I feel completely put out by the smartphone market when it comes to music listening these days. I care a lot about audio quality, and I run a lot. This means two problems:
1. Bluetooth headphones usually have shit audio quality, and too little battery life for someone who listens as much as I do.
2. I have yet to use a phone in the last 8+ years that I didn't destroy the 3.5mm jack on over the course of <1 year of running. The same thing is clearly applying to the USB-C adapter on my Pixel 2. It frequently needs to be removed and plugged back in mid-run.
It feels like I don't have any options here. Anyone have any good tips? Particularly for a Pixel 2? Is there maybe a better aftermarket adapter?
This is why I wish that smartphones hadn't completely killed the market for standalone music-playing devices. Smartphones are fragile and finicky and expensive, none of which is really what you want in a device you'll be using while running. What you want in that scenario is a device that can shrug off the occasional bump or drop, that you can operate without having to look at a screen, and that you can replace when it breaks (because it will break) without having to take out a second mortgage.
But instead of giving us devices that speak directly to those needs, the market requires us to spend even more on add-on products (rubberized cases, wireless earbuds, etc.) to try and take absurdly over-spec'ed smartphones wrapped in glass and entirely designed around a touch-based UI and make them slighly less inappropriate for what we want to do.
Do you really care about audio quality that much when you’re out running? You’re not exactly in an ideal listening environment, and whatever bud type headphones you’re wearing won’t be able to accurately reproduce bass anyway.
I've never used one myself but you could try a battery-powered Bluetooth receiver coupled with the headphones of your choice. Most claim a fairly long battery life per charge and are reasonably inexpensive. Some examples:
And it gets worse: Apple discontinued all of their iPods except the one that looks like an iPhone because they want everyone to buy their expensive watch instead. And phones still seem to get bigger every year. We're approaching a point where options here don't even exist. (There are other options, not as pretty and small but fairly good. But Apple tends to set the trend so we're basically doomed :b). I'm hoping we'll see more products like the Mighty, or maybe some Android Wear devices that aren't wristwatches (I already have a wristwatch, thank you). But seems like a faint hope.
I lost my iPod Shuffle through a boardwalk last month, decided I didn't feel like crawling through a puddle full of discarded needles in 5°C to get it back, and almost regretted the decision when I discovered they are selling used on Amazon for about $170.
> I have yet to use a phone in the last 8+ years that I didn't destroy the 3.5mm jack on over the course of <1 year of running
Interesting. I have a similar issue, but rather than destroying the headphone jack on the phone (iPhone 5s and SE), I've been destroying the 3.5mm connector on the headphone. Since the headphones I used ranged from $80 to $150, I got real sick of broken headphones. My solution was purchase these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZK43S4Q/ in bulk. I get about 3-4 months out of each adapter, when it flakes out, I toss it and install the next one. So far, so good, I've gotten a 15 months out of my latest set of headphones so far.
> 2. I have yet to use a phone in the last 8+ years that I didn't destroy the 3.5mm jack on over the course of <1 year of running.
Plugging the headphones straight in will transfer huge amounts of vibration directly to the solder joints on the jack insider the phone while running. Maybe consider an adaptor that brings a right-angled plug out to a socket for your headphones, much like [0]?
For what little it's worth, my iPhone SE has held up remarkably well, and the audio output is, while not perfect, typically good enough for headphones (even more expensive IEM headphones).
The Samsung Galaxy S8+ still has a headphone jack. I'm with you it's ridiculous to remove them. I'm not sure who is making these decisions but I really feel like someone needs to wake them up.
there really isn't a perfect solution for running/jogging/etc... so far as players go...at least for me. I don't want to carry a phone to go running.
My "good enough" solution was to buy a sansa clip, install rockbox, and just use that. It's only possible because I don't care about having a huge variety of music to listen to while running, so I can just outright purchase the tracks/albums I want, load them up, and enjoy running with music and basically no extra weight.
Admittedly, I've really liked the Pixel Buds, but for some of the same reasons people dislike it:
* I absolutely love that I can still hear my surroundings. I've been able to bike with them in, but still feel like I can hear my surroundings. I'm not sure if I'd feel safe enough to listen to music my whole commute, but for podcasts, it just feels like I hear everything around and someone is talking next to me. Previously I'd use a speaker mounted to my bike, which I still didn't like to use too much, because I didn't want to annoy people too much.
* They are so comfortable. The first ear buds I can actually wear. I just can't stand the in-ear buds of any sort.
* For what they are and the places I'd use them, they sound rather good. I admittedly just ordered the wireless sennheiser hd-1 (which is on sale right now), so the pixel buds are not really for my high-quality listening needs either way.
* I think they look cool (I have the blue ones) and the strap is a plus for me. I also don't understand all the complaints about the case, the strap, or putting it in the case. It's super easy...
Basically, if you want in-ear buds, then avoid these. But, if you want comfortable buds that are not in-ear that you could safely wear while biking...these are pretty great.
I have them, and they're OK, but Bluetooth buds are a dime a dozen so it's really hard to see why they are worth $159. They're slightly smaller than my Anker buds, and they have a charging case, but in day to day use there's realistically no difference for me. My Anker's were $27 on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GNH9MT).
Bluetooth Audio. Manufacturers have failed to pursue an "opt-in" deployment path.
If/when they wanted to make the transition, they should have made (the next revision of) Bluetooth good enough that users want to use it.
