Shure Aonic 40: Sound This Good Should Be More Comfortable

Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones.

Shure Aonic 40 hands-on test: Sound this good should be more pleasant

RRP $ 250.00

"A better headband would make these headphones hard to beat."

benefits

  • Slim design

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Very good call quality

  • Tons of EQ adjustments

  • USB-C digital audio input

disadvantage

  • Uncomfortable with prolonged use

  • No bluetooth multipoint

  • No wear sensors

Shure's latest wireless noise-canceling headphones, the $ 250 Aonic 40, debuted today at CES 2022, and Digital Trends was fortunate to have both hands-on (and audible) use of the new cans before their official unveiling. The judgment? Great sounding customizable headphones that are held back from receiving rave reviews due to an uncomfortable headband design and lack of bluetooth multipoint.

Heavy headphones

Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Shure's stylists did a dazzling job of making the Aonic 40 look sleek. Whether in the black or white version, the shaped, one-sided auricle forks give this box a really elegant and slim profile. You will get people's attention. But despite their slim appearance, they're actually quite heavy at 11 ounces. To put that number in perspective, the Sony WH-1000XM4 weighs 8.9 ounces and the Bose QuietComfort 45 weighs just 8.4 ounces.

Just because a number of doses are on the heavy side doesn't mean they are necessarily uncomfortable. After all, Apple's AirPods Max are a whopping 13 ounces, but stay comfortable thanks to their innovative mesh headband and excellent clamping force.

Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones (headband details).Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Aonic 40 should also be comfortable – it holds your head with just the right amount of pressure and the headband is wrapped in a soft but grippy silicone rubber. Unfortunately, the headband is narrower than most and the part that touches your head is even narrower. Under that layer of rubber is not enough of the padding Shure used.

This all comes together to create a pressure comb that I found passable for the first 30 minutes, but very uncomfortable afterwards. After two hours I couldn't take it anymore. I wondered if it was just me and asked my daughter to try them out. It wasn't 10 seconds before she yanked it off her head and said, "No!"

Another small point of criticism: Our test device had very loose swivel joints on the ear cups, which gave the headphones an inferior feeling.

Satisfactory sound

Man wearing Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The comfort issue may not be a problem for everyone and I hope when you buy them you won't mind because once you listen you won't want to take them off.

I was impressed with the level of accuracy and detail Shure put into their Aonic Free True Wireless earbuds, and the Aonic 40 are just as satisfactory. Right out of the box, you get very clear high frequencies and a warm but balanced midrange that reveals many details that fewer headphones can hide.

And unlike the Aonic Free, which might sound a bit cold or harsh at times, the Aonic 40 has a more resonant sound signature. But regardless of whether it is real wireless earbuds or full-size headphones, Shure's insider tip is the ShurePlus Play app. Inside you will find one of the most customizable EQ interfaces on the market. It has useful presets that can quickly change the Aonic 40's tonal character, like Bass Cut, Treble Boost, and Loudness, but it also has a manual mode that gives insane control to those who love to get under the hood.

Even better, if you really like one of the built-in presets but just want to tweak it a little, you can duplicate it, adjust it, and save it as a new preset. Absolutely brilliant.

The Aonic Free comes with an analog cable if you need to connect it or want to use your own digital to analog converter (DAC). You can also use the supplied USB-C cable as a direct digital interface for computers and smartphones, so that the headphones' integrated DAC can handle all difficult tasks. It even works while charging, which few headphones can claim. With support for AAC, aptX, and aptX HD bluetooth codecs, the Aonic 40 checks some of the most important boxes for wireless audio.

Delete calls

Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Shure says calling the Aonic 40 is a strength, and I tend to agree. Even when walking on some very busy streets, the microphones managed to keep most of the unwanted noise at bay while my voice remained perfectly clear. Wind noise was noticeable at times, but never a deal breaker. They don't capture quite as much natural response as JBL's outstanding Tour One, but they're more than sufficient for phone calls or video meetings.

Speaking of video calls: The Aonic 40 lacks a very important function for anyone who has to jump back and forth between a computer and a phone: Bluetooth Multipoint, with which you can connect your sockets to two devices at the same time.

