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Technics SL-1200GR2 review: an iconic DJ deck design and sound for audiophiles
6:00 pm | February 11, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Turntables | Tags: | Comments: Off

Technics SL-1200GR2: Two-minute review

The Technics SL-100GR2 is the latest version of a design that the brand has been refining and finessing for over five decades now. The SL-1200 is an unarguable design classic – and while this SL-100GR2 version nods more than somewhat towards its lineage, it features one or two enhancements that are intended to keep it at the forefront of consumer’s minds – or, at least, those consumers with a couple of grand to drop on a new turntable.

So as well as the features familiar to anyone who’s ever hung around the DJ booth on a night out, the SL-100GR2 has a reworked direct drive motor arrangement and a new power supply. Unlike some of the best turntables, what it doesn’t have, though, is a cartridge – so be sure to factor that in when you’re working out your budget…

Once you’ve selected, purchased and fitted your cartridge, you’ll be treated to a sound of rare positivity and composure. The SL-1200GR2 is a direct, solid and properly organised listen, with proper talent for integrating the frequency range, establishing a persuasive soundstage and generally making your records sound clean and composed. It’s not the last word in dynamic potency, it’s true – but that trait needs to be balanced against all the things the Technics does beautifully. 

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Price and release date

The Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Priced at $2190 / £1799 / AU$2999
  • Released in December 2023

The Technics SL-1200GR2 is on sale now. In the US, you’ll need to part with around $2199. For those in the UK, it sells for a maximum of £1799, while in Australia you’re looking at AU$2999 or something quite like it. That’s not the end of your spending, either – at the very least you’re going to need a cartridge…

And it’s not as if you’re short of choice if you’re fortunate enough to have this sort of money to spend on a record player. Two TechRadar.com favourites immediately spring to mind: the aptX Bluetooth-equipped Cambridge Audio Alva TT v2 and the exquisite Clearaudio Concept. They sit either side of the Technics in terms of price – but each comes with a very acceptable cartridge attached. 

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Features

The Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Hi-fi deck, DJ features
  • 230mm S-shaped tonearm 
  • Coreless motor 

Technics is adamant that the SL-1200GR2 is a hi-fi deck, rather than a piece of DJ equipment – users who need to be able to scratch, for instance, are directed towards the SL-1200mk7 instead. But get a look at the GR2 from above – it certainly seems to have one or two DJ credentials to me…

Just to the right of the 230mm S-shaped tonearm, for example, is a defeatable pitch control giving up to +/- 8 percent variation. At the front edge of the surface there’s a blue LED-lit stroboscope to indicate rotational accuracy, and a white LED target light for accurate cueing in the dark. 

And, of course, the big ‘stop/start’ button produces nigh-on immediate results – the SL-1200GR2 comes up to speed in an instant, which is the sort of feature a DJ relies on. Admittedly, the ability to play at 78rpm – by pressing the ‘33.3’ and ‘45’ rpm button simultaneously, isn’t all that DJ-centric, but you nevertheless take my point…

As with some previous versions, the SL-1200GR2 uses a coreless direct drive motor in an effort to eliminate the dreaded ‘cogging’ – the less-than-perfectly-consistent rotation that can be evident in some direct drive designs. For this model, though, Technics has augmented this with something it calls ‘delta sigma drive’ - this software package delivers a cleaner signal to the motor to help it turn more consistently, eliminating those minute variations that can cause cogging. 

There’s also a new multi-stage switching power supply, supposedly much quieter and less prone to electrical noise than a bog-standard analogue alternative. It works in conjunction with noise-cancellation circuitry first seen in the (horrifically expensive) SL-1000R turntable, and a low-voltage power supply, to keep the noise floor as low as is realistically possible. 

Features score: 5 / 5 

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Sound quality

The Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Positive, direct presentation 
  • Cleanly informative and full-bodied sound
  • Not the most dynamic listen around

The headline – and this will come as no kind of spoiler to anyone who’s heard a Technics turntable over the past few decades – is that the SL-1200GR2 is a direct and unequivocal listen. When it comes to giving a complete, unambiguous and easy-to-understand account of recording, it’s money very well spent indeed.

A listen to a heavyweight reissue of Trans Fatty Acid (K&D Session) by Lamb illustrates the fact in some style. From the top of the frequency range to the bottom, the Technics presents a unified, coherent sound – each area of the frequency range gets precisely the correct amount of weighting, and despite the nature of the recording there’s no overstating or underplaying of any area. Low frequencies are deep and punchy, naturally – but they’re also rigorously controlled, straight-edged at the leading edges of sounds, and carry plenty of information regarding tone and texture along with out-and-out muscularity. Momentum is good, and rhythmic expression is natural and convincing.

It’s a similar story at the top of the frequency range, where substance is just as well-represented as speed, and there’s plenty of tonal variation to give proper colour and balance to the sound. Treble sounds attack with crisp determination, but any latent edginess or hardness remains just that: latent. Even if you like to listen at nightclub volumes, the SL-1200GR2 stays composed and unabrasive.

In between, smoothly integrated into the information above and below it, the midrange communicates easily. There’s more than enough detail available to give the vocal - somewhat buried in the mix and electronically treated around its edges - the chance to express itself, and the SL-1200GR2’s soundstaging abilities mean there’s plenty of space in what is quite a busy mix for the midrange to shine. The stage is wide and deep, and organised to the point that there’s no blurring of boundaries between one element of the recording and the next. Without sounding remote or estranged, each individual strand is secure in its own pocket of space.

Where the Technics is found slightly wanting against the best of its nominal rivals is with dynamic expression. The small dynamic variations of tone and timbre that are apparent in instruments or voices are identified and contextualised, most certainly – but when it comes to the big dynamic shifts that come in a switch from ‘quiet contemplation’ to ‘big charge into the final chorus’  (such as in Pixies’ Tame, for example) the SL-1200GR2 doesn’t quite breathe deeply enough. It doesn’t track changes in intensity as rigorously as it might, and the changes it does identify it struggles to express quite as fully as other turntables can manage. Which means you won’t be in for any sudden surprises, but also that you might not get quite as visceral an account of a recording as you might be after.   

Sound quality: 4.5 / 5

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Design

Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • All-silver (or all-black)
  • Built to last
  • 11.5kg

You know what you’re getting here, don’t you? After all, this is a) a record player and b) a Technics SL-1200 record player – and while the original SL-1200 from 1972 looked a little different to this, by the launch of the SL-1200 mkII in 1979 the design was basically set in stone. Technics has tinkered around the edges of the design ever since, but fundamentally this looks like a turntable from over 40 years ago. I’m all for it.

So what you get is a 173 x 453 x 372mm (HxWxD) rectangle with a circle on it. The top of the chassis is made from cast aluminium, the bottom from a bulk moulding compound material - this combination is designed to minimise vibration and offer optimum damping, and it goes a long way to explaining the Technics’ 11.5kg weight. On top of this is a rubber-damped aluminium platter, and the whole thing is topped off by a hinged clear Perpsex dust-cover. Support comes in the shape of four adjustable silicone rubber feet that assist both with levelling the deck and rejection of external vibrations.

A small but effective design flourish for the GR2 is that the SL-1200 is now an all-silver design, while the corresponding SL-1210 is all-black. Previous models have been ‘mostly silver’ or ‘mostly black’, but this new, more rigorous approach to colour-coding the turntable’s accessories and peripherals makes for a cleaner, even more upmarket look.     

Design score: 5 / 5 

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Usability and setup

The Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Iffy tonearm lift
  • Not as tricky to set up as the manual might suggest
  • Choose a cartridge 

Not every instruction manual advises you to be ‘tentative’ when setting up your new piece of equipment – but Technics has seemingly decided that putting the frighteners on new SL-1200GR2 owners when they first unbox their turntable is the best way to ensure accidents don’t happen.

In truth, the SL-1200GR2 is no more difficult to set up than any other high-end record player and actually a sight easier than some. Once you’ve adjusted its feet to make sure it’s sitting perfectly level, it’s really only a question of adjusting tracking and anti-skate controls and you’re basically in business.

Or, at least, you are once you’ve selected a cartridge. Technics supplies a simple-to-fit bayonet headshell with the GR2, but not a cartridge – so you’ll have to decide on what will suit you best and what you can realistically afford. I’d suggest budgeting around $500 / £500 / AU$650 in order to do some justice to the Technics’ abilities – for the majority of this test, I use an Ortofon Quintet Bronze moving-coil cartridge that sells for anywhere between $450—600 / £450—600 / AU$600—850.

Once that’s done, the SL-1200GR2 is simplicity itself to use. With the exception of the rather vague and relatively flimsy-feeling tonearm lift mechanism, all the control function with the sort of chunky precision this range of turntables has become famous for.

 Usability and setup score: 4 / 5

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Value

Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Not competitively priced
  • Plenty of competition 

Yes, it’s a design classic. Yes, it’s built to withstand even medium-sized detonations. Yes, it has plenty to recommend it where the sound it makes is concerned. But it’s not without competition at this price point. Also the fact that you’re looking at another $500 / £500 / AU$650 or so for a cartridge to do its engineering some justice, means the Technics SL-1200GR2 isn’t exactly nailed-on value for money.

Should you buy the Technics SL-1200GR2?

Buy it if... 

Don't buy it if...

Technics SL-1200GR2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Technics SL-1200GR2

Technics SL-1200GR2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested with a Chord phonostage and a Naim amplifier
  • Hooked up to Bowers & Wilkins speakers
  • Fitted an Ortofon Quintet Bronze MC cartridge 
  • Using a lot of records for quite a long time 

Set up isn’t tricky – or, at least, no trickier than it ever is when a cartridge needs to be fitted. After that, the SL-1200GR2 played into a Chord Huei phonostage, which was attached to a Naim Uniti Star amplifier, which in turn was attached to a pair of 705 S3 loudspeakers by Bowers & Wilkins. 

After that, I must admit I found it no hardship whatsoever to dig out dozens of my favourite records and listen to them under the guise of ‘work’. After having done this for well over a week, I had to admit to myself that I had probably finished testing…  

  • First reviewed February 2024
Earfun Air 2 review: some of the best budget earbuds around
3:00 pm | February 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Earfun Air 2: Three-minute review

The Earfun Air 2 are a shining example of how you don’t need to spend a lot to get great earbuds. Of course, there was a time when buying budget tech meant settling for low-quality products that lacked features, durability or overall quality, but that’s no longer the case. 

With how many affordable headphones it sells, it’s no wonder that Earfun has worked out how to make really cracking earbuds on a budget. These sound better than any other audio product I’ve tested from Earfun, with distinct treble and bass, and more of a soundstage than you’d expect for the price.

The design is fantastic too, with both the buds and the charging case being slender and lightweight. The latter will remain in your ears through thick and thin, and the latter are easy to fit into small pockets.

Feature-wise, there are some basics here like an app EQ system to let you tweak your music a little, but one surprising stand-out is the presence of wireless charging, which you certainly can’t guarantee on products at this price. You won’t need to use it too much, thanks to the impressive battery life of the Air 2, but it’s great that you have the option available.

Some missing or hard-to-use features may put some buyers off the Earfun Air 2, though. One such example is the lack of any noise cancellation – some may consider a feature to remove background noises necessary in earbuds in this day and age, though if you don’t really care about ANC, you won’t mind.

The touch controls are also, in true Earfun fashion, a little hard to use, and quickly into testing the Air 2 I resorted to simply using my smartphone in order to control volume and songs. Again, this isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s worth pointing out the issue to paint a full picture.

Despite this, these beasts easily win their place on our round-up of the best budget wireless earbuds, costing just $49.99 / £49.99 (roughly AU$75) yet swinging for the fences with impressive audio, a lightweight design and some handy features that let you customize your audio experience. Overall, the Air 2 are another pair of seriously impressive low-budget earbuds from Earfun, and you likely won’t be disappointed by what they offer for the price. 

