[Q] Best phone for audio - General Questions and Answers

I own a SGS2 at the moment. I like it. But I don't rate it listening to music through earphones. I am using some Sennheiser CX300s which are not the best but much better than any bundled earphones.
I've been reading about Wolfson DACs and so forth.
So which phones deliver a good loud sound through the earphones? And on the subject which phones have a clear loud speaker/s? Its annoying because the reviews rarely cover these areas. And even the manufacturers don't really bother publishing audio specs. Music is a killer app for me.

It's kind of funny but the SGS2 downgraded to a Yamaha DAC and has sound that isn't quite as good as the original SGS. All the variants including the Nexus S have the Wolfson DAC that is actually pretty good. Used with Voodoo sound, it's a good audio player. I use custom IEMs and enjoy the sound alot. Hope it helps

Come on folks this is an important topic. BTW does anyone know if the LG Optimus 7 has the Wolfson wm8994 headphone amp. And what are the best Nokia phones like for audio.
I have have to move on to the iPhone 5 or a Nokia Windows Phone in a few months. The SGS2 is not a great mp3 player imho.

Fidoz~
I think Iphone offered quite good sound quality + iphone 5 is coming out soon, you might want to check it out. The best way is go buy those $500 earphone for a good sound.
Fidoz~

i own a HTC HD2, sound is pretty good, but i have to say Iphones sound great.

Fidoz1990 said:
I think Iphone offered quite good sound quality + iphone 5 is coming out soon, you might want to check it out. The best way is go buy those $500 earphone for a good sound.
Fidoz~
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The iphone and ipods both have ****ty built in amps. I would only use them with a line out dock to bypass the internal amp, and buy a nicer portable amp.
Sent from my HTC Desire Z

Related

Monster Beats. By Dr. Dre...

