Experience superior sound quality with the WH950NB Wireless Headphones.

Whether sitting back at home after a stressful day at work or watching your favorite tv show or movie while traveling abroad, comfort and quality of sound matter. There are currently an abundance of variations and options to choose from ranging from earbuds to over-the-ear headphones and prices vary greatly as well. Edifier is a Chinese company founded in 1996 and specializes in the design and manufacture of a wide range of premium sound devices. This is my review of the Edifier WH950NB Wireless Bluetooth headphones.

About Edifier WH950NB Wireless Headphones

The WH950NB Wireless Headphones are the latest premium noise-canceling headphones from Edifier. They are conformed to both “High-Resolution Audio” (LDAC codes support) and “High-Resolution Audio Wireless” standards, allowing users to enjoy high-quality music with and without wires. Featuring up to 55 hours of battery life, the best voice clarity, and a foldable & lightweight design, it is ideal for daily use, conference, and travel. Also, the soft ear-pads are made of advanced environmental-friendly. 

Included in Packaging

• Bluetooth Headset
• Carrying case
• USB Type C Charging Cable
• Wired Headphone Jack

Features

• Active Noise Cancellation + Ambient Sound Mode
• LDAC codec with Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Wireless certification
• Advanced 4-Mic ENC for the best voice clarity
• Personalize EQ and select various music modes in Edifier Connect APP
• Supports Google Fast Pair for Android users
• 1.5 hours fully charged for at least 34 hours playtime(ANC ON) / 55hrs(ANC OFF)
• Fast charging: 7hrs playback in just 10mins
• 40mm dynamic driver
• Double protection for safe hearing: Volume <85dB and a cut-off timer Foldable and lightweight design. Ideal for daily use, conference meeting and travel

Performance

Pairing the headphones via Bluetooth was quick thanks to Google’s fast pairing technology. The headset is powered on by holding down the button between the plus and minus volume rockers. According to Edifier, you can get about 55 hours of battery life on a full charge and an additional 7 hours from a 10-minute charge thanks to fast charging technology.

Via the Edifier Connect app, you can choose between different sound profiles. I personally found the dynamic preset sounded best but there was an option to customize the sound settings to your liking. The sound quality was better than average with decent bass levels. I tested using a variety of music from hip-hop, rock, and country.

The headphones were especially comfortable during extended use sessions with the ear and headpieces having a pillow-like feel. The earpieces do a good job of not letting sound escape as well. I was able to watch movies on my smartphone while sitting next to my wife studying without disturbing her.

The headphones can also be paired with a second device. For instance, you can be watching a movie or listening to music paired to your PC and still receive calls via your smartphone. This headset also features 4 microphones with different levels of noise cancelation that worked quite well in windy situations.

Verdict, Price, and Availability

As of the time of writing this review, the headset is available for purchase in white and black variations on Edifier-online.com and Amazon.com for $179.99. While Edifier is a lesser-known brand that doesn’t mean it’s a lesser device.

When you consider similar performing headphones selling at almost twice the price it’s easy to see the value provided here. After testing this headset for about a week I’ve had no problems and quite enjoyed using them. If you are looking for premium headphones at half the price this device has everything you need.

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

Headphones seem to come in all shapes and sizes these days. For me, they are an essential piece to my work-from-home lifestyle. It’s very helpful to have a headset with ANC but many wireless headphones with ANC can be very cost-prohibitive. I did a quick search on “over-ear Bluetooth headphones with ANC” and the first 10 items that were displayed after the sponsored devices had an average price of $149.

While I truly appreciate a high-quality set of cans for music and video consumption, I have to admit that sometimes I get concerned with taking my ultra-expensive headphones out of the house. So, it’s nice to have an alternate set of headphones that are good for worry-free traveling. This is where the Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones with ANC come into the picture. These budget-friendly headphones check off all the major boxes for me when it comes to audio enjoyment.

About the Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones with ANC

The Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones are designed to provide a premium audio listening experience while still being reasonable cost-wise. The headphones are perfect for enjoying audio streaming and avoiding distractions. They come equipped with Bluetooth 5 and have support for AAC, SBC, Qualcomm® aptX, and Qualcomm aptX Low Latency audio codecs.

The SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones have hybrid active noise canceling built-in, which helps to block unwanted ambient noise and the Qualcomm cVc Echo Cancelling and Noise Suppression ensure a crystal-clear, noise-free voice for phone calls. Users have the option to pair two source devices simultaneously and switch back and forth between them. The headphones have an average of 20 hours of audio playback/talk time.

Main Features

• P/N: 43251
• Bluetooth® Version: 5
• Bluetooth Chipset: Qualcomm® QCC3005
• Bluetooth Range: Up to 32 feet (10 meters)
• Supported Bluetooth Profiles: HSP, HFP, AVRCP, A2DP
• Bluetooth Pairing Name: MP43251
• Supported Audio Codecs: aptX™ Low Latency, aptX™, AAC, SBC
• Battery Type: 3.7V Lithium‑ion
• Battery Capacity: 400mAh
• Charging Time: About 2.5 hours
• Standby Time: About 400 hours
• Playback/Talk Time: About 20 hours (50% volume, ANC OFF, BT ON), About 10 hours (50% volume, ANC ON, BT ON), About 14 hours (50% volume, ANC ON, BT OFF)
• Dimensions: 8.3″ x 6.1″ x 3.3″ (210 x 155 x 83 mm)
• Weight: 9.5 oz. (269 g)

Pricing & Availability

The Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones have a list price of $59.99 and can be ordered from monoprice.com. As of publishing, the headphones are on sale and are currently offered for $44.99.

User Experience

The Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones come in a plain, Monoprice-branded box. The item is defined only by the printed name of the headphones on the front of the box. When you open the box, you’ll find the headphones resting in a plastic mold. Below that, you’ll find an audio cable and a Micro USB charging cable.

This is one thing that I feel could have been done better with the headphones’ design. In this day and age, I personally feel that Micro USB is outdated technology. I think it would have been better to use USB-C as the charging interface since it is much more commonplace these days.

Out of the box, the headphones had a 100% battery charge. As soon as I turned the headphones on, they went into pairing mode and they appeared in my iPhone’s Bluetooth menu. Within a few seconds, the headphones were connected and I was listening to music. I typically rate headphones on a few different areas — comfort, sound quality, and special features.

ANC

The ANC feature was above average. I found it to be very easy to activate (there is a switch on the left ear cup that you switch on and off as you need it. By nature, the over-ear headphone design provided some sound isolation without any ANC turned on. Here is how I would rank the sound isolation with and without the ANC feature (0 = sound isolation to 10 = all ambient sound muted).

• Bare ears = 0
• Headphones On = 2-3
• Headphones On + ANC On = 4-5
• Headphones On + ANC On + music playing = 6-7

As far as ANC goes and in comparison to other ANC headphones I have used, the function was very helpful. My fiancé tried them out while I was playing Call of Duty in another room in our house. Normally, she can hear some of my gaming activity but she said with these headphones that she could only barely hear me playing and talking to other players when no music was playing. She could, however, still hear herself crunching popcorn while using the headphones. I did notice that there is a faint humming/static sound that you can hear through the headphones when no music is playing. It can be a little distracting.

SOUND QUALITY

In order to test the sound quality of the headphones, I listened to a variety of music and watched some video clips. I used different audio/video streaming services (noted below). I have included the list below. All music was tested at 50% volume level while all videos were listened to between 50-75% volume level. All audio and video were in sync.

In general, the audio quality was above average. All the mixes were steady and even some very intricate sound effects were detected when they have been lost with some other headphone brands. The bass was rich but could have kicked a bit more. Extreme highs and lows were not lost and all the mixes — especially with the movie clips — were clear and well-balanced. I did definitely hear a nice ring/reverb in some tracks (Duel of the Fates) and when listening to Hamilton which was recorded in a Broadway theater, the bass was exceptional.

Audio Testing Playlist (all music streamed through Apple Music)

• Brother of Mine | Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
• No Diggity (feat. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen) | Blackstreet
• World Championship Finale 2 | The Barden Bellas (Pitch Perfect 2)
• A Thousand Miles | Vanessa Carlton
• Duel of the Fates | John Williams & London Symphony Orchestra (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace)

Videos (all videos streamed using Disney+)

• Hamilton — Opening sequence and the first song
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 — The opening scene and credits sequence
• The Lion King (animated version) — The Circle of Life and Scar’s first scene

COMFORT/WEARABILITY

The headphones are very lightweight and the cushions are plush and soft. The headband is adjustable and since the headphones are foldable, they provide flexibility for the user and how they sit on their head. I did notice that my ears got a bit warm after about an hour of continuous use. I never noticed my ears sweating, but they were certainly warmer than usual. Overall, I would rate them at a 9 out of 10 for comfort and wearability.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

A couple of additional observations I made when using the headphones included —

• ANC has to be turned off separately. When I was turning the headphones off for the night, I flipped the power switch to ‘off’ and I noticed that the ANC indicator light was still illuminated. So, I flipped the ANC switch. This could be a battery-draining issue if the user doesn’t think about turning both functions off.
• Charges with Micro USB. As I noted earlier, these headphones charge with Micro USB rather than USB-C. This is not a problem per se, but it’s not a modern design feature that I have come to expect with my headphones and other peripherals. Micro USB is historically less expensive to implement than USB-C but as USB-C becomes more standardized, the cost is less of a factor for implementation.
• No storage case is provided. While it’s not 100% necessary for a quality customer experience, I think some sort of headphone case would be helpful for a product like this. Since I feel that these are great for traveling — so you don’t worry about the wear and tear on your more expensive headphones — a storage case would have been a great add-on. Monoprice doesn’t seem to offer storage cases separately but some decent options are available on Amazon.

Conclusion

The Monoprice SYNC-ANC Bluetooth Headphones provide a premium listening experience for users without breaking the bank. They are durable, comfortable to wear, and have above-average active noise-canceling for sound isolation. Even though these headphones are a good investment, there are some design improvements I think could be made. The ANC, while very functional does produce a slight humming sound when active and I feel that the headphones should charge USB-C rather than Micro USB. I still think the headphones are a good buy and I would recommend them, especially as a secondary set of headphones.

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

A headset that makes you feel like you’re in the game.

Nowadays, video games are more realistic and engaging than ever before. In order to completely enjoy the cutting-edge sound design and communicate with other players, it’s important to have a premium set of gaming headphones available when you game. Whether you are playing an online game with friends or by yourself, a quality headset helps to immerse you into the gaming world and improve your overall experience.

A few months ago, I started playing Call of Duty: Mobile using my iPhone. I am hard of hearing and that makes it difficult for me to communicate through the microphone and speaker on my mobile device alone. So, I started searching for a good headset specifically for gaming. At first, I used my Apple AirPods Max.

They were comfortable and isolating, and because of the Transparency mode which is part of Apple’s noise-canceling technology, I was able to hear more clearly when I was talking with my friends. Unfortunately, those headphones are not sweat and water-resistant. So, even though they have a 20-hour battery life, condensation can build up inside the ear cups over time. I play in hours-long gaming sessions and I soon noticed that the AirPods Max was not working properly.

Those headphones are still among my favorite to use for listening to music but weren’t right for gaming. So, I began searching for something that was not only designed for gaming but also had the features I was looking for. One of the most important was being compatible with mobile devices and Bluetooth connectivity.

You would be surprised to learn — I know that I was — that good over-ear gaming headphones are hard to find when you want them to be mobile/Bluetooth compatible. Some have Bluetooth connectivity, but they are meant to allow you to connect to your mobile phone so that you can listen to music or answer calls — not play games. What this means is that you will get audio, but not premium sound effects.

Because I was searching for over-the-heard headphones, I was willing to sacrifice those extra features as long as I had clean sound, a strong microphone, and comfortable headphones that could withstand long gaming sessions. I went through several sets of headphones before I settled on the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT headset.

About the VIRTUOSO XT Gaming Headset

The VIRTUOSO gaming headset product line was originally launched in 2019 with the CORSAIR VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless and VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless SE headsets. They were designed to “bridge the gap between gaming headsets and high-fidelity headphones.” Two years later in May of 2021, the VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT headset was announced. The biggest difference between the XT and the other models is the XT’s ability to connect via Bluetooth.

The VIRTUOSO XT also features the Dolby Atmos sound, inline controls on the 3.5mm audio cable, a storage pouch, and micro-perforated RGB LED lighting.

The VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT delivers uncompromising sound quality from virtually any source, including PC, Mac, PS5/PS4 (wired or wireless), Xbox Series X and Series S (wired connection only), Switch, mobile, and more. Connecting with 24bit/48KHz SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS technology for a blisteringly fast, unwavering 60ft signal, the VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT also adds Bluetooth with the Qualcomm® aptX™ HD codec for simultaneous dual-wireless connections.

A USB wired connection delivers high-fidelity 24bit/96kHz audio, while a universal 3.5mm connector ensures compatibility with a multitude of devices, built with an inline controller that conveniently controls volume and mute. With so many ways to connect, you can switch from PC to console, wired to wireless, 3.5mm to Bluetooth and back, all with just a single amazing headset.

The Dolby Atmos feature also provides users with a three-dimensional spatial audio effect, which provides total immersion into your gaming experiences. This lets users react faster and more precisely to in-game audio cues.

Main Features & Specs

Model → VIRTUOSO Wireless XT

Color → Black

Lighting → RGB

Audio CUE Software → Yes

Battery Life → Up to 15 Hours; Rechargeable

Dimensions (H x W x D) → 7.68” x 6.69” x 3.94”

Weight → 0.84 pounds

Cord Length → 5.9 feet

Platform Compatibility → Mac/Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS

Built-in Voice Assistant → N/A

Water Resistant → No

Ear Cushion Material → Memory Foam

Audio Features

• Surround Sound
• Dolby Atmos
• Active Noise Cancelling → No
• Sound Isolating → No
• Environmental Noise Control → No
• Volume Limiting Function → No

Headset Features

• Frequency Response → 20Hz – 40 kHz
• Sensitivity → 109dB (+/-3dB)
• Wireless Range → Up to 60ft
• Impedance → 32 Ohms @ 2.5 kHz
• Driver Size → 50mm
• Over-the-Ear

Connectivity

• Wired (detachable) → 3.5mm or USB
• Radio Frequency (RF) → USB Wireless Receiver
• Bluetooth Version 5.0
• Number Of Devices Connectable Simultaneously → 2

Microphone Features

• Detachable
• Impedance → 2.0k Ohms
• Omni-directional
• Frequency Response → 100Hz to 10kHz
• Sensitivity → -42dB (+/-2dB)

Pricing & Availability

The VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT headphones have a hefty price tag. They have a list price of $269.99, which is similar to other gaming headsets with similar features. They typically range in price between $150 – $300. The VIRTUOSO headphones can be purchased directly from corsair.com, or any of their authorized retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy.

User Experience

The headset comes in a vibrant, Corsair-branded box. It is packaged with a soft-sided storage case, a 3.5mm audio cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, a detachable microphone, and the USB wireless receiver dongle. There is also a quick start guide that provides instructions on how to connect the headset to various devices.

iCue Software

You can use the headset without the software, but it does provide a more customized experience. Not only does it give you the option to customize the RGB effects, but you also have an EQ included that lets you tweak the headphone’s audio settings. The headset ships with a preset audio mode that is optimized for gaming, so if you plan on listening to music or enjoying complex movie soundtracks, the iCue software will give you the opportunity to adjust those settings. The headset does support built-in standards from consoles, so the software is really just meant for when you want to mess with the settings.

High-Quality Sound

Even though these headphones don’t have noise cancellation features, they have some isolation properties based on the fact that they are ‘over-ear’ style. This level of isolation was perfect for my purpose because I wanted to be able to hear myself as I talked with my friends. The lack of noise cancelation allowed me to do this. There were other over-the-ear gaming headsets with noise cancelation that shut me off from the rest of the world and while I know that is a general idea with ANC, it’s not something I wanted while gaming.

In the interim between my AirPods Max and the Virtuoso headset, I tried a few other options including headphones by Turtle Beach, Razer, Bose, and Sony. Not all of the headphones I tried were specifically made for gaming but they did have some of the same features as the Virtuoso headphones and none of them sounded as good as the Corsair headset. That said, I would say that the audio quality is average in regards to using on a mobile device. I was able to hear just fine, but it wasn’t exceptional until I used the headphones with the PC, Mac, and Playstation.

In addition to my mobile devices, I did also try the headphones with a PC laptop, a macOS laptop, and a Playstation 5. If you want to feel as though you are immersed in the game you are playing, the Dolby Atmos effects provide that feeling. Unfortunately, it’s only available with a PC. I did use it when gaming on the PC and I could hear opponents creeping up on me from any side.

Premium Microphone

Because I play with a ‘clan’ of friends, communication is key for me. The microphone on the AirPods Max was wonderful and my friends were commenting frequently about how good I sounded on their end. Therefore, I was on the search for a microphone that could keep up with those standards.

Again, some of the other gaming headsets just didn’t meet the expectations I was looking for. In fact, some of the microphones popped so much or had so much static noise in them that my friends couldn’t understand a word I was saying. During the first gaming session I had with the Virtuoso headset, they immediately noticed and asked what I did to sound so good.

The microphone on this headset is probably the top reason I use it. It is considered broadcast-grade. It sounds really great to the people on the other end of it and I was able to hear myself as well, which helps me since I have hearing problems.

Comfortable for Long Gaming Sessions

My gaming sessions are usually around 2-3 hours in length — at a time. There have been a couple of times that I have stayed up all night to enjoy playing with friends or to test out a new feature in a game. So, comfort was essential when choosing my gaming headset.

The Virtuoso headset has plush memory foam on both the ear cups and the headband. The ear cups are round in shape and they covered my ears completely. I noticed that after particularly long gaming sessions my ears would get hot, but I never noticed a condensation/sweat build-up as I did with the AirPods Max.

I also never experienced any earaches or headaches from wearing the headset for long periods of time. The headband is adjustable and while the headset is moderately heavy, I never noticed the weight as a problem.

