Audio - Organizer

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: a Bluetooth speaker that offers meaty bass but not-so-meaty battery life

1:35 pm | January 3, 2025

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: two-minute review

The LG XBoom Go XG8T has a pretty tough task – standing out in a field with extremely strong competition from some of the biggest names in audio. That’s right, this large portable speaker finds itself pitted against some tough rivals from the likes of JBL, Bose and Ultimate Ears. So, how does it fare in its battle for supremacy?

Well, firstly, LG has looked to focus on this speaker's design – specifically its phenomenal durability. The LG XBoom Go XG8T is said to have "military grade" protection against the elements, having passed seven different durability tests. It also has an IP67 waterproof rating and high-quality build, protecting it against impact and underwater submersion.

As well as that, this has neat, customizable LED lights, an attractive wraparound speaker grille and conveniently adjustable handle/strap. It's looking good so far, right? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but outside of its looks and design, the LG XBoom Go XG8T really struggles to outdo some of its similarly-priced competitors that have made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers.

There are some standout reasons for that. First, battery life. This is the XG8T's fatal flaw. LG says you get up to 15 hours of playtime – but there’s a real emphasis on the ‘up to’. If you’re playing at 50% volume without EQ adjustment or LED lights, sure, that might be attainable. But with lighting on and the booming Sound Boost feature activated, you’re going to see that battery percentage fall way faster. 15 hours isn’t particularly impressive anyway, so given depletion happens much faster with core features like Sound Boost is a real shame.

Next, let’s talk sound – another area where the XG8T can’t quite usurp some of the best waterproof speakers around. Bass, thankfully can get pretty deep and hits with impact, especially with Sound Boost on. Generally, elements like vocals and percussive elements in the treble range are clear too, although you may sense a bit of harshness at top volumes. However, this isn’t going to offer a massively detailed listen and there are no fancy audio codecs – think LDAC – to play with, so you end up with solid, yet fairly unremarkable sound in the end.

There are a couple of other smaller issues that arise too: slightly outdated Bluetooth connectivity, lacking EQ presets and a hefty AC adapter stick out. When you combine all of that with a high list price of $379.99 / £400 (about AU$600) it’s hard to justify buying this portable speaker.

Having said that, there’s another factor to consider. Since it’s release, the XG8T has frequently been available on sale, sometimes even for around half price. This, of course, changes the game significantly. Is the battery life still a big issue? Sure. But the power and bass on offer here would certainly be a lot more impressive in this context. So, if you can grab it at a massively cut price, it could possibly be worth considering the XG8T.

But all in all, this speaker just misses the mark. It’s not by any means a bad option, with impressive low-end power, generally clear all-round audio and incredible durability. But unless you’re a massive LG fan specifically, you’re likely to be better served elsewhere. Some of 2024’s big hitters like the Bose SoundLink Flex and JBL Xtreme 4 are regularly on sale for well under the list price of the XG8T and they are some top alternatives – so why not read more about those in the ‘Also Consider’ section below…

Person holding the LG XBoom Go XG8T by its handle — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: price and release date

$379.99 / £400 (about AU$600)
Launched in March 2024

OK, so if you buy the LG XBoom Go XG8T at its list price, you’ll have to shell out a fair amount of cash. Its usual price is $379.99 / £400 / AU$600, pitting it against competitors like the JBL Xtreme 4 and Ultimate Ears Epicboom.

However, as you may expect for a speaker that launched early in 2024, you can regularly find the XG8T available at a cut-price. In fact, this model can be as low as half price. I've spotted it going for less than $200 / £200 with some online retailers. It’s also worth noting that this speaker is only available in Black.

Button controls on the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: specs

LED lights on the side of the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: features

LG XBoom app compatibility
Sub-par battery life
Outdated Bluetooth version

The LG XBoom Go XG8T has a pretty tidy set of features and it owes this, in part, to the LG XBoom companion app. Using this, you can access some fairly typical options: multi-point connectivity, Party Link for pairing multiple speakers and EQ adjustment, for instance.

And on the topic of EQ adjustment, this app offers a pretty mixed experience. One key positive is that there’s a fully customizable, six-band equalizer available through the app, so you get a decent amount of control over the sound you get here. But I was frustrated at the real lack of presets available here. You can use Sound Boost, which provides a boost to volume and low-end power, but this counts as a preset in itself. Other than that, there’s only Standard mode. I would’ve liked to have seen some gene-specific presets, for instance, to make it easy to get your preferred sound from the offset.

Another cornerstone feature is LED light customization. There are three main categories to switch between – Ambient, Nature and Party. Within these are three preset choices, such as ‘Passion of youth’, ‘Cheerful celebration’ and ‘Gorgeous night view’ in the Party category. However, you can also save a custom pick within each of the three groups – making for a user experience that’s not only highly customizable, but highly convenient. If only EQ settings were this fully-fledged!

One more nice touch here is Healing Therapy. This provides access to a set list of calming sounds, all of which have to be downloaded separately. A few examples include ‘A Still Summer Night with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea’, which I really enjoyed listening to. You can also set a sleep timer with Healing Therapy, just in case you find that you’ve nodded off. I think it’s fair to say that this feature is a bit of a gimmick, but gimmicks can still be fun. I still liked it, anyway.

But alas, there are a couple of issues I have with the XG8T, feature-wise. First of all, it doesn’t have the most up-to-date Bluetooth version. This speaker harnesses Bluetooth 5.1, even though a handful of speakers are already using version 5.4 now. But that’s not a deal-breaker, in my view.

The killer issue here is battery life. LG says you get up to 15 hours, that is if you keep volume at 50% or lower and have EQ and lights off. Activate Sound Boost and crank up the volume and battery depletes way too quickly. I’d lost 20% in about an hour with an average of about 50-60% volume, intermittent Sound Boost use and LED lights turned on – that’s pretty poor for a modern Bluetooth speaker of this size. So, if you want to get the best out of the XG8T, expect sub-par battery life. In fact, it may not even last an entire event without dying unless you’re conservative with volume and lighting.

Features score: 3/5

Handle of the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: sound quality

Impactful bass
Mighty volume levels
No ‘hi-res’ codecs for more detailed listening

In the audio department, the LG XBoom Go XG8T puts in a pretty solid performance, with the main attraction being… you guessed it, bass. Now, out of the box, you may feel low-frequency audio output is a touch underwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, it’s by no means pathetic, but it could definitely do with a leg up. And that’s where Sound Boost mode comes in, an essential option for bass-heavy bangers or if you want to flood large or outdoor spaces with your favorite tunes.

When listening to Voyager by Daft Punk, I was impressed by the pumping deep bass on offer, which produced a ground-shaking, head-bopping performance ideal for a party setting. The funky guitar playing throughout the track didn’t sound distorted either, even at about 70% volume. Getting higher than this was quite the task though – not because it sounds terrible, but because this thing can get very loud, thanks to its 60W woofer. And that certainly improves its credentials as a capable outdoor speaker.

One complaint I had when listening to Voyager and a host of other tracks, such as Moloko’s I Want You, was that higher-pitched percussive elements didn’t have perfect clarity and sharpness. This was emphasised more at top volumes, where this could get a bit grating – something that wouldn’t typically bother me too much, but for the price you're paying here this level of critique is valid.

Another slightly disappointing aspect of this speaker is its lack of support for more ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs, such as LDAC. And this was a contributor to some songs occasionally lacking, or underplaying details in tracks. For instance, when I listened to Didn’t Cha Know by Erykah Badu, smaller percussive and string elements were kept under wraps, making for a slightly constricted listen.

Sure, vocals sounded decently balanced and overall audio was clean, but in all honesty that’s to be expected at this price-point. If you want a more detailed, nuanced listen for the money, this speaker is not your best option. You can pair it with another Go XG8T speaker (in dual mode, or multiple speakers in multi mode) via LG's Wireless Party Link, however, if you’d at least like access to even bigger sound.

Ultimately, this speaker’s success hinges much more on its talents in the bass and loudness departments. This is designed more for outdoor or party use and it works very nicely for that. Just make sure you have Sound Boost on to really add some meat in the low-end. You get great volume levels too and although things can get a little edgy at the top of the speaker’s range, it will still be capable of filling a larger room or cutting through pesky background noise in an outdoor setting.

Sound quality score: 3.5/5

'XBoom' written on front of the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: design

Military-grade durability
Decent looks with classy LED lights
Adjustable strap can work as handle

The LG XBoom Go XG8T has a pretty standard look about it – which is by no means a bad thing. It’s a large, black Bluetooth speaker with passive radiators on each side, lined by LED lights and a wraparound speaker grille. I found this to be an attractive looking speaker, with its build quality perhaps being indicative of a higher price point.

But this is more than a classy-looking speaker, it’s super practical too. First of all, one of the speaker’s main selling points is that it offers military-grade durability. LG says that the XG8T has passed seven tests against: dust, high temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration and water immersion. On top of that, it’s IP67 certified, so it can even survive being submerged under a meter of water for up to thirty minutes.

Another big win in terms of practicality is the inclusion of an adjustable strap. The attached strap is more of a handle at first, which is ideal for carrying this fairly hefty speaker over short distances. But let’s say you’re going for a beach trip and have to carry the XG8T over a bit more ground. Fear not! You can extend the attached strap to a considerable length, in order to sling it around your shoulder.

This speaker also has some useful button controls just below the handle. These are all well-sized and serve their purpose well. You have the obvious inclusions, play/pause, volume controls and power on/off. But there’s also a Bluetooth button to swiftly connect devices and a Sound Boost option to crank up volume and boost the low-end. On top of that, there’s a tab on the reverse side of the speaker to access the USB-A port or the charging slot.

And that leads onto the only design element that bothered me with the XG8T: charging it up. The included AC adapter gives off the vibe of an oversized laptop charger from about 15 years back – not a good look. This really juxtaposes the high practicality of every other aforementioned element – and as much as it’s no deal breaker, I would’ve preferred slightly more lightweight charging equipment for the XG8T.

Design score: 4/5

Tab on the reverse side of the LG XBoom Go XG8T undone to reveal ports — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: value

List price is high
But it's often available at a reduced price
Outdone by too many competitors

If we are judging the LG XBoom Go XG8T’s value on list price alone, things aren’t looking too good. You’d need fairly deep pockets to pick up this speaker without a discount – for reference its official price is $379.99 / £400 (about AU$600). And this speaker doesn’t do a ton to set itself apart at that price point.

Audio, although good, isn’t massively detailed or perfectly clear all the time. Combine that with a disappointing battery life and unimpressive EQ presets and its clear: this speaker isn’t worth its list price, especially when you consider the incredible quality of competitors in this price range, like the JBL Xtreme 4 or Bose SoundLink Max (more on those in ‘Also Consider’).

But luckily, there’s more to the story here. Since its release this speaker has been heavily discounted on a number of occasions – even for as little as half price in the UK and US. Even still, it's not free of competition. There are speakers like the Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance that offer booming, talented audio for under $200 / £200.

Even if the XG8T is a solid speaker in its own right, it's hard to justify its list price. And even at a cut-price, I wouldn’t argue it's best-in-class either.

Value score: 2.5/5

Extended handle of the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG XBoom Go XG8T?

Buy it if...

You want booming bass
I wouldn’t necessarily argue that the LG XBoom Go XG8T has the most impactful bass in the game, but it certainly offers a healthy serving of low-end power. If you’re hosting a house party or outdoor event, there’ll certainly be enough bass on offer to fill a larger space with big, booming audio.

You want ultimate protection against the elements
If durability and reliability are at the top of your priority list, this speaker is sure to serve you well. Not only does it have the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, but it offers military-grade protection against impact and harsh weather conditions.

Don't buy it if...

You want top-tier audio quality
If you want an elegantly balanced, beautifully detailed listen, you could do better than the LG XBoom Go XG8T. Audio quality is by no means bad here, but I didn’t get an amazing sense of nuance from this speaker, with the lack of ‘hi res’ audio codecs holding it back further.

You want a top value pick
If you’re paying the list price for this speaker, you’re not getting great value, unfortunately. Of course, it’s often available at a significantly cut price now, but there are so many fantastic, low-priced speakers out there, including the Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance.

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: also consider

JBL Xtreme 4
For me, the JBL Xtreme 4 was one of 2024’s best Bluetooth speakers, bringing fantastic audio quality, high build quality and fantastic features to the table. When I initially reviewed it, my main issue came with its high list price, but you can regularly find it for far less now, making it a top-tier option for speakers in this size and weight class. Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review.

