02 Feb
Blog

2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV review: A greener luxury sport SUV

BMW X5 PHEV in a parking lot

2021 BMW X5 X5 xDrive45e PHEV

RRP $62,900.00

"Go green with the further developed BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV without even noticing it."

benefits

  • Outstanding hybrid drive

  • Cheaper than pure gas versions with incentives

  • BMW luxury, comfort and sportiness

  • Hands-free jam assistance

disadvantage

  • Slow charge rate

  • It lacks the latest BMW infotainment system

New car buyers have made it very clear that they want SUVs. People want to sit higher, feel more secure, and have enough room for trips to Costco, Home Depot, and Target. The problem: SUVs tend to suck more gasoline than, for example, a sedan. But there's a way to have a large luxury vehicle that's also kind to your bank account and the environment.

The 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) takes what people like about the German automaker's luxury SUV and adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's a slick integration that doesn't exhibit any of the occasional weirdness we've seen with the BMW 330e PHEV. Instead, it highlights the work BMW has done to ensure its PHEV transition vehicles just work without sacrificing the BMW experience.

Starting at $63,700, the AWD (all-wheel drive) X5 xDrive45e is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax incentive. That's the same amount you would get for an electric vehicle. The reason for the big discount is its battery pack with a capacity of 24 kWh – 17 kWh of which can be used. This large pack saves a potential customer money not only on sale but also in everyday life.

BMW X5 PHEV in a parking lot.Roberto Baldwin/Digital Trends

This tax incentive also lowers the price of the vehicle below the price of the all-gasoline X5 xDrive40i, which starts at $62,900. That's with no state or local incentives to stack on top. Like the 330e PHEV, the X5 PHEV is the more cost-effective option, both at the door and while driving.

Of course, the EV mode would be the cheapest. The reason the vehicle gets the government's full tax incentive is the same reason it's good at getting around without gas.

In EV-only mode, the X5 xDrive45e has an EPA range of 31 miles. In our testing, we achieved 27 miles of range in mixed driving conditions, including freeway, neighborhood and back roads in 51-degree weather. Cold weather can reduce the efficiency of a battery-powered vehicle, but it seems it was warm enough not to really affect the BMW. The range should be sufficient to bring at least many commuters to work without petrol.

BMW X5 PHEV charging connector.Roberto Baldwin/Digital Trends

However, charging is really a pure at-home experience. The X5 only supports charging up to 3.7kW, making charging on the go a waste of time. During our testing, I had no trouble charging at home while I slept, waking up in the morning with a full battery.

Driving in EV mode has been improved over previous hybrid X5s. The SUV will now cruise at speeds of up to 84 mph, an increase of 9 mph over the 75 mph found on the previous version of the vehicle. With speed limits in some states being 70 mph and up, it's good to know that in the eight states with speed limits of 50 mph, the X5 PHEV can keep up with traffic in EV mode if needed.

Outside of the pure battery drive mode, BMW has done an excellent job of merging the two powertrains in the X5. Where the BMW 330e had a few odd things, the transition from petrol to electric was always seamless during my week with the X5 xDrive45e PHEV. In all six available modes (EV only, Eco, Eco Pro, Adaptive, Sport and driver-set individual mode), the vehicle drove exactly as you would expect.

For those who demand maximum acceleration from their SUV, Sport mode delivers a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds, according to BMW – half a second slower than the gas-powered version. We haven't been able to properly test this on a track, but accelerating from a standstill that number seems likely to be right. In other words, it's not as fast as the regular X5, but the PHEV is still fast enough for the majority of drivers. For those looking for something very sporty there is always the X5 M50i. This is where you stake your cash on an SUV with sports car excitement.

Regardless of the mode, ride quality is adeptly managed thanks to BMW's Dynamic Damper Control and air suspension. The ride quality adapts to the situation, whether in one of the aggressive Sport modes or the calmer Eco and Adaptive modes. The steering is also given impressive mapping, with just the right amount of firmness to push the car to its limits, but also more relaxed for city driving.

BMW x5 PHEV in the parking lot.Roberto Baldwin/Digital Trends

Inside, the X5 xDrive45e matches the interior of almost every other BMW of this generation. The seats are comfortable but have enough side bolsters to keep the driver and passenger in place on tight corners. There is enough head, leg and shoulder room to accommodate my 6'+ frame in all but the center rear seat. Not that a large person should ever be seated there, regardless of what "shotgun" game you play to secure a seat in a vehicle.

In the driver's seat, BMW offers a driver-oriented control center with a 12.3-inch infotainment display tilted towards the driver. The automaker's latest iDrive 8 hasn't made it to the X5 yet – so you get iDrive 7 – but what you lose in the latest system you gain in physical climate control, media controls and programmable buttons. In the center console next to the shifter is the iDrive knob, surrounded by quick buttons to the main infotainment system. Once you memorize these, the infotainment system is much easier to use.

If you're more concerned with connecting your phone, BMW offers wireless CarPlay support, but also Android Auto support, starting with vehicles manufactured since August 2020. If Android is your platform of choice, you should make sure the vehicle supports your phone before driving off the lot.

BMW X5 PHEV infotainment screen.Roberto Baldwin/Digital Trends

BMW's voice assistant lags behind offerings from Mercedes, Android Automotive-enabled Volvos, and even BMW's updated system. Its natural language system is good, but there are better digital helpers out there. This is especially true after driving a vehicle with iDrive 8.

On-the-road technology is still top-notch with the optional BMW hands-free Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for $1,700. At low speeds on selected motorways, the X5 allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel in certain situations. The driver still has to keep an eye on the road, and a sensor in the car tracks their face to make sure this is happening. During the standstill, it worked well with no issues and easily handled cuts.

For those who commute in horrific traffic on a daily basis, it's probably worth the extra money just to reduce at least some cognitive load from traffic. Just make sure you don't let yourself be lulled into not paying attention to the world around you.

At the very back, the X5 sits midway between competitors from Volvo, Mercedes and Audi in the cargo area, with 33.1 cubic feet of space with the second row up. When folded, that expands to 72.3 cubic feet. There is no option for a third row, but I'm fine with that. A third row in this vehicle would be a terrible sitting experience. Those looking to fit more people in their vehicles should jump to the larger SUVs on the market.

Standard safety features include Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rollover Detection and Emergency Brake Assist. The 2021 BMW X5 is a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The AWD X5 has a four-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The X5 PHEV variant has not yet been tested at the time of publishing this review. While we don't expect the PHEV version of the vehicle to deviate too far from the X5's overall rating, the added weight of the battery and electric motor could be a variable affecting the vehicle's ratings.

On the warranty front, the automaker offers a four-year, 50,000-mile limited warranty, a 12-year, unlimited kilometer rust-perforation warranty, and an 8-year, 80,000-mile battery warranty.

How DT would configure this car

With only one trim level for the PHEV version. The all-wheel drive X5 xDrive45e is ready for daily city trips and inclement weather. The added security of hands-free driver assistance makes it worth the extra $1,700. The $5,500 M Sport package is too rich for our blood, but we'd definitely throw in the $350 heated seats and $250 heated steering wheel, which also comes with heated armrests. Finally, if you want to tow with the X5, the tow hitch is $550.

Our opinion

With an impressive pure EV range and enough room for a family and their gear, the X5 xDrive45e PHEV hits all the right spots. It's fast, livable, and requires nothing more than someone to pocket it at night to save some money on the commute. Its price point also makes it cheaper than the other non-M-drive X5s available – all while making all-wheel drive standard. Its slow load rate is a bummer, but it's not a deal-breaker.

Inside, the vehicle is comfortable both front and rear, with a good mix of sportiness in a driver-focused package. The infotainment system feels a bit outdated as BMW's latest version is available for its new electric vehicles. But the inclusion of Android Auto should make many potential buyers very happy after years of BMW only supporting CarPlay.

On the road, the xDrive45e PHEV delivers a BMW experience without the compromises we've come to expect from hybrid systems.

should you get one

Yes. The X5 xDrive45e is a wonderful blend of BMW's sport-luxury SUV and electrification technology. It works both as a family van and as an excellent first or only vehicle for the individual who wants German luxury and sport with enough space for mountain trips or lunch with co-workers.

