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I tested the Tribit Stormbox Lava Bluetooth speaker and although it lacks a red-hot design, it’s a solid, budget-friendly option
2:00 pm | April 3, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Tribit Stormbox Lava: Two-minute review

A new Bluetooth speaker has erupted, boasting booming bass output that will make you “feel the heartbeat of the earth”. So yes, enter the Tribit Stormbox Lava. This semi-cylindrical party speaker aims to supply powerful sound and a rugged build in one budget-friendly package. It comes in with a list price of $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200) which is really quite modest for a medium-large sized option like this.

As some of you may have suspected given that low price-tag, feeling the earth’s heartbeat may be a slight exaggeration. And you’d be correct. Sure, you can get bold, room-filling low-end output from the Tribit Stormbox Lava, but it struggles to knock those really deep notes out of the park, even after some EQ adjustment.

General audio quality is decent, but hardly as red-hot as some of the best Bluetooth speakers. Out of the box, the standard tuning is a little bloated, with sounds in the mid-range often smothered by rumbling low-end frequencies. That can often be the case when you activate XBass too – a mode which ramps up low sounds even further and will cause the speaker’s solid 24 hour battery life to deplete at a faster rate.

With a bit of tuning, you can get relatively clean sound for a speaker close to $100 / £100. It’s never going to get ultra-detailed or airy, especially with the lack of ‘hi-res’ codecs like LDAC, but it’s certainly clear enough for house parties or outdoor events with lots of background noise.

And this speaker truly is party-ready, no matter the surroundings. It has a rugged build – similar to that of the JBL Xtreme 4 and, like the best waterproof speakers, has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, protecting it against grime and underwater submersion. Other practical elements include an interchangeable handle and strap, AUX port for wired listening and a USB-A port for charging external devices – though I would’ve preferred to see a more 2025-friendly USB-C slot substituted in.

The basic but handy Tribit app is back too, opening up access to a ten-band equaliser and a bunch of EQ presets, voice prompt settings and multi-speaker pairing. Speaking of, you can actually link more than 160 of the same model together. I didn’t get the chance to validate that, of course, but still…I’m sure 160 of these at once could create quite a racket.

I think the most disappointing aspect of the Tribit Stormbox Lava is that really, it does very little to appear on-theme and validate its strong name. Yes, the whole Lava thing may be more in reference to bass than anything else, but surely it could’ve inspired a more volcanic, explosive design? The Stormbox Lava is a plain, black speaker that does very little to stand out from the crowd.

Another issue I ran into was that sound would cut out for half a second whenever I adjusted volume, but I’d hope this will be remedied in a future firmware update. Otherwise, there’s a lot to like about this affordable party speaker. It can’t compete with more sonically talented speakers like the Bose SoundLink Max or even its cousin, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. But if you can grab it for around $100 / £100 it's a reasonable, cheap option that’s worth a look.

I’d argue that the original Tribit Stormbox Blast is a stronger alternative thanks to its regimented bass floor, eye-catching looks and USB-C out port. And given it's regularly available for less than $200 / £150, it beats the Stormbox Lava for sound-for-pound value – so long as you’re OK with a more boombox-like appearance.

Tribit Stormbox Lava with strap attached

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Price and release date

  • $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200)
  • Launched in March 2025

The Tribit Stormbox Lava is the latest addition to the audio manufacturer’s speaker range, having launched in March 2025. Pricing already seems to be in flux, but at the time of writing, Tribit is shipping the Stormbox Lava for $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200). I’d expect to see discounts coming thick and fast though, as this is regularly the case with Tribit products in my experience.

At the moment, it’s only available in black, but a grey version is said to be coming in May 2025. For a speaker of this size, the Stormbox Lava is very modestly priced. It’s strikingly similar in form to the JBL Xtreme 4, which for reference, has a list price well in excess of $300 / £300.

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Specs

Button controls on top of the Tribit Stormbox Lava

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Features

  • Handy app with nice EQ options
  • USB-A charge out
  • Solid 24-hour battery life

Tribit hasn’t done anything crazy with the Stormbox Lava’s feature-set, but it’s still got the basics down. Of course all the usual stuff is here, be that multi-speaker pairing, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity or XBass – a feature which ramps up low-end power for bass-heavy bangers.

