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I tested LG’s xboom Grab Bluetooth speaker and frankly, it’s got the chops to challenge the JBL Flip 7

2:00 pm | June 13, 2025

LG xboom Grab: Two-minute review

There are only so many ways you can design a Bluetooth speaker. Sonos has done the Toblerone look. Ultimate Ears has mastered the rounded cube. And JBL pioneered the rugged cylinder. Is there any room left for innovation? LG thinks so. And the answer is straps.

The xboom Grab is far from the first speaker to feature built-in carry straps, but its two elasticated loops are unique among the best Bluetooth speakers. Subtle enough when not in use, they’re a neat addition that means you can easily lash the Grab to a bike frame or handlebars. Release one end from the metal bracket and you can also hook the speaker to just about anything.

More than a novelty, the straps are useful for users on the move. So are the Grab’s dimensions, which mean it fits neatly in a cup or bottle holder. It might not be the lightest at 700g, but this is a speaker that lives up to its portable promise. It’s also one that feels built to survive a beach party, even if its buttons are easy to press accidentally.

Straps aren’t the only standout feature. To distinguish the Grab in a crowded market, LG has packed it with tricks. A pulsing light strip adds a sliver of color at the foot of the unit. Whether that’s a welcome addition will depend on your taste for ambient flair, but the saturation is bold and the execution slick – as is the option to control, sync or disable its hues in the app.

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LG xboom Grab Bluetooth speaker in an outdoor setting — (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

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Strangely, the Grab connects to the ThinQ app, rather than the LG xboom one. This requires you to create an account, a step that feels both unnecessary and lengthy. Still, it’s worth the effort: the app is where you gain access to a range of configuration options, including AI room calibration and the ability to power the speaker on and off remotely. It’s also where you can adjust sound settings.

You’ll want to do that. By default, will.i.am – with the help of LG’s sound engineers – has set the xboom Grab to Bass Boost. This gives it plenty of low-end energy, at the expense of clarity elsewhere in the range. Switch to Standard mode and separation improves dramatically. There’s still weight to the lower frequencies, but it’s balanced with detailed mids and expressive treble, which are given more space to breathe.

A 10W tweeter and 20W racetrack woofer, plus a pair of passive radiators, deliver a dynamic listen, creating a soundstage that’s surprisingly full and spacious for a portable speaker. The Grab certainly has no trouble being heard, indoors or out, with distortion only creeping in when you really crank up the volume.

Longevity isn’t lacking either. Switch off the lights and the Grab’s 20-hour battery rating stacks up. That puts it at the head of the field, with a several-hour lead over its primary rival: the JBL Flip 7.

In truth, the challenge for most people will be choosing between the Grab and the Flip 7. Both speakers have compact proportions and stellar sonic performance. Both also offer app connectivity and adaptive AI tuning. Design is likely to be the deciding factor. If clean lines, bright lights and carry straps do it for you, the LG xboom Grab won’t leave you disappointed.

LG xboom Grab review: Price and release date

Announced at CES in January 2025
Officially priced at $149.99 / £129.98 / around AU$175

LG unveiled the xboom Grab at CES in January 2025. Part of the ‘xboom by will.i.am’ range, it debuted alongside the larger xboom Bounce and party-ready Stage 301. All three hit shelves in April.

Ticketed at $149.99 / £129.98 (around AU$175), the Grab is pitched directly against the JBL Flip 7, which currently occupies the top spot in our list of the best Bluetooth speakers.

At that price point, the Grab enters a crowded and competitive market. The Sonos Roam 2, another portable speaker that sits happily in our best wireless speakers roundup owing to its Wi-Fi streaming capability, has recently been discounted to a similar asking fee.

Because it doesn’t undercut its rivals, the Grab instead needs to deliver a superior experience to win listeners. And, as you’ll read below, it does a thoroughly good job of trying, offering a plethora of features for the money.

LG xboom Grab review: Specs

Weight:	700g
Dimensions:	211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0mm
Battery life (quoted):	20 hours
Connectivity:	Bluetooth 5.3
Multipoint:	Yes
Drivers:	16mm tweeter, 80 x 45mm woofer, 2x passive radiators
Aux-in:	No
Charger port:	USB-C
Microphone:	Yes
Waterproof rating:	IP67
App:	Yes

LG xboom Grab review: Design

Built-in elasticated straps
IP67 waterproof and dust-proof
Seven-button interface with customizable shortcut

In many ways, the LG xboom Grab borrows from every Bluetooth speaker that’s gone before it. It’s a solid cylinder clad in fabric mesh, with reinforced ends where the passive radiators reside. It combines the clean lines of the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 with the tidy dimensions of the JBL Flip 7. That’s a strong starting point, which LG has embellished with neat details and a dash of flair.

It wouldn’t look out of place in a modern apartment, yet the Grab is also ready for the beach. Like most of its contemporaries, it benefits from an IP67 water-resistance rating. LG’s also had it certified to military standard 810H. If you’re not up to speed with military testing codes (that's absolutely fine, by the way), that means it can easily shake off shocks, sand and salt water spray. In short, the Grab is built to last.

It certainly feels that way. At 700g, the Grab is weightier than other speakers of a similar size, which gives it a real sense of solidity. From the grooves on the bumpers to the metal plate where the straps attach, its construction is sturdy. The aesthetic might channel urban understatement, but there’s no cause for hesitation when lashing it to a bike or stashing it in a bottle holder.

In fact, the built-in straps mean you can mount the Grab just about anywhere. Far from a gimmick, they give you real flexibility for positioning the speaker outdoors. One end of each strap can unhook from the mount, allowing you to thread them through gaps in a fence, over handlebars and bike frames, even around tree branches. Or you can just hook one for a dangling disco.

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Because they’re elasticated, you can stretch the straps for a secure fit and tighten things up by threading the bands back through their brackets. When not in use, they loop neatly around the compact body of the speaker. It’s a simple but clever setup that’s genuinely useful, whether flat surfaces are in short supply or you want to mount the Grab on the move.

If you do position the Grab on a shelf or table, little feet underneath will stop it rolling, while the light strip casts an ambient glow. This sliver of saturation runs in a thin line along the front of the speaker, pulsing in sync to your music with hues you can choose in the app. This won’t be to every taste, but it’s less naff than it sounds. As integrated lighting goes, it’s the subtlest and slickest I’ve seen. You can also turn it off entirely, if you prefer a low-profile approach.

Along the top of the cylinder sits a row of seven buttons. Complementing the standard set of power, volume and play/pause controls is a dedicated key for Auracast pairing, plus a heart button which can be set as a shortcut for Apple Music or LG Radio+. In practice, this last button feels unnecessary. Omitting just one key would’ve made the interface that bit simpler to navigate at a glance.

It doesn’t help that the buttons aren’t illuminated. The black outline design means they fly under the radar, but you have to feel your way around the shapes after dark. The buttons are also easy to press accidentally when handling the Grab or looping the straps. I unintentionally turned the speaker off several times. It’s a minor niggle, but the one that stands in the way of a five-star rating for the design.

Design score: 4.5/5

LG xboom Grab review: Features

20-hour battery life, USB-C charging
ThinQ app connectivity for light and sound control
Full-color adaptive lighting strip

In an arena that’s bustling with Bluetooth speakers, LG’s pulled off a rare feat with the xboom Grab: packing a product with features and making almost all of them feel like meaningful additions. Look past the will.i.am tie-up – although I’m sure the Black Eyed Pea leant a helpful hand in the Grab’s development – and you’ll find a speaker that offers a lot of substance for the money.

Admittedly, I didn’t get off to a flying start with the Grab’s app connectivity: I downloaded the wrong one. You’d be forgiven for assuming the xboom Grab would use the xboom app, but it’s actually the LG ThinQ one you need to install. That’s followed by a mandatory sign-up process which demands too much time and information for pairing with a Bluetooth speaker.

A faff? Yes. It’s worth the effort though. Connecting the app unlocks a catalog of control and configuration options, including the ability to remotely turn the speaker on and off. It’s where you’ll find the settings for the light strip (see above), with a palette of pulse and color modes to choose from. And it’s also where you can fine-tune the sound output to suit your ears and space.

Part of that toolkit is AI room calibration. This analyzes the area where you’re listening and adjusts the audio accordingly. It would take a keen ear to detect the exact changes made to the output, but recalibrated from living room to bathroom to back garden, the Grab never sounded out of place. There are sounds modes to choose between too, but more on that below.

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According to LG, will.i.am’s influence isn’t limited to the sound signature. He’s also had a hand in shaping the sound UI – the beeps and noises you hear when using the Grab. Now, this might sound like more marketing schtick, but it does actually make a difference over time. If you’ve ever used a speaker with low-grade sound effects, you’ll know how budget audio design can cheapen the experience when used every day.

That’s not a problem which besets the Grab. From powering on to establishing a Bluetooth connection, the xboom’s noises are rich, weighty and well-defined. It’s a small touch but one that makes a difference the longer you spend with it. As with other components, this attention to sonic detail gives the impression that every element of the speaker has been thought about. And crucially, they don’t start to grate after a fortnight.

Neither does the battery life. After two weeks with the Grab, I came away hugely impressed with its staying power. Rated at 20 hours without lighting, trips to the wall were pleasingly infrequent. On a full charge, you’ll be covered for days of casual listening before you have to worry about charging it. It’s not the quickest to refill when you do, but that’s a small price to pay for longevity.

Features score: 4.5/5

LG xboom Grab review: Sound quality

16mm tweeter, 80 x 45mm woofer, 2x passive radiators
AI calibration and adaptive sound
Party link pairing with xboom speakers

LG’s equipped the xboom grab with a promising sonic architecture. An 80 x 45mm racetrack driver does woofer duties, while a 16mm dome tweeter from Peerless handles the higher stuff. These both pump out from the front, with passive radiators at each end to help distribute the sound. It’s a setup that translates into a very engaging listening, once you’ve done some tweaking.

Out of the box, the LG xboom Grab is set to Bass Boost. This gives it plenty of low-end energy, as befits a will.i.am party banger. But it also has the effect of dominating the sound signature and crowding the mids. Fine if you you want a bit of boom in the room, but not the most refined performance.

Things are significantly enhanced by switching to the Standard setting. There’s still no shortage of bass, but it exists in much better balance with the mids and treble. Oomph from the lower frequencies is paired with brightness and detail higher up the range. The soundstage offers a surprising amount of separation, resulting in a dynamic and engaging listen.

Fed with Maribou State’s latest album, the Grab dealt deliciously with many layers of electronica, balancing rich synthesized bass with clarity in the mids. Vocal reproduction is expressive too, whether it’s Hozier and his backing choir or Phil Collins doing some Disney-sanctioned crooning.

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Yes, the xboom Grab is still a portable Bluetooth speaker, so the pickiest audiophiles shouldn’t expect a miracle. But for its size, it gives a hugely impressive account of itself. Details are perhaps easier to detect indoors, but the fullness and warmth of the Grab’s output isn’t lost in an outdoor setting either. Only at the top end of its volume level does distortion risk creeping in, a level that few will ever have cause to explore. This really is a unit fit for all occasions.

Besides Bass Boost and Standard, there’s also a Voice Enhance mode that you can select in the app. Alternatively, you can leave it to AI to analyze the genre and choose a setting to suit. But to my ears, there’s little reason to stray from the Standard setting. This gives the most balanced rendition, whatever’s on your playlist.

I haven’t listened to the LG xboom Grab back-to-back with the JBL Flip 7, but based on what I’ve heard, I’d say it’s a close-run thing between the two. Given how highly the Flip 7 scored in our review, that’s praise indeed. Both use drivers of the same dimensions, so at least internally there’s little to differentiate between the two. It’s fair to say that buyers of the xboom Grab won’t be disappointed with what greets their ears.

Sound quality: 4.5/5

LG xboom Grab review: Value

Value is a relative concept. In 2025, $150 / £130 / AU$175 has become the standard price for a portable Bluetooth speaker of this size. For that money, the LG xboom Grab offers a lot: you’re getting a product built for portability, with the added bonus of solid battery life, synchronized lighting and genuinely useful app connectivity. It sounds great, too.

But $150 / £130 / AU$175 isn’t small change. In pure value terms, there is an obvious argument that the xboom Grab would be more compelling if it came in cheaper than its rivals. And there are plenty of people who’d prefer to sacrifice some of its clever features and lighting frills for a saving of 20%.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a good example of a speaker that takes a simpler, more affordable approach without compromising on audio quality or performance. Its value offering is one of the main reasons we rate it so highly. The xboom Grab might sound bigger and better, but it also costs a chunk more. There’s definitely a gap in the market for a simple, solid and reliable mid-size speaker that costs $130 / £100 / AU$150.

As it is, the LG xboom Grab justifies its price by maxing out on features. It gives a solid performance that ticks the key boxes, complemented by extra tricks that will feel like real benefits to the right buyer. Whether that’s you will depend on how much you appreciate carry straps, light strips and an app with AI sound calibration.

Value score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the LG xboom Grab?

LG xboom Grab
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Tidy dimensions, built-in straps and IP67 water-resistance	4.5/5
Features	20-hour battery life, adaptive lighting and app connectivity	4.5/5
Sound quality	Full sound and decent bass with AI calibration and in-app EQ	4.5/5
Value	A solid build and plenty of features at a competitive price	4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a super-portable picnic speaker
With dimensions that fit in a cup-holder and built-in straps which attach to your handlebars, the xboom Grab is a Bluetooth speaker that’s built to grab and go. IP67 water-resistance means it can survive a shower, too.

You appreciate decent sound quality
As Bluetooth speakers go, the Grab offers full sound with decent bass, good detail and impressive separation. AI can tune output to suit the room and genre, while the app lets you adjust the EQ to suit your listening tastes.

You want a feature-packed speaker
The Grab offers a lot for the money, including ThinQ app connectivity, AI audio analysis and Auracast party link pairing with other xboom speakers. Battery life is also top of the class at 20 hours with the lightstrip turned off.

Don’t buy it if…

You don’t need app connectivity
The xboom Grab’s smart features are part of its appeal. If you don’t need AI sound calibration, adaptive lightning or the option to adjust the EQ, you can pick up a simpler Bluetooth speaker without app connectivity for less money.

You won’t use the built-in straps
Built-in elasticated straps let you attach the xboom Grab to hooks, handlebars and just about anything. If you think they’ll get in the way, the JBL Flip 7 has similar dimensions, matching performance and a smaller, detachable carry strap.

You want Wi-Fi connectivity
Besides a 3.5mm aux input, another connectivity feature missing from the Grab’s spec sheet is Wi-Fi. For multi-room audio via your home network, you’ll need a speaker like the Sonos Roam 2, which now costs a similar price.

LG xboom Grab review: Also consider

	LG xboom Grab	JBL Flip 7	Sonos Roam 2
Dimensions:	211.0 x 71.6 x 70.0mm	182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5mm	168 x 62 x 60mm
Weight:	700g	560g	430g
Battery life (quoted):	20 hours	14 hours	10 hours
Connectivity:	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi
Drivers:	16mm tweeter, 80 x 45mm woofer, 2x passive radiators	16mm tweeter, 80 x 45mm woofer, 2x passive radiators	1x tweeter, 1x mid-woofer
Aux-in:	No	No	No
Charger port:	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Microphone:	Yes	No	Yes
Waterproof rating:	IP67	IP68	IP67
App:	Yes	Yes	Yes

JBL Flip 7
Winner of a rare 5-star TechRadar rating, the JBL Flip 7 sets the bar for portable Bluetooth speakers. Similar in size to the LG xboom Grab, it’s lighter by 140g but loses out on battery life by 6 hours. Its drivers are the same size as the Grab’s and offer an equally entertaining listen, with adaptive AI Sound Boost. The choice probably comes down to design preference.
Read more in our in-depth JBL Flip 7 review

Sonos Roam 2
A premium speaker that’s now been discounted, the Roam 2 offers a sleek alternative to the xboom Grab. Despite its minimalist build, it also benefits from an IP67 rating for rain-proof listening. You also get support for Sonos multi-room smarts, with Wi-Fi connectivity complementing Bluetooth when you’re at home. Battery life is underwhelming at 10 hours, but the reward is rich, balanced audio with a wide soundstage.
Read more in our in-depth Sonos Roam 2 review

How I tested the LG xboom Grab

Tested for a fortnight, indoors and out
Streamed extensively via the Spotify app
Played music spanning a range of genres

To test the xboom Grab, I used it as most listeners would: by living with it. LG only had a review sample available on a two-week loan, so I had to make the most of my time with it. That meant using the speaker for shower singalongs every morning, ambient background during the day and kitchen bangers in the evening.

