What this means is that everyone takes much better care of their headphones than they used to. One of the most important things that you can do is to make sure that your headphones stay clean. Not only does this lead to your earbuds looking better, but it also enhances their longevity by preventing dust from going into the drivers and other parts.

Here, we show you how to clean your headphones and earbuds. We take you through the whole process, including how to clean headphone muffs and how to clean earwax out of earbuds.

What do You Need to Clean?

Thankfully, there are not a lot of things that you need in order to clean your headphones. Most of these items will probably already be in your house. Here is a complete list:

• Microfiber cloth
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Earbud cleaning tool
• Dish Soap (Optional but recommended)
• Toothbrush
• Q-tips

How to Clean Over Ear Headphones

The first thing that you need to do when cleaning over ear headphones is to remove the muffs. Only then will you be able to get to all the areas of the headphones and clean them thoroughly. Put the muffs aside and focus on the headphones for now.

For the headband, you can simply use the microfiber cloth to wipe the dust away. If there is dried sweat, fingerprints, and grime on the headband, it is best to slightly dampen the microfiber cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Just remember that you should not use too much alcohol when cleaning your headphones, as a small amount will be more than enough to do the job and won’t make your headphones smell like alcohol for long.

When it comes to the drivers, it is best to use a dry toothbrush to wipe off all the dirt and hairs. Remember to be extremely careful around the driver area, as you risk damaging them if you apply too much pressure.

The earbud cleaning tool can be used to remove any remaining dirt that is left. If you do not have an earbud cleaning tool, a tweezer is your best bet. You can also use Q-tips, although they are nowhere near as effective as the other two options. Once you have wiped off all the dirt, clean the headphones once more with the microfiber cloth and turn your attention to the earmuffs.

How to Clean Headphones’ Muffs

Cleaning the muffs is actually quite easy. All you need is a dish soap solution and the microfiber cloth. Dip the microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe down the earmuffs. Here, you do not need to be careful about how much dish soap you use. Once you have wiped down the muffs thoroughly, you can use a clean microfiber cloth and remove the dish soap from the muffs.

Remember that when removing the dish soap, it is best to dip the microfiber cloth in water. After that, let the muffs completely dry out before you put them back on your headphones. Even a little bit of water seeping into the drivers may cause irreversible damage to the unit. It is also best to let the muffs air dry.

How to Clean Earbuds

Cleaning earbuds is a bit more nuanced compared to cleaning over ear headphones. However, the process itself is quite simple and all it takes is a few minutes.

How to Clean Wireless Earbuds

The process is mostly the same. Since the earbuds are quite small, all you need is to dip a microfiber cloth in a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and wipe the earbuds. If your earbuds are not waterproof, you need to be extremely careful with the amount of isopropyl alcohol you use.

If you have silicone or foam tips, you can remove them and wash them using the dish soap method outlined above.

Remember that the process for wired earbuds is still the same. The only difference is that you should use the isopropyl alcohol-dipped cloth on the wires as well.

How to Clean Earwax Out of Earbuds

This is where the earbud cleaning tool comes in handy. You can use the cleaning tool to remove earwax and other gunk from both the silicone tips and the earbud itself. Once again, tweezers and Q-tips can be used if you do not have access to a cleaning tool.

This really isn’t rocket science. All you need to do is to use one of the tools and carefully remove all the earwax. Once again, it is imperative that you use a gentle touch and do not end up damaging the earbud in any way.

How to Clean the Charging Case

The last thing you need to do is to clean the case. The exterior can be cleaned using a damp microfiber cloth. The inside of the case should be cleaned with a Q-tip. It is best to use a dry Q tip as you may risk damaging the charging coils otherwise.

So, How Often Should You Clean Your Headphones?

This entirely depends on how often you use them. Generally, you should clean your headphones or earbuds when they begin to appear dirty. Make sure to watch out for dirt, earwax, and fingerprints. Once they look dirty, they almost certainly are. If you rarely use your headphones, this will not happen that often.

However, those who use their earbuds on a daily basis should try to clean them at least once a week. On top of that, those who use their headphones while exercising should probably give them a basic wipe down after every use, and then a proper clean once every few days.

A good set of headphones and a solid playlist might serve as the ultimate focus tool for simple pleasure. However, it points out that the same thing you resort to headphones for “the sound” may be the thing that keeps you from hearing in the future.

There has always been a danger of noise-induced hearing loss in some occupations, such as the armed services and construction. Nearly one in four US individuals now exhibit symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss, and this number is rising among young people.

In this article, the main topic that will be discussed is: can headphones cause hearing loss? We will also look at simple measures to protect your hearing while still enjoying music through your favorite headphones.

Can Headphones Cause Hearing Loss

The World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed some concerning news about hearing loss. It is estimated that 1.1 billion young individuals are in danger of potentially permanent hearing damage as a result of excessive noise pollution.

According to WHO, noise-induced hearing loss is caused either by:

• Eight hours of continuous exposure to moderately strong noise – 85 dB.
• Short-term loud noise exposure – 15 minutes of listening to sounds exceeding 100 dB.

So why are youngsters so vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss? While the WHO lists risk factors such as pubs, clubs, and music venues as causes of hearing impairment, the most common concern is listening to loud music with earbuds on a smart device.

So, in light of these facts, the simple answer is yes, headphones can cause hearing loss. It can be permanent if you are not careful. But how does it happen? Read on to find out!

How Do Headphones Cause Hearing Loss?

Although your ear is a complex mechanism, the sound is produced as a sensory reaction in your brain as a result of the vibrating of small hairs within a chamber in the inner ear. Friction between different surfaces produces air movement, which forces these hairs to vibrate in various ways, producing varied sounds.

Loud music amplifies the power of these vibrations. If the vibrations are too strong for too long, the hairs cannot handle the load and cease operating correctly. Two things can happen based on how much you listened to music and how loud it was.

• The hairs might be damaged and lose sensitivity, but they can regenerate with time. That’s why you might find it extremely difficult to hear when exiting a noisy environment, but your hearing will gradually return to normal. The hairs are overburdened, but they will recover in time.
• If too much harm is caused, which can be the result of loud and constant music on your headphones, the hairs are well beyond restoration. They can lose their capacity to vibrate with noise and become worthless. This is when we suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. Your hearing is permanently damaged.

Next, we look at the signs of hearing loss.

Signs of Hearing Loss

If you or your kid exhibits any of the following symptoms, get medical attention immediately:

• In the ear, there is ringing, roaring, hissing, or buzzing.
• Trouble comprehending speech in loud or acoustically bad environments.
• Sounds that are muffled and the sensation that your ear is clogged.
• Listening to the radio or television at a larger quantity than usual.

Regrettably, the sort of hearing loss induced by excessive exposure to extremely loud noise is permanent. Thus, avoidance is essential.

Hearing aids and implants can assist in amplifying sounds and trying to make them easier to listen to, but they only compensate for damaged or non-working components of the ear. So what can you do to avoid this situation?

How to Prevent Hearing Loss Using Headphones?

When you are worried about hearing problems, you may take a few easy precautions to lessen your risk of hearing loss from headphones.

