wmarcin
New Member
I have seen some good recommendations on circumaural/supra-aural aptX(LL) headphones for metal detecting, but I didn't see anyone mention wireless earbuds that use the low latency BT protocol. I was set on using in-ear headphones, and I wanted a wireless solution. I have a couple of pairs already (QY8, BeatsX), but another forum member (choppadude) pointed out possible issues with inherent sound delay via wireless headphones. The latency difference we're talking about here is 100+ ms (most are 150 - 200 ms) for the non LL headphones, compared to 32 - 36 ms for the aptX(LL) capable headphones. That's not insignificant when we swing, or even pinpoint. The QY8 are actually better that BeatsX in that respect (109 vs. 175 ms), despite much lower price. I tried the QY8's and the delay is barely noticeable (in fact, it's practically negligible). But I wanted to do better, yet, especially if the cost is not prohibitive.
So why do I bother with the in-ear earphones rather than use the really good stock Nox 800 on-ear headphones? For a few practical reasons:
1. Fit and comfort and noise isolation. I have custom earmolds that I use as earplugs and with other headphones I own. They fit most headphones that use standard earbuds. Anyone can have earmolds made by an audiologist, btw. I bet there are some hunters here that already have custom earplugs for hunting. They are snug in my ears, without any pressure points, so they don't fall out, and they isolate external noise really well. I can wear them for hours without discomfort, which is not the case with the one-size fits all solution.
2. They are less conspicuous than on-ear headphones. I prefer that.
3. The on-ear headphones are simply too hot for the 90 degree weather, and it's nearly impossible to wear them and a wide-brim hat together.
There may be others here with similar thoughts, so I thought I'd share.
I spent a good few hours scouring google and amazon for in-ear aptX(LL) headphones, but to no avail. Mostly those generic websites that pry on the specific keywords, and provide generic information and subjective rankings without much logical basis.
However, I was lucky to find this website that evaluates various characteristics of headphones (incl. latency with and without aptX and aptX(LL), if available): https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/active-features/latency
Lo and behold, there is one in-ear aptX(LL) set of headphones listed there: Samsung Level U Pro (https://www.samsung.com/us/audio/he...pro-wireless-headphones-black-eo-bn920cbegus/ https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/samsung/level-u-pro). They have a little band that sits on your neck and runs wires with drivers to your ears. Neither Samsung website nor amazon lists aptX(LL) codec compatibility as one of the features, but I pulled the trigger and purchased a pair based on the results reported by the RTINGS website.
I was not disappointed. They easily paired with my Nox 800, which shows the little + icon next to the Bluetooth one to indicate aptX(LL) pairing. They sit comfortably on the nape, and firmly in my ears (I can run and jump and they don't budge - the wires don't pull on the earmolds). Importantly, they are under $40 on amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B017KE9KOU).
I wasn't able to find any other set of in-ear earphones aptX(LL) capable currently on the market. There are other aptX headphones that claim to be low latency, but some clarify that it is in the 100 - 200 ms range, which might not matter for watching a video (up to 150 ms is fine - our brains deal with it well), but might be noticeable while metal detecting.
So why do I bother with the in-ear earphones rather than use the really good stock Nox 800 on-ear headphones? For a few practical reasons:
1. Fit and comfort and noise isolation. I have custom earmolds that I use as earplugs and with other headphones I own. They fit most headphones that use standard earbuds. Anyone can have earmolds made by an audiologist, btw. I bet there are some hunters here that already have custom earplugs for hunting. They are snug in my ears, without any pressure points, so they don't fall out, and they isolate external noise really well. I can wear them for hours without discomfort, which is not the case with the one-size fits all solution.
2. They are less conspicuous than on-ear headphones. I prefer that.
3. The on-ear headphones are simply too hot for the 90 degree weather, and it's nearly impossible to wear them and a wide-brim hat together.
There may be others here with similar thoughts, so I thought I'd share.
I spent a good few hours scouring google and amazon for in-ear aptX(LL) headphones, but to no avail. Mostly those generic websites that pry on the specific keywords, and provide generic information and subjective rankings without much logical basis.
However, I was lucky to find this website that evaluates various characteristics of headphones (incl. latency with and without aptX and aptX(LL), if available): https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/active-features/latency
Lo and behold, there is one in-ear aptX(LL) set of headphones listed there: Samsung Level U Pro (https://www.samsung.com/us/audio/he...pro-wireless-headphones-black-eo-bn920cbegus/ https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/samsung/level-u-pro). They have a little band that sits on your neck and runs wires with drivers to your ears. Neither Samsung website nor amazon lists aptX(LL) codec compatibility as one of the features, but I pulled the trigger and purchased a pair based on the results reported by the RTINGS website.
I was not disappointed. They easily paired with my Nox 800, which shows the little + icon next to the Bluetooth one to indicate aptX(LL) pairing. They sit comfortably on the nape, and firmly in my ears (I can run and jump and they don't budge - the wires don't pull on the earmolds). Importantly, they are under $40 on amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B017KE9KOU).
I wasn't able to find any other set of in-ear earphones aptX(LL) capable currently on the market. There are other aptX headphones that claim to be low latency, but some clarify that it is in the 100 - 200 ms range, which might not matter for watching a video (up to 150 ms is fine - our brains deal with it well), but might be noticeable while metal detecting.