But you also get EQ settings that have been fleshed out pretty nicely. There are six presets, including genre-specific options like Rock or Jazz, but there’s also space to save some custom calibrations via a ten-band equaliser. You’ll likely want to make use of that custom EQ option to achieve the best sound, but we’ll get more into that later…

There are a few other small options to mess around like toggles for voice prompt or remotely adjust volume and play/pause music. But a more prominent addition is a USB-A charge out port that enables the Stormbox Lava to double up as a power bank for other devices, including the best phones. I would’ve preferred to see a more modern USB-C port used for this function, something the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus offers, among others.

Another big talking point is battery life – an area in which the Stormbox Lava performs decently. It can offer 24 hours of playtime, so long as you’re listening at 50% volume with XBass on. That’s very much in-line with competitors in this size class – it’s nothing mind-blowing, but more than enough if you want a speaker that’s going to keep the party moving into the early hours.

  • Features score: 4/5

Someone undoing the tab on the reverse side of the Tribit Stormbox Lava, exposing various ports

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Sound quality

  • Relatively clean audio possible with some tuning
  • Bass is fairly meaty, but the deepest notes can prove challenging
  • Can struggle a little at top volumes

At around $100 / £100, I really wasn’t expecting any miracles from the Tribit Stormbox Lava and although there were definitely some sonic shortcomings, it still put up an adequate performance.

I knew what I was in for with the Stormbox Lava; a whole lotta bass. And that’s exactly what it delivers. XBass was on by default and I realized the room instantly filled with an impactful, in-your-face low end rumble. When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the thump of the drum machine had commendable depth and didn’t sound too lethargic. But with XBass on, there was a slightly muddy audio profile and that deep bass smothered other sonic elements like electronica and vocals – the latter was given much more room to breathe after flicking XBass off.

Bass response, though big, wasn’t the most beautiful however. Comparing it to a more expensive and slightly more powerful model, the JBL Xtreme 4, I picked up on a lack of dynamism with the Stormbox Lava. Bass didn’t connect up to the mid-range quite as effectively, resulting in a slightly thin and cluttered sound at points, to the extent that the track’s trademark bounce felt less defined.

And although the Stormbox Lava can reach frequencies as low as 43Hz, it really struggled to belt out some ultra-deep notes. In Yung Gravy’s The Boys Are Back In Town, the deep dark sub-bass that blasts throughout sounded feeble, especially at high volumes. And although you can adjust EQ to improve this slightly, the Lava still won’t be able to go quite as far into depth as more premium competitors.

Everything from the mid bass and up does sound relatively clear though and even if you’re missing out on the absolute deepest notes in their fully-fledged glory, bass is generally powerful. Unfortunately, I found the standard XBass off EQ mode to sound a little uneven and slightly bloated, though. Thanks to Tribit’s easy-to-use app, though, I was able to adapt the speaker’s EQ to have a slight bump to deep bass and treble for a more balanced, albeit still exciting sound.

This made for an improved listening experience overall, especially for tracks that are less centred around thumping bass. For instance, when listening to SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe, the intro’s raw, emotive guitar was tonally accurate and the accompanying piano layered nicely. Samba drums also entered the fray rhythmically with gusto. Some of the finer details, like light percussion in the background were understated. There are no ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs here, such as LDAC, which can offer up a less compressed performance either.

Another factor worth noting is that this speaker can get pretty loud thanks to its 80W maximum power output. However, at top volumes audio quality is going to take a bit of a dip. This is pretty standard and to be expected for what is ultimately, a budget Bluetooth speaker, but at peak loudness, treble could be a touch grating and vocal clarity took quite the hit to boot. If you’re looking for the ultimate party speaker, that may be problematic, but if you’re unlikely to venture into ear-splitting volume territory, this may not bother you all too much.

And one more note before I wrap up on sound. I realized that when altering volume on the Stormbox Lava, sound would cut out for half a second or so, which was pretty frustrating. I’m sure Tribit will fix this with a firmware update in the near future, but it’s still a frustrating quirk that I’m sure would frustrate a lot of users.

So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the Stormbox Lava. Does it sound terrible? No. With a bit of tuning, you can get decently clean audio out of this $100 speaker without sacrificing its room-filling low-end presence. But the combination of audio cutting out, sub-bass troubles and high-volume distortion will be hard to ignore for audiophiles.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Tribit logo on the side of the Tribit Stormbox Lava

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Design

  • Plain design that lacks a creative spark
  • But it is conveniently IP67-rated
  • Interchangeable handle and strap attachments

For me, the Tribit Stormbox Lava sounds like it should be a pretty cool-looking speaker – I pictured some red details or maybe even some fiery LED lights that could sync up to bass output. Unfortunately, this is a totally basic looking speaker with no real design quirk. It’s a plain, black model with no lights or splashes of color and I’m not sure why Tribit played it so safe.

