Any thoughts/advice on cheap bone conducting headphones?
If you are still looking and have access to Sam's Club, they have the Open Runs for $69 in store. Online they look to still be $120.
It's been months since I last posted about trying to have a headset that could receive audio from both the Steam Deck and my phone at the same time. For a while now I've been connecting my phone to the Deck using Bluetooth and telling the phone that the deck is a pair of headphones. Then I use a low latency USB headset to listen to the Deck. It satisfies my core need without having to find a headset that supports two simultaneous inputs. It's been working well.
This weekend I pulled the trigger on a pair of SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X for my desktop PC. They directly support low latency audio from the USB-C dongle and Bluetooth directly to my phone and allow simultaneous listening. The price was a lot more than I wanted to play but this is exactly what I was looking for. Reviews were pretty good so I'm optimistic.
You will love them! I agree that they are expensive but worth every penny. Not being wired as well as having the second battery has been a game-changer for me. I use the headset for work as well as gaming and can swap out the battery with little to no interruption on what I am doing.
You will love them! I agree that they are expensive but worth every penny. Not being wired as well as having the second battery has been a game-changer for me. I use the headset for work as well as gaming and can swap out the battery with little to no interruption on what I am doing.
No second battery on this set. Just built-in battery. But they fast charge from USB-C so I rarely have to plug them in during use and I have a tiny USB-C battery that works without adding much weight. But usually I just plug them in for a half hour while I’m wearing them.
So far I’m pretty happy. I can use them for listening to my phone as I move around the house and while I mostly keep the usb-c dongle connected to my desktop I have swapped it to my laptop and steam deck multiple times to see how realistic it is to use one headset for all things.
I wish I could have a dongle for each device and just swap devices more seamlessly but it’s not a huge deal to carry the dongle with me and plug it in each device. I normally use way too many headsets daily for different devices. Before this headset it was not uncommon for me to use 5 different sets in one day as I moved between devices.
The sound is better than the old headphones I was using on my desktop so that’s a win. But not better than the Soundcore q30s I normally use with my phone. Main thing I notice for PC use is the soundstage feels small. But they also block out a lot more background noise than my older headphones which has been more important lately.
I have not tried the mic on a PC at all yet so it’s nice it slides completely inside the headset and has a physical mute button. I have a nice mic on a boom arm at my desktop PC so no need for a headset mic. I may rarely want the mic when on my laptop.
Today I answered a call on my phone with the headset and used it's mic with my phone while still wirelessly connected to my PC. Very convenient. Just pull out the mic, unmute, and answer call. No interruption to the PC connection I noticed. Might not have worked if I was using the mic on the PC tho. Not sure. Not a problem for me.
Edit:
I’ve been using the Arctis Nova 7X heavily for a couple weeks now and I’m really happy. Yeah they don’t sound as good for music or have the noise cancelling of my good Bluetooth headphones and yeah it’s annoying having to run all my desk device's audio through my PC but overall it’s still better than how I used to do things and allows me to move between various devices with one headset more easily than ever. I now rarely use any of my other Bluetooth headphones (just the true wireless buds I travel with) and I now often just move the usb-c dongle between various pc devices (desktops, laptop, steam deck) instead of using different headsets for each. It’s nice having all my phone audio come through the headset instead of just music like my old desk setup. This is the closest I've ever been to finding one headset that handles all my use cases.
I’m looking for a travel case for my Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X so they have some protection when I throw them into a backpack.
I’d buy one specifically for those headphones if it was cheap but if I’m paying a lot I’d rather have a more flexible case that adapts to various headphones over time.
Any recommendations for headphone travel cases that fit a variety of over ear headphones?
I’m looking for a travel case for my Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X so they have some protection when I throw them into a backpack.
I’d buy one specifically for those headphones if it was cheap but if I’m paying a lot I’d rather have a more flexible case that adapts to various headphones over time.
Any recommendations for headphone travel cases that fit a variety of over ear headphones?
Know anyone with a 3d printer?
I’m looking for a travel case for my Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X so they have some protection when I throw them into a backpack.
I’d buy one specifically for those headphones if it was cheap but if I’m paying a lot I’d rather have a more flexible case that adapts to various headphones over time.
Any recommendations for headphone travel cases that fit a variety of over ear headphones?
I own this as my headphone & portable battery brick holder. Very nice for travel.
I thread a 3-in-1 USB-C charging cable like this through the opening and into the back pouch, so I can charge pretty much anything without having to remove the battery from the case.
Not headphones but related. Looking for a new boombox with an and fm.
I have one in the garage for listening to sports. Current one is from the early 90s and is pretty beat up. I’d like a digital radio as the analog on this one isn’t great for tuning. Decently loud but no need to be super loud. Rechargeable is a plus but not needed. Under 75 price range.