Earfun Air 2 review: Price and release date

The Earfun Air 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Yet to be released
  • Priced at $49.99 / £49.99 (roughly AU$75)

The Earfun Air 2 are cheap even compared to other products from this company, which specializes in affordable audio. In fact, disregarding discounted products, they’re actually the cheapest earbuds Earfun offers at the time of writing this review.

To buy them at full price, you’ll be paying $49.99 / £49.99 (roughly AU$75), a lovely low cost that makes them some of the cheapest headphones you can buy right now. Most Earfun products hover between $50 and $100, or equivalent.

Earfun’s latest earbuds are some of the most affordable we've seen for a long time, costing less than competitors like the Earfun Free Pro 3, Air Pro 3 and Air S (and many more, but doing so would risk me complaining about how confusingly-named Earfun’s portfolio is!). 

That price makes them cheaper than all but one of the entries in our round-up of the best cheap earbuds. That means they're undercut only by 2022’s Jlab Go Air Pop, which launched for $20 / £20 / AU$49.95 and are available for less in sales.

At the time of writing this review, the Earfun Air 2 don’t have a set release date, and you can’t even pre-order them yet, but that’ll hopefully change soon. 

Earfun Air 2 review: Specs

Earfun Air 2 review: Features

The Earfun Air 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Total battery life of up to 40 hours
  • Simple to set up and use
  • App brings handy, though not necessary, extra features

Earfun offers a few of the basic features you’d expect on wireless earbuds with its Air 2, and then a lovely extra one.

You can use the Earfun Audio app to fiddle with the EQ of your earbuds, which is a handy too for people who know their audio preferences. You can jump between presets, like rock or pop, or create your own custom EQ using a fairly easy-to-use tool.

The app is also used to toggle a gaming mode, which improves latency for audio, but other than retooling the touch controls (more on that later), that’s all the app does. You don’t need to download it to use the Air 2, which is a big plus.

One feature missing that may put off some audio fans is the lack of any kind of noise cancellation, which is perhaps a sign of the buds’ low price. There’s actually noise cancellation tech in the microphones, making a call sound a bit clearer, but not for your music. Another conspicuously absent tool is wear detection, so you’ll have to manually stop your music from playing, instead of relying on any wear detection to turn it off when you remove the buds.

Setting up the Earfun Air 2 was incredibly easy, both on its first use and then every subsequent time I wanted to listen to music – simplicity really is the name of the game here. You can even connect the Air 2 to multiple devices, so you can easily switch between your phone and, say, your PC or tablet.

The stated battery life for the Earfun Air 2 buds are 9 hours of music listening, with the case rounding that up to 40 hours, and testing suggests that these figures are accurate. That’s a really competitive battery life – not all buds offer a full working day of lasting power!

It takes roughly 90 minutes for the earbuds to charge from full to empty when in the case, and the case itself takes a little longer than that when charged using a cable. However Earfun offers something here that’s almost unheard of for budget earbuds: you can power up the case using wireless charging too. So if you like powering up your phone or smartwatch on a powering mat or pad, the Earfun can join them.

  • Features score: 3/5

Earfun Air 2 review: Design

The Earfun Air 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Svelte charging case
  • Buds have AirPods-like look
  • Lightweight and protected

The charging case for the Earfun Air 2 is lovely and petite, weighing just 45g and measuring 62 x 47.5 x 25mm – you can easily slip it into pockets with no issue. It houses a USB-C port for charging the case, a rather well-hidden pairing button, and not a lot else.

The earbuds themselves have an AirPods-esque design with a stalk that dangles down from the buds. Each weighs 4.5g and they fit comfortably in the ear – I never had any fit issues during testing, unlike with certain other Earfun buds I’ve tested. The box contains several different eartip sizes too, so you can change them if you find the buds slipping out.

One of the few design features the Earfuns boast is touch controls, but after having wrangled with this feature, I’d recommend avoiding it. In the Earfun app you can assign functions for single, double, triple and held presses for each individual earbud, but I found that the buds were reticent to acknowledge taps. This was particularly annoying when trying to enable the triple-tap function; the odds of the Air 2 recognizing all three taps is incredibly low!

The Earfun Air 2 have an IPX7 certification. In practice, that means they’re technically protected against immersion of up to a meter for 30 minutes. We wouldn’t recommend testing it, just to be safe, but rest assured they’re safe to wear in rainy conditions.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air 2 review: Sound quality

The Earfun Air 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Surprisingly good for price
  • Max volume could be higher

For the price, the Earfun Air 2 are really impressive when it comes to audio fidelity – in fact, they might convince some people who were going to spend more, that you really don’t need to.

The strongest suit of the Air 2 is the treble, as it’s clear and crisp, though some peaking occurs when you’re listening at max volume. You might find yourself hitting max volume frequently too, as it’s not actually that loud, so be warned.

Bass is impressive here too, as it’s all-too-often lost in budget earbuds. You can easily hear basslines and lower instruments against the treble ones, and if there’s any gripes we can level against the buds, it’s that mid audio can be lost in some songs.

Perhaps to thank for the great sound quality is the use of a Sony audio codac that allows for more audio information to be sent from your music-playing device to the buds. The Earfun also support Bluetooth 5.3 for better connection reliability, and the Air 2’s maximum working range is roughly 15 meters as a result.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Earfun Air 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Earfun Air 2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Earfun Air 2

The Earfun Air 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for 10 days
  • Tested at home, in the office and on walks

The Earfun Air 2 were subjected to 19 days of testing for this review, and by 'testing' I mean 'lots of audio streaming'. This was done in the office, at home and on walks through my neighborhood.

I connected the Air 2 to my Xiaomi Mi Note 10 phone and used it for a variety of tasks including streaming music from Spotify, watching Netflix videos, playing Call of Duty: Mobile and conducting phone calls with my mum.

I've been testing tech gadgets for TechRadar for over five years now; currently, I write freelance for several sections (and have tested other EarFun headphones for the audio section) but previously I worked as a staff writer and section editor for the phones section. 

  • First reviewed in February 2024
Jabra Elite 8 Active review: are these the best earbuds for working out?
4:36 pm | February 5, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Jabra Elite 8 Active: One minute review

The Jabra Elite 8 Active are the latest true wireless earbuds from Jabra’s Active range of earbuds, which are all designed with a fitness focus. They follow the Jabra Elite 7 Active and offer several improvements, including a higher IP68 rating for dust- and water-resistance, boosted ANC performance, and a bigger bud design for added stability. 

What sets the Active range apart from Jabra’s regular Elite models is that the former are more durable, with a focus on grip and stability, while the Elite buds – including the latest Jabra Elite 10 – boast better sound and Dolby Atmos head-tracking, as well as more advanced ANC. 

The result is a pair of earbuds with a sports-focused design that prioritizes comfort, stability and durability, solid sound and ANC performance, and good battery life. Sure, they may fall slightly short of high-end buds in terms of sound – and won’t be knocking any buds from the top few spots in our best true wireless earbuds guide. However, the Jabra Elite 8 Active are strong contenders to be one of the best workout earbuds we’ve tested. Find out why in our Jabra Elite 8 Active review below. 

Jabra Elite 8 Active review: Price and availability

  • Priced at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329
  • Released September 2023

The Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds were released in September 2023 and cost $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329. However, on Jabra’s US website you’ll find them discounted from $199.99 to $179.99 at the time of writing, a discount that could follow through into other regions.

They’re pricier than the Jabra Elite 7 Active at launch, which cost $179 / £169 / AU$279 in 2021. This makes sense considering the Elite 8 Active arrive with upgrades. They come in lower than the latest Elite launch, the Jabra Elite 10, which cost $249.99 / £229.99 / AU$379. Again, that’s to be expected when you take into account that although the Elite buds miss out on some sports features, they do come with better-quality sound.

In terms of how the Jabra Elite 8 Active compares to other models in the broader workout earbuds space, they’re competitively priced and most similar to options from Beats, such as the Beats Fit Pro, which cost the same in most regions at $199 / £199 / AU$299.95.  

These aren’t budget buds, but I do think they’re near-perfect for a fitness pair: the IP68 rating means they’re durable, they stay put through all sorts of exercise, plus they sound decent and feel incredibly comfortable for extended workout sessions.

Yes, the Jabra Elite 10 are likely to be the better option for those who aren’t looking for a pair of fitness earbuds. They may be more expensive, but for the money you’re getting superior sound. For those whose budget won’t stretch to the Elite 8 Active, there are fitness buds that offer decent sound and stability for less, such as the Amazfit Powerbuds Pro.

Nevertheless, if fitness is a priority and you’re willing to spend a mid to high-end range price for some of the best sports buds out there, the Jabra Elite 8 Active are well worth considering. 

  • Value score: 4.5 / 5

Jabra Elite 8 Active review: Specifications

Jabra Elite 8 Active review: Design

Jabra Elite 8 Active

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
  • Comfortable and secure fit
  • Durable build, IP68 rated
  • Silicone matte finish

Looks-wise, you might find the Jabra Elite 8 Active a little dull. However, I was a fan of the simple design that sits neatly in my ears; I’m really a little bored of the shiny, long-stem look of the majority of true wireless earbuds. I also welcomed the fact that the Elite 8 Actives are available in a range of colors, comprising simple understated shades such dark blue, caramel, grey and black. 

The exterior of the buds are coated in a soft silicone, which Jabra says helps keep them in place. I completely agree – it adds a more grippy quality. While the coating here can make dust and smudgy fingerprints as visible as they would be on a high-shine finish, I appreciate the way this soft, almost velvety, texture feels both in my hands and my ears. 

The buds are supplied with three sizes of silicone ear tips, which feels a little stingy for buds that are all about stability. I doubt they’ll suit everyone – although I have notoriously tiny ear canals and the small fit was perfect. Not only did they create a comfortable seal, but even when worn through a wide range of workouts, it was only once during yoga, where I moved swiftly from a standing pose into a forward fold, did a single bud become loose. A simple twist back in saw them sit securely through the rest of the class. Otherwise, they were able to withstand runs indoors and out, and a number of HIIT and weight training sessions without issue.

Featuring an IP68 rating, this basically means the Elite 8 Active can be submerged up to 1.5 meters in water, which makes them extremely sweatproof plus they’d survive a drop into a pool of water (although I wouldn’t recommend it). They’ll also withstand dust clouds and drops of water from more than a meter high. 

The accompanying charging case sports the same finish as the buds, with a simple design that flips open at the top. It’s a little bigger than the case that accompanies the Jabra Elite 7 Active and weighs 46.4g. It’s worth mentioning that the case isn’t as durable as the buds themselves, with an IP54 rating, which means it can handle sweat but we’d keep it well clear of water.

  • Design score: 5 / 5 

Jabra Elite 8 Active review: Features

Jabra Elite 8 Active

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
  • Good ANC
  • App with EQ
  • Solid battery life at 32 hours in total

The Jabra Elite 8 Active work with the Jabra app, which covers the essential features and is easy to use. I enjoyed tweaking the EQ here, as well as trialling some of the music presets: Bass boost and Energize, for example, which was ideal for early morning workouts. 

Jabra says the ANC here has been significantly boosted since the Elite 7 Active, and in use it’s better than most I’ve tested, masking the majority sounds. Now, only the very low rumbling of traffic, or the high squealing of a baby crying will penetrate the cocoon of sound. So while they may fall a little short of the standard set by the best noise-cancelling earbuds around, they do a solid job, beating most mid-range buds hands-down.

If you do need to hear sounds around you, the Elite 8 Active buds feature a HearThrough mode. This works in a similar way to most high-end buds, allowing you to have conversations or listen out for announcements without having to take the buds out of your ears. Note that you can also adjust levels within the app.

Call quality isn’t exceptional, but it’s good, blocking out most exterior sounds. Unless you need buds for multiple, important calls all-day-long, the Elite 8 Active will suffice. 

