In the ever-evolving landscape of audio technology, wireless earbuds have emerged as a game-changer for music enthusiasts and on-the-go individuals. With a plethora of options flooding the market, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect pair that strikes a balance between exceptional sound quality, comfort, and advanced features.

Amongst the myriad choices available are the Status Between 3ANC Earbuds. They have garnered significant attention for their remarkable performance in delivering an immersive listening experience while effectively blocking out external noise.

About Status Between 3ANC Earbuds

The Status Between 3ANC Earbuds feature a triple driver TWS, with 2 balanced armatures and one dynamic driver, and also has hybrid ANC tech that competes with the Apple AirPods, Sony WF series and Sennheiser Momentum, and 1MORE Aero. The earbuds contain a 10mm dynamic driver and 2x balance armature drivers and connect using Bluetooth 5.2. There are 6 external microphones that provide unparalleled call quality and the earbuds are backed by Status Audio’s 30-day performance guarantee.

Main Features

• 8-12 hours of continuous audio playback
• Hybrid active noise cancellation up to 38 decibels.
• Two balanced armature drivers + one dynamic driver in each earbud. Ultra-wide frequency response with stunning clarity.
• Transparency mode available.
• IPX-5 Water Resistance
• Six beamforming microphones with environmental noise reduction (ENR).
• Companion app for iOS or Android users

Pricing & Availability

The Status Between 3ANC Earbuds have a list price of $249, but are currently marked down to $199 (as of publishing this article) on status.co. Some status products are offered on Amazon, but the Between 3ANC earbuds are not. The earbuds are offered in two color options — Onyx and Bone.

User Experience

The box of the earbuds is a classy retail-style box. If someone saw it on a shelf, they would immediately know what they are getting because there is a full color image of the product on the front. The name “Status Between” is stamped on the side of the box, but no other details (aside from the ANC3 label) is included.

When you first open the box, you will find a stack of pamphlets. The stack includes a warranty card and a user guide. The user guide covers areas such as getting the right fit, controls, the app, charging, and operation. Below the pamphlets is the charging case with earbuds enclosed and accessory kit (charging cable and different sizes of fit wings.

Out of the box, the earbuds were charged approximately 50%. They have adhesive seals over the contacts on the earbuds that need to be removed before the earbuds will charge or become active for pairing. Once you remove the seals, place the earbuds back in the charging case and then remove them for them to be in pairing mode.

Now, I found the next step in the process a little off-kilter from the norm. I downloaded the companion app and assumed that the pairing process would be completed through the app, but I actually had to pair the earbuds to the phone first and then connect the earbuds to the app. Once the earbuds were connected, I saw that they were charged approximately 50% and that a firmware update was needed.

After the update was completed, the battery level showed 27% R and 20% L. So, I slipped them back into the charging case. This action disconnected the earbuds from the app and phone. The earbuds were only in the case for around 60 seconds when I removed them again to reconnect them. The battery level showed 53% R and 40% L and then suddenly they dropped to 30% R and 24% L. At first I wondered if maybe the Firmware update had something to do with the battery level, but after watching the fluctuation happen, I felt that maybe the app’s battery indicator isn’t very accurate.

Next, I swapped the fit wings so that the earbuds were a more tight fit in my ears and placed the earbuds in my ears. I am used to Apple AirPods Pro earbuds so these had a slightly different feel to them at first. They felt a little weighted but after I started listening to music, I really didn’t even notice that they were in my ears at all. I turned on a playlist on my iPhone that features a wide variety of music styles.

I am very impressed with the premium-grade sound quality the Status earbuds produce. There are a lot of small details in music tracks that sometimes get muddied but I didn’t notice that with these earbuds. Everything was clear, crisp, and had depth. The app provides the option to control the Active Noise Cancelling and Ambient Sound modes as well as the Sound Modes. As long has you have a proper fit, the earbuds provide a certain level of noise dampening based on their design.

I didn’t notice a huge difference between the natural sound dampening and the Active Noise Cancelling function. I did, however, notice a big difference between the natural state and the Ambient Sound Mode. Keyboard clicks and air handling noise from our HVAC system came through loud and clear in that mode, but I couldn’t hear anything around me if the Ambient Sound Mode was turned off.

As for the Sound Modes, there are three pre-designed modes — Status Signature, Status Audiophile, and Original Between Pro. I played around with these modes and couldn’t hear a discernible difference between them. The custom EQ option did provide me with the ability to adjust the different pitch levels. The volume level was very strong and I didn’t have an issue with it at all.

The controls are easy to use. There is a physical button on the top of each earbud that controls the noise cancelling modes, voice assistant, battery status, and the power. The touch controls are on the metal part on the sides of the earbuds. I found the touch controls to be responsive and easy to understand.

Pros

1. Comfortable to wear.
2. Sound quality is premium-grade.
3. Ambient Sound Mode was useful and I was able to hear sounds close by.
4. Strong, powerful volume.

Cons

1. Manual pairing to phone is required before app will connect to device.
2. Battery level in app may not be accurate.
3. Pre-programmed sound modes don’t provide added sound definition.
4. ANC wasn’t much different than natural state of earbuds.

Conclusion

Overall, the Status Between 3ANC earbuds are powerful, premium sounding headphones. I can see some room for improvement but think these are strong competitors to other earbuds in the same space. They are priced similarly to other premium earbuds and I’m not sure that is a fair value for what you get.

For more information, visit https://www.status.co, Facebook, and Twitter.

Earbuds enhance ambient sounds without plugging your ears

I regularly search for the perfect pair of earphones and love to try/test new devices.  Despite the testing process, I often return to a pair of Soundcore (ANKER) over-ear style headphones for home use and Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 for on-the-go Ambient/Noise Cancelling needs.  Even though I enjoy both devices and their features, I wanted a device that would allow for safer use while walking/jogging/hiking.  Additionally, I wanted a device that could allow for music/sound enjoyment without eliminating ambient noise.  Thus, I wanted to try an open-style pair of earphones.

Unboxing/Packaging

The Cleer Arc Ear Free True Wireless Headphones arrived in a 5 3/8 inches long by 3 5/8 inches tall by 1 7/16 inches thick hanging style retail package.  The Cleer company name was displayed along the top left of the cover panel, upon a clean white backdrop.  The main focal point of the cover was the large photo-quality image of a young male wearing headphones. You will find a 5/8 inches-thick grey wrap-around accent along the bottom of the cover that contained a United Soccer League logo and the golden-metallic ARC name. 

Lastly, the cover listed the red dot winner 2021 logo near the lower left corner.  When I rotated the packaging and placed it face down, the right side panel listed the company name and a fun “own the moment” slogan.  The left panel provided three labeled product features/icons: Open ear headphone design for situational awareness, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX high-quality music streaming, 16.2mm drivers, and custom DSP for immersive listening.  The top white panel provided a white product hanging tab, while the bottom panel provided UPC barcodes, Bluetooth information, California Pro 65 risks, and product manufacturing labels.  

The rear panel provided the company name along the top of the panel and then five product features: customize EQ levels with the Cleer+ app, Clear calls with beamforming technology and 2-microphone design, Open ear headphone design for situational awareness during music playback, Up to 7 hours playback from a single charge, 10 minutes quick charge for 1-hour playback, and 16.2mm drivers with customized DSP for an immersive listening experience on bass enhance mode.

I liked the attractive image of the open case at the top right of the panel.  Combined with the image on the cover panel, the two images clearly represented the product and charging case.  The remaining segment of the panel displayed the Qualcomm aptX logo, App Store and Google Play Store logos, and a list of the packaging contents. 

I removed the outer plastic, slid the inner box toward the side, and was impressed to find a metallic gold leaf slogan at the top left of the matte black inner box.  The inner box contained a 5 inches long by 3 1/4 inches tall by 1 1/8 inches tall, 3.7-ounce carry case, plus a ziplock style bag with the instruction manual and quick start fitting/charging guide.  The tweed style, heather-grey carry case had an attractive silver “cleer” logo along the middle segment of the cover and an 11 1/2 inches long water-resistant zipper along the periphery. 

When I gripped the metallic-black zipper pull and unzipped the case, I was disappointed with the rigidity/tightness of the mechanism.  However, the zipper loosened up a little after a few open/close cycles.  The inner surface of the pocket-friendly case was lined with a black nylon material and had a rigid/strong core to the clamshell design.  The lower segment housed the built-in charging cradle for each of the 0.4-ounce earbuds and a wraparound 11 3/8 inches long USB-A cable.

I lifted each earbud out of the case, removed the plastic liner, reinstalled the earbuds, and then plugged the USB-A cable into a standard USB output port (5.06V/0.13A display on Drok USB-A multimeter).  

Testing

While the earbuds charged, I perused the instruction manual and quick start fitting/charging guides. The fitting card demonstrated the over-ear ARC device installation and the ability to rotate the main body of the headphone at the ear hook hinge before sliding the ear hook behind the ear. The reverse panel showed the built-in pouch and details regarding the lack of an internal case battery or wall adapter. 

I found the lack of an internal battery to be a large setback/disappointment when other similarly priced devices allowed for multiple charges or wireless charging.  I liked the flat easily pocketable case design and the lightweight nature.  However, the case was too large not to have an internal case battery. Even with the quick charge feature of 10 minutes of power=1 hour playback, it will take several hours to charge the device completely.

Additionally, you must find a power source between charges instead of relying on an internal battery.  The limitation precludes using the device for camping weekends (without USB batteries) or many outdoor activities where people are away from a dedicated USB power source.  The included power cable/cable management was a big plus but did not outweigh the glaring omission of an internal battery. 

I opened the 16-panel instruction manual and reviewed the contents.  Each of the 0.4-ounce earbuds had a rounded Cleer touchpad/earphone segment, a hinged segment, and the earhook segment with LED indicator and power button.  The manual did a good job of representing the features, even though the flow was not provided in a typical left-to-right pattern.  To flow through the manual, start at the top left and move down one panel.  Then move to the next column and move down again, repeating this process. 

The manual demonstrated the title/box contents in column 1, the overview/fitting in column 2, correct wearing position and quick start guide in column 3, and information about the cleer+ app and Bluetooth paring in column 4.  The reverse panels demonstrated the Earbuds control Playback/call/volume plus LED breakdowns and charging in the first column. 

The second column reviewed the mechanism to factory reset the earphones, the product specification table (16.2mm neodymium driver, SBC/aptX CODEC support, 20-20,000 Hz frequency, USB-A 5V/500mA input, 10min charge-1hour playtime, 7-hour max playback, BT 5.0, A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.7 support, and 14.5G weight per earbud/96.5grams case+earbuds), and listed information about the Warranty.  The third and fourth columns provided additional warranty information and finished with Notices. 

I removed each earbud from its carry base, bent them at the hinge segment, and draped them over my ears.  The open-ear earbuds immediately entered a powered-on state, while a female announcer provided a vocal “power on” alert.  After about five seconds, the female announcer vocalized “Looking for device.” 

I navigated to Settings, Bluetooth, and then selected Clear ARC from the list.  Once selected, the device beeped twice and connected without any fanfare.  I was pleased that I did not have to follow any additional steps or button sequences; the instruction manual provided details about powering on/off the device outside of the case and to long press the power button to enter into pairing mode. 

After pairing, I returned the devices to the case and they powered off appropriately.  When I removed them from the case again, the female announcer vocalized “power on” and the earbuds again paired with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.  To turn off the devices, you can place them back into the case. If left alone for approximately fifteen minutes, the devices will auto-power down.

Once connected, I tested the sound output of the Cleer Arc earbuds with the audiocheck.net website.  During the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz), the announcer voiced frequency changes at 10Hz levels.  The test showed that the earbuds could output sound starting at 40-5Hz, which suggested limited deep bass sounds between the 20Hz-40Hz frequencies.  Unfortunately, the bass was a bit weaker than expected. 

I attempted the test at 25%, 50%, and then 75% volume and followed the instruction manual technique to turn up the volume (double tapping the right earbud x 2 and then holding). The sound felt weak/limited beneath ~75% volume and had an average to slightly above average sound at 75%+ volume.  I rarely listen to music at nearly full volume and was concerned with the need for prolonged listening. 

Alas, I appreciated the quality/improvement once the volume was increased.  Despite the finicky (sometimes too sensitive, and sometimes not sensitive enough) touch controls, the limited bass was weaker than expected. Without the lower pitches/tones, the sound output appeared brighter and less complete.  Luckily, the sound never felt tinny or too bright to enjoy audiobooks, music, and movies.  It just felt undersupported.  If you are looking for authentic audiophile sound for music/movies/audiobooks, an in-ear system will likely provide a more extensive, fuller sound.  

When I used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz), I could hear sound starting at 15 kHz.  I was pleased with the output, with the color/character, and with the blend.  For the test, the announcer vocalized each descending frequency starting at 22 kHz.  As we age or suffer trauma from pressure/loud noises, we tend to lose our upper range of hearing.  Thus, the high-frequency response test is more of an individualized limit than one for the earbuds. For example, my 11-year-old son could hear sounds at 17kHz, while my 14-year-old could hear sounds at 16kHz. 

I used Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube to test a variety of songs.  I listened to the Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack, Rocketman Soundtrack, several selections from Jackson 5, Alabama, Home Free, Beatles, Eagles, Journey, Charlie Puth, and Meghan Trainor.  I liked the poppy feel and felt the bass provided some depth but insufficient support.  I liked the blend with instrumental tracks from Enya and the Far and Away Soundtrack but missed the depth present with many in-ear systems. 

Like the bass tests above, I had to turn the volume higher than average to appreciate the effects.  For the third test, I utilized the Left/Right/Center test to evaluate the internal programming and was pleased to find appropriately programmed channels.  I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test for the final test and listened to the binaural knocking sounds.  Like the tests above, I was met with average surround perception and staging results.

Sound/Use

My 14-year-old son and I have used the Cleer Arc earbuds over the past month during our Sunday BSA practice treks (3-4 mile practice hikes for our upcoming 61-mile Philmont Boy Scout trip).  We charged them overnight (~3-4 hours to charge) and then utilized the on-ear systems to listen to audiobooks (He Who Fights With Monsters (Book 8) by Shirtaloon). 

We loved the ability to pick up ambient sounds, road noises, background sounds, and the ability to communicate without shouting.  The sound quality was sufficient to provide clear audio at ~80% volume, despite background noises.  Unfortunately, we both noted irritation to the antihelix segments of our ears after a few hours of use. 

As we walked, the hinge segment rubbed against the outer ear, leading to some listening fatigue. To counteract this feature, we initially traded back and forth at hour intervals and then charged the device with a portable battery every few hours.  To the merit of the manual, we did appreciate nearly an additional hour of listening after only 10-15 minutes of charging. 

After the first week, we amended our activity/plan. We discovered that my son could walk to my left with the right earbud in place, while I utilized the left earbud. We were able to listen to the same song/book and could rotate/exchange ears as needed.  Through this process, we uncovered a potential workaround to the limited 6-7 hour battery life.

By using a single earbud at a time, users could essentially double the length of use. Unfortunately, if you use a single earbud, it limited the paired touch control functions.  The Bluetooth strength was sufficient to allow us to walk at ~10-15 feet apart (front-back, or side-side) with minimal interruptions in sound.  I was pleased with the connectivity, the codecs, the programming, and with the lack of glitching sound.

The added convenience of an internal charging cable did not go unappreciated.  The feature eliminated the need to hunt for a cable or the need to bring along an extra cable that could get lost in the bottom of a bag, pocket, or backpack. Unfortunately, damage to the short USB-A cable could spell doom for the entire system.

The lack of an internal battery and lack of water resistance (IPX3-4) was a near deal breaker for travel/outdoor needs; it would be unreasonable to use the devices for outdoor hiking without access to power, without any element protection, and without an internal battery to recharge the earbuds.  I could not find an actual waterproof rating in the instruction manual or quickly on the website. 

An answer from a seller in the Amazon question/answer segment stated “Thanks for your question. At this point in time, we have not received an IPX4 rating so I cannot recommend running in rainy weather. ”  Subsequent searches on the Cleer website provided additional information about possible IPX4 ratings.  Unfortunately, the information was not forthcoming and lacked definitive evidence.  

I liked the concept of the open-ear design and felt that the device could be a fantastic asset to the outdoor enthusiast.  We found that the over-ear hooks helped to maintain placement and did provide a better-staying power than some of the in-ear systems including Apple AirPods Pro Gen 1/2.  However, the over-ear hook added a downward drag on the ear and felt odd with glasses or ball caps.  I did not find the weight uncomfortable but disliked the rubbing on the outer aspect of my ear while moving/hiking.   

I believe that the Cleer Arc open-style earbuds have a lot to offer.  Furthermore, I expect a generation 2 device could fix many of the abovementioned limitations.  For sound output, I would give the earbuds a 3.5/5, for comfort a 3/5, for battery life and portability 2/5, and overall features 3/5.  To turn the earbuds from a 3/5 to a 4+/5, they would need to provide improved bass within the 20-40Hz range, allow the case to provide at least one additional charge, improve touch sensitivity, and provide at least an IPX4-5 rating.

Do not misinterpret my tough rating on sound to suggest it is bad.  I believe that the sound output was rather good but the lack of in-ear pressure/location meant that I had to increase the volume to higher levels than expected. I missed out on the bass support that I have grown to expect with many of the tests.  Lastly, phone call conversations were good but airy with background noises. 

I was surprised by the >$100 cost with such a short playtime and the lack of similar product features. For a similar price, the Tranya Open Ear Bluetooth Earphones provide 32 hours of playtime (8-hour earbuds + 24 hours from the case), 16-mm drivers, 4-microphones, IPX5 waterproofing, but lost the attached cable.  With a smaller case, more power, more noise cancellation, and a similar shape, there may be better options for the cost.    

PROS:

• Built-in USB-A cable
• 10-minute charge=1 hour of playtime. 
• Case design/shape (no internal case battery)
• Transparency/Ambience is better than in-ear programming (no hissing/rushing/pressure)
• Good sound quality (loses some compared to in-ear type). 
• No pressure within the ear canal

CONS:

• No charging Case/battery
• Included/attached charging cable is short.
• Included Charging cable is a weak link: If the cable breaks you must buy a whole new system.
• Phone calls pick up ambient noise a bit.  
• Finicky touch controls (Sometimes over-sensitive)
• Questionable IPX water resistance means concern for outdoor use/rainy weather
• The hinge segment presses against the antihelix. May be uncomfortable
• Limited Bass starting at 40-50Hz. 
• Price >$100

Learn more about the Cleer Arc Open Earphones and Follow Cleer on Facebook and Twitter.

Experience superior sound quality with 1MORE’s Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones and enjoy your music, movies, and podcasts distraction-free.

The modern world is full of noise and distractions, making it hard to focus and appreciate music. To get the most out of your audio experience, it is necessary to have an immersive and distraction-free listening experience. Earbuds are a great way to achieve this goal as they provide superior sound quality in a compact form. In addition, earbuds can also reduce outside noise due to their comfortable fit around the ear canal. 1More has always designed unique, professional-grade devices and with the release of the Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones, users are given an additional option for a powerful, listening experience.

About

1MORE Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones are a high-quality wireless earbud equipped with advanced active noise cancellation (ANC) technology that effectively blocks out ambient noise and allows you to fully immerse yourself in your music. The earbuds also feature a hybrid dual-driver design, which combines a balanced armature driver and a dynamic driver to deliver an impressive sound quality with deep bass, clear mid-range, and crisp treble. The Aero earbuds also boast an immersive cinematic experience with the inclusion of Spatial Audio — a dynamic head-tracking technology via a built-in gyroscope, allowing the user to venture into immersion.

The Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing you to easily pair them with your smartphone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device. They also have touch controls on the earbuds that allow you to play/pause your music, adjust the volume, and answer or reject phone calls with just a tap. The earbuds are sweat and water-resistant, making them suitable for use during workouts or outdoor activities.

The Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones come with a compact charging case that provides up to 20 hours of battery life. The earbuds themselves offer up to 5 hours of playback time on a single charge. Additionally, the earbuds feature a quick charge function that provides 2 hours of playback time with just 15 minutes of charging.

Specs

Pricing & Availability

The Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones have a list price of $109.99 from usa.1more.com or Amazon. They are available in black or white finishes. 1More offers product protection for one, two, or three years and at the time of publishing, there is a $20 Off coupon available when ordering direct from 1More’s website.

User Experience

1More always has great retail packaging, but I was really impressed with Aero’s box. The front has a clear image of the product and its charging case. While this is typical for many retail packages, one of the unique aspects of this particular box is that the product image is set in the 1More brand mark. I found that to be a really subtle marketing touch and it made the packaging look really slick.

One main feature that stuck out immediately to me was the inclusion of Spatial Audio, which is included on the front of the box, too. Spatial audio is a technology that creates a 3D sound experience for the listener. It simulates the natural sound environment of a physical space by taking into account the listener’s position and orientation relative to the sound source.

Spatial audio can enhance immersion in movies, music, and virtual reality experiences. It is somewhat rare as a feature on headphones and only certain models include it. In fact, the headphones that do include it are usually more expensive. Because this set is available for a reasonable price, that sets them apart from other spatial audio-enabled headphones.

The Aero earbuds are easy to get started with and comfortable to wear. They come with several sets of ear gels so that the user can get the best fit possible. They produce a nice full sound and have a lot of similar features to the Apple AirPods Pro including transparency mode and the aforementioned spatial audio. Both features work, but not as good as the AirPods Pro.