With Shure, you can activate a red indicator LED when you are on a call. It would be the perfect way to let others know that you shouldn't be bothered even when you're not speaking, except that it's hidden in the bottom of the left earcup where it's unlikely to be noticed unless you are take a good look at it.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Shure Aonic 40 ANC headphones in carrying case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As a series of noise canceling cans, the Aonic 40 successfully takes away external noise. You get three ANC levels – easy, normal, and max – but I couldn't see much of a difference between them so I kept them at max the whole time. It's strong enough that you can hear callers or podcasts clearly even in fairly noisy situations, but they're not quite as magically quiet if you can't hear anything like the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 or the Apple AirPods Max, but on the other hand, you are significantly cheaper than these models.

The ambient mode (Shure's name for transparency) is excellent. Fully adjustable and accessible while on the phone, almost convincing yourself that you are not wearing headphones. A special button on the right earcup allows you to switch between the ANC modes. I found it a bit awkward to use, but I love the way it works: a single click takes you from the ANC to ambient mode and then back again, while a long press turns both modes off. It's a much better user interface than other ANC headphones – where you usually choose what that button does in an app rather than giving you all the options.

Controls

Speaking of controls, they're pretty standard: a single button on the left earcup serves as dual power / bluetooth pairing control, while a three-button cluster on the right earcup is used for play, volume, skip tracks, answer / end calls. A dedicated button on the right earcup takes over the ANC and microphone mute during the call.

They're easy to use as long as you're not wearing gloves – but the buttons are too small and too close together to be precise without bare fingers.

One feature we're seeing more and more in wireless headphones is the inclusion of wearing sensors, which automatically pause the music when you take them off your head. Sony's WH-1000XM4 has this, as does Apple's AirPods Max, but it's not limited to high-end models – Wyze & # 39; s excellent and affordable $ 70 Wyze headphones got it too, but Shure didn't add it to the Aonic 40.

Battery life

With 24 hours of playtime, the Aonic Free is pretty safe. This is more than the AirPods Max or Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (20 hours), less than the Sony WH-1000XM4 (30 hours) and about the same as the Bose QC45 (24 hours). .

We would have preferred Shure to have added more juice to these cans, but considering how heavy they already are, maybe it was the right decision.

Conclusion

When you consider the Aonic 40's competitive price of $ 250 and its many great features, they should be a slam dunk pick. But this uncomfortable headband makes us pause. However, if you have the chance to try them on and the narrow headband doesn't bother you, then you should seriously consider them.

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RHA TrueConnect 2 Review: Comfortable, With A Big Battery

RHA TrueConnect 2

"The RHA TrueConnect 2 offers excellent battery life for comfortable radio buds."

  • IP55 weather resistance

  • 9.5 hours of playback

  • Comfortable design

  • Good sound quality

  • Limited codec support

  • The call quality needs to be improved

It is not easy to be RHA TrueConnect 2. Not only are you expected to outperform your own ancestor in the outstanding first generation TrueConnect, you must now achieve an impact in a class of real wireless earbuds that has become exponentially more competitive almost overnight.

Objectively speaking, RHA has improved its original earbuds with its new TrueConnect 2 for $ 150 by doubling the battery life of the buds and increasing water resistance. But are these unique real wireless champions so advanced that they can maintain their status in a packed field of great earphones? That is the question of the hour for RHA.

Out of the box

Especially with real wireless earbuds, it is standard to keep the packaging simple. True to this tradition, there are no surprises with the TrueConnect 2. The packaging contains the earphones and their charging case, a USB-C charging cable and several pairs of stainless steel earplugs.

RHA TrueConnect 2 caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

With TrueConnect 2, no app can be downloaded. So you just have to get a mobile device with Bluetooth functionality up and running. These buds have a Bluetooth 5 connection. After over a week with these buds, I still didn't have a single connection problem. If you're looking for buds that work just like Apple's AirPods, these are the ones for you.

design

There's not much to say about the design of the TrueConnect 2 here, which hasn't been said about the first generation RHA buds yet. Both pairs are almost identical in design, probably because there was nothing broken on the original blueprint that was to be repaired.

RHA TrueConnect 2 caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Back in these second-generation TrueConnects is the golf tee structure popular with AirPods, as well as the same matte black finish that the originals were clad with (there is also a dark blue option). We said it in the first review and it is just too good not to repeat it. These are Darth Vader's AirPods, although I suspect that he already had all of the noise cancellation required in this helmet.

