28 Jan
Blog

Jabra Elite 7 Pro Review: Perfect True Wireless Earbuds

Man wearing Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

MSRP $200.00

“These Elite 7 Pro get everything right and don’t cost a fortune.”

Pros

  • Super comfortable
  • Great sound quality
  • Excellent call quality
  • Very good ANC and transparency
  • Good battery life
  • Wireless charging
  • Tons of customization options
  • Excellent water/dust protection

How do you improve on an awesome set of true wireless earbuds? That’s the question that faced Jabra as it contemplated the design for its new $200 Elite 7 Pro, the successor to its excellent Elite 75t, which proved to be some of the best true wireless earbuds you could buy when they debuted in 2019. The answer, it seems, is to double down on what the Elite 75t got right, and then fill in the missing gaps. Did that formula work out? You bet it did. Let’s take a look.

Design

Jabra Elite 7 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Elite 7 Pro are a natural evolution of Jabra’s true wireless designs. They’re just as rounded and ergonomically shaped as the Elite 75t, yet smaller and lighter. When compared to Jabra’s flagship Elite 85t, the 7 Pro are downright tiny. The multifunction buttons now have a teardrop shape and occupy the entire outer surface of the earbuds, making them impossible to miss. The new design also affords much better water protection, with an IP57 rating (the Elite 75t were IP55), making them effectively waterproof.

The Elite 7 Pro are the most comfortable noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

But the most noticeable change has to be the charging case. Jabra has abandoned its distinctive, upright design with its flip-top lid for a more conventional clamshell shape. It’s ever so slightly larger now, but it also has wireless charging built-in, something you needed to pay extra for in the past.

It might also be the first charging case that puts its charging port on the front instead of the rear. Though not as pretty, it’s eminently more practical.

The lid isn’t quite as easy to open because of its curved sides, but that’s a minor critique of what is otherwise an excellent design. The earbuds snap in and out of their charging sockets with ease — something that has long been one of Jabra’s strengths.

Comfort, controls, and connections

Jabra Elite 7 Pro seen next to Jabra Elite 75t.Jabra Elite 7 Pro (left) and Elite 75t. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Let’s just get this out of the way: The Elite 7 Pro are the most comfortable noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now. The Elite 75t were already mighty comfortable, but Jabra has managed to refine that shape so that they feel even better. The company says it also reengineered the material of the eartips, which probably contributes to their excellent fit. Maybe it’s just the particular shape of my ears, but the Elite 7 Pro feel like they were custom-made for me — I could happily wear them for hours at a time without pain or fatigue. Not sure if you chose the right size of eartips? You can run a fit test within the Sound+ app to find out.

The Elite 7 Pro are the most customizable earbuds I’ve ever tested.

Jabra targets the Elite 7 Active at those who want a set of earbuds for high-intensity activities, and you could totally get away with using the Elite 7 Pro for all but the heaviest of workouts — once in my ears, they didn’t budge at all.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro seen next to Jabra Elite 85t and Elite 75t.Jabra Elite 85t (left), Elite 7 Pro (middle), and Elite 75t. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The controls remain the best in the business: Big, easy-to-press physical buttons that offer an unmistakable tactile click when you use them. With single-, double-, and triple-click gestures, plus one for press-and-hold, you can control everything from calls to playback to active noise cancellation (ANC). If you don’t like Jabra’s default control scheme, you can change it within the Jabra Sound+ app, with almost unlimited freedom to pick and choose what each gesture does. In fact, the Elite 7 Pro are the most customizable earbuds I’ve ever tested. If you can think of a function, I guarantee there’s a section in the Sound+ app that lets you modify it.

You can trigger your phone’s built-in voice assistant, or you can configure the Elite 7 Pro to work with Amazon Alexa. With in-ear detection, you can choose to autopause and play your music when you remove or reinsert one of the earbuds.

With Bluetooth 5.2, the Elite 7 Pro are easy to pair and they can stay reliably connected up to 50 feet away (a little less indoors). You can also use the earbuds independently.

They’re pleasure to listen to, no matter your chosen music genre.

When I initially reviewed the Elite 7 Pro in October 2021, it suffered from just one flaw: It lacked Bluetooth Multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously. As of January 27, 2022, that has been rectified via a firmware update, removing my only real criticism of these earbuds.

Sound quality

Man wearing Jabra Elite 7 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Elite 75t possessed enormously powerful bass for such small earbuds, so much so that the low end had a tendency to trample on the midranges. You needed to jump into the EQ settings to rein it in. The Elite Active 75t was milder in the bass department but arguably not as clear. The Elite 7 Pro manages to be the best of both worlds, with a deeply resonant low end that is much better controlled.

A track like Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, where the opening vocals are essentially whispers that float above a thumping bass line, is an ideal test — if the EQ isn’t just right, the tiny nuances in Eilish’s voice are lost under the pressure of the constant beat. The Elite 7 Pro handle it like a champ, not only giving the low end the power it deserves, but also keeping it where it belongs so that Eilish’s shiver-inducing whispers can be heard with excellent clarity.

Jabra’s call quality has always been good, but I was blown away by the Elite 7 Pro.

You can tweak EQ manually or use Jabra’s small selection of presets in the Sound+ app, but I doubt you’ll need to. The factory EQ is so well-balanced for all kinds of music, I didn’t feel the need to change it at all. You can also choose to use the MySound feature in the Sound+ app, which will attempt to personalize the EQ according to your specific hearing profile. I didn’t find it improved things for me, so I kept it turned off, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

Flipping back and forth between the Elite 7 Pro and Jabra’s more expensive Elite 85t proved to be an incredibly tricky comparison. It felt like I could hear a little more detail from the 85t, but you’d literally need to do a side-by-side comparison like I did to notice.

Either way, the Elite 7 Pro are a pleasure to listen to, no matter your chosen genre.

Noise cancellation and transparency

The Elite 85t were Jabra’s first earbuds to offer a hybrid ANC system (the Elite 75t and Active 75t were given ANC with a firmware upgrade, but those buds don’t use the combination of feed-forward and feedback mics that the 85t has). The Elite 7 Pro are better at canceling unwanted sounds than the 85t, but their transparency mode isn’t quite as crystal clear.

I think this is due to the 85t’s semi-open architecture, which lets in a small amount of outside air. That openness simultaneously makes it easier to hear outside sounds and harder to cancel them. The Elite 7 Pro are fully closed, which gives them the noise-canceling edge. The Sound+ app lets you fine-tune the ANC performance, but much like the MySound feature, I didn’t notice a big difference.

The Elite 7 Pro can’t quite keep up with the reigning champs of ANC and transparency — the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — or the AirPods Pro, but considering their lower price, that’s not surprising and, honestly, the difference isn’t huge.

Flipping between the two modes is almost instant: Whether you want quiet or conversation, one press on the left earbud is all you need.

Call quality

For the Elite 7 Pro, Jabra has used what it calls MultiSensor Voice technology, which aims to provide better voice pickup through bone conduction-sensing mics. It’s not hype. Jabra’s call quality has always been good, but I was blown away by how much better the Elite 7 Pro are at calls than Jabra’s previous buds. I stood in a parking lot on a windy day, with an active construction site just a few yards away, and yet almost none of that was audible during my tests. A small amount of compression worked its way in there during the loudest moments, but in general, it was superb. And in a relatively quiet spot, it was impeccable.

With Jabra’s adjustable sidetone feature, you can let in as much of your voice as you want, and there’s even a microphone-mute feature you can engage while on a call — something that even pricey earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds don’t offer.

All of this makes the Elite 7 Pro an ideal choice for those who like to talk.

Battery life

Jabra Elite 7 Pro charging case seen next to Jabra Elite 75t charging case.Jabra Elite 7 Pro wirelessly charging case (left) and Jabra Elite 75t charging case. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra claims you’ll get up to eight hours per charge on the Elite 7 Pro earbuds with ANC on, and the key here is the “up to” part. I played music continuously on them with ANC on and volume set at 50%, and while the left earbud made it the full eight hours, the right earbud only managed 7.5 hours. Given that the right earbud was the first to connect and thus the “primary” earbud, this makes sense — it has to do more work. A fast charge of five minutes will buy you an extra hour of use if you’re in a pinch.

With the charging case included, you should be able to get 30 hours of total playtime, and likely a good bit more if you keep ANC and transparency turned off. The numbers aren’t at the top end of what true wireless earbuds can do, but they’re more than sufficient for daily use and all but the longest of travel plans.

Extras

In addition to the wealth of capabilities I’ve described above, this review wouldn’t be complete unless I mentioned some of the lesser-known features that Jabra throws in, like Find My earbuds, adjustable auto-power off timing, and your choice of voice guidance, tone guidance, or none at all. You can choose if you want to cycle through ANC, transparency, and off modes when activating the mode switch, or you can choose any two of those modes. There’s a separate EQ setting just for phone calls. In-ear detection can be used to automatically answer phone calls or mute the mics. And finally, the Sound+ app offers a series of “soundscapes,” some of which are designed to mask external sounds, while others are meant to be more relaxing or meditative.

What’s in the box?

Jabra Elite 7 Pro box contents.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra is getting better and better at making sustainable product boxes. The Elite 7 Pro comes in an attractive, yet fully recyclable cardboard box, with only one small plastic blister pack for the extra eartips. Inside, you’ll find the earbuds, their charging case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and three sizes of eartip (mediums are installed by default).

Our take

I’ve tried and failed to find something about the Jabra Elite 7 Pro that I don’t like. At this price, nothing beats them. And while better ANC, transparency, and sound quality are available, for most folks, it simply won’t be worth the extra investment to get them.

Is there a better alternative?

No. Jabra has priced the Elite 7 Pro low enough that they obliterate any other set of earbuds that cost around $150 to $200. Your only real options are to spend more on models like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, or the Master & Dynamic MW08.

How long will they last?

I’m still rocking a set of two-year-old Elite 75t, and while they don’t get constant daily use, they’re still in outstanding shape. I expect the Elite 7 Pro to last for many years. With their IP57 protection, not much will affect them (short of actual immersion in water — don’t do that), and Jabra is so confident in that rating it will extend its normal one-year water and dust warranty to two years if you register your earbuds in the Sound+ app.

Should you buy them?

Yes. They’re an absolutely killer set of true wireless earbuds.

Editors’ Recommendations



17 Dec
Blog

Shure Aonic Free Review: True Wireless Studio Monitors

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.