Having said that, it’s undeniable that this model is a pretty practical beast. It’s got a rugged build – very much reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers. And it also has an IP67 rating, meaning it's both dustproof and waterproof. That rating even ensures that the Stormbox Lava can be submerged in one meter of water for a period of up to 30 minutes – ideal for beach-side listening or pool parties.

Another practical inclusion is the Stormbox Lava’s accessories box, which includes both a handle and a strap for carrying the speaker around. The handle has an elastic-like property to it and is comfortable to hold, while the strap is adjustable and is useful for carrying the Stormbox Lava over longer distances.

The speaker is also adorned with seven button controls, all of which are well sized and responsive, these include buttons for volume/play controls, Bluetooth pairing, toggling XBass and even multi-speaker pairing. On top of that, you can find a tab on the reverse side of the speaker for accessing its AUX and charging ports.

  • Design score: 3/5

Someone holding handle attached to Tribit Stormbox Lava

(Image credit: Future)

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Value

  • Low price for a speaker of this size
  • And you can expect to see discounts in coming months
  • But that will come with a few hiccups in performance and design

The Tribit Stormbox Lava is available at a point ever-so-close to $100 / £100. It's a medium-to-larged sized option that sounds decent with some tuning and plates up both a good battery life and feature-set. At that price, this is an option worth your consideration.

I wouldn’t be surprised, either, to see this speaker available for less in the coming months as has so often been the case with Tribit’s products, including the Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Tribit Stormbox Blast. You’ll be able to find other low-priced alternatives in this ballpark, like the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 or even the giant Earfun UBoom X when it’s one sale. But these both take more of a boombox form, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

As I mentioned earlier, this speaker feels far more reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers, with its pseudo-cylindrical looks and similar scale. But the most recent iteration from it, the JBL Xtreme 4, will set you back $379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95 if you’re buying at full price – and I wouldn’t expect it to get anywhere near as cheap on sale.

Of course, this thing isn’t going to challenge the Xtreme 4 on sound quality, let alone looks or feature-set. But if you’re not the most analytical listener and you just want a bass-heavy, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker for parties, the Tribit Stormbox Lava will still get the job done.

  • Value score: 4/5

Tribit logo on the front side of the Tribit Stormbox Lava

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Tribit Stormbox Lava?

Buy it if...

You want a Bluetooth speaker for parties
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is a capable party speaker with impressive loudness, prominent bass output and multi-speaker pairing. It’s also able to survive beach-side or pool-side environments thanks to its hardy IP67 rating – even underwater submersion won’t faze this fella.

You’re on a budget
Perhaps the most obvious draw of the Tribit Stormbox Lava is its fantastic low price. For a speaker of this size you’re gonna struggle to find many cheaper options – especially ones that sound this good. Of course, there are still flaws in the audio department and you’re not getting the most stylish beast out there, but when it comes to value, this Tribit speaker scores well.

Don't buy it if...

You’re an audiophile
I touched on it there, but if you’re a more analytical listener, the Tribit Stormbox Lava is not for you. It lacks ‘hi-res’ audio codecs like LDAC, it struggles with ultra-deep notes, you may experience distortion at high volumes... you get the idea. If you want a more talented speaker in the sound department but don’t want to compromise on size, an option like the JBL Xtreme 4 could be very tempting – read more below.

You want a speaker with a bit of flair
Unfortunately, this thing isn’t gonna win a beauty contest any time soon. It has a pretty plain design and it’s only available in black for now. Gray is on the way, sure, but I doubt that’s gonna set the world alight either. If you want a more stylish option, check out the Ultimate Ears Epicboom, or basically anything UE – they really know how to stand out from the crowd.

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Also consider

JBL Xtreme 4
The JBL Xtreme 4 has it all. Highly capable audio skills, a water-resistant rugged design and plenty of battery life. But that comes at a cost. This model has a high list price – well over $300 / £300. Luckily, though, it can regularly be found on sale for far less – I spotted it for £250 on Amazon UK while writing this and at that price, you’ll struggle to do much better. Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2
If you’re looking to keep expenditure at a minimum but you’re still hoping for room-filling, bass-heavy audio, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 could be the ideal candidate for you. I often see it on sale for less than $100 / £100, but don’t be deceived by this model’s price – you won’t have to sacrifice niceties like EQ adjustment, multi-speaker pairing or water resistance. Audio isn’t the most controlled and the boombox-like design might not be for you, but this bold Bluetooth speaker is still worth considering for those on a tight budget. Read our full Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review.