Bose SoundLink Max
Another one of 2024’s big hitters was the Bose SoundLink Max – a speaker that offers punchy, agile and ultra-clean audio. It also has beautiful looks, an IP67 waterproof rating and a handy two-way USB-C socket, making it the perfect marriage of style with practicality. Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review.

LG XBoom Go XG8T review: how I tested

Tested for one week
Mainly used at our music testing space at Future Labs
Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

Passive radiator of the LG XBoom Go XG8T — (Image credit: Future)

I dedicated hours when listening to the LG XBoom Go XG8T and tried it out in a range of spaces. However, I did predominantly use it in our music testing room at Future Labs to assess audio quality in a quiet, controlled environment. I also conducted a battery test to validate LG’s claim about playtime.

When I listened to music, I mainly harnessed the power of Tidal via the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, from which I streamed tracks within our expertly curated TechRadar reference playlist. But that's not all – I also tapped into tunes from my personal music library as well as podcast episodes. Finally, I used the similarly-sized JBL Xtreme 4 as a point of comparison across areas like sound quality, features and battery life.

First reviewed: January 2025
Read more about how we test

OneOdio Focus A5 review: bassy wireless headphones with big battery life

11:00 pm | December 30, 2024

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

OneOdio Focus A5: One-minute review

If you're considering picking up the OneOdio Focus A5, it's probably for its fantastic battery life – it'll last for 75 hours of music if you let it, which is an excellent figure. That's over three days straight, and well over double the figure of most rivals.

The world of the best cheap headphones is a competitive one, but this will have certain users' eyes perking up. If you go on long-haul flights across the world, embark on journeys in the wilderness for days at a time, or religiously forget to charge your gadgets, that figure could prove game-changing.

And you're getting the Focus A5 for cheap at $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100)! Sounds like a must-buy, right?

Well, that'll depend on what you actually want to listen to for 75 hours, and if you're an audiophile – or anyone who values well-balanced audio – then the Focus A5 might not actually be what you're looking for.

The audio balance on these cans is more wonky than a famous Italian tower, offering an overwhelming amount of bass that drowns out important parts of a song. It's not even well-tuned bass, so people who just want 75 hours of ear-shaking tunes won't like it either.

Then there's the feature set – or lack thereof. The OneOdio's Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is so light-touch that you can forget that it's turned on (and I'd recommend ignoring it, since turning on ANC cuts 30 hours off the battery life). There's no app either, and therefore no equalizer, so you can't try and fix the muddy sound quality.

You can't expect fantastic-sounding audio, an advanced feature set and a low price in the same set of headphones (even though some options do come close), but most of OneOdio's rivals tick at least two of those boxes. With the Focus A5 only hitting the last point, it's hard to recommend them beyond their long-lasting battery. The Earfun Wave Pro cost essentially the same price and have an even longer battery life, and work better in every way – those are ideal affordable option among the best noise cancelling headphones.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Price and release date

The OneOdio Focus A5 against a wooden background. — (Image credit: Future)

Sells for $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100)
Cheaper alternative to Focus A10

You can pick up the OneOdio Focus A5 for $69.99 / £59.99 (roughly AU$100, but unlike other OneOdio headphones, I can’t find it on sale in Australia at the time of writing).

That price makes the Focus A5 one of the more affordable headphones you might be considering if you’re looking to save money, but the cheap headphone market is a very competitive one.

Our best-in class option costs only a little more: the Earfun Wave Pro sells for $79.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$120) and we also highly rate the $60 / £60 / AU$99 Sony WH-CH520.

OneOdio itself has plenty of other options, if you’re keen to stick with the brand: there’s also a slightly-more-expensive A10 as well as several other families of studio, monitor and hybrid headphones.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Specs

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Features

No phone app
Light-touch ANC
75 hours of battery life

The OneOdio Focus A5 doesn’t have a smartphone app to use, which makes writing this section easier, but using the headphones (or balancing its audio) a little bit harder. That means there's no equalizer, a big loss (as we'll get to).

You'll use the ‘ANC’ button on the right earcup to toggle between the three Active Noise Cancellation modes: on, off and ambient sound. The ANC on the A5 is very light touch, and I often didn’t know whether I had it turned on or not – it felt like the natural cushioning of the pads removed as much sound as the ANC.

From a poor feature, to a really handy one – the OneOdio Focus A5 has a battery life of 75 hours. You read that right – you could listen for over three days straight if you wanted to. That figure is for ANC turned off, and it reduces to about 45 hours with ANC turned on – given what I’ve said about how effective the noise cancellation is, you may want to opt for the longer lasting power.

The ability to listen to music for several days straight without having to juice it back up it is a win for the A5, as it means that people who are going on long trips or can’t reliably get to a power source could still enjoy using it.

Features score: 3/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Sound quality

The OneOdio Focus A5 on a man's head. — (Image credit: Future)

Too much bass
Too little anything else
High max volume

When I first started listening to the OneOdio Focus A5, I said to myself “wow, bass fans are going to love these headphones” but as the testing process went on, I had to amend that thought: “or they might hate them”.

Bass is certainly the emphasis of the Focus A5’s audio balance. The mix isn’t so much ‘warm’ as it is ‘blistering to the touch’, for how loud bass is compared to other parts of the sound profile. My first impression, to assume bass fans would love this, was proven wrong the more I listened.

The bass blows out other aspects of the sound mix. Vocals fade into the background like the roadies forgot to plug the mic in, guitars sometimes get a cut in but more often than not (especially with higher-pitched notes and hooks) fall to the same fate as the singing. Some other mid-frequency aspects of songs, like keyboards and rhythm guitars, have as much chance of being heard as you do of finding your phone if you drop it off a boat.

Fans of bassy headphones may simply accuse me of saying that simply to dig out my dusty creative writing degree, but there are more reasons to malign the bass tilt: even that aspect of the audio has a problem.

The bass is quite muddy, so it’s less ‘thumping’ and more ‘patting gently’ – it lacks energy or urgency, loudly saying nothing at all. According to Amazon, the Focus A5 has a custom-made 40mm dynamic driver (this information was conspicuously absent from OneOdio’s own site), and judging by other reviews of OneOdio products, this sound profile is a recurring feature in its headphones.

I can’t completely rule out the Focus A5’s audio chops – some people may really like this kind of hiccupping bass. I don’t think I’ve ever met these people, and I’ve no evidence to suggest they actually exist, but I can’t rule it out.

OneOdio has added support for LDAC codec and Hi-Res Audio certification to the headphones, but I’m not sure that the cans need more detailed bass – they need less of it.

I want to say a nice thing now: the OneOdio Focus A5 goes really, really loud. I could hear music perfectly well at max volume when the headphones were around my neck – no-one can complain about them being too quiet!

Sound quality: 2/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Design

Svelte look
Single color option: black
Feels a little fragile

OneOdio hasn't re-invented the wheel with the Focus A5 but I liked how svelte they look between the metal pivot, textured cups and gold-silver color scheme.

Don't get me wrong, these are incredibly similar to the vast majority of cheap headphones, but with a few augments here and there. They come in a single color option: black.

The right cup has all of the Focus A5's controls: there's the ANC button which you press to toggle between the three modes, a power button and a volume rocker. Nice and simple. The USB-C port for charging is on this side too.

The headphones weigh 265g which is a little less than some rivals I've tested, however they felt quite fragile. The cups rattle and rotate a little bit when you're not wearing the A5, there's no included carry case and if the cans have an IP rating, I can't find any mention of it in OneOdio's fact sheets. I was quite careful with the headphones during testing as a result, although they were never damaged in a way that would justify my caution; it's likely that they feel flimsy, but are perfectly robust. Still, I'd have liked to have felt more confidence in that.

Design score: 3.5/5

OneOdio Focus A5 review: value

I'm all for 'cheap and cheery' headphones, and the OneOdio Focus A5 are ostensibly that: you don't have to pay much and you're getting one great feature along with a few less-great aspects.

However its iffy audio and troubled feature-set might lose the A5 some of those 'cheery points' – especially when similar-price rivals simply don't have the same issues.

These aren't inherently bad value at this price, but there's much better value out there.

Value: 2.5/5

Should I buy the OneOdio Focus A5?

Buy them if…

You don't like charging
The 75-hour battery life will be a blessing to certain kinds of users who can't reliably access a charging point.

You're on a budget
Don't want to spend loads on top-price or even mid-range headphones? These will fit into your budget.

Don’t buy them if…

You don't like bassy audio
The audio is heavily skewed towards bassy sounds, so if you don't like this kind of sound, you're really not going to like the A5.

You're listening somewhere loud
The Focus A5's tender noise cancellation means you won't be able to hear music if you often listen in loud environments.

OneOdio Focus A5 review: Also consider

Earfun Wave Pro
Here at TechRadar we're big fans of the Earfun Wave Pro, and they beat the OneOdio in most areas while only costing a tiny amount more, so read our full Earfun Wave Pro review.

JBL Tune 670NC
We didn't rate the JBL Tune 670NC in the audio department, but elsewhere it has a great feature set and a decent battery life too. Here our full JBL Tune 670NC review.

How I tested the OneOdio Focus A5

Tested for three weeks
Tested at home, in the office, on public transport and on walks

I used the OneOdio Focus A5 for three weeks before writing this review, and that involved listening to music, watching streamed TV or playing games basically daily.

For the entire testing period I used the Focus A5 alongside my Android smartphone, via Bluetooth. Streaming was done via Spotify, Netflix and a range of games and I listened mainly at home or on my city's various public transport options, with some listening time also conducted in an office or on walks.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for just shy of six years now, including many pairs of cheap headphones and other OneOdio offerings.

First reviewed in December 2024

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: awesome wireless headphones in almost every way

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: Dolby Atmos, EQ | Comments: Off

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are a fantastic pair of wireless headphones. Using the same drivers as the company’s studio-oriented DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X, the sound quality will make you feel like you’ve taken a blanket off your music, especially if you’re upgrading from a cheaper, lesser model. And they’re as feature-filled as any other model at this price point.

I believe that, since their release this year, they belong in the conversation for the best wireless headphones. They do fall slightly short of the active noise cancellation (ANC) you find with the likes of Bose and Sony flagships. But, they still fare very well. And again, they sound fantastic. On top of that, the battery life is very, very good.

There are a couple aspects that hold the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 from being perfect. For instance, the ear pads are tough to remove – an issue if you’re worried about potential wear and tear. And, the main way to control audio on the headphones is a touchpad on the right ear. It’s innovative, but slow to respond and comes with a bit of a learning curve. Since I generally use my phone or computer for adjusting things like volume and forwarding / rewinding, it’s not a dealbreaker. Still, it’s annoying.

At the end of the day, however, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 on a gray table — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Price and release date

Announced September 9 2024, available from November 2024
Costs $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640)

No doubt about it, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are among the more premium options out there when it comes to wireless headphones. They go for $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640), which is more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and their price of £380 / $399 / AU$649. Both are fantastic sounding headphones. Of course, the Aventho 300 fold up and have faster Bluetooth connectivity, but the WH-1000XM5 have class-leading ANC.

There are even more expensive options out there such as the $899 / £599-priced Dali IO-8 or the $549 / £549 / AU$899-priced Apple AirPods Max where you’re paying for the name or premium materials as much as anything else. The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300, therefore, are well-priced for what they are and offer good value, but are not a steal.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Specs

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Features

Very useable EQ and presets
Plenty of accessibility in the app
Has multipoint connectivity and lossless codecs

As far as features go, the only thing missing from the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is some kind of personalised, augmented sound profile. That said, there is more than enough flexibility available in the app to adjust the EQ. Not only are there six different presets to choose from, including “neutral” interestingly (more on why that’s necessary for some later), but there’s also a five-band graphic EQ with the ability to boost or cut up to six dB where you can save your preferred EQ curve.

Speaking of the app, there’s much more on tap, including playing around with different levels of ANC and ambient mode as well as turning Dolby Atmos and head tracking on. The ANC and ambient modes have five levels of sensitivity and work pretty well, either blocking out sound or letting you hear your surroundings. They’re not quite class-leading, but unless your neighbours or colleagues are especially raucous, you’ll probably be happy with them.

In the app, you can also turn on/off a voice assistant as well as adjust what the internal voice prompt announces. For example, I like hearing the battery level when I turn on the headphones, but I don’t want to hear which codec is being used during the first few seconds of the first song I listen to.

The app also allows toggling things like auto shutdown, sidetone, and LED brightness. There’s even a touch guide to show how to use the touchpad on the side of the headphones.

