Bluetooth Earbuds: Are AirPods my best option?
I do not like earbuds with the rubberized/gummy feel to them. Those are uncomfortable and never seem to fit my ears properly. I also would prefer some that were not too loud to people sitting around me, as I tend to crank the volume up.
I am mainly considering AirPods, but I want to be sure that is my best choice. I have a pair of basic Apple earbuds right now, and they fit my ears well. I am looking to spend under $200. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Who is Participating?
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
"The solutions and answers provided on Experts Exchange have been extremely helpful to me over the last few years. I wear a lot of hats - Developer, Database Administrator, Help Desk, etc., so I know a lot of things but not a lot about one thing. Experts Exchange gives me answers from people who do know a lot about one thing, in a easy to use platform." -Todd S.
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
Facing a tech roadblock? Get the help and guidance you need from experienced professionals who care. Ask your question anytime, anywhere, with no hassle.
Start your 7-day free trialIt's more than this solution.Get answers and train to solve all your tech problems - anytime, anywhere.Try it for free Edge Out The Competitionfor your dream job with proven skills and certifications.Get started today Stand Outas the employee with proven skills.Start learning today for free Move Your Career Forwardwith certification training in the latest technologies.Start your trial today
From novice to tech pro — start learning today.
-
Microsoft ApplicationsCertification: MOS Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel 2016 Part … 212 lessons
-
Microsoft ApplicationsCertification: MOS Microsoft Office Specialist - PowerPoint 2016… 224 lessons
-
Business CommunicationCertification: PMI ACP® Project Management Institute Agile Certified P… 340 lessons
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
Are you talking about over-ear, on-ear and/or in-ear headphones? They all give you headaches if they have an electronic noise-cancelling feature? I personally prefer headphones that are noise isolating -- where they provide a seal (over or inside your ear) and don't use canceling technology. If it's an over/on-ear headphone that gives you headaches, it could actually be the headband squeezing too hard...
I researched bluetooth earbuds a while ago and iirc Apple was the only one who didn't use a rubberized/memory-foam tip. If that's a hard stop for you, the Airpods are probably going to be your only option. Plus if you like the way they feel, most of the other options on the market don't sit the same way in your ear as airpods do. The airpods kind of just sit/dangle -- while the headphones for "active lifestyles" are usually designed to be framed into your ear in a more substantial way.
When I was looking around, the ones that I was considering were:
The main thing I was looking for though was sound quality for music. The above three all rank really well in that regard, without getting into an offensive price range.
In my experience with Apple's wired-earbuds that ship with their phones, I feel they are good for watching media (youtube/neftlix/etc) and listening to audiobooks, but for music they're kind of meh. The wired headphones I'd be willing to pay maybe $10-20 for and from what I understand, the Airpods provide the same sound quality.
The headphones with the rubber tips provide a seal in your ear so that music is reproduced much better at a low volume -- which is #1 for me. Most of the higher end brands provide a variety of different tips too, so that all ear types are covered.
Since it sounds like comfort is more the driving force behind your purchase, another option that is potentially more comfortable than 'buds' are bone conduction headphones.