Because the Grab’s designed for alfresco audio, I also spent plenty of time listening to it outdoors. Beyond the garden, I strapped the speaker to my bike and stashed it in my beach bag, to see how well it held up as a picnic companion – and how useful those elasticated straps are in the real world.

Musically, I challenged the Grab with a genre-spanning catalog of tracks, covering everything from Maribou State’s soulful electronica to the grungiest alternative rock that BBC Radio 6 Music had to offer. The test playlist also included the Phil Collins tracks on Disney’s 1999 Tarzan soundtrack, courtesy of a certain five-year-old.

Meze Audio Poet: One-minute review

The Meze Audio Poet are a posh pair of ‘phones. At this price point, you deserve nothing less than ‘posh’, and the Poet deliver in spades – from an impressive quality of build to a lagoons-deep listening experience. Smart touches like magnetically attached earpads and a nifty adjustment mechanism exemplify the thoughtfulness with which the Poet were designed, like many of the best wired headphone available.

A narrow soundstage and an eventually fatiguing listening experience serve to slightly dull these premium cans' shine to sit easily among the best over-ear headphones on the market – but only because of the increased scrutiny such premium prices invite. For those with the budget and inclination, the Poet are a hard set to turn down.

Meze Audio Poet open-back headphones on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Price and release date

Released February 20, 2025
$2,000 / £1,899 / AU$3,550

Meze Audio is a relatively young headphone company – at least, young against the years held by the generational heavyweights that tend to claim column inches such as these. Yet in a relatively short period of time, this underdog has curried a not-so-relatively high level of consumer trust and goodwill, thanks to an ever-expanding range of headphones both accessible and incomparable.

These are the Meze Audio Poet, a recent entrant into their range of upper-crust audiophile headphones. They continue the tradition of posh Meze units past, coupling forward-thinking driver design with rarefied aesthetic design to make something as fun to look at as they are to listen through.

The Poet aren't the most expensive pair on Meze’s audiophile-range docket, but at $2,000 / £1,899 / AU$3,550, nor are they 'cheap". How, then, do they fare?

Meze Audio Poet open-back over-ear headphone on a stand, placed on a wooden table tray — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Features

State-of-the-art planar drivers
Smart, musical acoustic design
Earpads easy to detach

The Meze Audio Poet are a serious piece of audiophile-listening kit. This fact is borne out, in part, by the abject lack of anything that conventionally constitutes a ‘device feature’. If you, as someone new to this echelon of listening device, are looking for consumer-grade bells and whistles, such as wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling or aggressive digital EQ sculpting/bass-boosting, you’ll come up mercifully short.

The features that stand the Poet apart are those that make their listening experience worth the outlay – starting with its drivers.

The Poet have planar magnetic drivers, designed and manufactured exclusively for Meze by Rinaro. This is a partnership that goes back a way, and which has produced special fruit – both in the form of a unique diaphragm design (found here, and in other audiophile Meze-mezze like the Elite and Meze Empyrean), and in a new MZ6 driver design, which combines incomparable fidelity with incomparable compactitude. Planar drivers have their own USPs, including (among many other attributes) extensive upper-range detail and smoothness. Here, you’re getting the cream of the crop.

Meze Audio has also licensed proprietary Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) tech from Dan Clark Audio – a clever system of physical frequency-damping that serves to tame fatigue-inducing high-end. Since these babies have a fidelity of up to 96kHz, you can see the appeal of such high-end control.

On the practical side of the equation, a somewhat-novel feature presents in the complete removability and replaceability of the ear pads with incontestable ease. They’re held in place magnetically, and can be plucked off for cleaning or replacement without the demented and destructive picking and tugging that the same events can often require in other headphones.

This kind of modularity is a vote of confidence in the headphones, too. Meze expects you to go the distance with the Poet, so much so that it wants you to be able to take the best possible care of them, thereby maintaining the best possible listening experience. It may be a bare-minimum expectation for something so priced as the Poet, but in the world we live in, and with the unscrupulous design decisions undertaken by other consumer brands, a win is very much a win.

Features score: 5 / 5

Earcups of the Meze Audio Poet open-back over-ear headphones, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Sound quality

Excellent depth of sound
Voices, woodwinds and transients are glorious
Soundstage a little narrow

Though the Poet are open-back headphones, they still have some interesting closed-back-y isolation created by the ear cups – with partial thanks to the snug fit they create around your ears. The ear cup cushioning is plush and deep, and docking into them feels like closing an airlock around your face. It’s pleasantly uncanny, hearing a quieter, still-clear outside world while your ears feel like they’re in a different space altogether.

Listening to my digital copy of Pile’s luminary album All Fiction is disarming for the impressive attack these cans possess; this is one of the more convincing translations of the album I’ve heard, insofar as feeling like Rick Maguire is frustratedly plucking those guitar strings in real space, close by my ears.

The soundstage isn’t the most three-dimensional I’ve heard – more on which shortly – but the depth and separation between instruments is highly commendable. For instance, in Pile’s Blood, auxiliary strings thrum through its emotional climax. I usually perceive them as a searing block; a unit. Through the Poet, though, they’re the multitudes they were recorded as – strands, vibrating apart, and catching one another’s air.

Alabaster DePlume’s work was a particular high point for me with these headphones. Not Even Sobbing, from Come With Fierce Grace, is a sparse elegy that fills in from the outside, its endless swells and dwells between saxophone, voices, violins and bass that seem to gain volume by mitosis, crowding in close around your ears like you’re the fire they’re singing round. The Poet hear them beautifully.

Carry case for Meze Audio Poet over-ear headphones on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

This is the Poet’s strength. They can readily resolve disparate instruments within an arrangement, in a way that highlights the figurative space between performances, musicians, and takes. Lesser headphones have a tendency to glue, smear, and otherwise daub, often imperceptibly – which can render the background more as an oil painting than a relief.

Hearing a creak in the piano at the start of Andy Shauf’s I’m Not Falling Asleep, from The Bearer Of Bad News, sealed the deal with this line of enquiry. The rendering of a space and time with open clarity and tangibility gives you new angles from which to feel close to something special.

The Poet are dynamite with transients, too. Everything’s whip-crack sharp and responsive. This is a particularly cathartic demeanor when it comes to the dead drums and plucky electric piano of Demon Fuzz’s Afreaka!, or the delicate, tentative textures of The Books’ collage-folk The Lemon of Pink.

All this said, the Poet do tend to prefer vocals – simultaneously a strength in one sense, and a weakness in others. The prominence of that upper-mid range over the lower-mids can make for an occasionally imbalanced experience, but also gave another high point in listening to Dirty Projectors and Bjork’s When The World Comes to an End, from the phenomenal, voice-led EP Mount Wittenberg Orca.

The open-back design doesn’t bring as much width as other headphones, and many of the albums I listened to across multiple devices and formats felt ‘closer’ than I felt they ought to. That said, they do seem to do the trick with respect to low end, which feels quite bloomy, but in a plush and rich way (as opposed to the boomy, indistinct way many closed-backs ultimately provide).

I thought this, plus the tighter soundstage and V-shaped frequency response, would make heavier tracks like those of Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf a little lacklustre. Boy, was I wrong. The vocals are a little floaty, but that grinding muffled-guitar core is everything you’d hope for and more – and the bass a silky undercurrent enjoying newfound fidelity and focus. Ultimately, these headphones are an indulgent listen.

Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Close up image of earcups of the Meze Audio Poet open-back over-ear headphones, on a wooden table — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Design

Impeccably put-together
Satisfying practical design flourishes
Robust enough to assuage your worry

The Meze Audio Poet are premium kit, so it should come as no surprise that there’s some pristine design in and around them. It’s hard not to start with the case – a foam-lined ABS hard-case with an unnecessarily neat pleather-clad hinge. It’s not the most opulent outer shell in the world, but opening it does feel like unwrapping a gift every time (particularly with a well-chosen, pleasant-to-use clasp at the front).

The headphones themselves, more importantly, are a veritable work of art. Precision-milled backplates catch the light in intoxicating ways via their contemporary art-deco-ish patterning, and feel hugely solid against my hands' light compressive force.

On the connectivity front, the cables are thankfully discrete from the ear cups. Each ear cup jack receives its respective TS connector with a stiff and reassuring click. I’m confident that, in the unlikely event you comedically wrap your Poet cable around a nearby hatstand while in transit, the hatstand would follow you for the ride.

Carry case of the Meze Audio Poet over-ear open-back headphones, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Something I absolutely love about the Poet’s design is their complete embracement of simple solutions over flashy tech. Ear cup adjustment isn’t some encapsulated, easy-to-break ratcheting system, but rather a simple friction-based push-fit system – it moves slowly and surely up and down, but freely in rotation. Exceedingly simple, and exceedingly well executed.

That lean to simplicity does create a fun potential pitfall or two in places, though. For instance, the titanium bars that host the earcups are resonant, and all too eager to transmit their gong-like overtures through to your ears with the slightest bang or brush. Meanwhile, the headband is a single length of suede leather, which promotes ease of fit to your bonce but doesn’t play as nice with headphone stands.

Minuscule gripe aside, these headphones are self-evidently designed with careful thought – and with something of a reverence for those people that’ll be spending their hard-earned on grabbing a pair. I’m a fan!

Design score: 5 / 5

Headband of the Meze Audio Poet open-back over-ear headphones, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Value

Price not to be sniffed at, even if cheaper than other audiophile headphones
Justify their price point well...
… but minor shortcomings stand out more

With a pair of headphones as, frankly, luxuriant as these, two key issues present.

For one, they will handily reveal the shortcomings of practically any sound source you put before them. For another, they will wear their own shortcomings all the more prominently, if only for the increased scrutiny that such a high asking price places on them.

It’s an easy trap to fall into with something as good, and as expensive, as the Meze Audio Poet. And bear in mind, too, that this is still the ‘budget’ end of the audiophile spectrum, one which, at the other extremity, straight-facedly asks you to spend tens of thousands. I love these things, but the threshold for unequivocal endorsement gets exponentially higher against cost, just as returns tend to diminish.

It is with this line of thinking, and these resulting caveats, that I say the Meze Audio Poet do a great job of justifying their expense, but that certain behaviors – from a narrower-than-expected soundstage to the unexpected fatigue of longer listening sessions – stand out more for that expense. Your money is paying for cutting-edge planar drivers, meticulously designed and stunningly beautiful earcups, effortless ergonomics and quality materials; it also needs to buy you an experience greater than the sum of its parts, which the Poet readily do. With some small asterisks.

Value score: 4 / 5

Cables, and leather case, for the Meze Audio Poet open-back over-ear headphones, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Should you buy them?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Free from the tyranny of consumer-grade bells-and-whistles; cutting-edge drivers and acoustic design are triumphs.	5 / 5
Sound quality	Bright, clear, deep, reedy – the Poet are a rich set, friendly to vocals but incredibly adept with transients.	4.5 / 5
Design	Beautifully made, with some well-executed minimal mechanisms; a joy to behold and to wear.	5 / 5
Value	The research, design and commitment to quality justify the price, but the little things, stand out against that price all the more.	4 / 5

Buy them if...

You value your hi-fi
Audiophile headphones are the haunt of the discerning listener. The Poet are here to render your records and audio files in the clearest, deepest light – and will perform all the better when placed after quality sources.

You’re an active listener
These headphones dock over your ears like visiting spaceships. Though open-back, they create a remarkable distance between you and the world around. This, coupled with the three-dimensional rendering the Poet are capable of, make scrutinizing your faves for new discoveries all the more thrilling.

Don't buy them if...

You’re risking your credit score to do so
Impeccable as the Poet sound, they're only worth investing in if you’ve the money spare. You’ll find more bang-for-buck, and near-equivalent enjoyability, in cheaper Meze Audio cans!

You’re choosing open-backs for the soundstage
Despite their open-back nature, the Poet do not quite ‘breathe’ the same as other open-backs this writer has tried and enjoyed. I’m reminded more of closed-back headphones by the fit and feel, as well as the dimensionality of sound.

Meze Audio Poet open-back over-headphones on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Meze Audio Poet review: Also consider

	Meze Audio Poet	FiiO FT5	Edifier Stax Spirit S5
Type:	Over-ear	Over-ear	Over-ear
Open-back or closed-back:	Open-back	Open-back	Open-back
Driver:	Planar magnetic	Planar magnetic	Planar magnetic
Frequency range:	4Hz to 96kHz	7Hz to 40kHz	10Hz to 40kHz
Impedance:	55 ohms	36 ohms	18 ohms
Connector:	Dual mono TS 3.5mm to 6.3mm TRS	Dual mono TS 3.5mm to 3.5mm TRRRS	Wireless (Bluetooth, LDAC/aptX Lossless)
Weight:	405g	465g	347g
Extras:	ABS hard case, dual TS to 6.3mm stereo cable, dual TS to 3.5mm stereo cable	Carry case, Dual mono TS 3.5mm to 3.5mm TRRRS cable, x4 TRRRS adapters (3.5mm TRS; 4.4mm TRRS; 6.3mm TRS; mini XLR)	Carrying case, 3.5mm TRS cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, ear pads

FiiO FT5
FiiO’s FT5 over-ear headphones are, if anything, disruptive. FiiO has done some incredible things with its position in the hi-fi market, including bringing stunning leaps in planar magnetic driver tech to the mid-range much quicker than anyone else has dared. Do they sound better than the Poet? No. Are they four times cheaper and still Actually Very Good? Yes.
Read the full FiiO FT5 review here

Edifier Stax Spirit S5
If you actually want those high-tech gubbins I was so gleefully celebrating the absence of before, try the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 on for size. Wireless tech and app connectivity collide with planar magnetic driver design in this Actually Quite Affordable pair of quality listening ‘phones.
Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review here

Meze Audio Poet review: How I tested

Tested for five weeks
Used as listening headphones at home
Mainly tested with digital music sources, via my computer and a Universal Audio interface
Also listened to vinyl on a Victrola Stream Sapphire, via the headphone out of a Cambridge Audio amplifier

Headphones are a daily fixture for me. As a freelance writer often in need of ‘locking in’, as a music lover with an ever-expanding library of too-cool-for-school records, and as a freelance musician reliant on headphones for recording, monitoring and mixing.

My experience with headphones of all types, purposes and budgets puts me in a fun position to evaluate the Meze Audio Poet – a pair of audiophile cans which became my resident listening headphones at home, spending time between my living room and attic studio space.

In the attic, the Poet were used to listen to digital copies of records from my collection and via streaming, through a Universal Audio Volt 4 audio interface. In the living room, the headphones were plugged into my Cambridge Audio Azur 540r receiver, which received the sound of my record collection via a Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable (outfitted with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge).

First reviewed: June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the successor to my favorite cheap Earfun headphones and sadly, there’s one major problem

4:00 pm | June 10, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: ANC, RRP | Comments: Off

Earfun Tune Pro: Two minute review

Budget audio brand Earfun has continued its foray into the over-ear headphone game with the Earfun Tune Pro, an affordable pair of over-ears which unfortunately don’t live up to Earfun’s usually-impressive track record. Some of the best cheap headphones I've tested, they are not.

Earfun’s first over-ears, the Wave Pro, were some of our top-rated affordable headphones, easily earning (for a while, at least) a place on our list of the best headphones you can buy. And they were always going to be a tough act to follow. The fact that they’re still available to buy now also makes them a big (and honestly, more viable) rival to the Tune Pro.