Though you won’t see it in the app, multipoint connectivity is available. It’s also worth noting that there’s AAC and aptX lossless (and adaptive) support.

Features score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Design

Aesthetically pleasing if a bit bulky
Touchpad has a learning curve and has inconsistent sensitivity
Has a very long battery life

The chunky design of the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is aesthetically pleasing while still looking very similar to the majority of over-ear headphones out there. Available in Black and Nordic Grey (reviewed here), the whole thing from the earcups to the head band and all the plush materials are the same color with the exception of the metal (presumably aluminum) yoke and the model name emblazoned on the left earcup – silver on the Nordic Grey model and Nordic Grey on the Black model.

The ergonomics are solid as the ear cups are angled to sit more naturally on the side of the face, though the amount the headband can extend seems like it might not be enough for big heads. The ear pads and headband are covered in a faux leather that’s not the most breathable, but is comfortable enough. I can definitely wear these for a while without feeling fatigued, but they’re not the cream of the crop when it comes to comfort. On top of that, the clamping force is a bit strong, so if you’re sensitive to that, you might need to stretch them out just a bit.

The controls consist of a power button that also pairs via Bluetooth, a button to cycle through ANC, ANC off, and transparency mode, and the touch pad I’ve mentioned which covers the entire flat portion of the right ear cup. This capacitive area allows an assortment of controls from volume control, skipping through songs, answering calls, and the like via tapping and gesturing in the appropriate directions. It’s a good idea, but takes a bit to learn. More importantly, the sensitivity seems inconsistent, so sometimes I have to gesture more than once to get the headphones to react to what I want to do. This is probably the area where these headphones could use the most fine tuning for successive models.

At least the battery life is long, as you can get 50 hours with ANC on – and ANC has a tendency to drain the battery. After about 10 hours of listening, I had 80% battery life left without charging back up. Considering they charge via USB-C, 10 minutes of charging gets about five hours of play.

Design score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Sound quality

Seemingly neutral but has prominent bass and slightly hyped high-end
Decently wide soundstage
Dolby Atmos and head tracking work well

If you don’t feel like reading the next 200ish words, just know that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound really good. Since these headphones share the same Stellar.45 drivers that the company introduced in its studio-focused DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones, the frequency range leans towards a very clean, high-headroom experience that on first listen almost sounds neutral the way a pair of headphones meant for the studio sounds.

After spending a little time listening to all sorts of genres from Rock to Hip Hop and Folk, the nuances become a little more obvious. First of all, even though the sound comes across as clean and even, it’s actually quite bass heavy (note that the frequency range goes as low as 5Hz), especially nearing the sub-bass region. Any Rock or Alternative tracks I listen to become very bass prominent even though the genres are generally more mid-focused.

Of course, it’s a testament to the quality of the drivers that you get such prominent bass while still hearing everything else clearly.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 app, three screengrabs — (Image credit: Future)

The high-end is also a little hyped, which adds a bit to the clarity. But, it’s not so prominent to be in-your-face or painful. In the EQ modes I mentioned earlier, the neutral setting actually boosts the mid-range just a tad while bringing the low-end down quite a bit and the high-end a dB or two.

The soundstage is just as stellar. It feels wide enough to make me feel like I’m sitting on stage with the musicians. Far off elements are well-placed so that I get a really immersive sense of space. Now, they’re not the widest sounding headphones ever, but they sit at a sweet spot between intimate and concert hall.

Since there’s Dolby Atmos support, I should mention that it’s a nice touch. However, it is a virtual spatial audio so everything just sounds like there’s just a bit more reverb. While more dimensional, it doesn’t really add much to the experience unless watching a movie or show. I feel the same way about the headtracking that can be enabled. It works well if that matters to you.

Sound quality: 5/5

Three Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 screengrabs — (Image credit: Beyerdynamic)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Value

Pricing is about what one would expect for flagship wireless headphones
Paying for consistency
Comes with a hard shell and softshell case

As a value proposition, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are good but not great. As previously mentioned, they're not that much more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and are comparable in a lot of ways, with some aspects being slightly better and others slightly worse. You can spend much more for models that aren’t really any better. But you can spend much less and still get very good-sounding headphones.

However, Beyerdynamic headphones are consistently great, so you’re paying for that to a degree the way you do with Apple when it comes to phones or laptops. At least, you get a nice hard shell case and drawstring bag out of the deal.

Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300?

Buy them if…

You want excellent, polished sound quality
Not only do the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound great, but they sound polished like they’re meant for the studio. Somehow, they still have a large bass response.

You want something a little different but just as good
If you want to get something a little different than everyone else without sacrificing quality, these headphones have it all from sound quality to feature set.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re looking for a best-value buy
While they’re priced appropriately, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are not cheap. So, if you’re looking to get the bang for your buck, there are other options to consider.

You want easy controls
Though the capacitive touchpad on the right earcup is a good idea, it could be executed just a little bit better (it’s not bad, just inconsistent).

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Also consider

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 don’t have the best ANC and lose the proprietary spatial audio. However, they’re great value and not just because they’re a bit cheaper. Since they come at a lower price point, they focus on what matters most – and that’s excellent sound quality. Also, the battery life is excellent
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review

Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are still considered one of the best, if not the best, over-ear wireless headphones. The sound quality is excellent, the app is easy to use, and, most importantly, the ANC and ambient features are still virtually unparalleled. Only thing is they’re minimally better than their lower-priced and still available predecessor.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

How I tested the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

Tested over two weeks
Tested with different music as well as video streaming
Tested every feature meticulously

I spent a few weeks using the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my daily headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to compare the frequency range and soundstage. I also tested them with streaming video and used the various settings such as ANC, ambient mode, and EQ.

After testing, it seems that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are best suited for those wanting a mostly neutral audiophile-like experience in a set of wireless headphones without sacrificing on features.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

First reviewed in December 2024

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: awesome wireless headphones in almost every way

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: Dolby Atmos, EQ | Comments: Off

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Two-minute review

At the end of the day, however, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Price and release date

Announced September 9 2024, available from November 2024
Costs $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640)

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Specs

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Features

Very useable EQ and presets
Plenty of accessibility in the app
Has multipoint connectivity and lossless codecs

The app also allows toggling things like auto shutdown, sidetone, and LED brightness. There’s even a touch guide to show how to use the touchpad on the side of the headphones.

Though you won’t see it in the app, multipoint connectivity is available. It’s also worth noting that there’s AAC and aptX lossless (and adaptive) support.

Features score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Design

Aesthetically pleasing if a bit bulky
Touchpad has a learning curve and has inconsistent sensitivity
Has a very long battery life

Design score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Sound quality

Seemingly neutral but has prominent bass and slightly hyped high-end
Decently wide soundstage
Dolby Atmos and head tracking work well

Of course, it’s a testament to the quality of the drivers that you get such prominent bass while still hearing everything else clearly.

Sound quality: 5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Value

Pricing is about what one would expect for flagship wireless headphones
Paying for consistency
Comes with a hard shell and softshell case

Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

You want easy controls
Though the capacitive touchpad on the right earcup is a good idea, it could be executed just a little bit better (it’s not bad, just inconsistent).

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Also consider

How I tested the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

Tested over two weeks
Tested with different music as well as video streaming
Tested every feature meticulously

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

First reviewed in December 2024

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Shanling HW600 review: wired over-ear headphones that pack a sonic punch, if you’ve got a big head…

1:30 pm | December 29, 2024

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

Shanling HW600: Two-minute review

Shanling hasn’t so much dipped a toe into the ‘premium wired over-ear headphones’ market with the HW600 as dived in headfirst. Big, well-appointed, hard-wired planar magnetic headphones are not exactly a rarity, but they’re not all that mainstream either – and the best around tend to come from brands who’ve established their credentials over quite a few years. Meze Audio springs most readily to mind.

The Shanling HW600 have what it takes, though, at least where specification and finish are concerned. An elaborate driver arrangement is concealed inside aluminum-backed, lambskin-fronted earcups, each one hard-wired to a source using braided single crystal copper cable finishing in a 4.4mm balanced termination.

The quality of construction and finish just can’t be argued with, and is well up to the sort of standard the asking price demands to sit among the best wired headphones money can buy.

Shanling HW600 wired headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Shanling HW600 review: Price & release date

Released October 15, 2024
Priced: $1099 / £1099 / AU$1699

You almost certainly don’t need me to tell you that Shanling hasn’t made its life easy by pricing its HW600 this way. TechRadar favorites from the likes of Focal, Meze Audio and Sennheiser (to name but three) can be yours for not dissimilar money – so the Shanling HW600 have their work cut out if they’re going to make a positive impression…

Shanling HW600 wired headphones, showing earcup interior, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Shanling HW600 review: Specs

Shanling HW600 review: Features

110mm x 86mm planar magnetic drivers
12Hz - 40kHz frequency response (claimed)
1.5m quad-core cable with 4.4mm termination

Passive, wired headphones don’t tend to be overburdened with features, and that’s certainly the case where the Shanling HW600 are concerned. But it is fair to say the features these headphones do have are without compromise in their specification and entirely fit for purpose.

These are planar magnetic headphones, of course, which explains their head-swamping size. Inside each earcup there’s a 110 x 86mm planar magnetic driver – it’s a mere 8µm thick, printed with a silver-plated aluminum ‘switchback’ coil and sits between 14 neodymium/iron/boron magnets arranged in a seven-a-side assembly.

Shanling is claiming a frequency response of 12Hz - 40Khz and suggests it’s a responsive, easy-to-drive arrangement – a sensitivity rating of 104dB @ 1kHz would seem to bear that out. The single-unit driver structure features a pair of acoustic chambers, which Shanling says makes for minimal distortion as well as delivering its desired sonic performance.

Each earcup is wired, using a standard 3.5mm connector - which means it should be easy enough to swap the cable if you so desire. It’s worth giving Shanling’s cable a good long listen before you rush into anything, though – it’s a 1.5m length of loosely braided single crustal copper wire, and features a balanced 4.4mm termination. There’s a 6.3mm adapter in the packaging too.

Features score: 5/5

Shanling HW600 wired headphones, showing wired connections, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Shanling HW600 review: Sound quality

Spacious, well-defined sonic layout
Punch and drive, dynamism and detail in equal measure
Can sound slightly monotonal at the very bottom of the frequency range

Some headphones prioritize excitement and entertainment, and sacrifice analysis and insight in the process. Some headphones prefer to conduct a sort of aural audit of a recording, examining every nook and cranny, and can be a rather dull and undemonstrative listen as a result. And some, like the Shanling HW600, try to do a bit of everything.

The good news here is that the HW600 manage to do a bit of everything with a fair amount of success. The balance they strike between ‘entertainment’, ‘musicality’ and ‘analysis’ is expertly judged, and as a result they’re good company no matter the sort of listening you’re interested in doing or the sort of stuff you want to listen to while you do it.

A 24bit/88.2kHz FLAC file of Get Lucky by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams is a hi-fi cliché these days, but for good reason. And when served by the HW600 via an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier, its ubiquity is perfectly understandable. It allows the headphones to demonstrate their ability to describe an open, well-defined and carefully controlled soundstage, and to give appropriate weighting to the spaces, as well as the instruments, on it. It’s got the sort of rapid-fire low-frequency presence that lets the HW600 show off their control of attack and decay, and as a consequence their rhythmic certainty. And its mixture of textures and tones, as well as the close-mic’d nature of its vocal line, lets the Shanling demonstrate impressively neutral tonality and winningly even frequency response.

Detail levels are high throughout, and there’s more than enough substance at the top of the frequency range to balance out the brilliance the HW600 lend to treble sounds. Mid-range insight is straightforwardly accomplished – there’s no secret of Williams’ technique that the Shanling aren’t party to, and they’re more than happy to put everything into convincing context.

There’s more than enough dynamic headroom available to make the shifts in intensity during Eartheater’s How To Fight absolutely obvious, and the sort of attention they pay to the harmonic variations during Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten is approaching the fanatical. The textures and overlaps of that last recording are given full expression by the HW600, and as a result the sound is multi-faceted where, in less capable hands, it can come across as repetitive and monochrome.

Really, about the only area where the Shanling don’t perform with complete confidence is at the very bottom of the frequency range. The HW600 dig deep, most certainly, and they hit with solid assurance – there’s nothing powder puff about the low-frequency impact these headphones can summon. And up to a point, there’s plenty of variation and fine detail available at the same time. Beyond that point, though, down at the very depths of their extension, the Shanling lose some of their insight and simply rumble.

