Develop Bugs

[Q] Best wired earbud headset?

I have a Sony Bluetooth earbud headset that is of excellent quality, so I am set on that front. The thing is, it only has six hours of battery life (as most BT headsets do) and often run it down when I'm listening to podcasts and audiobooks while pulling doubles at work. I had the earbuds that came with my Captivate, but they were kind of junky and, honestly, I put them through the washing machine one too many times.
I went on Newegg.com thinking I'd have an easy time choosing the optimal wired earbud headset, but there's a whole universe of them out there, now, and the price has come down on them so much I can't even use that as a benchmarch of quality, anymore.
Does anybody have any good suggestions for a wired earbud headset that has good to excellent sound quality and works particularly well with Android pnones/Samsung Captivate. My price ranges is 50 dollars or less.
Thanks!

I really like the stock ones that came with the Captivate. As a backup I also use the buds from my earlier Sony Ericsson.
Sorry my post was of no help :]

I use a pair of V-Moda headphones w/ mic from the Apple store back when I had an iPhone. The cable is wrapped in a material infused with Kevlar
I'll try to find a link for you
EDIT: Didn't see your price range. Mine were $80, but they may have gone down some? Idk. I'll find it anyway
Here you go: V-Moda Vibe Duo
http://www.v-moda.com/headphones/vibeduo.aspx

I've been looking for a good durable set as well. Looked on amazon, and it seems that many many people have problems with that headset breaking constantly.

Sigh. I am checking accessories because I discovered my right earbud stopped working about 15 minutes ago
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I896 using XDA App

Disclaimer: I'm not really after audio quality. They're earbuds, after all. I just need them to be indestructible or, failing that, cheap enough to be replaced a couple times a year.
The weak points in most earbuds I've owned are the junctions between the miniplug and the cable or the cable and the earbuds. In fact, the supplied Samsung earbuds are pretty decent, except that the miniplug-cable connection wasn't designed to take any stress at all. Sheared that right off in just a week of pulling the phone in and out of my pocket.
To that end, there have been two products I've been pretty happy with:
If you can find them around (eBay), the "Zune Premium Headphones" have outlasted anything else I've ever had. The cable is wrapped in plastic, so it transmits some noise when rubbing against your clothes, but they're incredibly durable. I only stopped using mine because I wanted something with a microphone button, not because they broke.
What I'm currently using are the JLab J3M earbuds. Got them from Amazon for $25 or so. Cable appears to be wrapped like the Zune earbuds and then coated in a clear, rubbery plastic, which has worked out so far. Only had them for about four months, but holding up well. The headset button works reasonably well with Android (I use DroidShuffle to control everything, and Cubed as the actual music player.)

E_man5112 said:
I've been looking for a good durable set as well. Looked on amazon, and it seems that many many people have problems with that headset breaking constantly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A case of YMMV... I have a pair of V Moda Vibes that I've worn for over 3000 miles of road cycling over the past year. Not a bit of a problem.

I actually have a pair of the ZAGGsmartbuds (yes, the same ZAGG that makes Invisible Shield) that I received as a gift. They are very sturdy (the site has a cool video of a Boston Terrier trying to tear one apart - that alone would sell it for me ) and the volume and button controls work on the Captivate as well. The cord is actually coated with the same material as Invisible Shield.
Sound quality is quite good (compared to some V-Modas and some high end Sony earbuds I had from before) and it retails for a shade under $50 (but I think you can easily find it online for much cheaper).
http://www.zagg.com/audio/smart-buds.php

I've tried lots of different earbuds and I think the stock ones are one of the best under $50. they may not have the most bass but the complete sound range is great, nice and smooth/clear.

$25 Skull Candy set does right by me. Killer sound and I can talk while driving. Covers the basics. Did I mention they sound killer? The sound is great and they sound awesome too.

Best Wired Headphone on the Market!
Skullcandy (Full Metal Jacket) FMJ. You can check out this products here: http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/all-products/headphones.html?limit=all&cat=6
but you can pick up brand new ones on ebay for $20-$40. They have an in-line mic, you can work the music player with a toggle on the wire, they they are LOUD and HIGH QUALITY music. Check them out, you would be disappointed.

dc41 said:
A case of YMMV... I have a pair of V Moda Vibes that I've worn for over 3000 miles of road cycling over the past year. Not a bit of a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may be true, but they seem to have close to a 50/50 fail rate. Waaaay to high for me.