For battery life, these buds deliver 8 hours of listening time with ANC on, and 32 hours in total with the charging case. This makes the Jabra Elite 8 Active a decent option not only for working out, but for a day at the office as well as commuting and most plane journeys.

Rival buds such as the Beats Fit Pro provide only 6 hours of listening with ANC on and a total of 24 hours with the case. The Beats PowerBeats Pro offer 9 hours from the buds and only 24 hours in total with the case. As far as workout earbuds go, the battery life on offer from the Elite 8 Active is at the top of the class.

These buds arrive with a small charging case that opens at the top and connects to power via USB-C, and which supports wireless charging, too. 

Controls are located on the buds themselves – on the flat surface of the bud, where there’s a little “Jabra” logo. They work well, allowing you to change tracks and adjust the volume. I did find that multiple press gestures did result in my pushing the buds further into my ears, which changed the fit slightly. This isn’t a deal-breaker; I got round the issue by customizing my most-used gestures to a single press, which you do through the app. 

Another notable feature includes multipoint pairing of up to 10 different devices. This is great news if you plan to use them while you work and want to seamlessly move between a laptop and a phone, for example.

  • Features score: 4.5 / 5

Jabra Elite 8 Active: Performance

Jabra Elite 8 Active

(Image credit: Becca Caddy)
  • 6mm drivers
  • Powerful, bassy sound
  • Dolby Spatial Audio isn’t the best

I found the Jabra Elite 8 Active an incredibly fun listen, particularly when working out. They deliver a super-clear, powerful sound that works across all genres, and a particularly powerful bass. This was evident when listening to the back catalogue of The White Stripes; here, drums at the low end and cymbals at the high end stood out more than usual. 

I wasn’t convinced that as much attention had been paid to the mids. Nevertheless, as I mentioned above, if you’re someone who listens to a lot of tracks with vocals and want to boost the mids, you can make tweaks in the EQ settings in the app. 

There’s no head-tracking sound here, which might please some people. Instead, you get a small passive soundstage, with music appearing to come from inside your head, rather than all around you. You’ll find support for Dolby Spatial Audio, which promises a more immersive experience, which you can enable from within the Jabra app. I welcomed the feature when watching movies with my buds in, as well as when listening to some movie soundtracks. 

However, it made regular audio sound a bit strange and unnatural, so I kept it switched off most of the time.

Unfortunately, there’s only support for SBC and AAC; no high-res codecs such as aptX and LDAC are on offer here. Again, this isn’t a deal-breaker, but it may well push audiophiles towards more accomplished alternatives such as the Sony WF-1000XM4 or more recent Sony WF-1000XM5 buds with LDAC. 

  • Performance score: 4/5 

Jabra Elite 8 Active: Scorecard

Jabra Elite 8 Active: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I used the Jabra Elite 8 Active for three weeks. I used them as I worked at home at my desk, and while working from a busy coffee shop. I also wore them through all of my workouts – from running outdoors during a storm (not intentionally), while bending, twisting and (sort of) managing a few headstands in a yoga session, and in the gym doing a lot of bodyweight training and weight training. 

I used them with an iPhone 14 Pro and MacBook Pro, moving between Spotify and Apple Music. I also listened to some YouTube Videos and watched Netflix TV shows and movies to get a sense of the experience they offered with different media. 

I’ve had nearly 12 years of experience writing about tech, in particular reviewing consumer tech products that people wear and use every day, including headphones and fitness trackers. Over the past few years, I’ve focused on reviewing mid-range earbuds and headphones built for fitness, so I know what the space looks like and can make comparisons based on months of testing. 

Tribit StormBox Flow review: simple and effective with an incredible battery life
1:00 pm | February 3, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Tribit StormBox Flow: Two-minute review

The Tribit StormBox Flow is a neat portable Bluetooth speaker that packs more of a punch than you’d expect. It’s certainly not stylish but if you look past that and appreciate how simple it is to use, it’s pretty good value for money.

The Tribit StormBox Flow sounds far better than you’d expect. At high volumes it struggles for clarity, but at more comfortable levels for your ears, it sounds crisp with some strong bass booming through. 

That’s further helped by the companion app where you can adjust the EQ to your desired needs or you can just pick out a preset option with some reasonable choices available. It’s all simply laid out even if the app also lacks the wow factor. 

Other useful features include being able to charge your phone via the Tribit StormBox Flow if you’re stuck for power. Also, you can pair it with another Tribit StormBox Flow for stereo sound which works well. 

Priced at $79.99 in the US and £79.99 in the UK, it’s a little cheaper than other rivals among the best Bluetooth speakers in this price range, but there are some design differences in comparison to these.

There’s IP67 waterproofing to help it rival the best waterproof speakers and a robust build with tactile buttons for easy tapping. A strap on one end means you can grab it easily too, although it is a little weightier than some of the competition.

That’s the thing about the Tribit StormBox Flow. It ticks all the right boxes but it won’t stir up excitement. Not everything needs to be exciting and the Tribit StormBox Flow is certainly dependable. If that’s what you need, you won’t be disappointed.

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Price and release date

The Tribit StormBox Flow on a bench

There are plenty of physical controls on the speaker itself for power, volume and more.   (Image credit: Future)
  • Released in August 2023
  • Costs $79.99 / £79.99
  • Available in the US and UK

The Tribit StormBox Flow was launched in August 2023 and is available to buy across the US and the UK. It's priced at $79.99 and £79.99 respectively, but the speaker is already discounted at third-party retailers like Amazon. 

Like much of Tribit’s range, the Tribit StormBox Flow is well-priced, costing a little more than budget offerings such as the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2, while being cheaper than mid-range options from JBL like the JBL Flip 6. 

It’s heftier than some of the most portable Bluetooth speakers like the Stormbox Micro 2, but it’s still fairly easy to grab and take places with you.  

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Specs

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Features

Tribit StormBox Flow control app

The Tribit control app lets you switch sound modes and customize EQ settings.  (Image credit: Future)
  • IP67 waterproofing
  • Companion app and EQ button
  • Can pair with other Tribit Stormbox Flow speakers

The Tribit StormBox Flow is designed to be taken around with you easily. It has a loose handle on one side so you can easily grab it. It could also be hooked on certain things including a tree. Because yes, the Tribit StormBox Flow is designed for the outdoors. While it doesn’t look massively robust, it offers IP67 waterproofing. 

It’s reasonably lightweight too although not quite ‘I didn’t realise it was in this bag’ level of light, such as the Nokia Portable Wireless Speaker 2. Battery life wise, it’s incredible. It has a massive 30 hours of playtime, which probably makes up for a tiny bit of extra bulk.

Bluetooth 5.3 helps here and also means drop-outs simply don’t happen. The speaker supports the AAC and SBC codes, although not AptX, but this isn’t really the kind of speaker you’re buying for exceptionally crisp sound (although, as we’ll see shortly, it’s still pretty good).

The Tribit StormBox Flow also pairs up with another speaker so you can enjoy stereo sound. It’s simple to set up via a couple of buttons. There’s an EQ button so you can rotate through an XBass and audiobook mode. More functionality comes from the Tribit app which allows you to create your own EQ settings as well as use one of six presets. It’s also possible to check battery life via the app with the time dipping a little if you enable XBass. It only drops to around 20-24 hours though, which is still more than good enough for most situations.

Finally, you can use the USB-C port to charge up your phone which is useful when you’re in a jam.

Features score: 4 / 5

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Sound quality

Tribit StormBox Flow on a bench

The Stormbox Flow is built to withstand being dunked under water for a small amount of time and is completely dust tight. (Image credit: Future)
  • 25W drivers
  • Volumes goes high
  • Muddy audio after a certain point

The Tribit StormBox Flow manages to go surprisingly high when you crank up the volume. For a little speaker, it’s going to boom out amongst the pool party you’re having or if you’re simply relaxing at home. The bass is the most impressive part although it does turn into a bit of a mess if you crank things up too high.

Still, the Tribit StormBox Flow is packing a punch here. Pair up two speakers like I did and it’s surprisingly compelling with a wide soundstage. I enjoyed hearing Queen’s Under Pressure all around me. Listening to Taylor Swift’s 1989 album was also suitably vibrant, offering some smooth mids. 

It’s an enjoyable listen all around. Just don’t be surprised if you lower the volume a little more than usual. Also, stick with the XBass sound mode where possible for the punchiest sound. 

Sound quality score: 4 / 5 

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Design

Tribit StormBox Flow on a bench

It's simple design, means the Stormbox Flow isn't the most of exciting of speakers.  (Image credit: Future)
  • Tactile buttons
  • EQ buttons
  • Simple design

I’m not a huge fan of how the Tribit StormBox Flow looks because it’s so simple and straightforward – it somehow manages to look less exciting than even the Bose SoundLink Flex, which costs $70 / £70 more than the Stormbox Flow. However, while far from a designing dream, it does all work suitably well.

On the top are all the buttons – power, Bluetooth, volume, EQ and a button for pairing up with another speaker. Each is raised ever so slightly so you can identify which is which without looking. Having a way to adjust the EQ without the app is useful even if it’s restricted to only a couple of predefined options. 

The power button is a little finicky about how long you need (or don’t need) to hold it down but I have a sneaky feeling that’s more my fault than anything. On the side is the USB-C port, which isn’t obscured by a flap or similar to ensure waterproofing. It’s still fine though and doesn’t cause any issues.

Design score: 3 / 5 

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Value

Tribit StormBox Flow on a bench

It's reasonable price tag means you can quite easily consider buying two to unlock the multipoint pairing feature.  (Image credit: Future)
  • A little cheaper than some of the competition 
  • Robust design
  • Unassuming 

The Tribit StormBox Flow is that device that will surprise you. It looks very unassuming and not exactly as stylish as something like the JBL Flip or Bose SoundLink Flex range but it works well. 

Also cheaper than the JBL Flip 6, the Tribit StormBox Flow makes up for its lack of looks by making it more affordable for you to buy two, while also still being pretty loud. You just might not be showing it off to all and sundry.

Should you buy the Tribit StormBox Flow?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Tribit StormBox Flow review: Also consider

How I tested the Tribit StormBox Flow

Tribit StormBox Flow on a desk

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over 10 days 
  • Used the speaker individually and paired with another 
  • 10 years of audio equipment reviewing experience

The Tribit StormBox Flow was my trusty companion throughout the last 10 days. It was by my side while I worked in my home office and thanks to its portable nature, I took it with me when I headed to the living room and kitchen for extended periods of time. 

Different locations meant I could compare the Tribit StormBox Flow against the noise of my dehumidifier, the neighbours’ never-ending construction work, and more regular noises like the air fryer ticking away in the kitchen. 

The Tribit StormBox Flow’s music choice was powered by my iPhone 14 Pro. I used a mixture of Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube to listen to. Mostly, I listened to various genres of music including pop, rock, jazz, classical, and a few other random choices. 

I also checked out how well the Tribit StormBox Flow sounded when listening to podcasts and other more talk-focused content like Twitch and YouTube videos on my phone. 

  • First reviewed January 2024
Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: hardly an entry-level DAP, but so, so worth it
6:31 pm | January 29, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Portable Media Players | Comments: Off

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: two-minute review

If you came here looking to buy into hi-res audio for a song, you’ve come to the wrong place. This may be Astell & Kern’s most affordable digital audio player, but the A&norma SR35 nevertheless represents a significant investment – and, what’s more, an investment that strongly suggests you should spend pretty big on headphones too.

The good news, though, is that it’s completely worth it. The A&norma SR35 is easily one of the best MP3 players on the market (and in terms of file support, even to call it such a thing is to do it a disservice). From the understatedly lavish nature of its build and finish to the in-no-way-understated nature of its specification, there seems no apparent compromise where the SR35 is concerned. 

Quite obviously, Astell & Kern set out to wipe the floor with any and all price-comparable competitors when the SR35 is considered as an overall package – and that’s what it’s done.