One area where the Aero earbuds excel is with noise canceling. They provide impressive active noise-cancellation technology, which effectively blocks out ambient noise and makes for a much better listening experience. Given that the Aero’s have a lot of premium features but don’t have a premium price tag, this set them apart from their competitors.

Conclusion

The 1MORE Aero True Wireless ANC Headphones are a great option for those seeking top-notch audio quality and active noise cancellation in a sleek, lightweight design. The headphones offer easy connectivity and up to 24 hours of total playtime on one charge. Plus, you can customize the sound profile with the 1MORE app. With their built-in microphone system, you’ll be able to enjoy crystal-clear call quality, too.

For more information, visit 1MORE.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Earbuds are becoming increasingly popular among business professionals who are looking for an easy-to-use and convenient audio device for work. Whether you are working from home or the office, having a pair of earbuds can make it easier to stay focused and productive throughout the day. Not only do they provide superior sound quality, but they also offer a variety of features that can enhance your work experience. Personally, I like using them because over-ear headphones cause me to overheat on longer conference calls. Not just any earbud will work out well though. Fortunately, Jabra released a set of wireless earbuds this past fall called the Evolve2 Buds that are specifically designed for hybrid working.

About

Since 2020, Jabra has been working to provide professional-level products for people who are working from home. The idea behind the ‘hybrid-working’ devices is that people who are dividing their time between multiple locations would still have the same level of technology as they would in the office workspace. To read all about Jabra’s Hybrid-Working Initiatives, check out their website.

The Evolve2 Buds are a set of top-of-the-range earbuds that are designed to boost concentration and improve collaboration for professionals working on the go. The earbuds feature Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that allows users to personalize their listening preferences according to their environment. In addition to the ANC personalization, Jabra also includes a sealing test called MyFit that helps users determine if they are getting the best fit possible and therefore, the best sound quality possible. Jabra also enabled the Evolve2 Buds with SafeTone with PeakStop, which ensures enhanced hearing protection for users.

The Evolve2 Buds also take advantage of Jabra’s MultiSensor Voice technology that uses a unique combination of four microphones, bone conduction sensors, and advanced algorithms to block out as much of the surrounding noise as possible. This provides a greater call quality and the best possible option for crystal-clear conversations.

“The world we live in today has made us crave freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere. At the same time, we also learnt from our Hybrid Ways of Working 2022 research about the role that technology plays in increasing employee inclusion in hybrid work. With all that in mind, we sought to create a product with our new Jabra Evolve2 Buds to empower professionals to look, sound and be professional on the go.”

Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra

Main Features

• Certified for Microsoft Teams and leading UC platforms – for enhanced collaboration experience
• MultiSensor Voice technology – ensures professional call performance by using multiple mics and Jabra algorithms to block out noise
• Plug-and-play USB adapter for enhanced connectivity – 20 meter/65 feet range ****allows users the freedom to move around their work environment
• Advanced Multipoint connection – connect to two devices at one time
• Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation – filters out background noise allowing for increased focus
• HearThrough and single earbud use – allows the user to hear surrounding sounds through the earbuds whilst wearing them
• Increased battery life – with 33 hours of battery, including the case and wireless charging
• Ultra-discreet design – for ultimate comfort and a professional look

Specs

Pricing & Availability

The Evolve2 Buds have a list price of $269 from jabra.com. They can be purchased from online retailers such as Amazon for a slight discount ($265.93 at the time of publishing). Jabra also offers a bulk purchasing option through a dedicated Sales Representative for companies who wish to provide these earbuds to their employees.

User Experience

Jabra always does a great job with its packaging. I’ve never experienced an unboxing process with one of their products that ends with the item being damaged. The exterior of the box provides a lot of detailed information on the product as well as a featured image on the front of the box that lets the user know what to expect the product to look like.

When you open the box, you will be greeted with a quick start guide that is a simple cardboard insert. I rather like this option as opposed to the full printed manual that some products come with. The insert shows you how to connect the earbuds as well as the touch commands for each earbud. Under the insert, you will find the earbuds in their charging case as well as the replacement ear gels. A short USB-C charging cable is included as well.

One of the accessories I really liked being included was the USB receiver. While I have found Bluetooth to be reliable for connectivity to computers, the USB received option gives users one more step of confidence that the Evolve2 Buds will connect to the correct device each time. There is nothing more frustrating than joining a video conference only to have your headphones skip over to a different device that it recognized nearby. The USB received is nestled in between the earbuds inside the charging case, which I think is a great place to store it.

Once you get the Evolve2 Buds paired, the guide directs you to connect the earbuds to the Jabra Sound+ app. Will the earbuds work without this step? Yes, but you won’t realize their full potential as a hybrid-working device. All of the special features outlined above, won’t be active and you will just have an above-average quality set of wireless earbuds. So, I highly recommend connecting the earbuds to the Jabra Sound+ app. You will have an entirely different listening experience.

The first step in the app process is to accept Bluetooth permissions. You will then see a welcome screen that shows you a menu of steps you will walk through during the set-up phase. You will need to select your device from the app’s menu. Make sure you select the correct device. The app will take you through the MyFit process to ensure your earbuds fit inside your ears correctly. If the earbuds aren’t the optimum fit, the app will provide suggestions on how to adjust them so that they work better. I will say that even though Jabra provides extra ear gels, you might still have some issues with getting a 100% perfect fit.

The next step is to go through the MySound hearing profile testing. You will be asked to provide your gender and birth year and then the app will play a series of tones to determine how each of your ears detects the different pitches. This creates your hearing profile, which the app will then use to provide the best possible sound when you listen to different media using the Evolve2 Buds.

The app also gives the user the option to customize their earbud button controls and provides an equalizer for music. The Sound+ app also provides access to firmware updates and other settings. Overall, the app was very easy to use and there is a lot of documentation included.

I am always impressed by the high production quality and design of Jabra’s earbuds — and the Evolve2 Buds are no exception. These earbuds have a sleek, minimalist style that are easy to get accustomed to. I’m glad that a charging case is included as it’s great for storage and for keeping the earbuds ready to go with an extra charge. Even though most earbuds will work with video conferencing systems like Teams and Zoom, the Evolve2 Buds are certified to work with those systems. That integration makes it that much easier to work remotely without having to struggle with connection issues.

The Evolve2 Buds are very comfortable to wear. I love the shape of them and since they are super lightweight, you hardly notice they are present. I will note that the MyFit feature of the Sound+ app might encourage you to push the earbuds farther into your ears than is naturally comfortable. This might occur to help provide you with a more secure seal in your ears but I would suggest finding a nice balance between that seal and your personal comfort level.

As far as sound quality goes, I was very impressed and would rate them in the same class as my Apple AirPods Pro Gen 1. They have a lot of advanced features (Adjustable ANC, HearThrough, etc.) that enable the earbuds to provide a better listening experience than most earbuds, but they aren’t quite as good as the Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2. The only thing I wasn’t keen on with these earbuds was that the sound quality can suffer if you don’t have just the right fit.

Conclusion

The Jabra Evolve2 Buds are a solid choice for those in need of wireless earbuds for hybrid-working environments or everyday use. They offer excellent noise cancellation, impressive battery life, and clear and crisp sound quality. Even though the ‘fit’ can be difficult to dial in for each individual person, the earbuds are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and the controls are intuitive and easy to use. Whether you’re on a conference call or jamming out to your favorite tunes, the Jabra Evolve2 Buds are a great option to consider.

For more details, visit Jabra, Facebook, and Twitter.

Comfortable, affordable wireless earbuds provide a premium listening experience.

It’s hard to deny the convenience of true wireless earbuds. In an increasingly technology-driven world, they offer a way to stay connected without being weighed down by cords or bulky devices. Whether you’re looking for a way to listen to music on your morning jog, stay in touch with friends while biking around town, or take conference calls at work without having to worry about tangled wires, true wireless earbuds have you covered.

There are so many different styles and types of wireless earbuds available, it may be difficult to decide on which model/brand you want to select. The Sonic 1 True Wireless Earbuds from TECNO are an inexpensive, but high-quality option to try.

About TECNO

TECNO is a global smart device brand that provides a wide range of accessories and services such as smart wearables, tablets, HiS operating system, and smart home products. Its history as dates back to 2014 with its CAMON series launch. TECNO is dedicated to providing the best technologies for individuals in order to give them “stylishly designed intelligent products that inspire consumers to never stop perusing their best selves.”

The Sonic 1 True Wireless Earbuds are designed as the world’s first in-ear/half in-ear switch design earphones. The earbuds fit securely and comfortably with their ergonomic design. TECNO’s goal was to provide a richer, more immersive audio experience for users so that they may “…enjoy the undeniable charm and magic of the immersive music like in a live performance no matter where you are.”

Main Features

• 50-hour battery life (6.5 hours earbuds + 43.5 hours charging case)
• AUDPUD App Enhancement: Customize your listening experience through the app’s tools and hearing tests
• Dual-mic Noise Cancellation for Calls: Each earbud has 2 microphones to enhance a user’s voice and reduce environmental noise
• Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity: Low-latency connectivity and a more stabilized signal
• Auto Pairing: Once paired, the Sonic 1 earbuds will automatically and instantly pair to your device
• Lightweight: Each earbud only weighs 4.65g
• Sound Modes: Premium Sound Mode and Ultra Comfort Mode provide customized sound options for different environments
• IPX5- rated for water resistance, dust resistance, and sweat-proofing
• Seamless Switchable Listening: Sonic 1 earbuds can connect to two devices simultaneously and is also universally compatible and functions the same with either iOS, Android, or Windows devices
• Intuitive Touch Controls: Each earbud has touch-sensitive areas that allow the user to control the functions of the earbuds
• In the Box: Wireless Bluetooth earbuds (with medium-sized ear tips), Charging case, Ear tips (1X large ‚1X small), USB Type-C charging cable, User manual (including warranty card)

Pricing & Availability

TECNO Sonic 1 True Wireless Earbuds are currently being sold for $39.99 through Amazon. TECNO does have retail stores outside the U.S.

User Experience

One of the first things I noticed about the packaging was that the word True was misspelled as TURE. Unboxing the earbuds was a pretty standard experience. The earbuds were stored in the charging case with tape covering the charging contacts. There were two extra sets of ear gels including as well as a USB-C charging cable.

Both accessories were stored in separate boxes (inside the larger package). A user manual was also included. One odd thing that I found was that one of the large ear gels was wrapped up on itself and had to be reshaped. This wasn’t really a problem because it could be fixed but I wanted to note that this is a possibility.

Set-up/Pairing

One of the first things I do when I am testing earbuds is swap out the pre-installed ear gels for the smallest set provided. Fit is everything when it comes to how earbuds perform. These ear gels are magnetized which is unique. It made it very easy to change the ear gels.

In order to pair, the earphones must be in the charging case with the lid open. The earbuds appeared in my Bluetooth menu quickly and pairing was completed easily. I was able to slide the earbuds into my ears easily and they felt secure while I was wearing them.

I didn’t notice a lot of ambient noise leak but I did notice a faint electronic static sound in the left earbud. It wasn’t too loud and when I started playing music I didn’t notice it anymore — unless the audio track wasn’t very loud. For example, I was playing an audio track from the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack that starts out with only hand claps. I could definitely hear the static during that time.

Comfort

While they provide a secure fit, the earbuds aren’t uncomfortable or too tight. They are lightweight and feel very much like Apple AirPods. I moved my head around a lot when I was using the earbuds and I didn’t notice them sliding out of place in my ear. I didn’t notice any earaches or headaches happening as a result of using/wearing the earbuds for a long period of time either.

Noise Canceling

The product description on Amazon mentions “noise cancelling” as a feature but the manual does not provide any details about activating or deactivating it. According to the TECNO website, the ANC noise canceling system is part of the Premium Sound Mode. In addition to the ANC system, there is definite ambient noise cancellation just by the earbuds blocking it out. I couldn’t hear myself typing on my keyboard or my fiance running the vacuum across the house. Both sounds are things I typically hear without ANC engaged.

Connect/Disconnect

One issue I’ve had with other earbuds is that they don’t automatically connect or disconnect when they are supposed to. I’ve not had that problem with these earbuds. I took them out of my ears and they remained connected to my phone until I put them in their case. Then they disconnected. When I put them back in my ears, they automatically connected. I would prefer that the earbuds had the feature to automatically disconnect from my device when they detected they were no longer in my ears but I can overlook that.

Controls

The earbuds have touch-sensitive controls built into the stems of the earbuds. They work well but I noticed that when I attempted to do a short tap, it was recognized as a swipe sometimes.

Sound Quality

The earbuds did a good job of handling a wide variety of audio tracks. I felt that the audio I listened to was well-rounded and nothing sounded flat. I wouldn’t say the bass was ‘powerful’ but it was definitely present. Vocals were clear and crisp and highs and lows sounded well-mixed.

Conclusion

These are a good well-rounded set of earbuds that provide premium sound and a comfortable listening experience at a cost-effective price. I do hope that the static noise I experienced was just a defect and not indicative of the model as a whole.

For more information, visit tecno-mobile.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

AirPods Pro 2nd Generation elevates the listening experience to the next level.

While I wouldn’t consider myself an ‘audiophile’, I do consider myself a nerd when it comes to high-quality, premium listening experiences. I really love complicated soundtracks and I always cheer for the Sound Mixing and Sound Editing categories at award shows. That said, headphones are some of my favorite gadgets to test out as a content creator.

When I heard about the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation I honestly didn’t think it would be possible for a set of earbuds to provide the best possible listening experience for any type of audio. I was wrong and the new generation of AirPods Pro is worth every single penny you pay for them.

About AirPods Pro 2nd Generation

AirPods Pro was first introduced in 2019. They are wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones designed by Apple and are considered Apple’s ‘mid-range’ headphones with the standard AirPods and AirPods Max on either side of them in the product lineup. Apple announced the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation during their Keynote event on September 7, 2022.

While some of the main features remain the same as the 1st generation model, the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation has some impressive new features added in as well. The complete list is included below. Items marked with ** indicate upgrades to the 2nd generation model.

Main Features

Audio Technology

• Custom high-excursion Apple driver
• Custom high dynamic range amplifier
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Adaptive Transparency**
• Vent system for pressure equalization
• Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking**
• Adaptive EQ

Sensors

• Dual beam-forming microphones
• Inward-facing microphone
• Skin-detect sensor**
• Motion-detecting accelerometer
• Speech-detecting accelerometer
• Touch control**

Chip

• Apple H2 headphone chip**
• Apple U1 chip in MagSafe Charging Case**

Sweat and Water Resistance

• Sweat and water resistant (IPX4): AirPods Pro and charging case

Charging Case

• Charging case Works with MagSafe charger**, Apple Watch charger**, Qi-certified chargers, or the Lightning connector

Battery – AirPods Pro

• Up to 6 hours of listening time with a single charge (up to 5.5 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking enabled)**
• Up to 4.5 hours of talk time with a single charge**

Battery – AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case

• Up to 30 hours of listening time
• Up to 24 hours of talk time
• 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time or around an hour of talk time

Connectivity

• Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology**

Size and Weight

Earbuds Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 1.22 inches (30.9 mm)
• Width: 0.86 inch (21.8 mm)
• Depth: 0.94 inch (24.0 mm)
• Weight: 0.19 ounces (5.3 grams)

Charging Case Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 1.78 inches (45.2 mm)
• Width: 2.39 inches (60.6 mm)
• Depth: 0.85 inch (21.7 mm)
• Weight: 1.79 ounces (50.8 grams)**

Pricing & Availability

The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation has a list price of $249.00 from Apple. They can also be purchased from Apple-authorized resellers such as Target, Best Buy, Verizon, and Amazon.

User Experience

The AirPods Pro comes in a familiar Apple box. The earbuds are pictured on the front and the basic description is provided on the back. When you open the box, you’ll see the “Designed by Apple in California” stamp on the face of the paperwork holder. Included with this paperwork are a quick start guide, warranty summary, safety and handling, and regulatory compliance information.

The quick start guide walks the user through connecting the AirPods Pro, changing the ear tips, charging the earbud and the case, and an explanation of the controls, and the audio controls available in the Control Center. Directly beneath the paperwork is the AirPods Pro in their charging case, and below that is the ear tip holder and a charging cable. The charging case is wrapped in Apple’s protective plastic, which is easily peeled off.

The first thing I did when I took the AirPods Pro out of the box was to switch the ear tips. Because I had the first generation model, I knew that the new XS ear tips would come in handy for me. I have had an issue with the AirPods Pro working themselves out of my ears the longer I wear them. So, I was ecstatic to hear about the addition of the XS ear tips. The next thing I did was complete the Ear Tip Fit Test in the Settings for the AirPods Pro.

Once you place your ear tips and make sure the AirPods Pro are securely placed in your ears, you play a short track within this audio test and the AirPods Pro is able to detect whether or not you have a tight enough seal within your ear for you to get the full benefit of the AirPods Pro’s features. Even if you think you are using the right size, I highly recommend using this feature. It really helped me determine which size was the best for my ears.

The next thing I did while setting up the AirPods Pro was to set up the Personalized Spatial Audio. This really does make a difference when you are listening to any audio through the AirPods Pro. I had standard Spatial Audio set up on my AirPods Pro 1st Generation and my AirPods Max and I could immediately tell a difference between the two audio features.

Once the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation was completely set up, I started watching some video clips from movies I knew had complex soundtracks. I have included a list below of what I watched/listened to while testing out the AirPods Pro but I will say that I was stopped dead in my tracks when I came to Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I literally heard sound effects in that movie that I’d never heard before and I’ve probably seen it 50+ times. I have nearly every line memorized of that film and I never caught the things I heard when watching with the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.

The AirPods Pro is comfortable to wear. If you notice in the specs area, the dimensions of the AirPods Pro are not marked as different from the 1st Generation model. They are exactly the same size, shape, and weight as their predecessor. So, if you have used the 1st Generation version and have found them comfortable, you shouldn’t have any problem wearing these. During my first day with the earbuds, I wore them off and on for almost 8 hours. I never ended up having a headache, earache, or any related discomfort.

The noise cancellation is far superior to the 1st Generation model. I noticed a big difference — even when nothing was playing. I was doing my testing in a fairly isolated room, but it’s not soundproofed. My fiancé was in a separate room playing a video game online with some friends. His voice carried throughout the hallway and I could hear him talking without any headphones on.

When I put the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation in my ears and turned noise canceling on, I could hear him at all. The AirPods Pro 1st Generation did not provide the same effect. I got some bleed-through sound and could still hear my fiancé even though it was muffled and intelligible.

I got the same type of effect when I turned Transparency mode on. With the AirPods Pro 1st Generation, it’s just standard Transparency but the 2nd Generation model provides Adaptive Transparency which allows the user to hear through their audio but softens the ambient noises that are above a certain decibel level. When the audio was playing, I couldn’t hear anything outside the headphones. The same wasn’t true for the 1st Generation version.

Spatial Audio has been taken to the next level with the Personalized Spatial Audio feature. I found that once I set up the personalization option that it was available for my AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 1st Generation, too. According to Apple’s information on the feature, the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation provides the best functionality with Personalized Spatial Audio. This feature is available because of the partnership between Apple’s new hardware and the latest releases of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.

It’s currently available with iOS 16 but will be released with iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura in October. While Spatial Audio as a feature separated AirPods from other headphones when it was released in June 2021, this next evolution of the feature immerses the user in the entertainment they are enjoying.

The sound quality of the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation is out of this world. I felt like everything I was hearing was elevated and I was hearing movies I’ve been watching for 20+ years again for the first time. You feel the sound more and it’s easy to lose yourself and become displaced from your surroundings.

I would say the feeling is similar to if you are reading a book and everything just fades away into the background. The 1st Generation model provides less isolation and the experience while still good, just isn’t as grand as the 2nd Generation version. Every sound is more precise and fuller with the 2nd Generation model. You lose the nuances in your sound experience when you don’t use the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.

Testing

As I was testing the AirPods Pro out, I went through a specific sequence. As I mentioned above, I watched a few clips from movies that I knew had complicated soundtracks just to experience the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation. Here’s the list of those movies. All of these movies were played on my iPhone 14 Pro and were streamed from various streaming services.

• Jurassic Park — the Brachiosaur scene where the audience sees the dinosaurs for the first time. Streamed using Hulu
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 — The opening scene and credits sequence.  Streamed using Disney+
• Hamilton — The opening sequence and Yorktown Streamed using Disney+
• The Lion King (animated version) — The Circle of Life and Scar’s first scene Streamed using Disney+
• Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace — The main battle scene at the end (”Duel of the Fates”) Streamed using Disney+

Each of these scenes provided a different level of audio experience. Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and GOTG both have highly layered audio tracks complete with multiple sound effects, dialogue tracks, and musical scores. The Lion King was primarily a mix of an original song and sound effects.

Hamilton was probably the most interesting use case because while the audio track is most definitely cleaned up and re-mastered for viewing, it was originally recorded in a performance venue live. Therefore, it’s not the purest sound you can get. Still, the experience was like nothing I’ve experienced before when viewing or listening to that soundtrack.

After the pleasure of listening to those movies with the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, I then added in comparing them to the 1st Generation model and my AirPods Max. I want to add here that until the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation arrived, my AirPods Max was the best listening experience I’d ever had with a set of headphones. I didn’t think it would be possible that earbuds could beat an over-ear listening experience — until I used the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.

