Bluetooth Headphones - Alpatronix HX101 Universal HD Noise Isolating Bluetooth Headset &Wireless Headphones w/Built-in Mic, Volume/Playback Controls/AptX/CVC 6.0/BT 4.1 [30+ Hrs Playback Time]- Black

If you are an audiophile searching for that magical instrument that will attune you the harmony of the spheres with crystal clarity and absolute accuracy, keep searching. This is not the device you are looking for.That said, these are my new favorite headphones. They take everything that I love about music, distill it, and dispense in a concentrated resonance so rich my eardrums are now paying taxes. The high tones are so precise, you will hear every crack and pop of your favorite LP. Every hiss of a bow slipping across the strings in every symphonic soundtrack will be yours to treasure. This headset features an enhanced bass that thunders more than Odin’s favorite son after a bean eating contest in Valhalla. The deep roar is what every Dubstep enthusiast dreams of. The bass is so tremendous, it sometimes bleeds into the midrange, and yet, the midrange sounds richer for it. I may be a little biased, since I set up all my sound systems to get this kind of sound, but as the disclaimer says, these are MY new favorite headphones.Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.First off, the instructions for this headset mention nothing about the audio cues that this device uses. • Hold the Play until it turns on, you get one beep. • Hold the Play until it boots into pairing mode, you get two beeps. • Turn on multi device pairing, you get three musical beeps. • Hold the Play until it powers down, you get two descending beeps.What other wonders does the manual not mention? How about a memory better than a pachyderm packed in a peanut? This device auto pairs. What’s more, it automatically pairs with up to two devices, and better still, it remembers your last volume setting. Also, if you can get the headset to pair with multiple devices, akin to summon a math demon to help you ace your next exam (or to do your taxes), the headset will remember this and boot into multi pairing mode every time.First off, let me state that multi pairing does not mean you listen to two audio streams at once. The other device is treated as a backup, in case a call comes in, then it becomes primary. So, how does one get this mysterious machine to double down on the Bluetooth connection? Boot into connect mode, and pair it with your backup device. Turn it off. Boot it into connect mode and pair it with your primary device. Turn it off. Turn it on. After booting, press both volume buttons at the same time. You’ll hear the three musical beeps. Well done.The headset delivers on comfort, too. It is like a set of vertical pillows complete with lullaby action. It does not twist, however, each earpiece reels out an inch of stainless steel and plastic lined extensions for those with lower ears. I can wear it all day with glasses and without pain.The headphones work well for call volume and clarity, but the built in microphone is a tad quieter than the one on my phone. Since they position it under your right ear, it is not a stunning revelation. Fear not, both parties can still interpret the conversation without struggle.So what are the downsides to this extravagant electronic?If you want noise canceling, this is not it. It has more of a noise muffling feature. This means it also leaks sound, broadcasting your musical tastes at any volume above five. When the headphones are silent, there is a slight background static that eventually shuts off quite a bit before the headset goes into sleep mode. If it does go to sleep, you have to click the play button and it will repair. The buttons have a firm, crisp click that can be heard even at the higher volumes. Also, this headset can be a Bluetooth bandwidth hog that will usurp any other Bluetooth connected device. It has made my Bluetooth mouse slow and stutter around a computer screen like a drunk puppy with an improbable imaginary ball. In a crowded office amidst 11 other Bluetooth transmitting devices, my audio has briefly lost connection and faded for a brief millisecond twice in eight hours. Also worth noting that the high notes (above high C) do jitter a bit when listening to music on the deafeningly loud volumes (Approximately seven or more clicks above the lowest volume), and the lowest volume setting is not mute.TL;DR: Pros: • Pillows for your ears • Built in bass cannon. • Crisp highs (at regular listening volumes). • Remembers volume settings. • Automatically pairs with Bluetooth devices using last settings. • Audible and visual cues for all major functions. Cons: • Bluetooth bandwidth leech. • Sound spills out, polluting the environment, at volume 5 and above. • Extra clicky buttons. • Slightly quiet microphone.