This player is nice to hold, simple and logical to operate, and a pleasure to listen to. Sonically, it’s very accomplished indeed, with the sort of all-court game that not only makes your smartphone sound like someone playing music in the next train carriage, but puts some quite well-regarded (but inevitably less expensive) dedicated digital audio players into sharp perspective too. 

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 held in a hand with headphones, on green background

If the slanted screen doesn't bother you, there's so much to love (Image credit: Future)

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: Price and release date

  • Priced $799 / £799 / AU$1,299
  • Released May 2023 

The Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it will cost you £799. It’s yours for $799 in the US, while in Australia you’ll need to part with AU$1,299.

Only in Astell & Kern-land can this be considered ‘entry-level’ – being one of the company's most affordable products in a range is not the same as being authentically ‘affordable’.

For context, the company's flagship offering, the fabulous A&ultima SP3000, will set you back an eye-watering $3,699 / £3,799 / AU$5,499. At the other end of the scale, its November 2021-issue excellent Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 MKII is now available for a little less than the newer SR35, at around $749 / £699 / AU$1,099. The difference in ticket price is negligible, especially when you factor in the age of the SR25 MKII. 

All of which is a roundabout way of saying that the SR35 had better be something pretty special to justify that price-tag…

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 held in a hand to show the headphone ports

As with the SR25 MKII, there's a 4.4 balanced headphone jack for extra connectivity (Image credit: Future)

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: Features

  • Quad Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs
  • 64GB of internal memory
  • Three headphone sockets

Like I said, it’s only possible to describe the A&norma SR35 as ‘entry level’ when you’ve digital audio players costing the thick end of four grand in your line-up. Because make no mistake, Astell & Kern has specified this player well in excess of what you might reasonably expect of the ‘entry level’. 

Amplification, for instance, is provided by a new in-house A&K design called ‘New Generation AMP’. Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by no fewer than four Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips – and if you’re trying to eke out battery life, or listening to less than fully hi-res content, the SR35 can run in ‘dual-DAC’ mode instead. This hardware is part of Astell & Kern’s ‘Teraton Alpha’ platform, designed to minimise noise, maximise performance and offer what the company casually calls ‘ultimate sound’. ‘Teraton Alpha’ has featured in Astell & Kern players before now, but only the much more expensive ones.

There are wired and wireless connectivity options here, of course. Wireless stuff runs to dual-band wi-fi (handily, the SR35 is ready to download and run numerous music streaming service apps like Apple Music, Qobuz and TIDAL – and it’s Roon Ready too) and two-way Bluetooth 5.0 (with aptX HD and LDAC codec compatibility). The USB-C socket on the bottom of the chassis can be used to transform the SR35 into a DAC (if you want to use it to deal with content stored on, for example, a laptop computer), as well as being the way to charge the internal battery.

Battery life is very dependent on how you’re using the player. Listen to 16bt/44.1kHz CD-standard content at moderate volume using wired headphones, and you should expect 20 hours or so of playback. Switch up to some properly high-resolution stuff, at big volumes, using wireless headphones, and that figure will reduce by over 50 percent. Charging from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes around two-and-a-half hours.   

Wired headphones can be plugged into one of the three headphones sockets on the player’s top edge. There’s an unbalanced 3.5mm output, of course, and there are 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced alternatives – because, as I said, this device is only nominally ‘entry level’.

Internal memory is 64GB. The operating system eats into this just a little, of course – and if you’re loading in big high-resolution files, it’s not going to be long before that’s all used up. There’s a microSD card slot next to the USB-C on the device’s base, though, and it can accept cards of up to 1TB. Which should last you a little longer.

  • Features score: 5/5

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: Design

  • 108 x 64 x 16mm (HxWxD)
  • 184g
  • Angular and aluminum

No, at 108 x 64 x 16mm (HxWxD) this isn’t the smallest digital audio player you’ver ever seen, and at 184g it’s far from the lightest around. But believe you me, by Astell & Kern standards the SR35 is compact and lightweight. 

Some of this is explained by everything that’s going on inside, of course. But it also doesn’t do to understate Astell & Kern’s desire to ‘design’ all their products to within an inch of their lives. The SR35 is built mostly of aluminium, and its chassis is so complicatedly angular that the device’s 3.6in touchscreen has to sit at an angle to fit between all the pointy edges. 

It’s equally true to say that A&K doesn’t compromise when it comes to build quality either, though. The A&norma SR35 is beautifully made, impeccably finished, and has genuine credentials as a ‘luxury accessory’ almost as obvious as it does as a ‘very nice digital audio player’.

  • Design score: 5/5

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 on its side, to show the four buttons

An unmarked quartet of brutalist black buttons. But once you know, you know (Image credit: Future)

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: Sound quality

  • Lovely tonal balance 
  • Scale and dynamism to spare
  • Iron fist and velvet glove in equal measure

You may own some downloaded audio files you wish to load onto the SR35’s internal memory. You may be a top-tier subscriber to a properly worthwhile streaming service like Qobuz or TIDAL (or both). You may be the owner of some similarly expensive and appropriately talented headphones. If you are, then you’re good to go. 

And with everything I’ve already said about battery life (and how to maximise it) taken into consideration, it’s nevertheless safe to say you’ll end up needing to recharge the SR35 more often than you anticipate. This is one of those audio devices that will steal your time away, making even the most perfunctory ‘quick listen’ into a long and pleasurable session.

Even though the SR35 thrives on the best standard of content, it’s more agnostic than many alternative players. So while you should ideally be loading up on stuff like a 24bit/192kHz FLAC file of David Bowie’s Word on a Wing via TIDAL, the Astell & Kern is perfectly happy to tolerate a 320kbps Spotify stream of We’re in Love by Boygenius. In both cases, the sound this player makes is deft, musical and entertaining like you wouldn’t believe.

Low frequencies are authentically deep, loaded with texture and alive with variation, and so very well controlled that rhythmic expression is as natural as can be. At the opposite end, treble sounds bite and crunch with real purpose – but they carry plenty of substance along with them, so they’re never splashy or hard even if you like to listen at big volumes. In between, the soundstage the Astell & Kern generates is such that voices in the midrange have an absolute stack of space in which to stretch out and express themselves – and detail levels are such that every facet of a vocal performance, its attitude and intention, is made completely plain. 

The tonal balance is every bit as pleasant; it’s natural and convincing, and utterly smooth in its emphases from the bottom of the frequency range to the top. Detail retrieval is little short of epic, and the SR35 is able to identify and accurately contextualise even the most minor, most transient occurrence in a recording. It has the sort of barrel-chested dynamism that means the quietest moments in a recording contrast with the loudest in the same way night contrasts with day. And it’s just as attentive to the spaces and silences in a recording as it is to the sounds themselves – and it makes sure the silences are pitch-dark, too. 

‘Musical’ may seem like a redundant term when talking about a digital audio player, but not every DAP deserves the description. This one, though, is musical and then some.  

  • Audio performance score: 5/5

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 held in a ahnd to show off the rotary volume dial, on colorful background

The rotary volume dial: still a winner  (Image credit: Future)

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: Usability and setup

  • 3.6in 720 x 1080 hi-res touchscreen
  • Adapted Android interface
  • A few physical controls too

The A&norma SR35 sees the first appearance of Astell & Kern’s new crimson-and-black user interface – and the company is right when it says it’s easier on the eye and more straightforward to understand than the rather more sudden interface it replaces. And that’s just as well, because at 3.6in this is far from the biggest touchscreen around; users with fingers like His Royal Highness will need to be very careful indeed.

Astell & Kern is to be congratulated for not just porting over the full Android interface – after all, why take up valuable memory and processing power duplicating functions your smartphone is perfectly capable of dealing with? So this interface is familiar, but far more focused on what’s actually important.

This means that as well as the nuts-and-bolts of installing your preferred music streaming services, you can adjust the player’s audio output via a 20-band equaliser. You can rearrange the layout of playback controls. You can adjust screen brightness, set a volume limit, and toggle the USB mode between ‘media player’ or ‘DAC’. You can audition four different DAC filters and a few amp settings. And you can do plenty more besides – so if you’re the sort of end user who likes to get fully involved, the SR35 has you covered.

There are a few nicely implemented physical controls here too. The top right of the chassis features Astell & Kern’s trademark jewel-like volume control – it moves with very pleasing weight and resistance. On the top left, meanwhile, four little buttons take care of ‘power on/off’, ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards’ and ‘skip backwards’. A&K doesn't mark these buttons, that would upset the aesthetic. But you'll be listening so often, you'll soon get the hang of it. 

  • Usability and setup score: 5/5

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: Value

  • A&K's entry-level player – but 'entry-level' is questionable at best
  • Tech from models much higher up the food chain
  • A&K's premium players cost quadruple the price, but still 

In absolute terms, the A&norma SR35 represents, at best, questionable value for money. 

That it is well-made and sounds excellent is not up for question, and it’s hard to argue with the user experience it offers too. But there’s no doubt you’re paying a premium for the industrial design that always sets Astell & Kern products apart.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: Should you buy it?

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 held in a hand, scrolling the volume up to 120

This plucky player was driving the huge, open-back FT5 headphones at the time and – doing a marvellous job (Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review: Also consider

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: How I tested it

  • Myriad styles of music
  • Lots of different file types and sizes
  • A long listen (although not as long as I would have liked)

I plugged balanced and unbalanced headphones into the A&norma SR35, as well as wireless alternatives, and I used both in-ear and over-ear models. I listened to music from Arvo Pärt to Aretha Franklin and all points in between, and I listened to big, uncompressed FLAC files as well as indecently compressed stuff from Apple Music. 

Overall, I listened for what must have been a week or so – although it seemed much less than that when the time came to return the player to Astell & Kern… 

  • First reviewed January 2024
Final Audio UX2000 review: lacking in looks but extremely budget friendly
1:00 pm | January 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Final Audio UX2000 review: Two-minute review

At first grab, the Final Audio UX2000 feels pretty cheap and flimsy. It's when I folded them up for the first time that I started liking them. This mean they fit in your bag or on your desk well but even better? They are actually worth grabbing for more than just their portable design. 

These might not be some of the absolute best over-ear headphones but you could do a lot worse. Sound quality is the highlight here with a wide soundstage, strong bass, yet decently crisp mids too. During my testing, I listen to a lot of different genres and the Final Audio UX2000 didn’t let the side down with anything. 

However, the Final Audio UX2000 do lack some neat features. There's no wear detection, no app and the hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) system isn't adjustable. You get used to these omissions but it’s a reminder that the Final Audio UX2000 are pretty cheap for good ANC headphones so something’s got to give.

Said ANC does work well even if it’s technically hybrid rather than full. At times, you’ll have noise trickle through but for everyday use, it does the job well and easily rivals more famous competition. As for features, they have a strong battery life of up to 45 hours, which makes the Final Audio UX2000 an ideal pair of cans for your commute, whether you’re walking or resting. 

At $120 / £100 (around AU$180), the Final Audio UX2000 are tempting. Odds are you’ll still favor something more famous among the best over-ear headphones such as something from Sony or JBL, but you shouldn’t overlook the Final Audio UX2000. There are concessions to make but they’re understandable ones at the price. 

Final Audio UX2000 review: Price and release date

  • Released in December 2023
  • Officially priced at $120 / £100 

Final Audio UX2000 being held to the side

(Image credit: Future)

The Final Audio UX2000 was released in December 2023 for $120 / £100 (around AU$180). The headphones are currently available in the US and UK at popular third-party retailers like Amazon. 

Solely available in black, they aren’t a fashionista’s dream like some of the competition in this price range. Said competitors include cans like the JBL Tune 770NC in the UK and the ever popular Sony WH-CH720N, so the field is a fairly busy one. 