To complete this comparison test, I made sure all three headphones were at the same volume level (around 50-60%) and that they all had noise canceling turned on. Then, I would start a specific clip from the following titles with the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, pause and switch to the AirPods Pro 1st Generation or the AirPods Max.

There was an obvious difference between each set of headphones. With the AirPods Max, the overall feeling was different because of their style but the sound quality was just better with the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.

The main title I did the testing with was The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug — the first scene with Smaug. It’s a very layered soundtrack with lots of highs and lows (the ting of a gold coin versus the boom of Smaug’s vocal track is a HUGE contrast). You really feel the movie with the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and when you listen to the same track with the other two sets of headphones you just feel like you are missing something by comparison.

Other Titles I Tested:

• The Dark Knight — The opening sequence up through the bank robbery.
• Star Wars, Episode VII: The Force Awakens — The first scene with Rey. No vocal audio; only musical score and sound effects.
• Doctor Strange – The opening scene up through Dr. Strange’s first operating scene.

I didn’t only test these headphones with movie tracks. I also listened to music using Apple Music’s Spatial Audio playlist. I was surprised to hear layers of vocal tracks on titles like “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi that I’ve never heard before. I’d like to add that I did think while my office window was open and I was using Adaptive Transparency. There were chainsaws and lawn equipment being used in my neighborhood and I couldn’t hear it while the audio was playing.

As one of my final tests, I watched House of the Dragon (streamed on HBO Max through Hulu) on my iPad Pro 4th Generation. Since iPadOS 16 has not been released yet I didn’t have the Personalized Spatial Audio active during this show. I found that this test — along with the non-Spatial audio tracks in Apple Music, was probably the best test option for the AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.

It really gave me an idea of how well they work — just as earbuds. My listening experience was still elevated. Without getting too graphic about it, the opening scene of the episode I viewed included a character giving birth to a baby. There were sound effects that were enhanced and included that go along with that that were very realistic.

Sometimes there is a slight blip in the earbuds when they are making adjustments for your surroundings or the incoming audio tracks. This is a momentary glitch, but I figured out that it isn’t a mistake; it’s just an adjustment that the headphones make.

Conclusion

I honestly think it’s a shame that people can’t take these headphones to the movie theater. That would be the next evolution of entertainment. These headphones are simply amazing and are better than anything I’ve ever heard. The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation allows you to hear the soundtrack the way it was meant to be heard and immerses you into the environment of whatever you listening to.

If you want that type of experience, run, don’t walk to get your next set of AirPods Pro. If this is what Apple has done with the AirPods Pro, I can’t wait to see what they do with the next generation of the AirPods Max.

For more information, visit apple.com and Facebook.

Earbuds have mediocre sound, uncomfortable fit, and poor connectivity.

When it comes to earbuds, I find that there are two significant factors that must be fulfilled before any of the other bells/whistles should be considered. The first and most important aspect is the fit and comfort to the user because an uncomfortable device will not be well received, no matter the sound quality.

Audiophile-grade earbuds that cause fatigue, pain, or discomfort will not likely sell well. However, a truly comfortable pair of earbuds will likely receive more accolades, even at lesser output qualities. The second factor to be considered is the quality of the sound followed by a robust smart device connection.

Thus, before considering waterproofing, battery life, accessories, and wired vs wireless charging options, a company must clear the comfort/sound hurdles. Unfortunately, the JVC True Wireless Earbuds experienced two quick strikes with fit/sound, and then quickly struck out with the problematic Bluetooth connectivity.

UNBOXING

The JVC True Wireless Earbuds arrived in a 3 1/8 inches wide by 4 3/8 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches thick hanging-style retail package. The cover panel displayed the red JVC logo along the top left, a picture of the front/back of the earbuds along the top right, and an overly generic True Wireless Earbuds name along the middle of the panel.

The lower section of the panel provided an image of the closed earbud case, the HA-A3T model number, a large Bluetooth logo, and five product feature icons (Eco-Friendly Less Plastic Package, 22-hour battery life, microphone, water resistance, and touch buttons). The black-colored side panels contrasted nicely with the clean white cover panel.

The left panel listed the generic product name, while the opposite side panel re-displayed the main product features (Touch control, IPX4 Rain Proof, Remote Microphone, up to 22 hours (7.5 +14.5*2) battery life), and product accessories (USB charging cable, charging case, instruction manual). I was a bit disappointed with the IPX4 rating, and with the lack of transparency in the type of USB charger. The small icon of the short USB cable could not be identified as USB-Micro or USB-C.  

The rear panel proved to be overly cluttered with information. The JVC logo was present along the top left, the model number was listed at the top right, and the remainder of the panel was overrun with black text upon a white background. The panel detailed the Bluetooth 5.1, built-in lithium-ion battery (did not specify size), four product feature descriptions, product manufacturing labels, contact address/information, and a small FCC rules segment. The panel provided a multilingual description of the five product features (1. IPX4 rating is not waterproof and is only for the earbuds.

The case is not IPX water-resistant compliant. 2. Charging case. 3. May vary depending on usage conditions. 4. Warning that some phones may limit device capabilities. 5. Bluetooth logo description). To access the True Wireless Earbuds, I lifted the top lid, removed the sizeable white cardboard tray, and then the two included pamphlets (1. JVCKENWOOD JVC limited 1-year warranty/registration and multilingual startup guide.). 

Charging/Pairing

After my recent review of the JVC Riptidz, I was excited to trial the JVC True Wireless earbuds. I removed the 1.6-oz, 2 1/2 inches wide by 7/8 inches thick by 1 3/4 inches tall black charging case, opened the lid, removed each of the 0.1-ounce, 1 1/4 inches tall by 7/8 inches wide by 3/4 inches thick earbuds, and then removed the paper blocking tabs.

I returned the earbuds to the charging case, removed the short 10 5/8 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, and plugged the device into a standard 5V/2A USB-A port. After approximately 2.5 hours, the flashing LED at the front of the case ceased flashing and assumed a solid state. I removed each of the earbuds, placed them into my ears and a female voice noted “Power on, Pairing.”  I navigated to Settings on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, then to Bluetooth, and selected JVC HA-A3T from the list. The female voice then noted, “pairing successful, connected.”  

Unlike the Riptidz, the JVC true wireless earbuds had no silicone ear tips and thus no adjustability. The triangular shape did not seem to fit my ear canals securely and regularly fell out when running, jumping, during burpees, or anything outside of sedentary utility. With the main draw for hands-free use, I was a bit disappointed to have to continuously press them back into my ears.

I felt that there was a lot of sound leak, and the shape decreased the bass effect with poor seal. Even though they were lightweight and had a sleek, tacticool-black color, I found very little to like about the JVC True Wireless Earbuds. Before you gawk at the sub $25 cost, let me affirm the cliché that you get what you pay for.

I severely disliked that the earbuds seemed to randomly disconnect from my smartphone, that they would randomly beep within my ears, and that they would randomly announce “pairing.”  Displeased with the shape, the fit, the comfort, and the connectivity, I cautiously turned to the sound/testing.    

SOUND/TESTING

If you have read any of my previous earbud reviews, you will know that I love to utilize the audiocheck.net website to evaluate the parameters. I started with the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) and heard the same whining noise as the JVC Riptidz. Unlike the Riptidz, with good strong bass at 20Hz, the JVC True Wireless buds had weak sound at 20Hz and increased minimally starting at 30Hz.

The male announcer sounded clear and crisp, while the rumbling under tones felt muddy and blurred. The whining noise was less noticeable at 40 Hz but never truly went away. I placed my phone on the ground in front of me, assumed a prone/laying position, and repeated this test three more times. When I turned my head side to side, the earbuds beeped, and lost connection with my iPhone.

I disconnected them from my iPhone, reconnected them, repeated the process, and experienced the same result. I disconnected the device again, paired it with my iPad Pro 12.9”, and experienced the same issue. I next considered a website/test issue and repeated the process with the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).

Yet again, I noted that the earbuds lost connection when my head was turned. I was able to maintain connection when the phone was directly in front of my face but not when my head rotated even to 45 degrees from center. I left the website, attempted to listen to several songs on Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Pandora, and experienced the same issue each time. 

When I completed the High-Frequency test, I found that I was able to hear the upper frequency at 15kHz, which was on par with my ability to hear. With age and sound trauma, we tend to lose our upper-frequency sensitivity prior to the lower frequency ranges.

My children were able to hear to about 17-18kHz, while I was limited to ~15kHz. I used the Left/Right (Stereo) tests and found that the left/right/center channels were appropriately programmed, and then tested the “Original Binaural Recording” on the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test. The knocking test did an okay job at representing the sound stage but I could not get over the problematic Bluetooth connection.

Honestly, the inability to move my head in either direction without static, distortion, and complete cutting out of the earbuds, meant the device was a no-go for me. I was unable to move my phone to my pocket, move to a different room, or listen to music/movies/Audible without a direct line of sight with my phone.

With the lack of comfort and unreliable connectivity, I struggled to continue with the testing process. I liked that each earbud had an outer haptic/touch button with intuitive, responsive controls. A single touch of either earbud will play/pause the sound, while a double press of the right will progress to the next track and a triple press will return to the previous track.

The left earbud will decrease the volume with a double tap, while a triple tap increased the volume. With the above tests completed, I navigated to Amazon Music and ran through a variety of my test tracks. Unfortunately, I continued to experience the same popping, cracking, and cutting-out that I experienced above. I thus decided to end my testing process a bit early.

Even though the bass felt unsupported and muffled, I thought the mids and upper sounds were quite warm. The earbuds seemed to have a pop equalizer preset and seemed to succeed in the mid/upper range with Home Free “Sea Shanty Medly” and “Fishin’ in the Dark/Down in the Boonddocks.”  Even though Home Free performed a nice cover rendition of the medley, I still prefer the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Little Big Town renditions. I returned to the Riptidz and ran through my favorite song tracks again.

I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt to the JVC headphones but the uncomfortable shape/design paired with the dreadful Bluetooth connection rendered the device unusable. Even though you can pick up a pair of the devices for <$25, I would much prefer to spend just a bit more to get the Riptidz or other $30-50 earbuds. 

For more information, visit jvc.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Earbuds provide rich, comfortable sound on a budget.

Even though I love various types of music, movies, programs, books, etc., I will never claim to be an audiophile. Do not misinterpret my meaning though, because one can be a lover of quality sound, a comfortable fit, but also desire cost savings and thrift.

Do you truly need all of the bells and whistles of the most expensive pair of headphones on the market? Do you need the absolute best drivers/sound/bass, mixers, equalizers, etc? Do you require a certain brand/name to adorn your accessory?

If yes, you may not even consider brands outside of a select few. Honestly, for those highest-end sounds, you may not even consider earbuds at all, let alone a pair under $200. Unfortunately, with a recession, a Covid pandemic in full swing, and a potential add-on MonkeyPox Pandemic, many are struggling to afford the essentials, let alone extras. Luckily, companies like JVC offer quality gear at affordable, entry-level prices.

UNBOXING

The JVC Riptidz arrived in a vibrant 3 1/6 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches wide hanging-style retail package. I loved the aqua blue color, the water theme, and the bright white-colored product name along the right side panel. The bold-red JVC name was displayed along the top left of the panel, while the blue Riptidz earbuds were displayed next to the product name.

You will find an oblique image of the charging case, the HA-A9T model number, an Eco-Friendly packaging icon, and four product-defining icons along the bottom of the panel: 30h battery, microphone, water-resistant icon, and touch button integration. JVC did a great job with the color selection and with the overall presentation.

The cover scene reminded me of an underwater or horror movie production poster with the broken white product name, white shadows around the earbuds and case, and the water accent. The theme continued on the left side panel with the product name and “True Wireless” label. The right side panel provided a list of the product accessories: instruction manual, small/medium/large ear tips, charging cable (USB), and charging case. The blue-colored bottom panel listed the model number and SKU barcode. 

The white-colored rear panel broke the theme and presented data in a more traditional manner. I would have liked for JVC to continue the color scheme, but it is hard to go wrong with a classic black-on-white pattern. The red-colored company name was present along the top left, while the model number was listed along the top right.

Next, you will find descriptions of the icons listed on the cover (touch control, water resistant IPX5 (Buds Only), remote + microphone, up to 30 (7.5+22.5) hour battery life), and an oblique view of an open navy-colored earbud case. The middle segment provided additional information about the setup/specifications: Bluetooth V5.1, non-waterproof case, Bluetooth symbol, recycle icon, and JVCKENWOOD Corporation information.

To access the Riptidz earbuds, I lifted the top flap, and slid the inner white tray out from within the box. I removed the plastic-wrapped 1.7 ounces, 2 1/2 inches long by 15/16 inches wide by 1 3/4 inches tall JVC earbud case from the box. Next, I removed the folded instruction manual, the JVC Limited Warranty packet, and the 2 1/4 long by 1 inch thick by 1 3/4 inches tall accessory box with 11 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable and accessory ear tip bag (s/m/L).

Before turning to the instruction manual, I lifted the lid of the earbud case, removed the earbuds, removed the white paper blocking the charging posts, and replaced the earbuds into the case.  l grabbed a 5V/2.4A USB-A charging block, plugged the earbud case into the adapter, and observed the four front LED lights.

The front panel of the large foldout instruction manual proved to be rather busy. In fact, the panel provided warnings and details in a variety of languages. The most useful segment of the manual was the lower third of the back page with large images of the earbuds and features. The panel walked the user through the case (~3.5 hours) and earbud (~2 hours) charging process, reminded the user to remove the paper blockers, and then provided a visual reference of the pairing process.

I opened the lid, removed the right then left earbud, noted the quick flashing lights on the top back of the earbuds, navigated to Settings on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, to Bluetooth, and then selected JVC HA-A9T from the list. I found the pre-installed earbuds to be properly sized to my ear canals, inserted the right then left earbud, and heard the female voice announce “Power On, Pairing, Pairing Successful, Connected.” 

Each 0.1-ounce, 1 1/8 inches tall by 1 1/8 inches long earbud had a black outer segment, JVC name, a blue inner segment/earpiece, an “R” or “L” etched into the rounded segment, and a black silicone ear tip. The earbud color setup matched the included charging case’s black top, and blue front/side/bottom panels. If needed, you can rotate the earbud downward or upward for added comfort.  

SOUND/TESTING

To test the sound output, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) to test the bass output. I heard a slight whining noise at 10 Hz that quickly abated but was pleased to hear the rumbling bass at 20Hz. To test the upper frequencies, I used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).

If you have read any of my previous headphone reviews, then you likely know that I follow a standard test pattern for my earbuds. With the human range of hearing at about 20Hz-20KHz, these two tests can show the limitations of both the earbuds and your ears. As we age and experience damage to our ears, we lose the ability to hear higher frequencies. I was able to hear the high pitched test tone at 15kHz, which was on par with my ability to hear. My ten and seven year old children were able to hear the tone at 17kHz, which was on par with their hearing ability. 

With range testing completed, I navigated to the Left/Right (Stereo) Sound Test and found the earbuds were appropriately programmed. For my final audiocheck.net test, I love to use the “Original Binaural Recording” on the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test page. In fact, my kids request that I turn off the lights and let each of them experience the staging features of the binaural knocking.

We then turn to a variety of 8D audio tracks from Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Disturbed “Sound of Silence,” and Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight.” If you have not experienced 8D Audio, the sounds of the singer/group swings back and forth between your ears like a pendulum. It is a neat experience and showcases some of the power of one of our most important special senses.

Pleased with the audiocheck.net tests, I turned to my typical test tracks and used Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora. I started with HD “Train Song” by Holly Cole and enjoyed the bounding bass line and sultry jazz room style song. The bass supported the vocals, and the earbuds provided an above-average staging presence. The HD version of “Bright Lights Bigger City” by CeeLo Green provided a full Poppy Synth feel and showed a well-rounded picture. I liked the bass line, the drum feature, plus the vocals, and was pleased with the overall blend.

Next, I turned to the Ultra HD version of “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from the Hobbit and appreciated the deep, somber humming verse. I was rather impressed with the deep feel and the warmth of the sound and the lack of any muddy feeling or muffling. I listened to the clashing sounds of Dark Knight Rises Joker Theme “Why So Serious,” and enjoyed the rotor wash feel of the bass line (3:20-4:00) and the build-up/crashes throughout the song.

I did experience some of the high-pitched whinings during the Joker Theme but not with the other tests. For my final test, I used the Ultra HD version of Home Free’s “Ring of Fire” to listen to the ending low F# Growl by Tim Faust.  

To test the mids and upper sounds, I used several Acapella options from Home Free HD “Sea Shanty Medly”, “Fishin’ in the Dark/Down in the Boonddocks,” Hymn Mashups from Anthem Lights, “It is Well With My Soul,” “Doxology,” and then listened to one of my favorite songs “What a day that will be” by By Gospel Plowboys.” 

I listened to “Chain Breaker” by Gaither Vocal Band, Radiohead “The National Anthem,” “Carribean Blue” by Enya, and then turned to my favorite instrumental soundtracks from Robin Hood prince of Thieves, Far and Away, and Braveheart. I was impressed with the mids/uppers, the blend, the spacing, and the tone. I liked that I was able to make out the instruments and the sounds never felt tinny or sharp/harsh.

The bass felt full and controlled, while the upper melodies carried the listener. To pay homage to my instrumental band history, I listened to several marches by John Philip Sousa “The Washington Post,” to Holst “Suite in Eb,” “Lincolnshire Posey” by Percy Grainger, and several excerpts from “Palovetsian Dances.”  I found the instrumental sounds relaxing and was rather impressed with the JVC Riptidz.

Throughout the testing process, I had to remind myself that I was using a sub $40 pair of earbuds. I turned to several fun tracks from Bill Withers, The Penguins, The Animals, The Beatles, Ben E. King, Sir Elton John, Queen, and CCR. The sound output felt quite crisp and clean from the lowest volume level on my iPhone through ~75% volume, while the touch button controls were rather intuitive. A single tap along the back of either earbud will play/pause a song, while a double tap of the left earbud will decrease the sound and a triple tap will increase the volume.

A double press of the right earbud will navigate to the next track, while a triple tap will return to the previous track. If you hold either of the earbuds for more than about 3 seconds, the devices will turn off. They did not have active noise cancellation, automatic play/pause as they are inserted/removed from the ears, but they did have SIRI assistance if you held either bud for 2 seconds.

Even though they did not have all of the features of devices like AirPods Pro and some of the more expensive earbuds, I do not feel that you would find better sound/comfort for the price. Truly, the sound and comfort matched many of the $75-100 earbuds that I have previously reviewed. I appreciated the comfortable feel, the smooth sound, and that I experienced no ear canal fatigue.  

I listened to “Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 5” on Audible, watched Corporals Corner on YouTube, “The Orville” on Hulu, “Ms. Marvel” on Disney+, “Star Trek Strange New Worlds” on Paramount+ and found no lag between the video and sound output. I was a bit shocked with the Bluetooth range and found I could place my iPhone 13 Pro Max in my living room and move upstairs to my kid’s room, downstairs into the basement, and up to the 30-foot range before cracking/popping (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP protocols).

I enjoyed the included accessory ear tips, and as noted above, found the pre-installed tips to fit my ear canals. My wife tested the earbuds as well and found that the included tips were a bit too big. She exchanged the tips for the smaller size and found that she liked the look/feel of the Riptidz. We both used the devices while running, biking, performing jumping jacks, and burpees, and found that the earbuds remained securely seated within the ear canals. 

If you are looking for an inexpensive yet comfortable pair of wireless earbuds, I would consider the JVC Riptidz. I was able to utilize the earbuds for about 2 hours a day over the last week, for a total of about ~13 hours, and never had to charge the earbuds. Interestingly, I believe that I could have used the earbuds for another week before requiring a charge.

The longest listening session was ~3 hours as a passenger on a recent roadtrip. Even though the Riptidz lack some of the more advanced features, I was impressed with the passive noise cancellation, with the fit and sound. The device may be perfect for preteens, teens, college students, adults, and may serve as the perfect pair of hiking or gym earbuds. The touch controls should allow adequate control of your smart device and the pocketable charging case design was yet another bonus.  

Overall, I would rate the JVC Riptidz earbuds at 8.8/10 for sound, 8.5/10 for comfort, 9/10 for battery life, 7/10 for accessories, and 9/10 for packaging. If you are looking for a battery-rich, sound-rich, comfortable fitting, sub $40 pair of earphones, the JVC Riptidz will not disappoint. 

For more information, visit jvc.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Gaming earbuds provides a more immersive gaming experience.

Earbuds are a hot commodity in my home. My kids have managed to lose, wash, and even destroy multiple pairs of wired and wireless earbuds throughout the years. It seems like between the four of us, we have tried virtually everything and are always looking for new options. Recently, we had the opportunity to try out the Edifier GX04 True Wireless Gaming Earbuds.

DETAILS

The Edifier GX04 True Wireless Gaming Earbuds are designed to be lightweight for on-the-go gaming. The earbuds feature a 10mm diaphragm unit and Edifier’s ergonomic technology so that they can provide longer wear for the user with less discomfort. The headphones also feature the PixArt flagship mobile game chip so that latency is minimized to 40ms. The GX04 earbuds are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 for stable connection – even in complex environments.