Tribit Stormbox Lava review: How I tested

Power and Bluetooth buttons on the Tribit Stormbox Lava

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for one week
  • Mainly used at our music testing facility at Future Labs
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I put the Tribit Stormbox to the test over a one week period, exhausting all of its features, blasting out tune after tune and closely critiquing all aspects of its design. I predominantly tested it out at our music testing room at Future Labs in order to test audio quality in a quiet, controlled environment.

When listening to music, I mainly used Tidal, though I occasionally played songs via Spotify after connecting up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. To start with, I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to music from my own personal library. Where appropriate, I tested the Stormbox Lava alongside the JBL Xtreme 4 to compare sound quality and ease-of-use.

I tested LG’s new earbuds fine-tuned by will.i.am and a lack of style was the last thing I expected
2:00 pm | April 1, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

LG xboom Buds: two-minute review

Enter the LG xboom Buds, a pair of wireless earbuds fine-tuned by the man who spins his chair around on UK primetime TV… and produces a few hit songs now and then too: will.i.am. LG and will.i.am’s combined effort looks to supply “supreme sound”, effective ANC and unique style factor.

And for the price of $99 / £119, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Sure, the LG xboom Buds aren’t the cheapest on the market, but they're hardly priced in the premium cost bracket. Having said that, these earbuds don’t quite hit the dizzying heights we’ve seen from a handful of previous efforts, with good but not great sound and disappointing design.

Let’s start by tackling sound – the thing that matters most for us in our hunt for the best earbuds. Out of the box, you’re going to be struck by decent, deep and impactful bass output, ramped-up treble and fairly clean mids. I’d argue that the treble is overly forward on occasion, and can get a little grating at high volumes. That’s not the end of the world, of course, just hop into the xboom Buds app and take it down a peg – but it’s still a bit of an inconvenience when other options (see the Nothing Ear (a) are good from the box).

Bass is responsive, controlled and capable of going pretty deep. The xboom Buds are even capable of handling dark sub-bass – exactly what I’d expect from a product with ‘boom’ in its name. You’re not going to get a super-detailed listen out of these earbuds – there are no fancy codecs like LDAC and you’re not going to get the phenomenal instrument separation required to conjure up an expansive, nuanced soundstage. But with the right tuning, the xboom Buds certainly sound clean enough for the price.

Something that, for me, reduced my enjoyment when listening though was the fit. They feel a little chunky in-ear and protrude a fair bit, making for a not-so-elegant appearance or security. Don’t get me wrong, these aren’t too uncomfortable to use or anything, I just didn’t like keeping them in for particularly long sessions. It’s also worth noting that each bud has a practical hook that ensures it’ll stay in, even in more action-packed moments. They’re also IPX4 splashproof, ensuring they’re workout-ready.

I feel like I need to give these buds their flowers and one area where they deserve praise is in their features. The xboom Buds have a bundle of options to mess around with, whether that be EQ adjustment, customizable ANC or adaptive touch controls. Another major feature is Auracast compatibility, which enables you to connect up to any available broadcast nearby, such as music playing from a TV at the gym.

What’s a bit of a shame, though, is the removal of certain smash hit features from the LG Tone Free T90S – one of LG’s more recently released pairs of wireless buds and for me personally, among the best I’ve tested. Sure, leaving out Dolby Atmos, head tracking and immersive audio tech is understandable – the xboom Buds are a more budget-friendly alternative and that’s premium stuff in the audio world. But I would’ve loved to have seen Plug & Wireless return – which enables you to stream audio over Bluetooth from a source wired to the charging case. There’s no UVnano tech for keeping your buds bacteria-free either, which was pretty nifty on the T90S.

But back to the positives: ANC is proficient at nixing excess noise. In public areas, chatter and vehicles in my surroundings had their rumblings kept pretty quiet – dulled at the worst of times and totally cut out at the best. There’s also a transparency mode that’s great if you want to let a few ambient sounds through.