I won’t beat around the bush: the big problem with the headphones is that they just don’t sound good. Earfun’s typical ability to punch well above its weight somehow didn’t grace the new and rather ironically-named Tune Pro. The cans lack serious bass, endure frequent peaking that ruins percussion, and don’t offer much in the way of an organised, layered soundstage to let you appreciate the separation and detail of instruments.

You can’t expect Bose- or Sony-tier audio in cans that cost under $/£100 but there are plenty of budget headphones for the same price that outstrip the Tune Pro. So as you'll see as we get into the meat of this review, it's hard to recommend the cans.

I also found the Earfuns pretty uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. The pressure they exerted on my head grew noticeable after only a few hours of use. It’s not great and neither of these are concerns was something I experienced with the Wave Pro.

Why not go lower than 3 stars? Well, the Earfun magic is present in a few other areas. Take, for example, the battery life: these headphones will last a monumental 120 hours (with ANC turned off) before you’ll need to charge them. That’s five straight days of music before they need powering up and I don’t need to tell you how important a long battery life can be for certain subsets of users. There are very few headphones on the market that come even close to this score.

Earfun has also included its usual range of features on its app: multiple ANC modes (perhaps too many – more on this later), an in-depth equalizer and a feature that’s all too uncommon on headphones: a listening test to automatically create your own sound mix. This latter is a lovely little extra that lots of rivals don’t have.

While the audio quality lets things down big-time, I can see the admirable battery life and listening test drawing in some users who prefer functionality over sound quality. It’s just that those are more caveats than I usually have to add in an Earfun review – a brand I usually champion in the ‘cheap and cheerful’ stakes.

Earfun Tune Pro review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	N/A
Battery life (quoted)	120 hours (ANC off) 80 hours (ANC on)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	289g
Driver	40mm + 10mm

Earfun Tune Pro review: Price and availability

The Earfun Tune Pro atop a bronze table. — (Image credit: Future)

Released in May 2025
RRP of $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160)
Already available at $69.99 / £59.99 (no AU sales)

The Earfun Tune Pro were announced in May 2025 for a retail price of $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$160 though they're not on sale in Australia at the time of writing, unlike many other products from the company).

Don’t tell Amazon that though, because the retailer lists in multiple regions that the cans were released in September 2024. It offers them for the discounted price of $69.99 / £59.99 (at the time of writing) despite them being new.

However much you pay for them, the Earfun Tune Pro are clearly budget headphones. They’re the middle of Earfun’s three over-ear options, sitting equally between the more expensive Wave Pro and cheaper Wave Life.

Earfun Tune Pro review: Design

The Earfun Tune Pro on a man's head. — (Image credit: Future)

Chunky cans with 3.5mm jack and physical buttons
Uncomfortable for long play sessions
No IP rating for waterproofing

As you can see from pictures, Earfun has kept things simple with the Tune Pro, playing close to the formula for over-ear headphones.

The cans weigh 289g and are made from plastic, so they don’t feel too heavy when you’re wearing them. That doesn’t mean they’re exactly comfortable though, and I could only listen for a few hours before needing to give my head a break.

The ear cups are quite thick, sticking from your head about 50% more than your average pair of over-ears (judging by the few pairs I had on hand). I don’t imagine this is to blame for the comfort issues but it does make the cans look imposing when you wear them.

Earfun has ensured that the Tune Pro have some versatility in size as the band can be extended or retracted quite a distance (if you do have a larger head, check out our roundup feature of headphones with longer extendable arms) while the cups can be rotated around 100 degrees – and they also fold up if you want to put them in a bag.

Onto the buttons. On the right cup you’ve got a volume rocker, power button and 3.5mm headphone jack – yes, the Tune Pro supports wired audio – while the left earpiece has an ANC button and the USB-C charging port.

The buttons don’t stick out that far from the casework and so, despite little knobs to make them a bit more prominent, I still found them pretty hard to locate just with my fingers. Instead, I generally relied on my phone to change volume and ANC.

Earfun’s website makes no mention of any kind of IP rating for the Tune Pro so I’d recommend keeping them high and dry.

Design score: 3.5/5

Earfun Tune Pro review: Features

Incredbly battery life
Range of ANC modes, all fine
Equalizer with listening test

Earfun headphones always out-rep the competition in the features department and things are no different for the Tune Pro. The real highlight of these cans is the battery life, which according to Earfun stretches to an incredible 120 hours with ANC turned off and a still-admirable 80 hours with it turned on.

I can count on one hand the number of sets of headphones that beat or match that battery life, and it’s a vital figure for people who rarely get time to charge up their headphones for one reason or another. I would’ve loved cans like these when I last went travelling.

Next up, ANC is… present, I’ll say that much. It’s fine, but far from best-in-class and about what you’d expect for the price. It’s useful for covering up certain annoying background noises like a dishwasher in another room or distant traffic going past your house, but it won’t make your commute near-silent or ensure you can hear your music when vacuuming at home.

A few different ANC presets are available in the Earfun app. Default, which I take to be ‘off’, is Normal but there’s Ambient Sound to allow nearby noises through, Wind noise cancellation which is just designed for the infuriating sound of wind that always baffles headphone ANC, and lastly Comfort ANC and Strong ANC. I take these latter to be ‘medium’ and ‘high’ strengths to Normal’s ‘off’, but this is based purely on the icons in the app and nothing else.

I’ve complained in past reviews about Earfun’s array of ANC modes being a bit overwhelming. Why? Because it’s hard to know which mode you should be using at any one time, and it’s also a chore to open up the Earfun app to switch if you decide you want to (the ANC button on the cans only cycles through the first three options, not the two full-blooded ANC ones).

A few more features available through the the Earfun app include the ability to toggle low-latency modes for gaming or a wide-soundstage mode for movies and TV, and a way to change what the buttons on the ear cups do. However, the major one to note is an equalizer.

As with past Earfuns, the Tune Pro offers a wide range of EQ modes based on different genres of music or increasing or decreasing bass or treble. There are plenty of options and it’s worth playing around to find your perfect preset, though a 10-band custom EQ mode lets you create your own mix too. A brief test also creates a bespoke equalizer mix for you and I was pretty happy with the mix it created for me.

For call handling, the Earfun Tune Pro feature five mics (presumably per earpiece, although Earfun doesn't express this as such. But anything else would be odd) as well as an algorithm to clear up your voice when others hear you.

Features score: 4/5

Earfun Tune Pro review: Sound performance

40mm + 10mm drivers
Distorting sound, lacking bass
Limited sound stage

Given the price you’re paying for the Tune Pro, you’re probably not expecting the most ear-pleasing audio in the world, and it’s a good thing to set your expectations low because these Earfun headphones don’t sound great, even for the money.

Specs-wise, the headphones pack both a 40mm and 10mm driver in each can which should ostensibly provide extra oomph in the bass department, but theory is a far cry from fact.

Perhaps the biggest issue, noticeable constantly, is the audio peaking through the treble, which crushes hi-hats into mere hisses and devolves powerful guitar lines into crunchy oblivion. At the other end of the frequency scale, the tuning here boosts the bass drum so much that it frequently overrides vocals. It’s hard to enjoy songs without percussion and detail through the mids to provide rhythm, and the Tune Pro don’t offer much of that.

You’re not getting much expansion or detail through the soundstage here either, with music presented as a somewhat homogenous mush instead of a collection of separate, distinct and layered instruments given enough room to be impactful. The confusing mix here also masks the detail and dynamic nuance in my music, while also sapping some of the charm and emotion from vocals. If you care about the musicality within your favorite songs, these sadly aren’t the cans for you.

If there’s anything to be said for the Earfun Tune Pro's audio quality, it’s that the max volume goes pretty loud, so you’re never going to struggle to hear songs even if you turn ANC off.

Sound performance score: 2.5/5

Earfun Tune Pro: Value

Usually when qualifying the value of cheap headphones, I simply point to the price and say “yes”, but it’s not quite as easy as that for the Tune Pro.

While the headphones are admittedly very affordable, they’re not the only cheap headphones in existence, and others will get you more bang for your buck. That’s literal, with many other low-cost options getting you better audio quality.

The only other important factor is the feature set, which admittedly is pretty competitive on the Earfun Tune Pro. So if you aren’t that bothered about the sound and care more about longevity and the presence of an equalizer, these claw back some value points.

Value score: 3.5/5

Earfun Tune Pro review: scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	You get what you pay for, but you're not too far out of pocket for the Earfuns.	3.5/5
Design	The Tune Pro is a bit too big and bulky to be fully comfortable to wear, but it has 3.5mm.	3.5/5
Features	For budget cans, the feature set is solid. The battery life is laudable and the EQ (and its test) are too.	4/5
Sound	A range of issues with the audio quality makes it hard to award many points in this department.	2.5/5

Earfun Tune Pro: Should I buy?

Buy them if...

You need lots of battery power

With 120 hours in the tank, the Earfun Tune Pro are great headphones for people who can't find themselves to a charging point every day, or simply forget to do so regularly.

The EQ tuner sounds useful

A listening test is a mode we don't often see in budget headphones, so if you want a digital way of improving your music, this may be enough to sway you.

You need headphones that fold down

Not every pair of headphones on the market folds down to be easily transportable, and some are really hard to fit in a bag. Not these Earfuns!

Don't buy them if...

You care about audio quality

It's unfair to say that audio quality is the only important factor of a pair of headphones... but if you prioritise sound-per-pound value, skip these particular Earfuns.

You have a large noggin

People with small heads may not have the uncomfortable wear problem that I did, but if your cranium is medium or large sized, you'll struggle to listen to the Earfuns for a few hours.

Also consider

Component	Earfun Tune Pro	1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51	Earfun Wave Pro
Water resistant	NA	NA	NA
Battery life	120 hours (ANC off) 80 hours (ANC on)	100 hours (ANC off) 65 hours (ANC on)	80 hours (ANC off) 55 hours (ANC on)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	289g	246g	268g
Driver	40mm + 10mm	40mm	40mm

Earfun Wave Pro

Everything we wanted the Tune to be: these cheap headphones cost pretty good, feel more comfortable to wear and mostly match the Tune's feature set. The battery life isn't as good though.

Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

The cans that displaced the Wave Pro as our top-rated budget headphones. The 1More have good sound and great ANC, with a battery life that's not much shorter than the Earfun. However there are a few build concerns.

Read our full 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review

How I tested

I used the Earfun Tune Pro for three weeks in order to write this review, and some extra time during the writing process itself.

During testing I used the Earfun alongside a few devices, most frequently my Android smartphone via Bluetooth but sometimes an iPod Classic via 3.5mm. Listening was generally music but I also listened to some some spoken-word, games and TV shows too. Testing was done at home and around my neighborhood.

I've been testing audio products for TechRadar for over 6 years and currently test several headphones or earbuds each month. This has included many past Earfun products – including the slightly older Wave Pro.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5: two-minute review

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 are a modestly priced pair of stem-equipped wireless earbuds, aiming to offer “detail-rich” sound and silencing ANC. With a list price of $129 / £99 / AU$169, these buds are hardly short on competition. But they do a decent amount to stand out in what is a congested market.

One of the ways they do that is by offering a broad, rich suite of features. Whether it’s a preference EQ test, low-latency gaming mode, customizable touch controls or environment-specific ANC, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into. Of course, the adaptive ANC is a standout feature here. It’s not groundbreaking and I’ve experienced better noise-nixing capabilities from wireless earbuds, but external sounds are dulled effectively overall and there are lots of customization options.

That said, to compete with the best earbuds on the market, you need to sound good – in fact, the audio needs to be very good. And thankfully, the Liberty 5 do sound pretty solid overall. You can uncover substantial sonic detail – especially with LDAC deployed – plus booming bass and even a fair amount of breadth and separation when using Dolby Audio. Out of the box, the Liberty 5 do lack a modicum of neutrality, showing a clear preference for bass and treble (read: 'excitement' or 'zeal' over a more natural, faithful and integrated balance across the frequencies). The detail in musical passages and layering of instruments are unlikely to impress audiophiles either. However, it's all relative and for the price you pay, these buds meet the mark.

Something that’s not so impressive, though, is the Liberty 5’s design. I’m just not digging the plasticky housing and stem design. Touch controls, which are accessed via the stems, are fiddly and inconsistent too. You do, however, get a pretty cool sliding case and IP55 dust and waterproofing.

Other aspects that could be better include call quality, which is not exactly bad but not quite as “crystal-clear” as advertised. I also experienced a notable amount of sound leakage – though that’s pretty common for earbuds at this level.

Still, there’s a lot to like about the Liberty 5. My testing suggested battery life may not be as long as quoted, but you still get a decent amount of playtime. There’s a fit check option to get the best seal, a range of additional ear tips in the box and multi-point connectivity too.

All in all, I’d argue that the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 make for a decent pair of wireless earbuds, though their design flaws in particular hold them back from greatness. If you want an even cheaper option, I’d go for the similarly stemmed Earfun Air 2 NC which impressed me in the audio and noise cancelling department.

At a similar price you could instead get the Nothing Ear (a) – more on those later. And finally, if you’re willing to step it up a little bit, I absolutely love the Dolby Atmos-enabled LG Tone Free T90S, which you can grab on-sale close to the $180 / £150 mark. If the Liberty 5 see a significant price-slash at any of the upcoming sales events, I’m sure they’d be worth adding to your online shopping cart. But right now, you can do better for the money.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 buds on circular surface — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: price and availability

$129 / £99 / AU$169
Launched in May 2025

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 launched in May 2025, just over two-and-a-half years after their predecessor, the Liberty 4. They have a list price of $129 / £99 / AU$169, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were on sale in the not too distant future. Notably, you can grab the Liberty 5 in four different color options: Black; White; Blue; or Apricot. The color you select should have no bearing on price.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: specs

Drivers	9.2mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life	Buds: 12 hours (8 hours with ANC on); Total with case: 48 hours (32 hours with ANC on)
Weight	4.6g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz
Waterproofing	IP55

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 charging case in hand — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: features

Customizable noise cancellation options…
...but actual ANC performance isn’t top-class
Top-tier companion app

I want to start off with a big plus-point: I really love the Soundcore companion app – and as someone who has countless similar audio apps on my phone, it’s rare that I really love something priced at this level. Said app is laid out in a clean, user-friendly manner, with all of the crucial settings listed on a hub page and smaller nuggets up in a separate menu. I find some companion apps to be a bit slow or buggy – not this one.

So, let’s run through all of the key features you can find on the Soundcore app. There’s the classic inclusions like multi-point connectivity, a Find Device option if a pesky bud goes amiss, and customizable touch controls – something I’ll discuss more in the Design section.

But one of the key areas I want to focus on is EQ adjustment. Soundcore has really knocked it out of the park here; there are just so many ways to tailor the Liberty 5’s sound to your tastes. Firstly, there’s all the usual suspects – think Bass Booster and Bass Reducer, as well as genre-specific choices such as Classical and Dance. There’s also a Dolby Audio option (not Atmos) with music, podcast, or movie sub-options. Mobile gamers are in luck too: there’s a low-latency Gaming Mode that enhances the sounds of footsteps and voices – though you won’t be able to use this alongside the ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codec, LDAC, which is a great inclusion.

And there’s more! You can even take a preference test, as seen on the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, which presents a series of sound ‘A’ and ‘B’ options, and forges a bespoke sound for you based on the selections you make. Honestly, I think Soundcore is doing this better than all of its rivals – I even like this more than the preference-based EQ function on the Sony WH-1000XM6.

Of course, the main event here is active noise cancellation, but despite the Liberty 5’s admirable report card so far, this is where things take a slight dip. Is ANC bad on the Liberty 5? No, that would be harsh. But is it the best around? Also no: it’s acceptable, but no better.

