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I reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and they’re a glorious fusion of the best parts of their predecessors

7:00 pm | May 15, 2025

Sony WH-1000XM6: two-minute review

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are here to try to cement Sony's status as the go-to brand for headphones, three years after the release of its previous flagship model.

Sony says that the WH-1000XM6 are “the best noise cancelling product on the market” as well as being “improved in every single way” over previous models – talk about setting a high bar. But thankfully, they manage to jump that bar on almost every metric.

As you may expect, the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer expressive and clean audio from a new 30mm driver alongside a new QN3 processor, featuring a ‘noise shaper’ that levels up digital to analogue conversion and pre-empts sudden sound changes, resulting in a more controlled listening experience. There’s also a more balanced sound signature out of the gate, which doesn’t compromise on punchy bass, rich mids or energetic treble.

The new QN3 processor also harnesses the power of 12 microphones – four more than last time – to serve up truly incredible noise cancelling capabilities. These supply better ANC than the majority of the best noise cancelling headphones out there. Yes, they even stand up to the critically acclaimed Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which have ruled the noise cancelling roost since their launch. When on public transport, walking near traffic or working away in the office, I had either near-silence or total silence, enabling me to indulge in beautifully isolated listening sessions.

But that’s not all. There are a ton more features to get your teeth sunk into via Sony’s Sound Connect app. There’s adaptive sound control, LDAC and DSEE Extreme, extensive EQ options, Cinema mode for immersive audio, and Auracast – among others. Almost everything you could want from a premium pair of cans is here, all in one place.

On top of that, there’s an updated design, which compiles the best of what the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Sony WH-1000XM4 had to offer. See, foldability is back from the XM4 era, and I think the majority of people will be grateful for that.

There are new, more durable hinges (the XM5 had a hinge issue) and a slightly smaller magnetic carry case as well. But the sleeker look of the XM5 has still been largely maintained.

There’s an evolution of what came before too, with a wider headband for increased comfort and a more snug fit around the neck when the headphones are out of use. Overall, you’re getting a fantastic combination of style and comfort, though some may still feel that the earcups are a tad chunky.

Person holding up the Sony WH-1000XM6 — (Image credit: Future)

Other incremental improvements include the ability to charge while streaming over Bluetooth, refined touch controls and better call quality. And when all the little adjustments come together, it’s clear – these are the best Sony headphones produced to date.

Still, there are a few areas in which the WH-1000XM6 fall just short of their rivals. You get 30 hours of battery life with ANC, which is by no means bad, but lots of rivals (even much cheaper ones) beat that, and some can double it.

On top of that, they are quite expensive. At $449 / £399 / AU$699, these are $50 / £20 / AU$50 pricier than their predecessors were at launch. And given the WH-1000XM5 are now widely available for around $300 / £250, some may be a little tentative at taking the plunge on Sony’s newest flagship headphones.

Finally, the newly released Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are the same price in the UK (US release and pricing tbc), but sound even better than these Sony over-ears. Sure, they don’t quite match the XM6 on ANC or features overall, but they're clearly better sound for the price.

All in all, though, the Sony WH-1000XM6 still have a strong claim to be some of the best headphones around, with their noise-crushing ANC being the real highlight. Their treasure trove of features and talented audio performance also help them to stand tall in a convoluted market, and the design tweaks meld all the highlights from their ancestral lineage. Sure, they’re pricey, but if you’re willing to splash the cash, you’ll almost certainly love Sony’s latest release.

Man turning on the Sony WH-1000XM6 — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: price & release date

$449 / £400 / AU$699
Launched on May 15th, 2025

The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched in May 2025, three years after the preceeding WH-1000XM5 model. Sony is unclear on the exact release date at the time of publishing, stating just that they'll be available "from May" in the UK/US, while Sony Australia says you can get them "from June 2025. Pre-order available from May 16th, 2025."

At launch, they’re available in three colorways: Black; Silver; and Midnight Blue. However, there could be scope for more color variants in the future – we saw the XM5 adopt a new Smoky Pink only back in September 2024.

At the point of release, the Sony WH-1000XM6 cost $449 / £399 / AU$699. That’s $50 / £20 more than their predecessors launched at. This price puts Sony’s flagship cans up against the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 – more on those later, but basically they're very much in the premium range.

Despite the slight price bump over their predecessors, these are still notably cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max – which have a huge list price of $549 / £549 / AU$899.

Sony WH-1000XM6 earcups — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: Specs

Drivers	30mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life	30 hours (ANC on)
Weight	254g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm
Frequency range	Not listed
Waterproofing	None

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: features

Super-impressive active noise cancellation
The best touch controls I’ve used
Battery life may not wow, but in-use charging is now here

When I attended the launch of the Sony WH-1000XM6, Sony described its new flagship headphones as “the best noise-cancelling product on the market”. And the ANC is far and away the standout feature these headphones have in their arsenal.

You’re getting some of the best noise cancellation that any headphones can offer with the XM6. ANC has been improved over the XM5 thanks to Sony’s new QN3 noise cancelling processor, which harnesses twelve microphones to shut out the world around you.

Even when compared to the awesome Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the XM6 perform exceptionally well. I tried both pairs of headphones while vacuuming my home and walking in high-traffic areas, among other tasks, and each dealt with external noise fantastically.

But in my experience, the XM6 performed ever so slightly better, producing a minimum of near-silence from the outside at 60-70% volume in each test. Rest assured – these really are the real deal as far as ANC is concerned.

I also tested the XM6’s noise cancelling capabilities at Sony’s 5020 studio in Madrid, before doing real-world testing. While there, I played a song at about 50% volume with a bunch of people chatting around me and the outside world was totally shut out – it was just me and my music. At one stage, a super-harsh static sound was blasted at the studio and that slightly crept through. It was dampened severely, though, and I was barely disturbed.

If you want to be more aware of your surroundings – fear not – there’s a very fleshed-out Ambient Sound mode. This includes a slider that ranges from 1 to 20 and lets more exterior noise seep through the higher you go. On top of that, there’s a voice passthrough checkbox, which filters through speech while still suppressing other noises.

Ambient mode worked very nicely for me; I could easily hear the sound of typing in my office, murmurs from a nearby conversation and doors opening. Also, it’s worth noting Auto Ambient Sound mode, which adjusts volume of ambient sounds depending on noise levels around you.

But another one of my favorite features on the Sony WH-1000XM6 is their excellent touch controls. Something that may seem gimmicky, but is actually incredibly helpful, is that you can cup your hand over the right earcup to smoothly, yet drastically reduce media volume and dampen noise cancelling effects.

This isn't new to the XM6, but it's really worth highlighting. I found it incredibly useful in an office environment when a colleague wanted to talk with me, or if I was in a story and didn’t want to rip the cans off. In fact, I didn’t even bother turning on the Speak-to-Chat function, because this option is so responsive.

Generally, the XM6 have the most consistent, intuitive touch controls I’ve ever used on a pair of headphones. On the right earcup, you can slide your finger up or down and hold it in position to continually raise or lower volume respectively. That’s an improvement over the XM5, which required you to constantly flick up or down to amend loudness.

You can also double tap to pause music and flick forwards or backwards to skip or return to the previous track. Touch controls are locked to the right earcup only, much like the WH-1000XM5 model.

And there are plenty of returning features from the previous model to enjoy. Of course, you’ve got the likes of multi-point connectivity, wear detection and a good app in Sony Sound Connect.

But there’s more: adaptive sound control, which adjusts audio output depending on your environment and movement; head gesture monitoring for taking or rejecting calls; and voice assistant compatibility.

There are a few new nuggets to uncover as far as features go, however. Perhaps one of the biggest inclusions is Auracast. This is a type of Bluetooth technology that enables you to tune into an audio broadcast transmitted from a phone, TV or similar device without any pairing.

Furthermore, you can now mute the mic on the XM6 by simply double pressing the noise cancelling button. You’ll need to enable this in settings, but it’s ultra useful when on a Microsoft Teams or Slack call, for instance.

There’s only one real area where the Sony WH-1000XM6 failed to impress me as far as features: its battery life. You’re getting 30 hours of playtime from this model, which is by no means bad – it’s the same you’ll get on the XM5 and a whole host of rivals. But there are some cans that are capable of more. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, for example, can go 60 hours with ANC on – now that’s impressive.

Still, you can charge the XM6 while using them now, and even get three hours of playtime from just three minutes of charging – that is if you have a USB PD charger around.

If you’re looking for over-ears with highly astute call quality, you can trust the XM6 to deliver. The strongest example of this was a demo at Sony’s 5020 Studio in Madrid, in which someone make a call in an artificially noisy environment – and after placing the XM6 on, their voice was totally separated from clamoring and noise littering their surroundings.

In my real-world use, my own speech came through cleanly when making phone calls to family and friends, with vocals sounding crisp. That’s in part thanks to the additional beamforming mics used on the XM6 – there are six this time and they help to shift focus towards the mouth – while AI also enters the fray to scoop out external sounds.

Features score: 5/5

Person plugging USB-C charging cable into the Sony WH-1000XM6 — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: sound quality

Beautifully rounded and immersive audio
DSEE extreme and LDAC for improved Bluetooth streaming
Default tuning is great, but great EQ options also available

Like their predecessors, the Sony WH-1000XM6 use a 30mm driver, rather than the larger 40mm one used for the legendary XM4 model. But the driver itself is new and improved, designed to offer more balanced audio across all frequencies.

That QN3 processor I mentioned earlier also includes a ‘noise shaper’, which refines digital to analogue conversion and enables the cans to anticipate sudden sound changes, intended to reduce distortion and produce a more controlled listening experience.

So, yes, there’s plenty of flashy new tech in the XM6 headphones, but do they actually deliver a premium audio performance? Short answer: yes. You’ll get a rhythmic, detailed, and well-balanced listen with the Sony WH-1000XM6 that still doesn’t skimp on punchy bass and exciting treble output. And that’s regardless of whether you’re listening with ANC turned on or off.

For instance, I tuned into Fluffy by Himiko Kikuchi – a laid-back jazzy track – and expressive piano sounded pleasantly forward, while full-sounding smooth bass and tightly controlled percussion accompanied subtle strings dancing through the track.

The balanced output across all frequencies is really pleasing, and there does seem to be a bit less emphasis on the low-end compared to Sony’s previous pair of flagship cans – at least out of the box.

The default EQ calibration is certainly even enough to ensure you can hear those finer details across the frequency range. No need to worry about overbearing bass, harsh treble or overly recessed mids.

When tuning into I Want You by Moloko, I was struck by the breathy vocals, impactful and response cymbal hits and pumping, yet disciplined bass output. This song adds instrument after instrument as it unfolds, resulting in a densely layered climax. Yet the XM6 had the capability to keep things in check, maintaining clear, distortion-free audio throughout.

There’s some incredibly stiff competition for Sony’s new headphones. I tested out a number of rivals, including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.

Vocals and some finer details sounded slightly clearer on the XM6 compared to Bose’s effort, though the latter did still sound great considering you can now regularly scoop them up for closer to $350 / £350.

The Px7 S3 launched mere weeks before the XM6 at essentially the same price-point (at least in the UK) and I found they had a slightly more luxury sound. They could lift vocals out of the mix and push them forwards a little more precisely than the XM6, and their open, spatial-sounding audio output was truly hypnotizing.

You get slightly better ANC from the Sony XM6, plus I found the Sony cans to be more comfortable – but if we’re talking pure sound, you could do a little better for the same price.

But still, there are plenty of ways to get a sound that matches your style with the XM6. To truly adapt them to your palate, head over to Sony’s Sound Connect app and get playing with EQ adjustment.

You have a few options here: Find Your Equalizer, which lets you pick the sound signature that suits your tastes best; presets, including Heavy, Clear and Game; or custom EQ, which lets you manually create your own calibration with a 10-band equalizer.

And there’s even more to experiment with in the Sound Connect app that can elevate your listening to the next level. Specifically, you get access to DSEE Extreme, a technology that up-mixes lower quality audio files to bring out the most detailed, quality-sounding audio possible. This works really well on music platforms such as Spotify, which is yet to offer higher-resolution streaming.

There’s also LDAC, which enables you to access ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth listening. And if you want to keep it old-school, there’s also a 3.5mm port on the headphones, as well as a cable in the box so you can engage in wired listening.

The Sony WH-1000XM6 are designed for more than just music listening, though. There’s improved width to the XM6’s soundstage, which is useful if you’re watching movies or TV series on your phone, for instance. And on top of that, there’s a cinema listening mode, which harnesses Sony’s 360 Reality Audio Upmix and can convert a stereo signal into an immersive, wraparound sonic experience.

I tried watching The Boy and the Heron on Netflix in Cinema mode and was impressed by the expansiveness and directionality of audio. Voices, for instance, may not have been as crystal clear as Standard mode, but if immersion is what you’re chasing, it’s well worth checking out.

There’s also a Background Music option, which can make your music sound as if it’s playing in a café or living room. Spatial audio and head tracking are included too – but will only work on certain devices that support Android's built-in head tracking, and this doesn't include Samsung phones (and obviously rules out Apple devices).

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Man using the Sony WH-1000XM6 — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: design

Foldability is back and better than before
Ultra-comfortable headband
Some may find them to be a little bulky
New magnetic case is much more convenient

The WH-1000XM6 may not look drastically different to their predecessor, but Sony’s made a handful of small tweaks that I really appreciate.

Stitching on the front of the headband is gone in favor of a smoother, more premium look, and the headband itself is a little wider for improved comfort.

The earcups also fit more seamlessly around the neck in a downward facing position, which is super useful if you’re on the go or just need to stop for a chat.

There’s one major difference between the XM6 and the XM5, though, and that’s the reintroduction of a folding headband. Controversially, the XM5 ditched this in favor of a single-hinge, slimmer look – but XM4 fans, it’s your lucky day.

There are new, more durable hinges on the XM6 that enable them to neatly fold into a new magnetically closed carry case – this isn’t the smallest or the most flashy, but is still assembled to a high standard.

They also don’t fold up as compactly as headphones like the Marshall Monitor III ANC or Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, say, so are not quite pocketable – but it's nice to packing in a bag.

But how do the headphones look and feel in-use? Pretty good all round! They’ve been designed in a way that makes them appear more straight on your head, rather than curved inward. That wider headband I mentioned also goes a long way in improving comfort for multi-hour listening sessions. Pair that with beautifully padded earcups and easily accessible buttons and there’s not much more I could ask for.

There are a few minor things I don’t love about the design of the XM6, though. First of all, the earcups look quite bulky, meaning you’re not getting the most sleek, stylish look compared to something like the Sonos Ace.

The color options, while classy, also feel a little bit safe. I would’ve liked to see a more vibrant option thrown in there, or even the Smoky Pink variant – which was released as a late addition to the XM5 lineup – available from the get-go.

Finally, there’s still no waterproofing on this new model. That’s usually the case for over-ear headphones, but it would’ve been nice to see Sony lead the way with some kind of water resistance rating.

All in all, though, there’s still so much to love about the XM6 design-wise. They have a premium-looking, almost paper-like matte consistency to the casing’s finish. And they’re nice and light once again, weighing in at just 254g.

There are two physical buttons – one to turn the headphones off and on or pair via Bluetooth and one to toggle between noise cancelling modes or mute the mic during calls.

Design score: 4.5/5

Sony WH-1000XM6 folded inside magnetic case — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: value

A very premium price, no question
Truly awesome noise cancelling and great audio quality
Best of both worlds from previous two gens

Let’s address the elephant in the room. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are a pricey pair of headphones. And they’re also more expensive than their predecessor at launch. Yep, these come in at $449 / £400 / AU$699, which is $50 / £20 / AU$50 more than the XM5 at the point of release.