Anyone using the in-ear ones or the headphones with their Nexus? If so please leave me your feedback... I'm looking to buy a set today and don't care about the microphone.
Sounds real good
the bass is WOW, over all sound quality gets an A+
best head phones ive ever owned.
highly recommended
cangri87 said:
the bass is WOW, over all sound quality gets an A+
best head phones ive ever owned.
highly recommended
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are you using the in-ears or the over the head headphones? curious to know if the noise cancelling on them is noticable and is the volume louder than oem htc earphones?
bought the Monster Beats by Dre (Tour/in-ear with Control Talk) from the Apple store last week and I absolutely love them. They are replacing my old Apple in-ear headphones. Bass is sweet with no distortion. Mids and highs are spot on. Haven't yet tried them with the N1, been using them with my iPt. Not sure if the in-line remote controls/mic will work with the N1 but I will test them out sometime.
Huey85 said:
bought the Monster Beats by Dre (Tour/in-ear with Control Talk) from the Apple store last week and I absolutely love them. They are replacing my old Apple in-ear headphones. Bass is sweet with no distortion. Mids and highs are spot on. Haven't yet tried them with the N1, been using them with my iPt. Not sure if the in-line remote controls/mic will work with the N1 but I will test them out sometime.
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cool good to hear, let me know how they sound on the N1 and if the microphone actually works too! thanks man.
The beats are pretty good but way overpriced. Either way the output of the nexus one isn't great for audio and anything too good is a bit of a waste. Try going to head-fi to read up on iems before you buy.
Is the compatibility a hardware or software issue? Could some code be written or changed to make them work 100%?
I have the monster beats over the ears head phones. The big ones. They work perfectly fine. Also they come with the adapted to use with your nexus one which works fine. I like them a lot.
been using the in ear with control talk and they are the best headphones i have ever owned.
I have the bose quiet comfort 3 and the beats by dre top them out in quality.
Got mine for 80 bucks of craiglist brand new
used the Studio beats, they were awesome. just too big to carry around at times. so I got the klipsch s4i's. Awesome headset. ~100 but well worth it. check the cnet reviews, they're highly rated. lets me answer calls as well.
I know this thread is old... But check out Head-Fi.org when it comes to headphones.
I'd be very surprised if the Dre headphones are anything but overpriced. At first glance, it seems like my assumption is correct via my first couple threads when searching Dre Beats.
For those too lazy to look
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/headphone-buyers-guide-271258/
risterdid said:
Anyone using the in-ear ones or the headphones with their Nexus? If so please leave me your feedback... I'm looking to buy a set today and don't care about the microphone.
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The best headphones for smart phones are the: -
Etymotic HF2 High Fidelity Headphones
I've read the stuff on Head-fi but I still decided to buy a pair of Solo's. Why? Because I like them. I really like the looks and I think sound quality is pretty decent too. Furthermore I think they are one of the most comfortable headphones out there, which is pretty important to me too.
Of course, the fact that some people on Head-fi are not too enthousiastic about these headphones might say something. So maybe they are not the perfect headphones price/quality wise, but let's not exaggerate. For example, there are a lot of people out there that have a positive opinion about these headphones too.
What happens on forums is that in the end, if there are enough people saying bad things about something, other people will either just copycat their opinion without taking the time to develop their own opinion, or they will be influenced by these opinions while developing their own.
My 2 cents.
Now, does this Control Talk feature works on any HTC android phone??
I have had the beats over the ear for around a year now. I looked up a couple reviews and they were onsale so i took the leap.
in retrospec after doing more research and finding out about head-fi i would not buy them again.
they sound great and feel great. the "noise cancelation" is nothing to write home about. I also find it VERY annoying that the headphones cannot even work without the 2 AAA batteries in them. I use them alot for xbox with an astro mixamp and its very annoying to head over to a friends only to find out your headphones die 5 minutes into a match of your favorite game.
hooked up to my nexus they sound great, with a decent headphone amp they sound even better of course. no one buys a phone expecting to output the requires wattage.
prior to purchasing these cans i had not had much experiance over a few "high end" gaming headsets and your typical mid range dj headphones/ in ear buds and i was blown away by these. I was and still am very happy with my purchase, however i realize that for the money i could have got even better.
pongalong said:
The beats are pretty good but way overpriced. Either way the output of the nexus one isn't great for audio and anything too good is a bit of a waste. Try going to head-fi to read up on iems before you buy.
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My thoughts exactly. Avoid BOSE or Monster if you want value for money, they are all marketing (think Apple).
I'v been using UE triple.fi 10vi for a while now..
There's no going back once you hear these babies
Get a pair of Futuresonic Atrio's, you probably never heard of them but they are the industry leader in IEM's for Concert's/bands/live performers. Great low frequency response and warm accurate highs; review. For <$200 they can't be touched by any other IEM on the market.
EDIT: Wanted to add that anything with the name Monster on it is way overpriced.
Images s4
I have listened to a few of the Beats line headphones... and they sound quite good overall. But as for in-ears I went with the Klipsch Image S4's they are amazing earbuds, and I paid like 40 bucks for one!
Cheeze[iT] said:
used the Studio beats, they were awesome. just too big to carry around at times. so I got the klipsch s4i's. Awesome headset. ~100 but well worth it. check the cnet reviews, they're highly rated. lets me answer calls as well.
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Good to hear the headset part works on the N1! I use these with my iPhone, and the call answer button is very convenient. I was a little bit worried it'd go to waste when my N1 arrives.
Ive been using the Dr. Dre beats in-ear headphones. I read the reviews and to me they sound great.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

What earphones/headphones are you using for your N1?