Editor's Recommendations



04 Jan
Blog

Garmin Vivomove Sport Review: Hidden Screen, Obvious Talents

Garmin Vivomove Sport real hands.

Garmin Vivomove Sport in the test: the fashionable smartwatch with a hidden display

RRP $ 179.00

"The fashionable Garmin Vivomove may have a hidden screen, but once you put it on, the watch's extensive technology and health tracking talents are evident."

benefits

  • Looks like a fashion watch

  • Screen completely hides when not in use

  • Gesture control is reliable

  • Comprehensive health and activity tracking

disadvantage

  • OLED screen has a low resolution

  • Battery life just average

Garmin's new Vivomove Sport for 2022 is literally a hybrid smartwatch as it has physical pointers that move around the watch face and a screen that stays completely hidden until needed. It's the opposite of the Fitbit Versa 3, which is its biggest competitor and will appeal to anyone who finds the Fitbit's boring design off-putting. The good news is that it's not just the design that I like about the Vivomove Sport, as I found out.

draft

The Garmin Vivomove Sport is very good at disguising its hybrid smartwatch status as the small OLED screen is completely hidden until needed. When I say whole, I mean it too. I challenge you to look at the photos with the screen off and tell me there is one at all. I really like this approach, especially as more and more hybrid smartwatches are increasingly integrating active e-ink screens, where the design is away from the "watch" and much closer to the "smartwatch".

Garmin Vivomove Sport screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Not like this here, and it looks great for that. The dial is simple, with Garmin branding stamped on it, six hour markers, and some redundant chronograph-style markings on the bezel. The surface has a subtle vinyl record finish that is barely noticeable if you don't look closely while the baton hands are silver. There is no second hand, no buttons on the case and no crown.

Garmin Vivomove Sport watch face close-up.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The case is made of fiber reinforced polymer (which Garmin has used on other models, including the Fenix ​​range) and has glass over the dial with a very slight curve around the edges. It feels smooth and warm, but it can get greasy. It's attached to a simple rubber strap, which on my test device is black, but you can also get the Vivomove Sport in Ivory, Cocoa or Cool Mint. The Vivomove Sport is very light and comfortable to wear at just 34 grams. I wore it 24 hours a day for five days with no irritation or overnight problems or even the need to adjust the strap because it got too hot or sweaty.

Garmin Vivomove Sport Screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I like the design. It's very understated, but the simplicity means it goes with anything, especially black, and the 40mm case size is modest and fits most wrists. You won't make a statement with the Vivomove Sport, but because of the hidden screen you won't advertise wearing a smartwatch either. It just looks like a pretty ordinary fashion watch. This is exactly what a good hybrid smartwatch should be and ideal for anyone who doesn't like the sportiness of a fitness band or the geekiness of a full touchscreen but understands the need for a screen to increase its utility but doesn't want to see it all the time.

Screen and menu

Garmin's decision to hide the screen works from a design perspective, but what if it's on? It activates when you raise your wrist or double-tap the glass to view the time, battery status, and date information. You also tap the glass skillfully to operate the menu system, so Garmin can do without buttons on the case and it is an accurate and reliable system. Swipe the screen to view steps, heart rate, health data, and more. The pointers automatically rotate out of the way when you look at these screens.

Garmin Vivomove Sport step count.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport Body Battery data.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sports Heart Rate.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Long press the screen to open the exercise menu, where you can quickly activate a walking, running, cycling, weight training, yoga, meditation or swimming session. Dig deeper and you'll find more detailed health functions like VO2 Max, blood oxygen and fitness age, as well as some settings for the watch. The on-screen options may seem small, but they're actually easy to find and press with your finger due to the accuracy of the watch's touch-sensitive glass.

Unfortunately, the OLED screen is bright, but not very high-resolution with only 72 x 154 pixels. The information displayed is noticeably blurry, almost like it's a little blurry or the glass is smeared, and it looks out of place next to the physical pointers and markers on the dial. It doesn't affect functionality or readability, but it's distracting and looks cheap.

Software and app

I used the watch with the Garmin Connect app connected to a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 before it was released, and it's compatible with iOS too. I didn't have any connection issues and syncing was flawless. It lacks some features like the Google Assistant or the Siri integration you'll find on competing models like the Fitbit Versa 3.

Garmin Vivomove Sport screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove sports cleats.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport side profile.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications are delivered reliably, but the screen is small. So don't expect anything other than basic information. Tap the incoming notification and you'll get more details, but it's of little use as a message spans multiple screens. The notifications work exactly the way you want them from a hybrid smartwatch: as a prompt to make a decision whether to pick up the phone or not.

By default, the vibrating alert isn't very strong, but exploring the settings menu can make it longer for the buzz, although battery life suffers. This is not the only customization option as many aspects of the watch can be changed from within the app, from the watch face to the exercise options displayed to gesture control options to the orientation of the hands.

The Garmin Connect app is colorful to look at and quick to use. It's packed with information and data, but I found it to be often tightly presented and awkward to find. A slide-in menu offers even more options, and navigating through it can be confusing and time-consuming. It's definitely for the data junkie, and I've rarely found anything that gives me advice on what to do with the data or how to make improvements. Instead, Garmin urges you to be motivated to participate in Community Challenges, either pre-generated or created with friends.

The Vivomove Sport may not be an expensive Garmin sports smartwatch, but with Connect it's definitely still comprehensive enough to be used by both casual coaches and serious athletes. There are features like adding details about your shoes and bike, saving routes you have run regularly and then navigating with Garmin's PacePro pacing system, as well as the ability to create custom workouts for the watch. All of your statistics, from sleep to stress to heart rate, are visible on individual screens with historical data for up to a year.

It's as complex as you want it to be, and if you only want to record a workout or two a week it's as ready to do so as it is all more strenuous.

Health tracking

I've followed workouts with the Vivomove Sport and the Apple Watch Series 7 together, and the Garmin returned significantly higher values ​​than the Apple Watch. The average heart rate during Vivomove Sport was about 10 beats per minute higher, which probably had an effect on calorie burning, which was usually 50 or 60 kcal higher as well. When comparing Garmin's sleep tracking with the Oura ring, neither of the two agreed on the timing of the sleep phases, but were almost identical for heart and respiratory rates.

Garmin Vivomove Sport training mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport training mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport GPS mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Neither of these are medical devices so results will always vary, but in my experience, the Apple Watch tends to match most other wearables in terms of activity tracking and heart rate. I am using the Garmin Vivomove Sport before its official announcement and with a special version of the Garmin Connect app, so adjustments to the watch's firmware and algorithms can be made after its release.

What else? There is menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking, a way to manually log fluid intake, GPS tracking with your phone, various security features including emergency location sharing, and some mindfulness style relaxation features. Garmin's Body Battery is an unusual addition that might come in handy, but it's not implemented very well. It assesses your energy levels to understand if it is a good time to exercise or to make an effort in general. I didn't find it helpful in everyday life, mainly because you have to look for your battery level in the app. The Oura Ring has a similar Readiness Score, but it appears first thing in the morning on the app's home screen, making it more helpful for planning your day.

The Vivomove Sport covers my basic health needs very well, with a lot of leeway even for the more enthusiastic athlete

The touch-sensitive glass and the quick and easy activation of exercise tracking are welcome, as the process can often be a frustrating combination of keystrokes on hybrid smartwatches. Not so here, and by swiping the small screen, you can also see live heart rate and calorie consumption data. The Vivomove Sport covers my basic health monitoring needs very well and also offers plenty of leeway for the more enthusiastic exerciser, but the accuracy can benefit from some tweaks.

battery

Connected to an Android smartphone and with notifications as well as all-day heart rate monitoring, a few recorded training sessions and overnight sleep, the Garmin Vivomove Sport's battery lasted five days before it needed to be charged. You charge the battery with a proprietary cable included in the scope of delivery.