The Hecate H+ sound effects are specifically tuned to provide a more immersive gaming experience, too. These gaming earbuds board a 7+ hour battery life (with up to 28 hours thanks to its charging case). The case provides a 15-minute quick charge that gives the headphones 2 hours of playtime. Finally, the case has built-in RGB light bars.

Specs

• Bluetooth version: V5.2
• Bluetooth protocols: A2DP, AVCRCP, HFP. HSP
• Input: 5V == 110mA (earbuds) 5V == 1.1A(charging case)
• Impedance: 32 Q
• IP Rating: IP54
• Audio Codecs: SBC
• Playtime: Approx.7h (earbuds)+ Approx.21h (charging case)
• Driver: 010mm dynamic unit
• Sensitivity: 103dB
• Effective distance: About 10m

USER EXPERIENCE

The Edifier GX04 True Wireless Gaming Earbuds come in a compact charging case. Magnets are used in the charging case and are great for holding the headphone securely in place while charging. The GX04 earbuds were easy to pair with an iPhone.

To pair them with your device you simply remove the headphones from the charging box and you will notice that the white light will automatically turn on the right and left earphones. You will select the device named “HecateGX04 ANC” on your smartphone to pair. During the pairing process, you will notice the white and blue lights flash alternately which alerts you to the status. Once pairing is successful the lights will flash slowly.

Since I am not a gamer, I thought it would be best if my husband tried them out. He ended up using gaming earbuds to play mobile games, listen to music, and make phone calls with his iPhone.

He appreciated the different earbud sizes. He felt that once he found the right size, they fit nicely. He liked the different sound modes and felt that the earbuds had good sound quality with Active Noise Canceling. He also likes the wearing detection function. He also liked how simple the headphones were to pair with his phone. He liked the charging case and felt it wasn’t too bulky.

While he liked the concept of being able to change modes by pushing the buttons on the headphone, he felt like it was too difficult to do and hard to remember the functions. While the RGB lights may look cool and can be turned off, he felt they were unnecessary and did not really serve a purpose for the functionality of the headphones.

He also reported a short battery life while using the ANC feature. He does not feel that he was able to get 7+ hours of use between charging. However, his biggest complaint was the smallest charging cable in history that is included.

Overall, my husband liked some of the features. He liked the strong magnets to hold the headphone in place while charging and the simplicity of pairing. He wasn’t overly happy with the short charging cable but that is an easy fix.

CONCLUSION

The Edifier GX04 True Wireless Gaming Earbuds have a lot of nice features that make for an enjoyable listening experience. The earbuds have a nice charging case and good sound quality. The battery life doesn’t seem to be up to spec, but the gaming earbuds are great for on-the-go gaming. The pricing ($99.99 at the time of publishing) is fair compared to other earbuds with similar features.

For more information, visit edifer.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

Tribit Wireless Earbuds help users power through their adventures with comfortable, extra long battery life earbuds

The MoveBuds H1 Tribit Wireless Earbuds arrived in classic Tribit style.  The outer packaging measured 4 1/8 inches wide by 4 13/16 inches tall by 1 3/4 inches thick and was composed of an upper white-colored lid and a lower emergency cone orange segment.  The company name/logo was displayed atop the main panel, set within the negative space of an orange rectangle. 

I liked the splash of color and the visual contrast of the orange-on-white palette.  Other than an SKU sticker on the front panel, and a large white sticker (BTH95 Model, SKU/IC/FCC ID, support@tribit.com address, generic compatibility logo, Made In China, Black Color, USsEU/JP/UK addresses, Qualcomm aptX logo, and product manufacturing labels) on the bottom panel, the remaining surfaces provided no additional information.

I removed the thin outer plastic layer, lifted the lid, and was greeted by an attractive multilingual instruction manual.  The cover provided an ink outline of the Tribit wireless earbuds, a bright white Tribit name, the product name in white/orange, and the model number in the lower right corner.  I liked the allure of the black background and the nautilus-like nature of the ink design. 

Beneath the instruction manual, Tribit included a quick start guide: 1. Remove the thin film over the charging port, replace them with the case to charge, and then place them around your ears to enjoy music, movies, etc.  Beneath the quick-start guide, you will find two plastic cutouts.  The upper cutout contained the 2.2-ounce, 3 1/2 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 3/8 inches thick black MoveBuds H1 Tribit Wireless Earbuds Charging Case.  The lower rectangular cutout contained a 2 13/16 inches long by 1 3/8 inches tall by 9/16 inches thick accessory box with 22 1/4 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable and five sets of extra ear tips.

I lifted the charging case lid, removed each of the Tribit wireless earbuds, pulled the thin plastic cover away from each of the charging posts, replaced them into the case, and closed the lid.  I removed the USB-A to USB-C cable, plugged it into a 5V/1.5A charging block and the port on the back of the charging case.  I turned to the English section of the multi-lingual instruction manual (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese) and perused the six pages. 

The first panel recommended downloading the Tribit App (review to follow), listed the packaging contents, and demonstrated the on/off function when opening/closing the lid.  The second panel relayed the Bluetooth pairing process and a how-to-wear segment.  The third panel demonstrated how to use/change the ear tips, and covered the button functionality.  I liked the layout of this panel and the breakdown by click for each of the Tribit wireless earbuds. 

A single press of either earbud will allow you to play/pause music or answer a call.  A double click of the left earbud will end a call or move to the previous track.  The right earbud will proceed to the next track or end a call.  A triple-click of the left earbud will activate Siri, while the right earbud will activate the ambient mode.  Holding the left earbud will decrease the volume or reject a call, while the right earbud will increase the volume or reject a call.  If you hold either of the Tribit wireless earbuds for six seconds, it will deactivate the single side earbud.  If you hold either of the Tribit wireless earbuds for more than 10 seconds, both earbuds will turn off.  

After about an hour, all of the LEDs along the front of the case illuminated.  I lifted the lid, navigated to Settings on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, then to Bluetooth, and when I selected MoveBuds H1 from the list, a female voice announced “Pairing,” “Connected.” I quickly ran through the above button combinations and found the touch panel to be quite sensitive. 

Each earbud had an “L” or “R” etched onto the inner surface of the loop, just between the two charging posts.  The ear hook expanded toward the main body of the 3/4 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches thick body segment.  The outer ribbed surface had a scaled-like appearance and provided a refreshing touch-feel.  I liked that the included medium-sized ear tips created a comfortable, secure fit within the opening of my ear canal. 

The ear hook wrapped comfortably around the helix of my ear and created one of the most secure fits that I have experienced thus far.  Although this is a far step away from the sleek look of some of the trendy brands, I had no issue with the fit of the device.  I removed the ear tips, tried the size above and below the included medium tips, and returned to the preinstalled medium-sized tips.  With five different pairs of ear tips for the Tribit wireless earbuds, you should have no problem finding the Goldilocks fit.

Once paired, I moved to the audiocheck.net website and tested the Tribit wireless earbuds with the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz).  Starting at 10 Hz, a male announcer will vocalize each 10Hz increase in sound.  With the typical range for human hearing at ~20Hz-20kHz, a good pair of earbuds should present sound starting at 20Hz.  The MoveBuds H1 Tribit wireless earbuds produced bass at 20Hz but did not provide a full rumbling sound/feel until closer to 30Hz. 

I tried the ambient mode, the non-ambient mode, repeated the test at 50% volume and 75% volume, and found there was only a marginal difference in sound output.  After trying several ear tips, and repositioning the Tribit wireless earbuds within my canal, I never felt that “wow” bass factor with this test. Next, I turned to the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) and like the above test, the announcer called out each value starting at 20 kHz. 

I was able to hear the high-pitched whirring sound at 15kHz, which is on par with my hearing.  I have had formalized hearing testing and found that my hearing is above average for my age.  Listening to sounds >85dB, working in noisy environments, shooting firearms, mowing yards, etc., can lead to earlier than normal hearing loss.  Protect your hearing because when it is gone, it is gone!

With the bass/high-frequency testing completed, I navigated to the Left/Right/Center test to evaluate the programming.  I was pleased to find that each of the channels was appropriately labeled.  Lastly, I utilized the “Real Thing” Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test for spacing/staging features. 

If you have not used a spacing feature before, this test may catch you a bit off guard due to the binaural recording (microphones placed at ears for recording directly what your ears should hear. Based on this technology, the sound seems to move around your head and you can imagine the location, direction, and position of the sounds. 

I repeated the tests on the Tribit wireless earbuds in ambient mode as well as the ambient-off mode and again found minimal difference in quality.  Grab a pair of headphones and listen to the above test.  This is one of my favorite tests.  In fact, my children regularly request to turn the lights to have a little scare. 

With the above testing complete, I turned to the streaming services on my iPhone 13 Pro Max.  Starting with Amazon Music Unlimited, I listened to clashing/building sounds of The Dark Knight Joker Theme “Why So Serious.”  My favorite segment of this song occurs between the ~3:30-4:00 mark with a build-up of sounds, then a drop-off, and then a call-response bass sound between the two Tribit wireless earbuds. 

When the bass is fully supported, this will provide a feeling of a helicopter rotor wash.  Unfortunately, I would give the bass feel a 8/10 for the above tests.  I truly love the heavy bass call/response in that section, but I missed the climactic build, and then the crash to bass.  I next turned to the somber/bass-centric ballad “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from The Hobbit. 

Again, I felt that the bass lacked the tactile feel that I have experienced with other devices like the AirPods Pro.  I turned to Apple Music, repeated the above songs, and then tried out the jazzy feel of “Train song” from Holly Cole.  I liked the bass line, felt the sound was okay but missed the feel of the heavy bass.  When listening to the last f# growl in “Ring of Fire” by Homefree, I experienced the same lack of depth.  

Even though the bass left me wanting more from the Tribit wireless earbuds, I felt that the mids and upper sounds were well blended and crisp/clear without sounding tinny or harsh.  Using Amazon/Apple/Spotify, I listened to several instrumental pieces (Holst Suite in Eb, Jupiter, Pevensey Castle, Palovetsian Dances, Lincolnshire Posey). 

I then listened to the Braveheart, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Far and Away Soundtracks.  I liked the blend, the fullness of these sounds and felt that Tribit did a great job with these frequencies.  Like the above tests, I tried Ambient mode and felt it neither added to, nor detracted from the experience.  To further test the sound placement, I listened to “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa and Enya’s“Caribbean Blue” from Enya.

Once I had completed my testing tracks, I turned to Audible and listened to “He Who Fights With Monsters” for several hours.  I rested supine and on my ear upon my pillow.  The design successfully allowed for prolonged listening without fatigue/pain.  When I tired of audible, I turned back to Amazon Prime Unlimited to listen to a variety of A Capella songs from Pentatonix, Peter Hollens, and to the Pitch Perfect Soundtrack. 

Additionally, I turned to several of my favorite comfort tracks: Alabama, Star is born Soundtrack, Bella Ciao from Money Heist, Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack, Rocketman Soundtrack, “Seven Spanish Angels” with Willie Nelson and Ray Charles, and Prince’s Purple Rain.  I liked the feel for the pop, R+B, and country/folk styles, but wanted more bass support.  

I searched for the iOS App Store Tribit App and downloaded the two-star application.  The main screen displayed the Tribit name along the top of an orange panel.  For the first use, you will need to select “Sign Up” along the bottom of the page. 

The second panel requested that I input the region, email, then selected “Receive Security Code,” and entered the password (letters and numbers only).  I selected the “+” icon along the top right of the panel and found that the Stormbox and XSound devices were the only two listed. 

I selected “Device not listed?” at the bottom of the panel and received an apology note that other devices will be supported in the future. However, when I looked closer, there were speaker and earbud icons along the top of the panel. I tapped the earbud icon, “MoveBuds”, then Tribit MoveBuds H1, and followed the panels.  

The main panel recommended upgrading the firmware to v0.3.6.  I removed the Tribit wireless earbuds from the case and allowed the update to occur over about a five-minute period.  The App showed the left/right earbud and their remaining power.  I tapped the equalizer along the bottom fright and found eight equalizer settings: Default EQ Sound, Customized, Bass, Rock, Popular, Jazz, Rap, Classical. 

I repeated the above music tests with each of the presets and did not appreciate much difference between the settings.  If you double-tap the options, you will see the sound settings and increased/decreased db settings.  Again, I do not feel that the App added much to the utility of the device. 

When I was done listening to music, I turned to Netflix to watch an episode of Lost in Space and Vikings, then to Paramount+ to watch Halo, and Picard.  I then watched an episode of Vox Machine on Amazon Prime Video, before watching Spiderman No Way Home on Movies Anywhere. 

I liked the hanging style of the headphones, the comfortable low fatigue design, and the lack of sound leak.  The IPX8 design meant that I could use the devices while running, jogging, jumping rope, as well as showering.  It was unfortunate that I did not have access to a pool over the last weekend, as I would have tested the devices while swimming a few laps. 

I liked the button sensitivity, and felt that phone calls were rather crisp indoors and outdoors.  I did not like the hold-button volume control, as this was rather insensitive compared to devices that assign volume control to a single button press.  

To summarize the overall experience, I would give the headphones an 8.5/10 for comfort, 8/10 for sound, 10/10 for battery life, 8.5/10 for accessories, and 8/10 for packaging.  If I had input on the version 2.0, I would include a USB-C to USB-C cable instead of USB-A to USB-C, a drawstring carry bag, and with the $75-$100 range, would add noise-canceling mode. 

I liked the IPX8 waterproof features, the robust/secure Bluetooth 5.2 connection, the passthrough ambient sound mode, and the AAC/SBC/aptX codecs.  The 14+ hour battery life plus >48 hours in the charging case may be one of the best on the market.  In fact, I was quite surprised with the battery life, with the ability to charge the earbuds in ~90 minutes, and the charging case in ~120 minutes. 

The Tribit wireless earbuds were comfortable, fit well into the ear canal, and the included ear tips will provide comfort for various ear canal sizes.  Similar devices on the market have provided Game modes, Active Noise Cancelling mode, Ambient mode, changes in latency, Voice assistant activity, plus Bluetooth 5+, and all within the price point range.

Learn more about the MoveBuds H1 Tribit Wireless Earbuds.
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App Review to Follow

Wireless earbuds provide Hi-Res Sound plus comfortable fit for hours of enjoyment.

Even though we live in a contrarian society, I believe we can all agree that the pandemic has been rough. With long hours at the hospital, forced closures, absent store shelves, and even Amazon shipping delays, I relied on streaming services for entertainment and comfort music. Most recently, I have relied upon Edifier earbuds to fill my limited downtime. The EDIFIER NeoBuds Pro arrived in an attractive shimmering silver 7 1/4 inches wide by 7 3/8 inches tall by 2 3/4 inches wide retail hanging style package.  The main panel listed the edifier name and logo atop the panel and a Hi-Res Audio Wireless logo along the top corner.  Along the bottom of the panel, you will find the NeoBuds Pro name with information about the true wireless stereo earbuds, and active noise canceling abilities.  The main focus of the panel was the raised, glossy, photograph-quality images of the earbuds and the charging case.  If you thought the black font upon the silvery base looked sharp, then the deep black colors, the vibrant chrome, the raised texture, and the red LED accent would take it to an entirely different level.  The panel looked futuristic, robotic, and definitely gave off a Terminator Steelbook vibe.  The raised earbud side view appeared like eyes, and the red LED line along the front of the charging case took on an ominous mouth appearance.  Needless to say, I was impressed with the presentation. 

I loved that Edifier chose to leave the cover panel as a visual shot at the consumer, instead of bogging the surface down with all of the details of the product.  Instead, the top panel provided the black hanging tab and eight black-ink product icons: 1. Hybrid ANC. 2. Electronic Crossover. 3. Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers. 4. Three-Mc Call Noise Cancellation. 5. Ambient Sound Mode. 6. Quick Charge. 7. 24 Hour Playtime. 8. Anti-Bacteria Ear Tips.  The bottom panel listed product manufacturing labels, the product contents (earbuds, case, x7 tips, charging cable, carry bag, instruction manual), warning labels, EDF200051 model number, a product QR code for the Edifier Connect App, a few trademark remarks (Bluetooth/Knowles), and a few product barcodes.  

The rear panel of the outer silver slipcover proved to be rather busy.  The company and product names were easily identified along the top of the panel but the remainder of the panel was divided into multilingual (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese) bulleted product feature and specifications sections.  The features included: “1. Hi-Res Audio TWS headphones with low latency-high definition codec for high-resolution sound. 2. Electronic Crossover technology with one balanced armature (Knowles) and one composite diaphragm dynamic driver for excellent audio performance. 3. Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation Technology for Immersive Sound. 4. Clear and clean voice in phone calls with three microphones. 5. 24-hour battery life with charging case. 6. Quick Charge of ten minutes for one hour of listening. 7. IP54 rated dust and water resistance. 8. Personalize your experience with the EDIFIER CONNECT APP.”  The specifications included: Bluetooth V5.0,  A2DP/AVRCP/HVP profiles, LHDC/AAC/SBC decoding, playback time 5 hours +15 ANC on or 6 hours +16 ANC off,  1 hour charging time for earbuds and or charging case, 5V/200mA input for earbuds, 5V/1A input charging case, 20Hz-40Khz frequency response (humans can hear ~20Hz-20KHz), and 24-ohm impedance.   Although I cannot attest to the quality of the additional languages, I was pleased with the quality and prose of the English section. 

I removed the outer slipcover and found a lighter grey internal box with a “25th Edifier Since 1996” logo atop the cover.  I gripped the small grey pull tab, separated the magnetic attachment between the front panel and box, and lifted the lid of the product.  The inner layer of the box was lined with a black ribbed foam layer.  When I looked into the lower section of the box, I was impressed with the professional presentation of the earbud case and the plastic lid over the color-coded earbud accessory case.  Having watched Iron Man 3 again recently, this view reminded me a bit of Tony Starks Hall of Armors.  I utilized the thin nylon strap along the right panel and lifted out the 7 inches square by 3/4 inches thick cardboard/foam earbud case/tip display board.  The lower layer provided a centralized 3 inches wide by 3 1/8 inches tall cutout and a lower 4 3/8 inches long by 1 1/2 inches tall cutout.  The top cutout contained several square-shaped accessories (A silvery Cardboard 25th insert like the cover, NeoBuds Pro Quick Start Guide, Edifier warning pamphlet, a larger instruction manual, and FCC compliance packet), and a hidden cutout for the 20 1/4 inches long USB-A to USB-c cable. The lower cutout provided a rolled 4 inches wide by 4 7/8 inches tall accessory drawstring pouch.  I loved the outer nylon texture, the inner beige microfiber layer, the stitching, the red EDIFIER tag, and the overall design of the accessory.  Even before testing the earbuds or listening to the sound output, I was excited by the outer packaging and the overall product presentation.  The company truly took notice of the customer and provided a quality show. 

Prior to using the earbuds, I plugged the USB-C end of the charging cable into the earbud case, the USB-A end into a standard 5V/1.5A output USB-A charging brick and perused the Quick Start Guide.  The manual successfully detailed the pairing and reset processes, provided information about the Edifier Connect App (Review to follow soon), and provided a useful detailed panel listing the controls.  Similar to my recent experience with the Edifier TWS NB2 Pro earbuds, the NeoBuds Pro contained several advanced modes but lacked many of the simple controls.  As an example, the device did not have a programmed single press or a method to activate the voice assistant.  During music playback, a double click of the right earbud will play/pause the selection, and a triple-click will advance to the next track.  A double-click of the left earbud will change the mode between High Noise Cancellation mode and Ambient Sound modes, and a triple-click will activate/deactivate Game mode.  The quick start guide did a great job at providing the basic instructions for the end-user.  I liked the ink outline drawings, the instructional icons, and the instruction list along the bottom of the panels. 

The main user manual provided a two-page multi-lingual (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Ukrainian, Greek, Russian, Turkish, Arabic SA, Hebrew, and Chinese) experience. The first panel detailed how to power on/off the earbuds by opening the lid, how to place the earbuds into the case, the pairing process, and the USB-C charging process (5V/200mA earbud charging and 5V/1A charging case).  The second panel detailed the TWS pairing process, a useful description of the button control combinations, and a note about the mode switch options.  Interestingly, one of the bulleted instructions suggested that the user could change the button functions through the Edifier App (Review to follow).  I was disappointed that the native programming did not support volume control, previous track, or voice assistant.  Additionally, I was unsure why the Edifier TWS NB2 Pro earbuds allowed for in-ear detection (like the AirPods Pro) and a unique Spatial audio mode when their cost was less than the ~$129 NeoBuds Pro.  Either way, the system provided several advanced features but missed out on some of the more basic options.

Once the earbud charging case was full (~1 hour), I lifted the lid of the charging case and appreciated the homage to K.I.T.T. (Knight Rider) with the thin red LED along the front of the case.  I pressed the small central button for 3 seconds, navigated to Settings on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, then to Bluetooth, and I selected the NeoBuds Pro from the list.  Like the recently reviewed Edifier TWS NB2 Pro Earbuds, the Edifier NeoBuds Pro played a dual-ascending tone to alert the user that they had paired.  I gripped the 1 3/8 inches tall by 1-inch wide by 1-inch thick earbud, noted the “R” and “L” on the earbud/earbud case, and placed the tip into the appropriate ear.  I was quite pleased with the pre-attached green tip, which was roughly in the middle of the included color-coded tip sizes (purple, blue, teal, GREEN, yellow, orange, red).  I pressed the teal, yellow, and then green tips into my ear, rotated the earbud into place, and compared the various sizes for comfort. I found the pre-attached green tip to be the Goldilocks fit for my ear.  Each of the earbuds had a dark grey outer wing, a larger top microphone, a smaller lower microphone, and an internal dark black section.  I enjoyed the dark color palette, the fit, and the overall appearance of the earbuds and case.  Thanks to the plethora of tip options, I believe everyone should be able to find a properly sealed earbud fit.  I appreciated the Green earbud tip and found that they remained securely affixed to my ear, despite jumping, running, turning my head side-to-side, chewing, yawning, jumping rope, performing jumping jacks, and several additional activities. 