I have a Soundmagic PL-30 for music...I know it's nothing spectacular, but it's good for the money
I'm looking to upgrade though, might want to hear what other users are using
Beats by Dre (Tour w/ controltalk)
I use AKG K390NC
er, are you just looking for headphone suggestions? Same as any other PMP?
I use Sennheiser CX300, cheap enough on Amazon (** below) but amazingly better than my previous pair, but my next pair I'll go ahead and spend a little more I think. These are really the low end of the mid-range. They spend 98% of their time in my Creative Zen, but hey, I've used 'em on the N1 a time or two.
** Be very careful buying headphones anywhere, there are tons of fakes out there. If you buy 'em on Amazon for example, only buy them from Amazon, ie: Amazon LLC is the seller. At least that way you'll have a better chance of them being real and returning them if they are not. Do research into any set of headphones, but also research the fakes so you can identify if yours are fake when you receive them!
I'm using Ultimate Ears SuperFi but I really love Monter Beats Solo
I just bought some Sony's that have the track control and they're really comfortable and have better bass then the included ones.
Sony MDR-EX38iP
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDREX38iP-BLK-Earbud-Control/dp/B002M78JA2
$32.29
Volume doesn't work... but gets the job done.
Stock headphones for working out or when I am on a call.
Etymotic Research ER-4 for when I care about audio quality a little bit, but not enough to use my real cans or my home system.
I am using the Motorola s305 very confortable, the keys all work and they sound pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-S305-Bluetooth-Stereo-Headset/dp/B002BH3I9U
I'm using Monster Turbines and JAYS q-JAYS. The Turbines sound a little better on the N1 most of the times cause the bass can be a little weak with the q-JAYS since there's no EQ to adjust it.
Klipsch
Klipsch Image S4 I use them exclusively, and they were well worth every penny!
I have the Ultimate Ears triplefi 10Vi. these sound awesome and have a mic too..
also the mute button on the wire allows skipping tracks
I know I'm a heretic but iphone earphones with mic,
Work great straight out the box
Sent from my Google Nexus Beast
http://www.jabra.com/Sites/Jabra/ee-uk/Headsets/Pages/Jabrabt8030.aspx
These are combined stereo headphones and speakers over Bluetooth.
sennheiser HD 420
sennheiser HD 420.
It's really amazing how well the Nexus One fairs against it's competitors (namely the stinking iPhone), in terms of sound quality.
My Phone
Nexus One
CyanogenMod-6.0.0 RC1
I'm using the Nokia BH-503. Excellent call quality, awesome battery life (takes 45 mins to charge and lasts for about 12 hours non stop), great range and nice sound quality. The mid-ranges are a bit over powered but its not too bad.
motorola rokr s9 hd
Looks like Meelectronics is having a promotion
http://www.meelec.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Earphone-MEE-What
All of them seem to be pretty good according to Head-fi posts
I might order one and see how it goes
i'm using sony ericsson mw-600 wireless stereo headset with fm radio
ctbear said:
Looks like Meelectronics is having a promotion
http://www.meelec.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Earphone-MEE-What
All of them seem to be pretty good according to Head-fi posts
I might order one and see how it goes
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Thanks for the tip. I checked out some reviews of them and they don't look bad. After my Shure SCL4's starting having issues I've been looking for jogging headphones. Figured for $25 I can't go wrong.
ctbear said:
Looks like Meelectronics is having a promotion
http://www.meelec.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Earphone-MEE-What
All of them seem to be pretty good according to Head-fi posts
I might order one and see how it goes
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thank you!!! Just placed an order!!