That’s not forgetting the Final Audio UX3000, which was released in August 2022 as the brand's first over-ear headphones. These are priced only slightly more ($30 / £20) than the Final Audio UX2000.

Final Audio UX2000 review: Specs

Final Audio UX2000 review: Features

A close up of the buttons on the Final Audio UX2000

(Image credit: Future)
  • Multipoint connection 
  • Hybrid ANC
  • No app support

The Final Audio UX2000 is a little thin on the ground when it comes to features. The standout is its multipoint support which is increasingly becoming an essential addition as we’re all juggling multiple devices these days. 

There’s also support for AAC and SBC codecs while there’s Final’s so-called hybrid ANC. It uses an stress-resistant driver to theoretically boost its ability to cancel out annoying background noise. It works fairly well, doing a great job of blocking out an ever-present dehumidifier and other environmental noise, but it’s not perfect. It’s nearer to ANC than not but I was curious about it being hybrid rather than full ANC. 

Using Bluetooth 5.3 means no need to worry about sound dropouts so all seems well... Until you remember there’s no app support. Final has a companion app but it doesn’t support the Final Audio UX2000 yet so hopefully that’s coming soon.

Features score: 3 / 5

Final Audio UX2000 review: Battery life

Final Audio UX2000 lying face down

(Image credit: Future)
  • Up to 55 hours 
  • USB-C charging 

The Final Audio UX2000 promises up to 45 hours of battery life even with hybrid ANC on, and in my time with it, that’s about right. Turn the volume down a little and you can eke out a few more hours, though.

Similarly, turn off ANC and that time extends. With mixed usage though, an average of 45 hours seems about right. USB-C charging is the order of the day here with a full charge taking just over two hours to achieve. It’s all fairly respectable if not exceptional.

Battery life score: 4 / 5

Final Audio UX2000 review: Sound quality

Final Audio UX2000 from the side

(Image credit: Future)
  • Surprisingly good hybrid ANC
  • Wide soundstage 
  • Strong bass

At $120 / £100, I’m not expecting the Final Audio UX2000 to be some of the best headphones around but these cans surprised me with how good they sounded. The instant highlight is how wide the soundstage feels. While some other headphones in this price range can leave music sounding a little distant, the UX2000 wrap sound around you well.

Alongside that, the UX2000 are pretty bassy and ideal for excitable and booming music. While the punch could be a little greater if I was going to be picky, it’s still perfectly respectable. I enjoyed the enthusiasm that came from my David Guetta playlist with the bass feeling suitably engaging.

Somehow, the UX2000 are also pretty crisp sounding when it comes to more subtle tracks like Queen’s Under Pressure. Is it as revelatory as something like the Sony WH-1000XM5? Of course not, but these cost a fraction of the cost and I still didn’t feel like I was missing out. 

Temper your expectations and you’ll be happy with how these sound. That goes for the ANC which is a hybrid system that uses two microphones on each ear cup to analyze sound to block out irritants. It’s not perfect but it mostly blocks out what you need to escape from. If only there was an app for setting up a transparency mode or tweaking the EQ.

Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Final Audio UX2000 review: Design

The Final Audio UX2000 folded up

(Image credit: Future)
  • Very plain style
  • Tactile buttons
  • Foldable design

Let’s get to the good bit – the Final Audio UX2000 fold and not enough headphones do this any more. That makes them easier to toss in your bag but also easier to find room on your desk for them. 

The UX2000 do feel a little cheap in your hands and aren’t anything exciting to show off to anyone, but it’s nice to see physical buttons over touch controls. Touch controls are cool but physical buttons tend to work more accurately and that’s the case with these.

At the bottom of one ear cup is the USB-C port while the other ear cup has room for a 3.5mm jack if you prefer to listen wired. Buttons are a simple matter of power, ANC, and volume so they take seconds to figure out.

Design score: 4 / 5

Final Audio UX2000 review: Value

The Final Audio UX2000 lying flat on a bench

(Image credit: Future)
  • Mediocre build
  • Good features

Because the UX2000 are from a lesser known brand, this likely means they don't feel like the headphones you’ll show off to your mates. Final Audio's build quality feels cheap too but inside that plasticky surface are decent drivers that ensure it sounds pretty good – and that’s ultimately where it counts with headphones. 

If you need more features, something like the Sony WH-CH520 offer app support and quick charge, but lack fantastic ANC, so it’s a trade-off of what’s most important to you.

Value score: 4 / 5 

Should I buy the Final Audio UX2000?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Final Audio UX2000 review: Also consider

How I tested the Final Audio UX2000

Final Audio UX2000 being held

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over 14 days in many different situations
  • Listened against the Apple AirPods Pro 2, Philips Fidelio L4 and JBL Tune 770NC
  • Listened to Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube videos and Twitch

Over Christmas and New Year, I primarily used the Final Audio UX2000 as my main headphones. They took over from my usual Apple AirPods Pro 2 and recent regular use of the Philips Fidelio L4. 

I used them on my (nearly) daily morning walks to test them out among environmental noises like busy traffic. In the evenings, I relaxed by the Christmas tree checking out how my favorite playlists sounded through them. 

Busy rush hour traffic was a good challenge for the UX2000’s hybrid ANC along with neighbours using the break to hammer holes in their walls. 

Primarily, I listened to Apple Music and Spotify with occasional dips into Twitch streams to see how they sounded when dealing with conversations. A few podcasts were listened to via my iPhone 14 Pro.

My taste is varied so there was everything from Harry Styles to Jimi Hendrix depending on my mood. YouTube and Twitch time were mostly spent watching gaming videos.

I’ve reviewed audio products for over 10 years now and I’m increasingly picky about what sounds good and can spot the difference, while appreciating that $100 cans won’t usually compete with $400 ones.

Pure Woodland review: charming, practical and hitting the right notes
1:00 pm | January 27, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers DAB Radios Gadgets Hi-Fi | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Pure Woodland: Two-minute review

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker and DAB radio isn’t the cutting edge of modern technology but it knows how to be good at what it does. It has the right name, looking eco-friendly right down to its cardboard and paper only box (besides a couple of cable ties). In a fetching green, it’s just asking for you to hook it up to a tree on a hot summer’s day. 

None of this would matter if it was awful to use but some thought has been put into it. Its carry handle is soft and easy to grip onto while its 14 hours of battery life is about right for a busy day out full of music and relaxation.

This isn’t just about music though as the Pure Woodland also has a reliable DAB and FM radio component. Pull up that antenna and you’re good to go with the DAB radio automatically tuning in and the FM radio only a few steps away. It works well giving you plenty of suitable options with the LCD screen highlighting what station is playing. 

At £139.99 / €149.99, it’s not the most competitively priced radio/speaker combo but it’s reasonable. It’s going to last a while too with IP67 waterproofing and some reinforced bumpers to help it handle a few blows while you take it out and about with you.

Simple to use with its stylish yet easy to distinguish buttons, the Pure Woodland is that device that everyone will figure out making it an easy radio to provide the whole family with. Outdoors, it blends in well while on the living room bookshelf, it’s going to be just as capable with a long USB cable proving useful. 

As its closest rival, the Robert Revival RD70 might be better looking but if you need something that can travel with you, the Pure Woodland is a tempting proposition among a busy world of the best DAB radios and best Bluetooth speakers. 

Pure Woodland review: Price and release date

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio

(Image credit: Future)
  • Released in July 2023
  • Costs £139.99 / €149.99
  • Only available in the UK and Europe

The Pure Woodland was released in the UK and Europe in July 2023. It costs £139.99 and €149.99 in respective markets, which places it squarely in the mid-range market. 

It’s a little cheaper than some popular favorites like the non-portable but stylish Robert Revival RD70, although pricier than the Sony XDR-P1, which has proved a hit among those looking for something portable.

It’s bulkier than the latter too although the Pure Woodland would certainly look better in your living room than the dated stylings of the Sony XDR-P1. You also get a rechargeable battery here rather than needing to dig out AA batteries all the time. 

Pure Woodland review: Features

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio on the floor

(Image credit: Future)
  • IP67 waterproofing
  • Carry handle
  • DAB and FM radio as well as speaker

It’s perhaps weird to think immediately of the carry handle of the Pure Woodland but it feels like a genuine feature rather than a design component. So many portable speakers omit a useful way of carrying them  and are rarely light enough to throw in a bag. 

While at the time of this review, it’s the wrong time of year to be spending long days outside – the Pure Woodland feels like something you could take on a picnic with you alongside your bag of food. The handle is soft to hold too which is so important compared to it biting through your hand. 

Besides the handle, the Pure Woodland is also pretty robust with IP67 waterproofing and a build that’s light to carry yet feels like it could handle a few knocks. Its 14 hour battery life also means you have a day’s worth of picnicking without needing a power source. 

The Bluetooth 5.1 that's onboard is reliable and means no dropouts to speak of. You can also switch to DAB radio mode or a FM radio if you choose. The former is pretty much automatic while the latter requires some adjustments but odds are you’ll be focusing on DAB anyhow. 

Don’t count on any extra physical connections like an aux-in socket but otherwise, the Pure Woodland has it covered.

Features score: 4 / 5 

Pure Woodland review: Sound quality

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio facing down

(Image credit: Future)
  • 10W speaker
  • Crisp audio 
  • Lacking a little oomph at times 

I’m not really counting on the Pure Woodland to be an audiophile’s dream. Instead, it’s a balanced mix of offering everything the average person needs. Listening to a talk-focused station like LBC brings out how crisp voices sound while switching over to music demonstrates that this isn’t a bass-heavy party speaker but it still does the job well for adding ambience to your picnic, working day, or general chill out moment.

When my random playlist switched to Corner Shop’s Brimful of Asha (yes, really), I was pleasantly surprised at how enthusiastic it sounded. It broke through the background noise of my dehumidifier and my mechanical keyboard well. Elsewhere, more vocal heavy tracks like Harry Styles’s Sign of the Times feels tamer and not quite as powerful as one might like. Similarly, Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling doesn’t quite get you in the party mood. 

However, it’s all likeable and pleasant enough. As cliched as it might sound, the Pure Woodland is a reliable all-rounder. Nothing sounds poor or over processed and the soundstage is reasonable for this speaker, at least indoors. 

Sound quality: 4 / 5 

Pure Woodland review: Design

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio

(Image credit: Future)
  • Pleasantly tactile
  • Clear preset buttons 
  • Reinforced bumpers

The Pure Woodland looks a little dated but on the other hand, it’s also really practical. It has the aforementioned carry handle which has been designed to be soft to hold onto yet sturdy. It’ll easily hook onto something too. It also has a string of tactile buttons laid out well so none of them are too close to each other. Unlike other devices, there are no long presses or double taps necessary so it’s simple enough for anyone to figure out.

Six presets are available in all with three DAB and three FM giving you some options. Pairing to Bluetooth takes mere moments. Next to the buttons is a thin LCD screen so you can see what station you’ve picked. 

On the back, there’s nothing to speak of. A USB-C port for charging. For a change, a long USB cable is included so you’ve got a fair bit of stretch if you need to keep it plugged in. 14 hours of battery life means this won’t be too commonplace, fortunately. Reinforced bumpers at the top and bottom of the device adds to the robustness of the Pure Woodland. 

Design score: 4 / 5

Pure Woodland review: Value

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio

(Image credit: Future)
  • About average for what it offers
  • A little cheaper than more stylish options
  • Built to last

The Pure Woodland feels like something that will last a long time. It’s going to handle a muddy picnic in a British summer as well as it’ll handle living comfortably on your bookcase too. 

It’s not as good looking as the Robert Revival RD70 but it’s portable which is vital for some people. On the other hand, it’s far better looking than the cheaper Sony XDR-P1 and will look nice in your home during the winter months. A jack of all trades? Maybe, but it works. 

