Turn your wired earphones, wireless!

It was inevitable – the world is going wireless. It started with telephones, computers, the internet and now earphones. The convenience of being untethered far outweigh the many drawbacks that accompany it. At least that’s what they say….

More and more smartphone makers are ridding their devices of the venerable headphone jack. The reason? As they shrink more and more phone into relatively compact dimensions, something has got to give – and in this day and age, it’s the 3.5mm jack we have all come to love.

But, what if you already have a favorite pair of wired earphones that has the perfect blend of sound clarity and heart thumping bass? Why would you want to part with such a device, when knowing full well that it’s irreplaceable?

What if you have a plethora of wired earphones that you use on rotation? Wouldn’t it be wasteful to throw them out and buy a pair of wireless earbuds? Well, I’m here to tell you that doesn’t have to be the case – as it turns out, you can have your cake and eat it at the same time!

All you need is a Bluetooth receiver that acts as an intermediary between your wired earphones and smartphone. They are relatively cheap devices that can be picked up for a few dollars on just about any e-merchant site. And setting one up is extremely simple:

1. Connect your earphones to the 3.5mm jack of the receiver
2. Turn on the receiver and ensure that it is in pairing mode (Consult your user manual)
3. Go to the Bluetooth menu of your smartphone’s settings, then select to pair with the receiver

Then, boom! Your wired earphones are now wirelessly communicating with your smartphone. Welcome to 2014!

Now, not only do you get to keep your favorite earphones, but you are no longer tied down to smartphones that come with headphone jacks. Having said that, not all of these Bluetooth receivers are created equal, some offer better battery life and reception than others. So, be mindful of this when choosing one.

Our test unit was a generic Bluetooth receiver that offered a little over 4 hours of battery life on a single charge. It took close to two hours to charge and offered a range of only a couple of feet from the receiver- yes, it’s that bad. If you want a better experience, opt for something that maybe pricier, but offers longer battery life and better transmission range.

If your vehicle’s entertainment system lacks Bluetooth functionality but does have an AUX jack, then a Bluetooth receiver like this could seem like a godsend. All you need is an AUX cable (male to male) that is long enough to suit your convenience. Connect one end to your vehicle’s entertainment system and the other to the Bluetooth receiver.

Now you have a Bluetooth ready in-car entertainment system that can play songs from your phone, wirelessly. Bear mind that this setup has one major caveat. Since such a device has a finite amount of battery charge, it would be wise to have a micro USB cable handy. Alternatively you could keep it plugged in full-time (check operation manual for details).

We hope this feature helped you, happy listening!