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As my google searching has been a failure, I thought I'd ask on here. After many years I finally upgraded my phone the other day and it doesn't have a jack for earbuds so I'm after some wireless ones but there's a catch ..... The earbuds that I've looked at all seem to come with the little case that also has the battery pack inside but my work has put a ban on these as they class them as a fire risk even though we can have our phones in our pockets. Does anyone know if there's any earbuds that come with the carry case without an integrated battery? and if so any recommendations.
You'll be looking at buds with a band, like Beats X, not true wireless as they all come with a charge pack (to my knowledge).
Bit of a daft rule though (imo), wonder what evidence based approach they've used to make that rule...
Wireless earbuds without battery pack? How do you charge them then? Nope, I have not come across that type of earbuds at all.
Normally, per charge will last for around 3 to 5 hours so if that enough for you then just leave the charger somewhere.
As for earbuds recommendations.
For cheapo version I would go with JBL WAVE or VIBE 100 TWS. £30 if you are lucky to find them. I have both and pretty good to be honest. Very strong bass.
I also have Samsung Galaxy Pro which retail at above £100 and pretty decent too. Much stronger in mid and high while the bass is fine but not JBL strong.
I am thinking of buying a slightly higher end JBL (still under £100) but for now what I have are sufficient.
Maybe just get a pair of wireless earbuds and leave the case at home? Most of them will have about 5 or 6 hours listening time.
This site is quite good for reviews/comparisons:
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-bluetooth-earbuds-in-ear-headphones
I should probably go into more detail. I work offshore so im away for 2 or 3 weeks at a time and use the earbuds to listen to music in the gym and when im reading to help cancel out any background noise. What I was thinking on was as earbuds wirelessly charge in the case would there be a case that wirelessly charges them but no battery in the case. They see these as a fire risk when they are lumped in the boot of a helicopter but its ok to have youre phone in your pocket and its switched off. Youd think with this being the case theyd let you carry them in your pocket like your phone but no.
I was just looking at a bluetooth to 3.5mm receiver which might do but again not sure if theyll let this onto the flight due to the battery. I think Ill have to ask the office exactly what i can and cant take.
Not sure what your new phone is, but would something like this help? Just searched for the first one I could find, so not sure if this specific one is any good. I use the equivalent for an iPhone to use 3.5mm wired headphones with it with no issues.
USB C to 3.5mm Jack,Stouchi Type C to Headphone Adapter Aux Digital Audio Earphone Adaptor,Audio Dongle,Hi-Res DAC Chip,Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S22 S21 S20 Ultra Note 20,Pixel 6/6a,Pad mini 6 https://amzn.eu/d/5MbyIhA
it doesn’t have a jack for earbuds
What ‘phone is it? You can get adapters for iPhones (Lightning to headphone), and for Android ‘phones. The Apple ones are £9, I think the Android ones are similar. You can then use any wired ear/headphones.
Bit of a daft rule though (imo), wonder what evidence based approach they’ve used to make that rule…
Most Don't have a physical on/off button to isolate the battery for the flight.
Anything that doesn't have one can't fly.
Various reports of liion battery fires on items that have been "on" I. The hold.
Personally I prefer my fires not on my helicopters as they don't stay in the air long while on fire.
Lotta people off shore cant abide by simple rules so blanket ban is how it's handled as ain't no one got time to check the tech specs
The issue with offshore heli operators and rechargeable earbuds is the lithium battery in the case and the fact that they're 'always on'... i.e. there's no off switch on the case. (phones, etc can be switched off)
You can take Bluetooth headphones offshore with you, but you have to be able to turn them off completely. I'm not aware of any of the earbuds with cases that comply with that.
I take Beats Powerbeats and Sony XM1000 offshore with me no problem.
I'd never buy earbuds anyway on the basis that there's three things to lose rather than one with a set of headphones, or those with a band. I used Plantronics Backbeat without issue for years and would recommend them.
No TWS earbuds without a charging case that I’m aware of.
Choices are what’s been described:
-3.5mm adapter to whatever socket is on your phone - lightning or USB-C
-Bluetooth earphones with a band
-Bluetooth headphones
-Bluetooth adapter like a FiiO
You can get this type which are usb chargeable
https://urbanista.com/en-uk/products/berlin-blue-petroleum
Orrr... Forget wireless and get some wired USB C/micro USB/weird proprietary Apple thingy buds and forget about recharging. I know they've got wires but really? 🙃
Personally I prefer my fires not on my helicopters as they don’t stay in the air long while on fire.