There’s no light or shade to the deepest bass notes here, no suggestion of texture or detail. If it’s ever going to be an issue, it will affect those who listen to a lot of EDM or other content that relies on low-end eloquence. The rest of us might just note it in passing and get on with enjoying the other 99 per cent of the reproduction of the frequency range.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Shanling HW600 wired headphones' jack on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Shanling HW600 review: Design

Friction-pole headband adjustment
Make liberal use of lambskin
480g

Planar magnetic headphones, simply as a consequence of the technology they use, tend to be on the large side. But there’s ‘large’ and then there’s the Shanling HW600. I’m 6ft tall, and I flatter myself that my head is of proportionate size, but the HW600 just about fit me when adjusted to be as small as possible. So if you’re fortunate enough to be on the petite side, you can forget it.

Let’s assume, though, that your head is large enough to be accommodated comfortably inside the Shanling. You’ll find yourself wearing a pair of comfortable, nicely finished headphones that disguise their 480g weight well thanks to a carefully considered hanger arrangement. The earpads are of angled memory foam covered in lambskin, and there’s more of this rather divisive material forming the thin contact area of the headband. Between the two-tier headband arrangement and the rather rudimentary friction-pole headband adjustment mechanism, the HW600 are more than a little reminiscent of some of Meze Audio’s pricier over-ear designs. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that.

The outside of the earcups, as well as the yokes and outer portion of the headband, are made of aircraft-grade ‘7xxx’ aluminum – it feels almost as good as it looks. The design of the outer part of the earcups is, says Shanling, inspired by the traditional method of creating bamboo joints. It’s quite elegant and understated, and it prevents the HW600 looking as assertively open-backed as they otherwise might.

Design score: 4/5

Shanling wired headphones headband on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Shanling HW600 review: Value

Premium materials, flawlessly deployed…
… and plenty of them
Successful in virtually every area of audio performance

Expensive(ish) headphones are always tricky in this respect. They need to be reasonably light in order to be comfortable, and until you get up close a pricey pair can look very much like an affordable pair.

But Shanling has given it a go where perceived value is concerned, there’s no arguing with the fit and finish, and sound quality is well up to the sort of standard the asking price demands. If you can live with the liberal use of lambskin, there’s definite value here.

Value score: 4.5/5

Closeup of the headband of the Shanling HW600 wired headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should I buy the Shanling HW600?

Shanling HW600 wired headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Buy them if...

You like nice things
As long as you’re fine with all of these materials, it’s hard not to admire the job Shanling has done where building and finishing the HW600 is concerned

You’re a bit of an iconoclast
Just because you’re spending big money on headphones, it doesn’t automatically follow that the big, storied brands are the only ones worth considering

You enjoy a vivid, widescreen sound
The HW600 are a spacious, properly defined listen that will never leave you in any doubt as to the position of elements on a stage relative to each other

Don't buy them if...

Your head is even remotely petite
Big money in this instance buys big sound and big headphones – anyone with a smaller-than-average bonce might find the HW600 a bit much

You’re vegetarian
Another day, another audio brand that can’t see beyond animal hide as shorthand for ‘luxury’

You value low-frequency insight above everything else
Down at the very bottom of the bottom end, the Shanling lose a little of their otherwise-forensic insight and become rather more monotonal

Shanling HW600 review: Also consider

Meze Audio Liric
Visually the Shanling HW600 have a fair bit in common with Meze Audio’s Liric wired over-ear headphones – and now Liric 2 are available, the original is down to HW600 money. ‘Different to’ rather than overtly ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the Shanling, the Liric are a confident and rigorously controlled listen.
Read our Meze Audio Liric review for the full story.

Fiio FT5
If you’re after some planar magnetic goodness without pushing the boat quite so far out, you should pay attention to the FT5 by FiiO. They’re just as big as the Shanling, just as sonically accomplished on a pound-for-pound basis… and they’re frankly a bit of a bargain.
See our Fiio FT5 review for the full story

How I tested the Shanling HW600

Connected to an iFi Diablo 2 and a FiiO M15S
Music of many different styles and resolutions
Tested for well over a week

Being temporarily light on full-size equipment with anything other than a 3.5mm headphone socket, I used the HW600 connected directly to a FiiO M15S hi-res digital audio player via its 4.4mm output. I also plugged them into an iFi iDSD Diablo headphone amplifier, again via the 4.4mm connection, which was in turn connected to an Apple MacBook Pro running Colibri software.

And then I listened to a lot of different styles of music, of various file types and sizes, on a fairly strict ‘10am - 5pm’ basis for the entirety of a working week while taking time to compare the sound of the Shanling to a few appropriate alternatives I have about the place…

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: a hardy yet small Bluetooth speaker primed for all environments

4:00 pm | December 28, 2024

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

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: two-minute review

The LG XBoom Go XG2T is an ultra-durable mini Bluetooth speaker that’s ideal for taking out on the go. This mini waterproof speaker offers military-grade protection against the elements – pretty hardcore. But how does it sound? Let’s find out…

With a lot of small speakers, audio quality can be middling at best. But the LG XBoom Go XG2T puts out a pretty solid sonic performance. Is it the most talented-sounding speaker on the market? No. But it offers commendable all-round clarity and impressive volume levels, especially with the Sound Boost EQ option enabled.

You may expect a big, bass-heavy sound from the LG XBoom Go XG2T – I mean, it's literally in the name – but you won't actually find booming bass here. Bass is adequately punchy, but it’s not the most controlled or deep sounding. Again, that’s pretty common with these mini speakers, but still, it may be a little underwhelming for those expecting a hard-hitting low-end output. If big bass is what you’re after, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a punchier alternative.

Of course, sound is always number one, but it's not everything. Thankfully, this speaker is extremely strong on the design front. It has a unique build, which includes a lace for attaching the speaker to a bag and four feet on its reverse side so the speaker can play upfiring audio. It’s also passed a series of tests that render it military-grade protected, not to mention an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, which makes it fit for any outdoor space, even the beach or pool.

Another nice inclusion is companion app compatibility, which enables EQ adjustment and Healing Therapy, which lets you listen to calming sounds – don’t worry, there’s a sleep timer included if you start to feel a bit drowsy while listening. One slight hiccup features-wise is battery life. The 10 hours maximum may sound good, but with Sound Boost on – which gives a serious leg-up to the speaker’s power – and volume above 50%, the battery will deplete considerably quicker.

Overall, this is a good small-sized speaker. Sure, you may have to charge it up semi-regularly, and sound quality isn’t top-tier, but you get generally clear audio, incredible durability, and an attractive design. Price-wise, this is great value if you can grab it on sale – but its list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 may be slightly high against some competitors.

So, is the LG XBoom Go XG2T a speaker worth considering? Absolutely – that is if you want a travel-friendly small speaker that can slip into a bag for excursions. The biggest problem with the XG2T has more to do with the quality of its competitors. Options like the JBL Clip 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 are absolutely fantastic small speakers, with awesome audio and equally mighty waterproofing. If you’re all in on the XG2T’s design I’d say it’s worth buying on sale, otherwise, the aforementioned alternatives may just edge it out. More on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.

Speaker grille of LG XBoom Go XG2T with power and play/pause buttons — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: price and release date

$79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89
Launched in March 2024

The LG XBoom Go XG2T was released back in March 2024 with a fairly moderate list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89. However, if you’re in the US or UK you shouldn’t expect to pay anywhere near as much as that for it now. I’ve already spotted this lil’ fella available for less than $35 / £40.

That price is very much in line with some top-tier small portable speakers, such as the JBL Clip 5, which I’ve seen go on sale for less than $50 / £40 in recent months. Sometimes, this speaker can be found in a 2-pack at retailers such as Costco, which may be an even more cost-efficient option for those seeking louder, more room-filling sound.

Volume wheel on the side of the LG XBoom Go XG2T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: specs

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: features

Nifty companion app
Pairing, multi-point and all essential options are here
Average at best battery life

As is often the case with LG, you get a very solid companion app to assist you in your experience with the XG2T. It’s equipped with all the crucial tools you’d want from a modern Bluetooth speaker, including multi-point for connecting two devices at once and Party Link for connecting multiple speakers at once.

Another inclusion you’d expect to see is EQ settings, which are also here. Unfortunately, I found them to be a bit mixed, quality-wise. I did like the inclusion of a six-band equalizer, which offers a bit more customization than the slightly larger Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, for instance. But other than that things are a bit thin. The only other presets are Standard or Sound Boost. I wish there were a few more presets for particular moods or music genres, as you see with a lot of Sony’s speakers, for example.

But allow me to loop back to Sound Boost. This is a feature you can activate on the speaker itself or via the LG XBoom app. Essentially, it amplifies volume output and provides a bit more of a kick, especially in the low-frequency range. I’ll go into more detail about sound later, but for such a small speaker, the added power is very much a welcome addition.

On top of all the classic inclusions, the XG2T has some fun stuff to play around with. Healing Therapy plays from a set list of calming sounds, such as ‘A Still Summer Night with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea,’ which did entice me, I can’t lie. You can set a sleep timer alongside these, just in case you drift off before an important meeting. Is this gimmicky? Sure, a little bit. Did I like it anyway? Yes, I did.

But let’s finish by tackling one of the key areas for any speaker – battery life. This speaker won’t be able to survive too long, although that’s pretty common for models of this size. LG says you get a maximum of 10 hours of playtime, which is pretty average. But here’s the thing – that’s only if you’re playing at 50% or lower with Sound Boost or EQ settings off. Fine-tune your audio and crank the volume up and you can expect the battery to drain much faster, meaning you’ll definitely want a full charge before taking it out and about.

Features score: 3.5/5

Sound boost and Bluetooth buttons on the reverse side of the LG XBoom Go XG2T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: sound quality

Clear overall audio
Bass isn’t booming
Can get impressively loud, but you’ll compromise on quality

With a lot of these small-sized portable speakers, you get pretty disappointing quality in exchange for a highly compact build. Is that the case with the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Not exactly, but you’ll certainly have to make some sacrifices.

First, I thought the overall audio quality was solid, with decent mids audible from the offset. For instance, I tried Nothing Can Come Between Us by Sade and found that vocals were clear in the overall mix at around 50-60% volume and didn’t get distorted or drowned out by other mid-range or low-frequency sounds. If anything, I thought that bass was lacking. There was, thankfully, a part-solution here – Sound Boost mode. This amps up the volume and adds a bit more meat in the low end, which was very much needed. With this mode on, the bass was okay for a small-sized speaker, but still not exactly “booming” as LG has advertised.

I compared the XG2T to the JBL Clip 5 and found the latter offers meatier and clearer bass output. For instance, the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X was replicated with more depth and impact with the Clip 5, even when utilizing Sound Boost mode on the XG2T. What the XG2T did offer, however, was a bit more clarity in the mids – vocals sounded clean and overall output was nicely balanced, especially with the speaker placed on its feet.

However, the vocals sounded a touch harsh when the speaker was hung up and angled toward me, and that wasn’t the only time I felt the audio quality suffered. When I cranked up the volume to the 80%-100% mark, songs got swamped by an almost underwater effect, marked by muddied, tinny audio output. Don’t get me wrong, this mini speaker can certainly get loud for its size, but it won’t sound great at the top of its range.

Having said that, I do want to give the XG2T its flowers. It may not sound the best at top volumes or certain angles, but this is pretty standard for a small-sized speaker. And when I compared it to the Sony SRS-XB100, the XG2T outperformed it by a significant margin. For example, I tuned into Everyday by Jamiroquai on the XG2T and found that strings were well-balanced in the mix and hi-hats sounded sharp and responsive. When I listened to it on the XB-100, bass levels were stronger, but the low end wasn’t too clear, making for a bloated, messy overall sound.

So, you do get fairly nuanced, clear sound from the XG2T compared to some small-sized competitors, but you still can’t expect amazing audio. Bass is pretty underwhelming, even when using Sound Boost and detail is lacking – especially at top volumes.

Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Side profile of the LG XBoom Go XG2T

(Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: design

Unique, rugged-looking speaker
‘Military-grade’ protection against the elements
Lace can be used to hang or attach it

Something that's sure to instantly grab people’s attention is the XG2T’s unique-looking design. It comes in a diminutive, curved, square-shaped shell, with a lace attached to the side. This lace can be adjusted and attached to anything from a bag to a hook – you could even sling it on a tree branch when out in the woods. A lace isn’t something I’ve seen from a whole lot of speakers before, so LG scores well for originality.