Charge the Garmin Vivomove Sport.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I didn't turn on blood oxygen monitoring for sleep, which would likely further reduce usage time, but with these settings it is in line with Garmin's expectations for battery life. It's longer than a full-fledged smartwatch like the Apple Watch, but less than very energy-efficient smartwatches like the Huawei Watch GT 3. Five days of use is good, but given the Vivomove Sport's small screen, I would have liked to have had it longer.

Price and availability

The Vivomove Sport is priced at $ 179 and is available now from Garmin's online shop.

Our opinion

The subtle design that goes with everything and the real hands make the Garmin Vivomove Sport an excellent hybrid smartwatch for everyday use.

The precise gesture controls and the bright OLED screen make it quick and easy to use, it works with Android and iOS and the Garmin Connect app is full of data. On the less positive side, the five-day battery life is decent but not overwhelming, and the OLED screen's low resolution is distracting, but the area that is most worrying is the tracking accuracy. Discrepancies between the Vivomove Sport and other smartwatches indicate that there may be too many reports and an update is needed to optimize performance.

I've worn the Garmin Vivomove Sport for 10 frustration-free days at the time of writing. I only had to charge it once, it tracked my activity and sleep, reliably delivered notifications, looked great on my wrist and didn't get uncomfortable. Definitely recommended for the reasonable price of $ 179.

Is there a better alternative?

Garmin's Vivomove Sport's biggest competitor is the Fitbit Versa 3, valued at $ 230. Throughout my time, I've been reminded how convenient and easy the Versa 3 is to use, traits it shares with the Garmin watch. However, I prefer the design and the real hands of the Vivomove Sport by far, and it's significantly cheaper, but I think the Versa 3 is even more comfortable to wear 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you want a hybrid smartwatch with real pointers on the dial, the best alternative is the $ 195 Skagens Jorn HR, which has an e-ink screen behind the pointers. It shows as much information as the Garmin Vivomove Sport, but is not as easy to use and has no touchscreen. However, it is more customizable, and the design and materials used make it more desirable.

For a hybrid watch with a digital screen, we recommend the Casio G-Shock GBD-200 for $ 149 or its surf-oriented brother, the $ 180 GBX-100NS. Both come with basic fitness tracking and notifications, as well as all of the durability you'd expect from the brand. If you're still considering a full smartwatch, here are the best models right now.

How long it will take?

The Vivomove Sport has a water resistance of 50 meters and is suitable for swimming, while the plastic housing should prove to be durable. Garmin is a well-established company so there shouldn't be a problem with the Connect app continuing to work for years to come.

The Vivomove Sport allows you to grow if your exercise routines or needs or interests change too, making it a safe buy even if you are just starting out with tracking and are unsure of what the future will bring. It's not a high fashion piece so it should look fresh in a couple of years, and the 20mm strap is on quick release pins so it can be easily replaced if it breaks. You get the Vivomove Sport for three or more years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a great alternative to a Fitbit, with a more watch-like design and a reasonable price.

Editor's recommendations



24 Nov
Blog

JBL Reflect Flow Pro Review: Spectacular Sport Earbuds

JBL Reflect Flow Pro.

JBL Reflect Flow Pro in the test: Spectacular sports earphones

RRP $ 180.00

"Many functions and a powerful sound make them perfect training friends."

advantages

  • Firm, secure fit

  • Excellent noise cancellation

  • Choice of hands-free A.I.s.

  • Completely waterproof

  • Wireless charging

disadvantage

  • Limited control

  • No quick charging option

JBL isn't always the most enduring company when it comes to personal audio. Sometimes, like the Tour Pro + earphones and the Tour One ANC headphones, it absolutely pegs down. Other times it falls short, as I've felt with its flagship Club One cans. But they've been more hits than failures lately, and that certainly goes for JBL's newest true wireless earbuds, the $ 180 JBL Reflect Flow Pro, a product that mates with the $ 200 Beats Fit Pro , the $ 180, competes Jabra Elite 7 Active, and JBL's own Reflect Mini NC for $ 150. How good are the Reflect Flow Pro? Let's take a look at them.

Great fit without Frankenstein

JBL Reflect Flow Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In theory, the Reflect Flow Pro are the company's successors Reflect flow Model, a comfortable and waterproof set of sports earbuds that unfortunately had some drawbacks. They were huge – often sticking out of the ears and giving off what I consider a Frankenstein monster look. Their physical buttons were a little difficult to press, their sound quality was uneven, and their transparency mode (ambient mode) was limited.

But if you look at the design of the Reflect Flow Pro, it becomes clear that despite its name, it is actually the Pro model of the Reflect Mini NC and not the Reflect Flow. The Reflect Flow Pro are smaller and lighter and fix practically every bug we found with the original Reflect Flow.

The Reflect Flow Pro comes with three sizes of silicone earbuds and four sizes of wingtips ("power fins" in JBL parlance) that range from large to barely available, which means that more people are likely to find a suitable combination. This is in stark contrast to the Beats Fit Pro, which has a single, permanently installed set of wingtips.

Scope of delivery of JBL Reflect Flow Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

According to JBL, the fit is secure enough to go surfing with the Reflect Flow Pro. I respectfully disagree. Yes, they are very secure, but no, I wouldn't risk finding out the hard way they couldn't be wiped upside down. Still, as long as they stay in place, they won't have a problem handling all that water – with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, they're pretty much the toughest earbuds you can buy.

The charging case is neither waterproof nor dustproof, but well made and quite robust. The integrated carrying loop is just big enough to guide the bag through the loop and attach it to a bag strap or even a belt loop on the trousers.

From zero to hero

The Reflect Flow Pro not only improve the design of the Reflect Flow, they are also packed with features. Wireless charging, wear sensors, a choice of voice assistants, active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, custom controls and EQ. It's like JBL defies us to find something that's missing, and frankly, it's hard to find bugs at all. And that's before we even dive into things like sound quality, call quality, and practical extras (but don't worry, we'll cover those too).

Hours of power

JBL Reflect Flow Pro charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

One of the things the original JBL Reflect Flow got right was its impressive power capacity: 10 hours per charge and two full charges in the case's battery. The Reflect Flow Pro doubles these numbers when ANC and transparency are disabled. But even when you use these features, you still get up to eight hours on a single charge. That's better than both the Beats Fit Pro and Beats Powerbeats Pro.

The only thing missing here is a quick charging option. Ordinarily I would call JBL for this oversight, but if you can offer people up to 10 hours per charge, the need for fast charge is greatly reduced. In addition, the charging case of the Reflect Flow Pro supports wireless charging of Qi, something that Beats products have not yet been able to do.

Sound that moves you

Man with JBL Reflect Flow Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Punchy and powerful bass can be fun no matter what you're doing while listening to music, but it's a great benefit for people who need exercise motivation. The Reflect Flow Pro won't disappoint: you sound great right out of the box, with lots of low-end boom and decently clear mids and highs. Throw up a track like Billy Idol's Rita Hayworth and the Reflect Flow Pro delivers a high-octane sound attack that is guaranteed to get you moving.

Subtlety isn't their forte – these aren't the earphones for finding lost details in your favorite jazz ensembles – but they're not a blunt instrument either. The headphone app from JBL offers a very powerful EQ tool that rewards patience and experimentation with many tuning variations. My only gripe is that the company doesn't come with a few more built-in presets – you only get three: bass, jazz, and vocal.

Quiet or talkative

JBL Reflect Flow Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The noise cancellation of the JBL Reflect Mini NC impressed me quite a bit, but the Reflect Flow Pro are even better. So good that I saw almost no difference when I compared it to the Beats Fit Pro (which have a great ANC). Outside, traffic noise was kept well at bay so I could hear my podcasts clearly without turning up the volume. Inside, the bathroom fan, which sits six feet from my desk – but it sounds like it's next to my head – has been almost completely neutralized.

The transparency mode is really good too, with the option to choose between two versions: Ambient Aware (for general ambient noise) and TalkThru (for conversations). Both can be quickly triggered with a single or double tap on the earbuds, which makes them very convenient.

The illusion of control

Controls are the only area in which JBL still has a lot to do. The touch controls on the Reflect Flow Pro are excellent – they respond quickly and accurately to touch and a small tone confirms when a touch is made, which is an important form of feedback when a physical click is not available. The problem is that at JBL you can choose from four possible control “groups” and you can only have two of them active at the same time.