They're slightly heavier than the AirPods (6 grams compared to Apple's 4), and the case weighs an impressive 79 grams compared to the smaller 40-gram AirPods case. However, the TrueConnect 2 is as well built and unique as the original, mainly because there is really no physical difference between the two.

What is different are the controls in this pair. The first generation each had a button that required multiple presses to activate each command. With the second generation TrueConnect buds, RHA has integrated capacitive touch controls to make the use of the buds considerably easier. I will agree that it is better – to a certain extent. The touch controls are a bit too sensitive, which caused me to accidentally pause podcasts and music repeatedly when I tried to adjust them in my ear.

Speaking of adjustments, the TrueConnect 2 fit is reasonably secure for more intense activities, although full disclosure was fairly warm during my time testing these buds, so the runs I usually take with new earbuds were much shorter. They have held up well for these routes, but I cannot say how well they would stay in place for the world's long distance enthusiasts. No matter how long you have these buds, they are comfortable thanks to the soft foam tips included in the set.

properties

The RHA TrueConnect 2 has some new features as well as some remnants of the originals that still offer solid benefits. The problem, however, is that these functions are often insufficient to distinguish these buds from the multitude of new competitors that perform the same functions.

RHA TrueConnect 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

RHA has almost doubled the battery life compared to the first TrueConnect buds and equipped the new version with 9.5 hours of playback and 44 hours of total battery life with the supplied case. These numbers slightly outperformed the Apple AirPods and would have been considered groundbreaking statistics if, for example, these buds came out a few months earlier. The Samsung Galaxy Buds + and the Sony WF-SP800N both hit the RHA and have better playback times (11 and 13 hours respectively). Although I haven't even unpacked the USB-C charging cable because it took so long, 9.5 hours don't have the same shine as at the beginning of this year.

The water resistance has also been improved in the new TrueConnect 2 with a degree of protection IP55 compared to the IPX5 of the first generation. The new review offers the TrueConnect 2 protection against dust and is not only waterproof, so these earphones are more than suitable for training. Sony's WF-SP800N has the same resistance, but costs $ 50 more. The Jabra Elite Active 75t are fully waterproof with IP57 protection, but again cost $ 50 more than the TrueConnect 2.

The TrueConnect 2 is also compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Apple's Siri or Amazon Alexa. However, if you want buds specifically for this functionality, Google Pixel Buds 2, Apple AirPods or Amazon Echo Buds are better alternatives.

Apart from these three features, the TrueConnect 2 offers only a few functions. For example, you don't have active noise cancellation. Competitors like the AirPods or Pixel Buds don't do that either, but an increasing number of competitors are adding ANC on a budget (I can think of the Edifier TWS NB as well as the Panasonic RZ-S500Ws), and RHA could have taken a step up the apples and glasses of the world by working in an effective noise cancellation. It looks like his absence is hard to ignore here.

Audio quality

RHA says it "refined" the TrueConnect 2's sound signature, but the truth is that these buds probably don't sound much different than the originals of the average ear. But that's a good thing, because both pairs sound damn good.

RHA TrueConnect 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The authoritative bass of the first generation made the transition to TrueConnect 2 well and showed controlled low-end in songs like One More Night by Maroon 5 or Lizzo & # 39; s Truth Hurts. Bass isn't everything, and thankfully, the dynamic 6mm drivers at the heart of these buds seem to be able to handle all the frequencies that get in their way. The Faces & # 39; Ooh La La has always been one of my favorite test tracks as I know exactly how these opening chords should sound, and I'm happy to report that TrueConnect 2 did them justice.

I am disappointed that RHA has discontinued aptX support, which is what we were looking for in the originals. The TrueConnect 2 offers SBC support, but is otherwise incredibly limited in terms of audio codec availability. Still, I would be confident that these buds can compete with most other competitors in their price range, from the AirPods to Google's Pixel Buds to the Samsung Galaxy Buds +, with the quality difference in this vicinity being almost entirely subjective. The TrueConnect 2 doesn't touch our benchmark buds in terms of audio quality, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, but we didn't expect it for half the cost anyway.

The TrueConnect 2 has a dual microphone setup that, according to the RHA, is supposed to focus on your voice and remove background noise at the same time to improve call quality. In my experience, RHA has done it reasonably right. My voice was exceptionally clear on calls with these buds, but in several cases the other end of the call received all background feedback. Walking down a busy street with a wood chipper growling in the distance is not a pleasant experience for the person you are talking to.

