I am about to purchase a 300R and was planning to pair it with the AKG Y50 Bluetooth headphones and using the system for the five days a week I walk for an hour in the pool. However, I jusr read a review of the Y50's that was extremely positive, but said that they found that they worked at a maximum of 5 meters. Bluetooth is rated to work, at a minimum of about three times that distance, which is what I would need. Have you had any better luck with yours? Thanks.
JC
Hiya,
Yes I would kind of say that's about right. When I leave the player by my laptop I can walk across the room listening to the music, so about four metres I guess. Probably much longer if you were in an open office. I've had zero issues with the player in my pocket, sitting in the bag whilst on the bus or underground, etc.
However it obviously won't work very well with walls, if I walk into the next room that drops to about two to three. My house does have solid stone walls though. I have trouble with wifi in my house for example.
Which is fine for me in all honesty.
Bluetooth is very fickle, there are so many different types, codecs, versions, etc. So I always take some online views with a pinch of salt. What works well for one person, may not work well for others. I've never had any major issues personally though. There is also the huge issue of power. You can only supply a tiny transmitter with so much juice without rapidly draining the battery. So you can have 3 metres of coverage for ten hours or 10 metres of coverage for one hour (I'm joking but you see my point). I've used a mains powered amplifier and the range on that was very good, because it's got a huge Bluetooth antenna in it, and powered by 240v mains, no comparison to a small handheld music player with milliamps running through it.
For example I have a pair or wireless Bluetooth in-ear phones that I use with my running watch (they cost me £95 so a good make). The antenna in the in-ears must be tiny (built into the ear-bud). If I wear them the right way around (with the receiver on the right ear), as I run and the battery runs low, the music starts to cut out when my arm with the watch on moves away from me. It's only for maybe half a second but it took me a while to realise what was happening, so on half marathon events I just wear them the wrong way round, no issues then!
Downsides to Bluetooth connection with AKG's? Well there is a very small amount of background noise. On the AKG's it's very (very) low. You only notice it when the music is silent or not playing (if you were wearing them outside it's not an issue). Obviously there is a noticeable difference in musical range and quality when you use the wired over wireless. Especially with Hi-Res.
For the price though I can't complain at all, they are there as a wireless alternative to my lovely N40's and I'm very happy with them.
In my experience I've never used a Bluetooth headset that works over the five to six metre range, and that's with iPhones, Android, PC's and different makes of headset. I think the most I've managed was when I was outside (so I had clear view of the player) was about six or seven.
Around a pool is slightly different, you'll have nothing in the way to disturb the signal. If I think my local pool would allow me to I'd take the player in there and test it for you! lol