Not headphones but related. Looking for a new boombox with an and fm.
I have one in the garage for listening to sports. Current one is from the early 90s and is pretty beat up. I’d like a digital radio as the analog on this one isn’t great for tuning. Decently loud but no need to be super loud. Rechargeable is a plus but not needed. Under 75 price range.
If you have speakers with an analog input you can get a radio with analog output for dirt cheap and connect them. I may get one myself soon and just connect it to the line in on my Bluetooth speaker.
Is there a reason you're going old skool?
Cos a Bluetooth speaker and the app for your radio station (s) of choice on your phone would work, no?
Simplicity, ease of use, and it just works. In fact I tried to play it today and it never played. Just sat and spun. That never happens with terrestrial radio.
Simplicity, ease of use, and it just works. In fact I tried to play it today and it never played. Just sat and spun. That never happens with terrestrial radio.
I don't know all their price ranges but ION makes stuff that can do that. I used to have one of their mid size ones and it was great until JBL made something better (but without radio).
Edit: *I clicked on a couple and not sure if they have any that can do AM anymore, just FM.
Is there a reason you're going old skool?
Cos a Bluetooth speaker and the app for your radio station (s) of choice on your phone would work, no?
For me it’s for drive in theatre movies. Kids want to sit in bed of truck and our truck refuses to keep the radio on when truck is off. Accessory mode only lasts a few minutes. A simple radio plugged into a bigger speaker does the job. Even if there was an app for the drive in theatre, Bluetooth latency would be annoyingly out of sync with everyone else’s radios. Figured I’d just go simple and use a cheap physical radio.
Simplicity, ease of use, and it just works. In fact I tried to play it today and it never played. Just sat and spun. That never happens with terrestrial radio.
I tried streaming the same station today through a different app. All I got was a loop of:
"Due to contractual obligations we are not able to stream our content at this time. Please join us later when our we are able to stream live."
I also remembered we got my oldest one when he was five. He never uses it so I am going to use that. Thanks for the suggestions.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent set of ear buds that would be similar to Airpods Pro or suggestions on keeping them in ears? I got a set of airpods pro from my wife for a birthday/anniversary present but I'm not overjoyed with them (especially considering the price). They sound very good and the noise cancelling is great. Pass-through works well. They're comfortable all day.
The problems I have are:
1. They don't stay in my ears well at all. I don't need to run with them or do heavy exercise but I'd like to be able to work in the yard and lift weights with them but the left one falls out all the time. I've watched videos and read ways to help them stay in. I've used different tips and turned them all sorts of ways but the left always falls out.
2. They don't reconnect to windows well. If I'm using them with windows and then use them with my iphone they don't reconnect to windows. I have to either put them back in the case or manually connect them.
3. The case doesn't stand upright and the buds are a pain to get out. This isn't a deal breaker but more of an annoyance.
Anyway, suggestions for keeping them in ear or alternatives? I'm trying to decide if I return them or not (I have started a return and have a few weeks to decide).
The only way I am able to get AirPods Pro to stay in my ears is by inserting them with the tail pointing forward rather than down. I also have to use the biggest silicone tips.
If you already have 2pin connector ear buds then you can get these:
erjigo TWS + Earbuds Hook 2Pin Connector with Mic Support/30 Hours Playback,KZ-AZ09 HD Bluetooth5.2 Ear Hook Compatible with 0.75/0.78mm Pin Earphones/Headphones/Headsets for Sports (C Pin) https://a.co/d/1aELmEk
If you don't have them these are great:
erjigo KZ ZSN PRO X Hybrid Banlance Armature with Dynamic in-Ear Earphone ERJIGO ZSNPROX 1BA+1DD HiFi Headset ZSNPRO X erabuds (Without Mic, Black) https://a.co/d/30MVz8I
The only way I am able to get AirPods Pro to stay in my ears is by inserting them with the tail pointing forward rather than down. I also have to use the biggest silicone tips.
Never used airpods, but my ear canal actually angles up a bit, so I have to twist a lot of earbuds vs most people.
As for alternatives, everybody's a bit different on fit. I personally like some of the Souncore stuff. Multipoint is hit or miss like most of them are, but all of mine are a couple of years old so that might have improved. If you like the stem style, the Liberty 4NC get a lot of good reviews.
I don't due to my ear fit, so would probably look at the Space A40s.
They also have cheaper options in their catalog, but you'll have to look up reviews.
Didn't buy any Anker family brands stuff for awhile after the Eufy privacy issue, but they don't do things others probably aren't doing as well around privacy.
I have been using my Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pros, but they don't do multipoint at all for non-Samsung devices.
BadKen wrote:The only way I am able to get AirPods Pro to stay in my ears is by inserting them with the tail pointing forward rather than down. I also have to use the biggest silicone tips.
