Music Streaming & Over the Head Earphones/Headphones?

[SunnyOne]

I have decided to just give up on the whole idea of figuring out what to do about my old iTunes library and my CDs have been packed away forever.

For simplicity sake, I'll just go with streaming - but how to choose a service? which one do you like best and why do you like it?

Also, as it turns out, I cannot wear any type of earbuds - very difficult....has something to do with the ear shape and ear canals I was born with - so we are going
to roll back the clock to the 1990s lol.... and go with over the head earphones/headphones...most of the ones I see now are big and clunky, but
I suppose that is the current style & fashion.
If you have any brands or styles of those to suggest, much appreciated as well. Thank you~!

 

[Dash man]

If you have a iPhone, Apple Music is great. I got a family plan and can share it with DW and siblings.
I have a similar problem with most earbuds. I’ve found I can use my Apple AirPods if I swap out the tips with foam tips I found on Amazon. They fit more securely and are more comfortable.

 

[audreyh1]

I have an older pair of Beats headphones that I find very comfortable. Looks like they still make that style.

We also use Apple Music family plan shared the two of us. Actually through Apple Premier which includes a bunch of other stuff we regularly use. AppleTV box is the most frequently used source - for streaming video as well as music.

 

[frayne]

I use the free version of Spotify and am happy with it. Also using the latest version of Apple air pods and the noise cancellation is excellent.

 

[Jimmie]

I spent the $s on the Sony WH-1000XM series noise cancelling wireless headphones. They have the last three versions still available for purchase (I bought the WH-1000XM5). There's a app that's not required but makes it much easier to control with my phone. Fit very comfortably over the ears. Amazing how well the noise cancelling works in an airplane (especially when trying to sleep).

 

[COcheesehead]

Bose noise cancelling headphones. I wear them around the house and on the plane. They have soft cups that cover the ear so they are comfortable and block most of the outside noise.

 

[SALTedOut]

I use a family Spotify plan and Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 earphones. These are good earphones if you don't need noise canceling and high fidelity (but they sound good enough for my untrained ear). They allow me to continue to hear what's around me for safety when running/walking outside. The only negative is the non-noise canceling on a plane but I switch to AirPods for that and since I'm generally still they tend to stay in just fine.

 

[Golden Mean]

Bose noise cancelling headphones. I wear them around the house and on the plane. They have soft cups that cover the ear so they are comfortable and block most of the outside noise.

The latest Bose QC phones are usually the bee's knees and Costco typically carries them in store. Approx $340, but the QC 15's I bought in 2013 are still going strong and used daily.

Amazon Music works just fine for me. Works in browser, and the phone app will gladly play any music files you have on your phone, as well as stream their stuff.

I also have playlists on YouTube music, which again, works in browser and phone. So I can play music on my laptop, desktop, HTPC, etc seamlessly.

 

[shortstop14]

I use a family Spotify plan and Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 earphones. These are good earphones if you don't need noise canceling and high fidelity (but they sound good enough for my untrained ear). They allow me to continue to hear what's around me for safety when running/walking outside. The only negative is the non-noise canceling on a plane but I switch to AirPods for that and since I'm generally still they tend to stay in just fine.

Exactly my solution, although mine are older Aftershokz Aeropex open-ear bone conducting headphones. Very light weight, don't cover the ears, and stay on very well even while running and doing other physical activities. Family Spotify plan also works well for us.

 

[Time2]

I use a family Spotify plan and Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 earphones. These are good earphones if you don't need noise canceling and high fidelity (but they sound good enough for my untrained ear). They allow me to continue to hear what's around me for safety when running/walking outside. The only negative is the non-noise canceling on a plane but I switch to AirPods for that and since I'm generally still they tend to stay in just fine.

I like the bone conduction headphones. I like that I can hear ambient especially when driving.

 

[Beldar]

Sennheiser PX100 if you can find them. You'll barely know you're wearing them. Although my hearing is shot, they still do the job.

_B

 

[Sojourner]

I spent the $s on the Sony WH-1000XM series noise cancelling wireless headphones. They have the last three versions still available for purchase (I bought the WH-1000XM5). There's a app that's not required but makes it much easier to control with my phone. Fit very comfortably over the ears. Amazing how well the noise cancelling works in an airplane (especially when trying to sleep).

I take my Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones every time I step on an airplane. Easily one of the best purchases I have made in the past five years. I am very noise-sensitive, and these do a fantastic job of helping me "isolate" inside noisy, aggravating airplane cabins.

 

[cheyrl]

I second the recommendations for Shokz style earphones. I've used Amazon knock-offs that work well enough for my ears.

