Want Wireless Earphones/Earbuds WITHOUT a Microphone

Russ on 26/11/2020 - 01:32
Last edited 01/12/2020 - 14:08

Edit: As there appears to be few suitable devices, and they are all a bit low on battery life, I think I'll make a device that does exactly what I want and nothing else. It looks pretty easy, using pre-made modules.

First, I'll buy a 4xAA battery case with power switch:
https://www.jaycar.com.au/4-x-aa-switched-battery-enclosure-…

I'll cut out the plastic rib separating batteries 3&4, which gives about 30x50mm area for the electronics.

Then I'll drill and file out holes and slots to suit this $7 bluetooth module:
https://core-electronics.com.au/bluetooth-5-0-audio-receiver…
Not sure how to defeat the power on/off part, I might have to fit a momentary switch too.

And I'll also fit a step-up power supply to give 5V for the above bluetooth module, this one is $7:
https://core-electronics.com.au/pololu-5v-step-up-voltage-re…

I'll probably use a single AA eneloop (NiMh) battery to power the lot, or two if there isn't enough battery life. The bluetooth module doesn't have any specs for power consumption. I much prefer replaceable NiMh batteries to lithium-ion batteries, for something I'll be using for years. And it's easy to carry a spare battery or two.

If anyone queries whether it has a microphone, it's easy to open the battery case and demonstrate that it doesn't have a microphone.

Original post:
I am looking for wireless earphones/earbuds WITHOUT a built-in microphone. Some of my customers have secure areas, and while working I'd like to listen to music via my phone, via bluetooth. Phones aren't allowed in secure areas, nor anything with a microphone, so the phone will be on the shelves outside the secure area.

The earphones/earbuds icon on the phone MUST indicate headphones only, not a headset.

Does such a thing still exist? I keep finding ones that look promising, but buried in the description they say they say "handsfree calling" or say there is a microphone.

I have a budget of $80.

P.S. a stand-alone music player isn't suitable, I want to stream sometimes.

Thanks in advance.

Electrical & Electronics Earphones

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 26/11/2020 - 03:29

    Not saying they are good but here you go

    • strikeout119 on 26/11/2020 - 04:08

      Unfortunately this has a mic. The video confirms it can take calls.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/11/2020 - 04:14
        +1

        You nearly had me there , yeah it can take calls but there is no mic input on the unit itself. for example if you took a call the audio would go through the headset but any output would go through your phone.

        • Russ on 26/11/2020 - 23:31

          Sadly, the manual of the unit shows it does have a microphone, the hole beside the socket for line in. Manual was downloaded from the Officeworks webpage.

  • Butt Scratcher on 26/11/2020 - 07:46
    +3

    Its next to impossible nowadays to get a bluetooth earbud that doesn't have a mic.

    You could get one of these bluetooth receivers, and plug in a basic wired earbud without a mic(which there are plenty)

    https://www.amazon.com.au/TaoTronics-Bluetooth-Transmitter-R…

    I'm sure there are cheaper/ other alternatives out there, but I just wanna give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

    Not sure how I landed on a referral link on the last comment, it was just a Google result

    • Russ on 27/11/2020 - 00:46

      Hmm, those can transmit audio too, and headphones can function (poorly) as microphones. So not suitable.

      But following your idea, I found Baseus BA02 Bluetooth 5 Receiver. These don't have an "answer phone" button, and appear not to have a microphone, so maybe they will do the job. It looks like they are obsolete and the newer model does have a microphone, but I can see some of the BA02 model in stock at a few places.

      I was hoping for something a bit smaller and more "wireless", but I agree with you that they probably don't exist any more.

      I am now also considering plugging a portable FM transmitter into the phone, and wearing FM radio headphones, something like these: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sport-Wireless-Earphones-Headpho…

      • Butt Scratcher on 27/11/2020 - 22:06

        Hmm, those can transmit audio too, and headphones can function (poorly) as microphones. So not suitable.

        Just to be safe, you should get a headphone that doesn't have a mic, of which there are plenty out there. Most people should even have one sitting around somewhere. Also, it can't send audio back even if you had a mic on the headphone.

        If your issue is that it is something which can transmit stuff back, you shouldn't have Bluetooth at all for whatever it is you are doing

        • [Deactivated] on 28/11/2020 - 16:18
          +1

          It looks like that Baseus one you found or the Xiaomi below are the go, Russ. Receivers-only and earphone or neckband cable down the back instead of front if necessary, no great drama.

          https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08K7BV6PH/
          A mouse likely ordinary on eneloops… :)

          Edit: Wrong reply button clicked. Butt Scratcher is strictly correct about bluetooth vulnerabilities, but no need to worry about, well, at least some of them.