Shure Aonic Free Trial: True Wireless Studio Monitors

RRP $ 199.00

"Big in size, comfort and precision are these buds for critical hearing."

benefits

  • Clear, precise and detailed sound

  • Very convenient

  • Very good transparency mode

  • Easy to use, customizable controls

  • Great EQ settings

  • Good call quality

disadvantage

  • Big buds, big charging case

  • No ANC or auto pause

  • No wireless charging

  • No watertightness

Shure is no stranger to high-performance audio. The company's in-ear monitors (IEMs) and microphones have been the first choice of musicians and audio professionals for decades. But when it comes to the true wireless earphone market, Shure has only just stepped into the ring with its $ 199 Shure Aonic Free. Was it worth the wait? And how do these new buds compare to products from more established brands like Sony, Jabra and Apple? Let's check them out.

A larger set of buds

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Let's talk to the elephant in the room: The Shure Aonic Free are big. They use a very similar design to Sony's previous flagship, the WF-1000XM3, which places the electronics, battery, and other goodies in a diamond-shaped gondola that sits fairly prominently outside your ear.

Shure's design is even bigger than Sony's, making the Aonic Free one of the biggest buds we've ever tested. Fortunately, these nacelles look pretty sleek, with a relatively thin profile and a satin gunmetal finish that gives the plastic a high quality, sophisticated look. If you really want to get noticed, they are also available in red. But despite their size, they are also remarkably light and in fact weigh a gram less than the Sony XM3.

There's a lot of precision and detail, especially in the mids and higher frequencies.

And while there's no denying that these buds are really big, the design has two distinct advantages. First, with all of the bowels of the buds outside of your ear, the part that actually fits in your ear is tiny and extremely comfortable. Shure uses memory foam earplugs instead of silicone, which increases comfort by reducing pressure points.

Not everyone loves the sometimes squishy feel of memory foam, but I'm a huge fan. Once inserted, the fit is very secure, but it won't withstand vigorous activity, as well as buds designed for this purpose. Expect to need regular readjustments as you walk. In fact, you might want to avoid using the Aonic Free for exercise: they are some of the only earbuds on the market that do not offer official protection from water in relation to an IPX rating.

Second, the large outer gondolas make pressing the multifunction button located on the top edge very easy. Accidental presses are almost completely eliminated, and you probably won't accidentally remove an earbud while using these buttons.

The Aonic Free comes with an equally large charging case to match the large buds. It absolutely dwarfs the tiny package of the AirPods Pro case, and I doubt a lot of people will think of it as pocket money. It also lacks wireless charging, which is an unfortunate shortcoming at this price point. Nevertheless, it is robustly built, the lid can be easily opened and closed using a large study hinge and the Aonic Free is really easy to plug in and out of the charging sockets.

I like the sound

Man with Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In keeping with Shure's reputation for stage and studio equipment, the Aonic Free has a neutral and very clear sound signature. There's a lot of precision and detail, especially in the mids and higher frequencies. A track like Dire Straits ’Six Blade Knife and Mark Knopfler's unmistakable Stratocaster work becomes a haptic experience – you can almost feel the strings under his experienced hand.

The bass reproduction is strictly controlled, is only displayed when necessary and never overwhelms the other frequencies. Such a conservative approach to bass can make the Aonic Free sound cold when you're used to headphones or earphones like the Sony WF-1000XM3 or XM4.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.This is how things sound right out of the box. But the Shure Play Companion app can completely change the personality of the Aonic Free with its EQ adjustments. Shure gives you seven presets to play with, including Bass Boost, Bass Cut, Vocal Boost, and Loudness, but if you really want to get the most out of the Aonic Free, you need to try the manual EQ option. Here you will find a graphic EQ that can be adjusted more precisely than I have ever seen it before. You get four control points on a frequency spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Each of them can be raised +/- 10 dB in 0.5 dB steps, and you can even adjust their bandwidth from 0.2 octaves to 4 octaves in 0.1 octave steps.

If all of this is Greek to you, suffice it to say that this is an unmatched level of EQ control for a set of true wireless earbuds, and those who love to mess around with the sonic weeds will love it.

It's worth noting that the Aonic Free doesn't generate as much volume as a percentage of some other well-respected earbuds. In other words, at 50% volume on my iPhone, the Aonic Free were significantly quieter than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro or the Technics EAH-AZ60. I don't see this as a problem – they can still get really loud – but you may find that you have to run these earbuds at a higher setting than you are used to.

It's also worth noting for Android users that Aonic Free supports the aptX codec, which can be helpful in situations where audio delay (latency) is an issue.

Total control

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Aonic Free do not have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but thanks to these foam earplugs they are excellent at blocking outside noise passively. There have been a couple of times when I felt like ANC was blocking a bit more, but not many. What they have is a very good transparency mode that you can set in the Shure Play app to let in little or a lot of the noise around you. In fact, at the maximum setting, it amplifies some of these sounds, so some careful adjustment is required.

I love that Shure has built in a feature called PausePlus that allows you to automatically turn on transparency mode when you pause your music. With too many earbuds, you'll have to pause first and then switch to transparency, which can be annoying when someone tries to talk to you.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.

The Shure Play app also gives you complete control over the multi-function buttons. You can assign up to three different commands per earbud, including play / pause, skip forward / backward, transparency on / off and access to the voice assistant. In addition, you can choose whether you want to control the volume with a fourth gesture. It's a bit awkward, admittedly – you have to press and then long press – but it's a handy option nonetheless. The only thing Shure left out is wear sensors, which can automatically pause if you remove one or both of the earbuds – another surprise considering how many other earbuds come standard with them at this price point.

Your phone call options include muting the microphone and switching between two calls, both of which are rare features. You can also use each earbud independently for music and calls.

Avoid the wind

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Call quality on the Aonic Free can be excellent, but you need to avoid windy or very noisy situations. The microphone does a great job of capturing the full tone and resonance of your voice, with little to no distortion, but struggles to maintain that quality under adverse conditions. They're definitely not the earbuds you'd want to use on the phone while you bike through heavy traffic, but they will work admirably on Zoom calls or anywhere you find relatively calm conditions.

Speaking of Zoom calls, the Aonic Free are the first headphones I've come across that can automatically turn on a red LED light when you're on the phone to let others know that just because you're not speaking, you aren't yet to be interrupted. It's a look back at the early days of Bluetooth, but I think it's brilliant – all true wireless earbuds should have a similar option.

More performance please

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Shure claims that the Aonic Free can last for around seven hours on a single charge, and as far as I can tell, that's correct when you're listening at 50% volume. But as mentioned above, because these Buds run quieter than other models, you'll likely hear at 60% or more, which will reduce battery life a bit.

I agree – six to seven hours is still enough for most people. But what I can't understand, given their huge charging case, is why you can only charge the earbuds twice for a total of 21 hours of playtime? If the Aonic Free were really small – say, AirPods Pro small – I'd happily accept that (although even the AirPods Pro have a longer total time of up to 24 hours), but the Aonic Free have no such excuse.

Our opinion

Although the Aonic Free are larger than most true wireless earbuds, they are very comfortable and offer exceptionally clear and detailed sound. For the discerning listener, this may be worth the price of admission, but given the many features that are lacking at the price, most people will likely be happier with other models.

Are there any better alternatives?

When it comes to sheer clarity, attention to detail, and EQ control – that so-called studio sound – you will hardly find a better set of true wireless earbuds, even if you are spending well over the price of $ 199 on Aonic Free. But considering how many features Shure has left out, here are two options worth considering:

$ 200 Jabra Elite 7 Pro: At the same price as the Aonic Free, the Elite 7 Pro has it all: Great sound, great ANC, great transparency, tons of customization options, long battery life, wireless charging, and an IP57 rating that makes it effectively waterproof. Oh, and they're much smaller too. Audio purists will still prefer the incredibly precise sound of the Aonic Free, but I also think the Elite 7 Pro sounds pretty good.

230 $ Technology EAH-AZ60: For a slightly larger investment, the AZ60 offers fabulous ANC and sound quality that rivals the Aonic Free, but with a slightly warmer standard signature that will appeal to people who don't love the sometimes overly accurate Shure sound. The Technics also have Sony's LDAC codec for wireless hi-res audio and Bluetooth multipoint to connect two devices to your earbuds at the same time.

How long will they last?

Given their total lack of water protection, this very much depends on how careful you are with the Aonic Free. The build quality seems to be excellent, however, and Shure backs it with a two-year warranty, which is unusual in this product category. That might be a good sign that they'll be better off in the long run, but like all true wireless earbuds, it's likely that decreasing battery life is what is keeping them from still being in your audio arsenal 10 years from now.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you're looking for what Aonic Free has to offer – a highly detailed, precise, and customizable sound with very few other bells and whistles. For everyone else, you can find better options for the same price or less.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Riders Republic Review: True Freedom in an Open World Game

A biker does a trick in Riders Republic.

Reiter Republic

RRP $ 60.00

"Riders Republic is a thoroughly entertaining extreme sports game that avoids the mandatory insignia of most open world games."

advantages

  • Easy to understand gameplay

  • Everything feels rewarding

  • Complicated world design

  • Crazy sporting events

  • Excellent social modes

disadvantage

  • Camera is not ideal

  • Stylistically inconsistent

  • Arrogant microtransactions

Ubisoft's open world games can be a chore. Franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry follow the same structure and throw players on a gigantic map with a seemingly endless number of activities to do. These are massive games full of distractions that you will keep playing even when you are running out of good times. But Riders Republic, the publisher's newest title, wields that power forever; it removes any constraint from one of gaming's weariest ideas.

Riders Republic was developed by the team behind Steep and is an open-world extreme sports game that is structurally not far from Assassin's Creed Valhalla – only with bicycles instead of longships. A big world with a laundry list of symbols to jump back and forth between? That’s what you’ll find here. The main difference, however, is that I actually wanted to complete activities and didn't feel like I had to. Who cares if a game has a million things to do when they're not really fun?

Riders Republic works because it never forgets to be, above all, fun. Regardless of whether players cycle through a ravine in a wingsuit or cycle down a mountain with 31 other players in a giraffe suit, every micro-challenge is a quick and digestible hit for the joy of extreme sports. It's not the deepest experience, but it's one I was happy to immerse myself in for an hour and just as easily could walk again without feeling pressured to move on.

X game

Riders Republic is essentially a much more goofy twist on the Forza Horizon series. Players are thrown onto a giant map made up of California state parks that Frankenstein have pieced together into a natural sports utopia. The only real direction they're given is to compete in various events – there's biking, snowboarding, skiing, jetpacking, and wingsuiting – and earning enough stars to complete the ultimate Red Bull sponsored race. The game doesn't really care what you do once it lets go of you – and that's a relief. I've never felt so free in a genre that is supposedly based on freedom.

