Bluetooth Headphones

All posts in “Bluetooth Headphones”

Sony WF-1000XM3

Can Sony topple the reign of AirPods? We can’t answer that. One thing we do know, however, is that its new WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds are on par, if not better, than Apple’s ultra-popular option.

Especially in Audio, Sony is a formidable name. No surprise, then, that the company is vying to eclipse Apple’s tight grip of the first place and ascend to the throne as the king of wireless earbuds. Of course, that’s not easy talk. Not only do you have to excel in the sound quality department (which Sony has and, better to put, does), it also has to cobble up a marketing campaign to the level of Apple’s. That’s much harder — the Apple brand has become, by sheer cultural osmosis and consistently great, if decent products, synonymous with undeniable reliance.

Sony has all that to reckon with, but we won’t get into that. The headphones themselves, however, are great, at least on paper. They’re noise-canceling ones, which the AirPods aren’t. They also feature a 0.24-inch driver unit that delivers crisp audio. Plus, they come equipped with DSEE HX to upscale compressed music files, resulting in better audio in theory, though we’ll have to test if the gains are noticeable.

With a battery life enough for you to squeeze six hours of playback on a single charge, the Sony WF-1000XM3 is a modestly designed wireless option for those who care most about sound quality than other gimmicks. And yes, they do come with a charging case, which packs three full charges. They’re a tad bit more expensive than the AirPods, though, at $230. But that’s the price you have to pay for good sound.

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July 12, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

For so long, Bose’s QuietComfort 35 have been the grab-bag pair of cans when asking for a recommendation. And you know what? It’s really hard to argue with that. Though certainly on the premium side, they’re great, robust, high-quality headphones that offer tip-top noise cancellation. But a successor is overdue, and thus comes the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Many things remain unchanged in this iteration. The price, for starters, will still burn a hole through your pocket. Make no mistake, though — this $399 flagship model bears all the bells and whistles, and then some. It’s an ambitious update. In fact, it doesn’t even like its predecessor.

On the headphones, you’ll find a USB-C charging port, which was overdue for Bose. A single charge squeezes 20 hours of full-featured playback out of these bad boys.

Bose went big on voice assistants this time around, too. Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri are all supported. Whatever device you have or digital assistant you prefer, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 has you covered.

That, says Bose, ensures “you’ll be able to remain seamlessly connected to your phone without looking at it or even touching it.”

In addition, Bose says it’s got the world’s best microphone implementation to date. There are four of them in total, and the company is making bold promises on this pair’s noise cancelling abilities. One interesting thing Bose announced is its new Bose AR platform, which will apparently serve as an audio augmented reality tool. Say you’re looking at a particular landmark while wearing the headphones. An app will automatically tell you information about them or give you context-based directions.

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Photos courtesy of Bose

May 30, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i

About a week ago, Bang & Olufsen surprised us with the introduction of its Motion lineup of audio products. The E6 and E8 are the brand’s first Bluetooth earphones that embrace an active lifestyle. This time, it’s creating something that it does best, which is a high-end pair of Bluetooth headphones. Let’s meet the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i–a sleek and luxurious item that boasts superior comfort. This is an on-ear model with a distinct aesthetic touch that can only come from the company’s designers.

You’re looking at a premium item that only settles for the best ergonomics, comfort, and materials. The stunning aesthetics of the H8i uses anodized aluminum and natural leather, which is always a fashionable combination. Put these on and prepare to enjoy an acoustic treat from the two 40 mm electro-dynamic drivers on each ear without any distractions. The active noise cancellation (ANC) system filters out background noise so that it’s just you and the music. Moreover, you can toggle this function off anytime when you need to hear your surroundings.

When Sony and Bose are not the brands for you, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i will gladly accompany you on your travels. Long-haul flights are not a problem since you’re getting 30 hours of Bluetooth with ANC. The non-removable 1,110 mAh lithium-ion battery lasts even longer with Transparency Mode, which offers up to 45 hours. Additionally, built-in proximity sensors automatically pause audio when you take off the headphones and resumes once you wear them again. You can get these in Natural or Black colors to match your style.