Battery Life

The battery life of this headset is probably the only real complaint I have with it. The spec for battery life is ‘up to 15 hours.’ This pales in comparison to a lot of other wireless gaming headsets and to be honest, it was the only real hesitation I had when it came to getting the Virtuoso headphones.

I’m glad that I took the plunge with the Virtuoso headphones based on the other features it provides, but longer battery life would be appreciated. According to Corsair, the reason for the 15-hour battery life is because of the dual-device connection option. If you are only connected to one device at a time, you will likely get more than 15 hours. In my testing, the VIRTUOSO XTs were able to work through that 15-hour mark.

For most users, 15 hours would be plenty, but If you use the headphones for work throughout the day and then switch over to gaming at night, you need more than 15 hours from one charge in my opinion. That said, the Virtuoso headset does also feature a smart-wake function that helps to preserve battery life when you remove the headset for a short period of time.

Compatibility with iOS Devices

I mentioned that mobile compatibility was an important feature to me. Well, I not only wanted Bluetooth connectivity but specifically iOS compatibility. The Virtuoso headset is one of the only over-the-ear wireless gaming headsets I’ve found that lists iOS as one of its compatible systems.

Even though some of the gaming features didn’t crossover to my iOS devices, the high-quality audio output did and these headphones did a much better job of providing the type of audio experience I wanted for my mobile gaming sessions. Are they the best option for mobile gaming? No, but they do a good job for over-the-ear gaming headsets that will work with mobile devices.

Conclusion

The Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT High-Fidelity Gaming Headset is the perfect addition to any gamer’s toolkit. The headset’s rich and detailed soundscape creates an immersive gaming experience, while the wireless design and comfortable fit make it easy to wear for hours on end. With its advanced features and stylish design, the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB WIRELESS XT is the ultimate gaming headset for any serious gamer.

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

Turtle Beach headset sounds great and has easy-to-use controls but needs better instructions.

Not too long ago, I inherited my fiancé’s Xbox One X. He upgraded to the Xbox Series X when it was first released and since I love playing Red Dead Redemption 2, he passed the older system along to me. I had wanted to add a gaming console to my office so the timing was perfect. The only thing I was really missing was a set of wireless headphones. The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Amplified Gaming Headset was a good option for me to try out.

DETAILS

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB Wireless Amplified Gaming Headset is officially licensed for Xbox and is designed to deliver high-quality gaming audio and chat for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. The battery was tested to last 24+ hours and the headphones offer a low-latency, lossless connection thanks to its proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless.

Users can hear immersive, spatial audio through 50mm speakers and can chat using the gen 2 flip-to-mute microphone. The ear cushions are designed to be comfortable and work well with glasses. The headset features controls on the side of the earcups that allow users to cycle through audio presets, adjust volume, and activate the Superhuman Hearing feature.

SPECS

• Wireless Transmitter: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S & Xbox One
• 50mm speakers with Neodymium magnets
• Frequency Response 20Hz – 20kHz
• Over-Ear (Closed) Ear-Cup Design
• Fabric with Foam Ear Cushioning
• Flip-up Omni-Directional Mic Design
• Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery

USER EXPERIENCE

One of the first things I noticed was that the headset seems to be a one-step upgrade from the previous model that was released in September 2020. This version of the headset has some subtle differences including:

• the inclusion of DTS Headphone: X
• an increased battery life (to 24 hours)
• only being compatible with the Xbox console
• increased sensitivity (99.95 decibels adjusted)
• a mute function
• the amplified audio functionality (Refined earcup acoustics and expertly tuned 50mm speakers are powerfully driven to give you accurate, immersive audio)

The setup of the headset was super easy. You just plug the USB receiver into a USB-A port on your Xbox (we used the one on the front) and the headset automatically connects to it. The Xbox automatically switches over to using the headset as the output audio source. Out of the box, this headset did have a charge to it, but it’s always a good practice to charge headphones before using them – especially for longer periods of time.

To do my first test run of the headset, I fired up RDR2 and played for a while to get used to the feeling of them. I used the standard stereo mode at first, which was very clear and easy to hear environmental nuances (things like steps and tiny animal noises). I liked using that mode quite a bit considering that RDR2 relies a lot on the surrounding environment and what’s going on. After playing with standard stereo for a while, I switched to the Superhuman Hearing setting, and wow, was that a game-changer (no pun intended).

I’ve played through RDR2 twice and I’m now just taking advantage of free play in story mode. There were a lot of sounds I had never heard before using the Superhuman Hearing mode. One of the things I really like about the sound quality is how enveloped I felt with the enhanced sound from the headphones.

As far as noise isolation goes, the ear cups enclosed my ears completely, and even without the sound on, I was able to drown out some of the ambient sounds in the room. Once I started playing the game I couldn’t hear anything around me. It bothered me a little but it really helped me enjoy the game even more than usual.

The headphones were plenty loud. I loved how I could control the sound directly on the side of the headphones. It was very easy to turn the dial up and down to adjust the volume. I really liked that it was an analog dial instead of a button or a touch-sensitive control.

As far as comfort goes, the headset is lightweight and easy to wear with glasses. The box actually states that they are ‘glasses-friendly.’ My ears were comfortable and didn’t get hot or sweaty, but the longer I played the more I noticed that the top of my head was hurting right where the headband was resting.

If I moved it around a little I was able to shift the discomfort for a little while, but it eventually came back. I started noticing it after about 90 minutes of gameplay. It’s not a deal-breaker for me but it was noticeable enough to cause me to stop playing after that long so that the ache didn’t get worse.

Aside from the actual headset’s functionality and use, there was only one issue I had with these headphones – the instructions. After reading some of the instruction booklet and noticing that the parts didn’t match and after attempting to update the firmware via my MacBook Air (the Turtle Beach Audio Hub is available for Windows and Mac), I discovered that the instructions included were for the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max headphones and not the Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB Wireless Amplified Gaming Headset, which is the model I have.

This is something that should be alleviated as soon as possible because the two different models have different hardware options and different setup methods. The front of the literature packet says to upgrade the firmware before using the headphones, but if you visit turtlebeach.com, the Audio Hub page says, “…Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for Xbox headsets are ready to go! No firmware update is needed. macOS compatibility for these models coming soon.” I didn’t see this bit of information until after I had attempted to connect the headset to the hub a few different ways (using different USB cables, different ports, etc.).

When the headset didn’t connect, I went back to the Turtle Beach website and found this information. As you can imagine, the incorrect instruction packet made the setup process frustrating. The only reason that I got the headset connected is that I plugged the USB receiver into the Xbox just to see what would happen if I did it. It was a last-ditch effort after I had been messing with the Audio Hub/firmware issue for a while.

CONCLUSION

If the correct instructions had been included, this headset would have gotten a higher review. They sound great and they work really well with the Xbox. I wish they had been a little more comfortable but all-in-all, they are a decent set of headphones.

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

Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones have a premium sound in a unique package.

I don’t consider myself an audiophile, but I do enjoy a really good set of headphones. For me, headphones need to be comfortable as well as provide excellent sound quality. I also like it when headphones have a unique style to them. When I learned that V-Moda was releasing a special edition set of their Crossfade 2 Wireless, I decided I wanted to give them a try.

What makes the Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones unique?

The Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones, Rolling Stones Edition are specially licensed limited edition over-ear headphones. Originally announced in January as a part of CES 2022, the V-Moda headphones can be used wirelessly or wired. The headphones are designed to offer virtually identical sound in Bluetooth mode or in pure analog wired mode. They are made for audiophiles as well as gamers and music listeners.

“We are thrilled for the Rolling Stones to partner with V-MODA and Roland in this category as their world-renowned premium product aligns with the world’s most recognized rock and roll band,” says Frank Bartolotta, senior vice president, strategic brand partnerships and licensing, at Bravado.

The Crossfade 2 Wireless can be connected to multiple devices wirelessly and touts 12+ hours of playback time. The battery can be recharged to 100% in 100 minutes. The ear cups feature bigger memory foam cushions and the headband is made with a flexible, but sturdy metal core. And, while the headphones do not feature noise cancellation, they are noise-isolating based on their form and the materials used to make them.

Specs

• Speaker driver: 50mm dual-diaphragm driver
• Speaker sensitivity: 100db @ 1kHz 1mW
• Microphone sensitivity: -42dB @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 32Ω
• Type: Over-ear Circumaural
• Cable Length: SpeakEasy 132cm (52”)

What’s Included

• Crossfade 2 Wireless
• Exoskeleton Carry Case
• Carabiner Clip
• Aramid Fiber-Reinforced SpeakEasy™1-Button Microphone Cable
• Micro USB Cable
• Gold Plated 1/4″ Pro Adapter
• 1-Year Warranty
• Immortal Life Replacement Program

Getting started with the Crossfade 2 Wireless

The headphones have a very unique box. The front of it features an image of the headphones, of course, and there are various details about the headphones spread out around the sides and back. The box looks as though it’s an outer sleeve fitted around an inner carton. So I expected the sleeve to lift off the inner box. I was surprised to find that the top lifts up and reveals the contents inside. Once I unfastened the snap on the back of the box, the lid pivoted on its hinge and after lifting out the top piece of foam, I found the headphones’ case inside.

The case is one of the more compact ones I’ve seen for over-ear headphones. The inside of it is orange, which I thought was maybe part of V-Moda’s brand colors, but I don’t see that shade anywhere on their website. As slick as the packaging and style of these headphones are, the orange felt like a missed step. I would have rather seen the interior be red to match the Rolling Stones licensing – or maybe a dark gray. While this might not make a huge difference to some people, I notice it and it did affect my user experience.

On the inside of the headphone case, I noticed there were two elastic bands attached to opposite sides of the case. These are designed to hold the cables for the headphones. One cable is a stereo audio cable and the other is the charging cable.

Unfortunately, I have to pause here to talk about the charging cable. It’s a micro-USB cable. I actually spotted the Micro USB port on the headphones before I saw the cable. This is disappointing to me. I feel that Micro USB is an older technology and should be phased out by newly released products. I don’t know why some product designers are still utilizing the Micro USB connection, but I think it has something to do with cost. I would much rather see USB-C used.

The first thing I did with the headphones was located the power switch. The 3-way power switch is located on the right can toward the bottom. It’s easily accessible and when I switched it to the on position, I was happy to discover there was some power available and that the headphones went directly into pairing mode. My iPhone 12 Pro (my music player of choice) found the Bluetooth connection and connected right away.

How do they look?

While this might seem like an odd question for a set of headphones, I think it’s entirely appropriate for the Crossfade 2 Wireless. They look like a premium set of over-ear studio headphones. What’s cool about these particular headphones is that they are cross-promoted with the Rolling Stones. There are three different designs on the ear cups that highlight the rock icon’s brand – Classic Licks, No Filter, and Tattoo You. I ended up with Tattoo You, which looks absolutely awesome.

To be honest, I usually like my headphones to be on the plain side. Ironically, I think they should be heard, not seen. That said, I really like the look of these headphones. They are classy yet alternative at the same time. The Rolling Stones icon on the ear cups is really eye-catching and stands out on the solid black background of the earpieces. Honestly, the headphones are almost like a piece of art.

How do the Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones sound?

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect because the alert tone and the connecting tone were both muffled and sounded like old headphones from the 1980s – the ones with foam over the earpieces. I was really hoping that other music and audio didn’t sound the same way. Fortunately, that was just a start-up sound effect. Personally, I think V-Moda should reconsider using those tones because they are misleading. I almost didn’t continue using the headphones when I heard those tones.

I’m very glad that I did continue with my testing because the headphones provided a wonderful listening experience. While I was working, I listened to music on a Pandora station for about an hour before I switched over to Apple Music so that I could listen to music that was compressed with Apple Lossless Audio Compression technology. It’s a comparable option to AAC and typically among the best audio quality, a consumer can experience through streaming. I thought pulling music from that library would be the best possible test of the headphone’s ability. I also put them head-to-head with my Apple AirPods Max.

How did the Crossfade 2 Wireless fare against the Apple AirPods Max?

Full disclosure here – the AirPods Max (APM) are my absolute favorite headphones. That’s why I feel like it’s appropriate to compare new over-ear headphones to them. I will say that the Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones held their own. I don’t know for sure about the technology between the two, but I can tell you how each listening experience made me feel.

I cried. I cried because music has that kind of power. And when you have a set of headphones that enhances that experience, you get emotional. At least, I do. The first time I listened to The Circle of Life on the AirPods Max, it was like I was hearing it for the first time. The Crossfade 2 Wireless actually had the same effect – but it was more like I was seeing The Lion King in the movie theater again for the first time. The Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones are powerful.

Throughout my testing, I switched back and forth between the two sets of headphones, and the differences were apparent.

Isolation: Even though they are not designed to be sound-isolating/reducing/canceling, the Crossfade 2 Wireless do a surprisingly good job blocking out ambient noise just by the way they are designed.

While I was using the headphones, I was typing with a mechanical keyboard and in a room where my fiance was playing a video game on his phone – with the sound turned on. We also have a small dog that barks anytime he thinks anyone is near the house. I could hear that something was going on around me but couldn’t tell what it was.

When I switched to my AirPods Max, which does have ANC built-in, I could still hear ambient noises around me when music hit a low point. The Crossfade 2 wireless headphones had a tighter fit around my ears and I think that is what helped with the isolation.

Volume: I listened to both headphones at 50% volume as shown on my phone and the Crossfade 2 Wireless were discernibly louder that the AirPods Max. In fact, I found myself having to turn them down depending on what I was listening to.

Clarity: the AirPods Max win this category. The Crossfade 2 Wireless is plenty clear, but the AirPod Max just punches the details through a little better. The Crossfade 2 Wireless does have a bit better loud bass depth than the AirPods Max.

Comfort: The Crossfade 2 Wireless is very comfortable. They are lightweight and easy to wear. I will say that even though I didn’t perceive my ears getting warm, the ear cups do fit my ears tighter than the AirPods Max, but they weren’t so tight that they were causing discomfort. I also noticed that my ears were a little warmer with the Crossfades than the APMs. Again, they weren’t uncomfortably hot though and my ears definitely weren’t sweating.

Here is a list of the songs that I used to test the Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones. I have indicated in parentheses if the tracks were in a certain codec or remastered.

• “Circle of Life” from The Lion King (Lossless)
• “In the Air Tonight” by The Protomen (Lossless)
• “Judas” by Fozzy (Lossless, Apple Digital Master)
• “My Shot” from Hamilton (Dolby ATMOS, Lossless, Apple Digital Master)
• “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace by John Williams (Lossless, Apple Digital Master)
• “Everlong” from  The Colour and the Shape by Foo Fighters (Lossless)
• “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones (Hi-res Lossless, Apple Digital Master)
• “Good Morning, Good Morning” from Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (Dolby ATMOS, Hi-Res Lossless, Apple Digital Master)

Final Thoughts

The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless is a really nice option for over-ear headphones. They are comfortable to wear – even for longer periods of time – and they sound spectacular! I do have a couple of things I would like to see improved, but overall, they are a great set of headphones.

For more information, visit v-moda.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Headset provides a personalized listening experience 

As a work-from-home professional, the equipment I use to communicate with my team has to be top-notch. I’m required to have a webcam, Bluetooth headset, and computer available at all times and of course, a secure, stable internet connection. I’ve been working remotely for about 18 months now and I’ve used a variety of products to ensure that my virtual meetings are not only private but also easy for me to communicate with. One of my favorite brands of headphones is Jabra. So, when I heard that they were releasing the Evolve2 75, I couldn’t wait to try them for work. 

DETAILS

The Jabra Evolve2 75 Headset was designed to provide a ‘new standard for hybrid working.’ The headset was specifically engineered to keep users connected and productive throughout the entire day. The ear cups feature new dual-foam technology and ergonomic design along with a leatherette ear cushion for improved ventilation. Jabra wanted these headphones to be comfortable for any user. 

The design of the ear cups doesn’t only provide comfort. The combination of the hard foam exterior and soft foam interior provides the base for the strong noise isolation that the headset gives users. The headset does provide Active Noise Canceling, but the design of the ear cup helps to enhance that feature. The Sound+ app is available to help optimize your ANC experience.

Jabra also wanted to ensure that the Evolve2 75 was able to keep users sounding professional. The headset has eight strategically placed microphones built-in to work with Jabra’s advanced beam-forming technology. The Evolve2 75 also meets Microsoft Open Office (and Teams) requirements so if you have an open workspace, this headset is designed specifically to work well in that environment. Jabra’s triple digital chipset is what powers this remarkable headset. That paired with Jabra’s new algorithm allows the headset to differentiate between voice and background noise to make calls as sharp as possible. 

The boom microphone is 33% smaller than the Evolve 75 and it delivers world-leading call performance. The mic is specially optimized for calls made in open-plan offices and when you don’t need it, the mic folds neatly into the ear cup. The headset also has an integrated ‘busy light’ that can be turned on and off. It’s meant to provide the user with a level of privacy so others know they are on a call without having to get their attention. 

