EDIT: After a few days of comparing sound quality with a working Nexus 7, I decided I could do better than the Eee PC speakers. I have another set of better speakers I ordered directly from a components distributor on the way, and I'll post an update when they come in. Link
I'm another unlucky Nexus 7 owner to have their speakers blow out through normal usage. Unfortunately none of the temporary fixes seemed to work, and it's entirely possible that I made my speakers worse through trying them. I had crackling on both speakers, and at any volume. So, I submitted a RMA to Asus about two weeks ago and never received a response.
Then I got the bright idea of removing the speakers altogether to see if I could shoehorn together a custom solution. I'm documenting my findings here in case any of you want to give it a shot yourself and don't particularly care about voided warranties. Yes, you are voiding your warranty simply by taking apart your device. And no, I don't think you should try this if you're afraid of soldering irons. For those of you that are comfortable handling burning hot metal rods, this should otherwise be a pretty simple process. I've burned myself countless times, and even I was able to complete this mod in about 45 minutes.
The first step is that you need to buy a set of small laptop speakers, preferably something that has been gutted from a netbook. Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, so ideally you want something as small as possible and doesn't require much power. Impedance and resistance values are negligible, since the worst thing that could happen when you plug in slightly larger speakers with different values is that your device isn't as loud as before. Once I was ready, I went on eBay and started looking at Asus Eee PC speakers, since I thought the odds are good that Asus re-uses a lot of connectors and speaker sizes in their devices (later I found out this was not entirely true). I also did some Googling just to get an idea of what kind of sound quality I could expect from Eee speakers, and most people seemed to think they were okay. I ended up with some speakers from an Eee PC 1005HAB.
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Big thanks to Lokheed for this steal at just over $5 with free shipping. That's half the cost to ship the entire Nexus 7 back to Asus for repair.
The connector looked similar enough to the original for the Nexus 7 speakers that I thought maybe I could get away with doing zero soldering, but unfortunately when they got here the connector was easily twice the size. The other problems were that the pin layout on the connector was different (Vcc, Gnd, Vcc, Gnd versus the Nexus 7's Vcc, Gnd, Gnd, Vcc), and the solder joints for the speakers were hidden inside of the plastic casing. The speakers were much bigger overall, too, which meant things were going to get tricky for ensuring there was enough clearance to actually install them.
This is the point where I realized I had taken a gamble and was on the verge of losing, though luckily it was only a $5 gamble. I immediately set to work on trying to pry apart the plastic housing to remove as much extra plastic as I could. The housing itself was held together with some epoxy, so I had to run a blade through it before prying. Then to get it started, I used a pair of pliers as a makeshift nutcracker to crack one side open so I could fit a spudger in to start prying it apart.
The empty shells from the backs of the speakers. I have no idea why one of them seemed to be more difficult than the other. Luckily without the plastic housing, the speakers ended up being just barely thin enough to still fit. I took some tin snips to the edges and trimmed off as much as I could without breaking the frame on the membranes, then I just stripped the original speaker connector wires and soldered directly to the speakers.
When soldering, just de-solder the old wires from the speakers first and take note of the black vs red/white wires. The 7's speaker wires use red for Vcc and brown for Gnd, so solder the brown wire to where the black wire was, and the red wire to the other one. Simple!
Finally, I powered on my device and ran through a few Youtube videos to test that the speakers worked. Success!
After that I just secured them in place with a dab of hot glue and sealed everything back up. I will say that the speakers are definitely not as loud as the originals, which is to be expected since they're bigger and the Eee PC obviously has more juice to drive the speakers. However, they are a bit clearer than the originals, and it's much better than waiting around for Asus to put another set of speakers in that will probably blow out after a month again. Later on I might consider buying a few extra sets of original speakers in case I get tired of the low volume, but for right now I'm satisfied.
Would using Volume+ with these speakers increase the volume but keep good quality?
cesar424 said:
Would using Volume+ with these speakers increase the volume but keep good quality?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't seem to get Volume+ to work with the stock ROM. That said, it could also be a problem with sound reflection, since I tried flipping it over and it's definitely really loud on the other side.
I also put my girlfriend's 7 next to mine for comparison, and I'm starting to notice that the sound quality isn't actually as good. I've got another set of speakers on order from Mouser Electronics, which should be a lot nicer. I'll post my results when they come in.
Off Topic:
We should burn all device designers responsible for putting speakers on a multimedia device behind the device.
I mean cone on, would they turn their Hifi speakers to the wall instead of to their couch?
Edit: Even my 190 $ chinese tablet (Yuandao N101 RK3066 Dualcore, 1GB RAM, 32GB flash, 31GB microSD, HDMI, Android 4.1) has stereo speakers on the front side in better quality than asus'. I don't even complain about all the absent ports ASUS/Google failed to integrate, but dear Asus please make sure you use high quality for the parts which are present.
underlines said:
Off Topic:
We should burn all device designers responsible for putting speakers on a multimedia device behind the device.
I mean cone on, would they turn their Hifi speakers to the wall instead of to their couch?
Edit: Even my 190 $ chinese tablet (Yuandao N101 RK3066 Dualcore, 1GB RAM, 32GB flash, 31GB microSD, HDMI, Android 4.1) has stereo speakers on the front side in better quality than asus'. I don't even complain about all the absent ports ASUS/Google failed to integrate, but dear Asus please make sure you use high quality for the parts which are present.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, I agree. But not only BEHIND a device, I'm also irritated by the fact it's off-centered. Watching movie in landscape makes the sound came only from the right or left side...... make it stereo and put speakers on BOTH side!
Secondly, your $190 tablet has Jelly Bean???? Where can I buy it? lol
Asus tried facing the speakers out the front with the TF101. The speakers were behind the screen and made the screen vibrate to make the sound seem like it was coming out the front. It was an interesting concept, but overall sounded kind of muffled because they were still pretty crappy speakers to begin with. I do like that the Yuandao N101 has small cutouts in the glass on the front, but in turn that makes the screen less durable.
It would make more sense to just manufacture a smaller piece of glass and have the entire bezel made of plastic or aluminum, much like how 99% of portable devices before the iPad were made (GameBoy, DS, PSP, etc.). But instead most companies and consumers are obsessed with the design of the iPad, and so all the competitors work on ways to replicate that instead.
If cost were not a problem, we'd be using electrostatic speakers that are integrated into the screen, thereby keeping the iPad-like glass panel and getting exceptional sound quality at the same time. However, nobody wants to spend $1000 on a tablet yet, so we're stuck with $2 integrated plastic speakers that blow out after a week.
So Asus wanted to charge you to ship the device back even though its a manufacturer defect
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Any other option for replacement speakers that may work better? My speaker blew the other day
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Mine blew yesterday. A quick search will lead u to a site where they sell OEM n7 speaker assemblies for around 25$. Just ordered one today plan to crack my n7 open takin out three screws and doing it my damn self. Not waiting on Asus or google for repairs or replacement. Plus I don't wanna deal with having to unroot pay shipping wait without a device, finally get it back, re root it and set it up again how I want it. In two day when parts arrive 5 mins later ill have working speakers. Then I plan to get external speakers to avoid this in the future. Hopefully someone will find some decent replacement speakers that will fit and not blow out on normal volume settings
Any one know if Asus will sell replacement speakers? Since mine have just gone
WarningHPB said:
Any one know if Asus will sell replacement speakers? Since mine have just gone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's at least once place selling it, they look to be around $30. Problem is since it's not "user replicable" I doubt Asus would sell direct even if they had it as a billable part number.
underlines said:
Off Topic:
I mean cone on, would they turn their Hifi speakers to the wall instead of to their couch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm, they would if their last name was Bose.
khaytsus said:
There's at least once place selling it, they look to be around $30. Problem is since it's not "user replicable" I doubt Asus would sell direct even if they had it as a billable part number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I meant to say speaker assembly but yeah I'm wanna just get the assembly and replace mine since its a lot more hassle RMAing it
Miami_Son said:
Uhm, they would if their last name was Bose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy Our S***ty Equipment
my 3g has now got terrible sound coming from the left speaker only. any updates from anyone on where to get replacements our alternatives?
on how to force all audio to go through the right channel?
btw I blame dice player and its 400 percent audio boost
Sage said:
my 3g has now got terrible sound coming from the left speaker only. any updates from anyone on where to get replacements our alternatives?
on how to force all audio to go through the right channel?
btw I blame dice player and its 400 percent audio boost
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Left one seems to be the only one that blows. Mine went while using MX and 200% boost. Just received a replacement N7 from google...