For example, you can choose between playback control, ambient noise / ANC / TalkThru, volume control or voice assistant. If you want playback and volume control, you cannot use Ambient Noise / ANC / TalkThru or Voice Assistant. If you want playback controls and voice assistant, you cannot use Ambient Sound / ANC / TalkThru or volume control.

If this is inherent in the true wireless earbuds, I wouldn't be complaining, but it's not: the Jabra series of elite earbuds give you complete control over every gesture without forcing you to choose between mutually exclusive options.

I also wish there was a way to turn off voice feedback. The quick toggling from ANC to Ambient mode is great, but it's a little less convenient if your earbuds keep saying "Ambient mode on" or "Noise canceling on".

Speak and be heard

The call quality with the Reflect Flow Pro is generally very good. You can struggle a little in very noisy situations, but few earbuds excel in these conditions. More importantly, they handle wind noise better than most of the earbuds I've tried, and that's helpful as they'll be great choices for runners or even cyclists. You will be perfectly heard in relatively quiet conditions.

However, with these earbuds you can also use your voice to summon various assistants – a rare feature that comes in very handy. iOS users can use Hey Siri in the same way as they can with Apple's H1-based products (AirPods, Beats Fit Pro, Powerbeats Pro, etc.). There is also the option of working with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant instead – both work with their respective hands-free wake-up words.

Extras

If you're the type of person who keeps misplacing items, the JBL Headphones app can force the Reflect Flow Pro to emit a loud beep. Each earbud can beep independently, but the feature will not work when docked in the charging case. There is also no map showing their last known location, which some other earbuds (AirPods, Jabra Elite, etc.) do.

The app can also help you find out if the size of the earbuds you choose seals you off from the outside world. If you're not getting the sound quality you expected – especially poor bass – this is the place to start.

Our opinion

With great protection from the elements, great sound and noise cancellation, and great battery life, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro are the perfect alternative to the Beats Powerbeats Pro and Fit Pro for people looking for a killer workout companion.

Is there a better alternative?

I think the best alternative to the Reflect Flow Pro is JBL's Reflect Mini NC. It's less expensive, has a smaller charging case that puts it in your pocket better, and has practically all the features of the Pro. You won't get the same caliber of sound quality, noise cancellation, or call quality, but for some people this is a perfectly acceptable tradeoff.

If you want a smaller earbud, Beats Fit Pro will work fine, and if you want a much more secure fit, consider the Powerbeats Pro.

How long will they last?

With an IP68 degree of protection and a very long starter battery life, you should get many years out of the JBL Reflect Flow Pro. They are solidly built, as is their charging case. JBL supports them with a one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you're looking for a sturdy set of training buds that can handle anything you throw at them – and that come with solid features and great sound – this is it JBL Reflect Flow Pro are an excellent choice.

Editor's recommendations



18 Nov
Blog

The Beginner’s Guide to Competing in Kettlebell Sport

When your love for a sport consumes everything and you live and breathe it with passion every day, It is easy to forget that not everyone understands what it is about or even knows about it. It happens to me a lot. Kettlebell sports are deeply rooted in my life.

When your love for a sport consumes everything and you live and breathe it with passion every day, It is easy to forget that not everyone understands what it is about or even knows about it. It happens to me a lot. Kettlebell sports are deeply rooted in my life.

I train for the sport of kettlebell, train my athletes in it and write about it. My wife is also a kettlebell lifter and trainer. So you can imagine that I can still be surprised when someone tells me that they have no idea about kettlebell. But I always like to explain it.

Me at a kettlebell sport competition.

Kettlebells: Not just for fitness

Most gym goers and trainers are experienced with kettlebells. These weird looking weights are no longer the novelty they were ten years ago and now have their place in many exercise facilities. However, most people have only seen and taught these handle cannonballs as a fitness tool. Many athletes are unaware that they have been used as an integral tool of a full-fledged sport for over sixty years.

"The two main disciplines in the sport are biathlon (which is made up of two separate disciplines, the jerk and the snatch) and the long cycle, which is clean and jerky."

The first official Girevoy sport (the sport's original Russian name) was held in the old USSR in 1948, and developed from there in the 1950s and 60s. This advance came mainly from the military, who had seen this form of training benefit the troops. In the 1970s, Girevoy sport was included in the National Sports Federation as the official ethnic sport of Russia.

It started gaining popularity in the UK in the second half of the 2000s, and after being an underground sport for a few years, now has competitions organized and approved by national bodies such as the Girevoy Sport Union and the Organization of Kettlebell Sport England. In the USA, the United States Girevoy Sport Federation was founded in 2003.

What is kettlebell sport?

The best way to describe it is "endurance weightlifting". The two main disciplines of the sport are biathlon (which is made up of two separate disciplines, the jerk and the snatch) and the long cycle, which is clean and jerky.

“The training methods vary greatly from athlete to athlete and from coach to coach; The only principle that does not change, however, is the requirement for maximum efficiency. "

All exercises are performed for a maximum of ten minutes, during which the athletes try to complete as many high quality repetitions as possible without placing the kettlebell (s) on the floor. Whoever has the most repetitions is considered the winner. In biathlon there must be a break of at least thirty minutes between the jerk and the tear.

Men complete the jerk portion of biathlon and the long cycle with two kettlebells, while women traditionally only use one kettlebell, although more and more women are choosing the two-arm lifts these days. The snatch is played with a kettlebell in both the male and female categories. When using a kettlebell, be it in the snatch (for both gender categories) or in the jerk and long cycle for women, the athletes are only allowed to change hands once during the set.

The best way to describe the kettlebell sport is “endurance weightlifting”.

How heavy are these things?

Kettlebell weights used in the men's category are typically 16 kg, 20 kg, 24 kg, 28 kg, and 32 kg. Women use 8 kg, 12 kg, 16 kg, 20 kg and 24 kg. These apply to local events in the UK and to national events.

The choice of kettlebell weights is decreasing dramatically on an international level. Here the lifters are divided into two categories, amateur and professional. Male amateurs use the 24 kg kettlebells while women use the 16 kg kettlebell. Professional male athletes compete with the 32 kg kettlebells, while the professional women use the 24 kg bell.

"All lifts are carried out with the aim of using only the required amount of energy and using the momentum during the concentric phase to the advantage of the lift."

In international competitions there is usually also a veteran category. The weights used may vary depending on the bandage under which the meeting is taking place and also depending on the age of the lifter. Typically, veterans use 24kg and women use 16kg.

The international competition for women is all about snatching at the moment. Given the rapidly changing landscape of the sport, that could change soon. It's also important to note that athletes compete in body weight categories. Men start at 63kg and go up to 95+ kg and women start at 53kg to 68+ kg.

Preparing a kettlebell athlete

Training methods vary widely from athlete to athlete and from coach to coach; However, The only principle that will not change is the requirement for maximum efficiency.

Without efficient technique, it is impossible to achieve the high repetitions necessary for success in sport. All lifts are performed with the aim of using only the required amount of energy and using the momentum during the concentric phase to the benefit of the lifter. To achieve such an efficient technique, the jerk, tear, and long cycle must be patiently and consistently drilled.

"Sport requires specific flexibility, muscular endurance, strength endurance, and well-developed aerobic capacity, so all of these components should be present in some way in the athletes' GPP program."

The eccentric part of the stroke is reduced to a minimum. This also explains the relatively low hypertrophy in kettlebell athletes compared to powerlifters or Olympic lifters, despite the enormous amount of weight lifted in each session.

When it comes to GPP, every athlete's needs will be different. Sport requires specific flexibility, muscular endurance, strength endurance, and a well-developed aerobic capacity, so all of these components should be present in some way in the athlete's GPP program.

Tips to get you started

I recommend anyone interested in competitions to look for a reputable trainer so that you can get to know the technical details of the lifts and can best program the training cycles. If you can't find a coach near you, find a coach who offers online training. Just make sure he or she has a proven record on the platform, either in person or through athletes.