Our opinion

The RHA TrueConnect 2 used a pair of very good real wireless earbuds as a base and improved them in some key areas. Although TrueConnect 2 has taken a solid step forward, it seems like all the other three have made it. Still, sound quality and features can be difficult to balance compared to price. While we were looking for more here, it is difficult to criticize RHA for the end product because the cost is relatively low.

Are there any better alternatives?

For an additional $ 50, the Sony WF-SP800N for $ 200 could be a very compelling option due to its better battery life, comparable weather resistance, and excellent active noise cancellation. If you're looking for buds that are friendlier to a particular operating system, you won't lose much quality if you look at the $ 199 Apple AirPods or $ 179 Google Pixel Buds 2, though the TrueConnect 2 both outperforms battery life.

How long will they last?

The TrueConnect 2 comes with a three-year warranty, which is by far one of the best guarantees I've seen for real wireless earbuds. RHA stands by their buds, which should give you some level of certainty as to how long they will last.

Should you buy them

Yes. Although many competing buds have gained ground on RHA, the TrueConnect 2 are a solid pair of buds just like their predecessors. You might fall into a sea of ​​similar earphones in the not too distant future, but at the moment these are some of the better buds you can find in this price range.

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Logitech Ergo K860 Review: The Most Comfortable Keyboard Ever?

logiech ergo k860 review logitech keyboard 06

Logitech Ergo K860 review: the most convenient keyboard you can buy

"With its unique shape and padded palm rest, the Logitech Ergo K860 is an extremely comfortable ergonomic keyboard."

  • Adjustable palm lift

  • Comfortable keycaps

  • Lots of wrist support

  • Attractive design

  • Can connect to multiple devices

  • Not backlit

  • Non-rechargeable

Logitech has a tradition of making super comfortable and well designed products. Both the MX Ergo and the MX Vertical have a cozy design to reduce muscle fatigue as you scroll and drag yourself through your workday. With the new Logitech Ergo K860, some of these elements are now on a keyboard.

At $ 130, the Logitech Ergo K860 completes Logitech's Ergo range. But it is not an ordinary economic keyboard. Be it the unique curvy design and ergonomics or the cozy palm rest, the K860 is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable keyboards you can buy.

It's all in the curve

At first glance, you know why the Logitech K860 is not your traditional ergonomic keyboard. Instead of lying flat on your desk like the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, the Logitech K860 has a slight elevation and curvature on both the front and the back. Logitech calls this a "split curved keyframe".

This name seems strange, but you have to see the keyboard to believe it. The K860 floats off the desk and invites you to play with it. Unlike the Kinesis Freestyle2, this is not a medical or industrial looking keyboard. Apart from a single power switch on the top, there are no additional cables or unnecessary switches here.

You will also find that it is made entirely of plastic and carries a metal plate under the top layer. Although this keyboard is curved and made of plastic, it is solid and comfortable, and there is a good reason for it.

Not only can you slide your cell phone cables or chargers under the keyboard, but the curve and height also allow more comfort when typing. It is designed to help you put your wrists in a more neutral position. It also helps reduce stress on your wrists and forearm, and keeps your hands, neck, and shoulders more relaxed while typing.

This is something Logitech has put a lot of effort into. The company informed me that there was a research and development laboratory in which up to 40 different prototypes of this keyboard were developed and in which actual people were invited to test the products. These people were even connected to sensors that measured muscle strain and pressure.

According to Logitech, 15% of computer users feel pain every day and the K860 offers up to 54% more wrist support than traditional keyboards. This statistic was particularly troubling for me, a person who spends the whole day at my desk typing and scrolling with the mouse. It is definitely convenient. When I used the Logitech MX Keys as a daily driver, I was curious how this ergonomic keyboard could also improve my typing experience.

Enter a storm on any device you own

Admittedly, it took me some time to get used to this curvature and the new layout, in which the keys have a downward V-shape. It felt strange for a day or two, but when my fingers got used to the curve and layout, it felt natural. It forced me to become a touch typist more than normal, and I noticed that I looked less at the keyboard. In combination with the MX Vertical mouse, my daily computer tasks felt organic when my hands slid smoothly between the keyboard and mouse.

