Convenience Over Sound Quality: Why AirPods Pro 2 over a wired headphone

In today's tech landscape, convenience often trumps sound fidelity, as shown by Redditor matt778022's choice of AirPods Pro 2 over high-end wired headphones. While wired audiophile gear like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and Moondrop Aria 2S offer superior audio quality, the ease of use, reliable connectivity, and impressive battery life of the AirPods Pro 2 make them the go-to for everyday listening. The evolution of Bluetooth technology has transformed wireless earbuds into credible alternatives for most users, leaving hardcore audiophiles as the primary wired defenders.

Do you prioritize convenience or sound quality when choosing your audio gear?

Source: https://www.cultofmac.com/setups/wireless-earbuds-vs-wired-earbuds
 

Attachments

  • generated.png
    generated.png
    769 KB · Views: 59
Click to expand...
Not someone who has tried high fidelity wired earphones before, but have the ease of use experience to relate to.
As someone who started to value good audio and active noise cancellation a couple of years ago, I mentally prepared myself to invest real money into a pair that does both well. I had considered and scoffed at the idea of investing in airpods-like options. Earbuds with tiny batteries that I will inevitably have to throw away 2-3 years. I landed on the Sony WH1000XM4s and ordered it on amazon. The sound and noise cancellation was better than anything I had tried but I started craving more ease of use. Something I could gym in, sleep on the side with, something less conspicuous when I am outdoors. I circled back to airpods and finally ended up selling the XM4s and bought airpods pro 2. This was almost 2 years ago. The damn things have been amazing so far. I use it during my morning commute. In the evening, I usually put it on when I leave work at around 5 and have them on until bed time at 10. The use includes phone calls, media consumption and even just letting them be and enjoying the quiet. Perhaps the battery will start to deteriorate a lot in a year or two. But the experience has been great.
 
Priority : Sound quality.

Convenience is subjective.
Best to have multiple options so you can choose based on usage.
 
Priority: Convenience

I am no audiophile and only listen to bollywood and punjabi songs that are trending and that too rarely. I listen to audio books and otherwise sometimes tv shows. I love TWS form factor and for some reason, cannot use neckband too much.
 
Convenience when on the go and travelling.
For gym, airplane, commute a TWS or wireless all the way.

Sound quality when at home or when you can control your source audio.
 
AirPods Pro (definitely for convenience).
I was in an assumption that I can use them for my daily teams meeting, but nope, the mic is not as good as advertised, eventually I move to wired ones (Jabra) for these meetings, for everything else AirPods Pro 2.
use to be an audiophile, but with age convenience takes over :disrelieved:
 
I have BLON BL-03, Fiio E10K, Sennheiser HD599 and the AirPods Pro 2.

It is wrong to assume that TWS have average or bad sound quality, especially the crop of premium TWSs. You have to try these with Hi-Res lossless audio to know that they are bloody good. I will not say that they are as good as high fidelity IEMs. When you are in noisy outdoors, advantage of no-ANC IEMs drop off significantly or you have to crank up audio so much that it is not safe for ears. With ANC on, my AirPods Pro 2 are limited to 85-90 decibels and they crank out really good audio. What if I have to speak to someone? I have adaptive audio on. The moment I start speaking, transparency mode turns on. I turn on transparency mode when I feel bit of fatigue in ear. It makes me feel as if there are no earphones in my ear. It is that good. There is a trump card though for AirPods Pro 2. Spatial Audio. Borrow phone that has Apple Music subscription and AirPods. Try You Aint the problem song on Apple Music with hi-res lossless and Spatial Audio on. Then there is the feature of seamless switching between other apple devices. I have Apple TV and Mac and iPad. I can seamlessly switch between devices. My previous IEMs die often when I use them while working out. The heavier ones always fall out or come loose. It's hard while cycling as I cannot take hand off to correct the fit. These AirPod Pros, though with battery, are lighter, they stay put and as they are IPx4 certified, they have been my workout and cycling partner ever since they launched.

Things are very very different at home. 10 times out of 10 I prefer using HD599 over AP2s. I am in quiet environment and these things are way way better, except when I want to watch TV at night when others are sleeping. So, if you ask which is better, I would go with TWS while on the road and with a full sized headphone setup at home. There is no place for wired IEMs in my world now and I am very serious about audio quality.
 
Last edited:
Convenience all the way.
If you face an iPhone, there's simply nothing that beats the seamlessness of Airpods.
If I'm at home and I want to take some time out and listen to music then maybe I'll pop out my headphones but for everything else Airpods is a no brainer.
 
Its like saying Graphic fidelity vs Gameplay in games, as if better graphics inadvertently result in worse game play. Imagine a game with better graphics costing 600$ vs 60$ game that has better gameplay, would you accept that ?

If a 20$ wired IEM sounds better than 200$ highly convenient inferior sounding TWS , any rational person would choose the former.

IMO there shouldnt even be a compromise. TWS without compromising the sound quality/safety at the same affordable price is the answer. Unfortunately, if you let Apple dictate the standard you already lost the battle for better product.
 
Top Bottom