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Images courtesy of Bang & Olufsen

May 19, 2019 / Comments Off

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Status Audio BT One Wireless Headphones

Status Audio isn’t exactly household name-level as Audio Technica and Bose, but its new BT One is still worth a look.

It’s a pair of on-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones with premium sound at ultra-cheap price point. And when Status Audio says wireless, it’s not messing around. Quick pairing, low-latency connection, Apt-X, and Bluetooth 5.0 are all here to keep the music going.

Another thing that’ll keep the tunes coming is the cans’ 30-hour battery life, which is insane for a $99 pair of headphones (launch price $120). Some days you just feel like coming back to analog. Thankfully, the headphones come with a 3.5mm backup cable, perfect when you’re feeling a tad bit nostalgic.

The sound remains to be tested. But Status Audio says the headphones are designed to give depth, punch, and accuracy.

Although they’re cheap, Status Audio didn’t hold back on the design. First, ergonomics. The BT One features a slimmer form factor than most headsets. This is perfect if you hate headphones that protrude sideways, which often increase the head-width. Second, construction. Status Audio says it used only premium materials and fused them with timeless design elements. As a bonus, Status Audio didn’t even put the logo anywhere so as not to disrupt the overall flair.

As for the specs, we’re talking 40mm drivers, an electrical resistance of 32 ohm, and a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. Most notable, the headphones charge over USB Type-C, which is something you don’t see on most entry-level wireless options.

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January 31, 2019 / Comments Off

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Dolby Dimension Bluetooth Headphones

At $600, the Dolby Dimension is by far one of the most expensive Bluetooth headphones out there. But if cash isn’t a problem for you, you’ll love these for their insane sound made for cinematic experiences.

Dolby shouldn’t be an unfamiliar name for most. For years it’s been delivering 3D audio to living rooms across the world. Which is why it’s not surprising at all that it’s first piece of consumer hardware is all about getting the most immersive audio while binge watching or listening to music.

As you’ve probably already guessed, the Dolby name assures topnotch audio quality. But it’s not just audio alone that makes the pair special. Because they’re designed for binge-watching, they’re super comfortable for long periods of use. It’s got ample padding on the headband and just hefty enough without feeling like a burden after hours of usage. The tension on the headband is also well-designed. That means even people with big heads can wear these without feeling any sort of appalling discomfort.

Other features include one-touch switching between Bluetooth devices. That should keep the binge-watching seamless whether you want to jump from your laptop to you phone to your tablet. The earcups feature controls for playback and volume adjustment, to name a few.

Again, the $600 price tag puts it out of reach of most consumers, especially if there are decent alternatives out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Even still, this thing is beastly good, and you’ll be getting your money’s worth.

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January 28, 2019 / Comments Off

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JBL Under Armor Sport Wireless Train Headphones

Aside from pre-workout supplements or warmups, our personal playlist of curated tunes can help boost the quality of our performance. Gone are the days of tangled cords as we shift to wireless technology that opens up our range of movement. The JBL Under Armor Sport Wireless Train ditches the cords for Bluetooth connectivity instead.

The most common types that you normally find people using are in-ear models. However, there are some of us who prefer on-ear or over-ear headphones instead. If you’re in the bandwagon with the latter, then the Under Armor Sport Wireless Train by JBL is a good option.

The moisture-resistant pair of headphones is available in two variations: black with a red Under Armor logo or a black with dark grey emblem. To keep our ears ventilated during intense workouts, the cushions are wrapped with UA SuperVent fabric. These are reportedly quick-drying, breathable, and can be removed for handwashing.

Its inner headband is lined with a special material that apparently enhances grip to keep the device in place. Additionally, the integrated TalkThru technology lowers the music volume and activates the built-in noise-canceling mics that optimize speech. Hence, negating the need to remove your headphones to talk to your buddies.

JBL even threw in a 16-hour Speed Charge battery to keep the Under Armor Sport Wireless Train ready and able—a five-minute charge is enough to supply you with one hour of play time.

JBL Under Armor Sport Wireless Train

Photos courtesy of JBL

November 29, 2018 / Comments Off

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