The best way to get involved in the sport of kettlebell in the United States is to check with the United States Girevoy Sport Federation to see when and where competitions are taking place. A great first step is simply to watch a competition and get a feel for the sport. Good luck and see you on the platform.

More like that:

Photo 1 courtesy Laurence Clemente.

Photo 2 courtesy of Shutterstock.

06 Feb
Blog

2021 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD Review: Cyborg Sport Sedan

2021 acura tlx review front three quarters

2021 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD Review: Reclaiming the Golden Age

"The redesigned 2021 Acura TLX takes on the battle of German luxury brands with style and sportiness."

  • Sharp styling

  • all wheel drive

  • Sporty interior

  • Powerful standard motor

  • Insurmountable infotainment system

  • Not for tall people

Like an aging millennium, Acura aims to recapture the glory days of the nineties. In this golden age, the first generation NSX and Integra Type R emerged – the redefined what performance cars could be and are now collectible. With the possible exception of the current-generation NSX, nothing Acura has done since has generated the same enthusiasm from fans or critics.

The 2021 Acura TLX is the latest attempt at a comeback from the luxury brand Honda. Acura threw it all on the new TLX, including a sophisticated all-wheel drive system and an unorthodox infotainment system, to outperform the competition. This competition includes the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Genesis G70, Infiniti Q50 and Volvo S60, as well as more recent entries like the Cadillac CT4 and the recently updated Lexus IS.

Prices for the 2021 TLX start at $ 38,525 for a base front-wheel drive model and rise to $ 49,325 for the all-wheel-drive Advance package with peak performance. Our test car was an all-wheel drive A-Spec package with sporty styling elements and a base MSRP of $ 47,275.

Design and interior

The 2021 TLX is a revamped model, but it still looks familiar to me. This is because Acura was heavily adopted from the well-received Type-S concept first shown in 2019. For brand continuity, the 2021 model also retains many of the styling features of the previous generation TLX and other newer Acura models, including “Jewel Eye LED headlights and a pentagonal grille. However, designers have prepared a completely different dish than these familiar ingredients.

Comparing the TLX 2021 to the 2020 model is the same as viewing the before and after photos on a Weight Watchers ad. The new model looks much tighter and sportier than the old version and also has better proportions. It has a lower roof and wider stance than the 2020 TLX. So it looks like it's gliding across the road surface instead of protruding over it. Acura also pushed the front wheels further forward and gave the 2021 TLX the classic silhouette to the rear, which always ensures a good design. These LED headlights are also slimmer and have curved elements inspired by the headlights found on the Acura ARX-05 racing car.

Under the skin is a new Acura exclusive platform so the TLX isn't just a crazy Honda Accord. Acura claims a 50% increase in overall torsional stiffness compared to the previous generation TLX, which is important for handling and refinement. Acura also used aluminum for the front bumper, hood, front fenders, and front damper mounts, mainly to improve weight distribution from front to rear rather than to save weight.

The new model looks much tighter and sportier than the old version and also has better proportions.

The interior is more of a sports car than a sedan. The dashboard is low and tilted forward for better visibility. A high center tunnel brings the controls closer to the driver's right hand. Inside, most of the other sports sedans feel like regular cars with some racing jewelry attached. This is a complete (and very functional) rethinking of what a sports sedan interior could be – and you still get the hit parts. The TLX A-Spec models have a flat-bottomed steering wheel, metal shift paddles and bright red leather upholstery.

The 2021 Acura TLX doesn't offer much more interior space than the 2020 model and actually has a little less headroom in the rear. The 2021 TLX also has the lowest rear headroom among its competitors and is also at the bottom of the rankings for front headroom. The Acura has less legroom front and rear than the segment-leading Lexus IS and Audi A4, but none of these sedans are particularly generous in this area.

The TLX offers more shoulder room than its competitors and creates a feeling of spaciousness despite its relatively narrow dimensions. The seats in our test car were quite comfortable despite the thick side cushions. However, we would have preferred more thigh padding for extra support when cornering. The Acura's trunk is larger than average, but is still well below the 17.0 cubic feet of the BMW 3 Series.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The standard infotainment system includes a 10.2-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and an integrated WiFi hotspot. Advance Package models have a 10.5-inch head-up display.

Acura gave the 2021 TLX its True Touchpad surface, so you get a trackpad instead of a touchscreen. Similar to a laptop, moving your finger over the pad manipulates a cursor on the screen, but the cursor automatically jumps from icon to icon for better control. While it was easy to use, we didn't see the advantage of this user interface over a touchscreen or the rotary control you get with BMW's iDrive system.

Aside from the unorthodox True Touchpad finish, the rest of the infotainment system wasn't that remarkable. Aside from cute animations for the driving modes, the screen's graphics were simple and while competitors like Audi and BMW offer fully digital instrument clusters, each TLX model receives analog displays with a 7.0-inch TFT display in between. We welcomed the fact that Acura included analog controls for key functions – including scroll buttons on the steering wheel – but we would also have liked buttons to answer and end calls.

The 17-speaker audio system offered good sound quality, as one would expect from a high-end system.

Acura offers three audio systems for the 2021 TLX. Base models receive an unbranded 10-speaker system, Technology Package models a 13-speaker ELS Studio system, and A-Spec Package and Advance Package models a 17-speaker 3D ELS Studio system. In our A-Spec package test car, the 17-speaker system offered good sound quality, as one would expect from a high-end audio system.

The standard AcuraWatch driver assistance package for the TLX includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, departure reduction, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. A traffic jam support function enables the adaptive cruise control to continue working in slow stop-and-go traffic.

At higher speeds, the adaptive cruise control impressed with smooth acceleration and braking, although, as is often the case with these systems, the lane centering function caused problems even when cornering gently on motorways. The lane departure warning system was also a bit overly sensitive and flashed its warnings like a particularly nervous driving instructor.

Experience at the wheel

Sportiness is supposed to be one of the TLX's main selling points, and it looks pretty good on paper. The TLX comes standard with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That's better than the standard drivetrains in most competing sedans, and there's a more powerful Type S version on the way. It will be a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6 with an estimated 355 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of the torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is the only transmission available.

The TLX has front-wheel drive as standard, which is usually not the best basis for a sports sedan. However, our test car had the optional super handling all-wheel drive system (SH-AWD). This is one of the most advanced all-wheel drive systems on the market that, under certain conditions (the standard split is 30/70 front / rear), can transfer up to 100% of the torque to the rear wheels to mimic the feeling of rear-wheel drive. It can also redirect torque between the left and right rear wheels – known as torque vectoring.

SH-AWD offers plenty of grip, so you can open the throttle almost anytime without worrying about losing traction.

Why is it all important? A four-wheel drive preloaded at the rear reduces the workload on the front wheels, which are already steering and doing most of the braking. By sending more power to a rear wheel, torque vectoring also helps in cornering the car by pulling the rear around. This power is effectively used to steer the car from behind. The fourth generation SH-AWD system in the 2021 TLX reinforces this effect a little more than the outgoing version and, according to Acura, can transfer the power 30% faster from the front to the rear axle.

SH-AWD is the TLX's secret weapon. It offers tons of grip and allows you to almost always open the throttle without worrying about losing traction – it's as if the laws of physics no longer apply. Torque vectoring also makes the car feel agile despite lackluster steering. In our hands the bike felt too imprecise in the TLX's "Normal" and "Comfort" riding modes, while the "Sport" mode added so much weight that the bike felt like it was spring loaded.

On winding roads, it seemed like the all-wheel drive system was doing most of the work, magically fixing everything, regardless of what the driver was doing. That was confident, but it didn't inspire drivers of more traditional sports sedans either, and made us wonder if we would have been just as impressed with a front-wheel drive TLX.

The turbocharged engine delivered more than enough thrust, with just a hint of the delay in throttle response normally associated with turbos. The ride quality was tough, but not inadequate for a sporty car like this one (if you want unadulterated luxury, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Volvo S60 are better choices), and the overarching Advance package includes adaptive dampers. This could have offered a better compromise between ride and handling. In short, the TLX is the real deal when it comes to performance, but it feels different from its competitors.

