Recommend me a good pair of in ear bluetooth headphones.

[AvisDeene]

Hello All! Not a new user, but a long time lurker, and forgot all my old username information <.<

Anyhow, I was opposed to switching to Bluetooth for several reasons, one being I never had to charge wired headphones, and two, I love my Sony Headphones - both the sound quality is great and and the fit is perfect for my ears. I've tried their Bluetooth version, but it just seems to be sub-par and bulky.

What are you guys using? Anyone try the Beats Over Ear headphones? I'd prefer to keep it at $100 but am willing to double that for something with good sound quality and longevity.

 

[ANTAWNM26]

Using for lifting weights/ running or what

 

[AvisDeene]

Using for lifting weights/ running or what

Oh, I should have mentioned that. General purpose mostly. Im not very active, but I am trying to change that with a new lifestyle. I gave up Sugar and Wheat two months ago and starting October I plan to walk everyday. Once I build up good endurance I want to take up rollerblading so I guess that will be pretty vigorous.

 

[dfnj123]

Check out the RHA's MA750 Wireless and Beyerdynamic's Byron BTA. Both of these earbuds support AAC so you'll get the highest quality audio codec iOS devices support.

https://www.rha-audio.com/us/products/earphones/ma750-wireless
http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/shop/byron-bta-black-silver.html

I've been using the Byron BTA for the past year since I upgraded to the iPhone 7+ and I've been really satisfied. I mainly use it for commuting. The MA750 Wireless just came out, but the wired version of the earbuds have a really good reputation (which I've owned myself). Either should be a solid pick.

 

[staggerlee41]

I too was on the hunt for a good set of earbuds for use with my iPhone. Apple's "courageous" move to drop the 3.5mm jack has left my favorite pair in the dust when I upgraded my new phone. I'm just not using that silly adaptor! My use case is air travel and must have the ability to take calls and listening to music while doing yard work. After some back and forth, I've opted for the BeatsX. I'm not wild about Beats, but the integration with iPhone is wonderful. These have great battery life, uses the lightning connector and maintains an excellent connection and is easier to connect than any other bluetooth device I've used. Sound quality is lacking, a slight improvement over the standard issue iPhone EarPods. They're very comfortable and isolate the noise around me pretty well. The magnets in the earbuds are a great feature.

Best Buy had them on sale over the weekend, marked down to $110 from $149. Used my Best Buy card and got an extra 10% off, total price was $105. I'm reasonably happy with them for the price paid, but I'm sure there are far better options like the ones noted above for a superior listening experience.

 

[ANTAWNM26]

Check out the RHA's MA750 Wireless and Beyerdynamic's Byron BTA. Both of these earbuds support AAC so you'll get the highest quality audio codec iOS devices support.

https://www.rha-audio.com/us/products/earphones/ma750-wireless
http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/shop/byron-bta-black-silver.html

I've been using the Byron BTA for the past year since I upgraded to the iPhone 7+ and I've been really satisfied. I mainly use it for commuting. The MA750 Wireless just came out, but the wired version of the earbuds have a really good reputation (which I've owned myself). Either should be a solid pick.

Lot of money to sweat in. I would go with something everyone has been proven to work and last:

Jaybird RUN True Wireless Headphones for Running, Secure Fit, Sweat-Proof and Water ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07582VVJR/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_0KCYzbKRAX8T2

 

[dfnj123]

Lot of money to sweat in. I would go with something everyone has been proven to work and last:

Jaybird RUN True Wireless Headphones for Running, Secure Fit, Sweat-Proof and Water ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07582VVJR/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_0KCYzbKRAX8T2

I’m confused what you’re trying to say. Beyerdynamic and RHA are extremely well established brands with positive reputations in the audio/headphone field. Both of the wireless earbuds I recommend above are out now and have reviews online at this moment. I will admit that both earbuds are more for causal (non-athletic) usage, but besides that they offer great sound and build quality for the price. I tried to make my recommendations with consideration of the needs OP posted. General purpose wireless earbuds that could be used in light physical activities, but are not necessarily geared towards the athletic/workout consumer.

