Airpods or Beats X or PowerBeats 3?

[randy.massoglia]

I've tried using Siri on the phone to raise the volume and change the track with no issues.... I guess the Watch's Siri interface isn't as good as the phone's. With the watch I just like to use the "Now Playing" screen and control everything.
[doublepost=1475010917][/doublepost]

Here's what I've heard about them. They have a high failure rate and the SQ is just OK. From my memory (I owned them for a week) I recall them being very loud and pretty bass-y. They don't jam all the way into your ears so there is less isolation of audio. At the time I bought them for something like $150 and they weren't worth it to me.

I highly recommend the Status Audio BT-S for 34 bucks on Amazon. They sound pretty good (nothing amazing and they are bass heavy) and are cheap.

I'll wait for either the Beats X or the Air pods..if neither of them are of my liking. I'll be back in the hunt for something. The Bose sports form$149.00 seem to stick out too far for my liking.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Alternatives:

Jabra Sport Pulse / Sport Pulse Special Edition.

Sound quality throughout highs and lows are more accurate, better balanced for wider range of genres (heavy metal aka classic Metallica, Hip-Hop Eric B Rakim Let the Rhythm Hit'em - those bass lines or Drake - Take Care (Ft Rihanna), to House tracks. Sure these have a behind the neck wire but I've gone through 2 of them (carelessly loosing them: loose hoddie pocket at hockey game, uber cab ride while hammered, again hoddie trapped).

I'm now considering going sober and getting the Jabra Elite Sport.

 

[twinlight]

Haha it works on the phone with increase volume but not the watch. Why the hell would I use that when running? I can just take out the phone and use the buttons!

They Siriously nees to upgrade siri..

 

[Abs_p]

Beats X for me if the choice is between those 3. IEMs are my jam.

 

[AppleRobert]

Is it only 4-5? I thought it was advertised for 6-8. But I forget and I'm too lazy to look. My PB2 knock offs get 6 hours or so.
[doublepost=1475010213][/doublepost]

If you don't care about "no name brands" These PB2 Knock offs are a better bang for your buck IMO. I have these and another pair that are practically the same that look more like the Beats ones and I switch off when one set runs out of power. But they are rated for 6-8 hours and I get about 3-4 days of work outs before I get low battery warning. My workouts are usually 1.5 hours long.

These are the other knock off ones I use.

What I like about these that are better than PB2 is that they have better sound isolation for the gym use. The PB2s hang loose on purpose so you can hear the outside world... these (both pairs) go into your canal a bit and block out outside noise.

Egrd makes some good ones, I included their Amazon site so folks could scroll down and check their top selling ones and see if there are any that interest them.

The Earskinz I ordered should easily fit their Apple earpod knockoffs.

https://www.amazon.com/sp?_encoding...rderID=&seller=AFX9KZ3YTQ40G&tab=&vasStoreID=

 

[comptr]

The last time I checked, neither Geek Squad nor AppleCare were available for any Beats products. That may have changed, but it hasn't even been 6 months since I looked into this.

I bought a pair of wired Solo 2 from Best Buy. The said they do not offer Geek Squad warranty on Beats, so talk to Apple. Apple told me they do not sell AppleCare on Beats even if bought from them.

Ask before you buy.

Or Square Trade will offer a warranty for them

 

[uiop.]

I'm no audiophile, but I found the sound of the Powerbeats to be terrible for how much they cost.

 

[Tibits]

I'm no audiophile, but I found the sound of the Powerbeats to be terrible for how much they cost.

What do you use / recommend for sport, wireless headphones?

 

[isanka]

I'm on Airpods right now, waiting to get a new pair of the wireless one.

 

[mildocjr]

I'm going to wait until Beats lose the stigmatism that their audio quality completely sucks before I buy. Even though Apple bought them years ago I was hoping that would have been addressed by now.

Here's the easy guide:
Appearance
Quality
Cost

Now pick 2.

I've had better sound quality out of jvc jellies than Beats. That's bad.

 

[MrXiro]

I'm no audiophile, but I found the sound of the Powerbeats to be terrible for how much they cost.

Agreed. They should be $99 headphones. But you're paying for the brand name. As I said there are great PB2 knock offs on Amazon for under $30. I'm more interested in the W1 Chip which is why I'm favoring the AirPods.
[doublepost=1475247947][/doublepost]

I'm going to wait until Beats lose the stigmatism that their audio quality completely sucks before I buy. Even though Apple bought them years ago I was hoping that would have been addressed by now.

Here's the easy guide:
Appearance
Quality
Cost

Now pick 2.

I've had better sound quality out of jvc jellies than Beats. That's bad.

I think it's only been about a year and a half... I could be wrong. I think the Beats X is the first Apple Beats headphone. The Solo2 and PB2 were already in production when Apple bought Beats and the SQ on them is already much better than when Monster built them.

 

[vikingjunior]

I don't understand why they put the controller on the left. They put the controller on the right for so many years . Most people are right handed and the way ear buds are curved you can't switch it around.

 

[Taco1933]

I remain extremely disappointed that the airpods weren't either cheaper or designed better. They seems so neat, but $160 is. A whole lot to spend on a wireless version of the free headphones I never use. I guess I'd go powerbeats to get a bit of both. Probably go none of the above though.

 

[MrXiro]

I remain extremely disappointed that the airpods weren't either cheaper or designed better. They seems so neat, but $160 is. A whole lot to spend on a wireless version of the free headphones I never use. I guess I'd go powerbeats to get a bit of both. Probably go none of the above though.