Klipsch Promedia In-Ear Headphones

I just bought these babies for the Sensation to replace the crappy stock headphones. The difference is just truly night and day. The soundstage is staggering, the bass is clean and not too overpowering (it complements the mids nicely), the mids warm, the highs are crisp. Overall, the headphones are really balanced with a slight emphasis on bass that fits my appeal perfectly.
It also comes with: extra ear fittings, an audio/mic splitter, a small black travel pouch, and a microphone which I haven't tested yet.
Ultimately, this headphones is a steal at $34.99. Superb value. Highly recommended.
Found here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6764486&CatId=624
I saw them selling locally at Compusa, something tells me they are the same S4 with just the outside ans controls being different.
I own the S4 and god, the sound is impressive. Perfect for listening to all my Black Sabbath FLAC albums.
mic working?
can you post something once you've tried the mic? I can't seem to find a definitive answer on whether or not the mic works on android phones. thanks.
works with mic also if you download Headset Button app you can also increase volume change track answer end call and mute mic same specs as Klipsch s4 and Klipsch s5
cmarti said:
I saw them selling locally at Compusa, something tells me they are the same S4 with just the outside ans controls being different.
I own the S4 and god, the sound is impressive. Perfect for listening to all my Black Sabbath FLAC albums.
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I don't understand about all the fuzz around the Klipsch S4. There are so many review saying how good it is and it's a must buy. And when I bought it, I was very disappointed on the sound quality. I mean I can see why people like it so much, because the bass is pretty good and it's comfortable with good isolations. But I find it lacking mids and highs. I keep the headphone anyways hoping burnt-ins will help, but it didn't even after half a year. I now own the HiFiMan RE-0 and very satisfied with it.
The RE-0s are very neutral and a lot of people like them for that reason. I usually recommend those to people who don't like the S4s, and they're usually pretty happy with it
Waveblade said:
The RE-0s are very neutral and a lot of people like them for that reason. I usually recommend those to people who don't like the S4s, and they're usually pretty happy with it
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Yes!! Neutral! That's the word i was looking for. It's the same thing with the Audio Technica M50. So many good reviews, and yet i hated it. I bought the Audio Technica AD700 for movies and games, but i find myself using it for music much more often than the M50. Now I know what to look for when shopping for a headphone. Neutral!
Damn... shipping costs to the netherlands are 60$... not so cheap anymore
Thanks for the review! I saw this add on Black Friday, but was hesitant because I once read that companies sometimes try to make products that look the same so the consumer will think that they are re packaged, even though the hardware inside is much cheaper.
Hi,
Anybody have tried Klipch s4a for andriod phone? does it mic work with sensation?
Is this Klipsch Promedia is same as s4?
Works just fine here using the s4a
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Yeah guys, my promedia's mic works with androids
and... the mic is clear and good enough. It's as good as my standalone logitech clip on
I got the s4a and I absolutely love them. The app you use with them is slow on the pick up when it comes to pressing the button, but they sound great and the mic works very well on the Sensation.
Much better than Beats in my opinion.

Verdict on Nexus 5 audio quality?

