Smartphone gurus: Earbud recommendations

[GA Russell]

Amazon is having another Prime Day soon, and I expect to order some earbuds to use with my cellphone.

I'd like this group's opinions regarding...

1) brands with good reputations for quality sound for either moderate prices or low prices

2) How does the bluetooth experience compare to that of the wired buds?  Any difference?

Thanks!

[randyhersom]

I got these JLabs for my wife, paid a little more for a different model that I've been happy with.

Amazon.com: JLab Go Air Pop+ True Wireless Earbuds, in Ear Headphones, Bluetooth Earphones, 35H Playtime Ear Buds, Bluetooth Earbuds with Microphone, USB-C Charging Case, Dual Connect, EQ3 Sound, Black : Electronics

 

[Stompin at the Savoy]

Anker Soundcore brand makes some inexpensive blue tooth products (made in China) which have pretty good sound quality and offer noise canceling.  I like the full over ear headsets they make, for example Q35.  They have earbuds which probably have similar electronics.  With blue tooth you get marvelous freedom of movement but the signal occasionally cuts out when you turn your head just the right way or get into a corner of the house where reception is poor.  The dropouts are pretty rare and I just accept that.

Another approach I sometimes use with iPhone is a small adapter which plugs into the the phone power port and has a mini-plug socket on the other end.  Then I plug in wired Sony Studio Monitors or other phones, such as lightweight Koss SportaPros. To me Koss SportaPros sound better than most earbuds and are less wearying on the ear, physically.  Sony Studio Monitors etc sound better but they are bulky.

Edited Thursday at 05:51 PM by Stompin at the Savoy

[GA Russell]

Thanks Randy and Stompin!

I ordered one pair of each.  (Anker P20i and JLab Go Air Pop+)  Both are half-price today.

Edited Thursday at 07:38 PM by GA Russell

[Stompin at the Savoy]

Hearing that they were on sale I decided to try out some cheap earbuds - Soundcore P30i - which are similar to P20i but with noise cancelling.  They arrived today and are not too bad in a pinch, like in a dentist office, riding a bike or some other public situation where it feels a bit clunky to wear bulky headphones or they might fall off, etc.  The controls are fiddly, require some memorization (tap twice on the left ear, etc), and there is a tendency to activate every switch while trying to screw the earbud more tightly into my ear. The soundcore app is ok but they don't have a pc version so you have to use a phone or something, which means I have to keep putting on 3x cheaters to see anything - this is not an old person's world.

Edited 1 hour ago by Stompin at the Savoy

[GA Russell]

That's great, Stompin!

While we're on the subject, can anyone recommend a wired earbud?  At these prices, I might check out one of them too.