Faced with the unacceptable, I’m trying to solve my Pixel audio issues the way an Apple user would. By throwing even more money at it.
I know. I’m not proud of myself here at all. But I need things to just work. If this does the trick, so be it.
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If you’re not familiar with my Pixel Problem ™, it goes like this: After roundly mocking Apple for removing the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016, Google in 2017 shamelessly and hypocritically did the same a year later with the Pixel 2.
But if the intervening year has taught me anything, it’s that Apple got one thing right that continues to escape Google: Yes, you need a dongle to use normal headphones—like my beloved Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic noise-canceling headphones—with the iPhone 7 and newer iPhones. But that dongle just works, every single time, and without any issues big or small.
With the Pixel 2 XL I purchased in November 2017, nothing worked.
The USB-C dongle that Google packaged with the phone worked intermittently from the get-go, and I could lose the audio pass-through simply by moving it around. Then, audio over USB eventually stopped working entirely. I tested this with several different dongles and with USB-C headphones. It was dead.
The solution, of course, was to exchange my Pixel 2 XL for another unit. Which I did. And sure enough, this solved the audio-over-USB-C issue. Audio now works.
It just doesn’t work well with normal headphones. In particular, with my Bose noise-canceling headphones. There is a jarring and loud burst of static every time I manually switch to another song, podcast, or other content. And. It. Is. Irritating.
Leo told me on Windows Weekly that this problem was common to USB-C. Meaning that requiring a dongle on an Android phone is a huge customer experience faux pas in a way that it is not on an iPhone. Where this just works correctly.
I need my Bose. I rely on them on flights, busses, and while walking.
Or so I thought. I found out about the Libratone Q Adapt USB-C Earphones, which are a “made for Google” adaptation of a similar pair of headphones that the firm makes in Lightning form for Apple users.
The Libratone headphones cost $150, so they’re not cheap. But that’s still $100 less than the Bose I was using.
They are USB-C-based, so they will never work with any Apple devices. This kind of limitation troubles me, as I prefer universal compatibility as used to be the case with normal headphones. But I listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts on Android now. And Android is USB-C.
The “made for Google” bit was further troubling, and for the same reason: Would they work on other Android phones, or just on Pixels? A quick test gives mixed results: They appear to work fine with the Samsung Galaxy S9+, but not with the OnePlus 5T. Sigh. That makes it hard to recommend these things generally. There’s no way to know which handsets are compatible.
One other thing I sort of don’t like is the need for an app which can be used to customize “soundspaces” and a handful of compatible music apps. Eh.
But the headphones do have some advantages over the Bose, too. Aside from the price, they are powered by the phone over USB-C, so they never need to be charged.
The Libratone Q Adapt USB-C come with a variety of tips to match your ear, so I’ll need to experiment again with that. They utilize a no-tangle cord material that I like. (It reminds me of some premium Zune headphones I once had.)
And it even offers various noise-canceling routines (or CityMix noise control levels, as it calls it) so you can customize the sound. There are on-cable controls for volume, Play/Pause, and CityMix.
I’ll need to use these headphones on a plane to see how well they really work. And I’ll obviously continue bringing the Bose, at least for now, until I’m sure. But I hope this solves my problem.
Bats
<blockquote><a href="#262813"><em>In reply to FalseAgent:</em></a></blockquote><p>Wired to Wireless is backwards?</p>
Bats
<p>I don't know why in this day of age people are still walking around with wired headphones. Wireless is better. I have been using Wireless (bluetooth) for several years now, and I prefer it much better than wired. Wired headphones/earbuds are annoying, especially when you are jogging and the wire is in your way or your arms accidentally knock them off your ear. You don't get that problem with wireless headset. The only way to prevent any mishaps from a wired headset is if you wear the wire under your shirt. </p><p><br></p><p>I have had several wireless headsets. All of them, produce great sound. However, not all of them are comfortable to wear. The two Jaybirds I own are not very comfortable. My oldest one, Motorola S305 is my favorite because it's very easy to control because I am so used to it. My Google Pixel Buds are great and extremely easy to use. It last me 5 hours at one time, despite people who reviewed it said it would only last 3-4. I didn't even put it back in the storage case to recharge. However, the best sounding and most expensive wireless ear buds I own are the B&O Beoplay e8. These buds are amazing. They not only cancel outside sound, but the music quality is audiophile grade. </p><p><br></p><p>All in all, the Google Pixel buds come with me when I travel. People know about these buds and Google Translate, right? The Beoplay e8 is my general purpose headset that I use (for desktop computing, walking around, etc…) Both the Google and the B&O are great for the gym because they are sweatproof and can provide me 12 hours of battery life. Lastly the Motorola S305, they're my commute to work headset, which is pretty much, everyday.</p><p><br></p><p>Look, the future of headphones or anything is wireless. Why fight it? LOL…I even knew this even before Apple figured it out. They probably got the idea and stole the tech from Jaybirds and ran with it. In this world we live in, do people still have wired phones in their homes? Particularly the ones with the round circular dial? How about Internet? Are people still using ethernet cable throughout the house? (LOL). </p><p><br></p><p>Wireless = Forward</p><p><br></p><p>Wired = Backward</p><p><br></p>
thesmartestonearth
<p>Such a deep review</p><p>Thurrott always provide a lot, you should check out more about <a href="https://bestgadgetbestbudget.com/best-truly-wireless-earbuds-under-3000/" target="_blank">truly wireless earphones</a>.</p>