On the other hand the Jaybird earbuds you posted are about the same price, reportedly hold significantly less battery life per charge, and early reviews show reports of Bluetooth connectivity issues. They also aren’t out yet, so I’m confused why you think they are a more “proven” model.

Plus OP posted about the Powerbeats3 in his original post, so I recommended two alternative earphones of a similar style (with a wire between left and right earbuds) and similar price range. “Truly wireless earbuds” (like your recommendation) are basically a completely different category of headphones altogether. I’m not saying one type of headphone is better than the other, but I am saying that it’s like comparing apples and oranges among earbud products. Both styles of wireless earbuds have their own pros and cons. Each are better than different types of usage than the other.

Jeez, you know you can make recommendations without knocking the recommendations other people have already made. If you are going to attack someone’s recommendations at least offer substantive reasons for why you are against their recommendation...

Byron BTA Reviews:
https://www.whathifi.com/beyerdynamic/byron-bta/review
http://majorhifi.com/beyerdynamic-byron-bta-wireless-review/

MA750 Wireless Review/Impressions:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/rha-ma750-wireless-headphones
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/71b2ac/anyone_got_any_thoughts_on_the_ma750_wireless/

 

[ANTAWNM26]

Jay birds are proven to with stand sweat point blank. He will be sweating because he stated he will be getting back in shape. Paying over $200 for something that I haven’t seen not one review stating how well they stand up to sweat. Sweat is the number one factor in this because no matter how good the headphone sounds if sweat breaks them down it’s a no go.

 

[dfnj123]

Jay birds are proven to with stand sweat point blank. He will be sweating because he stated he will be getting back in shape. Paying over $200 for something that I haven’t seen not one review stating how well they stand up to sweat. Sweat is the number one factor in this because no matter how good the headphone sounds if sweat breaks them down it’s a no go.

He said he was looking for earbuds priced at "$100 but am willing to double that for something with good sound quality and longevity." Therefore I recommended two solid choices in the $100 to $200 price range that should have good quality and longevity. He also said that even though he wasn't that active right now he was looking to change that in the future. Therefore I considered an "active lifestyle" in my recommendations, but did not prioritize it.

Literally one of my recommendations, the MA750 Wireless, literally states on it's website that it is "sweat and splashproof to IPX4".

On another note The Verge just gave the Jaybirds you posted a 4/10: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...un-review-wireless-earbuds-bluetooth-problems

I'll admit maybe I'm bias, but I have NEVER considered Jaybird to be anywhere near competitive sound quality wise in its price range. They make overpriced exercise/active headphones for the unknowledgeable consumer.
[doublepost=1506446507][/doublepost]Appolgies for the disagreement/augment I started in this thread. I'll admit if OP is looking to prioritize active lifestyle durability over sound quality then my recommendations probably don't make sense. I wasn't sure what was more important for him based on the details in the OP. That said I'm pretty certain RHA or Beyerdynamic products will sound a hell of a lot better than Jaybird products at the same price range. I even think the Powerbeats3 would be a better product for the price than the Jaybirds you posted... The Jaybirds don't even support AAC Bluetooth audio codec, which is the highest quality bluetooth audio codec iOS currently supports.

If OP gets Jaybirds he'd be better off getting Freedom 2 or X3 since they support AAC, have longer battery life, etc.

 

[AvisDeene]

Thanks for all the responses! Currently, I will have to decide between MA750 Wireless or one of the Beats in-ear headphones.

 

[ANTAWNM26]

He said he was looking for earbuds priced at "$100 but am willing to double that for something with good sound quality and longevity." Therefore I recommended two solid choices in the $100 to $200 price range that should have good quality and longevity. He also said that even though he wasn't that active right now he was looking to change that in the future. Therefore I considered an "active lifestyle" in my recommendations, but did not prioritize it.

Literally one of my recommendations, the MA750 Wireless, literally states on it's website that it is "sweat and splashproof to IPX4".