Of course, there have been economic issues for Sony and co to deal with, and there are a number of significant improvements on this model. But nonetheless, it’s a lot to pay for some over-ears considering there are so many excellent competitors floating around for considerably less.

For example, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra – which offer incredible noise cancelling capabilities, adept audio and a nice selection of smart features – are now more than a year-old, so you can find them on sale for under $350 / £350 pretty regularly. That's a great deal less than the new XM6.

Even the WH-1000XM5 are now widely sold for around $300 / £250. And spending that extra $150 / £150 to get the newest instalment, won't be a clear-cut decision for everyone, though I think the XM6 make the case for themselves.

But let’s give the XM6 their flowers. In terms of ANC, it really doesn’t get much better than this. You get top-tier isolation as well as fantastic sound quality, a boat-load of features and a design that marries the best of the XM4 and XM5 together. Sure, you may prefer the Bowers & Wilkins Px& S3 for sound, but the WH-1000XM6 are still, undoubtedly, among 2025’s very best over-ear headphones.

Value score: 4/5

Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sony WH-1000XM5 leaning against pole — Sony WH-1000XM6 next to their predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM5 (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Sony WH-1000XM6?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	In-use charging is neat, but incredible ANC and smart features steal the show.	5/5
Sound quality	Expressive, impactful audio that is more tuneable than ever.	4.5/5
Design	A touch chunky, but pleasingly foldable and highly comfortable.	4.5/5
Value	A little more than the XM5 and there's hot competition, but hard to beat as all-rounders.	4/5

Buy them if…

You want incredible noise cancellation
The Sony WH-1000XM6 plate up seriously impressive noise cancellation capabilities. Seriously, I could barely hear anything other than my favorite tunes when using these cans, even when walking in areas with heavy traffic or while vacuuming. If you’re sick of hearing the clicking and clacking of the train on your daily commute – or maybe your neighbor’s non-stop DIY projects, it might be time to snap these cans up.

You want top-tier features
These Sony cans supply no end of features to mess around with. You get adaptive noise cancelling, cinema upmixing, ‘hi-res’ music streaming options, Find Your Equalizer… need I say more? Pretty much everything you could ever want from some headphones is at your fingertips with the XM6. Just download the Sound Connect app and you’re off.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re on a budget
At $450 / £400, these over-ears are hardly wallet-friendly. You can get a lot of the features from the XM5 for far less, and there are some awesome affordable options out there such as the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51, which pack ANC, solid sound and wonderful battery life for less than $100 / £100.

You want bundles of playtime
Now don’t get me wrong, 30 hours of playtime with ANC on isn’t too bad. It’s just not anything special either. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless deliver an astonishingly high 60-hour battery life. And that’s with ANC on!

Person plugging 3.5mm cable into Sony WH-1000XM6 — (Image credit: Future)

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: also consider

	Sony WH-1000XM6	Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3	Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Price	$449 / £399 / AU$699	$TBC / £399 / AU$699	$429 / £449 / AU$649
Drivers	30mm dynamic	40mm dynamic	35mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	30 hours (ANC on)	30 hours (ANC on)	24 hours (ANC on)
Weight	254g	300g	250g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm	Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm	Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm
Frequency range	Not listed	10Hz-20kHz	20Hz-20kHz
Waterproofing	None	None	None

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
I tested the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 during the course of this review, and they blew me away. Their ability to lift vocal performances to the forefront while still delivering pounding bass and tight treble is something that you have to hear to believe. ANC isn’t quite as good as the XM6 and some features, like spatial audio, are only coming via update. But for £400 – US release and pricing is TNC – you really are looking at top-tier sound. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Even though it’s been more than a year since the Bose QuietComfort Ultra came to market, they’re still among the best over-ear headphones money can buy. Why? Well, it’s really all about ANC. You’re getting phenomenal isolation from the outside world here and with their price now slashed a fair amount, they’re a seriously strong candidate to be your next audio companion. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review.

Sony WH-1000XM6 review: How I tested

Tested for a week
Used while travelling, in the office, and at home
Predominantly tested using Tidal streaming

I tested the Sony WH-1000XM6 over the course of a week. I used the over-ears in a variety of environments, including Sony’s 5020 Studio in Madrid, on walks near built-up roads and on public transport. I mainly connected the headphones to Tidal with the LDAC codec enabled for the best quality audio. But I also tried Cinema mode on Netflix and used DSEE Extreme on Spotify music files.

When listening to tunes, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. I also tested the headphones with my Windows laptop to trial quality using a wired connection. On top of that, I compared the WH-1000XM6 to a number of competitors we recommend, including Sony’s own WH-1000XM5, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested these clip-on open ear headphones with 3D audio – here’s how I rated them

9:00 pm | May 13, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: ANC | Comments: Off

Anker Soundcore C40i: review

Enter the Anker Soundcore C40i, another competitor in the ever-growing field of open ear headphones. Thanks to their lack of a seal, these clip-on headphones are ideal for those who want to be aware of their surroundings – such as runners or gym-goers. At the same time, the Anker Soundcore C40i still aim to deliver a strong sonic experience – something that a lot of open ear models have struggled to accomplish. So how do they fare?

Well, as you may expect, you’re not going to get stunning audio from the Anker Soundcore C40i. Like all open ear headphones, the loose design means that sound is less concentrated and there’s ambient noise to compete with from your surroundings. Yet these still perform decently in the audio department. Well, that is, after a bit of tinkering.

You see, out of the gate, I wasn’t sure if me and the Anker Soundcore C40i would be best pals. The default Soundcore Signature tuning is a little convoluted and bass packs a pretty feeble punch… well, more of a tap really. But I had no need to fear, because like many of the best open ear headphones, the C40i have custom EQ settings. I simply wandered over to the Soundcore app and refined audio by selecting 3D Surround Sound.

I was actually quite surprised that the 3D audio mode was a hit – I’ve seen no end of headphones fail on this, including rival clip-on buds like the Edifier LolliClip. Bass response is improved and you get a decently immersive listening experience – I stuck with 3D mode for much of my testing. There’s also a Bass, Volume Booster and an eight-band custom option for those who aren’t digging the 3D effects.

After getting all set up, I got straight into A Seagull & Clouds by Himiko Kikuchi, a beautiful funk-infused jazz track. The C40i performed very well for a pair of open ear headphones, with subtle percussive elements including tambourines coming through clearly, yet subtly enough to give the expressive trumpet, dancing keys and smooth bass plenty of limelight.

Moving over to Black Eye by Allie X and the pounding drum machine didn’t have the razor sharp speed that I’ve heard from more premium headphones, but its depth was replicated nicely, especially given the C40i’s open build. Higher pitched vocal segments sounded perfectly clear at medium volumes but could sound a little harsh at top levels.

Overall, I’d argue that the C40i sound above-average for a pair of open ear headphones. There’s no LDAC for ‘hi-res’ listening and you’re unlikely to be wowed by massive sub-bass, for example. But these do still offer up surprisingly good separation and impressively immersive overall sound, which is to be applauded.

There’s no noise cancelling here, as seen with some open ear headphones like the Honor Earbuds Open. And if you pair that with the C40i’s inherently leaky open design, you can expect listening sessions to be significantly interrupted if you’re in busy areas.

That could be a big win if you’re concerned about the risks of using ANC-enabled buds in traffic-heavy areas for your morning run. But if you’re instead looking to shut out the world around you, don’t worry – you can check out our guide to the best noise cancelling earbuds instead!

Someone picking Anker Soundcore C40i out of charging case — (Image credit: Future)

In general, there really aren’t a ton of features to play around with on the Soundcore C40i. Again, you can adjust EQ in the super easy-to-use app, which also shows devices connected with multi-point and battery life remaining for each bud and the charging case. The only other major inclusion is customizable button controls. You can assign a different function to tapping once, twice, or three times on the buds’ buttons. Options include playback control, voice assistant activation and volume adjustment.

The decision to use traditional button controls was also one that I had no issue with whatsoever. Sure, it’s not the most modern approach, but it removes the frustration I’ve experienced when accidentally triggering touch commands on rivals like the Happy Plugs Clip. These buttons also let you take or reject calls, which brings me onto mic quality. I found the C40i performed nicely, with clear speech on both calls and a voice recording. Background static was very limited and I wasn’t subjected to harsh sibilance either – no complaints here!

Outside of their button controls, I didn’t quite fall in love with the C40i’s design, though. Firstly, they’re not particularly pretty, with the Midnight model I tested having an almost muddy shade to it. The case also feels a little chunky and positioning the sync button on the underside of the case is a little odd – not that I really needed it thanks to the C40i automatically pairing to my phone via Bluetooth 5.4.

I also didn’t find these open ear headphones to be particularly comfortable. They were a little tight for me, so I rarely found myself keeping them on for longer than a couple of hours at a time. That’s something that the slightly newer, more expensive model, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip corrected with a more flexible build.

A couple more things before I stop moaning – both the C40i’s waterproofing and battery life are markedly average, with a number of competitors outperforming them. They’re just IPX4-rated, meaning they can handle some water splashes and sweat, but might not be the best with water jets or submersion. That’s not the case for a model like the IP57-rated Huawei FreeArc, which have plenty of protection against the elements. And you’re getting a moderate eight hours of playtime from the buds and maximum 21 hours with the case – again, nothing special.

The C40i still plate up impressive audio in 3D sound mode and I’m a big fan of the Soundcore companion app, so their list price of $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$149.99 is hardly outrageous. But you can do better. Specifically, the newer Anker Soundcore AeroClip are a more rounded, comfortable pick and only cost a touch more. And if you’re on a tighter budget, you can grab an excellent budget alternative like the Huawei FreeArc, which I’ve spotted on sale for less than £80 fairly regularly – but more on these below.

Anker Soundcore C40i review: specs

Waterproof rating	IPX4
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds); 21 hours (with charging case)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	5.8g (per bud); 40g (charging case)
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz

Anker Soundcore C40i with one of the earbuds outside of the charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore C40i review: price and availability

$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$149.99
Launched in October 2024

The clip-styled Anker Soundcore C40i released in October 2024 alongside a more traditional open ear model, the Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2. You can grab this model in three colorways: Desert Bronze; Midnight (black); or my personal favorite, Champagne Mist, which is a see-through variant, similar to the Sony WF-C710.

The C40i launched with a list price of $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$149.99, which is in the budget-to-midrange category. It’s worth noting that this model is significantly pricier than its predecessor, the Anker Soundcore C30i, which are typically $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99. On the other hand, you’ll have to shell out $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) for the more recent (and superior) Anker Soundcore AeroClip.

Anker Soundcore C40i against block — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Anker Soundcore C40i?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Solid mic quality, effective 3D sound mode, battery life just OK, no ANC.	3.5/5
Sound quality	Need some tuning, but offer solid bass output and clear audio for open ears.	4/5
Design	Not the most comfortable, average waterproofing, nice button controls.	3/5
Value	Fairly priced but you can do better in a similar price range.	3.5/5

Buy them if...

You’re on a budget
With a sub-$100 / £100 list price, the Anker Soundcore C40i are far from the most expensive open ear headphones on the market. They’re a bit less than the newer AeroClip model, making them a solid budget alternative.

You’re not into touch controls
If you don’t want fiddly touch controls then you’re in luck, because the C40i stick with good ‘ol buttons. You can customize the button controls in the Soundcore app too, allowing you to assign a different function to one, two, or three button presses.

Don't buy them if...

You’re an audiophile
These sound above average for a pair of open ear headphones, but still, you’re not going to get that rich, detailed and separated sound that a pair of the best wired earbuds can offer, for example.

You’re looking for ANC
Like a lot of open ear headphones, you won’t get ANC out of the Anker Soundcore C40i. Combine that with their open design and you’re going to find that a lot of ambient noise will flow in.

Anker Soundcore C40i review: also consider

	Anker Soundcore C40i	Edifier LolliClip	Huawei FreeArc
Price	$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$149.99	$129.99 (about £100 / AU$210)	£99.99 (about $130 / AU$200)
Waterproof rating	IPX4	IP56	IP57
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds); 21 hours (with charging case)	9 hours (earbuds); 39 hours (with charging case)	7 hours (earbuds), 28 hours (with charging case)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.2
Weight	5.8g (per bud); 40g (charging case)	7g (per bud); 46g (charging case)	8.9g (per bud); 67g (charging case)
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz	20Hz-40kHz	Not stated

Edifier LolliClip
OK, so at the time of writing, this model is only available to those of you in the US, although I got to test them out myself on the other side of the pond. These are a great pair of open ear headphones that have plenty of features – including ANC, heart rate monitoring and blood oxygen tracking. They also supply strong sound quality, a neat design and high comfortability. Sure, their companion app isn’t as sleek as the Soundcore one and EQ options are a bit limited, but they’re still an option that’s well-worth your consideration. Read our full Edifier LolliClip review.

Huawei FreeArc
Conversely, the Huawei FreeArc are an alternate option for UK customers who want a truly excellent open ear experience. We love these buds for their “top-tier sound”, natural fit and competitive price. That’s right, these can also be yours for less than £100 (about $130 / AU$200). Like the C40i, there’s no ANC and battery life won’t blow you away. But still, these are a great value option in a red-hot market. Read our full Huawei FreeArc review.

Anker Soundcore C40i review: How I tested

Anker Soundcore C40i plugged into USB-C charger — (Image credit: Future)

Tested during a one-week period
Used in the office and while out in public
Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Anker Soundcore C40i across the course of a week, predominantly when working at Future Labs, but also when out and about. I played around with their full set of features, tuned in for casual and critical listening and assessed their quality across all EQ presets.

When listening to music, I made use of Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. As always, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a variety of genres and is optimized for assessing sound quality across the frequencies. I also blasted a ton of tunes from my personal music library and compared audio capabilities against the Soundcore AeroClip on ear headphones.

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more about how we test

Viaim’s AI recording and transcription earbuds will blow your mind, if you’ll accept ANC that’s just a shade off excellent

1:00 pm | May 10, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: AI, ANC, Apple Music | Comments: Off

RecDot Earbuds: Two-minute review

Boy, have I enjoyed my experience with the Viaim RecDot earbuds. Beginning with the AI recording and transcription functionality and ending with the sound quality, there’s very little not to love about Viaim’s latest offering.

The positives begin with the ability to record and transcribe calls, audio/video clips and meetings. This covers all situations and scenarios that you could ever find yourself wanting this type of functionality. I tried all of these features and thankfully found them to be reliable and accurate; otherwise, I would have been left seriously frustrated. My only gripe was that if a speaker (as in, the person speaking) paused for too long, Viaim would insert a full stop. Not very helpful, but perhaps a nice reminder that AI doesn't have consciousness, creativity or actual emotion.

Transcription is extended further by translation tools, the creation of to-do lists and summaries, and sharing audio or transcriptions to other devices. It really is a one-stop shop for managing your professional life. I found that these buds fit seamlessly into all aspects of my life, but especially at work.

I’ve already mentioned how impressed I was with the sound quality, but my brief comment deserves expansion. Having listened to music and carried out calls with friends and colleagues, I think Viaim has hit the mark across the board for detail across the frequencies. Remarkably, I found that I could just as easily discern a caller’s words while in a busy location as I could enjoy soulful tunes having sunk into my favorite chair for the night.

