Wired vs Wireless Headphones

We can’t help you with the answer of who came first, an egg or a chicken? But we can certainly help you with the solution of what to prefer between a wired headphone and a wireless one? Choosing a headphone is always challenging for everyone as there are many different options available in the market, from the cheapest possible to the costliest one. 

A headphone is a fundamental gadget that we all need. Most people favour listening to music to zone out themselves in a world full of chaos and babble, and to do that, we all need a sustainable device. There are many platforms for listening to music, be it Spotify, Apple Music, Gaana, Hungama, JioSaavn, Wynk or the latest YouTube Music, and to enjoy every single beat of the music, we all need a perfect headphone which should also suit your lifestyle and music taste.

A few years ago, wireless earphones were not as popular, but ever since Apple discontinued the 3.5 mm jack from its devices, everything transformed. As most of the smartphone companies started following in the footsteps of Apple. However, there are still many smartphone companies offering a 3.5 mm jack in their latest devices, and this is how one of the biggest questions came to be, what to prefer between a wired and a wireless headphone?

Looking from a neutral point of view, wired or wireless both have their cons and pros, but in the end, it all depends on the individual’s choice. To know them better, let’s have a look at them individually. Owning the latest wireless headphone will help you stay on top of the newest technologies, while possessing a wired headphone will keep you a little away from excess radiation.

Wired Headphones:

Wired headphones work in the same way as other wired devices work; plug them in the headphone jack, and they’ll dispatch sound from it. Despite being an old school gadget, they are still a dependable choice for a vast number of people. Also, nothing can beat the audio quality of wired headphones, thanks to the technology that made vital improvements in them over the years. 

Advantages:

Wired headphones receive an analogue signal, which can manage more data than Bluetooth; this is how they offer the best sound quality. Wired headphones don’t need charging or batteries, so there’s no requirement to recheck them before going out on a trail or work, but if you’re looking for wired active noise-cancelling headphones, then you must know, they need batteries. 

Wireless technology is more expensive than wired ones; that’s why wired headphones always cost less than their wireless counterparts. Also, wired headphones are easier to repair. They are more user friendly as there’s no requirement of pairing devices before use, plug them into the device, and you’re ready to enjoy your favourite music.

Disadvantages:

Everything in this world comes with some level of disadvantages; nothing’s perfect. With all the benefits, wired headphones have a few downwards factors, like you can’t move beyond the length of headphones wire; if you want to listen to the music, you must have to stick to the limits. 

One of the most significant issues people face with wired headphones is that if the wires get damaged, it could result in music playing on only one ear. Also, the cord can get in the way or get caught in something when you’re exercising, walking in public places, making your task difficult.

Wireless Headphones:

One of the great conveniences of human life is having a pair of completely wire-free headphones as they keep you away from the worry of tangling your wires all the time with their wireless structure. Wireless headphones use radio transmission technology to carry audio data from the device to your ears, and it works mainly with the help of BlueTooth or Radio Frequency or Infrared frequency. Radio Frequency is more commonly used for wireless headphones explicitly made for TV. 

Apple introduced AirPods and gave birth to a new product category called true wireless earbuds, which completely changed the wire-free experience. In a short span, they became the go-to listening device among consumers. To advertise wireless headphones better, most manufacturers started using the word freedom on their products and campaigns because these headphones give you an option to roam around without wires, keep you motivated and focused during a workout session, board in a public train without wires getting in your way.

Advantages:

The wireless headphones make the process of listening to music more comfortable for joggers who prefer to run, commuters who get to work in crowded transportation, and gamers who play video games by sitting far away from the TV as they provide. Some wireless headphones even offer up to a 100ft range from your audio source. 

With the evolution of technology, a number of smartphone manufacturing companies are ditching the old-styled 3.5 mm jack from their newly launched devices, which makes Bluetooth a new standard in audio transmission. Fewer components and no wires help wireless headphones to lose some extra weight and become more portable and lighter. The fewer weight also adds comfort as lighter headphones typically give less stress to the users’ heads.

