2005, you haven't been paying attention.

 

[EdT]

The first Bluetooth enabled phone on the market was 2000.

But Bluetooth wasn’t developed as a phone technology. There were industrial devices around in the 90’s that used Bluetooth to replace hardwired RS-232 wired communication networks for machine data and control.

 

[Mayostudent]

But Bluetooth wasn’t developed as a phone technology. There were industrial devices around in the 90’s that used Bluetooth to replace hardwired RS-232 wired communication networks for machine data and control.

True.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6590928.html
[doublepost=1548617628][/doublepost]Aston441 stated Bluetooth is 80s technology which isn’t completely true and called the other gentleman youngling when I then decided to comment.

http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2015/05/1...-bluetooth-the-once-and-future-king/id=57473/

 

[hebus]

A big advantage of the AirPods is that they are small enough to be used in an integral helmet, the others are too thick for that.

 

[Aston441]

The first Bluetooth enabled phone on the market was 2000.

I was using Bluetooth with my Amiga in the early 90s on two circuit boards I etched myself as a wireless serial cable to an outdoor thermometer. It sucked. It was constantly needing to be reset.

It is 1980s technology. He first article I came across, on the emerging standard, I read in 1989.

The tech still sucks. It sucked then and it sucks now.

 

[I7guy]

I was using Bluetooth with my Amiga in the early 90s on two circuit boards I etched myself as a wireless serial cable to an outdoor thermometer. It sucked. It was constantly needing to be reset.

It is 1980s technology. He first article I came across, on the emerging standard, I read in 1989.

The tech still sucks. It sucked then and it sucks now.

It may suck, but in today's day and age it's ubiquitous in everything from toothbrushes to door locks.

 

[Deedolito]

Since the 65t have to be placed in the ear canal, they are no alternative for me :-/
Must be a personal issue; I wonder how others are managing to like having something in the ear canal, but just don't get it. Uncomfortable, and always the feeling I'm pushing earwax towards the eardrum. Ugh.

 

[kimmen]

Yeah and you forgot the other part of that paragraph: "and Jabra hasn't been able to condense these features down in the same way that Apple is able to."

And you forgot to mention that the paragraph was added after I commented...

 

[annk]

I have both, and the Jabra are the ones I use for the gym. I want to be able to hear what I'm listening to without having to crank the sound up to a dangerous level. The Jabras have great sound, keep outside sound out well, and don't fall out of my ears when I'm working out.

The Airpods are just fine in a quiet environment. They don't fall out of my ears either.

 

[Hicksmat1976]

"Sound quality is one area where the AirPods fall short"

erm, what now?

so basically these are crap at doing the primary job of outputting good sound?
[doublepost=1548673461][/doublepost]

I have both, and the Jabra are the ones I use for the gym. I want to be able to hear what I'm listening to without having to crank the sound up to a dangerous level. The Jabras have great sound, keep outside sound out well, and don't fall out of my ears when I'm working out.

The Airpods are just fine in a quiet environment. They don't fall out of my ears either.

why would you buy those AirPods if they aren't very good? I don't get it.

 

[EdT]

It may suck, but in today's day and age it's ubiquitous in everything from toothbrushes to door locks.

Toothbrushes and door locks are closer to the purpose that Bluetooth was designed for: data acquisition and transfer that did not require that information be transmitted in any form of real time. Sound definitely does not fit THAT definition, unless you are willing to buffer and re-time sync it before playing. Hence the out of sync audio problems people have when watching video. There's nothing to keep it tightly connected to the timeline of the video, it wasn't MEANT to be an audio channel. Can it be morphed to be one? Yes, but probably not while retaining backward compatibility with older bluetooth devices.

 

[Nhwhazup]

My friend has the Jabra 65T and I was told he has issues with voice/lip moment sync while watching youtube videos .. but looks like you don't have that issue .. weird. Not sure if it's related to difference in firmware version.

I have my Jabras updated to the latest firmware and notice definite lag but only while in YouTube app.

 

[I7guy]

Toothbrushes and door locks are closer to the purpose that Bluetooth was designed for: data acquisition and transfer that did not require that information be transmitted in any form of real time. Sound definitely does not fit THAT definition, unless you are willing to buffer and re-time sync it before playing. Hence the out of sync audio problems people have when watching video. There's nothing to keep it tightly connected to the timeline of the video, it wasn't MEANT to be an audio channel. Can it be morphed to be one? Yes, but probably not while retaining backward compatibility with older bluetooth devices.

It clearly has been morphed into a protocol for carrying sound. Not perfect but works well enough. And I think b/t headphones were a use case before toothbrushes.

 

[joueboy]

if only these competitors didn't make such butt-ugly products...