In short, far from being AI earbuds with average sound quality that you have to put up with, these are buds that are as good as much of the competition out there at the moment. The fact that they also transcribe recordings like a pro is ever more impressive.

From a design point of view, the RecDot are slightly chunkier than I would have liked, although they look pretty good for it. They’re not the snuggest fit and therefore aren’t really suitable for intense exercise, but they’re fine for when you’re sat at a computer, commuting or in a meeting.

Each bud comes with a long stem which houses a sensor for picking up presses and swipes. I would love to have had a recognition tone or perhaps haptic feedback integration, as it can at times be difficult to tell if your touches have been picked up. The buds sit cosily in the charging case, which offers a total of 36 hours of life, with each bud able to hold a maximum of 9 hours of power. All of this is more than enough to keep you going even through the busiest of days.

At $249.99 / £185 / AU$375, they’re not the cheapest buds around, but I wouldn’t compare them like-for-like against any other alternative on the market right now. These are excellent-sounding buds that deliver game-changing transcription. If you’re looking to save time in (and after) work meetings, there’s no easier way than with Viaim’s RecDot.

Any flies in the ointment? One or two; the case lid feels a tad flimsy and the ANC is fine rather than fantastic. OK, so they're unlikely to ever make it into our guide to the best noise cancelling earbuds, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they popped up in our broader best earbuds guide. I also think that if ever we created a ‘best earbuds for AI’ category (can't be long, surely?) the RecDot would be a front-runner.

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Price & release date

Released January 2025
Priced $249.99 / £185 / AU$375

As Viaim’s flagship product, the RecDot earbuds attract a premium price tag. Early AI adopters might be able to stomach the price, but if you only have a passing interest in how AI can streamline your workflows, you might not be convinced.

It’s difficult to bring a direct price comparison given there are so few AI earbuds on the market that can do everything these earbuds can. One example would be the Aidio X1 AI Earbuds for $149, but we’ve not yet tested those – oh, and Samsung's Galaxy Buds can do the real-time translation trick (and have been able to for a little while now) provided you've got a Samsung phone.

A helpful comparison is always Apple's AirPods Pro 2, which usually cost under $199 / £199 / AU$349. Let's not mince words – the design correlation between Apple's buds and Viaim's newer effort is striking. If you go for the RecDot earbuds, you’ll be sacrificing ANC quality, but for the extra money, you’ll get an abundance of useful hearing health features that are well worth the money (especially if you own an iPhone).

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Specifications

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Features

Excellent AI recording
Live transcription
Smart ANC leaves a little to be desired

When you buy a pair of the best wireless earbuds, you’ll be looking for great audio, excellent ANC and a snug fit. What most people are not looking for is an extensive set of recording and transcription services. But just because you might not have been looking for them, doesn’t mean you don’t need 'em.

With that introduction out of the way, are you ready for some seriously good features? Let’s begin with recording. There are three primary ways your set of RecDot Earbuds can do this, including call recording, audio/video recording, or live recording. The first will transcribe in real-time during a system or VoIP call. The second transcribes speeches in an audio or video clip, again in real time. The last transcribes live when you are in face-to-face dialog or in a small meeting room.

No matter how you access these recordings and transcriptions, you’ll find them to be reliable, comprehensive and useful for everyday purposes. I used it to make written notes from my own voice, to access a transcription of a conversation with a friend, and in a meeting with colleagues.

The Viaim software was able to pick up what was being said with very few issues or errors. The only snafu I experienced was that if I or someone else spoke too slowly or paused, Viaim would think it needed to begin a new sentence even if that wasn’t the speaker’s intention. So, you'll need to sub-edit your notes afterwards, but I find that's true of all note-taking software. I’d definitely like to see some post-AI tools that can sweep through the text and bring corrections, but it's still a neat perk.

What is maybe even more impressive than real-time transcription is that Viaim is able to distinguish between different speakers and mark them accordingly. I found this feature to be surprisingly reliable, making it a good fit for creating extensive meeting notes about who said what.

Transcriptions can also be simultaneously translated into up to 14 languages. With support for English, Chinese, French, German, and others, Viaim has covered a very high percentage of the world’s languages. I wasn’t involved in any bilingual meetings during my time of testing, but I can imagine how helpful this would be to non-native speakers.

The final AI feature to mention is the meeting assistant, which extracts concise summaries and actionable to-do items from lengthy recordings. If my mind hadn’t already been blown, then it most certainly was when I tested this feature. I couldn’t believe how accurately it was able to determine who needed to do what. It also did it remarkably quickly. My experience of this particular feature rings true through all the AI tools: impressive, reliable, and accurate.

Let’s finish by talking ANC. The 'Smart ANC' in the RecDot claims to reduce ambient noise by up to 48 dB, which would make it more than capable of drowning out most ambient noise. They don’t nix noise to the level of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but they’re still capable enough for general everyday use. Given that they’ll be used primarily in office settings, you’re unlikely to need the highest-performing ANC buds – although for long-haul flights their minor shortcomings when it comes to jet engine noise cancellation could be more noticeable.

Features score: 4.5/5

RecDot Earbuds review: Sound quality

Vibrant, detailed, and crisp
Only one profile works for those with broad music tastes
ANC can be hit and miss, but auto option is best

I began by firing up Azizam by Ed Sheeran. The RecDot are able to deliver high levels of vibrancy with the strong dance beat punching through, without fighting against the vocals. While I was in an Ed Sheeran mood, I jumped into Galway Girl and sat back to enjoy the surprisingly wide soundstage. I would have taken a little more detail across the listening experience, but in general, it was all very pleasant.

Transitioning to a more sombre mood, I hit play on The Curse by Agnes Obel. Obel’s voice rises above the beautifully defined plucking of strings, delivering a near-perfect blend of instruments and notes. Alongside numerous other tracks, I was keen to play something layered, complex and gentle. I turned to the theme from Jurassic Park, by John Williams. Given this track's multiple instruments, I was pleased to hear the distinction between the flutes, piano and in fact all other sections of the orchestra. Well done, Viaim.

Most of my testing was carried out using the 'balanced' sound setting, although I did have a play around with other options, including pop, bass boost, and electronic. These other profiles were fantastic for specific tracks, but given my broad music tastes, I found them unreliable across multiple genres. I would therefore recommend sticking with the default unless you have reason to change it.

It was a similar story when it came to ANC. There’s the option to set it to low, middle, or high, but I found these weren’t reliable enough across a wide range of environments. I opted instead for the auto option and let the RecDot do the work. It’s fair to say that this did affect the sound, negatively at times, but it was better than choosing one of the three predefined options.

All that being said, I wouldn’t buy these buds purely for their sound quality. As good as they are, audiophile purists will want a dedicated pair of earbuds or headphones – probably with wires to their source device. The RecDot are for audio lovers who want more from their buds, namely a meeting companion that gets the job done.

Sound quality score: 4/5

RecDot Earbuds review: Design

Accessible recording controls
Well-designed case that’s easy to use
Plenty of eartip options

The RecDot earbuds look pretty similar to almost all other long-stemmed earbuds, although they feel a little bulkier in the hand than something like the AirPods Pro. The additional size is no doubt due to the extra recording features that make the RecDot stand out from the competition.

The sensor strip is located on the stem and provides all on-board controls. The sensor supports five types of interaction with a simple slide increasing and decreasing the volume. I don’t mind sensors instead of buttons, but only if they work well. I found the RecDot earbuds a little fiddly to operate, especially the triple press to go to the previous track. Part of this will be personal preference, but I feel there’s some fine-tuning required.

The also buds ship in black, although I was sent the silver colorway. Both look smart, but I think the black offers a slightly more premium appearance. To help with fitting, Viaim supplies five different sizes of dustproof eartips. They’re a little bit fiddly to swap out, although I’ve never experienced a problem-free eartip change on any earbuds I’ve used to date. Finding the correct size of eartip took a little time, but I was glad to have an abundance to choose from.

With an IP55 rating, the RecDot earbuds are resistant to dust and water. That means you’ll be fine if sweat and rain are your only concerns, but if you’re looking to do anything more adventurous, then they’ll come up lacking. Given their recording and translation talents, these aren’t designed for extreme sports anyway.

Before moving onto the case, the only other thing to mention is that the 11mm dynamic drivers are coated in titanium, which provides the highest possible strength-to-weight ratio. This makes sure they are as light and strong as possible.

No pair of wireless earbuds would be complete without a charging case. Aside from the slightly flimsy sliding top, I only have positive things to say about it. The buds magnetically slot in with a seriously satisfying click, with zero chance of them falling out despite serious shaking. And yes, I did try!

The case supports USB-C charging, which delivers a total of 36 hours of battery life. Each charge will only give the buds a maximum of 9 hours, although this is more than enough for a full day of listening to your favorite music – and quite competitive.

The final element of the charging case is the physical record button. Offering one-click recording during meetings, all you have to do is place an earbud in the charging case, hit record, and wait for either the left or right indicator to flash. I love this feature and have used it regularly. My only bugbear is that I think this record button should double up as a ‘now recording’ light. In my opinion this would be far more satisfying and demonstrative than a dim blinking indicator on a bud.

Design score: 4/5

RecDot Earbuds review: Value

AI features to die for
Admirable sound considering the extra perks
Competitive battery life

At $249.99 / £185 the Viaim RedCot are far from cheap. You’re paying a premium price for a fully featured set of innovative earbuds. Whether they’re worth the money will hang solely on whether you will utilize their AI features. If you’re only concerned about design and sound then I’d perhaps nudge you towards the much more affordable AirPods 4 with ANC instead.

The AI recording tools are far above the biggest strength of Viaim’s latest buds. Record calls on your phone or at on-site meetings and view translations in realtime. With a capture distance of up to 7 metres you’ll be covered no matter where you’re sitting. I appreciate that you could download software to do this but to have all this tech alongside very capable sound performers makes the recording and listening workflow beautifully seamless.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the RecDot Earbuds review:

Buy them if...

You want on-board recording capabilities
Not only do the RecDot buds sound fantastic, but they also record audio and transcribe it.

You need a meeting assistant
Extract concise summaries and create actionable to-do lists from lengthy recordings.

You want a great all-rounder
With fantastic sound, decent ANC, good battery life and AI smarts, these are the buds that do it all.

Don't buy them if...

You’re on a budget
At $249.99 / £185, there are much more affordable alternatives.

You must have tight fitting earbuds
They fit fairly well, but I wouldn’t call them a super secure or sports-optimised fit.

Sound is your only priority
The Viaim RecDot do sound good, but there are superior alternatives on the market if detailed, nuanced, neutral audio is your chief concern.

RecDot Earbuds review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Prefer device-agnostic head-tracked spatial audio plus some of the best ANC in the business? These September 2023-issue earbuds from Bose are a great shout – and the in-ear security is nearly as good as the Powerbeats Pro 2. You'll have to forego a bit of stamina (it's only 6 hours here) and transcription/translation, but the noise-cancellation is superior.
Read more in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100
The ANC-off and transparency profiles are much more enjoyable here – as is the sound quality generally. You also get a similar battery life and the option of Matt Berry on voice prompts (his "Waiting to pair!" is a delight). The overall aesthetic isn't as striking though, and they aren't as secure in your ears – also you can forget about meeting transcription…
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review

How I tested the RecDot Earbuds

Tested for three weeks at work, home, while exercising
Listened to Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer on a MacBook Pro, and iPhone

I began by getting them fitted correctly. This was helped by the numerous ear tips provided and the in-app test that covered both sound quality and noise reduction. With that out of the way and my app fully configured, I was ready to test them out in earnest.

Given their AI recording smarts, I was keen to focus my attention on that in the first instance. This mean utilizing them in meetings, conversations, and when I'm on my own. I tested all the different workflows for recording and transcription alongside all the finer elements of functionality. The only part I wasn’t able to test accurately was the translation feature.

Once I was happy with that, I turned my attention to sound quality and ANC. With Ed Sheeran, Agnes Obel and John Williams all lined up alongside TechRadar's trusted track list, I sat back and let my ears do the work.

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more on how we test earbuds at TechRadar

I tested B&O’s third teatime treat-esque portable Bluetooth speaker, and three is the magic number

11:00 am | May 7, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation: two-minute review

The latest version of the Beosound A1 by Bang & Olufsen is the best yet – and when you consider how well-regarded the previous two versions were, it follows that this 3rd Gen is something special.

As you might expect from this brand (and as you’re likely to demand at this price), the A1 3rd Gen looks and feels like a high-end product. There's a heated debate among TechRadar's US and UK staff over whether the A1 Gen 3 looks more like a muffin, a crumpet or a bombolone, but whichever baked (or fried) breakfast (or teatime) treat works best for you also works for us. Yes, it looks like that, but in the most premium way. The materials used in its construction are relatively lavish, and build quality is unarguable. Its modular design means it can be repaired, and its battery can be replaced – both of which are good things and certainly help it all the way into our roundup of the the best Bluetooth speakers at its size and weight.

And between multipoint connectivity, aptX Adaptive compatibility, 60 watts of power, an IP67 rating (meaning it's up there with the best waterproof speakers too), plus a USB-C socket that can be used for data transfer as well as for charging, the A1 3rd Gen is pretty well-specified too. Only a lack of Auracast compatibility sounds a mildly false note.

Best of all, though, is the sound. The Beosound is a robust but deft listen, detailed and dynamic in equal measure, and able to present recordings with a nice open character at the same time as ensuring they sound unified and together. It’s short of ultimate scale, of course – a product of this sort of size is almost bound to be – but in every other respect it’s an engaging, revealing and thoroughly entertaining listen.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation in silver, on gray table — (Image credit: Future)

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: price and release date

$349 / £299 / AU$639
Launched on May 6, 2025

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen is on sale from today (7th May 2025) and in the United Kingdom it’s priced at £299. It’s $249 in the United States, and in Australia it goes for AU$639. Which means that no matter the territory in which you’re shopping, it’s priced like a premium device – which, in turn, means it’s Bang & Olufsen business as usual.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: specs

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: features

Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX Adaptive compatibility
60 watts of Class D power
USB-C can be used for data transfer

The Beosound A1 3rd Gen uses Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity, and it’s compatible with SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive codecs. That Bluetooth standard means it won’t support Auracast, though multipoint connectivity means your speaker can be connected to two sources at the same time. Once your digital audio information is on board, it’s dealt with by a digital-to-analogue converter of unspecified type and resolution, and then served up by a two-driver array. A 15mm tweeter and 83mm mid/bass driver each receive 30 watts of Class D power, in an arrangement Bang & Olufsen claims is good for a frequency response of 54Hz - 20kHz.

The adoption of aptX Adaptive is a step forward for the A1, but this 3rd Gen model dispenses with Amazon Alexa voice control and wider smart-control integration you'll find in the 2020-issue Beosound A1 Gen 2. Whether or not you consider this to be a backward step depends almost entirely on how much you enjoy the sound of your own voice.

Battery life is a very creditable 24 hours from a single charge (provided you’re operating at reasonably modest volume), while from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes a rather leisurely three hours. Charging happens via the USB-C slot on the edge of the speaker, and for this 3rd generation this input can also be used for data transfer – so the Beosound can be hard-wired to a source of music. It can also form a stereo pair with another A1 3rd Gen or, happily, an A1 2nd Gen should you have one.

Features score: 4.5/5

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: sound quality

Impressive low-frequency extension and substance
Consistent and balanced even at volume
Great detail retrieval and midrange resolution

With one or two fairly minor caveats, there’s an awful lot to like about the way the Beosound A1 3rd Gen goes about things. So minor are these caveats, in fact, I may as well get them out of the way right now before piling into all the things the Bang & Olufsen excels at.

