Bluetooth Headsets for Audiobooks

Tarana · 11-12-2013, 01:43 PM

My Itouch, Nano 7th gen and Nook HD all have bluetooth options for headsets so that I can listen to audiobooks. I'm looking for something that I can use while driving (one ear only) long distances. What features am I looking for besides noise cancelling? Recommendations?

Note: I can't put it through the regular speakers. My pre-millenium mini-van has incredible road noise when on the freeway.

pidgeon92 · 11-12-2013, 07:47 PM

I was just searching for something similar. I'd love to listen while I'm walking places, but wired headphones get caught on my clothes, and I didn't care for any of the bluetooth headphones I've looked at. Especially now that it's gotten cold out, I don't want anything behind the head, or that has a cord going from left to right. I think a single-ear device would be best for me.

For the OP, I would suggest trying the bluetooth speaker from Boombotix. This is the one I purchased a few months ago:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a powerful little speaker. I use it in the house. I think it would be perfect for driving, and should be plenty loud enough over your loud engine.

Synamon · 11-12-2013, 09:36 PM

Noise cancelling isn't what you want if you are driving. You want to hear traffic noises. I looked around when I wanted to listen to audiobooks in the car and ended up using the new Apple earbuds when I couldn't find anything better.

taosaur · 11-12-2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

Noise cancelling isn't what you want if you are driving. You want to hear traffic noises. I looked around when I wanted to listen to audiobooks in the car and ended up using the new Apple earbuds when I couldn't find anything better.

Keep in mind that driving with headphones is illegal in many places. One-ear hands-free headsets like the OP describes are more often permitted, though.

I was just poking my head around for a bluetooth gaming headset today, but most with surround-sound are pricey and I have plenty of higher priorities.

meeera · 11-13-2013, 12:13 AM

Are there one-ear Bluetooth headsets that have the features of the Apple iPhone earbuds - answering the phone, pausing playback, and so on? I don't know what search terms to use to find this.

Tarana · 11-13-2013, 12:23 AM

I guess what I'm trying to find out is whether the one ear headsets designed for smartphones will also work with a non-phone device?? The state patrol says that I can have it in one ear only. The other ear has to be available to hear sirens, which, frankly, I can't hear anyway until they are nearly upon me.

I currently use sport earphones from JVC. They work great, but I wanted something without wires because they get all tangled up in the seat belt.

tubemonkey · 11-13-2013, 12:23 AM

How about a bluetooth speaker that clips on the visor in your car?

tubemonkey · 11-13-2013, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarana

I guess what I'm trying to find out is whether the one ear headsets designed for smartphones will also work with a non-phone device??

I don't see why they wouldn't work. Audio is audio.

cromag · 11-13-2013, 12:50 AM

I'm with tubemonkey on this. I have a bluetooth headset (stereo, both ears, so not applicable) that pairs with my netbook and cell phone. Do you know anyone with an earpiece you could test out?

Otherwise, just make sure the vendor has a good returns policy, if you're concerned.

Sweetpea · 11-13-2013, 07:12 AM

I had a bluetooth earphone once (single ear), but thought it was terrible. Especially if you're in a (loud) car, having a good single earphone (with clarity of sound) is very important if you actually want to hear anything...

@cromag: what earphones do you have? I get tired of always having to untangle my cord...

Debi · 11-13-2013, 08:18 AM

How about asking the long haul truckers. My cousin was on the road for years. He used a bluetooth ear piece to talk on the phone and listen to audiobooks. If you're near a large truck stop you might look there.

CRussel · 11-13-2013, 02:11 PM

Single ear, Bluetooth headsets should work with any Bluetooth enabled audio device that they can pair with. Which is just about anything. But before you go too far down that road, you really should consider the possibility of replacing your in-car audio with something that is fully Bluetooth enabled. I put a Sony DSX-S300BTX that I got from Crutchfield in my car that is quite loud (two seater with the top down.) but this, combined with decent speakers, is a far better solution than a single ear device. I listen to my Audible books in the car through the receiver, and it works really, really well. That model is discontinued, but a newer version has replaced it. The combination has been really successful for me. (I still use my Jambone to place calls, but not for anything else. )

AlbertaCowboy · 11-13-2013, 02:18 PM

My wife just picked up a Jabra ( http://www.amazon.com/Jabra-CRUISER-.../dp/B0043M668G)
She loves it, but only uses it for hands free. From the description of it though, it might suit playing your audiobooks via Blutooth.

wawasteele · 11-13-2013, 03:14 PM

Not all one-ear headsets will play audiobooks, at least older models. I tried to use my husband's and it wouldn't work. They need to support A2DP. I'm not sure what that means, I just know the two I finally got to work said that. There is something different between streaming over the cell signal and streaming data, if that makes any sense. I'm sorry, I don't have the correct termenology. I have since lost the one I ended up with or I would give its name. I have decided that I prefer a stand-alone speaker.