If you're going to buy skullcandy, don't get more than the inkd line. They arent great on the first place and it seems like the higher you go in the line up the worse they sound.
The ones I have have lasted for two or three years now.
They aren't the best thing ever SQ-wise, but they do isolate well enough, and that's important to me when riding to and from school/work.
Just my opinion.
Sent from my custom ROM'd Captivate

I just found out JVC makes a headset version of their marshmallow line. I love my Marshmallow buds, so I just bought the headset.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XMA7U0

BigJayDogg3 said:
If you're going to buy skullcandy, don't get more than the inkd line. They arent great on the first place and it seems like the higher you go in the line up the worse they sound.
The ones I have have lasted for two or three years now.
They aren't the best thing ever SQ-wise, but they do isolate well enough, and that's important to me when riding to and from school/work.
Just my opinion.
Sent from my custom ROM'd Captivate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this.

I use Sony's MDR-EX57LP/BLK. They are mostly noise canceling and I found mine at walmart for about $40. Great bass and ok highs.

Hippo Pearl if your after balanced and an all rounder. Got e'm for around $20. Best pair of earbuds I've had.
Swyped from my Froyo-ed Captivate.

ive got a set of meelectronics from newegg that have been awesome as far as sound goes, otherwise the mic has been questionable at best can't tell if its the rom or the headset itself. btw it was cheap as hell too 10 bucks or something.

I've had good luck with the skull candy full metal jackets but I think the ink'd sound slightly cleaner but the longest I have used them is two months before I catch them on something. If I don't need a mic I use Shure e2c's.

Wraith04 said:
I've had good luck with the skull candy full metal jackets but I think the ink'd sound slightly cleaner but the longest I have used them is two months before I catch them on something. If I don't need a mic I use Shure e2c's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had that problem. I run my wire through my shirt. Also helps to get rid of microphonics.
Im about to "upgrade" to a bluetooth set. Hopefully it will be on par with what im currently using. But im willing to sacrifice a little SQ for the peace of mind. I use an otterbox defender so the headphone jack is partially blocked off.
I just hope it isn't TOO bad because I really like my belt clip.
Sent from my custom ROM'd Captivate

[REVIEW] iHome Robo Ri-26 Rechargeable MiniSpeaker

(All images are linked to their full size. Just click on em. Yes, I know a few of the pics are terrible.)
So I received this little guy as a Christmas gift. Gotta say, while he has a couple things about him that annoy me, he's really pretty awesome. Lets review him, shall we?
Cool. So the box says he's a USB powered speaker that'll work with anything. Kinda vague tho, and because of that security sticker you can't see much. Either find a review or you won't really know what you're buying. And since this was given to me as a gift, neither did I until I unpacked him. So let's see what's inside.
Little android guy. Cute. iHome branding printed on his belly. At least I hope that's his belly and not his crotch. Let's go with belly....
And it is printed, not a sticker. Shame, that.
And look, his arms move! Nothing else does tho, that's it, his arms. Honestly more than I expected out of a speaker tho =P
His back is pretty bare, only having an on/off switch and a single port - MicroUSB, that's labeled audio/charge. I'll explain that down the line. No, he's not a wireless speaker, sadly. No Bluetooth or anything, you have to use a cord.
Here he is with my Galaxy Note II, for size comparison.
Let's check out the rest of the contents of the box.
So we got the android himself, his cable, an instruction paper that actually has some good info about the product on it, and a cool little drawstring bag with the android logo on it. I will say i find it funny that this is the "robo speaker" because they can't use the android name, but they can use the mascot without so much as an (R). Guess Google doesn't' care. More reason to love em, eh?
My Note II sitting on top of the bag. Little big for the speaker and cord, but w/e. Its a cool, android branded bag. Will definitely use this for something - not holding the speaker tho.
So this is the cable. You'll probably want to click on this picture, even if you don't click on any others.
It starts in a MicroUSB and ends with two plugs - a male USB 2.0 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The big white thing on it is a clip to hold the cords (surprisingly sturdy construction) and includes a little slider to keep the split cord in check.
Better view of the clip.
So this is how you're supposed to use it - plug the 3.5mm headphone jack into your device and the MicroUSB into his butt, and let the USB dangle.
This is how I personally find it best to use - wrap the cord around his legs and use the clip to hold it in place.
Works like a charm.
Now, I want to say, since this is not an easily replaceable cord (that i can tell), you probably want to only use it to play music. Something like this MIGHT work, but I really have no idea.
Luckily, he charges just fine over a standard MicroUSB.
Now, a note on using this guy - when you have him turned on, his eyes light up blue
I don't know if you can really tell here, but in the dark you can see a line of slight glowing on the bottom of his head, actually where his mouth would be. However....
Don't charge this guy when you're trying to sleep. because his eyes turn red when he charges. That in itself isn't so bad, but that slight blue line I mentioned turns into a demented looking Joker smile. Not conductive to sleeping soundly.=P Which, to me, makes it even cooler - I knew android had some deep, dark, evil secrets in there =P
By the way, yes, you can play music through him while you charge. His eyes will be red if you do this.
Now, I have yet to field run this guy, so I can't tell you anything about battery life yet, but he did come to me with a nearly full charge.
Sound quality is frankly much better (and louder) than I expected. I'm no audiophile but i can pick out the sound of a decent speaker and this little guy impressed.
As far as build quality goes, he's very sturdily built. Strong, heavy plastic, which while is highly reflective does not pick up any fingerprints at all. I don't feel any risk of breaking the antenna, surprisingly. The weak point (because there always is one) would be the arms. For some reason they're made of a slightly different, softer plastic, and there's a little bit of bend to em if you pull them out or squeeze them in - if something breaks on this guy it'll be those, but honestly, I don't really see that happening.
Since this guy was a gift, I have no idea on pricing. I know I could look it up but frankly I feel too lazy at the moment. I do know, However, that they come in multiple colors.
Overall, I really like this little guy. The fact that he lacks a 3.5mm audio-in port confounds me, and the demented smile while charging will frighten small children (though that may be a plus to you). But overall I think the iHome Robo Ri-26 Rechargeable MiniSpeaker is great, and I plan to use it a lot.
Are you my father?
(To the right: The Official Google Cookie Jar)