1. Turn Down the Volume

It’s really that simple: just turn down the volume on your headphones or earbuds.

Turning down the level on your gadgets is the single most important step you can make to safeguard your hearing.

Noise-induced hearing loss is generally caused by exposure to extremely loud noise. You can protect your hearing by limiting your exposure.

2. Set Controls on Phones

Many smartphones enable you to set a max capacity so that you don’t mistakenly exceed a safe level.

Search for this function in the settings menu, or seek it up online if you can’t locate it. An android user can simply press the volume up and down button and open the volume settings as shown below. Make sure the music limit is not in the red zone. Anything below the red zone is safe.

This is an excellent approach for parents to control how their child listens to music in general.

3. Use Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are all the fad nowadays. Most individuals use headphones at maximum volume to “drown out” other sounds. Noise-canceling headphones are an excellent method to reduce the volume on your gadgets while also protecting your ears.

These headphones shut out extraneous noise, allowing you to listen to music or watch movies at a reduced volume without being distracted.

4. Use Over-the-Ear Models

Over-the-ear headphones are usually recommended by audiologists and otologists over in-ear or earbud-style devices.

Over-the-ear headphones enhance the space between your eardrums and the speakers, reducing the possibility of hearing loss.

5. Take Listening Breaks

If either of the above options is not available to you, taking breaks from headphones can help avoid headphone-induced hearing loss.

The longer you listen to loud sounds, the more likely it is that your ears will be damaged. Consider taking a 5-minute or 10-minute break every 30 minutes or every 60 minutes.

Adopt the 60/60 rule to be extra safe: Hear at 60 percent of your device’s max volume for 60 min, and afterwards, take a rest.

Earbuds Are Especially Dangerous

Most folks persist in using wireless earbuds despite the harmful consequences because they find them to be convenient. The ability to listen to music or other sounds without bothering those around you is one of the key reasons why people wear earbuds.

Background noise can be reduced by wearing headphones. This implies that you might be able to identify specific instruments and pick out subtleties in the song.

However, earbuds are especially hazardous to your hearing. This is due to the speaker’s proximity to your eardrum. Furthermore, the wireless earbuds are often of lesser quality, imposing an increase in volume to hear the bass and make out the lyrics above the background sound.

Conclusion

Losing your sense of hearing from headphones and earbuds is a real thing. However, it is simple to avoid hearing impairment from headphone usage.

If you don’t want to permanently harm your hearing, all you have to do is to adopt the above prevention steps to make wise decisions and safeguard your ears.

Being aware is a tremendous tool. If you are always thinking about safe methods to appreciate music, you will avoid a lot of harm to your senses.

You may wish to convert vinyl to MP3 for various other reasons. Nobody wants to lose their prized possessions due to a natural calamity. Digital formats like MP3 are undeniably easier to duplicate and share.

Additionally, while new platforms like Spotify have made music much more accessible than ever before, they don’t always include all your desired recordings. If you have a unique taste in music and own rare vinyl that has yet to be released on other platforms, converting your vinyl collection will be your sole option for listening to such songs on portable devices.

In this article, we will discuss simple steps that will answer the question of how to convert vinyl to MP3. Read on to find out!

Step 1: Clean your Vinyl Records

When digitizing it to MP3, any defect, whether from scratches or dust, will be captured. Vinyl records can accumulate dust over a period of time, so cleaning them before starting the converting process is essential.

It can be done quickly or in a more complicated manner. Still, due to the sound interference produced by dust and dirt on records, you’ll want to take the time to do it well.

If you’re in a hurry, you can get vinyl in decent shape by following a few simple procedures.

To begin, use a static-removing record brush to remove dust and static from the record. Use a cleaning solution and a clean, dry rag to erase scratches, fingerprints, or other apparent defects from a vinyl record.

Important Note: Before you begin recording, make sure the record’s surface is dry, or it could get corrupted.

Step 2: Download a Compatible Audio Recording Software

Audacity is a free, open-source audio recording, editing, and mixing tool. It is available for download on the Audacity official website.

In addition, you also have to install the LAME Encoder. It is a plug-in library for Audacity to convert your vinyl records to MP3 format.

The Audacity website’s FAQ page for Installation and Plug-Ins has detailed instructions for obtaining and installing both of these libraries on Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. The installation of both the Audacity application and the two encoding libraries is quite simple.

Step 3: Connect your Devices

You’ll also need to connect your turntable to the computer. If your turntable has a USB port, just plug it into your computer’s USB port and turn it on. The turntable should be recognized as an audio input by your computer.

If it doesn’t, ensure you go to your turntable’s manufacturer’s website and download the correct drivers. They will be included in the website’s support tab.

If your turntable doesn’t have a USB port, link the player’s output to your computer’s audio input. Check your computer’s handbook to see where you may locate this.

It’s also a good idea to check the volume levels. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar in Windows and choose ‘Sounds.’ Click on ‘Recording’ in the new window that appears, and make sure it’s ‘Set Default’ after selecting the appropriate input as shown below.

Now, attach the turntable and try playing a vinyl record. You can leave things alone if the sound bar remains green or if you can hear the sound levels from your computer speakers.

If your sound bar goes red or your speaker plays a sound on the wrong level, go to ‘Properties’ and then the ‘Levels’ tab. Reduce the volume till the replay is clear. In case the audio from your turntable is very low, then check if the turntable’s pre-amp is turned on or not.

Step 4: Record the Vinyl in Audio Recording Software

Now you may start properly recording your vinyl. Before you begin, double-check that Windows is set to ‘Focus Assist’ in the notifications bar. This will stop the device from making any notification tones, which may or may not be captured based on how the music is recorded.

Begin recording using Audacity, then play your vinyl. You may now leave it to digitize the first side of the vinyl record. Still, it’s essential to keep an eye on the procedure to ensure that everything is running well.

Since a side of vinyl typically lasts 15 to 30 minutes, remember to check when your vinyl finishes playing before continuing to record using Audacity. Also, be cautious while approaching the turntable while it is recording since you don’t want to cause it to jump a certain point from the track.

Press the ‘Stop’ button after the side has been recorded. Save your recording as an Audacity file is now a good idea. This does not convert the recording into an audio file that can be played in a media player. Still, it does allow you to modify it in Audacity.

Step 5: Split Each Track

If you are anything like the majority of people, you would prefer to break up the album into separate tracks. If you’re using the Audacity program, click and drag your mouse over a track’s length to highlight it.

After that, pick Edit from the toolbar, then Labels, then Add Label At Selection from the drop-down menu, and give the track a suitable name.

Step 6: Export All the Tracks

After you have split and labelled each track, go to the toolbar’s File option and pick Export Multiple from the drop-down menu as shown below.

You will be prompted to add a description to your MP3 on the following screen. It will be simpler to arrange your music collection if you include the album and artist name, as well as the song title and record number.

That is how you convert vinyl to MP3. Enjoy your freshly digital music in the media player after the conversion is complete.

You may now do the same thing for each song on that side of the vinyl. After that, you’ll need to record the second side using the same method.