SPECS

• Box content: Headset, Jabra Link 380 Bluetooth adapter, USB cable 1.2m/3.9ft, carry pouch, user documents, desk stand (SKU dependent) 
• Packaging dimensions (WxHxD): 199mm x 75mm x 238mm | 7.83in x 2.95in x 9.37in 
• Main unit dimensions (WxHxD): 145mm x 67mm x 190mm | 5.71in x 2.64in x 7.48in 
• Materials used: Dual-foam leatherette cushion, Headband ultra soft foam covered in color-matched leatherette, Metal slide arm 
• Weight (stereo variant): 197g | 6.9oz 
• USB cable length: 1.2m | 3.9ft 
• Warranty: 2 years 
• LED features and functions: Busylight, Deskstand docking indication, Incoming call, Microsoft Teams notifications (SKU dependent)
• Active Noise Cancellation: Jabra Advanced ANC™ using 4 of the device’s 8 microphones 
• HearThrough: Yes 
• Speaker size: 40mm 
• Speaker max input power: 30 mW 
• Speaker frequency range: 20Hz – 20000Hz 
• Speaker bandwidth (music mode): 20Hz – 20000Hz 
• Speaker bandwidth (speak mode): 100Hz – 8000Hz 
• Audio codecs supported: AAC, SBC 
• Microphone type: 4 Analog MEMS / 4 Digital MEMS 
• Microphone sensitivity:  -35 dBv/Pa (analog microphone)/-26 dBFS/Pa (digital microphone) 
• Microphone frequency range: Analog 5Hz – 20000Hz | Digital 100Hz – 8000Hz 
• User hearing protection: PeakStop, EU noise at work, G616, Jabra SafeToneTM 
• Certifications and compliance*: Microsoft Teams, MFi, Zoom, Amazon Alexa Built-in
• Music time: Up to 36 hours (with ANC off)/Up to 33 hours (with ANC on) 
• Talk time: Up to 24 hours (with ANC/busylight off)/Up to 18 hours (with ANC on/busylight on) 
• Corded charging (cable dependent): USB-C 
• Sleep mode: Yes 
• Charging time: Up to 160 minutes 
• Battery status % after 30 min / 60 min: 30% after 35 min and 60% after 70 min 
• Battery type: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Connectivity: USB-A/USB-C Bluetooth adapter, Bluetooth® 
• Bluetooth profiles: A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.8, HSP v1.2, PBAP v1.1, SPP v1.2 
• Bluetooth version: 5.2 
• Operating range: Up to 30m | 100ft 
• Paired devices: Up to 8 devices 
• On-head detection: Yes

USER EXPERIENCE 

The Evolve2 75 headset comes in a standard Jabra retail box. I’m not 100% sure, but I think the entire carton is biodegradable because it all seems to be cardboard without any heavy styrofoam or corrugated plastic pieces for packaging. The main carton is covered with an outer sleeve. The sleeve is a dark gray color and has an image of the product prominently displayed on the front. There are basic details about the product included on the box as well. 

When you remove the outer sleeve, you will see that the inner carton is a bit thicker cardboard. it opens to reveal the headset’s storage pouch, which is made of fabric. Inside the case, you will find the headset, a USB-C charging cable (no power adapter), and the USB dongle/Bluetooth receiver. 

I like that a storage pouch is included with the headset, but do wish that it was a hard shell case instead. This is a very versatile headset that is designed to go wherever you go so a more protective case would be helpful. Also, I’d prefer if the dongle’s storage pocket was a little more secure. It’s a small piece and could easily be misplaced. 

There is an optional charging dock for the headset, but it’s sold separately, and sadly, I didn’t get to review it along with the headset. I much prefer having a charging dock on my deck than a charging cable strewn across it. That said, the headphones did have a decent charge (more than 75%) on them out of the box. 

The headset feels really durable but lightweight. The headband is adjustable and always felt secure when I was wearing it. I also thought the controls were intuitive and easy to use. 

Connection and the App

I connected the Evolve2 75 to two different devices – my MacBook Air via the dongle and my iPhone 12 Pro via Bluetooth. Jabra does provide both desktop and mobile apps to help users enhance their experiences. I’ve used the desktop app before and while it helps for the purposes of firmware updates and fine-tuning your headset settings, the mobile app seems to have much more to offer. 

The dongle made it possible to connect to the headset instantly from my computer. Given that they are Bluetooth compatible, I could have also connected the headset via Bluetooth to my computer. The dongle connection was solid and I didn’t experience any issues using the headset with my laptop. 

Connecting to my iPhone was also an easy process. I just made sure the headset was in pairing mode and then selected the Jabra Evolve2 75 from my Bluetooth menu. It connected instantly and a prompt popped up on my phone that informed me that there was an app available. This notification gives you the option to visit the App Store to download the app – if you don’t already have it. 

In some cases, mobile apps don’t provide much in the way of added features. That is not the case with the Jabra Sound+ app. With the app, you have the option to personalize your experience using the MySound feature. MySound configures the headset specifically to your hearing ability. The user goes through a simple hearing test (a tone is played and you tap the screen when you hear it) and then the headset automatically calibrates based on the results. 

This makes the headset tailored to your individual hearing profile. In addition to the MySound feature, you have control over the ANC function, the ability to update firmware, customizable music equalizer, and more. There is even an ambient noise generator included. In my opinion, the app is worth it. 

Sound Quality with Phone Calls and Music

Jabra always does a great job of providing high-quality listening experiences and the Evolve2 75 headset is no exception. When it comes to phone calls, the headset doesn’t sound any different than if you were talking directly on the phone. 

When I accepted a call, I tapped the answer button on the phone by mistake. The phone showed that it was connected to the headset, but the call went through the phone’s speaker instead. I believe this is because of my error, but my friend didn’t notice when I switched from the phone to the headset as the sound input/output device. He said it sounded exactly the same. So that’s a big plus of the headset. Calls do sound clear and crisp to the person on the other side. 

While I was on the phone, I thought I could hear my friend just fine as well. Then I turned on the ANC function. My average sound quality went to outstanding sound quality as soon as the room noise around me was filtered out. It made my friend sound a lot clearer. 

As far as music listening goes, the Evolve2 75 did a great job of providing a premium sound experience. I thought the sound quality was just as good as my Apple AirPods Max. In addition to the sound quality, I want to state that I really love the boom mic. It’s small but gets the job done really well. 

Comfort

In general, I thought the headset was comfortable to wear. I’m fortunate that I have an office with a door I can close. That means that most of the time when I want to listen to music, I can just use my studio speakers. I consider this fortunate because I don’t think I could tolerate wearing a headset for 8 hours a day. That said, I do have to wear one for meetings and sometimes my meeting can be 2 hours long. Comfort is important to me with headphones. 

The Evolve2 75 are comfortable, but my ears did get pretty warm after wearing them for 30-45 minutes. They didn’t get too hot, but I did notice them feeling warmed up. Fortunately, I did not experience any earaches or headaches after prolonged use of the headset. 

CONCLUSION

High-quality equipment is a must when you are working from home. The Jabra Evolve2 75 headset is a great option for entertainment as well as productivity. They are comfortable, easy to use and provide a first-class listening experience. I would recommend them to anyone seeking out a premium set of headphones for work purposes. 

For more information on Jabra, visit Jabra.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Earphones provide a lightweight option for listening to music while being active.

Music is an essential part of my life and is absolutely necessary when any type of exercise is involved. For the last year, I have been training on and off for in-person races. Visibility and safety are extremely important to me. While I love to listen to music to block out the world, I understand that it would be dangerous for me to do this when walking or running.

I have to be aware of my surroundings. The SANAG open-ear Bluetooth air conduction sport earphones allow me to listen to music and also hear what is going around in the world around me. This is my first experience using air conduction earphones, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. 

DETAILS

Sanag as a brand was founded in London, UK in 2010. The Sanag A11S Open-Ear Bluetooth Air Conduction Sport Earphones transmit sound through air vibration and create a high-definition listening experience for the user. The earphones ensure that users can enjoy their favorite music and still be aware of their surroundings.

The earphones feature one-step pairing with your mobile device and second-generation digital sound enhancement technology. Users have the ability to answer and place phone calls using the earphones thanks to its built-in microphone. They are rated IP67 and certified as ‘waterproof.’ The earphones also feature smart button control with the buttons that are inset on the earphones themselves.

Tech and specs: 

• Bluetooth version: 5.1
• Wireless range: ≥10m
• Playtime: 8 hours
• Talking time: 10 hours
• Standby time: 10 days
• Charging time: 1.5 hours
• Size: 132*105*45mm
• Weight: 26g

What’s in the box:

• Premium air conduction wireless headphones
• Micro USB-C charging cable
• 32G memory card
• User manual

USER EXPERIENCE

When I took the earphones out of the box, I was surprised that there wasn’t a case or a bag to store them in when not in use. The headset was fully charged in under two hours and connecting it to my iPhone was very easy. Simply press the Bluetooth button on the headset and you will hear a voice say “Bluetooth mode.”

To connect to your phone, you will open Bluetooth and select the device. The music is clear for you and for everyone else around you. I had the music on the lowest setting and both my daughter and husband could hear it loud and clear. This was a little disappointing. I hate disrupting others with my music. Since it has a built-in mic, I had to test that out as well. I went out to the garage and had my daughter call me. I answered the phone but she had trouble hearing me. 

I decided to take them out for a quick walk. I wanted to see how they fared in an outdoor environment. I had to turn the music up a bit, but I was still able to hear the traffic and what was going on around me. The headset kept bouncing at the back of my neck and that got a bit annoying. Unfortunately, there’s not a way to adjust them for a snugger fit. 

CONCLUSION

I really think that if I could adjust them, I would be able to have better use of the microphone and possibly not share my music with the world. I also think that I would enjoy them more, Overall, they are nice and the clarity is great. 

Premium wireless headphones take advantage of latest technologies.

Since I began working from home, I have used wireless headphones on a daily basis. Most of the time, it is so I can complete important meetings over Zoom or other video conferencing software. Wireless headphones make it possible for me to be able to focus my attention on the meeting rather than anything else going on in our house. Since I wear over-ear headphones for a large percentage of my day, I want it to be a good experience. The headphones need to be comfortable to wear and provide superior sound quality. That’s why I decided to test out the Alpha Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones from Cleer Audio. 

DETAILS

The Alpha Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are Cleer Audio’s flagship noise-canceling headphones. It’s a culmination of the latest technology and design from Cleer. One of the Alpha’s premium features is its adaptive noise cancellation and ambient mode. With it, you can block out distractions and take advantage of Alpha’s wide-band noise cancellation. Ambient mode allows outside noise to bleed into your headphones for awareness purposes. With it, you can have a conversation without removing your headphones. 

Another great feature of these wireless headphones is their enhanced call quality. The Alpha headphones have Qualcomm cVc (clear voice capture) built-in with a 2-mic beamforming design and wind noise reduction. The headphones also make use of spatial audio effects thanks to the integrated Dirac Virtuo. Alpha’s hi-res sound is made possible by its patented 40mm Ironless Drivers. The headphones have industry-leading 35-hour battery life and a quick charge option that can provide up to 4 hours of listening time with a 10-minute charge. 

Alpha also has the added advantage of the Cleer+ app that allows you to create personal sound profiles through the EQ settings and adjust noise canceling and ambient sound levels. The headphones come in two different color options – midnight blue and stone.

What’s in the Box

• ALPHA Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
• Carrying case
• Quick start guide, user manual, warranty card
• Charging cable USB-C to USB-A
• Audito cable 3.5mm to 3.5mm
• In-flight adapter

SPECS

• Weight: 330g
• Driver: 40mm IronlessTM
• Frequency Response (Bluetooth): 20Hz-20kHz
• Frequency Response (Line-in): 20Hz-40kHz
• Headphone Type: Over-Ear
• Foldable: Yes
• Microphones: Qualcomm® cVcTM 2-mic Beamforming
• Inputs: Bluetooth, Passive Line-in 3.5mm
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth Version 5.1
• Audio Formats: MP3, SBC, Qualcomm® aptXTM Adaptive
• Range: Up to 15m
• Bluetooth Multipoint: Yes, pairs seamlessly to multiple devices
• Battery: Battery Life 35hrs
• Charge Method: USB-C
• Quick Charge: 10min charge provides 4hrs

USER EXPERIENCE 

The wireless headphones arrived in a Cleer Audio branded box. It has a large image of the product on the front and a few pieces of information regarding its features (35-hour battery life, reddot winner 2021, ‘premium active noise cancellation’, etc.). The box was completed wrapped in cellophane to protect the device from the elements. The back of the box has additional information on the features and icons for the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. 

As soon as I saw those images, I visited the App Store and downloaded the mobile app for my iPhone. I have had this app on my phone in the past, but I sometimes remove apps when they aren’t in constant use. So, I had to re-download it. The first thing the app requests is your model of headphones. The app asks permission to access your phone’s Bluetooth functions so that it can pair with the headphones. When I went to pair the headphones with the app, I had to make sure they were first paired to the phone otherwise, the app wouldn’t recognize them. 

Since I work from home, noise-canceling wireless headphones are really important to me. They help me be able to concentrate and let the ambient noise around me fade into the background rather than be a distraction. The Alpha headphones do a great job of this. I used the Smart Noise Cancellation option most of the time I was testing them. It was quite impressive. Since the headphones are over-ear style and the ear cups completely engulf your ears, there is a fair amount of noise isolation from that. But, the noise cancellation feature really brings the richness out in the music. 

The headphones are very lightweight and even though the way the ear cups fold out is a little bit at an angle, the headphones are comfortable to wear. I didn’t notice my ears getting hot or sweaty at all. When I first put them on, I thought they were a little tight, but overall, they feel great. 

The sound quality with the Alpha headphones is exceptional. I listened to several different tracks of music while I was testing the headphones and thought that everything sounded wonderful. I could hear individual sounds distinctly and all bass was rich and full. The controls were…interesting. The power button is situated on the right ear cup and the ANC button is on the left. 

Since there were tactile buttons for those functions, I wondered about standard controls like play/pause, forward/back, and volume up/down. As it turned out, the right ear cup is touch-sensitive. There is a panel on the right ear cup where you touch different areas or make different gestures to get the action you desire. It was easy enough to understand and use, but it did take me a while to get used to that type of controls. I was really happy to discover that the headphones automatically pause tracks when you remove them from your head.

CONCLUSION

Cleer Audio is a brand I trust. I’ve used many different models of their headphones in the past and really love how they have evolved today. The Alpha wireless headphones provide a comfortable, thrilling listening experience. They do boast a premium price tag ($249 at the time of publishing), but I think the investment is worth it when the product is as great as the Alpha headphones.

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

Headphones have advanced features, a comfortable fit, and quality sound, but at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

When it comes to quality headphones, the phrase “you get what you pay for” seems to ring true. However, sometimes one will come across a rare gem that provides more features than expected – like the Edifier W820NB Over-ear Headphones.

Main Features & Details

The Edifier W820NB over-ear Earphones arrived in a 7 1/2 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches tall by 3 1/2 inches wide silver-grey hanging style retail package.  The main focus of the cover panel was the large 4 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches tall slightly-raised, glossy image of the white/grey over-ear headphones.  I liked the visual contrast with the background, the crisp, clean lines, and the port/cutout details. 

Additionally, I enjoyed the gold-on-silver font accents of the Edifier name along the top left, the Hi-Res Audio logo along the bottom left, and the W820NB product name (Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Stereo Headphone) along the bottom right. The left side panel provided the Edifier logo along the top of the panel and a QR code to download the “EDIFIER CONNECT APP” along the bottom of the panel.

The opposite side panel provided eight descriptive icons: 1. HYBRID ANC. 2. Ambient Sound mode. 3. DNN Call Notes Cancellation. 4. Lightweight Design. 5. AAC High Definition Audio. 6. Game Mode. 7. 49 Hour Playtime. 8. Titanium Diaphragm.  The top panel housed the black plastic hanging tab, while the bottom panel remained unadorned.  

The rear panel provided four side-by-side images of the headphones along the top of the panel, and a multilingual feature review along the midsection (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese) relaying feature and specification details.

Features:

1. Lightweight Headset.
2. Hi-Res Audio Standard for Rich Listening Experience.
3. Ambient Sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds like traffic or flight announcements.
4. DNN noise cancellation technology ensures clear phone calls.
5. Acting Noise cancellation technology isolates unwanted noises.
6. Large driver with titanium diaphragm delivers crystal clear sound.
7. Low Latency for game mode gives players an immersive gaming experience.
8. Up to 49 hours of continual playback.  Specifications: BT 5.0, A2DP/AVRCP/HFP profiles, 10m BT distance, 29-hour playback with ANC on and 49 hours with ANC off, 1.5 hours charging time, 20Hz-40KHz, input 5V/1A, 32 ohms impedance. 

Lastly, along the bottom of the panel, you will find product manufacturing labels, three points of caution regarding hearing/noise trauma, a paragraph about Bluetooth, and product SKU labels. 

Getting Started

I cut the tape at the top of the panel, removed the tab, and then removed the thin white plastic tray. Next, I removed the 8.2-ounce earphones from the tray and evaluated the device’s features.  The headband section measured 12 1/2 inches long from earcup swivel to earcup swivel and had extension segments located 2 1/2 inches from the swivels.  For added comfort, you can grip the earcups and pull them outward.  This will allow you to gain up to an additional 1 1/4 inches per side. 

Even with the extension segments fully deployed, the clean-white outer surface remained unadorned except for dual shimmering metallic silver Edifier logos at each end.  I loved the matte white surface and felt near surgical cleanliness to the headphones.  Even the light grey accents added a soft subtle visual contrast to the white backdrop.  The headband’s underside had a soft, squishy, 7/8 inches wide by 5 inches long by 1/2 inches thick arcuate grey headband pad, a few visible silver screws, and an “L” “R” printed for alignment. 

The inner surface of the left headband segment provided the Edifier name and product manufacturing labels.  When applied to the head, the padding successfully reduced the pressure at my scalp vertex and decreased the fatigue experienced with prolonged use.  

Each of the 3 1/4 inches wide by 3 3/4 inches tall by 1 3/4 inches thick earcups had a 3/4 inches thick grey padding segment and a 1-inch thick white plastic outer section. The earcups were attached to the main headband segment at a swivel junction point.  The swivel allowed the right earcup to rotate up to ninety degrees clockwise and approximately 10 degrees counterclockwise, while the left earcup was able to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise and approximately 10 degrees clockwise. 

Additionally, both earcups had a stirrup segment that allowed the top section to angle up to 45 degrees inward.  The headphone function buttons, microphone, and input power port were easily accessible along the lower rim of the right earcup.  Starting from back to front, you will find a + button, a multifunction power button, a – button, an LED, the Bluetooth button, a USB-C input port, and then the microphone. 

Each of the earcups had a sleek grey inner mesh that matched the outer light grey cushions.  With the earcups positioned over the ears, the headband section extends forward about ten degrees from parallel. Thanks to the design, the headband rested comfortably along the vertex of the scalp.  I loved the look, the feel, the clean colors, the weight, and the general design of the headphones.

