If you're not a fan of truly wireless headphones and don't like short noise-isolating headphones, then these best bluetooth headphones could be a great option. Typically shaped like a horseshoe, these colored bands sit comfortably on your shoulders and can be worn anywhere and everywhere.
They happily contain a powerful battery, Bluetooth transmitter and multi-function buttons. Some of them even come with a microphone, voice assistant support, active noise cancellation, and more. So let's dive into the list without further ado.
#1. Sony WI-1000XM2 noise canceling headphones
With the QN1 processor, Sony offers industry-leading noise reduction and smart listening. Adaptive Sound Control automatically adjusts ambient sound to match your activity.
The WI-1000XM2 provides up to 10 hours of battery life and fast charging. 10 minutes of fast charging provides 80 minutes of playback. And the flexible, lightweight neckband ensures comfortable wearing all day long.
There is also support for Alexa, activate the voice assistant with a simple touch. Additionally, you can control your ambient sound settings using an app on your smartphone.
Pros
- Adaptive Audio Control
- Compact carry bag
- Fast charging
Cons
- Not suitable for calls
- Microphone problems
Price: $248.00 Check on Amazon
#2. JBL Live 200BT In-Ear Headphones
With just 2 hours of fast charging, get juice that lasts all day, with up to 10 hours of continuous playtime. Live 200BT offers JBL Signature Sound, impressive audio reproduction with well-balanced sound.
The best part is that you can connect two devices at the same time and switch between them easily. So, listen to music on your laptop and attend phone calls without any problem.
Control music and phone calls using buttons or order a voice assistant. As for the neck strap, the ergonomic design naturally fits into the contours of your head and neck.
Pros
- The price of money
- Pairing with two devices
- Comfortable all day use
Cons
- Little on bass
- High latency
- Average noise reduction
Price: $45.88 Check on Amazon
#3. Sennheiser CX 7.00BT Neckband Headphones
With Qualcomm apt-X, the CX 7.00BT offers true Hi-Fi audio support. The overall sound quality is exuberant and has a slightly darker signature.
In terms of battery life, you will get up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. It also supports convenient multi-connection of up to 2 devices with three-way communication capability.
The sleek neckband features an intuitive three-button remote for quick control of music and calls. The buds provide a lightweight and comfortable noise-isolating cut.
Pros
- Sennheiser signature sound
- NFC Quick Pairing
Cons
- Micro-USB charging
- The headphones don't have magnets
- Poor microphone quality
Price: $126.69 Check on Amazon
#4. Bose Quietcontrol 30 Neckband Headphones
“Don't just suppress the noise, manage it,” is what Boz is saying with these kicks. And their claims are true for the most part.
Despite its size, the Quietcontrol offers the Bose sound signature by default, including class-leading noise cancellation. So much so that it works even without being tied to a device.
As long as it is on, the insulation works. Another fantastic feature is the noise-canceling dual microphones, which help you make clearer calls.
Pros
- Noise reduction even when idle
- Bose Connect app support
- 10m Bluetooth
Cons
- The plastic on the neck peels off with regular use
- Slightly chunky collar
Price: $299.00 Check on Amazon
Ergonomics
Despite the fact that it set me (and the zealous reader) on edge, the arc passing behind the neck is not so bad.
It is rigid enough for the emitters to touch the temples with sufficient force, and at the same time elastic and soft enough so that this force is not excessive. In fact, I begin to feel some discomfort only after two to two and a half hours of wearing the headphones. And not from pressure on the temples, but from slight pressure from the arc on the ears.
In my opinion, you can even see here where they are pressing (where there is almost a right angle on the bow):
The volume up button and the right earpiece are additionally marked with small protruding dots. This is, of course, relevant for a button, but not for a headphone. The Mix 8 only wears one way anyway, and I'd love to see someone do it differently.
At the same time, pressing the call and playback control buttons does not cause unpleasant sensations. But adjusting the volume makes you fiddly at first. The first days I still couldn’t reach the buttons properly - they were too close to the emitter. And then nothing, I got used to it.
#5. Samsung Level U In-Ear Headphones with Mic
If you're looking for headphones that are equally good for phone calls, choose this one. Level U features dual microphone noise reduction and echo cancellation that reduces external interference and feedback during calls.
Along with a comfortable neckband, Level U also offers excellent headphones. Both buds can be magnetically attached when not in use.
Which is great, if still paired with the phone they won't turn off. In fact, the U Level will go into an ultra-low power mode, ready to use as and when you put them back.