Saw a vid on youtube with a fix.....
Personally I snipped a piece (1/4x1/4x1/4 roughly) from a mattress pad and placed it over the offending speaker.
I love how this guy is a "technician" yet he's:
Confusing flathead and philips
Using a flathead to open a plastic back case
Suggesting glueing connector half-way in place as a fix
Sliding the tablet around face-down on the table surface
Suggesting cutting wires to disconnect the 'blown" speaker
Informercial
fail.
khaytsus said:
I love how this guy is a "technician" yet he's:
Confusing flathead and philips
Using a flathead to open a plastic back case
Suggesting glueing connector half-way in place as a fix
Sliding the tablet around face-down on the table surface
Suggesting cutting wires to disconnect the 'blown" speaker
Informercial
fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Granted their all quick/temporary fixes at best, but do you have a better suggestion? Preferably a non warranty voiding one....
Mine blew from using the alarm clock and a standard tone. Pretty ridiculous and am buying a cheap bluetooth speaker to use in my room for movies and alarm. I sent it to Asus last week and delivery confirmation shows they just got it. Hope this is a quick turnaround.
Good afternoon everyone. My best regards to earlyberd for this post. I used the information herein to continue the project where it left off…even though it may not be entirely in the OP’s original direction. I bought the suggested speakers using earlyberd’s link to Mouser. I was able to fit these guys into the Nexus 7, but it took quite a bit of mod work (in my opinion). So, I will quickly share my craziness and fill in details if there is interest.
Attached Word doc has embedded pics. The un-links below are higher res.
Nexus framework milled out with a small Dremel engraving bit:
flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/9080835754/
Speakers staged for fitment:
flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/9078609129/
Everybody wired and working:
flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/9080832736/
It is not apparent in the pictures, but I had to trim some of the ground plane off of the usb/audio jack circuit board to make everything fit. Some may get a queasy feeling at the thought of doing this. I would be happy to provide very detailed pictures for anyone interested.
Thanks.
Related
So, On the bus ride home today, I was in a rush getting off the bus and my headphone cable got caught and pulled quite hard on the phone.
The jack popped out, so when I was on solid ground I put the jack back in and pressed play on my podcast but nothing happened.
I pushed the headphone jack to the side slightly and sound came through.
So the sound only works if I push the jack towards the right, with the phone facing you.
So I opened it up to see if I could see anything loose, but it looked fine.
I chatted to a rep from amazon.de and they said I could send it to them and they will fix it, but if it is broken due to negligence, I'll have to pay for repairs.
Not sure if breaking the headphone port counts as negligence.
And also don't feel like restoring the phone to stock and rerooting etc....
So instead I just ordered the replacement part from ebay.
Will try installing it when it gets here and see if that works.
I didn't fancy not having my phone for weeks because of a non-essential part being slightly broken.
Will post my progress and the results when the part arrives.
Cheers
Jayd
SnakeManJayd said:
Not sure if breaking the headphone port counts as negligence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you right now - that will certainly count as negligence
It isnt as though it was a manufacturing defect
anyway, ill be interested to see how this goes - lots of pics please
That was what I thought too.
I will definitely post pics, although my note is the best camera device I have, so it will have to be with my wifes galaxy W.
But it's better than nothing.
At least someone has already done a teardown for you to follow - one of the screen replacement threads
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
apd said:
At least someone has already done a teardown for you to follow - one of the screen replacement threads
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and I found a video of a teardown on youtube, not sure if it is the same person.
I did a half teardown today, so I am confident that I can at least take it apart.
SnakeManJayd said:
Yes, and I found a video of a teardown on youtube, not sure if it is the same person.
I did a half teardown today, so I am confident that I can at least take it apart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. Please, as many photos as possible to help others in future.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
So.
There was a side-effect of breaking the headphone port.
I noticed that the battery was really flat last night for some reason, I didn't think too much of it and I put it on charge.
This moring I took it off of charge, after a night of charging and it had only gotten to 42%. Which is when I realised that there was a problem.
I tried charging from my pc and the AC outlet, and it would charge very slowly and not above 42%. And when off charge, the battery would drain quite fast.
So I wondered if it was a result of me taking the phone apart and putting it back together wrong, so I took the back cover off again.
I tried to charge again, but same problem.
So then it dawned on me that the broken headphone port might be short circuiting something to drain the battery, so I popped the connector for the headphone jack off of the motherboard and tried to charge it that way.
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When I did this the phone charged with no problems. So it seems that the part was shorting out somehow.
This meant that I had to remove it now, instead of waiting for the replacement.
I removed the main board (for directions on how to do that check out one of the youtube videos on galaxy note teardown.)
To get to the headphone port part.
I had to remove the two silver screws to remove the little metal bracket holding it down, then pulled out the headphone part.
It is just stuck down with some rubbish sticky glue type stuff.
Then installed the metal cover and the mainboard without the headphone port part.
I then wanted to cover up the hole that was now in the top of the phone that would allow direct access to the main board. Luckily I use a case, so I used a bit of plastic, to sit between the phone and the case.
And here is the phone, with decent battery charge, next to defective part.
So, now the phone at least isn't going to damage its self while I wait for a replacement part.
BUT!!!! Before you try this, keep in mind that the other thing attached to the headphone port is the speaker for phonecalls.
I tested it with a phonecall from another phone.
The phone rings, but I can't hear anything when I pick up.
The person on the other end hears my voice, but also an echo of there own voice.
So, it is a drastic move, but at least now my phone is useable until the replacement part arrives.
It's a good thing I don't phone people, I mainly text anyway, so I should be fine for now.
Will update when the new part arrives.
Hi,
I've problems with my jack port too so, like you, I would like to replace it. Do you know where we can order a jack port for ours Galaxy Note ?
I ordered mine from ebay.
But I have seen other websites that have the same thing.
The ebay one was the cheapest for me, although it is shipping from the US to UK, so it will take a while to get here.
I will make a video or take lots of pictures so you can see how to install it.
Cheers
Jayd
Got a call from my friend today. Had to hang up and text him saying that I couldn't take is call, because I had removed the speaker from my phone. Was pretty funny.
Well, thank you !
Unfortunatly, I can't open your link because I'm in France and there are restrictions on ebay. Do you have a reference/name to give me plz ?
Anyway, to avoid the problem, I've ordered bluetooth headphones today. Hope you can replace your jack port soon !
Search Google for:
"Headphone Jack Earphone Flex Cable for Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000 i9220"
That was what the ebay item was called.
So you can't access ebay in France?
Thanks, I can access ebay but not the link you send me. The product is maybe unavailable for France...
Jobs Done
I got the replacement part today, after a week without the headphone jack or speaker for the phone.
So I opened up the phone again, as I did before. You can see the open space where the part needs to go.
So I took of the white plastic which uncovered the sticky area on the speaker used to stick down the part. The blue underneath of the headphone jack was also a bit sticky. I stuck it in place and it went in really easily.
Next I had to put the little metal bracket back in.
Then I put the screws into the bracket to hold it in place then put the main board back in place and screwed that down too.
I then clipped the connectors back in place and put the cover back on.
Booted it up and it is working perfectly
I tested the headphone jack afterwards and it is firm and the sound isn't crackly. I also tested the speaker for phonecalls and it is working again and sounds normal.
So it looks like, all in all, it was a successful fix.
Will update if any weird side-effects show up.
Cheers
Thank you! I've got the same issue where it only outputs stereo when I push whatever is plugged in to the headphone part toward the back of the phone. Cnn.cn has the part for $5 + $5 shipping, so I'll grab that and use your pics for reference!
My pleasure.
Feel free to contact me if you need help figuring anything out.
Cheers
Just to clarify, do you have to take apart the main board to replace the headphone jack?
---------- Post added at 10:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 AM ----------
phenixdragon said:
Just to clarify, do you have to take apart the main board to replace the headphone jack?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I found my own answer and looks like you do.
No you don't need to take it apart, but you do have to remove it to get to the bracket underneath.
By that I mean, unscrew the main board and pop the few clips that are connecting the IO ribbons to it, then just pull it off.
congratulations on your succesful fix.. i can't even dare to do this as you have did that.. you are so brave
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Sounds like you bent a contact to one side with the preasure of the Jack. I did this on a pod and used a torch & Bobby pin to pull the contact into the side of the hole again. It was not sticking far enough into it to make contract
From box 13......
I thought I'd share this here, in case anyone is interested, and to not go off topic in this thread in the Q&A section that was interested in some detail of my build.