Thanks for the review; well done. I got this guy in black as a gift too and I plan on putting it through the paces here over the next week. Glad to hear sound quality is above average, that was my main question heading into things.

[Q] Broken beats

Hey all !
After 1,5 years of awesome use, i was never disappointed in this headphones. My beats by dre solo HD broke in two.
I just took them off my head, that is what i think is not my fault.
When i was doing some research on the web i came on to a couple of images, videos and forum topics about this.
All of these videos have broken on exactly the same spot as mine and so all other beats. I think this is just poor fabrication.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIgJwLhLn04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO3h7gvgWog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLs80elie5w
A product this expensive wich represents itself with just awesome quality should not break when taking them off the head ..
So my question actually is: What are my chances ?!
Should i take my request to Monster Electronics, Beatsbydre or the shop i bought them ?
Thanks

You're not going to like most answers from me.
From my experience, Beats cost 3 to 10 times as much as other headphones with the same audio quality. For half as much, you get much better sound. If you choose to replace them, please see my guide and/or feel free to hit me up with questions.
With that out of the way, you can repair it yourself. I'd recommend a combination of krazy glue gel and drilling 3 very small holes to fit small metal rods 3/8"deep into each side of the plastic. Fill the holes with glue, insert rods (can be cut segments of paper clip), glue along the rest of the contact faces, brace them together, let it dry overnight. That should create a very solid hold, with nearly invisible signs that they ever broke.
-Accidental Asshole aka Jeremy
[Guide] Headphone/Earphone Buying

Classic earphones, NOT earbuds

Has anyone come across such earphones, that meet ALL these criteria:
1) Plastic earphones, NOT earbuds (I hate the feeling of silicone inside my ear canal)
2) Three in-line buttons (volume +/-, answer key), that work with Nexus 5
3) Black colour
4) cheap, something under $10, just good enough to watch youtube videos
If you have, please post some links
Thank you in advance.

FXGIO said:
Has anyone come across such earphones, that meet ALL these criteria:
1) Plastic earphones, NOT earbuds (I hate the feeling of silicone inside my ear canal)
2) Three in-line buttons (volume +/-, answer key), that work with Nexus 5
3) Black colour
4) cheap, something under $10, just good enough to watch youtube videos
If you have, please post some links
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've actually been having trouble finding earphones as well. Everyone always reviews high quality earbuds and I also hate sticking them in my ear and they often fall out as well (yes I've tried different size tips). I actually would really like high quality ones. I wouldn't mind paying 20-30 dollars for a pair but it seems like people only concentrate on earbuds.