Ok, fair enough, even one fire on a helicopter is one too many…
Thanks for the answers and reminding me that it's that they dont switch off is the reason we can't take them.
I'll have a look at the usb converters they sound just what I'm after
Ive got some of the sony ones that are basically 2 wired ear phones and have the battery built in. you can switch these off.
20 quid from amazon and when they fall out you dont loose them
I've got some wired google pixel headphones that have a USB C instead of a 3.5mm jack so no need for the adaptor. I've got a pixel 6 phone, they also work fine on my partner's Samsung s20
I'd go with a wired set and and adaptor from usb or lightning. My AirPods last 2.5-3 hours and you get three charges from the case before that needs recharging (wirelessly next to the bed). I like them very much but in your case, I'd just go wired instead. Or some older Bose/Beats that charge from a USB cable and are connected by a wire if you can't abide a cable down to the phone.
Would something these Sennheiser Momentum neckband earbuds be any use?, they have an on/off switch on the neckband so should satisfy health n' safety requirements.
If they are too spendy then there's various others, do a search for bluetooth neckband earbuds
I think the case is off unless there are headphones within it - there's nothing creating a circuit so its just an unplugged battery?
That said, most earbuds themselves do not have an on/off switch, so you may be limited there.
could you take/post a sealed pack of headphones out there, then open them and just keep them on the rig?
could you take/post a sealed pack of headphones out there, then open them and just keep them on the rig?
How do you imagine the post gets to an oilrig?
Clue - Pat doesn't rock up each morning in his Diesel Berlingo.
I think the case is off unless there are headphones within it
The case would still be in some form of standby mode, rather than off - there's a lot of (justified) twitchiness in aviation around lithium batteries... it's not just Trail_rat who wants their helicopter to not be on fire
could you take/post a sealed pack of headphones out there, then open them and just keep them on the rig?
How do you imagine the post gets to an oilrig?
Clue – Pat doesn’t rock up each morning in his Diesel Berlingo.
You can ship what they class as dangerous goods out on the supply boats but id like to buy one good set and be able to carry them back and forth rather than two so so pairs one for home and one for work so going by ship isnt really an option 🙂
I'll have a read up on some USB ones or just get a USB C to 3.5 addapter and use what i have but wheres the fun in that!
Perhaps something from these guys?
https://uk.shokz.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9s-m3K2h-wIVtoBQBh280wyOEAAYASAAEgIaMPD_BwE
You can ship what they class as dangerous goods out on the supply boats but id like to buy one good set and be able to carry them back and forth rather than two so so pairs one for home and one for work so going by ship isnt really an option 🙂
some of the more popular earbuds its possible to buy replacement cases for.. would an option be just to ship a spare case out to the boat, and keep the buds on you each time?
How do you imagine the post gets to an oilrig?
Clue – Pat doesn’t rock up each morning in his Diesel Berlingo.
Pat has you sorted.
Wired headphones into a Bluetooth receiver works well, and can be switched on/off
SONRU Aux Bluetooth Receiver, Car Bluetooth Aux Adapter Noise Cancellation Bluetooth 5.0 Receiver for Home Stereo, Hands-Free Calls, Wired Headphones or Speaker, 16-Hour Battery Life, Dual Link https://amzn.eu/d/dhGjTrI
MeeAudio Pinnacle P2 IEM’s have an MMCX connector, so you can have a wired connection, which you can get in either Lightning or USB-C flavour, this is the cable I have:
https://penonaudio.com/earphone-cable/mmcx/lightning-earphone-cable.html
Scroll down the page, and there’s a version with a USB-C plug. Has the very definite advantage of not needing any batteries at all, ever, combined with the fact that you can listen to Lossless files, and the P1’s fitted with something like the supplied triple-flange eartips, give very effective passive noise cancelling.
If you want a wireless facility, then MeeAudio also do a BlueTooth cable that’s a balanced neck-band, with the little battery case on one side, and the remote on the other.
Sound quality is excellent, and no fear of obsolescence.
I'm not sure what the battery life of my mpows is, but it's pretty good. And they cost peanuts so it'd not be insane to buy a few sets for battery life, if it's absolutely got to be buds.
(and you could conceinvably open one of the battery packs up and de-batteryise it and see if it'll still charge on USB)
But like others, I'd look at a neckbanded set- they're really practical anyway. TBF I'd be looking at multiple headsets regardless, a nice big comfy set of clams for reading etc