Instead, after being present for years and years on phones, they finally decided to force adoption by dropping the headphone jack.
Why? Well, there are the "thin" and "no room" arguments (oh, and, "waterproofing" -- really more splash-resisting), but those don't seem convincing of themselves.
There's the chance to sell expensive headphones at substantial markup.
And, there's however much behind-the-scenes pressure to transition the delivery channel to entirely digital, where DRM can ensure that content is not copied and, as part of a larger push, that all revenues for listening become recurring revenues in perpetuity. (The thing Microsoft's been trying to accomplish with Windows and Office licensing, for years now.)
[+] [-] sushisource|8 years ago|reply
1. Bluetooth headphones usually have shit audio quality, and too little battery life for someone who listens as much as I do.
2. I have yet to use a phone in the last 8+ years that I didn't destroy the 3.5mm jack on over the course of <1 year of running. The same thing is clearly applying to the USB-C adapter on my Pixel 2. It frequently needs to be removed and plugged back in mid-run.
It feels like I don't have any options here. Anyone have any good tips? Particularly for a Pixel 2? Is there maybe a better aftermarket adapter?
[+] [-] smacktoward|8 years ago|reply
But instead of giving us devices that speak directly to those needs, the market requires us to spend even more on add-on products (rubberized cases, wireless earbuds, etc.) to try and take absurdly over-spec'ed smartphones wrapped in glass and entirely designed around a touch-based UI and make them slighly less inappropriate for what we want to do.
Sigh.
[+] [-] kec|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ThrowawayR2|8 years ago|reply
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KXYXXK2/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KO1JNCA/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0154G9CYY/
[+] [-] dylan-m|8 years ago|reply
I lost my iPod Shuffle through a boardwalk last month, decided I didn't feel like crawling through a puddle full of discarded needles in 5°C to get it back, and almost regretted the decision when I discovered they are selling used on Amazon for about $170.
[+] [-] Anechoic|8 years ago|reply
Interesting. I have a similar issue, but rather than destroying the headphone jack on the phone (iPhone 5s and SE), I've been destroying the 3.5mm connector on the headphone. Since the headphones I used ranged from $80 to $150, I got real sick of broken headphones. My solution was purchase these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZK43S4Q/ in bulk. I get about 3-4 months out of each adapter, when it flakes out, I toss it and install the next one. So far, so good, I've gotten a 15 months out of my latest set of headphones so far.
[+] [-] photojosh|8 years ago|reply
Plugging the headphones straight in will transfer huge amounts of vibration directly to the solder joints on the jack insider the phone while running. Maybe consider an adaptor that brings a right-angled plug out to a socket for your headphones, much like [0]?
[0]: https://www.jaycar.com.au/adaptor-3-5mm-stereo-socket-3-5mm-...
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] falcolas|8 years ago|reply
And the audio output is a standard 3.5mm jack.
[+] [-] zodPod|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jdc0589|8 years ago|reply
My "good enough" solution was to buy a sansa clip, install rockbox, and just use that. It's only possible because I don't care about having a huge variety of music to listen to while running, so I can just outright purchase the tracks/albums I want, load them up, and enjoy running with music and basically no extra weight.
[+] [-] Veratyr|8 years ago|reply
Westone makes a decent Bluetooth cable with MMCX connectors so you can plug it directly into buds themselves, without a separate 3.5mm cable.
[+] [-] sz4kerto|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cbeley|8 years ago|reply
* I absolutely love that I can still hear my surroundings. I've been able to bike with them in, but still feel like I can hear my surroundings. I'm not sure if I'd feel safe enough to listen to music my whole commute, but for podcasts, it just feels like I hear everything around and someone is talking next to me. Previously I'd use a speaker mounted to my bike, which I still didn't like to use too much, because I didn't want to annoy people too much.
* They are so comfortable. The first ear buds I can actually wear. I just can't stand the in-ear buds of any sort.
* For what they are and the places I'd use them, they sound rather good. I admittedly just ordered the wireless sennheiser hd-1 (which is on sale right now), so the pixel buds are not really for my high-quality listening needs either way.
* I think they look cool (I have the blue ones) and the strap is a plus for me. I also don't understand all the complaints about the case, the strap, or putting it in the case. It's super easy...
Basically, if you want in-ear buds, then avoid these. But, if you want comfortable buds that are not in-ear that you could safely wear while biking...these are pretty great.
[+] [-] Androider|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] PascLeRasc|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pasbesoin|8 years ago|reply
If/when they wanted to make the transition, they should have made (the next revision of) Bluetooth good enough that users want to use it.
Instead, after being present for years and years on phones, they finally decided to force adoption by dropping the headphone jack.
Why? Well, there are the "thin" and "no room" arguments (oh, and, "waterproofing" -- really more splash-resisting), but those don't seem convincing of themselves.
There's the chance to sell expensive headphones at substantial markup.
And, there's however much behind-the-scenes pressure to transition the delivery channel to entirely digital, where DRM can ensure that content is not copied and, as part of a larger push, that all revenues for listening become recurring revenues in perpetuity. (The thing Microsoft's been trying to accomplish with Windows and Office licensing, for years now.)
[+] [-] jpalomaki|8 years ago|reply
With wired things this never worked for me since you could not just tuck them in pocket. They had to be stored somewhere.