There's a simple but effective catch here. Almost everything that players do gives them stars. Finish a race? Get a star even if you are last. Discover a landmark on the map? Take a star. Did you accidentally perform a stunt while exploring? Here is your star. It doesn't matter if you're good at the game or just there to play around; Riders Republic will make you feel like you are making progress no matter what. No activity feels like a waste of time or something that you have no choice but to assert yourself.

A biker does a trick in Riders Republic.

This hook works just as well because the sports gameplay is so easy to learn and play from moment to moment. Cycling or skiing is as easy as accelerating and steering. Certain gear can drift, boost, or pull tricks, but nothing ever feels overly complicated. The effectively simple mechanism directs the focus to the essentials: the thrill of racing through an open world with full freedom. It is so much fun to fly through a canyon with a jetpack and immediately switch to a snowboard and then tumble out of the air to slide down a snow-capped mountain.

The only point where the game gets tricky is with the control options. Players have a few different control schemes, but there are two primary ones. One assigns tricks to the face buttons, while the other (called Trickster) lets players use the right stick instead. The latter feels a lot better and gives players much more precise control when it comes to performing tricks and landing. Unfortunately, this means that camera control is sacrificed, which is not always feasible. Considering the game is getting messy with its massive multiplayer races, sometimes I really had to adjust the angle to see over the herd of drivers in long giraffe costumes that enveloped my field of vision. You will also get more points for tricks if you land them in Trickster mode yourself. It's a shame that the more natural and rewarding control scheme is the less practical.

No matter what sport I play, the controls feel so intuitive that I can navigate the complicated world with ease.

It's a minor complaint by and large. No matter what sport I play, the controls feel so intuitive that I can navigate the complicated world with ease. The landscapes are carefully constructed to turn simple stretches of terrain into bike paths or snow trails that put my skills to the test, even if I'm just driving around freely. You could take all of the actual goals and objectives out of Riders Republic and I still think I'd love to just drive around and soak it all up (there's a zen mode where you can do just that, too).

The social network

There's no shortage of things you can actually do to take advantage of these pleasing mechanics and smart world design. Players compete in various challenges that appear on the map as they advance each "career". Most of the events are about racing, but there is a little extra spice here and there. One of my favorite missions was asking me to ride my bike around a small campsite delivering pizza while my character was complaining in Italian the whole time.

Riders Republic is best when it's silly. While standard races are consistently fun tests of skill, some of the stranger missions add absurd charm to the game. In one race, I snowboard through a blizzard while classical music is playing. In another, I'm in a group of cyclists dressed in T. rex inflatable suits. You never know what a particular challenge will look like until you start the race, and out of curiosity that made me try as many as possible.

Riders looks out over a snowy horizon in Riders Republic.

Playing solo would be entertaining enough on its own, but the game's social integration really makes it special. During the game, the map is constantly populated by other players who go about their business (or at least ghost data from real people). It is impossible to feel alone while driving. Sometimes I would find myself riding a wingsuit down a mountain to a racing marker just to skim a running bike race. It seldom happens that I really feel part of an online world full of people, even when playing a 100 player game like Fortnite.

Playing solo would be entertaining enough on its own, but the game's social integration really makes it special.

This feeling is best illustrated in the game's mass races, which are a standout feature. Players can line up for a 64-player race at various intervals. It is absolute chaos in the best sense of the word. Watching a crowd of bikers clash at the start line is pure slapstick comedy, and it's an exhilarating feeling to be ahead of the pack. They are also usually some of the longer gauntlets in the game and act as a multisport triathlon. Every time one shows up on the map, I stop what I'm doing to participate.

Other online modes are just as creative. There's a brilliant 6v6 trick attack mode that works like a team version of Graffiti by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Considering this is a live service game that will likely be updated over time, I am already excited about the possibilities here. This is what makes Riders Republic particularly fun. This is a solid, insane foundation that feels like it could be twisted in an infinite number of ways. While Ubisoft doesn't, the game includes a creation tool that allows players to create their own custom events. Keep giving me a reason to invite me in, and I'll keep going until my legs (well, thumbs, I think) are sore.

Out of fashion

The most noticeable aspect of the game is its sense of style. While the game's spiritual predecessor, Steep, was a bit more down to earth, Riders Republic is all about pizzazz. The colors are bright, the cosmetics are crazy, and the soundtrack is eclectic. It's an all-round happy atmosphere for players of all ages.

However, all of this is a bit unfocused. As I played through the game, I was never quite sure who the intended audience was. Take the soundtrack, for example. It's not just between genres, but also between eras. In a minute I'll hear a pretty modern sounding pop rock song. In the next minute, Ice-T's 1988 Hit Colors began playing. I later become a parachutist as the ukulele cover of Gangster’s Paradise, followed by The Offspring’s Staring at the Sun. Sometimes the soundtrack tries to be hip and youthful. Sometimes Tony Hawk tries to be a pro skater. At other times, I have no idea who it is addressed to.

A neon wingsuit flies through a canyon in Riders Republic.

This is also present in the dialogues that try to sound young and hip, but end up slipping into terrifying terrain. Jokes keep falling flat when non-gamer characters dive into the MTV humor of the "for Shizzle" era. It all has a "How are you fellow children?" Atmosphere that feels a little strange.

Then there's the game's cosmetics store, which opens the dreaded microtransaction conversation. While some clothing and items can be bought with in-game currency, others can only be bought with real money. However, these higher quality items get mixed up with anything else that feels unnecessarily deceptive. I would often see an item of clothing that I dug up in the store, instinctively click on it, and realize that it took me real money to buy it. Given that this is a full retail game, the microtransaction addiction feels a bit aggressive here – especially since kids are a likely target audience here.

Playing through the game, I'm never quite sure who the intended audience actually is.

I enjoy Riders Republic the most when I just ignore these aspects completely. Due to the free and fluid pace of the game, I can turn the volume down and have music or a podcast play in the background. I don't mean that as a blow to the game; it speaks to how strong the core gameplay is. The fact that I can block out the loudest parts and still feel like I'm getting the full experience is impressive. Riders Republic gives you the freedom to play your way, and that includes the freedom to get rid of things you don't want to do.

Our opinion

Riders Republic makes optimal use of Ubisoft's open world template. It's a thoroughly fun extreme sports game with lots of variety, an abundance of challenges to hunt, and great social hooks. All of its sporting events are easy to learn and play, making it perfect for quick drop-ins. Its sense of style has gotten a little out of hand and it doesn't have the sleekest camera solution, but I'm always excited to heat it up and see how much more it can beat its craziness.

Is there a better alternative?

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a bit more stylistically focused. If you want something less arcade-like and more technical, the Forza Horizon series offers an identical structure.

How long it will take?

That depends on how much time you want to invest. It feels like there are well over 100 hours of content here for the die-hard who want to play it like a service game. Even if you just hit the correct endgame, you will likely pass the 30 hour mark.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Riders Republic is just fun. Few games this year have given me such simple joys that make me want to keep playing.

Editor's recommendations



09 Sep
Blog

Life is Strange: True Colors Review: An Emotional Triumph

Alex in Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: True Colors Review: An Emotional Triumph

RRP $ 59.99

"Warm and moving, the only thing Life is Strange: True Colors stumbles over is its own words."

advantages

  • A similar story

  • Warm moments

  • Happy characters

disadvantage

  • Random pace

  • Pathetic dialogue

  • Inconspicuous optics

If you're looking for a mental health story, it's that easy to find one by logging into Twitter and scrolling a little. Media, regardless of its format, now have a way of presenting the wide range of mental health problems. The theme of widespread depression or anxiety has taken hold and is now represented by the characters in the games we play and the shows we watch. At some point, many of us noticed that something was wrong internally, something was not good.

Life is Strange: True Colors is about that notion – that we are all broken or wrong in our own unique way. However, the story it tells isn't just about coping with everyday life. It's not a healthy lifestyle anyway. It is about accepting these imperfections, addressing them directly and, in some cases, fighting for life to be the way it should be.

This message comes alive through the game's wonderful characters, each with their own experiences and traumas. It's nearly impossible to complete Life is Strange: True Colors without referring to Alex or one of her friends. Even with a staggered story pace and sometimes repulsive dialogue, the game managed to connect with me in a way that not many have done before.

In someone else's shoes

Life is Strange: True Colors puts players in the shoes of Alex Chen, a woman who has apparently been through everything. She spent a large part of her life with the foster family, whom I don't know firsthand, but who have known them all too well through the experiences of a close friend. With a look at their phone, players can see that even the few social relationships they established during their time in the system weren't working. One ends with Alex haunting a boy who expects her to have sex after a few meetings, another ends because Alex seems to have "freaked out".

This freak was caused by Alex & # 39; causes latent force that is not as spectacular as flying or shooting laser beams. Instead, she's an odd mix of a telepath and an empath (a telempath, if you will). She can see how people feel, visualized by colorful auras that appear around their bodies. When someone feels something, they can tap into it and understand the reasons for their emotions. Overall, it's a powerful tool that she and the players can use to get to the heart of each character's motivation. When someone acts out of fear or anger, Alex can identify this deep-seated emotion and bring it to the surface.

Alex with her guitar in Life is Strange: True Colors.

However, if she really gets into someone's feelings, Alex & # 39; Forces to lead them elsewhere. Instead of simply seeing how someone is feeling – albeit on a deeper level than most others – she can see the world through her eyes, filtered by her emotions. Sometimes this experience is bizarre and puts Alex into a Dungeons and Dragons-esque world that a kid imagines. Other experiences are not as pleasant, but still poignant. In one of these passages, Alex sees through the frightened eyes of a woman who is slowly losing her memory of a "state" through the lens of her fear of eventually failing to remember basic things, like the face of her own granddaughter. Those moments came close to me in the end as terrifyingly brilliant depictions of the fear, anger, and fear I felt in my own life.

Sometimes this experience is bizarre and puts Alex into a Dungeons and Dragons-esque world that a kid imagines. Other experiences are not as pleasant, but still poignant.

The negative emotions players experience in Life is Strange: True Colors are balanced equally by moments of tenderness and real joy. The game begins with Alex arriving in the town of Haven Springs, Colorado to move in with her brother Gabe. The first day they are together is one healthy moment after the other, whereby the calm, restrained shell that Alex has built up over the years slowly flakes off as she sees her brother and the close family he has in the little one City has built, is presented.

Family found

That perfect day ends with Gabe's death, an event that sets the rest of the game's plot in motion. Alex and her two best friends Steph (returning from Life is Strange: Before The Storm) and Ryan begin investigating a mining company that was in town and set off an explosion that caused Gabe's death. This story of corporate espionage and intrigue, however, largely takes a backseat in four of the game's five chapters. There are moments when you focus directly on that plot, but for most of the game, the spotlight is on Alex and her slow but safe habituation to a place that is safe at home.