The speaker's outer casing is pretty hardy, after all, LG claims that the XG2T meets US military standards. To back up this claim, the speaker passed seven durability tests against: dust, high temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration, and water immersion. It'll be unsurprising, then, that this speaker holds the IP67 dust and waterproof rating, meaning it's well equipped for any outdoor space, even the sea or a swimming pool. That's a staple design feature of any speaker that wants to make it into our list of the best waterproof speakers.

Another unorthodox design choice is a volume wheel on the side of the speaker, as opposed to buttons or similar. I found this to be pretty cool-looking and responsive too. Notably, there’s a power button and a play/pause button on the front of the speaker. Practicalities aside, I also found the black and red color combination to be very appealing – the relatively low-key color coding suiting the speaker’s ruggedness to a tee.

One small criticism, though. I would have loved it if the speaker could stand upright without my hand supporting it. It can sit on four feet for upfiring sound, but this isn’t always ideal. The option to have forward-firing audio would be the icing on the cake here, but I’m fully satisfied with the design otherwise.

Design score: 4.5/5

Bluetooth button on the reverse side of the LG XBoom Go XG2T — (Image credit: Future)

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: value

Great price when on sale
Solid sound for the money you pay
Not worth it at full price, in my view

Is the LG XBoom Go XG2T worth your cash when it’s at full price? Perhaps not. That’s not to say it’s way overpriced, but there are far too many small-sized options with lower price tags out there.

Consider the discounted cost it’s regularly available for and the picture totally changes, though. If you can nab this for less than $40 / £40 / AU$70, I think it's a decent option. Audio is by no means perfect, but for a tiny Bluetooth speaker like this, it’s more than passable. You also get an ultra-durable, attractive design and a nice assortment of features to play around with.

So, again, if you can grab the XG2T on sale – which shouldn’t be a rare occurrence at this stage – then it is a very strong value option.

Value score: 4/5

LG logo on the reverse side of the LG XBoom Go XG2T

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG XBoom Go XG2T?

Buy it if...

You want an audio travel companion
This is an ultra-portable speaker that you can easily attach to, or carry inside, a small bag for your travels. It's also IP67-rated, meaning it's perfectly suited to any outdoor environment.

You’re searching for an attractive, unique-looking speaker
There aren’t many speakers that look like the LG XBoom Go XG2T. With its practical lace, rounded square shape, and red/black colorway, it has an aesthetic that neatly fits its rugged build.

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for premium audio
A lot of mini speakers struggle to offer impressive audio, and although the XG2T puts up a valiant effort, it's not exactly premium-sounding. If you’re an audiophile, it could be worth considering a slightly larger, yet still portable option, like the Sonos Roam 2, for instance.

You need long battery life
A 10-hour battery may seem like a decent amount, but if you’re listening at higher volumes or have Sound Boost active, you’ll get less playtime than that out of the XG2T. If battery life is a top priority, it's worth considering other options, such as the two alternatives below.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: also consider

JBL Clip 5
The JBL Clip 5 is a super-impressive small speaker with punchy bass, solid volume levels, and a convenient carabiner-like design. It even has Auracast Bluetooth tech and an IP67 rating – not bad at all. In my view, it’s still the best-in-class for speakers of this size and it's regularly available at a cut price, so it’s a top-tier option. Read our full JBL Clip 5 review.

Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
Another excellent small speaker is the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. It offers strong sound quality, a fantastically compact build, and even the ability to charge external devices. It's also very well-priced and regularly available at a discount, so it’s a top-tier value pick in my book. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 review.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: how I tested

Tested for one week
Predominantly used in music testing space at Future Labs
Mainly listened with Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to music on the LG XBoom Go XG2T. I tried the speaker in a few environments but mainly used it in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality and assess the accuracy of battery life claims.

When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also used a range of small-sized speakers for comparison, including the Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

Shure SE215 review: these wired earbuds serve up incredible noise isolation and a healthy side of bass

7:30 pm | December 27, 2024

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

Shure SE215 review: Review

The Shure SE215 have made quite a name for themselves in the live music scene, offering solid monitoring capabilities at a competitive price point. Specifically, the SE215 are often available for less than $100 / £100 / AU$200, meaning they’re a fairly low-priced set of entry-level in-ear monitors for live performers, producers, or fans of wired listening.

Let’s start where it matters most: sound quality. The Shure SE215 have a self-proclaimed “warm” sound signature and look to showcase “enhanced bass” while still delivering clear, detailed overall audio. So, how do they fare? Generally, quite well.

First, the Shure SE215 live up to their promise of offering enhanced bass. When I tuned into Black Eye by Allie X, the thumping drum machine had impressive levels of depth and responsiveness, making for a punchy, rhythmic listening experience. Generally, the track’s bouncing bassline was managed well, sounding controlled and impactful throughout the song’s runtime – something I’d always look for when testing the best wired earbuds.

And this was a recurring theme, pretty much every tune I threw on offered very good low-end depth, especially considering the price you pay for these IEMs. The only slight issue you may have is that the higher focus on bass can result in a slightly cluttered sound, especially at top volumes.

When listening to I Want You by Moloko, the song’s pounding bass was both impactful and immersive, but cranking the volume up could sometimes create a slightly overbearing, cluttered sound. This could be slightly frustrating for musicians who want ultra-clear, expertly balanced information during sets, but again, at medium volumes, I found the focus on bass to be pleasing, rather than a source of severe bloating.

The only other complaint I’d have sonically is that highs can sometimes sound a touch inaccurate with these IEMs. For instance, cymbals in I Want You sounded prominent but slightly harsh, particularly the crash that connects the intro to the main portion of the track. But otherwise, audio quality is up to standard here. Vocals, although not perfectly breathy or realistic, are clear and well-balanced, while music rarely sounds distorted or tinny.

Despite offering commendable audio quality, I’d argue that the real highlight of the SE215 is in another domain entirely – passive noise isolation. I’ve been impressed by Shure’s wired noise cancellation before (see my Shure AONIC 3 review), and these deliver more than enough protection against external sounds.

When using the default foam tips and listening at around 50% volume I could barely hear anything in my office, from typing through to colleagues conversing. At one stage, there was some drilling taking place, which was audible, but strongly dulled, thanks to the excellent seal these ear tips provide. So, if you’re a musician who needs a consistent, clear audio feed, free from too much distraction, the SE215 will serve you well.

Speaking of the included ear tips, you get the usual selection of small, medium and large included. But that’s not all, you also get the same, but in gel form, if you find that more comfortable for longer in-ear listening. On top of that, you get a fabric carrying case included with the earbuds, which has a clip that can attach to a belt or bag – pretty handy. For the price, you do get a decent amount included, but something worth considering is that there’s no in-line mic or controller. You can detach the cable and switch it out for an alternative with such features, but you’ll have to cough up extra for this.

I mentioned earlier that you get a great seal with these earbuds and the overall fit is very secure. The buds are attached to a bendy wire that can be molded around your ear – ideal for keeping them in-ear when you’re on the move. I would argue, however, that these aren’t the comfiest buds on the market. You definitely get a reliable, tight fit but they can feel a bit uncomfortable after a couple of hours. So, if you’re looking for a wired option for casual listening, they may not be the best option.

Regardless, these are well-made IEMs with good build quality. The earbuds I tested came in a see-through, black-tinted shell so you can see the components powering the IEMs. That might not be for everyone, but I found it made for a cool-looking aesthetic. The buds don’t appear cheap or fragile, either, so these should last you some considerable time. They don’t have a specific waterproof rating, but Shure’s website claims that they’re sweat-resistant at the least, making them fit for purpose if you’re an on-stage performer.

Finally, the included wire is decently slim, except for the slightly chunky Y-connector. You’ll hear a bit of cable noise if moving around with these earbuds, but it’s decently muted, meaning the SE215 do well at mixing style and substance overall.

All in all, the Shure SE215 are a very solid pair of entry-level IEMs, that offer impressive bass, pleasing clarity, excellent noise isolation, and a neat design. Audio can get a little bloated at top volumes and you might not find them the most comfortable buds on the market, but they’re still more than fit for purpose, whether you’re on the stage, cooking up beats in the studio or indulging in some leisurely listening at home.

Shure SE215 earbud next to block — (Image credit: Future)

Shure SE215 review: Price and release date

$99 / £90 / AU$179
Launched in 2011

The Shure SE215 were released all the way back in 2011, but they’re still a super-popular option among musicians and fans of wired listening in general. They’re available for around $99 / £90 / AU$179, but you can pick them up for even less on sale, so keep an eye out for sweet deals. This model is available in a range of color options, including Black, Blue, Clear and Purple.

Shure SE215 review: Specs

Shure SE215 on table — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Shure SE215 review?

Buy them if...

You want some entry-level IEMs
If you want some solid buds for monitoring audio during a live set or similar, the Shure SE215 are a good option. They don’t offer the most incredible levels of detail available, but you’ll get clear audio and a strong bass response that will likely get the job done.

You’re not looking to break the bank
If you’re searching for a step up in the world of wired listening, but don’t want to cough up too much money, the SE215 are worth considering. At less than $100 / £100 /AU$200, these certainly fit the bill – you won’t have to put up with the tinny or distorted audio that a lot of super-cheap options plate up, but you’ll not get top-tier audio either.

Don't buy them if...

You want an option for casual listening
For those of you that love wired listening, but aren’t into stage or studio monitoring, there are better options out there for you. Even the far cheaper SoundMagic E11C are an awesome option for more casual listeners who want a decently detailed listen on a budget.

You’re on the search for top-tier audio
The SE215 do sound good, with impressive bass levels and generally clear audio, but they’re not the most premium-sounding. If you want really great wired audio that’s even suitable for studio use, the Sennheiser IE 600 are an excellent choice, though you’ll have to splash a fair amount of cash.

Shure SE215 review: Also consider

Sennheiser IE 200
Clear, well-rounded sound, a gorgeous design and a lightweight feel. They’re just some of the Sennheiser IE 200’s star qualities, which have earned it the title of ‘best step-up earbuds’ in our wired earbuds guide. Price-wise, they’re a little more than the Shure SE215, but on sale, you can easily grab them for around $100 / £100. You may not find as good noise isolation here, but audio-wise, these are very strong. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200 review.

SoundMagic E80D
Whether you’re looking for an option that’s better sorted to casual listening or just want a pair of buds for USB-C listening, the SoundMagic E80D are well-worth considering. With a built-in DAC, impressively detailed audio and an excellent low-price, you’re looking at an awesome all-rounder. Read our full SoundMagic E80D review.

Shure SE215 review: How I tested

Shure SE215 next to carry case — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for two weeks
Used in the office and while outdoors
Predominantly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S

I tested the Shure SE215 over the course of two weeks. I predominantly listened with them using Tidal on the FiiO M11S, but also tried them out using Spotify on my Windows laptop. I tested the SE215 in the office, at home and while out on walks near busy roads to assess noise-isolation capabilities.

When listening to music I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains songs from a variety of genres – though I also spent hours tuning into songs from my personal library.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

Bluesound Pulse M review: a wireless speaker that fails to justify its substantial price tag, sonically speaking

1:30 pm | December 22, 2024

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

Bluesound Pulse M: two-minute review

The Bluesound Pulse M is a mid-market multi-room speaker that promises wide, immersive sound. It's compatible with both lossless streaming and hi-res audio over a wired connection, and is clearly aimed at audiophiles who are looking for a compact yet versatile speaker. On top of this, its angled tweeters are billed as providing a broader stereo effect than many single-unit setups are capable of.

The Bluesound Pulse M’s audio is impressively detailed, as you’d expect from a speaker capable of lossless streaming. I was impressed by how Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon managed to sound both warm and crisp, with his voice rising above the mix and that tight, noodly guitarwork cutting right through. And its stereo effect is genuinely impressive – while you won’t hear two distinct channels for left and right per se, there’s still a separation to its sound that feels broader than a single speaker should be able to deliver.

Unfortunately, this is somewhat undermined by how unbalanced the audio can be. Like a lot of speakers in recent years, the Pulse M bets big on bass, which would normally be a pretty safe bet for a fan of sub like myself. However, in the process it neglects other frequencies, with mids in particular suffering compared to many of the best wireless speakers. With its sub and kicks, a slice of warm tech like Burst by Kiasmos should really shine on a bassier speaker, but instead that dusty arpeggiated synth and lush strings came off as slightly foggy here.

