# Headphone Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853 "2019-12-14T16:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/1 "2019-12-14T16:23:49Z")
Do headphones exist that are both Bluetooth compatible and can be connected with a traditional cable? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/2 "2019-12-14T16:30:35Z")
If by “traditional” you mean with the round end, I haven’t seen any (not an expert though). If you accept a USB cable as “traditional”, many Bluetooth headsets use a USB cable to charge and to transfer info from/to a computer. I’ve got two different models with that feature. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/3 "2019-12-14T16:36:00Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > Do headphones exist that are both Bluetooth compatible and can be connected with a traditional cable? Yes. I have a pair of these. [https://www.walmart.com/ip/4I052J7W0QIW](https://www.walmart.com/ip/4I052J7W0QIW) They’re pretty cheap. I haven’t tried them with a cable, but they sound pretty good over Bluetooth. Of course, you can probably find more expensive ones with better sound quality, but they do exist. Edit - they can also play music from an SD card. Despite the description, there’s no FM radio, though. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/4 "2019-12-14T16:44:25Z")
Yes. I use Sony WH-1000XM2s and they are both BT and wired. (They also have a mic and can be used as a headset for telephone conversations.) One of their best features is that the noise cancellation works even when they are using a cable, which is unusual. However, they are expensive. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/5 "2019-12-14T18:25:16Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > If by “traditional” you mean with the round end, I haven’t seen any (not an expert though). If you accept a USB cable as “traditional”, many Bluetooth headsets use a USB cable to charge and to transfer info from/to a computer. I’ve got two different models with that feature. “The round end” means either a 1/4" or 1/8" stereo plug. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/6 "2019-12-14T18:48:00Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > “The round end” means either a 1/4" or 1/8" stereo plug. The ones I have take a 3.5 mm plug, the ones usually found in personal devices such as smartphones, portable CD players, and even Walkmen. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/7 "2019-12-14T19:04:23Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The ones I have take a 3.5 mm plug, the ones usually found in personal devices such as smartphones, portable CD players, and even Walkmen. Those are usually called 1/8" plugs in the US. Yes, even though 1/8 inches is closer to 3.2 mm. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/8 "2019-12-14T19:06:52Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Yes. I use Sony WH-1000XM2s and they are both BT and wired. (They also have a mic and can be used as a headset for telephone conversations.) One of their best features is that the noise cancellation works even when they are using a cable, which is unusual. However, they are expensive. I have these as well, and they’re worth the price. They also have swipe and tap controls on the headset itself that come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/9 "2019-12-14T23:39:13Z")
**Moderator Action** Let’s move this to IMHO so that everyone can give their opinions about different headphones. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/10 "2019-12-15T00:55:25Z")
I have a pair of Cowin bluetooth headphones that I got from Amazon that have a detachable audio cable. Amazon Basics has a version with the same feature. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/11 "2019-12-15T03:08:11Z")
Thanks much for the info. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headphone-question/844853/12 "2019-12-15T21:15:11Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I have a pair of Cowin bluetooth headphones that I got from Amazon that have a detachable audio cable. Amazon Basics has a version with the same feature. Ditto. My only complaint is I have relates to the noise cancelling properties. It only works when using the audio cord, not while listening through Bluetooth.