It’ll take some time, but you’ll end up with a digital version of your vinyl in MP3 format that can be played on a variety of devices.

Conclusion

It is that simple to convert vinyl to MP3. You may now listen to your old music whenever and wherever you like without being chained to a turntable and audio system.

You may also free up some storage space by selling or giving away your old vinyl records, as well as the turntable.

Should you ask any audiophile what they’re doing with a new set of headphones, they will almost certainly tell you to burn them in. Audiophiles are music enthusiasts who are dedicated to getting the highest sound quality from their headphones, earphones, speakers, and other audio equipment.

However, some audiophiles believe that headphone burn-in is a fallacy and a waste of effort. So, what does it mean to burn in headphones? Do your headphones need to be burned in? Or will you end up damaging your headphones? Read on to find out!

What Is Headphone Burn-In?

Burn-in, often known as ‘breaking in,’ is the practice of allowing a new set of headphones to play music for 1, 100, or even 1000 hours before you use them.

A new set of headphones straight out of the box (according to audiophiles who burn-in their headphones) may not sound as nice as a pair that has been in use for a longer period. Headphones are burn-in within the first several weeks of ownership to improve sound quality.

Burn-in is the technique of thoroughly checking a system or component before putting it into service by operating it for a lengthy period of time to identify any issues.

The audio version of breaking in a new pair of sneakers is headphone burn-in. You work the diaphragm, headphone drivers, magnets, and voice coils in by playing a variety of frequencies and tones before using new headphones to listen to music or otherwise.

These components are stiff when fresh and do not replicate correct sound waves. They acquire an ideal state for reproducing audio after many hours of break-in.

The goal of breaking in new headphones is to improve their performance by enhancing the audio. On the other hand, most individuals consider breaking in new headphones to be a placebo effect.

So, how do you break in your headphones, and does it make a difference in the sound quality?

How to Burn-in Headphones?

There are a few methods for breaking in headphones. Playing a variety of music, such as white noise, pink noise, broadcast noise, frequency sweeps, and others, is one of the most prevalent. These days, a single search on YouTube will yield videos to burn into your headphones.

Additionally, you may utilize music from various genres to break in the headphones if you have one. Simply load the various audio files onto your music player, plug in your headphones, and listen.

It is advised that you listen to the audio files at a reasonably high volume during the burn-in period. Raising the volume excessively high risks damaging the headphone driver and, in the worst-case scenario, causing failure. When breaking in, it’s best to leave the headphones on, especially if you’re using pink noise or other inaudible audio files.

You don’t need to burn your headphones in for a set length of time. Specialists, audiophiles, and anyone in between have plenty of recommendations, but nothing is guaranteed to work. Headphone burn-in might take anywhere from four hours to 400 hours, depending on what you read.

Is Headphone Burn-In Effective?

Despite the fact that headphone burn-in has been documented for some time, there is no strong evidence to back it up. The majority of people who believe burn-in works do so based on personal experience with their gear.

Some users agree that headphone burn-in is effective. However, you don’t need to listen to pink noise or listen to music for numerous hours. Simply put on your headphones and start listening to music. Other elements, such as the earpads, will alter sound reproduction over time in addition to the relaxation of the headphone driver.

The AKG Q 701 is one of the highly regarded headphones that, according to most audiophiles, improves over a long burn-in time. According to the reviews available on the AKG K701, a break-in time of roughly 300 hours is usually advised.

Shure denied that headphone burn-in could considerably affect the sound quality of a headset in response to an inquiry concerning burn-in or break-in. Shure also indicated that no changes in performance between old (heavily used) and new earbuds had been measured.

The AKG Q701, Beyerdynamic DT 1770, Audeze LCD 2 Classic, and Etymotic HF5 were also put to the test by RTings. Their findings revealed no indication of headphone break-in.

According to the RTings’ guide, the changes they noticed were either too minor to notice or caused by system performance swings or external noise.

Other Factors Affect Headphone Sound Quality

It seems that the verdict is still out on whether headphone burn-in improves your audio experience.

One theory is that a series of tiny adjustments add up to a significant variation in hearing quality. Certainly, headphone parts change mechanically as you are using them. That is the fact that few would dispute.

However, headphones aren’t only mechanical devices. The earpads conform to the shape of your ears, allowing for a better sealing around your ear and clearer audio.

The headphones headband may give just that little, which will assist your convenience. Incorrect headphone fit may make a significant impact on carrier frequency and loudness detection.

Moreover, as you grow more familiar with the headphones, your perception of their range and tuning is likely to shift. Alternatively, if you’ve updated considerably, you’ll notice a considerable difference between your old and new cans.

Conclusion

There is no definitive response that can verify whether the headphone burn-in is genuine or not after reading numerous viewpoints on the subject. But there are minor changes in certain circumstances, and it might be a psychoacoustic effect brought on by a person’s gradual adaptation to new sounds. A placebo effect has also been documented.

Though many feel that headphone burn-in is effective, the improvement in audio quality is nearly imperceptible. The sound of a headphone may likely alter over time due to a variety of variables such as softening or the ear pads falling off.

However, without headphone drivers, you won’t be able to hear anything coming from your headphones. It is one of the essential components of a headphone since it translates electrical data into audible sound waves.

The sizes of the different types of drivers range from 8mm to 50mm. However, the effectiveness of a headphone driver is not only determined by its size.

Some drivers are better than others due to the technologies they utilize. Multiple drivers may be used in certain headphones to handle a wide range of frequencies.

Here, we’ll get through the terminology to explain everything you need to know about headphones driver, one of the most popular headphone components.

What is a Headphone Driver?

A basic speaker that moves air is a headphone driver. Pressure waves are formed as air is forced into the speaker, resulting in a sound that flows through the ear lobes.

A driver, which converts electrical energy to sound energy, is one of the most crucial components of a headphone or speaker. Drivers are usually referred to as transducers or motors and are an essential element of headphones and loudspeakers.

A driver is made up of three parts that work together to produce sound.

The Magnet

It is in charge of producing a magnetic field. The functioning of the magnet in the magnetic circuit can improve sound quality.

Magnets for Bluetooth headphone drivers are typically constructed of cobalt or ferrite. However, uncommon materials are occasionally employed to generate stronger magnets.

Voice Coils

The diaphragm is moved by an electric current passing through the voice coils, which generates the sound you hear.

The conversion of electrical impulses into sound is carried out by voice coils. For more outstanding sound quality, they are frequently built from a variety of materials rather than only copper wire.

The Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a muscular structure that vibrates to create sound waves. A diaphragm is a type of transducer that converts mechanical vibrations into sound waves.

It’s commonly formed of a thin membrane or a sheet of various materials with its edges hanging. When electricity vibrates a diaphragm, it generates sound waves by beating against the air.

Impact of Size On Sound Quality

A bigger Bluetooth headphone driver unit generates stronger bass in general. However, this does not imply that headphones with huge drivers provide excellent quality than those with smaller drivers.

Whenever it comes to the audio quality of headphones, there are a lot of variables to consider. The size of the driver in your headphones does affect things, but not in the way you may think.