To test the sound output for the NeoBuds Pro, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran through my typical audio test tracks.  To start, I selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) from the test panel and was excited to hear the rumbling bass at 20Hz.  I repeated the test in Normal mode, Ambient sound mode, High-Frequency Sound mode, and Game mode.  I was very happy with the sound output and found that the sound was most crisp and full while in High-Frequency Sound mode and Game mode.  For the second test, I utilized the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz). Like the above Low-Frequency response test, the High-Frequency test sounded best in High-Frequency Sound mode and Game mode.  I was able to hear the high-pitched ringing noise at 15kHz, which was on par with my ability to hear.  As we age, we lose the ability to hear higher frequency sounds.  Unfortunately, firing weapons, utilizing yard equipment, machinery, and other high decibel exposures can lead to barotrauma and to damaged hearing.  Protect your hearing, avoid listening to sound >85dB for prolonged periods of time, and use the appropriate gear for activities.  Pleased with the 20Hz-15kHz frequency range, I moved forward to my last two audiocheck.net tests.  The Left/Right/Center test showed the channels were appropriately programmed; the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test “Original Binaural Recording” knocking sounds showed an amazing soundstage and position sense.  I repeated the test in Game mode, in High-Frequency and Ambient Sound modes.  Like the above Bass/High-Frequency tests, the best-balanced sound was observed in High-Frequency Sound mode and Game mode.  

I finished the above tests and turned to my favorite sound test tracks.  To evaluate the bass, I listened to Holly Cole Train song and enjoyed the sultry Jazz Club vibe of the bass guitar. I added Holly Cole’s version of I can See Clearly Now and enjoyed the deeper tone to her voice. I listened to the Dark Knight Rises Joker Theme “Why So Serious” and enjoyed the helicopter rotor sound of the call-response between the three and four-minute mark.  I like how the high clashing sounds combine with a full/deep bass rumble and build throughout the song.  Additionally, I listened to the deep throaty, somber sounds of “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, and the synth-pop, bass combined with bright bouncing sounds of “Bright Lights Bigger City” by CeeLo Green.  Lastly, I enjoyed Tim Faust’s low growl at the end of Ring of Fire by Home Free.  I preferred the combination Game mode/High-Frequency Sound mode, but found the Ambient Sound mode necessary to listen for family/wife/background instructions.  I loved the fullness of the bass and found the songs were well supported throughout low through high volume.  I never felt the sounds to be muddy, distorted, or dull.  Instead, I felt that the base Edifier NeoBuds Pro bass settings were well-programmed for R&B, Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, and more instrumental sounds.  

To test the mid and upper sounds, I used the Far and Away Soundtrack, Robinhood Prince of Thieves Soundtrack, and the Braveheart Soundtracks. Additionally, I listened to several Sousa Marches, Holst Suite in Eb, and several instrumental pieces, as a bit of nostalgia for the days when I played Euphonium. I liked the blend, the staging, the clarity, and the tone.  I listened to “Caribbean Blue,” by Enya, Radiohead “National Anthem,” “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa, and several A Capella songs from Pentatonix, Home Free, and Gospel Plowboys.  Lastly, I turned to YouTube and watched Queen at Live Aid, George Michael’s Somebody to Love, and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me.  I utilized Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube to listen to various songs.  I then turned to Movies Anywhere, HBO Max, Paramount +, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube to watch several programs.  I watched a few episodes of Cobra Kai, Lost in Space, Season 2 of Money Heist, DC Peacemaker, Hotel Transylvania Transformania, and the Wheel of Time.  I was pleased to find no lag between the audio and visual signals. This was a bit different than expected as many earbuds lag on YouTube. This was not the case with the Neobuds, however.  As noted above, the tests were completed in Game mode and High-Frequency Sound modes.  In summary, the sound quality was above average and felt/sounded great.  I enjoyed sturdy bass support and a great blend of sounds throughout all levels of volume.  The sounds never felt muddy and were not tinny at higher volumes.  I look forward to testing the EQ functions within the app (review to follow).

The battery within the Edifier NeoBuds Pro allowed me to listen for at least two hours per day over the last seven days.  The website promised 5-6 hours + 18 hours more from the charging case, for a total of ~24 hours.  I recently took a trip from western KY to just outside of Nashville.  With traffic, the trip lasted about 3.5 hours.  I was pleased to note that the earbuds were able to provide an enjoyable Audible experience without any ear fatigue.  I arrived at my destination, replaced the earbuds into the charging case, and after two hours drove the ~3 hours back home.  Since I was the driver on the way to our destination, I utilized the Ambient Sound mode.  As the passenger on the way back, I utilized the High-Frequency Sound mode.  The earbuds fit snugly within my ear canal and caused no irritation or fatigue.  I loved the sensitivity of the touch controls, but missed out on the ability to control the volume with the earbuds.  With an IP54 water-resistant rating, I would not use these near a pool/water, but they will be sweat and rain-resistant.  I loved the Game Mode, the strong bass, the blend, the easy transition between modes, the design, the color, and the earbud charging case.  

Overall, the Edifier NeoBuds Pro exceeded my expectations; they were comfortable, attractive, and sounded great.  I was impressed that they included the eartip accessory case, and I loved the ability to charge the case via USB-C.  The noise-canceling mode did not create the pressure/buzz feel that you get with some earbuds, and the Ambient sound mode is one of my new favorite safety modes.  I loved the ability to use the earbuds in solo mode, but wish that they included in-ear detection like the Edifier TWS NB2 Pro.  I would have preferred the device to have native volume control, but it does appear that this may be possible through the App.  I will check out the App and provide a review on the Edifier Control App in the coming days.  If you are looking for quality battery life combined with clear full sound, and a comfortable fit, look no further than the Edifier NeoBuds Pro, the first True Wireless Stereo earbuds to achieve Hi-Res Audio certification.

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Quality Sound, advanced features and comfortable fit

The Edifier TWS NB2 Pro Earbuds arrived in an attractive 5 inches square by 2 3/4 inches thick hanging style retail package. The white outer slipcover contrasted beautifully with the black plastic hanging tab on the top panel and the silver/black font on the cover/bottom/back panels.    Starting with the cover, you will find the EDIFIER name along the top in shimmering silver-metallic font, the TWS NB2 Pro Name “True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation” along the lower section, and eight silver-colored descriptive product icons: 1. Hybrid ANC. 2. Dual-Mic Noise Cancellation. 3. Spatial Audio. 4. Quick Charge. 5. AAC Audio Decoding. 6. Role-Swapping. 7. IP54 Dust and Waterproof. 8. 32 Hour Playtime. Despite the allure of the silver/black font upon the clean white background, the main focal point was the slightly raised, glossy,  2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall image of the earbuds between the title/product name. In addition, the bottom panel provided a QR code link to the EDIFIER Connect App, product manufacturing labels, cautions regarding prolonged sound/damage with higher decibels, warnings that the charging/use times may vary based on various factors, and the eartips may need to be changed to improve the fit of the setup. Finally, the panel provided information about the color of the earbuds (black), FCC statement, the EDF200026 model, Made in China information, and a short statement about the Bluetooth trademark.

The rear panel proved to be a bit busier than the front panel. You will find the product name along the upper left, a small image of the charging case/earbuds along the top right, and a pentalingual product features section arranged into English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese: 1. True Wireless Earbuds with Hybrid active noise cancellation technology. 2. Dual-Mic Noise cancellation for clear phone calls. 3. Three-dimensional audio technology provides natural sound. 4. Total 32-hour playback time per full charge (2 hours after 15-minute quick charge). 5. User Detection: Music automatically played/paused when earbuds are inserted/removed. 7. Ambient Sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds such as traffic or flight announcements. 8. Personalize your setting and find more via the EDIFIER Connect App. Lastly, Along the bottom of the rear panel, you will see one last multilingual section detailing the A2DP/AVRCP/HFP Bluetooth Profile, 20Hz-20kHz Frequency Response, 94+/-3db sound pressure level, 24 Ohm impedance, input 5v/1A, ANC active playback time of 7 hours from the earbuds + 18 hours from the charging case, ANC inactive playback time of 9 hours + 23 hours from the charging case, and the list of box contents.

I slid the outer slipcover from around the inner black textured box and appreciated the subtle black EDIFIER name etched into the surface. Next, I lifted the lid of the clam-style closure box and found a 4 1/8 inches square by 5/8 inches thick accessory box within the upper foam cutout. The lower foam section contained the 1.8 ounces, 2 5/8 inches long by 2 1/8 inches wide by 1 3/8 inches thick earbud charging case. Before testing the earbuds, I removed the product accessories from the grey accessory box and used the included 20 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-C charging cable to fully charge the case. While charging, I perused the included multilingual instruction manual (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Ukrainian, Greek, Russian, Sanscrit, Hebrew, and Chinese), I set aside the bag with small/large ear tips, and evaluated the 4 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall black drawstring carry bag with small red Edifier tag. The soft inner brown-colored microsuede lining provided an excellent protective surface for the earbud charging case plus the charging cable. Additionally, the carry bag added a nice protective layer against scuffs, scratches, and surface marring.  

After approximately thirty minutes of charging via a standard Apple charging Brick, I lifted the case’s lid and noticed the small green LED between the earbuds. I pressed the central button until the light changed to a flashing blue/green color (3 seconds) and removed the 1 5/16 inches tall by 1/2 inches wide by 1 3/16 inches thick earbuds from the case. Each earbud had a silver-colored trapezoidal segment attached to the black earpiece and rubberized ear tip. The inner surface of the earbud had two metallic charging points and was marked with either an “L” or “R.”  I placed the earbuds into my ear, rotated them into position, and then picked up my iPhone 13 Pro Max. With the phone in hand, I navigated to Settings, to Bluetooth, then selected “Edifier TWS NB2 Pro” from the list. The earbuds played a dual-tone ascending pattern and the connection was complete. Next, I repositioned the right earbud into my right ear, the left earbud into the left ear, and found that the earbuds did not seal well and did not have the proper fit. I removed the medium-sized tip by gripping the rubberized tip and pulling outward and then tested the small and large tips. The large tips fit better within my ear canal and prevented the displacement of the earbuds with movement. I tested them with jumping, jumping jacks, jogging, jumping rope, bob and weaving, chewing, yawning, and talking. I loved that the earbuds remained securely within my ear canals, and I experienced no canal fatigue.

The button layout of the Edifier NB2 Pro proved to be too basic and non-inclusive. A double-tap of the left earbud switched between Noise Reduction On/Off, Ambient Sound modes, while a triple touch switched between game mode, normal mode, and spatial audio modes. A double-tap of the right earbud allowed the track to play/pause, while a triple-tap of the right earbud progressed to the next track. During a call, a double press of either the left or the right earbud will allow you to answer/end a call. The earbuds did not have a method to move to the previous track, to increase/decrease the volume, to deny a call, or to activate the voice assistant. I was rather surprised that these features were not present and found no information within the limited instruction manual, or online. I could not understand why the earbuds had active noise reduction, ambient sound modes, gaming mode, and included in-ear detection like the Apple AirPods Pro but lacked simple volume control. In fact, I was quite surprised with the sensitivity of the in-ear detection and with the auto-off noise cancellation when only a single earbud was removed. I feel that the company succeeded with multiple advanced features but fell flat on doing the small things correctly. It did not matter that I loved the fit of the earbuds, and the sound was quite good, when the utility was limited.

I navigated to the audiocheck.net website to test the sound output and ran through the various audio tests. I selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) and felt/heard the rumbling bass at 20Hz. I repeated this test in normal mode, spatial audio, and game mode. The spatial audio mode had an abnormal siren/sin wave sound to the test, while the game mode added significantly more bass. I was not sure if the sin wave sound was a programming problem or if it was a connection issue between my iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Edifier earbuds. Thus, I forgot the device on my phone, returned the earbuds to the case, pressed the central button for 2 seconds, and then walked through the pairing process with my iPad Pro 11”. When I repeated the above test, I found the same result suggesting that the spatial audio feature was the issue and not the connection. Interestingly, the spatial audio feature sounded great while listening to Amazon Music, Apple Music, and while watching movies. I re-paired my iPhone to the Edifier earbuds and moved on to the second test, the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz). Unfortunately, I found the same issues as above when moving between the three modes. The spatial audio mode did not play nicely with the audio tech website, and I was relegated to using the game and normal modes.  

If you have not used the audiocheck.net website, I invite you to check them out. When using the above tests, a male announcer will state each 10Hz raise and 10kHz decline, respectively. I found that I could hear the high-pitched ringing tone at 15kHz, which was on par with mh ability to hear. As we get older and experience various sources of barotrauma, we suffer pressure/sound ear damage and lose our higher frequency acuity first. Unfortunately, this damage often goes unnoticed until it is much too late. With the above tests completed, I turned to the Left/Right/Center test and found the left/right earbud programming was correctly programmed. For the final audiocheck.net audio test, I turned off the lights, activated the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test, and listened to the “Original Binaural Recording” knocking sounds. I repeated the test with spatial audio, game mode, and normal mode and found that the spatial audio mode added a layer of realism that was not present with the other two modes. To confirm this, I listened to several 7D and 8D audio tracks like Disturbed “Sound of Silence” 8D, Pentatonix “Hallelujah” 8D, and Enya “Only Time 8D.”  The sounds moving around the head paired wonderfully with the spatial audio effect.  

With the above audiocheck.net tests completed, I turned to my typical test tracks. To evaluate the bass, I listened to the Dark Knight Rises Joker Theme “Why So Serious” and enjoyed the bass call-response at the 3-4 minute mark. The cacophony of sounds continued to rise and culminated in a helicopter rotor wash feel. For additional tests, I utilized the somber “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, the bright city feel from CeeLo Greens “Bright Lights Bigger City,” and the sultry bounding bass line from the “Train Song” by Holly Cole. I preferred the spatial audio and game modes to the normal mode and felt that Edifier provided above-average bass support. To test the mid and upper sounds, I used the Braveheart Soundtrack, Far and Away Soundtrack, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtrack, and “Caribbean Blue,” by Enya. Next, I navigated to Amazon Music and listened to Ring of Fire and other songs from Home Free, Hallelujah/Mary Did you Know/Little Drummer Boy, and a few other offerings from Pentantonix.  

I was pleased with the bass support and the blend throughout all levels of volume. The sounds never felt muddy and were not tinny at higher volumes. I found that the spatial audio and game modes worked well for nearly all tests and that the normal mode felt a bit redundant. Personally, I would have preferred that the company had added more touch controls and eliminated game mode/normal modes. The spatial audio mode could have been the only needed mode for the device. I liked the staging and found that the earbuds provided a clear image of the instruments in space. The noise-canceling mode added a great deal of external noise reduction and proved useful while riding shotgun in my wife’s Nissan NV on our recent trip to visit my parents. I was able to listen to several of my holiday favorites, without being drowned out by background/external noise. Despite the limited touch controls, I still used the earbuds to listen to audible books and to watch movies on Vudu, Paramount+, HBOMax, and Netflix. I watched the first episode of Cobra Kai Season 4 and attempted to watch movies with YouTube. Each of the streaming sites paired nicely with the earbuds except for YouTube. Like many of the reviews I have completed, there seems to be an audio-visual sync issue with YouTube that the other sites do not have. 

Overall, I enjoyed the sound, the blend, and the quality of the audio. Once I changed the ear tips, I experienced a more comfortable fit and found that I enjoyed the NB2 Pro style, the size, the 0.2-ounce weight, and the shape. I found that I could listen for several hours without needing to recharge the earbuds, and I could assume a side-lying position on my pillow without causing any pain/discomfort. The in-ear style earbuds relied upon a quality seal without add-on ear wings to wrap over the ears. For this reason, I was thankful that the company included the extra sizes of earn tips. The praises did not end there. I was surprised that I could use the earbuds for several hours each day in spatial mode and noise-canceling mode. I found the 7-9 hour battery life to be appropriately represented, and the additional power within the charging case allowed for more than 3 hours per day over an entire week. Most days, I would listen for 30-60 minutes, replace the buds into the case, and then remove them later in the day for another round of fun. With quick charging, long battery life in both the earbuds and the charging case, you can expect the NB2 Pro to be ready when you need them. Lastly, the water-resistant claim should have said sweat-resistant instead of water-resistant. With an IPX5 rating, you cannot swim with them or shower in them. 

To summarize my experience, the sound, the fit, and the quality proved to be above average. I liked the outer packaging, the hanging tab style design, the outer slipcover, and the internal layout. The charging case, the included carry bag, the USB-A to USB-C cable, and the accessory tips were all positive features of the device. I was surprised with the advanced in-ear detection, the quality of the microphones, the active noise canceling, and the ambient noise mode. However, the limited instruction manual support and the lack of button features significantly affected my view of the device. I was not too fond of the instruction manual and the lack of information, nor did I like the limited button functions. The case does charge via USB-C, which was a big plus. Although I was not concerned with the lack of wireless charging, some may elicit negative feelings. I loved the ability to use the earbuds in solo mode and the lack of flashing external LED. If I were to create an upgraded version of the NB2 Pro, it would include volume adjustment, previous track selection, and voice assistant functions. We may simply have to kick it old school and control our earbuds with our smartphones until then.

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Earbud Trifecta: Quality Sound, Comfortable Fit, and at a fair Price.

Even though I have several Apple products, I am not averse to navigating away from the brand.   When it comes to my MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, I have not yet found suitable replacement options.  The AirPods Pro has proven to be a different saga, however, as I have developed a love-hate relationship with them.  Despite my love for the sound and features, I have been less than excited about the fit within my ears.  To date, I have never owned a pair of designer sunglasses and owned only a single pair of Bose over-ear headphones after receiving them as a gift.  Most of my gear remains nontrendy, non-big-box, big-store, and without the catchy logo.  Thanks to my availability to test out dozens of devices from a variety of companies, I have grown to trust several groups. One of those groups is Tribit.  Thus, as many look to the big-box, name-brand companies this holiday season, I will look to the competitor.  

The Tribit FlyBuds C2 True Wireless Earbuds arrived in a 4 1/8 inches wide by 4 7/8 inches tall by 1 7/8 inches thick hanging style retail package.  The cover panel provided an emergency cone orange rectangle along the top left with “Tribit Unleash The True Sound” in the negative space.  Like other Tribit gear, I have come to enjoy the splashes of orange upon the sterile white backdrop.  Just beneath the Tribit icon, you will find the FyBuds C2 title in large bold black font.  When you divert your gaze below the product name, you will find a side view of the earphones and a front view of the earbud charging case.  I liked the way in which the bold black imagery seemed to float upon the white background and the use of gradient colors to provide added depth.  Interestingly, the white background reminded me a little of the Wonka Vision scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  Along the bottom of the panel you will find an orange-colored “True Wireless Earbuds The Key to Wireless Movement,” and a black Qualcomm aptX icon.  

The top panel provided an opaque hanging tab and listed the Tribit name in grey.  The bottom panel provided four product-descriptive icons: 4 Mic, Playback Time 8H, CVC 8, and Superior sound.  The orange-colored rear panel added quite a bit of color to the experience.  Along the top of the panel, you will find the product name in white font and then the BTH96 model number, FCC ID, SKU, IC, BLACK COLOR, 2402-2480MHz, and a QR code. The middle section of the rear panel provided information about device importation, product manufacturing labels, and information about Qualcomm aptX technology.  Lastly, you will find QR codes that link to the website and Facebook, compatibility listings (computer/tablet/phone), as well as listings of the support@tribit.com and www.tribit.com websites. 

To access the earbuds, I slid the outer slipcover away from the inner box and lifted the white lid with the orange Tribit logo.  Within the orange-colored lower half of the box, you will find a large white-colored multilingual Tribit FlyBuds C2 instruction manual.  Beneath the manual, you will find a black plastic layer with cutouts for the 1.6-ounce black Tribit case, and for the small black accessory box that contained the 12-inches long UBS-A to USB-C charging cable.  I removed the accessory box from within the form-fitting plastic cutouts, and subsequently the charging case.  I removed the semi-translucent plastic wrap from the charging case, lifted the lid, and then removed the earbuds, and then removed the thin plastic film that blocked the charging prongs.  I plugged the USB-A cable into a standard 2.4A USB-A dock and then the USB-C end into the charging case.  As the device charged, I perused the instruction manual. 

The multilingual instruction booklet was broken into English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean sections.  I turned to the English sections and found the first two panels depicted the product contents/parts, charging case/how to charge, how to wear the earbuds, and how to place them back into the charging case.   The next section provided information about powering on/off the device, about Bluetooth Connections (simply open the lid to activate the Bluetooth pairing feature), and listed a convenient Touch Control Instructions table (PlayPause with a double-tap of either earbud, advance to the next track with a triple tap, increase the volume with a touch/hold on the right earbud, decrease the volume by tap/holding the left earbud, activate SIRI with a triple touch of the left earbud, answer/end a call with a double-tap of either earbud, reject a call by holding either earbud and power on/off the earbuds by tapping/holding the sensor). The subsequent pages detailed the charging instructions, 90-minute charging time, and the process to reset the earbuds. The last pages listed the frequency and transmission power, listed a five bullet warning, an important note section about barotrauma and using the correct charger, and then an FCC statement.  The instruction manual proved to be quite useful and was well organized.

