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Complaint:
It is 2023, and the options for BlueTooth Headphones (ear buds with/without neck-band, or over the ear headphones, ear-phones) have not changed much.
Since BlueTooth 4.0, "Multipoint" support has been available in the standard for BlueTooth. This allows BlueTooth headphones to pair with "multiple" devices. Audio only works with one at a time, but the headphones can signal (beep/tone) if one device audio is presently being used, but the other wants to use audio too (incoming phone call, text message, etc.)
This has been a good feature. If you have a computer and a phone, you can pair your headphones with both, and whichever had need for audio can use them. Maybe listening to music from computer, but then a phone call comes in, so pause music, and answer phone call.
Bluetooth 4.0 was introduced in 2010 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth ) : It has been over 12 years since this was added.
As of this post, over 12 years later, how many stereo headphones can you find to pair with 3 or more devices at the same time, just like multipoint 2 devices, but with 3 or more?
Ignoring "stereo" requirement, I've only found 2, but they appear to be mono, and they are from the same company ( Jabra PRO 94XX , and Jabra Motion Office ) , mostly single ear-phone, mono, or 2 over-ear headphone/earphone mono, with a microphone bar, likely meant for people making voice/VoIP/web conference calls from a computer, not for stereo music and calls while outside, or more. ( Jabra PRO 9460 Duo *might* be 2 headphones, but description I see show it as mono, not stereo, but claims support for being paired/connected to 3 devices). ( I also found Lenovo claims "triple multipoint" on some of their models, but only because they support sound over USB plus 2 bluetooth paired devices. )
The closest I've been able to find for stereo headphones are headphones that allow simultaneous pairing with 2 devices, but retain "memory" of paired devices, so if you have 3 or more devices, you can just tell one device paired+connected to disconnect, then turn off bluetooth for that disconnected device, and let the headphones connect to a previously paired device. Clunky, but more manageable than remembering how your model headphones pair with a second device, and doing that in public when maybe there is an in-coming phone call or other pressing need.
Come on BlueTooth industry! Get your crap together! Over 12 years since 2 device pairing supported, and no more than 2 devices if you want stereo support? Ridiculous.
Have you found any stereo headphones that can pair and remain connected with 3 or more devices at the same time?
Do you have other advice, ideas or thoughts on bluetooth headphones?
Some of my thoughts on earbud (with or without neckband) vs over-ear headphones/earphones:
Over-Ear Headphones/Earphones:
Earbuds without neck-band:
Earbuds with neckband:
I do not work for any bluetooth manufacturer or marketer.
No links provided to any specific products.
This contains no endorsement of any mentioned products or manufacturers.
It is 2023, and the options for BlueTooth Headphones (ear buds with/without neck-band, or over the ear headphones, ear-phones) have not changed much.
Since BlueTooth 4.0, "Multipoint" support has been available in the standard for BlueTooth. This allows BlueTooth headphones to pair with "multiple" devices. Audio only works with one at a time, but the headphones can signal (beep/tone) if one device audio is presently being used, but the other wants to use audio too (incoming phone call, text message, etc.)
This has been a good feature. If you have a computer and a phone, you can pair your headphones with both, and whichever had need for audio can use them. Maybe listening to music from computer, but then a phone call comes in, so pause music, and answer phone call.
Bluetooth 4.0 was introduced in 2010 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth ) : It has been over 12 years since this was added.
As of this post, over 12 years later, how many stereo headphones can you find to pair with 3 or more devices at the same time, just like multipoint 2 devices, but with 3 or more?
Ignoring "stereo" requirement, I've only found 2, but they appear to be mono, and they are from the same company ( Jabra PRO 94XX , and Jabra Motion Office ) , mostly single ear-phone, mono, or 2 over-ear headphone/earphone mono, with a microphone bar, likely meant for people making voice/VoIP/web conference calls from a computer, not for stereo music and calls while outside, or more. ( Jabra PRO 9460 Duo *might* be 2 headphones, but description I see show it as mono, not stereo, but claims support for being paired/connected to 3 devices). ( I also found Lenovo claims "triple multipoint" on some of their models, but only because they support sound over USB plus 2 bluetooth paired devices. )
The closest I've been able to find for stereo headphones are headphones that allow simultaneous pairing with 2 devices, but retain "memory" of paired devices, so if you have 3 or more devices, you can just tell one device paired+connected to disconnect, then turn off bluetooth for that disconnected device, and let the headphones connect to a previously paired device. Clunky, but more manageable than remembering how your model headphones pair with a second device, and doing that in public when maybe there is an in-coming phone call or other pressing need.