Never used airpods, but my ear canal actually angles up a bit, so I have to twist a lot of earbuds vs most people.
As for alternatives, everybody's a bit different on fit. I personally like some of the Souncore stuff. Multipoint is hit or miss like most of them are, but all of mine are a couple of years old so that might have improved. If you like the stem style, the Liberty 4NC get a lot of good reviews.
I don't due to my ear fit, so would probably look at the Space A40s.
They also have cheaper options in their catalog, but you'll have to look up reviews.
Didn't buy any Anker family brands stuff for awhile after the Eufy privacy issue, but they don't do things others probably aren't doing as well around privacy.
I have been using my Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pros, but they don't do multipoint at all for non-Samsung devices.
Soundcore has some good options. If you want something bigger than the A40s (I did) then I can mostly recommend the Life P3. I carry a set of those most days. The reason I say “mostly recommend” is that their ANC is not quite as good as other sets I’ve used.
When you say you've tried different tips, what types specifically? As in the ones that come with your earbuds, or others as well?
I find foam Comply tips help both with getting a good seal and they help keep the earbud in my ear compared to silicone tips:
They're pretty affordable but they're also foam so they do eventually deteriorate.
I have a set of Sony XM3s that I quite like:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T81554H
One reason I got them was because they have a high ifixit score (the batteries in the earbuds are literally just coin cell batteries. You can't just walk into a Walmart and buy them, but you can order them online.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Sony+WF-1000XM3+Battery+Replacement/144994
Each version of that Sony line improves the noise cancelling/other features a bit, but... they've gotten less repairable with each revision:
Sony Just Nerfed Their Most-Repairable Earbud Line
So the XM4s are slightly harder to repair and the XM5s probably aren't worth repairing.
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-WF-1000XM4-Industry-Canceling-Headphones/dp/B09757BZM1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C33XXS56/
But in terms of sound quality and features I think the XMs are a pretty good bang for the buck.
If yard work/working out is the primary use, I might consider IEMs that wrap around your ear instead. Wired, but much less likely to fall out.
The Jabra active series have grippy rubber and are designed to stay in ears. I run, bike, do yard work, and work out with them. As a bonus they have physical buttons so you can use them with gloves on. Their high end one is currently the Jabra Elite Active 8. It is water proof, has ANC, passthrough, multipoint, and you can use each bud individually.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-w...
I would stay away from the Galaxy series as everything past the buds+ falls out even in Zoom meetings when I have to talk a lot. I have used them all except the Bud Pro 2's because they come, practically free, with my phones. Soundcore Space A40s are a good bargain but they don't stay in as well when I work out.
I would stay away from the Galaxy series as everything past the buds+ falls out even in Zoom meetings when I have to talk a lot. I have used them all except the Bud Pro 2's because they come, practically free, with my phones. Soundcore Space A40s are a good bargain but they don't stay in as well when I work out.
Interesting. My Bud Pro 2's are really pretty good for me in regards to staying in. I use them as my yardwork set to leverage the good ANC and pick them over my Soundcore Liberty 3's because they stay put really well. Everybody's ears are different.
But they don't fit his needs for multipoint outside of Samsung devices.
EvilDead wrote:I would stay away from the Galaxy series as everything past the buds+ falls out even in Zoom meetings when I have to talk a lot. I have used them all except the Bud Pro 2's because they come, practically free, with my phones. Soundcore Space A40s are a good bargain but they don't stay in as well when I work out.
Interesting. My Bud Pro 2's are really pretty good for me in regards to staying in. I use them as my yardwork set to leverage the good ANC and pick them over my Soundcore Liberty 3's because they stay put really well. Everybody's ears are different.
But they don't fit his needs for multipoint outside of Samsung devices.
You're lucky! They were $80 in a recent deal but I passed after finding a bunch of reddit threads looking for fallout solutions for them. Some people were even adding silicone to give them an ear tab. The reason I looked it up was because of my issues with the original Pro and the newer Bud regulars. They do have good sound and ANC though. Samsung really needs to get it's act together with proper multipoint support.
MannishBoy wrote:EvilDead wrote:I would stay away from the Galaxy series as everything past the buds+ falls out even in Zoom meetings when I have to talk a lot. I have used them all except the Bud Pro 2's because they come, practically free, with my phones. Soundcore Space A40s are a good bargain but they don't stay in as well when I work out.
Interesting. My Bud Pro 2's are really pretty good for me in regards to staying in. I use them as my yardwork set to leverage the good ANC and pick them over my Soundcore Liberty 3's because they stay put really well. Everybody's ears are different.
But they don't fit his needs for multipoint outside of Samsung devices.
You're lucky! They were $80 in a recent deal but I passed after finding a bunch of reddit threads looking for fallout solutions for them. Some people were even adding silicone to give them an ear tab. The reason I looked it up was because of my issues with the original Pro and the newer Bud regulars. They do have good sound and ANC though. Samsung really needs to get it's act together with proper multipoint support.