This ultimately creates a strange imbalance in a story that I generally enjoyed and that I eventually connected with. Alex's battle against the Typhon mining company seems to be the focus at all times. Instead, however, it provides an ominous backdrop for Alex & # 39; her own story of personal improvement and how she comes to terms with her new role in Haven Springs as a person who recognizes himself as broken but feels the need to fix others.

For most of the game, players walk around the small, quaint town, interacting with the locals, and helping them with their own problems. Through these little interactions, Alex builds her own found family, slowly replacing the one who either died or left them.

The city of Haven Springs in Life is Strange: True Colors.

While most of these moments are touching, they're also where writing Life is Strange: True Colors is worst. Sometimes everything the game's characters say is powerful and relatable, but sometimes the words sound hollow (and sometimes they are downright inappropriate). Alex, a 21-year-old, doesn't have to spit out Internet-era memes when looking at random objects in the area. That makes them less of a relatable example to people my age (which may be a stretch since I'm at the ripe old age of 25) and more like a caricature.

The story of Life is Strange: True Colors, while slow for most, is entertaining. It's not a chore, but rather a pleasant walk that can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. However, that feeling changes completely in the final act of the game when things take an extremely sharp turn. The story is entirely about Alex & # 39; Getting used to their new surroundings directly leads to their conflict with Typhon. It's a dramatic twist that really grabs you. While I could stop playing at any time in the first few chapters of the game, I had to stop after the fifth hit.

While most of these moments are touching, they're also where writing Life is Strange: True Colors is worst.

In this final chapter, players are also given one of the game's six endings. At this point, I've only worked my way through the game once, but will likely try again to experience all of the things I've missed that the game generously displays at the end of each chapter. I don't think it's possible to have a really "bad" ending, but there are some who would be worse than others, at least for me. I tried to get Alex to find one of the game's two love interests, and I succeeded. There are several other important decisions players make about Alex & # 39; Future may meet, but I will not dwell on these spoilers.

Our opinion

There's no easy way to recommend Life is Strange: True Colors. Like the rest of the Life is Strange franchise, it's not a typical game. It's more like a visual novel or a point-and-click adventure. The game is a slow, fun experience, perfect if you want to end the night or get up in the morning.

Beyond that, however, it is an emotional triumph. Alex & # 39; Experiencing adventure and seeing the world through its excellently designed perspective is a joy that hit me harder than I expected. I've often written off the Life is Strange franchise as inaccurate and never gave it the chance it deserved. However, Alex's story and the trials of those around them sounded true to me. Your fears, fears and other emotions are all personal and come from a place that I consider to be common. Fear of old age, anger at corporations and their endless greed, as well as sadness and anger after the loss of a loved one, are not only reserved for the characters of this game – they are universal feelings. Life is Strange: True Colors, despite its unbalanced story and sometimes pathetic dialogues, uses its emotional weight masterfully.

Is there a better alternative?

Telltale's The Walking Dead still reigns first in this genre. It's a perfect emotional story for those looking for a more mature game.

How long it will take?

My play through of Life is Strange: True Colors took about 10 hours, but that was just one play-through. Players can go through the game multiple times to find their ideal ending.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Life is Strange: True Colors is assignable at almost any level and offers a solid experience for those who like slower, more relaxed games.

Editor's recommendations



13 Aug
Blog

Intel NUC 11 Extreme Review: A True Mini Gaming PC

Intel NUC 11 Extreme on a table.

Intel Beast Canyon NUC 11 Extreme in the test: A real mini gaming PC

RRP $ 1,180.00

"The NUC 11 Extreme is too expensive, but that still doesn't hold it back."

advantages

  • Keep calm

  • Solid processor performance

  • Full-size graphics card support

  • Excellent connectivity

disadvantage

  • Too expensive

  • Larger than previous NUCs

On my desk, where my gaming PC used to live, is an empty space that is now occupied by Intel's NUC 11 Extreme, also known as Beast Canyon. It's a barebones kit with welcome tradeoffs that balances desktop-like performance with a form factor smaller than a current game console.

It's too expensive, awkward compared to a full-size device, and a little too weak compared to a desktop chip. But I can't stop using the NUC 11 Extreme. It is an intelligently designed PC that only makes concessions when needed and exists in its own category.

That doesn't mean Beast Canyon is for everyone. It caters to a very specific market – those with an affinity for crafting who don't mind paying for interesting designs. That said, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty (and you have a spare graphics card) the NUC 11 Extreme is excellent.

design

The side of an Intel NUC 11 Extreme.

In 2012, Intel presented the concept of NUC or Next Unit of Computing for the first time. a graphics card). The heart of the PC is the compute element, which you can unplug like a graphics card.

The new NUC 11 Extreme is a tiny PC, but not as small as previous versions. The 8 liter chassis is 14.1 inches long, 7.1 inches high and 4.7 inches wide. The NUC 9 Extreme is larger at 8.5 inches, but much shorter and a little less wide. It also doesn't support full size graphics cards like Beast Canyon.

That is the compromise with Beast Canyon. It's larger than previous NUCs and other mini-PCs, but it supports a full-length graphics card. You can't have and eat your cake, and I'm pleased with the compromises Intel has made. As I will learn in the next few sections, the NUC 11 Extreme still beats its weight class despite its slightly larger size.

This becomes clear when you compare it to other small form factor options. The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P is one of the smaller Mini-ITX cases that supports a full-size GPU and is still 10 liters larger than the NUC 11 Extreme. There are smaller NUC cases like the Razer Tomahawk, but this device has an older computing element and is more expensive than the NUC 11 Extreme.

The star of the show is a massive RGB skull on the front of the NUC 11 that connects to ambient RGB strips that illuminate the bottom of the case. Fortunately, you can tweak the LEDs and turn them off if you want. With the included NUC Software Studio you can control the skull and the front, right and left LEDs independently of each other.

Skull on the Intel NUC 11 Extreme.

It's a decent suite that lets you set a solid color or set standard RGB modes like strobe or breathing. You can also use the NUC Software Studio to monitor system temperature and usage, change your fan curve, and switch between processor performance modes.

While the NUC Software Studio offers a decent list of options, it's a little flawed. The software is easy to bounce around, but it would constantly get stuck for a second or two after I changed a setting. It's not a deal breaker, but the NUC Software Studio doesn't feel good.

For my tests, I stayed in balanced fan mode to see the curve Intel intended. There are a trio of 92mm fans under the top to keep everything cool, and they never got loud enough to bother me while testing (even on a Cinebench R23 loop). They make noise, but the NUC 11 Extreme is remarkably quiet given its size. The NUC 11 Extreme was silent when answering emails or hanging out online.

Connectivity

Intel could have reduced the number of ports on the NUC 11 Extreme, but didn't. As with many aspects of the kit, you give up surprisingly little when compared to a full-sized desktop. You are spoiled for port options with the NUC 11 Extreme, and in some ways it goes beyond some full-size PCs.

Front connectors on Intel NUC 11 Extreme.

On the front you have quick access to two USB 3.1 ports, a headphone / microphone combo jack and an SDXC card slot. This turned out to be sufficient in my tests, although I missed a USB-C port on the front. I often use an external Samsung T5 SSD to swap games between PCs and it would have been nice to just toss it in front of the case.

Instead, I had to plug it in at the back, but that wasn't a problem. Even in this small size, Intel manages to accommodate six USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, 2.5G Ethernet and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back of the case. The motherboard also has an HDMI 2.0b output in case you want to use the integrated graphics.

Of course, HDMI out isn't all you have access to when you plug in a graphics card. It's only there to provide the built-in graphics option. So when you add a graphics card, you also have access to the ports it has. In the case of the RTX 3060 in my test device, this included a single HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs.

Back ports on Intel NUC 11 Extreme.

Compared to the NUC 9 Extreme, this device adds two more USB ports on the back and upgrades the Thunderbolt ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4. Even if you run out of ports – which is unlikely given the eight USB ports surrounding the case – you can always throw a Thunderbolt dock into the equation to further expand your connectivity.

For wireless connectivity, the NUC 11 Extreme contains Intel's AX201 chip, which offers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Internals

Intel offers the NUC in two configurations: either with a Core i7-11700B or a Core i9-11900KB. As with all NUCs, you will need to bring your own graphics card, SSD, RAM, and operating system. Everything else you need is already in the compute element or in the housing. This includes a 650W 80+ Gold power supply and an Intel AX201 chip.

Central processor Intel Core i9-11900KB or Intel Core i7-11700B
GPU Support for full-size dual-slot GPU or Intel UHD 750
Storage Up to 64 GB dual-channel SO-DIMM DDR4
storage Up to two PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs, up to two PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSDs
Power supply 650W 80+ gold
USB ports Up to 12, including eight
Thunderbolt ports Two Thunderbolt 4
Networking 2.5G Ethernet, dual band WiFi 6
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.2
Ports Headphone / microphone connection, SDXC reader, HDMI 2.0b

My test device was equipped with the Core i9-11900KB computing element, a souped-up laptop chip that is part of the 10 nm Tiger Lake family. In short, it should not be confused with the desktop Core i9-11900K, which is built by Intel using the 14 nm process and requires more than twice the performance.

The Core i9-11900KB is a 65W chip, but it is still equipped with eight cores and 16 threads and can accelerate up to 4.9 GHz based on Intel specifications. My chip never reached this speed during the test, but it got close at just over 4.8 GHz. The slightly cheaper Core i7-11700B still comes with eight cores and 16 threads, but with a slightly lower clock rate.

Both chips come with integrated graphics, but I was disappointed to find that they use Intel UHD graphics, not Iris Xe like many Tiger Lake mobile chips. As I'll get into in a moment, if you're going to get any decent gaming performance out of Beast Canyon, you need a discrete GPU.

Otherwise, the NUC 11 Extreme supports whatever you can get it to do. This includes up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR4 laptop memory (SO-DIMM), a dual-slot graphics card and up to four M.2 SSDs, one of which you have to install in the computing element.

Opening everything is a breeze. There's some nice attention to detail here from Intel, including the tiny captive screws on the backplate, a handy door to unlock the compute element, and an SSD slot on the bottom so you can quickly upgrade your storage.

Intel NUC 11 Extreme with no GPU installed.

Once you've removed the side panels, the NUC 11 Extreme opens and offers unprecedented access in this small form. The top cover with three fans can be folded up so that you have all parts of the case free. And there's not much going on inside.

Most of the PC is in the compute element, so you have a small specially designed motherboard, power supply, compute element, and GPU if you have one installed. The NUC 11 Extreme has exactly what it needs, reducing the fat that often comes with small builds.