Come on BlueTooth industry! Get your crap together! Over 12 years since 2 device pairing supported, and no more than 2 devices if you want stereo support? Ridiculous.
Have you found any stereo headphones that can pair and remain connected with 3 or more devices at the same time?
Do you have other advice, ideas or thoughts on bluetooth headphones?
Some of my thoughts on earbud (with or without neckband) vs over-ear headphones/earphones:
Over-Ear Headphones/Earphones:
- Plus: over-ear tends to help block sounds outside of source
- Minus: blocking outside sounds may be fine when home, or at desk-work, but not when driving, walking, or out in public, where it would be dangerous to decrease sounds that could indicate dangerous issues.
- Plus: Noise-cancellation tends to work better on these
- Plus: Battery life tends to support more time of continuous use
- Plus: Sound quality on these can often be much better than in-ear, earbuds.
- Minus: Weight can become an issue for many people
- Minus: Long-time use can lead to ear-sweat where ears contact over-ear material
- Minus: Material that comes in contact with skin can quickly degrade in less than 1 year
- Minus: Not friendly with space used when used during travel
- Plus: when good noise cancelling service is included, can help you sleep when on an noisy airplane
- Plus: *some* of these support a "pass-through" or "aware" mode to allow outside sounds to heard, decreasing some risk in blocking outside noises
Earbuds without neck-band:
- Plus: Super-small size can make when convenient for using less space when travelling, and staying under weight limits for baggage.
- Minus: small size makes it easy to lose one
- Minus: if one falls out of your ear, and lands on the ground, will you pull out a sanitary wipe to clean it before inserting it back into your ear, or will you risk an ear infection by sticking it back in, dirty?
- Minus: shorter battery life. Many only support 4 hours or less, with continuous use, such as music
- Charging can be an issue with these, as you need to use wireless charging and bring that with you, or 2 separate USB cables, one for each.
- Noise-Cancellation tends to not be offered, though there are exceptions with earbud and over-the-ear support plus an attachment which puts some pressure on your jaw-bone, or skull, with a microphone to try to differentiate between sound and noise.
- Minus: in order to better stay in ears, many require a good seal, which can block outside noise, which can easily be dangerous when driving, or being out in public, where noises around you can alert you to possible dangers.
- Plus: unlike over-ear headphones/earphones, there is no fabric/material to degrade from touching skin
- Plus: these don't cover your entire ear with close contact of fabric/material to cause your whole ear to sweat.
- Minus: tight fit in ear canal can cause sweat to accumulate in your ear canal
- Minus: risk for ear infections is higher when you stick things in your ear canal than when you use over-the-ear
Earbuds with neckband:
- Basically the same list as above without neck-band, but:
- Plus: If one earbud falls out, the neckband acts as an insurance policy to decrease risk that one will land on the ground
- Plus: Hard to lose just one earbud unless neckband is cut
- Plus: Battery life can be longer when battery is included in neckband
- Minus: neckband can lead to neck sweat
- Minus: neckband can rub on skin and irritate it, as you turn your head, or walk around
- Plus: when charging, if using USB, usually only one USB cable is needed. If both earbuds have batteries, then the neckband often has power+signal through it for both earbuds.
- Minus: technically, the neckband is a "wire" so how can these truly be called wireless bluetooth? (Yeah, but earbuds without neckband have wires inside the earbuds, so those are not exactly wireless either, if you want to be pedantic.)
I do not work for any bluetooth manufacturer or marketer.
No links provided to any specific products.
This contains no endorsement of any mentioned products or manufacturers.