Another positive is battery life. These can knock out ten hours with ANC off and 7.5 hours with it turned on, which is only lengthened by the lightweight charging case. That should be enough for a day or two’s worth of listening and it’s an improvement on the T90S’s nine hours and five hours you get with ANC off and on, respectively.

All in all, the LG xboom Buds are a solid, yet flawed entry into the South Korean tech giant’s audio portfolio. They have sound quality that’s up-to-scratch for everyday listening and that will likely suit non-audiophiles perfectly, though the more keen listeners among you may wish for a bit more sonic finesse. Not to mention the fact that they have a feature-set and battery life that can compete with some of the best noise cancelling earbuds about.

In the end, though, these are let down by sub-par style and comfort. Given they’re on sale now, I’d highly recommend picking up the LG Tone Free T90S instead, or if you’re willing to cheat on LG, the Sony WF-C700N – more on those later.

Person holding LG xboom Buds in their charging case

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Buds review: price and release date

  • $99 / £119
  • Launched in the UK March 2025
  • Coming to the US in April 2025

The LG xboom Buds launched in 2025 and the first hundred UK customers could grab them for £99. Now, the xboom Buds are available for $99 / £119, meaning they’re in a middle place between being budget and mid-range earbuds. You can grab them now on LG’s official website in either black or white – I tested out the latter variant.

LG xboom Buds review: specs

LG xboom Buds and their various ear tips on a table

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Buds review: features

  • Great app with customizable ANC, touch controls and EQ
  • Auracast broadcast option
  • Plug & Wireless, and UVnano left out

LG has a real knack of packing its audio tech with a flowing fountain of features and the xboom Buds are no different. But one of the flagship inclusions here is Auracast. This is a type of Bluetooth technology that enables you to tune into an audio broadcast transmitted from a phone, TV or similar device. Just download the LG xboom Buds app and you can access any nearby broadcasts.

The app also opens the door to some classic features like EQ options and adjustable ANC. In terms of EQ, you’re looking at a pretty slim set of presets: Natural; Immersive; Bass Boost; and Treble Boost. But you can also save two custom calibrations with the eight band equalizer, which you’ll likely want to make use of for the best possible sound – more on that later. ANC is pretty good too, during testing it effectively dulled the sound of a hairdryer and keyboard clacking, but it didn’t deliver that near-silent listening experience you’d expect from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, for instance. There’s transparency mode here too, which enables some ambient noise to creep through if you’re on a run or similar.

Something I loved about the xboom Buds app was that it instantly triggered a test to determine the best in-ear fit for listening as well as optimizing ANC. All I had to do was position myself near a noise similar in volume to an air conditioner and the xboom Buds could work their magic. Some other nifty extras include: whispering mode, for keeping your voice clear when speaking softly on calls; wind noise detection, for reducing the disruptive nature of wind to listening; Find My Earbuds, which plays a sound if your buds have gone on the run; and game mode, for reduced latency.

All in all, there’s a lot here that was seen in LG’s recent outing, the LG Tone Free T90S. That means customizable touch controls, multi-point and voice alert, for reading messages received aloud to you. But unfortunately, you’ll also lose out on a few top-class inclusions from the T90S. That includes UVnano bacteria cleaning technology, Plug & Wireless (which enables you to connect the charging case to a source like an in-flight entertainment interface and stream its audio output over Bluetooth) and immersive sound tech like Dolby Atmos and Head Tracking.

So, if you still want the most premium audio and feature-rich option, the T90S are still going to be your best pal. But that doesn’t mean these buds don’t have a strong set of features in their own right. And that’s not to mention the fact that the xboom Buds actually have superior battery life. You get ten hours with ANC off and 7.5 hours with it turned on, which is only extended by the handy charging case. That’s not going to blow your mind, like the JBL Live Beam 3’s twelve hour battery life (ten with ANC on), but still LG serves up a commendable slice of playtime.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

LG xboom Buds plugged into USB-C charger

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Buds review: sound quality

  • Clear audio output with rich bass
  • Do need some tuning for a more balanced sound, though
  • AAC, but no aptX Adaptive this time out

After powering the LG xboom Buds on, I realized that they were set to the Natural EQ mode, which places emphasis on deep bass and treble sounds. Right off the bat, I switched into a custom EQ with more tempered treble. The default calibration put so much emphasis on sounds residing in the upper frequency range that higher-pitched sounds – especially percussion – could get quite grating.