The enclosure of the headphone driver unit, it’s tuning, and the ear cushioning are the three most critical factors to consider. Look for drivers built of high-quality, flexible material that won’t break under high-power conditions.

Remember that the type of cushioning utilized and the cup’s enclosure have a more considerable influence on sound quality than the driver’s size.

Types of Headphones Driver Units

Here are some of the most popular types of driver units found in earbuds and headphones.

Dynamic (Moving Coil) Drivers

These are the most prevalent form of Bluetooth headphone driver on the market, and they are relatively affordable. They make sound by utilizing the science of electromagnetic and magnetism to move things around.

A voice coil, a diaphragm linked to the voice coil, and a neodymium magnet are the three main components of a dynamic driver.

The voice coil is magnetized by the neodymium magnet, which turns it into an electromagnet. The voice coil generates a magnetic field when it receives electricity. The magnetic field flows in directions dictated by the current flow.

The voice coil moves back and forth fast due to the magnetic field. As a result, the sound is produced when the diaphragm linked to the voice coil moves and displaces its air. A significant air displacement is generally the source of a high volume.

Because of its high capacity to displace air, a dynamic driver is excellent at producing bass. It is also highly effective and does not take a lot of power to achieve significant volume because it has a primary mechanism.

On the other hand, a dynamic driver has one big drawback: it can distort the audio at high volumes (non-linear distortion). However, excellent engineering can correct this flaw. Dynamic drivers are used in some of the highest-end headphones on the market.

Electrostatic Drivers

These are incredibly rare and costly. Electrostatic drivers work on the principle that similar charges repel each other, but opposite charges attract.

The diaphragm pushes and pulls on two conductive plates, which can be positively or negatively charged or two electrodes, causing vibrations. The diaphragm then pushes air through the perforated walls, creating sound waves together with the continual fluctuation of the electrical signal.

These are drivers that need the use of specialized amplifiers in order to reach their full capacity. As a result, this sort of driver is typically found in high-end headphones with an open-back construction.

Planar Magnetic Drivers

Most open-back over-ear headphones have planar magnetic drivers. They’re usually found in high-end headphones, and they’re quite thin.

They use magnetic fields to generate sound, just as dynamic drivers. Unlike dynamic drivers, however, which trigger the voice coil, the magnetic field directly triggers the diaphragm to make a sound.

Because the entire diaphragm must be vibrated equally, larger or more magnets may be employed. However, this makes the headphones bulky and inconvenient to transport. Extra power from the audio source may be required, or you may need to purchase an external amplifier.

Headphones with planar magnetic drivers are more expensive, but the sound produced by the drivers is of more outstanding quality. It offers superb transient response and very little distortion. Since the diaphragm is broad and narrow, the electromagnetic force is powerful, a significant volume of air is displaced, the bass response is good.

Bone Conduction Drivers

These drivers employ bone conduction to transmit vibrations straight to the user’s inner ear bypassing the eardrum. Individuals who need to wear headphones in environments where they still need to hear surrounding noises or have hearing difficulties can benefit from headphones with this type of driver.

With bone conduction drivers, though, you’ll almost probably be sacrificing practicality for quality. When it comes to providing high-quality sound, this category currently falls short of other drivers.

Balanced Armature Drivers

These are relatively small drivers that are commonly found in in-ear monitors. Makers will place numerous drivers in a single earpiece because of their size. The majority of in-ear monitors include one to four drivers.

These earphones can replicate various frequencies with minimum distortions because of several drivers in a single earpiece. A single driver usually is in charge of the bass notes, while the remaining drivers are in charge of the remainder.

Spotify HiFi might be the Holy Grail for high-fidelity audiophiles. Spotify would offer some of your favorite music in lossless, CD-quality audio to compete with streaming services like Tidal.

High-quality music streaming, according to Spotify, is regularly one of the most requested new additions by its customers, who were previously restricted to 320kbps.

Apple and Amazon recently addressed higher-resolution music by making Apple Lossless Audio and Amazon Music HD free to Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited customers — which might be a clue that Spotify HiFi is on the way.

But what is lossless audio? How much better is it than the music you’re listening to now? Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know.

What is Lossless Audio?

Before we jump into the meaning of lossless audio, it’s necessary to understand the words bitrate and sample rate, which are often employed.

Bitrate: The amount of data encoded as audio every second is referred to as bitrate. Because data is expressed in bits, bitrate is usually expressed in kilobits per second (kbps).

Sample rate: The sample rate is the number of times the sound is transformed to data in a second. The sample rate is given in Kilo Hertz (kHz) since any value per second signifies frequency.

If you’re not sure what bitrate and sample rate means, remember that the greater the bitrate and sample rate, the better the audio quality you’ll hear.

The majority of audio files found online these days are in MP3 format. This format is common since it is extensively supported across an extensive range of devices with no compatibility concerns.

However, MP3 is a compressed audio file format, which means you may miss out on some of the data you’d get from a lossless audio file. Some audiophiles believe they can’t tell the difference between 320kbps MP3 and a lossless format like FLAC.

Audio streaming providers also utilize the AAC format, which is marginally better than MP3 but still compresses the audio.

Lossless refers to a form of compressed digital audio file that employs advanced data compression techniques to ensure that the audio track does not “lose” any detail during the compression process.

A compressed audio file, such as an MP3 or an AAC, is typically around 1/4 the size of the original recording. Lossless compressed audio files, such as FLAC or ALAC (Apple Lossless), are currently around half the size of their original recordings.

Apple Lossless Audio

Apple Lossless Audio Codec is Apple’s proprietary lossless audio compression technology (ALAC). Aside from AAC, Apple Music’s entire collection is now encoded in ALAC, with resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) to 24-bit/192 kHz.

They’re giving Apple Music members a choice to listen to music in lossless audio compression, despite the fact that the difference between AAC and lossless audio is nearly imperceptible.

Lossless audio streaming over a mobile or Wi-Fi network uses a lot more bandwidth. Furthermore, downloading lossless music takes up a lot more space on your device. Higher resolutions need the usage of more data than lesser resolutions.

Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec is used in AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones to provide superb audio quality. Bluetooth connections, on the other hand, are not lossless.

Simply erase the music you’ve previously downloaded from Apple Music and redownload it from the Apple Music collection to receive a lossless version.

How to Listen to Lossless Audio on iPhone

These are required to listen to lossless on an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 14.6 or later.

• A wired connection to either receivers, headphones, or powered speakers.
• Also, the built-in speakers.
• You’ll need an external digital-to-analog converter to listen to music with sample rates greater than 48 kHz.

How to Turn On/Off Lossless Compression?

• Step 1: Go to the Music section of the Settings menu.
• Step 2: Select Audio Quality from the menu.
• Step 3: Lossless Audio can be turned on or off by tapping it. You may select the audio quality for streaming and downloading music from this menu.
• For a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz, it’s lossless.
• For a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz, choose Hi-Res Lossless.

Anything Better Than Lossless Audio

Lossless audio simply implies that no data is missing during the compression process; the quality of a lossless file is thus determined by the original source being compressed.

