STACK #225 July 2023

TECH FEATURE

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Gone are the days of accidentally ripping your headphones out of your ears by catching a hand on the cord, or constantly untangling cables.Wireless earbuds – or in-ear headphones – give us much more freedom, and there are plenty of options available no matter what your budget is. So, what do you need to look out for? Words Michael Irving BEST BUDS All you need to know about earbuds

Wireless vs. True Wireless Wireless earbuds connect to your phone, laptop or other devices via Bluetooth. You’ll also see some described as “true wireless” – but what does that mean? Basically, some earbuds can be Bluetooth but still wired to each other with a cord that sits around your neck or over your head, whereas true wireless earbuds are individual pieces that connect to each other and the device via Bluetooth. Battery life There’s nothing worse than earbuds that die right when your podcast gets to the best bit,

Many earbuds help you tune that out with active noise cancellation (ANC), which uses external microphones to detect outside noise and generate the exact opposite wavelengths of sound in your ears, cancelling it out. Some can even do the opposite and pass certain sounds through for safety reasons, like approaching vehicles. Sound quality As with any audio gear, you want the sound to be crisp and clear. Some earbuds have a choice of EQ modes, while others pack features like You don’t always need to limit yourself to one device – some earbuds let you connect to several at once. That means you can be listening to music on your laptop while you work, but instantly switch to your phone when a call comes in. Control Some earbuds have buttons to pause/play, or take calls. Others have touchpads and/or voice assistant support, and some even have spatial sound and Dolby Atmos. Multipoint Bluetooth

so battery life is an important consideration. Thankfully, most buds come with cases that not only keep you from losing them, but also charge the batteries while they’re sitting in there. The battery in the case usually has enough juice to top up the buds two or three times before the case itself needs charging, so you’ll often get more than 24 hours of continuous use. Noise cancelling If you’re jamming out on the train, you don’t want to be interrupted by the boring conversation of the person next to you.

TOP TIP

There are ways to not only preserve battery charge but also battery life. Storing earbuds in their case when not in use would seem logical, but once the charge reaches 100%, leaving them there can degrade the battery’s long-term performance.

Environmental factors like extreme heat or cold can also affect a battery’s lifespan, so avoid leaving the buds in cars, garages, or direct sunlight. And leaving the EQ or ANC on, even when not required, will drain the charge faster.

18 JULY 2023

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