Before you dispose of the inner white plastic shell, make sure that you remove the accessory bag hidden on the reverse side.  The accessory bag contained a 48 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-C, a small rectangular Edifier FCC regulatory panel, a 2 1/8 inches wide by 2 15/16 inches tall W820NB instruction manual, and a multilingual warning pamphlet (English, Chinese, French, Italian, Indonesian, Netherlands Dutch, Korean, German, Spanish, Russian, Saudi Arabian Arabic, Japanese, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Danish, Portuguese, Greek, and Ukrainian). 

Prior to using the headphones, I plugged the USB-A to USB-C cable into a 5V/2A output USB-A port and allowed the Edifier W820NB to charge.  While charging, I opened the instruction manual and perused the contents. Each of the languages was granted a single page of the instruction manual, except for several extra panels within the Russian section (4 pages used).

For those with bad eyesight, you may need a magnifying lens or a photograph with the ability to expand images to read the English Panel.  The User guide detailed the functions of the buttons, reviewed Bluetooth connections, and how to restore to factory default.  I liked the layout of the buttons and the design of the over-ear Edifier setup.  A short press of the + button will increase the volume, while a press-hold will take you to the next track.  Similarly, a short press of the – button will decrease the volume, while a press-hold will take you to the previous track.

The power button and Multi-function buttons (labeled with Bluetooth Icon) had six features each.  To power on/off the device, you can press and hold the power button for 3 seconds.  By double-pressing the button, I found that I could activate Siri.  A single button press will allow you to play/pause the music/video, or accept/end a call during call mode. 

If desired, you can double press the power button during an incoming call to reject the call.  The features of the multi-function button proved a bit more advanced.  You can single press the MFB button to rotate between the following looping modes: Noise Reduction Off, Ambient Sound, Noise Reduction On.  A double press of the button will cause the female announcer to vocalize the presence of game mode.  Lastly, if needed, you can press the MFB button to force the device into BT pairing modes. 

Listening Experience and Testing

To connect to my iPhone 13 Pro Max, I powered on the Earphones by holding the power button x 3 seconds, and then navigated to Settings, to Bluetooth.  When I selected Edifier W820NB from the list, the earphones announced the connected status with a triple ascending tone jingle.  Once paired, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran the Edifier over-ear headphones through several tests.  With the headphones in Noise Reduction Mode, I selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) and listened as the announcer verbalized each 10Hz increase in sound. I was able to hear the bass at 20Hz but noted a nice boost around 30Hz. 

I repeated the test in Game Latency mode and with the Ambient Sound Mode, plus the Noise Reduction off Mode.  I found that I preferred the Noise Reduction mode when listening to test tracks, as it seemed to improve the crispness of the sound.  Next, I selected the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) from the list.  Similar to the low-frequency test above, I listened as the announcer verbalized each drop in the frequency.  Even though the upper limit of human hearing is 20kHz, most adults cannot hear above 15kHz due to loss with time. 

Unfortunately, some individuals lose higher frequency hearing due to noise pollution from work, concerts, machinery, etc.  Like most other in-ear and on-ear devices, I was able to hear the high-pitched ringing sound at 15kHz, while my 10-year-old and 12-year-old sons could hear the sound at 17kHz.  The moral of the story is to protect your hearing because, when it is gone, it is gone. 

I selected the Left/Right/Center test for the third test and found appropriate headphone programming.  For the final audiocheck.net test, love to utilize the “Real Thing” Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test.  This mode provides a binaural recording of someone knocking, which may take you aback if you have not experienced this before.  My children regularly request to turn the lights off to experience the knocking in a near pitch-black environment. 

Honestly, f you have not used the feature, I would recommend that you give it a try.  Once the audiocheck.net tests were complete, I turned to Amazon Music Unlimited to run through my test tracks.  I started with The Dark Knight Joker Theme “Why So Serious” and navigated to the ~3:30-4:00 mark.  I love the heavy bass call/response at that section, the climactic build, and then the crash to bass.  I listened to the throaty, yet somber “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from The Hobbit, and then transported myself into the jazz club vibe of the bounding bass within Holly Cole’s Train Song. 

For the final bass test, I listened to “Ring of Fire” by Homefree and enjoyed the sound/feel of the low F# Growl from Tim Faust.  As I increased the volume from 10% through 75% (my upper limit), I found the bass to be supportive without becoming muddy or washing out the upper sounds.   

To test the mids and upper frequencies/sounds, I navigated to Apple Music and listened to several instrumental soundtracks and Ensemble pieces.  I listened to Holst Suite in Eb, Jupiter, Pevensey Castle, Palovetsian Dances, Lincolnshire Posey, and then the Braveheart, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Far and Away Soundtracks.  I liked the blend, the clarity, the staging, and the color of the sound. 

Similar to the other tests above, I tried Ambient mode, Noise Cancel mode, game on/off mode, and routinely settled on the combo Noise Cancellation with Game Mode.  To further test the sound staging and placement, I used Yosi Horikawa “Bubbles” and one of my favorites, “Caribbean Blue” from Enya.  I enjoyed the testing experience and was quite pleased with the mids and higher frequency sounds.  The sounds remained clean and never felt tinny. 

The headphones provided adequate bass to support the mids/uppers, and clear movement within the upper frequency.  I returned to Amazon Prime Unlimited and listened to a variety of A Capella songs from Pentatonix, Home Free, and then enjoyed some Pitch Perfect Riff Offs.  Again, the Noise Cancellation mode reigned supreme throughout the various tests.  

With the above tests complete, I decided to listen to some comfort/fun tracks.  I listened to the Money Heist soundtrack, to various tracks from Meghan Trainor, Lady Gaga, Alabama, #thatPower, The Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack, and the Rocketman soundtrack.  Whether listening to Charlie Puth, Michael Jackson, Purple Rain from Prince, various Maroon 5 songs, Boys to Men, 4 Runner, etc., I enjoyed the blend. 

I utilized various sources including Amazon Prime Unlimited, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, etc before moving to Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Movies Anywhere, and Peacock.  I watched the last few episodes of Money Heist, a few episodes of Star Trek Discovery, Lost in Space, and The Legend of Vox Machina. The Noise Cancellation mode allowed me to listen/watch my favorite programs, while my children practiced piano, watched Cocomelon on the television, and jammed on their Baritone and Trumpet.  

Lastly, as I was putting my daughters to bed, I enjoyed laying on their floor while listening to He Who Fights With Monsters on Audible.  The comfortable padding plus limited noise leak allowed me to listen with fatigue or pressure on my ears.  I loved that I could lay supine or on my side to move into a comfortable position. 

Final Thoughts

I have tested the headphones over the last 2 weeks and have only charged them once. Even with the Noise Reduction mode active, I was still able to use the headphones for 2-3 hours daily for an entire week.  I put them on charge Sunday night, used them during the whole week, before returning them to charge the following Sunday again. 

I loved the button layout, the intuitive programming, the comfortable padding, the adjustable swivel of the earcups, and the color scheme.  Additionally, the Edifier headphones provided advanced features, while also hitting many of the basic features as well.  You can control the volume, you can move to the next/previous tracks, you can activate the voice assistant, and you can pair with another device.  However, there were a few features that were lacking.  First, the setup lacked a case/bag for the headphones, which is a standard feature for other similarly priced headphones. 

Second, I feel that the device should have had an auto-off feature.  On one occasion, I had fallen asleep with my headphones next to me and awoke with the headphones still active.  I felt that the charging time to utility time was more than fair and I enjoyed charging the headphones via USB-C.  Whether listening to music, watching movies, enjoying audible books, communicating via phone or FaceTime, the headphones will provide an enjoyable experience.  

For my final test, and perhaps my favorite use for the headphones, I played Torchlight 2 with my dad on Nintendo Switch.  I held the MFB button for 3 seconds, activated Bluetooth, and then paired the Edifier Headphones to my Homuspot device.  With the device plugged into the bottom of my Nintendo Switch, I pressed/held the blue button and enjoyed some game time. 

I played Skyrim, Diablo 3, and Icarus Uprising.  I loved that I could use the headphones with the Homuspot device and enjoyed a reduced distraction gaming session. To summarize the overall experience, I would give the headphones a 9.5/10 for comfort, 9/10 for sound, 10/10 for battery life, 9/10 for accessories, and 10/10 for packaging. 

If I had input on version 2.0, I would include a USB-C to USB-C cable instead of USB-A to USB-C and I would add a travel carry case.  The newer Bluetooth V5.0 standards provided crisp, high-quality sound, and the experience was quite rewarding. 

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Play in style with this gaming headset.

As Covid reared its ugly head and shut down dining, movies, and public gatherings, I found my way back to my Nintendo Switch and to Skyrim. Even though I had previously played the game on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, I believe the Switch experience proved superior. I enjoyed the ability to play my conjurer/stealth archer character while at the park, while lounging in my hammock, or while reclining in my chair. I enjoyed Samus’ return in Metroid Dread and completed a few missions in Borderlands and Diablo 3. Despite the allure of the portability, the sound quality of the Nintendo Switch left me wanting. I wanted to hear background noises, to hear text, speech, and to enjoy game tracks without ambient noises drowning out the sound. Thus, I turned to a comfortable pair of over-ear headphones from Edifier to enhance my experience.

The Edifier Gx High-Fidelity Gaming Headset arrived in a 9 1/16 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches tall by 4 5/16 inches thick hanging-style retail package.  The shimmering silver Edifier name was displayed along the top left, while logos for Hi-Res Audio, ENC, and RGB were displayed along the top right.  The Gx High-Fidelity Gaming Headset name was present along the bottom left, while three holographic icons were presented along the bottom right of the panel.  Similar to hologram comic cards that I once collected, the three types of interface logos (Type-C, USB, and 3.5mm) added a tantalizing feel.  Despite the clean white background and the colorful accents, the main showcase was the large, glossy, slightly raised image of the headset.  The glowing blue ear cup combined with the grey-on-black color pallet starkly contrasted against the sterile background.  The grey top panel provided the product name along with the bottom and a plastic black hanging tab, while the bottom grey panel listed the Edifier name, EDF700004 model number, Made in China, www.edifier.com address, www.hecategaming.com website, product manufacturing labels, SKU barcodes, and a bilingual sound trauma warning. 

The grey right-side panel provided a silver glimmering HECATE (Greek Goddess of Spells and Magic) logo along the top of the panel, followed by two ink outline drawings of the headset.  The top image provided a side view and detailed the microphone switch and volume controls of the headphones.  The lower ink-outlined image provided a side view of the ear cup plus foam padding, and showed the music/game mode switch and RGB lights switch.  Located below the image, you will find a well-designed compatibility table:  Type-C=Laptop and Smartphone.  USB=PC, Laptop, PS4, PS4Pro.  3.5mm Xbox (gamepad with 3.5mm port) and Nintendo switch.  Lastly, along the bottom of the panel, you will find a sticker denoting the lack of microphone support through 3.5mm mode.  Turning to the grey-colored left side panel, the company provided a pentalingual specification list: 20Hz-40kHz frequency, 50mm driver, 97+/-3 dob, 32 Ohm impedance. Lastly, the black colored back panel provided the Edifier name along the top left, the Gx product name along the top right, six icons along the bottom of the panel (Ti-Diaphragm drivers, RGB, Comfortable design, 96Khz/24Bits decoding chip, ENC, Made for Gaming), and a pentalingual list of product features along the left side: 1. New 5mm titanium diaphragm drivers. 2. Rolling volume control/retractable microphone/RGB lights. 3. High-quality headband with soft leather ear cups. 4.96Khz/24bits coding for natural sound/immersion. 5. Noise canceling chip. 6. Three types of interface.  

Similar to the cover, the main showcase of the rear panel was the large, vibrant image of the headset.  The blue, glowing H on the side of the ear cup, coupled with the grey metallic material, the chrome Gx accent, the volume wheel, and the circular sidebar image of the USB-C, USB-A, and 3.5mm port, fueled my desire to test the device. I cut the tape along the top/side panels, removed the tab, and lifted the top panel. I removed the large nondescript inner black box from the outer shell, lifted the lid, and then removed the 12.4-ounce over-ear headphones. I was impressed with the metallic look/feel, with the coloration, and with the padding. However, I did not understand the connection to the Goddess Hekate. Each of the thick-black earcups measured 3 1/2 inches wide by 4 inches tall and had either an “L” or “R” printed onto the inner surface. The foam had a pleasing tactile feel and proved to be quite comfortable atop my ears. Each cup was attached to the silver/metallic outer plastic ring at a hinge joint. The hinges allowed each earcup to pivot against the head to improve comfort and fit. The outermost edge of the earcups had a 2 1/4 inches diameter LED ring with central “H” and black spokes. Overall, the logo panel provided a similar feel to an expensive wheel cover on a car.

Just beneath the H logo on the left earcup, you will find an AUTO ENC button (microphone on/off), and a volume wheel. Along the bottom of each cup, you will find a silver chrome segment covered with a thin plastic protective wrapping. The right lower edge displayed “Gaming” along the side panel, without any access ports. The lower left segment provided USB-C and 3.5mm ports and a 4 inches long malleable, retractable microphone. Along the posterior edge of the right earcup, you will find a trapezoidal gaming button, and a rhomboidal color-change button. You will find a 1 1/2 inches wide by 1/2 inches tall “GX” chrome neck accent at the top of each of the earcups. Each of these sections abutted against the 1 1/4 inches long expandible size-adjustment segment. Lastly, you will find a 2 1/4 inches long plastic linking segment surrounding the 4 3/4 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide by 3/4 inches thick black-foam scalp pad. If you look closely within the expansion joints, you will find number markers. These were designed as a form of comfort memory/recall. Once you place the device atop your head, pull the earbuds down until they are comfortable. Remove the headphones and look at the numbers to return to a similar setting the future. I loved the breathable earcup material, the soft scalp padding, and the feel of the headphones. Additionally, I liked the inner black and outer grey color scheme and felt that the company created a visually appealing yet comfortable product.

Within the inner box, you will find a 4 inches wide by 9 inches tall by 3/4 inches thick accessory box that contained a 52 1/4 inches long USB-C to USB-C cable, a 54 1/4 inches long 3.5mm to 90-degree 3.5mm cable, a 79 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, a 19-language Edifier Warning pamphlet, and a multi-lingual instruction manual (each language was given only a single page). The single panels provided two labeled diagrams, an upper side view of the left earcup (microphone switch, volume control wheel, 3.5mm port, Type-C port, microphone indicator), and a lower rear-to-front view of the right earcup (music/game mode and lower RGB light switch. I enjoyed the labeled designs but would have liked a bit more information about the Hecate headphones. I was able to discover that the headphones required power to use the microphone and light features from the outer box description that the 3.5mm port connection did not provide microphone support. Interestingly, without power, you could still enjoy the sound output and a bit of passive noise cancellation. Unfortunately, unless you connect via USB-A or USB-C, you will lose many of the added benefits such as light control and microphone/conversation. Since the manual did not provide a summary of the light modes, I continued to press the button until I found the pattern/cycle. Pressing the light button will cycle between ice blue/red/green/purple slow flash on/off modes, ice blue/red/green/purple solid-on modes, and a color-change mode that adjusted the tone between the above color options. If desired, you can extinguish the light by holding the RGB button for 2 seconds.

To test the analog sound output, I plugged the 3.5mm cable into a 3.5mm to lightning dongle and plugged the dongle into my iPhone 13 Pro Max. I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran through my typical headphone tests. When I used the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz), I was able to hear deep bass rumbling at 20Hz. For the second test, I used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) and found that I was able to hear the tone at 14-15kHz. Since adults lose their upper-frequency hearing first, most adults will have a limit close to 14kHz, while kids may hear up to 18-19kHz.  The channel programming was correct when I evaluated the Left/Right/Center test, and the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test provided a similar startle with the binaural knocking sounds.  Overall, the sounds were just okay. The bass was a bit muddy, the mids lacked the crisp variation, and the highs felt a bit sharp. However, the passive noise cancellation may have been one of the best I have found thus far. The ear cuffs seemed to mold to my ears and did a great job at reducing ambient sounds. Similar to the iPhone tests, when I plugged the Hecate headphones into my Nintendo Switch (3.5mm), I felt the sound output was average, while the passive noise cancellation was exceptional. I felt that the headphone weight was sufficient but not bulky, and I liked the added comfort that the hinge segments provided. Additionally, even though the earcups fully covered my ears, I never felt overheated or sweaty. I would have loved the ability to use the volume wheel, but the feature did not work without power. The analog setup was a nice feature but it did not allow the device to shine. Similarly, I would have loved for the microphone to work in analog mode, but it did not work without power. Thanks to the retractable nature of the microphone, I did not really miss it. I believe that I would have been disappointed to have an always-out microphone when the feature was not supported.

To further test the sound of the 50 mm drivers, I plugged the USB-C cable between the Hecate Headphones and my Macbook Pro. I listened to a variety of 8D audio tracks (“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.”  Once the headphones were plugged into power, the crisp/vibrant RGB side lights illuminated and the microphone came to life. The side volume toggle was quite responsive and ended up being the best feature of the headphones. In fact, once I realized the benefit of the toggle, I missed having the feature when plugged up via a 3.5mm cable. While composing this review, I ran through several of my favorite songs: Queen’s Live Aid, Rocketman Soundtrack, Star is Born Soundtrack, various CCR/Alabama tracks, and Sail Away from Styx. I listened to several of the tracks on each of the game and music modes and felt that the music mode added more bass. When testing the headphones with the 3.5mm connection, I found the sounds to be a bit sharp and lost quality/blend with increased volume. The digital powered modes did not suffer from the same limitations. I think the only limiting factor was the lack of an equalizer to adjust sounds up/down for different games.

At the time of the composition of this review, the headphones were listed at $79.99 (down from $129.99). At a sub $80 price point, the ability to use digital and analog connections was a steal, even though the microphone felt lifeless and distant. When I used Facetime with my MacBook Pro, people were able to hear me okay but noted the sounds felt dull. The retractable/poseable nature of the microphone did add quite a bit to the overall composition. Unfortunately, many of the features did not work with an analog connection. Although, not a deal-breaker, I would not buy this device solely for use with 3.5mm connection. For the price, it is hard not to grab a pair of these headphones. They will provide quality sound, comfortable listening, and will provide a visually appealing game session. The large H did not feel cheap, did not feel like an afterthought, and had a high-end/luxury feel. I loved the ability to change the lighting and the ability to turn off the lights. Lastly, I was thankful that Edifier included the USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-C cable, and the 3.5cable to 90degree 3.5mm cable.