It's not without its problems, however. The latch for the PCIe slot of the graphics card can hardly be reached when the card is installed. I had to slide the back end of a screwdriver between the GPU and the computing element to open it, and you need to remove the GPU before you can get to the computing element.

Support for full-size graphics cards should also be marked with a large asterisk. It's true that you can plug a full-length dual-slot GPU into the NUC 11 Extreme, but that's about it. That doesn't take into account the additional modular power cables that have to share the space with the rear end of the GPU.

The NUC 11 Extreme has exactly what it needs, reducing the fat that often comes with small builds.

However, dual slot is the limit. If your cooler protrudes even slightly beyond the dual-slot mark, it will not fit into the NUC 11 Extreme. Nvidia Founder's Edition cards could also be a problem. The RTX 3080, for example, has a fan on both sides. In this case, a fan would sit directly on the back of the power supply unit.

Overall, though, this is the most enjoyable small form factor experience I've ever had. I have a few minor issues with the graphics card slot and the extra cables, but these are easy to miss with Intel's clear focus on the building experience. The NUC 11 Extreme is still an argument for barebones, small PCs.

The most disappointing part of the NUC 11 Extreme is that you can't buy it all. Adding RAM, SSD, and Windows is easy, but Beast Canyon really shines with an installed GPU. And adding the price of an expensive graphics card to the NUC 11 Extreme's already high price tag is a tough sell.

But the premium makes sense. Something like the NUC 11 Extreme cannot be built with off-the-shelf parts. However, if you're willing to shop around and have a mini-ITX graphics card, there are options like the Velka 3 that are actually smaller than the NUC 11 Extreme.

Processor power

To get back to the raw power of Beast Canyon, it's more powerful than I expected. The Core i9-11900KB isn't quite on par with a full desktop piece, but it doesn't have to be in such a small package. There's a little compromise, but it's much smaller than it should be given the size of Beast Canyon.

I started testing with PCMark 10, which gives a good overview of performance on a long list of tasks. The NUC 11 Extreme achieved an overall score of 7,520, which is just below the MSI Aegis RS 10 – a mid-tower desktop with a full-size Core i9-10900K. He also beat the flagship Tiger Lake in the HP Elite Dragonfly Max with almost 3,000 more points.

Computing element in Intel NUC 11 Extreme.

PCMark 10 is also demanding. The processor reached a maximum temperature of 93 degrees Celsius during the benchmark, but never clocked down. Even when it was struck, my i9-11900KB continued to climb slightly above 4.8 GHz.

Next up was Cinebench R23, which pushes processors to their limits by forcing them to render a complex 3D image. Here the Core i9-11900KB achieved a single-core score of 1,636 and a multi-core score of 11,424. The multi-core score is in the upper range, but a desktop Core i9-10900K can still beat it by around 30%. Every other Tiger Lake chip doesn't even come close, however.

The Core i9-11900KB even beats the desktop Core i9-10900K by around 23% in the single-core test. While Cinebench performed strongly, it did reveal some weaknesses in Intel's design. According to HWiNFO64, the Core i9-11900KB reached its maximum operating temperature of 100 degrees Celsius before it clocked down to 3.4 GHz. Even with a solid cooling solution, the NUC 11 Extreme is prone to throttling when it's pushed to the limit.

GeekBench 5 is nowhere near as demanding and the NUC 11 Extreme has once again proven its strengths. Similar to PCMark 10, the Core i9-11900KB beats the desktop Core i9-10900K in the single-core test and just under second place in the multi-core test. It also shot way ahead of the NUC 9 Extreme, beating the older device by about 23%.

It's a competent counterpoint to a desktop chip and outperforms all of the other Tiger Lake offerings available.

Handbrake told a similar story. The NUC 11 Extreme reduced our coding time of the Elysium trailer by 13 seconds compared to the NUC 9 Extreme. However, Handbrake showed that the Core i9-11900KB is still essentially a mobile part. Compared to the desktop Core i9-10900K, the chip was a full 30 seconds slower.

Finally, I reached out to PugetBench for Premiere Pro to see how the NUC 11 Extreme would handle video editing. This type of machine seems perfect for the job and my results confirm it. Overall, it scores above a desktop Core i9-10900K, which is configured with an RTX 3060 and 32 GB of RAM. However, this is mainly due to the smooth playback performance, as the NUC 11 Extreme lagged behind the desktop in terms of export and GPU values.

With the NUC 11 Extreme you don't get the full performance of a desktop chip, but with less than half the wattage, that shouldn't come as a surprise. It's a competent counterpoint to a desktop chip and outperforms all of the other Tiger Lake offerings available. Heat was an issue in Cinebench, but this benchmark is a bit of a stress test. There should be no throttling for most tasks.

Gaming performance

I only did a few gaming tests with the NUC 11 Extreme as it doesn't actually come with a graphics card. Your performance will depend on what you put into it. Nevertheless, I wanted to get an overview of how the RTX 3060 would behave in my test device compared to one in a full desktop. And good for Intel, there is practically no difference.

The NUC 11 Extreme averaged exactly the same frame rate in Fortnite at 1080p Epic settings as a desktop configured with a Core i9-10900K and RTX 3060. Up to 1440p, only three frames separated the NUC 11 Extreme from the desktop, with the NUC averaging 83 fps (frames per second) and the desktop averaging 86 fps.

Intel NUC 11 has opened.

That was also the case in Civilization VI, where the NUC averaged 141 fps at 1080p Ultra and the desktop 143 fps. At 1440p with the same settings, the two machines were within a frame of each other. The NUC 11 Extreme's side panel gives the GPU a lot of headroom, and based on my limited testing, cards should work about as well as they would in a desktop.

When you order a NUC, you won't get this performance without adding a graphics card. The UHD graphics in the Core i9-11900KB are pitifully slow for games. They are available, but a bit not an option. In fact, I couldn't complete my 1440p tests because the built-in graphics just wouldn't hold up.

3DMark Time Spy showed how big the difference is. With the RTX 3060 installed, the NUC 11 Extreme achieved a total of 8,953 points. Without a GPU, the device only scored 828 points, less than a tenth of what the RTX 3060 could achieve. Even in Fortnite, I couldn't go over the 1080p High settings as the integrated GPU only averaged 15 fps.

Civilization VI was slightly better at 1080p with medium settings, but even then the UHD graphics only averaged 23 fps. The built-in graphics are not suitable for gaming unless you are ready to shut down to 720p and run on low settings, and even then, some games may have problems.

You should clearly add a GPU to the NUC 11 Extreme. The built-in graphics aren't very good, but the good news is that between a full-sized desktop and the NUC 11, you're practically not giving up when it comes to GPU performance. The design of the chassis allows a lot of air inside, so most cards should hold up.

Our opinion

The NUC 11 Extreme is excellent – as long as you can handle its high price. The kit starts at $ 1,150 for the i7-11700B, and that doesn't include an operating system, RAM, an SSD, or, more critically, a graphics card. Add those in and you're looking at a machine that easily costs over $ 2,000 without a high-end GPU.

It's way too expensive, but that's the point. You already know if the NUC 11 Extreme is right for you. It is not a machine trying to get a certain price or offer a certain value. Instead, it offers an excellent, small form factor design, a unique way to design a computer, and performance that even full-size desktops are a race for their money.

If you've looked at the NUC jealously, it will meet your expectations – provided you have a graphics card to plug in.

Are there alternatives?

There are other mini PCs out there, but nothing compares to the NUC 11 Extreme. Unless you're looking for a boutique case and configuring your own rig, there is no other machine that packs as much power as the NUC 11 Extreme in this small case. Most Mini-ITX cases are not only larger, but also more difficult to use.

That said, you can save some money by building your own machine if you're okay with a slightly larger case or if you can settle for a mini-ITX GPU.

How long it will take?

The whole point of a NUC is that you can upgrade it with a new computing element over time. Assuming Intel continues to ship them, you can use the NUC 11 Extreme until the power supply fails.

Should you buy it?

Yes, as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. The NUC 11 Extreme is not just a mini PC. So, if you're looking for something to set up and forget, a machine like the M1 Mac Mini is probably better.

Editor's recommendations



12 Aug
Blog

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Review: RGB and ANC for Less

Razer Hammerhead battery compartment opened.

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Review: RGB and ANC for less

RRP $ 130.00

"The new Hammerhead True Wireless brings an RGB light show to your ears along with pretty effective ANC."

advantages

  • Comfortable fit and improved design

  • Solid passive and active noise cancellation

  • Eye-catching RGB lighting

disadvantage

  • Buggy beta software and tricky touch controls

Razer used to be a bigger name in the gaming world than it was in the audio world, but after several generations of audio products have been released, it's safe to say that it is no longer the case. The latest in Razer's audio lineup, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds are the second generation of Razer's true wireless earbuds for gamers.

They bear quite a resemblance to the first generation Hammerhead True Wireless, but have several significant design refinements, eye-catching Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and solid active noise cancellation (ANC) and audio capabilities. However, the software was still in beta when I tested, and there were some issues with tricky controls, so my rating will likely change after I've had more time with the final software version.

Razer Hammerhead with RGB lighting.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Design and fit

The most immediate and obvious comparison for the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is that with the AirPods Pro. Available in gloss black, they come with angled earbuds attached to a stem, in-ear silicone earbuds, and a pill box-sized charging case that charges with USB-C. The box came with three different sizes of silicone earbuds, but the standard pair worked perfectly for my ears.

The fit is snug without feeling uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time. At only 53 g, the earphones are barely noticeable when you wear them. This was not the case with the previous generation, which was half-eared and did not go directly into the ear canal. The in-ear design also improves passive noise isolation, which works well for enhancing active noise cancellation.

A light show in your ears

However, this is all pretty standard that you'll find on other true wireless earbuds, including Razer's own Hammerhead True Wireless Pro. The big feature here is Razer Chroma RGB, Razer's full-color lighting ecosystem that it uses for all of its gaming devices and peripherals. After all, how do you know that there is something for gamers without RGB?

On the back of both earbuds you can see the Razer logo illuminated with RGB lighting. The lights are on by default in breathing mode, but you can adjust brightness and modes using the Razer Chroma app. One of the more interesting modes is Audio Meter, which reacts to the music being played to provide a light show to the people around you. It's a noticeable feature that is sure to get some glances in the elevator and grocery store.

Razer hammerhead held in the palm of the hand.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Apart from the aesthetic effect, I can also see it as useful for night joggers. Razer says it has worked on optimizing Chroma so that it doesn't drain battery life excessively and that it will last longer than the first generation hammerheads.