Although lossless is commonly used to refer to digital audio files with the same quality as a CD (16-bit/44.1 kHz), many lossless streaming services provide even higher-quality digital audio files.

Tidal allows HiFi subscribers to listen to Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) certified recordings up to 24bit/96kHz. In contrast, Amazon Music HD allows users to listen to “Ultra HD” up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The problem is that most lossless streaming sites lack an extensive library of these very high-resolution audio tracks. And they’re not supported by every lossless streaming provider.

Is It Worth it to Pay For a Lossless Streaming Service?

Only when you’ve established that you can tell the difference between lossy and lossless audio. The fact is that most people don’t know the difference between a typical MP3 and a lossless FLAC or ALAC file.

Another thing to consider is that if you want to hear the superior audio quality that a lossless audio file can provide, you’ll need the correct speakers, headphones, and streaming devices to do so.

You must be streaming from a device that supports lossless tracks in order to get the most out of our lossless streaming service.

For example, if you have a MAC or iPhone, only a few lossless streaming services, such as Tidal HiFi and Qobuz, offer ALAC.

Furthermore, if you usually listen to music on your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, you won’t be able to get the most out of a lossless streaming service because it relies on a Bluetooth connection that can’t play real lossless audio.

Conclusion

If you’re a true audiophile, then you should be excited about lossless audio.

If you can’t detect the difference between lossy and lossless audio, which should represent a large percentage of the population, not much will change, except perhaps slightly greater data usage.

Unlike video content, where going from 480p to 1080p makes a significant difference, the lossless audio boost may not be as noticeable to many people.

As a result, many product descriptions resemble a technical spreadsheet. The wall of technical jargon might be perplexing, specifically if you don’t spend your time researching high-tech equipment.

We won’t be able to answer all of your questions at once. But today, we’ll clarify one of the most frequently asked questions: what is aptX? We’ll go over everything in detail and explain all you need to know.

What is aptX?

AptX is an audio codec for compressing and decompressing music while streaming through Bluetooth at its most general level. It serves as the packing for your audio product, with Bluetooth A2DP (the most widely used Bluetooth profile) acting as the courier.

It was initially created in the 1980s and commercialized in the 1990s before being purchased by Qualcomm, a chipset maker, in 2015. aptX was first used in consumer devices in 2009, and hundreds of top audio companies have now embraced it.

It’s a step higher than the basic lossy SBC (Subband Coding) codec, which typically supports Bluetooth A2DP music delivery at 256kbps.

Even if your device sends out high-quality audio files, you won’t be able to hear anything higher than MP3 quality on the other end.

AptX was created as a response to this. It employs an enhanced custom compression to shrink the audio to a size similar to SBC but with more of the actual frequency range preserved.

This claims a “CD-like” transfer of your music. However, the compression it employs means it won’t quite match the 16-bit/44.1kHz quality.

However, as compared to SBC, it does help to reduce latency to a minimum. When watching a video, this is very important for maintaining speech in sync, and it also sounds better.

What is aptX Bluetooth?

To comprehend what aptX HD is, we must first define ‘classic’ aptX. It’s an audio-coding method developed in the late 1980s and is widely used by film studios and radio stations.

Steven Spielberg was an early user, working with others to use aptX to capture sound for 5.1 digital playbacks in movies.
aptX is now associated with Bluetooth, which may be found on a wide range of laptops, cellphones, AV receivers, and other contemporary electronics devices. Its main feature is the ability to broadcast full-bandwidth audio.

It’s also made to sound better than traditional Bluetooth. The compression ratio of classic aptX is 4:1, with a data rate of 352kbps.

What is aptX Low Latency?

Although aptX has always been somewhat lossless than the competition, it has always had a drawback. Earlier versions of the aptX codec took a lengthy time to decode, sometimes up to 100 milliseconds.

If you were a radio announcer, this wasn’t a huge problem. It was also not an issue for the entertainment industry. Nobody noticed if your audio track had a delay of 100 milliseconds? Things are always possible to correct in post-production.

aptX Low Latency is meant to have a maximum delay of 40 milliseconds. If you recall what we mentioned before, this is a small delay that is barely apparent. It’s somewhat more lossless than normal aptX, but only the most ardent music lovers will notice.

Qualcomm launched aptX Adaptive in 2018, a third new codec. When the connection is steady enough, aptX Adaptive assures minimal latency but changes to more miniature lossy versions of the codec. We haven’t yet seen any earphones with this functionality, but it’s coming.

The Future of aptX Technology

Updated versions of aptX are beginning to appear in devices, and they have the capacity to be much more exciting.

While using Bluetooth headphones, you may have observed a lip-sync issue when the sounds don’t line up with vocal inflection. The additional processing necessary to send the audio to your ears through Bluetooth causes this. Low Latency lowers the duration from 200-300 milliseconds in SBC to about 40 milliseconds in Low Latency.

Lip-sync problems should be resolved as a result of this. The aptX Adaptive codec will have a comparable delay of about 80 milliseconds.

Another thing to keep in mind is that iPhones do not yet support the aptX codec. Instead, they’ve been concentrating on W1, their own proprietary codec. As a consequence, using aptX Low Latency earphones with iOS devices will not improve your experience.

You’ve probably heard people talk about bandwidths and compression, as well as more specialized terminology like lossless.

This may be a challenge for the ordinary customer who simply wants to buy a set of headphones with a codec that ensures outstanding audio quality and a quick, reliable connection.

Several Bluetooth audio codecs comparisons are made, notably A2DP vs. aptX, LDAC vs. aptX, LDAC vs. AAC, and aptX vs. AAC. Here are several Bluetooth audio codecs to keep an eye out for.

What is aptX?

The aptX audio codec for Bluetooth has been around since the late 1980s. The goal was to offer CD-quality music through a Bluetooth connection at the time.

AptX is a lossy compressed format that supports 16-bit/48-kHz LCPM audio data at up to 352 kbps. AptX utilizes compression to transmit this quantity of data wirelessly, which helps to minimize latency. As a result, the file sizes are quite tiny.

This is the most widely used consumer Bluetooth codec for MP3s today. The majority of Android handsets support this Bluetooth audio codec.

What is LDAC?

Sony’s custom audio codec is called LDAC. The variable bit rate is the star of the show here, with the industry’s most significant bit-rate transfer figures. Anything up to 990 kbps is on the cards here.

However, LDAC isn’t commonly utilized, so if your device supports it, you’ll have to dive into the developer options to enable it.

Even so, once it’s up and running, LDAC will allow you to transmit three times the quantity of data in the same amount of time as a regular SBC.

LDAC, once a Sony exclusive, has been available on Android since Android 8.0 Oreo and is now part of the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP).

The LDAC Bluetooth audio codec is supported by smartphones, including the LG V40 ThinQ and the Samsung Galaxy S9+.

What is SBS?

Sub-band coding (SBC) is the preset Bluetooth audio codec. It hence represents the low-quality audio via Bluetooth that you should accept.

Support for SBC isn’t exactly a selling feature for smartphones or headphones, but it’s a need for most of them. It is required for all A2DP-capable devices. The maximum transfer rate is around 320 kbps.

What is A2DP?