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When it comes to time-wasting opportunities, it seems that there are plenty.  Our smartphones/tablets have moved beyond their base functions and have become personal portable mini-computers.  As an early adopter of the PDA, the Nokia, the smartphone, and the tablet, I never dreamed that it might one day obviate the need to own a desktop computer, a camera, a radio, and a television.  Despite the presence of speakers, however, the devices still have not eliminated the need for a quality pair of headphones.  Whether you chose on-ear, in-ear, or over-ear devices or opt for portable vs. wired Bluetooth speakers, you have the flexibility to enjoy media in your own way.  When exercising or traveling, I prefer AirPods Pro.  However, while home relaxing, I often prefer an over-ear device with active noise canceling technology.  

The broski Lety Noise Cancelling Headphones arrived in a 6 5/8 inches wide by 8 7/8 inches tall by 2 15/16 inches thick retail case.  The main cover provided the product name/title along the top left, “Noise Cancelling Headphones” along the top right, and two rows of icons along the bottom of the panel.  The top row provided four colorful product descriptors (HiFi Stereo, Bass, Clear Sound, HD Mic) and a Bluetooth logo.  The bottom row provided five additional descriptors: 1. 20 Hours Play Time. 2. Built-in Microphone. 3. Foldable and Adjustable. 4. Charging Cable. 5. Audio cable.  The main focus of the cover panel was the 4 inches wide by 5 5/8 inches tall image of the broski headphones.  The crisp black image visually popped against the clean white background. I loved the depth that the shadowing provided and the overall homage to the checkerboard theme.  The right side panel provided the broski name along the top, a blue-colored rectangle “Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones,” a city scene with a man turned toward a waiting subway car.  Beneath the image/scene, you will find four product descriptors: 1. Bluetooth, 2. 20 plus Hours playtime/200 Hours Standby Time, 3. Product Contents (Headphones, Travel Case, Soft Cloth Carry Bag, Auxilliary Audio Cable, Micro USB Charge Cable, Airplane Adaptor), 4. Additional accessories on the website.  

The black-colored left panel listed the product name, “Noise Cancelling Headphones,” an oblique image of the folded headphones, three descriptive sentences about the product (Cancel the Noise Around you, Over-Ear Comfort, Portable and Foldable), and a side view of the folded earphones.  The panel provided a bit more information about the product than the cover/right panels.  I learned about the memory foam, the comfortable soft leather, and the ability to fold the headphones to carry within the zippered carry case. I loved the imagery but felt that the dark background betrayed the quality of the pictures.  The rear panel of the slipcover provided a similar scene to the cover but added six descriptive labels.  The panel detailed the adjustable cushioned headband, soft/comfortable memory foam earcups, Bluetooth 5.0, Intuitive button placement, active noise canceling technology, and deep bass/balanced mid-range/crisp highs.  The bottom of the panel provided an image of the sound waves and listed the product specifications (BT 5.0, 10m operation range, 20 hours playtime, 200 hours standby time, Hands-free agreement v 1.6, headset agreement 1.2, AVRCP 1.4, A2DP12). 

I removed the white slipcover from the inner black box, lifted the lid, and found an alluring black-and-white image of Alise Willoughby (BMX Olympic Silver medalist) wearing the broski headphones. Next, I lifted the flap and found a three-step how-to-wear instruction manual and an eight-point ink-outline diagram on the inner surface.  Nestled within the box, you will find an 8 1/4 inches long by 6 1/4 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches thick nylon broski carry bag and a four-panel instruction manual. The first panel listed the box contents, listed the same labeled headphone diagram as the inner flap, and described how to adjust the headphones to optimize the fit.  The lower section recommended that the user charge the headphones for five hours before using them for the first time. The second and third panels detailed how to enable/turn off the ANC and Bluetooth feature, how to pair the device, how to disconnect from a phone/tablet, and how to reconnect. The fourth panel described how to adjust the volume, listen to music and the functions involved, make phone calls and the functions involved, the passive mode, low battery warning, and then low battery auto-off feature.  Interestingly, there is not an auto-off feature until the battery voltage drops below 2.9V.  The final panel discussed safe listening, cautionary advice and resisted the product specifications. 

I gripped the black-colored zipper and unzipped the 21 inches long zipper.  I was pleased with the smooth zipper action, with the raised broski logo atop the case, the neoprene texture, and the carry bag’s overall construction. The top section had a 4 3/4 inches tall by 5 1/2 inches wide elastic-lined mesh bag with the two-prong airplane adaptor, 76-inches long 3.5mm to 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable with Velcro retention strap, a black carabiner, and a 72-inches long USB-A to USB-micro cable. In between the upper/lower section, you will find a 7 3/4 inches wide by 9 3/4 inches tall black-colored felt back with white “broski” across the front. The drawstring bag should accommodate the carry case plus contents for an added level of protection.  Or, you could consider simply carrying the headphones within the included bag.  Add the carabiner, clip the device to a bag/backpack, etc.  Returning to the carry case, you will find the 6.5-ounce black, stylish broski headphones sitting atop earcup-shaped projections within the lower half of the case.  Before testing the sound, I made sure to charge the earphones as described in the instruction manual. 

I removed the charging cable from the top half of the carry bag, plugged it into the bottom of the left earcup, and charged the device for five hours.  During that time, I returned to the instruction manual and reviewed the features of the earphones.  The 5/8 inches thick headband section measured 3 1/2 inches wide and was capped on each end by a 3/4 inches long by 15/16 inches thick plastic section. Beyond the cap sections, you will find a 2 7/8 inches long arm section with a hinge and a 90-degree swivel arm.  Each of the 2 3/4 inches wide by 3 3/4 inches tall by 2 inches thick ear cups had an “L” or “R” printed on the inner surface, a matte black “broski” logo on the outer surface, and an outer rotating hinge.  Lastly, you can grip each arm section and pull down to add 1 1/4 inches to each side.  Between the dual hinges, swivel, and expander arms, it is easy to imagine an almost infinite combination of positions. 

Once the device was fully charged (red LED turned blue), I removed the cable from the base of the left earcup and evaluated the buttons on the right earcup.  You will find the 3.5mm port, LED, microphone, and the ANC on/off button along the bottom section of the right earcup.  The central multi-function button was located just above the Aux port and was flanked by the volume up/next song button to the right and volume down/previous track button to the left.  I pressed the MFB button for 3 seconds to activate the Bluetooth headphones and heard a female voice state, “Power On, Pairing.” I navigated to settings, to Bluetooth, and selected the broski lety from the list.  The female voice announced “connecting,” and the setup was complete.  I could not have asked for an easier setup/connection process and loved that the MFB button had a small raised tab for easy recognition.  When I was done listening, I could press the MFB button for 3-seconds to power off the device.  When I powered it on again, it paired immediately with my iPad Pro 11”.  To increase or decrease the volume, press the volume up or volume down button once.  When you get to the maximum/minimum volume, the device will emit a beep.  To advance the track, you can press and hold the right button.  To move to the previous track, you can press and hold the left button.  

To test the sound output, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and used the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) to evaluate the lows/bass.  The male announcer started with 10 Hz and vocalized each 10Hz increase in frequency.  A good pair of earphones should produce a rumbling sound at 20Hz, the lower range of human hearing.  I was pleased to find that the broski earbuds produced a quality low sound at the 20Hz mark.  To provide a backup evaluation of the bass, I used The Ultimate Headphone Test on YouTube and found the same result.  The bass was full and did a great job at supporting the mids and high ranges.  I loved that the bass remained full and supportive from a minimal volume to about 3/4 volume. Additionally, the bass never felt muddy or lacked a crisp feel.  For my next test, I returned to the audiocheck.net website and used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) to evaluate the upper sounds. Similar to the above test, the male announcer will vocalize each change in frequency.  This time, however, he started at 22kHz and dropped by 1kHz increments.  Even though the upper range of human hearing can hear up to 20kHz, most adults can hear about 14-15kHz, and younger children up to 18kHz.  As we age and experience barotrauma, we lose the upper ranges first.  I found that I could hear the high-pitched vibration at 15kHz, which was on par with my personal ability to hear (nearly 40 years old).  Here, I will interject a warning to protect your hearing and avoid barotrauma.  You do not get it back!

To round out the audiocheck.net tests, I used the Left/Right (Stereo) test to show the channels were appropriately programmed.  Pleased with the test, I navigated to Apple Music and listened to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen for my favorite call/response stereo experience.  I then listened to a few of my favorite binaural tests. First, I used the Original Binaural Recording Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test, then the “8D Sound of Silence” from Disturbed (one of my absolute favorite songs), the  “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear), and Hallelujah by Pentatonix.  To create these binaural recordings, people place microphones into ear-shaped holes and record the sounds as if they were hearing them directly.  This provides an interesting experience even if you have heard it before.  The above tests will show the staging of the earbuds through knocking sounds or through sound rotation around your body.  

Out-of-the-box, the broski over-ear headphones provided an above-average experience.  I enjoyed the carry case, the included bag, the carabiner, the shape, feel, and sound output. I used the earphones to listen to music selections with Apple Music, Amazon Prime Music, Pandora, Spotify, and audiobooks through Audible “The One and Only Ivan.”  To test the noise-canceling feature, I listened to the blended sounds of Anthem Lights, Pentatonix, and Home Free while riding shotgun in my wife’s Nissan NV.  The ANC feature proved to eliminate a large amount of the road noise and the noise from my children’s activities in the van’s rear.  I loved that the noise-canceling feature was easy to activate/disable and that it did not create an abnormal pressure/buzzing within my ears.  To continue the testing process, I navigated to Amazon Music to test my typical test tracks.  To evaluate the bass, I played Holly Cole’s “Train Song” and enjoyed the bouncing bass line and the sultry club vibe.  I then turned to CeeLo Green to enjoy the brighter bass sounds within “Bright Lights Bigger City.”  As noted above, the sounds were supportive, full, and never felt muddy, even up to 75% volume.  Following this test, I listened to “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from The Hobbit, Home Free Ring of Fire for the last F# growl from Tim Faust, and finally to Dark Knight Rises Joker Theme “Why So Serious” (3:00 to 4:40).  This section continues to provide excitement that is difficult to explain.  The ascending, back-and-forth bass pulses up to about 4:40 remind me of a helicopter rotor

Like the bass tests above, I like to use the same songs to test the mids/highs/staging and balance.  As noted above, I love to use Anthem Lights, Pentatonix, and Home Free for their blended sounds.  I love to add the Gospel PlowBoys “What a day that will be,” “Chain Breaker” by Gaither Vocal Band, a few options from Dave’s Highway, and several of my favorite instrumental tracks.  Having played Euphonium throughout much of my life, I love to listen to Sousa Marches, anything by John Williams, Holst, Pevensey Castle, Lincolnshire Posey, Palovetsian Dances, and many more.  To test the staging, I love to use Bob Marley and the Wailers “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” Radiohead “The National Anthem,” “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa, and the soothing sounds of “Caribbean Blue” by Enya.  I used the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtrack, Far and Away Soundtrack, and Braveheart soundtracks to test the upper blends and instrumental sounds.  Lastly, I listened to the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack, Rocket Man Soundtrack, and A star is born for a touch of fun.  

Beyond musical tests, I like to test the video/audio sync with Movies Anywhere, VUDU, Hulu, Paramount Plus, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and Netflix.  I watched several episodes of Big Brother, the finale of Loki, the most recent Bad Batch, The Tomorrow War, and attempted to watch Live Aid Queen on YouTube. Interestingly, I did not experience the YouTube lag with this pair of headphones.  The Bluetooth V5 and the codecs worked well and limited the audio/visual distortion.  I found that the earphones had no auto-off feature.  However, even with forgetting to turn them off for a week, I could still use them for approximately two hours each day before they needed a 3-hour recharge.  Per my normal routine, I typically charge my iPhone 12 Pro Max and Apple Watch nightly, my iPad Pro 11” every other night, and my AirPods/currently tested headphones/earbuds once per week.  If needed, you can use the headphones passively with the included 3.5mm port.  For modern phones, you will need to pair them with a 3.5mm lightning dongle.  You will lose ANC features, but you can still enjoy sound sans power.  I do not believe the sound to be any worse when used in passive mode. 

I was quite pleased with the broski experience.  The ANC worked well without buzzing or adding any pressure.  The bass, the mids, and the highs were blended without harsh/muddy sounds.  They combined well and provided a pleasing experience for hip hop, R&B, Rock, Pop, classical, instrumental, and country.  The Bluetooth range was on par with standard Bluetooth technology, and the padding/fit allowed for prolonged, easy listening.  The carry case, carry bag, airplane adaptor, and carabiner were nice add-on features and added to the overall kit.  The intuitive touch controls were well placed and easy to learn.  I liked the placement, the raised button on the MFB, and the short/long press programming.  With the ability to move to the next track, play/pause, previous track, and turn up/down the volume, you can set your phone aside and use the right earcup as the remote.  During a phone call, you can increase/decrease volume, you can double press the MFB to call the last number called, and you can accept/reject a call with a simple button.  Additionally, since the microphone was placed so close to the mouth, you are less likely to sound like you are in a tunnel during a conversation.  My only critique was the lack of voice assistant activation. Nevertheless, I would not hesitate to buy the broski lety headphones.  The long battery life, quality sound, and adjustable, comfortable fit will ensure that the device is ready for hours of listening enjoyment.  Overall, I would rate the broski /headphones at 10/10 for sound, 10/10 for comfort, 10/10 for battery life, 10/10 for accessories, 10/10 for charging capabilities, and 10/10 for packaging.

Learn more about the Broski Lety Headphones.
Follow broski sound on Facebook.

Immerse yourself in music with noise cancelling ANC Wireless Headphones from Cleer.

Music is a huge part of my daily life. I enjoy listening to tunes while I work and they even help me drift off to sleep late at night. This is why high-quality headphones are quite possibly the most important accessory I use throughout my day. I have many different pairs of headphones and have tested all different types. And through all the testing, over-ear headphones still remain my favorite style of headphones. A couple of years ago, I reviewed a set of headphones from Cleer Audio, one of my favorite headphone designers. At that time, the Cleer Enduro 100s became my favorite set of headphones. They were comfortable, had great battery life, and sounded great. They were also more moderately priced in comparison to other premium over-ear headphones with the same features. The one thing that was missing from those headphones was active noise canceling and thankfully, Cleer has upgraded the headphones to include that feature with the Enduro ANC.

DETAILS

The Enduro ANC is the first noise-canceling headphones with 60 hours of battery life. The headphones use strategically placed external mics and a feedforward/feedback process that cancels environmental sounds by 25dB. This helps to provide tranquility in noisy environments – especially airplanes. The headphones are equipped with Bluetooth so that they are 100% wireless. There are 2 mics dedicated to phone calls and along with Qualcomm’s cVc 8th gen noise suppression technology, the headphones are a great companion for phone calls. There is a new level of customization available with the Cleer+ app which allows users to change the level of noise cancellation, ambient levels, and EQ levels. The headphones are available in two colors – navy or light grey. 

• Up to 60 hours of noise-canceling playback from a single charge
• Hear only your music with powerful active noise cancellation
• Bluetooth® 5.0 with AAC and AptX® Adaptive
• 40mm Patented Ironless Drivers produce bold and articulate Hi-Res sound
• Customizable noise canceling and EQ settings via Cleer+ app
• Voice Assistant and Google Fast Pair 2.0
• USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm audio cable, an airplane adapter, and carrying pouch included
• Quick Charge, a 10-minute charge provides 2 hours playback

USER EXPERIENCE

The headphones come in a nice retail package. There is an image of the product on the front and back along with some of the main details called out. I like to see this on a box because it allows users to know exactly what to expect from the product that is housed inside the box. Inside the box, you will find the headphones a soft case, a USB-C to Aux audio cable, a USB-C charging cable, and an in-flight adapter. While I was expecting the charging cable, I was not expecting the other two accessories. I rather like that the in-flight adapter is included even though travel is somewhat restricted due to COVID-19, it’s a nice addition given that air travel will eventually be an everyday occurrence again. As far as the soft case goes, I usually prefer to see a hard or semi-hard shell case, but this bag is very durable and is easy to pack into a larger bag. 

There are a lot of over-ear headphones with ANC in the market. Some of them cost 2 or 3 times as much as the Cleer Enduro ANC headphones. With a retail price of $150 (at the time of publishing), there are certain features I’m willing to go without, but there is one that is woefully missing – automatic pause. This is quite possibly the feature I like the most in headphones and I’ve grown quite accustomed to having it with any headphones I’m using. This feature automatically pauses your music or video when you remove the headphones from your head. The same functionality is present with most wireless earbuds, too. So, I was surprised when I removed the Enduro ANC and see the music track continue to play. 

The headphones are quite comfortable. The ear cups seem to have memory foam built into them and the covering doesn’t cause my ears to sweat with prolonged use. I’ve worn the headphones for hours at a time and have sometimes actually forgotten I’m wearing anything. They are light and are rounded enough to fit the natural shape of most heads. The over-ear design provides for some sound isolation without the ANC being turned on. I think the thing I noticed the most when ANC or Ambient was turned on was the absence of air handling noises. The gentle hum that our air conditioner or furnace produce is something I can usually hear through most headphones without ANC. So, if I can’t hear it thanks to ANC being turned on, I consider that good noise cancelling. ANC is something I’ve really come to depend on since I’ve been working from home. There have been times that I’ve simply used it as a way to completely isolate myself from whatever is going on in our house. I have other brands of headphones that do a better job of noise cancelling than the Enduro ANC, but that doesn’t mean that the ANC does not work on the Cleer headphones. I think it works very well. 

The sound quality from the Enduro ANC is similar to what I got from the Enduro 100. You really do get a high-quality, premium sound from these headphones without having to pay the premium price tag. I listened to the Hamilton: An American Musical soundtrack several times while testing the headphones out. It’s a pretty advanced, layered soundtrack and I was able to hear all the parts clearly and without it sounding muddied. Dialogue in movies and TV shows sounded great as well. For the price point I think someone would be hard-pressed to find a better sounding headphone. 

