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- Bluetooth headphones have become an essential tool for commuting, working out, and staying entertained at your desk without any pesky wires getting in the way.
- There are countless numbers of premium Bluetooth options in the marketplace, but if you’re looking for something more reasonably priced, there are also several solid headphones available under $150.
- I recently tried the Klipsch R5 Neckband headphones ($115). They are incredibly comfortable — to the point that I forget I have them around my neck — and the sound quality is fantastic.
Bluetooth headphones are one of those luxuries you didn’t realize you were missing until you’ve had the chance to experience them yourself. For too long, I was walking around the world with a slew of wires protruding from my pocket, draping across my entire torso, and getting constantly jerked out of my ears. After my most recent pair of wired headphones randomly stopped playing in one earbud, which has happened to every pair I’ve ever owned, I decided it was time to finally enter the world of wireless listening.
I’m not very picky when it comes to sound quality and I knew I didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of headphones, so that eliminated premium brands like Bose. The three main factors that were influencing my decision beyond avoiding a major payday were in-ear comfort, noise cancelling technology, and the ability to take and make phone calls. I wound up choosing the Klipsch R5 Neckband headphones because of the sleek leather design on the neckband, the long battery life, and the high-tech calling feature that vibrates when you’re receiving a call.
The first thing I noticed when I put on the headphones was how incredibly lightweight they were around my neck. The leather around the neckband is edge-treated, so there is no irritation when it comes in contact with your skin. One downside is that they are not very transportable, because they don’t fit in your pocket and should not be tossed haphazardly into an overly stuffed backpack. However, I did wear them around my neck while traveling to different happy hours after work, stuffing the wires under my shirt to avoid any funny looks, and hardly noticed that I had them on throughout the evening.
In addition to the comfort of the Klipsch neckband, the noise-cancelling technology is true to its word. The earbuds themselves have Klipsch’s patented contour tips that provide a complete seal within your ear canal, while also offering a comfortable and pain-free experience even if you wear them for the entire eight-hour battery life. Whether I’m listening to a podcast, the new J. Cole single, or nature sounds, I am completely immersed into whatever I am playing. If you are planning to wear these at work, I recommend loosening one earbud so your boss doesn’t sneak up behind you while you’re perusing Reddit during working hours.
Finally, the headphones also deliver excellent sound quality when completing a call. The left module noticeably vibrates when you have an incoming call, and there are no issues with hearing the other person on the line because of the noise cancelling technology. Additionally, the Klipsch R5 Neckband headphones actively reduce external sound so that your speech is clear to the other person.
If you are looking for headphones to use while working out, these are definitely not the right choice. While I have intentionally avoided sweating on the leather neckband, I have had to sprint to catch an incoming subway train and the neckband was uncomfortably bouncing up and down on my neck as I ran to the stop. There are other inexpensive Bluetooth headphones out there better suited for physical activity that I would recommend buying in addition to the Klipsch R5 Neckband Bluetooth headphones.
Overall, these headphones are great for working at your desk or traveling because they are incredibly comfortable, offer a seamless calling experience, and effectively filter out any unwanted sound.
Buy the Klipsch R5 Neckband Bluetooth headphones for $112.16 from Amazon
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Source: Business Insider