Behind-the-neck headphones are widely popular as they fill the gap between Bluetooth and wired earbuds. The headset is designed such that they have two earbuds connected to a neckband. The neckband style varies from brand to brand; however, it houses the internal components and allows the earbuds to hang freely when not in use.
One of the best features of behind-the-neck headphones is how you can let them hang around your neck and forget about them. You can also enjoy music all day long without having to worry about dropping your earbuds if you take them out to talk to a colleague at work or a friend. They are also great for when you're working out or need to be on handsfree most of the time. Though wireless technology is catching up, behind-the-neck headphones still have better ANC, microphone, and battery performance.
Keep reading to discover the best behind-the-neck headphones in 2021 and what features to consider when buying them.
Best Behind-the-Neck Headphones
1. RoomyRoc Bluetooth Headphones
- Hi-Fi STEREO SOUND WIRELESS BLUETOOTH HEADSET: Designed with Bluetooth 4.2 technology with...
- INTELLIGENT VOICE & LONG BATTERY LIFE: One-touch to access Siri or Bixby to call, text and...
- FOLDABLE, EASY TO USE WIRELESS BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES: Newest design, neckband retracts when...
- LIGHTWEIGHT, SWEAT-PROOF, STYLISH WIRELESS HEADPHONES: Comfortable to use, you will almost...
- WIDE COMPATIBILITY WIRELESS EARBUDS: The Roomyroc Bluetooth headset can be connected to...
RoomyRoc neck headphones are the ideal neck headphones if you're the type of person that enjoys listening for long periods of time while being active. The behind-the-neck headphones guarantee a range of motion and stable sound quality.
The neck headphones are designed with Bluetooth 4.2 technology with advanced CSR8635 chips and CVC6.0 noise reduction technology noise-cancellation technology which delivers HD & HiFi sound. Pairing with these behind-the-neck headphones is pretty easy as you can pair two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
The neck headphones' battery life allows you to listen to music for 12 hours, talk for 16 hours, and remains on standby for 180 hours with a single charge. The headphones feature an intelligent voice button that connects you to either Siri or Bixby.
The behind the neck phones are designed so that you can hang the earphones on your neck or fold the neckband on both sides for easy carrying when not in use. When a call comes in, the headphones will vibrate to notify you of the call. The behind-the-neck headphones are compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices.
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2. Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Wireless
- Ergonomic around the neck design features soft stitched sheepskin nappa leather neckband...
- Bluetooth 4.1 with AAC codec support and Apt X compatibility provides exepctional sound...
- Up to 10 hour battery life with USB charging. Charging time:Approx. 1.5 hrs .Battery time...
- Supports convenient multi connection of up to 2 devices at once, with 3 way calling...
- 2 year global warranty. The HD1 In-Ear Wireless Black has now been replaced by the...
The Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear Wireless neckband headphone model is based on Sennheiser's Award-winning Momentum in-ear headphones; thus you're assured of fantastic sound quality. Not only that, the behind-the-neck headphones promise impressive dynamics and superb vocal clarity whilst offering a ton of features.
For a more ergonomic experience, the neck headphones feature a soft sheepskin Nappa leather that provides comfort while listening. The neck headphones feature Bluetooth 4.1 with AAC codec support and Apt X compatibility, which provides excellent sound quality via crystal clear wireless transmission. When you've got an incoming call, the behind-the-neck headphones gently vibrate, which is a useful feature, especially when you're not listening to music. Another great feature is that they have up to 10 hours of battery life with USB charging which takes about one and half hours.
The neck headphones support multi-connection of up to 2 devices at once, with 3-way calling capability. They come with a 2-year global warranty.
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3. Sony WI-1000X Wireless
- Digital Noise Cancelling with Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing – perfect for flying
- Sony-Headphones Connect, APP for Android /iOS to use Smart Listening technology to control...
- Smart listening by smart auto-settings automatically adjusts ambient sound to your...
- Optimized for the Google Assistant with an update. Ask it questions. Tell it do things....
- High-quality audio with DSEE HX, S-Master HX, LDAC and aptX HD. Frequency response :...
Sony's key feature is their Smart Listening by ‘Adaptive Sound Control’ that automatically detects your activity whether you're traveling, walking, or waiting, then adjusts ambient sound settings to suit you. The result is audio quality that is nuanced and punchy. The neck headphone features aptX HD Bluetooth.
The Sony neck headphones are optimized for Google Assistant, and some of the buttons have dual functionality. Longer presses activate different functions. Though they can perform well independently, their compatibility with Sony | Headphones Connect app takes them up a notch. With the app, you can fine-tune their sound profile with a graphic EQ, add room effects, customize sound positioning and activate virtual surround sound.
The Sony behind-the-neck headphones has a battery life of up to 10 hours. Another great feature is their in-ear fit which helps with passive noise isolation and prevents people from uncomfortably pressing their earbuds near the ear canal, which can cause fatigue and damage over time.
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4. Skullcandy Smokin' Buds 2 Wireless
- LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW PROFILE, AND FLEXIBLE: Unlike other bulky and stiff products on the...
- SUPREME SOUND: Experience attacking bass, crisp vocals and precision highs, so you can...
- DESIGNED TO FIT NATURAL EAR SHAPE: No ear canal is a perfect circle, so why should your...
- ONBOARD MIC AND REMOTE: Take calls and navigate your playlists with the easily located...
- LONG LASTING BATTERY: Enjoy the comfort and sound of your Bluetooth wireless earbuds for a...
The Skullcandy brand is best known for its punchy bass; hence it would only make sense that the Skullcandy Smokin Buds 2 Wireless behind-the-neck headphones deliver the same.