CONCLUSION

Cleer Audio knows how to design headphones for people who don’t want to break the bank just to get a solid, high-quality product. The Enduro ANC continue to impress me as a member of the Cleer family and their price can’t be beat. 

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

More than a decade ago, I purchased my first Bluetooth headset. The brand was Jabra and it was my only headset for a long time. I had that headset before I actually had a smartphone. It connected flawlessly and made it easy to accept and talk on phone calls. At that time, that was really all those headsets were good for. Now, single-ear Bluetooth headsets are somewhat of a rarity since most people just use their over-ear or in-ear headphones. That said, single-ear headsets still have a place. When you have to be present but want to stay connected, that’s when this type of headset comes in handy. Professional drivers, field service technicians, and retails positions are just a small sampling of jobs that can benefit from a mono-headset like the BlueParrot M300-XT Bluetooth headset. 

DETAILS

BlueParrot is part of the GN Audio group, which also owns Jabra. The headset is designed to keep users connected while working in noisy environments. The headset provides smooth communication experiences for users and is a reliable travel partner for anyone who works ‘on the go’. The M300-XT provides 80% noise cancellation with its 2-microphone technology and has a wireless range up to 300 feet. It’s ultralight (0.7 ounces) so it’s meant to be comfortable to use throughout the day. The headset is IP-54 rated for dust and water resistance and it can be worn on either ear. There are intuitive buttons for easy call handling and a customizable BlueParrot Button that allows users to program it with their most-used function. 

BlueParrott M300-XT key features and specifications: 

• 80% noise cancellation with 2-microphone technology 
• Ultra-small and ultra-light for all-day comfort 
• Up to 14 hours of talk time with convenient USB-C charging 
• Wireless range of up to 300 feet for ultimate mobility and flexibility 
• IP54-rated protection against dust and water 
• Customizable BlueParrott Button for speed dial, mute, or Push-to-Talk 

USER EXPERIENCE

The unboxing experience of the M300-XT was pretty basic. It has a nice retail package, which, incidentally, was designed with the environment in mind. The cardboard of the package is made from sustainably source materials that are FSC certified and the hanger is made from recycled plastic. In the end, the package is 100% recyclable by the end-user. There isn’t a lot included with the headset – just a USB-C cable for charging, two ear gels (one is installed on the unit), and paperwork including the user manual. Even though I think that BlueParrot was trying to limit the amount of materials used for this device, some sort of carrying case would have been nice to include. Since it’s a smaller headset that should be travel-ready, I think a case would be a nice addition. 

Next we come to the wearing experience. Even though I used to wear Bluetooth mono-headsets exclusively, I feel like we like in an earbud-centric society now. Many sets of Bluetooth true-wireless earbuds are capable of mono-headset mode so that people can use them, but still be involved in the world around them. I said all that because when I put on the BlueParrot M300-XT, it felt really bulky to me. I think it’s because of the behind-the-ear piece. I’m not used to having anything wrap around my ears like that anymore and even when I only used mono-headsets, I usually chose the minimal ear-wing options. The M300-XT is the smallest and lightest BlueParrot headset weighing only 0.7 ounces. For comparison purposes, the Apple AirPod Pro earbuds weigh 0.19 ounces. The M300-XT might be very lightweight for their headset class, but since I’m used to something smaller, it felt quite large to me. 

The earpiece/ear gel is a much different fit than I’m used to, too. Instead of being designed to fit into the inner ear canal, it appears that the ear piece is meant to rest just inside the ear. And even though there are different ear gel sizes included, none of them seemed to form a solid ‘seal’ in my ear. I’m usually one who complains about the ‘vacuum-feel’ of most earbuds, but with this headset, I’m left feeling like it will fall out if I sneeze. Even though the fit may not suit me very well, I do appreciate that BlueParrot made this headset flexible enough to work for either ear. The boom mic can flip up and the ear piece can flip around 180º to accommodate either ear. There are minimal controls on the device and because of wear they are located they are hard to press. I suppose that if the headset fit me better overall that the controls may not be as difficult to use, but the buttons were just hard to press. 

Even though I’ve not been 100% happy with the design of the M300-XT, I can’t deny that the sound quality of phone calls is fantastic. To test this out, I called my fiancé from my car while using the headset. It wasn’t a particularly noisy car ride, but there was definitely road noise in the background. My fiancé said that he couldn’t even tell I was calling from the car. I even specifically asked about the road noise and he said, “No, I don’t hear anything except you.” I was very impressed with this, but I did wish that the volume could go up higher. I could have been having a volume issue though given that the fit of the headset wasn’t the best for me. 

There is a companion app for the headset, but on iOS it seems as though the app only allows you to program the BlueParrot button and update the firmware. It doesn’t provide any optimization for volume or audio quality. There is a Get Started option, which I thought was going to walk through the setup process of the app, but all it provides is information on how to pair your headset to your phone or other mobile devices.

CONCLUSION

Even though we live in an earbud-centric world, there is still a place for mono-headsets. People who travel and have to constantly communicate with other may find some great use with this headset. I feel like all the elements are there, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me. It is a reasonably priced Bluetooth headset (MSRP $99 at time of publishing) and I think that for the right person, this could be a great investment. 

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

Focus and flow with these noise-canceling over-ear headphones.

In the past 12 months, I’ve really learned to appreciate noise-canceling headphones. I’ve been working solely from home for the past 6 months and there are times that even though I have my own workspace I need a bit more isolation from the world around me in order to get my work done. That’s where noise-canceling headphones come into play. There are lots of different styles of these types of headphones and one of my favorite headphone designers, Urbanista, has a great set of over-ear noise-canceling headphones called Miami. 

DETAILS

The Miami headphones are the over-ear style and they feature soft foam on the headband as well as ear cups. While they are noise-canceling headphones, there are actually three different listening modes a user can experience – default mode, active noise canceling, and ambient sound. While the first two options are self-explanatory, the ambient sound mode needs a little bit of exposition to understand. Ambient Sound mode blocks some sound out but it still allows some ambient noise to flutter through so you can remain connected to the world around you. The headphones have a lot of modern features connected to them like extended battery life (up to 50 hours of playtime), on-ear detection (music will automatically pause if the headphones are removed), and charging via USB-C. There are four vibrant colors to choose from – ruby red, midnight black, pearl white, or teal green. 

USER EXPERIENCE

I want to start out my experience with the Miami over-ear headphones with a bit of transparency. For a few months, I have been exclusively using my Apple AirPods Max headphones. I received them in late January/early February and all other over-ear headphones have simply paled in comparison to the premium experience I’ve gotten from the Apple headphones. I received the Miami headphones a few weeks ago and have been sprinkling in their use and shuffling back and forth between the AirPods Max. So, while I never really intended to do a side-by-side comparison of the two because they are just in different classes, I am going to point out some of their similarities and differences. 

First, and probably most obvious, the AirPods Max are designed to work with the Apple ecosystem. That means they automatically detect Apple devices and connect to them based on the user. I’ve had very few connection issues with my AirPods Max – even when I switch back and forth between devices. The Miami headphones seem to only allow a single connected device at a time. I connected them to my iPhone 12 Pro and then tried to connect them to my iPad Pro, but unless I forced them into pairing mode, the headphones don’t show up in the Bluetooth menu. 

The AirPods Max have simple controls on the ear cup – the Digital Crown and the noise control button. The Digital Crown acts as the multifunction button and controls the volume, playback/phone call control, skip/rewind tracks, and Siri. The noise control button gives the user the option to turn the ANC or transparency mode on/off. The controls are simple and easy to understand. Apple made the buttons different enough that the user can easily feel the difference between the two. This is one of my main criticisms of the Miami over-ear headphones comes in. The button controls are great. I much prefer tactile controls to touch-sensitive ones. The issue I have with Urbanista’s design of these buttons it that they are flat and because of that, they are a little hard to discern what you are controlling. I reached up to the control and volume/track buttons multiple times thinking I was changing the volume, but I would be pausing the track instead. If the buttons were raised just a bit, they would be perfect. They have a nice bump when you click them, but it’s just hard to tell which button you are actually on when you reach for them. 

As far as sound quality goes, well it’s almost a toss up between the two. When I first heard music through the AirPods Max, I was speechless. Highs and lows were perfectly mixed and it was a magical experience. Urbanista continues to evolve their technology though and with that comes a superior listening experience. The Miami headphones definitely have a heavier bass tone to them than the AirPods Max. In testing the Miamis out, I connected to both my AirPods Max and the Miami over-ear headphones using my iPhone 12 Pro. I turned on a custom-built radio station on Apple Music and “Metalingus” by Alter Bridge came on. This happens to be one of my favorite songs so I decided to swap the headphones back and forth throughout the song. I would listen to a few bars using the Miami over-ear headphones and then a few using the AirPods Max. Both headphones provide crystal-clear sound quality and the biggest difference between the two is really the amount of bass depth. The AirPods Max are very punchy, but the Miami over-ear headphones win for richness. Sometimes you want that boomy bass tone and the Miami are great for this. To prove the point, I pulled up “No Diggity” by Blackstreet and ran through the same experiment. The AirPods Max allows you to experience the hits, but you could really feel it through the Miami over-ear headphones. 

CONCLUSION

The Miami over-ear headphones are amazing and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a quality set of cans. They are very reasonably priced and I think they are probably the best quality in their price range. Part of the reason I wanted to put them up against the AirPods Max is that the Miami headphones hold their own up against a much more expensive set of headphones. The AirPods Max rolls in at $550 before tax. The Miami over-ear headphones are $150 and offer the user a lot for that price. The Miami headphones are fabulous and give users a premium listening experience. 

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

Luxurious, Comfortable, Hi-Res Sounding Wireless ANC Headphones provide expensive taste but at a fraction of the cost.

With the Pandemic of 2020, many of us have had to drastically change our daily activities.  Many parents were forced to work from home, and unfortunately, many others even lost their jobs.  Some have had to change to pseudo-teachers, working with their children’s virtual education.  We have had to skip events, outings, mingling and have had to turn to online shopping and entertainment for most of our needs.  With three children in school (ages 5, 9, 11), we have had to rely on iPads and headphones to find enough places to complete Zoom meetings.  Similarly, with a mix of girls and boys, you can imagine their interests did not readily align.  As such, they often wanted to watch their own programs or to play their own games.  Similarly, I have had to rely on my iPad Pro 11” and noise-canceling headphones to complete several work meetings, and CubMaster/Den Meetings without surrounding distractions.  If you are looking for a multi-functional setup, one that will let you enjoy music, movies, television, gaming, and will help to upgrade your Zoom meeting experiences, look to the soundcore Life Q30 headphones by Anker.  

UNBOXING

The Life Q30 Wireless Noise Cancelling headphones arrived in a baby-blue 7 1/2 inches wide by 9 inches tall by 2 3/8 inches thick retail box.  Unlike many of my tech-loving friends, I actually enjoy the experience of evaluating product packaging.  I appreciate splashes of color, visual subtleties, and “look at me” marketing.  The light blue colored background served as an amazing backdrop for packaging.  More than a simple white box, the packaging offered something a little different than the norm.  The large image of the black-colored headphones contrasted nicely against the background, as did the “LIFE Q30” title along the top of the panel and “soundcore by Anker” in the negative space of a darker blue rectangle.  I liked that the static headphone image was granted a little life when they added darker blue sound waves.  Along the bottom of the panel, you will find several useful tidbits of information “HI-RES AUDIO,” Hybrid ANC, 40H Playtime, 2 Mics for Clear Calls, NFC Fast Pairing.  Lastly, I could not miss the large white-colored “MULTI-MODE NOISE CANCELLATION” along the top of the image.  They did a great job at enticing my interest with the cover panel, and the remainder of the packaging expanded on that theme.

The right side panel provided a colorful, lifelike, young female wearing the headphones and a FOMO (fear of missing out) statement that “20 MILLION+ PEOPLE” loved the sound.  As one who suffers from FOMO, this brand of marketing can prove to be quite powerful.  The opposite side panel showed a diagramed oblique image of the ear cuff, emphasizing the dual microphones for improved call function.  The rear panel showed three large images of people wearing the headphones showing Transport, Indoor, and Outdoor use.  The image depicting the transport ideal showed a side view of the female model above, seated in an airplane window seat. The indoor idea showed a young male inside a restaurant or office space, and the outdoor image showed another young male traveling outdoors.  The images were clear, attractive, and successful.  Beneath the images, the company provided six icons detailing the Hi-Res Sound, 2 Mics for Clear Calls, 40-Hour Playtime, 5-minute charge for 4-Hour Playtime, NFC Fast Pairing, and Touch for Transparency Mode.  Of all of the listed features, I was most excited about the inclusion of transparency mode.  To fully access the headphones’ features, I was instructed to download the soundcore App from the iOS/Google Play Store.  The darker blue top/bottom panels did not add much more to the experience.  The top panel had the soundcore/Life Q30 and a lighter blue wave pattern. In contrast, the lower panel provided manufacturing labels, SKU barcodes, legalese information, and listed the package contents (headphones, USB-C cable, AUX cable, travel case.

You will find a 7 1/2 inches wide by 9 inches tall by 2 3/8 inches tall grey Gabardine-esque carry case within the packaging.  Except for the raised chrome “soundcore” label, the clamshell case’s main feature was the 23 1/2 inches long waterproof zipper, and 3 inches long by 1/2 inches wide carry handle.  The black-metallic zipper-pull opened smoothly and allowed the case to open fully along the 5 1/4 inch spine.  The inner surface of the case was lined by black neoprene-like material.  The left half of the clamshell case had a 2 13/16 inches tall by 6 1/4 inches long elastic lined pocket.  You will find a 50 inches long 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable within the pocket, a 24 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, and an instructional bundle (28-panel multi-lingual instruction manual, a foldout comment card, and a multi-lingual warning manual).  While charging the 9.27-ounce soundcore headphones, I decided to peruse the instruction manual.  Each of the thirteen panels had an English-labeled diagram across the top and descriptions in German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic, and Hebrew along the bottom. The panels detailed the FAQ, to download the App (EQ settings/ ANC mode selection/firmware updates), Charging, Powering, Pairing, Dual Pairing, NFC, Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Button Controls, AUX, Reset.  Following the instruction manual panels, I turned to the iOS App Store, downloaded the soundcore App, entered my email/password, activated the account, and then signed up.

SOUNDCORE APP

Within the App, you can select speakers or headphones along the top of the panel and then choose from the options list. When I tapped the Life option, I selected amongst Life Q30, Life Tune, and the Life Dot 2 NC buds. I tapped the LifeQ30 option, and the App asked me to link to Bluetooth. I held the power button on the left earcup base and listened to the 4-tone ascending chime followed by a female voice alerting Battery High. The App immediately connected to the earphones and instructed me to download a call performance firmware update, which took about 10 minutes. Once updated, I placed the earbuds over my ears and tested the sound output. Within the App, I was able to tap the Ambient Sound option along the screen’s middle. The second panel allowed me to change between noise cancellation, transparency, and normal modes. When I tapped noise cancellation, I was able to further select between Transport (Low-End Frequencies like engine and road noise), Indoor (Voices and Mid-frequency noises from coffee shops/indoor spaces), and Outdoor ( Ambient sound on-the-go). Each of these options enhanced the standard button features of the base headphones. The Transport option proved to work better while riding in my wife’s Nissan NV and within our Thor 33E Class-C motorhome. The transparency mode and Normal modes did not have any additional setup/steps. As a bonus feature, I was pleased to find that I could set the soundcore App as a widget.

While using the soundcore app, I reminded myself that I was reviewing their LifeQ30 headphones and not the App. If you tap the sleep Mode along the bottom right of the App, you can adjust several sliders for wind, storms, birds, chimes/, camping, waves, water dripping, train sounds, clock, farm sounds, and a fan. Adjust each of the sliders to minimize/maximize the output and create a completely unique-to-you sleeping experience. From within the App section, you can play or pause the sounds, and you can set a sleep countdown timer for 5, 10, 15, 30, -10. When I showed that feature to my wife, I had to practically beg to have them back. Returning to the main App panel, I then selected Equalizer along the bottom left. You can select amongst twenty-two Default equalizer settings (Soundcore signature, acoustic, Bass Booster, Bass Reducer, Classical, Podcast, Dance, Deep, Electronic, Flat, Hip=Hop, Jazz, Latin, Lounge, Piano, Pop, R&B, Rock, Small Speaker, Spoken Word, Treble Booster, and Treble Reducer) or you can select Custom and adjust the sliders up/down between +6/-6 dB for 100, 200, 400, 800, 1.6k, 3,2k, 6.4k, 12.2k Hz. The soundcore signature option was rather flat, but the Podcast, Acoustic, and Deep settings were likely my favorite. When I listened to audible books, I really enjoyed the podcast and spoken word options. I found some versatility for the other equalizer settings and Rock and Pop for a variety of my test tracks.

Headphone Test/Sound

Before turning to my standard test tracks, I test the earphone parameters/limits with the audiocheck.net website.  Using the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz), I experienced a deep rumbling bass starting at 20Hz. For the second test, I like to use the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  On par with other over-ear headphones, I heard the high pitched ringing at around 15kHz. Despite the typical range of hearing for humans at 20Hz to 20kHz, my hearing remains rather acute because we tend to lose higher-pitched sounds as we age. For my third test, I used the Left/Right/Center test and found the headphone channels were appropriately programmed. To test the headphones’ stereo nature, I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test, which my children enjoy. We like to turn off the lights, place the headphones over the ears, and play the binaural recording. Even if you know that the knocking sound will occur, you still cannot help but look over your shoulder. The knocking sound   If you navigate to the website and use this test, be prepared to jump a little at the knocking’s realism.  The quality of the stereo aspect of the speakers can be further shown through the “Sound Of Silence (3D Binaural Audio)- Simon and Garfunkel Cover-Jarvis Brothers (Ear to Ear), and by listening to 8D Sound of Silence by Disturbed, or Bohemian Rhapsody Binaural in 3D.  I have enjoyed the expanding YouTube library of 7D and 8D audio tracks.