It is possible to rectify this using some of the speaker’s sound profiles. Personally, I found Front Row, Bluesound’s enhanced profile, to be a bit of a damp squib – it absolutely has an impact on the sound, giving it a bit more urgency, but that comes at the expense of a compressed feeling overall. Instead, I found using the BluOS app’s settings to boost treble and duck the bass achieved better results – although I did find myself wishing it had proper EQ settings to give me even more direct control over the sound.

When it comes to setting up and controlling the Pulse M, Bluesound’s BluOS app is easy enough to use, although it has some odd issues here and there. When setting up the speaker, multiple steps would fail, only to immediately succeed when I retried. And these glitches extend to its Alexa voice control skill as well. I found I was able to pause, play and skip music, but every time I asked my Echo Dot to select a specific track the Pulse M remained obstinately silent – so if voice control is your thing, you might be better off with one of the best smart speakers instead.

Design is probably the area where the Pulse M shines most. It’s well built, feeling sturdy without being overly heavy or bulky, while its white matte finish feels suitably premium to the touch. A built-in proximity sensor only lights up the buttons when you wave your hand near, which feels appropriately sci-fi. However, I’d personally prefer the touch-sensitive buttons to have some haptic feedback; offering that immediate feedback when pressed would make it much more obvious when the speaker has registered your input.

All in all, the Bluesound Pulse M is a quality mid-range speaker that's able to produce detailed, hi-res audio. Ultimately though, it lacks the nuance I’d expect from a speaker that costs $399 / £399 – powerful bass shouldn’t come at the expense of lush, expressive mids. Coupled with the fact that similarly priced speakers offer more – the JBL Authentics 200 offers fuller, more rounded sound for $349.95 / £299, while the spatial-audio-equipped Sonos Era 300 costs just $449 / £449 / AU$749 – this makes the Pulse M harder to recommend.

Bluesound Pulse M review: specs

Bluesound Pulse M review: price and availability

Released October 26, 2022
Costs $399 / £399 / AU$899

Launched on October 26, 2022, the Bluesound Pulse M is available to buy now. It retails for $399 / £399 / around AU$899, which puts it firmly in mid-market territory – it costs a fair way north of the Sonos Era 100 at $249 / £249 / AU$399 but doesn’t quite cost as much as its premium cousin the Sonos Era 300 at $449 / £449 / AU$749.

In return for your spend, you’ll get a compact speaker with 80W of combined amplification, a single woofer and two angled tweeters. There’s not a huge variety in terms of options. It comes in just two colorways – black or white – but that’s pretty common with more premium speakers.

The rear of the Bluesound Pulse M showing its power and Ethernet ports, as well as analog and digital optical inputs. — (Image credit: Future)

Bluesound Pulse M review: features

Great range of connectivity options
Occasional app gremlins
Limited EQ options

The Bluesound Pulse M rocks a decent number of features for a wireless, multi-room speaker, without necessarily ripping up the rulebook. It offers a combined 80W total amplification power, with 50W going to its upfiring 5.25-inch woofer and 15W to each of its 0.75-inch tweeters. The latter two are offset at 45 degrees from each other to give what Bluesound describes as an ‘immersive’ soundstage. Combined with an inbuilt acoustic reflector, this helps to radiate higher-frequency sounds in a 360-degree pattern, reducing the impression that the sound all emerges from a single point in space.

Getting started with the Pulse M is relatively straightforward. Once you’ve downloaded the BluOS app you just need to connect your mobile device to the speaker’s hotspot so it can piggyback on it to join your local Wi-Fi network. This process is pretty simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely smooth sailing – at multiple points I would find the connection process would time out, only to connect instantly when I retried. This did add a bit of friction to the process, particularly given that the Pulse M seemed to need setting up afresh every time it was unplugged.

Once the BluOS app is connected, it enables you to connect to the speaker via Bluetooth or AirPlay 2, as well as connecting specific apps like Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music directly to the Pulse M. The app also allows you to pair it with other Bluesound speakers to form a multi-room setup, or pair two Pulse Ms with the Pulse Soundbar+ or PowerNode to create an effective surround sound setup for your home cinema.

The BluOS app is also where you’ll find options to tweak the Pulse M’s sound profiles. On top of its default profile, it also offers Front Row, a setting that, according to Bluesound, enhances "richness in the lower frequencies (<60Hz)" and "openness and expansiveness in the higher frequencies (>5kHz)". It also offers access to the Tone Control settings, although these are unfortunately pretty limited: plenty of budget price Bluetooth speakers like the Tribit Xsound Plus 2 offer full nine-band EQ, whereas this speaker only allows you to boost or reduce treble or bass by 6dB either way. The BluOS app also offers ‘Replay-gain’, essentially an auto-gain adjustment that tweaks different tracks or albums to make sure they play back at similar volumes. I can’t say this is a problem I have very often these days, given that many streaming services standardize recordings to be at the same volume, but it’s nice to have I guess.

Naturally, the BluOS app isn’t the only way to control the Pulse M. If you want to control it as part of your smart home network, you can connect it to an Amazon Echo speaker using the BluOS Voice Control skill in the Alexa app. Unfortunately though, the skill seems to have a few holes here and there. Try as I might, I couldn’t get Alexa to select specific songs and artists – it would happily chirp that music was playing through my named speaker and then nothing would start. When I manually selected music though, Alexa was at least able to pause and play, as well as adjust the volume and skip backwards and forwards. So it’s a mixed bag: you’ll still have to reach for your phone a fair amount.

Should you prefer using your own digits to digital controls, the Bluesound Pulse M has a range of touch-sensitive controls on top of the speaker itself. These are invisible most of the time, but wave a hand over them and they’ll light up – you can then tap them to play and pause, skip forwards and backwards, set the volume, and pick one of five audio presets you’ve assigned in the app.

Features score: 3.5

The Bluesound Pulse M in profile

(Image credit: Future)

Bluesound Pulse M review: sound quality

Over-liberal with its bass
Front Row audio profile lacks finesse
Genuinely impressive breadth to its soundstage

When you actually fire up the Bluesound Pulse M, the first thing you’ll likely notice is its bass. In fact, that’s probably the only thing you’ll notice. When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I was immediately impressed with how punchy the kick sounded and how warm the low subby end of the bass sounded – but the mids sounded set quite far back in comparison. I tried switching things up to Rosewood by Bonobo, a track that very much shines on a warmer speaker and, once again, it felt like the bass overshadowed the rest of the mix, which is pretty disappointing.

Comparing it to the Sonos Era 100, it became much easier for me to diagnose the problem. In our original Sonos Era 100 review, we criticised it for its over-emphasis on bass and yet it comes across as far better integrated and more coherent. In contrast, the Pulse M pulls way too many punches when it comes to its mids. Weighing up the two while listening to Young Blood by The Naked & Famous, there’s a real slam and thud to the bass kicks and snares to the Pulse M but, like the weightlifter who overlooks their core to focus on their arms and legs, all this flexing only serves to draw more attention to its soggy middle in comparison to its trimmer rival.

That’s not to say it completely lacks all precision. In sparser mixes, things feel like they have much more room for expression. Listening to the sparser ballad-y composition of Rains again by Solji, I was impressed with how polished and detailed her voice sounds, while the drum beats and piano are granted plenty of room to breathe – when the bass isn’t hogging all the limelight, other elements are given their chance to shine.

Given the default sound is a bit of a mixed bag, you might expect Front Row, BluOS’s inbuilt frequency tweaking, to step in and save the day. In practice, it’s a bit of a blunt tool, akin to using a pocket knife for micro-surgery. Some tracks definitely shine more with it on – originally White Dress by Lana Del Rey sounded a bit demure and lacklustre to me but Front Row boosted the breathy edge to her voice and made that light cymbal work a bit more crisp. Conversely, it brought the beat and vocals in Baby It’s You by London Grammar forward a lot but at the expense of making things sound a bit too compressed.

In my personal experience, you’ll get better results getting your hands dirty and tweaking the Tone Control settings according to your own tastes. Upping the treble by 6dB on London Grammar’s track gave its hats and Hannah Reid’s honeyed vocal that little more immediacy, while dropping the bass just a fraction by 6dB tamed the Pulse M’s worst impulses. Ultimately, this setting felt much more balanced for me and I ended up using it as standard pretty much from there on out.

One place I will commend the Pulse M however is for its soundstage. Thanks to those angled, stereo tweeters, this speaker offers a much wider sound than the narrow point of origin that many single speakers are capable of. Playing Manchild by Eels, there was genuinely an impressive sense of separation between the vocal and the guitar in the left and right channels, especially the further back I was sat in the room. While I’m not convinced I would describe this as true stereo, as Bluesound has, there’s no doubt it feels immersive and broad – although it’s not quite as impressive as the Dolby Atmos a speaker like the Sonos Era 300 offers.

Sound score: 3.5/5

The top of the Bluesound Pulse M with its touch-sensitive buttons lit. — (Image credit: Future)

Bluesound Pulse M review: design

Gorgeous, refined design
Solidly built but not bulky
Controls could offer more feedback

For the most part, I’m a big fan of the Bluesound Pulse M’s design. The brand has nailed the nexus of minimal and premium that’s absolutely appropriate with a speaker at this price point.

Essentially a cylindrical oval shape, it gives off slight Sonos Move 2 vibes, while still being distinct enough to feel like its own beast. It comes in both black or white colorways; for me the latter has the definite edge here, feeling much cleaner and more futuristic. Its plastic body has a pleasing matte finish, while the fabric-covered grille has a curved bottom edge giving the whole thing a nice aesthetic balance. When it comes to the pure look of the device, I – unusually – have nothing negative to say.

Again, in build quality, the Pulse M occupies a Goldilocks zone of both solid without being overly bulky. The absence of a battery helps here, of course: moving it from room to room requires considerably less exertion than something like the Move 2. While it’s close in size to the Sonos Era 300, it's significantly lighter, weighing in at 2.54kg compared to the Era 300’s 4.47kg. While you’re not likely to be repositioning it very often, it’ll definitely be less cumbersome when you do.

One slight niggle centers around the touch-sensitive controls on top of the device. Given they aren’t physical buttons, I’d personally have preferred it if they’d included some haptic, or at least aural, feedback to confirm a successful finger press – I wasn’t always clear when it had actually registered a finger-press on the volume bar, meaning I’d often stab at it several times to be sure. But more of an issue for me is the lack of labelling: minimal buttons sure look cool until you’re trying to work out what half of them do, at which point you start to appreciate why almost all speakers follow certain conventions, like pluses and minus for volume or numbers for presets.

All things considered though, this feels more like splitting gossamer than splitting hairs – the overall style and build of the Bluesound Pulse M is aesthetically pleasing, and creates a decent impact in any room it’s situated in.

Design score: 4.5/5

A closeup of the rear of the Bluesound Pulse M showing its power and Ethernet ports, as well as analog and digital optical inputs. — (Image credit: Future)

Bluesound Pulse M review: value

Looks and build match its premium price
Sound can’t compete with similarly priced speakers
You’ll likely get better value for your spend elsewhere

Weighing up how the Bluesound Pulse M compares in terms of value is a tough undertaking. On the one hand, it looks stunning, works as part of a multi-room setup and can stream true lossless audio. On the other, its bass out-of-the-box is seriously overblown, its app can be periodically frustrating and it’s a bit lacking when it comes to audio optimisation features.

Those kinds of compromises would mostly be fine if the Pulse M was cheaper or the competition wasn’t so good at this price range. But this is not an affordable wireless speaker: at an MSRP of $399 / £399 / around AUS899, it’s reasonable for you to expect more than you’re getting here. For that kind of money, I want a speaker to sound great right out of the box, ideally with algorithms that optimise the sound depending on the surroundings. And the Pulse M just cannot clear that bar, which feels like a missed opportunity.

So while this is a very capable speaker in a lot of ways, it’s still not enough to quite justify the high price tag: there are simply too many speakers out there that will give you better sound for your spend. For example, the JBL Authentics 200 is available for $349.95 / £299 / AU$299 and offers both the full bass and crisp treble of the Bluesound, while providing full, convincing mids. Alternatively, the Sonos Era 300 doesn’t retail for much more, at $449 / £449 / AU$749, and it rocks both full sound as well as that awesome spatial audio effect.

Value score: 3/5

A closeup of the top of the Bluesound Pulse M with its touch-sensitive buttons lit. — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Bluesound Pulse M?

Buy it if...

You want wide, immersive sound
The Bluesound Pulse M can definitely fill a room. Its soundstage is much wider than many single speakers are capable of and its ersatz stereo effect is strong enough to give decent separation between various elements in the stereo field.

