In Search Of Aptx Low Latency Wireless Earbuds. Not The Neckband Type.

[Maximus]

I ran a  title search inquiry here for “earbuds” in hope of finding low latency Aptx wireless earbuds.  I read most of it from 2018 forward.  It appears this item is very difficult to find.  I have searched Google, ebay,  Amazon. No luck. I do not want a neck band or any type of wire leading to the earbud.

I am considering a new X-Terra Pro or a used Equinox 800. I want earbuds because of the heat and awareness of my surroundings. I have found multiple Aptx LL transmitters that will work on the Xterra Pro but no Aptx LL earbuds.  If I go with a used 800 I can escape the proprietary Bluetooth of the Pro and the 700 and 900 but still need Aptx LL earbuds.  
 

Is there a solution for this.  Something I have missed?  Thanks…

[TampaBayBrad]

Is this what you're looking for?

Monoprice $27.99

Tecno $29.99

[GB_Amateur]

49 minutes ago, TampaBayBrad said:

Is this what you're looking for?

It doesn't appear that either of those is specifically "APTX Low Latency" (aka APTX LL).  From what I've been able to surmise, @Chase Goldman is the local expert on this subject.  Let's see what he says.

[TampaBayBrad]

9 minutes ago, GB_Amateur said:

It doesn't appear that either of those is specifically "APTX Low Latency" (aka APTX LL).  From what I've been able to surmise, @Chase Goldman is the local expert on this subject.  Let's see what he says.

I thought if it said APTX it's APTX? The second one says aptx LossLess. It's got the Qualcomm chip. I dunno.

[GB_Amateur]

6 minutes ago, TampaBayBrad said:

I thought if it said APTX it's APTX? The second one says aptx LossLess. It's got the Qualcomm chip. I dunno.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AptX#aptX_LL

Yes, unfortunately 'lossless' is a compound word comprised of two words each starting with an 'L'.  But that's not what Qualcomm means when they use the initialism 'LL'.

The detector manufacturers could make it easier for us to understand their accessory device compatibility.  Why they don't..., well, that's just one more place we can all speculate/discuss/etc. here and not come to a real conclusion.

[TampaBayBrad]

It looks like the Monoprice is Adaptive APTX and the Tecno is just plain APTX.

Maybe Maximus can find a matching transmitter for either of those types that will work with the detector.

[Jeff McClendon]

Aukey B80s work really well when you can find them. They are out of stock "old tech" so if you plan on using detectors with APTX Low Latency for awhile, get them while you can.

Someone on Mercari from Pennsylvania appears to have several for sale at a great price. His add does not say B80 but I dug a little deeper into his add photos and the specs are correct.

There is a slightly used pair on eBay right now for a great price too. 

https://www.ebay.com/p/12040445991

These work with the Minelab Equinox 600, Equinox 800, Vanquish 540, GPX6000 and Nokta Legend without needing a transmitter.

 

I have three pairs on the Aukey B80s. Mine are not for sale.  🙂

 

 

[Maximus]

Thanks Jeff.  Will check this out. 

[Chase Goldman]

What Jeff pointed out are just about the only non-neckband style APTX-LL buds still out there (they still sport the wire between the right and left buds, i.e., they are not "true wireless" earbud style - but if neckband is a no go, then that's about your only choice at this point).  But they were solid as far as APTX-LL compatible earbud audio quality is concerned and were priced north of $50 when first released.  That's a smokin' deal Jeff found, if they are legit because of not only the price but the fact that they are hard to find, period.

Personally, I like the neck band style because it sort of anchors the buds if one or both buds fall out of your ear while swinging or if you just want to temporarily remove them for a break without fear of them just falling to the ground or tugging on the other ear (the neckband keeps them somewhat more secure to your body than true wireless or even single wired phones like the Aukey's and you don't have the controls dangling off one of the bud wires).  If you (or other readers) are potentially interested in reconsidering the neckband style of APTX-LL buds, then the following are viable options:

These are expensive but high quality:

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Aurvana-Trio-Wireless-Noise-Isolating/dp/B0868G7Q4P/

These are reasonably priced and have good audio, I have the silver ones but only green are still available for purchase though they are currently out of stock:

https://www.amazon.com/Glazata-Bluetooth-Headphones-Neckbands-Earphones/dp/B08JTVC1JH/

Finally, in budget category there is the following - I have not actually verified that these will pair up in APTX-LL mode with the Nox 800 but they should work based on the explicit APTX-LL specifications listed.   I also have no idea on actual sound quality.  But at $20 plus a 40% off coupon.  It's hard to go wrong with these (pick up a second pair for backup) if they pair up in LL mode AND have half way decent fidelity.

https://www.amazon.com/HomeSpot-Bluetooth-Headphones-Qualcomm®-Compatible/dp/B09P4WQRH6?ref_=ast_sto_dp

My personal favorite are the following - but they are more bulky because they have a loudspeaker to create a personal sound space near you head without the earbuds, but you can also shift to earbud mode if desired.  They have AMAZING audio quality and stereo separation in both loudspeaker mode and bud mode.  Note that they are not water resistant and need to be protected from direct water impingement.  But that's the beauty of wireless, if its raining, you can hide these under your rain gear easily and they will still work well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y56W9XQ?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder-t1_k0_1_14&amp=&crid=MHTQ2FXOT71R&amp=&sprefix=avantree+torus

True wireless APTX-LL buds (no wire between the buds) are basically unobtanium.  As noted previously, if you want to continue your quest for such buds, you need to make 100% sure the buds are spec'd for APTX-LL, SPECIFICALLY.  APTX, APTX-HD, and APTX-Adaptive will not provide low latency compatibility with the detectors that Jeff listed above.

The issue of compatibility and specs amibiguity lies not so much with the detector manufacturers but with the headphone manufacturers themselves who inexplicably fail to be precise about compatibility with the myriad of bluetooth protocols and codecs that are out there, especially in regards to low latency.  It's really annoying, confusing, and borderline underhanded in the way features are presented and specific specs are withheld.

Also, Maximus, if you are considering the new ML Xterra Pro, it (as well as the Nox 700/900 and Manticore) uses the newer BT LE spec with the LC3 codec, which is also a low latency codec.  Unfortunately, headset manufacturers are still working out compatibility bugs between different BT LE chipsets and the only two BT LE earbuds out there right now are not compatibile with the Minelab BT LE chipset used in the afore mentioned detectors, including the Xterra Pro.  So your only optionS on ML Xterra Pro is to spring for over the ear ML branded BT LE wireless headphones as an extra purchase or wired phones or purchase a BT APTX-LL transmitter that will plug into the headphone jack of the detector and transmit to one of the phones listed above. 

Here are some APTX-LL receiver/transmitters:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B84NDTZB/

https://www.amazon.com/YMOO-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Simultaneously-Headphones/dp/B0BBZZXQTL/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4W40VC/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XLTPTSD/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8Q7NXZ/

Eventually, we THINK, Xterra Pro/Nox/Manticore compatible BT LE third party earbuds will eventually show up on the general marketplace, but they are also currently unobtanium for now.

HTH

[Maximus]

Chase that was so precise.  The links and research were a lot of work. I learned everything about the Aptx LL jungle and more from you. I wish everyone who has struggled with this issue could see this post. Many thanks.