It was during the above tests that I realized just how comfortable the headphones felt on my head. Along the headphones’ apex, the company included a 5-inches wide by 3/4 inches thick, black-colored padded-foam headrest. Each of the 3 3/8 inches wide by 3 3/4 inches tall by 7/8 inches thick earcups had the same padded material used on the headrest. Etched into each of the earcup wells, you will find a printed R or L . Each earcup was given lateral and vertical movement to accommodate a variety of head sizes. Furthermore, the 7 3/4 inches tall headphones could expand to approximately 8 3/4 inches thanks to the adjustment points along the sides of the earphones. You will find the volume up, volume down, and multifunctional play/pause button along the bottom of the right earcup. The buttons were responsive, easy to locate, and had a comfortable click-feel. Abutting the play/pause button, you will find the auxiliary input port. Turning to the left earcup, you will find the USB-C input port, the power button, and the noise-canceling button. The right earcup added one last piece of tech to the product. If you had an android phone, you could pair them via NFC by tapping your phone to the right earpiece. Lastly, you can tap the right earbud to change to transparency/normal modes while using the headphones. If you wish to enter into noise cancellation mode, you can press the button on the left earcup, or access them through the App. They were able to produce a comfortable, yet easy to store product, was quite impressive.

With the above tests completed, I turned to my typical test tracks.  To evaluate the bass, I used “Ring of Fire” by Homefree, “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from The Hobbit, listened to the opening bass line of Holly Cole’s “Train Song,” the jazzy popping sounds of “Bright Lights Bigger City” by CeeLo Green, and the cacophony of sounds from Dark Knight Rises Joker Theme “Why So Serious,” 3:20-3:40.  The bass was a little muted out of the box, and the sounds felt a little less powered than I would have liked. However, using the EQ feature within the App, the bass was clear, crisp, and provided amazing support to the mid/upper sounds. After several rounds of EQ settings, I continued to like the PODCAST, Deep, and Acoustic settings. To test the sound placement/balance/staging, I love to listen to Bob Marley and the Wailers “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” Radiohead “The National Anthem,” “Caribbean Blue” by Enya, and Yosi Horikawa “Bubbles.”  I love to be able to imagine the sounds and locations without directly seeing them. As a bonus, I would encourage you to listen to this 7D experience. To test more of the EQ settings, I listened to the ET theme song, Indiana Jones Theme Song, Back to the Future theme, Star Wars opening theme, and several instrumental pieces. As a long-time Euphonium player, I have developed a love for instrumental music. Several of my favorite Sousa marches and many of my favorite instrumental pieces sounded great on the soundcore life q30 (Polovetsian Dances, Pevensy Castle, Lincolnshire Posey, and Holst Suite in E flat).  Lastly, I played my favorite soundtracks, Far and Away, Braveheart, and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Soundtracks. 

Summary

Without the EQ feature, I would have likely rated the overall sound output at about 8.5/10. However, the EQ feature, coupled with the sleep-feature and timer, raised the score to a solid 9.5/10. I would rate both the packaging and accessories at 10/10. The ability to gain a significant charge after just 5-minutes of power should not go overlooked. Additionally, the headphone batteries should allow you to have more than a week of use on a single charge. I found I was able to listen to transparency mode and ANC mode several hours per day over the course of a week. After day 7, the female voice attendant still noted medium power. I did not test the full run time throughout my testing. The website claimed 40 hours with ANC and 60 hours without ANC. Using the headphones with ANC for roughly 3 hours per day, I still had more power than needed for my week. The ANC worked amazingly well to block out the road noise of our recent RV trip, as well as the road noise in my wife’s Nissan NV. I loved that the earphones did not have an annoying buzzing sound, like some of the devices. The transparency mode will allow you to use the headphones and to retain a sense of the world around you. The Bluetooth paired quickly and did not experience any lag. The Bluetooth range proved to be more than adequate and similar to many modern Bluetooth earphones.  When watching movies and television shows on Hulu, CBS All Access, Movies Anywhere, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, or VUDU, I did not experience any lag.  However, there was some noticeable lag while watching YouTube videos. All factors considered, I do not know how ANKER was able to produce such a quality pair of headphones for under $80. The carry case, USB-C charging, lightweight nature, comfort padding, the color scheme, and the integration with the EQ/App worked. I was quite impressed with the device. Anker did an amazing job at packaging thigh end features into a comfortable, quality, yet inexpensive shell. Before you break the bank on a more expensive pair of headphones, consider saving some money and buying the Soundcore LifeQ30 headphones.

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Apple’s headphones provide the ultimate listening experience – even if you have hearing loss.

Apple is a company that has the resources to make amazing products. In my time covering Apple, I have been pretty happy with the gear I’ve gotten my hands on and I’ve had very few poor experiences with the company. The first generation gold MacBook wasn’t a very positive experience but the laptop also ended up being defective, and I wasn’t very pleased when I purchased the MacBook Pro in 2018 only to have Apple change the graphics card to the Radeon Pro Vega 20 (4GB) within the same month. Both of those instances ended up being positive because Apple made the mistakes right, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

When I first heard the rumors of Apple’s over-ear headphones, I honestly didn’t think much of it. I thought that Apple might release a new Apple TV box, but low and behold, the AirPods Max dropped instead. For a while, I had been going back and forth between using my AirPods Pro, Cleer earbuds, and Bowers and Wilkins over-ear headphones. I was considering upgrading to a newer set of over-ear headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Canceling headphones. I was just about to push the ‘purchase’ button on them when something told me to wait. Then Apple’s announcement came: 

APPLE INTRODUCES AIRPODS MAX, THE MAGIC OF AIRPODS IN A STUNNING OVER-EAR DESIGN NEWS

After I perused the specs and got over the sticker shock of the price tag, I thought, “These might be worth the investment for me.” I have high-end hearing loss, and because of that, most speakers, earbuds, and headphones don’t do much for me. I have an especially hard time hearing dialogue on our TV unless the sound is being pumped through our Apple HomePods. That is what caused me to pause and really consider the purchase. “What if the AirPods Max are like putting HomePods on your ears?” That was worth it to me.

Once I made the decision to order a pair, I thought long and hard about the color I wanted. During this time, I was also given pause as I realized that the headphones charged using Lightning instead of USB-C. I started second-guessing my decision. I went back and forth like this for quite some time as the $550 price tag was nothing to scoff at. I finally decided that because they didn’t charge using USB-C that I wouldn’t place an order. Later in the day, I changed my mind one last time. I came to the conclusion that the headphones charging by Lightning wasn’t that big of a deal and that I really didn’t want to miss out on trying out the AirPods Max. But, was I too late?

After I finally decided to place the order, it was late in the afternoon, and shipping was pushed back 12-14 weeks. If I placed my order at that time, they wouldn’t be available until March 2021 – no matter what color I ordered. On a whim, I decided to check and see what the engraving option for the headphones was going to look like. I don’t know what made me decide to look, but when I did, I found that the Space Gray AirPods Max with engraving was shipping within 2 weeks. My guess is that Apple allocated a certain amount of headphones for engraving apart from the plain sets going out. Engraving doesn’t cost anything extra so I placed the order for the engraved pair of headphones and began the wait.

I waited impatiently for the headphones to arrive. Apple always has impressive packaging and the AirPods Max was no exception. The shipping box is also impressive. It has a bi-fold opening that reveals the Apple box inside. The headphones come with a Lightning to USB-C cable and the Smart Case for the headphones. The set-up for the headphones is the same process you go through with the AirPods or AirPods Pro. When you take them out of the Smart Case, your Apple devices will recognize the headphones and allow you to connect the two devices if you wish to.

After setup was completed, I put the headphones on my ears and heard the first sounds through the AirPods Max. It was a Christmas song that I had heard dozens of times before. The sound was so rich, deep, and clear that it was like I was hearing the song for the first time. “Ok, there is no way these sound this good.” At that moment, Robyn, my fiance, walked into the room and said, “So, are they like having HomePods attached to your ears?” All I could do was nod yes. She gave me a look and I handed them over to her. She put the headphones on her ears and scrolled through my library until she found The Beatles. She tapped ‘play’ on one of their songs and tears welled up in her eyes. Robyn is sort of the polar opposite to me when it comes to hearing. She has super-sonic hearing and can hear a whisper on the other side of the house. So, seeing her reaction was not only priceless, it was confirmation that the AirPods Max are the best sound experience I’ve ever had with headphones.

During the two-week waiting period, until my headphones arrived, I did a lot of reading about them. Many people were saying that the headphones just barely beat out Sony and Bose brand headphones of the same style and feature-set as the AirPods Max. I have the Sony MDR-1000X and Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones and for a while, the Sony’s were my favorite over-ear headphones. I noticed after listening to the AirPods Max that the sound experience was less muddled than when I use the Sony’s. The sound is clean and I have been hearing subtle noises that I’ve never picked up on before. Now, I want to point out here that because of my hearing loss, I can only speak for how these headphone sets sounded to me. Other people may hear all three of the headphones differently than me.

When I test headphones, I have a few go-to songs I like to try out so that I can get an idea of the listening experience of the headphones from every angle. The songs are pulled from a variety of genres including soundtracks, rock, grunge, punk, classical, and even a bit of rap. The AirPods Max does an incredibly nice job with all of them. The headphones keep a nice, deep bass sound while protecting the integrity of the rest of the track. I also found that vocals are crisp as well and I really love that as I turn up the volume, that I don’t get any distortion. That’s not been the case with other headphones I’ve used.

Overall, I’ve been impressed with all the features of the AirPods Max. Here’s a brief rundown of my thoughts on the main features of the headphones.

Active Noise Canceling (ANC): Until I used the AirPods Max, the ANC on the Sony headphones was the best I’ve ever used. I took the Sony headphones on a flight a few years back and never heard the airplane’s engine noise. Therefore, I’ve always regarded the ANC on the Sony MDR-1000X as the ‘best’. While I haven’t taken the AirPods Max on a plane yet, I can say that it deadens ambient noises like dogs barking, vacuums, and TVs that are left on in the background. 

Mesh Headband:  I love the look of the headband. I think it looks very clean and it accentuates the lines of the AirPods Max. The design is right up my alley. 

Weight: I’ve heard some people say that the weight of the headphones is an issue for them. I have noticed that they feel a bit heavier than other headphones I’ve used, but the weight seems evenly distributed to me and so it doesn’t bother me. I’ve worn the headphones for several hours at a time and have not had any issues with headaches or soreness. 

Buttons: I am a big fan of the buttons. This is odd for me to say since I never thought I would be a proponent of moving to analog from digital, but Apple did a nice job of blending in the Digital Crown and the ANC button. I had a real love-hate relationship with the touch controls on my Sony MDR-1000X headphones. So, it was really nice to have something that worked and felt natural to use. 

Smart Case: This is one thing I wish that Apple would have reconsidered when they were designing the AirPods Max — the Smart Case. I really consider it more of a ‘sleeve’ than a case because — well, that’s what it is. The sleeve is made with a single piece of what seems to be polyurethane material and utilizes magnets for the closure. While the sleeve does protect the metal earpieces of the headphones from getting scratched up, for the most part, it doesn’t protect the headband and there is even a cut out on the bottom that leaves the headphones exposed to the elements and potential damage. I also noticed that when I take the headphones out of the sleeve that the AirPods clink together. The only way I’ve been able to stop that from happening is if I physically place my hand there.

Now that I said my piece about the Smart Case, I do want to highlight some information from an interview that Evans Hankey, Apple Vice President of Industrial Design gave to Casa Brutus, a Japanese publication. In the interview, she justified the reasoning behind why Apple did not include a full-sized case with the headphones. Whether or not you agree with this rationale, it is nevertheless the reason why we have the Smart Case. The quotes below were pulled from that article and translated using Google Translate.

“Today, most headphones come with large, cumbersome cases, but we travel a lot, so we know how important it is to fit in a bag. So it’s extremely storage efficient. I wanted to make a good case. Our case has a structure in which one sheet is cut out and fastened in several places so that it becomes three-dimensional. When the ear cup is rotated and inserted here, the headband is exposed. Although it is still in the state, it is judged that it is not necessary to cover it because it is made strong in the first place. Also, thanks to the exposed band, it is possible to have a function that you can easily grasp it with your hand and take it out of your bag. I was able to do it.” – Evans Hankey

Even though there might be a few minor things I would like to see improved about the AirPods Max, I’m absolutely thrilled with them. They are far superior to any other listening experience I’ve had and think that their price tag is worth the investment. Even though the cost is prohibitive for many, if you want the ultimate listening experience, I can’t recommend the AirPods Max enough.

Premium headphones for a one-of-a-kind listening experience.

If there is one thing I really appreciate its quality headphones. I’ve been living with significant hearing loss for many years now and it takes really amazing headphones to make music sound good. I’ve been fortunate to be able to try out many different styles in recent years and to be able to find some models that do provide some musical entertainment for me, but I’m still seeking out “the” one that will be the last pair I ever want to wear. While I’m sure I’ve found them now. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition headphones might be as close as one could find to perfect.

DETAILS

The PX7 Carbon Edition headphones is the product of the success of the original PX7 headphones and Bowers & Wilkins’s 10th anniversary. Bowers & Wilkins decided to release these special edition headphones as a celebration of those two achievements. The Carbon Edition headphones use carbon-fiber composite in its construction and shares the same specs as the original PX7. Bowers & Wilkins designers were inspired by the carbon-fiber engineering found in high-performance sports cars when they added it to the PX7. “Its stiff yet lightweight construction maximizes sound quality by reducing unwanted resonance without the burden of excess weight.” 

The headphones are designed to provide True Sound, which offers maximum resolution while maintaining complete neutrality and tonal balance. They also support the latest codecs including Bluetooth aptX Adaptive technology. “The PX7 Carbon Edition’s immersive soundstage is the result of a specification that includes bespoke 43.6mm drivers, specially designed, developed and tuned by the world-renowned Bowers & Wilkins engineering team responsible for the legendary 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers – as used in such world-famous professional environments as Abbey Road Studios and Skywalker Sound.”

The headphones feature a 30-hour battery life on a single charge. They also have the ability to collect up to 5 hours worth of battery life after charging for only 15 minutes. With a long battery life, the headphones needed to be comfortable. So, Bowers & Wilkins designed them with memory foam ear pads for long-lasting comfort. Additionally, the headphones will automatically stop playing sound when you lift an ear cup and begin playing again when you replace the ear cup against your head. 

One of the biggest features of these headphones is their noise-cancelling abilities. The memory foam ear pads are included for comfort and to provide passive noise isolation, which works in tandem with the active noise cancellation feature. “PX7 Carbon Edition’s adaptive technology is capable of intelligently sensing the background environment and automatically selecting the appropriate type and level of noise cancellation. Users can also use the companion App to select an Ambient-Pass-Through feature that allows certain external sounds to be heard without removing the headset.”

In addition to all the aforementioned features, the PX7 Carbon Edition headphones also have voice assistant support for Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant. 

USER EXPERIENCE

The PX7 Carbon Edition headphones came in a very clean premium-looking package. Most of the box features a white background which makes the black text pop off the container. The front of the box has an image of the headphones included. Inside the box, you’ll find the headphones tucked away inside a hard shell storage case along with a 3.5mm stereo cable and a USB-C charging cable. There is a pamphlet that contains some safety information and regulations, but aside from the illustrated quick start insert, that is no user manual provided.

My first impression of the headphones was, “Wow.” Usually, when I pull headphones out of a box I feel like there is something missing from their ‘kit.’ Bowers & Wilkins did a great job of providing the required cables and even included the hard shell storage case that I’m always looking for with headphones. The kit looks classy. The headphones themselves have a wonderful modern design to them and the carbon fiber finish with diamond-cut detailing on each ear cup is a great touch. It really makes the headphones stand out because they don’t look like every other pair in the market.

Before I even put the headphones on my head, I connected them to the app. Bowers & Wilkins provides a companion app for their headphones that allows users to customize features of the headphones, easily manage multiple headphone models from a single screen, access product info and support, keep headphones firmware up-to-date, and adjust settings for an optimal listening experience. Users can also use the companion App to select an Ambient-Pass-Through feature that allows certain external sounds to be heard without removing the headset.

Along those lines, you can also adjust the sensitivity of the wear sensor, which manages power and playback based on whether the headphones are on your head. I found this to be extremely helpful because at first, the only complaint I had with these headphones was that music didn’t automatically pause when you removed the headphones. Then I discovered in the app that the sensor was turned off. After I turned it back on and adjusted the sensitivity to ‘more,’ I haven’t had any problems with that feature sinse. Another really fun feature of the app is the pre-installed Soundscapes. These are natural relaxation sounds like ocean waves or a crackling fire that are designed to help you while you are meditating or just want some background noise. I thought that this was a nice touch from Bowers & Wilkins to their users.

Finally, while it seems like a given feature, the app shows the battery level of the headphones. Even though most mobile phones will show the battery level of their connected headphones, this is a really nice reminder especially if you use them frequently. You can use this to manage when you charge the device rather than being caught off guard. The navigation of the app is intuitive and the layout is very clean. Normally, I don’t see the need for a companion app for headphones, but Bowers & Wilkins added enough content to theirs that it actually makes a good companion for the user.

Once I had the headphones connected and completely set-up through the app, I placed them on my head. At first, they felt a little stiff and were slightly tight around my head. I’ve used them quite a bit since that time though and it seems as though they just needed to be broken in because that tightness has since loosened up. The ear cups are luxurious. The memory foam ear cups are like pillows for your ears. They are very soft and I’ve not had any issues with my ears over-heating from using the headphones for long periods of time.

The on-ear controls are pretty easy to master. If you are familiar with the different controls that headphone manufacturers are using these days you will catch on easily to how they work. I really like how the main controls are tactile but have subtle visibility on the ear cup. The buttons include a +/- and a multifunction center button. If you press the center button once, tracks will play and pause. If you press it twice, the track will advance and three times, it will reverse the track. If you receive a phone call while wearing the headphones the multipurpose button will act as an answer/end button. The +/- buttons will only increase or decrease the volume.

