Motivated by fellow author Jim Hillier’s 2022 article Edifier R1700BT Bluetooth Speakers Review, and also his penchant for Bluetooth devices, I was nudged to remind myself how many Bluetooth gadgets we have in our house. It turns out to be a staggering amount, mainly audio devices that I’ve collected over the years, so it’s ubiquitous. I should add that I was tempted to buy those Edifier speakers, but in Argentina they cost over $350!
Mobile Phones
We have three Samsung Galaxy cell phones, and it goes without saying that today all phones have Bluetooth, which can be used in numerous ways. I use mine to play YouTube Music through various Bluetooth speakers, depending on my location.
When I’m riding my bike, the phone pairs with both my Garmin Zumo GPS and Cardo Freecom 2x helmet comms for messages, music, and hands-free phone calls. Messages such as “Your dinner’s in the dog…” even appear on the Zumo screen, allowing me to stop and take action if it’s urgent.
Did You Know?
A single Bluetooth-enabled device can connect to up to seven other devices simultaneously
Bluetooth Speakers And Headphones
Without publishing an exhaustive list of the Bluetooth devices in our household, suffice it to say that it includes the following:
- LG Smart TV, soundbar, woofer and Beelink mini-PC
- Numerous Bluetooth headphones, including Skull Candy, JBL, and Logitech
- Two laptops, three cell phones, and numerous desktop PCs with Bluetooth
- Several small speakers, including an Echo Dot and other generic Bluetooth audio
- Garmin Zumo GPS, Cardo Freecom 2x, and Drift XL Pro action cam
- Sony car radio with Bluetooth (no longer works)
In all, that’s around 25 devices, which surprised me!
Why Bluetooth?
Gone are the days when we had to trail cables or indeed use a USB Bluetooth dongle for wireless audio, especially since ‘hands-free’ is the way to go, although I’m still shocked by how many car drivers manage to drive and type on their phones, which drives me nuts. For my part, I mainly use Bluetooth headphones when watching TV so as not to disturb my wife when she’s working on her spreadsheets in the next room. Modern headphones produce incredible sound, have remarkable battery life, and usually last several years. In fact, I bought my Skull Candy headphones at Heathrow Airport six years ago so that I could play games on my phone without disturbing anyone on the thirteen-hour flight to Buenos Aires. Since then, I’ve only had to replace the ear cushions, which inevitably fell to pieces after so much use.
Did You Know?
My mother-in-law has a pacemaker fitted which her doctor can control through Bluetooth (You can imagine the jokes about that!)
Bluetooth Privacy And Awareness
Whilst the main advantages of Bluetooth audio are privacy and respect for others, there are disadvantages, such as awareness of one’s surroundings. I would never wander around in public with headphones or earbuds because I like to know what’s going on around me. However, I frequently have to take evasive action when cyclists and pedestrians wander into my path because they don’t hear me due to listening to their music or podcasts. On the other hand, we have a cycle path opposite our house, and on weekends it’s packed with cyclists with some having huge boom-boxes strapped to their bikes, blasting out Metallica or Argentine Cumbia, but for me that’s a cultural thing and passes in mere seconds.
How many Bluetooth devices do you have?
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