Episode 6b: my beef with airpods
Admittedly. This isn’t really a question of digital vs analog. But after the entry on music. I think its a prudent entry relating to my ‘buy it for life’ beliefs.
Basically my realisation has been: airpods are a bit silly, aren’t they really?
I admit it. They’re great for exercising. Active noise cancelling is great in noisy environments like the tube. Both of these things are true.
But once the novelty wears off, the love faded. Spending £200 on an electronic that lasts less than 2 years? That feels like a miss. I had some Earfun 3’s for a while. Only £50, but when the battery life and the ANC started to break after 18 months, I felt pretty ripped off even at that price point. Not to mention the mounting electronic waste coming from this clear cut case of planned obsolescence (they could make the batteries replaceable, but they don’t.)
Back into my life came my Marley Smile Jamaica wired earphones. Never out of battery. Audio quality is better than any wireless earbuds I have ever listened with – although the drop in quality moving to a USB-C adapter due to Samsung dropping the aux port is noticeable and infuriating. And just all-round dependable. I like stuff you can literally throw in the washing machine and still works fine on the other side. I’ve done this many times and they keep on trucking.
Public service announcement to my beloved friends who are airpod users: the mic quality is really shit and I really dread speaking to my friends who take calls on the street with their airpods in. You may feel like a super important VIP, but it really is quite dreadful trying to figure out what you are trying to say on the other end. Show us some love and don’t use them for calls hey?
That reminds me, something of a cultural change I absolutely hate: it’s always been considered super rude to try hold a conversation when you have wired earphones in. So why do airpod users act differently and not take them out? I get you have transparency mode, but how the hell do I know if you have it on?
Tools and Tips
1) I use the Smile Jamaica in-ears by Marley. They are cheap ~£10 and have a good warranty that Marley have personally fulfilled for me three times after failures, likely due to how rough I treat them (gym, running, daily use).
https://www.thehouseofmarley.co.uk/smile-jamaica-in-ear-headphones/