I prefer wireless locally, and wired when traveling.
I use a two inexpensive LG neckband style wireless headsets during workout, short (under 4 hour flight); and whatever I can get my hands on flat wired headset, for long flights.
Loss of buds: I have seen too many travelers freak out with their earbuds dropping on the floor on trains, planes, and taxis. With the wireless neckband and wired sets, there is much less chance of losing them, and even if I lose them the cost is minimal.
Battery runs out: I have yet to have a wireless headset that can do a good job on long flights. They will run out of juice, specially if I turn on noise cancellation.
Battery concerns: At several airports, I have to pull the wireless headsets out and place them separately because (justified or not) concerns over battery fires and "technology". No one cares about wired headsets.
Microphones: I have yet to experience small, portable wireless headsets (not headphones) that have good enough microphones without a boom. Even the "inline" microphones for wired headsets often out-do wireless earbuds and similar.
Size: Unless I use earbuds of some sort, a full around and even over the ear wireless headsets are significantly larger than some small wireless in-ear solution. When traveling size and weight counts. Earbuds although significantly smaller, they still have the charging pod/box that make them larger.
The flat wired headsets just rarely tangle, and easy to fold. I can shovel one (or more) in any pocket, not have to worry about batteries, batteries exploding, and recharging.
I do like the freedom of wireless when working out.
Q: Anyone uses earbuds for conference calls? The biggest issues for me are either they cannot hear me, the background noise is too much, or they die too fast. I would welcome some suggestions. It would need to be able to pair with Android, iOS and PC. Thanks!
Modern ANC headphones (over ear) have plenty of battery life for any flight. Most are north of 30 hours, some reaching 50 hours even with ANC on. For planes there’s just nothing better than over ear headphones for noise canceling.
I've been buying used QC25s, there are plenty of parts available to refresh and keep them working. I think everything in them is off patent now so theoretically someone could start making compatible main boards and then the user base would be able to fully decouple from Bose's product roadmap.
Why would you optimize for quick changing something that needs to be changed, pessimistically, every 2 years? You can swap the batteries in the newer models, it’s not that hard. In every other way the newer models are superior. Far better ANC, better sounding, better battery life, able to actually be charged… etc
> I prefer wireless locally, and wired when traveling.
I'd go even bolder: wireless locally, mp3 player (wired) when traveling.
I still have an IRiver from 2010s and its battery lasts forever. While my phone can survive a day, then, without me worrying about getting lost without Maps and power :)
I use a two inexpensive LG neckband style wireless headsets during workout, short (under 4 hour flight); and whatever I can get my hands on flat wired headset, for long flights.
Loss of buds: I have seen too many travelers freak out with their earbuds dropping on the floor on trains, planes, and taxis. With the wireless neckband and wired sets, there is much less chance of losing them, and even if I lose them the cost is minimal.
Battery runs out: I have yet to have a wireless headset that can do a good job on long flights. They will run out of juice, specially if I turn on noise cancellation.
Battery concerns: At several airports, I have to pull the wireless headsets out and place them separately because (justified or not) concerns over battery fires and "technology". No one cares about wired headsets.
Microphones: I have yet to experience small, portable wireless headsets (not headphones) that have good enough microphones without a boom. Even the "inline" microphones for wired headsets often out-do wireless earbuds and similar.
Size: Unless I use earbuds of some sort, a full around and even over the ear wireless headsets are significantly larger than some small wireless in-ear solution. When traveling size and weight counts. Earbuds although significantly smaller, they still have the charging pod/box that make them larger.
The flat wired headsets just rarely tangle, and easy to fold. I can shovel one (or more) in any pocket, not have to worry about batteries, batteries exploding, and recharging.
I do like the freedom of wireless when working out.
Q: Anyone uses earbuds for conference calls? The biggest issues for me are either they cannot hear me, the background noise is too much, or they die too fast. I would welcome some suggestions. It would need to be able to pair with Android, iOS and PC. Thanks!