Now that the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, and should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions, what is the verdict on the Nexus 5's audio quality? This is both speakerphone and headphone.
It is known that the Nexus 5 has really shoddy audio quality, especially from the headphone port. See here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing/4
For me, this is really important, as I'm an audiophile, and I need to have excellent sounding audio. I'm on a Galaxy Note 3, but considering coming to the Nexus 5 as I've really had it with the ridiculous random reboots with the Note 3.
I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
Thanks in advance!
The speaker is okay, nothing to write home about but not terrible. I'd say it's better than the Nexus 4 but certainly not as good as the HTC One M7/M8. The headphone jack is awful. I'm not quite an "audiophile" but the sound is not good. It's still listenable, but it's a significant step down from the HTC One M7 or Galaxy S3 I've used in the past. It's actually to the point where I would rather listen to music over bluetooth than use my headphones because the quality drop over bluetooth isn't as significant as the difference in DAC quality between the N5 and my bluetooth receiver.
All in all, audio quality is probably the one thing that makes me regret the phone. If you plan on using headphones with the phone a lot, and don't want to deal with a USB DAC (including the issues getting it working on the Nexus 5) I would avoid the phone. I wish I had waited and picked up an HTC One M8 honestly, and that would be my recommendation. Now that they've dropped the "Beats" branding the audio quality is actually very good without the overpowering bass of the original M7.
Thanks so much for the in-depth explanation. I guess that takes me out of the running for a Nexus 5.
ajm786 said:
Now that the Nexus 5 has been out for a while now, and should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions, what is the verdict on the Nexus 5's audio quality? This is both speakerphone and headphone.
It is known that the Nexus 5 has really shoddy audio quality, especially from the headphone port. See here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing/4
For me, this is really important, as I'm an audiophile, and I need to have excellent sounding audio. I'm on a Galaxy Note 3, but considering coming to the Nexus 5 as I've really had it with the ridiculous random reboots with the Note 3.
I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
Thanks in advance!
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Click to collapse
I use Poweramp & Flac files on my N5 & klipsch headphones, while ok it's by no means great.
You have the Note 3 atm, the N5 is no where near as good audio wise.
I had the N3 & tried the S5 both are way better than the N5.
Atm I use the M8 for proper audio quality.
It's your choice, the N5 is a great device but not for music.
I use beats headphones and Viper4android, along with poweramp and flac as stated above and I have pretty good sound. Not nearly as sweet as the M7 was but definitely above average. I think a combination of good after market headphones and a reliable audio mod can make a so-so sound situation much better. If you have the means and sound is important, then you may want a different device. But if you don't or already have the N5, there are ways to improve the sound significantly. That's my penny and a half.
Mine sounds great using Poweramp and some Klipsch earphones
Honestly, the sound is definitely sub par. I get it, it's a $349-$399 phone & corners are cut somewhere. I have been to see bands play & my siblings & friends with different phones record bands & clips & their playback makes my n5 look like garbage. (They have note3, m7, iPhone 4s/5/5s). Headphone jack isn't awesome either.
I stream music a lot in my car using an auxiliary wire & it isn't awesome, but it isn't atrocious either.
Sound & battery are really killing me with this device.
ajm786 said:
should have went through multiple iterations of hardware revisions...
...I'd really like to get some input from people who can contribute subjectively as well as those who might have tested it like Anandtech did.
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Click to collapse
There have been no hardware revisions at this time so everything is the same as when Anandtech did their tests, and no one tests like Anand does so you've already read the best info out on the subject.
I think the audio quality is above average for a mobile device, but isn't in the same league as the hardware used for the high end Samsung or HTC phones. Software mods such as Viper4Android can make up most of that difference.
The only real issue with the external audio is the stereo crosstalk in the upper volume steps which I've not needed to use as it's plenty loud for my ears.
Came from an S4, and expected to be disappointed by the audio quality of the N5, but I wasn't. The speaker does suck though. N5 + faux sound + Sony MDR-1R headphones = not too shabby an experience (prefer it to the S4).

Lg V20 B&O headphones, why so bad?