When walking near a busy road, I could still hear vehicles going by, even in the 60-70% volume range. Sure, sounds were significantly dulled, but there was a touch more extraneous noise filtering in than I would’ve liked. Similarly, while working away in the office, chatter in an adjacent room was easily phased out, but low-level discussions from my colleagues would creep in. If you don’t need silence or near-silence at all times, the Liberty 5 will do just fine. But if you’re looking for S-tier noise-crushing capabilities, you’re gonna have to look some more.

Interestingly, you can adapt noise cancelling between one – the weakest, and five – the strongest, if you want to take a more balanced approach to listening. There’s a transparency calibration too, as well as a wind noise reducer and ANC modes for traveling via plane or car. If you’d like, you can even use Fit Test, to ensure you’re getting the perfect seal for shutting out the world around you.

Finally, Soundcore says that the Liberty 5 can manage eight hours of playtime with ANC on – that is if you listen at moderate volume with basically every extra option switched off. That’s a pretty solid amount, though I did realize that the battery depleted by 20% after one hour of testing. That suggests you may not quite get that full eight hours after all. Still, the case packs plenty of charge, so unless you want to lock in for a super-long session, there should be enough battery life here.

Features score: 4/5

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 charging case connected to USB-C cable — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: sound quality

Impressive bass output
Lack a bit of balance out of the box
…but there are extensive EQ options and Dolby Audio to fix it

For $129 / £99 / AU$169, it’s rare that you’ll find top-of-the-range sound quality. And the Liberty 5 aren’t going to plate up the kind of perfectly nuanced, beautifully separated sound that audiophiles are hunting down – if the Liberty 5 could do that for this money and without wires, we could all pack up and go home.

All the same, I’m pleased to report that they do sound good overall. When listening to It’s Possible by Piero Piccioni and Catherine Howe, vocals had a pleasing degree of detail, with tongue clicks on the palate and subtle breaths sounding three-dimensional and largely authentic. Audio was particularly revealing with the higher-resolution Bluetooth codec, LDAC, switched on, but even then, the vocals weren’t quite lifted out of the mix for the most expressive, layered listen.

Similarly, when tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the vocal performance was clear, but felt as if it could be more prominent in the mix. This track did reveal, however, that the Liberty 5 pack some serious low-end punch. The pumping drum machine – though perhaps not as agile as you’d hear on more premium buds like the Technics EAH-AZ100 – offered impressive depth. And again with Breather by Christ Stussy & S. A. M., the Liberty 5 had the talents to replicate the thumping bass at the heart of this track’s energetic, almost hypnotic bounce.

When listening to Breather, I did feel that percussion in the treble range could sound overemphasized, especially at higher volume levels. That may well cause some fatigue during longer listening sessions, so if you’d like to tone things down, it’s going to be worth taking a trip to the Soundcore app. After making use of the custom eight-band equalizer, I was able to largely quash this issue, which really is a testament to the highly tunable sound of the Liberty 5.

Yes, you really can make these earbuds sound your own. There’s a Dolby Audio option, if you want slightly wider, more immersive sound. For reference, you’re not getting Dolby Atmos – something you’ll find on models like the LG xboom Buds, as an example. How does this particular Dolby side-sauce sound? Well, it does what it says on the tin. Bass in particular sounds broader… more encapsulating. But you may find that a touch of detail is lost compared to listening with Dolby Audio off.

One more performance-related element I should discuss is mic quality. Soundcore proudly states that the Liberty 5 are capable of “crystal-clear” call quality, thanks to six mics, a wind-resistant algorithm and a helping hand from AI. But I wasn’t all too impressed in this department. My voice was decently clear, but my surroundings would often get in the way. Similarly on a voice note, I could certainly hear myself, but my voice wasn’t particularly forward and external noises crept in easily.

Sound quality score: 4/5

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: design

Stem design won’t be for everyone
Neat sliding case
The touch controls just aren’t it

I think it’s only fair that I put my cards on the table here and say that I’m not a mega-fan of the Soundcore Liberty 5’s design. Part of that comes down to personal preference – I like the smaller, more discreet look of stemless rivals like the Sony WF-C710N.

Still, I can put that aside to a degree. But I couldn’t help feeling that the Liberty 5 look like a more plasticky and less sleek pair of AirPods. I would argue that their slightly slanted look is a plus though, that does give them a sharper, more angular edge. And unlike AirPods, you can grab these in multiple color options: Black; White; Blue; or Apricot.

Looks aside, there is one major impracticality about the Liberty 5’s design: their touch controls. Soundcore’s gone for a kind of ‘pinch’ control scheme, which frankly, I found a little awkward. The buds wouldn’t feel very secure when I was pinching at the stems to skip or go to previous tracks. And the effectiveness of my attempts varied. Sometimes I had to make multiple attempts to pause or play a song – it’s just not a massively consistent way to control playback.

So, yes, not a lot of good stuff to say so far. But one thing I do like about the Liberty 5 is their charging case. Simply, slide it open and there you are. Your earbuds, right before you! I prefer this motion to the flip-top motion cases opt for and would like to see a few more manufacturers consider it.

The buds are also fairly comfortable in-ear, so it’s unlikely you’ll feel exhausted after mere minutes of use. You can find multiple sized eartips in the box too, helping you find the most secure fit possible. Despite getting a nice seal, though, a colleague did hear some sound leakage at around 65-70% volume. There’s an adaptive sound leakage compensation toggle in the Soundcore app’s advanced settings but, still, you’re not going to get the perfect isolation that the best over-ear headphones supply.

Waterproofing is also pretty solid. The Liberty 5 are IP55 dust and waterproof rated, which means that they can withstand low pressure water jets from multiple directions. That’s better than a lot of competitors, but you can do even better. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, for instance, are IP57-rated, so they can even survive being immersed under a meter of water for a while.

Design score: 3/5

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 in open charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: value

Fairly moderate list price
But still, you can do better for the money
Outperformed by a number of rivals

The Soundcore Liberty 5 are playing in a pretty competitive field, coming in at $129 / £99 / AU$169. It’s a decently modest price tag, sure, but a lot of manufacturers are producing pretty great earbuds for even less.

Now, there are a lot of rivals I could name here. I own the Sony WF-C700N and they sound great while also offering a more low-profile look than the Liberty 5. We also rate the Nothing Ear (a) highly, but I’ll discuss those a little more below. But if you want the ultimate guide to the leading cheap models, then I’d recommend checking out our guide to the best budget earbuds.

Ultimately, $100 / £100 / AU$150 is still a significant spend. And I’m not convinced these are particularly standout – aside from their excellent companion app and decently broad feature-set. In terms of sonic prowess, ANC abilities and design, it’s a more mixed picture. If these are on sale, I wouldn’t count them out, of course. But at the moment, I’d rather grab a pair of buds from Sony or Nothing.

Value score: 3.5/5

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 charging case on circular surface — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Awesome companion app, customizable but fairly average ANC, OK battery.	4/5
Sound quality	Good overall sound for the cost with impressive bass, calling could be better.	4/5
Design	Impractical touch controls, divisive stem design, IP55 waterproofing and case.	3/5
Value	Decent price but outperformed by rivals on sound and design.	3.5/5

Buy them if...

You’re looking for a cheaper alternative to AirPods
AirPods are expensive, there’s no getting around it. And there’s no doubt that the Soundcore Liberty 5 are attempting to be a more budget-friendly alternative. With a stem design and a spatial sound option, via Dolby Audio, you can expect a lot of the AirPods’ niceties on the Liberty 5.

You want highly customizable sound
I love the Soundcore app, and one of the reasons for that is its incredibly rich set of EQ options. There’s a preference test that helps you create a truly bespoke sound profile, genre-based presets and even an eight-band custom equalizer. If you want a more balanced listen, it’s definitely worth exploring the options at hand here.

Don't buy them if...

You want class-leading ANC
ANC isn’t all too bad on the Soundcore Liberty 5. External sounds will be dulled fairly effectively and there’s a tasty selection of customization options too. But even at the highest intensity, I wasn’t blown away by the Liberty 5’s noise-crushing skills. I didn’t quite get near-silence in more built up areas and a whisper of noise crept through when I was working in the office, even when blasting music at around 70%.

You’re an audiophile
And finally, these earbuds may not satiate your needs if you’re a true audiophile. Even with LDAC turned on, you won’t get the best instrument separation or perfect control right across the frequencies. With some tuning, they do sound good for the money, but yes, maybe not for the most analytical listeners out there. If that's you, I'd suggest instead checking out our list of the best noise cancelling earbuds.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 review: also consider

	Anker Soundcore Liberty 5	Nothing Ear (a)	Apple AirPods 4
Price	$129 / £99 / AU$169	$99 / £99 (about AU$150)	$129 / £129 / AU$219
Drivers	9.2mm dynamic	11mm custom	Custom
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	No
Battery life	Buds: 8 hours (12 hours without ANC on); Total with case: 32 hours (48 hours without ANC on)	Buds: 5.5hrs (9.5hrs without ANC) Total with case: 24.5hrs (42.5hrs without ANC)	Buds: 5 hours (official), 7 hours (measured); Total with case: 30 hours
Weight	4.6g (per bud)	4.8g (per bud)	4.3g (per bud)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Frequency range	20Hz-40kHz	Not stated	Not stated
Waterproofing	IP55	IP54	IP54

Nothing Ear (a)
The Nothing Ear (a) are an excellent pair of budget-friendly earbuds that we’ve talked up no end here at TechRadar. And for good reason. They serve up zealous, expansive audio, surprisingly strong ANC and a compact design. Sure, their battery life is nothing special by today’s standards, but all in all, they’re an awesome pair of buds. Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review.

Apple AirPods 4
In design alone, it does feel like the Soundcore Liberty 5 are a direct competitor to the Apple AirPods 4. And I’m comparing Soundcore’s effort here against the ANC-less version of the AirPods 4, simply due to their closeness in cost. Anyway, Apple’s earbuds are, well… OK. They offer decently fun and dynamic spatial sound as well as that classic design. But no ANC at this price-point, combined with middling levels of detail and lackluster cross-platform features, is disappointing. Read our full Apple AirPods 4 review.

How I tested the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5

Tested for two weeks
Used in the office and while out in public
Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Soundcore Liberty 5 over a fortnight, listening to songs and watching videos for hours on end. I used them out at the office, while at home and when on walks to assess the fortitude of ANC across multiple environments.

Typically, I tested these buds using Tidal, but I also tried using them with both Spotify and YouTube. When listening to music, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres. Of course, I also tuned in to tons of tunes from my personal library.

Where appropriate, I compared these to the LG xboom Buds on metrics such as comfort, audio quality, ANC capabilities and features. And for reference, I’ve tested tons of audio products here at TechRadar. I’ve reviewed flagship over-ear headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6, wired earbuds like the Sennheiser IE 600 and, of course, other wireless earbuds like the LG Tone Free T90S.

First reviewed: June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the solid budget IEMs that bring Astell & Kern’s audiophile talents to the masses, and they go hard in ways I didn’t expect

12:30 pm | June 7, 2025

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

Activo Volcano review

Astell & Kern’s lifestyle-focused sub-brand is back with a new offering, the Activo Volcano. These wired in-ear headphones aim to bring audiophile-quality sound to all, combining supposedly “vibrant, immersive sound” at an easy-to-swallow price.

Specifically, the Activo Volcano IEMs will set you back $80 / £99 (about AU$120), which is considerably – and I mean considerably – cheaper than most of the brand’s oeuvre to date. As well as carrying a modest price tag, the Activo Volcano come with a 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and a USB-C connector, meaning they’re available to a broad audience, across a broad range of devices. But is Activo’s budget offering a hit?

Well, to some degree, I’d answer that with a resounding yes. That ability to cycle through various connectivity options is something many of the best wired earbuds skip out on and to be clear, the Activo Volcano execute this fantastically well. Simply unscrew whichever connector is in use and swivel the desired alternative on – that’s all there is to it.

There’s a handy carry case included too, so you can store the out-of-use adapters when you’re on the go. On top of that, you get a nice selection of both foam and rubber eartips in a range of sizes. After you’ve found the right fit, you should get a tight seal, ensuring you hear their various drivers at their best and with commendable passive noise isolation. Activo’s decision to pack all of this in at such an uncharacteristically low price-point is certainly something to be applauded.

Where I become – let’s say, a little more picky – is in the audio department. Yes, this is a product from the Astell & Kern ecosystem, but if you’re expecting truly premium high-grade sound, you’re going to have to look elsewhere. Do the Activo Volcano sound poor, then? Absolutely not. But if you want the most intricately detailed sound around, you will need to spend more.

So, let’s really zoom in on how the Activo Volcano sound. Each earpiece boasts a triple driver design: a main 8mm unit partnered with two 6mm drivers. This configuration, says Activo, is intended to enhance the richness of lower-midrange and bass. And perhaps as the name suggests, you can hear rumbling bass erupt from the get-go.

Yep, you’re gonna sense a significant emphasis on low-end output with these in-ears – something that perhaps a lot of IEMs hesitate to go too hard on. When tuning into Breather by Chris Stussy & S. A. M., I was struck by palpable low-end output, with the Volcano easily able to replicate the track’s pounding drum machine.

Activo compares these IEM’s low frequency output to the “eruption of magma” from a Volcano. And although you’re not going to get that ultra-immersive, almost tangible boom that some of the best over-ear headphones can deliver, say, I’d argue there’s enough depth here for fans of bass-heavy bangers to sink their teeth into.

I’ll admit, I certainly do enjoy a slight emphasis towards bass registers, especially given that I predominantly listen to a mixture of funk, dance, and jazz fusion. But many looking for a flashy new pair of IEMs – whether musicians, audiophiles, or just casual listeners – may be hoping for a more neutral sound signature. And that is something you’re not going to get out of the gate here.

When listening to Flying Beagle by Himiko Kikuchi, I felt the low-end could sound a little overstated, not giving quite enough room for the flowing piano to sit forward and work its magic, while letting light percussion roll through the backdrop. And when listening to Splash Mountain by Yung Gravy, an already bassy track, I felt that both the low-end and treble were a touch aggressive, meaning vocals in the mid-range were left behind. That’s not to say that the Volcano are regularly harsh-sounding or typically deliver muddy audio, but just know that there are more well-rounded options out there.

For instance, I switched over to my Sennheiser IE 200, which are among my very favorite IEMs, and cost a very similar amount to the Volcano. As soon as I did this, I could tell a big difference in quality across all genres. The IE 200, put simply, plate up better balance and instrument separation, meaning you get a more nuanced, revealing listen.

Even still, the Volcano aren’t going to smack you with distorted or tinny sound. Generally, I found tracks were clear and there were noticeable details, such as light electronica in Black Eye by Allie X, that didn’t go amiss. And if you customize EQ in your source device or streaming app’s settings, you’ll be able to get a more neutral sound – or not – depending on what you’re into. But, all in all, I’d be lying if I said these blew me away, sonically speaking.

Activo Volcano right earbud on block — (Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, I’m not done with my criticism of these IEMs just yet, though. If I’m honest, there’s not a ton that I love about their design. First of all, I want to talk about looks. Now, Activo says that the Volcano have a “crater-inspired” design that symbolizes the “immense power and energy” of their triple drivers.

But really, I’m getting moon crater, rather than volcanic crater from these – especially given the white and silver finish that’s been selected here. I also moaned at Tribit earlier this year after the Tribit Stormbox Lava speaker totally failed at playing to its open-goal volcanic theme. Any audio manufacturers out there fancy making a more fun volcano-inspired product? I’ll be keeping an eye out.

On top of that, I just found the Volcano earpieces a bit too bulky in my ear. Each bud felt substantially heftier than my IE 200 and I found it challenging to keep these on for much more than an hour or so before fatigue kicked in. The cable is pretty chunky too and is without playback options or a mic – something you’d get from a rival like the Shure Aonic 3.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. I have to say, the build of the Activo Volcano appears more luxurious than perhaps its price suggests. The cable, while large, looks and feels high in quality. It’s also detachable if you want to swap in an after-market alternative. For reference, though, the included wire is made up of seven-strand silver-plated copper and five-strand oxygen-free copper cables. The PC material used for the buds themselves also feels smooth and not overly plasticky, oozing a sense of durability and reliability.

