No earbud with an excellent phone call quality?

[daviiid]

Hi,

I’m a psychotherapist that helps people even remotely. Naturally, I’m looking for earbuds with an excellent phone call quality.

Before writing this post, I listened to dozens of reviews on YouTube, among others. Not saying that there’s no decent mic for Premium earbuds in 2024. But to be honest, I was each time disappointed by this “twangy” voice that heard anywhere.
Even high-end products (Sony WF-1000XM5, Technics EAH-AZ80, Devialet Gemini II, etc.) are no exception.
Only Airpods Pro 2 were quite convincing to me. Unfortunately, I'm an Android user.

I’m not a Tech specialist, so my question is sincere.
As for today, is there no earbuds with a really clear voice (at least in quiet conditions)?
I already have good headphones, but I feel I would be much more comfortable with earbuds.

Thank you for any thoughts or help!

 

[staticV3]

Hi @daviiid! Welcome to ASR.

Here's a list of almost 200 TWS IEMs with their mics' frequency response and a standardized, 20 second recording: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table/128368

TWS IEMs typically record at 16kHz sample rate, so none of them will sound particularly airy or crisp due to the 8kHz frequency limit.
However, there's still a difference in low frequency extension, flatness, and signal stability between different models.

I think the Samsung Buds2 sounds quite nice, since it does not drop off in bass.
Perhaps your patients appreciate the more pleasant and warm tone that that brings.

The Buds2 is often available Brand new on eBay for around $60/60€.

Edit: unlike what the recording says, the clip that you can listen to in that table was recorded without external noise. There are other recordings that you can add to the table with white noise or subway noise in the background.

 

[kemmler3D]

Hi,

I’m a psychotherapist that helps people even remotely. Naturally, I’m looking for earbuds with an excellent phone call quality.

Before writing this post, I listened to dozens of reviews on YouTube, among others. Not saying that there’s no decent mic for Premium earbuds in 2024. But to be honest, I was each time disappointed by this “twangy” voice that heard anywhere.
Even high-end products (Sony WF-1000XM5, Technics EAH-AZ80, Devialet Gemini II, etc.) are no exception.
Only Airpods Pro 2 were quite convincing to me. Unfortunately, I'm an Android user.

I’m not a Tech specialist, so my question is sincere.
As for today, is there no earbuds with a really clear voice (at least in quiet conditions)?
I already have good headphones, but I feel I would be much more comfortable with earbuds.

Thank you for any thoughts or help!

Often earbuds switch to a lower-quality Bluetooth codec that's specifically for voice / calls only. This is one reason why almost every bluetooth earphone / headphone sounds worse during calls than it does with music.

There is also the fact that voice quality is limited by: 1) Your interluctor's phone's microphone 2) Their carrier's connection quality 3) Your carrier's connection quality - often the "original" audio doesn't sound like much to begin with, before it's encoded.

 

[Vincent Kars]

You are referring to Bluetooth. The moment you use a mic, it starts using the headset profile and this is not the best there is sound quality wise.
Using a separate USB mic might help
On the other hand, my wife uses Jabra evolve earbuds 2 for teleconferencing. Never heard her complain about the quality of both hearing and mic.

 

[markanini]

Just use a lapel mic and set your input source to it's input, you can keep using your preferred IEM to hear the other party.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

If you are using teleconference tech like Zoom, there are settings for "HiFi" voice quality, which are disabled by default. I always use a wired headset with a quality microphone, and turn on high quality audio which made a very big difference. Whether these settings are effective with earbuds, I'm don't know. But it's worth looking in the audio settings for the application.

 

[sushi2020]

Apple EarPods.
It is hard to beat them in terms of price and recording quality.

Apple EarPods Review

The Apple EarPods are simple but decent earbuds for casual listening. They're well-built, comfortable but not the most versatile headphones as their open fit let...

www.rtings.com

 

[daviiid]

Apple EarPods.
It is hard to beat them in terms of price and recording quality.

Apple EarPods Review

The Apple EarPods are simple but decent earbuds for casual listening. They're well-built, comfortable but not the most versatile headphones as their open fit let...

www.rtings.com

Actually I couldn't find another model able to even get close to it's mic quality
But as I wrote, "Unfortunately, I'm an Android user"

 

[sushi2020]

Actually I couldn't find another model able to even get close to it's mic quality
But as I wrote, "Unfortunately, I'm an Android user"

Sorry, I don't understand what you said. They should work for Android users too.
Just use Apple dongle or USB-C variant.