I couldn't find an aftermarket stereo that was as customizable, or had as many features as I'd like. My car is a 02 Mitsubishi Lancer which also is designed for a single DIN stereo, which limited my selection as well. I decided a while back that I wanted to attempt a tablet dash install, and when the Nexus 7 came out, I decided it was time to start on this project.This was my first attempt working with fiberglass, bondo, vinyl wrap, and I'm sure a few other aspects of the project I'm missing.
I failed to take pictures at all steps, as it was trial and error for awhile anyways. Here are some photos of some of the process and a parts list.
Also my Home Screens I created for this very purpose.
Parts List:
Nexus 7
4 Channel Amplifier
Four Gauge Power & Ground Wires
Speaker Wire Cable
2 RCA Plug Cable
3.5mm Stereo Male to 2RCA Male Cable
1/Female to 2/Male Y Connector Cable x 2
RCA Volume Level Control
AC Power Inverter
Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Extension Socket
Radio Wiring Harness Adapter
RadioTrim Piece
Fiberglass Resin
Fiberglass Cloth
Bondo
3M Brushed Black Metal Vinyl Wrap
Ground Loop Isolator (Optional)
Semi Finished Final Product
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RadioTrim Piece found in a junkyard that I cut the innards out of and filled with fiberglass and bondo. My car dash originally looks something like this.
So I had to create something that would house a 7" tablet, and also relocate my temperature controls.
Radio Trim Piece covered with Adhesive Promoter and paint.
Nexus 7 without Radio Trim. Backing is a piece of pegboard cut to fit in dash.
Radio Trim without tablet
Volume Control Knob
Cadence 4-Channel 1000 Watt Amp
Power Inverter
Amazing.. so I'm assuming you tether off a hot spot of some sort?
crachel said:
Amazing.. so I'm assuming you tether off a hot spot of some sort?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, yep, I still have the original Evo 4G for my phone. I just have a tasker shortcut to toggle a Portable Hotpsot. It's only 3G but its worked pretty well so far
looks nice! the work with the fibre glass is very good!
the only issue I have is the use of an inverter, couldnt you have got a in car usb adapter? as this would mean 1 less power conversion.
Assuming you're leaving the Nexus 7 in the dash, aren't you worried about the heat?
markp1989 said:
looks nice! the work with the fibre glass is very good!
the only issue I have is the use of an inverter, couldnt you have got a in car usb adapter? as this would mean 1 less power conversion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I was just going to use a USB adapter, but I tried the 3 I already owned, and none of them would register it was charging. I bought a 4th that I thought would do the job, and had the same problem. I'm sure its possible with the right charger, and I may end up switching it out later. I just ended up being impatient and went with the inverter lol.
jabsys said:
Assuming you're leaving the Nexus 7 in the dash, aren't you worried about the heat?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a concern. It's been in the car for maybe 24 hours now and no problems yet, but I plan on running out to my car to check it on my breaks and lunch tomorrow and probably throughout the work week to see how it holds up. If it becomes an issue I may need to take it out, if the car will be sitting for long stretches of time, or find another solution.
I saw a thread awhile back where someone else bought some sun shades to try and keep the temperature down inside the car. I guess we'll see how it holds up over the next few days.
Somebody put a nook color in a ...Wrangler I want to say? He didn't seem to have any trouble leaving it in there.
Yeah, here it is.
mateorod said:
Somebody put a nook color in a ...Wrangler I want to say? He didn't seem to have any trouble leaving it in there.
Yeah, here it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think his was on a dock. I know one guy had his in a smart car as well. Here.
Looks good though. I've thought about doing it in my car with my NC.
Nice job. Looks good.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Looks cool man
mateorod said:
Somebody put a nook color in a ...Wrangler I want to say? He didn't seem to have any trouble leaving it in there.
Yeah, here it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
biohazrd51 said:
I think his was on a dock. I know one guy had his in a smart car as well. Here.
Looks good though. I've thought about doing it in my car with my NC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, good to hear others havent had overheating issues with similar installations.
I've been looking into this stuff for the last couple months now and I don't think I've seen either of those two builds, thanks.
I know this instructables build and too many random YouTube videos to list on different in-dash installs is what got me finally started in on this project.
You might want to consider some kind of retractable or removable cover. Couple of reasons. One...it can keep direct sunlight off the unit. That would probably be the biggest issue with this setup. Second, it would deter theft. Generally, a thief might not risk breaking into a car to guess what's behind curtain #1...if you know what I mean. However, seeing a full blown tablet in a home made setup (e.g. not built into the vehicle/easy to steal) might be too tempting for some crack head.
Mostly blocking indirect sunlight though...
had an acer a100 perm installed in my dash for several months even here in sunny florida i only got heat warnings when the sun was directly hitting the tablet, using a windshield shade when parked was sufficient to keep the heat warnings from coming on
i'm waiting for the pogo pin dock to be released before the nexus 7 gets a spot in the dashboard, i dont want a perm install again as i like using this tablet outside of the car too
ExploreMN said:
You might want to consider some kind of retractable or removable cover. Couple of reasons. One...it can keep direct sunlight off the unit. That would probably be the biggest issue with this setup. Second, it would deter theft. Generally, a thief might not risk breaking into a car to guess what's behind curtain #1...if you know what I mean. However, seeing a full blown tablet in a home made setup (e.g. not built into the vehicle/easy to steal) might be too tempting for some crack head.
Mostly blocking indirect sunlight though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
b22ri22an said:
had an acer a100 perm installed in my dash for several months even here in sunny florida i only got heat warnings when the sun was directly hitting the tablet, using a windshield shade when parked was sufficient to keep the heat warnings from coming on
i'm waiting for the pogo pin dock to be released before the nexus 7 gets a spot in the dashboard, i dont want a perm install again as i like using this tablet outside of the car too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tips, and again its good to hear these reports of other tablet installs with minimal overheating issues. I checked on it today at lunch and it was hot to the touch, but functioning fine, i believe the temperature on the tablet read 134 F..... It was maybe 80 here outside in WI today. I think I'll definitely be investing in a windshield shade to be on the safe side at the very minimum.
I have a Transformer Prime for my other tablet and at this point I was going for a perma install look, although it isn't all too difficult to remove from the dash if needed.
ahavens17 said:
Thanks for the tips, and again its good to hear these reports of other tablet installs with minimal overheating issues. I checked on it today at lunch and it was hot to the touch, but functioning fine, i believe the temperature on the tablet read 134 F..... It was maybe 80 here outside in WI today. I think I'll definitely be investing in a windshield shade to be on the safe side at the very minimum.
I have a Transformer Prime for my other tablet and at this point I was going for a perma install look, although it isn't all too difficult to remove from the dash if needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh AHeavens, you're a neighbor then. So you know we top the hundreds a few weeks every summer. So if a 80 degree day warms the tab to 135, imagine what one of our 105 days would do to it!
Not to mention our winters where it gets to -35 to -40!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Nice install! i've never had the courage to break out the bondo!
I've installed the Nexus 7 in my WRX too. The trick to getting USB charging to work via a cig adapter is to put a USB hub inline. I pulled apart a tomtop GPS charger and wired it into the factory stereo wiring then plugged a USB hub into it and then the N7 (and my Galaxy S3) into the hub and they both charge nicely.
Having trouble with the audio output though, it is horrible... it buzzes every time i touch the screen and it buzzes when wifi is active and it is just generally crap.
I would like to plug in a USB soundcard (DAC), something like the Fiio E10 but then i wouldn't be able to charge the tab while USB OTG is active.
I was hoping that the pogo pins on the side would allow charging whilst the USB dock connector could be used for OTG but it doesn't look like it will work since both the pogo pins and USB connector go to the same usb switch internally.
I might put up a thread on my WRX N7 install.
edit: here it is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1819175
another edit: there seems to be a thread on the charging issues... i have also just found that my tab drains it's battery faster than it can charge it...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1791717
The ultimate car install: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0o1zkqEuec&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I put my nexus 7 in my dash for 3 hours one day it turned off on me... I assume because it was too hot.
For now I remove it when I get to work and leave it in the car when I am home. I have no issues in the garage. Only problem is the place I mounted mine is a perfect fit and no room for the usb charging cable till I modify the hood but I am hoping for the pogo dock soon.
Sent from my Nexus 7
kangxi said:
The ultimate car install: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0o1zkqEuec&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice!
How are they getting connected? Bluetooth, wifi tether, hotspot, ...?
when I get a car I would definitely spend the $250 bucks to have a really sexy media player in the dash
Ok, as I did long ago on the sgs1 forum ( The sgs1 also comes with a Wolfson dac) and Note1 , starting same challenge here too .