So, let’s return to the all-important question. Are the Activo Volcano a hit? Well, perhaps not quite. There’s plenty to like here for sure, whether that be weighty bass output, high build quality or various connectivity options. But equally, there are a few areas that left me a touch disappointed. I personally found that the model is overly large, with a design that while secure and easy to fit, isn’t particularly comfortable or on-theme. And the audio – though still good for the price – could be more revealing and balanced.

Should you buy the Activo Volcano? Well, if you don’t need fantastic evenness across the frequencies and don’t mind it’s slightly larger feel, then perhaps. But for a similar price, I’d say you’ll be better off with the Sennheiser IE 200 – did I mention I like those?

3.5mm connector attached to the Activo Volcano — (Image credit: Future)

Activo Volcano review: Price and release date

$80 / £99 (about AU$120)
Launched in March 2025

The Activo Volcano IEMs came to market in March 2025. Activo is still fairly fresh and was created by parent Astell & Kern as a lifestyle brand. And the Volcano are its cheapest offering to date, with a list price of $80 / £99 (about AU$120). That’s a massive chunk less than Activo’s previous effort, the Activo Q1 IEMs, which we rated four-and-a-half stars, lauding their excellent clarity and superb separation.

Activo Volcano review: Specs

Drivers	1x 8mm, 2x 6mm dynamic triple-driver
Weight	5g (per bud)
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz
Waterproof rating	Not stated
Connectivity	3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C

Activo Volcano right earbud balanced on block — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Activo Volcano?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Detachable cable, interchangeable connectors, no controller.	4/5
Sound quality	Good audio for the price, big bass, but rivals offer more balance and detail.	4/5
Design	Unremarkable looks, bulky, not massively comfortable, but premium feel.	2.5/5
Value	Cheap given overall quality, but similar-priced competitors are stronger.	4/5

Buy them if...

You're on a tight budget
The Volcano stray from much of their parent’s audio tech in that they're very much an affordable model. For $80 / £99, you're getting a solid set of IEMs, ideal for those that value the details, yet don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.

You want multiple connectivity options
A lot of IEMs use a 3.5mm connector and don’t leave space for anything else. That can be pretty limiting if you want to use them with a modern smartphone, say, that's ditched the good ol' headphone port. So, in come the Activo Volcano with not only a 3.5mm option, but also a USB-C and 4.4mm option. Simply screw on whatever connector you want and you're good to go, no matter what device you're using.

Don't buy them if...

If you’re an audiophile seeking top-tier sound quality
The Activo Volcano never had to wow me with absolutely top of the range audio, given their price tag. And I want to echo that here – you’re not going to get the ultimate mixture of effortlessly balanced and stunningly separated audio from the Activo Volcano. Yes, they’re more than up to the task of dishing out an enjoyable listen that leans into warm bass tones, but if you want the most analytical IEMs on the market, it’s worth looking elsewhere.

You're looking for a lightweight option
What's likely to be the most divisive aspect of the Activo Volcano is their chunky build. Both the IEMs themselves and the braided cable are pretty weighty, meaning they're not the most discreet looking or feeling. So, if you want a featherweight, understated way to listen to your tunes, it may be best to avoid these in-ears.

Activo Volcano review: Also consider

	Activo Volcano	Sennheiser IE 200	Master & Dynamic ME05
Price	$80 / £99 (about AU$120)	$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95	$199 / £169 (about AU$320)
Drivers	1x 8mm, 2x 6mm dynamic triple-driver	7mm dynamic	8mm high-excursion
Weight	5g (per bud)	4g (per bud)	23g
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz	6Hz-20kHz	20Hz-20kHz
Waterproof rating	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
Connectivity	3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C	3.5mm	3.5mm; USB-C

Sennheiser IE 200
If I’m ever asked to recommend some IEMs, I almost always find myself suggesting the Sennheiser IE 200. Why? Because in this price range, they’re simply the best sounding IEMs that I’ve heard so far. You get open, articulate audio with sublime instrument separation, a straight up sexy design and dual-tuneable sound. There’s no USB-C adapter and you’ll have to buy a cable with playback controls separately, but if you’re all about sound, these are an amazing pair of in-ears. They’re also regularly on sale for a solid amount less than their list price. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200 review.

Master & Dynamic ME05
If you’re in the market for great-sounding wired in-ears, but don’t need IEMs specifically, the Master & Dynamic ME05 are a fantastic choice. These remastered classics supply balanced, detailed audio, a premium build, and dual 3.5mm/USB-C connectivity. Pretty neat. Oh, and you’ll get a mic and playback controller too. Read our full Master & Dynamic ME05 review.

How I tested the Activo Volcano

Activo Volcano connector — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for multiple weeks
Used in the office and while on a flight
Predominantly tested using Tidal

I used the Activo Volcano over the course of multiple weeks. I predominantly tested them while working at home, but also used them at the office and while on a flight. When listening to tunes, I mainly turned to Tidal, but I also spent some time blasting songs on Spotify.

When testing, I ran through the entirety of the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres. I also compared the Volcano against the Sennheiser IE 200 and re-released version of the Master & Dynamic ME05.

First reviewed: June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested this ready-to-go turntable and its high-performing minimalist design is a future-proofed – and with compelling sound

7:30 pm | June 5, 2025

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

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play: two-minute review

The Avid Ingenium Plug&Play is a belt-driven unsuspended turntable and it’s the very smallest and simplest turntable that the company makes. This might sound surprising for a turntable with a price tag of £1,500 (about $2,500 / AU$2,500, where available) but it is a reflection of quite how far up the Avid range goes.

If you want to purchase the brand's flagship Acutus Reference Mono turntable, Nexus V2 arm and Ruby cartridge, you will need a not inconsequential £48,950 (or around $66,250 / AU$102,260, give or take) to do it. Judged by this metric, then, those aforementioned prices are indeed fairly entry level.

Most importantly, the Avid Ingenium Plug&Play is built around the same principles as the top-tier Acutus. Everything that Avid does is developed from the top down. The company begins by making the best example of something that they know how to make. When they want to make a more affordable version, they change the absolute minimum number of parts and design elements. Then, when a more affordable version still is required, this second level becomes the point from which development begins. By this process, the Acutus has become the Ingenium.

This process also means that the Ingenium is designed with different priorities to some of the best turntables at the price and it looks and feels different as well. Is the result exactly what you need in a turntable or do other approaches work better?

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable on wooden stand — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: Price & release date

The original Ingenium has been around for over a decade but it has changed a little in that time. Originally, it could be ordered with different cutouts from the factory that allowed you to choose different arms. You could also have one that had a longer chassis that allowed it to work with 12 inch arms. Not only that, if you were feeling really keen, you could order one where the chassis extended in both directions and could mount two arms at once. As someone who is the very definition of keen when it comes to turntables, I have owned a twin-armed Ingenium for many years as it is a fantastic piece of test equipment.

The Plug & Play was released in 2018 and quickly became the sole version of the Ingenium. By simplifying the versions, Avid could keep the price down and ensure that installing one is as simple as possible. Though there is only one version for sale, the company makes a series of upgrades that can be added at a later date, which we will cover as well.

As of May 2025, an Ingenium Plug & Play is £1,500 in the UK. In the US, the current liveliness around imports makes the price a little volatile but it appears to be around $2,500. In Australia, it is yours for AU$2,500.

This price is inclusive of everything you need to get up and running out of the box, with the exception of a phono stage. Avid does make these if you need and, as the Ingenium Plug & Play is fitted with a moving magnet cartridge, many owners will have a phono stage built into their existing electronics that will allow them to connect directly.

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable on a wooden stand — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: Features

Metal chassis built around a custom bearing
Motor acts on subplatter with MDF or optional metal platter
Upgradable power supply
Arm and cartridge fitted

Every Avid turntable from the Acutus down is designed around the same principle. It is intended to dissipate energy away from the playing surface via the bearing. The chassis of the Ingenium Plug&Play takes the form of a two-piece cruciform with the longer section housing the bearing and tonearm mount, and the shorter crossbeam adding stability. The motor is not attached to the chassis; instead it sits in free space behind the main chassis member. The feet are pliant rubber and add some useful isolation from the outside world.

The bearing is hugely important to how the Ingenium works and considerable attention has, rightly, been lavished on it. It is set forward from the center of the chassis which means that you can see the entire assembly from the front. The bearing comprises a shaft, with the actual bearing itself sat at the top. A subplatter sits on top of this and this is what the belt acts on. On top of this, the platter is then fitted.

This platter is cork topped and used on other Avid turntables. As standard, it is made of MDF and feels pretty substantial but you can also order the Plug&Play with a metal platter. This looks very similar to the standard one but is much heavier and more inert. The upgraded platter comes with bolts that screw into the underside. These drop into holes in the subplatter to tighten up the relationship between the two. Order the metal platter at the same time as the Ingenium and it will cost you £350 ($475, AU$730 where sold) or you can order it later on for £450 ($610 / AU$940, where sold).

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable and platter on a wooden stand — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

The Ingenium makes use of another Avid design feature in the form of a clamp. This screws down via a threaded spindle to physically press the record against that energy-dissipating bearing. This is another feature present on all Avid turntables and is absolutely integral to how they work.

As supplied, the Ingenium's motor plugs directly into the wall and simply has an on/off switch most of the way up the wire. Depending on how you place the Avid, this can make it hard to reach and it means that changing between 33 and 45 RPM is a matter of lifting the platter off and moving the belt from one motor pulley to another.

Both of these can be corrected by upgrading to the Electronic PSU. This allows for electronic speed control via a motor with a different pulley that allows two belts to be run at the same time. This is not a cheap upgrade – at £1,500 ($1,355 / AU$2,085 approx.) it’s the same price as the turntable itself and there is no saving to be had ordering it at the same time.

The arm that comes pre-fitted is something Avid calls the TA1. It is designed with a view to working with the supplied cartridge but will accept others that are content working with its fixed anti-skate system. It outputs via a captive lead and Avid has ensured that the VTA is correct out of the box. This arm is not expensive; it appears with the same cartridge on a turntable that costs £330 ($445 / AU$690, where sold) but it reflects Avid’s design priorities. Their argument is that, unless the turntable itself is correctly engineered, nothing else will be right. For some people, this price balance will seem somewhat lopsided but is a ratio that Avid employs on many of their turntables.

Should you wish to change it in future, any arm using the same mount and geometry should fit but this does not include either of the arms that Avid makes. Something that can also be done, though, is to change the stylus on the cartridge. By origin, this is an Audio Technica design called the AT-91 and it has sold in huge quantities. Roll your sleeves up and get online and you’ll find a variety of upgraded stylus options for it that simply slide on in place of the existing one and can offer substantially better performance.

Features score: 4 / 5

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play arm on a wood stand — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: sound quality

Exceptionally cohesive and controlled performance
Excellent bass; made even better with the upgrades
Some limitations to fine detail
Can be very good fun

Turntables are fascinating and slightly maddening things. They perform one job that has very few variables – at the most basic level, support a record and rotate it at 33 or 45 RPM, and yet, the performance they offer varies hugely. Put simply, every single design and engineering decision makes a difference to how the turntable performs. Done well, this manifests itself in how the information on the record is presented. The more capable the turntable, the better it avoids information on the record becoming congested and confused.

It doesn’t take very long listening to the Ingenium Plug&Play to realize that, at its fundamental core, it is incredibly capable. I’ve been using The Cinematic Orchestra’s Man with a Movie Camera as a piece of test material for years. The version of Burn Out used here is bigger and has a larger overall sense of scale than the original and, as the track builds, it can start to sound a little muddled. On the Avid, this simply doesn’t occur; it has the bandwidth and ability to keep everything sounding as it should. The Ingenium hangs together, even when a number of similarly priced rivals are beginning to struggle.

It also possesses extremely good bass and when I say, ‘good bass’ I mean more than straightforward low-end thudding. From the moment that lower midrange starts to become bass, there is a heft to it that is perfectly judged – weighty without tipping over into being dominating or overblown. It does rather justify Avid’s belief in the turntable itself as the final decider of the quality of playback. I have never heard anything else using a remotely similar arm and cartridge achieve the same level of sheer low-end tone and texture as what the Ingenium extracts from it.

There is more to be had from it. Avid supplied an example of the upgrade platter with my review sample and fitting this improves the bass response even further. Not only does the absolute extension improve but the texture and control to low notes improves even further. Rogues Gospel by Duke Garwood is an exceptionally natural recording, underpinned by surprisingly deep bass notes. With the metal platter present, the percussion is better defined against the mix and it starts and stops with greater precision.

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable closeup — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Adding the external power supply (I also used the motor from my own Ingenium for this as it has the correct pulley and connecting cable) yields more performance. It might sound odd that changing the power feed for the motor has any effect on the performance but it’s important to remember that this is the only part of the turntable where electrical power is added – everything else is entirely passive. The power supply allows me to more easily listen to a 45RPM version of Peter Gabriel’s eponymous third album. The already orderly and spacious presentation takes a further step forward. Without losing the building urgency of Family Snapshot, the Avid is astonishingly capable.

There are some limits, though, that would need attention before spending £1,500 (approx. $1,355 / AU$2,085) on the power supply. The Avid extracts more from its cost-effective arm than you would ever credit but it will show its limitations. Compared with the arm and cartridge combination used regularly on my resident Ingenium (which I am compelled to admit costs more than the Plug&Play and the optional power supply combined), there is a loss of fine detail and tonal realism that is the absolute limiting factor to the Avid’s performance. As noted, changing the stylus would be a cost-effective means of starting to correct this, and there is a decent choice of arms that will bolt straight on that I would probably look at ahead of the power supply.

Crucially, though, you won’t need to rush to do this. In the time the Avid has been in situ, it’s been sharing a rack with more expensive, and notionally more capable, decks but I’ve never rushed to switch over from listening to it. What it does so effectively is balance attributes I have long associated with Avid turntables – a confidence and realism that is unaffected by the scale and complexity of the material being played, with the ability to be plain and simple good fun when you want it to be.

Playing the belated vinyl release of Superabundance by the Young Knives on the Ingenium is a neat demonstration of this. Even after a remaster, it’s not a great recording but the Plug&Play takes in its stride and will have you yelling along to the utterly nonsensical chorus of Terra Firma in fine style.

Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable power supply on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: Design

Simple, but attractive with it
Superbly made
Easy to set up
No dust protection or cover of any kind

Avid is first and foremost an engineering company. They don’t really go in for ‘styling’ as it might be defined in the usual sense. There is absolutely nothing on the Ingenium Plug&Play that doesn’t need to be there for it to work. Despite this (or, partly because of it), I love it. The Avid doesn’t set out to be pretty but thanks to the absolute lack of frippery and adornment, it looks fantastic. You don’t need to know anything about vinyl to know it’s a very special thing.

It is also superbly made. Extracting the Avid from its box allows you to get a handle of the sheer heft of the metalwork and the precision involved in the construction. I won’t insult your intelligence by calling it cheap but I don’t know of many turntables at the price that feel anything like as substantial. It very effectively gives a little taste of just how incredibly well assembled the company’s more premium offerings are.

It also delivers on the name as well. It can be momentarily intimidating to see all the parts sat in the box when you open it but, thanks to a genuinely good set of instructions, the Avid is a pleasure to put together and should not be beyond even a complete novice. The quality and care of the execution is evident from the moment you start slotting the parts together and the whole process inspires confidence in what you're doing. Pay attention, avoid distractions and you should be spinning a record within 10 to 15 minutes of opening the box.