To pair the earbuds, I lifted the lid of the charging case and noted the white charging indicator on the front of the case.  I removed the 0.2-ounce right earbud, then the 0.2-ounce left earbud placed them into the concha (bowl) of my ears, and rotated them into position.  Each device measured 1 3/8 inches long by 5/8 inches wide by 3/4 inches thick and fit securely within my ear.  Conveniently, a female voice then announced “Pairing.”  When I navigated to Settings, to Bluetooth, and then selected Tribit FlyBuds C2 from the list on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, the female voice announced “connected.”  To test the fit of the earbuds within my ears, I went for a short jog, I used my children’s jump rope, I shook my head side to side, and I bobbed my head forward/backward. I did not test the earbuds in the shower, however, as there was no waterproof rating listed within the packaging/manual. I was pleased to find the devices remained fixed within my ears and did not dislodge or change positions through any of the above activities.  I loved the black coloration, the similar AirPods Pro shape, the texture, and the overall fit.  Despite the lack of ANC/Pass-Through modes, the fit of the Tribit Flybuds C2 was markedly better than the AirPods Pro.

To test the sound output, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and challenged the Flybys C2 to my routine set of tests. When I selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) the male announcer vocalized 10Hz, then 20Hz before I was able to hear the rumble of the bass.  With the lower range of human hearing to be at about 20Hz, the earbuds should provide quality lower register sounds.  For a non-in-ear canal setup, the bass felt crisper than I expected.  Next, I chose the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) from the list and found that I was able to hear the high-pitched buzzing noise at 15kHz.  This test does rely upon the native hearing ability of the user and is the reason the manual provided the barotrauma warning.  As we get older, we lose the ability to hear higher-pitched sounds and many adults struggle with pitches above 14kHz.  Listening to music/movies too loudly can exacerbate this problem and speed up the decay.  I found the test to be on par with other on-ear, in-ear, and over-earphones at 50-70% volume.  As noted, it is important to avoid as much sound pollution/trauma as possible, in order to protect one’s hearing.  The unfortunate truth is that the damage is often permanent; when it is gone, it is gone forever.  The FlyBuds C2 will not provide HiFi/Audiophile deep bass and there was no preset EQ to shift the sounds. For a sub $100 pair of headphones, the bass felt above average.

With the first two tests out of the way, I navigated to the Left/Right/Center programming test and evaluated the earbuds.  I found each of the channels was appropriately programmed.  For the next test, I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test to evaluate the stereo nature of the earphones.  If you have not used the feature, I would recommend that you turn off the lights, turn the volume to ~60-70%, close your eyes, and then activate the test.  You will hear lifelike knocking and will likely turn your head toward the sound.  My ten-year-old son and six-year-old daughter absolutely love this feature and regularly ask me to play it for them. Even though they know it will occur, they still jump and giggle.  For added fun, listen to “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear).  Beyond the binaural recording and the sensation that people are singing directly into your ears, the intro knocking sequence proved to be quite realistic.  Despite my enjoyment of the version of the song, I cannot help but feel a bit of nostalgia for the original or for the Disturbed version. I listened to several 8D audio (sound rotates around your head) and rather enjoyed the testing process.

With the above tests completed, I turned to the group of test tracks that I have come to trust over the last several years.  Using a combination of Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music, I listened to “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, CeeLo Greens “Bright Lights Bigger City,” and the “Train Song” by Holly Cole.  I liked the bass balance and the overall blend.  The Train Song opening sequence bounced and jived, providing a sultry jazz club vibe.   I liked the modern city dance club vibe that the FlyBuds provided with the CeeLo song and the nostalgia of the Hobbit song.  To further test the bass, I used the Dark Knight Joker Theme “Why So Serious” and focused on the segment from the ~3:30-4:00 mark.  The cacophony of sounds culminated in a pleasing call/response, which was similar to a helicopter rotor wash.  I love the song and the ability to feel the dynamic ups/downs of the bass line.  For added fun, I listened to Home Free Ring of Fire and enjoyed the ending low growl from Tim Faust.  

To test the mids/upper sounds, I used the Braveheart Soundtrack, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtrack, Far and Away Soundtrack, and “Caribbean Blue,” by Enya.  I was pleased with the treble and with the clean movements of the songs.  I felt that the bass supported the sounds without becoming too muddy and that the upper sounds felt round/warm without getting harsh/tinny at higher volumes.  I like to use instrumental pieces to try to localize/identify each of the voices within the group.  Similarly, I utilize Acapella-style songs (Pentantonix, Home Free, Gospel Plowboys) to appreciate the harmonies.  With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I had an excuse to listen to several of my holiday favorites. Overall, I was pleased with the earbuds and enjoyed the sound output.  I never missed an active noise canceling feature, even when riding inside of my friend’s loud diesel truck.  I felt the blend EQ was well suited for instrumental, for modern Pop (Charlie Puth/Meghan Trainor, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, etc), for Country (Alabama), and for Acapella ( Pentatonic, Home Free).  Typically by this point, I deteriorate into play mode and forget that the goal was to review the earbuds.  I found myself listening to the Star is Born soundtrack, to Rocketman, and to the Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtracks.  

Luckily, the above problem is exactly the scenario that an earbud manufacturer wants to create.  After several hours of continuous listening, I found no ear fatigue and wanted to continue listening.  While reviewing the music quality, I also tested/evaluated the touch controls.  I found the single/double/triple touch to be quite responsive and easy to control.  However, I did not like the touch/hold volume controls because they were not sensitive enough for my liking.  I would have preferred to control the volume through a single or double touch.  Instead, the touch/hold option tended to bypass the level I wanted and I had to adjust it with the phone.  I truly enjoyed the 90 minute charge time and found that I ran out of testing day before I ran out of charge on the Earbuds.  Even at six hours of continuous use, I found the need to replace them in the case before they ran out of power.  Using the devices for approximately 2 hours a day, I was able to go two weeks before needing to recharge.  In fact, the website noted that the case provided 24 hours of extra charge (3 full recharges).  

Once I finished the music testing, I navigated to Amazon Prime Video, Movies Anywhere, Disney +, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube.  Unfortunately, there was a substantial lag between sound/audio on YouTube.  This problem was not found in the other apps listed above and is not isolated to this brand of headphones.  I used the headphones on average two hours per night over the past 10 days and still have power left over.  I was pleased with the battery size, the shape, the accessories, and the quality/feel of the headphones. For my final test, and for the ultimate goal/intended use, I navigated to Settings on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, To Bluetooth, tapped the Tribit Flybuds C2, and forgot the device. I plugged my Homuspot device into the bottom of my Nintendo Switch and then pressed/held the blue button.  The Earbuds immediately paired with my Switch and the female voice noted “connected.”  I was able to play Skyrim, and Borderlands with my dad.  I liked the ability to talk through the microphone and was given great feedback regarding the quality of sound and the lack of environmental/background noise.  I liked the flush fit within my ear and that the earbuds did not reside within the canal.  I enjoyed being able to lay on my side while playing my Switch and loved that there was no pressure-feel within my ear.  Lastly, my wife was pleased to report that there was a minimal sound leak from the earbuds. 

As you are adding items to your carts this Holiday Season, consider adding some Tribit gear. 

Learn more about the Tribit FlyBuds C2
Follow Tribit on Facebook and Twitter.

Comfortable, premium-level wireless earbuds experience at a fraction of the cost.

For the longest time, I avoided earbuds. They were always uncomfortable to me and I never found a set that gave me a quality listening experience. The shape of Apple’s earbuds started turning me around to the possibility that earbuds could compete with over-ear headphones in terms of quality and comfort. The only problem I’ve found is that it seems as though you can only get that type of quality from the most premium, expensive earbuds. With that in mind, you can imagine my shock and awe when I put the EarFun Air Pro 2 earbuds in my ears and have the same premium-level experience as I did with earbuds that were more than twice the cost as the EarFun headphones.  

DETAILS

The EarFun Air Pro 2 wireless earbuds feature QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation up to 40dB. They also have the added benefit of wind-noise reduction. In addition to the ANC mode, the earbuds have a transparent mode that allows for the user to have ambient sound for safety purposes. There are 6 built-in professional microphones for an excellent call experience. The earphones have 10mm titanium composite dynamic drivers that deliver authentic and balanced sound. The wireless earbuds have a 34-hour playtime (7 hours + 27 hours with a charging case). They are compatible with fast-charging technology (10 minutes charging = 2 hours playtime). They are rated IPX5 for sweat and water resistance. They also have in-ear detection technology and intuitive touch controls including volume control. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The earbuds come in a simple retail box. The ’EarFun’ brand is stamped on the front of the box along with a composite image of the earbuds. The name of the product “EarFun Air Pro 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds” is printed below the image and the main features (IPX5 waterproof, 6-mic noise-canceling call, 34H playtime, and active noise cancellation) are called out on the front as well. Information about the manufacturer and FCC regulations are printed on the bottom of the box while additional details of the earbuds on printed on the back of the box. The official model of the earbuds is “TW300”. 

When you open the box, you will immediately find the earbuds in their charging case. The wireless earbuds have a small strip of plastic stuck around the charging contacts of the earbud stems. In order to activate the earbuds, you must remove this strip and let them connect to the charging case. Once you do, the earbuds enter pairing mode. I opened up the Bluetooth preferences on my iPhone 12 Pro and after about 10 seconds, the EarFun earbuds appeared and I was able to connect to them. 

Below the tray that houses the earbud charging case is a cardboard compartment that stores the replacement ear gels, charging cable, and the user manual. Normally, I will replace the ear gels on the earbuds I’m using as soon as I take them out of the box. The default ear gels are almost always too large for me to have a proper fit of the wireless earbuds. If you have ever used earbuds, you know that ‘fit’ is everything for good sound. So, I was surprised to find that out of the box, I was able to use the headphones. As I described above, the pairing process is pretty self-explanatory, but the one thing that isn’t is the touch-sensitive controls on the earbuds. Shortly after I put them in and started up some music, I needed to pause the track because someone was trying to talk with me. I tapped the right earpiece because that is usually a standard play/pause function, but nothing happened. It turns out that tapping the right ear once turns the volume up. Double tapping either ear will play/pause the sound and triple tapping will take you to the next track or previous track depending on the earpiece you use. 

As far as the noise-canceling feature goes, I was actually quite impressed with it. Out of the charging case, the wireless earbuds already had that feature activated. I would say that standard room noise was eliminated and I couldn’t hear much more outside the earbuds. I happened to be able to test these earbuds out in a very noisy hospital environment. I toggled through the ANC options (noise-canceling, ambient sound, and normal) and found that each setting did have a very distinct level of sound. The full noise-cancellation is quite impressive. I was able to turn that on and could barely hear myself typing on my keyboard. The ambient noise level was nice for being able to listen if someone was trying to get my attention, but the normal level was just too distracting with all the different noises going on in the hospital. I wasn’t able to use music playing on my phone to drown out those noises without the noise-canceling turned on. 

The sound quality of the music and spoken word formats, such as podcasts, was very good. Highs and lows were all in the range you would expect them to be and no matter what app I used, the music quality was very good all the way around. The only thing I would say is that with podcasts, which I do enjoy, the ANC isn’t quite as strong. Maybe it’s because there isn’t always some sort of noise being produced like with music tracks. The earbuds are comfortable – at least with the default ear gels. I wore them continuously for a couple of hours and never felt any ear pain or headaches as a result. 

CONCLUSION

Overall, I was very impressed with the EarFun Air Pro 2 wireless earbuds. They provide a similar listening experience t what I’ve had with more premium brands of earbuds. And those earbuds are much higher priced. If you are looking for a good, quality pair of earbuds with ANC, the EarFun Air Pro 2 earbuds are a nice investment. 

For more information, visit myearfun.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Earbuds engineered to deliver sound you can feel.

Finding quality wireless earbuds can be difficult these days because there are so many choices out there. The Jabees Firefly Vintage True Wireless Earbuds prove that you don’t have pay premium prices to get premium earphones. The earbuds retail for around $50 (at the time of publishing) and feature high-quality features. I was fortunate enough to get to test out a pair recently and was excited to see what they had to offer. The Firefly Vintage True Wireless Earbuds are built with aptX Bluetooth 5.2 technology and have premium features such as Gaming Mode and Dual Microphones. 

SPECS

• Bluetooth 5.2 Qualcomm Solution
• Featuring ENC – Environmental Noise Cancellation Technology
• Featuring Qualcomm aptX
• Utility Patent ‘Touch & Push Button in One’ – Applying the hybrid touch and manual push system to improve the user experience. 
• Dual Microphone Technology – Enjoy the crystal clear call no matter where you are. 
• Intelligent Power Switch System – The earbuds turn on and connect to each other automatically when open the lid of the case. 
• IPX5 Waterproof – Can resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray.
• Transparency Mode – Keep your ears open to what’s going on in the world around you.
• Wireless Charging Case – Being compatible with almost all Qi-enabled charger devices
• Voice-controlled AI – Siri and Google Assistant.
• Graphene-enhanced Sound – Utilizes the Graphene for treble enhancements, noise isolation, and overall sound quality improvement.
• Want to enjoy true wireless stereo effect? Use in pair. Want it be mono for calls? Use one only.
• Stereo Call – Take your phone calls and listen through both earbuds so that you can literally be all ears.
• Outstanding Battery Life – Up to 7 hours music playtime on a single charge. 
• Up to 200 hours standby time.
• Charging Case with USB-C with built-in 500mAh battery capacity for storage and charging, providing up to 3 additional charges which equals to 21 hours in total. 
• Bluetooth profile: handsfree, A2DP/AVRCP
• Bluetooth Codec: AAC and SBC
• Dimension of each earbud: 25.90 X 16.40 X 19.80 mm
• Weight of two earbuds: 9.8g
• Dimension of Charging Case: 78 x 31 x 37mm
• Weight of Charging Case: 44.8g

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

• 2 x Firefly Vintage Earbuds
• 1 x Charging Case
• 1 x User Manual
• 6 x In-ear eartips (Shortened-shape)
• 6 x In-ear eartips (Bowl-shape)
• 1 x USB Cable (USB Type-C)
• 1 x Strap

USER EXPERIENCE

The earbuds are packaged in a black retail box with an image of the earbuds on the front. The name “Firefly Vintage” is stamped on the top of the image with the tagline “In a timeless design” printed below it. The spine of the box highlights the main features of the earbuds and the back calls out several details as well in multiple languages. The box opens from the side and has a ribbon tab that users can grab on to pull it out. When you pull the box out, the user will see a cardboard box that reads “Jabees.” Inside is the charging case with the earbuds inside. There is a second small box that reads “accessories inside.”  That box holds a USB-C charging cable, a quick reference guide, ear gels, and a strap. 

To get started with the earbuds, you simply open the charging case and the earbuds enter pairing mode. I am using an iPhone 12 Pro as my audio player with these earbuds and ”Firefly Vintage” immediately showed up in my Bluetooth device list when I opened the charging case. I will note that the podcast I had been listening to automatically started playing on my phone – even though the earbuds weren’t in my ears. After I paused the podcast, I pulled the ear gels off the earbuds and replaced them with a smaller size. This is standard practice for me since the typical size doesn’t allow for earbuds to properly sit in my ear canal. The proper fit is very important because you don’t get the right sound from the earbuds if it’s a bad fit. 

Comfort is very important to me with earbuds. I’ve worn many pairs that end up causing ear and headaches. So, I decided to start my testing process with the Firefly earbuds by just wearing them. I left them in my ears for 30-45 minutes without listening to anything through them just to test out how comfortable they were. Based on the design, I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight the earbuds were. I noticed they were in my ears, but not because they were heavy. The headphones didn’t end up bothering me at all and I found them to be quite comfortable. I even got up and walked around with them. Sometimes earbuds fall out of my ears when I walk around and do daily tasks, but the Firefly earbuds did not. I did notice that the earbuds disconnected when I walked away from my phone. I was halfway down our hall (about 15 feet away from my phone) and then reconnected when I got close enough to the iPhone as I walked back down the hall. I could also still hear through the earbuds pretty clearly while I wore them. Again, I wasn’t listening to any audio through them at that point, so the sound was slightly muted, but I could hold conversations that hear the audio from our TV. 

I noticed when I kicked on some music that it sounded a little hollow. I moved the earbuds around and found that I really had to push the earbuds into my ears in order to get the best sound. When I did that, I could not hear anything in around me. Pushing the earbuds into my ears did make them a bit more uncomfortable for me because it caused the ’vacuum-effect’ in my ear. I don’t think that everyone would end up feeling this way, but some users who have the same ear shape as me might. Once I found the optimum placement for the earbuds, I was very happy with the sound quality. I listened to some hard rock music, alternative music, classical soundtrack, and a podcast. I could hear everything clearly and sounds that should have a rich tone to it did. Sound quality Is definitely premium-quality and I would recommend them as budget-friendly, premium quality earphones.

CONCLUSION

The Jabees Firefly Vintage True Wireless Earbuds are a quality set of earbuds with a user-friendly interface and budget-friendly price. They come with a charging case and are comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. They may not be the best fit for some users, but for most, the different options of ear gels will provide options for the majority of users. 

For more information, visit jabees.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Powerful, pocketable,and Practical

The Tranya T10 Wireless Earbuds arrived in a petite yet classy 3 15/16 inches square by 1 5/8 inches thick retail package.  The clean, sterile, white backdrop served as the perfect canvas for the cover features.  The silver Tranya name and logo were displayed along the top left, 12 mm Driver within a silver border was displayed along the top right, and T10 Game Mode Normal/Bass Boosted Mode was present along the bottom of the panel.  Despite the contrasting silver-on-white color scheme, the panel’s main focus was the image of the black Tranya earbuds across the center of the panel.  The stark black color provided a visually appealing contrast against the white background.  Additionally, the lack of shadow allowed a near-infinite space, which added to the overall allure of the dark earbuds.  The back panel continued the contrasting theme with the product name along the top, six detailed icons (12 mm Driver, Normal/Bass Boosted Modes, Fast Type-C charging, Game Mode (Low Latency), Crystal Clear Calls, IPX7 Waterproof), product manufacturing labels, Bluetooth icon, SKU barcode, and Transparency App scan code.  Lastly, I was impressed that Tranya chose to leave the top, side, and bottom panels unadorned/clean white.  Whereas some may overlook this subtlety, I find it impressive that they chose to enact a bit of restraint.  Many would have chosen to plaster every surface with some form of marketing.    

To access the earbuds, I cut the outer plastic layer and then lifted the top of the box.  I was greeted by a thin plastic bag with a “Premium Sound 100% Original Tranya” sticker and the Tranya T10 twelve-panel User manual. Just beneath the panel, you will find a white plastic cradle with two cutouts.  The top cutout contained the 1.7-ounce, 2 3/4 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches thick magnetic-close charging case.  The bottom cutout provided two extra pairs of earbud tips (small and large) and the 9 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-C charging cable.  Before turning to the manual, I plugged the USB-C end of the cable into the posterior charging port on the earbuds and then the USB-A end into a standard Apple wall charger.  During the charging process (about 30 minutes), I jumped into the instruction manual to make sure that I was not missing anything important.  The first panel detailed the instruction manual and product contents, while the second panel showed an “IMPORTANT NOTES” section and requested you register the devices, charge them fully, and then adjust the rubber zips to fit you the best.  

I was excited to review the touch controls outlined on pages four ad five.  Even though the manual presented them out of order, the controls seemed quite intuitive.  If you press and hold either the left or right earbud for 1 second, the device will play/pause the last song.  If there is an incoming call, you can use the same command to reject a call or end a call.  If you tap either device once, you can answer a call.  If you tap the right earbud twice you can increase the Volume, or you can touch the left earbud twice to decrease the sound.  Similarly, a triple touch of the right earbud will advance the track, while a triple touch of the left earbud will return to the previous track.  A quad tap of either of the earbuds will allow you to access Siri, while five taps of the left will rotate between Game Mode and normal mode.  If you tap the left earbud five times, you can cycle between Bass Boosted Mode and Normal Mode.  The instruction manual noted that you could use these modes to enjoy brighter vocals/crisp trebles in normal mode or warm deep bass in Bass Boosted mode. Interestingly, the button combinations worked quite well and were accurate nearly 9/10 times.  Occasionally, I noted that the volume would increase/decrease (double tap), instead of changing the track (triple tap). Otherwise, the Tranya device may have had one of the best button configurations that I have tested thus far. 