There are tons of excellent headsets out there but quite pricey...
So the real challenge is to find , good quality/low price or let's say low-budget / high quality ones ( € 50,- MAX )...
I tested many and here are my tips :
the AKG K 430
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More pics here
Some specs:
Impendance : 32 ohm
Sensitivity : 125 dB/V
Max input power : 30 mW
Frequency response : 12Hz - 28kHz
Not bad for the price huh? I paid actually 42 euros here in Holland (Makro) , it's maybe cheaper on e-bay, but who wants to wait ?
It's reasonably comfortable, foldable (3D axis - to fit the included case) and got a volume slider !
Dont ask me about durability, I just bought it ... ( Edit: Yep it's durable !)
And what a sound !
And...for the " in-ears" category I got these ones :
milpan said:
JVC HA-FX1 Extreme Explosive Bass
Frequency Response 5-23,000Hz!
10mm large diaphragm neodymium driver units and Extreme Deep Basse Ports deliver ultimate bass sound
Rubber protectors for body durability
Superior sound isolation
Comfortable fit with ergonomic contoured form and three sizes of silicone ear-pieces
2.6mm-thick and robust 1.2m pure copper cable (Y-type)
Special hard carrying case included
S/M/L silicone ear-pieces included
Gold-plated 3.5mm stereo straight plug
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid around * 17.00 * euros for it and it seems that it's even cheaper right now
Great sound - great value for money !
When posting also specify the specs, like Sensitivity, frequency response, impendance, input power, etc etc. , meaning not only name and price !
.
.
Great tips, thanks !
Both sets are great and inexpensive :victory:
AKG = Great headset and with a volume silder
:good:
i use and recommend Sony MDR-ZX100
and they're cheap
I'm going to win this "challenge"...
I got these white replica Beats by Dr. Dre Studio from the Futian District in Shenzhen for about $48 USD (~€35), and I must say that I am very impressed with the quality of replicas. I call these 'replicas' and not 'fakes' or 'counterfeits' because of the extremely high level of accuracy they replicate the real ones at.
Let's begin!
First, fakes or counterfeits usually lack a 10-digit alphanumeric serial number on the inside of the left ear cup. Not with this pair - the sicker is present, and has a semi-matte finish just like the real ones. This serial number was also verifiable on the old Monster Beats website (now non-existent due to Monster's break-up with Beats).
Same goes with the 7-digit (one letter followed by 6 numbers) serial number on the inside of the battery cover. Most fakes have this, but not the 10-digit alphanumeric one.
External appearance and material quality-wise, this replica is spot-on. The branding on the headband is clear and not deformed, and the glossy white finish is perfectly uniform with no visible defects whatsoever.
Another thing that fakes can't get right is the spacing between the headband cushion and the stainless steel spacers between it and the matte-plastic components. Fakes will leave a noticeably wide spacing, revealing the internal headband and the wire running through it. Not with this pair! The cushion fits snugly with the bracket.
The brushed stainless steel headband extensions are very well made, and they click into place with a nice and solid click.
The box seems legit, but Dre's face is still a bit high on contrast. Who cares about the box, anyway? It's the headphone that counts.
The serial number underneath the box has a matching serial number, but the text on the left probably stands for "Monster Headphone Beats Mixr On-Ear", but whatever.
The hard case feels solid, and the zip doesn't seem like it will break easily.
Box contents are complete, with the two cables (one with mic and button, one without), 3.5 to 6.3 mm adapter and flight adapter. It also comes with shrink-wrapped AAA Duracells. The clean cloth has nice stitching around the edges.
Now onto the internal components. This replica uses the exact same speaker drivers, noise cancelling microphones (one in each ear cup) and active noise cancelling amplifier circuit as the real ones. This means they have the exact same audible range (20-20,000 Hz) and the same bass-heavy audio (but surprisingly less muddy than the real ones). The circuit does a mediocre job at noise cancelling, also having the same noisy hiss like the real ones.
As seen here, the circuit board is like a clone of the real one, seen in comparison with an official picture. It even has the same dual-color LED that changes color when the battery is low. The only difference I can see is the Monster branding on the power switch.
The circuit board mainly uses two ICs to achieve the unique Beats EQ effect - the Maxim Integrated MAX4410EUD+ 141 and two ON Semiconductor MC33202 (ALGW?) ICs. The Maxim provides a -3 dB high-pass filter to decrease treble (thereby increasing bass). I'm not sure what is responsible for the ANC though, the 33202's look like they're independent amps driving the left and right channels.
...And all of this for only €35! Definitely 'beats' the €200-€300 price of the real ones.
AWESOME reply!!! That is my kind of review with a circuit analysis
Guess what? I have this guy coming to me in the mail next week: http://dx.com/p/syllable-g04-201-wired-game-headphones-w-microphone-for-iphone-4-4s-red-black-194551 - will review it in details here. I think they switched from putting Beats label to using "Syllable" but it's exactly the same thing, the one you just reviewed. I can't wait to examine it and to review the sound quality!!!
Yess...can't wait for your confirmation report and how long it took to arrive, since you it's going to shipped to Holland where I also live..
Thanks guys
.
Can you post a link to the beats replicas??
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 4
vectron said:
AWESOME reply!!! That is my kind of review with a circuit analysis
Guess what? I have this guy coming to me in the mail next week: http://dx.com/p/syllable-g04-201-wired-game-headphones-w-microphone-for-iphone-4-4s-red-black-194551 - will review it in details here. I think they switched from putting Beats label to using "Syllable" but it's exactly the same thing, the one you just reviewed. I can't wait to examine it and to review the sound quality!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the way, how you know it's exactly the same thing?
.
vantt1 said:
I'm going to win this "challenge"...
I got these white replica Beats by Dr. Dre Studio from the Futian District in Shenzhen for xxxxxxxx knip xxxxxxxxxx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How you got them? How did you order?
.
betoNL said:
How you got them? How did you order?
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually bought the aforementioned pair in person when on a trip to Hong Kong, since the Futian District is very close from there. I've bought them online before though, and I can say that it's better to buy in person.
Their online store is on AliExpress, called 'Wecome Technology'. You'll need to make an AliExpress account, then contact Ms. Angel Wu from the store, and ask for a Beats Headphone Catalog. They also sell other headphones like Bose QC15, B&W P5 and some Skullcandy sets. If you're interested in those, ask for a 'Hotsell headphone catalog'.
There are a few grades of copy headphones; in every case, aim to buy the higher quality/more expensive one. I bought a cheaper silver Monster Beats Studio before, and the colors were very inaccurate. The silver version shouldn't have red at all anywhere on the headphone.
Anyway, the combined cost of one (Studio) headphone should be $60-70 USD including EMS shipping costs. The Mixr and Solos are cheaper, at around $40-$50 total.
---------- Post added at 08:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 PM ----------
betoNL said:
By the way, how you know it's exactly the same thing?
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to know too. I doubt it's going to be exactly the same thing, since there are countless factories making these headphones. The Syllables might have darker gray matte-plastic components, or the ear cup can slide side to side (not fixed in the center). I think that if the manufacturer isn't going to put the real logo on, then quality/accuracy might not be the best.
betoNL said:
Yess...can't wait for your confirmation report and how long it took to arrive, since you it's going to shipped to Holland where I also live..
Thanks guys
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you referring to how long my purchase will take to arrive? Its coming to US from China, and since I review products for these guys, they usually send it to me using complimentary EMS service which is fast. But they also have a free shipping option (at least to US) which probably takes a few weeks just like any other typical ebay purchase.
But for sure I'm looking forward to review this pair of cans.
---------- Post added at 08:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 AM ----------
betoNL said:
By the way, how you know it's exactly the same thing?
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just from all the pictures on dx site comparing to the one posted in this thread. I will know for sure once I have it; will do a more up close comparison and might even take a cap off to see the circuit underneath.
Beats really put a pressure on all SH retailers for selling knock off stuff. I have received and reviewed before Beats headphone knock off (from case-parts.com/tvc-mall.com), those were identical to the real thing. Now, they can't sell these on-line because of legal actions So, I assume they all changed the name to "Syllable" and just modified "b" in there to a funky looking "s" which from a distance looks the same. But you can see its an exact looking headphones: http://dx.com/s/syllable . This version has battery for active noise cancellation (just like 2012 version of beats), while the latest 2013 Beats are rechargeable, btw.
The question now, how does it sound... The look is nothing without a sound.