If you spend a little more, then wireless headphones can even deliver some sweat/water resistance. As mentioned earlier, wired headphones usually sound better than wireless headphones, but most average listeners can’t distinguish between them, except musicians and DJs.

Disadvantages:

Wireless headphones provide plenty of cool features, but they also have a heavy price tag. Along with high prices, another major disadvantage of wireless headphones is their batteries. However, the battery life of wireless headphones has dramatically improved over the years, but you still need a power source for wireless headphones every now and then. Bluetooth wireless battery offers 8 to 12 hours of usage, while high-end wireless headphones offer up to 30 to 40 hours of battery life without a recharge.

Conclusion:

A wireless headphone is ideal for athletes, fitness enthusiasts or people who are into jogging, while a wired headphone is great for DJs, RJs, music mixing artists, or desktop users. In short, if you need headphones for a short period and outdoor comfort, then go for wireless headphones, and if you work for a longer duration, then a wired headphone is the right choice, in the end, it’s all up to one’s personal preferences and lifestyle.

Best Budget Neckband Earphones under Rs. 2000/-

The Lockdown period is being pretty hard on most of us. In fact, it is not only us, but our gadgets are also facing a rough time of being used much more than they are used usually. One such piece of gadgetry are the headphones.

Headphones are now one of the most integral part of our lockdown gadgets. We are using the headphones to listen to music, attend video conferences and those long hours of calling with friends. Trust me, these headphones of yours are being used to their maximum capacity. As it is with a lot of use, soon, some of us will see the headphones fade away soon.

Bluetooth earphones are in high demand which provides you complete wireless life experience and finds ways to make your daily activities more convenient. It’s quite uneasy to handle wired earphones that keep you bound and resist to move away by its wire or cored range. Wherein, while using the wireless headphones, the user does not need to bind near to the device also you do not have to worry about tangled wires and can move freely.

We have listed five of best budget neckband earphones to provide you with an easier and convenient way to listen to your music, take calls or do exercise without disturbing your normal routine. They also should not get in the way of performing those duties.

  1. WINGS GLIDE: Wings Lifestyle’s’Wings Glide’ earphones provide not only a rich acoustic experience but also enhance a person’s appearance as they rest on their nape. They are available in four colours, Black, Blue, Burgundy, and Olive Green making them ideal for music lovers who want earphones that provide an added dimension of style. The Wings Glide earphones can be worn to listen to music or even when not listening to music because their aesthetic design makes them an enviable fashion accessory.

    Wings Glide offers sharp sound quality and playtime and talktime of 6 hours after only 1.5 hours of charging. It has a smooth matt finished body which is perfect for all-day use. The earphones are compatible with all Android, IOS/Windows devices including mobiles, tabs, and laptops. It has HD Bass which provides clean vocals making it perfect for lovers of any genre of music be it EDM, Bollywood Rock or Acoustic songs.

Price: Rs. 1199/-

  1. Boat Rockerz 255:Offering the perfect balance of price, audio clarity and functionality, the Boat Rockerz 255 neckbands are easy to connect and pair. The Boat Rockerz 255 comes with advanced Bluetooth connectivity of 4.1 versions. The functionality of Boat Rockerz 255 Bluetooth wireless earphone is of superior quality.

    The earphone provides interesting experience to the users by pumping out tunes with powerful HD and deep bass sound. The earphone comes with 110mAH battery providing it longer battery life, Boat Rockerz 255 wireless Bluetooth earphones can play up to 45 minutes with 10 minutes charge.

This earphone is available in more than one colour such as black, neon, ocean blue and raging red.

Price: Rs. 1499/-

3. Mivi Thunder Beats:  Mivi Thunder Beats is also a worthy one to go with. It comes with excellent music experience with deep bass and clear vocals. Mivi Thunder Beats is an in-ear type earphone that offers a secure fit and its sweatproof design makes it good for workouts. The Mivi Thunderbeats is an in-ear canal phone-style pair of Bluetooth headphones with a frequency response range of 20Hz – 20,000Hz. This earphone has a metallic body that looks stylish and beautiful. It has Ergonomic design with three sets of earbuds. Earbuds have a magnetic lock, so it stays around your neck. The earphone can be used for 10 hours straight with a full battery hour of music playback. Mivi Thunder Beats offers Bluetooth wireless feature of the earphone which is compatible with all devices and build-in microphone that makes answering calls conveniently.

