Beyerdynamic has announced a second generation of its Blue Byrd neckband in-ear headphone, sporting Bluetooth 5.2 with multipoint support, aptX Adaptive and AAC codec support, built-in Alexa, and active noise cancellation with a transparency mode available to enhance situational awareness.
The $149 headphone’s 125mAh lithium-ion battery promises to deliver up to 14 hours of music listening (8 hours, 15 minutes with ANC enabled) after a 100-minute charging session. A 10-minute quick charge is said to yield 2 hours of listening with ANC or more than 8 hours without. The Blue Byrd is MFi-certified to be compatible with Apple products, and it also supports Google Fast Pair.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best noise-cancelling headphones.
The Beyerdynamic Blue Byrd features an in-line remote control on its right-hand side.
Beyerdynamic
Neckband headphones, which have wired earbuds tethered to a wireless band you wear around your neck, have become less common than true-wireless headphones, but they offer a distinct advantage in that they are easier to keep track of. If a bud falls out of your ear while you’re walking, running, or getting any other form of exercise, the wire helps ensure you don’t lose it.
The second-gen Beyerdynamic Blue Byrd comes with five pairs of ear tips, a carry case, and a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging The headphone can also plugged into a computer’s USB port and used as a USB audio device, delivering audio resolution up to 16-bit/48kHz.
Users can adjust volume level, accept or reject phone calls, and perform other functions with an inline remote control.
Beyerdynamic says the Blue Byrd is IPX4-certified for splash resistance for sweaty or rainy workouts. You’ll find everything you need to know about IP codes at the preceding link.
The Beyerdynamic second-gen Blue Byrd is available at Amazon now.
Author: Michael Brown, Executive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor, with 30+ years of experience covering smart homes, home networking, and home audio/home theater. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism, authored the book Desktop Video Production, and was awarded Best Online Review by the Computer Press Association. Michael built a smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world product-testing lab. Now living in the Pacific Northwest, he is converting his 1890 Victorian bungalow into a modern smart home. Michael has worked at CNET, PCWorld, Electronic Musician, and Maximum PC. As a freelancer, he contributed to New Media, Camcorder, MacWeek, and more.