My View on Bluetooth Audio
Over the past few years, I have formed a vendetta against Bluetooth audio devices such as… “AirPods.” Even typing the name hurts my soul. When paying for items such as AirPods you not only pay for the listening experience but also for many different gimmicks which end up inflating the price. And, through using wired, you gain a much better listening experience for much cheaper. A pair of AirPods Pro costs $250 new. But a pair of S12s from Letshuoer costs only $120 and offers a listening experience better than that of the AirPods.
However, this personal vendetta has been tested in the past few weeks.
Vocabulary
- IEM: In-Ear Monitor, also known as earbuds (can be wired or wireless).
- True Wireless/Bluetooth Audio Device: IEMs or headphones which do not utilize external wires in any way.
The Outlier
I have had a good pair of wired IEMs for the past couple of months and I have been loving them. Unfortunately, when I go to the gym, I am unable to wear them due to wires being potentially dangerous while working out. To circumvent this issue, I had the idea to buy a product that would turn my wired IEMs into true wireless. The product was the AZ20s by KZ. Originally I had low expectations, which only made it more surprising to me how good they were when I got them. They provided a listening experience close to if I had wired but allowed me to move around the gym effortlessly, not having to worry about wires.
Consumer Bluetooth Audio Devices
I still believe that you can have a better listening experience for cheaper by using wired IEMs or headphones. But I have to admit in certain situations such as when out and about having wireless at your disposal can be nice.
And while I may not enjoy the built-in gimmicks included in a consumer Bluetooth device, others do. Features such as active noise cancellation and being wireless are massive selling points for most consumers. The ease of use is also a major factor as items such as AirPods come in a small form factor and also take very little time to deploy, while wired IEMs naturally need a bigger case due to the wire and take longer to put in.
Summary
While I will continue to not buy anything along the line of AirPods I can also not tell anyone to not buy or to buy Bluetooth. Everyone has different wants in their own listening experience. Now go forth and listen to some good music through any vessel of your choosing.