Once the earbuds were fully charged, I removed each of the 0.2-ounce earbuds from their charging bays, and started the simple pairing process.  I lifted the lid of the earbud charging case and noted a small white LED at each earbuds’ bottom.  I removed the right, then the left earbud and placed them into the concha of my ears.  A female announcer vocalized “Power-On, Base Boost” in each of the ears.  I navigated to settings on my phone, selected BlueTooth, and then “Tranya T10” from the list. I cycled through the above tests, removed the earbuds from my ears, and then replaced them into their respective bay of the charging case.  These steps were outlined in the  “wearing” section within the instruction manual. Like the descriptions above, the manual did a great job describing the steps in both verbal and pictorial form. When power is low, replace the earbuds into the charging case, plug the included USB-A to USB-C cable into the back of the device and wait for the cycle to complete.  The bank of LED on the front of the charging case will illuminate and describe the remaining Power: 1 LED <25%, 2 LED 25-50%, 3 LED 50-75%, 4 LED 100%.  I have used the earbuds over the last week for a variety of tasks.  I have used single and dual earbuds to listen to “The Sandman” on Audible, Pandora, Amazon Music, Apple Music, to watch Big Brother on Paramount+, Bad Batch on Disney+, and Suicide Squad on HBOMax.  I was impressed with the earbuds’ battery life and the ability to gain up to three additional charges with the charging case.  The 0.2-ounce earbuds lasted approximately 7 hours (8 hours listed), with the volume at 50% and Bass Boost in place.  

For the past week, I have enjoyed the comfort of the inexpensive Tranya 10 earbuds.  At nearly 1/10 the cost of a pair of Apple AirPod Pros, I was impressed with the sound output, the blend, the battery life, the IPX7 water resistance, and the comfort.  I was able to jump, jog, ride my bike, and rest on my side/pillow without ear fatigue.  Additionally, I was pleased to be able to listen for prolonged periods without canal strain/pain.  I loved that the USB-C charging tech allowed quick charging of the case.  The online materials suggested a 10-minute charge could provide a 60-minute playtime.  I placed a nearly depleted pair of earbuds back into the case and was pleased to see that this did provide quite a bit of charge.  The touch controls were markedly better than I had expected, and as noted above, proved to be quite responsive.  The device provided volume forward/back, track forward/back, Siri integration, Deeper bass mode (why would anyone want to change), and game mode, but did not provide active noise canceling or Passthrough sound.  If these features are important to you, it may be the only reason not to purchase the high-quality, low-cost Tranya T10.

To test the sound output, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran through my typical battery of tests.  I started with the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) and heard the rumbling bass at 20Hz.  I repeated this test in normal mode and found the same result.  For the second test, I used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  Like the Low-Frequency test, the male announcer will walk you through the frequency changes.  As we get older, or suffer pressure/sound ear trauma, we lose the higher frequencies first.  Thus, it is not uncommon for adults to have a limit of about 14-15kHz, while children have up to ~18kHz.  The upper range of hearing is estimated to be around 20kHz.  For the third test, I evaluated the channel programming with the Left/Right/Center test.  I found that the programming was done correctly and allowed for quality stereo sound.  For the ultimate audiocheck.net audio test, I turned off the lights, pulled up the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test, and experienced the binaural knocking sounds.  

The earbuds easily passed the above tests in both normal and bass boost modes.  To further test the sound of the 12mm drivers, I listened to a variety of 8D audio tracks.  Namely, I listened to “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear), Pentatonix “Hallelujah” 8D, Disturbed “Sound of Silence” 8 D, and Enya “Only Time 8D.”  With a new pair of headphones, I find it difficult to avoid my favorite artists/songs.  I listened to Queen’s Live Aid on Youtube with the standard and Low latency and found the video:Audio was much better on low latency mode.  I listened to the Rocketman Soundtrack, to the Star is Born Soundtrack, and then got lost in some CCR, Alabama, Beach Boys, and Styx. I changed between Game Mode on/of, bass boost, and normal modes.  I found that the game mode improved the sync of the video:audio and took away a little of the warmth/fullness.  However, I enjoyed the better codec/playback features.  I watched several YouTube videos to test this process (Elton John/George Michael-Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Live Aid 1985) and found the above tests easily repeatable. 

Over the past few years, I have tested dozens of earbuds and have found several that have lacked the features of this ~$30 pair of earbuds.  I loved the size/shape of the charging case, the fit in my ears, the waterproofing, the battery life, the earbud shape/feel, and the overall comfort of the earbuds.  I watched several movies on Vudu, Paramount+, HBOMax,Netflix, and Amazon video and found the earbuds well worth their price. To complete my review, I used a mix of Amazon Music and Apple Music to burn through my test tracks in Bass Boost and Normal Modes.  I listened to “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, CeeLo Greens “Bright Lights Bigger City,” and the “Train Song” by Holly Cole.  I liked the Bass Boost better for each of these songs but felt the normal mode was quite good as well.  To test the mids/uppers, I used“Caribbean Blue,” by Enya, and the Braveheart, Far and Away, and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves soundtracks.  Even within the Bass Boost mode, the uppers did not get washed out, nor did they seem to lack the sparkle/pop expected of instrumental pieces.  I liked the blend, I liked the sound, and I liked the experience.

Whether listening to music on the go, in a dorm, in an office, or lying in your bed, the Tranya T10 earphones provide features beyond their price point. 

Learn more about the Tranya T10
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Actively cancel natures distractions and enter musical bliss.

The Edifier TWS NB2 Pro arrived in a classy 4 15/16 inches wide by 5 inches tall by 2 5/8 inches thick retail hanging package.  The off-white cover panel provided a copper/gold Edifier name along the top of the panel, a futuristic, slightly raised, glossy image of the in-ear wireless Bluetooth earbuds along the middle, and a copper/gold TWS NB2 Pro product name.  Along the bottom of the panel, you will find eight labeled product icons: Hybrid ANC, Dual-mic Noise Cancellation, spatial Audio, Quick Charge, AA Audio Decoding, Role, Swapping, IP54 Dust and Waterproof, 32-hours playtime. In addition, the rear panel provided seven bullet point features of the device in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese): 1. True Wireless Earbuds with Hybrid active noise cancellation technology. 2. Dual-mic noises cancellation for clear phone calls. 3. Three-dimensional audio technology provides natural sound. 4. Total 32-hour playback per full charge (2 hours after 15-minute quick charge). 5. User detection: Music automatically played/paused when earbuds are inserted or removed.  6. Ambient sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds such as traffic or flight announcements.  7. Personalize your settings and find more via the Edifier CONNECT App.  Along the top right of the panel, you will find a quaint image of the earbuds and charging cases.  Lastly, along the very bottom of the panel, you will find a list of product specifications (Bluetooth profile A2DP/AVRCP/HFP, Frequency Response 20Hz-20KHz, Sound pressure level 94+3dB, Impedance 24 ohm, Input/charging case 5V/1A, Playback time ANC ON=7 hours earbuds+18 hours charging case, ANC OFF=9 hours + 23 hours charging case) and the Box Contents (Earbuds x2, charging case x 1, charging cable x 1, ear tips x3pairs, Storage Bag x1, user manual x1).

The top of the ivory slipcover contained the black hanging hook, while the bottom panel provided a four-point caution, product manufacturing labels, QR code to download the Edifier Connect App, FCC statement, Bluetooth description, and SKU barcodes. I removed the thin plastic outer layer from the ivory-colored slipcover and then the slipcover from the inner tan box.  The surface had a faux leather appearance/texture and embodied the same copper/golden color as the accents on the slipcover.  The only identifying mark on the inner box was a silver EDIFIER logo on the top. I lifted the magnetic lid and opened the inner box via the clamshell spine.  When I opened the box, my eye was immediately drawn to the lower tray and the ivory charging case resting within the light-grey foam layer. The top section had a sandy-grey colored 4 1/8 inches square by 5/8 inches thick accessory box with silver icons along the lower edge of the cover (ear-tips, charging cable, instruction manual, and accessory bag.  To remove the accessory box, I gripped the cardboard pull tab upward.  Within the box, I found a 20 3/4 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, an activated carbon deodorizer, Edifier warning pamphlet, TWS NB2 Pro multilingual instruction manual, a small zip bag with a pair of large and small ear tips, and a 4 inches wide by 4 7/8 inches tall burlap drawstring carry bag.  The inner surface of the bag was lined with a soft foam material, and the outer burlap appeared professionally stitched.  Other than a red Edifier nylon tag, there were no other identifying marks on the carry bag.  I loved the drawstring design, the stitching, the look, the feel, and the color of the accessory.  

Instruction Manual:

Before using the earbuds, I turned to the Model EDF200026 NB2 Pro instruction manual to learn more about the product.  When I picked up the 33 pages 2 1/8 inches wide by 2 15/16 inches tall instruction manual, I thought that the operation would be quite complicated.  However, when I opened the booklet, I found that the first two pages were the only pages in English.  The subsequent pages were provided in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Polish, Czech, South Korean, Ukranian, Greek, Russian, Saudi Arabia (Arabic), Hebrew, and Chinese.  The manual was broken up into five sections.  The first section demonstrated the power-on (case open), and power-off (case closed) function of the charging case and the green LED light.  The second section demonstrated the mechanism to connect to Bluetooth.  Instead of auto-pairing like many modern devices, the instruction manual recommended opening the case’s lid, holding the small Bluetooth button for 3 seconds, and then pairing with your phone/tablet.  The third section detailed the mechanism to pair the left to right earbuds by placing them into the case and double-tapping the pairing button. The fourth section detailed the operation/function of the earbuds.  A. double click of the right earbud will play/pause music or accept/end a call.  A triple-click of the right earbud will skip to the next track.  A double click of the left earbud will rotate between the noise-canceling mode, ambient sound mode, and normal mode.  A triple-click of the left earbud will change the sound effect mode (standard mode, spatial audio mode, game mode).  Interestingly, the instructions did not include a previous track feature or volume control. The last section provided information about in-ear detection, which can be activated/deactivated through the App.  Like the AirPods and devices with similar tech, the music will play/pause as the earbuds are placed into the ears. Beyond the lack of previous track and volume up/volume down, the device lacked controls for voice assistant activation and the ability to refuse an incoming call. 

Sound:

I turned to the audiocheck.net website to test the sound output, selected “Audio Tests,” and ran the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz).  If you have not previously utilized the site, I invite you to give it a try.  The test will start with a male voice announcing 20Hz and will increase by 10Hz increments.  I was pleased to hear the rumbling bass sound at 20Hz, which is an industry-standard and lower range of human hearing.  Following the Low-Frequency test, I ran the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  Because we lose the upper range of hearing first, it is not uncommon for adults to be able to hear 14-15kHz despite the upper range of 20kHz.  Like the low frequency test, the male voice will start at 20Hz and will announce every 10Hz in a decreasing fashion.  I was able to hear the high-pitched buzzing tone at 15kHz.  When I had my twelve and nine-year-old sons repeat the test, they were both able to hear the pitch at 17kHz.  Following the frequency range tests, I selected the Left/Right/Center test and found that the NB2 Pro earbuds were appropriately programmed.  For the final test, I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test.  For the optimal experience, try to find a quiet room and consider turning off the lights.  Even though I know about the knocking feature, it still provokes a visceral turn and look response.  This same feature can be recreated with the “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear).  If you are interested in additional binaural recordings, check out 7D and 8D audio (Pentatonix Hallelujah 8D Audio and The Sound of Silence and Enya Only Time). 

The included earbuds tips repeatedly fell out of my ears during these tests and caused the music/video playback to pause.  When I tried to replace the left earbud, I continued to activate the touch control button (Noise Reduction Off, Noise Reduction On, Ambient sound).  A few times, I accidentally activated Ambient Sound Mode and noted that the Spatial Audio option was superior to Game Mode and Normal Mode for videos, gaming, and music. Next, I listened to Queen & George Michael-Somebody to Love (The Freddy Mercury Tribute) and listened to the Enya Only Time 8D audio again.  After the earbuds fell out of my ears yet again, I removed the medium-sized tips and exchanged them for the smaller tips.  After making the adjustment, the earbuds/tips felt like they fit my ear canals perfectly, and I lost time listening to the Queen Live Aid 1985 lineup and then several more options from George Michael and Elton John.  Interestingly, I think I found the Spatial Audio option sooner than I would have had, thanks to the above earbud issue.  Additionally, once the appropriately sized ear tips were inserted into my ear canals, I was able to turn my head from side to side, and to jump up and down, without dislodging the earbuds.  

I liked the autostart/autopause feature when the earbuds were placed into the ears and removed from the ears.  Like the AirPod Pros, the feature proved to be useful when someone chose to start a conversation.  I was a bit disappointed that the earbuds lacked volume control, however.  The touch controls were easy to access and quite responsive.  In fact, I could imagine a simple programming update could create a single press option or a long press option to add functionality.  The active noise cancelling feature did a great job at eliminating the outside noise, while the Ambient Sound Mode (passthrough) feature allowed music and environmental awareness.  After testing each of the Ambient sound modes, I cannot imagine that people would use the Game Mode or Normal Mode that frequently.  This would be a feature that could be easily replaced with volume control.  I would love to have the option to customize the button layout through the App but it was not a feature that was provided.  I loved that the earbuds provided ample battery life for my everyday use.  I was able to use them on my 30 minute commute to work, on my two hour short trip and my five hour trip to Gatlinburg. Perhaps the next best feature was the pocketable size of the rechargeable case. 

To round out my review of the NB2 Earbuds, I turned to Apple Music and listened to my preferred test tracks.  Like my path through audiocheck.net, I start with bass favoring songs like “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” in The Hobbit, “Bright Lights Bigger City,” by CeeLo Green, and “Train Song” by Holly Cole.  To test the mid sounds and higher frequencies, I tend to use several songs from Enya, namely “Caribbean Blue,” several Sousa marches, instrumental pieces, and several Acapella groups like Anthem Lights and Pentatonix.  I rotated through several of the tracks (Braveheart, Far and Away, Robin Prince of Thieves soundtracks) and then listened to a few that I use for sound staging (“Turn Your Lights Down Low,” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, and “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa).  I enjoyed the full sound, the mixed blend, and the lack of muddy bass.  The bass was full but not overpowering.  Interestingly, in the Spatial Audio mode, the above instrumental pieces gained a concert hall feel.  The sounds felt more expansive, vibrant, and alive.  I was pleased with the overall sound placement, the staging, and the low to mid, mid to high, and low to high balance.  For under half the price of the AirPods Pro, I was impressed with the crisp bass, with the support, and with the clear and immersive sound. 

To test the Bluetooth range, I placed my iPhone 12 Pro Max onto the tailgate of my Dodge Ram, and I started walking down my long driveway.  I was able to get to about 35 feet before I lost connection.  Around 30 feet, there was a little distortion, and this worsened with cracking/missed connection until I lost signal.  The phone function worked well, and the touch controls proved to be quite intuitive.  Several people said that the sounds were clear but somewhat muffled.  This was a bit worse when outdoors in a high wind or when the car AC was blowing directly onto my face.  I listened to music tracks through Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, and Pandora without any issue. I watched movies using Hulu, Paramount +, Disney+ (Loki and Bad Batch), Prime Video, and Movies Anywhere.  I used the QR code on the outer packaging and was directed to a website with Character language only.  I was not comfortable selecting any of the options, and thus I did not download the App for this review.  A quick search on the Apple IOS App Store showed a 4.4* App.  I will provide a future review/update of the App integrated functions and the involvement with the earbuds.  

Summary:

I was impressed with the shape, color, appearance, and with the quality of sound of the NB2 Pro Earbuds.  I loved the sound modes and the fullness/blend. However, I do not believe that you will find a batter quality noise cancellation, ambient sound, spatial sound option in a sub $200 pair of earphones.  I look forward to future program/firmware updates and the option to adjust the button configuration.  The only glaring omission was the lack of volume control.  I did not miss the ability to power off the buds sans case, but I did miss the ability to adjust volume and move between tracks.  I was pleased with the earbud power duration of at least 5 hours and the charging case power boost.  Excitedly, I found that I could listen to the earbuds while lying on my side in my bed.  I did not experience ear canal fatigue, pain, nor pressure after changing to the smaller tips.  The earbuds fit comfortably within my ear canal and allowed for comfortable prolonged listening.  If I had a few suggestions to upgrade the kit, it would be to nix the carry bag for a small cost-saving and upgrade the firmware with the features listed above.  The device would easily be the best in class for the ~$100 range and perhaps $150-$200 range with the upgraded features. 

Learn more about the NB2 Pro Earphones
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Better Sound, Better Life

When it comes to portable sound, I want a comfortable pair of in-ear earbuds that will not break the bank.  I have tried dozens of brands, tested various features, and continue to feel amazed at how much cheaper the tech has gotten over the last few years.  I feel that the lines are quickly blurring between budget brands and higher fidelity offerings.  Companies like Earfün try to offer as many features as possible without offending those of us without unlimited resources.   

The Earfün Free 2 earbuds arrived in a 4 1/4 inches wide by 5 3/8 inches tall by 1 15/16 inches thick hanging style package.  The white-colored cover, side, and rear panels served as the perfect backdrop for the product features.  The cover provided the earfün title along the top left of the panel in vibrant black/yellow coloration.  I loved the splash of yellow, which tied in with the yellow coloration of the top/bottom panels.  You will find a Bluetooth logo along the bottom edge of the cover, the Earfun Free 2 product name, “True Wireless Earbuds,” and four product-specific icons: 1. Qualcomm aptX Audio Tech. 2. Immersive Sound. 3. 60ms Low Latency. 4. Touch Control.  The main focus of the cover panel was the glossy, slightly raised image of the earbud pair.  Each measured 1 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches tall, showcased the earfün title, the earbud cup, the shape, and the microphone’s location.  You will find the Qualcomm AptX logo upon the spine and the service@myearfun.com email address plus www.myearfun.com web address on the flap. 

The rear panel proved to be just a bit on the busier side.  The product title, True Wireless earbuds, and a small yellow rectangle were displayed along the top of the panel.  Like the cover, the splash of color served to tie in the yellow top/bottom panels.  It also served as a visual cue on where to open the side panel.  Beneath the title, you will find a list of the product contents (Earfün Free 2, Charging Case, 3x Ear tips, USB-C cable, user manual).  Beneath the product contents, you will find six detailed product feature icons (1. Supported Qualcomm aptX Audio Technology. 2. Balanced Immersive Sound with Dynamic Composite Drivers. 3. 60ms Super Low Latency Mode for Better Video & Gaming Experience. 4. Intuitive Touch control + Volume Control. 5. IPX7 Waterproof with SweatShield Technology. 6. 30-hour Playtime: 7 Hours + 23 hours Charging Case) and a 1 1/4 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall image of the charging case and wireless charging capability.   All of the above information was listed on the top half of the panel.  The bottom half provided information about the Bluetooth trademark, manufacturing details, FCC rules, TW101 product model, 5V/1A DC input, product manufacturing labels, Made in China, and SKU barcode stickers.  

The four white colored panels proved to be quite classy, professional, and clean. Although the top and bottom yellow panels were left unadorned, they still added to the ambiance of the overall feel.  To access the product, I lifted the flap and unrolled the box.  The inner surface of the flap provided a multilingual product maintenance warning to clean the device.  With the flap opened, it was clear that the white edges provided an outer slipcover to the inner yellow core. The internal contents were compartmentalized within individual cardboard/foam shells.  The 57-page multilingual instruction manual and 2 3/4 inches square like/dislike card were found within a clean black-colored 3 7/8 inches wide by 4 3/8 inches tall by 1/4 inches thick box.  Resting along the bottom edge of the box, you will find a 3 7/8 inches wide by 1 3/4 inches tall by 9/16 inches thick accessory box.  You will find the 20-inches long USB-A to USB-C cable and an accessory bag of ear tips within the box.  Lastly, you will find the earbuds and charging case nestled comfortably within a 3 3/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches thick bed. 

I removed each earbud, removed the thin plastic shell from around the charging case, inserted each of the 0.211-ounce earbuds (6 gram) into the case, and charged the case with the included cable.  While charging, I perused the instruction manual.  The cover displayed the title, a pleasing ink-outline drawing of the open charging case, and the Qualcomm apex logo along the bottom black border.  The manual was broken down into English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese sections.  The first panel showed the product contents and a detailed diagram of the earbuds and charging case.  Each earbud had an outer touch multifunctional control button, LED indicator, and microphone on the outer edge.  You will find an “L” or “R” plus the charging connector and ear tip on the inner surface.  The clamshell charging case had internal wells for the Left/Right earbud, a front-facing LED indicator, and a rear charging button plus a USB-C input port.  The third panel reviewed the charging features, the LED indicator legend (green >30%, orange <30%, Red <10%, Red Flash <5%), and methods to charge (USB-C or Wireless).   The fourth panel provided a list of product specifications (BT V5.2, Frequency 2.402 GHz-2.48Ghz, BT profiles A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, working range 15m <5dBm transmitted power, 50mAh x2 earbud capacity, 400mAh charging case capacity, 1.5-hour earbud charging time, 2-hour USB-C case charge time, 3.5-hour wireless charging time, 7-hour playtime per charge, up to 30-hour total playback per charge, 5V/1A input, 66mm x 39mm x 29mm (2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall by 1 inch thick) dimensions, 48 g weight (1.31 ounces without earbuds, 1.69 ounces total).  Furthermore, the panel detailed the methods to fit the earbuds within the ears’ concha cavum (ear bowl).  Select the appropriate earbud for your ear, identify the left and right earbuds, insert the tip into the canal and rotate the earbud into the most comfortable position.