You want a speaker that looks the part
Looking suitably futuristic, with its matt white finish and buttons that only light up when you wave your hand near, the Pulse M will definitely make an attractive centerpiece in any living room.

Don’t buy it if...

You want unimpeachable sound balance
The Pulse M is far from a neutral listen and even unreformed bass addicts might find its subby brew a little too intense. It’s definitely salvageable with some tweaking but should you have to ‘salvage’ the sound from a $399 / £399 speaker?

You want the best value for your money
In many ways, the Pulse M is a quality product but it has an awful lot of competition at this price point. With multiple wireless speakers offering more features and more nuanced sound for not much more cash, it is worth asking whether another product might give you more banging tunes for your buck.

Bluesound Pulse M review: also consider

Sonos Era 300
Coming in at a little more than the Bluesound Pulse M, the Era 300 costs $449 / £449 / AU$749. But in return it offers so much more: on top of the stereo effect you get from Bluesound’s speaker, you also get a sensation of height with its true Dolby Atmos sound. On top of this, its sound is detailed and rich, although it does pull some punches when it comes to bass. Check out our full Sonos Era 300 review.

JBL Authentics 200
If you’d like to go in the other direction and save a bit of cash, the $349.95 / £299 /AU$299 JBL Authentics 200 is a quality multi-room wireless speaker that sounds great right out of the box. It offers well-rounded bass, rich mids and crisp, discerning treble and, while it doesn’t offer as wide a soundstage, it does offer great features like automatic room calibration. Read our full JBL Authentics 200 review.

Bluesound Pulse M review: how I tested

Tested for two weeks
Used in a range of rooms and settings
Played a wide range of music over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wired connections

I spent many hours testing the Bluesound Pulse M over the course of several weeks. Not only did I try it out in multiple different sized spaces, I also compared it to the Sonos Era 100 and hooked it up to a variety of devices, including my iPhone 16 Pro over AirPlay 2 and the Fiio M11S hi-res music player via analog stereo 3.5mm input.

In terms of music, I used our curated TechRadar testing playlist, as well as a wide array of tracks from my personal library. This allowed me to try out how the speaker handled everything from deep pulsing bass to delicate vocals. I also used a variety of different quality sources, whether that was Spotify’s standard tier, Apple’s lossless tier or Tidal’s hi-res tier.

I’ve been testing audio kit like headphones and speakers for many years now. I’ve also spent decades making music in my free time, which has given me a lot of insight into analyzing the frequencies of music, composition and soundstage.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

Kanto Ren review: a powered speaker system that’s as smart-looking as it is smart-sounding

6:14 pm | December 17, 2024

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

Kanto Ren: Two-minute review

The Kanto Ren powered speaker system is, basically, ace. Designed with multi-functionality in mind, Ren is a broad-strokes stereo hi-fi that can speak to most anything you’d want it to. With HDMI ARC, optical, USB-C, RCA and 3.5mm aux inputs, and with strong Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity besides, this is the does-everything bookshelf hi-fi system that most people spend a long time putting together piece by piece – and it sounds brilliant, as well.

These active speakers are relatively low-profile against similarly-powered hi-fi and AV systems, but pack a punch with their 100W RMS of auditory juice. There’s nothing lacking frequency-wise, with a rich and compelling responsiveness across the spectrum. This, coupled with its incredible dynamic response, makes it a supple system for TV and video games, as well as an impressive and convenient music delivery system.

In short, these are plug-and-play stereo speakers with quality internals and unbeatable I/O, and at quite a competitive price for its unique placement in the audio-tech market. The Kanto Ren should appeal to quite a few different people, whether you’re after a new bookshelf hi-fi, an alternative to a TV soundbar or a no-fuss all-in-one sound system. Some of the best stereo speakers we've tested in a while then? Why, yes.

Kanto Ren speakers on a pine table — (Image credit: Future)

Kanto Ren review: Price & release date

$599 / £599 / €719 (around AU$1,199)
Launched on December 2nd

Most powered speakers of this ilk exist in the studio monitor space, as reference speakers for audio engineers and music producers – a few popular examples being Yamaha’s HS-series speakers and Adam Audio’s T5Vs (amongst a great many others we haven’t the time to profile here). These, though, are designed as practical utilities, and with music production specifically in mind – meaning fewer consumer-friendly inputs, and a frequency response curve that aims to be as flat and neutral as possible.

The Rens take the operating principles of these integrated desktop/studio solutions and brings them to the world of hi-fi, making for a genius marriage of smart audio-tech design and consumer need. In a market where customers are willing to spend upwards of four figures on a soundbar, this powerful and portable pair of highly-connectible modern bookshelf speakers is sure to stun.

Kanto Ren review: Features

Wide range of inputs – including USB-C and Bluetooth 5.3
Optional subwoofer out for controlled bass
100W amplifier brings the juice

The Kanto Ren active speaker system is a well-featured all-in-one hi-fi dealio, cramming a powerful amp with some peerless connectivity into the chassis of one of the speakers. There’s six inputs to switch between here, including: USB-C, HDMI, optical, RCA, 3.5mm aux and Bluetooth 5.3. All of these are switch-between-able on the handy included remote control, which also gives you immediate control of bass, treble and volume levels (if you don’t feel like controlling any of the latter with the powered speaker’s front-borne rotary encoder, itself a satisfyingly tactile little knob).

The Kanto Ren is a stereo speaker system, and its integrated amplifier circuitry basically follows suit – which means no extending your setup to surround-sound (though why you’d ever want to do so with this particular setup is another question entirely). There is, however, an RCA subwoofer output – which naturally cries out to be paired with Kanto’s existing SUB8 sealed subwoofer. With a subwoofer plugged in, any sounds below 80Hz are neatly and automatically redirected to it; our review is a sub-less one, though, to focus on the merits of the Rens alone.

Inside, there’s some clever digital goings-on alongside the smart convenience displayed outside. There are two digital sound profiles you can engage and switch between – namely, the Vocal Boost and Night Mode algorithms, which respectively solve the two biggest problems facing the modern TV-binger: quiet dialogue and paper-thin party walls.

Another nifty digital feature is the Ren’s auto-wake function, which you can toggle on and off with the remote. This feature ensures the speakers leap to life the moment they detect incoming audio – meaning you can enjoy their enhanced sound soon as you switch your TV on. Everything’s geared to user convenience, and it shows; using the Kanto Ren system has been nothing but a breeze from day dot.

Features score: 5/5

Kanto Ren coseup of the main speaker, on a table — (Image credit: Future)

Kanto Ren review: Sound quality

Simply: massive
Incredible clarity of sound
Slightly flabby low end

The Kanto Ren system was first put through its paces via its optical input, connected to my TV. My partner and I had picked an excellent time to rewatch the first two seasons of Twin Peaks together; Angelo Badalamenti’s intro theme was a hugely gratifying listen every time the opening credits swelled in, and every tense spook was robustly supported by the wellsprings of low end these speakers are capable of producing.

Speaking of spooks, the dynamic range of the Rens was thoroughly tested by my tremulous playthrough of mind-bending action-horror Alan Wake II on the PS5 – an excellent game whose subtle nods to the Twin Peaks mythos are more like vociferous headbangs. From subtle tension to outright jumpscares, the game’s sound design is a dynamic delight; the Rens handle every jolt and spike with great humour, even when in neighbour-placating ‘night mode’ setting.

The sonorous bass is supported in no small part by the ported rear, which supplies a lot of air movement – and, naturally, makes for a pumpy, slightly indistinct low-end. With this less-sculpted breathy ‘flab’ at higher volumes, you can see why Kanto went to the trouble of including a subwoofer output. Granted, my corner-alcove placement for TV listening won’t be winning any awards (and neither will my makeshift stacked-book speaker stands, for that matter), particularly with respect to bass response – which is why I tested them elsewhere in my house for their Bluetooth and aux-input musical merits.

In testing out the Bluetooth mode, I whacked on Richard Dawson’s 2023 album The Hermit via Spotify – the title track of which is a 45-minute post-folk micro-odyssey through bucolic far-future Northumberland. This album-length song is extremely dynamically rich, and the Rens don’t falter for a moment in representing that richness.

Dawson’s croaked whispers vault into soaring leads, and tactile, distant electric guitars get swallowed by a Talk-Talk-y orchestra of loud-yet-ambient instrumentation; all of this is clear, distinct and well-separated, and as gratifyingly dynamic as the song could ever demand to be, all in spite of the potential throttling either Spotify or the Bluetooth codec can employ. Good work, Ren! That subtle breathiness in the bass is less pronounced without my bass-trappy alcove – but even within, the Rens still retained clarity and purposeful responsiveness practically everywhere else.

To test its handling of transients in a more controlled setting, I also listened to Cool Sounds’ Like That, an irreverent record full of groovy guitars and bright disco drums; Part-Time Punk’s gloriously dead 70s drums are tactile and three-dimensional, dance-y right-to-left tom fill revealing the strength of the Ren’s soundstage.

In all, the Kanto Ren stereo pair is a delightful-sounding array, and great in practically every scenario in which they could conceivably be placed. There are obvious shortcomings with respect to the ultra-low end, but shortcomings overcome by clever design – and which aren’t all that short of the mark to begin with. They’re loud, proud and unequivocally hi-fi, beating out a great many systems built for similar or even greater price-points. For this price, and with their place in the market borne firmly in mind, they’re practically perfect.

Sound quality score: 5/5

Kanto Ren review: Design

Beautiful – if delicate – matte finish
Sleek front face
A contemporary joy

The Kanto Ren speakers are, in a word, fetching. The MDF chassis combine considered contours with sleek surfaces; the flat front panel and its sharp vertices are offset by how beautifully the speaker cones are countersunk in – the dust covers of which are, themselves, delightfully suave.

This writer’s review set came in a fetching matte blue – but there are four other fetching matte colorways for you to pick from, including a fetchingly nostalgic orange. The slight disappointment of not getting the orange Rens to review was offset immediately by how tastefully – might I say, fetchingly? – the blue ones straddled our rather fetching orange TV stand.

The tasteful nature of the speakers extends to the soft LED dot on the active speaker unit – which smoothly changes hue depending on the audio sources you switch between. The optical source, which was used for the majority of this review, is represented by a shade of lilac I’d only describe as ‘kind’.

A small niggle, though, presents in how stubbornly finger-marks stick to that fetching matte finish. Despite the conclusions you may draw from the pictures supplied with this review, its writer’s hands are not grubby little mitts after all – but rather clumsy ones, the evidence of which is borne out by the near-unmovable streaks of dark across the otherwise-fetching front faces of the speakers. I digress.

As far as practical design is concerned, the Rens serve well. Threaded holes on the rear provide for those that might want to wall-mount their speakers, and rubber feet are provided separately so as not to rob you of choice in any matter. There are even some optional speaker grilles you can place over the front, held in place magnetically so as not to mar the sleek front with anchor slots. All told; the Kanto Ren system is designed beautifully, and considerately too.

Design score: 4.5/5

Kanto Ren review: Setup and usability

Pretty much plug-and-play
Intuitive controls
Could stand to ship with more cables

Being active speakers, setting up the Kanto Ren stereo set is an absolute trifle – the hardest part being the safe manoeuvring of the speakers into place without scuffing that fetching (I said it again!) matte finish. There’s no additional hi-fi amp-wrangling or cable-knotting to contend with, past the simple fact of connecting speaker to speaker, and audio source to system. Indeed, setting these up is about as simple as setting up any decent hi-fi system could ever be (and especially so for AV setups).

The remote control is the thing you’ll be interacting with the most by far, and it couldn’t be simpler to operate. Everything’s clearly signposted, and you barely need the remote control ‘map’ to know what you’re pressing. A minor point presents in the occasional unresponsiveness of the volume control to repeated presses, but a little patience goes a long way with smooth control of the Ren’s various parameters (as it of course does with life in general).

The speakers ship with a length of two-core speaker cable for you to connect left speaker with right, via the screw terminals at the rear. Unfortunately, the Rens don’t ship with additional HDMI or optical cables for comprehensive out-of-the-box connectivity; if you don’t already have the requisite cables to hand, you might be ordering in and waiting a day for what you need. This writer had – and most of you will have, at that – cables aplenty to hand, but a spare HDMI wouldn’t have gone amiss as a little out-of-the-box sweetener!