The Logitech MX Keys were one of our favorite keyboards for everyday typing, but they may have found their equivalent in the Ergo K860. The Ergo has "scooped" keycaps with a small circle in the middle of the cap that allows you to align your fingers in a more natural position. It also helps with durability. Logitech even claims the Ergo K860 is designed to last 10 million keystrokes, but these are just numbers. Is it true?

After using the Logitech K860 to cover CES 2020 from my home office, I can at least say that this keyboard is very comfortable. Thanks to the "split curved keyframe" and the design, I didn't have to keep my fingers crossed while typing. Thanks to the padded palm rest, I didn't have to pull my wrists to the side as I moved between the words.

However, this is not a mechanical keyboard. If you are looking for long trips or a click of a button, you have to look elsewhere. This is more of a laptop-class keyboard that uses rubber domes instead of mechanical switches under the keycaps. However, there are more trips here than on ultra-short keyboards like the MacBook Pro.

My average writing speed is 90 words per minute, but with the Ergo K860 I have reached almost 95 words per minute. It's a modest improvement, but it was a new record for me. It's also a quiet keyboard, which is important if you work in an open office environment and don't want to bother your employees.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Like the MX keys, this wireless keyboard is cross-platform, so you can use it with multiple devices at the same time. You can connect it to a PC via a USB dongle or use it via Bluetooth and switch between them with a key on the keyboard. I used it with both my Surface Laptop 3 and my Google Pixel 3 XL and was able to switch between PC and laptop with the push of a button and respond to texts on my phone.

The type of function keys also reflects this. As with the MX keys, there is a double "Start" and "Options" button for Mac and Windows. Above this is a series of buttons for media and function control. Brightness, apps, search, lock, battery status – you will find everything here. And the number pad is also a good measure. With Logitech, you can even customize the keyboard using the Logitech Options software, which allows you to customize the function keys.

Unfortunately, the K860 is not illuminated and is not rechargeable. Logitech tells me that this was a deliberate design decision they made. They didn't want to do without the clean keyboard design or the 2-year battery life that came with the two AAA batteries. They also believe that the keyboard is used in office environments where backlighting is less important.

It's pretty cozy

The other important element of the Ergo K860 is its wrist support. Of course, you can find them in other ergonomic keyboards like the Adesso Tru-Form 150, Matias Ergo Pro or Logitech's own K350, but the Ergo K860 goes far beyond that.

Instead of using just a single layer of foam or fabric like the palm rest, Logitech chose three layers of material. These include a high-density foam, a memory foam and an easy-to-clean, coated fabric that increases the comfort of the keyboard and its ergonomics. It surely surpasses the double-padded layer on the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

During my time with the keyboard in my home office, I often touched her just because it felt so cozy that it was almost like a pillow on my bed. I even had an accident and spilled some water on the palm rest and it wiped off immediately.

Logitech also thinks of the modern office. The underside of the palm rest has an adjustable hinge with which you can tile the keyboard for standing or sitting desks at 4 or 7 degrees. It also helps you keep your wrist in a naturally comfortable position when you are sitting or standing.

Our opinion

The Logitech Ergo K860 for $ 130 isn't just a convenient keyboard. It is the best ergonomic keyboard we have ever used. Everything from the typing experience to the simple exchange between devices makes it an extremely modern and comfortable office tool. If you're worried about your wrists after long hours in the office, the K860 may be the keyboard for you.

Is there a better alternative?

The Logitech K860 is the best ergonomic keyboard you can buy, but there are plenty of alternatives. One of the leading options in the same $ 130 price range is the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, which has a similar design and palm rest, but not the "heightened" feel and compatibility of multiple devices in the K860.

You can also opt for the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop, which has ergonomics similar to the Logitech, but is cheaper at around $ 100. And if backlighting is important, there's the Adesso Tru-Form 150 for $ 40.

How long it will take?

As a keyboard with USB dongle, Bluetooth, durable plastic surface with a metal layer underneath and a long battery life, the K860 holds the test of time.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you are looking for a keyboard that is extremely comfortable, the Logitech Ergo K860 is the right choice for you. It has a super comfortable wrist rest and was developed overall to relieve the pain when typing. Only the lack of backlighting and not charging prevent it from being perfect.

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