After approximately 45 minutes, the earbuds were fully charged and ready to use.  To pair the earbuds, you can follow section six of the manual.  Open the charging case lid, navigate to settings, Bluetooth, then choose Earfun Free 2 from the list. The manual also detailed the methods to connect to a second device using one of two options.  You can unpair from the first device, reconnect to a new device, replace the earbuds into the case (door open), and hold the back button on the charging case for 2 seconds.  Both the initial pairing and second device pairing worked flawlessly and proved to be quite easy to complete.  The seventh panel displayed the functions of the earbud charging case and earbuds. The intuitive touch multifunction buttons were easy to learn.  The instruction manual was arranged rather oddly, so I will summarize the features below.  A single tap of the right earbud will increase the volume, while a single tap of the left earbud will decrease the volume.  A double-tap of either earbud will play/pause the music. A triple touch of the right earbud will advance a track; a triple touch of the left earbud will move to the previous track.  During a phone conversation, a double-tap of either earbud will answer/hang up a call.  You can reject a call by tapping and holding either earbud for 2 seconds, and you can answer and transfer two calls by tapping either earbud thrice.  To activate the voice assistant, tap and hold the right earbud only for 2 seconds.  To activate the low latency mode, tap and hold the left earbud for 2 seconds.  The low latency mode improves video/gaming as an FYI but decreases the connection distance (Normal latency listed as 200ms, low latency 60ms). The last few panels provided information about the Earbud LED indicators (blue 1s flashing power on, red 1s flashing power off, pairing mode blue, connected LED off, purple flashing for factory reset. Lastly, the instruction manual provided information about resetting the earbuds/case and troubleshooting.  

The company did an amazing job with the instruction manual and provided straightforward details of their product, intended purposes, and strengths.  I found the preinstalled ear tips were the best fit for my ears; I completed the product testing with the stock setup.  I placed the right then left earbuds into my concha cavum and rotated them back slightly to fit into the bowl of the ear.  I was pleased with the fit, with the tip diameter within my ear canal, and overall appearance.  The earbud stuck out of my ear just a little, but the flat surface did not provide a large surface area to cause pain when resting upon a pillow or bed.  I enjoyed the ability to lie in bed without adding fatigue to my ears.  To test the duration of the battery, I recently took a trip from western Kentucky to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which is approximately a six-hour drive.  I stopped for gasoline once for that trip and found the earbuds lasted the entire journey (volume at 50%).  As a passenger, I utilized both earbuds.  As the driver for the return voyage, I solely utilized the right earbud.  I loved the hands-free features, the touch panels and felt that they did a great job at preventing unwanted touches.  I was able to manipulate the earbuds within my ears without activating the touch button.  I have yet to experience any ear fatigue or pain with these earbuds and feel that the duration test was quite successful.  The earbuds were comfortable and should provide similar levels of comfort to most users with the accessory ear tips. With the earbuds in place, I went for a half-mile jog, completed fifty jumping jacks, I turned my head side to side, and tried to dislodge them with several activities.  I was pleased to find that they remained securely affixed within my ears. Lastly, I showered with the earbuds and enjoyed the ability to listen to music without damaging the earbuds.

To test the sound, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) followed by the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  I heard an audible rumbling at 20Hz and the high-pitched tone at 15kHz, which was good for a nearly 40-year old male.  As we get older, we tend to lose our upper range.  As an example, my six and nine-year-old children were able to hear the pitch at 17kHz.  Pleased with the frequency range, I tested the channel programming with the Left/Right/Center test and found them to be appropriately labeled. If you have not previously read any of my headphone reviews, I invite you to test any pair of headphones with the audiocheck.net Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test.  For the maximal effect, turn off the lights, turn the volume to 75%, and then close your eyes.  Even though I know what to expect, I still feel the prickles of goose pimples and turn my head.  In fact, my children regularly request this feature.  For added effect, search for 7D and 8D audio, or 3D binaural tracks like the “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear).  The binaural recordings will showcase the speakers and will provide an interesting and enjoyable experience.

When I test Earbuds, I try to compare them to a common source.  In this case, I wanted to compare the Earfün Free 2 to my AirPods Pro.  Thanks to the in-ear setup, the Earfün Free 2 device added a small degree of passive noise reduction.  The Earfün Free 2 device did not have active noise canceling or passthrough modes like the AirPod Pro device, but for 1/4 the total cost of the AirPods Pro, you may rather save your money and not miss the features.  I liked that I was able to use the earbuds in nearly any environment. I tested the IPX7 rating with a recent trek to the pool and enjoyed being outside in a Gatlingburg rainstorm.  The comfortable fit, paired with a small charging case footprint and water resistance, ensured that I pocketed the Earfün Free 2 device for regular utility.    

To finish my review of the headphones, I turned to my typical test tracks.  When comparing/reviewing headphones, I love to utilize the same test songs.  This process allows me to provide a fair test comparison between devices.  I tend to start with a few bass heavy songs like “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” The Hobbit, CeeLo Green’s “Bright Lights Bigger City,” and the sultry bass line from “Train Song” by Holly Cole.  The Earfün device delivered quality sound  and the bass supported the mids and uppers without sounding muddy.  For the price, the bass was crisp, clear, and immersive.  To test the balance and staging (sound placement), I utilize “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, “Caribbean Blue” by Enya, and the fun bouncing “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa.  These tracks provided a good representation of the overall quality of the earbuds.  I was pleased with the sound placement, with the staging and with the balance.  Although the devices will not provide true audiophile sound, for the budgeting individual, you will enjoy using the device.  Lastly, to test the mids/uppers and blend, I used several of the medleys from Anthem Lights, and a variety of songs from Home Free and Pentatonix.  Lastly, I played a variety of instrumental soundtracks such as Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Far and Away, and Braveheart.  Even at 75% power, the upper sounds never became sharp, shrill, or pointed.  The Earfün Free 2 earbuds sounded great for Pop, R+B, Classical, Country, Modern, and Rock.  

To test the Bluetooth range, I used my long driveway.  I placed my iPhone 12 Pro Max onto my tailgate and I started walking.  I was able to get to about 40 feet before I started to have interruptions.  Within my two story home, I found that I could keep my phone anywhere in the home and utilize the Bluetooth feature. With typical ranges of under 20 feet, I was able to enjoy Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora without any issue. Before testing the video modes, I activated the left earbud low latency and watched YouTube.   While in high latency, I noted no lag for any of the streaming services except YouTube.  Playing games on my iPhone was similar to watching movies.  If I was in high latency mode, I was able to fully watch programs on Hulu, Paramount + ( CBS All Access), Movies Anywhere, Amazon Prime Video, or VUDU.  With the earbuds in low latency mode, I recognized that the device/phone needed to be in closer proximity. However, the video to audio was able to sync more regularly.  This carried over to Disney + as well. 

Summary

The quality of the Earfün Free 2 earbuds and the feature to price ratio cannot be underscored.  The earbuds were able to last over six hours on a recent trip.  After an hour and a half charge, they were ready to go again. The playback time was above average, and prolonged listening did not cause any ear canal fatigue thanks to the lightweight earbuds. The buttons were easy to access, and the multifunction nature proved to be integral to the use of the device.  I enjoyed the full bass, the balanced sounds of the instrumental pieces, and the audio from several movies.  If I had one suggestion, it would be for companies to change from USB-A to USB-C to USB-C to USB-C cables.  However, the technology is not yet to the point to replace USB-A entirely. The Earfün Free 2 offers a significant upgrade to the Earfun Free The device will provide an amazing sound experience at a fraction of the cost of other brands. 

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When you want to listen to music, you can reach for the trendy name brand product or you can do a little research to find a quality brand at a fair price and save yourself some money. I have never been an audiophile and likely will never be a card-carrying member of that club. I tend to be an Apple brand loyalist and have purchased the AirPods Pro for use with my MacBook Pro 15″, iPad Pro 11″, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. I have grown fond of earbuds and have stuck mostly with that style of earphone due to portability, reliability, weight, and convenience. Luckily, I have been able to stave off buyer’s remorse thus far despite evaluating dozens of on-ear, in-ear, and over-ear devices. I have grown fond of the AirPods Pro, plus Catalyst Waterproof Case, but have found that there are times that I have left them home when I needed them most. With need comes ingenuity and the Scendo Earbuds may solve the need for an ever-ready portable earphone setup.

The Scendo TWS EARPHONES arrived in a 3 1/8 inches wide by 4 11/16 inches tall by 1 3/8 inches thick black cardboard box.  The main cover panel had a centralized fingerprint-like logo with a slightly raised “Scendo” title.  I liked the black-on-black color scheme and the tacti-cool feel of the case.  The rear panel could be divided into an upper section and a lower section. The top section provided a front view of the charging case and a front/side view of the Earphones.  Like the cover panel, the imagery was slightly raised, glossy, and had a pleasing touch-feel.  The lower half of the panel provided a useful product specifications panel: Model Snapods, BT V 5.2, 10M range, Frequency 20Hz-20kHz, 5Hr listening time per charge, 1.5-hour earphone charging time (35mAh battery), Type-C charging case interface, 700mAh case capacity, DC5V/40mA input earbuds, DC5V/600mA case input, 60hr standby, and 120day stored in charging case. Lastly, you will find product manufacturing labels along the bottom of the panel.  

Accessing the earbuds proved to be a little more difficult than expected without a pull tab.  I attempted to shake the lower-inner box out of the upper section but found that it did not want to slide outward.  I used a butter knife to work around the edges and eventually slid the two halves apart.  The lower plastic tray displayed the earbud case separate from each of the earbuds.  I removed the left and right earbud and found that they slid easily into their respective case slots with a reassuring click.  My initial concern was that the earbuds would fall out of the charging slots, but my fear was quickly allayed when I realized they were magnetically attached. The 2 1/4 inches wide by 2 11/16 inches tall case had slots for the left and right earbud along the top (5/8 inches thick) and a flatter section along the bottom (3/8 inches thick).  Like the outer packaging, the case benefited from the same black-on-black color scheme.  The front of the case had three small, vertically oriented signal LEDs, the right side of the charging case had a USB-C charging slot, and the back had the same SCENDO logo/name as the cover, as well as “TWS Earphones,” product manufacturing labels, and product specifications.  Beneath the plastic tray, you will find a 17 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, a thin foam 2 1/8 inches wide by 2 5/8 inches iron sheet sticker, and the bilingual instruction manual.  

The instruction manual proved to be rather useful.  The first panel demonstrated the title/name and the second panel provided a diagram and accessory description (charging box, headset, charging line, iron sheet, manual).  The third panel provided a general instruction/warning section (1. Avoid listening to prolonged high decibel sounds, do not use while driving, caution around small children to avoid swallowing the headphones, avoid contact with pacemakers/medical supplies, caution with charging, avoid contact with water) and product parameters (Scendo Brand, snapods model, BT 5.2, type C charging interface, Frequency Response Range 20hz-20khz, Charging time 1.5 hours, Bluetooth distance 10m, 5 hour listening time, 35 mAh battery in headsets, 700mAh battery capacity in charger). The fourth and fifth panels walked me through a useful how-to instructional segment, detailed the charging box, when the headset was charged, and reviewed information about the LED indicators. The last panel provided a list of the voice cues (Power on, Power off, Connected, Disconnected, Pairing, battery low) and tone cues (single ding for volume up/down and ding/ding when minimized or maximized). Despite a few word choice errors (“the phone is connected back to the phone, and the phone cannot be connected back to the pairing state.”) the instruction manual did a great job at summarizing the features of the device. I would rate my initial impression at 4.5/5 stars.

Before using the headset, I plugged the included 17-inches long USB-A to USB-C cable between a 20W KickPOWER wall charger and the Scendo charging case. Out of the box, I noticed that the third LED was flashing. According to the instruction manual, each of the three LEDs represented ~33% of the power. As LED 1 flashed, the case was at 33% power. Once the battery reached 66% power, the first LED remained illuminated, and the second LED flashed. Once the battery was fully charged, all three lights remained illuminated. When the earbud case was removed from the charging cable, the LED extinguished. I removed the right, then the left earbud, and placed them into my ears; a female voice announced, “power on… pairing…” I navigated to settings, to Bluetooth, and selected Scendo from the list and the female voice announced “connected.” If I tapped disconnect, the voice announced “disconnected.” If I tapped the Scendo again, the voice announced “connected.” I was impressed with the rate of connection and with the Bluetooth connection distance. I placed my iPhone 12 Pro Max on the main floor of my home and found that I could have signal upstairs, within my basement, and quite a way onto my long driveway. With a direct line of sight, I connected to the earbuds at a distance of approximately 40 feet before starting to experience cutouts/static. Anything that blocked direct access between the phone and earbuds significantly reduced the range.

This style of earbud was designed more like a blended on-ear than a true in-ear setup. Each of the 5/8 inches long earbuds had a main angled speaker and a posterior speaker. With the earbud angled within the concha (bowl) of the ear, the two speakers sent sound down the edges of my ear canal. The 1 1/8 inches tall earbud extended downward slightly with a slender 3/4 inches long by 5/16 inches wide tail. Each of the earbuds had a 1/4 inches diameter metallic-grey capacitive-touch button along the upper posterior edge and two metallic charging posts on the inner surface of the tail. Orient the right and left earbuds into the respective ears by observing the small silver R/L on the inner surface of each of the earbud tails. When powered on, a single press of the right earbud capacitive-touch button increased the volume, while a single touch of the left earbud decreased the volume. With each change, the earbud provided an audible ding. When I short-pressed either one of the earbuds twice, the current music/movie either played or paused. A long press of the right earbud advanced to the subsequent track, while a long press of the left earbud returned to the previous track. Lastly, a triple tap of either of the earbuds activated Siri. I loved that they chose to include volume up/volume down, next/previous track, and voice assistant activation. The shape reminded me of the Apple AirPods and the black color was more discrete than the white Apple color scheme. The earbuds connected to their base with strong magnets and were easy to remove with upward pressure. My only complaint about the device was with the sensitivity of the capacitive touch. Unfortunately, I found the volume changed too frequently when trying to reposition the earbuds within my ears. With time, I realized that I needed to use the tail and the lower section of the backing to find the optimal listening position. Thankfully, the earbuds did not extend into the ear canals and did not cause fatigue or irritation. Thus, the design allowed for prolonged listening.

To test the parameters of the earbuds, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website. If you have not used their website, I encourage you to evaluate earbuds with their tests. I typically start with the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz). Starting at 10Hz, a male voice will announce each successive 10Hz level. With the range of human hearing from 20Hz-20kHz, I was pleased to find a deep tactile bass feel at 20Hz. For the second test, I utilized the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  As we get older, we experience loss of higher frequency sounds. Due to this, many people can only hear up to 14-15kHz. Like other earphone tests, I could hear up to 15kHz, which is rather good for a 40-year old. It is thus important to wear hearing protection and to avoid prolonged noise pollution. With the above tests completed, I turned to the Left/Right/Center test. This test showed that the earbuds were correctly programmed for stereo sound. For the final test, I used my favorite feature of the Audiocheck.net website. Navigate to the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test, turn off the lights, close your eyes, and have the volume set to roughly 75%. If you have never used a test like this, be prepared for visceral startle response.

Once the audiocheck.net tests were complete, I turned to Amazon Music, Apple Music, Youtube, and Spotify to complete my test-track evaluation.  To examine the bass, I used the city-pop sounds of “Bright Lights Bigger City” by CeeLo Green, the sultry bass line from the opening of “Train Song” by Holly Cole, the melodic Ballad “Far Over the Misty Mounts Cold” from The Hobbit, and the cacophony of sounds from “Why So Serious” Joker Theme from Dark Knight Rises (3:30-3:40). To further test the bass, I listened to the opening scene from Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones. I found the strong bass supported the mid and upper sounds without becoming muddy or harsh. Since the earbuds did not form a true seal with the ear canal, I found that I had to increase the sound slightly to feel the full effect. To test the balance and sound placement, I used Bob Marley and the Wailers “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” Radiohead “The National Anthem,” the soothing sounds from “Caribbean Blue” by Enya, and the jovial bouncing sounds of “Bubbles” from Yosi Horikawa. To test the blending, clarity, and treble/bass balance, I listened to various songs from Home Free, Anthem Lights, Pentatonix, Home Free, and Anthem Lights.  Additionally, as a guilty pleasure, I listened to several of my favorite instrumental music pieces like Polovetsian Dances, Pevensey Castle, Lincolnshire Posey, and Holst Suite in E flat.  Lastly, I played the Far and Away, Braveheart, and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtracks.  I found the upper frequency sounds to be smooth and lacked raspy/harsh quality. Overall, I found the blend quite pleasing for jazz, R+B, rock, pop, and classical music. I would rate the fit/quality of sound at above-average 4.5/5 stars.

The device touch controls proved to be quite responsive and intuitive. I used the earbuds for 2-3 hours each day and returned them to the case. I found that I could use the setup for ten days without needing to charge the case. I made several calls and enjoyed the microphone placement (the website lists 2) on each of the 0.1-ounce earbuds. The sounds did not get muffled, lost, or sound like I was talking in a tunnel. The longest stretch of continued usage was four hours on a recent road trip. With the volume set to 75%, I listened for a solid four hours uninterrupted. The earbuds fit securely within the concha of my ears and remained in place even with running, jumping, and turning my head side to side. Sweat did not seem to bother the earbuds and I found that I could add one earbud and seamlessly swap out the devices for monaural utility. I did not experience any sound/audio lag when changing between earbuds or when watching television shows or movies on any streaming services that I tried: YouTube, Hulu, CBS All Access, HBO Max, Movies Anywhere, Amazon Prime Video, or VUDU.  I liked that the charging case utilized USB-C, but I wish that they would have used a USB-C to USB-C cable instead of a USB-A to USB-C. Instead of a carry case, the lightweight earbuds/earbud case utilized a magnetic backplate that affixed firmly to the back of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. I thought that this was a unique and ingenious feature. I loved the shape of the charging case, the color, the size, and the lightweight earbuds. I loved that the flush design allowed me to rest my head on my pillow without pressure into the ear. I enjoyed the comfortable fit, the quality of sound, and the ability to have a readily available headset.

Learn more about the Scendo Earbuds on Indiegogo.

For more information, visit scendo.com and Facebook.

Budget-friendly earbuds provide consistent sound quality but could use some improvements.

As a product reviewer, I get to test out all kinds of devices. No matter what I am able to get my hands on, headphones always seem to be my favorite to review. Even though there are many styles that are similar, I always find something unique about each set I review. The True Wireless Earbuds by Aukey (EP-T21S) are an incredibly inexpensive option for wireless earbuds and while they have some shortcomings, they are nice headphones. 

DETAILS

The Aukey True Wireless Earbuds provide high-fidelity audio through 10mm enhanced dynamic drivers. They also feature MEMS microphone technology so that users can experience clearer phone calls. The earbuds charge through USB-C and are compatible with quick charge technology. They will provide approximately 5 hours of use on a single charge and can be recharged in about 1.5 hours. The charging case adds an additional 25 hours of use and also acts as a way to disconnect the earbuds from your connected device. The earbuds have simple touch controls and that can be used to manage audio playback as well as phone calls. The earbuds can be used as a pair or one at a time, too. The headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5 and come in five distinct colors – black, blue, green, pink, and red. The package contains the earbuds, charging case, three pairs of ear tips (S, M, L), USB-C cable, user manual, and quick charge guide. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The earbuds come with the medium size ear tips pre-installed. I always prefer the smaller ear tips so I swapped those out right off the bat. Changing the ear tips was a little more difficult than other earbuds I’ve done this with. After a few minutes, I was able to get it done though. The earbuds also have a plastic covering over their charging contacts. Once those are removed, they make contact with the case, they will begin charging and be available to be paired. I noticed out of the box, that the earbuds only had about 50% battery life. They did recharge quickly and once I took them out of the case for the first time, they immediately went into pairing mode. The headphones appeared in my Bluetooth menu almost instantaneously and I was able to start using them with my iPhone very quickly. The touch controls are easy to get used to,  but they only have six basic operations – play/pause music, skip to the previous track, skip to the next track, answer/end a call, reject an incoming call, and activate voice assistants.

I tested these headphones out with a variety of music choices. I listened to everything from Hamilton to Metallica. And while the music quality was very good, I did notice a little bit of static noise when nothing was playing. It’s not so much that it’s overpowering, but it is present. I could not hear the static when music was playing; only when it was silent. I also felt that the voice prompts that the headphones provided were extraordinarily loud. There is no way to adjust this so I tried to leave the earbuds out of my ears when I knew that a prompt would be coming. 

Another issue I had was that the headphones did not pause the music track when they were taken out of my ears. Most modern wireless earbuds have this functionality so I was surprised to find these earbuds did not comply with that trend. The only way the audio paused was if I took the earbuds off, placed them in the charging case, and closed the lid. This is the only way – aside from manually disconnecting them in the phone’s Bluetooth settings – that I could get the earbuds to disconnect. The user manual indicates that if the earbuds are powered on when placed into the case that the user should touch/hold the touch-sensitive panels on both earbuds for 6 seconds. I would rather see the automatic detection option be in place. It makes for a much better user experience.

Finally, I saw an issue with the product description on Amazon. The name of the product on Amazon indicates that these are ‘noise canceling’ headphones. They are not. There is a certain amount of noise isolation you get from the earbuds, but they don’t cancel any noise out. I think this is something that should be adjusted so that people don’t think they are paying for that feature when they really aren’t. 

CONCLUSION

Even though I found a few things I’d love to see improved upon, the True Wireless Earbuds are really not a bad value. They currently retail for around $40 (depending on the color choice) and provide a lot of enjoyment for that price. I thought their sound quality was consistent, but I would love to see the user experience refined so there are fewer items that need improvement. 

For more details, visit AUKEY, Facebook, and Twitter.