Pros
- 11 hours of battery life
- Low Power Mode
- Great microphone
Cons
- The headphones are not super soft
- No fast charging
Price: $27.95 Check on Amazon
Bluetooth
If you do not take into account the generally insignificant features, which are discussed below, from the point of view of Bluetooth devices, these are the best of my headphones.
And first of all, because they have a phenomenal range of reliable connection by Chinese standards. No, seriously: if there is not too much interference around, then 10 meters is nothing at all for them. And, according to my eye, 20 meters is not a problem either. Moreover, at a distance of 10-15 meters, you can also turn your head as you please - it has no effect. According to rough estimates, only after moving 30 meters away can you encounter a serious stutter. And even then, if you turn around successfully, the headphones will continue to work normally.
At the same time, if, say, you successfully sit down on the phone, then in such a situation the Mix 8 behave exactly the same as any other headphones - they shut up. And just as harmful is a large amount of interference: for example, I know for sure at least one place where the headphones begin to stutter, even if the phone is in the breast pocket of a jacket.
But, I repeat, I have never seen such a working radius. And just in case: what has been said is true for the combination of Digicare Mix 8 and Nokia 5 phone. It is possible that in other versions it will be different.
In addition, it turned out that the Mix 8 headset is quite good, if the environment is not too noisy. At least according to the interlocutors. By the way, I didn’t count on this at all, but I was pleasantly surprised. And, of course, if the environment is noisy (for example, in a shopping center), then the interlocutor will quite reasonably ask you to switch to the phone.
Peculiarities
In general, I noticed that almost every pair of Bluetooth headphones and phone behaves differently.
Ideally, the volume is adjusted synchronously and there is a call to the voice assistant. But in the case of the Nokia 5 and Mix 8 tandem, the following results. When playing music, the volume is adjusted separately in the phone and headphones. However, during a call, the volume is adjusted synchronously.
Calling a voice assistant is not provided.
I also noticed that often after the music is paused, you can’t turn it back on with the play button. First you have to briefly press the multifunction button, and only then playback.
There are voice notifications: about turning on, about connecting, turning off. When there is an incoming call, the number is spoken out number by number, and immediately without wasting time on stupid remarks like “Incoming call”.
#6. PHILIPS Waterproof Neckband Headphones
Whether you're a sports fan or a gym fan, this beauty is tailor-made for your active lifestyle. Philips ergonomic design offers incredible comfort during swimming, jogging, jogging, cycling, driving, camping and other outdoor sports.
Additionally, they are IPX 5 waterproof certified to withstand sweating. It also offers ring vibration so you won't miss any important calls.
In terms of music output, the headphones have powerful bass and clear mids with perfectly tuned neodymium acoustic drivers. What's more, you can get up to 2 hours of juice with just 5 minutes of charging.
Pros
- Vibrate mode
- High Definition Audio
- 14 hours of play
Cons
- Doesn't turn off automatically
Price: $59.99 Check on Amazon
Appearance
There's a lot of glossy plastic, but also matte black and gray. In general, it does not cause rejection, and the gloss behaves even better than I thought.
As for the shape, headphones of this type, with an arc passing behind the neck, are often called sports. For some reason it is believed that this is an ideal design for active body movements. However, since I am not an athlete, I cannot definitely speak about this merit.
On the contrary, it is this arch that causes me great inconvenience, since it is usually made in such a way that it constantly clings to the collar of my clothes, which leads to the headphones sliding down. But in the case of Mix 8, the unpleasant effect is offset by two circumstances:
- Firstly, the arc here is relatively small, so I usually do not feel constrained in my movements.
- Secondly, instead of the usual speakers, there is a special variety of them. As a result, even if you touch the arc, the headphones practically do not slip off, and if they move a little, it is not as unpleasant as in the case of regular ones.
So, we’ve sorted out the arc: it exists and its ears end in emitters equipped with silicone (as stated) vibration-transmitting pads.
There are a sufficient number of buttons, as I like (more precisely, four of them). On the right earphone there is a multifunctional one: it turns it on and off, allows you to answer calls and puts the headphones into pairing mode.
On the left, a similar-shaped button turns on the music and pauses it.
Plus, on the bottom side of the right arch there are a couple more buttons for adjusting the volume and switching tracks. And this is pure delight, because finally everything is done, in my opinion. Namely: a short press adjusts the volume, and a long press changes the track. Actually, this is important for me, because I change the volume more often than the music. And there were so many cases with previous headphones when, instead of volume, I put on the next song without finishing listening to the previous one!
