Earphones / Headphones: Where to try, what to buy?

I love my AirPods Pro. Truly love them, but they just aren't that great for speaking in anything but the perfect environment, be it wind outside or a noisy background. The mic quality is subpar to old Apple wired headphones. I think you need to get into real boring commercial headsets for the kind of mic quality you're probably looking for.

I find the Apple wired headphones are brilliant for calls. I only wish they made some that have the Airpod Pro tips.

Dankpods on YouTube is always good for comparisons of sound from mics. He’s done a fake AirPods Max vs the real thing recently.
The fake one obviously sounds appalling, however, the real thing doesn’t sound that good either. Wired is so much better.

Thanks - will deep dive over the weekend.

Caveat - his presenting style is exciteable Aussie. This may/may note grate.

It did grate but just did one 10min episode.

Looking to replace my first gen Bose soundlink 1.
Anyone particularly loving their portable Bluetooth speaker? Thanks

Earfun seems to get some love on YouTube.

Thanks. I'm looking for a new speaker, not headphones but thought better of asking in the audiophiles thread

My apologies withered_preacher, I didn't realise earfun do speakers too! Thanks

I like my Sonos Roam a lot. Helps if you have other sonos stuff but even if you don't it's nice to be able to set stuff off playing and then not have to worry about walking out of range, a phone call, etc (obviously only works with supported services but it is a pretty wide range).

Is there a forum approved over-ear headphone for home use?

I have a budget of around £300.

Same. It’s ok to use via Bluetooth for calls too as I find it helps with my tinnitus and misophonia rather than ear buds/headphones when I’m working at home.

And then use wherever in the house for music/podcasts etc.

Had AirPods Pro delivered this afternoon. Fuck me the noise cancellation is good. Haven’t used them on a call yet but impressed with the sound quality but happy so far and will be taking them out running later.

Yep, mine spends most of its time sat under my monitor for calls and music through the day.

Do you need Bluetooth?
Open or closed?

To be honest, I’ll just be listening to Apple Music through my iPhone. I guess Bluetooth would be more practical as I’ll be able to move around the flat easier.

Am I right in thinking open headphones generally sound better? How much sound leakage is there?

I have some Bose sport things which I’ve been quite impressed with for on-the-go listening so maybe I should give the Bose QuietComfort a go.

My impression is that they do sound better, and there is definitely sound leakage! If you’re listening alone inside not a problem obviously.
There’s cheaper options than the quiet comfort, though they do have stellar NC for when you’re out and about.

Any recommendations for some neat, folding, bluetooth, on-ear headphones? Preferably with noise cancelling and not too expensive. Cheers

Basically looking for a modern version of these:

How much is not too expensive? AKG do some good ones (bought them as gifts for others), but looking at Amazon right now they've amazingly not got them on offer so they're RRP of £119.99.

Give it a week or two, it'll be like DFS!

Hello hive mind. I’m looking for a new pair of in ear headphones. Wireless but joined to each other however no one seems to make these any more. My Jaybird tarah pros died and the new ones are lower quality and battery life etc.

The only thing I can see that looks like it might be good is nuraloop. Anyone have any other recommendations?

Just saw this - love my Minirig!

No experience with them, but if you want to ignore randomly named companies on Amazon, but Beats Flex still exist. The reason these might actually be worth considering is because of the W1 chip from Apple inside of them - if you're an iPhone user that is.

Hmm… I always assumed Beats were a bit marketing over substance.

They are indeed, but I am not aware of any others. Why the need for the cable, anyway?