It’s probably an inevitability given the physical size of the speaker, but the A1 3rd Gen isn’t an especially large-scale listen. The soundstage it creates is properly organised and quite open – but where out-and-out scale is concerned, there’s no getting around the fact that this speaker doesn’t sound especially big.

Its tonal balance isn’t, strictly speaking, all that neutral either. There’s a hint of warmth and richness, a kind of sonic luxuriousness, about its presentation that’s not in any way unpleasant but that is most definitely a characteristic. This can be mitigated a little in the control app – but given that the best overall balance comes from leaving the EQ setting at ‘optimal’ (the clue’s in the name, really) it’s probably best to accept your Bang & Olufsen speaker sounds, as well as looks and feels, deluxe.

From here on out, the news is all positive. The A1 3rd Gen can summon frankly unlikely low-frequency presence and substance - it hits remarkably hard for a speaker of its size, and the claim for frequency response down to 54Hz seems perfectly plausible. The low end is properly controlled, too, which means rhythms during Thin Air by Floating Points are confidently expressed – and the Bang & Olufsen is a front-foot listen as a result. At the opposite end of the frequency range it attacks with polite determination, bringing a reasonable amount of bite and shine to treble sounds without ever threatening to become unruly. There’s a fair amount of substance to offset the brilliance, too, which helps the overall balance of the sound no end.

In between, the A1 3rd Gen communicates through the midrange in the most uninhibited manner. Voices as dissimilar as Joni Mitchell’s and Alex Turner’s emerge with all of their character intact, and the midrange is nudged forwards just a little to help with intelligibility. The crossover between the mid/bass driver and the tweeter is smooth to the point of imperceptibility, and though the tonal balance here has a very definite flavour, it is at least consistent from top to bottom. The Bang & Olufsen sounds unified and of a whole, no matter the sort of content you’re listening to.

What else? Well, detail levels are high across the board – and even when it comes to the most minor harmonic variations or transient events in a recording, the A1 3rd Gen does good work in identifying and contextualising them. And despite its relative lack of outright scale, it can put appreciable distance between the quietest and the loudest moments in a recording too. As long as you’re not expecting to fill a medium-sized room with sound, the A1 3rd Gen is a great option – and you can at least be assured that if you do wind up the volume to the point the Bang & Olufsen is giving you everything it’s got, it doesn’t alter its sonic character in the slightest. It simply gets louder.

Sound quality score: 5/5

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: design

46 x 133 x 133mm, HxWxD
576g
Built to a high standard from premium materials

As both the asking price and the manufacturer’s reputation demands, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is little short of a masterclass where materials and their deployment are concerned. It’s tricky for a product of such modest dimensions (this speaker is just 46 x 133 x 133mm, HxWxD) to look overtly premium, but this Bang & Olufsen manages just fine.

The lower half of the spheroid is of hard-wearing polymer, and it’s seamlessly connected to an upper portion made of tactile, textured pearl-blasted anodised aluminium. A carry-strap made of waterproof leather is threaded through the polymer, and it’s here you’ll find the only visible bit of branding. The look is understated and sophisticated, no matter which of the three available finishes you choose – take your pick from ‘natural aluminium’ (which is ‘silver’), ‘honey tone’ (‘gold’) and ‘eucalyptus green’ (‘green’). And the 576g weight seems purposefully judged to strike a balance between ‘portability’ and ‘reassuring heft’. The overall standard of construction and finish is basically flawless, and the IP67 rating means it will be fine in any realistic environment.

This is, says the manufacturer, the first ever Bluetooth speaker with ‘Cradle-to-Cradle’ certification (at the bronze level). So it’s made with sustainable practices in mind, and is modular to the point that it has a replaceable battery and can, in certain circumstances, be repaired rather than scrapped. This is something Bang & Olufsen has long been known for; just see the company's modular Beosound Theater soundbar and reissued vertical CD player for starters…

Design score: 5/5

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: setup and usability

Some physical controls
Excellent B&O control app
Swift Pair and Fast Pair

It’s a very simple device to operate, the A1 3rd Gen – the options you have are very tidily realised indeed. Along with that USB-C socket, the polymer edge of the chassis features a few physical controls, all very positive in their action – you can take care of ‘power on/off’, Bluetooth pairing, ‘volume up/down’, ‘play/pause’ this way. There’s also a button to mute the mics that are used for telephony. Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair are available, while a single LED on the top surface indicates what the speaker might be up to, and another next to the USB-C input lets you know about charging.

There’s also the B&O control app that’s free for iOS and Android – and it remains one of the best examples of its type. Here’s where you can check for software updates, form that stereo pair using another A1 3rd Gen or your A1 2nd Gen, integrate your favourite music streaming service (as long as it’s Deezer, Spotify or TIDAL) and access music on a HomeMedia server. It also gives internet radio access via the entirely admirable ‘B&O Radio’. It’s where you can access some EQ presets, or define your own using a graphic ‘target’ control that’s about as gratifying an EQ adjustment mechanism as I’ve ever seen.

Setup and usability score: 5/5

B&O's Beosound A1 3rd Gen three screen-grabs of the companion app — (Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: value

This is far from the most affordable Bluetooth speaker around – although when judged by the standards Bang & Olufsen has long since established, it’s actually within touching distance of many credible alternatives.

The usual B&O selling points of premium materials, indulgent design and impeccable build quality are all present and correct, too – and the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is a match for any price-comparable rival where pure sound quality is concerned. So for once here’s a Bang & Olufsen product that doesn’t require all that “yes, but..” when it comes to value for money.

Value score: 5/5

Should I buy the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation?

Buy it if...

You like nice things
The Beosound A1 3rd Gen looks and feels every bit the Bang & Olufsen product.

You know a good control app when you see one
The B&O control app is comprehensive, easy to use and features the most gratifying EQ adjustment around.

You enjoy a hint of sonic luxuriousness
The A1 3rd Gen is slightly less than neutral in its sound, but in a quite expensive-sounding way.

Don't buy it if...

You intend to fill the great outdoors with sound
The A1 3rd Gen has a degree of grunt, but it’s not the biggest-sounding speaker around.

You want to just ask
There’s no Alexa integration for this latest model.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: also consider

JBL Flip 7
The March 2025-issue seventh Flip is also a five-star Bluetooth portable speaker. And it also looks good, thanks to a new switchable carabiner detail. The battery won't last quite as long as the B&O Beosound A1 Gen 3, but the audio is special for a speaker of its size, and it's hard to ignore the price difference…
Read just how good it is in our full JBL Flip 7 review.

Bose Soundlink Flex Gen 2
It's a September 2024 release, so still a relative newbie to the game, and although the Bose Soundlink Max is closer in price to the B&O option you came here to read about (at $399 / £399 / AU$599), the Flex Gen 2 is a better size match – and a lot cheaper. How often can you say that of Bose products? It's not quite as gifted sonically, but it does give you punchy output in a relatively bijou design. Get the full scoop in our Bose Soundlink Flex Gen 2 review.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: how I tested

I connected the A1 3rd Gen wirelessly to my Apple iPhone 14 Pro and my FiiO M15S digital audio player, and also made a hard connection via USB-C to my Apple MacBook Pro. So I was able to listen to lots of different content from lots of different platforms, of various file-types and sizes.

And having done so for well over a week, I realised the A1 3rd Gen is the best yet – which is saying something…

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested House of Marley’s solar-powered Bluetooth speaker and left the beach party disappointed

1:30 pm | May 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

House of Marley Roots Solar: Two-minute review

Competition is fierce among portable, beach-ready speakers. The best Bluetooth speakers offer all-day battery life, enjoyable audio and pool-proof durability, without draining your bank account. It’s in this crowded market that the House of Marley Roots Solar tries to stand out, as a beach-ready speaker with neat features and a unique sustainable design.

Physically, it achieves that goal. Fronted by a facade of renewable bamboo, the Roots Solar looks and feels distinctive. The fabric grille is nicely tactile, while the rubberized body – made from recycled plastics – is robust. There’s a reassuring weight to the whole package, which gives the impression that it’s solid enough to survive several summers.

Clever touches suggest that House of Marley’s design team has put a lot of thought into this speaker. The buttons are simple, well-sized and accessible. Little feet underneath cushion against vibrations. The carry strap is a handy addition. And then there’s the built-in bottle opener on the back: a party trick that bolsters its cookout credentials.

Unfortunately, other features are less impressive. At 14 hours, battery life does stack up well against rival speakers, lasting a full day on one charge. But the solar panel from which the Roots Solar gets its name is ineffective. House of Marley claims that it’s good for up to five hours of extra playing time. In my experience, even after several hours in direct sunlight, it did little or nothing to recharge the speaker. The strip is essentially decorative.

That’s a shame, because the promise of solar-powered listens is a key selling point, and one that ties in with House of Marley’s sustainable ethos. I had to charge the Roots Solar via USB-C like any other speaker, which somehow felt more galling than if the solar panel wasn’t there in the first place. Worse still, it means eco claims can’t save the Roots Solar from its biggest failing: sub-par audio.

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House of Marley Roots Solar Bluetooth speaker outdoors in a garden, on a wooden bench. — (Image credit: Chris Rowlands / Future)

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Given the weight of its build and the bass radiator on the rear, you’d expect the Roots Solar to give a bold performance – especially as it’s marketed for outdoor use. Yet, in practice, the sound lacks richness, depth and dynamism. It doesn’t come close to the low-end punch of something like the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, with a sonic signature that feels thin in comparison.

It can’t boast particularly good balance or clarity, either. The mids are easily muddied on layered tracks and I encountered some significant distortion when listening at higher volumes. Only when playing indoors at a medium level can the Roots Solar come close to a making a good account of itself, and only then with songs that aren’t too complex.

I really wanted the Roots Solar to be a good speaker. I like its design and I salute House of Marley for trying to do things differently, making audio kit that’s environmentally conscious. I’m all for nifty features like bottle openers and I’d love a speaker that can boost itself from the sun.

But with solar charging out of the equation, the House of Marley Roots Solar lets itself down where it matters. You can get a sturdy speaker with similar features and significantly better audio quality for the same money or less. And use the change to buy yourself a bottle opener.

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Price and release date

Released in September 2024
Official price: $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95

House of Marley added the Roots Solar to its speaker line-up in September 2024. At launch, it was priced at $119.99 / £99.99 / AU$149.95. That put it at a slight premium compared to other portable Bluetooth speakers with similar specs.

Since then, its official price has been reduced in both the US and the UK, to $99.99 and £79.99 respectively. With that discount, the Roots Solar sits more competitively alongside some of the best Bluetooth speakers, including the splendid JBL Flip 7. OK, the JBL speaker is admittedly a little pricier, but worth it. As you’ll read below, the numbers only tell part of the story.

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Specs

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Design

Made with bamboo and recycled materials
IP67 water-resistant
Built-in bottle opener

Sustainability has always been at the heart of House of Marley’s ethos. That comes through in spades with the Roots Solar. Available in black and cream color schemes, both versions feature a facade hewn from renewable bamboo. This wood grain veneer gives the speaker a uniquely natural look and feel among portable Bluetooth speakers.

The whole package is both consciously constructed and satisfyingly tactile. Up front, there’s a fabric grille that’s woven from recycled materials. The body itself is made from House of Marley's own REGRIND silicone, a composite that's a solid step up from virgin plastic. This material's speckled finish feels smooth yet suitably robust, standing out from the cheaper plastics used in some budget speakers.

There are flourishes around the entire speaker which illustrate the thought that’s gone into its design. There’s the solar panel neatly integrated into the top of the unit and the fabric carry strap attached to one end by knurled metal screws. Rubber feet beneath help to insulate the standing surface against vibrations, while a light ring around the grille subtly illuminates when the speaker is powered on or charging.

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Three buttons live on the left side of the rubberized body, controlling power, volume and brightness. It might seem like a minor detail, but these are perfectly weighted with a responsive click. At the back, you’ll find a port cover neatly shielding the aux-in and USB-C ports, along with a bass radiator that’s seamlessly fused in place.

Then there’s the Roots Solar’s party trick: a built-in bottle opener. This consists of a sculpted indent and a metal bar. It certainly does the job of popping tops, although I can’t say how well it would hold up with repeated use. The novelty of opening bottles with a Bluetooth speaker is probably also one that would wear off after a few goes, but it doesn’t hurt to have it as a backup.

It’s all quite smart and tidy. It’s weighty too, in a good way. There’s a reassuring heft to the Roots Solar, which suggests that it’s robust enough to survive a run of seasons by the sea. That’s backed up by an IP67 water-resistance rating. In terms of its physical build, no corners have been cut in the design or assembly departments.

Design score: 4.5/5

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Features

Battery rated for 14 hours of playback
Built-in solar panel for ‘gradual top-ups’
Stereo and Party Mode pairing

On paper, the Roots Solar has a killer feature compared to its rivals: solar charging. House of Marley claims the built-in solar strip can deliver ‘gradual top-ups’ for up to 5 hours of extra listening time. That’s in addition to a solid 14 hours of battery life when recharged using USB-C.

The reality is different. The standard battery life certainly holds up, easily lasting a full day on a single charge. At 14 hours, that gives the Roots Solar the longevity go toe-to-toe with the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 and go just shy of the Flip 7's 16-hour stamina – and those are two of our favorite Bluetooth speakers.

What it can’t do is eke things out any further. In testing, even when left in bright, direct sunlight for several hours, the House of Marley Roots Solar showed zero or minimal gains from the solar panel. The LED light, which pulses when the speaker is charging, only glowed when connected to mains power. It never once illuminated from exposure to sunlight.

As a result, I didn’t experience any of the top-ups promised by House of Marley. I had visions of the Roots Solar as a speaker that I could leave by the window for passive charging to boost its battery on brighter days. Or at least as one which would last longer away from the wall on beach and camping trips, which is how it’s been marketed.

Instead, I had to charge the Roots Solar using the USB-C cable just like any other Bluetooth speaker. Somehow, the presence of a non-functioning solar panel is somehow more frustrating than if it wasn’t there at all. It doesn’t add to the user experience or substantively enhance the speaker’s eco-friendly chops. The strip is basically redundant.

Without it, the Roots Solar has to rely on other features to compete with other Bluetooth speakers. In that arena, it does offer stereo and party pairing, allowing you to link up with one or more matching speakers for synchronized playback. It also benefits from an aux-in port, something of a rarity in 2025.

I will mention one other small but irksome trait: the Roots Solar is very quick to power off if nothing is playing. Pause your playlist for any reason and you’ll routinely find that, when you come back to the speaker, you’ll need to power it on again to continue listening.

Features score: 3.5/5

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Sound quality

Lacks low-end punch, especially outdoors
Mids sound muddy on layered tracks
Distortion at higher volumes

Given its solid construction and the presence of a bass radiator on the back, you’d be forgiven for expecting the Roots Solar to give a bold performance. While the radiator does its best, though, the speaker simply lacks oomph. Even indoors, playback feels thin and bland. Take it outdoors, as its waterproofing suggests you should, and this lack of low-end energy really becomes apparent.

Not every speaker needs to be bass-heavy, of course. But the Roots Solar can’t boast balance or clarity as a saving grace, either. The mids feel crowded even on stripped-back acoustic tracks. Challenge the Roots Solar with a busy composition and things quickly get muddy, with little room for the layers to breath.

Crank up the volume and the audio goes from mediocre to unpleasant. Treble distortion quickly becomes apparent, while the bass radiator’s fruitless attempts to give some weight to the lower frequencies only end up clouding the mid-range even more.