Making that small alteration, made a world of difference. Treble sounded much more controlled and mids became a lot clearer too. But as the xboom name suggests, there’s some serious attention paid to low-end sounds. So, when listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I found the drum machine hits to have admirable depth – they were also rapid enough to ensure that the track maintained its trademark ‘bounce’. Vocals, synths and other elements weren’t separated enough to make for an elegantly layered, nuanced sound, but they were clear enough in the mix to ensure a decently enjoyable listen.

Unfortunately, though, delicate electronica that enters the fray around the song’s minute mark was a little too understated – perhaps in part due to the lack of higher resolution Bluetooth streaming. You get AAC here, but there’s no aptX Adaptive – something that made for a great inclusion in the LG Tone Free T90S.

Still, that shouldn’t detract from the fact that these buds are still capable of delivering a generally clean, enjoyable listening experience. When tuning into Come On Back With Your Love – Sunrise Mix by Kolter, vocal chops were clear and pumping bass had my head bopping.

The xboom Buds also handled bangers with imposing sub bass pretty well too. I was instantly struck by the in-your-face rumble that runs through The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – something that cheaper rivals typically struggle with. Quality did take a bit of a hit at peak volumes – I’m talking 90% - 100% – but I never felt the need to blast my music quite so loud.

One more sound-related aspect I want to touch on is mic quality. Now, when I recorded a voice note, speech was relatively clear with limited static and I could only hear a bit of sibilance. On a video call with a colleague, there was a slight tinniness to my voice – not to the point where my words were hard to make out – but enough that switching to my everyday headphones made a noticeably positive impact.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

LG xboom Buds out of their charging case

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Buds review: design

  • Not particularly sleek looking
  • Secure, but slightly uncomfortable in-ear fit
  • IPX4 splashproof

I’ll get straight to the point, reader: I’m not a massive fan of the design LG has gone with for the xboom Buds. Firstly, they look a little bulkier in-ear than the sleek and elegant-looking T90S. They protrude out a fair bit too, meaning they’re not the most discreet buds on the market.

The xboom Buds are a fair bit cheaper than the T90S and that shows from the more basic charging case and their plain outer casing. I tested the white variant, though these are also available in black if you’d prefer. The only design quirk here is that the buds have an almost hook like contraption fitted that keeps them firmly sealed into your ear, which is pretty handy for when you’re getting active. The hooks are a little awkward visually, but in-ear, they’re not going to be visible – not a bad addition all in all.

But something that’s more noticeable is that the in-ear fit of these is a touch uncomfortable, at least in my view. Their rounded shape made them feel a little too chunky in my ear, unfortunately, which meant I rarely wanted to keep them in for longer than an hour or so at a time. Sure, these buds feel nice and secure and form a tight seal, I just wish they looked and felt a bit more discreet.

On the upside, these are IPX4 splashproof. Well, at least the buds are – you’ll want to keep the case away from water. That means they’ll be well suited to workouts or use in light rain. There are also different sized ear gels in the box if you want to tighten or indeed loosen the in-ear feel.

  • Design score: 3/5

Someone picking one of the LG xboom Buds out of its charging case

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Buds review: value

  • Much cheaper launch price than LG’s previous buds...
  • ...but fewer premium features included here
  • Still by no means cheap and better value options are out there

With a list price of $99 / £119, the LG xboom Buds are essentially a budget to mid-range option with competition including the excellent Sony WF-C700N – more on those later. That makes them much cheaper than 2024’s LG Tone Free T90S, which launched at £229 (about $300), but these were admittedly more premium.

Of course, these buds are a totally different proposition. They’re not designed for the most high-end audio experience and take away that focus on spatial, three-dimensional sound. They’re also a bit more bare-boned with no UVnano tech or Plug & Wireless. But given that they still have a rich feature-set in their own right and they sound decent, all things considered, they’re not priced too badly.

I would argue, however, that there are a lot of buds that sound as good, if not a little better, that cost a fair chunk less. For instance, we scored the Nothing Ear (a) five out of five for sound quality, thanks to their fun, zealous sound and inclusion of LDAC. But they’re regularly available for less than $100 / £80. And even if you want to go for that more premium LG Tone Free T90S option, they’ve received a hearty price cut, making them available for closer to the $180 / £150 mark. I think they’re worth that extra cash.

That’s not to mention that $99 / £119 is by no means cheap for wireless earbuds. There are lots of excellent cheap options to choose from too if you’d prefer, such as the budget-friendly Sony WF-C510, which we even preferred to the far pricier Apple AirPods 4.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

LG xboom Buds in their charging case on a pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG xboom Buds?

