Wireless headphones are probably the hottest audio component at the moment. They look cool, sound great and are extremely portable. Wireless headphones, wireless earphones, True Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth headphones - the plethora of options, styles and designs are truly extravagant. And people are loving being indulged with so many options.
For starters, your Bluetooth headset can be easily synced with a smartphone for instant music listening, virtually anywhere.
Secondly, No More Cables! No more putting your wired headphones away and miraculously finding the cables all jumbled up! Lastly, with Bluetooth audio codecs you can enjoy hi-resolution music that sounds almost as good as it would on wired headphones! With constant advancements in wireless technology, the day Bluetooth headphones catch up, if not surpass wired headphones, is not far off. Right now your smartphone probably supports aptX HD streaming and that, dear reader, is a great way to listen to some fine tunes wirelessly.
We’ve discussed what aptX HD is and how you can activate it on your smartphone here.
Listening to music is a religious experience. You need to get the following three parts correct to become a devotee and enjoy wireless audio nirvana:
- A hi-res file of your favourite song. If you wish to stream, preferably go with an app that supports hi-res audio
- An aptX HD compatible smartphone or DAP (hi-res player)
- A headphone that supports aptX HD
A wireless aptX HD headphone that’ll best suit you and your music can be a tough find. That’s exactly what we’re here for. Here are some sublime options for getting the best out of your aptX HD powered music-listening sesh:
With a miniaturized version of their hugely popular Tesla driver powering the music, the audio quality is beyond exceptional. This wireless gem from the German Beyerdynamic, posses finesse and poise in terms of looks and performance. Enjoy a nice, audiophile-grade balanced sound with call handling capabilities, while in transit. The 8-hour battery life is sure to handle this quite easily. You can even use a proprietary app and customise the output to your preference. It doesn’t get any more chic and classy than this.
With a secure fit and a 3-button in-line mic, Sennheiser’s wireless in-ears are a worthy contender for your go-to on-the-go music listening consideration. With a balanced output that is characteristically Sennheiser, this commuter-friendly pair of wireless in-ears delivers where it matters. A 6-hour battery life is sure to make cumbersome commuting a thing of the past.
The classy British brand’s aptX HD-ready in-ears feature two drivers for pure audio bliss. With ear tips that feel custom-built for you, these slick earbuds deliver a warm and smooth sound with practiced ease. In-line mic and controls and a hefty 8 hours of battery life make this a worthy all-rounder.
Featuring custom-designed 14mm drivers tuned by the same team that built the 800 Diamond Series B&W speakers used in Abbey Road Studious - is credential enough! Warm and smooth being its signature, this Brit is legit! Of course, in-line mic and 10 hours of battery life just add icing to this luxurious sonic cake. The PI4 also features ANC for that much-needed relief from external noise.
Known for their signature balanced sound, these Beyerdynamics are sure to make believers out of skeptical audiophiles. Featuring a closed-back design and a massive 30-hour battery life, these headphones are built to impress. It’s proprietary app - the MIY (Make It Yours) - tracks your music tastes and can even let you adjust the output. With touch-sensitive controls, attending calls and managing your playlist is a breeze.
This warm and smooth sounding headphone with ANC is sure to blow you away. It’s tuned by the same team that built the 800 Diamond Series B&W speakers used in Abbey Road Studios! A 30-hour battery and lightweight design make them ideal for commuting. Closed-back design and lightweight, these comfy headphones are perfect for some extended hi-res listening sessions.
A well-balanced sound, reminiscent of Dali’s signature is surely not easy to pass. Mixing ingenuity with comfort, Dali’s ANC-compatible, memory-foam earpads with closed-back headphones, the IO-6 even provides 30-hours of playback. Battery running low? Get voice prompts for the same and a complete charge with just 2.5 hours of charging. What’s more, is that you can continue listening to audio with an option to go wired, should the juice run completely dry. Nicely done Dali! Nicely done, indeed.
Like a Luxury German car that delivers on purpose and style, these Sennheisers deliver a warm and smooth sound with functionality, with aplomb. There’s enough tech to impress, like - ANC with 3 modes to choose from for controlling how much you hear of your surroundings, customisation via a proprietary app, slick buttons for handling calls and music, among others. A 17-hour battery life is sure to make for some fun listening.
Let us just start by the best feature here - 60 hours of playback! You read that right! If you somehow find yourself running low, a 2.5 hour charge is all it needs to refuel completely. No charging point? Just plug in the mini-jack and go wired. Featuring Dali’s signature awesomeness, the balanced sounding IO-4 is a sonic treat. Memory earpads and an IP53 rating make it one of the best commuter headphones to have.
Dethroning a headphone that was long considered to be the standard for ANC and audiophile performance, is no mean task and the WH-1000XM3 did just that. Sony’s giant-killer is a beast in itself with intuitive touch controls, a balanced sound signature that’ll impress even audiophiles and a 30-hour battery life. Feature-rich, the Japanese brand gets you a quick playback time of 5 hours with just a 10-minute charge and an option to go wired if you run out of juice. With an equalizer on-board, you can also go bass-heavy without missing a beat.
That was our take on the best ways to enjoy the aptX HD experience on headphones. Do make sure you invest in the right gear for a fulfilling music listening experience. As of now, aptxHD is yet to be compatible with True Wireless earphones. But, if you still wish to look at a few wonderful options in the world of True Wireless, head right here.
Happy Listening!