On another note The Verge just gave the Jaybirds you posted a 4/10: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...un-review-wireless-earbuds-bluetooth-problems

I'll admit maybe I'm bias, but I have NEVER considered Jaybird to be anywhere near competitive sound quality wise in its price range. They make overpriced exercise/active headphones for the unknowledgeable consumer.
[doublepost=1506446507][/doublepost]Appolgies for the disagreement/augment I started in this thread. I'll admit if OP is looking to prioritize active lifestyle durability over sound quality then my recommendations probably don't make sense. I wasn't sure what was more important for him based on the details in the OP. That said I'm pretty certain RHA or Beyerdynamic products will sound a hell of a lot better than Jaybird products at the same price range. I even think the Powerbeats3 would be a better product for the price than the Jaybirds you posted... The Jaybirds don't even support AAC Bluetooth audio codec, which is the highest quality bluetooth audio codec iOS currently supports.

If OP gets Jaybirds he'd be better off getting Freedom 2 or X3 since they support AAC, have longer battery life, etc.

The ones you recommended without a doubt sound better I can’t debate that. I was under the impression of what I read he was focused on getting in shape and sweat will ruin a set of headphones.

 

[staggerlee41]

Check out the RHA's MA750 Wireless and Beyerdynamic's Byron BTA. Both of these earbuds support AAC so you'll get the highest quality audio codec iOS devices support.

https://www.rha-audio.com/us/products/earphones/ma750-wireless
http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/shop/byron-bta-black-silver.html

I've been using the Byron BTA for the past year since I upgraded to the iPhone 7+ and I've been really satisfied. I mainly use it for commuting. The MA750 Wireless just came out, but the wired version of the earbuds have a really good reputation (which I've owned myself). Either should be a solid pick.

Since you posted this I have been looking at RHA MA 750 and unfortunately they're out of stock. However the 650's are in stock. I can visibly see the 750's have ear hooks on them and the 650's do not. Obviously the price is different too. Are you familiar enough with these two to explain the differences? Thanks for posting those options, they're pretty intriguing considerations.

The beyerdynamics look intriguing also. How's the call quality on them? I'm on the hunt for what I perceive to be a unicorn. I want earbuds that provide a high quality listening experience with music, but also capable of filtering out background noise when used for phone calls. I just can't seem to find anything that ticks both boxes.

The Beats I mentioned most redeeming qualities are the ease of connection and use with Apple Products given the W1 chip. Sound quality is average. Call quality is good, but I don't believe it's filtering out enough background noise to suit me.

Apologies for the thread jack.

 

[mickeydean]

Since you posted this I have been looking at RHA MA 750 and unfortunately they're out of stock. However the 650's are in stock. I can visibly see the 750's have ear hooks on them and the 650's do not. Obviously the price is different too. Are you familiar enough with these two to explain the differences? Thanks for posting those options, they're pretty intriguing considerations.

The beyerdynamics look intriguing also. How's the call quality on them? I'm on the hunt for what I perceive to be a unicorn. I want earbuds that provide a high quality listening experience with music, but also capable of filtering out background noise when used for phone calls. I just can't seem to find anything that ticks both boxes.

The Beats I mentioned most redeeming qualities are the ease of connection and use with Apple Products given the W1 chip. Sound quality is average. Call quality is good, but I don't believe it's filtering out enough background noise to suit me.

Apologies for the thread jack.

MA650 wireless are great so far. Had the BeatsX and returned them. The sound was just bass and otherwise crap. W1 chip is not that great. Once a device is connected, it's not much of an advantage. Had the Beyerdynamics and returned them. Beyerdynamics had good sound but otherwise average. I got about 8 hours with the Beats X and Byron BTs.

I got the RHA MA650s for AUD$187, 12 hour battery life is spot on. The sound is as good as any wired IEM (I've had etymotics ER-4XRs, various good Sonys, HifiMan, etc) that I've used. Pretty wide soundstage, good separation, and lots of different types of music sound great. I have spotify premium and everything sounded great. There's just enough bass to enjoy the music that requires it.
The build quality is more like Apple than the BeatsX. The Byron BT earbuds were good quality but the cable felt cheap.