If it sounds like I’m describing a complete cacophony, perhaps I’m being unfair. Playing at a medium volume in a small room, the Roots Solar does a passable job. To the untrained ear, it’s fine for streaming digital radio in the kitchen or bathroom. But the inescapable truth is that you can get a much better listen from other speakers for the same price or less.

This isn’t a speaker that I’d choose to soundtrack a beach party. No portable Bluetooth number is going to satisfy an audiophile, especially not outdoors. But both the Wonderboom 4 and the Flip 7 offer better balance, depth and dynamism for the money. The Roots Solar simply can’t compete.

Sound quality: 3/5

House of Marley Roots Solar review: Value

On paper, the House of Marley Roots Solar has a unique value proposition. It promises a sustainable construction and a robust, premium build, with the benefit of solar charging to keep summer singalongs going for longer. The built-in bottle opener is just the sweetener.

Because it fails to deliver on several of those promises, the Roots Solar is a hard speaker to recommend. Its eco-friendly approach is one to be applauded, and there’s an argument for supporting House of Marley’s efforts to use renewable materials. But those alone can’t justify the price tag.

When you consider the ineffective solar panel and the sub-par audio quality, the Roots Solar feels like an underwhelming speaker in premium packaging. Perhaps that’s why House of Marley has reduced the price of the Roots Solar in the UK and the US, in quiet recognition of its limitations.

House of Marley Roots Solar Bluetooth Speaker outside on a wooden sleeper in a garden — (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

Even at its new, reduced price, the Roots Solar sits in direct competition with the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 and the JBL Flip 7. Those speakers both offer punchier, richer sound output for the roughly the same money, as well as IP67 water resistance and day-long battery life.

If you’re committed to buying greener gear, the House of Marley Roots Solar is still a contender. But sound is also important and if it's decent audio indoors and out you seek, there’s better value to be found elsewhere.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the House of Marley Roots Solar?

Buy it if…

You appreciate a sustainable approach
House of Marley kit is environmentally conscious. The Roots Solar uses renewable bamboo and recycled plastics in its construction. Solar charging adds to its eco credentials, even if it’s slow.

You want a speaker to take to the beach
With a robust build and IP67 waterproofing, the Roots Solar is made to withstand life outdoors. Its built-in bottle opener is useful and the battery can last all day.

You want a distinctive Bluetooth speaker
This is a well-designed speaker. Its bamboo facade is unique, while the speckled body, fabric grille and carry strap are all nice touches. It feels built to last, too.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best possible audio quality
It doesn’t take keen ears to detect the limitations of the Roots Solar. It lacks the dynamism and punch of similarly priced speakers, with muddy mids and distortion at higher volumes.

You want a speaker you don’t have to charge
Solar charging is a neat addition in theory, but top-ups are pretty ineffective. Even with lengthy exposure to sunlight, you’ll still need to charge it regularly via USB-C.

You want a powerful outdoor speaker
The Roots Solar is fine for background sound, but it lacks the punch to start an alfresco party. The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a better bet for beach beats.

House of Marley Roots Solar review: also consider

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
A small, punchy speaker with a similar price to the Roots Solar, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is our favorite Bluetooth speaker for picnics. It’s simple, portable and durable, yet capable of impressive sound quality. Like the Roots Solar, it offers a 14-hour battery life. There’s no solar charging, but the output is punchier, with more low-end oomph.
Read our in-depth Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 review

JBL Flip 7
The JBL Flip 7 is our favorite Bluetooth speaker overall. There's no easy way to say this, so I'll blurt it out: it’s just better than the House of Marley speaker. Auracast compatibility also means that as well as forming a stereo pair with a second Flip 7 (albeit not with any of of the previous Flips), you can hook up as many Auracast-enabled products as you like into a single entity for simultaneous playback.
Read our in-depth JBL Flip 7 review

How I tested the House of Marley Roots Solar

Used it as my main Bluetooth speaker for a month
Tested it in a number of rooms, as well as outdoors
Played a variety of genres via Spotify and BBC Sounds

To put the House of Marley Roots Solar through its paces, I used it as my primary Bluetooth speaker for several weeks. I listened to it in a number of rooms around the house, to see how well it performed in spaces of different sizes. I also tested it at different volumes, to see how the dynamics held up at a range of output levels. When the neighbours were out, I cranked it right up.

I also tested it with a range of genres: podcasts while I painted the bathroom; pop hits on BBC sounds while cooking dinner; and the old faithful on a Friday night – Spotify’s Dinner with Friends playlist.

Because the House of Marley Roots Solar is pitched as a beach-ready speaker, I also made sure to test it outdoors. Besides using its built-in bottle opener for its intended purpose, I also tossed the speaker around in my backpack to give its rugged credentials a gentle test.

To see how effectively the solar panel could boost battery life, I used the Roots Solar in both sunny and overcast conditions. And to assess how well its sound carried alfresco, I used it to soundtrack several outdoor afternoons.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: May 2025

I tested iFi’s flagship Valkyrie DAC and found it capable of staggeringly complete sound –but portable it isn’t

1:30 pm | April 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi | Comments: Off

iFi iDSD Valkyrie: Two-minute review

iFi is a company that seldom goes anything other than ‘all-in’ – and with the new iDSD Valkyrie headphone amp/DAC it’s decided to try and make the best ‘portable’ headphone amp/DAC it possibly can.

‘Portable’ is a relative term, of course, and not only is the Valkyrie’s portability debatable when considering including it in our roundup of the best portable DACs, but the idea that you’d want to carry around a device you’ve spent £1699 (or equivalent) on is perhaps an odd one too. But for desktop or full system use, this iFi has an awful lot going for it.

And that’s the case no matter if you’re talking about design, build quality, the standard of finish or the way it sounds. It’s an individual looker, for sure, and it is unquestionably built to last. And when it’s working on your raw digital audio files, the results can be almost humbling – this is an extraordinarily detailed, precise and yet entertaining listen. It’s real ‘iron fist in velvet glove’ stuff the Valkyrie trades in – it’s controlled, energetic, insightful and, above all, musical. And that last word especially is by no means a given, even if you’re spending an arm and a leg.

For some, the seemingly limitless options to fiddle with the filtering, upscaling and processing of digital audio information might seem a bit daunting. For others, the idea that iFi is leaving the end user to have such a big say in the ultimate sound will seem like an admission that it doesn’t quite know what ‘best’ sounds like. For the rest of us, though, the iDSD Valkyrie will be a source of endless fascination as well as of enjoyment.

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Price and release date

iFi iDSD Valkyrie on gray table — (Image credit: Future)

Released of March 25, 2025
Priced $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,999 (approx.)

The iFi iDSD Valkyrie launched on March 25, 2025, and it costs the same £1699 now as it did then. In the United States it will set you back a slightly more palatable $1699, while in Australia it goes for AU$2999 or something very like it.

I don’t think I will be startling anyone when I observe that this is quite a lot of money for a portable (or, as iFi prefers, ‘transportable’) DAC/headphone amp. Really, the only alternative of any profile that’s contesting the same area of the market is Chord’s equally wilfully named Hugo 2 - which means the Valkyrie is competing against at least one hugely accomplished rival…

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Features

Quad Burr-Brown PCM1793 DACs
Numerous processing options
20000mAh battery power for 18 hours of constant operation

Yes, there are three headlines as regards ‘features’ just above here – but in all honesty I could have chosen from quite a few others. ‘A trowel’ is too small an implement to indicate what iFi has used to lay it on with here.

I have to start somewhere, though, so I may as well start with battery power. There are four batteries fitted to the Valkyrie which means it will run quite happily for as much as 18 hours before it needs charging – and its quick-charge facility means it can be brimmed inside three hours.

Getting digital information into the Valkyrie and decoded analogue information out again can be achieved in quite a number of different ways, but what happens to it in between is subject to quite a lot of user-defined variation. Fundamentally, digital audio stuff is given the once-over by a quartet of Burr-Brown PCM1793 DACs, but they’re operating in conjunction with an FPGA (field programmable gate array) that allows a bewildering number of processing, filtering and upscaling options to be brought to bear if you so desire.

There are six filtering options, from the light-touch ‘bit perfect’ to the heavy-handed ‘apodising’ and points in between – upsampling to resolutions way beyond the native resolution of the incoming signal can be facilitated this way. PCM and DSD files can be upsampled to DSD512 or a colossal DSD1024, which means incoming content can have its sample rate adjusted in quite a few ways.

And not for the first time where one of its more upmarket products are concerned, iFi has included JVC Kenwood’s ‘K2’ processing that was originally developed back when 16bit/44.1kHz compact disc standard ruled the roost – it intends to help restore information that might have disappeared during the original remastering from analogue to digital. And naturally enough the upgraded ‘K2HD’ that reflects the more recent move to hi-res content is included too.

As well as the physical digital and analogue inputs, the Valkyrie is fitted with Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connectivity – and it’s compatible with top-of-the-shop, state-of-the-art aptX Lossless codec compatibility too. iFi has been demonstrating its impeccable facility with Bluetooth for quite some time now, and the implementation of the as-good-as-it-gets standard bodes very well indeed.

Features score: 5 / 5

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Sound quality

Lavishly detailed and insightful
Open, spacious and well-defined
Your favourite sonic balance is in there somewhere…

I’m going to have to assume you’ve taken your investment seriously, and have spent as long as it takes to find the sonic balance within the Valkyrie’s endless permutations that suits you best. During this journey you'll have discovered that it’s possible to make the iFi sound overprocessed and unnatural – but, of course, this is what ‘trial and error’ is all about.

Once you get where you want to be, though, there’s very little that’s erroneous about the way the Valkyrie deals with your digital audio information. It’s only slightly perturbed by very compressed, low-resolution content, and it doesn’t at all mind about the type of music you like to listen to. It’s forgiving of partnering equipment, no matter if it’s headphones or a full-on system. And it is capable of peering into a recording on a forensic level and returning with an absolute stack of relevant information that it is only too willing to impart.

A recording like Nick Drake’s Which Will that’s stored as a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file illustrates a lot of what is so enjoyable and so impressive about the Valkyrie. Its midrange fidelity is, quite frankly, stunning. There’s an immediacy about the vocal performance here, an utterly natural tonality, that makes every aspect of the singer’s performance – attitude, emotional state, character, phrasing, breath-management, you name it – completely apparent. And, what’s more, makes it sound natural, unforced and alive.

The spare instrumentation of the recording is equally alive – the tonal balance the iFi strikes is convincing, and the stage on which this performance occurs is confidently defined. Frequency response is smooth and even, attention to harmonic detail is fanatical, and there’s the sort of unity and togetherness of presentation that I more readily associated with the vinyl format.

A 24bit/48kHz FLAC file of James Holden’s Common Land allows the Valkyrie to demonstrate martial low-frequency control and an unequivocal way with rhythmic expression. Bass sounds are rapid, loaded with variation, dynamic as can be, and with the sort of straight-edged attack that means the tune just snaps. At the opposite end there’s substance to treble information that nicely balances out the bite and crunch the iFi brings, and again the Valkyrie observes the attack, the onset, of top-end sounds with complete attention.

I get the strong impression that the Valkyrie is able to bring the best from any partnering equipment no matter if it’s a system or a pair of headphones, and no matter how much or how little this equipment costs. Even if the digital audio information is getting into the machine via Bluetooth, the output is never less than coherent and convincing. Naturally if you decide you want to upsample a 320kbps MP3 file of The Roots’ Dynamite! to DSD1024 it’s possible to discern a process at work behind the actual sound you’re hearing - but you’ll appreciate that I’m taking things to extremes here.

Sound quality: 4.5 / 5

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Design

Arrives in a large wooden box
As winged as the name demands
Superb standard of build and finish

You can’t suggest iFi hasn’t put the hard yards in where the design of the iDSD Valkyrie is concerned. This is a product that’s been designed to within an inch of its life. In some ways this ‘designing at all costs’ impacts on outright usability (as we shall see), but never let it be said iFi doesn’t offer a bit of visual drama to go along with all that performance.

So the Valkyrie arrives in a substantial wooden box that stretches the definition of the word ‘transportable’ more than somewhat. Inside is the device itself (a not insignificant 30 x 160 x 172mm [HxWxD] and 882g) along with a necessarily large (and unarguably beige) carry case, a selection of connection cables and adapters to cover every eventuality, and a mains adapter.

The device itself is dramatically angular in a manner, says iFi, that evokes "the majestic wings of a Valkyrie's horse" – which is ambitious, no two ways about it. And let’s face it, only by comparing it to a horse does the iDSD Valkyrie seem anything other than very large. I’ve been using the equally special iFI i DSD Diablo 2 as my reference headphone amp/DAC for a while now, and I used to think it was quite big. Not any more.

There’s no arguing with the standard of build and finish here, mind you. The fit is even, the panel gaps are very tight indeed, and there’s even a suggestion of tactility about the casework. Used as a system device in a domestic setting or on a desktop it’s a singular and diverting looker.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Usability and setup

Multi-function sockets and buttons
Lilliputian labelling for these sockets and buttons
Almost too much user input into setup

So yes, as I said: this determination to ensure the iDSD Valkyrie is Fully Designed has led to some compromises where usability is concerned. It has a fair few sockets and buttons on both sides and both ends – but in all honesty it could do with a few more, because too many of them are fulfilling more than one function.

For instance, on the rear panel there’s a USB-C socket for charging that quartet of batteries and another for data transfer. Then there’s a hybrid optical/coaxial 3.5mm digital input, and a pair of stereo RCA analogue outputs. After that there are two analogue connections – one is an unbalanced 3.5mm socket and the other a balanced 4.4mm alternative - and both of them function as both inputs and outputs.

Up front there’s another 4.4mm balanced analogue output – this one doubles as an output for MEMS headphones. There’s also another 3.5mm unbalanced analogue output, with a (relatively) large volume/mute control-cum-power on/off dial in the centre. A button that allows you to cycle through your numerous filter options and to initiate upsampling to DSD (512 or 1024) is adjacent to a button that deals both with input selection and turns K2 or K2HD processing on or off.

On the bottom of the chassis there’s the usual iFi ‘iEMatch’ switch for finessing output relative to the demands of your headphones, and on the top there are two little buttons dealing with available audio modes. One switches the ‘XSpace’ mode (designed to improve imaging) on or off, and also governs the three different types of power output levels, while the other gives access to ‘XPresence’ mode (for extra midrange grunt) and ‘XBass II’ mode (take a wild guess). It also allows you to access menus on the little screen on the top of the device, turning the volume control into a turn/push dial to navigate them.

When I suggested many of the sockets and buttons on the Valkyrie are overburdened, I really wasn’t joking.

And if you’ve read the ‘features’ section, then you’ll know that as the end user you have plenty of legwork to do before the Valkyrie is set up to your satisfaction in purely sonic terms. All of the sound modes, in conjunction with all of the filter options, allied to all of the processing and upsampling possibilities, mean it will take time and effort to get the point you deem optimal.

Usability and setup score: 3 / 5

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Value

Like almost everything that gets reviewed at techradar.com, the ‘value’ the iFi iDSD Valkyrie represents is subjective.

Is it ten times better than one of iFi’s own admirable little USB DACs that cost a tenth of the price or less. Of course it isn’t; gains at the very top of the food chain have always been incremental. But if you want what is approaching ‘ultimate’ where a product of this type is concerned, well, it’s going to cost you.

And don’t be in any doubt, the results here are profoundly impressive.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the iFi iDSD Valkyrie?