So, how do they sound? Well, in a word – incredible. There are very few headphones that make me feel as though I’m actually experiencing a music track rather than just hearing it and the PX7 Carbon Edition headphones do that for me. Highs and lows are all extremely well-balanced and there is a lovely fullness to the sound that is produced by the headphones. I felt as though the mix was heard as intended and not watered down like some headphones make music sound. I listened to several styles of music including Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, and even a variety of Holiday tunes while using the headphones. In some cases, it was like hearing the song for the first time.

While I was very impressed with the sound quality of the PX7 Carbon Edition headphones, for me, the real listening experience came when my grandmother put on the headphones. She was walking through my office and saw the headphones laying on my desk. “Oh, those look nice,” she said. I motioned her to come closer and I placed them on her head. “These are comfortable.” I then pushed play on my iPhone and watched tears form in her eyes as the sound of Tony Bennett streamed through the headphones. She has loved Tony Bennett for years because he reminds her of my grandfather who passed away nearly 15 years ago. After a few minutes of being consumed by the music and the memories, she pulled the headphones off and said, “That’s about the best I’ve ever heard it. Those sound so good.” 

CONCLUSION

When it comes to music-inducing memories, you can’t beat premium headphones like the PX7 Carbon Edition from Bowers & Wilkins. They are comfortable to wear and produce amazing sound. The companion app has great features and is functional. The headphones are proof of what premium headphones can provide for a person. Not only do they give you an escape from the world around you, but they can also bring back memories of loved ones if the sound quality is as good as the PX7 headphones. 

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

Amazing addition for working at home.

Headphones have become necessary equipment for those who are working and learning from home. Amidst the public health crisis that surrounds us, we must carry on with our lives as best as we can. For most of us, that means working and/or going to school from the comfort of our computer screens. I know in my home alone there are three adults (myself included), a small but very loud dog, and a caged rabbit that bounces to and fro throughout the day. All of these things are classified as “distractions” to daily tasks for my job. Therefore, I’ve found that I have to have a great set of headphones that can not only isolate me from the ambient noises around me, but they also have to be able to perform as a partnering device for video conferencing like Zoom. Fortunately for me, the AV50 Noise Cancelling Headphones from ZVOX came across my desk. 

DETAILS

The ZVOX AV50 headphones are designed to provide immersive, realistic, high-fidelity sound. They feature advanced noise cancellation technology that should eliminate ambient noise like air conditioners and even jet engines. Another feature of the AV50s is the AccuVoice technology that helps to boost voices and reduce unwanted noises at the same time. This helps people to understand dialogue without turning up the volume. The headphones come with 3.5mm stereo headphone cable, but users can also take advantage of the aptX Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly to devices such as a phone, tablet, or computer. The AV50s weigh less than half a pound, which makes them lighter than most headphones in their class. The headphones come with a slim carry case that’s easy to travel with. The AV50 headphones come in four different colors – basic black, deep blue, dark red, or rose gold.

SPECS

USER EXPERIENCE

The headphones came in consumer-ready packaging. What I mean by that is the box could sit on a shelf and could be picked up by a customer and they would know what they are getting. There was quite a bit of information on the box including a photo of the product and a list of main features. I was impressed to find that the headphones came enclosed in a semi-hard shell storage case, which also housed the charging cable and 3.5mm stereo headphone cable. While the case was nothing overly special, I do appreciate it when product designers include them because otherwise, the headphones could easily get damaged and its accessories might be lost in the wind. A case ensures that the headphones are protected and their accessories are never far away. 

The AV50s are quite comfortable. They are over-ear style headphones and as such, they do cause a bit of heat collection. The ear cups themselves are a bit smaller than some other over-ear headphones I’ve used, but that didn’t make them uncomfortable for me at all. The ear cups have great cushioning and they are lightweight so I didn’t experience any latent headaches after long-term use. Even though my ears did get a little warm while wearing them, it wasn’t unbearable.

I think what really took me by surprise was how good the sound quality was. I’ve had good luck with ZVOX products in the past, but I was just blown away by how pure everything sounded. The noise cancelling feature works amazingly well. I had it turned on while I was working at my computer. We have a small dog that likes to bark at any potential intruder on our property – even sticks. His high-pitched bark was muffled to barely a yip with the ANC engaged on the headphones. Air conditioner noise and any other air handling ambience was virtually eliminated and I had no problems hearing people when using the headphones to make phone calls.

The AccuVoice feature is outstanding. I don’t personally have a lot of issues hearing dialogue, but I did find that it was much more clear than it typically is with other headphones. My fiancé tried them on (he has high-end hearing loss) and he always has issues hearing spoken words on TV shows. We turned on NCIS, which is usually one of the shows he has the most trouble with. He said it wasn’t perfect, but he was able to hear the dialogue much easier than he usually can with the AV50s on.

CONCLUSION

The ZVOX AV50 headphones are a great option for people who need to work or complete virtual studies from home. Not only are they comfortable and sound great, they work really well as a complement to most video conference programs. The AV50s are moderately priced and they do a great job.

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

Like so many people, I was forced into a situation where I had to work from home for a period of time due to the global pandemic. My co-workers and I had to adapt quickly to this scenario because we aren’t used to working in that manner. Like we do with so many situations, we made it work. We used tools we had at our fingertips and once we found ourselves back in the office in-person, we decided to make the remote working solutions part of our everyday work life. From where I sit, that means, having a great set of headphones available so that I can isolate myself when I’m on phone calls and video conferences. Back in June, Jabra released the Evolve2 85 ANC Bluetooth Headset, which is designed to provide users with a productivity partner in the form of headphones. This description piqued my interest and so, I decided to give them a try.

DETAILS

The Jabra Evolve2 85 headset is ‘engineered to keep you focused’ according to Jabra’s website. Product engineers have designed these headphones specifically for concentration and collaboration. It has many features that help users isolate themselves so they can work rather than be distracted by outside sources. The Evolve2 85 features digital hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that eliminates 54% more noise around you than the Evolve 80 headphones. The battery life is up to 37 hours between charges, which is close to a full time 40-hour work week. Given that Jabra intends for people to use these headphones throughout the work week, they are also built for comfort and include soft memory foam and an ergonomic over-ear design.

Jabra includes a ‘busylight’ feature that helps others know when you can’t be disturbed. It’s similar to a Do Not Disturb option on a landline phone. This headset has been future-proofed with the inclusion of an upgradeable platform that provides firmware updates through Jabra Xpress. To ensure that you are heard and understood wherever you are, Jabra built 10 microphones into the Evolve2 85 headset and included a digital chipset for 97% less background conversation noise on calls. There are two variants of the Jabra Evolve2 85 — UC-Certified and Microsoft Teams-certified. Both options give users the ability to have seamless communications no matter what platforms they are using.

MAIN FEATURES

• Computer: Jabra Link 380 Bluetooth® adapter with USB-A or USB-C variant. Up to 30m/100ft wireless range to your computer, with significantly enhanced coverage and fewer dropouts
• Dual Bluetooth Connectivity: Connect two Bluetooth enabled devices at the same time, including mobile device and computer
• Multiple Device Pairing: Pair up to 8 devices
• Instant noise isolation for improved focus in noisy surroundings
• Additional features available via Jabra Sound+ app, Jabra Xpress and Jabra Direct
• Voice Assistant: Quickly access your voice assistant with just the touch of a button
• Busylight: 360° busylight on both earcups is visible from all angles, acting as a do-not-disturb sign and protecting your focus
• Boom Arm Mute and Answer Call: Move boom arm up to mute or down to unmute or answer call
• Smart Sensor: On-ear detection recognizes when the headset is in use, allowing auto-playing and pausing of audio and answering and muting calls

SPECS

USER EXPERIENCE

Getting started with the Jabra Evolve2 85 Headset was a little more involved than the typical Bluetooth headphones. First of all, as I’m sure you can tell from the specs outlined above, these aren’t your typical headphones. They have so many features that it’s easy to get lost in them. So, I’m going to try to break it down — first by the typical headphone features and then by the premium features that really make the Evolve2 85’s stand out.

Comfort: Whether or not a headset is comfortable is usually my primary concern. Especially with over-ear headphones, I want them to be long-wearing capable meaning they can be worn for many hours at a time. Jabra did think that through when designing this headset. Their intent was for people to be able to wear them throughout the entire work day so that they might be able to focus properly without distraction. The memory foam in the ear pads makes this possible. I did notice after wearing them for a couple of hours that I developed a headache, but that could have just been lousy timing with the weather causing a sinus headache. The headset fits tightly around the head, but not too tight. It feels secure. I’ve walked around out house with the headset on and it hasn’t fallen off or shifted too much to be worrisome. All in all, the Evolve2 85 headset gets a good score when it comes to comfort.

Sound Quality: The headset provides exceptional sound quality no matter what is being heard through the speakers. I listened to several different music options including Apple Music, my personal library, and Pandora and all of them sounded amazing. There is an equalizer built into the mobile app that I used to tweak the sound just a bit, but even on the default settings, sounds were clear and crisp and the bass was full. I did also turn on a couple of TV shows and movies to see how the headset would handle dialogue and full movie mixes and it was remarkably good. With voice calls, callers reported hearing me fine and I had no trouble hearing them.

Connectivity: I was able to connect the Evolve2 85 headset to my iPhone and MacBook Pro with no problems. The headphones stayed connected as I walked through the house and it was only when I crossed through several rooms and was approximately 20-30 feet away with walls in between that the signal broke up. Even then, the headset didn’t completely disconnect; it just stuttered a bit for the connection and continued playing. I was very impressed with the headset’s ability to remain connected even when separated from its connected device.

Battery Life: This is another area I’ve been very impressed with. If you are conservative about the features (i.e. ANC, busylight) then you can get approximately 37 hours of use out of the headset without charging. This is probably the best battery life I’ve ever seen from a headset. Most of them are rated with a 20-25 hour battery life. Now, I have to admit that I haven’t quite run the battery down to 0% yet, but I’ve been very happy with the battery vs. performance and I’ve not had them die on me in the middle of the day. I do put the headset on charge at the end of the day and they charge overnight so they are ready the next day. On that note, Jabra does market a charging stand for the Evolve2 85, but it’s either sold separately or as a bundle with the headset.

ANC/Isolation: The headset does a great job of isolating the listener from outside noise — even without turning the ANC on. To give you an idea of the environment I was in while testing these features, here is what was going on. In one room, my fiancé was playing Call of Duty and in my workspace, I had a 1-year old dog that begs for attention constantly. Also, in the same house is my fiancé’s 87-year-old grandmother who turns up the sounds on her digital solitaire game and TV. Her room and my workspace share a wall. With that in mind, I can almost always hear outside sounds — even with ANC engaged on a set of headphones. The isolation is so good on the Evolve2 85 that just by putting on the headphones, 50% of the ambient noise is deadened. The ANC feature completely kills sounds like weed-whackers and air conditioning noise. All other ambient noise like dogs barking and loud TVs is lessened by about 80%. The hear-through feature is a really nice option for when I’m at work because while I would love to just close myself off 100%, I know that’s not entirely practical.

Premium Features: Some of what I like to refer to as ‘bonus features’ include the busylight, boom arm, and the smart sensor. These are features that I’ve not experienced regularly on over-ear headsets.

The busylight is a great feature for people who have lots of interruptions throughout the day. It comes on automatically when you are on a call, but users also have the option of manually turning it on by pressing the volume up and down buttons at the same time. The light is a red LED that appears on the outside of the ear cup. It is only visible when the user is wearing the headset. I will admit that I was not aware of this fact and kept trying to see the light when I took the headset off. I was telling my fiancé about this and in attempting to show him what the issue was, he saw the light and snapped a quick photo for me (below).

The boom arm for the microphone is another amazing bonus feature. This truly is a ‘bonus’ because there are ear cup microphones included in the headset, too. The boom arm microphone has a mute feature built into it where if you raise or lower the arm it will mute or unmute the microphone respectively. I really like this option for things like video conferences where you want to keep yourself on mute, but don’t want to have to mess with anything in the program itself. The action of closing the boom will mute your microphone.

Finally, the smart sensor is a joy to work with on this headset. I was surprised when I pulled the headset off of my head and found that the music track paused itself. I’m used to that sort of functionality from my earbuds, but not my over-ear headphones. It was a very pleasant surprise and something that I recognized as a cool feature.

The App – macOS and iOS

The Evolve2 85 headset is a ‘smart’ headset. Just like many of Jabra’s headphones and earbuds, this headset has the capability of being customized through an app. The headset comes with a USB dongle that allows you to directly connect to your computer as the headset is pre-paired to the dongle. At first, I actually had a hard time finding the dongle. Everything I read said one was included, but it wasn’t packaged with the cables (USB-C to USB-A, auxiliary cable, and stereo adapter). I literally dumped the box out on the floor trying to find this tiny dongle. It ended up being stored in the hard shell storage case of the headset (see photo below). I wanted to point this out in case anyone else ends up panicking and think it wasn’t included.

As is eluded to in the heading of this section, I used both the Jabra Direct app (macOS) and the Jabra Sound + app (iOS). The Jabra Direct app is easy to set-up, but I ran into a glitch when it came to updating the firmware for the headset and the dongle. I kept getting an error that stated the firmware file was incorrect. There was no other way to download the file except through the app’s automated process so I wasn’t able to update the firmware for the dongle. With the iOS app, I was able to update the headset and have control over the equalizer as well as the busylight function. Both apps are useful it just seems like the mobile app has less problems.

CONCLUSION

I’ve been a fan of Jabra products for a long time and I’ve never doubted the quality of their products. My first Bluetooth headset was, in fact, a Jabra product. I have to say that these amazing headphones really stepped up the productivity headset game. The Evolve2 85 are in a class by themselves and aside from a printed user manual not being included with the headset package, I really don’t have any complaints.

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

Personalize your listening experience with comfortable, premium quality headphones.

I like headphones. That might sound incredibly strange, but I actually like testing out many different types of headphones and evaluating how well they work with different types of music and sounds. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of success with over-ear headphones and I really like Bluetooth capable listening options because I can connect them with my laptop or my phone without needing a cable. The only thing I don’t like about most wireless headphones is the cable that inevitably gets strung about when it’s time to charge them. I was recently introduced to the Aria Me Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones from Avantree. They combine the over-ear headphones I like with a wireless charging stand to make the ideal wireless headphone experience for me. 

DETAILS

The Aria Me Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones provide users with personalized audio through the Avantree Audio companion app. With it, you can tailor-fit audio to match your own hearing profile. The headphones feature 24-bit HD sound and active noise-cancelling. There is a detachable boom mic included as well as the aforementioned charging stand. The goal behind the Aria Me headphones was for users to be able to adjust what they hear based on their individualized hearing profile. The hope is that the self-administered hearing test within the Avantree Audio app will help users return their audio to its original sound. The app uses a proprietary audio compensation algorithm to match your hearing and it is designed to take less than 5 minutes. Once an audio profile is activated and stored on your headphones all other audio received through the headphones — regardless of the connected device — will be processed using that profile. 

The Aria Me come with a charging stand as well as a travel case. The ear cups are designed to be spacious so they can accommodate any shape of ear — large or small and they are covered with high-grade protein leather ear pads. The headband is fully adjustable with six points of articulation. The sound quality of the headphones is enhanced thanks to aptX-HD audio codec. 

USER EXPERIENCE

When I review headphones I like to look at two major factors — comfort and sound quality. Are there other factors that make up good headphones? Sure, but the two that are the most important to me are comfort and sound quality. With the Aria Me headphones, I was pleasantly surprised at their comfort level. The ear cups are soft and plush and they don’t fit over the ears too tightly. The headband is very flexible and sits nicely on the head without pinching or causing latent headaches due to improper fit. The on-ear controls are easy to use and are comfortable in placement as well. I didn’t find myself getting uncomfortable when trying to reach them on the ear cups. The headphone’s lightweight nature helps with the comfort level, too. I wore them for several hours at one point and didn’t find them to be intrusive at all. I never experienced any headaches or discomfort of any kind while using the headphones.

As far as sound quality goes, I was very impressed — even before doing my hearing analysis. The ear cups provide a decent amount of ambient noise isolation without the ANC turned on and when ANC is turned on, you are completely blocked from outside noises. If I had to rate the quality of the sound without the connected app, I would rate it at 8/10. The sound analysis tool you get with the app kicks the sound quality up a couple of notches to give you the perfect sound quality for your ears. While the idea of a sound profile that is designed based on a person’s specific hearing needs seems like the ideal way to cater a single set of headphones to many different people, I’ve never seen it before now.

The set-up for the personalized profile is pretty easy. After you download the app, you are asked to register and accept Bluetooth permissions. Next, you have to connect your headphones to the app. This is a little convoluted as you have to connect the headphones through your Bluetooth settings first and then connect the app. Once you have connected the headphones to the app, you walk through the steps of the app’s hearing test. This is just a series of tones that you indicate whether or not you can hear it. After that process is complete, you are shown your hearing profile. I did notice a difference in the sound quality after completing the profile. It was as if it went from good to great.

CONCLUSION

The Aria Me Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones are certainly worth the investment. Not only was I impressed with the sound quality, but I also thought the build design was awesome for comfort and the headphones come with a charging base which eliminates the need for cable clutter. The only ‘complaint’ I have is that the system uses Micro USB instead of USB-C as it’s main connection method. I find this to be ‘old’ technology and think that charging methods on new products should be shifting over to USB-C rather than continuing to use Micro USB. Aside from that these headphones are a really great way to be able to enhance listening capabilities for people with hearing loss. With the customized hearing profile, people can hear more of what they want and not miss things from their favorite forms of entertainment. They aren’t a substitute for hearing aids, but they definitely elevate the listening experience.

For a limited time, readers can get a discount on the Avantree Aria Me Auto-Optimized Audio Bluetooth Headphones on Amazon. Just use code J3BEE75R at checkout and receive the headphones for $134.99 instead of $149.99. This offer is good until 12/30/2020.

For more details, visit avantree.com, Facebook, and Twitter.