---------- Post added at 08:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 AM ----------
vantt1 said:
I'd like to know too. I doubt it's going to be exactly the same thing, since there are countless factories making these headphones. The Syllables might have darker gray matte-plastic components, or the ear cup can slide side to side (not fixed in the center). I think that if the manufacturer isn't going to put the real logo on, then quality/accuracy might not be the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I mentioned in my previous post, Beats lawyer are all over the on-line places that sell and ship to US knock offs of their products. I assume that's what triggered "Syllable" change (http://dx.com/s/syllable). Again, it's also my assumption these will be identical to the one in your picture because of the price. DX has some of the cheapest prices, down to ebay level, so if they price cans for $60 - its gotta be quality. So, once I'm going to receive those, I will do a very careful examination and pictures using your post as a reference to determine if all the details are the same. Sounds like you done a great study and have an extensive experience with those knock offs. Wow, and you got so many of those already? Do you have real Beats as well? Were you comparing it to real beats? You mentioned sound quality was better, so again I assume you have real $300 Beats and can do a/b comparison. Awhile back I received one of the beat earbud knock offs, back when case-parts.com use to carry it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=38727543&postcount=14&nocache=1&z=815327974430631 - I wasn't impressed with a sound, but everybody said that's exactly how real beats sound. At the same time, I also ordered and compared Otterbox Defender from them, and next to the real one - it was identical. I guess you can replicate physical parts, and maybe do reverse engineering on a circuit, but the drivers itself? wouldn't that be tough to match?
I own or have owned three pairs of Beats; a black Beats Studio that I got from Harvey Norman about 18 months ago in Australia - back then they were $499 AUD. The price since then has rapidly dropped to $399, then $369, $299 and now $249. I also have a pair of Executives bought from the Apple Store close to its release date, and owned a pair of Beats Pro Detox before selling it because it was too heavy and clamped my head like a vice.
The Beats Executive broke at the headband hinge, and is now in pieces. The circuit board seems to be more or less the same as the Studio's, but has three screw holes instead of two. It is also mounted upside down.
As for the speaker driver, I'd say the speakers are nearly identical after closer inspection. The only difference is the color of the paper that covers the holes on the back of the driver (and coverage on the bottom left hole) . The driver and microphone itself (paper aside) are identical, all down to the magnet dome curvature, red permanent marker mark in the same location and the gap size where the speaker coil joins up with the +/- contacts.
Fun fact: the speaker driver of all Beats models are actually identical to each other. For example, the Solo HD drivers are interchangeable with those of the Detox.
The only difference is probably the paper behind the driver and the dual-speaker design of the Solo HDs (the circuit is a highpass/lowpass filter that sends highs to the tweeter that sits inside the apex of the speaker cage as seen in the above image).
---------- Post added at 11:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------
It's like I'm revealing all of Beats' trade secrets here...
Neah, you are revealing that these headphones cost probably $40 to manufacture (considering HK shops have a very small profit margin since they sell in quantity), and Dr Dre and Co. have $250-$350 markup to pocket money with a brilliant brainwashing campaign. I had someone at my work just mentioning that his 14 year old wants to buy $300 beats, and he doesn't what to tell him. So, I sent him link to Syllable. He is waiting for me to review it. Beside carbon copy design, from a distance even that "s" label looks like "b". I told him it will be safe for his kid to wear it on a street; if he gets jumped - they will see he has a fake ones.
I'm happy to hear the sound quality is on par. Really can't wait to get these and test is out. I will not have a comparison reference, unless I go to a local Best Buy, but will judge it based on my own ears and every other headphone I listened to before.
Thanks m8 for all your insights, comparison, and circuit details - really appreciate that!
That's the thing though - Beats is all about brand and image. Your colleague's son, being a 14 year-old, will probably not settle for the Syllables due to the fear of being branded by his peers as a cheapo or a wannabe or something like that.
Oh yes and about being jumped; people who can differentiate the Syllables from Beats are not the type of people who jump other people. But the people who would jump someone for their Beats probably won't be able to tell at first glance, resulting in being jumped for having Syllables. All it takes is a mistaken view from a distance, then a swift snatch by the headband straight off the head while running past from behind.
---------- Post added at 12:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 AM ----------
Anyway back on topic. I also recommend the JVC HA-S500 and the Audio Technica ATH-M30. And also the replica Bose OE2i from that AliExpress store. The carry case for the OE2i is about the size of 10 CDs stacked on top of one another. The replicas reproduce around 75% of the real thing's sound quality/clarity, and 95% of the material quality. (tested at a Bose outlet store)
JVC HA-S500 (€40-€45)
Audio Technica ATH-M30 (if you're lucky, about €50)
Bose OE2i (replicas - about €40)
But AliExpress stores don't accept PayPal, at least the ones I have dealt with before. It always makes me anxious to give them my credit card number.
Yes, that's true. But AliExpress is one of the more trustworthy sites because it is a subsidiary of Alibaba, one of the largest wholesale internet trade websites in the world. If a seller is being dishonest, you can open a dispute or report them. It can affect other potential costumer's view of the seller, and they don't want that.
vantt1 said:
Yes, that's true. But AliExpress is one of the more trustworthy sites because it is a subsidiary of Alibaba, one of the largest wholesale internet trade websites in the world. If a seller is being dishonest, you can open a dispute or report them. It can affect other potential costumer's view of the seller, and they don't want that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I deal with AliExpress for years and have not a single problem with abuse with my credit card. Very satisfied customer here. And because your review of the beats studio replicas I ordered 2 just about 2 hours ago, thank you for your input on these replicas.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
parusia said:
I deal with AliExpress for years and have not a single problem with abuse with my credit card. Very satisfied customer here. And because your review of the beats studio replicas I ordered 2 just about 2 hours ago, thank you for your input on these replicas.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great! Which two colors did you get? You know they have some cool colors like 'black and yellow' and Colorware Mirror as well. I have yet to buy them, and I'm waiting for the release of the new Beats Studio replicas.
Please share your experiences with us when you receive the headphones!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
vantt1 said:
That's great! Which two colors did you get? You know they have some cool colors like 'black and yellow' and Colorware Mirror as well. I have yet to buy them, and I'm waiting for the release of the new Beats Studio replicas.
Please share your experiences with us when you receive the headphones!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Red with black, and pure black. And yes I will share how they are working once I receive them. Again thank you for your suggestion.
Sent from my AT100 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
This is a review for Jaybird BlueBuds X Bluetooth wireless headphones: http://www.jaybirdgear.com/bluebuds-x-bluetooth-headphones/
I'm going to be honest with you, I was skeptical when I approached the review these buds. People say not to judge the book by it's cover - the cover for this "book" was a premium price tag and heavy connection with athletic world. I wasn't really sure how it's going to fit with everyday use (not just sports), how will it integrate with Android phone such as Note 2 (considering Apple store is one of their top authorized resellers), and in general how comfortable it's going to fit. Sound quality wasn't even at the top of my expectation list, just hoping it wasn't influenced by yet another music celebrity who thinks we only care about exaggerated bass. With all that said, I got a review sample directly from Jaybird and have been testing it for the last couple of days.
First, let's start with a packaging it came in. In additional to original retail package, I also received a small traveling case which is definitely of a premium quality that kind of sets the tone of what to expect. That was a top notch premium box with a magnetic flap that opens up to reveal the goodies available inside. I know you want to read more about headphones itself, but I have to mention this is a very high quality packaging on par, if not even better, with some of the best top price headphones. Everything from a little rectangular box with manual book and a separate 20% liquipel coupon (to use for any of your other gadget since BlueBuds X already comes protected by Liquipel nano sweat/water repellent), to another hard clam case that looks like something for your wife's jewelries, and even usb to micro-usb cable with a custom flat noodle cable, something I have never seen before. It was very impressive!!!
But package aside, if headphones doesn't deliver - nothing else matters. In this case headphones itself are just a pair of beefy size earbuds that come with 3 sets of tips and another three sets of cushion wings to mix'n'match for a comfortable fit, and also a pair of wire clips. Earbuds are interconnected with a narrow flat rubber ribbon hosting the wires and in-line remote with 3 buttons. It looks very minimalistic, yet packs a huge powerhouse of technology. I didn't even bother reading instructions thinking I'm going to figure out how it works by myself, until I stumble across where the heck am I going to stick micro-usb cable? Device was probably pre-charged already, but still? After fumbling around for a few minutes, I had to open manual book to read about it. Actually the back of one of the earbuds pops open to reveal hidden micro-usb connector. I quickly installed the medium size ear tip and proceeded to pair these up with my Note 2. It was effortless and look really seconds to recognize and pair up with a phone, no need to enter any codes, etc. Right away I tried making phone call, check the dialing by voice, adjust the volume up/down, redial last number, etc. - all the typical voice functions. Everything worked as expected. Then, I decided to test multimedia controls. Playing songs, controlling play/pause, skip to next/prev track, watching videos, playing video games, controlling volume (not the actual volume of the phone, but a typical min/max range of bt stereo headphones) - everything works perfect. No pauses, no breaks or stuttering, no delays, and everything was in perfect sync. I also tested the range of bt connection by leaving the phone on the kitchen table while walking around first floor, going upstairs to a second floor and down to a basement where I observed coverage on par with other bt stereo headphones I've tested.
