Few airlines currently offer Bluetooth connectivity from their in-flight entertainment screens. But that’s no longer an issue thanks to a nifty new breed of wireless earbuds that connect anywhere there’s a headphone jack.
According to Business Insider, as of last December, only Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had begun rolling out Bluetooth connectivity on some of their aircraft. Although most airlines have only just moved on from the days of hollow tube stethoscopes, they still seem to pride themselves on offering touch screens and 3.5mm headphone jacks.
That’s fine if you’re carrying around wired headphones, but not for the majority of people who prefer the convenience and pocket-portability of wireless earbuds. So we watched an in-flight movie using tiny plastic-wrapped aviation headphones that somehow amplified the noise around us, and a pair of nice noise-cancelling earphones wasted in our pockets. I’m watching it.
bowers & wilkins
Unless you own one of these, both Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) and JBL now have earphones on the market that solve your problem. B&W’s Pi7 S2 and flagship Pi8, and JBL’s TOUR PRO 3 each have charging ports designed to act as audio retransmission systems for any device that outputs sound via USB-C or AUX/3.5 mm analog jack. A case is included.
Once plugged in, these cases act as dongles that can wirelessly send a unique Bluetooth signal to your earbuds, allowing for high-quality sound while listening to music, movies, and more. Both feature active noise cancellation (ANC), and so does the JBL case, which boasts a 4 cm (1.57 inch) touchscreen.
B&W is a high-end luxury brand that focuses on stylish, minimalist designs, and its Pi7 S2 earphones are no exception. 9.2 mm (0.36 inch) dynamic dual drivers with balanced armature, Bluetooth 5.0, 24-bit connectivity with aptX, ambient passthrough for passing dinner carts, up to 21 hours of wireless media streaming, and 3 microphones . Wireless and USB-C fast charging, total weight 61 g (2.1 oz) per earbud. It comes in three colors and costs $259.
bowers & wilkins
The top-of-the-line Pi8 offers a similar feature set, plus a 12 mm (0.47 inch) carbon cone driver for enhanced sonic detail. Add in David Beckham’s endorsement and the price jumps to $399.
B&W earphones are aimed directly at the high-end luxury and audiophile markets, while JBL is targeting customers who prefer a feature-rich gadget experience along with high-quality audio.
In addition to offering an audio retransmission system similar to B&W, the JBL TOUR PRO 3 includes a touch screen built into the charging case. This screen gives you access to many features, including 360-degree spatial audio and EQ settings, track and call information, and the ability to view photos of your favorite pups.
bowers & wilkins
JBL also runs its AuraCast system over Bluetooth LE in the case of rebroadcasting, allowing you to be the river for the people. This means you can connect any number of other wireless earbuds to the same signal, so you can watch movies and share music together.
All of this, plus adaptive noise cancellation and a 44-hour battery, costs $299.95 from JBL.
However, if you already have good earphones, there’s no need to upgrade. There are many companies that will sell you simple dongles that take audio from a 3.5mm cable and rebroadcast it over Bluetooth. A search on Amazon currently shows options ranging from $7 to $100.
It’s certainly frustrating that not all airliners will have Bluetooth in 2024, but the captain’s announcement will burst your eardrums at five times the deafening volume of the show you’re watching. I’m willing to bet, but that’s a problem. It’s also great that you don’t have to carry noise-cancelling earphones in your carry-on luggage on long flights.
Source: Black and White, JBL
