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F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.

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ANC headphones/earbuds that require no proprietary apps? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This may be OT since strictly speaking it's about hardware... I trust it is ok to post it given the spirit of the community, but have my apologies and feel free to remove it if it's not.

I'm looking to replace my old Bose QC25, since they have recently died (after a long a fulfilling life), but it seems everything nowadays is bluetooth (which I don't mind) and require some proprietary app to turn ANC on/off (which I do mind... are physical buttons/switches become too expensive to include in your overpriced earbuds?).

Anyway... do you know of any headphones/earbuds that meet the following?

can be powered via wire or have batteries that last 12+hrs (long-haul flights)
have decent noise cancelling
don't require me to install a apps or can be used with some open source app (possibly with full functionality and straightforward to setup)
are not overly expensive (I have to buy 2 pairs and I'll only use them a few times a year when I fly)

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I wasn't aware that any required an app. Weird!

I have a pair of Sony XM2s. While Sony does have an app, it's not necessary for ANC. You only need the app to do ear shape analysis and atmospheric pressure adjustment -- neither of which seems particularly important to me after using it for a few years.

From a quick review check, it looks like the latest one (XM5) is similar. From https://www.soundguys.com/sony-wh-1000xm5-review-71783/ :

Pressing the NC/AMB button will toggle the ANC mode. You can select either ANC, ANC off, or Ambient sound modes

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You only need the app to do ear shape analysis

Does this require the app for operation or can you temporarily install the app for config and then use the feature without the app?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think you need the app but I'm not totally sure. I just checked and it wants me to go through the whole process of taking photos of my ears and uploading them and...nah. Just nah.

The atmospheric pressure detection routine seems to revert, so I don't think it's stored in the headphones itself. Hard to test without going on a flight though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mine doesn't require photos - it just does a series of weird sounds like I am at the audiologist.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

This is what mine looks like. It has a "noise cancelling optimizer" that beeps and boops at me, and then it has the "360 Reality Audio" that requires ear photos.

https://lemmy.sdf.org/pictrs/image/3b423616-a107-40bd-8410-1be249562a1b.png

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The wm3 does not need software for the analysis.