Something to remember when choosing an Ingenium Plug&Play is that as a 'skeleton' deck, the Avid has no dust or child protection as standard. This means that it is rather more vulnerable than some rivals to the outside world. Avid offers some covers, and other options are available, but this of course will come at an extra cost. I have generally kept an old record on my Ingenium's platter to help keep dust off the playing surface.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: Value

There are two levels to judging the Plug&Play. Judged on what you get in the box for £1,500 (about $2,500 / AU$2,500, where available), it’s good but there are other turntables that can keep it honest, ones which also offer lids, electronic speed control and other niceties. The Ingenium is competitive and can hold its own but it doesn’t deliver a knockout blow.

The thing to consider, though, is that the Ingenium can be taken to places that almost nothing else for the price can. My twin-armed one has the upgrade platter and the power supply and uses arms that cost more than the Plug&Play does on its own. It’s still mechanically the same basic turntable as the review unit but it can deliver a level of performance far beyond what the basic unit is capable of.

If you know you are committing to vinyl for decades to come, this is a turntable that will grow with you. Viewed in this way, the Ingenium represents rather more impressive value.

Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Avid Ingenium Plug&Play?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Metal chassis, with possible upgrades available	4 / 5
Sound quality	Cohesive and controlled with excellent bass; some limitations to fine detail	4.5 / 5
Design	Simple and attractive; superbly made; easy to set up	4.5 / 5
Value	A little pricey, but good-quality equipment means it grows with you	4 / 5

Buy it if…

Accuracy matters
The Avid is a capable and revealing source that is able to handle complex material in a way that even similarly priced designs can struggle with. It’s effortlessly capable.

You want simplicity
Everything you need turns up in the box and putting the Ingenium together is straightforward and logical. This is a top-tier vinyl experience but it’s not an intimidating one.

You’re in this for the long haul
The upgrades available from Avid and the basic adaptability of the turntable itself means this is something you can spend your money on, enjoy it as it is and then begin to upgrade it at a later date.

Don't buy it if…

You need electronic speed control
Adding this feature to the Avid will set you back some cash and, while it will boost performance, it's an extra expense when some rivals have it included.

You need a lid
Got cats or a low flying toddler? The Ingenium probably isn’t the turntable for you. It’s more vulnerable than models with a cover.

You live for tiny details
Out of the box, the supplied cartridge on the Plug&Play is good but not the last work in detail retrieval. At the very least, it will need a stylus change to start to rival what some more sophisticated pickups can do.

Top-down view of the Avid Ingenium Plug&Play, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play review: Also consider

Rega Planar PL1
The snap and timing of the Rega make it a real contender. Everything is in the box, too.
Read more on the Rega Planar PL1

Technics SL-1500C
If you like the power of a direct drive, then the Technics is the one for you. It's got a sturdy build to it, too.
Read our Technics SL-1500C review here

Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo
When it comes to effortless flow, the Pro-ject is peerless, and is a wildly detailed listen.
Read our full Pro-ject Debut Carbon Evo review here

Avid Ingenium Plug&Play turntable — (Image credit: Future / Ed Selley)

How I tested the Avid Ingenium Plug&Play

The Avid was parked on a Quadraspire rack and run both in out-of-the-box and upgraded forms, connected to a Cyrus Classic Phono phono stage, which outputted to a Cambridge Audio Edge A integrated amplifier and Kudos Titan 505 speakers. As the Cyrus has four inputs, it meant other turntables that live here all the time could be run alongside and everything played through my standard reference system.

All listening took place in a 3.5m x 4m lounge that I use as a listening space. As well as the listed recordings, I used a huge selection of records, ranging from very audiophile indeed to Boss Drum by The Shamen which, with the best will in the world, is not.

First reviewed: June 2025
Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

I tried will.i.am’s new speaker and it has a lot of Boom Boom, but not much Pow

4:00 pm | June 3, 2025

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

LG xBoom Bounce: Two-minute review

Go to the LG website and you’ll see this Bluetooth speaker billed as the "LG xBoom Bounce by will.i.am". Recent marketing materials are rife with mentions of the Black Eyed Peas performer who, depending on where you look on LG's site, “crafted” the sound from the ground up, “fine-tuned” the sound of the Bounce after the fact or simply acted as... whatever an “Experiential Architect” is.

It’s a very loosely-defined partnership and I’ve no idea if the musician’s work really did involve engineering the Bounce’s sound or simply becoming a marketing figure, although a colleague at TechRadar did speak to the rapper, writer, actor, record producer and entrepreneur earlier this year on the collaboration. Anyway, the general gist is this: the LG xBoom Bounce is a new party speaker here to (hopefully) make you wanna Shake Ya Boom Boom – and thus, make its way into our best Bluetooth speakers roundup.

Its relative beefiness should have been clear from the name; LG’s busy line of xBoom speakers are all designed for room-filling sound, complete with hardy designs, high volumes and usually plenty of LED lights. The bounce was announced alongside the slightly-cheaper cylinder of the LG xBoom Grab and bigger, more expensive LG xBoom Stage 301.

I must admit that I’ve not been blown away by other xBoom devices I’ve used, and sadly the Bounce didn’t manage to change that.

The last xBoom I used was the petite Go XG2T, which is remarkable for its portability, a trait which is important for most Bluetooth speakers. Not in the Bounce, though, as it’s too big and heavy to slip in your bag and take to a picnic. It has an elastic carry band which loses form quickly, two unstable legs and a pet peeve of mine: no skip track button.

I can’t mark down the design too much though, with high-grade protections ensuring that the xBoom Bounce is safe from the hard knocks that could befall it when used in your garden (or forgotten in your garden after a few beers).

When it comes to features, LG’s nailed the basics with the LG xBoom Bounce: its battery life is pleasingly long and I’m always a fan of LED lights on speakers. However there’s not much extra if you download LG’s smart-home app (no, there’s no bespoke app), with a few of its potential features squandered.

For example there’s an on-speaker button which should, in theory, be used to quickly open a chosen playlist – however this doesn’t actually work alongside any streaming service, only with native content on your phone or LG’s own ambient songs.

The biggest issue with the Bounce is that its sound quality just doesn’t match rivals on the market. With Sonos and JBL both offering similar-priced alternatives, the bass-heavy but empty-sounding audio of the Bounce doesn’t cut it, no matter how loud it can go to impress fields of guests.

As a mid-range speaker in terms of price, LG’s rugged build quality, battery life and volume here may be enough to win over some users, including those who want a device specifically for outdoor activities and parties (and already own one or more for their home). But if you’re more of a one-and-done kind of speaker buyer, the xBoom Bounce is a lot harder to recommend.

LG xBoom Bounce review: Price and release date

Released in April 2025
Officially priced at $179.99 / £139 / AU$249

The LG xBoom Bounce by a leafy plant on a shelf. — (Image credit: Future)

The LG xBoom Bounce was released in April 2025 alongside another member of its family: the xBoom Grab.

You can buy the speaker for $169 / £169 (around AU$300, though it’s the only one of its family not to be on sale in Australia at the time of writing).

That cost puts the xBoom Bounce in the shark-infested waters of a highly competitive price range: the Sonos Roam 2 is only a touch pricier, while the JBL Flip 7 is a small amount more affordable, and you don’t have to pay that much more for a close rival in the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2.

These three options are all within the top five in our round-up of the best Bluetooth speakers, so LG is entering a tough crowd. More on these competitors below.

LG xBoom Bounce review: Specs

Weight:	1.32kg
Dimensions:	26.2 x 9.9 x 9.4 cm
Battery life (quoted):	30 hours
Connectivity:	Not specified
Drivers:	2x tweeter, 1x woofer
Aux in:	No
Charger port:	USB-C
Microphone:	Yes
Waterproof rating:	IP67

LG xBoom Bounce review: Features

Some set-up woes
30-hour battery life
Useful location calibration mode

The XBoom Bounce can be used alongside the LG ThinQ app. This is an everything-app for all LG products, and it’s quite a lengthy set-up process between creating an account, finding ‘speakers’ on the list and, in my case, repeatedly trying to get it to pair until it finally succeeded. I may have given up several attempts earlier if I wasn’t reviewing the Bounce (and you can use the device just fine without pairing it to the app anyway). Pairing to devices simply for listening was quick and painless, it’s just the app that’s the issue.

The ThinQ app may make sense if you have lots of other LG products (or if this speaker boasted wi-fi streaming support, which to be clear, it does not), but if you don’t it’s a bit of a faff. Honestly, it feels like a bloated set-up process and some of the features just don’t make sense – why am I being asked where the speaker is located when, by definition, it’s a portable one?

Using the app you can change the speaker’s volume, switch the lighting pattern on it, set up the MY button (more on this imminently) and set up a few other features like Auracast for daisy-chaining more speakers for multi-room audio, a turn-off timer and a small playlist of ambient background music called Healing Therapy. There’s also a calibration mode which works out the speaker’s location (after a brief test) and adjusts the sound quality, which is admittedly quite neat – until you move it.

Once you’ve set up the MY button, pressing it on the speaker auto-plays from a playlist you’ve selected. However you can only use this for audio files on your device, or the Healing Therapy playlist on the app – no Spotify, no Apple Music, no Tidal. In addition, it’s staggeringly hard to browse the Healing Therapy library to find sounds – go to the page in the app and you’ll be shown a single song, with the options to download it, as well as a list of your downloaded songs. The only way I figured out to see all Healing Therapy options is to literally download everything you’re presented with.

There are a few preset Sound Effects you can use to modify your sound: Standard, Bass Boost and Voice Enhance are all pretty obvious and there’s a custom option to bring up a six-band equalizer. The other option is AI Sound which balances audio based on your chosen genre.

I tested the speaker for about 10 hours before going through the set-up process and if I could turn back time, I probably wouldn’t bother with the app. The only thing I ended up needing it for is to turn on Bass Boost mode. I mentioned above that I had trouble connecting to the app; this was never an issue connecting the speaker to my phone via Bluetooth, which was flawless.

Let’s clear our minds with a really positive feature: the battery life. According to LG this can stretch to 30 hours and in my testing I saw no reason to doubt that figure (as long as you’re playing at 50% volume, which is a reasonable figure indoors). That figure trumps lots of the competition with many rivals hovering between the 10-15 hour mark. Charging is done via the USB-C port on the back and takes three hours.

Features score: 3.5/5

LG xBoom Bounce review: Design

IP67 and military-grade protection
Heavy and long body
Wobbly legs and elastic strap

The LG xBoom Bounce is a big and heavy speaker – while all Bluetooth speakers are ostensibly portable, the heft of the Bounce means you probably won’t want to bring this to the park for a picnic or barbeque given that you’ll have to jettison half your food to fit it in your bag. At home I left it on the same shelf for the bulk of my testing, right by a wall outlet, completely offsetting any need for it to be wireless in the first place. The issue is, I don't think the audio is good enough for a dedicated indoor 'main' speaker… but again, I'm getting ahead of myself.

To be precise, the xBoom Bounce is 316.5mm long, 142.5mm tall and 136mm wide, taking a rough oval shape. It weighs 1.32kg which is heavy for a Bluetooth speaker like this – some other party speakers are a whole kilo lighter.

On top of the speaker are its two tweeters as well as buttons: power, volume up, volume down, pay/pause, Bluetooth pairing, multipoint and MY (the latter we’ll describe in the Features section). So far, so standard. The back of the speaker has a USB-C port for charging but no 3.5mm jack, so you can’t plug-and-play with your old iPod here.

A large feature on the back of the xBoom is the stretchy fabric band you can see in pictures. This has a little ‘pull’ to it so you can get your hand behind it to carry it, but its size and positioning means you can’t really use it to attach the Bounce to anything (not least of all because 1.4kg means this thing is prone to pulling over things you attach it to). The elastic also deformed pretty quickly in my testing, having a noticeable upward arc after just a few days of testing, and so I wasn't keen to rely on it as a way to transport the thing in case it snapped.

The front of the speaker has an LED strip which flickers to music, and you can choose the color or pattern through the app. It’s not a huge feature, but if you like having flashing LEDs to accompany your music, it’s a nice touch.

On the bottom of the xBoom are two circular ‘legs’ that it stands on, elevating the main body a touch off the ground. There’s probably a good reason for them but they resulted in the device wobbling an undue amount when on flat surfaces.

You'll probably realise I have mixed feelings on the xBoom Bounce’s design, but one undeniable boon is its protection. Not only does the Bounce have an IP67 rating against dust ingress and limited immersion in water, but also the military-grade MIL-STD-810H certification. This ensures it can withstand vibrations, impacts, spray from salt water, high temperatures and a few other fairly-specific types of assault. This is perhaps the first truly rugged Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever tested, and I’m always a fan of gadgets that are designed for longevity.

Design score: 3.5/5

LG xBoom Bounce review: Sound quality

High max volume
Low-end focus
Songs often sound 'empty'

Let’s unpack what you’re getting with the Bounce: there are two tweeters and a woofer for 2.1 stereo audio.

The LG xBoom Bounce doesn’t lack for power, with a high maximum volume; I generally listened at volume 10 at home but it goes all the way up to 30, so this will be suitable for fairly large gatherings. But what LG offers in volume, it lacks in quality.

The focus of the sound is clearly in the low-end, with songs’ bass lines being the first thing you’ll notice when you put on any track. But then, as is the issue with most ‘bass overload’ cases, it means mid- and high-end instruments sound compressed. Here, these frequencies seem almost squeezed into an oddly dull ooze of ‘noise’, stripping counter harmonies and detail from songs in favor of the ever insatiable god: bass.

Even vocals were often muddied and nonspecific in songs I listened to, and there were times when I simply couldn’t make out the lyrics of lead or backing singers due to how low they were in the box.

Let’s take a listen: Phosphorescent’s New Birth in New England usually offers a rich mix of rhythmic instruments but listening on the Bounce, all I can hear is the bass, vocal and some assorted ‘soup’ of everything else. The next song on my playlist is Letter to Lady J by Dispatch which starts with acoustic guitar and vocals, but the latter sounds muted and the former quickly loses any form of strumming pattern and timbre. Changing playlists for some variety, Morgan Wallen’s Thought You Should Know was listened to – just the intro, three times, to try to list the instruments we’ve got here. Sadly, I simply couldn’t make them out and throughout the song, Wallen sounds like he’s frantically waving his hand to the mixing desk and pointing upwards to indicate ‘turn me up!’.

The effect of all of this is that music seems a lot less complex and nuanced, and therefore lacking a little bit of the ‘soul’ that comes from the interplay and cohesion of different instruments. It made rock and pop less enjoyable and classical almost impossible to appreciate; I most enjoyed using the speaker when it was for dance-focused tracks with instrumental simplicity. Which, of course, is what certain users will be looking for, so don't let me put you off if that's you.

A focus on the low-end and a high max volume make the LG xBoom Bounce suited as a party speaker, but it’s not for audiophiles, who’ll find a few things missing from their music.

Sound quality: 3/5

LG xBoom Bounce review: Value

If you’re simply looking at the xBoom Bounce for a personal loudspeaker for your home, you can find other options at a similar (or cheaper) price that offer better sound quality.

For party speakers, the question is a bit different, as the Bounce matches most of its close rivals in terms of price. However you may be swayed by the various protections on offer, which could ensure that it keeps serving you for a lot longer than one of its alternatives.

In the grand scheme of things, you’re pretty much getting what you pay for though.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the LG xBoom Bounce?

LG xBoom Bounce speaker score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	A long battery life and equalizer offset an annoying app experience.	3.5/5
Design	It's not quite 'portable' but it's well-protected.	3.5/5
Sound quality	The high max volume and focus on low-end will please some, but it's not for audiophiles.	3/5
Value	You get what you pay for, and it'll last you longer than some rivals.	3.5/5

Buy it if…

You need field-filling sound
Need a speaker to play to your whole back garden or large living room? Shy of a full-stack party speaker this can be your go-to.

You need something well-protected
The IP67 is a nice touch but the military-grade protection is what I'm talking about here: you won't need to worry about a rain storm hitting your party (or an earthquake, flash flood or drought).

You need something that lasts a little longer
With 30 hours of juice in the tank, the LG xBoom Bounce lasts longer than lots of its competitors before needing to be charged.

