alarmguy
Thread starter
REALLY sad... thanks for the updated list, I knew/know whenever I walk in a store, even Best Buy who has a separate room with higher end equipment that all these brands are now just that, brands and not true individual companies, some maybe still semi individual but you never know which ones. I hate what has happened to the industry.Yeah, there has been a lot of consolidation when it comes to old school / well known audio brands. In addition to Harman, there is also Voxx International that owns brands such as Jamo, Klipsch, Integra, Pioneer, Onkyo. Then there is DEI/Sound United that owns Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and B&W.
Speaking of JBL, I think some of their consumer speakers are still relatively OK. I know you own some, and so do I. But the JBL BT headphones (not earbuds) I bought some time ago were utter garbage from sound quality perspective. I promptly sent them back. My cheap $10 MPOW BT/ANC headphones sound infinitely better.
"DEI/Sound United that owns Denon, Marantz, Boston Acoustics, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and B&W" These used to be some really good well respected companies. Actually pick and choose from the others too. I guess the point being, audio reproduction has been so standardized we have reached a point that the public is happy with what is already here, in fact, they settle for less then is available now and no one really knows the difference.
I wouldnt even know where to start when it comes to upgrading my now getting old A/V receiver. Sadly, I might very well choose the one company that hasn't changed from value/performance and that is Yamaha .. as a starting point anyway. Who knows
Anyway, made a decision on my earbuds!!!!! (so far) I am keeping both the Bose Sport Buds and Powerbeats Pro. LOVE the sound of the Bose and comfort is amazing as well once you get it figured out. The App is garbage, I mean GARBAGE, what the heck are they thinking over at Bose? Its a generic APP that is even used for their speakers and such, you would think they would have a dedicated one for the earbuds but with the Bose now set up I deleted the APP and use the phones software.
The Powerbeats in their own right are incredibly secure on your head, look great, awesome construction and sound it great as well, very detailed, almost but not quite too detailed/sterile. Since there is no app for them, nothing to complain about there.
In-between all this, based on me hunting for new earbuds for a birthday present from my wife, my wife got into it and also bought a set of Jabra Active 75t but she was so impressed with the Bose sport buds we returned the Jabra's last night and will wait for her birthday for the Bose.
That is 3 sets of Jabra active and plain elite 75t we have tired and returned. Been through 7 pairs all together, keeping two but still have one on the way which I know already I will be returning and that is a JBL Reflect Mini NC slowest shipper of the bunch. Unless it surprises us in some way.
Bose is really cool, they give you 90 days to try out if you buy direct. I have to admit after returning the Jabras I got for me and getting the Powerbeats pro I was blown away by how light on the ears and quality of sound the Powerbeats deliver... then came along the Bose, they are kind of big, bulky but I tried them anyway. The app was horrible but again, once set up I removed it from my phone anyway. After listening to the Bose a a few days, I have REALLY come to like the sound and the Bose sound is now my favorite.
Also even though they look big, they are super lite and most of all, the way they are designed, they seal the ear like no other product on the market, TRULY amazing snd the best part is you dont have to shove it up your ear, they are so light that you forget you are wearing them after a while and no matter even if they shift a tiny bit, you NEVER lose the seal and continue to get good bass.
Not so with the PowerBeats, with that said, it is not an issue with the Powerbeats as they are so secure but you have to make sure when you place them on that you position them just right, the Bose just fall into place and seal.
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