So you really think you look good on your AirPods.

 

[jga]

Hi,

The AirPods always get good reviews and are an excellent product, but I have always wanted other bids because:

1. I hate the way they look (not a killer for me, but it doesnt help)

2. They dont fit me well

3. They dont seal so there are isloation issues

4. They dont sound as good as others.

I have been looking for something better for a while and I had the 65t's for a couple of months and they are very good earbuds, but they have a few major failings:

1. The build quality of the case is bad. It's fragile plastic and the charging points easily become faulty or misaligned meaning one or both buds with fail to charge.

2. There are no good tips you can put on them really. They come with a selection but they arent great and you can't add regular comply type tips because of the way they sit in the case. The tips will prevent the case from shutting.

3. I believe (although could be wrong), because of the clever features and multiple pairing method they suffer from glitches and minor drop outs. I believe this is due to firmware and iOS pairings which unless they play well you get naggy glitches. The problems come and go but are really annoying.

The on bud controls are good. They hear through feature is excellent and being able to pair multiple devices and switch between them easily is good. But the issues killed them for me.

I switch to RHA TruConnects which are a quality product. They dont have the bells and whistles of the 65t's but they do the core job exceptionally. Great sound, excellent build quality, a variety of tips you can use (including comply, they even ship with comply tips), no drop outs and weird pairing / functional issues (over and above the usual BT occasional weirdness). They dont look as good as the 65t's in ear though...

Had them about a month and they have been great thus far, can fault them functionally.

Thanks,
James

 

[EdT]

So you really think you look good on your AirPods.

No, I think that the ones on the left actually stay in my ears, provided they aren’t Apple brand and have a selection of tips to fit them to my ears, and the ones on the right don’t.

In addition, the ones on the left have better sound if they are above the $10 level of earbuds and I can readily find $20-50 replacements even in small towns in the middle of nowhere. Even if I could find a replacement for a Bluetooth earbud it’s going to cost me over $100 at a very bare minimum for some really off brand. And the only reason I can probably find them is because there is a local Walmart, a store I don’t like giving business to.

Having wires that can get tangled or caught is a drawback but for me it’s not as bad as easily losing one pod or batteries going dead or not listening to music while jogging because I know that the damn things will not stay in my ears.

 

[idrewuk]

I’ve had AirPods since day 1 but for me the sound quality is terrible. I know they don’t claim to be noise cancelling but they let in/leak so much sound it’s almost pointless. Just use them at home, whereas at the gym they can’t block out the sound system so don’t do very much. Cool product though and hoping for considerable sound improvements in v2.

 

[bigjnyc]

I have the Jabra’s. They fail miserably in one area: the charging case. It’s not magnetic. Hard to open. And the ear buds fall out.

If they make a magnetized case, it’d win hands down (minus the W-1, which they can’t do anything about).

AirPods are a horrible product. Steve would **** on them. They make people wearing them look like morons with tampons out their ears.

I agree the one thing I wish the 65t's had is a magnetized case so you can just drop the buds in... However I don't have any issues opening the case and have never had problems with the buds falling out.

For the next version if they can magnetize the case, make it a little thinner and make it wireless charging compatible then this would be a perfect product imo.

 

[doobry]

AirPods are a horrible product. Steve would **** on them. They make people wearing them look like morons with tampons out their ears.

Tampons? really? Maybe tampons for Borrowers..

I love my airpods but the whole concept of this post made me think about the Jabra's, they even do a version that works with UC products (Evolve 65t) that includes a dongle for your laptop.. I so nearly bought them until I spotted their fatal flaw that I cannot live without.. I spend 5-6 hours a day on conf calls. I use my airpods almost exclusively for this.. And the one thing that keeps me utterly hooked to the 'pods.. The fact that they work independently. No right one is master or only a mic on one side.. This is the ultimate for me and my airpods have made redundant my $400 a year bluetooth headset habit.. I also use them for walking the dog and if I wasn't so lazy, I'd probably use them for jogging too (my dog spooked last year, ran into me and sent me flying, I looked around for my airpods but couldn't find them as they were still happily in my ears...!)

I too am very keen to see what they do with v2. Black colour option, noise cancelling and with the ability to support more than one device at a time. Including a non Apple device, so I could listen to my work laptop (win10) as well as be able to take a call, without faffing around.. These would be my "love to/must haves".. Also independent volume control in the settings app would be nice so you can compensate for any variance in your ear health would be a nice to have.

For pure audiophillia, I am thinking about getting some flare audio "Flares Pro 2" I have some of their earplugs and they are incredible.. You get the best of both words, wired and wireless (albeit to a small box you can replace the end of the cable with)