The neck headphones are light, low-profile, and made of moldable plastic. They are designed to gently hug your neck and can be removed entirely if you prefer without. The behind-the-neck headphones deliver a rich, powerful bass with crisp vocals.
The neck headphones are designed in an angled and oval-shaped nozzle which mimics the natural ear shape hence improving comfort and noise isolation. It also features a three-button remote that allows you to navigate your playlists and take calls.
The battery life is 6 hours, and it takes two and a half hours to recharge.
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5. Beats Flex Wireless Earphones
- BATTERY LIFE - Up to 12 hours of listening time
- CUSTOMIZED FIT - All-day comfort with Flex-Form cable and four eartip options
- APPLE HEADPHONE CHIP - Powered by the Apple W1 headphone chip for seamless connectivity
- THE MUSIC STOPS WHEN YOU DO - Magnetic earbuds with Auto-Play/Pause
- LISTEN WITH A FRIEND - Audio Sharing lets you wirelessly share audio with another pair of...
The Beats Flex neck headphones feature a soft-touch plastic which makes them very lightweight. Hence, they are ideal for everyday use and people who enjoy listening to music or plan to have their behind-the-neck headphones on all day. The cables are very long, so this is something you'll have to accustom yourself to; however, the anti-tangle cable design works; hence you won't have to worry about finding a giant messy knot in your bag or pocket.
The behind-the-neck headphones are magnetic, so when not in use, you can snap the earbuds together, making your life a little more manageable. The best part is that the magnetism isn't only handy for organization, but it also pauses your music. Your music resumes when the earbuds are separated. When receiving an incoming call, the neck headphones automatically answer the call if you separate the earbuds.
The behind-the-neck headphones are compatible with android devices and easily connect via Bluetooth. However, it does take some time, as you will have to manually disconnect from the current device before connecting to the desired device. However, this is different for those with Apple devices due to the W1 chip. The W1 chip integrates Beats Flex behind the neck headphones into the world of Apple products. It enables audio sharing; hence, you and a friend can listen to the same thing as long as you have a compatible pair of Apple headphones.
The Beats Flex behind the neck headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 and support the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. The sound experience may be different for Android devices since AAC has its issues with the OS. This is dependent on the hardware. The neck headphones lack an official IP rating that protects them against sweat or water damage; thus, it's not likely they might survive anything more than a light drizzle.
The behind-the-neck headphones boast up to 12 hours of listening time. Once this runs out, you can supercharge it for 10 mins and get up to 1.5 hours of listening time. The headphones charge via USB-C, so you can charge them with the same cable that charges your phone.
The microphone quality isn't great as it doesn't make your voice sound great. However, it is fine for the daily calls and voice messages, but for extended conference calls like Zoom meetings, you're better off getting headphones with a dedicated mic. It does a poor job of canceling out background noise; hence you're probably better off with your smartphone.
The behind-the-neck headphones are great at blocking high-frequency sounds (2kHz and above), but struggle to keep out any low-frequency sounds. The extra volume in the low-end makes it easier to hear lower notes over any outside noise.
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How To Choose The Best Behind-The-Neck Headphones
a) Purpose
When buying any gadget, it's always key to first think about its purpose. The same applies to your headphones. Some behind the headphones are better suited for certain activities than others. Some headphones are ideal for sports and an active lifestyle. Such headphones are designed to be light and should have IP/sweatproof ratings. Some are designed for heavy music listening, so they'll have powerful bass. These are features worth noting and are specific to what you're looking for. Some headphones have larger neckband designs and are designed to be more comfortable; however, this might not be ideal in active situations.
b) Sound Quality
Sound quality is one of the key reasons people buy behind-the-neck headphones. Some prefer a powerful bass, while others prefer a low bass. Sound quality depends on the types of activities you frequently partake in. For example, are you a music lover? Movie watcher? Active podcast listener? Do you spend a lot of time taking calls? Your activities will often determine the type of behind-the-neck headphones you select. If you enjoy listening to music, look for neck headphones with long battery life, powerful bass, ambient sound, and allow you to customize your sound experience. You don't really want to settle for mediocre sound quality if that's what you enjoy. If you spend your time taking calls, look for behind-the-neck headphones with great noise cancellation features, multi-connection, and a good microphone. If you enjoy listening to podcasts at home, you can sacrifice a bit of sound quality as you don't necessarily need powerful bass or perfect balance. However, if this is essential to your experience, you can consider paying extra for neckband headphones that offer stellar sound quality.
c) Durability
The durability level depends on two things: The build of the product and how the person takes of it. Hence it is likely to vary greatly from person to person. There are cautious people when it comes to their neckband headphones while others are a little more careless. However, durability is key, especially if you're extremely active and move around a lot with your headphones. This will affect the lifespan of your headphones. Some behind-the-neck headphones feature an anti-tangle cable design that can help ensure that your headphones don't tangle up when they are in your bag or pocket. At the end of the day, durability comes down to how you take care of your headphones. Granted, some products can sometimes break once in a while, but long-term durability depends on your ability to take care of your neck headphones.
d) Battery Life
Battery life comes down to convenience. Longer battery life means that you can listen to your music more and carry on with your activities. Battery life also goes hand in hand with the charge time. If you're always on the go, you would be better suited to headphones that can quickly charge. If you're a moderate user and don't mind waiting an hour or two, then headphones with this type of charge time will do the trick. As for battery life, it all depends on your activities as well. If you enjoy listening to music or watching movies, you may want headphones with longer battery life. You may also want behind-the-neck headphones with longer battery life if you use them for work meetings. Most models boast battery lives of at least 10 hours minimum; thus even the shortest battery life is longer than what a casual listener needs.