Buy it if...

You’re after a uncompromised headphone amp/DAC experience
When it comes to flexibility and – most of all – performance, there are very few alternative products around that can get close to the Valkyrie

You enjoy design for design’s sake
Does the Valkyrie have to look like this? No, it doesn’t - but the fact that a company has decided to make a product look as interesting as it sounds is to be applauded

You fancy a lot of say in the way your headphone amp/DAC sounds
So many options, so many combinations… it’s almost like being wholly in charge of the sound you get to experience

Don't buy it if...

You’re short of time
So many options, so many combinations… this is not a plug-and-play device by any means

You’re short of space on your desktop
I’m quite tidy when it comes to my work station, and yet I had to move things, straighten things and tidy things away to make space for the Valkyrie View Deal

You don’t see all that well
The word I’m going with to describe the labelling of inputs, outputs and controls on the Valkyrie is ‘miniscule’View Deal

iFi iDSD Valkyrie review: Also consider

The obvious rival to the iFi iDSD Valkyrie, and the reigning ‘madly expensive and oversized headphone amp/DAC’ champion is the Chord Hugo 2 – which can be found for around the same fee as the Valkyrie these days (but launched at £1,800 / $2,175 / AU$4,500). In its own way it’s just as oddball a product as the iFi – it’s been eight years since it launched, and I’m no closer to understanding what each of the color combinations that constitute a user interface actually mean. But it’s a staggeringly accomplished performer nonetheless.

How I tested the iFi iDSD Valkyrie

I connected the iDSD Valkyrie to a MacBook Pro (running Colibri software) via its USB-C socket, and I also connected it via its digital optical input to a Rega Apollo CD player.

I connected a FiiO M15S digital audio player wirelessly using the LDAC codec. I used a pair of Sennheiser IE900 in-ear headphones via their 4.4mm balanced connection as an output, along with a pair of Bowers & Wilkins Px8 via the 3.5mm unbalanced output – and I also connected the Valkyrie to a main reference system (Naim amplification, Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers) using its RCA outputs. And then I fed it a lot of music, of different file types and sizes, and of different genres, in an effort to find something the iFi doesn’t excel at.

And then I had to accept that ‘excel’ is simply what the iFi iDSD Valkyrie does.

First reviewed: May 2025
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I tested the new Bluetooth speaker boss and let me tell you, it’s better than the old boss

3:00 pm | April 28, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

JBL Flip 7: Two-minute review

Meet the news boss, handily better than the old boss and even more of a class-leader than before. JBL has not rested on its laurels with the Flip 7, the latest version of its all-conquering portable Bluetooth speaker series, and the result is an obvious front-runner that will leave its nominal rivals gasping.

You get plenty of power (35 watts, in fact) to motor its two-driver speaker array. You get 14 hours of playback (16 if you’re happy to do without some low-frequency presence). You get Auracast compatibility and the chance to listen to genuinely hi-res content if you hard-wire the Flip 7 to an appropriate source via its USB-C socket. You get access to a good control app, the ability to form a stereo pair with another JBL Flip 7, and your choice of quite a few vibrant finishes.

What’s almost best is the sound the JBL makes. By the standards of small-ish portable speakers, it’s an open and detailed listen, punchy but controlled at the bottom end, has impressive dynamic headroom and the sort of clarity and positivity that eludes all but the very best Bluetooth speakers at anything like this price.

Best of all, though, is the fact that all of this talent, tactility and robustness is yours for $149 / £129 / AU$179. There isn’t as complete an alternative available for anything like as aggressive a price as this.

JBL Flip 7 review: Price and release date

Released March, 2025
Officially priced at $149 / £129 / AU$179

The JBL Flip 7 went on sale during March 2025, and in the United States it costs $149. That translates to £129 in the United Kingdom, and around AU$179 in Australia.

That the majority of its most obvious competitors have been directly inspired by previous Flip models is neither here nor there – class-leaders are there to be shot at, and this seventh generation of Flip has a lot to live up to as well as some good alternatives to deal with.

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Specs

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker, with Power and Bluetooth lights on, on white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Features

45 x 80mm mid/bass driver, 16mm tweeter
Bluetooth 5.4
60Hz - 20kHz frequency response

For wireless connectivity, the Flip 7 uses top-of-the-shop Bluetooth 5.4 – it’s compatible with SBC and AAC codecs, which is not anyone’s idea of ‘top-of-the-shop’ but in the context of the product is perfectly adequate.

For the first time, here’s a JBL Flip that can be hard-wired to a source of music. The USB-C socket is used for charging the speaker’s battery, of course, but it can also be used for data transfer and, when connected to an appropriate source, it’s able to churn out genuinely high-resolution (24bit/96kHz) stuff. Just hold down the big, bold ‘play’ button on the speaker as you plug in your USB-C cable and you’ll be ready to go.

No matter your method of getting content on board, it’s delivered to your ears by a 45 x 80mm ‘racetrack’ driver taking care of midrange and bass, and a 16mm tweeter for the higher frequencies. The big driver gets 25 watts of power in order to do its thing, and the tweeter another 10 - and there’s no denying that a 35 watt output in a product of this size is plenty. It’s an arrangement that JBL reckons is good for a frequency response of 60Hz - 20kHz.

Another Flip first is Auracast compatibility. So, as well as being able to form a stereo pair with a second Flip 7 (albeit none of the previous models), you can hook up as many Auracast-enabled products as you like into a single entity for simultaneous playback.

Meanwhile, JBL’s proprietary ‘AI Sound Boost’ technology analyzes the music that’s playing on the fly in an effort to minimize distortion and (according to the company) liberate greater scale and bigger bass. An opposing technology is ‘PlaytimeBoost’ – it reduces low-frequency activity in an effort to eke out additional battery life.

Features score: 5/5

Carry strap of the JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Design

Choice of seven finishes
IP68 -rated
Carry strap and carabiner

‘Rugged’ isn’t too strong a word to describe the Flip 7's design. Anyone familiar with previous Flips will recognize the almost-cylindrical shape, the eminently grabbable 70 x 183 x 72mm (HxWxD) dimensions and the rubber’n’fabric construction. By the standards of affordable portable Bluetooth speakers, the Flip 7 looks and feels built to last, especially if you choose the camouflage (or ‘squad’) finish. That said, the other six available colours are all nice enough in their own way and you’ll certainly find something to suit you.

‘Rugged’ is definitely the word to describe this speaker’s durability, though. An IP68 rating is class-leading, and means the Flip 7 is basically immune to dust or moisture unless you really go out of your way to try and disprove that idea. The beach, the pool, the festival… none of these environments should present any kind of problem to the JBL. And the company has enhanced the Flip 7’s portable go-anywhere credentials by fitting a little detachable fabric carry-strap and providing a carabiner in the packaging.

Build quality is great, the choice of materials is judicious, and the standard of finish is beyond reproach. I like to try and find a 'yes, but…' where the design and construction of a product like this is concerned, but frankly I’ve got nothing.

Design score: 5/5

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker top panel — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Sound quality

Detailed, direct and confident sound
Plenty of punch and dynamic headroom
Rhythmically adept

JBL has turned out plenty of very good portable Bluetooth speakers in its time, and its ‘Flip’ series has generally been very good indeed. So when I say the Flip 7 is the best so far, I don’t say it lightly.

In every area of sonic performance, the Flip 7 outperforms its asking price to an almost startling degree. Operating wirelessly and with a Qobuz-derived 16bit/44.1kHz file of Fugazi’s Waiting Room playing, the JBL is a confident and entertaining listen. It digs deep into the low frequencies, hits with real determination, and shapes bass sounds with such conviction that rhythms are given full expression. There’s plenty of variation at the bottom end, too, thanks to detail levels that are the equal of those higher up the frequency range.

The midrange is balanced and communicative, so a voice as idiosyncratic as Teddy Hill’s during I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) is loaded with character as well as the minutiae of his technique. It exists in a nice little pocket of space, thanks to an open and well-defined soundstage that seems to defy the physics of a small device with a couple of drivers facing dead ahead. The top of the frequency range is bright but not edgy, and just as detailed as everything going on beneath it. Overall tonality is nicely natural and consistent from top to bottom.The Fugazi tune is a good showcase for the JBL’s ability where big dynamic shifts are concerned, but Anxiety by Doechii is an even better demonstration of the speaker’s ability to deal with the more minor, but no less important, dynamics of tonal and harmonic variation. The Flip 7 is an attentive, eloquent performer with the sort of directness of sound that makes every tune seem somehow alert and alive.

Really, there’s no meaningful downside. It’s possible to interfere with the sonic balance JBL has hit upon by playing fast and loose with the seven-band EQ in the app, of course, but why would you? The Flip 7 sounds just right exactly as it comes out of the box.

Sound quality: 5/5

Trio of screenshots showing the JBL Flip 7 connected to the JBL app, including EQ settings — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Usability and setup

To be fair it’s difficult to get ‘usability and setup’ wrong when it comes to affordable Bluetooth speakers, but that doesn’t mean some brands haven’t given it a good go. JBL, though, is not one of those brands and the Flip 7 can be set up and used by anyone of reading age.

Control is available using the big, rubberised buttons on the device itself – ‘play/pause’, ‘volume up/down’, ‘Bluetooth pairing’, ‘Auracast’ and ‘power on/off’ are available. The JBL ‘Portable’ app that’s free for iOS and Android is also available - and it’s as stable, as logical and as useful an app as we’ve all come to expect from the company. It offers an indication of battery life, the ability to create a stereo pair, allows you to switch ‘PlaytimeBoost’ on or off, and features a seven-band EQ as well as a selection of presets. You can check for firmware updates and wireless connect multiple speakers for what JBL is confident is “an instant party”.

Some 14 hours of battery life is not to be sniffed at, of course – it turns ‘usability’ into an all-day event. And with ‘PlaytimeBoost’ switched on, you can go for as many as 16 hours if you don’t mind a little shortfall in bass power.

Usability and setup: 5/5

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker turned on its side and stood on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Flip 7 review: Value

If you’ve read this far, I’d hope you understand the JBL Flip 7 is approaching ‘no-brainer’ status. It offers very decent value for money in every respect: it’s properly made and finished, is built to survive fairly major disasters, looks and feels good, and sounds better than any price-comparable alternative. It has some very useful extended functionality and will play for hours at a time before it needs charging.

What else do you want? Jam on it?

Value score: 5/5

JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker end panel laid flat on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should I buy the JBL Flip 7?

Buy it if…

You enjoy energetic, detailed sound
The JBL is adept where rhythms, dynamics and detail levels are concerned, and it is a lively, entertaining listen at the same time.

You’re in any way careless
A class-leading IP68 rating means the Flip 7 is your best choice in pretty much every circumstance.

You like a long listen
As long as you’re not listening at top volume, the Flip 7 should run for an easy 14 hours between charges. That should be long enough, let’s face it.

Don’t buy it if…

You want to involve your older Flip speakers
Flip 7 will only pair with other Flip 7s, it has no backwards compatibility.

You’re in a hurry
Charging from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes a relatively leisurely two-and-a-half hours.

JBL Flip 7 review: Also consider

Sonos Roam 2
The Sonos Roam owes a lot to the JBL Flip range, and the current Roam 2 costs a chunk more than a Flip 7, but it’s a very good speaker nonetheless. As long as you can live with the knowledge that the Sonos control app might suddenly burst into flames again, it’s well worth considering.
Read more in our Sonos Roam2 review.

Tribit Stormbox Flow
You could also sacrifice some of the JBL’s hardwearing go-anywhere appeal and save yourself a few quid while gaining a stack of battery life and consider the Tribit Stormbox Flow. No, it’s no looker and no, it’s not exactly a featherweight, but the sound is good and 30 hours of playback at a time is straightforwardly impressive.
Read all about it in our Tribit Stormbox Flow review.

How I tested the JBL Flip 7

Tested for about a week, mainly indoors but also by the sea
Played a variety of music types
Listened to the Qobuz app on iPhone smartphone, FiiO M15S high-res audio player and via USB-C

I used the JBL Flip 7 on my desktop, of course, but it’s an ideal candidate for use on the pebbly and windswept beaches around the United Kingdom's south coast too, and so I took it with me whenever I was near the sea.

I wirelessly connected it to an Apple iPhone 14 Pro and a FiiO M15S, and used its new USB-C functionality to hard-wire it to an Apple MacBook Pro, too. It was nothing but a pleasure to listen to every time.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: April 2025

I tested these Bowers & Wilkins noise-cancelling headphones and for sound, there’s no better buy

10:00 am | April 24, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3: two-minute review

The third version of Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 wireless over-ear noise-cancellers is the most expensive yet. This money does buy a pair of extremely well-specified headphones, mind you – between Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless compatibility and multipoint connectivity, chunky battery life and a bespoke noise-cancellation platform, the S3 have it where it counts. And there’s more to come, in the form of spatial audio and Auracast compatibility, via promised upgrades. It also buys slightly less, in the physical sense. The profile of the S3 is a little more discreet than any previous Px7 model.

It also gets you absolutely impeccable build quality and standard of finish – there’s undeniable pride of ownership included as part of your outlay. Wearing them outdoors will reveal a little inefficiency where suppression of wind noise is concerned, but at least you won’t feel as self-conscious as you might have when wearing previous Px7 models.

The new active noise-cancellation platform works well, and it brings Bowers & Wilkins into line with the best noise-cancelling headphones that aren’t Bose. And where sound quality is concerned, this is now the best way to spend your cash. In every respect, the Px7 S3 impress. They’re detailed and dynamic, they’re open and spacious, they’re punchy and rhythmically adept – and best of all, they’re engaging and entertaining.

Circumstances a long way out of Bowers & Wilkins’ control means that a North American launch date, as well as a North American price, are yet to be confirmed. There are papers to be written about whether pricing Americans out of ownership of products like this is a good thing, and there are obviously ramifications for companies like Bowers & Wilkins when the North American market is so difficult to read. But for those of us living where the Px7 S3 are available and (relatively speaking) affordable, the news is uncomplicatedly good.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Price and release date

Release date: April 24th, 2025
Price: $TBC / £399 / AU$699 (approx.)

The Px7 S3 launch at a very similar price (in the company’s native UK, at least, where tariffs aren’t quite such a thing as they are in some other territories) to 2023’s £379 Px7 S2e – so Bowers & Wilkins is to be congratulated for developing and releasing a new product without having to up the price all that much. At the time of writing, though, Bowers & Wilkins is still not certain of a launch date in North America, and still less of the price when that launch finally comes. This, apparently, is the sort of uncertainty that will make America great again.

The Px7 S3 nevertheless find themselves contesting the very upper end of the 'premium/mainstream' best wireless headphones market where the fearsome likes of Bose and Sony (to name just a couple of high-profile alternatives) roam. In other words, it’s going to take more than a premium logo and a premium price to make a success of the Px7 S3…

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Specs

Integrated side buttons on Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear headphones, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Features

Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codec compatibility
Redesigned 40mm biocellulose drivers with discrete amplification
30 hours of battery life

When it comes to the most important stuff, Bowers & Wilkins has specified the Px7 S3 without apparent compromise. This may be a relatively expensive pair of headphones, but don’t doubt that it’s got it where it counts.

And while Bowers & Wilkins will tell you it’s concentrated its efforts on the physical design of the Px7 S3 and on upgrading the active noise-cancelling system, that doesn’t mean the driver arrangement hasn’t come in for attention. The company may, in public, declare itself very satisfied with the way the outgoing Px7 S2e sounded, but it’s made plenty of changes in an effort to liberate even better sound.

