Current Events > Can anyone help me out with wireless headphones?

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Because when I think "an eclectic mix where someone might have an answer to my problem", I think CE~

I've tried a couple different brands of bluetooth headphones for, like, gaming and watching anime on my phone, or listening to music while on my morning walks. I've run into the same two problems with them:

-There's a slight delay, like, the audio is a little out of sync with the video. Obviously not an issue when I'm just listening to music, but very much one when I'm gaming or watching anime.

-When I'm walking while my phone is in my pocket, the sound will start badly cutting out, like the headphones are struggling to stay connected to the device.

I don't have these issues with my trusty ol' wired headphones, so I'm inclined to think it's a problem with the wireless ones rather than with my phone. Is there something I can do about this? Or, more realistically, what are some brands I can trust to not have these issues? I think the ones I've tried must be kinda cheapy, no-name stuff, I mean, they were under $30 off Amazon. But I can't afford to keep trying different brands/models until I find something that works.

Thanks in advance for any help~

Depends on what brand and how much you spend.

Personally I've spent nearly $800 on two pair of wireless OTE headphones over the past 2 years.

Bose 700 ($406 conversion rate) and Sony XM5 ($377 after tax).

They're both good at what they do. Main issue I had with the Bose is they quit accepting volume control via Windows. Also if you had multiple devices connected, they'd sometimes start interfering with the connection and it'd be cut in/out until you disconnected (was always my phone fucking it up).

Bought the XM5s but my main issue there is you can't connect multiple devices at once and it's a hassle to change over.

If you want earbuds, my experience is with the Galaxy Buds line. The Beans (Buds Live) were okay but I found uncomfortable. Buds 2 were good. I only bought the Buds 2 Pro because I thought I lost my Buds 2. Most consistent issue I have out of them is they come loose after like 15-30 minutes. Not falling out loose, just loose enough to need reseating.

You don't always get what you pay for with headphones, but generally speaking if you've been erring on the cheaper side, it'll probably explain the weak connection.

If you only have one primary device you use headphones for, I'd recommend the XM5s. If you need to use it for anything else than your phone, the included cable is decently long enough to allow mild movement. I've mostly used them wired with my PS5 controller and haven't experienced any noticeable audio delay.

In general Sony AND Bose are solid choices in the general consumer facing headphone market, but they can run expensive.

The Sony WH-Ch520 has an incredible battery life and range from your device will go around your house and never gave me complications with my phone in my pocket. It's a 50 hour battery life and takes about 2 hours or so to fully charge, maybe even less. As long as you remember to plug it in somewhere where you got buisness to attend to, it should never cause you problems.

However and this could be a deal-breaker, there is no wired option, no jack or cable area to connect to anything, so you are only able to connect to Bluetooth devices. It cost me $35, but I believe it goes for $59.99 when not on sale

AirFresh posted...

However and this could be a deal-breaker, there is no wired option, no jack or cable area to connect to anything, so you are only able to connect to Bluetooth devices. It cost me $35, but I believe it goes for $59.99 when not on sale

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-wh-ch520-wireless-headphone-with-microphone-black/6533161.p?skuId=6533161

Yeah, $60 at Best Buy.

If you want to dip your toes into Noise Cancelling for cheaper than the 'flagship' headphones:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-whch720n-wireless-noise-canceling-headphones-black/6533162.p?skuId=6533162

$150, but it does look like it can take an aux cable.

I know those are probably outside your price range/budget that you want to spend, but in my experience if you go (super) cheap, you wind up replacing a pair of headphones so often that you wind up spending as much or more than if you had just splurged a little. Personally, I'd rather purchase something once and not really have to worry about it outside of accidental breaks or weird shit (like the Bose 700s and Windows volume control thing)

Aw jeez, I was worried this was gonna be expensive. I think even triple digit would be outside my budget. I don't mind if it's bluetooth-only, I have options if I need wired headphones for something. Like I said, I just need something for gaming/anime and listening to music while walking, with the caveat that it has to actually be functional for those things. If that's still gonna be a hefty price tag, I'm probably better off just sticking with the wired ones I already have...

SydnieStarlight posted...

Aw jeez, I was worried this was gonna be expensive. I think even triple digit would be outside my budget. I don't mind if it's bluetooth-only, I have options if I need wired headphones for something. Like I said, I just need something for gaming/anime and listening to music while walking, with the caveat that it has to actually be functional for those things. If that's still gonna be a hefty price tag, I'm probably better off just sticking with the wired ones I already have...

If you got the money to spare, the $60 CH520s would probably be the best bet. Sony is known for their quality.

If you still plan on walking with the weather turning colder, might be worth the gamble now.

Alternatively, if you plan on not walking when it gets cold, you might rock with your Wired set for now and then save up, if you can, for a nice pair when it gets warm again.

Noise canceling is nice, but I'd never feel all that comfortable walking around in the open with noise canceling headphones on for a couple reasons.

I guess I'll either poke around some or just go without for now.

Thanks for the help! I appreciate you taking the time~

I don't think you necessarily need to get $400 headphones just to get a usable Bluetooth connection.

Have you tried re-pairing your headphones? Low battery on your phone can cause the signal to drop. So can interference from other devices.

Try some of this stuff first:

https://www.electronicshub.org/how-to-fix-bluetooth-audio-delay/

I can't speak for the price range you're looking at, but what you're describing isn't universal to bluetooth headphones. The 2 sets I use the most are the B&W Px7 S2 and the Sony WF-1000XM5. Neither have latency or connection issues when used with my phone or tablet. They have given me grief when I tried to use them with my Oculus though, which was interesting and disappointing. The version of Bluetooth being used can have a large effect, with newer versions having better range, signal strength, latency and even audio quality.

If you're strapped for cash, I'd honestly stick to your current headphones. While the sound quality can be surprisingly good on cheaper units, everything else suffers imo. Save up and get something that's actually an upgrade. I'd also possibly keep an eye out on Black Friday since we're not that far away and it's generally cheaper stuff that actually has some alright deals.

I was someone who was anti-wireless before I got what I described earlier. This is superior to wired in the sense you can move around freely. I connect it mainly to my Switch, Phone and Laptop. Also Prime Day is coming up in just a few days! Don't get anything today,

AirFresh posted...

I was someone who was anti-wireless before I got what I described earlier. This is superior to wired in the sense you can move around freely. I connect it mainly to my Switch, Phone and Laptop. Also Prime Day is coming up in just a few days! Don't get anything today,

Yeah, you won't get the absolute best sound out of Bluetooth headphones, but they're more than good enough if the source is decent.

Looks like those Sony headphones are on sale for $40 at Target right now.