I Don't think they'll ever become obsolete, there will always be audiophiles out there... and people like me, who despise the idea of having to carry a pair of wireless non-standardized POS battery charger hogs  around, and by non standardized yes I'm poking at Blue-tooth, because if it were standardized most every device would use it... which they don't, aside from smart phones and some computers. I never use my phone for music anyway, because for one, I don't feel like wasting my battery one that when i have an MP3 player that lasts ten times longer, Two, I don't feel like wasting storage space on music when i could use that space for my camera, Three I HATE streaming services, I'd rather not be tethered to the interweb to listen to my tunes, Four, I have over 3900 songs on my MP3 player, Try beating that with most phones nowadays. so all that considered i would never have a need personally for wireless earphones nor would i ever consider them. I'm sticking with android phones which decided to retain their headphone jacks, because on the rare occurrence that i decided to watch a YT video on my phone (which is not often bc i have a laptop for that) i don't have to whip out some battery hog i forgot to charge this morning. That concludes my rant, Opinions? counter arguments? fire away!

here is a picture of my headphones and MP3 player, The player is a Sandisk Clipjam with 8 GB internal memory and 16 gig external card (which i can up to a 32 gig) and the headphones are Sony, which i modified with a Polaroid Plug, because the Polaroid plugs are durable, but the speakers most times are garbage, while Sony earphones sound great but their plugs are weak. so i made my earbuds the best of both worlds. so they can withstand all my roaming around through woods, junkyards and abandoned buildings etc etc.

You make some good points, Owen. I understand how it’s easier to keep your music on your MP3 player and reserve your phone for its purpose. I am a big Spotify fan, though I agree with you that it’s a problem if internet issues take place, your music is messed up. I have annoying connectivity problems myself, where I drive out in the mountainous country on the SC and NC state border.  In that case, I would appreciate an MP3 player or downloaded music in my car’s infotainment system that doesn’t require internet signal. I’m like you and I don’t download music onto my iPhone, so it isn’t slowed down by occupied memory. Spotify doesn’t require music to be downloaded, one of many huge improvements over the despicable iTunes.

It’s a coincidence that you mention wireless headphones, because I just got some for Christmas. Philips brand. They have excellent sound quality, but pairing them with my phone or laptop is difficult and I don’t like that they need to be recharged.  The iPhone 7 that I have doesn’t have a traditional headphone jack. However, it did include wired headphones with a square plug that fit into the charging port. I don’t think wired headphones will disappear, but I do think Bluetooth will become more refined and compatible with different devices as time goes on. I would miss wired headphones, especially the noise canceling ones.

I dont take audio with me on the go, but when i used to - in the mid 00's, it was an mp3 player and medium size headphones with arch. Nowadays on the PC i use mostly big headphones. As for the music itself, most of it is now from Youtube, if i find something nice i download it from Youtube and store on the PC

Wired headphones are better than wireless in many ways : No battery (and the overhead with it, and the environmental impact), simple and reliable, compatible with simple and reliable other devices, no wireless transmission from the player device, easily repaired if damaged

In a factory i bought some equipment from, there were hearing protection headphones (for work on a noisy machine) that somebody modified by adding headphones inside them and wiring out a cable. They were plugged into a radio standing on the machine

At one of my jobs, I actually use Bluetooth headphones frequently, up to 7 hours at a time during a shift.  Before they were common, I used to use wired earbuds.  They worked, but the cord often got in the way.  The cord would often snag on stuff and either yank the earbuds out of my ears, or the plug out of the MP3 player, or wiggle the earbuds out of position.  3 years ago, I got some Bose Bluetooth headphones, and have been really happy with them.  The clarity is good enough for my ears, and the lack of cord has made working easier.  One of my favorite things about these particular headphones, is that they are a 2 piece solution, being made up of a pair of headphones, with a detachable Bluetooth module.   If the battery goes dead, the module can be removed to recharge, and replaced with a cord.  Also handy for using them with devices that lack Bluetooth, like my old iPod nano or iRiver.  As far as battery life goes, they're 3 years old and can still get through a shift and a half between charges, and they recharge in about 30 min.

NO!!!!Esp for critical listening--the wire is best.Wireless can get noisey.

Definitely wired headphones. It's very rare I will be listening far away from the source so I'm happy with wired.

I remember my parents had wireless headphones for their stereo one time when I was younger, and it was able to pick up FM broadcasts as well as CB radios.

I think in the next 10 years we will be getting a BIG reality check about wireless. Already California is warning about cellular phones generating harmful radiation. I have always known this would pop up. We shouldn't argue about it here as likely none of us are subject matter experts on the issue, but we can all agree that eventually we always seem to be finding out that "something" is bad for us.

Wi-Fi, Cellular, Bluetooth, it won't matter they are all sources of radiation, which theoretically could disrupt one strand of DNA creating cancer.

The reason I mention bluetooth is that the first wave of this realization that cellular phones might be harmful might cause people to keep their phone at a distance but stay connected via bluetooth. But bluetooth is RF radiation also. So...yeah...

I have wireless BT headphones, and I like them a lot. But honestly, the convenience of wireless isn't as big a deal for me as I thought it would be when I bought them. Yeah they are wireless, but they are still an accessory you need to take care of, and they need to be recharged, I always forget to charge mine. Being in a gym I can see them being very useful, but all other activities you can just tuck the cord down your shirt.

I always uses wired USB headphones + microphone combo, when talking in Skype, watching Youtube videos and listen to music while playing.
I usually prefer Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000, despite their pillows disintegrates after several years of use, as they are comfortable, and their sound don't causes me headache like the Logitech one I used before, and they have high sound quality.

I have wired headphones, I did toy with the idea of having wireless ones a few years ago so that I could listen to my Hi Fi while sitting outside, but the ones I got in a charity shop didn't work so I took them back. Then I got an MP3 player and didn't need to have that facility any more.

Wired headphones/earphones are what I will buy because the hassle of separately charging the earphones is a big put off for me as its already a hassle having to charge my s4 phone and my iPod. Also its bad enough to know that whilst your iPod is still got some juice the earphones will lose power first  and I do NOT want that happening whilst I am on the go 

With having to enable Bluetooth your phone/iPod will have to use more power and I've got power retention issues with both my s4 phone and iPod because I go out a lot especially when I am in London

I rarely use headphones, but when I do they're wired. I have zero interest in wireless..

Wired only. No need to recharge, plug in and you’re good to go. Tuck the cable under your shirt and you can even mow your lawn. Works with all devices, phones, desktop computers without bluetooth, televisions etc...

I have tried wireless but the connection just stops working or audio is not synced up. I’d rather use dongles than wireless headphones.

Wired only. No need to recharge, plug in and you’re good to go. Tuck the cable under your shirt and you can even mow your lawn. Works with all devices, phones, desktop computers without bluetooth, televisions etc...

I have tried wireless but the connection just stops working or audio is not synced up. I’d rather use dongles than wireless headphones.

Wired only, absolutely. I use a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones, best I've ever had, comfortable to wear for hours on end. They're not standard equipment in most radio studios for nothing.

Wired only, absolutely. I use a pair of Beyer DT100 headphones, best I've ever had, comfortable to wear for hours on end. They're not standard equipment in most radio studios for nothing.

And you can get replacement parts for them, so when the ear pads wear out you just fit a new pair.

And you can get replacement parts for them, so when the ear pads wear out you just fit a new pair.

Not only the ear pads, the headband, inserts, just about every part is replaceable, none of this chuck it away and buy a new one mentality you get nowadays. In any case, I've only ever replaced the ear pads once in about 10 years. Brilliant piece of kit.