Don’t buy it if…

You're an audiophile
I wasn't that impressed with the sound of the Bounce, so if you're hoping to truly appreciate the music you're listening to, this party speaker isn't the way to go.

You need something portable
This isn't the gym, you're not expected to carry heavy weights around with you everywhere you go.

LG xBoom Bounce review: Also consider

	LG xBoom Bounce	Tribit Stormbox Blast 2	JBL Flip 7
Weight:	1.32kg	8.7g	560g
Dimensions:	26.2 x 9.9 x 9.4 cm	47.6 x 25.9 x 19.3 cm	7 x 18.3 x 7.2 cm
Battery life (quoted):	30 hours	30 hours	16 hours
Connectivity:	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.4
Drivers:	2x tweeter, 1x woofer	1x subwoofer, 2x drivers, 2x tweeters	1x driver, 1x tweeter
Aux-in:	No	Yes	No
Charger port:	USB-C	AC 100-240V	USB-C
Microphone:	Yes	No (mic ports)	No
Waterproof rating:	IP67	IP67	IP68

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
For a small amount more than the LG, you can get the ultimate party speaker of the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. This beast has a fantastic output, and even though it's a lot heavier than the LG, has a handle to let you deal with it.
Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review

JBL Flip 7
A smaller and cheaper option, the Flip 7 extends JBL's lead as monarchs of the portable party speaker realm. It sounds great, offers a range of features and, like the LG, is well-protected.
Read our full JBL Flip 7 review

How I tested the LG XBoom Bounce

I used the LG xBoom Bounce for two weeks in order to write this review, which is the standard testing period.

I used the Bounce alongside two separate Android smartphones, one a Realme and another a Moto, and did most of the testing split between two different rooms in my house. Most of the playback was music from Spotify and the ThinQ app but I watched a few videos, listened to spoken-word content and played a game with the speaker attached.

I've been writing tech reviews for TechRadar for over six years now, including speakers as well as other LG products.

First tested: June 2025

Read more on how we test at TechRadar.

I discovered these JBL noise-cancelling over-ear headphones’ neat party piece, but it’ll cost you…

12:30 pm | May 31, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones | Tags: JBL, LDAC, USP | Comments: Off

JBL Tour One M3: two-minute review

JBL has pitched its new Tour One M3 wireless over-ear noise-cancellers right into the heart of the action. They’re priced to compete with hitters as big as Bose and Sony, but the company hasn’t just slapped a premium price-tag on and hoped for the best. These headphones are specified to compete, and even have an optional extra that elevates their functionality beyond that of any price-comparable rival.

Wireless connectivity, frequency response and battery life are all well up to standard. Control options are numerous and well implemented. And with the optional Smart Tx transmitter, JBL is able to turn the Tour One M3 into a wireless receiver of non-wireless sources, as well as facilitating group listening for as many people who have Auracast-compatible headphones would like to participate.

There’s no arguing with the standard of build and finish that’s on display here, either, though the majority of the plastics used in the construction don’t feel as expensive as you might expect in a product as pricey as this. Still, at least the comfort quotient is high, thanks to some judicious padding and a low overall weight.

And if you like your sound punchy, upfront and animated, there’s plenty to enjoy here and the JBL don’t scrimp on the details, either. Their spatial audio effect is subtle and effective, and the noise cancellation puts them up there among the best noise cancelling headphones mix with anything that hasn’t got the word ‘Bose’ on it.

Don’t venture into bigger (higher) volume levels, though, because no good can come of it. The treble response, which is assertive at the best of times, can become unruly and the overall sound becomes two-dimensional and rather shouty.

JBL Tour One M3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, with the optional Smart Tx transmitter, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Tour One M3 review: Price and release date

Release date: April 15th, 2025
Price: $349 ($399 with Smart Tx transmitter); £329 (£379); AU$479 (AU$549)

You don’t need me to tell you this is serious money for a pair of wireless over-ear noise-cancellers, even before you add in the cost of the Smart Tx transmitter – $349 ($399 with the transmitter); £329 (£379); AU$479 (AU$549).

JBL has picked a fight with brands as credible as Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser and Sony (to name just four) by pricing the Tour ONE M3 this way, which can mean one of only two things. Either JBL is completely confident or JBL is utterly rash.

Whichever your preference, it's probably not enough to put the JBL Tour One M3 among the contenders in the best wireless headphones market.

JBL Tour One M3 review: Specs

Weight:	278g
Drivers:	40mm mica dome dynamic
Battery life:	40 hours (ANC on); up to 70 hours (ANC off)
Control:	app; physical/touch; voice
Bluetooth:	5.3 (SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC)

JBL Tour One M3 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Tour One M3 review: Features

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec compatibility
Up to 70 hours of battery life
Optional Smart Tx transmitter

There are boxes to be ticked when you’re charging this sort of money for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling over-ears, most of which are marked ‘the best version of X’, and the JBL Tour One M3 ticks all of them.

For instance, they use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and feature multipoint connectivity as well as compatibility with LC3 and LDAC codecs as well as SBC and AAC. They will run for as much as 70 hours (at moderate volume and with noise-cancellation switched off) between charges, and you can expect 40 hours even if you listen at high volume and with ANC switched on.

The ANC itself is a three-stage system: choose between ‘ambient aware’ (an in-app slider controls how much of the outside world is allowed in), ‘talk-thru’ (which pauses music while significantly boosting external sounds, voices in particular) and ‘noise-cancelling’. There’s another slider here, to adjust ANC intensity - or you can switch on ‘adaptive ANC’ to automatically adjust the level based on ambient conditions. ‘Auto compensation’, meanwhile, assesses the headphones’ position on your ear relative to your ear canal in order to adjust ANC on the fly.

JBL suggests the Tour ONE M3 have a frequency response of 10Hz to 40kHz, which, if it’s anything like accurate, should be ample. Sound is served via a couple of 40mm mica dome dynamic drivers.

Trio of screenshots showing the JBL Headphones app: a hearing test, noise-cancellation options and equalizer settings — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The control app itself has plenty of functionality beyond fiddling with active noise-cancellation, of course – ‘JBL Headphones’ is free for iOS and Android and is one of the most comprehensive apps around.

For instance, it allows you to select a ‘spatial audio’ setting (‘fixed’, ‘head-tracking’ or ‘off’) and investigate your EQ options (there are six presets and the ability to specify some custom settings using a 10-band equalizer). You can take a hearing test to help the headphones adapt to your specific hearing profile, exert some influence of the physical methods of control, set a volume limiter and plenty more besides. These include checking on firmware updates and remaining battery life, plus adjusting the length of time without an incoming signal required before the headphones power down – basically, this app is a model of usefulness and stability.

Then there's the Smart Tx transmitter (a cost option, let’s not forget), through which JBL has an authentic Point of Difference. If you’re familiar with the ‘retransmission case’ that the top-end Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 true wireless in-ears have been supplied with for the past few years, you’ll know one of the things the Smart Tx can do – attach it to a non-wireless source of music, such as the in-flight entertainment system, via one of its USB-C slots and it will wirelessly stream to the headphones.

But there’s more to this little brick than that. It also uses Auracast to allow multiple devices to listen to whatever is playing into it (as long as all headphones are Auracast-compatible, of course). Its full-colour touch-screen duplicates quite a lot of the app’s functions, too, so to make changes you don’t have to fish your phone out of the pocket on the back of the seat in front of you. Yes, it needs charging (via its second USB-C) and, also yes, it’s another thing to disappear down the back of the sofa or something, but for those who fancy its functionality, it’s a very useful little device indeed.

Features score: 5 / 5

Optional ‘Smart Tx’ transmitter for the JBL Tour One M3 headphones, both on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Tour One M3 review: Sound quality

Punch, drive and detail in fairly equal measure
Effective and quite nuanced spatial audio effect
Easily spooked by bigger volumes

Some headphones don’t really mind the sort of stuff you listen to, or how you choose to listen to it – they just get on with the job, regardless. The JBL Tour One M3, I think I can safely say, are not those headphones.

As far as music styles are concerned, they’re not especially fussy, but where quality of recording is concerned, they have definite preferences. It’s mostly due to their treble response – the top end as reproduced by the Tour One M3 is absolutely as bright and bitey as is acceptable. So if you provoke it with a recording that shares that same high-end edginess – Nick Lowe’s You Got the Look I Like is a good example – things can get compounded into something very close to hardness.

There’s no shortage of detail revealed at the top of the frequency range, though, and that’s the case throughout. At every point the JBL are an observant and insightful listen, able to identify even the most fleeting episodes in a recording. Midrange resolution is impressive, and at the bottom end they punch with the sort of weight and determination we’ve all come to expect from JBL equipment. There’s a slight bias towards the bottom of the frequency range when EQ settings are left alone, but this can be mitigated a little in the app. What EQ adjustment can’t do, though, is affect tonality that’s nicely naturalistic right until the top end gets involved.

Three screenshots of the JBL Heaphones app, compatible with the JBL Tour One M3, and showing the possible gesture functions, spatial audio capability and sound detail. — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dynamic impetus is considerable, especially where the biggest shifts in volume or intensity are concerned, and the upheavals in Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters are described in full. The smaller, but no less significant, harmonic variations get appropriate weighting, too. Soundstaging, when listening in straight stereo, is organized and reasonably expansive, but there’s a pleasant unity to the stage, an idea of performance, that makes for a confident and convincing presentation.

Switch on spatial audio and the effect is much less showy than some rival designs shoot for, and it’s all to the good as far as I’m concerned. The stage opens up in every direction without losing too much of its definition, and the sensation of space doesn’t feel in any way artificial.

No, the major issue here concerns volume, and the Tour One M3's inability to cope with it. Turn up the volume and the sound becomes two-dimensional and rather too assertive – every part of a recording seems to rush to the front of the stage, and the top-end tonality (which is problematic all the time) becomes quite abrasive and almost glassy. ‘Composure’ is the word I’m after, and it deserts the JBL the moment you decide to listen at big levels.

The active noise-cancellation, by way of contrast, needs no excuses making for it. Does it cloak you in an eerie blanket of silence like the equivalent Bose headphones can manage? No, it doesn't. Does it bear comparison to the very best alternatives out there that aren’t by Bose? Most definitely. Without altering their sonic characteristics or introducing a suggestion of counter-signal, the Tour One M3 deal with the vast majority of external distractions and leave you free to get on with listening.

Not too loud, though, obviously.

Sound quality score: 3 / 5

Earcups of the JBL Tour One M3 over-ear headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Tour One M3 review: Design

Fold flat and inwards, so have quite a small carry-case
Choice of three finishes
Perceived value is not all it might be

Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way the JBL Tour One M3 are built and finished. Despite having so much articulation in the frame that they can fold up into a winningly compact carry-case, they give every impression of being carefully constructed and ready to last. But when it comes to perceived value, the embodiment of the word ‘premium’ that comes from the look, the feel and, let’s face it, the smell of a pair of headphones, the Tour One M3 don’t have it in anything like the quantities of their price-comparable rivals.

In terms of the look, that might be down to the fact that my review sample is in an insipid finish called ‘mocha’ – perhaps the appearance is a bit classier in the black or blue alternatives. But the color has nothing to do with the way the Tour One M3 feel and the plastics which make up a lot of the frame are hard and feel inexpensive. All of which is unfortunate, given how expensive these headphones actually are.

JBL Tour One M3 over-ear headphones earcup showing touch buttons — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The practicalities of the design are absolutely fine, though. The contact points are pleather-covered memory foam, and they’re softly pliant. The headband adjusts with a very positive action, and the clamping force it exerts is nicely judged. These 278g headphones are easy to wear and it’s simple to get and remain comfortable inside them. JBL isn’t quoting an IP rating, though, so it’s worth making sure you don’t get too comfortable in inappropriate environments.

On the left earcup there’s a slender ‘volume up/down’ rocker switch. On the right, meanwhile, a ‘power on/off/Bluetooth pairing’ slider is positioned above an ‘action’ button that cycles through ‘noise-cancelling’, ‘ambient aware’ and ‘talk-thru’. The surface of this earcup also has a touch surface that allows control over ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards’, ‘skip backwards’ and ‘summon voice assistant’, and this is where telephony functions are accessed, too. It’s possible to unintentionally trigger touch controls when feeling for that ‘action’ button, but broadly speaking these are effective, well-implemented user interfaces.

The USB-C slot can be used both for charging the battery and for data transfer - which means the Tour One M3 are genuinely high-resolution headphones if hard-wired to an appropriate source. And there are eight mics spread over the two earcups taking care of voice-assistant interaction, telephony and noise-cancellation.

Design score: 4 / 5

JBL Tour One M3 over-ear wireless headphones folded away in their carry-case, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

JBL Tour One M3 review: Value

Variable sound
So-so perceived value
Excellent control options, including the Smart Tx transmitter

Ultimately, the JBL Tour ONE M3 can’t be said to offer cast-iron value for money. They have a lot going for them where comfort is concerned, their noise-cancelling is very good, their control options are all very well realized and, in some ways, they sound very enjoyable and entertaining, too.

But the hard, quite cheap-feeling plastics that make up a lot of the frame, the tendency to lose a little self-control at volume, and the sheer strength of the products they’re competing against all conspire to make the JBL a diverting alternative rather than a nailed-on candidate for your ‘value for money’ shortlist.

Value score: 3.5 / 5

Carry-case for the JBL Tour One M3 over-ear wireless ANC headphones, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should I buy the JBL Tour One M3?

Section	Notes	Score
Features	Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec compatibility; optional Smart Tx transmitter a potential game-changer	5 / 5
Sound quality	Excellent ANC; dynamic impetus; nuanced spatial audio; but too easily spooked at high volumes	3 / 5
Design	Fold flat into neat carry-case; comfortable; hard plastic don't lend premium finish	4 / 5
Value	Very good control options; so-so perceived value	3.5 / 5

Buy them if…

You like quite forceful sound
There’s no denying the upfront and vigorous nature of the JBL sound in general, and that goes double for the Tour One M3.

You enjoy a USP
The Smart Tx transmitter brings a lot of additional functionality to the headphones (as long as you remember to keep it charged).

Comfort is important
These headphones are relatively light, the fit is nicely judged, and the contact points are all nice and soft.

Don't buy them if…

You’re especially sensitive to treble sounds
At best, the JBL are lively at the top end; at worst, they’re quite hard and unyielding.

You’re big on perceived value
It’s not about the build or the finish, they’re both fine. It’s just that the JBL don’t look or feel anything special.

You like to listen at bigger volumes
The Tour One M3 are prone to over-excitement at high volume, and lose some of what makes them an enjoyable listen in the first place.

JBL Tour One M3 review: Also consider

Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony’s ubiquitous-for-a-reason WH-1000XM5 are now routinely available at around $299 / £249 (they launched at $399 / £299) and, on a pound-for-pound basis, wireless over-ear noise-cancelling cans don’t get any more rounded or across-the-board excellent than this.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

Bose QuietComfort Ultra
You may prioritize noise-cancelling, of course, and if that’s the case then don’t look any further than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Where ANC is concerned, everyone else is playing catch-up.
Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra review

Edifier Stax Spirit S5
If you prefer the road less traveled, though, and you can live without active noise-cancellation, the Stax Spirit 5 from Edifier uses their planar magnetic driver technology to deliver the sweetest of sounds.
Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review

How I tested JBL Tour One M3

Connected to iOS and Android music players, wired and wirelessly
Connected using the Smart Tx transmitter to a laptop
Lots of different music, lots of different file types and sizes

I listened at my desk, connecting the Smart Tx transmitter to a laptop, I listened while out and about and I listened on public transport, to lots of music of many different file types and sizes. I spent over a week critically to get the best feel possible for the JBL.

AKG N5: One minute review

When I’m testing new earbuds, and considering if they deserve a shoutout for our list of the best earbuds, the first thing I do is look at the price to set expectations – but for this AKG N5 review, I found two.