One thing was bothering me, the sound wasn't as good as I would expect. I selected medium size tips by default, but apparently that was a cause of my problem because it didn't create a proper ear canal seal. As soon as I switched to large tips - WOW!!! I couldn't believe my ears!!! Yeah, it was that good with every detail of the sound coming right at you in almost surround like stereo sound, everything from crisply highs to super clean mids and down to deep lows. With a properly selected tip to seal your ear canal - you are in for a big treat where drivers of these headphones deliver a full rich frequency spectrum of the sound. I know Jaybird mentions a special Shift Premium Bluetooth Audio technology. But no matter what digital protocol you use to enhance the sound, if your drivers can't deliver it - nothing will help. I also decided to figure out which wing cushion to select, and that turned out to be less painful than I thought, where those are actually soft hex perforated wings that hug into the surface of your ear and give you an extra support to keep earbuds from falling out when you run/jump. I mean, those should stay in by themselves, but considering intention of these earbuds to be used with extreme sports - cushion wings are a bonus. Earbuds itself could be worn in two different ways, normal under ear and also over ear. Under ear you can just let chord hang on the back of your neck/shoulders. With over the ear you have an option to use 2 provided clips to snake the excess cord around to shorten it up (like in the last picture I have below).
As I mentioned before, these earbuds are treated with water/sweat repellent Liquipel technology, and I actually tested it out by spraying some water on the cord - water stayed in little droplets. So it definitely will work if you are sweating a lot during exercise or went running under a light rain. So, how about using it in a different environment, just at work or outside while running errands? I believe it's doable. Because of the relatively short cord and rubber material, you can leave these earbuds dangling around and down without a worry they will slip and fall of your neck. It's not going to be as secure like a necklace option, but it can definitely work. Also, if they are dangling down and you get a call, there will be a short pause while you are getting these inserted properly into your ears. It's not as easy as just putting basic earbuds in. So that something you need to work with to figure out the best optimal use. Also, due to a proper ear seal, you get a good basic outside sound isolation, so I wouldn't recommend walking around with these in all the time. My concern is not ear fatigue, but rather not being able to hear what's going on around you. BlueBuds X are definitely designed with sport use in mind, but there is definitely a lot of room for these in everyday life as well. Just for the sound quality itself and how comfortable they fit in - at the current moment with all the headphones (wired and wireless I have) I can't imagine listening to music, or watching the movie, or playing the games with anything else. And on top of that you also get 8 hours of battery life which is incredible considering you only deal with two earbuds connected by a cord.
What can I say, I was VERY impressed with an experience of using these BlueBuds X headphones. Can I say they are a must-have accessory for Note 2? Absolutely not. These are premium bluetooth stereo headphones with a relatively premium price in comparison to other headphones in the same category. It's just like I said in my other reviews where tempered glass is a premium options where you have other much cheaper choices. You can get wired headphones for a tiny fraction of these buds. You can get stereo bt headphones for a fraction of the price as well. But out of everything I have tested so far (and my testing headphones journey is not done yet) these stand head and shoulders above competition in sound quality, integrated phone and audio controls, complete compatibility with our Note 2, and also the best solution for an active lifestyle!
Now, here comes some pictures for your enjoyment!
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I use these headphones almost everyday.
One thing I'll tell you guys is that you MUST MUST MUST get some comply ear tips. They make a huge difference in terms of isolation and comfort.
http://www.complyfoam.com/products/Tsx-500/
or
http://www.complyfoam.com/products/Tx-500/
I used to have my ears hurting after like 2 hrs+ of wearing them. Now I can wear them almost all day while at work.
soulesschild said:
I use these headphones almost everyday.
One thing I'll tell you guys is that you MUST MUST MUST get some comply ear tips. They make a huge difference in terms of isolation and comfort.
http://www.complyfoam.com/products/Tsx-500/
or
http://www.complyfoam.com/products/Tx-500/
I used to have my ears hurting after like 2 hrs+ of wearing them. Now I can wear them almost all day while at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I had these for other headphones long time ago. Those were like soft earplugs. Actually still have it, but for a small inner core diameter. I just tried them, too small to fit on blue buds. I assume your link about for tsx/tx are for a bigger diameter? I'm not talking about outside shape, but inner diameter of flexible core. Which one did you find to fit?
vectron said:
Oh, I had these for other headphones long time ago. Those were like soft earplugs. Actually still have it, but for a small inner core diameter. I just tried them, too small to fit on blue buds. I assume your link about for tsx/tx are for a bigger diameter? I'm not talking about outside shape, but inner diameter of flexible core. Which one did you find to fit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the TSX and TX 500 lines are ones that Comply says specifically fit the JayBird BlueBud's X. One provides superior isolation, the other provides superior comfort. I found that in terms of isolation their about the same with the TX ones having slightly more isolation if you aren't playing anything but when you have music playing (you'll definitely have to get used to having things at a relatively low volume due to the isolation.) it doesn't matter all that much. They both feel relatively the same to me but everyone's different.
I personally first ordered a trial pack that had all 3 sizes and I found that the mediums fit the best with my ears. Honestly there's no easy way to figure out what size you are without really trying all 3. The other sizes I just gave away.
The 500 series is indeed the one that the inner diameter fits the Bluebuds X, its a bit tight first I thought it won't fit, but after couple tries, it's actually went in and fits theBluebuds X.
I don't know how it will be in a long run, but for right now I'm OK with original ear tips supplied with these. Watched a few movies/tv shows for over an hour and it was very comfortable and no ear fatigue. You also get a decent noise isolation, which is obviously not an active noise cancellation but rather a isolation by nature of these fitting into your ear. Also, while making a phone call people suggested they can hear me very loud and clear, although while making calls I hear people back in a little "tunnel" sound. Not echo or delay or distortion, just sounded a little distant. Probably depends on how I have them sitting in my ears, in under-ear position. If I'm not mistaken, JayBird has a note they don't even recommend phone calls with over the ear position. I wonder if that's due to mic placement?
confirmation on audio delay for games
vectron said:
This is a review for Jaybird BlueBuds X Bluetooth wireless headphones: http://www.jaybirdgear.com/bluebuds-x-bluetooth-headphones/
I'm going to be honest with you, I was skeptical when I approached the review these buds. People say not to judge the book by it's cover - the cover for this "book" was a premium price tag and heavy connection with athletic world. I wasn't really sure how it's going to fit with everyday use (not just sports), how will it integrate with Android phone such as Note 2 (considering Apple store is one of their top authorized resellers), and in general how comfortable it's going to fit. Sound quality wasn't even at the top of my expectation list, just hoping it wasn't influenced by yet another music celebrity who thinks we only care about exaggerated bass. With all that said, I got a review sample directly from Jaybird and have been testing it for the last couple of days.
First, let's start with a packaging it came in. In additional to original retail package, I also received a small traveling case which is definitely of a premium quality that kind of sets the tone of what to expect. That was a top notch premium box with a magnetic flap that opens up to reveal the goodies available inside. I know you want to read more about headphones itself, but I have to mention this is a very high quality packaging on par, if not even better, with some of the best top price headphones. Everything from a little rectangular box with manual book and a separate 20% liquipel coupon (to use for any of your other gadget since BlueBuds X already comes protected by Liquipel nano sweat/water repellent), to another hard clam case that looks like something for your wife's jewelries, and even usb to micro-usb cable with a custom flat noodle cable, something I have never seen before. It was very impressive!!!