Should you buy the Pure Woodland?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Pure Woodland review: Also consider

How I tested the Pure Woodland

The Pure Woodland Bluetooth speaker with DAB radio

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for one week 
  • Used around the home and briefly outside (winter!)
  • 10 years of audio reviewing experience

I lived with the Pure Woodland by plonking it in the same room as I work while also moving it around the home including my living room. For a brief time, I took it outside but the weather has been awful and I feel less waterproof than the Pure Woodland. 

Around the house, it was used while I worked as background noise as well as while I cooked and cleaned. It was all very domesticated and pleasant -- just like how most people are likely to use the Pure Woodland. 

I listened to a wide variety of music. This included my faithful (and somewhat embarrassing) 1990s playlist along with more recent releases such as those of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. I also listened to the radio a lot -- mostly a mixture of LBC, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC Radio 4. 

Music was streamed through Apple Music and Spotify, while I used the DAB side of things predominantly for the radio with some FM testing too.

Over the past decade, I’ve reviewed dozens of speakers, headphones, and earbuds. Covering a wide range of price ranges, these go from super cheap ‘how could they make it for so little?’ level to much more expensive options.

Sonus faber Duetto Review: incredible sound, spotty performance
6:00 pm | January 20, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

SONUS FABER DUETTO: ONE-MINUTE REVIEW

The best wireless speakers can be the audiophile’s soundbar, wrapping all the inputs, amplification, and streaming tech you need into a standalone, high-performance audio solution. Sonus faber’s dashingly elegant Duetto speakers check off those boxes in style, offering brilliantly clear and robust sound quality alongside convenient wireless streaming and plenty of ways to connect.

The design is cutting-edge, right down to the wireless connection between the speakers, but as is surprisingly common with audiophile brands, the execution isn’t always as intuitive or reliable as you’d expect from a luxury product. Over the course of my Duetto review, I experienced multiple tech issues, from setup hiccups to spotty HDMI ARC communication. The speakers add to those issues with some awkward design quirks and control options.

The Duetto easily rank among the most transparent, dynamic, and just plain stylish powered bookshelf speakers I’ve evaluated. If you’re willing to gamble on their tech, which may improve over time with software updates, they could be worth considering for those seeking an all-in-one best stereo speakers option that’s as beautiful as it is sonically striking. Otherwise, there are more stalwart options out there. 

sonus faber duetto closeup on stand

(Image credit: Future)

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Price & release date

  • Released October 2023
  • Priced at $3,999 / £3,490

The Sonus faber Duetto speakers were released in October 2023 and are available in over 50 countries worldwide through authorized dealers. At the time of this review, the U.S. price for the Sonus faber Duetto was $3,999. 

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Specs

sonus faber duetto bottom ports

Hardwired connection options include HDMI eARC, optical digital, and MM phono inputs (Image credit: Future)

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Features

  • Powered wireless speakers connected over UWB
  • Phono, optical, and HDMI ARC/eARC inputs
  • Webpage for control; setup via AirPlay, Google Home, or Ethernet

Among their many intriguing features, maybe the most unique is how these high-resolution wireless speakers connect to one another. 

Like most powered/active speakers, the Duetto pair comprises a primary speaker that houses onboard controls and inputs and a secondary speaker that receives audio from its partner. Unlike other such wireless systems, the two speakers aren’t connected via a data cable or Wi-Fi, relying instead on a relatively new wireless protocol called UWB (Ultra wideband). UWB uses radio waves for some distinct advantages over alternatives, including much lower latency than Bluetooth LE and virtually zero signal interference when compared to Wi-Fi frequencies.

Each of the Duetto speakers is internally powered by potent custom amplifiers, including a 100 watt Class A/B amplifier for each tweeter and a Class-D amplifier claimed to produce a whopping 250 watts for each 5.25-inch woofer. You can choose which speaker is the left or right, depending on the room layout. The two-way speakers utilize internal DSP (digital signal processing) with a crossover set at 1.9 kHz. Their total frequency response is a claimed 37Hz-30kHz, and they reach deep into that low end with authority.

On the primary speaker’s supple leather topside, you’ll find lighted “Senso” touch keys that let you tap your way through playback, volume, and input control. It’s a slick design, but it takes a while to master the functions without the familiar playback symbols you’ll find on most wireless speakers. You’ll also need to memorize the different colors flashing across the speaker’s front LED display bar (seven in all) for each input – the price you pay for style.

Style also takes precedence for the Duetto’s physical input hub. Inputs include Ethernet, RCA line-in (with an available built-in phono pre for a turntable), optical digital, subwoofer out, and HDMI ARC/eARC, all stuffed into a small cubby beneath the primary speaker. This allows for clean lines across the speaker’s elegantly industrial backside., but it can be confounding for usability, requiring an awkward balancing act anytime you need to swap cables or access the Duetto’s reset or speaker pairing keys. Simply moving those keys to the back would be helpful.

Awkward is the operative word for my Duetto setup experience, starting with pairing the speakers together once you’ve powered them on. This requires digging through your tangle of wires under the main speaker’s base, finding the tiny pairing button next to the equally tiny reset button and holding it for five seconds, then dashing to the other speaker to do the same within 30 seconds. The first time I must have failed to hold the button long enough, forcing a retry.

Next, since Sonus faber (oddly) doesn’t include a dedicated app for setup or control, you’ll need to use either AirPlay setup or the Google Home app to connect to Wi-Fi. My first review sample, a previously used model, refused to connect to my network multiple times. Once I finally did get the speakers to play, they sputtered offline again and eventually got stuck in a power-cycle feedback loop as I tried to reset them.

A second review pair connected without incident via AirPlay, but I did experience some hiccups in which the speakers stopped responding to Spotify, forcing me to reset them or reconnect. On another occasion, the left speaker suddenly stopped playing, forcing another power down. Most notably, after testing them over a few weeks, the Duetto started having HDMI ARC connection issues. It seems to be a CEC communication problem, where the speakers don’t always power on and/or connect when I turn on the TV, sometimes forcing me to connect manually or, again, power cycle them. While I can usually get them working, the issue was persistent through multiple HDMI cables, multiple TV settings, and even multiple TVs.

The Duetto’s reliance on a webpage for online controls is also less convenient than speakers with a dedicated app. The webpage provides some useful features like the ability to configure HDMI switching, adapt the bass for near-wall setup and turn it down in quiet moments via the “Loudness Maximiser.” But it’s missing options like a multi-band EQ or inputs selection. You’ll need to bookmark it in your browser or rely on the physical manual’s QR code for access. A real app appears to be coming, which would be a big help for usability if and when it arrives.

  • Features score: 3/5

Sonus faber duetto speakers on stands in living room

Screenshots of the BluOS app used to control streaming and speaker setup (Image credit: Future)

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Sound quality

  • Sensitive, transparent, and dynamic sound
  • Dimensional and precise soundstage
  • Powerful and clear bass response

Listening to the Duetto is not a passive experience, it’s an event. Their nuanced sound signature is as sensitive as it is powerful, diving deep into the core of each instrument, vocal, or effect and raising it to the surface to be exposed in the light of day. Poorer mixes and low-resolution tracks have nowhere to hide from these sonic magnifiers. Yet their smooth and sweet sound signature is remarkably forgiving, with a warm and present midrange, fluid and vividly responsive treble that’s forward but never sharp, and shockingly thunderous bass.

You’ll have no trouble enjoying compressed audio over Spotify Connect, even finding yourself distracted from other tasks by the Duetto’s knack for detail and definition. But you’ll spark more joy by using a source more worthy of their pedigree – this is a pair of $4,000 speakers after all. 

I started my evaluation in earnest pairing the Duetto with a new Technics SL1500-C turntable and a reprint of Dave Bruebeck’s classic album “Take Five” fresh out of the wrapper. And what a listen it was. I’ve heard some very good speakers in my day, and I was still taken off guard by just how fabulously the Duetto reproduced this iconic album. You know you’re onto something when your notes include phrases like “a joyous celebration of life and art.”

There’s not an instrument these speakers don’t know how to elevate. The breathy buzz of the sax in “Strange Meadow Lark” was so close I could almost feel it against my neck. The papery texture of the drums in the titular track revealed each of Joe Morello’s minute wrist adjustments in mellow-gold microtones. Even the warm gunk in the diaphragms of those ‘50s microphones seemed to glow through the tweeters as bass strings rattled and Brubeck’s creamy piano spun up and down the right side. The voluminous soundstage rises to near three-dimensionality in such moments, with instruments seeming to reach out and curve around your face.

The soundstage was similarly enveloping with TV and movies, even when dialing up seemingly basic fare like a rewatch of “Christmas Vacation” over the holidays. The Duetto built a cavern of spacious sound here, and was especially adept at reconstructing minute details like a TV in another room. The guttural roar of Eddie’s RV as he fired it up to kidnap Clark’s boss had me looking outside, while the rocket-like bombast of Santa’s plastic reindeer as they’re launched into orbit at the movie’s conclusion seemed to rumble the whole front of the room. The sound was so expansive it felt like a Dolby Atmos mix, all from a compressed stream over stereo speakers.

As I listened on, I was constantly surprised by the Duetto’s transparency, from whistling high-frequency synthesizers to the painstaking reconstruction of every mix or soundstage as if laid out before me. Still, the Duetto’s oak-like bass response is their most striking sonic trait. As noted, they’re rated down to 37Hz, and I’ll be damned if they don’t get close. Adding a sub will clear up some room in the upper register and provide more control, but it’s otherwise unnecessary given the Duetto’s powerful punch. Bass is almost too powerful in some tracks, even after being tamed in the settings, which was why I sometimes wished for better EQ.

EQ or not, I won’t raise any official complaints about the Duetto’s sound. If it weren’t for the technical mishaps I encountered, I’d likely be considering throwing down the cash to grab them myself. They offer among the most impressive sonic performances I’ve ever heard in a pair of bookshelves. Even as I write this review, I’m finding new ways to be impressed, engaged, and elated by their skills.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

sonus faber duetto top surface

The lighted “Senso” touch keys on the speaker's leather-wrapped top surface that let you tap your way through playback, volume, and input control (Image credit: Future)

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Design

  • Relatively compact, fully wireless bookshelf design
  • Dashingly elegant, minimalist aesthetic in black or walnut
  • Inconvenient inputs and control layout

At just over 13 inches tall and 11 inches deep, the Duetto are easy to place on most speaker stands and longer consoles. Sonus faber also offers custom Duetto stands at a lofty $749. The speakers are unflinchingly gorgeous and well-built, from their perfectly matched, lute-shaped cabinets to their leather tops and hefty metal heat sinks. They’re among the only speakers I’ve seen that look as good with their acoustic screens on as off. The lack of any visible physical connections along or between the two speakers makes for a squeaky-clean aesthetic.

As noted above, it also makes basic things like swapping in a new device or re-pairing the speakers in the event of a reset or connection issue inconvenient, with everything confined beneath the primary speaker. Even the slick remote feels overengineered, requiring a lockpick’s touch to open the battery slot via a tiny hole at the back.

At least some of these decisions feel like form over function. It all works fine if you only need to set the speakers up once and don’t plan on adding any new gear later, but it makes everything more of a hassle when something changes or goes wrong.

  • Design score: 3/5

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Value

  • Audiophile sound performance with a price to match
  • Loads of inputs and connection options
  • Reliability and convenience take a backseat to aesthetics

The Sonus faber Duetto are among the priciest wireless bookshelf speakers I’ve encountered, with the sound to back it up. Their design is as stunning as it is unassuming, matching elegance with minimalism to striking effect. The inclusion of multiple inputs, including a built-in pre-amp for vinyl playback and HDMI ARC/eARC makes them a versatile and comprehensive sound solution.

However, you can find similar models, including hi-fi options like KEF’s LS50 Wireless II, for thousands less. In my experience, KEF’s design and tech are also more reliable and intuitive. The Duetto’s sound performance sets them apart nearly as distinctly as their price point, but their reliability issues and sometimes awkward design elements keep them from being as attractive as more affordable competitors.

