Earbuds / headphones
15 articles on this topic.
This hub covers two kinds of decisions people run into with earbuds and headsets: which pair to buy for a specific situation — gym workouts, back-to-back calls, a wired desk setup, switching a headset between a console and a phone — and what to do when a pair someone already owns stops working the way it used to. That second kind covers dead microphones, dropped wireless connections, or sound that no longer seems right, where the real question is whether a setting needs changing, a cable needs replacing, or the hardware has actually failed.
These questions start as one person describing their own setup, budget, and the couple of models they’re torn between, then asking what actually happens when you use them the way they intend to. The answers come from comparing what manufacturers document against what independent reviewers measured and what owners consistently report once they’ve lived with the thing for a while, rather than taking any one source’s word for it.
- Buytroubleshootingr/razer
Razer Kraken V4 RGB Won't Turn Off on PS5: Real Fix
Kraken V4 Chroma lighting can't be switched off on PS5 because it needs Windows-only Synapse; charge-while-you-play wired mode is the real fix.
- Buytroubleshootingr/JBL
JBL Tune 770NC Aux Mic: The Cable Fix
A four-pole cable cannot expose the Tune 770NC's built-in mic; use a 2.5-to-3.5mm lead with its own inline mic, or use Bluetooth.
- Skiprecommendationr/Gaming_Headsets
Audeze Maxwell Durability: Buy It or Skip It?
Skip the original Audeze Maxwell if repairability and simultaneous wireless audio are requirements; the Stealth Pro II meets both with a detachable mic.
- Buycomparisonr/JBL
JBL Vibe Buds 2 vs Skullcandy: Battery, Bass, Fit
The JBL Vibe Buds 2 outlasts and out-basses Skullcandy's closest match — and Skullcandy doesn't actually sell earbuds called "Wave 2."
- Buyworth itr/Gaming_Headsets
Audio-Technica ATH-G1: Worth Buying for a Wired Desk?
The ATH-G1 earns its price at a wired desk with closed-back, non-boosted sound and a real mic — if you can accept its fixed cable and weak isolation.
- Buyrecommendationr/AppleWhatShouldIBuy
AirPods Pro 3 vs Open-Fit AirPods for Loud Gyms
AirPods Pro 3's sealed tips and ANC cut gym noise by about 40 dB, so open-fit AirPods force you to turn up the volume instead.
- Buyrecommendationr/Gaming_Headsets
Corsair HS65 Sidetone: Real, With One Catch
Yes—the Corsair HS65 Surround has adjustable, latency-free sidetone, but it works only through its USB adapter with iCUE on a Windows PC.
- Buyrecommendationr/airpods
AirPods 2 Mics Dead? Buy AirPods 5, Not 4
Replace mic-dead AirPods 2 with AirPods 5; keep Gen 2 only for its exact shell and double-tap controls, and skip AirPods 4.
- Skiprecommendationr/airpods
AirPods 4 for All-Day Calls? Not Without Breaks
AirPods 4 cannot cover an 8- to 10-hour call load without charging breaks; a work headset with verified all-day talk time is safer.
- Buycompatibilityr/Gaming_Headsets
Does the EPOS PC38X Apply Automatic Mic Leveling?
The Drop EPOS PC38X carries no chip, app, or firmware capable of leveling or gating a mic signal, but Windows and Discord still can.
- Buycompatibilityr/MSI_Gaming
Arctis Nova 7 on the MSI Claw: Keep Astro or Switch?
The Nova 7 works on the Claw's single USB-C port over Bluetooth alone; old Astro dongles can't, since neither Astro headset has Bluetooth built in.
- It dependstroubleshooting
Arctis Nova 1P Not Working on PS5? Start Here
Reseat the Nova 1P’s directional cable, check both mute controls, then use the PS5 microphone meter to isolate settings or hardware.
- Buyhow to
Sony WH-1000XM5 Multipoint: Connect Two Devices
Enable multipoint in Sony Sound Connect to connect two devices, then pause one before playing the other; updated firmware also supports LDAC.
- Buytroubleshootingr/Gaming_Headsets
How to Fix Arctis Nova 7X Bluetooth Pairing
Use the dedicated Bluetooth button from the off state, then pair again in Android; the Xbox dongle is a separate 2.4 GHz connection.
- It dependstroubleshootingr/Gaming_Headsets
Nova 7 Gen 2 Mic Dead? Fix This First
For most Nova 7 Gen 2 mic failures, the fix is mute state, input routing, firmware, or a reset before assuming hardware failure.