But package aside, if headphones doesn't deliver - nothing else matters. In this case headphones itself are just a pair of beefy size earbuds that come with 3 sets of tips and another three sets of cushion wings to mix'n'match for a comfortable fit, and also a pair of wire clips. Earbuds are interconnected with a narrow flat rubber ribbon hosting the wires and in-line remote with 3 buttons. It looks very minimalistic, yet packs a huge powerhouse of technology. I didn't even bother reading instructions thinking I'm going to figure out how it works by myself, until I stumble across where the heck am I going to stick micro-usb cable? Device was probably pre-charged already, but still? After fumbling around for a few minutes, I had to open manual book to read about it. Actually the back of one of the earbuds pops open to reveal hidden micro-usb connector. I quickly installed the medium size ear tip and proceeded to pair these up with my Note 2. It was effortless and look really seconds to recognize and pair up with a phone, no need to enter any codes, etc. Right away I tried making phone call, check the dialing by voice, adjust the volume up/down, redial last number, etc. - all the typical voice functions. Everything worked as expected. Then, I decided to test multimedia controls. Playing songs, controlling play/pause, skip to next/prev track, watching videos, playing video games, controlling volume (not the actual volume of the phone, but a typical min/max range of bt stereo headphones) - everything works perfect. No pauses, no breaks or stuttering, no delays, and everything was in perfect sync. I also tested the range of bt connection by leaving the phone on the kitchen table while walking around first floor, going upstairs to a second floor and down to a basement where I observed coverage on par with other bt stereo headphones I've tested.
One thing was bothering me, the sound wasn't as good as I would expect. I selected medium size tips by default, but apparently that was a cause of my problem because it didn't create a proper ear canal seal. As soon as I switched to large tips - WOW!!! I couldn't believe my ears!!! Yeah, it was that good with every detail of the sound coming right at you in almost surround like stereo sound, everything from crisply highs to super clean mids and down to deep lows. With a properly selected tip to seal your ear canal - you are in for a big treat where drivers of these headphones deliver a full rich frequency spectrum of the sound. I know Jaybird mentions a special Shift Premium Bluetooth Audio technology. But no matter what digital protocol you use to enhance the sound, if your drivers can't deliver it - nothing will help. I also decided to figure out which wing cushion to select, and that turned out to be less painful than I thought, where those are actually soft hex perforated wings that hug into the surface of your ear and give you an extra support to keep earbuds from falling out when you run/jump. I mean, those should stay in by themselves, but considering intention of these earbuds to be used with extreme sports - cushion wings are a bonus. Earbuds itself could be worn in two different ways, normal under ear and also over ear. Under ear you can just let chord hang on the back of your neck/shoulders. With over the ear you have an option to use 2 provided clips to snake the excess cord around to shorten it up (like in the last picture I have below).
As I mentioned before, these earbuds are treated with water/sweat repellent Liquipel technology, and I actually tested it out by spraying some water on the cord - water stayed in little droplets. So it definitely will work if you are sweating a lot during exercise or went running under a light rain. So, how about using it in a different environment, just at work or outside while running errands? I believe it's doable. Because of the relatively short cord and rubber material, you can leave these earbuds dangling around and down without a worry they will slip and fall of your neck. It's not going to be as secure like a necklace option, but it can definitely work. Also, if they are dangling down and you get a call, there will be a short pause while you are getting these inserted properly into your ears. It's not as easy as just putting basic earbuds in. So that something you need to work with to figure out the best optimal use. Also, due to a proper ear seal, you get a good basic outside sound isolation, so I wouldn't recommend walking around with these in all the time. My concern is not ear fatigue, but rather not being able to hear what's going on around you. BlueBuds X are definitely designed with sport use in mind, but there is definitely a lot of room for these in everyday life as well. Just for the sound quality itself and how comfortable they fit in - at the current moment with all the headphones (wired and wireless I have) I can't imagine listening to music, or watching the movie, or playing the games with anything else. And on top of that you also get 8 hours of battery life which is incredible considering you only deal with two earbuds connected by a cord.
What can I say, I was VERY impressed with an experience of using these BlueBuds X headphones. Can I say they are a must-have accessory for Note 2? Absolutely not. These are premium bluetooth stereo headphones with a relatively premium price in comparison to other headphones in the same category. It's just like I said in my other reviews where tempered glass is a premium options where you have other much cheaper choices. You can get wired headphones for a tiny fraction of these buds. You can get stereo bt headphones for a fraction of the price as well. But out of everything I have tested so far (and my testing headphones journey is not done yet) these stand head and shoulders above competition in sound quality, integrated phone and audio controls, complete compatibility with our Note 2, and also the best solution for an active lifestyle!
Now, here comes some pictures for your enjoyment!
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thanks for the great review, i've been thinking of buying these for a very long time, but one thing stopped me which is a problem for all Bluetooth headphones with Android.
this thing is there is an audio delay when playing games (little less than 1 second), but this delay is enough to make playing games very annoying as for example when you press the shoot button in a game, you will hear the shot after 1 second.
Can you confirm whether this issue is solved with the Bluebuds X ? if yes i am gonna buy it today itself
please go ahead and try a game like "Dead Trigger" and come back to me on whether there is an audio delay or not with games
Thanks a lot.............
RADLOUNI said:
thanks for the great review, i've been thinking of buying these for a very long time, but one thing stopped me which is a problem for all Bluetooth headphones with Android.
this thing is there is an audio delay when playing games (little less than 1 second), but this delay is enough to make playing games very annoying as for example when you press the shoot button in a game, you will hear the shot after 1 second.
Can you confirm whether this issue is solved with the Bluebuds X ? if yes i am gonna buy it today itself
please go ahead and try a game like "Dead Trigger" and come back to me on whether there is an audio delay or not with games
Thanks a lot.............
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Ok, will try this game and report it to you later tonight.
very good review, if this phone had FM radio would be perfect.
Good review. I'd like to see a comparison between these and the Sony ones that came before it. To see how they are better in terms of range, sound quality and general usability.
ady said:
Good review. I'd like to see a comparison between these and the Sony ones that came before it. To see how they are better in terms of range, sound quality and general usability.
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Which Sony ones do you have in mind? Let me know the model number, maybe I can score a sample for review/comparison
vectron said:
Ok, will try this game and report it to you later tonight.
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No delay playing Dead Trigger. Although now I will have nightmares after playing this game lol!
vectron said:
Which Sony ones do you have in mind? Let me know the model number, maybe I can score a sample for review/comparison
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HBH-IS800
I like that the review, which has a further person in my country selling a used one with a nice price, but I miss FM, with that I think I'll pick up the sony MW1.
vectron said:
No delay playing Dead Trigger. Although now I will have nightmares after playing this game lol!
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Sorry to be pushy but I am now going to buy this bluetooth headset based on your reply.
So you confirm that when you press the fire button in dead trigger, you immediately hear the fire sound? There is no delay (less than1 second) none whatsoever?
Thanks again and sorry for being pushy.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
RADLOUNI said:
Sorry to be pushy but I am now going to buy this bluetooth headset based on your reply.
So you confirm that when you press the fire button in dead trigger, you immediately hear the fire sound? There is no delay (less than1 second) none whatsoever?
Thanks again and sorry for being pushy.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
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I'm not here to sell headphones and don't care if you buy it or not. I'm just sharing my experience so you guys can make an educated decision or narrow down the choices. I don't play games with my phone, it's used for work/business, and I actually had to install the game in order to test it out for you. I do understand your concerns and persistence to get an answer to your question, but after installing and playing this game for about 5-10min, I did not see any delay when I tap to fire the gun and hear the fire sound. I don't know what else I can say man. Could it be variation from one phone to the other? Possible. Someone reported about using Tone+ headphones and getting delays in video or buffering/stuttering, while I didn't experience that problem. BlueBudsX is expensive purchase, I understand. So if you decide to invest you money into this product, if something doesn't work you can always return it back. Like I said, you can have a different experience with the same phone and headphones from what I see, due to other apps you have, ROM, general config of the phone, etc. Good luck!
thanks
vectron said:
I'm not here to sell headphones and don't care if you buy it or not. I'm just sharing my experience so you guys can make an educated decision or narrow down the choices. I don't play games with my phone, it's used for work/business, and I actually had to install the game in order to test it out for you. I do understand your concerns and persistence to get an answer to your question, but after installing and playing this game for about 5-10min, I did not see any delay when I tap to fire the gun and hear the fire sound. I don't know what else I can say man. Could it be variation from one phone to the other? Possible. Someone reported about using Tone+ headphones and getting delays in video or buffering/stuttering, while I didn't experience that problem. BlueBudsX is expensive purchase, I understand. So if you decide to invest you money into this product, if something doesn't work you can always return it back. Like I said, you can have a different experience with the same phone and headphones from what I see, due to other apps you have, ROM, general config of the phone, etc. Good luck!
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Thanks for your efforts, appreciated. Now i have the information i want.
RADLOUNI said:
Thanks for your efforts, appreciated. Now i have the information i want.