  • Value score: 2.5/5

sonus faber duetto in living room with TV

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the SONUS FABER DUETTO?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: Also consider

sonus faber duetto in living room with TV

(Image credit: Future)

SONUS FABER DUETTO REVIEW: How I tested

  • Tested with both compressed lossy and hi-res lossless streaming services, including Spotify Connect and Amazon Music
  • Tested with high-resolution analog and TV sound sources across a wide range of content, from jazz and hip-hop to sitcoms, dramas, and action films
  • Tested two pairs over several weeks with dozens of hours of listening time

I used the Sonus faber Duetto as my primary sound source over multiple weeks of testing and across a wide variety of source material, from compressed audio tracks over Wi-Fi to high-quality vinyl albums and a wide array of TV shows and films. Source devices included Technics SL1500-C direct drive turntable and Ortofon Red cartridge, as well as multiple TV models from TCL, Samsung, and LG.

I compared the speakers to several alternatives, including my reference KEF LSX wireless speakers, and traditional wired speakers from Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, and others connected to a Naim Uniti network amplifier.

You can read TechRadar's review guarantee here.

  • First reviewed: January 2024
Fiio FT5 review: Fiio’s first ever planar magnetic headphones are frankly fantastic
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Fiio FT5: Two-minute review

Having established itself where desktop and digital audio in particular is concerned, Fiio fancies a bit of the burgeoning headphones market. And with its new FT5, it’s delivered a pair of big, boldly designed and aggressively priced planar magnetic over-ears that will cruise into our best wired headphones buying guide with ease.

This may not be the most congested area of the headphones market, but it’s strongly contested by some well-regarded specialists such as Audeze, Grado and HiFiMan. So Fiio has given the FT5 the best possible chance by specifying upmarket materials and expensive components, by giving them plenty of connectivity options, and by voicing them to sound energetic and revealing.

All of which has worked a treat. The FT5 may not be the last word in out-and-out fidelity, but they’re a detailed and revealing listen nevertheless – and they are, in the least pejorative sense possible, fun to listen to. The sound they make is entertaining, yes, but it’s far from juvenile.

So if you want to check out what ‘audiophile’ might mean without a) getting all po-faced about it, and b) spending an arm and a leg, there’s another pair of open-backed over-ear planar magnetic headphones to add to your shortlist.  

A closeup of the Fiio FT5 3.5mm connector on the earcup

A resoundingly classy build and finish from Fiio  (Image credit: Future)

Fiio FT5 review: Price & release date

  • Released on December 1, 2023
  • Priced $449 / £429 / AU$799

The Fiio FT5 open-backed planar magnetic over-ear headphones have been on sale since the start of last December, and they’ll typically set you back $449, £429 or AU$799 depending on where you’re shopping.

There are plenty of open-backed over-ear headphones available at this sort of money, of course (including Fiio's own open-backed Fiio FT3 headphones, which arrived in May 2023, priced $299 / £289 / AU$449) – but when you take into account the planar magnetic drivers the FT5 deploy, your choice suddenly becomes quite a lot less numerous. 

That doesn’t mean the FiiO are without competition, though… 

Fiio FT5 review: Specs

The Fiio FT5's 4.4mm, 6.3mm and 4-pin XLR adapters, on a white background

As we've come to expect from Fiio, several different connectivity options come with the FT5 headphones. (Image credit: Future)

Fiio FT5 review: Features

  • 90mm planar magnetic drivers
  • Multiple connectivity options
  • Choice of earpad materials

The headline here, of course, are the big (90mm) planar magnetic drivers the FT5 use to deliver sound to your ears. While the more pragmatic dynamic driver alternative is far more prevalent at this sort of money, planar magnetic technology is not unheard of – and Fiio has decided it’s the best way to achieve its ambition of “intense energy like a thunderstorm”.

So each earcup features a large, extraordinarily thin (6µm) planar magnetic driver, backed by 11 neodymium magnets on one side and nine on the other). Fiio reckons this arrangement is good for a frequency response of 7Hz - 40kHz, but has an easy-to-drive (and most un-planar-like) sensitivity of 96dB/mW @1kHz. 

The FT5 are supplied with 1.5m of braided silver-plated monocrystalline copper. One end splits into a pair of 3.5mm terminations, one to attach to each earcup. The other end features a number of easily swappable connections: 3.5mm, 4.4mm and 6.3mm jacks, and a 4-pin XLR. So you’ve both balanced and unbalanced options, and should be able to connect to your preferred source equipment without any trouble.   

To offer further adaptability, the Fiio are supplied with a couple of pairs of earpads – one pair is made of suede, the other of protein leather. Swapping between the two is simple, and Fiio's claims for the sonic differences between the two are quite something: suede earpads are supposedly “magnificently vigorous” while the protein leather alternative is “highly detailed”. Both of which sound pretty enticing, I’m sure you’ll agree.

  • Features score: 5/5

Fiio FT5 headphones case, on a beige table

It's a big case that'll make you look as if you're serious about headphones (Image credit: Future)

Fiio FT5 review: Sound quality

  • Open and spacious in every circumstance
  • Detailed, positive and (mostly) naturalistic sound 
  • Entertaining and analytical in equal measure

Some headphones reveal their talent expertise over time, giving you a bigger taste of their character with each listen. The Fiio FT5 aren’t like that – they give you everything they’ve got immediately, in full, and with no apparent filter.

No matter if it’s a big 24bit/192kHz FLAC file of David Bowie’s Sound and Vision via an expensive headphone amp, a 320kbps MP3 of Sprinter by Torres via a laptop’s 3.5mm output or a vinyl copy of the record by boygenius coming from the headphone socket of the amplifier the turntable’s connected to, the FT5 are an open, revealing and nicely balanced listen. They’re able to extract and contextualise the finest details, but they manage to be engaged and entertaining at the same time. They’re always on the front foot, are always able to give rhythms and tempos decent expression, and they always let a vocalist sound positive, characterful and direct.

Tonally, the Fiio are on the ‘fractionally warm’ side of ‘neutral’, but it’s such a mild hint of heat that it’s more of a trait than a flaw. Their frequency response is not absolutely flat – there’s a little bulge around the midrange that pushes singers (and all other midrange information) forwards just a little – but, again, this is a characteristic rather than a shortcoming. 

Fiio FT5 headphones, closeup of the planar magnetic, open-backed driver housing

The pattern is decorative, sure, but it also fulfils a specific function – to control and accelerate the airflow generated when that big planar magnetic driver is moving (Image credit: Future)

Treble sounds are bright and textured, but substantial at the same time. At the opposite end of the frequency range, there’s similar richness to bass sounds – but, again, more than enough detail and variation. Control of the bottom end is confident, so there’s momentum and well as substantial underpinnings to recordings. Dynamic headroom for the big shifts in volume and/or intensity is more than adequate, and the Fiio handle the more fleeting dynamics of harmonic variation in the same assured manner.

The soundstage the FT5 create is big, organised and properly defined, with both the front/back and left/right planes properly represented. There’s plenty of elbow-room available even in quite congested or complex recordings, and the Fiio don’t deviate from this even if you decide to listen at big levels – there’s no crowding or flattening, just more volume.

Naturally, the better-recorded the music in the first place, the higher the resolution of the storage format and the better the source electronics, the happier the FT5 are. But even if they’re playing compressed digital audio files directly from the (inevitably hopeless) headphone socket of a computer, the Fiio are prepared to make the best of it. And above all, they’re a musical, energetic and enjoyable listen.   

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Fiio FT5 closeup of the right earcup connector, outside on a nice day

The FT5 are supplied with 1.5m of braided silver-plated monocrystalline copper, one end of which splits into a pair of 3.5mm terminations (Image credit: Future)

Fiio FT5 review: Design

  • Magnesium aluminium alloy construction
  • Leather carry-case
  • Dual-band hangar 

At 456g (without cables) the FT5 are far from the lightest headphones around. But it could be worse – the magnesium aluminium allow from which they’re almost entirely constructed is around two-thirds as dense as aluminium alloy - and the dual-band hangar arrangement, which features a slim leather headband inside some alloy suspension, distributes that weight so efficiently that the FT5 feel like no kind of burden to wear.

The pattern on the rear of the earcups is decorative, sure, but it also fulfils a specific function. It’s designed to control and accelerate the airflow generated when the big planar magnetic driver is moving, which has no end of acoustic benefits where soundstaging and high-frequency response is concerned. And the earcups themselves move through three axes, which means that all but the most unusual head-shapes should have no problem getting comfortable inside a pair of FT5.

To keep the headphones’ finish looking clean and tidy, Fiio provides a rigid, luxurious-in-a-tan-leather-kind-of-way, really quite large carry case which will take up a big chunk of your hand-luggage allowance. It’s got a space for all the different connections, and a retractable carry-handle. Like the headphones themselves, the case is rather more up-market in look and feel than seems likely at the asking price. 

A cloeup of Fiio FT5's headband construction, on a beige table outside, on a sunny day

The dual-band hangar arrangement features a slim leather headband inside some alloy suspension to distribute weight – and they never feel a burden (Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 5/5

Fiio FT5 review: Value

  • Balanced, convincing sound
  • Great standard of build and finish
  • Impressive specification

If you’ve read this far, you know the Fiio FT5 hold a nap hand. They sound great, they’re built to last from tactile and hard-wearing materials, and they have an audiophile specification at a mainstream price. All of which means they represent very acceptable value indeed. 

  • Value score: 5/5

Should I buy the Fiio FT5?

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

Fiio FT5 review: Also consider

How I tested the Fiio FT5

  • Attached to various sources
  • Tested for well over a week
  • Many different types of music listened to

Over the course of my listening to the Fiio FT5 they were wired to an Apple MacBook Pro (2021), a Plenue D2 digital audio player, an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier, and a Naim Uniti Star. 

And these open-backed, planar magnetic headphones rotated between these sources for six or seven working days. During that time, I had a good long listen to many different types and sizes of digital audio files, and music that ranged from Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten performed by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra to When Something is Wrong with My Baby by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, via all the other stuff mentioned in the ‘sound quality’ section for the main review.

  • First reviewed: January 2024
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: simply the best (apart from the battery)
1:06 am | January 16, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Comments: Off

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Two-minute review

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are my favorite cans released in the past year, and are an absolutely thrilling listen that also set a new standard when it comes to active noise cancellation. See, maybe I didn't even need two minutes to help you make your decision about them.

Of course, you've probably already noticed that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones achieve this by being more expensive than most of the best noise-cancelling headphones, so that complicates things – though I think they more than earn this price tag.

Things are also complicated by their short battery life, which is really noticeable compared to the 30 hours minimum we expect from the best wireless headphones these days. 24 hours doesn't sound terrible, but the difference has really jumped out to me compared to Sony headphones with 30 hours of battery.

It's also a bit of a shame they don't match some of the other more elite options by including USB-C audio support or next-gen Bluetooth (at the time of writing), though they do have aptX for higher-quality wireless streaming.

But that doesn't matter. It's only the battery life that's pulled them down from a full five-star rating, because they sound so full, and exciting, and rich – while simultaneously clamping down on outside sound. When you throw in the bonus of effective spatial audio modes among other useful smart features, it feels like a package that's well worth the price.

They've replaced the AirPods Max as my high-end headphones of choice, though if you want something that offers a lot of the same features as these for a lower price (and with a 60-hour battery life), look to the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. But if you want the ultimate balance of sound quality and noise cancellation, pay for these.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Price & release date

  • $429 / £449 / AU$649
  • Released in early October 2023
  • Priced higher than Sony and Sennheiser's best

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the most expensive option in Bose's range, adding a significant premium over the $349 / £350 / AU$549 for the non-Ultra Bose QuietComfort Headphones released at roughly the same time – and which are already available for a significant discount compared to that MSRP.