Despite the fact that the headphones are Chinese, all the buttons work surprisingly well. That is, they do not dangle, do not rattle, and are pressed clearly, with a soft, tactile rather than audible click. Whether the reason for this is a normal brand or a more or less decent price category, I have no idea.
The light indication is a traditional orange-blue color, but it is hidden under tinted plastic surrounding the buttons on the emitters. And it is hidden so well that it is almost invisible.
The composition is completed by a microUSB connector covered with a rubber plug near the buttons.
With tape measure
#7. Skullcandy Ink'd Plus Active In-Ear Neckband Headphones
Skullcandy offers a great pair for an active lifestyle with up to 15 hours of battery life and sweat and moisture resistance. And with fast charging, you can enjoy 2 hours of playback in 10 minutes.
The collar is flexible enough to fit in a pocket. It also boasts FitFin™ ear gels that ensure a secure fit no matter the activity.
The flexible collar has tabs for assistant activation, microphone and call/track control. And amazingly, it also has a tracker built into its neckband; so you can quickly find them.
Pros
- 15 hours battery life
- Safety headphones
- Tracker
Cons
- Average noise reduction
- The microphone is not that good
Price: $59.99 Check on Amazon
Set
The modest box contains headphones sealed with polyethylene, a charging cable (microUSB), earplugs and instructions. Modesty in this case is due to the fact that the manufacturer and brand of headphones are indicated on a sticker located on one of the ends. Well, on the headphones themselves.
In general, the most basic package, as we usually expect from typical Chinese headphones.
#8. Mpow Jaws Magnetic Neckband Headphones
Mpow's unmatched battery life of 18 hours is one of its main features. With a powerful 220mAh battery, you don't need to worry about running out of battery during outdoor activities.
Gen5, equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip and CSR 8635, provides improved audio transmission, faster pairing, improved wireless connection and wider compatibility,
In terms of sound quality, the 8mm dynamic speaker system delivers powerful bass and crisp highs. Interestingly, the earbuds resemble the Shark's mouth, which ensures a comfortable fit.
Pros
- Cause vibration even during shutdown
- The price of money
- 18 hours of juice
Cons
- Slips out during outdoor activities
Price: $24.99 Check on Amazon
#9. Jabra Elite 65e Neckband Noise Canceling Headphones
Jabra sport 3 Microphone calling technology that blocks out noise for crystal clear calls. With precise background noise suppression and hybrid active noise cancellation, it is the ideal companion for calls.
You also get one-touch access to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. With Jabra, you can customize your music profile and change it to suit your tastes and current music.
The IP54 range is rated with a 2-year warranty against water and dust damage. In terms of battery, you get 8 hours of battery life when using ANC and up to 13 hours with ANC turned off.
Pros
- Excellent microphone quality
- Connects with 2 devices simultaneously
- lightweight and comfortable to wear
Cons
- Maximum volume is a bit weak
- Not best for listening to music
Price: $199.99 Check on Amazon
Surprise
While I was twirling the headphones in my hands, thinking of something to surprise the sophisticated reader, I discovered that my thought turned to the surprisingly inglorious disappearance of vibration speakers.
Remember, at one time, on the wave of popularity (at least in the media), there were such small speakers that squeaked plaintively in your hands, but began to play bassily when stuck to a suitable surface - glass, a table, a cabinet, the door of the boss’s office? And how, actually,” I said to myself, adjusting the headphones to the shelf shelf that came to hand, “Mix 8 differs from such a speaker?” “Nothing!” he answered himself, turning the music up louder.
No, really: if you really need it, then in a quiet room headphones, successfully placed on something or no less successfully leaned against, are quite capable of replacing a small speaker. Not bad if you want to take them off, but have no desire to sit without music (especially when the phone’s speaker is so-so).
#10. Bluenin Neckband Headphones with Mic
Bluenin offers Bluetooth 5.0 CSR technology and advanced CSR8645 chips, and provides high-quality bright sound, stable connection and signal transmission.
Comfortable sports neck pads with automatic extension allow you to pull the wire to the desired length and store it away when not in use.
Not only that, Bluenin has up to 15 hours of playtime, vibration mode, built-in microphone and buttons for quick control of music and calls.
Pros
- Auto retractable headphones
- Ring vibration mode
Cons
- Not suitable for calls
- slow charging
Price: $27.99 Check on Amazon
Bonus: Bose Soundwear Companion Wearable Speaker
We know this isn't technically a neckband earphone, but it's certainly worth mentioning. The Bose Soundwear Companion is a speaker that fits comfortably around your neck.
