Recommendations for wireless headphones that can also be wired?

The Lounge General Discussion
1

Hi guys,

Looking for advice for a friend, they are just starting out making music and want some wireless headphones they can use for general listening - but can also be wired for low latency production use.

Do such things exist?

Alternatively does anyone use wireless for production, how is the latency using Live?

Sure there are lots of variables - which sound card etc but general experiences would be handy to know.
Thanks :slight_smile:

2

I think most wireless can be plugged in. Bluetooth has a minimum latency of around 4-5ms, not including converting audio or anything else relating to headphones.

I was going to suggest some of the new Focal Listens, but apparently their not much good. I think some Focal Bluetooths would be a good general area to look in, I don’t think the regular brands do reference phones in bluetooth.

3

Thanks for your thoughts :slight_smile:

4

You really, really, really don’t want to use wireless headphones for audio production. The latency will annoy the hell out of you.

Most premium wireless cans can be used wired as well just fine. I regularly use a pair of Bower&Wilkins PX7 over-ears like that when I can’t use my open-backs because of construction noise.

5

Assumed that would be the case. Couldn’t imagine the latency would be useable in production.

The B&W’s look good, thanks.

6

Anymore recommendations based on experience using headphones, that can be wireless for listening but also wired for production?

7

I have Sony WH100MX3 that I used to use in the office before work from home became the “new normal”, they work wireless and wired (some of my work involves audio stuff so I needed to wire them to avoid latency, which is really quite high with Bluetooth).

They sound brilliant for listening to music and the noise cancelling is very impressive. I would hazard a guess they are not very flat in terms of frequency response so not ideal for production from that point of view - I imagine this is true of most Bluetooth headphones though, they are aimed more for listening. But I have played around on my iPad using them a bit and the results came out fine, so if you learn their sound I’m sure they are usable.

To be honest in your friends position, I would possibly look at getting a cheaper pair of wireless headphones and then eg DT770 for production.

8

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT could be a good option. I would only use them in wired mode for music production (latency is TERRIBLE via BlueTooth).