The price pulls them more into line with the AirPods Max or Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay HX, and a clear level beyond the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5, which are obviously a major competitor.

However, I should note that in the UK, the price has consistently been £399 since November, and in Australia we've seen them as low for as low as AU$550 outside of sales season, so that now seems to be the standard kind of price in those countries, which helps.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones held in a man's hand

(Image credit: Future)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Specs

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones showing the ports and buttons

(Image credit: Future)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Features

  • Immersive Audio creates spatial sound from any source
  • Bose Music app provides lots of control option
  • Great connectivity options overall, including multi-point Bluetooth

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the most feature-packed cans from Bose yet, bringing two of the hottest bits of tech in headphones at the moment: multi-point Bluetooth and spatial audio.

Multi-point Bluetooth isn't a surprise given how many of the best wireless headphones feature this ability to connect to two devices simultaneously and switch seamless between them, but it's a first for Bose, and it's something we consider a must-have for premium headphones these days (it's notable and frustrating that the cheaper Bose QuietComfort Headphones lack this). You may have to turn this on in the Bose Music app, in the Source screen.

Spatial audio is handled by Bose's own special sauce, and is called Immersive Audio. Much like on AirPods Max, you can turn it off, you can set it so that sound is coming from a bubble around you that moves with your head, or you can have it so that the orientation of sound is locked and when you turn your head it's like you're doing so in a room full of speakers. If you'll use it, we recommend the first Immersive option for music, and the second for movies, since the latter is more like a home theater setup.

Bose also adds tech called CustomTune here, which adapts to both the shape of your ears as well as the environment to make sure you're always hearing the sound accurately, in theory.

And speaking of adjusting to the environment, there's active noise cancellation that's Bose's most advanced so far, and it's pleasingly customizable. It comes with Quiet Mode (normal noise cancelling), Aware Mode (that lets in outside sounds) and Immersion Mode (which puts ANC on full and activates Spatial Audio). But you can also create your own modes – go to the Modes screen in the Bose Music app and tap the + to do this. You can choose a use-case, and then adjust the noise cancellation level in 10 increments, choose the Wind Block feature to reduce wind noise (which also turns ANC to full if you activate it), and choose whether to active Immersive Audio or not, and if so with what kind of head tracking. When you've made custom modes, you can switch between them using a button on the headphones, so it's easy to move from your custom commute mode with full ANC and no Immersive Audio to your office mode with 60% ANC power and Immersive turned on.

Elsewhere in the app, you can adjust a three-band EQ, disconnect from paired devices in the Source screen, and decide a use for the secret Shortcut button on the headphones. There's a touch strip on the right earcup for adjusting volume, and if you turn Shortcut on, pressing and holding this will act as a third button. You can use it to switch the type of Immersive Audio, activate a voice assistant, tell you the battery level, or use it to activate Spotify and resume where you left of, or switch straight to your Discover station. I hope Bose will add more options in the future, but these are a good start.

In terms of wireless connectivity, you've got Bluetooth 5.3 – with support for SBC and AAC codecs, though not Bluetooth LE Audio and the LC3 codec yet, though Bose says it will come at some point – and Snapdragon Sound. This is a form of aptX Adaptive that works with phones with Snapdragon Sound in, but not with most aptX devices, which is frustrating. But if you've got the right kind of phone, at least it's there for you. Everyone else will have to hope for higher-quality streaming from LE Audio in the future.

You've got a 2.5mm jack for a wired connection, and it comes with a 2.5mm-to-3.5mm cable in the box (along with a nice protective case). There's also a USB-C connection, but unlike the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2, this can't be used for wired Hi-Res Audio from a phone or laptop – it's just for charging. A shame, considering the price of these headphones, but not a dealbreaker.

Bose says that these have a "revolutionary mic system" for clarity on calls, and while it's definitely good for a pair of cans without a boom mic, I would not call it revolutionary. Using them, you sound generally clear if a tad quiet, and occasionally a little digitally enhanced. It was good enough, but a real mic close to the mouth is still way, way better. They have a 'Self Voice' feature to hear yourself on calls, and overcome the weird 'I sound like I'm locked in a box' feeling of talking on the phone with headphones on. You can turn this off if you prefer.

The battery life is perhaps the biggest flaw here: 24 hours with ANC on, and 18 hours with Immersive Audio on, is meager. You get a middle-of-the-road 30 hours from the Sony WH-1000XM5 and an excellent 60 hours from the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless. And compared to using a pair of Sony cans regularly, I really noticed how quickly these were running down in comparison; Bose's estimate appears to be accurate, and it makes a difference. It's the single thing that held them back from a full five stars, to be blunt about it.

There a few things to mitigate this, though. They have a prompt auto-pause feature when you remove them from your ears, and an auto-off feature if left turned on but unused, though this was set to 24 hours by default, and that eats a ton of battery over that 24 hours. In the Bose Music app, I switched this to 20 minutes, and that's working great for me, especially since they turn on and connect very promptly. They also charge quickly, including a 15-minute juice-up for two hours of use.

  • Features score: 4/5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

(Image credit: Future)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Sound quality

  • Stunning detailed and powerful sound balanced perfectly
  • The ANC is the best-in-class, no question
  • Immersive Audio does its job, but adds some effects

Bose doesn't really mention this in the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones' specs, but they use a pair of angled drivers in the earcups. We've seen this concept before on the Bowers & Wilkins Px8, and the idea is that, while most headphones have drivers installed flat inside the earcups, this isn't ideal for perfect audio. Your head is not square (er, probably), and earcups don't sit directly flat on your skull, which means in most headphones, the drivers aren't parallel to your ear canals. One side of the driver is closer, which means its sound reaches you marginally faster. So the speakers in the Ultra (and the Px8) are angled in the earcup, so when they're on the head they're parallel to your ears (or as close to it as possible). This should mean improved timing, and the best possible detail, because all the air is reaching you in a balanced manner.

I mention all this for some context, because these things absolutely freaking rule. They deliver some of the most alive, exciting, textured, finely resolved, deeply engaging music I've ever heard from a pair of wireless headphones. It's the kind of sound I would expect to pay 50% or even twice as much for – and I'd begrudgingly accept that it's worth it. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may not be cheap, but on the music quality alone, I think they're a great deal.

You will probably notice the bass first. Put on anything with some low-end chops, and you'll notice yourself sinking into its depths immediately, but with a firm and controlled floor. It can punch deep down and pull straight back up with precision, and never feel like it's overplayed its hand.

It's helped by just how rich and layered the mids are. Bass is free to go for a walk because it doesn't drag the mid-range with it – voices hover comfortably and naturally, instruments stay separated but part of a whole, fine detail is clear from everywhere. And the treble is shimmering and lofty without ever getting harsh or detached.

The dynamism within the Ultra Headphones' range is just astounding. They can go from nothing to rocketing through sounds like a firework that's just sparked up. Their timing is so strong and they're so responsive that this aspect alone can really spoil other headphones, making them feel like they're moving with weights attached in comparison.

And they sound like this with active noise cancellation on, over AAC on Bluetooth! Several companies (including Apple) say that most headphones don't even reveal the detail possible in standard wireless sound and that hi-res isn't really necessary for a lot of people. We've always championed that people should have the higher-quality option available to them, at least… but I can certainly feel some truth of this argument when I'm using these headphones.

Like the sound, the active noise cancellation is mind blowing. It's absolutely best in class, there's no question. I've never heard busy cities become as quiet as when I'm walking with these on, it's truly next-level stuff.

I have found them to have an odd processing issue with some extremely loud sounds – during a plane take-off, an especially loud bus struggling to get up a hill, and on an extremely windy day, for instance. In these cases, when the noise reached its apex, the headphones' sound became blocky and loud, too. It was brief, so I don't find it to be a dealbreaker, but the fact remains. Bose may be able to fix this with an update, who knows.

The Immersive Audio option does well at its fundamental job of making it feel more like the sound is coming from speakers around you, rather than being pumped straight into your ears. The head tracking works very well, and never felt lagged or detached from my head movements, either. But while it's pleasant for both music and movies, ultimately, I didn't find it very additive, partly because it turns out to be a trade-off.

The immersion and positioning of sounds is done based on processing stereo sound, which is a bit different to the spatial audio you get from Apple's AirPods, where it's based on Dolby Atmos 3D sound systems (when possible). And, as someone who's used AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2 a lot, it didn't have the same convincing recreation of a theater system as you get from those headphones. Again, this isn't really a problem, and I still liked having it on for watching a movie on a plane because it did still create the feeling of the sound coming from outside of the earcups.

But it also adds some effects, including a sense of reverb for some upper-mid or treble sounds. It makes the sound feel less sweet, so for music I never got on with it. I'll still use it for watching movies on flights, however.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

(Image credit: Future)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Design

  • Very premium plastic and faux leather finish
  • Folding design is great for travel
  • Physical and touch-based controls

The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are as comfortable and premium-feeling as you'd expect for the money. The plastic earcups and headband top have a great soft-touch matte finish, and are connected to the headband by solid aluminum hinges. Protein- and plastic-based faux leather are used for the headband's underside and the earpads, and they're very comfortable and soft to wear.

The earcups fold into the headphones, so they can get smaller for journeying, and they come with a nice hard case, which has a USB-C-to-A charging cable and the audio jack cable inside the box. They're definitely some of the best headphones for travel, thanks to this combined with their active noise cancellation might.

On the right earcup are the controls, which include one button that turns them on and off, and controls pairing mode, and does play/pause/skip tracks. A second button switches between different listening modes – it cycles through whatever you have set in the Modes screen, so if you've added custom ones, it includes that. Next to these buttons is a touch-sensitive strip that controls volume, and holding on it is the 'Shortcut' button. These all work well.

On the left earcup is the USB-C port and the 2.5mm jack, plus a charging light.

I can only find one minor gripe with the fit, and that's the fact that if you put them around your neck and rotate the earcups to lie flat, they rotate so the open side is up, rather than facing down towards your body. I prefer the other way around. Hardly a major issue.

  • Design score: 5/5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones on a white table, with their case

(Image credit: Future)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Value

  • Expensive, but easily worth it overall
  • A clear step from the non-Ultra QuietComfort Headphones
  • Lack of other hi-res support is a shame

While any pair of headphones that costs this much is going to be hard to describe as the bargain of the century, I still think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are actively good value considering just how strong their active noise cancellation and audio quality is. They're not a little better than the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5; they're clearly and obviously better. They're slightly better than the AirPods Max, and those are much more expensive than the Bose.

And they tick almost all the feature boxes, too, so they feel like a great investment from the smart side of things – though they are beaten in smarts by the location-based cleverness of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless or Sony headphones.

Where they obviously fall short is a lack of full aptX or LDAC support for wider wireless CD-quality sound, or USB-C audio support for hi-res digital wired audio. Other premium options have this, it should really be here – but not everyone will mind. I don't, really.

The battery is the clear lacking element, since less expensive headphones with the same kind of features are able to not just beat these, but to absolutely embarrass them in the case of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.

But I'm living with that. It's a small frustration, it's not a dealbreaker. I still think they're well worth the price tag.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones?

Buy them if...

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review: Also consider

How I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over three months
  • Used mainly with an iPhone and MacBook Air
  • Tested in real-world office, city and travel situations

I've been using the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones since their launch, taking the time to test them in as many different situations as possible. I've used them in the TechRadar offices, at home, and travelling on buses, trains and planes, to really get a sense of their real-world performance. They've been my primary over-ear headphones during that time.

I've been compared them directly to headphones including the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Apple AirPods Max, Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, and Sennheiser HD600.

In day-to-day use, I mainly used them with my iPhone to listen to Apple Music tracks, but I used them with an iPad Pro for watching videos from various streaming services, and to test the multi-point connectivity. I've also used them with audio from various other sources, including Spotify, podcasts and YouTube. For wired use, I connected them to my MacBook Air.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: January 2024
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