Bluetooth Earphones and Exercise: A Match Made in... Somewhere

I’ve got a pair of Edifier Bluetooth earphones, and I’ve got more than one music player.

I recently started exercising again, so I dug the earphones out and started pairing them up… and now the question is: should the Bluetooth earphones go with the Walkman A35, or the FiiO X7?

First off, worth mentioning: the FiiO X7 added aptX Bluetooth audio support through a later firmware update — you can see the aptX label up top. The Walkman A35 only supports Sony’s own LDAC.

Based on my own hands-on use, here’s what I’ve concluded:

1. The FiiO X7’s aptX does improve the sound quality — at least, when I’m running I can’t hear any difference anymore.
2. The Sony A35 without aptX does have audible harshness/artifacts; probably not enough bitrate.
3. Bluetooth stability on the FiiO X7 isn’t great — you have to keep the player in your right pocket, otherwise it cuts in and out on the left. Probably because the Edifier earphones’ receiver sits toward the right.
4. Sony A35’s Bluetooth is a bit better — putting the player on the left is fine, though it sometimes cuts out in the left pocket too. Might just be that the Edifier’s signal is mediocre to begin with.
5. The FiiO X7 sounds good but it’s heavy, while the A35 doesn’t sound great (harshness) but is light. Personally I lean toward the FiiO X7.

One last gripe: the FiiO X7 firmware updates every single week. Genuinely can’t deal with it…

Also, my standards for sound quality have been dropping lately. Honestly aptX alone satisfies me now — maybe I’ve fully fallen out of the audiophile rabbit hole. Might consider buying AirPods for listening in the future.