Many are going the opposite direction, from streaming back to MP3 players. Saves cellphone battery, avoids constant suggestions from the streaming service, take back privacy are the thoughts.

There are some great new options, and many inexpensive ones if you're not an audiophile. I chose the FIIO JM21, because I want an android system so I can easily switch from my current podcasts to my own FLAC downloads.

 

[harley]

I use Bose Soundcore bluetooth headphones. Very comfortable, great sound. Edit: I don't think they make them anymore.

I use Pandora free for streaming. I even enjoy the ads, since the Pandora account was set up when we still lived in FL, so I get FL ads.

I'm stuck in dialysis 4 hour/day, 3 days/week. If I didn't have the streaming music (and reading on my phone), I'd go nuts. Most people watch the supplied tvs, but that's 3.9 hours too much tv for me per day.

 

[RunningBum]

Try them on if at all possible. I went to Costco and tried both the Sony and Bose mentioned here. They sounded about the same, and the Bose was more comfortable. But the Sony was cheaper plus on sale and felt good enough, so I thought. A few trips with the Sony and it just didn't feel right. So I bought the Bose and it feels great. An individual fit issue, I'm sure the Sony feels better for some people. I should try to find a buyer for my Sony.

I mostly listen to my own music, much of it ripped from my CDs with Windows Media Player. Newer stuff purchased as mp3. I've tried streaming and there's too many songs it guesses I'll like that I don't. I don't get exposed to as much new music but I find stuff I like from movies, TV shows, Instagram reels, etc. I play it from my phone. When I was running I often used a very lightweight Sandisk mp3 player if I wasn't carrying my phone.

 

[FIREd]

I stream music via the free version of Apple Music or via YouTube and I use a pair of Bose QC15 headphones when I am at home. I use earbuds when I am out. The Bose headphones work well enough (they’re about 5-6 years old) but I was gifted a pair of Chinese-made headphones for Christmas (forgot the brand) and they have a far better battery life.

 

[RobLJ]

I got the Sennheiser Momentum 4 half off a few months ago ($150), comparable to the Sony and Bose and support Bluetooth AptX and Apple AAC, but not AptXlossless (apparently the new Momentum 5's support AptX lossless but are $500 bucks) You can use them wired direct with the USB charge cord (if your computer supports USB sound) or the headphone miniplug cord. They claim 60 hours before recharging but I haven't tested that.
Bose is supposed to have the better noise suppression, but are a lot bulkier; the Sennheisers were fine for me on the plane trip to England.

 

[yakers]

Big fan of Pandora streaming, happy to pay each month. Use it in the car, at night before sleep, and sometimes around the house via Sonos. I had and lost Beats wired headphones, blocked out airplane noise. Looking to replace them.

 

[backingupslowly]

I finally got an Apple Music subscription and have been pleasantly surprised at sound quality and selection. My day to day go to headphones are Bose QC Ultras and was impressed by sound quality (they also double as my airplane headphones for their noise cancelling). I also found using my MacBook (as opposed to iPad or iPhone) gives the best sound quality (it probably also helped that I upped my internet connection for streaming). I have also been dipping a toe into Hi-Res music with a FiiO DAC and a Sennheiser HD660S headphones. Apple does not have much in Hi-Res that I want to listen to yet so I tend to buy albums on the HD Tracks website (when on sale) and play them via the Swinsian app.

 

[Montecfo]

Bose Quiet Comfort.

Live up to their name. Noise cancellation.

Often on sale.

 

[yakers]

Just bought the Bose Quiet Comfort yesterday, did online searches and spent a couple hours at Best Buy listening, had a wired Beats previously which I somehow lost, I did like the new Beats and JBL but ultimately went with the Bose, just a better sound/fit. The test will be long air flights. Will see how long the battery lifetime is. All these IMHO should have replaceable batteries

 

[Golden Mean]

Will see how long the battery lifetime is. All these IMHO should have replaceable batteries

That's one reason I've stuck with my QC15s for so long. They take one AA. I also have QC25s as a backup, which also take an AA bat and have the advantage that you can listen to music without the battery (going without noise cancelling though).

I watched a UTube vid where someone replaced the lithium battery in a newer set of Bose QC's and it wasn't pretty. Everything inside the headphone is mounted/covered with melted plastic tabs. i.e. not designed to be serviced.

 

[Montecfo]

Just bought the Bose Quiet Comfort yesterday, did online searches and spent a couple hours at Best Buy listening, had a wired Beats previously which I somehow lost, I did like the new Beats and JBL but ultimately went with the Bose, just a better sound/fit. The test will be long air flights. Will see how long the battery lifetime is. All these IMHO should have replaceable batteries

owned for a while and never had issue with battery life on flights.