The BeatsX were AUD$200 and the Beyerdynamic BTs were AUD$150...

 

[staggerlee41]

MA650 wireless are great so far. Had the BeatsX and returned them. The sound was just bass and otherwise crap. W1 chip is not that great. Once a device is connected, it's not much of an advantage. Had the Beyerdynamics and returned them. Beyerdynamics had good sound but otherwise average. I got about 8 hours with the Beats X and Byron BTs.

I got the RHA MA650s for AUD$187, 12 hour battery life is spot on. The sound is as good as any wired IEM (I've had etymotics ER-4XRs, various good Sonys, HifiMan, etc) that I've used. Pretty wide soundstage, good separation, and lots of different types of music sound great. I have spotify premium and everything sounded great. There's just enough bass to enjoy the music that requires it.
The build quality is more like Apple than the BeatsX. The Byron BT earbuds were good quality but the cable felt cheap.

The BeatsX were AUD$200 and the Beyerdynamic BTs were AUD$150...

Thanks for sharing your experiences, this is certainly helpful. I've decided to keep the BeatsX for now, primarily because of two reasons. First being they were on sale when I bought them @ $109 USD and the second being the need for something to travel with within a couple of weeks. Long term, I'm thinking an RHA 650 or 750 purchase will happen so I'd like to understand as much as both as possible and get feedback from good folks such as yourself.

Although I've not seen the product in hand, from the looks of things I'd say your comment appears to be spot on. RHA appears to have a build quality that you'd expect from Apple vs. the Beats. Although historically, earbuds in general, at least up until more recently, have been somewhat of an afterthought from Apple's perspective.

Interesting note with Beats, I've played with the EQ settings in iOS and have added Comply ear tips to them. This results in much better listening experience.

Thanks again for your comments!

 

[SactoGuy18]

I myself ended up with the Pioneer Rayz Plus headphones, even though I have an iPhone 6. Not only will I be able to move it to the iPhone 8 or iPhone X when I get that phone, I don't have to 1) worry about missing the 3.5 mm headphone jack and 2) worry about having to charge another device on a regular basis.

 

[ghsDUDE]

I myself ended up with the Pioneer Rayz Plus headphones, even though I have an iPhone 6. Not only will I be able to move it to the iPhone 8 or iPhone X when I get that phone, I don't have to 1) worry about missing the 3.5 mm headphone jack and 2) worry about having to charge another device on a regular basis.

How are they?

I had the AirPods (which were awesome!) except the left earpiece was a little difficult staying in sometimes and I’m also a little concerned about long term use with the W1 chip.

I was considering the urBeats3 but now I’m considering the Rayz after discovering them last night.

 

[wcroadie]

For any frugal members like myself, I got these about 2 months ago, so far so good. I run and sweat a lot and theyve held up just fine, sound decent enough and the price is right! Anker Soundbuds Curve
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-SoundB...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N9VEM006TRCP7W4QA3BD

 

[Resqu2]

Me and most of my family runs and goes to the gym, we all love our Bose SoundSport Wireless. $150 and you won’t be disappointed.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Oh, I should have mentioned that. General purpose mostly. Im not very active, but I am trying to change that with a new lifestyle. I gave up Sugar and Wheat two months ago and starting October I plan to walk everyday. Once I build up good endurance I want to take up rollerblading so I guess that will be pretty vigorous.

For general purpose, in ear and at $100 the beats x is a very solid option. Helps that it was the W1 chip for easy iOS connection swapping. Oh and the quick charge, 5 minutes for 2 hours, is amazing.

 

[staggerlee41]

Update: I returned the BeatsX in favor of RHA Audio MA 650 Wireless. For $99 they are incredible. I posted a review of them here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...s-review-two-thumbs-up.2078339/#post-25232707