Advanced Music Distribution Profile stands for Advanced Audio Distribution Profile. It means that it doesn’t signify anything in the context of something which is currently streaming audio.

A2DP is more or less the default for streaming music over Bluetooth because it is one of the earliest parts of the unified Bluetooth specification.

Any Bluetooth audio equipment you buy—headphones, speakers, phones, and laptops—will at the very least support A2DP, regardless of whether it can also operate with aptX.

The A2DP standard is stereo and supports the majority of common audio compression codecs. At 48 kilohertz, the suggested sub-band coding (SBC) codec allows up to 345 kilobits per second.

That’s about a third of the quality of regular CD audio, or about the same as a high-quality MP3 recording. The audio quality is far worse in actuality, at around 256kbit/s, due to the SBC codec’s extreme “lossless” compression.

The system also supports other popular ways of encoding and compressing audio, such as MP3. The audio source does not need to be re-encoded in SBC if it is already compressed in a format like MP3, AAC, or ATRAC. With A2DP’s maximum audio bandwidth of 728kbit/s, it’s feasible to get high-quality audio.

However, few hardware manufacturers appear to be using this feature, and most A2DP-only products re-encode audio to SBC before decoding on the receiver end. This complicates the entire process, resulting in worse audio quality.

What is AAC?

If you purchase an Apple iPhone, you will receive advanced audio coding (AAC). It’s also the accessible version of YouTube’s default compression standard.

AAC produces a sound comparable to MP3 rather than CD quality, although the transmission rate is limited to 250 kbps.
AAC uses a lot of power, which might shorten the battery life of smartphones and Bluetooth headphones.

AAC is supported by top brand headphones such as the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, in addition to Apple iPhones.

The discussion over whether AAC vs. aptX HD is better has been overshadowed by the Android vs. iPhone controversy. Not only for sound quality but also dependability, most people prefer aptX HD.

Best Bluetooth Audio Codec

Quality is subjective, as it is with all audio and music in general. We all desire high-definition audio with negligible latency. Still, there are compromises to be made, such as battery consumption and connection reliability.

The fact is that it is a matter of personal choice. Qualcomm’s aptx HD has become a de facto industry standard for Android HD audio. Still, any Apple fanatic will tell you that AAC is just as excellent.

The source of the sound and the external device, such as your headphones, must support the same Bluetooth audio codec. Picking the appropriate goods becomes more of a game of matching pairings than pursuing the most desired audio codec support.

You can use your smartphone with various Bluetooth audio output devices, such as headphones and wireless speakers. The goal is typically to achieve parity across all of your devices rather than a single perfect match.

An Ideal Party Tool

BOSE S1 Pro is a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that offers excellent sound and a durable structure that lets you use it in almost any situation. This is a portable and highly versatile device, with a great set of features and enhancement options that rightfully position it at the sheer top among the best Bluetooth speakers out there. There is also solid connectivity, good compatibility, and a very good mixture of characteristics that make an excellent portable speaker.

Specifications:

Connectivity: Bluetooth and 3.5 mm analog connection
Driver’s size: 5 cm
Battery life: 11 hours
Weight: 7000 grams
Dimensions: Height 330 mm, Width 241 mm, Depth 284 mm

Features

In other words, other than the great sound with plenty of basses, BOSE S1 Pro also comes with multiple built-in sensors and a large number of aiming positions, offering the best possible experience, in almost any position. There is also a decent rechargeable, lithium-ion battery that provides some 11 hours of work, as well as both Bluetooth and wired connectivity that offers a reliable, low-latency performance, as should be the case with the device of this class.

Also, the Bluetooth connection has a wireless range of up to 9 meters, while the speaker comes fitted with the 3-channel mixer, with EQ controls on two channels, the ToneMatch processing function, and a dedicated channel for streaming from both wireless and wire-connected devices.

BOSE S1 Pro comes with an Auto EQ function, multiple inputs that include 2 combo XLR inputs, 3.5 mm and Bluetooth input, as well as TRS line output that should give you a decent level of versatility.

To make things even better, BOSE S1 Pro is also compatible with Android and iOS devices and can be easily controlled over the Bose Connect app that eases pairing with other Bose S1 Pro speakers and lets you create multiple surround sound configurations up to your wishes, and much more.

Usage

As mentioned earlier, BOSE S1 Pro has a powerful sound with a mighty bass, while the audio profile is well-balanced, which makes it ideal for different genres. Its only weakness is the lack of low bass, which proves to be insufficient for watching action-packed movies, making deep thumps and rumbles rather weak and unconvincing.

On the other hand, BOSE S1 Pro proves to be an ideal option for podcasts and similar materials due to the balanced mid-range sound and clear and accurate reproduction of voices, which can be crucial for this type of content.

BOSE S1 Pro allows easy pairing and provides a straightforward use, which makes it suitable for any age. Also, it is lightweight and has a carrying handle that makes it highly portable, while the good and reliable Bluetooth and wired connection allows for trouble-free streaming, letting you enjoy your favorite content in the best possible way.

Design

When talking about design, Bose S1 Pro brings a highly durable build; however, it doesn’t include any special protections such as dust, or water resistance. Most of its parts are made out of black plastic, while the front of the speaker comes with a steel grille that both protects the drive inside and brings a bit of class to the speaker’s looks.

The overall build is pretty small, with a many-angled shape, while the quality of the materials used seems pretty solid and worth the higher price tag.

Bose S1 Pro also comes with a 35mm pole cup at the bottom that allows its mounting on a speaker stand, multiple inputs and outputs, as well as the built-in three-channel mixer that gives it additional versatility.

Good

All in all, Bose S1 Pro presents a pretty good overall package and offers a well-balanced, loud sound, with easy multi-device pairing and a portable design that makes this speaker suitable for any purpose, whether that is a beach or house party, or you enjoying podcasts.

However, is the most important about this speaker is its great adaptability and ability to provide excellent sound, regardless of the surroundings or its positioning. Bose S1 Pro can be placed on a stand, table, or the floor, it can even be tilted in the back and still deliver an excellent performance.

Also, there is the three-channel mixer, with the ToneMatch feature that allows you to enhance the vocals, pianos, guitars, letting you have the best possible audio experience. In other words, Bose S1 Pro presents a complete product that offers the performance of the best bookshelf speakers.

Bad

Still, the fact remains that it has a bad soundstage performance and that its low-end output requires improvements. Also, the 11-hour battery life may be good enough for a party; nonetheless, if you look at the competition and see how much more autonomy they provide, you will see that the Bose S1 Pro’s 11-hour battery life is rather disappointing.

In addition, don’t forget that the Bose S1 Pro doesn’t offer any special protection against water, dust, or similar factors, which certainly isn’t a good thing to know.

Final Thoughts

However, if you observe the overall picture, it is obvious that the Bose S1 Pro brings an excellent value to the customer. Yes, it also costs a lot; nonetheless, for its high price you are getting excellent sound, multiple sound enhancements, and equally importantly, great portability.

In addition, this speaker can be successfully used for a variety of purposes, different content types, and even put in so many different positions, and still provide great audio.