I know my ears are very different than most. I think I got mine for under $20 net when I upgraded phones last year to the S23 Ultra. I really did combine a ton of discounts on that one.
When you say you've tried different tips, what types specifically? As in the ones that come with your earbuds, or others as well?
I find foam Comply tips help both with getting a good seal and they help keep the earbud in my ear compared to silicone tips:
I've only tried the tips that come with them. I'll try some foam ones. If that doesn't work I'll look at the other suggestions people have made. Sounds like Sony, Anker, and Jabra make some that would fit my needs.
Different question but still on headphones. My son wants a new wireless headset for Christmas. I'd prefer it be at Target but it doesn't need to be.
Currently, I'm looking at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P. I have an Arctis 7 and like it (though it is the previous version). For the Arctis 7 Nova I like the fact that this one can connect to bluetooth and stream audio from a phone while connected to the PC/PS5. From what I understand the 7P doesn't have the wheel to adjust chat volume and background volume like the 7X does (though honestly I never really did that with mine so I'm not sure he would). I saw some reviews saying it doesn't have good sound for music and the mic isn't good.
Another option looks to be the Turtle Beach 700 Gen 2 MAX. There seems to be some people with great experiences and some with poor ones.
Anyone have experience with these, especially on PS5 (90% of his gaming is PS5) or have other suggestions in the 100-150 range?
I looked at the Sony Pulse 3d but it seems to lack a few things when using as a PC headset. It does look like a great option for PS5 though.
Different question but still on headphones. My son wants a new wireless headset for Christmas. I'd prefer it be at Target but it doesn't need to be.
Currently, I'm looking at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P. I have an Arctis 7 and like it (though it is the previous version). For the Arctis 7 Nova I like the fact that this one can connect to bluetooth and stream audio from a phone while connected to the PC/PS5. From what I understand the 7P doesn't have the wheel to adjust chat volume and background volume like the 7X does (though honestly I never really did that with mine so I'm not sure he would). I saw some reviews saying it doesn't have good sound for music and the mic isn't good.
Another option looks to be the Turtle Beach 700 Gen 2 MAX. There seems to be some people with great experiences and some with poor ones.
Anyone have experience with these, especially on PS5 (90% of his gaming is PS5) or have other suggestions in the 100-150 range?
I looked at the Sony Pulse 3d but it seems to lack a few things when using as a PC headset. It does look like a great option for PS5 though.
Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X is the primary headset I use with my PC and Xbox. I’ve used them with Steam Deck, laptops, phone, and pretty much every other device I regularly use.
I haven’t used them with a PS but from the reviews it looks like the 7/7P/7X are the exact same other than the 7X has a switch on the usb-c dongle that puts it into Xbox compatibility mode. So, other than color preference, the 7X is the better model just because it is compatible with Xbox on top of everything the other models do.
I like them. They work with every device I regularly use. They sound good enough. They are comfortable for long periods. I regularly play competitive multiplayer games while wearing them and haven’t noticed any latency issues.
I like, and use, the simultaneous wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. Since I use a big USB mic at my desk I can’t say too much about the headset mic. I like that the headset mic slides completely into the headset out of the way tho. Further, if someone calls my phone the headset mic swaps over to the call automatically which has been convenient a few times.
The main issue I run into is that I’m often using them in a loud area where people are talking. These headphones block basically none of that. When the room is quiet the more open sound is nice but when the room is not quiet I find myself switching to headphones that block far more noise. I wish these had an ANC mode I could turn on in those situations.
Thanks, pandasuit. I'm going to go ahead with the steelseries. My son doesn't really have to worry about loud areas. Plus I want him to hear when we are telling him that supper is ready. The fact that it swaps the mic to the phone is great. Hopefully he'll answer when we call him now.
I have them and agree with everything Panda said. The 7X have been awesome! I use the headset mic for taking calls sometimes and haven't had any complaints.
For me the noise isolation isn't an issue and due to that they are more comfortable than tight fitting pleather pads, especially on hot summer days.
I also have the Arctis 7X, and I like them.
One caveat is that on the PS5 the chat dial thing does not work. You can use the software switches in the PS5 OS to make adjustments though.
I wanted something that had the highest compatibility between devices, so that's the biggest caveat I can think of.
https://steelseries.com/gaming-headsets/arctis-7x because I'm not sure if the "Nova 7X" and the "7X" are different.
tl;dr if you get the Xbox version of the headset, you may want to Google how it functions with the PS5.
Edit: The "chatmix" dial is the thing that doesn't work for me on the PS5. 3D Audio and everything else I can think of works fine.
Maybe that's why the 7P doesn't have that dial?
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