Recommended Bluetooth Headphones for 5+

Hi,

Anyone have any BT headphone recommendations for the 5+? Looking for running and cycling. dcrainmaker uses the Skullcandy Method which look decent. I basically don’t want them falling out while I’m moving around and I also want to be able to hear traffic decently. Any other suggestions? Not looking to break the bank.

My previous setup was an iPod shuffle (clip version) with some in earbuds on a wire. But the wire would move around and eventually pull out the bud.

Thanks,

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 6 years ago

I have the new Plantronics backbeat 3100

Thanks for sharing. I wasn’t aware of their Always Aware

feature. I was building up to pull the trigger on a set of the AfterShokz Trekz Air bone conducting headphones, as they allow you to hear ambient noise and others had reported they work well with the F5+, but I’m not convinced by having the rigid bar that goes around the back of one’s head and they cost more than the Plantronics too. So these Plantronics things might well scratch my itch better.

0 euro26 over 6 years ago

Any updates on users with Jabra elite active 65, looking at buying some

0 WheatiSm over 6 years ago

I must take back my previous recommendation of the Skullcandy Method wireless earbuds - using them with the Fenix 5 Plus will FRY them.

Same for me, bought, returned...Skullcandy Method didn't work out for me.

So I took a deep breath and bought the Jaybird Tarah Pro's...and OMG...best headphones ever, for all sports. never had any dropouts and used them running, rowing, in the gym, in the mountains. Expensive but worth it...much like my Fenix 5S+ :D

0 seilogramp over 6 years ago

WheatiSm I've had a bad experience with the jaybird x3. They sound great, but after 3 months the honeymoon was over. Due to charging issues, I ended up swapping them 4 times. Eventually the 1 year warranty ran out and now they are useless. Checking Amazon reviews, I'm seeing the same issue with the jaybird x4. Hopefully they have fixed this with the Turah Pro. We don't know yet, as they are too new to have any reports of charging issues.

0 GaryHawke over 6 years ago

I have found that the Sony WF-SP700N hold a good connection. However, there appears to be a problem controlling the volume. There is no volume control on the 700N and therefore needs to be controlled from the 5+ this works when first paired but does not work on reconnection.

0 Ptcurran22 over 6 years ago

Any updates on users with Jabra elite active 65, looking at buying some

@euro26 I purchased the Jabra Active Elite 65ts over the fall and they have been the best wireless headphones I've ever owned. It was between those and the Bose Soundsports, but I didn't like how much the Bose stuck out of the ears, making it uncomfortable with a winter hat.

In regards to how the Jabra's work with the Fenix 5+... Once the headphones are paired with the watch, they work great with no audio cutouts. The only issue is that you have to unpair and repair them with the watch every time you want to use them. You can't just "connect" them on your next run. Not a huge deal but a little bit of a pain. Garmin couldn't tell me if it was something they were working on. Just apologized that Jabra wasn't on the list of compatible headphones.

0 mbell-SVK over 6 years ago

@euro26 I purchased the Jabra Active Elite 65ts over the fall and they have been the best wireless headphones I've ever owned. It was between those and the Bose Soundsports, but I didn't like how much the Bose stuck out of the ears, making it uncomfortable with a winter hat.

In regards to how the Jabra's work with the Fenix 5+... Once the headphones are paired with the watch, they work great with no audio cutouts. The only issue is that you have to unpair and repair them with the watch every time you want to use them. You can't just "connect" them on your next run. Not a huge deal but a little bit of a pain. Garmin couldn't tell me if it was something they were working on. Just apologized that Jabra wasn't on the list of compatible headphones.

On which wrist do you wear your watch? I have a lot of dropouts with Jabra Elite 65t Active when running outside (I have it on left hand). It is quite unusable. I might have wrong pair of buds, so can you confirm you have no dropouts when running outside? Thanks!

0 mbell-SVK over 6 years ago

This weekend I went on a run with the F5+ (titanium) v3.2, hrm-run and jabra elite sport (v5.3) buds, no dropouts whatsoever while outdoor running. my guess is that the bt range is improved compared to the other music enabled devices

On which wrist do you have your watch while running outside? Have you ever tried also Jabra Elite 65t Active? With that buds and watch on left side I have permanent dropouts on my runs.

0 HeliosJim over 6 years ago

I guess I'm behind the times with my Jaybird X2. Works great though, no reason to replace it.

0 mbell-SVK over 6 years ago

I don't have any problems with the 65t outdoors,.. ofc occasional short sound distortions happen (both indoors and outside) mostly when I use 'Hearthrough', but beside that nothing annoying. I don't know when you tested them, maybe the newer firmware on both watch and headphones helped.

On which wrist is your watch when you have no audio dropouts outside in the open area? Because for me on left side it is not usable! (Inside the building where signal is reflected - everything works just fine and audio quality is really great. But I need them mostly for running, which is not OK.)