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If you decide to get it, please come back and share your experience. It will benefit others who might have similar concern and would like to know if it works consistently! You probably have a lot more games to test it with, so it will be good to hear it!
ady said:
HBH-IS800
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The one you mentioned looks like an old product from 2009, discontinued already. So perhaps someone else can chime if they had these before? From Amazon reviews it looks like a good product, ahead of it's time back in 2009 but in comparison to BlueBuds X I don't think it stacks up. I would assume sound quality could be on par, although I'm very impressed with buds X. Then, Sony ones had a proprietary bulky charger, short battery life, and some durability problems. Only time with tell with buds x, but so far first week impression is very good. I'm also trying to get review samples of a.m.p ISO for a comparison since it was mentioned in another thread as a worthy alternative.
vectron said:
The one you mentioned looks like an old product from 2009, discontinued already. So perhaps someone else can chime if they had these before? From Amazon reviews it looks like a good product, ahead of it's time back in 2009 but in comparison to BlueBuds X I don't think it stacks up. I would assume sound quality could be on par, although I'm very impressed with buds X. Then, Sony ones had a proprietary bulky charger, short battery life, and some durability problems. Only time with tell with buds x, but so far first week impression is very good. I'm also trying to get review samples of a.m.p ISO for a comparison since it was mentioned in another thread as a worthy alternative.
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fair enough. These are actually an old product, although I still have mine functional even after once dropping them in knee high water. I have only two gripes with them:
1. Short battery life ~2hours
2. Short range and prone to interference: For example they would occasionally jitter in a gym on a busy day. Also occasional skipping if the phone goes more than 2 meters away or if you're passing near high tension lines.
I switched to MW600, which seem to last forever ~5hours+ and while they aren't as minimalist, you do get an OLED display.
Overall it sounds like the bluebuds are worth giving a try.
Thanks
So here it is: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus+5+Teardown/19016
Overall a nice repairability score: 8 out of 10.
Great read. Thanks OP.
The back removal looks promising...it would seem as though we can swap the back easily.
I love iFixit as much as the next guy, but their KitKat and candy puns were painfully abundant in this tear-down. A few puns bring a little wittiness to an article, but they way overdid it. Other than that, great tear-down as usual iFixit.
Achtung! Soldered buttons!
This: http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/icFVVVvbsCg1LuLQ.huge
Are they serious??? Excuse me, but this is bull****! It is a well-known fact, that those parts break easily. So, one would need to replace the WHOLE motherboard in case of button malfunction (at least, not everyone is familiar with SMD soldering technique). Both thumbs down for such a poor design!
esskayy said:
The back removal looks promising...it would seem as though we can swap the back easily.
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Hey mate, was going to ask you if you had changed your mind in exchanging for the white, then I thought of this after looking at the video lol.
This looks like the ideal option, doesn't it? :good:
Deeco7 said:
Hey mate, was going to ask you if you had changed your mind in exchanging for the white, then I thought of this after looking at the video lol.
This looks like the ideal option, doesn't it? :good:
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Indeed it does, and with the added bonus of retaining the black speaker grille. I just hope the backs do become available, and that they are the genuine OEM ones.
esskayy said:
Indeed it does, and with the added bonus of retaining the black speaker grille. I just hope the backs do become available, and that they are the genuine OEM ones.
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I agree, but not sure if wireless charging or any other component is attached to the back plate, as this will bump up the price.
Deeco7 said:
I agree, but not sure if wireless charging or any other component is attached to the back plate, as this will bump up the price.
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Looking at the video, it seems not. The inductive coils have glued to the battery, not the rear of the case. So fingers crossed...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
So how does it seem to you more knowledgeable, is it possible to fit another battery?
esskayy said:
Looking at the video, it seems not. The inductive coils have glued to the battery, not the rear of the case. So fingers crossed...
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Had a second look and looks like there are a lot of components glued to the back plate, as shown in step 4.
-vibration motor
-Wifi, NFC, GPS antennas
-Wireless charging coil
-4 magnets for docking
{
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"lightbox_download": "Download",
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Hopefully, we can see a Genuine (affordable) rear plate.
Deeco7 said:
Had a second look and looks like there are a lot of components glued to the back plate, as shown in step 4.
-vibration motor
-Wifi, NFC, GPS antennas
-Wireless charging coil
-4 magnets for docking
Hopefully, we can see a Genuine (affordable) rear plate.
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How's $35 for affordable?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/181254599302
Yes, it's black but the seller has promised that the white will be in stock soon.
This was refreshing coming from iPhone.
Looks like you can seas swap the back easy which was my main concern since I'm going case free.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Alexander T. said:
This: http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/icFVVVvbsCg1LuLQ.huge
Are they serious??? Excuse me, but this is bull****! It is a well-known fact, that those parts break easily. So, one would need to replace the WHOLE motherboard in case of button malfunction (at least, not everyone is familiar with SMD soldering technique). Both thumbs down for such a poor design!
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... how is that really different from the design of most other phones? Don't think they normally use a button on a separate PCB. at least none that i've noticed.
elementaldragon said:
... how is that really different from the design of most other phones? Don't think they normally use a button on a separate PCB. at least none that i've noticed.
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Most phones nowadays have their buttons on seperate plates, connected with mainboard via connectors. Search the ifixit for other teardowns. Even Nexus 4 had them.
Alexander T. said:
Most phones nowadays have their buttons on seperate plates, connected with mainboard via connectors. Search the ifixit for other teardowns. Even Nexus 4 had them.
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Well... yes, they are on separate plates on the Nexus 4. But to say "most phones nowadays"... not exactly true from a couple minutes of Googling. The only 4 fairly recent phones i can find searching iFixIt for a little have been the Moto X, Galaxy S3, Lumia 920, and Lumia 1020 (though the inclusion of this one might not be fair, since they DON'T seem to have a teardown of the phone, and the Nokia repair manual does not show the buttons actually being removed from the rear panel assembly... only disconnecting the ribbon). The HTC One's side buttons seem to be in line with a ribbon cable, and it does not seem to be removable judging by what can be seen on iFixIt. The Galaxy S4, as well as the Note 2/3 (it seems that for at least the volume buttons) uses micro-switches directly soldered onto the board.
It seems to be more of a design choice more than a repairability choice. I think it's far easier to keep a phone thin if they're not worrying about trying to tuck tiny ribbon cables and PCB's everywhere. I've yet to really ever have a hardware button crap out on a phone that i've owned, so it doesn't really bother me much.
elementaldragon said:
Well... yes, they are on separate plates on the Nexus 4. But to say "most phones nowadays"... not exactly true from a couple minutes of Googling. The only 4 fairly recent phones i can find searching iFixIt for a little have been the Moto X, Galaxy S3, Lumia 920, and Lumia 1020 (though the inclusion of this one might not be fair, since they DON'T seem to have a teardown of the phone, and the Nokia repair manual does not show the buttons actually being removed from the rear panel assembly... only disconnecting the ribbon). The HTC One's side buttons seem to be in line with a ribbon cable, and it does not seem to be removable judging by what can be seen on iFixIt. The Galaxy S4, as well as the Note 2/3 (it seems that for at least the volume buttons) uses micro-switches directly soldered onto the board.
It seems to be more of a design choice more than a repairability choice. I think it's far easier to keep a phone thin if they're not worrying about trying to tuck tiny ribbon cables and PCB's everywhere. I've yet to really ever have a hardware button crap out on a phone that I've owned, so it doesn't really bother me much.
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Thanks for pointing this out to me. Didn't know, Samsung has moved to soldered buttons too. So, they've definitely decided to sacrifice repairability for the sake of thinness. I use to repair phones (as a hobbyist), and I had several phones with water damaged buttons. Now, with the disconnectable ones, it is always fairly easy to replace them, but with the soldered ones, it requires SMD soldering experience, as well as special equipment.
So, my point here, is that separate buttons design would be more user-friendly.
My personal choice would be micro-switches on a separate plate, since they deliver better tactile experience, and are more reliable, than a membrane-type tablets.
Found a video, demonstrating the replacement process: http://youtu.be/Vo0hH8iIUjI
By the way, installing the new button should not be done with hot air gun, since it will most probably deform the button's plastic at least to some degree, if not totally.
esskayy said:
How's $35 for affordable?
http://m.ebay.com/itm/181254599302
Yes, it's black but the seller has promised that the white will be in stock soon.
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That is actually pretty affordable considering it comes with all the parts already on the back cover.
Anyone found a 'White' back plate?
Deeco7 said:
Anyone found a 'White' back plate?
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http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=161154639345
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app