In other words, if you are after one of the best Bluetooth speakers in the class that will give you everything you need and much more, Bose S1 Pro is the speaker to look for and a great option – of course, if the amount of money required for its purchase isn’t too much for you.

All in all, Bose S1 Pro is a great product, perfect for many users, and a device that certainly won’t disappoint you in any situation.

A Decent All-Purpose Headset

JBL T450BT is a budget-friendly headset, with a decent sound performance and great stability. This is an easy-to-use device, with a lightweight design and a solid 11-hour battery life that should give you reasonable autonomy. In other words, if you are after a solid multipurpose headset option, JBL T450BT is the device to seriously consider.

Specifications:

Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0
Microphone Type: Built-in
Driver size: 2 x 32 mm
Sensitivity: 109 dB (1 kHz)
Impedance: 16 ohms
Frequency Response: 80 Hz – 18 kHz
Battery life: 11 hours
Weight: 300 grams
Cable length: 1.3 meters
Dimensions: Width 217 mm, Depth 46 mm, Height 182 mm

Features

JBL T450BT is an affordable and well-performing device that has its downsides; however, in general, it brings pretty good value for the money. It includes two 32mm drivers that deliver some serious bass, a built-in microphone, and a comfy build that should allow you to use this headset for a longer period.

In addition, JBL T450BT offers a straightforward use, Bluetooth 4.0 connection, and a weight of only 300 grams, which makes it very portable. Also, this headset comes with three-button controls for easier use and brings a well-balanced sound suitable for the most.
On the other hand, what isn’t that good is the build, which is cheap and flimsy; however, considering its price, it is somewhat expected.

Usage

JBL T450BT proves to be a very good multipurpose option. Therefore, it should be no surprise that it shows very good results in mixed usage, sports, and office work, and it is a good travel option. In other words, its simple, lightweight design, combined with ease of use and good performance, makes a winning formula and a product worth having.

It should be stated that the JBL T450BT provides a well-balanced sound, with strong bass and good mid ranges. However, its treble tends to be a bit too sharp, while the overall sound may lack consistency; nonetheless, for this price range, certain compromises had to be made.

Some of those compromises also include the lack of the proper noise isolation that may result in a bad sound in louder surroundings, as well as a bit tighter fit that will prevent this headset from falling during running or some other physical activity, yet may cause a bit of fatigue in a long run.

Also, have in mind that the JBL T450BT has a small soundstage that isn’t anything major; nonetheless, may be a problem for more neutral-oriented users that may find it problematic.

Design

As already mentioned, JBL T450BT isn’t among the best gaming headsets considering the build quality, and it brings a bit cheaper, plasticky build; however, for the price, that is the most you will get from both JBL and other manufacturers and you have to live with that or invest more money.

When talking about the design, the JBL T450BT brings simple looks, with small on-ear cups and a low-profile headband, without padding. JBL T450BT is also lacking a 3.5mm jack, which means that the only connectivity option is Bluetooth – which isn’t so great.

This headset is available in three color combinations (black, blue, and white) and it comes with three-button commands, on the device itself, for easier control that involves track-sipping, volume control, and call/music management. In addition, there is also a power button that allows for easy pairing, as well as a built-in microphone. Altogether, it’s a pretty good package.

Good

JBL T450BT has everything needed for the best budget headset. There is a solid audio performance, with strong bass, as well as a lightweight build, great versatility, and equally importantly, ease of use.

In addition, there is also a built-in microphone, a reasonable price, as well as multiple controls on the device itself that are another bonus to the overall great usability. There is also a decent battery life, a strong fit. Essentially, everything needed is there.

Bad

Unfortunately, the JBL T450BT doesn’t come without flaws. There are a few of them, in fact. In the first place, the poor noise isolation is causing issues in the louder surroundings.

Then, there is the flimsy build, as well as the tight fit that keeps the headset from falling off during sports activities, yet creates a bit of an unpleasant feeling in the long run. Also, there is a lack of wired connectivity and with that in mind, no 3.5mm jack that most users are seeking. In other words, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Final Thoughts

Al in all, JBL T450BT has everything that the affordable headset should, yet it isn’t flawless. However, these issues aren’t deal-breakers for most users, yet it would be nice to have them fixed with some future iterations.

When talking about competition, JBL T450BT positions itself in the same class as Sony WH-CH510 Wireless, for example, which offers more accurate sound and a better battery life; nonetheless, it is less stable and has a weaker bass.

Another close competitor of the JBL T450BT is the Sony WH-CH500 that offers a similar build quality, with the difference that the Sony WH-CH500 has a better overall sound and comes with better sound isolation that rightfully positions in above the JBL headset.

Other than these two, JBL T450BT is also in close competition with the JBL Tune 510BT Wireless, which offers a similar value for the money, but has different characteristics, which makes both models special in their own way, and hard to position.

All in all, JBL T450BT is exactly what you need if you have a limited budget, yet want to experience a good sound. Therefore, if you are after the best headset in the budget-friendly market, you may be sure the JBL T450BT will fulfill your every need, and much more.

An Affordable, Well-Good Performing Headphones

JBL E55BT are decent-performing Bluetooth headphones that offer comfortable use and a respectable level of reliability for their low price. This is a headset with a very good battery life of 20 hours and a pretty good value for money that is one of its key selling points in the first place. Of course, have in mind that this is no top-class product and that there are numerous compromises; however, considering the price, what it delivers is more than reasonable.

Specifications:

Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, 3.5mm analog
Type of charging: over the micro USB cable
Microphone Type: Built-in
Driver size: 50 mm
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Sensitivity: 107 dB (1 kHz)
Battery life: 20 hours
Weight: 231 grams
Dimensions: Length 221 mm, Height 101 mm, Width 183 mm

Features

JBL E55BT offers balanced sound, with decent bass, due to its 50 mm drives and offers ease of use that is another thing that should be appreciated about this device. There are also integrated control buttons on the right ear cup, a built-in microphone, a one-button remote for wired listening, and even a detachable cable that adds to the device’s great usability.

As mentioned, there is also a Lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that requires only two hours for a full charge and has a great battery life that should give you some 20 hours of autonomy. Also, the JBL E55BT is a lightweight piece of equipment, with decent build quality and is available in five different colors that are another bonus to its versatility.

In other words, every essential is there; nonetheless, some more refined features are out of the picture, which is expected for its price range.

Usage

When talking about the overall performance, JBL E55BT proves to be a very good option and offers a pretty dynamic, refined sound, although not as rich as you may get with the best studio headphones available. In addition, there is also a powerful bass, strong high-mids, and a treble push that gives a nice level of details, yet makes the sound a bit bright.

In the midrange, it delivers a natural sound, including the vocals that sound clear and more than decent for the price.

To make things even better, JBL E55BT is very comfortable to wear and offers a secure fit that allows you to also enjoy some sort of activity while using it, without the fear of them falling off.

Bluetooth is also quite good and offers reliable performance, while the cable connectivity automatically switches headphones to the passive mode, saving battery and delivering more than pleasing results.