        • Russ on 28/11/2020 - 17:01

          Just to be safe, you should get a headphone that doesn't have a mic

          That's not what I meant. the "speakers" in ordinary headphones are very similar to dynamic microphones. If you plug ordinary headphones into a microphone input, and talk into the earpiece, the speaker will function as a microphone, but with lower signal output than a microphone.

          If a device has the potential to transmit audio from inside a secure area, it's not allowed inside the secure area.

          • Butt Scratcher on 28/11/2020 - 18:29

            @Russ: And if you read further…

            Also, it can't send audio back even if you had a mic on the headphone.

            Regardless, I don't think you should even have anything Bluetooth related if your workplace is that anal about it.

            • Russ on 28/11/2020 - 18:42

              @Butt Scratcher: I think that means its 3.5mm socket doesn't have the fourth contact for a TRRS plug.

              It's definitely an audio transmitter, says so in the fourth dot point:

              • BLUETOOTH EVERYWHERE: In Transmitter mode, turn a non-Bluetooth TV, PC, CD player, iPod, MP3 / MP4 into Bluetooth transmitter. Receiver mode: Ideal for home or vehicle music streaming sound system
              • Butt Scratcher on 28/11/2020 - 18:43

                @Russ: You aren't going to be able to transmit audio with a mic plugged into it, as you were suggesting…

                If you have a device that can record audio and transmit it like an MP3 player or phone, well the issue isn't the receiver it's whatever that has a mic. So it seems pretty moot to me

                • Russ on 28/11/2020 - 23:17

                  @Butt Scratcher:

                  You aren't going to be able to transmit audio with a mic plugged into it

                  You are completely missing the point that headphones (without a microphone) can act as a microphone.

                  I just tested this by plugging my AKG K66 headphones (which don't have a microphone) into the mic socket of my PC and making a recording of myself speaking from about 30cm away, at 16 bit/44kHz resolution. The signal in the recording is quite low, but when amplified up, the audio was easily understandable.

                  Here's the headphones I used as my "microphone": https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/164719-REG/AKG_K66_K_…

                  Try it for yourself and be amazed! Note: won't work with headphones that are also bluetooth headphones, or have a USB plug. Has to be simple old-style headphones without any electronics in them.

                  Here's an article about why it works: https://headphonecritics.com/how-to-use-headphones-as-a-micr…

                  • [Deactivated] on 30/11/2020 - 00:55

                    @Russ: Well beyond speakers and headphones, articles around on how various phone sensors (those with no permissions required for apps to access), can act as crude microphones. Add some prospect for the extremes of AI and robotics into the mix, and reading up on tech is always great fun…

                    Popcorn it ain't Russ, but great nonetheless.

  • MSG on 26/11/2020 - 10:41

    Tape over the mic?

    • Russ on 27/11/2020 - 00:11

      Ineffective, and wouldn't be acceptable to my customers. Possibly I could take some earbuds apart and cut out the microphone, but them I'd have to convince each of my customers individually that they are secure. And earbuds aren't easily disassembled and reassembled!

  • strikeout119 on 27/11/2020 - 20:12
    +2

    Could use something like this Xiaomi Bluetooth Receiver compared with standard earbuds without a mic. Although I'm not sure what icon will show up on your phone. Edit: Didn't read the above comment… opps. You could just go old school with a mp3 player/iPod.

    • Russ on 28/11/2020 - 17:03

      The Xiaomi looks okay, but 4-5 hours battery life isn't as good as the 8-hour battery life of the Baseus BA02.

      MP3 player or iPod equivalent is an option, but without the possibility of streaming audio.

      I've just realised an additional advantage of having the headphones connected through my phone: I'll know when someone calls my mobile, which is on a shelf outside the secure area. I won't be able to answer, but I can go outside the secure area, retrieve my phone, and call them back.

  • Russ on 01/12/2020 - 14:09
    +1

    Everyone, I've decided on a solution, I've edited the post to describe the solution.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/12/2020 - 17:57

      BT better than the little FM transmitter kits we both used to make, frequency-hopping instead of drift a bluetooth bonus :) Report back with the walking-about range of your creation, interested to know, Russ.

      • Russ on 07/12/2020 - 01:00
        +1

        I'm in the middle of the "get all contracts finished before Christmas" rush, so it'll be a while before I have any spare time for experimenting.

        The new year starts with a "get everything ordered before the Chinese New Year holidays" rush too, so it could be months. It's not urgent, and none of my current contracts have restrictions on where phones can go.

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