Fuel economy and safety

Fuel economy figures for the 2021 Acura TLX are 25 mpg (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive (A-Spec models are rated at 30 mpg highway) and 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive . That's slightly below most of the competition and is difficult to achieve with spirited driving. According to the car's on-board computer, the average was 21.7 mpg over a mix of city, highway, and backroad driving.

The Acura TLX 2021 received the "Top Safety Pick +" rating from the IIHS – the company's highest safety rating. The TLX received the top rating "Good" in all IIHS crash tests and the rating "Superior" for the headlights and front. Crash Prevention Technology – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test assessments are not yet available.

Acura offers a four year base 50,000 mile warranty and a six year 70,000 mile powertrain warranty – pretty common terms for a luxury car.

How DT would configure this car

Our ideal TLX is similar to our test car – an SH-AWD model with the A-Spec package. As mentioned above, SH-AWD is the TLX's standout feature and offers better bad weather capability than the front wheel drive. So, in our opinion, it would be well worth the extra cash (a $ 2,000 option).

The A-Spec package includes styling features that make the TLX stand out, as well as all the major technical features. Gray 19-inch wheels and available red leather upholstery add style. The ELS studio sound system with 17 loudspeakers and mobile phone charging are also included. The A-Spec is also included in the technology package, which includes USB ports on the back seat, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic warning, and front and rear parking sensors.

The expanded Advance package offers features such as wood paneling, heated outboard rear seats, a head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, we didn't miss these features during our week with the A-Spec model.

Our opinion

The 2021 TLX is Acura's most powerful effort yet to regain the magic of its early days. It's not perfect – the Genesis G70 offers better driving dynamics, the BMW 3 Series has a better infotainment system, and the Cadillac CT4 and Volvo S60 have more sophisticated driver assistant technology – but the TLX offers a good combination of sporty driving dynamics and high driving dynamics -end Functions. More importantly, it has a unique character.

Many other sedans offer feature laundry lists, a vibrant driving experience, and the allure of a luxury brand. It's not enough to build a car that is fancier than your run-of-the-mill grocer – luxury cars are already filling Whole Foods parking lots across the country. The TLX is successful because it is something different – just like the Acura symbols of the 90s.

Admittedly, that also means that the TLX is not suitable for everyone. Whether it's the car depends on whether you can enjoy the mechanized driving experience and live with the unusual infotainment interface. The other defining features of the TLX – its exterior and interior design – are also subjective. Every car (and every car company) has its quirks, but these Acuras are more visible than most.

Should you get one

Yes. The TLX may be different, but that's a good thing.

Editor's recommendations




23 Sep
Blog

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC Review: Most Valuable Workout Buds

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANC

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANC

"The Epic Air Sport ANC is a game changer for workout earphones."

  • Easy setup

  • Stable, comfortable form of training

  • Excellent battery life

  • IP66 weather resistance

  • Good, customizable sound

  • Average call quality

  • Mediocre ANC

Okay JLab, now you just show.

A few days ago, we released our red-hot review of the JLab Audio Epic Air ANC, which is possibly the best value for true wireless earbuds available today. At least they were because JLab's fitness alternative to its stellar new lifestyle buds is here, and the $ 100 Epic Air Sport ANC may have set an already sky-high bar even higher.

What's in the box

Like most of the products I've tested from the JLab family, the Epic Air Sport ANC is incredibly easy to package. In addition to the charging case, in which the earphones themselves are kept, there are five additional pairs of earplugs and a quick guide, which is neatly stowed in an integrated case in the box. In particular, no charging cable is included as it is already included in the charging case itself.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It was easy to set up as most modern day wireless earbuds have proven. There are plastic stickers on each earbud that must be removed before use. From there, all you have to do is hold down the touchpad on each bud for three seconds to go into Bluetooth pairing mode. Then you need to find them through your mobile device settings and connect. Granted, it's a step or two more than the simplest earbud, but it's still a quick process to start listening with your new buds.

With Bluetooth 5 technology, I experienced exceptional connectivity and range with the Epic Air Sport ANC. I routinely left my phone in part of my house and roamed my living space freely to do chores without a single slip or breakdown.

design

It's hard to find a design that just works. And the Epic Air Sport ANC's ear hook style works. It is widely considered to be the less popular design compared to the simple eartip style of traditional real radio buds like the Epic Air ANC, and it adds weight (10 grams per bud compared to the Epic Air's 8). But once you put these hooks around your ears, they'll stay in place. More than a week of extensive cardio workouts and workouts in the gym showed this. They may be less attractive, but they are of the superior design when keeping the buds in place is of the utmost importance, as is the case with training.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The included earplugs create a solid seal in your ear. Like colleague at Digital Trends, Simon Cohen, I recommend the Cloud Foam tips because they feel soft and comfortable in my ears. They're not for everyone, of course, which is why there are five more pairs to choose from, but the Cloud Foam works best for me and does an excellent job of passively blocking out the sound.

The touch controls on each earbud are based on a multitouch system, and I've certainly had a lot of complaints in the past with poorly executed touch controls. While there have been a small handful of instances where the Epic Air Sport ANC didn't detect the correct number of taps, for the most part they responded impressively. These controls allow you to manage everything including volume, lane change, smart assistant activation, equalizer settings, active noise cancellation levels, and phone call controls. For $ 100, that's pretty much a pair of earbud controls – and they're all effective.

By the way, there isn't much to write about the charging case. It is larger than, for example, the cases for the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds 2, which are generally regarded as perfectly insertable earphone cases. The Epic Air Sport ANC fits well in my pocket, but leaves significantly less space for a wallet or keys. These aren't usually things that you carry around to the gym or while running, so I wouldn't really call that a problem.

properties

The value of the Epic Air Sport ANC is firmly anchored in its functions. Almost everything these buds offer exceeds the limits of what we have previously thought possible in this price range. In all honesty, if we are judging things by trait alone, it's not fair that other buds have to try to assert themselves when the Epic Air Sport ANC are so good for this cheap one.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

First: Battery life: The Epic Air Sport ANC is designed for a battery life of 15 hours per charge without ANC and an additional life of 55 hours (!) In the charging case. When the ANC is activated, the playback time is reduced to 11 hours. They also have a quick charge feature that gives you an hour of playback after 15 minutes. In comparison, the Epic Air ANC has eight hours with the ANC on and twelve hours with the ANC off. The $ 200 Sony WF-SP800N is the only other bud that can compete in this category, but even those buds not only offer nine hours of ANC playback and 13 hours of regular listening – and double the price.

It's not fair for other pals to have to try and compete when the Epic Air Sport ANC are so good for so cheap.

The Epic Air Sport ANC has an IP66 weather resistance rating that gives you complete protection from dust and strong water jets. There are workout buds with better ratings, like the IP67 rating from Urbanista Athens for $ 120 or the IP68 rating from Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 for $ 80. But none of those buds can match the Epic Air Sport ANC's epic combination of battery life and weather resistance.

A far less miraculous, but still valued, feature is the Epic Air Sport ANC's wear detection sensor, which automatically pauses a trace when a bud is removed from your ear and resumes that trace the moment you put the bud back in. I deeply despise completely losing minutes of podcasts to earbuds that lack this feature. So believe me when I say I am personally delighted, these come with such a practical benefit.

Audio quality

I'm in the minority here, but I'm more excited about the way the Epic Air Sport ANC's sound can be customized than its initial audio quality. Don't get me wrong, the Epic Air Sport ANC sounds great right away and most people don't have to mess around with sound adjustments at all to get something that works well for them. But for those of us who can't help but craft, JLab has given us all the tools we could possibly need.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Buds touch controls allow you to switch between three preset EQs: Balanced, Bass Boost and JLab Signature Sound. Their tastes may vary, but I tended to use Bass Boost on my weightlifting playlists to get the most out of saturated low-end songs like Childish Gambinos 3005 or Kris Kross & # 39; Jump. Whenever I went for a walk with the dogs or ran in the afternoons, I chose the signature sound as it offered a less dynamic but more balanced profile that suited music outside the iron pumping genre.

Even if you don't like the standard sound of the Epic Air Sport ANC, if you play around with the settings long enough, you can likely get a cheap sound.