Setup and usability score: 5/5

Kanto Ren review: Value

Not an inconsiderable expense…
But extremely well-priced for what you get
Will knock the socks off most, if not all, soundbars

The $599/£599/€719 (so, around AU$1,199) price point is not a trifling one, even if it does technically fall towards the lower end of the price spectrum in a broader field of living-room sound-system solutions. It’s an investment for an integrated hi-fi system, whichever way you slice it – but it’s a great investment too, and in all the same slice-ings.

If you’re wanting a genuine upgrade from the soundbar you got last Black Friday which sounds ‘ok I guess’, you’ll be blown away by the difference these full-throated speakers provide. If you’re looking to invest in better sound for your TV for the first ever time – and looking for a foolproof plug-and-play place to start – you couldn’t spend $599 much better if you tried. Great-sounding integrated systems are hard to come by, but for me the Kanto Ren ticks all the right boxes. As a living-room stereo pair, these are perfectly pitched to handle everything – and pretty darn well, at that.

Value score: 5/5

Should you buy the Kanto Ren?

Buy them if...

You want excellent hi-fi sound without the faff
The Kanto Ren system packs a shedload of functionality into the form of two mid-sized bookshelf speakers. You don’t need anything else to guarantee a quality listening or watching experience – save for a decent subwoofer to tack on if you’ve a larger space to serve. With its broad connectivity, it can be your everything-system for anything – whether you connect your laptop via USB-C, your Wi-Fi streaming set-up via optical, or your TV via HDMI.

You’re thinking about buying a soundbar
Yes, soundbars are pretty nifty looking, and yes, some soundbars purport to do pseudo-surround sound really well, but all soundbars are undeniably limited by their form. The Kanto Ren brings controlled richness and huge dynamic range in an unconventional iteration of a conventional hi-fi format, and will resultingly blow any and all consumer-grade soundbars out of the water with consummate ease.

Don't buy them if...

You want a surround-sound AV setup
Being an active stereo speaker array, it should not come as a surprise that the Kanto Ren’s integrated amplifier is stereo through and through, and does not have an additional 3 channels for surround sound. Still, if you’re wanting something that’s more expressly home-cinema-coded, maybe give these a miss.

You value upgradeability
The Kanto Ren is an integrated stereo amplifier system, with all the bells and whistles built right into the speakers themselves. If you like the idea of trying out some new speakers in the future, or eventually investing in some audiophile-grade tube amplifier system, you should be spending your money on a more modular type of hi-fi system.

Kanto Ren: Also consider

Klipsch R-51PM
Klipsch is another vaunted name in hi-fi, on account of the incredible dynamics their speakers are capable of representing (amongst other things). These are an active bookshelf offering, with optical, USB and RCA in amongst other I/O opportunities. There’s no HDMI ARC here, but there is an incredible soundstage – and a built-in phono pre-amp for the budding vinyl enthusiasts in the room.
Read more in our full Klipsch R-51PM review View Deal

KEF LSX II
KEF’s LSXII stereo speakers are similarly impressive in terms of connectivity, with HMDI ARC, optical and USB-C as well as KEF’s own W2 streaming architecture. The cones are a little smaller, and the price a little higher – but there’s some signature KEF quality in these tiny bookshelf powerhouses.View Deal

How I tested the Kanto Ren

Tested for 4 weeks
Used primarily in living room, as main system for TV and for audio streaming.
Briefly tested in other regions of the home as an auxiliary hi-fi system (and to ensure verdicts weren’t skewed by the sound profile of my living room alcove).

The Kanto Ren speakers spent most of their time bookending my TV in the inner alcove of my living room, where they were put to the test, via HDMI ARC and optical input, as the primary audio system for watching TV and playing video games – as well as, in hi-fi terms, for Bluetooth streaming. Phono and Bluetooth were also trialled in my attic office, in order to assess the frequency response of the speakers in different acoustic spaces. I listened to personal-favourite records, the sound of which I could comfortably corroborate against the performance of other systems with which I’m familiar.

First reviewed: December 2024

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

iFi GO Link Max review: a USB-C DAC that’s one of the best ways to get affordable hi-res audio from your smartphone we’ve ever found

2:30 pm | December 14, 2024

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

iFi GO Link Max: Two-minute review

iFi has taken the proven GO Link formula and, by adding a balanced 4.4mm headphone output and deleting MQA compatibility (which is, let’s not pretend otherwise, no loss), produced the GO Link Max.

It’s a little larger than its more affordable sibling – but that’s not the same as being large. And its relative bulk is mitigated no end by classy metal casework. Only the exposed braided cable that connects the main body of the DAC to the block which plugs into your source device, gives us any cause for concern. And even then, its vulnerability is theoretical rather than actual.

Like virtually every iFi product TechRadar has tested, the GO Link Max performs well and offers significant value for money. No matter if it’s connected to a smartphone or a laptop, with a half-decent pair of headphones at the other end this DAC is capable of putting a rocket up the sound quality you’d otherwise be treated to. In every meaningful respect, it improves on the unassisted sound of your computer or phone – and not in a subtle way. Is it one of the best portable DACs available for this money? You probably know the answer to that…

iFi GO Link Max review: Price and release date

iFi Go Link Max on a wooden desk, plugged into Sennheiser iE900 in-ears and an Apple MacBook — (Image credit: Future)

Released November 20, 2024
Priced $79 / £79 / AU$139

The November 2024-release iFi GO Link Max USB DAC is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it costs no more than £79. In the United States it will set you back $79, while in Australia it sells for $139.

The world’s far from short of affordable USB DACs, of course (not least from iFi itself – see the admittedly pricier $499 / £449 / AU$769 iFi GO Bar Kensei or the five-star iFi hip-dac 3 at $199 / £199 / AU$349 for starters). But nevertheless, the combination of price and specification looks alluring here…

iFi GO Link Max review: Features

DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz PCM support
Twin ESS Sabre ES9219 DACs
Unbalanced 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs

Of course, the iFi GO Link Max is something of a one-trick pony – and so consequently it has very few features. Those features it has, though, are designed to get that one job done in some style.

So at one end of the braided cable there’s a little block with a USB-C connector on the end. iFi provides both lightning and USB-A adapters to fit it, so the GO Link Max should be compatible with any smartphone or laptop you care to mention. At the other end of the cable there’s a larger block with unbalanced 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs at its end, and on the inside is everything required to turn digital audio information into analogue as effectively as possible.

iFi has deployed twin ESS Sabre ES9219 DAC chipsets to get the job done – which means the GO Link Max can deal with audio files up to DSD256 and PCM 32bit/384kHz resolution. And fittingly for a company that’s never been afraid of a good acronym or two, iFi has fitted this little device with ‘THDC’ (total harmonic distortion compensation) technology to keep harmonic distortion to a minimum, and ‘DRE’ (dynamic range enhancement, sadly, and nothing to do with the celebrated hip-hop producer) which – hey! – wants to increase the dynamic contrast between the quietest and the loudest moments in your music.

This arrangement, says iFi, results in a USB DAC that can twist out 100mW of power from the unbalanced output and over 240mW from the balanced alternative. Which is a lot by any USB DAC standards, and should allow the GO Link Max to drive pretty much any appropriate headphones without problems.

Features score: 5 / 5

iFi GO Link Max review: Sound quality

Greater dynamism and improved levels of detail
More positive, punchier sound
Across-the-board improvements

Let’s face it: only the most optimistic customers buy a new laptop or smartphone expecting sonic excellence. These devices are too noisy (in electrical terms) and too feature-heavy for audio quality to be anything other than an afterthought. If you want great sound while you’re out and about or at your desk, a dedicated music player might seem to be the way forward. iFi, though, disagrees – and the way this GO Link Max can make your laptop or smartphone sound demonstrates that as long as the critical stuff is done properly, these can be just as viable a source of music as the most expensive stand-along digital audio player.

The difference in quality between plugging a pair of headphones directly into the headphone socket of an Apple MacBook Pro, say, and plugging the same headphones into the GO Link Max having connected it via its USB-C is really remarkable. The gains are far from mild, and they are wide-ranging. In all honesty, the reproduction is of an entirely different standard.

Take mid-range resolution, for instance. A 16bit/44.1kHz file of Lisa O’Neill’s Old Note is more detailed, more direct, carries greater harmonic variation and is, in the final analysis, simply more communicative and eloquent when heard via the iFi USB DAC. Daft Punk’s Get Lucky as a 24bit/48kHz FLAC file demonstrates greater low-frequency depth and texture, increased dynamic headroom, and an altogether more assured way with rhythm and tempo management. And Lobbo by Vieux Farka Touré et Khruangbin as a 24bit/96kHz file has greater bite and presence at the top of the frequency range, as well as increased substance.

The frequency range hangs together more smoothly and confidently, and the tonal balance is improved too. Soundstaging is more open, better defined and far more effectively controlled than it is when you leave the computer to deal with things. There’s just no aspect of music reproduction that the iFi GO Link Pro doesn’t deal with far more effectively than an expensive, high-end laptop computer.

Sound quality: 5 / 5

iFi GO Link Max review: Design

Braided connecting cable
150 x 15 x 10mm (HxWxD)
14.5g

Just as with the ‘features’ section, the GO Link DAC is a functional, no-frills device where ‘design’ is concerned. This is a product that needs to be as small, light and portable as is realistically possible, and that’s exactly what iFi has delivered.

The metal casework of the two sections of the DAC feel and look good, and give a hint of the premium to what’s a necessarily discreet device. There’s a single LED on the main body of the GO Link Max, which lights up in one of a selection of colours to indicate the size of the digital audio file it’s dealing with – though I can’t help thinking it’s a bit of a shame that the same colour (green) indicates PCM all the way up to 96kHz. A little visual confirmation that 96kHz is a significantly higher resolution than 44.1kHz might be nice…

The only aspect of the design that’s in any way problematic is the braided cable that joins the two sections of the DAC, and even then, this is a theoretical issue rather than anything tangible. iFi reckons the braiding helps shield the cable from outside interference, and I’ve no reason to think that’s not the case – it just feels a bit vulnerable for a product that’s likely to spend a lot of its life in a pocket or a bag.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

iFi GO Link Max Review: Usability and setup

Plug into your smartphone or laptop
Plug in your headphones
Away you go!

“It’s not rocket science” is, I think, too weak a description for how straightforward the iFi GO Link Max is to use. Plugging the USB-C end into your laptop or smartphone at one end, and your headphones in at the other, doesn’t require in-depth instructions - and if you can’t get this device up and running in mere seconds, I don’t think any amount of instructions are likely to help.

Usability and setup score: 5 / 5

iFi GO Link Max review: Value

You simply can't argue with the value for money here
Does what it does in fine style

The iFi GO Link Max represents unarguable value for money. The latent fragility of the cable aside, it’s robustly made, properly finished, light and portable – and it does what it does in fine style. If you want to maximise your portable and/or desktop audio experience without spending an arm and a leg, you really can’t go wrong here.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the iFi GO Link Max?

Buy it if...

You take portable or desktop listening seriously
Getting the best audio quality possible out of your laptop or smartphone really couldn’t be any easier

You own some half-decent wired headphones
A balanced output is particularly welcome, and it makes plain just how serious a device the GO Link Max is

You have access to genuinely hi-res digital audio content
The ability to deal with 32bit/384kHz and DSD256 files is most certainly not to be sniffed at

Don't buy it if...

You’re ham-fisted
It’s not as if the cable connecting the two pieces of my GO Link DAC has failed - it just feels like it might

iFi GO Link Max review: Also consider

If you can live without the 4.4mmm balanced output, the even smaller, even lighter iFi GO Link USB DAC makes a whole lot of sense – especially as it’s usefully cheaper than the already-quite-affordable GO Link Max. If you want to free yourself for the ubiquity of iFi, though, it’s worth considering FiiO’s KA13 – by iFi standards its relatively bulky, but it get the job done in fine style.

How I tested the iFi GO Link Max

Qobuz and Tidal; Android smartphone and Apple MacBook with Colibri software
Sennheiser IEMs; Austrian Audio over-ears

I plugged the iFi GO Link Max into a Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone using the USB-C connection, and into an Apple MacBook Pro using the same socket. I also connected it to an Apple iPhone 14 Pro via the Lightning adapter. Each device is loaded with Qobuz and TIDAL music streaming service apps, and the laptop also features Colibri software to get around Apple’s inexplicable disdain for truly hi-res digital files. Headphones included Sennheiser IE900 (connected using the 4.4mm socket) and Austrian Audio Hi-X20 (using the 3.5mm equivalent), and music came from every era and every genre. I listened to the GO Link Max for well over a working week this way – and it was no kind of hardship.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

« Previous Page — Next Page »