If you are looking for over the ear headphones, here is the noise-cancelling one that I've been using for a # of years of trans-Pacific & transon flights in coach class / back of the house - since they don't provide Bose or Sennheiser (got a pair of them too, more bulky) - they are not studio or audiophile quality, but strike a balance for price to value and results.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-S...78360736?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item4d15cedea0
Comfortable to wear for extended period of time and paid about $50 for them a while ago, surprised to find them new selling up to $90+ on Amazon, mad crazy & actually appreciated in value. NC feature runs on a single AAA (rechargeable ones don't last as long ) battery for 25 to 30+ hours of run time, but it is perfectly good to use w. power off in a quieter cabin environment (sitting in the back section behind the wings with those huge Rolls Royce or GE engines spinning).
Used or pre-owned ones in good conditions are going for around $30 or so, the foam earpads can be replaced inexpensively & there are "leather" foam pad upgrades available. They fold flat in a pouch and slip easily into my carry-on or backpack for travel - an optional, sturdy protective case is available for. It is strictly for listening & does NOT have in-line mics or controls. Adjustable headband will fit everyone and the mini 3.5mm plug fits easily into the Nexus 5 with the rugged Fintie TPU case.
Running around in town, however - I prefer, however, to use Air-Buds sold online with its flat cord & foam earpieces, see their FB page or visit online sites - when it's on sale, it will cost as little as $25/pair + shipping when buy 2 together (perfect holiday gift too.)

Check out the headphone selection on monoprice.com.
They've typically got good quality for the price, and lots with inline controls.

Koss PortaPros! They are more than $10 but meet every other criteria plus they sound amazing for what they are.
Sent from my Moto X

After 2 hours of searching, I finally found these:
http://goo.gl/HdEfs9
http://goo.gl/DxHmDN
But, I'm not sure if the in-line controls will work

GhostNGoblins91 said:
I believe the correct term for the type that sits in the outer ear is earbud, and in-ear monitors (IEMs) are the ones that go into your ear canal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that as well but it seems like whenever I search for earbuds, the in-ear ones come up in searches.

That's because many people don't know the difference.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I think it is because the IEM "in canal" version is mostly what's being made right now.
The old design is inefficient comparatively and can't not achieve the sound volume or quality levels as easily. Bass is also mostly nonexistent without the seal in your ears that the in canal design provides.

I think it would be more dangerous to ride a bicycle with in-ear earphones

Noise isolation is definitely a concern in some situations. Best options are using rubber/silicone tips rather than foam, not inserting therm too deeply, and/or only using one.
Otherwise, go foam and put them deep!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I occasionally have my monster ntune headphones on they don't have have a volume button it but it does have the button to answer calls with built in Mic and that cord is removable so you could get one with the volume rocker and those headphones are just pure beautiful I have the white ones but they come in all different colors
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

A little off topic but amazon is selling the vmoda crossfade lp for 69.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003B...rue&ref_=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl&tag=m0494a-20
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Review] Savfy Bluetooth Sports Headset

Overview
Bottom line is that the design of these is really clever and very clearly well thought out. Good audio quality and they sit well when used for running.
Unboxing
The headphones were pretty well packed. In the box was the headphones, a micro USB lead, extra ear buds and instructions. The ear buds are folder to fit into the box by hinges part way round the unit. The contents of the box feel well put together and everything has a premium feel to it. The details on the box give a range of <10m, charge time of <3.5 hours, talk time of >18 hours, music time >16 hours and standby time of >300 hours.
The headphones themselves instantly have a premium feel to them with a soft matte feel. The headphones are almost all black apart from a small silver patch on the hinges and a small silver ring on the headphone ring. The headphones are pretty light, weighing in on my kitchen scales at just 65g.
On the right hand side is a call answer button / hangup button with a very small LED status light nearby. On the top right side is the on / off switch along with volume up and down buttons. On the right hand side underneath is a USB charging port with a cover. Also on the top each side is a magic button which I will come to.
Testing
The way these headphones are designed is pretty cool, it sits around your neck with the bulk from the battery rather than being a hindrance actually helps to keep the headphones in place around your neck. The hinges can be used to tighten the fit to sure that they dont fall off, especially useful when running. At the back of the headphones the material of construction is slightly rougher to keep them in place around your neck. The earbuds are on about 20cm of wire which pulls and can be worn quite comfortably.
The things I really like about these is that through the design, the bulk of the weight is around your shoulders / neck and all that is in your ears is the simply ear bud. This makes it really easy for them to stay in place, particularly when running. The earbuds are spring load - remember that magic button I mentioned earlier? Well press that and it retracts the earbud on that side. Pretty cool!
Taking these out for a run I was surprised with how well the headphones stay in place simply through a smart design. The hinge is pretty rigid and after a good couple of miles the headphones were exactly as I set them.
I’ll admit that im not a massive audiophile, but I thought that the sound quality on these was good. All my running tracks came through loud and clear.
So overall a really smartly designed little unit, premium quality and well built. I can highly recommend these.
Amazon link https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AKLIJIBJ1T1HR/ref=pdp_new_read_full_review_link?ie=UTF8&page=1&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R1ZAJ4OTCSZOZM

OP, can you please update the experience of using this bluetooth headphone after weeks later?