JLab goes a few steps further with the JLab Air ANC app, giving you the ability to dig straight into the frequency domain and fine-tune things to your liking. That, plus a movie mode option that allows dialog to be synchronized while watching clips on your mobile device, make these buds suitable for a wide variety of listening situations. Even if you don't like the standard sound of the Epic Air Sport ANC, if you play around with the settings long enough, you can likely get a cheap sound.

Disappointingly, the call quality is average on these fitness buds. The Epic Air Sport ANC has one microphone to remove ambient noise and another to pick up your own voice clearly. It's hard to tell which is the bottleneck, but my voice was blocked when making phone calls in louder environments. They were good for evenings at the emotional gym or quiet morning walks in the park, but on a sidewalk near a busy street it was an entirely different experience.

Noise cancellation

Something tells me that the glitch I dealt with during a call may have something to do with the active noise cancellation in the Epic Air Sport ANC, or frankly, poor execution. If there's an Achilles' heel hiding in the Epic Air Sport ANC, this is it. While we didn't expect a good ANC at all in this price range – at least not until the Edifier TWS NB2 hit the market – we still expect a better one when a company advertises it as a feature.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

As I mentioned earlier, the Epic Air Sport ANC creates a tight seal in your ear, resulting in high quality passive noise cancellation. However, if you do choose to enable active noise cancellation, it is truthfully difficult to tell a significant difference. In fact, listening to a podcast at low volume one morning, I could still clearly hear my cat chewing on her breakfast across the room, even after turning on ANC.

You can use the app to adjust the noise cancellation levels. I recommend turning ANC to the maximum setting to get the most out of what is an average best but mostly mediocre feature. On the flip side, the Epic Air Sport ANC's environmentally conscious setting has some powerful features that almost terrified me when I first turned it on while on an exercise bike at the gym. In contrast to the ANC levels, I would recommend reducing the ambient noise level just a little.

The Epic Air Sport ANC's industry-leading battery life at an affordable price should be enough for most athletes.

Our opinion

Average call quality and noise cancellation won't stop what is otherwise a game changer, not just for workout earbuds but for the true wireless earbud genre in general. Earhooks might not be the "in" look, but the Epic Air Sport ANC's industry-leading battery life at an affordable price should be enough to delight most athletes.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 120 Urbanista Athens was one of my new favorite workout pairs, but the Epic Air Sport ANC has a better battery and similar weather protection for $ 20 less. The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 is probably the best new comparison to the Epic Air Sport ANC, as it also offers impressive features for just $ 80. But the latest from JLab surpasses the Spirit X2 in many ways for not much more.

How long will they last?

The Epic Air Sport ANC has a two year warranty and excellent protection against the irreconcilable elements of nature. I would try to avoid deep sea diving with these, but other than that, I don't think you should have any major concerns that the Epic Air Sport ANC is going to be out of service anytime soon.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The earhooks, mediocre call quality, and average noise cancellation will put some off, but don't let what an overall standout audio product distract you. The Epic Air Sport ANC is next to the Epic Air ANC a revolutionary earphone from JLab. Trust me when you say this, you don't want to miss out on the latest and greatest from one of the emerging brands in the real wireless world.

Editor's recommendations




21 Sep
Blog

Returning to Your Sport From a Break Is Daunting, But Doable

As athletes, we were all excluded from injury and then made it easy for us to get back into our sport. But what if you weren't hurt? What if you took a break and it maybe lasted a couple of years?

As competitive athletes, it is difficult for us to take it easy. Comparing the glory days and your skills plays a role in every workout. The frustration, the pain, the feeling of staring at your eyes when you gasp or run instead of running. All the time you're screaming in your head

"Y.You don't know what i did "or,

"I'm better than I look now." Maybe it's just me, but

"Don't even let me start carrying the weight gain around!"

My dear friend Kathey has a saying (and doesn't quote me): "I'm grateful and lucky enough to be able to do the sport I love" or something close to it.

As someone waiting for a knee replacement and unable to walk, I would love to be this lucky. This upcoming operation was the beginning of the derailment of my triathlon training. Why should I keep training in one sport when I can only participate two-thirds of the time?

It wasn't until a few years later that swim / bike events became increasingly popular and reached even larger events. By this point, I was already out of swimming shape and doing other sports and loving it, which made it easier to move on and not dwell on what was missing in my athletic life.

Return to your sport after a break

You've decided to end your chlorine-free strips of skin and evenly tanned quads, but where in the world do you start? It's such a daunting task. But remember, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

For now, leave the Garmin at home. Yeah, I said it, so get over it. It would be helpful if you did this for a month or two to get back into a rhythm of exercise and get enough recovery time.

Please just go slowly and don't kick your ass because you've let go of everything and have to start over. It's time to release the pressure and enjoy the feeling of movement.

I'd taken a few years to make a million lame excuses that I didn't think would ever happen. I've moved a lot and my new town is full of miles of trails that scream for some cyclocross adventures.

It's hard to find words to describe the feeling of riding a bike again. The best part was the novelty of a different type of ride and the lack of experience and feelings associated with an old bike. It kind of made the low miles I drove seem okay. It gave me forgiveness for not going 60 miles out of the gate.

Time to put the excuses aside, my friend, and get it. We are in it together and I will be your responsibility partner. Take your time, don't rush and be consistent. Now is the time to capitalize on the pandemic and lack of racing to start training. Fall in love with the sport again.

20 Sep
Blog

Returning to Your Sport From a Break Is Daunting, But Doable

As athletes, we were all excluded from injury and then made it easy for us to get back into our sport. But what if you weren't hurt? What if you took a break and it maybe lasted a couple of years?

As competitive athletes, it is difficult for us to take it easy. Comparing the glory days and your skills plays a role in every workout. The frustration, the pain, the feeling of staring at your eyes when you gasp or run instead of running. All the time you're screaming in your head

"Y.You don't know what i did "or,

"I'm better than I look now." Maybe it's just me, but

"Don't even let me start carrying the weight gain around!"

My dear friend Kathey has a saying (and doesn't quote me): "I'm grateful and lucky enough to be able to do the sport I love" or something close to it.

As someone waiting for a knee replacement and unable to walk, I would love to be this lucky. This upcoming operation was the beginning of the derailment of my triathlon training. Why should I keep training in one sport when I can only participate two-thirds of the time?

It wasn't until a few years later that swim / bike events became increasingly popular and reached even larger events. By this point, I was already out of swimming shape and doing other sports and loving it, which made it easier to move on and not dwell on what was missing in my athletic life.

Return to your sport after a break

You've decided to end your chlorine-free strips of skin and evenly tanned quads, but where in the world do you start? It's such a daunting task. But remember, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

For now, leave the Garmin at home. Yeah, I said it, so get over it. It would be helpful if you did this for a month or two to get back into a rhythm of exercise and get enough recovery time.

Please just go slowly and don't kick your ass because you've let go of everything and have to start over. It's time to release the pressure and enjoy the feeling of movement.

I'd taken a few years to make a million lame excuses that I didn't think would ever happen. I've moved a lot and my new town is full of miles of trails that scream for some cyclocross adventures.

It's hard to find words to describe the feeling of riding a bike again. The best part was the novelty of a different type of ride and the lack of experience and feelings associated with an old bike. It kind of made the low miles I drove seem okay. It gave me forgiveness for not going 60 miles out of the gate.

Time to put the excuses aside, my friend, and get it. We are in it together and I will be your responsibility partner. Take your time, don't rush and be consistent. Now is the time to capitalize on the pandemic and lack of racing to start training. Fall in love with the sport again.

23 Aug
Blog

JBL/UA Sport Wireless Train Review: Well-aged Sound

JBL Wireless Sport Train headphones

JBL / Under Armor Sport radio train

"The audio quality of the Sport Wireless Train has withstood the test of time."

  • Simple controls

  • IPX4 weatherproof

  • Exceptional sound quality

  • Tight fit

  • Mediocre battery life

Tech versus time is a war that goes on forever, though one on the other side is almost inevitably unharmed. It takes a special product to keep the clock from going out, and in the fast-paced world of portable audio, these products are increasingly difficult to come by.