So while the 40mm biocellulose cones themselves are unchanged over the previous model, the Px7 S3 features a new chassis arrangement, new voice-coil, reworked suspension and upgraded magnet. The intention is to lower distortion and coloration yet further while offering superior dynamics. And for the first time in a pair of Bowers & Wilkins over-ear headphones, these drive units are powered by dedicated, discrete headphone amplification – improved sonic scale and energy is the idea.

Getting audio information to the drivers can be done in a couple of ways. As well as charging for the battery (which is, incidentally, good for 30 hours of playback with active noise-cancellation switched on and can turn 15 minutes of charging into seven hours of action), the USB-C slot can be used for data transfer. Connect it to the digital or analogue output of an appropriate source of music and 24bit/96kHz high-resolution content can be dealt with.

Multipoint wireless connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.3 and, as well as aptX Adaptive, the S3 are compatible with the aptX Lossless codec. This technology will automatically optimize transmission resolution, and will allow you to hear what that top-tier Presto, Qobuz or Tidal streaming service subscription is actually buying you (Qobuz and Tidal are both available for direct streaming in the Bowers & Wilkins ‘Music’ control app). The company also intends to make the Px7 S3 compatible with Bluetooth LE Audio (which includes the LC3 codec) and Auracast via a free firmware update ‘soon’. Support for spatial audio won’t be all that far behind.

Trio of screenshots from Bowers & Wilkins app displaying environment control, EQ options and wear sensors — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

As well as the ability to integrate (some of) the best streaming services around, the ‘Music’ control app also gives access to a five-band EQ with memory to save some settings, as well as presets including the company’s preferred ‘True Sound’ settings. It allows you to switch noise-cancelling on or off, engage ‘transparency’ mode, adjust wear-sensor sensitivity, check on battery status, and more besides.

Voice control is available via your source’s native assistant, and there are some physical buttons arranged on each earcup. On the right side there’s ‘volume up/down’ and ‘play/pause’ – these buttons have been reshaped to help with operation – and on the left there’s a ‘power on/off/Bluetooth pairing’ slider and a ‘quick action’ button. You can use the app to switch its function between ‘cycle through ANC options’ and ‘summon voice assistant’. Really, all that’s missing is a physical control for ‘skip forwards/backwards’.

Optimizing active noise-cancellation without impacting on the sonic performance of the headphones isn’t an easy trick, of course, but Bowers & Wilkins has given it a very thorough go. It’s developed a new ANC platform from scratch, and has deployed a total of eight mics to monitor the output of the drivers as well as outside noise in an effort to offer its best-ever ANC as well as outstanding call quality.

Features score: 5 / 5

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Sound quality

Wide open and yet tightly unified
Great tonal balance
Detailed and dynamic in equal measure

I may as well get right to it: the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 are a great pair of headphones in purely sonic terms, and represent the very best way to spend £399 (or thereabouts, once worldwide pricing is sorted) if outright sound quality is the most important thing to you.

Tonally, they’re really nicely judged – even and pretty much neutral, with just the tiniest hint or warmth to prevent things sounding austere or chilly (unless you’re listening to something like Kraftwerk’s Trans-Europe Express, of course, which sounds just as draughty and frostbitten as is appropriate). The top end has bite that’s balanced against substance, and at the opposite end there’s weight and ample variation. In the midrange, the character and ability of singers as dissimilar as Mark E Smith and Aretha Franklin is made absolutely explicit. As well as the impeccable tonal balance, the Px7 S3 retrieve and contextualize a huge amount of fine detail, which contributes no end to the sensation of a complete and unexpurgated account of recordings.

Frequency response is equally convincing - there’s no suggestion of any area of the frequency range getting understated or overplayed. And while the Bowers & Wilkins can hit with more than enough purpose to make Holy Calamaf*** by Run the Jewels sound as assertive and uncompromising as anything, control of bass sounds is such that rhythmic expression is natural and coherent. The sort of dynamic variation that’s apparent in this recording is given free expression, too – there’s an appreciable amount of distance between the most and least intense passages.

The soundstage on which all of this occurs is large and properly defined. Despite the width and depth to the Px7 S3’s presentation, though, and despite the fact that every element of a recording enjoys a fair amount of space in which to operate, there’s a unity and singularity to the overall presentation that makes recordings sound of a whole. Even something like Aphex Twin’s Alberto Balsalm, which never was a performance, sounds somehow together.

Where active noise-cancellation is concerned, Bowers & Wilkins has made great strides with the Px7 S3. The headphones deal decisively with the majority of external sounds, and can do so without affecting their sonic signature in the slightest. That these headphones can’t do as complete a job on ambient noise as an equivalent pair of Bose will come as no surprise, because no other headphones can either, but now the Bowers & Wilkins ANC needs no excuses made for it. It’s a match of any of those ‘not quite Bose’ contenders from Sennheiser, Sony and so on.

In fact, about the only way I can imagine there is scope for worthwhile improvement is in suppression of wind noise. My part of the UK's south coast is windy more often than it isn’t, and the Px7 S3 prove more susceptible to wind noise than quite a few alternative designs. It’s by no means a fatal flaw, but it’s noticeable nevertheless. And I guess it’s a measure of just how accomplished the Px7 S3 are that my contractually obliged complaining consists of some tepid bleating about how they could deal with wind noise a little better…

Sound quality score: 5 / 5

Headband of the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Design

Choice of three finishes
Slimmer profile, redesigned arms and headband
Look and feel expensive (which is just as well)

On first acquaintance you’d be forgiven for thinking the Px7 S3 are the same as the outgoing Px7 S2e where design is concerned – certainly that’s what my first glance led me to believe. But Bowers & Wilkins has had a bit of a think about this new model's design, and has made some very worthwhile adjustments without in any way affecting its perceived value.

For instance, the earcups are now appreciably slimmer in profile. Previous Px7 models have made the wearer look a bit, well, Cyberman-y – the earcups and pads were deep enough to increase the width of the wearer’s head more than somewhat. The Px7 S3 aren’t as slim as, say, the Sonos Ace, but they’re definitely tidier, and it makes for a less conspicuous look when they’re in position.

A new headband and redesigned arm mechanism makes the Px7 S3 ever so easy to get comfortable inside – an all-in weight of 300g has a part to play in this – while the pleather-over-memory foam contact points are nicely padded and reluctant to return your body heat too rapidly. And in a first for Bowers & Wilkins, the inner section of the headband and the earpads can be removed and replaced (by a trained service engineer, of course).

The fabric around the outside of the headband and the earcups looks and feels good, and will prove hard-wearing if previous Px7 models are anything to go by. The narrow grille that separates the outer part of the earcup from the earpads, first seen (on a much smaller scale) on the splendid Pi8 true wireless in-ears, allows mics and Bluetooth aerials to operate more freely, but the fact that it’s a nice design flourish doesn’t do any harm either.

The standard of build and finish is basically impeccable, and the concealed headband adjustment mechanism operates with well-damped precision. It doesn’t matter if you choose the ‘anthracite’ black of my review sample, ‘indigo’ blue or ‘canvas’ white, you’ll find yourself in possession of a pair of headphones with appreciable perceived value, which is just as well, given how much you’re paying.

The Px7 S3 can be kept in peak condition during transit thanks to a nice robust carry-case that’s just a few millimetres smaller in each direction than the case the Px7 S2e travelled in. As well as protecting the headphones, it features a pocket behind a magnetically closing flap that conceals USB-C / USB-C and USB-C / 3.5mm cables.

Design score: 5 / 5

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 headphones in their carrying case, with magnetic pouch holding cables — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Value

Extensive specification
Excellent standard of build and finish
Class-leading sound

Just because it’s possible to spend plenty more than £399 on a pair of wireless noise-cancelling over-ear headphones (not least with Bowers & Wilkins itself), that doesn’t mean it’s an insignificant amount of money.

Happily, at every turn the Px7 S3 try their hardest to make it seem like a perfectly reasonable asking price. The standard of build and finish here is basically impeccable, and a thoughtful little redesign has resulted in a more discreet, yet somehow no less premium, appearance – pride of ownership is significant.

Specification is as good as it currently gets at anything like this sort of money. And where sound quality is concerned, you’re getting what I am confident is the most complete performance available at anything like this sort of money.

Value score: 5 / 5

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 earcups on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should I buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3?

Buy them if…

You like nice things
The Bowers & Wilkins look, feel and (for the first few days of ownership, at least) even smell like a premium product. Perceived value is very high indeed.

You intend to wear them in public
The new slimmer profile suits the Px7 S3, and you’ll feel a lot less conspicuous wearing them than you did in previous Px7s.

You value sound quality above all else
The balance struck by the Px7 S3 is beautifully judged. They have sonic talent in every department, and are a very satisfying listen.

Don't buy them if…

You’re expecting extended functionality
There are plenty of alternatives that offer touch controls, hearing tests, heart monitoring and all the rest of it. Bowers & Wilkins has concentrated on sound quality.

You’re an impatient listener
You can only skip through tracks by getting your source player out or asking your voice-assistant to take care of it. There’s no physical control for this function.

You live on a hillside
The Px7 S3 are a little more susceptible to wind noise than is absolutely ideal.

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 review: Also consider

Sony WH-1000XM5
If you want all the whistles and bells of extended functionality while still enjoying very agreeable sound and a fair serving of perceived value, Sony’s venerable WH-1000XM5 remain strong contenders. Appreciably more affordable than the Px7 S3, they’re excellent all-rounders, though they have to concede to the Bowers & Wilkins where outright sound quality is concerned.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra
If you’re preoccupied with noise-cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are basically a default choice. Bowers & Wilkins may have made strides with ANC where the Px7 S3 are concerned, but it, like every other brand, has to concede that Bose rules the roost in this respect. The Ultra are not as deft a listen as the Px7 S3, though.
Read the full Bose QuietComfort review

Dali iO-8
If you want an alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins that can match them for outright sound quality, well, it’s going to cost you – you’re probably looking at forking out even more money for a pair of Dali iO-8. These are deeply accomplished, great-sounding headphones, facts that are reflected in the asking price.
Read our full Dali iO-8 review

How I tested Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Wireless connection to an Apple iPhone 14 Pro, wireless and wired connections to a FiiO M15S digital audio player
A variety of music, a variety of file types and sizes
Indoors and outdoors

Wireless listening used the AAC and aptX codecs (depending on the source player), while the wired listening was able to extend to 24bit/96kHz content.

I listened at my desk, I listened while on the street and I listened on public transport, to a wide variety of music of many different file types and sizes. I spent well over a week listening critically, and found myself listening simply for listening’s sake too.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: April 2025

AceFast’s open-ear offering has all the trappings of the best cheap open earbuds… except the price

12:30 pm | April 23, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

AceFast AceFit Pro: Two minute review

Having tested several of the best open-ear headphones now, I’ve been waiting for a really affordable pair of earbuds to shake up this burgeoning and relatively new audio market that's perhaps still looking for a reliable budget offering. So when I heard that AceFast had made some open-fit earbuds, I was ready to be excited – however, I was wrong to be.

AceFast isn’t a big player in the game yet, but I tested the AceFast T9 last year, and loved the funky look, low price and emphasis on usability. I was expecting the new AceFit Pro to replicate all three of these traits, then. Sadly, it only actually nails one.

Arguably, the one attribute it does nail is the most important check-box for open earbuds. These designs typically hover just over the ear canal instead of sitting in it, to ensure you can hear your surroundings while listening to music. And AceFast’s have a reliable, comfortable fit that doesn’t wobble in your ear or fall out without warning, issues other open-ears have certainly fallen foul of.

But AceFast drops the ball with the other two traits. The price is one, as not only are they not cheap earbuds, they’re actually more expensive than some impressive mid-range rivals from Honor and Huawei.

And then there’s the design, which initially began as my favorite thing about these earbuds. Not only do they come in a range of colors, all toting see-through cases with LED lights that you can customize the hue of, but they also boast battery displays. This lets you know the battery percentage left for the case, and how close to fully-charged the buds are. And I absolutely love it – it’s incredibly handy in planning your charging and knowing how much listening time you have left (that’s despite the battery life being pretty awful, all things considered).

Unfortunately, the AceFit Pro’s design is its biggest strength but also its biggest weakness, with a few sad and curious design choices. The sad one is that, like many other cheap earbuds, the case is unreliable – just two weeks into my testing, the right earbud developed a problem that meant the case didn’t always recognize its presence. It wouldn’t always charge when in the case, or turned on when removed, and though removing and reinserting the bud several times would generally resolve the issue, it’s not a good sign for the longevity of the AceFast AceFit Pro.

The ‘curious’ decision I spoke of was to put the charging port on the underside of the case. To power it up, you have to flip it on its back like a beached turtle.

Beyond that, the AceFast AceFit Pro don’t do that much to impress. They have a limited range of features (though they do have an equalizer at least, which you can’t say about all open-ears) and the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired.

Most of these issues could be hand-waved with the simple explanation that cheap earbuds aren’t perfect, and that’s what I did a lot of the time during my testing… but the inescapable fact is that the AceFast AceFit Pro aren’t actually that low-cost. They just have all the hallmarks of cheap earbuds – and all in all, that makes them hard to recommend.

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Specifications

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Price and availability

The Acefast Acefit Pro on a window sill — (Image credit: Future)

Kickstarter campaign ran Jan-Feb 2025, now selling via Amazon
Priced $159.99 (roughly £120, AU$250)
Cheaper option is AceFit Pro at $79.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160)

The AceFast AceFit Pro were launched on Kickstarter, in a campaign which ran from mid-January to late-February 2025. Nowadays, though, you can buy them on Amazon, and I’m going to use this price as a guide instead of the Kickstarter fee, as it’s the only way for new buyers to pick up the buds.

At the time of writing, the AceFast AceFit Pro are on sale in the US and not the UK or Australia, though based on precedent (and the Pro's siblings, which we'll get to) I'd expect them to hit Amazon's UK site at some point soon.

You can pick the buds up for $159.99 (roughly £120, AU$250) so they’re mid-range open earbuds, in the rough price bracket that most rivals inhabit (although towards on the higher end of the spectrum than most contemporaries).

For some context, the also-open-ear AceFast AceFit Air sell for $79.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160) so those at least are affordable earbuds.

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Design

Funky battery display and see-through parts
Weird-placed charging port
Earbud recognition/charging issues

It’s unusual to find much to say about the case of headphones; that’s never the case with AceFast products. The case – which you can pick up in white, pink, purple or green, as with the buds – is transparent, letting users pretend they’re putting on gadgets from the noughties instead of the twenties.

That’s not all, as the case also has a digital battery display that shows you the overall power of the case in a percentage, as well as the charge in each bud while they’re enclosed. This isn’t just a funky design element but a really useful way to know that your case is fully charged, to prevent overcharging, and to remind you when it needs charging too. I really appreciated this feature and it deserves being mentioned in the ‘Pros’ list of this review.

The feature came in handy when (and this is where things take a turn for the worse) it showed me that one of the buds wasn’t charging. The AceFit Pro buds weren’t always good at recognizing that they were in their charging case: they wouldn’t begin powering up when inserted, or automatically turn on when taken out, and I’d have to wiggle the buds or remove and re-insert them for it to work. I can’t say whether this was a problem with my review unit or a larger issue with the device but it’s not an uncommon headache among cheap earbuds (and in the case of these buds, it didn’t completely scupper the buds, which isn’t always true).