There’s the official list price, which sets you up for these buds to be powerful premium players, but I was also tripping over discounted prices, with the N5 seeing some hefty discounts since launch. So while I’ll test these as top-end earbuds, I’d be remiss not to point out that you can buy them for less – and you should, as they present fantastic value for money with a reduction.

The AKG N5 are the latest pair of wireless earbuds from originally-Austrian audio company AKG (which is owned by Harman, which itself is owned by Samsung). AKG puts out wireless headphones only sparingly, with its website populated almost entirely with professional wired headsets and microphones.

And it’s clear that some of that ‘professional’ DNA is present in the AKG N5 because there are loads of features which are helpful in such a setting: a USB-C dongle included in the case lets you easily (and temporarily) connect to any laptop, tablet or similar device, while call tone settings basically act like an EQ but for incoming voice calls. There are also loads of ANC settings for people who work in busy offices.

Suffice it to say I was impressed by the feature suite of the AKG N5, but not just as someone who himself tries to drown out the infuriatingly-loud team seated next to him – they’re all features that will be handy to regular buyers, not just office-locked ones.

Another strength of the AKG N5 is their audio chops, because the buds offer expressive and clear audio with plenty of detail and texture. A few more in-app modes (sorry to mention features again) let you carry out a sound test or tweak the sonic offering to your pleasure.

Some people may be put off by the AKG N5’s design. It’s true the case is pretty huge, the build quality feels iffy, and the earbud controls are hard to activate when you want to and easy to activate when you don’t. The battery life that won't last a full day of work might also put some people off.

But it’s easy to overlook these issues if, like I said, you’re able to find a good deal on these buds. And that shouldn’t be hard given I found it more of a chore to find their actual original price rather than the current one. The N5 are fine value at their official price – but discounted, they’re a steal.

AKG N5 review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	IP54
Battery life (quoted)	6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	6g / Charging case: 48.4g
Driver	10mm

The AKG N5 on a stone wall — (Image credit: Future)

AKG N5 review: Price and availability

Announced in September 2024
Priced at $299 / £249 / AU$309
Readily available for under $250 / £199 / AU$250

The AKG N5 were announced in September 2024, at IFA 2024, as the latest entry into the brand’s line-up of earbuds. At the time of writing they're the company’s only competitor for the best wireless earbuds.

At launch, the AKG N5 cost $299.95 / £249 / AU$309, which makes them a premium audio offering. However it’s worth pointing out that I could easily find it sold online for a discount of $60 / £50 / AU$65, so you’ll easily save money if you shop around.

Lowered price or not, these are still premium earbuds and we’ll treat them as such. Included in the box you get the buds, case and dongle as well as a USB-C to USB connector and some bud tips of varying sizes.

The AKG N5 in a man's hand. — (Image credit: Future)

AKG N5 review: Features

Poor real-world battery life
Range of ANC options
Useful dongle connector

The AKG N5 connects to your phone via Bluetooth 5.3; initial pairing for me was quick and easy, and during testing there were barely any drop-outs or stutters.

You can also easily connect to new devices via a dongle included in the charging case; plug this into any device, and the N5 will stream audio from that.

The dongle is a USB-C one, though an adapter included in the box lets you plug it into standard USB ports. This is a really handy extra for people who own multiple devices and can’t pair to all of them, or who use unfamiliar devices on occasion. As someone who owns (and tests) too many gadgets, I found it incredibly handy.

9 times out of ten, this dongle worked well, however now and then I’d find the headphones would re-pair with my phone even if the dongle was connected to another device. One thing to note is that it did sap the battery of the device it was connected to: fine for gadgets plugged into an outlet, frustrating for my iPad.

Battery life is a weak spot for the buds. AKG predicts a 10-hour battery life… if you listen to music with ANC turned off, and that drops down to six hours with ANC on, or even lower if you’re talking or using the dongle.

However, in my testing I was lucky to get anywhere near six hours of listening time, and I’d usually have to charge after four and a half or five hours. That's not just below what's promised, it's way below average.

The case itself contains four full charges for the buds, however long you make that.

So should you turn off ANC to preserve battery life? Well you can, but it’d be a shame, because the AKG N5 have fantastic noise cancellation – my usual ANC test is how well it drowns out the trains that commonly pass my house, and when testing the N5, I have no idea if it passed because I could never tell if trains had passed.

ANC is complicated here, though. There are three modes: standard, Ambient Aware and TalkThru (as well as off, obviously). TalkThru boosts nearby voices so you can hear people and Ambient Aware does a similar thing for background voices, with a slider letting you fiddle with the intensity of the effect.

In standard ANC mode you can toggle Adaptive ANC, which adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on your surroundings, and turning it off presents you with a slider to change the intensity yourself. There’s also Auto Compensation mode which tweaks with ANC depending on your ‘wearing and ear canal status’, whatever that means.

Suffice it to say that every time I was presented with the ANC part of the AKG Headphones app I was scratching my head at all the options presented to me – and that’s really the theme of this companion app which bombards you with options. This’ll be pleasing news to tech-heads, but horrifying for technophobes.

Let’s fire through some of the features and settings: SilentNow turns off music and ramps up ANC to help you focus or study; Smart Audio & Video adjusts sound stage based on whether you’re listening to music or watching a video; the equalizer has a load of presets or lets you customize your sound on a 10-band EQ; various call settings let you change how you or a caller sound on the phone; and Right/Left Sound Balance does what it says on the tin.

These are as well as all the standard app modes: gesture control customization, a find-my-buds feature, and a fit test.

The app also gives you the option to toggle Hi-Res Audio, but turning this on precludes you from several other features, including Spatial Sound and Personi-Fi. This latter is a lengthy audio test that presents you with a bespoke equalization fit for your music, and I don’t know any audiophiles who don’t appreciate this kind of feature.

If you’ve skimmed that list you may have noticed something I want to explicitly commend: there are loads of options with small or large accessibility use cases here, which is always great to see.

Features score: 4/5

AKG N5 review: Sound performance

The AKG N5 in a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

10mm drivers
Balanced sound profile
Textured audio in high-res mode

Whether you’re listening via Bluetooth or dongle, with Hi-Res Audio on or instead Personi-Fi enabled, there’s one thing that’s hard to deny: the AKG N5 sounds great.

The sound profile is lovely and balanced, with well-defined bass sitting comfortably alongside clear treble and distinct mids. I didn’t feel the need to touch the equalizer as I liked the default mix, and wasn’t losing any instruments to overbearing bass or treble.

It’s easy to hear the texture in each instrument with the N5: I could make out the ripples of reverb on vocal lines to the flick of a bass guitar string being strum, and the audio lines were all spread out enough to make them distinct and clear (although I have tested buds with a better soundstage).

If I have to say one bad thing about the buds, it’s that audio sounds precision-tuned but not very energetic – they helped me really appreciate great songs sonically, but didn’t always make me feel like rocking out to them.

Sound performance score: 4/5

AKG N5 review: Design

Chunky and cheap charging case
Lightweight and comfortable buds
Annoying touch controls

Perhaps because it contains a dongle, the case of the AKG N5 is a little on the larger size, and I’ve seen some people online criticize its bulk. Honestly, it’s not that big, and doesn’t allay the space-saving advantages of earbuds like this over full-on headphones or open earbuds with a a wraparound design – plus they're light at 48.4g.

But I did notice the thing in my pocket when I was walking – it's on the larger end of the scale.

What’s arguably worse about the case is its build: the plastic feels cheap, groans under slight pressure and picks up fingerprints readily. However AKG has it certified at IP52, which protects it from limited fine particles and sprays of water at certain angles. I can’t remember the last time I saw a charging case with an IP rating, so it’s a welcome spec.

Now onto the earbuds: these are buds with stems, but with a bigger bud and shorter, flatter stem than on your generic AirPod doppelgänger. They have an IP54 rating so they’re a little better protected against water than the case.

Due to the tips material being quite smooth, when I first started testing the N5, it constantly felt like they were on the verge of falling out of my ear. Two weeks on and that hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve still been too apprehensive to take them on a run, cycle or any kind of activity which might actually cause them to fall to the floor.

At least the buds are lightweight, so when I was sitting still, they were comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They weigh 6g each which is comparable to rivals.

Each bud has a touch-sensitive area over the ‘A’ of the AKG logo, which lets you control music playback; by default the left side toggles ANC and Ambient Aware, while the right one is for play and pause.

It took some time getting used to tapping the right spot when I was wearing the buds, and there’s a noticeable delay in the gesture being picked up – more than once I got caught in a loop playing or pausing a tune, thinking that my touch hadn’t been picked up, and constantly flicking between the two.

An even more annoying issue was that it’s very easy to accidentally press the button when you’re trying to readjust loose buds.

You can pick the AKG N5 up in white or black, and your choice affects both the buds and the case. As you can see from images, I tested the black pair.

Design score: 3.5/5

AKG N5 review: Value

While it's not easy to make reasonable argument for $299 / £249 / AU$309 earbuds being good value propositions, it does bear repeating that these things have been seeing increasing discounts over their first year of existence.

The AKG N5 aren’t bad value for money by any means, with their top-notch audio and range of useful features justifying the price, but they’re far from bargains either (except in Australia, where they’re much cheaper than elsewhere).

That certainly isn’t the case if you can find them for below about $200 / £180 / AU$300, which would make them a really tempting alternative to earbuds that are usually priced in that area.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the AKG N5?

Category	Comment	Score
Features	There are so many features that it's hard to get your head around them all. Battery life isn't amazing though.	4/5
Sound	The N5 offered a lovely balanced sound that lets you hear the texture and sound stage of your music.	4/5
Value	By default they're not especially competitively-priced, but discounts help.	3.5/5
Design	A few small design problems affect the user experience, but they're still great to wear.	3.5/5

Buy them if...

You find them discounted

I've yammered on about this enough, but this will be the last time: the AKG N5 are a terrific value proposition if you find them notably below their list price.

The dongle sounds useful

Love the idea of being able to listen to audio from any USB-C or USB-port-toting device without pairing Bluetooth? The AKGs' dongle is a real game-changer.

You need solid noise cancellation

While they're not quite a Bose, the AKG's noise cancellation is fantastic, with a range of features and modes letting you customize it to a surprising extent.

Don't buy them if...

You need a long-lasting battery

I didn't love how quickly the N5's battery life plummeted, and real-world use is well below the promised level.

You need a svelte charging case

I took to carrying the AKG N5's case in my bag because it just didn't fit comfortably in my pockets. You can easily find buds with more convenient-to-carry cases than these.

Also consider

Component	AKG N5	Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro	Apple AirPods Pro 2
Water resistant	IP54	IP57	IP54
Battery life	6 hours (earbuds), 32 hours (total)	7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (total)	6 hours (buds); 30 hours (case)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	6g (buds)	5.4g (buds)	5.3g (buds)
Driver	10mm	10mm dynamic driver + planar tweeter	11mm

Apple AirPods Pro 2

The obvious competitor: these Apple buds only fully work on Apple products, but they're cheaper than the AKG (even discounted) and offer some top-tier features and noise cancellation. They also have a very svelte case.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Another cheaper alternative, Samsung's wireless buds are mostly built for owners of Samsung phones, but work for others too. They sound great and have a lightweight and comfortable design.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review

How I tested the AKG N5

My testing process before writing this AKG N5 review took two weeks. I tested them alongside their contemporary siblings, the AKG N9 Hybrid over-ear headphones, and I've tested a huge number of earbuds recently to compare them against.

I connected the AKG N5 to a range of devices including my smartphone (via Bluetooth), my desktop PC (via dongle) and my work laptop (again via dongle) with a roughly 50/50 split between Bluetooth and dongle listening.

I also split my Bluetooth listening time roughly equally between Hi-res Audio and Personi-Fi (and other feature) modes, bearing in mind that you can't have both enabled at the same time.

My listening was done in a range of environments including at home, on public transport, in my office and on walks around my borough – and following TechRadar's testing guidelines for earbuds.

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested AKG’s N5 Hybrid earbuds, and I was so impressed by their noise cancellation and extra features, as long as you find them at the right price

12:00 pm |

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

AKG N5: One minute review

AKG N5 review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	IP54
Battery life (quoted)	6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	6g / Charging case: 48.4g
Driver	10mm

AKG N5 review: Price and availability

Announced in September 2024
Priced at $299 / £249 / AU$309
Readily available for under $250 / £199 / AU$250

AKG N5 review: Features

Poor real-world battery life
Range of ANC options
Useful dongle connector

The AKG N5 connects to your phone via Bluetooth 5.3; initial pairing for me was quick and easy, and during testing there were barely any drop-outs or stutters.

You can also easily connect to new devices via a dongle included in the charging case; plug this into any device, and the N5 will stream audio from that.

The case itself contains four full charges for the buds, however long you make that.

These are as well as all the standard app modes: gesture control customization, a find-my-buds feature, and a fit test.

If you’ve skimmed that list you may have noticed something I want to explicitly commend: there are loads of options with small or large accessibility use cases here, which is always great to see.

Features score: 4/5

AKG N5 review: Sound performance

10mm drivers
Balanced sound profile
Textured audio in high-res mode

Whether you’re listening via Bluetooth or dongle, with Hi-Res Audio on or instead Personi-Fi enabled, there’s one thing that’s hard to deny: the AKG N5 sounds great.

Sound performance score: 4/5

AKG N5 review: Design

Chunky and cheap charging case
Lightweight and comfortable buds
Annoying touch controls

But I did notice the thing in my pocket when I was walking – it's on the larger end of the scale.

At least the buds are lightweight, so when I was sitting still, they were comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They weigh 6g each which is comparable to rivals.

An even more annoying issue was that it’s very easy to accidentally press the button when you’re trying to readjust loose buds.

You can pick the AKG N5 up in white or black, and your choice affects both the buds and the case. As you can see from images, I tested the black pair.

Design score: 3.5/5

AKG N5 review: Value

That certainly isn’t the case if you can find them for below about $200 / £180 / AU$300, which would make them a really tempting alternative to earbuds that are usually priced in that area.

Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the AKG N5?

Category	Comment	Score
Features	There are so many features that it's hard to get your head around them all. Battery life isn't amazing though.	4/5
Sound	The N5 offered a lovely balanced sound that lets you hear the texture and sound stage of your music.	4/5
Value	By default they're not especially competitively-priced, but discounts help.	3.5/5
Design	A few small design problems affect the user experience, but they're still great to wear.	3.5/5

Buy them if...

You find them discounted

I've yammered on about this enough, but this will be the last time: the AKG N5 are a terrific value proposition if you find them notably below their list price.

The dongle sounds useful

Love the idea of being able to listen to audio from any USB-C or USB-port-toting device without pairing Bluetooth? The AKGs' dongle is a real game-changer.

You need solid noise cancellation

While they're not quite a Bose, the AKG's noise cancellation is fantastic, with a range of features and modes letting you customize it to a surprising extent.

Don't buy them if...

You need a long-lasting battery

I didn't love how quickly the N5's battery life plummeted, and real-world use is well below the promised level.

You need a svelte charging case

I took to carrying the AKG N5's case in my bag because it just didn't fit comfortably in my pockets. You can easily find buds with more convenient-to-carry cases than these.

Also consider

Component	AKG N5	Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro	Apple AirPods Pro 2
Water resistant	IP54	IP57	IP54
Battery life	6 hours (earbuds), 32 hours (total)	7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (total)	6 hours (buds); 30 hours (case)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	6g (buds)	5.4g (buds)	5.3g (buds)
Driver	10mm	10mm dynamic driver + planar tweeter	11mm

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

Another cheaper alternative, Samsung's wireless buds are mostly built for owners of Samsung phones, but work for others too. They sound great and have a lightweight and comfortable design.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review

How I tested the AKG N5

I also split my Bluetooth listening time roughly equally between Hi-res Audio and Personi-Fi (and other feature) modes, bearing in mind that you can't have both enabled at the same time.

My listening was done in a range of environments including at home, on public transport, in my office and on walks around my borough – and following TechRadar's testing guidelines for earbuds.

First reviewed: May 2025
Read more about how we test

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