Yeah I agree that they are priced too high. $160 is even high for Apple but I'm guessing they don't want to cannibalize the Beats W1 line by offering cheaper headphones with the same tech. Which is why it's priced higher than the Beats X despite that Beats X will most likely sound better.

 

[Kilo-9]

I grabbed the Powerbeats 2 on the sale at Best Buy. So far, I am very happy. They fit very well and are comfortable and secure. I find the SQ to be decent. I have very small ear canals and it's been quite difficult for me to find anything that fits securely and comfortably. I just returned a set of Jabra Sport Pulse SE because I couldn't find a combination of ear gels and ear wings that gave me a repeatable secure fit. I also was not impressed with their SQ.

 

[Taco1933]

Yeah I agree that they are priced too high. $160 is even high for Apple but I'm guessing they don't want to cannibalize the Beats W1 line by offering cheaper headphones with the same tech. Which is why it's priced higher than the Beats X despite that Beats X will most likely sound better.

Apple is going to make you choose between newest and best tech and sq. But the beats aren't great in that regard either. Their products are always decent but overpriced. It's unfortunate, but with apple owning beats, I don't see anything changing. They aren't ever going to let Bowers and Wilkins or Sennheiser use their tech, so it's never going to be the best it can be.

Sorry to climb on my soapbox in your thread. Didn't mean to hijack. To get back on topic, the choice between these three would be highly dependent on your needs. If you're in the gym, the airpods will be damn near impossible to work with. But if you're listening is predominantly talk and sports at your desk, they might be perfect. If you're looking for active headphones to power you through a run, those powerbeats might be great. You noted you'll use these at the gym. I think that'd rule out the airpods for me. Definitely make sure you give the EarPods a try in the gym before you go that route. Mine fall out.

 

[rockyromero]

If you're in the gym, the airpods will be damn near impossible to work with. But if you're listening is predominantly talk and sports at your desk, they might be perfect.

I want answers via the Airpods.

Tap, tap.

Siri, who's a foreign leader, anywhere, ok Canada?

Tap, tap.

Siri, who's quarterback for the Bears?

I would get the answer.

I may not even share the answer.

Trump could use Airpods in a debate.

To give the right response.

Maybe.

➰

 

[MrXiro]

Apple is going to make you choose between newest and best tech and sq. But the beats aren't great in that regard either. Their products are always decent but overpriced. It's unfortunate, but with apple owning beats, I don't see anything changing. They aren't ever going to let Bowers and Wilkins or Sennheiser use their tech, so it's never going to be the best it can be.

Sorry to climb on my soapbox in your thread. Didn't mean to hijack. To get back on topic, the choice between these three would be highly dependent on your needs. If you're in the gym, the airpods will be damn near impossible to work with. But if you're listening is predominantly talk and sports at your desk, they might be perfect. If you're looking for active headphones to power you through a run, those powerbeats might be great. You noted you'll use these at the gym. I think that'd rule out the airpods for me. Definitely make sure you give the EarPods a try in the gym before you go that route. Mine fall out.

I said sound better, not sound amazing. But in my case I think EarPods sound great for podcasts and I've been using them for watching movies on my iPad too and they also work pretty good. I hope Earskinz will make some skins that fit the AirPods and in the case to charge... they make a HUGE difference in sound quality and isolation.

 

[Nautilus007]

Beats X allure is lightning charging.

 

[MrXiro]

Beats X allure is lightning charging.

and the price point is lower... probably will have better isolation and at very least bass response will be better but I think all around SQ will be better than AirPods.

 

[boston04and07]

Beats X allure is lightning charging.

and the price point is lower... probably will have better isolation and at very least bass response will be better but I think all around SQ will be better than AirPods.

Exactly, can't agree with all of this more. Plus for me, the in-ear design always hurt my ears less than the design of the Earpods and Airpods. That's a very subjective thing though.

But yeah, love that the Beats X charge with lightning. That's the one thing that bugs me about my Solo 2's, the fact that they still use micro USB. I realized not too long ago that it's really the only rechargeable thing I regularly tote around with me that requires that cable, which is pretty annoying. Other than that though I really like them. If the initial reviews are good, I'm thinking of getting the Beats X for when I'm away from home, mainly for the increased portability in my bag over the headphones, and keeping my headphones strictly for at-home use. However it'd also be pretty nice to only need one cable for traveling.

 

[MrXiro]

Exactly, can't agree with all of this more. Plus for me, the in-ear design always hurt my ears less than the design of the Earpods and Airpods. That's a very subjective thing though.

But yeah, love that the Beats X charge with lightning. That's the one thing that bugs me about my Solo 2's, the fact that they still use micro USB. I realized not too long ago that it's really the only rechargeable thing I regularly tote around with me that requires that cable, which is pretty annoying. Other than that though I really like them. If the initial reviews are good, I'm thinking of getting the Beats X for when I'm away from home, mainly for the increased portability in my bag over the headphones, and keeping my headphones strictly for at-home use. However it'd also be pretty nice to only need one cable for traveling.

I'm still eyeballing the Airpods though... untethered earbuds are very appealing to me.

I have 2 pairs and they work but one of them cuts out all the time and the other sounds like crap for music.

My only worry is how durable either this or the Beats X are for daily use... also it looks a little like Beats X might be neck buds without the hard shell, which would bother me... I don't like Neck buds.

 

[barachus]

Anyone have any idea when the Beats X will be available?

 

[Fried_Gold]

Anyone have any idea when the Beats X will be available?

I'm guessing they will announce a date when they do the MacBook Pro stuff.

 

[barachus]

I'm guessing they will announce a date when they do the MacBook Pro stuff.

Thanks