Earbud recommendations

[Inspectorclueso]

I've never gotten on too well with buds to date, but maybe I've not had the right ones..! I'm after some really neat / small ones I can mainly wear when falling asleep as I like to listen to podcasts / relaxing sounds etc... (rock and roll I know !). So they don't need to be super 'hi-fi' main criteria is neat, small, comfortable... like you barely know you have them in.

Any recommendations ?

[anonymous-user]

Inspectorclueso said:

I've never gotten on too well with buds to date, but maybe I've not had the right ones..! I'm after some really neat / small ones I can mainly wear when falling asleep as I like to listen to podcasts / relaxing sounds etc... (rock and roll I know !). So they don't need to be super 'hi-fi' main criteria is neat, small, comfortable... like you barely know you have them in.

Any recommendations ?

What is your budget, as there is quite a range of prices out there.

I have a pair of Apple EarPods Pro (£239) and also a pair of Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ (currently on offer for £49). They are both very good in slightly different ways.

The EarPods Pro are incredibly useful and convenient if you have an iPhone, iPad, MacBook etc. They auto connect and auto switch between whatever device you pick up, they are great for calls and video meetings, the spatial audio and head tracking makes watching tv and movies very good, the active noise cancelling is decent, and the battery life is good. Sounds quality is perfectly acceptable. They charge in their case and you get about 24 hours total before the case needs charged. 5 hours if used continuously without being put back in the case. I use them all the time.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ are an absolute bargain. Currently £49 direct from Cambridge Audio, reduced from £120. Bonkers price. The sound quality is really very good, better than the EarPods Pro and rated very well by 'HiFi' reviews. The battery life is amazing at about 9 hours constant use and over 45 hours with the case. No active noise cancelling though, but do a decent job of blocking out some of the ambient noise if you use the foam tips. Very light and comfortable, and have buttons on the ends of the buds for pause, play, skip etc. Not that great for phone calls, but usable.

Those are just two of your many options, but Sony and Bose make some really good earbuds if you want to check those out as well.

If it was me, and you just need them for bluetooth streaming of music/radio/whale music etc off your phone, iPad, etc, I think you would have to be nuts not to buy the Cambridge Audio at £49, given how small, light, and comfortable they are, the bonkers battery life, and the HiFi sound quality.

I use mine all the time when working, walking somewhere, on trains, in bed, and so on.

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/gbr/en/products/hea...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 17th August 14:16

[FarmyardPants]

It's surprising how even cheap Chinese BT earbuds perform, eg:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOZO-Bluetooth-Wireless-H...

These sound remarkably good, pair easily, good battery life, etc.

[Inspectorclueso]

thanks both, as you asked, budget, I'd prefer to pay <£100 to at least try them before I pay more and I generally only use an Iphone 13.

Thanks for the Cambridge recommendation, will check these out.

[Inspectorclueso]

Based on your amazon comment, actually wondering if these would do the job to at least try..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cart/view.html?ref_=na...

[-crookedtail-]

I got some Sony WF-1000XM3 for a similar budget. They're not the latest and greatest but are perfectly good with noise cancelling etc

Argos have them for £98.99 albeit mine are the black ones not the hearing aid beige, sorry silver

I use them with an iPhone 13 Pro

[Arranguez]

I’ve some Jabra Elite 7 Sport earbuds which I think are great. In fact, when travelling I have not used some Shure 535s since I’ve had them.

[FarmyardPants]

Inspectorclueso said:

Based on your amazon comment, actually wondering if these would do the job to at least try..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cart/view.html?ref_=na...

That is a link to your shopping cart so doesn't work . I can only give a first-hand recommendation of the TOZO ones I linked to, but any on amazon with lots of good reviews around that price range will likely pleasantly surprise you, no need to spend more for your use case IMO.

Edit: resist the temptation to buy AirPod lookalikes, they will probably be twice the size of the real thing and look daft...

Edited by FarmyardPants on Wednesday 17th August 22:54

[Arnold Cunningham]

I’ve had various Earin headphones and really like them

[Big_Dog]

For sleeping, have a look at the Shure 215s the earpiece sits flatter so no digging in your ear. Those Cambridge audio jobs are a temptation for normal use though.

[Douvre777]

I can also vouch for the se215 shures. Partly because they're the only earphone I have half a chance of fitting under my motorbike helmet given my massive head.

Fits like an earplug so don't need to put music that loud and very good passive noise cancelling (in case the missus snores). Form factor very slim so they won't dig in your ears much like others whilst lying on side. Can hook them up to a Bluetooth headband for 6ish hours wireless if needed (the buds clip off from the wire using small mmcx connectors).

SQ is decent too - it won't beat say the newer Sony xm1000s or anything, but good enough for most music and certainly rock n roll podcasts

[mikef]

FarmyardPants said:

It's surprising how even cheap Chinese BT earbuds perform

I bought the Tozo T12 from Amazon. I guess you get what you pay for, they are pants, I left my first ever one-star review

[Pando99]

Bose sport earbuds get a thumbs up from me

[MarkJS]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MRWKRBT/ref=pe_2706...

Bargain IMO. I bought these at a couple of quid more (from the same place) in June and I’ve used them extensively since and they’re brilliant.

Yes, I know there’s a newer version and yes I know they get mixed reviews as I ummed & ahh’d myself before pressing the button. But, I found any negative comments unfounded & they are excellent for the money. They are quality.

[AC43]

Lord Marylebone said:

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ are an absolute bargain. Currently £49 direct from Cambridge Audio, reduced from £120. Bonkers price. The sound quality is really very good, better than the EarPods Pro and rated very well by 'HiFi' reviews. The battery life is amazing at about 9 hours constant use and over 45 hours with the case. No active noise cancelling though, but do a decent job of blocking out some of the ambient noise if you use the foam tips. Very light and comfortable, and have buttons on the ends of the buds for pause, play, skip etc. Not that great for phone calls, but usable.

I used to have Melomania 1's and my wife still does - great sound for £100, amazing for £50. But they protrude a lot. For that reason, when I lost mine, I want for a pair of 2's. The bluetooth pairing on them was an absolute nightmare so I had to eventually give up.

By this point both my kids had Galaxy 1 buds and the 2's were down to £100-ish so I went for latter.

I think they sound every bit as good as the Melomanias, are a nice flush design and pair flawlessly. Long battery life, noise cancelling. No hesitation in recommending them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Bluetooth-Wireles...