This feature is potentially disastrous, so if you’re confused why I’m not making a bigger deal about it than I am, it’s because the buds still worked, and because I can’t say with any certainty that it’s not just my review unit. It seems unlikely, but it’s not impossible.

As well as the battery display, the case has an array of LED lights to fully embody that noughties aesthetic. You can change the color of this via the app, and since it only turns on when the case is open there’s no need to turn it off.

The case is quite thin, and it’s light too at just 74g. It looks like it’s made from cheap plastic, as you can probably see from the images, but it actually feels surprisingly premium and solid when you get your mitts on it. It’s also sturdy, as I found out through dropping it repeatedly. This wasn’t my butter-fingers but a symptom of the shape of the case: it’s rounded like a pebble, not even flat on the bottom, and so it had a habit of sliding off things I put it on if they weren’t totally flat.

Another weird quirk of the case is that the charging port is on the bottom, meaning you need to turn the case on its back like a flipped turtle in order to power it up – apparently AceFast didn’t take notes from the Apple Magic Mouse. Functionally it doesn’t have much of an effect but it means you can’t really see the battery display while charging, and it frankly looks pretty silly too.

Finally, we move to the earbuds. These will look pretty standard to people familiar with open earbuds: A large pill that hovers over your ears, and a sports loop that ends in a counterweight ad battery pack behind the ear. Your earbuds will be the same color as your charging case.

The AceFit Pro buds are comfortable and lightweight to wear, at 7.8g each. I only rarely found issues with them wobbling too much during exercise, and they felt pretty flexible to fit different ears too. They’re also protected against sweat with an IP54 rating.

There’s a touch-sensitive area on the buds’ body for gesture controls, but this was less reliable than South London buses and I rapidly gave up any hope of using them.

Something that may impress certain users (and upset others) is that the AceFast logo on each bud lights up, which is a lot more obvious than the simple, single LED that most buds have. I’ll admit I did feel quite self-conscious working out with a giant glowing logo on each ear, but the app does let you turn this off.

Design score: 2.5/5

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Features

6-hour battery life (25 for case) or less
AceFast app brings few features
Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity

Even early into my testing for the AceFit Pro, I was surprised by how quickly the battery level dropped. AceFast says the buds have a battery life of 6 hours and the case bumps that to 25 hours, both relatively low figures compared to rivals. But read the fine print and you discover that that’s listening at just 60% volume – I don’t think I ever listened with the volume this quiet.

In my personal testing, I found the AceFit Pro to have a battery life of about five hours, listening at around 80%-90% of their volume (out and about I generally used them one or two volume increments below max volume). That is, frankly, pretty awful battery life – even the AirPods Pro 2 beat that! You know if your product is beaten in battery life by a 2022 Apple option, it’s not quite up to par.

The AceFit Pro can pair to the AceFast phone app, but it doesn’t offer all features that buyers might hope for. No ANC, no find-my-buds feature, no listening tests, but at least there’s an 8-band equalizer and a few presets, as well as the ability to change gesture controls.

It feels like the main point of the app is to customize the LED lights of the bud and case. You can toggle whether the AceFast logo lights up on the buds and change the light color and effect pattern of the case. It’s not exactly a feature which makes the app a must-download, I'd say.

The AceFit Pro connect to your phone with Bluetooth 5.4 and I never had any issues with it during my testing.

Features score: 3/5

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Sound performance

The Acefast Acefit Pro in a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

20x8mm driver
V-shaped audio profile loses mids
Some peaking

If, like me, you’re used to cheap-and-cheery AceFast buds sounding… well, cheap, then you might be surprised to peruse a little down the AceFit Pro specs list: three-magnet 20x8mm speakers, bass enhancement tech and a special design to reduce sound loss – it's all painting a very pretty picture.

The acoustic design sadly comes to nothing, because these earbuds simply don’t sound amazing, embodying once again AceFast’s modus operandi of ‘cheap and cheerful’. The audio is fine for the budget-conscious end of the market, but the AceFit Pro can't compete with the big dogs they find themselves up against at this price.

The buds have quite dramatic V-shaped audio – bass and treble vocals abound, but at the expense of just about anything else. As I write this, I’m listening to Counting Crows’ Omaha. I can hear the vocals and bass well but the accordion frequently trails off into nothingness and the acoustic guitar is almost totally missing.

It doesn’t help that audio isn’t very detailed, with character and texture missing from instruments and vocals. And this is when I’m listening indoors – as open-ear users will know, buds like this sound much worse when you’re out and about and they’re competing with every passing bus, street busker and annoying fellow human playing social media videos straight out of their phone's speakers instead of using their own headphones.

For what it's worth, audio loss outside isn't as bad on some other buds I've tested. It's still noticeable, but that's hard to avoid due to the nature of open-ears.

There’s some peaking going on here too, though it’s admittedly hidden well by the fact it’s largely happening in the midrange frequencies – which are so lost in the mix themselves that you might not notice!

I can see buyers looking for simple workout buds finding the AceFit Pro acceptable due to the audio profile, but audiophiles – the few of them who’d ever consider open earbuds – won’t love these buds.

Sound performance score: 3/5

AceFast AceFit Pro review: Value

The AceFast AceFit Pro have all the trappings of the best cheap open-ear buds… except the price.

If these buds had launched for more than a third less (or even better, half the price), I’d be hailing them as a great option for budget-conscious buyers, however the various issues are hard to overlook when you consider the price you’re paying for these earbuds. The low battery life, unimpressive audio and possible longevity concerns all hurt when you’re paying $160 (or equivalent) for earbuds. The competition at this level is fierce – and AceFast simply hasn't aced it.

If you can find the AceFit Pro for below $100 (or equivalent), they could be worth picking up, but it’s hard to recommend them even then, especially when the AceFit Air are still cheaper.

Value score: 3/5

AceFast AceFit Pro: scorecard

AceFast AceFit Pro: Should you buy them?

Buy them if...

You like the battery display

The battery display is a really useful feature that I've loved on various AceFast gadgets, as it's both functional and fun.

You want a reliable on-ear fit

I've tested a fair few open-ear buds that don't sit still when you're walking, running or working out, so sometimes it's nice for buds to just fit reliably.

You find them majorly discounted

The AceFit Pro doesn't offer a great value-for-money proposition, but that could change if you find them with a meaty discount.

Don't buy them if...

You need to listen for long periods of time

Sub-6-hour battery life gadgets are always hard to recommend, due to many use cases requiring longer-lasting buds.

You're worried about how long they'll last

The fact that my buds kept falling off surfaces and partly broke may put off people who've been burned by cheap tech before.

You want top-tier audio

Actually, you can get great audio in an open-ear design (from Huawei or Honor, see below), but if audio quality is your chief concern, you won't enjoy the AceFit Pro.View Deal

Also consider

Huawei FreeArc

These are the best open-ear buds I've tested and they significantly undercut the AceFast AceFit Pro. They sound great, they last longer in your ears and they fit comfortably.

Read our full Huawei FreeArc review

AceFast AceFit Air

The Pro's siblings, which I haven't actually tested, seem to be everything the Pro aren't. They're more affordable, last longer and weigh less, yet don't sound any worse and seem to fit just the same. You're missing out on the battery display, mostly.

How I tested

I tested the Acefast AceFit Pro for two weeks in order to write this review, though I continued to test them for an extra week during the writing process.

The use cases match how I tested many rivals: I paired them to an Android smartphone (and, a few times, a Windows laptop) to go on walks, work at home or in the office, go on runs, cycle around my city and work out at the gym.

I have six years of experience testing tech for TechRadar, which includes many earbuds. I've tested five different pairs of open-ear buds in the last four months and have plenty more waiting to be tested...

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: April 2025

I tested these open earbuds and I never, ever want to use them again

6:00 pm | April 21, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Happy Plugs Clip: two minute review

The Happy Plugs Clip are a pair of open ear headphones that really surprised me – but not in the way I'd hoped. These clip-on buds are bizarre in the sense that they don’t really nail anything in particular. They’re a jack of few trades and a master of absolutely none.

Usually I’d start by talking about sound quality, but I want to instead start with design – because these have a quirk I’ve not encountered before. After you open up the admittedly attractive charging case, you’re met with the two open earbuds which are… upside down? Yes, after picking these out of their charging vessel, I realized that the ‘L’ and ‘R’ symbols on the left and right bud were the wrong way up. That means that each time you go to put them on (or go to put them back), you need to mess around a fair bit to get them in your ear – not sure how that one got past the drawing board.

Anyway, the buds themselves look a little cheap – perhaps to be expected given their list price of $49 / £50. They’re also quite large compared to some other clip-style open earbuds I’ve tested, though they only weigh 5g each, which is lighter than even some of the best open ear headphones.

I found them to be fairly comfortable, though a tad loose-fitting, which made it a little challenging to find the perfect fit. On top of that, these things use touch controls, but they activate with a single touch, meaning I often accidentally paused music or adjusted volume by mistake when trying to get them to stay put. However, if your ear shape works with them, said touch controls do let you control a fair amount, including music playback, calls, power status and even your source device’s voice assistant.

And one final point on design – Happy Plugs call the Clip ‘sweat resistant’ but don’t specify their waterproof rating. I wouldn’t expect that it’s any higher than IPX4 with that description, which is a little disappointing when you consider that other budget models like the Huawei FreeArc, are IP57-rated.

But anyway, let’s get onto the main event: audio performance. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst areas for the Happy Plugs Clip. You’re going to get thin, unbalanced, sometimes harsh sound out of these, which is going to be a problem for almost anyone. For instance, when listening to Una canzone d’amore per te by Pino D’Angio, the 80s style percussion sounded tinny – unlistenable at high volumes – with the lead saxophone lacking separation from other instrumental elements.

How Much I Feel by Ambrosia also had an almost muffled tone throughout. The soundstage was cluttered and percussion through the treble frequencies again sounded grating. It’s safe to say I was excited to go back to my usual LG Tone Free T90S earbuds.

You won’t get good bass response out of the Happy Plugs Clip either – and I'm taking into account their open design, where bass clout is always a potential issue. When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the deep drum machine was hugely understated, stripping the track of its impact, rhythmic bounce and groove. The only time I really got a serviceable listen out of these open earbuds was when listening at low volumes, when the harsh, muddied nature of its sound was considerably tempered. But who wants to listen to music so quietly in a set of open ear headphones?

Happy Plugs Clip in charging case — (Image credit: Future)

So, it’s safe to say that these lack star quality in the sound department, but there’s always an opportunity for a solid feature-set to redeem things, at least slightly. However, that is something that the Happy Plugs Clip don’t possess either.

Firstly, there’s no companion app, so you won’t get dedicated EQ settings, adjustable noise cancelling, customizable touch controls or… anything really. There are a couple of features available to you, though. First of all, these highlight ambient sounds if you’re on the go. For instance, it was easier for me to hear a child screaming in a supermarket, which some open ear fans may be looking for. I wasn't exactly loving that experience, though.

Secondly, these have two inbuilt mics, intended to facilitate “clear calls”. That was something I didn’t experience, however. When making a video call and a standard phone call, I was told that my voice sounded pretty muffled and less clear than when using my phone’s built-in microphone. I also recorded a voice note and heard a whole lot of sibilance, which was pretty unpleasant.

Unfortunately, even the battery life of the Happy Plugs Clip is sub-par. On the front of the box, you’re told you get 20 hours from these. And in a sense, that’s true. If you count the additional battery life supplied by the charging case, you’ll be able to get a total of 20 hours from these. But really, you’re getting 4.5 hours per charge, which is – to be blunt – simply bad. When we reviewed the Honor Earbuds Open, we described their six hour battery life as “limited”, so, yeah… nothing to shout about.

An additional issue worth considering, is that like most open ear headphones, these are pretty prone to sound leakage. So, if you're out in public and have your tunes cranked up a little too loud, expect a few glares to come your way – although you likely won't do that, because of that troublesome treble.

All in all, the Happy Plugs Clip fail to make a splash in the ever-expanding ocean of open ear headphones. They struggle to deliver across the board, with unsatisfying sound quality, a weak feature-set, unimpressive design and restricted playtime. The only real draw of these is, of course, their price. The bulk of the open earbuds market does sit closer to that $100 / £100 mark, it's true – but it’s well worth spending that bit extra, and I hope you'll trust me on this.

Take a step up to the sub £100 Huawei FreeArc, for example, and you’re getting great audio, superior waterproofing and more features – more on those later. Otherwise, I highly recommend checking out some cheaper options in our guide to the best wireless earbuds – if you activate Ambient Sound mode on the ultra-cheap Sony WF-C510, for example, you’ll hear surrounding noise and still get superb audio.

Happy Plugs Clip review: specs

Reverse side of Happy Plugs Clip charging case showing USB-C port — (Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Clip review: price and availability

$49 / £50 (about AU$80)
Launched in January 2025

The Happy Plugs Clip launched in January 2025 alongside a handful of other products, including the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. They have a list price of $49 / £50 (about AU$80) which is comfortably in budget tech territory, but of course, you’re not getting great quality in return. It’s worth noting that these are available in either Black or White, but the color you pick should have no bearing on the price you pay.

Happy Plugs Clip on stone surface with charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Happy Plugs Clip?

Buy them if...

You want a more relaxed fit
There aren’t many reasons to recommend the Happy Plugs Clip, but one thing going for them is their open design, which is ideal if you’re the active type. That’s because they let in a lot of ambient noise, so if you want to have the measure of your surroundings, they’re more effective than ANC-enabled wireless earbuds.

You’re looking for a lightweight option
Each of the Happy Plugs Clip’s buds weigh only 5g – that’s pretty light compared to much of the competition. If you’re fed up with weighty wired earbuds or bulky over-ears, these might be a better fit.

Don't buy them if...

You care about audio quality
Even if you’re not an audiophile, I think you’ll pick up on the sonic shortcomings of the Happy Plugs Clip. You get thin, muffled audio that’s grating at high volumes. And you don’t have to settle for that, even for this money. If you’re not so set on the open design, you can check out our guide to the best cheap wireless earbuds for some ace alternatives.

You want plenty of playtime
The Happy Plugs Clip can only manage 4.5 hours of playtime per charge, which isn’t very good to be honest. You get 20 hours in total with the charging case, but if you’re a keen listener, you’re gonna be charging these quite often.

Happy Plugs Clip review: also consider

Anker Soundcore AeroClip
The Anker Soundcore AeroClip are a great pair of open ear headphones that nail the clip-on look. They supply impressive sound quality, a comfortable fit and excellent companion app compatibility. Sure, there’s no ANC on offer and their IPX4 waterproof rating could be better, but they’re still well worth checking out. Read our full Anker Soundcore AeroClip review.

Huawei FreeArc
If you’re a UK customer, we strongly recommend taking a look at the Huawei FreeArc. They serve up great audio, wonderful waterproofing and a neat design. Again – no ANC here and battery life could be a touch improved, but for less than £100, they’re an absolute steal. Read our full Huawei FreeArc review.

Happy Plugs Clip review: How I tested

Person picking one earbud out from Happy Plugs Clip charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for one week
Used in the office and while out and about
Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Happy Plugs Clip for one week and spent hours listening to music, watching videos and making phone calls. Most of the time, I used these in the office at Future Labs, but I also used them while out and about in busy areas.

When listening to music, I used the Tidal app on my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. I also ensured that I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a range of genres and is optimized for judging sound quality across the frequencies. In addition, I played a ton of tunes from my personal library. Where appropriate, I compared these to the Soundcore AeroClip on aspects such as sound quality, battery life and design quirks.

First reviewed: April 2025
Read more about how we test