Unfortunately, although the JBL E55BT brings good sound isolation and prevents outside sounds to interfere with the overall experience, its influence in the opposite direction is rather disappointing and it won’t give you the deserved level of privacy. In other words, it allows for the person that sits next to you, to hear what you are listening to when the volume is at 70% or more, which certainly isn’t something to be appreciated.

Design

In the design department, the JBL E55BT doesn’t offer anything spectacular and brings mostly a plastic built that includes the cups, inside of the headbands, and even the pads. There is also a little bit of metal in the headband itself and a fabric covering it; however, the plastic dominates, which is more than understandable considering the price.

The earpads provide a soft feeling and are covered with leather imitation cloth, while the earcups are built out of matte plastic and decorated with the JBL logo in the middle. Similar to the earpads, the headband also offers great cushioning and guarantees a comfortable use, which is more than beneficial.

JBL E55BT is available in multiple colors (black, blue, green, red, and white), and offers built-in button commands on the right cup that seems cheap; however, they do the job. These buttons include the power/pairing switch with LEDs, volume buttons, as well as playback and call management buttons that, when pushed together, can be used for track navigation.

Also, there is a 3.5mm jack for the included wired cable and passive connection, and the micro USB connection on the left earcup that allows for easy charging. In other words, everything needed for trouble-free use is there.

Good

JBL E55BT offers quite a lot for its price and although affordable, has a nice collection of features and qualities that maybe doesn’t position its neck and neck with the best headphones on the market, but it definitely does place it within the best budget-friendly headphones.

There is powerful audio, with strong bass, clear vocals, and very good highs. Also, there is solid connectivity that includes both a reliable wireless Bluetooth 4.0 connection and an analog wired connection.

Not to mention that the JBL E55BT headphones are very comfortable to wear, even during long periods, and that the overall build is quite lightweight, which is certainly another bonus.

There are also easy-to-use commands on the device itself, and excellent battery life. In other words, everything needed for a pleasant user experience is there.

Bad

Unfortunately, the JBL E55BT has a few flaws, too. Luckily, they are nothing major; nonetheless, they do exist and involve the lack of noise cancellation and a carrying case. Also, there is no aptX or NFC support, while the music significantly leaks outside, which may be rather disturbing for many users.

In other words, there is a lot of space for improvements.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the JBL E55BT is probably the best model you can find for the price. The closest competition to the JBL E55BT are Audio-Technica ATH-S700BT and Sennheiser HD 4.40. These headphones offer a similar level of performance and build quality, yet also have their downsides.

Also, there is the Sony MDR-XB950BT that comes at a similar price; however, it offers much more bass, which, on the other hand, may not be the perfect fit for everyone.

All in all, JBL E55BT is exactly what it should be, a decent headset for a reasonable price.

A Perfect Tool for Outside Partying

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is a fair-priced, compact Bluetooth speaker that brings a powerful sound and excellent durability that rightfully positions it among the best Bluetooth speakers available. This is an easy-to-use the device, with great looks and a 360-degree sound that makes it suitable for any sort of outdoor activity, whether that is a beach party, or you being alone with your thoughts.

Specifications:

Connectivity: Bluetooth
Drivers size: 5 cm
Battery life: 15 hours
Weight: 608 grams
Dimensions: Height 184 mm, Diameter 73 mm

Features

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is a more mainstream-oriented Bluetooth speaker, with a limited number of features, and is devoted mostly to users looking for fun and joy, while the true audio experience is not in its main focus.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 brings a terrible sound. Its sound is crystal clear and loud, offering a pleasant user experience; however, the sound itself isn’t as refined, which means that the true audiophiles should certainly look for something else.

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is a wireless Bluetooth speaker, with a lightweight, 608-gram build and great durability features that involve a dust-proof rating, as well as the IP67 water-proof rating that allows its use in almost any surroundings, including the beach, shower, and similar.

This is a micro-USB-charged device, with a pretty decent 15-hour battery life, and more importantly, great pairing capabilities that allow its pairing with up to eight Bluetooth-enabled source devices (it can be connected with up to two devices at the same time). Also, this device is compatible with the other UE Boom and Megaboom speakers and can create a surround sound system with up to 150 of these devices, creating a unique surround experience.

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 has a wireless range of some 45 meters and comes with four different presets. Also, it has a customized tuner and supports wireless charging; however, such activity requires the purchase of a separate charging dock, which certainly isn’t great.

Usage

When talking about the usage, Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is super-easy to use. There are the basic functions on the device itself, such as the play/pause function, skipping songs, yet most importantly, a magic button that can be assigned a certain task, such as switching between the playlists, or that it allows streaming from the services such as the Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, or Apple Music.

Of course, for something like that, you will need an intuitive dedicated app that offers straightforward use and multiple settings, as well as the ability to turn your Ultimate Ears Boom 3 into an alarm clock, for instance. Also, it should be mentioned that the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 allows for easy pairing, allowing for multiple setups, while the audio performance itself creates clear and loud sound, perfect for parties and gatherings.

Unfortunately, the general quality of the sound isn’t of the highest level, which is most notable in the bass that is lacking the punch and high ends that can get distorted at high volumes. In other words, the overall audio performance simply isn’t up to the high standards, which is somewhat expected considering the drive’s size of only 5cm and the size of the speaker.

Design

The design department is where the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 shines, bringing the cylindrical build that can fit into a large soda can, allowing you to hold the speaker in the same places as you would hold your soda can or water bottle.

Its small size and lightweight nature make it super-portable, while the shimmering two-tone fabric, available in four color combinations (Dusk, Lagoon Blue, Sunset Red, and Ultraviolet Purple) makes this speaker unique and eye-catching when placed next to the other best Bluetooth speakers.

Ultimate Ears Boom 3 brings a durable build and is fitted with the basic functions on the device itself, such as volume buttons and the three additional buttons for on/of, as well as playback controls.

Inside of it, there are the two 5-cm drivers and two 10-cm passive radiators, while the device itself is highly protected and comes with the IP67 waterproof rating, dust-proof rating and, according to the claims of the Ultimate Ears, it can also stand a fall from one-meter height or more; however, that is not confirmed.

Good

Everything needed for a good beach party is here. There is a loud and clear sound, great durability, even great portability, thanks to the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 608-gram weight and small height of only 18 cm.

On top of that, these Bluetooth speakers allow for easy pairing with up to eight source devices, as well as the creation of surround sound that can be consisted of up to 150 UE Boom and Megaboom speakers. In addition, Ultimate Ears Boom 3 also has a competitive price; it has a two-year warranty and presents a complete product that is neck and neck with the best boomboxes out there.

Bad

That, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 comes without any downsides – there are some. In the first place, that is its not that great audio performance, as well as the lack of a microphone that presents sort of a standard for the devices of this type, especially in this price range.

Another thing that presents a not-that-beneficial aspect of the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is its wireless charging feature, which is great by itself; however, when you need to buy an additional charging dock to get it, things simply don’t seem right.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is a pretty good Bluetooth speaker, with excellent usability, great durability, and solid performance that won’t impress you; nonetheless, it will bring you a good enough audio experience, suitable for small parties or small gatherings, which is the main goal of the Bluetooth speakers in the first place.