I’d like to buy FairBuds XL because I like the idea of repairing my headphones easier and using them as USB-C wired headphones with my phone, and I’m not an audiophile (never used ANC because I don’t need it since I listen to music just at home basically), I just wanna a “normal” (?) sound and that’s all (to be clear, I’m using actually a pair of Sony WH-CH520 and I find sound quality is good for me). But I’ve read many reviews about them being fragile and not well-crafted (like the plastic can break very easily), that’s why I’m doubtful. What are your experiences with the materials and the usage of the FairBuds XL? Thanks in advance for any answers ^^.
I’m using the black version already for more then a year. No problems with it. Works well sound is good. Noise cancellassion can be better, but that’s really no dealbreaker for me.
The green version is more fragile I’ve red on the forum and reviews. So go for the black version if you make the discision.
You might want to consider this: MKBHD just leaked a new Fairbuds XL variant is on the way
4 Likes
Don’t know if this is different depending on your location, but for me, the Fairbuds XL aren’t even in stock right now, almost certainly on account of that rumored new version coming soon. But for the original version, your concerns are well founded - and if you did use ANC and plan to wear them outside the house, I’d note that I found their ANC literally worse than useless as soon as there was the slightest bit of wind.
So, let’s hope for a big upgrade.
I’m not planning to wear them outside the house or to use ANC very often. However, I think I’ll wait for the new version coming then.
ANC on the Fairbuds XL are not usable outside. They don’t filter out wind. So the slightest breeze is a distortion sound right in your ears. They say they can fix this in the firmware, but so far they haven’t.
I have bought my Fairbuds XL( green) just recently, like 6-8 weeks. So far I have no big negative experience. I waer it on short trips and long trips, on my bike. I practically opened the app like 5 times. At the beginning I was confused about the presents with names, as they are all pretty much the same to me, but I’m also no audiophile. I used to change the settings in the end I found my ones and change it accordingly to some situations.
I have MONITOR II A.N.C since several years and its battery is becoming a problem, that’s why I got this ones now, also the app is on the functional site pretty same for me also.
I hope this helps you to make a decision. I didn’t need to repair it, but I’m convinced that it is no problem.
1 Like
Wind was always a problem with the over-ear headphones I had so far. Yes, the fairbuds xl have those problems. But the Monitor II I have too.
I had for a time the galaxy buds 3 pro and can say that in-ears are natural have it easier with wind vs over ears. But they are easier to loose and therefore not compatible with my way of driving a bikecycle, where they can easily fall out and get lost along the road.
1 Like
The problem is not the wind noise at the physical headset. It’s that the ANC amplifies the wind rather than filtering that out. Even walking in your own home, without wind, triggers the ANC to generate the distortion sound. You can only use ANC when sitting absolutely still indoors. That’s not great.
3 Likes
I just tried the Marshal Monitor II and they have the same problems like the Fairbuds XL and they have the same distinct problem as you describe it.
Just a nuance less that the fairbuds XL.
Do you know a over-ear Headphones where it doesn’t happen at all?
At the launch party of the FP6 I talked to someone working on the Fairbuds XL.
He told me that the wind noise is something that could probably be fixed in the firmware. Let’s see if they were able to with the refresh model and perhaps also a software update for the original one.
3 Likes
I still wonder about Fairbuds XL here. The ANC seems to be a out-of-the-box provided software, they look more or less lock or feel the same as my marshals monitor II in behavior and button usage. So I think Fairphone has no own development besides the mechanical one, also did ever the fair buds got an update of the firmware?
At the beginning I was wondering if there is available code from them for my one, because also the app is… kind of limited and I would like to propose some changes like:
-
The phone should remember the last setting they shut down with in relation to ANC because right now mine always starts with ANC on, and that not needed because of the middle quality of the ANC
-
Having only one personal present and like 5 generic ones, is kind a bummer when I found it out. I wished for more meaningful settings than Tokio, Amsterdam… bla bla bla
-
Sometimes I think that the mechanical build is not optimized for the ANC, as steady wind from the front seems to make a standing wave within the Headphones build under the covers that lead to a sound from the ANC that is kind of the opposite of cancellation
-
The ANC has problems with snap impulse sounds like knacks, snipping with the finger or … puuhh i don’t know more examples right now. Signal-wise it a rectangle amplitude if you know what I mean, that by Fourier transformation…. Etc… in those cases the fairphones make a knack sound too but delayed or not in the right alignment to the sound… basically the noise cancellation is … wacky there because instead of canceling it’s making a double sound, which disturbs when not thinking about it.
-
I would love to see the code of the app, because I think the software is a bought accomodations with the chip setup…
Another question, does have anyone experience with the new driver for the Fairphone XL Buds (2?) i would be ready to buy it if improves it meaningful…
Kind regards
Chris