Price: Rs. 1299/-

  1. Realme Buds Wireless in-Ear Bluetooth: Realme is a sub-brand of Oppo that is giving a tough neck to neck competition to other brands. This is the first wireless earphone made by the Realme Company. The Realme buds come with built-in magnets making it easy to carry and clean. The Realme buds come with the signature yellow and black colour scheme which makes it stand out from the rest of the bland black designs out there. The Realme buds wireless earphone is known for its durability.

    The earphone includes features like reinforced and breaks resistance synthetic fibre that increases its durability. The material and make of Realme buds are top-notch and can withstand everyday wear and tear. One quality of Realme Buds that stands out is the ear tip, which bends to 45 degrees. Realme buds feel comfortable to wear for long usage. Realme Buds are made of good quality material that is tested to ensure the earphones match the expectation of the users.

Price: Rs. 1799/-

  1. Xiaomi Mi Sports Bluetooth Wireless Earphones: For the price, Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones offer superb sound quality for a neckband headphone. The Mi neckband wraps around your neck with two earpieces attached to a small section of wire. Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones have magnets on the ends of the earbuds that let the two stick together when not in use, the magnets don’t control power; that is done through a multi-function button on the neckband. The Mi neckband is powered by a 120mAh rechargeable battery inside. The company claims that this battery will last for eight hours on a single charge, but expect a battery life somewhere between 6 and 7 hours.

 Price: Rs. 1699/-

Digitek Dbe 008 Bluetooth Neckband Earphone – Review

Digitek is a well-known brand which offers a lot of accessories for cameras, film-making, mobile phones as well as peripherals. Digitek has recently launched the Digitek Dbe 008 and we have tested it out to know more about it. 

Build and Design

The Digitek Dbe 008 is neckband style earphone and is made of soft-touch rubber. Both the ends of the neckband have plastic edges. The right side has three buttons for music playback control, taking calls as well as powering the headset on and off. The ear tips are connected via flat cables which means it does not usually tangle. The ear tips are set at an angle and fit into your perfectly. The fit allows you to do activities while wearing the headset as the ear tips do not slip out of your ear. However, the DBE-008 does not come with an IP rating hence it would probably not resist the sweat or accidental splash of water. Magnets on each end to keep the ear tips together. The headset is lightweight and flexible so you would not feel anything when it sits around your neck. 

Performance

The DBE-008 features 10m drivers. It really does not fail to impress with the sound. The vocals are clear and the bass is quite punchy. Increasing the volume to maximum does not create any discomfort but is advisable to use headphones in lowe volumes to avoid any chance of hearing injury. The silicone tips on the earbuds create a perfect seal which helps cut out the outside noise. 

The neckband also has a microphone which can be used for answering calls. The other person can hear you clearly thanks to the microphone which also captures the surrounding noises, making it not too great for the person on the other side of the call. However, there are no drops or sudden disconnection faced. 

For connectivity, the DBE-008 gets Bluetooth 5.0 but it does not support any high-resolution audio codecs. You can connect the headset to two different devices at once which is again a welcome feature. The Digitel DBE-008 has a 280 mAh battery which offers up to 25 hours of playtime which is plenty. Charging the headset is via a micro-USB port and it takes about 3 hours for it to charge fully. 

Verdict

The Digitek DBE-008 is priced at Rs. 1495/- which points to the fact that it belongs to the affordable headset segment. But do not get me wrong when I say affordable. While it could be a great companion for your daily office commute, the 25-hour battery life is long enough to last you a few trips to work and back. I wish Digitek had made is slimmer and splash resistant. Nonetheless, the Digitek DBE-008 is a good product for your daily use whether it is listening to music or watching movies and videos. 

Price – Rs. 1495/-

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