In two years, this is third wireless bluetooth headset I've owned. Of the three, this one is the best.1. My other two, no one could clearly hear me using the headset mic. While I do come in a bit lower as opposed to using my Bluetooth for conversation, I am still audible and not muffled as my two other headphones were (according to the other side).2. Audio: Wow, I thought I had two good headphones but the audio on these are actually pretty good.3. Controls: All on one side, all on the side of the earbud, not underneath. This makes things so much easier and understandable.

This is on ok headphone with ok sound quality. Nothing fancy. The noise isolation is non-existent. There is zero reduction of ambient noise. Airplane engine hum loudly, dogs bark, people sneeze and you hear it all.To be honest, I didn't know the difference between noice cancelling and noise isolation. I wanted something with noice cancelling but this is noise isolation which does not use any technology to reduce outside noises. The customer service department responded to my review and without soliciting it they shipped me a new unit thinking there might have been an issue with the one I received. Alas, it is the same but it is because I did not understand the difference as mentioned above. I will keep them but the search continues for affordable headphones with noise cancelling.Update #2 - the lag on these is unbearable. I’ve tried them on several different devices including a brand new iPad Pro 11. There is a delay of anywhere between one to three seconds. Even the $10 Bluetooth earbuds from WMart work better than these. Terrible.

So, let me start out by noting that I showed these to my boyfriend when they were delivered and told him that I'd need his help properly testing them so I could write this review. Well, as soon as he picked them up, he told me to order him a pair! I was like, "But you haven't listened or anything yet!" His response? "I don't need to; I can tell from their weight and the way they're made that they're good. Order me some!" He couldn't grab his debit card fast enough, ha-ha!And he is correct. These headphones are extremely well made; they're not light and flimsy like some headphones I've owned. This is especially important to me because my head's already a little big and I have thick - THICK! - locs, then you add a winter hat, and I need some bad boys to both fit on top of all that without making me feel as if I'm wearing a vice and without breaking. My boyfriend and I ran some errands today, taking several trains/subs and buses, and I had mine on the whole time, for over 4 hours. I live in Chicago and it was in the low 30s today, so I had on a hat and a hood over my thick locs and STILL the music penetrated all of that and sounded superb!...I'm not really an audiophile, but I do like my bass, and these baddies didn't fail me in making sure my songs were thumping! My boyfriend, who's also our band's leader and my music producer and therefore knows headphones, was wearing his too, and he was bobbing his head the whole time!The headphones paired perfectly to my phone, his phone, and a new 'government' smartphone that I got yesterday. The buttons work as they should, and the aux cord is a great addition to have; they'll be especially useful to me, as I tend to be lazy about charging bluetooth items, so I may need the cord on occasion! I can't speak to how long they play on one charge since I really only listen to music when I'm out and about, but I've listened to them for maybe a total of 7 hours since I got them, and they're still going strong on that charge. We also tested them with one person on bluetooth and the other using the aux cord, and we both heard the music, and it wasn't dampened one bit! We usually use splitters when we want to share music or watch something on one phone while traveling, so this ability earned a big thumbs-up from us both!I also made a couple of phone calls with these. During test #1, I wore them and spoke to my ex-husband. He said I sounded a little muffled, so he could only hear about 70% of what I was saying. For test #2, I spoke to my boyfriend while he was wearing his and I held my phone to my ear. I heard him loud and clear, so I think they're fine for phone calls, but that's not what they were made for, so they're only passable in that area. I should also note that he got another phone call when we were traveling, and he had to take these off in order to be heard better, so make of these examples what you will.The only thing I'm not 100% on is the look of the headphones -- what can I say; I'm a girl, and I like pretty stuff, ha-ha! I won't go so far as to say they're ugly, but they won't win any beauty awards, either! I especially dislike the peachy/orange color used for the buttons, and I actually went over them (the peach-colored parts) with a blue Sharpie, so they're more attractive; I just wish I could change the material on the inside of the headphones. But, again, this' a minor quibble owing to my own idiosyncrasies, so ignore it if you like!Overall, I feel like these are solid, dependable headphones that will give me enjoyment for years - at least a few! - to come, and I'm so glad that I got them. Definitely a great investment...Now, if only they came in blue like the HX100s! *hint, hint, Alpatronix*