Take the JBL / Under Armor Sports Train wireless headphones, which retailed for $ 200 when it was released in 2018 and have since dropped to $ 130. Sure, they seemed solid at the time, but how do they hold up against the unforgiving power of 2020? Let's find out.

Out of the box

The packaging of the Wireless Train is dark black and matches the headphones. After removing the first cover, you will see a rectangular tote bag with the famous Under Armor logo on the front. Inside, the headphones as well as a charging cable, an additional audio cable and a quick guide are waiting.

JBL Wireless Sport Train headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Starting the Wireless Train for the first time is a bit weird, at least if you're like me and adamantly refuse to read the fine print before trying out your new headphones. The power switch is a toggle switch that must be held down for two seconds before turning on. From there, however, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode, so you can follow the standard procedure to pair your mobile device through the Bluetooth settings.

I'm not thrilled with the Wireless Train, which only supports Bluetooth 4.1 technology, as connectivity and range are not comparable to devices that support the newer, better Bluetooth 5 standard. This raises an important caveat about the wireless train: at the time of this review, they are already two years old. In technical time, that's about a century. After reviewing the Adidas RPT-01, I looked for the best comparison I could find. The wireless train was the straight answer given its price and design. Unfortunately, these headphones are being rated for modern standards instead of their heyday in 2018.

That's not to say the wireless train can't yet be capable headphones – they can. However, it will be an uphill battle for these JBL cans against a comparatively brand new product.

design

For a slightly older product, the Wireless Train offers a more modern design for on-ear headphones with a sports focus. In fact, there aren't many differences between these headphones and the newer Adidas, other than aesthetic choices like the shape of the ear cups and the logos that appear on each pair of headphones.

JBL Wireless Sport Train headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

A key difference here is weight. The Adidas came onto the market with 209 grams, the Wireless Train with 240 grams. It is not noticeable that every headphone distributes the weight well. However, if you are trying to keep your headphones as light as possible, this is one thing to keep in mind.

One unfortunate resemblance between these headphones: the inescapable tightness that comes with on-ear headphones designed to stay in place during intense workouts. If I were to wear them for a quick trip to the gym, I could probably handle the pressure on my skull with no problem. But when I wear them for long periods of time like I did for testing, the wireless train almost causes a headache when it gets stuck on your head. I experienced the same feeling with Adidas – it's a generally uncomfortable feeling.

The ear pads of the Wireless Train are made of "UA breathing material", as JBL calls it, and are washable. This is the key to headphones that you will inevitably sweat anywhere. The button controls on the ear cups next to these pillows are easy to use, so you can control the volume and switch songs between repeats. I train at home these days for obvious reasons, but I have had no problem using these buttons to execute commands on the go.

The button controls on the ear cups next to these pillows are easy to use, so you can control the volume and switch songs between repeats.

properties

The wireless train really shows its age in this category. They have the same IPX4 weather resistance as the Adidas, which frankly is the minimum level of protection these headphones should come with. Even so, it's a fair rating for the exercise rats of the world as it protects against sweat and splashes.

JBL Sport Wireless Train headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

However, the wireless train has a maximum of 16 hours of playback per charge. The Adidas allows you to get up to 40 hours of battery life before needing to be recharged. Maybe 16 hours of battery for headphones was a solid two years ago. From a 2020 perspective, however, this is far from acceptable when comparable models offer more than twice the battery life.

Despite the battery-related deficiencies, I really appreciated the multifunctional TalkThru button integrated in the Wireless Train. When you press the Under Armor logo on the right ear cup, the music volume is lowered and the surrounding sounds are played. This allows you to have a quick conversation without having to remove the headphones when necessary.

To be clear, these headphones are not active noise-canceling headphones and have decent passive noise isolation at best. Even then, it has proven valuable to me. If you have not already found yourself in this situation, you may not understand how nice it is not to put headphones on your head after talking to a passerby for several seconds on a walk. It's a near impossible maneuver when you're holding the reins of a small pack of dogs, and luckily I didn't have to get by on the wireless train.

Pressing the Under Armor logo on the right auricle lowers the music volume and plays the ambient noise.

Audio quality

Let's throw away the mostly outdated features of the Wireless Train for a second and consider what is still one of the most important aspects of headphones, or at least what should be – how do they actually sound?

JBL Wireless Sport Train headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Because of my intensive listening to both headphones, I have the feeling that the Wireless Train has a clear sound advantage over the Adidas. The RPT-01 featured bass-heavy tracks, but otherwise sounded average when it came to more balanced genres. The included app and equalizer helped solve the problem to some extent, but it was difficult to work around anyway.

The wireless train might not have gotten as deep into the low end as the Adidas could, but they still had solid, refined bass. More importantly, they just filled in the rest of the frequency spectrum better. The wireless train has 40mm drivers with a frequency range of 16-20,000 Hz and is just as powerful as these specifications suggest.

Songs like Dierks Bentley's Burning Man or Red Hot Chili Peppers' By The Way suggested that the Wireless Train could avoid getting muddy or tight. There are better sounding headphones – many of them even – but they were more than adequate for exercise doses.

I caught my breath long enough between workouts to make a few calls on the wireless train. While they weren't exactly meant to throw that part of the experience out of the park, they were fine in terms of maintaining an acceptable level of clarity on both ends of the calls. It could have been better, but as I recently discovered when testing other doses, it could have been far worse.

Our opinion

The UA Sport Wireless Train is far outdated in terms of equipment. That said, the audio quality of these cans has stood the test of time, and that could earn them the occasional spot on the lineup as battle-hardened veterans.

Are there any better alternatives?

I preferred the sound of the Wireless Train, but there is no question that the Adidas RPT-01 has great features, with the battery life being a highlight. For high-quality headphones outside of the sports category, the $ 200 Razer Opus are a personal favorite because of their mix of price, features, and sound quality.

How long will they last?

With a one-year warranty and a seemingly protective carrying case, you don't have to worry about knocking these headphones off after just a few workouts. Keep them charged and they should be everyday fitness equipment.

Should you buy it?

Not at their $ 200 retail price. The Adidas RPT-01 is $ 30 less and is a more valuable purchase for the money. At its current $ 130 discount, I would consider the UA Sport Wireless Train for its exceptional sound quality – if you can live with features that are decidedly out of date.

Editor's recommendations




17 Aug
Blog

Will Your Sport Survive the Pandemic?

When I've asked this question to others, the typical answer I get is always a resounding yes with little thought of a bigger picture. Their passion for the sport determines their response. They would never look at anything else to satisfy their need for training and competition.

Many sports rely on the main events to fuel the continuation of other activities. So what are you going to do now? The costs associated with hosting a race are high despite the opinion of those who pay the high racing fees. Logistically canceling a race still costs money. Some venues, city fees, and local businesses require money cuts and contract signing.

Sport is big business

They also have a business to run and bills to pay and collect. Some host cities may contractually not offer another year, so a rescheduling of the race should be considered.

Is the cost involved enough to come from a slush fund or contingency plan without affecting the bottom line?

As a former race director for a nonprofit triathlon, we would have been fine for a lot of small upfront costs, but we wouldn't have the same cost as a branded race.

Let's say the big races will survive at some level, even if it's not the same as 2019.

Ask yourself this question after thinking about financial sustainability and potential venues issues. Can you continue to train for races that are not happening?? Look inside and evaluate the matter.

Have you fallen into quarantine 15 weight gain or have you been unable to swim at all inland with no pools open? There is the possibility of racing again in 2021.

Make sure you let that take effect. Can you keep exercising for another year without ever testing your fitness or having fun swimming?

Do something else

If you're still reading, you are probably ready to hear this. Do something different:

  • Take up a hobby or a new activity to stay active.
  • Now is the chance for a fresh start.
  • Rediscover the passion for some fun without a competitive advantage.

Imagine enjoying something without being tied to a watch.

  • You said you wanted to do more yoga.
  • You wanted to read more.
  • Try a new sport you didn't have time for before, like paddleboarding.

Do it and when you do something magical will happen.

You will find new joy, give your body a break from training and return to your favorite sport with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. Re-ignite your passion and then you can say your sport can survive the pandemic.

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