Software and battery

Both the Razer Audio and Razer Chrome companion apps I tested were still in beta and required sideloading on my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra so I won't really be able to evaluate their capabilities until they reach consumers Version is available. The first time you used the app, it was slow to connect to the earbuds each time and the tweaks were a chore, but hopefully this will change with the final release. With that in mind, the Razer Audio app offers the key customizations that most people look for in true wireless earbuds.

You get customizable EQ controls and a number of preprogrammed profiles including Amplified, Default, Enhanced Bass, Enhanced Clarity and Vocal. As a metalhead, I particularly enjoyed using enhanced bass for music and enhanced clarity for podcasts and audio books.

Razer Hammerhead paired in app.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

ANC can be turned on to block out most of the background noise, set to ambient mode so you can hear some background noise (which is helpful when commuting or needing to talk to someone), or turned off entirely if you want to save battery.

The controls of the Hammerhead True are all touch sensitive and can be assigned different tapping gestures for play / pause, skipping tracks, voice assistants, controlling ANC modes and more. The touch controls were a bit fussy, and I never got used to adjusting the volume, which required a double tap and hold. It almost never worked properly on the first try, and often stopped my music or skipped my track instead. It might take some practice, but I would have preferred to remap the double tap to do something else, even if it meant the loss of the volume feature.

According to Razer, the earbuds should last four hours with RGB and ANC on and 16 hours with charging out of the case. With both off, they estimate 6.5 hours for the earbuds and 26 hours for the case. I have to spend more time with the earbuds to know for sure, but my testing with RGB and ANC and volume at a moderate 20-30% easily took at least four hours, if not longer.

Sound quality and features

The Hammerhead True Wireless have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, 10 mm drivers and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, this results in solid sound quality with balanced lows, mids, and highs. The default audio profile is crisp and balanced, and the EQ can be adjusted to your preferences if you like more punchy bass or crisper vocals. I particularly enjoyed Enhanced Bass listening to Sabaton and Iron Maiden, while Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast benefited from Enhanced Clarity. Watching Netflix shows sounded perfect in the default settings.

The standard audio profile is clear and balanced

As a gamer, I used the gaming mode, which reduces the audio latency to 60 ms, but at the expense of audio compression and the shortening of the regular Bluetooth range from 33 feet to around 2 feet. This isn't a big deal unless you're using the Hammerhead True Wireless with your console or gaming PC and sitting some distance from the source device. I've only used it with my phone and laptop so it haven't encountered any range issues.

Razer Hammerhead battery compartment opened.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

I used gaming mode to play Genshin Impact, Assassin's Creed Rebels, and Asphalt 9 Nitro on my phone. On Asphalt 9, I heard the biggest impact of the reduced audio latency – there was no noticeable delay between my car burning and the tires screeching.

Overall, I found the sound profile to be cheap in terms of detail and soundstage compared to the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro I normally use, although it can't compete with higher-end true wireless earbuds or over-ear Bluetooth headphones.

Active noise cancellation

The other big standout feature here is Feedforward ANC, which means that the earbuds have two microphones that pick up noise and cancel it out with counter-noise. Feedforward isn't as good as the True Wireless Pro's hybrid ANC, which has microphones both inside and outside, but when combined with the passive noise cancellation, it comes pretty close. It was definitely better than the ANC on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live that don't form a physical seal with your ears.

Razer Hammerhead with ANC options.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

I left ANC on for most of the time and found it very effective at blocking out most of the background noise, including the rumble of my window air conditioner, the sound of my fan, and the general hustle and bustle of the subway. I also had no problem hearing audio over the sound of my rowing machine while exercising. However, it doesn't match the ANC capabilities of the Sony WF-1000XM4 or AirPods Pro, which can hide a wider range of sounds more consistently, and you may notice a slight background noise when no audio is playing.

Price and availability

At $ 130, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless sits in the middle of Razer's audio lineup and proves to be less expensive than the $ 200 True Wireless Pro but higher than the $ 100 first-generation True Wireless. They will be available in the Razer Store on August 11th.

Our opinion

Despite some software quirks and tricky controls, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless are a compelling pair of true wireless earbuds – the audio quality is solid, the RGB lighting makes for a fun and stylish look, and ANC is good enough for commuting to work or exercising .

Are there any better alternatives?

If price doesn't matter, that will $ 249 Apple AirPods Pro provide more seamless connectivity for iOS users with Apple's H1 chip and superior noise cancellation. Sony is also the leader in noise cancellation, and the $ 280 WF-1000XM4 are packed with features and support codecs like LDAC. The recently announced Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 offer comparable ANC, IPX7 water resistance, and even better battery life for $ 150 if you're ready to wait for them to hit stores on August 27th.

Anker's Soundcore brand has plenty of inexpensive true wireless earbuds for the budget-conscious, including the Liberty Neo for $ 70, the Life P3 for $ 80, the Liberty Air 2 Pro for $ 130, and many more, though these are yours do not offer the same audio quality or noise cancellation.

How long it will take?

The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless supports IPX4 water resistance, which is supposed to protect it from splashes and sweat so you can use it while exercising. I also accidentally dropped them a couple of times and they survived without physical harm. They also come with Bluetooth 5.2, which was just launched in January 2020, so you should be future proof for a few years. The earbuds also come with a two-year limited warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. With the caveat that the software I tested was still in beta, you won't be disappointed with the sound quality, noise cancellation, or flashy RGB lighting of the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless.

Editor's recommendations



23 Jul
Blog

Sennheiser CX True Wireless Review: Budget Audiophile Buds

Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earphones.

Sennheiser CX True Wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"They offer the best sound you can find in an affordable set of earbuds."

advantages

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Customizable EQ

  • Precise and customizable controls

  • Sidetone for telephone calls

  • Good battery life

disadvantage

  • No in-ear sensors

  • No transparency mode

  • Could be difficult to get a secure fit

True wireless earbuds have always been a dilemma. Unlike their wired cousins, wireless earbuds require a variety of components such as batteries, charging cases, bluetooth radios, amplifiers, etc. All of these drive up costs and make it difficult to deliver high quality sound at affordable prices. Sennheiser – a brand with an enviable reputation for great sound – is experimenting with the line between quality and affordability.

Its first recording was the $ 200 CX 400BT it launched in 2020, a set of true wireless earbuds that did deliver sound but missed a lot of the features we'd expect at this price point. Sennheiser's second act is the $ 130 CX True Wireless. Are these buds achieving that magical balance between price and performance? We put them to the test to find out.

What's in the box?

Scope of delivery of the Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sennheiser is one of a growing list of companies that have made their packaging highly recyclable. The box of the CX True Wireless consists of plain printed cardboard and even the small packaging that protects the included earplugs is paper-based. You won't find a hint of plastic or foam anywhere. Inside you will find the earphones, their charging case, earbuds in four sizes, a short USB-A to USB-C charging cable and some paper documentation.

design

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless earphones.Sennheiser CX 400BT (left) and CX True Wireless Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Visually, the CX True Wireless can hardly be distinguished from the CX 400BT. Both the charging case and the earphones have identical proportions. On closer inspection, there are small differences: the CX True Wireless have a more subtle branding that some will no doubt prefer, and their charging case has removed the dedicated pairing button from the case of the CX 400BT. The touch controls now use a matte plastic surface instead of a glossy surface.

If you pull one off this review, here it is: The CX True Wireless are a sound bargain.

The earbuds stay a bit bulky and won't win any awards for style. But the rounded box shape makes it easier than many other earbuds to insert into your ears without accidentally triggering a control path – it also makes it easy to remove and reinsert in their charging case.

One thing that has changed from the CX 400BT is the addition of an IPX4 rating for water resistance. This means that the CX True Wireless is on par with other earphones such as the AirPods Pro. They won't survive a swim in the pool, but now you can at least take them to the gym, on the track, or wherever you sweat without worrying about your earplugs.

Comfort, controls and connections

Unfortunately, since the CX True Wireless inherited its size and shape from the CX 400BT, they also inherited the fit of these earbuds, meaning they may not be comfortable. In order to get a really comfortable and secure fit, I have set myself a set Comply foam earplugs – the same ones I ended up using on the CX 400BT to deal with the same situation.

Sennheiser is still one of the few companies that really understands what is important when it comes to touch control.

To be fair, the silicone earbuds that Sennheiser included with the CX True Wireless are likely to work for a lot of people and I would never say they are uncomfortable. But they definitely don't fit as securely as foam, nor do they seal your ear canals as effectively. If you run into the same thing, just buy some comply tips from Amazon for a few dollars – you'll thank me for that.

The touch controls on the CX are excellent. Sennheiser is still one of the few companies that really understands what is important when it comes to touch control. The control surfaces are large and clear – it's effortless to get consistently accurate taps. As a bonus, a subtle tone confirms that you typed correctly.

You can adjust these controls with the Sennheiser Smart Control app. Single, double and triple taps can all be assigned to the function you want, and you can choose a different function for each earbud – handy when you want to use the earbuds independently (which you can do for both music and calls). You get everything you need: play / pause, skip tracks forwards / backwards, trigger your voice assistant and increase / decrease the volume. The only feature that can't be changed is the volume, which the long tap gesture requires when you want to use it.

Pairing with iPhones or Android devices is easy, even if the CX doesn't come with Google's Fast Pair – a few taps and you're done. If you're on an iPhone, you're limited to the good but lossy AAC codec, while Android users can enjoy the slightly higher quality aptX codec. But regardless of your source device, you can't hike very far. The CX has one of the shortest wireless signals I've ever tested – they started to dissipate when I placed just 6 meters between me and my phone. If you have your phone with you, this shouldn't be a problem. But if you want to leave your phone in a pocket or locker, be ready to stay around.

Sound quality

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the included silicone earbuds, I found the CX True Wireless a bit anemic for the bass, but that was a purely fit function. After I swapped them for the foam tips, the sound improved dramatically. If you pull one off this review, here it is: The CX True Wireless are a sound bargain. They deliver impressively detailed and precise performance that comes incredibly close to earbuds from Sony, Bose, JBL, and Master & Dynamic, which can cost anywhere from $ 250 to $ 350.

The soundstage is wide and deep, and purists will like that Sennheiser's factory EQ settings give you a flat / neutral signature. But I usually find neutral EQ sounds boring at my preferred volume levels, so I love that the Smart Control app gives you two ways to visualize and change the emphasis of lows, mids, and highs, and create presets when You can find a setting that you like. You can clearly energize the lows and highs without losing details in the mids.

I've spent quite a bit of time switching from one genre to another, and whether it was jazz, pop, metal or hip-hop, the CX True Wireless did them wonderfully. If you've never really listened to decent earbuds, the CX will also bring you one of my favorite experiences: hearing a detail on one of your favorite tracks that you've never heard before, or rendering it to make a smile on your face.

