Any Headphone Recommendations?

By Jim Homme, 3 April, 2016

Forum
Apple Hardware and Compatible Accessories

Hi,
I broke my original iPhone 5S headphones. I'd like to get a pair to replace them. I'm kind of hard on headphones, because I constantly pull them in and out of my pocket. I'm also looking for tips on taking care of them. I have a blue tooth set, but I like the responsiveness of the wired set better, so I save my bluetooth set for when I don't have too do things quickly. All I know about what I want at this point is that I don't want a cheap five dollar pair, and I don't want high end ones. I'm a little afraid of going online and just picking a pair without hearing them. Thanks for any advice inn advance.

Jim

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Comments

By DPinWI on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

re you looking for actual headphones, or earbuds?

My everyday headphone of choice is the Koss Portapro. They are reasonably priced, rugged, sound decent, comfortable, and have a life time replacement warranty. Currently, it costs me 9 bucks every year or so to have a brand new set.

I don't like earbuds, and have no recommendations.

By Raul on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I use the Sennheiser mm70i, but only to listen to music. This ones I don't think you can use them for navigational purposes, since they're in ear. I also tried the Skullcandy Somebuds 2 and they're quite confortable.
Maybe you should go to a music store and try them personally before buying

By Jeff on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

Since you mentioned that you were using the ones that came with your phone, I'm thinking you're asking about ear buds. If so, have you considered buying more Apple ear buds? As ear buds go, they are some of the best sounding ear buds I've ever heard.

If you actually want headphones, I'd strongly recommend the Sennheiser PX 100-II I headphones.

By DPinWI on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I wear my Portapros slightly off my ear for traveling. I have a set of After Shockz, but they died. The Koss are open back, which means they are great for listening to the world, and the iPhone at the same time. Not quite as open as as the After Shockz, but close enough for me.

I use Blind Square all the time, and these work great for that.

By Darrell Bowles on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

Hello,
I am looking for headphones that have a truly professional sound, that are Bluetooth and wireless, and are also dorible. I have used the Logitech H800, but the USB port keeps going out on me, and I've given up.
ANy ideas on a good set?

I'd not recommend these. They sound amazing, however mine have never lasted more than half a year consistently, and I'm gentle with headphones. Everyone else I personally know who have used these have had the same experience as I. Great sound, awful durability.

Professional sound and Bluetooth don't usually go together, especially since the iDevices lack APTEX support. I've found that I have to compromise on input or output, i.e. Bluetooth headphones that sound amazing while listening usually have a terrible mic and the reverse is often true as well. The best Bluetooth headset I've heard for listening is the Avantree Audition, however it is a closed headphone and the microphone is absolutely dreadful. The best mic I've ever heard on a Bluetooth device, in contrast, is the Plantronics Voyager Edge, however that is a single earpiece designed for use while out and about, and almost certainly not what you want. I've yet to be able to have my cake and eat it where Bluetooth is concerned.

By Darrell Bowles on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I could give up Bluetooth for these if need be.
I just want something that isn't going to fall apart on me.

By Raul on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I use them for home but they are meant to be used with iOS devices. I have the Sennheiser Momentum on ear since I got them at half price. They offer an awesome sound quality and feel really confortable. But this ones you need to try them before purchasing them since not all ears are the same. Actually mine are quite big so they hurt after a prolonged use due to the pressure.

By Megan on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

Hello,
While I know they are quite expensive, I've always found Bose earphones to be above and beyond in terms of quality. Between school/studying/reading/talking on the phone/etc, I can easily have earphones in upwards of 12 hours a day, and the Bose buds are the only ones I've found that are still comfortable after that time. Additionally, Bose makes a set of Bluetooth headphones that are very good. They're pricy, but if you want a set of phones you're not going to have to replace anytime soon, you might give them a look.

By DPinWI on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I'm glad you like them. I think they are great in exactly the ways you describe.

By Brian Giles on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I usually get around a year of use out of my ear pods before they die, and the Apple store swaps them out for me. They're not the best sounding, but for free included earbuds they're actually really good. I use them because I don't like in ear phones with the rubber tips. I also love the case the ear pods have...saves a ot of unnecessary untangling getting them out of my pocket.

By Shersey on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I can never manage to do it as neatly as they came to me in the box with my new iPhone 6S. I studied how they were put in before removing them for the first time, and thought I understood how to put them back in the case, but apparently not lol.

Thanks,
Shersey

By Megan on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

I had the same problem when I was trying to figure it out with my iPhone 5. It's super fiddly, but once you get it it's fairly easy. I used <a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4362608?tstart=0"&gt; this link </a> when I was trying to figure it out. Most everything I googled came back with a photo description, but this seems to have done the trick.

By Darrell Bowles on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

Hello,
What would be a good set for use as wireless?
Thanks,
Darrell

By Megan on Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 12:27

Bose offers a ton of different kinds of earbuds. Namely, you can get the ones with a microphone and remote for both iOS and Android, or you can get them without. I last bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundTrue-Ultra-ear-headphones/dp/B0117RFYDW"&gt; these ones, </a> which seem to be more durable than the older ones. Bose also makes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundLink-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B00M58CMYC"&gt; on-ear </a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0117RGG8E?psc=1"&gt; around-ear </a> variants of their bluetooth headphones. One thing I really like about the bluetooth headphones is that they come equipped with text-to-speech. So when you turn them on, they announce their battery level and the device(s) they are paired to. Additionally, they support multi-pairing, meaning that they'll pair to my iPad and iPhone at the same time. So if I'm doing something on my iPad and my phone rings, they'll autoswitch which is awesome.
Hope this helps!