Oh, the same thing applies to sunvisor models like was suggested. It has to support A2DP to work properly.

cromag · 11-15-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I had a bluetooth earphone once (single ear), but thought it was terrible. Especially if you're in a (loud) car, having a good single earphone (with clarity of sound) is very important if you actually want to hear anything...

@cromag: what earphones do you have? I get tired of always having to untangle my cord...

Sorry, I missed this.

The ones I've got are JayBird Freedom Stereo Earbuds. They're really a lot more than I need, but they were a present.

On the other hand, they work great!

11-12-2013, 01:43 PM	#1
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,978 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	Bluetooth Headsets for Audiobooks My Itouch, Nano 7th gen and Nook HD all have bluetooth options for headsets so that I can listen to audiobooks. I'm looking for something that I can use while driving (one ear only) long distances. What features am I looking for besides noise cancelling? Recommendations? Note: I can't put it through the regular speakers. My pre-millenium mini-van has incredible road noise when on the freeway.

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11-12-2013, 07:47 PM	#2
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I was just searching for something similar. I'd love to listen while I'm walking places, but wired headphones get caught on my clothes, and I didn't care for any of the bluetooth headphones I've looked at. Especially now that it's gotten cold out, I don't want anything behind the head, or that has a cord going from left to right. I think a single-ear device would be best for me. For the OP, I would suggest trying the bluetooth speaker from Boombotix. This is the one I purchased a few months ago: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's a powerful little speaker. I use it in the house. I think it would be perfect for driving, and should be plenty loud enough over your loud engine.

11-12-2013, 09:36 PM	#3
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	Noise cancelling isn't what you want if you are driving. You want to hear traffic noises. I looked around when I wanted to listen to audiobooks in the car and ended up using the new Apple earbuds when I couldn't find anything better.

11-13-2013, 12:13 AM	#5
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,658 Karma: 66417824 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Are there one-ear Bluetooth headsets that have the features of the Apple iPhone earbuds - answering the phone, pausing playback, and so on? I don't know what search terms to use to find this.

11-13-2013, 12:23 AM	#6
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,978 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I guess what I'm trying to find out is whether the one ear headsets designed for smartphones will also work with a non-phone device?? The state patrol says that I can have it in one ear only. The other ear has to be available to hear sirens, which, frankly, I can't hear anyway until they are nearly upon me. I currently use sport earphones from JVC. They work great, but I wanted something without wires because they get all tangled up in the seat belt.

11-13-2013, 12:23 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,477 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	How about a bluetooth speaker that clips on the visor in your car?

11-13-2013, 12:50 AM	#9
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,293 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I'm with tubemonkey on this. I have a bluetooth headset (stereo, both ears, so not applicable) that pairs with my netbook and cell phone. Do you know anyone with an earpiece you could test out? Otherwise, just make sure the vendor has a good returns policy, if you're concerned.

11-13-2013, 07:12 AM	#10
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I had a bluetooth earphone once (single ear), but thought it was terrible. Especially if you're in a (loud) car, having a good single earphone (with clarity of sound) is very important if you actually want to hear anything... @cromag: what earphones do you have? I get tired of always having to untangle my cord...

11-13-2013, 08:18 AM	#11
Debi Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 286412 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Virginia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Voyage, Ipad Mini 2, Ipad Air 2	How about asking the long haul truckers. My cousin was on the road for years. He used a bluetooth ear piece to talk on the phone and listen to audiobooks. If you're near a large truck stop you might look there.

11-13-2013, 02:11 PM	#12
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,159 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Single ear, Bluetooth headsets should work with any Bluetooth enabled audio device that they can pair with. Which is just about anything. But before you go too far down that road, you really should consider the possibility of replacing your in-car audio with something that is fully Bluetooth enabled. I put a Sony DSX-S300BTX that I got from Crutchfield in my car that is quite loud (two seater with the top down.) but this, combined with decent speakers, is a far better solution than a single ear device. I listen to my Audible books in the car through the receiver, and it works really, really well. That model is discontinued, but a newer version has replaced it. The combination has been really successful for me. (I still use my Jambone to place calls, but not for anything else. )

11-13-2013, 02:18 PM	#13
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	My wife just picked up a Jabra ( http://www.amazon.com/Jabra-CRUISER-.../dp/B0043M668G) She loves it, but only uses it for hands free. From the description of it though, it might suit playing your audiobooks via Blutooth.

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11-13-2013, 03:14 PM	#14
wawasteele Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 656362 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: California Device: 1st PW, Sansa Clip Zip, Samsungs: GT 7.0 Plus, Note4, GT 4 10.1"	Not all one-ear headsets will play audiobooks, at least older models. I tried to use my husband's and it wouldn't work. They need to support A2DP. I'm not sure what that means, I just know the two I finally got to work said that. There is something different between streaming over the cell signal and streaming data, if that makes any sense. I'm sorry, I don't have the correct termenology. I have since lost the one I ended up with or I would give its name. I have decided that I prefer a stand-alone speaker. Oh, the same thing applies to sunvisor models like was suggested. It has to support A2DP to work properly.