Buy them if...

You want wireless earbuds for a workout
The LG xboom Buds have a hook-like contraption attached to them that keeps them firmly in-ear, even during more active periods. They’re also IPX4-rated, making them both sweat and splash resistant.

You’re looking for Auracast-ready earbuds
There aren’t a ton of wireless earbuds out there that support Auracast, so if you want a solid pair that incorporate such tech, these are worth a look. Just fire up the LG xboom Buds app and you’ll be able to tune into any nearby Auracast broadcast. Easy as you like.

Don't buy them if...

You want top-tier sound quality
The xboom Buds don’t sound bad, let’s get that straight. But they’re not the most talented in the audio department either, sometimes lacking in instrument separation and detail. They’ll also require some tuning out of the box due to the top-loaded treble, which can get fairly harsh at high volumes.

You’re a movie fanatic
Unlike the LG Tone Free T90S, the LG xboom Buds don’t offer support for Dolby Atmos or head tracking. As a result, you’re not going to get the most immersive, three-dimensional sound in the world out of these.

LG xboom Buds: also consider

Sony WF-C700N
I’ve personally owned the Sony WF-C700N for well over a year and can vouch for their quality. These are some of the best value earbuds around, with impressive ANC, surprisingly detailed sound and a comfortable fit. You’re not going to get that Auracast compatibility here, and they have just been superseded by an upgraded Sony WF-C710 model (review incoming) but I’d still put these above LG’s latest earbuds effort. Read our full Sony WF-C700N review.

Nothing Ear (a)
These unorthodox looking buds are still a firm favorite of ours here at TechRadar. Why? They offer stellar sound with LDAC, admirable noise cancelation and wonderful in-app experience. No wonder they’re still sitting pretty as our best mid-range option in our best wireless earbuds guide. Read our full Nothing Ear (a) review.

LG xboom Buds review: How I tested

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Used in the office and while on walks
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the LG xboom Buds over a two week period, using them for hours during each working day and beyond. I tried them out at the office, while at home and when on walks to assess the fortitude of ANC across multiple environments.

Most of the time, I tested these wireless buds using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I also tried using them with both Spotify and YouTube on my Windows laptop. When listening to music, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres but I also tuned in to hours worth of tunes from my personal library.

Where appropriate, I compared these to the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds on metrics such as comfort, audio quality, ANC capabilities and features.

I tested these 1More headphones and I’m convinced they’re some of the best cheap cans money can buy
7:00 pm | March 27, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51: two-minute review

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are a pair of budget-friendly over-ear headphones that set out to do it all. They aim to serve up adept audio, noise-crushing ANC and an eye-catching design – all for less than $100 / £100. I must confess, that’s quite the tall task, and I did have my reservations at first. But after two weeks of testing, I’m pleased to report that these 1More cans do all of those things… and more.

Before we really drill into things, let’s take a glance at the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51’s headline info. These headphones come in with a modest list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 and offer ANC and transparency mode, LDAC for ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming and up to 100 hours – yes 100 hours – of battery life.

Let’s zoom in on the area that matters most – sound. Now, you’re not going to get audio quality that competes with the more premium options in our guide to the best headphones, nor indeed the more aspirational models in our best noise-cancelling headphones roundup, but they still perform commendably for the money. You get clear audio that’s free of tinniness, even at higher volumes. Also, these cans certainly have a more bass-heavy sound signature, which is ideal for fans of dance music, for example, but you can temper low-end output with the 1More Music app’s EQ settings if you so please.

You also get a fairly detailed listen, especially when using the aforementioned LDAC option (if your source device supports it) – or wired connectivity. And sound quality is solid with ANC turned on or off – though I preferred to keep this on for the most part. That ANC is pretty effective too – chatter on public transport, keyboards clacking away and cars zooming past were severely dulled – if not muted when listening to my favorite tracks.

I mentioned that excellent 100 hour battery life, but that’s only if you have LDAC and ANC turned off. But still, even with ANC on, you get 65 hours out of these cans – that’s more than enough for the money! These over-ears are also super comfortable thanks to their generous use of padding on the headband and earcups. So rest assured, the Sonoflow Pro have the battery and design for high-comfort, long-lasting listening sessions.

In addition, these headphones are awesome-looking when in-use. They’re angled forward slightly, giving them a curved, sleek look. They also have a tidy matte finish – there’s style and substance on tap here. The only real downside is that the button controls are a little plasticky and the headband feels a touch feeble – but that’s perhaps to be expected for cans in this price range.