And not just for listening to music, you can take calls and access virtual assistants! The three-button control lets you make calls, play and pause tracks, and access your phone's Siri or Google Assistant. But what about the sound?
Well, can we really doubt the sound quality of a Bose product? It features patented waveguide technology and digital signal processing for an immersive audio experience. The speaker boasts up to 12 hours of juice, IPX4 rating for sweat and weather conditions.
Pros
- Personalized Comfortable Speaker
- Call and help of an assistant
Cons
- Confidentiality is broken (the person next to you may hear feedback)
- May slip off if you are not sitting upright
Price: $249.99 Check on Amazon
That's all for now!
With so many fantastic options available in Bluetooth audio devices, the trend or popularity of wireless neckband earbuds has certainly waned. However, manufacturers entice users by packing these products with many mind-blowing features.
Well, I call it a win-win situation for every music lover. After all, we now have endless options to choose from; what style is your favorite? Share your views and feedback with us in the comments section below.
You can also check related posts:
Note: The prices listed here are those mentioned on affiliate portals while writing this article.
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Sound
When talking about the sound of headphones, you need to understand that the design itself has nothing to do with high quality.
This is my personal opinion, based on all sorts of prejudices and subjective feelings. In trying to figure out the best way to describe what I was hearing, I settled on this comparison: It's like a mid-range portable speaker that's aiming to move into the next category.
The headphones are not overly boomy, not overly ringing and not too dull in the mid frequencies - if without earplugs. In general, the sound seems to me to be quite balanced (at medium volume) and due to this it does not cause rejection. Rather, on the contrary, at first it is quite curious to feel either rhythmic beats (if the volume is high and a lot of drums), or a funny tickling from the low-frequency component that predominates in some compositions (again, at high volume).
And we must understand that in this case “balance” does not mean an even, neutral characteristic so revered by audiophiles. With these headphones, the sound, of course, varies depending on the wearing option (with or without earplugs), location (outdoors or in a quiet room) and volume. In a quiet room, of course, there are more details, in a noisy room there are fewer. When the volume is higher there are more lows, when the volume is lower there are less. If you set the goal to overload until it rattles, it will work, but I haven’t encountered such a phenomenon in more than two weeks, because the maximum volume is not particularly needed, and there will be no overload at medium levels.
In general, in terms of the nature of the low-end rendering, the Mix 8 are somewhat reminiscent of the Cosonic headphones I once owned, which were supposedly equipped with vibration motors designed to make games and movies more impressive. They also used to twitch their ears.
If you squeeze the water out, then for those who are used to listening to pop in earplugs that cost up to, say, $15, there probably won’t be much crime in the sound of Mix 8. I don’t argue: even for the specified amount you can buy decent traditional headphones that will play much better. Can. But I’m talking about typical cases rather than exceptions.
At the same time, however, the difference between the situations when the ears are open and when they are closed with the same earplugs is very clearly visible. In the first version the sound is flatter, in the second it is much more saturated and rich in low frequencies, but more booming - obviously, high frequencies are not very transmitted through the bones. Again, if the ears are open, then at a sufficient volume level, an acoustic leakage occurs (in other words, you can hear what is playing in the headphones outside), which spectrally complements the sound transmitted through the bones of the skull.
As for the often mentioned volume, when I tried to figure out the number of steps, I settled on 15-16. The fact is that the headphones only signal the maximum, so I took the position in which I began to hear at least something as the minimum. At minimum in a quiet environment, theoretically, you can make out the music, but at maximum, although it is not deafening, depending on the genre, it can “really hammer” - i.e. the emitters literally tap on your temples.
At the same time, at maximum volume, the music will be heard by those around you. In a quiet room, music is clearly audible at medium volume when the headphones are simply hanging around the neck. Moreover, this is not a feature of a particular model: I read several reviews, and a dozen opinions on Amazon, dedicated to different models. And everywhere it’s the same thing: sound leaks out. This, of course, is not always good, but words cannot express how many shots I have seen who are not at all embarrassed by the fact that their (ordinary) headphones are rattling almost the entire subway car.
So, even though I prefer not to cover my ears, there is practically no need to turn my headphones up to maximum: if it’s so noisy around, I prefer to pause the music altogether. Usually, I am content with the fifth or sixth level, when I can hear quite well and the leakage to the outside is not so noticeable. Again, we must remember that volume is also a subjective thing, and to a large extent depends on the source.