When conditions are relatively calm, your voice will be nice and clear, with very little compression or wobble.

One track that certainly did this for me is Melanie Martinez ’High School Sweethearts. After a minute, Martinez goes from her breathy and F-bomb-laden intro to the main part of the track, and at this point you can hear someone writing on a blackboard. The CX places this unmistakable scratchy sound behind Martinez's voice so precisely, as if you could look over her shoulder and see the person writing. It gave me goosebumps.

Battery life

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The CX 400BT promised seven hours of battery life per charge, with a total of 20 hours including the charging case – acceptable, but hardly worth mentioning, especially for earphones without Active Noise Canceling (ANC). But the CX True Wireless are a step up, with nine hours on a full charge and a total of 27 hours on the case.

With a quick charge of 15 minutes you get an extra hour of playtime. This puts the CX True Wireless on par with some of the best earbuds in terms of endurance – a welcome improvement.

Call quality

Making calls with the CX True Wireless is about average for True Wireless earbuds. When the outside conditions are relatively calm and there is no wind, your voice will be nice and clear, with very little compression or wobble. This must be the “voice-optimized sound” that Sennheiser refers to in its description of the earphones.

However, this does not apply to times when wind or loud noises are nearby. At these times, the microphones struggle to keep your voice consistently clear. Since so few earbuds do this excellently, I can hardly blame Sennheiser for anything, but remember: These are earbuds for making phone calls at the desk or when waiting for the flight – not for jogging, cycling or walking near heavy traffic.

These were also my observations when testing the CX 400BT, but here the CX True Wireless improves its more expensive predecessor once again: The CX True Wireless has an adjustable sidetone, which means that you can hear your own voice much more clearly when making calls. It works really well, but I found it difficult to adjust the amount of sidetone during a call.

Something missing?

The CX True Wireless really hit a sweet spot in terms of price and sound performance, and even managed to deliver really good battery life, but there are still some features you may be missing. There is no listening mode (transparency), which is surprising given the eavesdropping feature – these two often go hand in hand.

There are no in-ear sensors that can automatically pause your music when you pull out an earbud. Given the lack of transparency mode, this is what you will often do when you want to talk to someone in real life.

The charging case lacks wireless charging – maybe a minor annoyance, but it's becoming standard on many earbuds that cost less than the CX.

ANC does not exist either, but that is a feature that Sennheiser will do without at this price.

Our opinion

For people who love high-end sound quality but don't have the money to indulge in the best of true wireless earbuds, the CX True Wireless are a great buy. As long as you can forego a few features like the transparency mode and are willing to buy third-party earbuds if the sound or fit doesn't work for you, I think you'll be really happy.

Is there a better alternative?

There are tons of great True Wireless earbuds available anywhere between $ 100 and $ 130 that can outperform the CX True Wireless in terms of features. The Second generation Amazon Echo Buds come to mind as well as that Soundcore Life P3, and the Jabra Elite 75t. But none of these can beat the CX in terms of sheer sound quality.

Ironically, Sennheiser now apparently has that CX 400BT to just $ 100 – it just might be the best alternative. Same great sound, but with a shorter battery life, no water protection and no audible tone for calls. If you're willing to give these up for a $ 30 savings, you're cheating!

How long will they last?

While hard to predict, the CX True Wireless looks better than many other True Wireless earbuds. The fit and workmanship are excellent and Sennheiser supports them with a two-year guarantee, which speaks volumes for the company's confidence in its product. The industry standard is only one year. With IPX4 protection and a good starter battery capacity, they should last you for years to come.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The CX True Wireless solves the problem of getting great sound on a budget.

Editor's recommendations



02 Apr
Blog

Focal Celestee Headphone Review: True Audio Bliss

"This Focal Celestee offers deep audio bliss."

  • Sparkling detail

  • Transparent midrange

  • Deep, melodic bass

  • Very dynamic

  • Accurate transients

  • Expensive

  • Unruly headphone cord

The Focal Celestee headphones are certainly great, but for their price, they take a lot more than just good looks. The Celestee are highly sophisticated high-end headphones, but when compared to other high-end headphones, many of which are priced at $ 2,000 or more, the Focal Celestee are more accessible at around $ 1,000. But are they worth it?

Carrying case and accessories

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The Focal Celestee comes in a fairly plump carrying case, but to be fair, the headphones themselves are quite large. Honestly, we're glad they got in a suitcase at all, as a lot of high-end headphones don't come with one at all. Of course, the case is supposed to protect the headphones, but the Celestee case isn't just functional – it looks great with its tweed-like fabric and heavy zippers.

Inside the case you will find the headphones along with a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter and the headphone cable that attaches independently to each auricle. The headphone cord itself is certainly of high quality, but it is also quite "sturdy". And by that we mean "not very flexible". The cable has a mind of its own which often resulted in it just getting in the way. You have to bypass the cable as it is not intended to work around you. It might break in after a lot of use, but once unpacked, it's pretty stiff and adamant.

Design and processing quality

Focal Celestee HeadphonesDan Baker / Digital Trends

Focal Celestee HeadphonesDan Baker / Digital Trends

Focal Celestee HeadphonesDan Baker / Digital Trends

Focal Celestee HeadphonesDan Baker / Digital Trends

The Focal Celestee have luxurious padding on the ear cups and are covered with a soft and supple synthetic leather material that matches the color scheme of the headphones. The same synthetic leather material is also found on the headband.

The build quality is excellent.

The exterior of the ear cups are made of good quality plastic and metal, and the nub structure is either something you like or dislike – it kind of reminds me of a golf ball, and anything that resembles golf is good for me. The yoke is solid, the headband is solid, and the build quality is excellent.

Comfort

Focal Celestee HeadphonesDan Baker / Digital Trends

The Celestee feels great when you wear it. Sure, they're bigger headphones with a bit of weight, but given their size, they're relatively light and certainly not cumbersome. The balanced clamping force and the pressure on the headband make for a pleasantly ergonomic headphone.

How do they sound

Looking good is fine, but sound is what counts with headphones at this price point. Because they are high quality and expensive, I tested the Focal Celestee headphones on a variety of devices including straight through a phone's headphone jack, a DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC / headphone amplifier with PC, and an Antelope Audio Zodiac outboard DAC / headphone amplifier. I've used music from a variety of sources such as Apple Music and Spotify, as well as high-resolution tracks from Tidal.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The bottom line is that with the Focal Celestee headphones, I felt things I haven't felt in a long time, and it took me back to when I was able to work in actual recording studios before the pandemic. The Celestee gives an enormous amount of nuances. I could hear audio gems in my favorite songs that I haven't heard in a while. It's always a real pleasure to hear details that I've either never picked up on before or just forgot. I have experienced this feeling all the time with the Celestee.

With the Focal Celestee headphones, I felt things that I haven't felt in a long time.

While these are closed-back headphones, you'd swear they're open-ended. They have a sonic appeal similar to open-back headphones, but have all the benefits of shutting out the sound around you. The passive noise isolation provides an absolutely silent canvas to paint on musically.

The Celestee's altitude response has a wonderful amount of shine but is very well controlled. It has a lot of detail, tonality and texture but is never aggressive. The meat in the middle section is very well balanced – it doesn't even flirt with being chesty or nasal. It feels like the singers' voices are right there in your head.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The bass goes deep, with a little oomph for presence, and while it offers a bit more to the beat and bass than perfectly neutral headphones, we found that they sounded perfect. To test the bass, I went straight to Dua Lipa because I understood the beat of the kick drum and the integration into some killer electric bass lines.

It was a pleasure to hear the singer's vocals perfectly isolated from the bass. Getting that kind of clarity and bass at the same time is a real treat for the ears. And the great thing about Focal Celestee is that they shine with all kinds of music, not just one particular genre.

My attitude

In the end, I am delighted with the Focal Celestee headphones. Sure, they charge a premium price – but they absolutely deserve it. If you're able to get your hands on a pair of these, indulge yourself. You will not regret it.

Is there a better alternative?

There will always be alternatives in this price range, but I don't want to say that one will be significantly better than the other. An alternative I would consider would be the Audeze LCD-2, which isn't quite as sleek but sounds excellent and costs about $ 100 less.

How long do they take?

The Focal Celestee are very well built and, with reasonable care, should hold up well into the future.

guarantee

Focal's warranty varies by country. Contact your local dealer for more information. Find retailers and distributors here.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you are looking for high-end headphones that will delight you for years to come, the Focal Celestee is the one for you.

Editor's recommendations




09 Mar
Blog

Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Review: Never Mind AirPods

klipsch t5 ii real wireless earbuds rating ry 3

Klipsch's T5 II wireless earbuds

"Klipsch's rocking demeanor turns into a killer set of buds."

  • Great fit

  • Inconspicuous design

  • Great sound quality

  • Solid battery life

  • Fun charging case

  • No wireless charging

  • No active noise cancellation

  • The call quality is not particularly good

Klipsch's T5 II wireless earbuds are stylish, compact, and sound great. But is that enough to set them above all other wireless earbuds?

If you're considering the Apple AirPods or just looking for an alternative, be sure to check out Klipsch's $ 200 T5-II wireless earbuds. They're the second generation of an already great set of earbuds, and while they (like the AirPods) don't have built-in noise cancellation, they have almost everything else. And unlike the AirPods, they are compact and comfortable to wear.

What's in the box?

Riley Young / Digital Trends

While the Klipsch T5 II comes with a printed manual, you can also access all the information in the manual via its app. The earbuds come with a nice selection of silicone earbuds – some oval and some round – which are vital for the comfort of the earbuds as well as their sound quality. With wireless earbuds, the comfort of fit is everything, and the T5 II excels in this area.

You will also find a braided fabric USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

The T5 II's charging case is … well, great – it feels and looks like a Zippo lighter. It's metallic and chunky and quite heavy, so it feels pretty nice in your hands. It also has a magnetic lid that feels very secure when it clicks into place. Given the weight, I didn't feel like pocketing the suitcase, but then again, I generally rarely pocket suitcases.

The case has a charging capacity of approx. 24 hours. Add this to the eight hours of playtime you get from the earbuds and that makes a total of 32 hours – which is very good in terms of the earbuds' battery life.

Comfort

Riley Young / Digital Trends

The earbuds themselves, as mentioned earlier, are very comfortable for a number of reasons. First, they're very light – about five grams each. The tube tip is also very slim, and because the tips are made of silicone, they fit snugly in the ear and provide an excellent seal. Due to their flat profile, the T5 II are more inconspicuous than other earbuds. You could easily wear these all day and forget you even have them.

