Earphones with mic and effective remote control...am I wanting too much??

[slicendice]

Hi everyone
Total noob here...new to the forums, new to Android and new to the Nexus 5! I really love the phone and am very much enjoying playing with it but I was slightly surprised that it didn't come with any headphones.

I have an old iPod that I've been using for music, but I want to transfer everything to my N5 (carrying around two devices is not on my "to do" list! ). I've been looking around for earphones that have a mic and remote control (answer/hangup calls, music controls, volume) and I'm very surprised by what appears to be something of a lack of such a thing in the Android world. There are tons of such things for the iPhone, but there always seems to be some caveat when it comes to Android (not all the remote functions work, no volume control, etc). Is this just how it is or have I been looking in the wrong places?

Does anyone have any recommendations for something that might fit the bill? I should point out that I prefer the "in the ear" style (the Apple ones on my iPod were a great fit) and will probably use them in the gym from time to time. I'm by no means a connoisseur, but I like a reasonable quality of sound - although my budget is limited, so I can't go laying down

 

[El Presidente]

Welcome to AF!

I had the same problems, I could find plenty with a mic and remote, but no volume controls.

However, I stumbled upon these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004NROUSE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They look to be out of stock at the moment though

Edit - You can still get them in other places by the looks of things: https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/p...6.3&ei=aaPfUuHzOo_T7Ab7zID4CQ&ved=0CFUQpiswAQ

 

[slicendice]

Thanks for the suggestion...defo worth a look see! Doesn't look like there are track forward/backward controls, but it's one of the only ones I've seen with a volume control.

 

[El Presidente]

You can configure them so a double/triple tap of the button skips/rewinds tracks.

If you look at an app called Jays Headset Control, you can configure the button to do loads.

 

[psionandy]

Or go Bluetooth... I use a Sony mw600 headset with my headphones plugged in... U have volume.. Play, pause ,next prev, voice dial, last redial and it has a mic so I can use any headphones. So something like that might be suitable

 

[slicendice]

Or go Bluetooth... I use a Sony mw600 headset with my headphones plugged in... U have volume.. Play, pause ,next prev, voice dial, last redial and it has a mic so I can use any headphones. So something like that might be suitable

I did consider the BT option, but with battery life on the N5 being nothing special as it is, I'd rather go wired and preserve a bit of juice.

 

[El Presidente]

I did consider the BT option, but with battery life on the N5 being nothing special as it is, I'd rather go wired and preserve a bit of juice.

You might find it doesn't make any difference whatsoever to battery life. The Nexus 5 uses Bluetooth LE meaning having bluetooth on should theoretically have minimal impact on battery life.

Whilst I can't confirm on the N5, there is zero battery impact on my Z1 whether my smartwatch is connected or not.

 

[slicendice]

You might find it doesn't make any difference whatsoever to battery life. The Nexus 5 uses Bluetooth LE meaning having bluetooth on should theoretically have minimal impact on battery life.

Whilst I can't confirm on the N5, there is zero battery impact on my Z1 whether my smartwatch is connected or not.

Hmmm...didn't realise that - although I think I'd still prefer the separate "in the ear" style ear phones.

It looks like some earphones have a remote on them but you need an app in order to be able to use all the buttons; presumably this means you'd have to fire up the app every time you wanted to use the headphones?

 

[El Presidente]

Nope, it runs quietly in the background so you don't need to do anything.

What are you using to listen to music, some apps have the function built in anyway.

 

[mybot]

Hmmm...didn't realise that - although I think I'd still prefer the separate "in the ear" style ear phones.

It looks like some earphones have a remote on them but you need an app in order to be able to use all the buttons; presumably this means you'd have to fire up the app every time you wanted to use the headphones?

After a lot of research, rather than going for the earbuds suitable for galaxy s3 and s4 which supposedly should work, I decided for 'better quality reason's to go for the "Sabotage Royale Hi Fi Earphones for Android". They are listed at 60 Euro on the Degauss Labs website (Sweden).

They have a 3 button controller with mic. Out of the box, plug in, using default music player on Nexus 5, they sound very crisp and clear, too good for MP3. Then using the default equalizer on the Nexus 5 a variety of presets or user defined options can be chosen to make MP3's sound really good.

Very impressed with sound quality. (you can pay 125 Euro for high end ones) Button 1 - volume up, Button 3 - volume down, Button 2 - play/pause, receive call/end call, mute call, skip track forward, all this works great BUT the only thing it cannot do that it says it can do is - skip track back. This requires 3 short presses on the middle button, but instead of skipping back it only skips the track forward to the next song and mutes the song.

If the screen is on, a long press brings up the google microphone ready for "OK Google". If the screen is off a long press brings up the "voice dialler". Both pretty handy options.

I tried installing "Headset Button Controller" as well as "Jays Headset Control" in order to see if I could get the 3 short presses on the middle button to 'Skip Back' a track but neither would.

