Recommended Bluetooth headphones

[jcorelli]

Hey everyone -

I use an iPod Touch during my erging sessions, and I'm looking for a decent wireless headphone option to avoid having to "wear" my iPod.

I have been trying out a couple of bluetooth options, but can't find something that will stay on or in my ears during longer erg sessions.

Does anyone have recommendations for a set of BT headphones (that won't break the bank)? Over the ear might be an option, also over the ear-buds style might work...

Thanks
John

[elsborg]

I use a pair of LG HBS-700 BT headphones almost every day for my rowing session. They look kind of strange, but are quite comfortable to wear hanging around the neck. The battery life is also good, almost 10 hours, so you dont have to remember to charge them all the time. I use the with my laptop (netflix) but they work just as well with my ipod listening to audiobook on the train.
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Elsborg

[jcorelli]

They look interesting and I'm finding good prices on the 'net. Do the ear buds stay in pretty well? (I'm assuming it comes with different size buds...)

[elsborg]

I have never had any problems with the earbuds, they are very soft and lightweight. And the seal is very good.
Can't remember if the buds can be exchanged, but I can check later today.

[Neonsun]

I tried Jabra Sport (two pairs, volume buttons stopped working after about a month for both pairs) and Plantronics Backbeat (not impressed with sound quality and durability, cable was torn off when it got snagged when taking it out of my backpack) and eventually bought the Jaybird Bluebuds X. They are holding up so far (three months and running). Far from the cheapest option, but sound quality is excellent, battery life is decent, it's lightweight, and it comes with plenty of fitting options (three bud sizes included and three sizes of 'ear sails' that helps keep them in place). Strongly recommended if you think they're worth the premium cost.

[gregsmith01748]

I have a pair of Jabra sport bluetooth ear phones and I am not at all happy with them. So far they have gotten into some "fugue state" three times where they do not respond to the buttons, the leds glow constantly and they do not pair with my phone. The only cure seemed to be to let the battery drain all the way down and the charge it fully. The most recent time I tried this, the went bezerk repeated pairing and unpairing with my phone, causing Siri to pop up and helpfully call my home phone number about 20 times before I figured out why my phone was possessed by demonic spirits.

When they work, they fit great, stay in place and the sound is OK, but I don't think the quality of the product is good at all.

Question for Neonsun: I saw in online reviews that the Jaybirds had great sound but didn't stay put in your ears. Have you had any trouble with them popping out while rowing? I hate that! I have not trouble with the style of earbuds that sit on the outside of one's ear, but the ones that plug the ear canal never seem to stay in place for me. I suspect that I have strangely mutant ears!

[Neonsun]

Hi Greg, I couldn't get them to fit with the 'ear sails' in place as these seem to pop them out of the ear canal so this is not optimal for me, but there are different ways to wear them and I found one that suits me. Without the sails and using the over-ear method with medium sized buds, they're snug as a bug (like the dude in the top picture at http://www.jaybirdgear.com/bluebuds-x-b ... -features/). They can get a little loose if I sweat a lot, but if I just make sure to push them far enough in they're fine. The Jabra Sports did stay more in place, but like you I didn't really have a good experience with their durability, so unless they make an improved version I won't be buying those again.

[gregsmith01748]

Thanks! I think I'll have to start saving up for a pair. It will worth it to keep my shiny new iPhone snug and water tight in its hard case during workouts.

[RihhanaNZ]

I'm using Logitech UE 9000 Bluetooth headphones since 2 years. Never had a single issue at all. However, have a look for more suggestions at this site; offers good deals on peripherals.

[gregsmith01748]

Quick update on the Jabra Sports. I called Jabra and they said that they have had some "firmware issues". They offered me a free replacement. I received it and it so far I have had no of the problems that I had before with demonic posession or weird purple lights.

So in summary, my take on the Jabra Sport Bluetooth headphones:
- Battery life: OK (about 4 hours of continuous play)
- Product Quality: Not so good, required free replacement
- Customer Service: Excellent, no hassle replacement of product delivered quickly
- Range: Works fine indoors, but is useless outside unless my phone is on an arm band. If it is in my pocket or in a waist band holster, the sound cuts out intermittently
- Sound: The quality is good but not great. The volume does not quite go high enough for very intense interval sessions, or if the stereo in the gym is on.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably opt for the JayBirds.

[jcorelli]

I was recently flying out of Orlando and stopped in the store that sells a bunch of this stuff. (I think its InMotion, but I can't recall). Anyway, tried the JayBirds and although I liked them, I could see the "sails" could be an issue once my ears get sweaty - they didn't feel like they would stay in. I didn't try the Jabra sports ones, but they had those there as well (both were pricey and I would never buy that type of stuff in the same building where a bottle of water goes for $3!)

At any rate, I have an update to my original post. I came upon a set of headphones I like: Bluevibe Fit by GOgroove...
http://www.wofoho.com/2013/06/gogroove- ... sport.html

They are a rigid behind the neck, over the ear model with ear buds. They end up sounding really good because of the buds (good bass sound and good noise cancellation). They stay in and the battery lasts a decent time and they're easy on the wallet too. The only drawback is the custom connector that you get to charge them up with - if you lose that, you're sunk (I haven't checked to see if that cable is available as an accessory from any of the distributors, but I doubt it...). However, the custom connector was designed in to keep the IPX6 rating for waterproof use (using a standard USB micro would leave an "open hole" for water intrusion). It's overkill for me, but it's good to know that sweating all over them won't wreck them.

[ericMX73]

I use a pair of LG HBS-700 BT headphones almost every day for my rowing session.

I use the same LG blue-tooth headset. They work great with my iphone.

Tons of good reviews on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywor ... 7jv9jj4o_e

[gregsmith01748]

Update from me. The Jabra Sport headset that they shipped me to replace the original dead one has died in exactly the same way.

NOT RECOMMENDED

[Slothful1]

I'm very happy with the Jaybirds. I haven't needed the extra outer ear pieces so far, but maybe I haven't been building up enough of a sweat.

Cheers
Dave

[Neonsun]

Jaybirds are still holding up well for me. I don't use the ear sails at all, but wear them in the behind-the-neck way and they stay in my ears well enough, as long as I don't jerk my head around too much anyhow. Charge still holds up OK, I only charge once a week and use them all the time during workouts - probably around 6 hours each week. Only had the battery run out a few times so they can hold at least a 5 hour charge. Pretty good in my book. All the buttons are still working too. No degradation to any components so far. Even the strap on the charging cap holds on yet.