Model selection

There are two other models in the T5 II line. The T5 II Sport offers additional fins and more water resistance. The T5 II McLaren Edition is similar to the Sport model, but offers some improvements in terms of design and aesthetics, as well as an included wireless charging pad.

External control

Riley Young / Digital Trends

There is a fingertip-sized button on the outside of each T5 II bud, and each button has different functions. Functions such as volume, playback, pause, answering calls, ending calls, skipping tracks, etc. are controlled via these buttons. However, it can be difficult to remember which page (and how often) to click for each function. There are guides in the app and manual to walk the user through all of the options, but it can be a bit confusing.

Now, I'm not blaming Klipsch for the complexity – it's difficult to do well controlling a wireless earbud, and we can't think of anyone doing that particularly well. Until you remember them all, be sure to keep this app or guide handy.

Noise suppression / transparency mode

Riley Young / Digital Trends

As mentioned above, these earbuds don't have built-in active noise cancellation. But because the silicone tips fit so well in your ear, much of the outside noise is cut down nicely. Once you start playing music you will not hear much of what is around you. If you want to hear more of your surroundings, you can also activate the transparency mode and move it up or down in the app to get as much or as little outside noise as you want. This is an extremely important feature that too few earbuds offer.

Call quality

These earbuds aren't specifically designed for call quality, but they get the job done. Klipsch's Buds do a good job of removing outside noise, but the sound of the voice itself felt very compressed – to the point that it sounds like an old-school landline phone.

Sound quality

Riley Young / Digital Trends

At first, I didn't get the sound quality I expected, especially because I'm familiar with the original T5. However, this happens when you don't have the right fit in the ear and although I thought I had a good seal, I realized it wasn't after swapping out the installed earbuds for something larger.

As soon as I did, everything opened up. The bass is very powerful, the midrange is very clear and the highs are articulate but never sizzling. Basically, it sounds like a Klipsch speaker. It's a lot of fun to hear with a kind of rock vibe.

There's an EQ built into the app, but I didn't like any of the options, so I set it to "Flat". Strangely, the sound signature is anything but flat. These earbuds sound for what they are, so you don't have to play too much with the EQ to get what you want. The default sound is powerful and engaging, with just enough texture and detail to be as interesting as it is fun.

I've listened to different genres of music and they all sounded great – the sound wasn't pigeonholed to make one genre sound better than another. And that's a big bonus because, for their price, they compete with a wide variety of true wireless earbuds. When it comes to sound quality, these are the absolute best up there.

Our opinion

I don't like much about the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds. Sure, call quality isn't great, and at times the controls feel a little unwieldy, but they do everything a set of high quality wireless earbuds have to do and they do everything very well. If you're willing to spend some cash on AirPods, I would definitely check out the Klipsch T5 II and see if they literally and figuratively fit better.

Is there a better alternative?

For their price, the Klipsch T5 II are a top choice. For about $ 30 more, the Jabra Elite 85t also offers great sound quality, wireless charging, a comfortable fit, and active noise cancellation. For a little less money, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro offers a similarly compact and inconspicuous fit, but it doesn't sound nearly as good.

How long will they last

The Klipsch T5 II are solidly built and last as long as their batteries.

warranty

Klipsch offers a two-year guarantee on the T5 II True Wireless earphones. Further information can be found on the Klipsch warranty page.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds sound great, fit well, and work like a charm.

Editor's recommendations




03 Mar
Blog

KEF Mu3 True Wireless Earbuds Review: Beauty And The Beat

KEF Mu3 True Wireless Earbuds

"Despite the mediocre ANC, their slim design and great sound make for an appealing package."

  • Beautiful design

  • Comfortable fit

  • Fantastic sound

  • Very good battery life

  • IPX5 water resistance

  • No app for EQ or control tweaks

  • No wireless charging

  • Mediocre ANC and transparency

  • Mediocre call quality

KEF is one of the best-known names in hi-fi, thanks to speakers who have impressed reviewers and enthusiasts for years. The company's LS50 wireless bookshelf speakers are a great example of what happens when you combine classic acoustic expertise with cutting edge technology. I was excited to receive the company's first true wireless earbuds, the $ 230 KEF Mu3. Given the stiff competition from Sony, Bose, Jabra, Sennheiser and Grado, has KEF brought enough of its world-class audio technology to the Mu3? Let's take a look …

What's in the box?

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

In KEF's all-cardboard and easily recyclable box, you'll find the Mu3 in the charging case, a USB-C charging cable, three additional sizes of silicone earbuds (plus the standard media installed on the earbuds), and quick start documentation.

design

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Let's get one thing straight right away: The KEF Mu3 are stunningly beautiful. Both the earphones and the charging case look like sculptures made of highly polished aluminum. They are smooth and shiny. If you leave the charging case in a prominent place like a coffee table, desk, or kitchen counter, people are guaranteed to find themselves unable to resist picking it up just to feel it.

For those who like to get lost in the details of their favorite songs, the Mu3s are more than happy to do so.

The attention to detail continues right through to the hinge mechanism. Most charging cases have weak lids that could break if you aren't careful. If their magnets don't keep them in the closed position, they flutter about worryingly. The lid of the Mu3 feels luxurious by comparison, with a hinge that reminds me of a laptop screen – it stays in any position from open to fully closed. With its aluminum look, it's basically the MacBook Air for charging cases.

Unfortunately, the case is also a bit bulky, so despite its sensual curves, it's not very insertable. But that's fine – KEF seems to have used a hard transparent outer layer on the plastic, and I think it will withstand scratches caused by other objects.

These earbuds also have very acceptable IPX5 water resistance that should protect them from anything other than actual submersion in water.

Comfort and control

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The KEF Mu3 comes with four sizes of soft silicone ear tips, which should mean most people can get a good seal. And here is some valuable advice on the matter: If you feel the need to plug the earbud deep into your ears (which is possible due to its small size), you are probably using the wrong size earbuds.

They did not move at all and felt very comfortable even after several hours of continuous use.

Pushing them in too deep not only becomes uncomfortable, but also degrades the sound quality and the effectiveness of the noise cancellation. I discovered that the hard way. I also found that with the largest earbud I could insert the Mu3 carefully and they didn't move at all and were very comfortable even after several hours of continuous use.

KEF used physical buttons on the Mu3, and that's definitely a good thing. Touch controls can be tricky at best, and I prefer real buttons when they are available.

These buttons are easy to press, but strangely enough, the right button had a more pronounced click response than the left.

With a combination of single, double and long press you can control everything except to jump back a track. However, there is no way to customize these gestures through a smartphone app as KEF didn't create one for the Mu3.

There are also no wear sensors. So if you pull out an earbud, your tunes won't automatically pause.

Sound quality

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The KEF Mu3 are wonderful to hear. Their bright and clean highs, precise mid-tones, and expertly executed bass create surprises with every new track you start. There's no trace of mud that often obstructs smaller earbuds. Applying instrumental jazz standards like Dave Brubeck's Summertime or Duke Ellington's St. Louis Blues, you can appreciate the sheer musicality of KEF's mood, not to mention the soundstage, which is so tightly controlled it feels like the distance between instruments up to being able to measure the inches.

For those who like to get lost in the details of their favorite songs, the Mu3s are more than happy to do so.

When I played it for the first time, I was disappointed with the bass and feared that KEF had become too conservative with the low end in an effort to achieve this so-called “neutral” or balanced EQ. It turned out that I just wedged the earbuds too far in my ears.

When I found out my mistake, I found that not only is there a lot of bass on tap, but that the Mu3s can also use that bass selectively and only hit you with deep resonance when needed.

The transparency mode (ambient sound mode) doesn't let in as much noise as I want.

I think the Mu3 are near perfect in terms of EQ, but since listening experiences are the subjective things they are, you should know that the lack of an app means there is no way to rebalance the sound signature, if it doesn't suit your needs.

Noise cancellation and transparency

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has become a standard feature of true high-end wireless earbuds, but there is still a huge difference in how each model performs. The Mu3 noticeably reduces the low frequency noise when the ANC is activated. However, it's a far cry from the silence offered by the Apple AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Ear Buds, and Nuheara IQbuds2 Max.

Similarly, the transparency mode (ambient sound mode) doesn't let in as much sound as I would like. It certainly makes conversations easier and gives you greater situational awareness, but it's not the magical "hey, it's like I'm not wearing earbuds" that these other models convey.

Without an app there is no way to dial in one of the two functions and not to change the ANC trigger action. A single press of the left earbud controls noise cancellation, but forces you to toggle between three modes (ANC, Off, and Transparency) instead of being able to toggle between ANC and Transparency, which are actually the two most commonly used modes.

Battery life

KEF Mu3 True Wireless EarbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

KEF really surprised me here. Most true wireless earbuds – even the very expensive ones – typically have a battery life of five to seven hours on a single charge. But the Mu3 delivers nine hours – and that with the ANC switched on. This is by no means the longest time, but it doesn't have to be. After another 15 hours in the charging case, you have a whole day before you have to connect the USB-C charging cable.

Better still, they also have a five minute quick charge system that gives you an extra hour of playtime. My only real disappointment is the lack of wireless charging. When KEF first announced the Mu3, wireless charging was one of the features listed so it may be available again in a future version.

Call quality

I've found a strong correlation between an earbud's ANC / transparency performance and its call quality, and the Mu3s are no exception. You do a little effort not to lose your voice in front of competing background noise, and the sound that is recorded has a scratchy, thin quality to it.

They're probably much better indoors, but outdoors, where a lot of calls seem to be making through earbuds, the Mu3 should be used sparingly.

Our opinion

Although they lack some of the features we would expect from true wireless earbuds at this price point, the KEF Mu3s are beautifully finished, sound amazing, and have a generous battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

As good as the Mu3 is, you will find more features with comparable sound quality and prices in these competitors:

The $ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3 App-supported EQ, adjustable ANC and transparency, longer battery life, better call quality, support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and customizable controls

The $ 230 Jabra Elite 85t App-assisted EQ, wireless charging, adjustable ANC and transparency, customizable controls, a feature to find my earbuds, and better call quality, but they don't sound quite as crystal clear as the Mu3.

The $ 230 Grado GT220 sound very similar to the Mu3 and charge wirelessly, but they don't have ANC or transparency mode and are considerably bulkier.

How long will they last?

The KEF Mu3 appears to be very well built with high quality materials. KEF gives them a two-year guarantee, which is better than many of its competitors. When you add their IPX5 rating, I think they will last for many years if properly cared for.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Mu3 ignores a lot of the bells and whistles and instead focuses on a beautiful design, a comfortable fit, great sound, and great battery life. As long as you agree to this compromise, they will provide a great listening experience.

Editor's recommendations




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