The Mic works well, as does the call answer/hangup/mute features.

All up, I really like this in-ear bud set. Can leave phone in pocket most of the time.

 

[slicendice]

Thanks for the mini review...those look good!

Not that easy to find a reseller though...looks like the Best Gift Company is the only place selling them in UK

 

[mybot]

Thanks for the mini review...those look good!

Not that easy to find a reseller though...looks like the Best Gift Company is the only place selling them in UK

No outlet here in Australia so I bought mine directly off the company's Swedish website (bought 2 sets, one for the lady). Paid in Euro via PayPal. Ordered Sunday night, delivered to my home in Sydney on Friday - 5 days - 4 auto tracking emails received enroute. 6 Euro delivery charge from Sweden to Australia via UPS. Pretty impressed. BTW the packaging is also impressive. This company has got their **** together.

I suspect that the reason the "skip backwards a track" does not work is because Google has made it that way (using KitKat 4.4.2) as neither of those apps I mentioned would fix it. If anyone discovers differently please post.

 

[slicendice]

No outlet here in Australia so I bought mine directly off the company's Swedish website (bought 2 sets, one for the lady). Paid in Euro via PayPal. Ordered Sunday night, delivered to my home in Sydney on Friday - 5 days - 4 auto tracking emails received enroute. 6 Euro delivery charge from Sweden to Australia via UPS. Pretty impressed. BTW the packaging is also impressive. This company has got their **** together.

I suspect that the reason the "skip backwards a track" does not work is because Google has made it that way (using KitKat 4.4.2) as neither of those apps I mentioned would fix it. If anyone discovers differently please post.

6 euros for delivery from Sweden to Australia is pretty impressive!! Would cost me that much to post them to London from Manchester! ;-)

I've always been slightly suspicious of the "ear bud" style headphones as I had a pair ages ago and they were forever falling out - not ideal when you're out running! Think I might take a punt on these though...looks like they're pretty decent - and probably as close to what I'm after as I'm going to find.

 

[ccsmoker]

I am using the LG QUAD BEAT II all wrks

 

[BigCiX]

My Klipsch S4A's along with Jay Headphone control works great with button to push activity. This include volume control.

 

[Rxpert83]

I was just going to suggest these. It appears as if they might fit the bill. The price from their website is high, but try amazon as well :thumbup:

http://www.klipsch.com/s4a-ii-headphones

• Answer/end calls
• Redial

• Volume up/down
• Play/pause
• Track forward/track back
• Noise-isolating design blocks outside noise

• Voice search
• Voice command

I really like the pair I have (not the android specific ones)

 

[mmednick1]

i just use the iphone headphones they seem to work pretty good with my n5

 

[mmednick1]

that is high 100 bucks

 

[Rxpert83]

Last years is half that

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-In-ear-Headphones-Android/dp/B005M1KO1C/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_2

 

[slicendice]

Bit of an old thread but just to bring it up to date, I ended up getting a pair of LG QUADBEAT2 off eBay.

 

[Bananarepublique]

Hi everyone

Saw this and I was in the same situation a few months ago. Why the mic on iphone wont work is because they have a different voltage. No matter what app you install that is a physical detail you cant control with an app.. you will need an actual "made for Android" headset to make all 3 buttons work.

Well after some search (this was before getting into this forum) I got the Dual Drivers from Degauss in Sweden. I think they sound excellent as they have 2 speakers in each bud making sound greater & wider feeling. It also has the 3-button microphone that needs no app, but gets "more programmable" if an app is installed. I tried both Headset Button Controller and Jays app

 

[slicendice]

Thanks for the info...good to know there's another option out there

Unfortunately, I am no longer the proud owner of my LG Quadbeat2 earphones as they were in my coat pocket when it was stolen. *Really* hacked off! So I enjoyed them for approximately 4 days <sigh>

So...back to eBay and the Quadbeats? Or should I go Degauss? Decisions, decisions...

 

[Bananarepublique]

Hey Slice n Dice!

4 days, sounds like some type of record.. I never listen to the quadbeats earphones and Im no super audiophile.. But I guess it has alot to do with what you are willing to pay. I thought that if I got a pair costing something I would take better care of them, worked out so far, on the other hand I guess you could stock up on quadbeats ;-)
Im still really satisfied with the Degauss Dual drivers and really enjoy the space and the clarity they deliver compared to a pair of basic earphones..

Keep on truckin

/S

 

[slicendice]

Yes I'd hoped I might manage more than a paltry 4 days!!! Ah well...better than 3 days I suppose

Can I ask what phone it is you're using yours with?

 

[Bananarepublique]

Hi SnD

Im using a Nexus 5 but also tried the LG G2 lately.. Tested them on some friends phones like the S5. All worked fine. Only unit I didnt get it to work with was the Nexus 4, there only the center button works, but I think that phone has limitations.

/S