Hey guys
Just upgraded from s7 edge to this phone. I've buy lg v20 Verizon version, so after purchase I start to search b&o earphones which comes with box, so yesterday I get that one, so after 1 day using, I can say for sure this is not top level headphones. It sounds like 10€ headphones. Its not loud but have some good quality. So if someone know how to improve and upgrade sound please send some instructions
I agree with you to the fullest they were absolute terrible sounding to my ears too. Might sound cliche but my gf's apple earpods from same pricerange are much better
You could install a app with a equalizer like poweramp to color and adjust the sound you want. But soundquality wise they are not decent imo
I think V20's QDAC is better suited with high-impedance headphones and good quality audio files. at least, it needs 50 ohms and 300kbps mp3 files. FLAC format is the best. I bought a Marshall Major II (non-bluetooth) headphone and buy few FLAC files. The quality is superb.
spiderx_mm said:
I think V20's QDAC is better suited with high-impedance headphones and good quality audio files. at least, it needs 50 ohms and 300kbps mp3 files. FLAC format is the best. I bought a Marshall Major II (non-bluetooth) headphone and buy few FLAC files. The quality is superb.
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I know about this, but i was thinking that native eaphones will sounds good. Niw I'm thinking to buy some audio technical headphones
spiderx_mm said:
I think V20's QDAC is better suited with high-impedance headphones and good quality audio files. at least, it needs 50 ohms and 300kbps mp3 files. FLAC format is the best. I bought a Marshall Major II (non-bluetooth) headphone and buy few FLAC files. The quality is superb.
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High impedance has no effect on audio quality. 3k earphones that are 16ohms are the best out there.
I swear some people just don't understand what ohms law is.....
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
Well the "impedance" is a choice of the company when they designed the headset. in the past most classic high fedility headphones were high impedance (300 - 600 ohm) because they were driven by dedicated big amps.
"Impedance" itself whether it's high or not should not be a parameter it would sound good or bad.
The best modern headphones have lower impedance now and this is also choice of market because most need to be driven by a small dac or smartphone
Low impedance doesn't mean easy to drive either, some headphones really need a proper dac as fuel
BROKEN1981 said:
High impedance has no effect on audio quality. 3k earphones that are 16ohms are the best out there.
I swear some people just don't understand what ohms law is.....
Sent from my LG V20 using XDA Labs
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Oh yes. High impedance has no effect on MP3 audio quality. I fully agreed. Just buy (or download) an FLAC audio and compare listening to it. You'll know the truth. Otherwise, those people who bought high impedance HPs for very expensive price are just fools.
spiderx_mm said:
I think V20's QDAC is better suited with high-impedance headphones and good quality audio files. at least, it needs 50 ohms and 300kbps mp3 files. FLAC format is the best. I bought a Marshall Major II (non-bluetooth) headphone and buy few FLAC files. The quality is superb.
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Click to collapse
DSD format is the best, not FLAC
Yes they are not normal B&O quality.
blackzero97 said:
Hey guys
Just upgraded from s7 edge to this phone. I've buy lg v20 Verizon version, so after purchase I start to search b&o earphones which comes with box, so yesterday I get that one, so after 1 day using, I can say for sure this is not top level headphones. It sounds like 10€ headphones. Its not loud but have some good quality. So if someone know how to improve and upgrade sound please send some instructions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems that LG have just used the B&O brand on some of their own rubbish earphones. You can buy them in HK for less than $10. When I turn on the Hifi DAC sound quality in these barely changes but when I use my standard earphones (LH Labs) the sound comes alive with the HiFi DAC - with loads more detail. Fantastic experience but bin the so-called pretend B&O earphones.
blackzero97 said:
I know about this, but i was thinking that native eaphones will sounds good. Niw I'm thinking to buy some audio technical headphones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went through the same thing when I bought my V20 last year. The B&O earbuds totally suck.
You might want to buy a pair of the Marshalls as well as the Audio Technicas. The Marshall Major Bluetooth II are a couple of generations old now and quite cheap on Amazon. They're small and flexible. You can stretch them to fit your head perfectly. I can wear mine for hours without pain. The Audio Technicas are huge and better for listening at home.
Also, the Marshalls are more than 50 ohms. I agree with the other posters - high impedance has nothing to do with sound quality. However, with the V20 you need more than 50 ohms to kick in the quad dac. I believe that I took a pass on the Audio Technicas because they aren't 50 ohms. The Marshalls will probably survive out in the world a lot better too. I just toss mine in a bag without a case a lot of the time and they're fine.
I really didn't think that I would like those headphones as much as I do. I don't use the bluetooth connection very often but it's nice to have it anyways.
Hope you enjoy your V20. This phone is going to be my daily driver until it won't turn on anymore. I just love it.
I got the H3's for free and used them as a spare pair. Never abused them but they just fell apart. Quality on them is atrocious for a supposedly $150 retail pair of headphones. I checked out their rating with "fakespot" on amazon which analyzes for likely fake reviews and they got a rating of an F with only 23.7% reliable reviews. ha.
Fakespot
Two righties???
I got mine with my lg v20 and they were defective. Literally 2 right earbuds. Both printed "R".... Is it possible that the real B&O could make such a crazy mistake??
be glad you even got headphones. Some of us didn't get them.

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