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    Looking for matching-style portable A2DP headphones that charge over USB and function as a USB audio device. Jabra BT650s close.

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by CZroe, Apr 13, 2010.

  1. CZroe

    CZroe Notebook Evangelist

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    My sister's dog chewed up my Sony BT22 'phones. They still look fine after some slick electrical tape and bent coat-hanger wire, but they no longer fold. One could say that they actually look better after buying 50mm leatherette "earcup" cushions, but the latency was pretty bad for watching movies and such and the portability has been harmed because they no longer fold completely, so I'm looking for something new.

    The Jabra BT650s is close to what I am looking for because it can charge over USB, folds, works as A2DP for headset and music listening, and operates in "corded" mode for low-latency when gaming or watching videos. The problem is that charging it while listening in corded mode seems to take a second cable, when it stands to reason that the functions should both use the same USB cable. Yes, I am aware that they would need to add hardware to make it a USB audio device as the current method is a normal 3.5mm audio jack, but most gaming headsets have this. It looks like it folds similarly to my damaged BT22 'phones, so I'm a little iffy about that (BT22s no longer fold in the middle, though each arm still folds in, causing them to cross when they otherwise would not; fully extending them helps fold a little flatter).

    I get a surprising amount of use out of A2DP. Not only is it strangely tolerable in many games, but music is entirely not latency-sensitive and VLC makes a lot of downloaded videos play perfectly. Now, this won't help you guys wanting to watch Hulu or YouTube with A2DP, but VLC allows you to do more than specify an audio delay. It will let you set the audio sync below 0 (negative values) so that it comes earlier to compensate for the A2DP delay. If only every player had such an option. :)

    I'm very pleased with how my Razer Orochi matches the Alienware M11X and other Alienware laptops... especially with the default blue lighting and the mousewheel light enabled. It has both BT HID wireless and wired modes and so it has me hoping that there's something "similarly perfect" for wired/wireless audio.

    Edit: Funny... I made it through this whole post without using the word "Bluetooth." For on-lookers' sake, A2DP = Stereo/HQ Bluetooth audio (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile).