24 Feb
Blog

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) Review: A True Command Center

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) on angle table

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation)

"It's not often that you get such a rich experience in a product, but the Amazon Echo Show 10 delivers."

  • Smooth and quiet panning

  • Acts effectively as a surveillance camera

  • Incredible audio performance

  • Flimsy plastic construction

After a few years in circulation, the second generation Echo Show 10 is finally getting a real successor, Amazon has announced. The timing is right considering the final try was the Echo Show 8, which we billed as perfection in terms of the lineup because it had the balance between size, performance and price. To stand out from previous offerings, the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation) leverages everything the company has learned about developing smart displays and packaging in new features that make it a more convergent device for the home.

The headline here is how to mount the display on a rotating base for better visibility wherever you move. We have never seen that before. On top of that, it's a more complete package with a great smart speaker and a potential all-in-one security system to keep your home safe when you are away. This is something to be excited about!

Always in sight

As I have already described in detail, the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) introduces a new feature that we have not yet seen in the series (or even in a smart display) – a brushless motor that has its 10.1 -Inch 1280 allows x 800 touchscreen to pan and cover an entire 360 ​​degree area. I found this convenience helpful as the display always has the correct line of sight, making it perfect for situations where I am moving and cannot physically be in front of the display.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

I was skeptical of this new implementation mainly because I didn't know how it was going to work. Fortunately, my concerns are allayed because in practice it moves smoothly and quietly and never jerks or jerks. When Alexa is on the phone or comes by, I have a bit more freedom if it is placed in an open place. Tracking is a bit problematic at distances over five feet, so I had to move closer for it to recognize me.

If you want to put it in a corner or a desk where it's in close proximity to other things, you can adjust the swivel threshold so it doesn't collide with those. I still found it a bit strange interacting with the touchscreen just because typing tends to jiggle the display a little from its position. Since it is not fixed, there is always that slight shake, but at least that's what the engine anticipates and I never feel like I might be ruining its engine.

Mash-up design that's hard to love

I can't say I'm in love with the new design. First, it's by far the strangest design in a smart display I've ever seen – sort of a marriage between an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet and an Echo Studio. While the mash-up looks weird, it doesn't help that the display's plastic casing feels cheap. The speaker area looks more modern and suits its contemporaries with its mesh fabric cover, which is available in anthracite or glacier white. I prefer the darker shade of charcoal as it is less prone to looking dirty over time.

Another point of contention for some will be the size of the Amazon Echo Show 10. I thought its predecessor was big, as was the Google Nest Hub Max, but the Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) takes up an even bigger footprint. Placed on my desk at home, its stout size makes for a narrower tabletop. However, it works well as a centerpiece on a neat kitchen countertop or coffee table.

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) on the deskJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Back to the display: it's sharp, bright, and has great viewing angles. The only complaint I have is that the contrast could be better. It can tilt too, but you have to do it manually. In contrast to the swivel function, the inclination of the display was retained as a manual process. This isn't a deal breaker due to the camera's wide field of view.

Secure your home when you are not there

Speaking of cameras: The Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) offers some much-needed security features thanks to its 13-megapixel wide-angle camera. Partly intelligent display, partly intelligent loudspeaker. This latest model can now also be classified as a security system. This is something I really appreciate because you have a device that encompasses all of these things.

When Alexa Guard is enabled, the Echo Show 10 listens for smoke and carbon monoxide sirens, as well as glass breaking when away from home. This is something that many Echo devices have, but the Echo Show 10 will soon have the ability to act as a sentinel for Alexa Guard Plus subscribers. The $ 5 per month service allows the Echo Show 10 to periodically pan the room to detect movement and then notify you through notifications.

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) camera close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

What about those who don't want to sign up? Well, you'll be happy to know that in the Echo Show 10, you can always access the camera through the Alexa app. There are also panning controls so you can keep the overview yourself. Of course, privacy is taken into account by a switch on the display that covers the camera and also effectively mutes it. Each time the camera is accessed, a notification will appear on the display informing you that the camera is active.

It's the most complete smart display with Alexa technology to date.

All of this compliments the Echo Show 10's arsenal, which matches the capabilities of the Google Nest Hub Max very well. It is a convergence device more than ever, which makes it an even more valuable part of the smart home.

The best speaker in a smart display

Not only do you get one of the best smart displays, but the Echo Show 10 is a worthy speaker that puts other smart displays to shame. Equipped with two 1-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer, the fact that it is an incredibly powerful speaker that can fill rooms enough cannot be hidden.

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation) rear viewJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Listening to music or watching action-packed films is a pleasure because of the loud volume. The audio section certainly favors the lower end, so you can expect great feedback from its woofer when the beat drops or an explosion occurs. In terms of raw performance, no other smart display can match its intensity – including the Google Nest Hub Max, which I would now consider a distant second in this department.

Its own command center

In view of the fact that the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) extends its range beyond the basic functions of a smart display, it turns out to be an independent command center. With Alexa and responsive voice recognition, everyone can access and interact with the smart home exclusively by voice. Panning makes it more convenient to speak voice commands from anywhere in the room as the panning is done automatically in the direction of the voice.

In terms of raw performance, no other smart display can match its intensity.

In addition, you still get the same basic functions as the siblings, e.g. B. the ability to control smart lights, view the live stream of a surveillance camera and set up routines to optimize more processes.

Our opinion

Amazon is taking the appropriate steps to make the Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) a worthy successor that not only establishes itself as one of the leading smart displays on the market, but also replaces many other smart devices in the household. That's a big sale in itself, because for the $ 250 cost, you are effectively getting three basic smart home devices – a smart display, smart speaker, and security camera.

How long it will take

Although I am convinced of the smoothness of the brushless motor, I am still concerned about how it will last over the long term. There is also a fear that it will be knocked from everywhere it sits. In contrast to other smart displays, there are moving parts and attachments here. So this is a major concern. There is a one year limited warranty includedand Amazon offers extended warranties that cover damage.

Is there a better alternative?

If the size of the Echo Show 10 is just too big for your tastes, then consider the other smart displays in the Amazon portfolio: the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8. The only other major competitor it has is the Google Nest Hub Max almost the same functions and features, but supported by the Google Assistant.

Should you buy it?

You bet. It's the most complete smart display with Alexa technology to date.

Editor's recommendations




10 Oct
Blog

1More True Wireless ANC Review: A Work In Progress

1More True Wireless ANC

"Their extremely cool design and great sound quality don't justify their price."

  • Smooth design

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Wireless charging

  • Average ANC

  • No custom controls or EQ

  • No water or dust resistance

  • So-so battery life

1More has a reputation for building affordable, high quality wired and true wireless earbuds that have features and sound quality that match products that cost much more. We like 1More products so much that they are regularly featured on our best-of lists.

When the company introduced its first true wireless active noise cancellation (ANC) earbuds – the $ 180 true wireless ANC, valued at $ 180 – we really wanted to try them out.

If history is a guide, these buds should turn out to be the AirPods Pro alternative we've been waiting for.

Has 1More delivered the goods? Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More apparently expects you to keep the True Wireless ANC box for as long as you own it. That's the only explanation we can think of for the massive, thick-walled, coated cardboard container that the buds come in. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, with a magnetically closing hinged lid (something we see all too often) and colorful printing on every surface.

However, this jewelry box design and the heavy use of plastics and foam on the inside make it nearly impossible to recycle the packaging. I would like 1More to use less material.

This treasure chest contains the charging case, the earphones, a USB-C charging cable, a storage bag and a generous supply of earplugs and "O-hooks" (1More's name for the ear fins).

design

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1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00005-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00004-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

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Like the 1More Stylish they are very similar to, the True Wireless ANC isn't the smallest earbud you can find, but they do balance their slightly bulbous bulk with a cool, carbon fiber-like pattern beneath a clear shiny surface.

The charging case appears to contain a stealthy James Bond weapon, not wireless buds.

In combination with bright red hits in the microphone recesses and the earplugs, this looks like a Formula 1 racing car.

This high-end atmosphere is repeated in the wireless charging case with an ultra-smooth, satined aluminum cover. It looks like it is harboring a stealthy James Bond weapon, not wireless buds. Like a luxury coupe, the seams line up perfectly and the lid opens and closes with a satisfying click.

It's bigger than the AirPods Pro ($ 249) or the Jabra Elite 75t ($ 180), but thanks to its flowing, curved corners, it's still relatively convenient to tuck it in your pocket.

The earbuds can be easily pulled out of the charging corners and just as easily exchanged, regardless of the size of the O-hook you have installed.

Convenience, control and connections

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

When it comes to getting the best sound out of a set of true wireless earbuds, a secure fit is key. That's why it's fantastic to see how 1More packages the True Wireless ANC with so many earbuds (seven sizes and two styles) and O-hooks (three sizes and one hookless option).

Unfortunately, after trying every single combination of earbuds and o-hooks, I couldn't get the buds to stay firmly in my ear canal. This came as a surprise, not only because of the many options I had to play with, but also because that rarely happens to me. Out of 30+ models I've tried in the past 24 months, I've only had two that just didn't fit no matter what I did.

Twisting them was easy enough – and very convenient – but not long after that they would work their way up. They use an oval-shaped earbud, which may be part of the problem, but the AirPods Pro and I also find them perfectly safe.

I suspect the real reason is that my ear canals are set quite deep relative to the outer parts of my ear. The tower of the True Wireless ANC (the part where the earbud attaches) is short, and the asymmetrical shape of the body means you can only rotate it until it is blocked by your ear.

As with any thing related to fit, your experience will likely be different from mine. However, if you've been having trouble finding a good fit for other earbuds, this is something you should consider.

The controls on the True Wireless ANC are a mix of pushbuttons that sit on top (or back, depending on how you sit them in your ears) and touch controls. The touch control is only used to manage the ANC mode. A double tap on the earbud takes you from ANC to ANC level 1, to ANC level 2, to ambient mode (passthrough) and then back to ANC.

This combination of touch and physical controls gives you everything you need including volume up / down, play / pause, call answer / end, track forward / backward skip and access to voice assistants. However, you cannot customize which key presses they trigger. This would be especially helpful with ANC: I'd like to quickly get in and out of ambient mode instead of flipping through all four modes.

Once you memorize the patterns, the controls are responsive and easy to use.

The wear sensors that allow you to automatically pause and play music when the buds are removed or inserted work very well, but there is no way to turn the feature off. In the 1More Music app, you can choose between "Auto-pause" or "Auto-pause and play".

Once connected, the True Wireless ANC maintained a very strong and stable radio signal, although that signal could only extend about 30 feet before it stalled. Unlike some other wireless earbuds, the True Wireless ANC tries to connect as soon as you open the charging case. I found that if I pulled them out before both earbuds indicated they were paired (the LED changes from blue to red), my phone will not always be paired again.

Battery life

I'm a little disappointed with the battery life of the True Wireless ANC. They are designed for an operating time of six hours with the ANC switched off and only five hours with the ANC switched on. Granted, that's still better than what Apple is promising for its AirPods Pro (4.5 hours with the ANC on, five hours with the ANC off), but when you look at the total playtime with the charging case included, the 1More top is at 22 hours versus 24 for the AirPods Pro.

On the one hand, that's enough juice to last you a full day without a charger, and the True Wireless ANC's quick 15-minute charge for two hours of play time definitely helps.

On the flip side, we see many inexpensive true wireless earbuds like the JLab Epic Air ANC that can work between eight and 12 hours before going back to their charging case and have total times of up to 48 hours.

Sound quality

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The 1More True Wireless ANC is the first true wireless earbud to be THX certified. This means that THX rated the earbuds against some of its tech standards for things like left-right stereo sync and distortion. However, THX certification is not a guarantee of any particular sound quality. Think of this as sort of insurance: this means that THX has independently tested the transmission and determined that it had a base level of performance.

They have an incredibly balanced sound signature that doesn't favor highs or lows.

In the real world, there is no way of knowing what the True Wireless ANC would have sounded like before THX got involved, so I'm not going to attribute any part of the sound to THX that I heard.

THX or no, the 1More True Wireless ANC sounds excellent.

They have an incredibly balanced sound signature that doesn't favor highs or lows. Instead, you get clear and detailed performance across all frequencies. This clarity and precision exceeds what many products with comparable price can do, like the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, the Jabra Elite 75t and even the AirPods Pro from Apple.

On tracks like Fleetwood Mac's Little Lies, this precision lets background vocals inhabit the ethereal space a little above and a little outside the main soundstage – things that reliably give goose bumps.

My only complaint is the lack of an adjustable EQ. As nicely balanced as they are, I'd prefer to play a bit more bass to warm up the sound a bit, but there's no way to do that. If you're a bass player, you're probably better off with the Jabras.

However, for much better sound quality than the True Wireless ANC, take a look at the $ 200 Sennheiser CX 400BT or the $ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3.

Noise cancellation

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If there's one thing I've learned from reviewing real wireless earbuds with ANC, there is a huge spectrum of quality. Some earbuds that offer this feature, like the JLab Epic Air ANC, do almost no significant improvement, while others, like the Apple AirPods Pro, create an incredible cone that has to be heard to be silenced.

The ANC function produces an audible hiss when no music is playing.

I was hoping the 1More True Wireless ANC would be closer to the AirPods Pro end of the spectrum, but they're actually in the middle.

With two stages of ANC, they can cut down some external sounds quite a bit, with a noticeable sweet spot in the lower frequencies, but it's nowhere near as consistent as the Sony WF-1000XM3 or AirPods Pro. What is unfortunate, however, is that the ANC feature produces an audible hiss when no music is playing. This prevents the True Wireless ANC from being a good tool to simply drown out the hustle and bustle of an office or coffee shop.

Another area of ​​tradeoff is the environmental or pass-through mode of the ANC. The goal of an ambient mode is for you to hear the outside world to speak to someone or to become more aware of your surroundings. Equally important, however, is the ability to hear your own voice clearly so that you don't accidentally raise it too loud. Plus, phone calls sound a lot more natural. Ambient mode definitely lets in outside noise, but your voice remains noticeably muffled.

Call quality

Call quality is a bright spot for the True Wireless ANC. Callers said my voice remained clear even if there was a lot of background noise to deal with like passing traffic. Every now and then my voice got louder, but I couldn't tell what was causing it.

Even so, the lack of an ambient mode that could effectively make me hear proved annoying.

Our opinion

I really wanted to love the 1More True Wireless ANC and its sleek design and sound quality are sure to set high standards. However, the average battery life, lack of custom EQ or button functions, and the disappointing ANC prevent those buds from breaking free from a very crowded backpack.

Is there a better alternative?

While they don't have wireless charging, Jabra's Elite 75t costs the same, has bigger bass-forward sound, great comfort and fit, generous battery life, and soon even ANC. When you add in the insane amount of customization the Jabra Sound + allows, and its IP55 dust and water rating, most people will happily trade a bit of sound clarity and precision for the Jabra's many strengths.

How long will they last?

1More includes a one-year warranty on the True Wireless ANC. The earbuds and charging case look very nice and I assume they will be used for many years. Without an official IP rating for water resistance, however, you need to be extra careful not to expose them to water or sweat.

Should you buy it?

No. As good as the sound quality is, 1More is asking for a lot of money for a feature set that just isn't as good as other companies'.

Editor's recommendations




17 Sep
Blog

JLab Epic Air ANC Review: Exceptional True Wireless Value

JLab Epic Air ANC

"The ANC won't wow you, but these buds are still insane value at just $ 99."

  • Amazing price

  • Customizable controls and EQ

  • Huge battery life

  • Wireless charging

  • Excellent ambient sound mode

  • So-so ANC

  • Bad call quality

JLab has made wireless headphones and true wireless earbuds in the past that offer a great mix of performance and features at shockingly low prices. The $ 29 Go Air and $ 149 Epic Air Sport are both good examples.

But both were clearly just warm-up exercises for what JLab has now brought out: the $ 99 Epic Air ANC, a set of noise-canceling true wireless earbuds with a feature set that seems to go on forever.

Has JLab finally promised too much and delivered too little, or is the Epic Air ANC setting a new benchmark for value? Note: you are amazing.

Let's see what all the fuss is about.

What's in the box?

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

JLabs crates have always been incredibly flimsy, cheap looking affairs. And while this may not score corporate points with shoppers looking at a range of competitive products on a retail shelf, I think it's great.

I love it because it's made entirely from easily recyclable paper and cardboard. The only plastic you'll find are two tiny removable stickers over the earbuds charging contacts. The rest is as guilt free as it gets.

In this box you will find the Epic Air ANC earbuds in the charging case, an easy-to-read and very well illustrated quick start guide and the included five additional earbuds (the earbuds come with the medium size installed).

design

JLab's true wireless earbuds come in three general shapes: the simple earbud-only design of the Go Air, the sport-oriented earhook design of the Epic Air Sport, and the AirPod-like earbud-plus-stem design of the Air Executive.

Workout addicts are insured: With an IP55 rating, these earphones can survive very little.

The Epic Air ANC uses the same design as the Air Executive. They are so similar that you may not even be able to tell them apart by looking closely.

The Epic Air ANC are a bit bulkier than Apple's AirPods or AirPods Pro, for example, but they're still remarkably light and don't look as massive as many of the top earbuds we tested like Sony's WF-SP800N or Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless .

With the touch controls on the outside you have full access to all the most frequently used functions. With a wear sensor on the inside, you can automatically pause your music when you remove an earbud – if you want.

Workout addicts are insured: With an IP55 rating, these earphones can survive very little.

The charging case is bulkier and less pluggable than many others on the market, but it makes up for its extra bulk by offering a built-in USB charging cable – a brilliant feature for those who often forget to bring cables when traveling. Better still, if the cable is ever damaged, the case can also be charged wirelessly.

Synthetic leather has a double function both as the outer surface of the housing and as a hinge for the lid. It's unusual and clever, but it does mean the lid moves a little even when it's closed, which reduces the overall feeling of quality.

Even so, the lid magnet and earbud docking magnets are strong enough to keep everything in place, which is really all that matters.

A three-LED display on the top shows the charging status of the case and the charging status of the earphones.

The Epic Air ANC may not win beauty pageants, but functionally they are very well designed.

Convenience, control and connections

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you've ever worn earphones in your ear and found them comfortable, you will likely like the fit of the Epic Air ANC.

If you don't, JLab should add five different sizes and styles of silicone earbuds, plus an additional pair of Cloud Foam earbuds to get them just right no matter your ear shape.

The quality of the seal is always important with in-ear earphones as it determines how good they sound. However, this is especially important with ANC earphones. Having a variety of earplugs to choose from definitely makes it easier to get a good seal.

Personally, I recommend the cloud foams. Memory foam earplugs don't last as long as silicone and not everyone likes the squishy feel they create in your ear, but they are super comfortable and make for a great, no-pressure seal.

Once you've found the best size and type of earbuds, the Epic Air ANC should fit just right and feel just the same. I found them to be more comfortable than some earbuds that cost more than double, which just goes to show that money can't always give you a good fit.

I don't like touch controls on earbuds because they tend to trigger when you don't want them to do something, or more often not respond properly (or not at all) when you need to.

JLab Epic Air ANC AppThe Epic Air ANC's touch controls largely avoided this trap, but there were still instances where I had problems. Some taps were not recognized and a double tap was sometimes only registered as a single tap. I would still prefer a really good set of physical buttons, like those on the Jabra Elite 75t, but as far as touch controls go, the Epic Air ANCs are perfectly serviceable.

While I'm not a fan of Touch Control, I'm really impressed that JLab's free Air ANC app for iOS and Android lets you customize the functionality of each earbud for each tap combination. With three tap combinations per earphone, this can cover almost anything you could want. The commands available are: play / pause (answer / end), skip tracks forward / backward, volume up / down, access to voice assistant, EQ mode and ANC mode (on, off, be aware).

The only thing to keep in mind is that if you are only using one earbud, then you need to make sure that the earbud controls have the following features – a great option for phone calls or when you need to be more aware of your surroundings and settings, that they need. There's no point in increasing the volume with a single tap on the left earbud when you need the right earbud to turn it down again.

The wear sensors worked like a charm and quickly paused and resumed music when you removed or inserted the earbuds. The app allows you to turn the feature off if you don't find it helpful.

Bluetooth pairing is easy and quick – just remove the earbuds from the case and select them from your Bluetooth system menu. The connection quality was very reliable, but in some cases – especially after a long pause with no music playing – the left earbud stopped responding. Quickly plugging both buds into the charging case and pulling them out again was a reliable way to get things back to normal.

The simultaneous pairing of devices (a.k.a. Bluetooth Multipoint) would be nice, but an unusual function even with more expensive earphones.

Battery life

True wireless earbuds have seen their battery life improve massively over the past 12 months, and the Epic Air ANC is near the top of that range.

With up to 48 hours without ANC, they'll be ashamed of all other true wireless earbuds.

JLab claims to be 8 hours with the ANC on and 12 hours off – just an hour less than the reigning champion, Sony's WF-SP800N.

Even more impressive is the charging case, which offers space for three full charges. This means at least 32 hours total time, but up to 48 hours with the ANC switched off. That puts all other true wireless earbuds to shame. Even the Sony WF-SP800N only offers a single charge for a maximum time of 26 hours.

Get an extra hour of gaming time with a 15 minute quick charge.

In reality, JLab's numbers are pretty much spot on. I left them on continuously with the ANC off and after 12 hours they were still on the go.

Sound quality

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

For its price, I think the Epic Air ANC sounds very good. You don't get the pristine sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the Sennheiser CX 400BT, but these earbuds cost more than double what you pay for the Epic Air ANC.

When it comes to deep bass and crisp highs – the two areas that people notice the most – these earbuds don't disappoint.

I'm willing to bet that unless you already own a much more expensive earbud, you'll be amazed by the sound of the Epic Air ANC.

They offer very good frequency separation and when it comes to deep bass and crisp highs – the two areas that people notice the most – these earbuds don't disappoint. The bass response is full, but not overwhelming, and the highs, while not crystalline, are well defined. The midrange drivers are neither shiny nor lackluster and manage to make themselves heard even if they aren't quite the stars of the show.

And while they may not have perfect levels of detail or an extremely wide soundstage, they are surprisingly balanced for listening to a wide variety of genres.

As with virtually all of the earbuds and headphones I have tested, you will need a decent source to get the most out of these earbuds. I found a huge difference between listening to my personal collection of AAC format tracks on Apple Music and CD quality lossless offerings from Tidal or Qobuz.

More importantly, the JLab Air ANC app lets you tweak the EQ as you like. The equalizer has discrete levels for 10 frequency bands and you can save four presets with your favorite mixes.

JLab includes a "movie mode" which is designed to reduce the audio delay compared to the usual "music mode" so that the on-screen dialog matches what you are hearing. My iPhone 11's Bluetooth connection may already have very little latency, but I saw practically no difference whether or not the movie mode was activated. Both modes provided great synchronization when streaming Netflix and Disney + movies.

Noise cancellation

It is difficult to get a feel for the effectiveness of the Epic Air ANC's noise cancellation.

Whether you use the standard silicone earbuds or the cloud foams, the seal they offer is pretty good. This means that very little outside noise can get into your ear.

But even with strong passive noise isolation, ANC should show a noticeable decrease in some external noises. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Switching between ANC off and on resulted in only the slightest decrease in lower frequencies. Even then, I could only tell when no music was playing.

JLab's Air ANC app lets you adjust the level of noise cancellation – a welcome feature – but maximizing the setting didn't do much to improve performance. They're certainly not AirPods Pro killers in terms of noise cancellation.

On the upside, the Be Aware mode that lets in sounds is excellent and the app-based customization gives you good control over how much sound is let in.

Call quality

The Epic Air ANC call quality is not an area of ​​strength. It's not a feature that true wireless earbuds are great at even on some very expensive models, but these earbuds are particularly weak.

External noises such as cars, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and even a light breeze created strong aural competition for my voice and sometimes drowned it out completely.

It looks a lot better indoors, but even then your voice will suffer from shake.

On the other hand, the Be Aware mode makes making phone calls very convenient from the wearer's point of view, allowing you to hear your own voice with absolute clarity.

Our opinion

No matter how you look at them, the JLab Epic Air ANC are epic value at just $ 99. The ANC may not be spectacular, but with great sound isolation thanks to a variety of earplugs, it just doesn't matter. What can you not love with very good sound quality, enormous battery life and countless practical additional functions?

Is there a better alternative?

For $ 99 you might find true wireless earbuds with ANC and decent sound, but I'm not sure if there are earbuds at this price point that also have 12 hours of battery life, IP55 protection, wireless charging, fully customizable controls, and EQ offer a wear sensor.

You can spend less and get fewer features, like the extremely affordable Truengine SE Soundpeats for $ 40, or you can spend more and get slightly better sound quality with the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro for $ 150, but nothing beats that Epic Air ANC for total value.

How long will they last?

The build quality of the Epic Air ANC seems to be on par for earphones in their price range. With an IP55 degree of protection and a very generous two-year guarantee from JLab, however, they should have a very long service life. The beauty of starting with batteries that last 12 hours is that even if they eventually drop to 50% capacity, they outperform a lot of brand new earbuds.

Should you buy it?

Yes. In the Epic Air ANC, JLab has developed a feature-rich and comfortable set of earbuds that offer an incredible price-performance ratio.

Editor's recommendations




03 Sep
Blog

Panasonic Lumix S5 review: A True Enthusiast’s Camera

Panasonic Lumix S5

"The Lumix S5 is the miniature S1 that we have always wanted."

  • Excellent design, build quality

  • Improved face / eye autofocus

  • 96MP high resolution mode

  • Unlimited 4K / 30 recording

  • 30 minutes 4K / 60

  • Low resolution EVF

  • The auto focus lags behind the competition

  • Slow continuous shooting

When Panasonic launched the full-screen Lumix S series in 2018, one thing became very clear: This was not a Micro Four Thirds (MFT). The obvious change in format aside, the S1 weighed well over 2 pounds – outperforming most DSLRs – with a massive handle, viewfinder bulge, and battery. There was no doubt about it.

The smaller Panasonic Lumix S5 turns this idea on its head.

At 1.5 pounds, the S5 is not only the lightest full-frame camera from Panasonic, it's even lighter – barely – than the Lumix GH5, the company's flagship MFT. It's not quite the lightest full-frame camera, but it has a fully weatherproof magnesium alloy body.

Starting at $ 2,000, I think the S5 is the camera many Panasonic fans have been hoping for in 2018. It is dimensioned and inexpensive to compete with the Canon EOS R6, Sony A7 III and Nikon Z 6. The question now is whether this is the case enough to withstand this competition in 2020. Panasonic is still catching up in some areas, but the S5 brings a lot to the table that helps it stand out.

Design and handling

The Lumix S5 is smaller than the GH5 in every dimension and a bold move for Panasonic that customers will undoubtedly take to worry about the fate of Micro Four Thirds. Personally, I still think MFT cameras have a place, and even the 3 year old GH5 has some advantages over the S5 when it comes to recording speed and video.

Panasonic Lumix S5

There is no doubt, however, that the S5 is a tempting full-screen upgrade for MFT shooters.

Fortunately, while the S5 is smaller, it broadcasts most of the buttons and dials like the S1, allowing it a significant amount of random access control. There are a couple of buttons down, but the bigger change is the removal of the top LCD display, which now houses the mode dial (interestingly, the mode dial doesn't lock, but at least has strong resistance between positions). .

Overall, the camera feels great. Even as someone over 6 feet tall with fairly large hands, I found the S1 a little too big for me, but the S5 is just perfect. The weight saving is clear, but it still feels reassuringly dense, reminding you that this is actually a progressive camera.

There's a new battery too, as the S1's huge 3,050mAh literally doesn't fit inside the S5 (it's as tall as the camera's deck height). The new battery has a capacity of 2,200 mAh, but is designed for 470 photos (1,500 in energy-saving mode), which is about 100 more than an S1.

How is that possible? This is where the bad news comes in.

Most of these energy savings are likely due to the lower resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), which has only 2.36 million pixels. To be fair, it's still an OLED display and looks a lot better than I expected, but compared to the staggering 5.7 million point EVF in the S1 cameras, it's significantly worse. It's usable enough, but low-resolution viewfinders don't belong on a modern $ 2,000 camera in 2020. I'm not sure why Panasonic hasn't given the S5 at least a 3.69 million EVF commonly used by many brands, which would still have left a noticeable spec gap between it and the S1.

Autofocus and recording speed

If there's one thing that has bugged Panasonic cameras for years, it's a little piece of technology called Depth from Defocus (DFD). Invented by Panasonic, this auto focus system relies on lens profiles stored in the camera, which contain information about the blurring pattern of each lens so that the camera can determine whether an image is in front or back focus. In other words, it knows which direction to move the lens in to get focus, reducing the hunt and speeding up focus time. It sounds like a complicated process, but it has helped Panasonic overcome the usual limitations of autofocus with contrast detection.

It was also never enough to keep up with cameras with faster phase-detection focus. Unfortunately, that's still the case with the S5 – but that doesn't mean Panasonic hasn't made great strides.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

For still photography, DFD now works much more reliably for continuous autofocus (AF-C). As Panasonic explained to me, with older cameras, DFD does not stay active during AF-C because it takes too much processing power and they are forced to fall back on standard contrast detection. This is still the case with S1, S1R and S1H. As it turns out, most complaints with DFD may not affect DFD at all.

However, these processing problems appear to have been resolved. Now DFD remains permanently active in the S5 in AF-C.

The detection of subjects has also seen some pretty dramatic improvements thanks to updated algorithms. The S5 can recognize bodies and faces that are half the size of the S1 – as small as 2.5% of the frame – and the camera can now recognize a human head separated from the face and body.

The detection of subjects has also seen some pretty dramatic improvements thanks to updated algorithms.

That sounds like a good, duh feature at first, but Panasonic told me that head detection was critical in improving the overall reliability of the focus on object detection. If the camera loses sight of a face, it can remain fixed on the head while the previous system had problems switching from face to body recognition. (And if you're wondering, yes, the S5's AF enhancements will roll over to the S1 cameras via firmware updates later this year.)

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

In practice, the S5's autofocus worked well most of the time, and I immediately noticed the improvements in AF-C and subject tracking. Unfortunately, it remains far from perfect. DFD is exceptionally fast, but occasionally misses focus for no apparent reason. When you zoom in in AF-C mode, the camera turns off, causing a significant lag in focus even if the subject hasn't moved. It is best to set the zoom before half-pressing the shutter button to avoid this. However, in some quick situations, this is simply not possible.

The autofocus cannot keep up with continuous shooting. The S5 reaches a top speed of 7 frames per second and drops to 5 with continuous autofocus. So the AF-C focus has improved, but you can't move it very far.

This is one area where the Panasonic GH5 outperforms the S5. The Micro Four Thirds camera can shoot up to 12 fps or 9 with AF-C. I don't know why AF-C performance is so different between the S-series and the G-series.

DFD will also delight videographers, at least YouTubers and vloggers who rely on autofocus. As Panasonic explained to me, DFD cannot work faster than the sensor's refresh rate. In photo mode, Panasonic can rotate up to 480 frames per second. However, in video mode, in which the sensor is actively recording and reading pixels, it only achieves 30 fps or 60 in APS-C crop mode. This gives DFD a fraction of the samples to work with, and the autofocus predictably suffers from it.

Nevertheless, the video autofocus of the S5 has been improved compared to the S1 cameras. I was able to test it side by side with an S1H, and the S5 tracked my face and eyes much better as I moved through the frame (the S1H was all but useless). However, it still struggled when I moved out of direct light or when I got too close to the camera too quickly. Compared to the incredibly good autofocus on Sony cameras, the S5 still cannot be stacked despite notable improvements. Fortunately, there are other video features that redeem it that I'll get into later.

Image stabilization and high resolution recording

The S5 uses a redesigned sensor shift stabilization system to accommodate its smaller body. Fortunately, it's still a good performer, rated for 6.5 stops of blur reduction with a compatible stabilized lens, just half a stop behind the S1. I don't think there will be much of a difference in the real world. With the 20-60mm kit lens that is not stabilized, I shot down to 1/6 of a second with impressively sharp results, but 1/3 of a second was suddenly in the unusable zone. As always, performance varies from shot to shot and lens to lens. However, don't expect a second-long hand exposure to come out sharp.

The S1's high-resolution 96-megapixel mode made it into the S5 as well, turning the humble 24-megapixel camera into a resolution monster. You can't get more resolution by far.

Somewhat more surprising is that the S1's high-resolution 96MP mode made it into the S5 as well, turning the humble 24MP camera into a resolution monster. This makes it the only full-frame mirrorless camera worth $ 2,000 with pixel shift resolution mode. If you have a tripod and immobile subjects, you simply can't get higher resolution anywhere near this price point. (You can also use it on moving subjects where you want motion blur, such as waterfalls or trails of light. However, it only increases resolution in non-moving areas of the image. If the moving areas are blurry, it probably isn't Problem.).

Panasonic's implementation of high resolution recording is also more user-friendly than Sony's (which is only available on the A7R series) because it processes the file in the camera and delivers either RAW or JPEG. No special software is required and you can check the high resolution composite directly on the camera monitor.

picture quality

Panasonic emphasized that the S5 uses exactly the same sensor as the S1. That means 24 megapixels and no optical low-pass filter. A low-pass filter like the one used on the S1H subtly softens the image to combat moiré. This is an issue I encountered while reviewing the S1 which is still a potential issue with the S5. Personally, I'd rather have a slightly softer image than the risk of moiré as the difference is minimal, but that's me. Most manufacturers nowadays do without low-pass filters.

I haven't been able to view the RAW files yet, but based on my experience with the S1, there shouldn't be anything to complain about. This camera delivered excellent performance all round. A new function is Live View Composite, in which the highlights from a sequence of long exposure images are merged in order to create light trails and at the same time control the ambient light in stationary subjects. It's great for shooting stars and unlike similar modes in other cameras, it can actually save the composite as RAW, which is pretty neat.

The 20-60mm f / 3.5-5.6 kit lens is an interesting look. I like the focal length, which starts at a much wider angle than most kit lenses, but the variable maximum aperture is a problem with video recording. If you don't set it to f / 5.6 or less, your exposure will change as you zoom.

Fortunately, I was also able to test the S5 with Panasonic's Lumix S Pro lenses with 24-70mm f / 2.8 and 70-200mm f / 2.8, which were provided by Lensrentals for this test. While these lenses are almost ridiculously large on the S5, they are beautiful and show what the camera is really capable of. Thanks to the Leica and Sigma, there are many extraordinary L-mount lenses to choose from – but avoid the Leicas if you want money.

Video

As a video camera, the Lumix S5 is like a pickup. It's not flashy or quick, but it works reliably and you can trust it to get the job done.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

At a time when overheating complaints were the main focus, mainly due to problems with the Canon EOS R5, but also with the video-focused Sony A7S III, Panasonic took a conservative approach to the S5, but its functions largely met expectations of 2,000 US- Dollars match camera. There's no 6K like the S1H, let alone 8K or 4K / 120. It shoots 4K / 60 but not out of full frame, which is a bit of a disappointment, but no different from the S1H.

On the other hand, you can record it in virtually any setting and it won't turn you off. If the S1H has a fan to actively cool the sensor, this is not the case with the smaller S5. Even so, Panasonic tested the camera at 104 degrees Fahrenheit – roughly 30 degrees hotter than most of the manufacturers who test their cameras. Based on these tests, 4K / 60 and all 10-bit options are limited to 30 minutes. Assuming you don't have 104-degree weather, you can start another clip immediately after that 30-minute cutoff. I tested the camera in direct sunlight on a 70 degree day and there were no problems running a second 30 minute clip in 4K / 60.

At lower frame rates at 8 bit, the recording time is only limited by the battery life and the memory card capacity. With dual card slots and USB power support, you shouldn't have a problem with the S5 staying awake longer than possible.

But let me put this brief remark aside: while the camera can take long shots on massive SD cards, the footage is still broken up into 4GB chunks because of the FAT32 file system. "Really?" We haven't found a solution yet? Oh, but we have: The S1H uses the ExFat file system which allows for much larger files (like 16 exabytes). Now I am not entirely clear how Microsoft licenses ExFat. I think it's a flat fee for digital cameras, but there might be a new license required for each model line, or volume restrictions, and the S5, a higher volume camera than the S1H, would make licensing too expensive. Not only is this a Panasonic issue, it's a bit absurd that we are still relying on FAT32 in 2020.

In terms of video quality, you will mainly get S1 level compression options. That means 10-bit 4: 2: 2 at 150 megabits per second. You get both HLG and full V-Log, which is great, but the S1H's all-intraframe codec at 400Mbps is not available. The same codec is also found in the GH5, the other area where the MFT flagship surpasses the S5.

The video above used the S5 at 150Mbps alongside the S1H at 400Mbps, both in V-Log. The main two-shot is the S1H, while the second angle and b-roll are the S5. The two cameras have been edited well together, but you can definitely take the S1H footage further when it comes to color grading. (This shoot was awesome last minute and very rough so please only judge the cameras and not my skills.)

The S5 also lacks other high-end video functions of the S1H. DCI aspect ratios, the option to use shutter angle instead of shutter speed, and some video support tools like a vectorscope are missing.

But here's the crazy thing. Panasonic has already announced a firmware update that will bring all of these things to the S5 later this year. What's even more impressive is that while it doesn't get an intra-frame codec or 6K internal recording, it does get the same 5.9K RAW video output as the S1H. Essentially, it means that you can get S1H quality with a camera that is half the price.

These are all downright niche capabilities, but it gives the S5 a unique edge over its competition. It also makes it the perfect B-camera for the S1H – or the perfect alternative for those of us who can't afford one. An S5 and Atomos Ninja V Recorder would cost roughly $ 2,600, $ 1,400 less than an S1H alone.

You can get S1H quality from a camera that is half the price.

Is Panasonic really okay with this? It just brought out the RAW edition of the S1H earlier this summer, and that's the company's most expensive full-frame camera. It has now been announced that the most affordable full-frame camera will offer the same functionality. It's huge.

As long as you don't mind using an external recorder and don't need a reliable continuous autofocus, the S5 will become a very impressive high-end video camera.

Our opinion

For some customers, the Panasonic Lumix S5 is exactly what the S1 should have been, and it might seem a little overwhelming now, two years later. Late or not, I think the S5 is exactly the camera Panasonic needs, and it should help expand the L-mount to a new demographic.

The camera grew a little more on me every day that I had it. Even with the incomplete autofocus and low resolution viewfinder, this is still a real enthusiast camera. It sits comfortably in the hand and the controls are ergonomic and functional. Panasonic didn't do it stupid, and I really appreciate that. It's a miniature workhorse that can keep up with its larger, more expensive siblings.

Speaking of which, I'm no longer sure what the S1's selling points are.

Is there a better alternative?

The $ 2,000 price range is quickly overflowing with excellent options. For the still photographer, the Sony A7 III and the Nikon Z 6 are valid alternatives. Both offer autofocus with phase detection and faster continuous shooting. However, none of them can match the video quality of the S5. The Z 6 offers RAW video output via a firmware upgrade that is subject to a fee, but only with 4K resolution without line transition.

How long it will take?

This may be a “Mini S1”, but it's still built to withstand professional wear and tear. It should take at least 2 years for a replacement model to arrive. However, expect it to last many years longer if you don't feel the urge to keep updating. Panasonic has a spectacular history of supporting cameras through firmware updates for years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Lumix S5 is a great hybrid camera at a fair price. However, vloggers, YouTubers, and sports photographers who rely on reliable continuous autofocus should carefully consider the alternatives.

Editor's recommendations




02 Sep
Blog

Know Comfy Review: Fantastic-Fitting True Wireless Earbuds

Do you know comfortable earphones?

"The Comfy are the ear-friendly buds that live up to their name."

  • Super comfortable design

  • Secure fit

  • Good overall sound

  • Visually strange

  • Not special scope of functions

It takes a certain amount of confidence to put a name like Comfy on your new pair of true wireless earbuds. As a company, you almost have to be sure that these buds will feel great in every ear they come across, or otherwise.

That's the bet Know made on its $ 160 comfy wireless earbuds and marketed the wearables as a "fit" you've never felt before. Spoiler Alert – a gamble that paid off for Know. Double spoiler alarm – the right fit is not everything, especially with earphones.

Out of the box

Do you know comfortable earphones?Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

I previously learned with the Calm headphones that Know as a Company likes to do things a little differently, and I was expecting something similar in the Comfy earphone packaging. Expectations were met with small details like a card in memory of the Kickstarter supporters and circular sticky notes of the product and a rather provocative (for earphones) work of art “Listeners make good lovers” and a USB-C charging cable with the inscription “These Side “surpassed up” on one side of the USB end of the cable and “or this side up” on the other side. If there are points that can be earned for creativity, Know gets them all.

If there are points that can be earned for creativity, Know gets them all.

In addition to this USB-C cable, the Comfy earphones have a collapsible quick start guide and a well-made compartment with additional ear fins and ear plugs. These are standard accessories, of course, and the same level of normalcy applies to the Comfy Buds setup process. Pull them out of the charging case, find them in your mobile device's bluetooth settings, and you're well on your way to listening to your favorite song or podcast episode.

Bluetooth 5 technology is rightly implemented in the Comfy earphones at this price point. As with most earbuds with this technology, I was free of connectivity issues during the time I tested these buds. That includes the time I spent tidying up my yard while my phone was hanging around the house. With that in mind, I'd say these earbuds have a solid range.

design

Do you know comfortable earphones?Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Count me confused about the design of the Comfy earbuds because there is really a lot going on here. Right off the bat, I will confirm that they masterfully live up to their name, with earplugs that felt at home in my ears even after long periods of listening, and ear fins that kept the buds firmly in place during daily activities. In fact, wearing these buds felt a lot more natural than any real wireless earbud I recently tested. But when you pull those buds out of your ears and look at them, it's hard not to comment on how bizarre they look.

Wearing these buds felt a lot more natural than any real wireless earbud I recently tested.

That doesn't have to be badly bizarre, by the way. They are just different from most of the other true wireless earbuds I've seen. The Comfy thickens the classic golf tee stem that the Apple AirPods popularized, adds an elongated ear fin at the top, and uses pointless, tapered earbuds. Now there are different sizes of tips and fins, and again it's an incredibly comfortable fit for my ears. It is clear, however, that these earbuds are designed for function rather than form.

The charging case for the Comfy reminds me of a hockey puck or maybe an Amazon Echo Dot, depending on which visualization is best for you. It looks elegant enough to take up space on your desk or on your work-from-home surface. I don't think this case is as pocket-friendly as the AirPods or even the Google Pixel Buds 2, however.

Here's what I seldom say about true wireless earbuds with no physical buttons: I really like the controls on the Comfy. Everything is touch-based, with a swipe up or down on either handle serving as a volume control. The top of each stem also has a touch sensor that answers or ends calls, pauses and plays music, and switches between tracks based on how often you tap on it. I had a few glitches at first, but the Comfy controls eventually turned out to be just the right level of responsiveness to be functional, but not annoyingly sensitive like other buds I've tried.

properties

Do you know comfortable earphones?Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Know says the Comfy earbuds have around seven hours of listening time per charge, with a total of 28 hours of life with the included case, and I found these numbers to be mostly accurate. By comparison, these statistics are about right. The Google Pixel Buds 2 and Apple AirPods both have worse batteries, but other buds in this price range like RHA TrueConnect 2, Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds + give you more per charge. That being said, the Comfy are pretty close to these competitors and have a quick charge feature that gives you three hours after five minutes of a network, so they can get past this category.

An IPX5 weather resistance for the Comfy Buds is a nifty touch that offers the buds effective protection against sweat and water jets. You can get the same rating in cheaper options like the 1More Colorbuds, or you can spend the same amount of money and get better weather protection with buds like the RHA TrueConnect 2. As with the battery life, the Comfy are not noticeable here. Instead, they're just decent.

The Comfy earbuds have an automatic pause / play function and are compatible with both Siri and Google Assistant. For the third paragraph in a row, these are decent features. Unfortunately, in this price range, it is almost necessary to be more than "decent" to stand out above the massive amount of competing true wireless earbuds.

Audio quality

Do you know comfortable earphones?Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Let's look back at these earbuds for a moment. Although they used to make fun of them a bit, they prove to be a valuable part of the comfortable footprint by creating a seal against the outside of your ear canal, as opposed to tips that need to be plugged inside. The result is the superb passive noise cancellation you can hope for without the clogged ear discomfort that usually comes with this effect. I was able to listen from my surroundings for longer with fewer interruptions and not experience the kind of fatigue I got used to with tighter buds.

By the way, listening was an enjoyable experience overall. I found the Comfy to offer exceptional clarity and a very pleasant sound at normal listening levels. However, this sound was hit a bit at higher volumes, exposing some dazzlingly bright higher frequencies and a lower end that weren't as clean as I originally expected. However, these observations do not affect overall good sound when it comes to standard listening levels, especially when listening to acoustic tracks. A selection like Midlands Fast Hearts and Slow Towns showed me that if you don't squeeze them too hard, the Comfy earbuds are capable.

Similar to the features of the Comfy, the call quality was good with these earbuds. It just wasn't more remarkable than the countless other true wireless earbuds I've tested before. Both ends of my conversations went down well with the Comfy. But the same goes for the Google Pixel Buds or the Microsoft Surface Earbuds, or … you get it. Even so, perfectly functioning call quality is certainly better than if you handled them extremely poorly, as you would find it with the Raycon E55s.

Our opinion

Know Comfy true wireless earbuds are the ear-friendly buds they are designed for after their namesake. They're good in other areas too, but not good enough to stand out from alternatives in a hugely overcrowded field. If these buds were $ 40 cheaper, they'd suddenly be a lot more attractive. However, their $ 160 price tag makes it especially difficult for them to stand out.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 150 RHA TrueConnect 2 has better features for $ 10 less, and while they may not be as comfortable, they look slimmer than the Comfy. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro are bulky, less comfortable buds for $ 150, but they have great sound and excellent features that compete with the Comfy. Finally, the Jabra Elite 75t focuses on sound quality but offers good comfort and a slimmer profile.

How long will they last?

The Know Comfy comes with a one year warranty and I can't think of any reason why these buds shouldn't last well beyond that period.

Should you buy it?

If you're looking to invest in a pair of ultra-comfortable earbuds with features that won't let you down, I think the Know Comfy is a great option. However, if convenience isn't high on your wish list, there are better sounding buds with more impressive features at similar prices.

Editor's recommendations




03 Aug
Blog

JBL/Under Armour True Wireless Flash X review:

JBL Flash X earphones

JBL / Under Armor True Wireless Flash X.

"A few key upgrades keep the Flash X in the wireless workout mix."

  • Comfortable fit

  • Good passive noise cancellation

  • 10 hours of battery life

  • No volume controls

  • Ineffective ambient noise mode

JBL and Under Armor have teamed up again to launch the new True Wireless Flash X, a $ 170 version of the original second generation True Wireless Flash. Instead of making extensive changes to the workout earphones that are already perceived as good, the Flash X has been updated in some target areas. A few more would have been nice, but let's examine what they put in the newest pair and see if it makes them a more convincing purchase.

Out of the box

JBL / Under Armor has given the packaging of the Flash X some pomp and circumstance. To find the way to these buds, you need to take a shiny envelope out of the box and then lift the lid to reveal the buds. Charging case in a T-shaped foam layer. Additional earplugs and ear fins are located in their own housing on one side of the foam, on the other side there is a USB-C charging cable. Not to forget, all of the documentation you'll ever need for these buds is right under the buds and accessories.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

When you plug in an increasing number of earbuds to perform this function – Apple AirPods, Google Pixel Buds 2 and LG ToneFree – Flash X has a fast pairing function for compatible Android 6.0 devices or higher. If you have one of them, an easy task is now even easier. The buds do the introduction to your phone for you, and all you have to do is keep the conversation going to connect. If you miss this, don't fret. The traditional Bluetooth setup route takes you to the same destination with less excitement.

The Bluetooth 5 technology in the Flash X is great for maintaining connection and providing a solid range.

As with most recently tested real wireless earbuds, the Bluetooth 5 technology in the Flash X works remarkably well to maintain the connection and ensure a solid range. There is of course a limit; I was almost to the end of my side street to take out my trash cans before the buds were finally cut out, well over 50 feet from where I left my phone in my house.

design

In terms of design, the Flash X hasn't changed much from generation to generation. The buds themselves have the same understated aesthetic as the originals, with the Under Armor logo on the end cap and the JBL logo on the side of these otherwise black earbuds. The charging case is incredibly similar, too, and slides open to show the earbuds in the same way that your old filing cabinet was opened in your office cubicle (remember?).

JBL FLash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

After finding the best combination of earplug and ear fin, the Flash X showed the same comfortable but tight fit as its predecessors. This style is great for training as these buds do not move while walking and running during transportation and this airtight seal provides effective passive noise cancellation. But after prolonged periods of my body, I submitted to a certain amount of fatigue just because they were implanted in my ears. I would honestly do that about the alternative – buds that stubbornly refuse to stay in your ear – but the Flash X doesn't compete with the Jabra Elite Active 75t, currently the best-fitting real wireless earbuds, so the collective heads of Digital trends.

It's absurd to offer real wireless earphones for $ 180 without a function as simple as volume control.

One thing about the now nostalgic design of the charging case for the Flash X: it's big. Like 117 grams. In comparison, the case for the Apple AirPods is a lively 40 grams. As a training-oriented earphone, I don't know how often you will lug the case around in your pocket. But if so, there is certainly something to explain.

I enjoyed using the controls for Flash X with one exception. There is a single button in each bud that is integrated into the Under Armor logos. You need to remember how many presses on which bud correspond to which command. But the system worked well after a short acclimatization period and was free from the annoying accidental commands associated with budding with touchpads. However, there is no control to increase or decrease the volume unless you go to your preferred language support and ask them to do it for you. I've criticized a lot of earbuds for this in the past, and I'm perfectly fine with the fact that this is the hill I'm dying on. It's absurd to offer real wireless earphones for $ 180 without a function as simple as volume control.

properties

JBL / Under Armor has redesigned some key features of the Flash X, and luckily for those buds, it kept them talking about the top options in the real wireless training class. For example, if the Flash X had maintained the original battery life of five hours (a positive hint for these buds at that time), they would have been blown away by options like the Sony WF-SP800N or the JLab Epic Air Sport.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Instead, the Flash X has a battery life of up to 10 hours (an exact specification, according to my tests), with four additional charges for a total of 50 hours of playback. This is not the case with the Sony models, which can play inactive noise cancellation for 13 hours, but with the Epic Air Sport it is just right and significantly better than with the Jabra Elite Active 75t, which occurs at 7.5 hours and 28 in total for $ 30 more.

The Flash X has first generation IPX7 weather resistance and protects the buds from immersion in up to three feet of water. This is undoubtedly solid for workout earphones. However, the Elite Active 75t has the protection class IP57 for protection against dust and water. The Epic Air Sport offers IP66 protection. Perhaps this would have affected the pricing of these new earbuds, but adding dust protection to the Flash X would have been a significant advance for buds designed for harsh use.

The Flash X has a bionic hearing function, which is essentially an umbrella term for two similar functions: TalkThru and Ambient Aware. According to these companies, TalkThru lowers the music volume and amplifies the language to simplify the conversation with these earbuds. In my experience, this worked well and allowed me to exchange courtesies with people I passed on the way without pulling out a bud. Ambient Aware is designed to amplify ambient noise in order to draw your attention to your surroundings. Perhaps the passive cancellation is just as good, but I found that Ambient Aware mode was largely ineffective to the point where it was difficult to determine whether this feature was enabled or disabled. Fortunately, TalkThru has abated somewhat here, but a lackluster ambient noise feature is a seriously bad combination with great passive noise cancellation.

Audio quality

The Flash X has what is called "JBL Charged Sound" or "bold sound for sports with rich bass to improve your workout" on its datasheet. You should largely ignore all the marketing talk. To go, the 5.8mm drivers in these earphones are full of sound.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I didn't have the original True Wireless Flash on hand to test the sound alongside the Flash X, but when I compare everything we said about these first generation buds to the Flash X, I don't think the sound The quality has changed a lot here. The bass is big and bold and makes tracks like Drake & # 39; s Gods Plan really unique. You don't have to worry too much about getting pumped up for your workout – with the right music, these buds take care of it themselves.

You don't have to worry too much about getting pumped up for your workout – with the right music, these buds take care of it themselves.

Thanks to melodies such as an acoustic reproduction of Stand By Me by Tom Speight, I also found good details in the upper register. However, as much as the good things about these buds have not changed, a problem of the first generation has raised its head again: I have also noticed a persistent problem when I use it in connection with video. The first generations were noticeably out of sync with YouTube and Netflix videos, and this issue was obviously not addressed in Flash X. I have to guess that watching and working out of videos doesn't overlap often, however, if you are thinking of using them on a treadmill while watching Netflix or live sports on your phone or tablet, we advise you not to . The delay is seriously noticeable.

The Flash X chose dual microphones to improve call quality, effectively. I wouldn't say that these earbuds are something to write home about when it comes to skillfully handling calls. They do the job enough not to be annoyed with them, nor enough to be impressed by their call quality.

Our opinion

The True Wireless Flash X from JBL / Under Armor has some important improvements that will keep you talking alongside the best training buds you can buy. They stay in your ears and sound great about what we expect from music to keep your blood pumping during exercise. However, they do have a handful of unaddressed issues that are difficult to ignore at their price, so they cannot make much progress if they stand up to the competition overall.

Are there any better alternatives?

For some, it might be worth spending the additional $ 30 on the buds with better protection (Jabra Elite Active 75t) or the buds with better batteries (Sony WF-SP800N). Or, it might make sense to save $ 20 and opt for a less slim design in the JLab Epic Air Sport, but with similar features.

How long will they last?

I would prefer dust protection, but I am satisfied with the Flash X with IPX7 weather resistance, lasting build quality and a one-year guarantee. You should get these through many workouts.

Should you buy them

Yes. I wasn't originally sold for $ 170 for second generation True Wireless Flash X, especially because the buds had few major improvements, namely battery life and Bluetooth technology. But they were high-quality earphones the first time, and they still go well with their more expensive counterparts.

Editor's recommendations




06 Jun
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds Review: Surprisingly Excellent True Wireless Buds

Samsung Galaxy Buds review full performance

"The Galaxy Buds are a valuable pair of real wireless earphones."

  • Six hours of battery life

  • Sweatproof

  • Light, comfortable fit

  • Wireless charging case

  • Only 7 hours of battery in the case

This review was last updated by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends A / V, on June 5, 2020.

It's an exciting time for real wireless earbuds. With new chips that promise more compact designs and better battery life and finally make it real products, there are more reasons than ever to shorten the cable for your listening time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds is one of the first true next generation wireless headphones to hit the market and features the latest technology. With a battery life of six hours, a wireless charging case and a lightweight, nimble design, there's a lot to love about the company's newest buds.

Most impressive is that the Galaxy Buds feature set is available at an affordable price of $ 129. The buds were even bundled with pre-orders for the S10, S10 + or Fold phones. The combination of technology and value made the Galaxy Buds one of the best wireless earbuds you can currently buy, at least until the Galaxy Buds + came on the market.

Out of the box

The Galaxy Buds come in a small box with a charging case, a long USB Type-C cable, three sets of silicone earplugs and sports fins, and a small instruction manual. When you open the case, it immediately becomes clear that Samsung's successor to the 2018 Gear IconX is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, so that it can sit more comfortably in your ears.

An ergonomic triangular design integrates the comfortable rubber ear fins and the soft rubber ear plugs and offers a very solid fit and an excellent seal. This is easily one of the most convenient real wireless earbuds we've tested. While Apple's ear-tip-free AirPods can be a bit rough during longer listening sessions, the Galaxy Buds are almost unnoticed after insertion.

properties

First of all, the headphones from Samsung offer a solid battery life of six hours per charge – one hour more than comparable Apple and Jabra models. It was impressive at the time of his debut, although the bar has now been raised. The Galaxy Buds + offers 11 hours of playback, while the Edifier TWS NB offers five hours of noise reduction and 11 hours without this feature.

Unfortunately, the impressive playback time is not answered with a lot of juice in the case itself, which is our only real criticism of the Galaxy Buds. The Galaxy Buds case offers only seven hours of extra battery life, while competitors offer 20 to 30 hours or more.

The most convenient real wireless earbuds we've ever tested.

This is less of a concern for Galaxy phone owners, as the case includes the ability to wirelessly charge from the back of new Galaxy phones (or a standard wireless charging pad). However, this means that you won't be able to spend days at a time without finding a charging station or outlet. However, plugging in your headphones after 13 hours of play isn't a big deal for most of us, and it's a low price for all the other properties of the buds.

In addition to good battery life and a wireless charging case, the Galaxy buds offer a number of cool functions. Changing songs or adjusting the volume is done, for example, using intuitive touch controls that can be adjusted in the Samsung Wear app. With the app, you can also choose between five different equalizer settings to adjust the sound of the headphones to your ears and your taste in music.

Perhaps the most useful feature of the app is "Find my earbuds", which does exactly what you think it does and prevents you from digging through the sofa cushions or jeans pockets when the buds disappear.

The Galaxy Buds are particularly impressive due to the use of the two on-board microphones integrated in each headphone. During a call, the headphones can analyze how loud the sounds are around you. To do this, use the microphone on the outside of each headphone when the ambient noise is quieter, and the microphone near the inside of the headphone when it is louder. You can also use the microphones to whistle the sound of the outside world while listening to Samsung's ambient noise mode, which even includes a function that uses filtering to emphasize the sound of human voices.

Both ambient noise mode and call mode worked well during testing, allowing employees to be heard over music without removing the earbuds, and to call both quiet and noisy rooms without missing a beat. Call quality isn't as good as Apple's AirPods, but it does the job.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Ambient sound mode is great for situations like running or cycling where you want to jam but don't want to miss a scream or car horn when you need to hear it. And that's not the only way Samsung has targeted its latest earbuds to those who like to sweat: The Galaxy Buds have IPX2 protection, which means they're protected from dripping water (or sweat). It's not as good as the IP56 rating of Jabra models like the Elite Active 65t, but given the fact that Apple's more expensive AirPods don't offer any water resistance, this feature is welcome. You'll have to pay $ 250 for the AirPods Pro to get Apple's water resistance.

I took the headphones on a 5 mile run on a treadmill and found them great for training. Their lightweight and compact design keeps them in place, and thanks to the IPX2 rating, you don't have to worry about them breaking a sweat.

Audio performance

The ergonomic design of the Galaxy Buds and the soft silicone earplugs enable them to seal very well in your ears, to achieve a warm bass and a low mid-range and to avoid hard, thin sounds.

There are no real wireless earphones that we have tested and that feel so liberating.

During my time with the headphones, I heard a variety of pieces of music and played everything from the Beatles to Kendrick Lamar. Overall, the headphones performed well on all pieces of music and offered a relatively flat response despite the playback, even with large differences between the genres.

My preferred equalizer mode was the "Dynamic" setting, which allows the sound to be adjusted to best suit what you are listening to. The "Soft" mode and the "Clear" mode were also interesting. The former allowed you to hear things with a rounder, less harsh sound signature, and the latter only brought out a hint of the glow from acoustic guitars and cymbals.

Although I preferred Dynamic most often, it was nice to have a choice when it came to adapting the sound to the music. One option I wanted was standard on all wireless headphones.

The Galaxy Buds don't offer the vivid clarity that we've experienced from real wireless headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 or the Master and Dynamic MW07 and MW07 Plus, but they deliver a pleasant and customizable sound for well below half the price could easily be enjoyed every day. In fact, their sound is just as good or better than that of the more expensive Apple and Jabra models.

The stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection also made it great when cleaning my living room and kitchen, so I could just put your phone on a table or counter and forget it.

To listen to your favorite music in all styles on the go, the Galaxy Buds absolutely serve their purpose, and the lightweight design underlines the luxury of not having cords. Honestly, there are still very few real wireless earphones that we have tested that feel so liberating.

Warranty information

Samsung offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Our opinion

With a host of great features, six-hour battery life, and a fantastic list price of $ 129, the Galaxy Buds are currently the most compelling true wireless earbuds on the market.

Is there a better alternative?

The Galaxy Buds + are the obvious option here, with improved battery life and other features for an additional $ 20. The aforementioned Edifier TWS NB may fit even better because it offers good active noise cancellation for $ 10 less.

You should also consider Amazon's Echo Buds. They are a great alternative if you are already deep in Amazon's Alexa ecosystem.

Other close competitors to the Galaxy Buds – Apple's AirPods and Elite Active 65t and Jabra Elite 75t from Jabra – offer steeper sticker prices, although you may find the earlier Jabra model at a discount once the 75t arrives.

How long will they last?

Samsung has made durable products in the past, and we don't expect the buds to be different. With replaceable earplugs and ear fins, we expect a long lifespan.

Should you buy them

Yes. If you are looking for comfortable, real wireless earbuds with excellent battery life, good sound and an affordable price, you have come to the right place.

Editor's recommendations




23 Apr
Blog

Sony WH-CH710N Headphones Review: A True Wireless Value

Sony WH-CH710N headphones

"Sony's WH-CH710N wireless headphones are great at being good."

  • Excellent battery life

  • Comfortable design

  • Integration of the stellar voice assistant

  • Inconspicuous noise cancellation

The Sony WH-CH710N is the middle ground in the extensive range of wireless headphones from Sony. They have more premium features than Sony's entry-level models, without the premium price of flagship models like the WH-1000XM3.

Without question, some corners had to be cut to achieve this. However, the $ 200 Sony WH-CH710N, which will be available for pre-sale this month, offers more than enough features to make it fascinating – and an important addition to the Sony roster.

Out of the box

Corner No. 1: The box in which the WH-CH710N is delivered is just a box. I will of course not hold that against Sony. If you save price, you will lose some pomp and that is understandable.

Sony WH-CH710N headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Likewise, the WH-CH710N does not include a carrying case. A USB-C charging cable and a headphone cable are also included, as is a picture book that is displayed as a user guide. I found Sony's online help much more useful.

The Bluetooth setup was routine and simple. The WH-CH710N also supports Near Field Communication (NFC), where compatible devices can be paired with the headphones by touching the left ear cup. It was also a breeze. After a week of intensive listening with these headphones paired with a Google Pixel 2, I had no noteworthy connection problems. I also found the range of these Bluetooth 5-supported headphones to be exceptional.

design

I was surprised at the smaller footprint of the WH-CH710N, at least compared to other headphones I've tested recently. They are not exactly light, but for me they were of a good size and weight for longer listening times.

Sony WH-CH710N headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The oval ear pads were soft, but not as soft as you would expect from higher quality products. The headband also felt a little stiffer than I would have liked. These are mostly minor annoyances that have not affected my overall experience.

A total of five buttons are integrated in the WH-CH710N. There is an on / off switch on the left auricle, three buttons for volume and action commands aligned in a row on the right auricle, and a button to toggle between noise canceling and ambient sounds located on the same right auricle. A little learning curve was required to get used to the different buttons, but I was able to use each functionally in no time.

properties

On paper, there seems to be a lot to like about the features of the Sony WH-CH710N. These include the battery life and the compatibility of the voice assistant.

Sony WH-CH710N headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The WH-CH710N offers an estimated playback time of 35 hours with noise reduction activated and 45 hours without noise reduction. This is better than the WH-1000XM3's 30-hour battery life and is enough to take a week's commute without needing to recharge.

For obvious reasons, I didn't commute when I used these headphones. But they survived me with fairly constant use all week, so I can vouch for the longevity of these headphones. It takes approximately seven hours to fully charge the WH-CH710N. However, after 10 minutes of charging, you can play for an hour. It's not quite as fast as the WH-1000XM3, but it's still decent.

My beef mentioned above with the physical instruction manual is about activating voice assistants with the headphones. Based on the physical instructions, it is difficult to set up your preferred voice assistant. However, the online guide contains detailed instructions and quickly guided me through choosing my preferred assistant from the settings on my phone.

I chose Amazon Alexa as my assistant and by long pressing this action button I was able to do everything that I normally use with my Alexa devices, from setting the timer when cooking to controlling light bulbs and other smart home products . It may not be a big deal for everyone, but for a person who often uses smart assistants, flawless integration was a solid benefit.

Audio quality

I'm just going to get this out of the way now: The WH-CH710N won't sound as good as the WH-1000XM3 or other high-end alternatives. You just can't keep up with the clarity and audio quality of these premium wireless headphones.

Sony WH-CH710N headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

This is frankly not a big deal. They shouldn't be able to compete with high quality products in terms of sound, and they didn't have a price for it. What the Sony WH-CH710N had to do sounded good because if they weren't, they'd be a waste of great features.

I have good news. Equipped with 30 mm drivers and a frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz, the WH-CH710N offers what I can best describe as reliable audio quality. Even though I couldn't find a track that blew me away musically, it was difficult for me to come across a song that was misrepresented by the criminal.

If you're looking for high-fidelity sound for a fraction of the price, you'll be disappointed with the WH-CH710N, especially the limited codec support that includes SBC and AAC. But with realistic expectations, I think most people would enjoy how they sound.

Noise cancellation

The WH-CH710N is advertised as noise canceling headphones, but is not an active noise canceling headphones. Instead, Sony implemented a technology called AINC (Artificial Intelligence Noise Cancellation), which is designed to adapt continuously to the environment in order to create the most effective mode for noise suppression.

To support this, the headphones in each ear cup have a pair of microphones, one forward and one rear, to pick up as much ambient noise as possible. They also have an ambient sound mode to turn on outside noise without having to remove the headphones, and an option to turn off noise cancellation and ambient mode altogether.

In my experience, the AINC included in the WH-CH710N works … to a certain extent. At normal listening volume, some lower frequencies are filtered out well. But some annoying noises still found their way into my listening experience. Such as the neighbors' power tools during a weekend project. The noise canceling has muffled that noise to some extent, but it was nothing more than what I am used to with more premium headphones.

Our opinion

For the right person, the Sony WH-CH710N offers excellent value for money. It has a number of features for its cost if you're okay with sacrificing sound quality and noise canceling ability to keep on budget.

Are there any better alternatives?

It depends on what concessions you want to make. The WH-1000XM3 has dropped significantly in price, but they still cost almost $ 80 more than the $ 199 WH-CH710N. The previous model in the range, the Sony WH-CH700N, has dropped to $ 129 and has similar features, namely an identical battery life. However, the latest model has new components and technologies, which may make the additional costs worthwhile.

How long will they last?

The Sony WH-CH710N headband is rigid, but feels durable just like the rest of the product. As long as they are not misused, they should be your daily doses for the foreseeable future.

Should you buy it

Yes. They are not their more expensive, popular older siblings. Ultimately, the WH-CH710N offers excellent battery life and reasonable sound at a manageable price. They're not the best, but they're great at being good.

Editor's recommendations




23 Mar
Blog

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Earbuds Review

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

"Sennheiser has managed to make the best-sounding earphones even better."

  • Unsurpassed sound quality

  • Stellar active noise cancellation

  • Easy setup and control

  • Revised battery life

  • Lean aesthetics

  • Expensive

  • Comparatively bulky design

In our humble opinion, the original Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless were the best sounding real wireless earbuds you could buy. But the excellent audio quality was costly, not just the high price that went with it. Sennheiser's first crack in real wireless simply didn't have the features that justified its price, with poor battery life being the biggest mistake.

Fortunately, two years turned out to be enough to fix some shortcomings. Sennheiser's recently announced $ 300 Momentum True Wireless 2, which is slated to hit stores in April 2020, are the five-tool stars we wanted from their predecessor. Thanks to the significantly improved battery life and the additional active noise suppression, Sennheiser has combined its incomparable sound quality in one overall package. Or at least damn close.

Out of the box

Aside from a few changes, nothing much has changed in terms of design from generation to generation. Sennheiser has shrunk the new buds by almost 2 mm to reduce weight and improve comfort. However, they have the same sharp aesthetics as the originals and have the silver Sennheiser logo on each end cap. The same applies to the supplied charging case; It maintains the pill form of the first version and is wrapped in a familiar, sleek fabric.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 case

Aside from the buds themselves and the case, the package included a quick start guide, three additional pairs of silicone earplugs, and a charging cable that is just as short as the previous iteration. I exchanged the earbuds that came with the buds for a slightly smaller option, and then put them in to get a firm but secure fit. With a quick glance at the manual, I went seamlessly through the setup process, in which both buds were touched simultaneously to put them in pairing mode, find them in my phone's Bluetooth settings, and connect.

design

I registered with these buds within the first few hours and noticed the size. Don't get me wrong, they're not the bulkiest earbuds I've dealt with, but they certainly won't go away in your ear like lighter options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds + do.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Sennheiser has made progress by making Momentum 2 smaller than the originals, and I can confirm that this helped balance the load. Overall, they're comfortable earbuds, and I haven't noticed any major concerns when I wear them for extended listening sessions. However, if larger buds bother you more, I would take this into account when considering Sennheiser.

characteristics

The highlight in the converted bag with functions for the Momentum True Wireless 2 is the battery life. The originals offered disappointing four hours of playback on a single charge and a total of 12 hours on the case, neither of which could compete with much cheaper options like Apple's AirPods or Jabra's Elite Active 75T. It was a glaring flaw in an otherwise outstanding pair of buds and clearly something Sennheiser had to correct.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The second generation of Momentum offers seven hours per charge and a total of 28 hours in combination with the charging case. Using active noise canceling and listening at louder volume usually affects these numbers, but for the most part, these juiced buds have kept the end of the battery bargain.

As is common today with wireless earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 2 has customizable touch controls and detection features that pause playback when you remove an earbud. This "smart pause" function, as Sennheiser calls it, was slightly different from others that I auditioned because it stopped playing more gradually than a more abrupt pause in the sound. It's a small detail, but it became more and more important to me over time.

The Momentum 2 was easy to use with the touch controls. It takes a little trial and error to put all the commands into memory – things like volume controls are separated by buds, and more than once I've cranked up the volume instead of dampening it – but when I did, it was easy that control experience without reaching for my cell phone.

Like its older relatives, the Momentum 2 have IPX4 weather resistance. Essentially splashproof, but not completely waterproof. They were good for the light workouts I could do while practicing social distance, but I can't speak for how they would do in repeated sweaty sessions.

App optional, but not required

The Momentum True Wireless 2 have their own app called Sennheiser Smart Control. Since the earphones won't be available to the general public until next month, I've interacted with a beta version of the app so your mileage may vary. But for my money, the app itself was a decent compliment, but it wasn't necessary to enjoy these buds.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

They offered the opportunity to customize your touch controls, although after learning the standard controls, I didn't want to go back to the drawing board. There is also a tab where you can toggle the buds 'transparent hearing' function on and off so that you can record the sounds of the environment around you if you wish. But I could do that with a few blows to my right bud.

From my point of view, the most useful functions in the app were the settings that you could use to deactivate things like smart pause or the option to answer calls automatically. The equalizer provided with the app was useful for getting a little deeper or more heights out of the buds, but I always wanted to reset the buds to their original mood.

The audio quality is increased with ANC

At the expense of repetition, the first generation Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless were the best wireless earbuds we've ever heard. The company, widely known as a leader in audio quality, shouldn't have had to add much to the next edition to maintain the status quo.

Instead, they added active noise cancellation to the Momentum 2. In my opinion, this is a pretty big deal.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Everything that has been applauded about the original is still there. The clarity, the impressive low-end, the breathtaking stereo images. I was impressed with how listening to selections like George Ezras Shotgun, the earbuds could easily keep up with the song's tight bass notes while refusing to overwhelm the singer's tremendous vocals. I've heard some pretty powerful earphones, but this is just another experience. The sound draws you into the music and devours you when you record notes and instruments that simply are not available from competitors.

Now take all of that and add active noise cancellation. With properly fitting earplugs, the earphones can solidly exclude ambient noise without this function. My morning dog walk along a busy road has never been so calm.

By tapping my right bud three times to activate active noise cancellation, I only heard Bill Burr's giggles during the Monday Morning Podcast. While I was working on the couch a few meters from my partner, I couldn't understand a word when she tried to communicate. Not ideal from a relationship point of view, but ideal for suppressing office noise, and probably very effective for travel.

Our opinion

Sennheiser has managed to make the best sounding earbuds even better by adding active noise canceling and significantly improving battery life. Earphones were previously available at a premium price and don't make a mistake, they still do. But with everything they have to offer, the Momentum True Wireless 2 offers remarkable value for money.

Are there any better alternatives?

The Sony WH-1000XM3 does most of what the Sennheiser do for around $ 70 less. They don't quite match in terms of audio quality, but are a viable option for those who aren't interested in the Momentum True Wireless 2.

Another cheaper model, the Samsung Galaxy Buds + for $ 149, offers solid sound and an industry-leading 11-hour playback time. They just lack the active noise cancellation function and they cannot keep up with the premium audio quality.

How long will they last?

Sennheiser has a history of exceptional workmanship with its products and there is no reason to believe that the Momentum 2 will be an outlier. It remains to be seen how fast the true wireless audio world moves, how long it takes for the technology behind the buds to become obsolete.

Should you buy them

Yes. They're still a bit tall and one of the more expensive pairs out there, but you won't find anywhere else earphones that sound so good with this wealth of quality features.

Editor's recommendations




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