There aren’t too many other downsides to note, luckily. One small thing: the app situation is a little unclear. I could only connect these headphones to the 1More Music platform, rather than the typical 1More app, which was a little frustrating. 1More Music is a little dated, with certain features such as multi-point connectivity (why would you not want this?) hidden in a sub-menu, which made for a less-than-ideal user experience.

But all in all, I’d certainly recommend the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51. They nail the basics: impressive audio, plenty of playtime and a ruthless approach to external noise. And to do all of that at such a low cost is really worth shouting about. If you want truly premium sound and have a more generous budget to spend on headphones, they might not be the best option in the world – perhaps consider some headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4, but the quality on offer from 1More’s Pro cans is more than good enough for anyone on a tighter budget.

3.5mm and USB-C ports on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: price & release date

  • $89 / £99 / AU$130
  • Launched in 2024

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 – sometimes just listed as the 1More Sonoflow HQ51 – have a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130. They launched in 2024 in three colorways: Black; Blue; and Silver.

Price can vary slightly by color variant, but typically, these are in the same kind of ballpark. And good news – I’ve already spotted the Sonoflow Pro on sale with retailers like Amazon US and UK, where they’ve dropped to around $70 / £70 in the past.

Button controls on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: Specs

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: features

  • Up-to-scratch ANC
  • Phenomenal battery life
  • Companion app could use some work

The Sonoflow Pro come through with all the features you’d hope to find from some modern day Bluetooth headphones – and then some. You get Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, multi-point and a handy companion app too.

A quick note on that companion app, though. I downloaded the 1More app – as advertised on the webpage for this model – but had no joy on my Samsung phone. Instead, I found that I needed to use the 1More Music app, which seems a bit more old-fashioned and clunky to navigate, but works fine.

Anyway, when I finally got things working, I wanted to explore the ANC options. You get three settings: ANC off; ANC on; or passthrough. Now firstly, I have to say that I was surprised by how successful the ANC was here. That’s meant to be one of the key areas of improvement over the original Sonoflow, and 1More pulled it off. When I was in the office, I could barely hear anything aside from my music when listening at 50% volume. Even when out and about or on public transport, external noises were pleasingly kept to a minimum.

Sure, you’re not going to get the best-in-class ANC you’d expect from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, for instance, but that’s to be expected given these are a fraction of the price. And the passthrough mode works well too – you’ll hear a few more sounds from your surroundings, which can be handy for when you’re walking in a busy area and want to keep your whits about you.

As well as toggling between ANC, you can activate hi-res music streaming and adjust EQ – there’s a tidy selection of genre-specific presets as well as a custom option. There’s also an indicator to show battery levels. Speaking of, these cans are seriously long lasting – you’ll get days, if not weeks of use from one single charge. They boast a playtime of 65 hours with ANC on or 100 hours with it off. That will vary if you have hi-res streaming active and listen at top volumes – but still that’s an exceptional amount of listening time.

On top of all of this, there are a few less common features that I unearthed in the 1More Music app. The first is smart burn-in, which is essentially meant to ‘break in’ the drivers and optimize sound quality. I didn’t pick up on any real difference and the whole burn-in deal is a controversial one in the audiophile community, so its inclusion was neither here nor there for me. The second is Soothing Sounds, which plays noises like ‘Waterfall’, ‘Volcano’ and ‘Medium Fire’. This one’s a dud. Sound quality is poor and the audio files stop pretty abruptly, then replay – but you can always just leave it alone.

  • Features score: 4/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 using wired connection

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: sound quality

  • Clear quality with rich bass
  • Solid detail levels with wired and LDAC listening
  • Customizable sound thanks to EQ options

I’ll be honest, reader, I wasn’t expecting much from these 1More headphones in the sound department. But they only went and blew my expectations out of the water! OK, you’re not going to get that premium, beautifully balanced, neatly separated and layered sound that some more premium cans can deliver, but what’s on offer here is pretty tasty for the humble outlay.

Like a lot of budget-friendly headphones out there, the Sonoflow Pro certainly lean into a more bass-heavy signature – ideal if you’re a lover of dance music or hip-hop for instance. If you want a more balanced sound, just head into the 1More Music app and adjust EQ with the five-band equalizer or included presets – nice and easy.

So, let’s start with bass. Unlike a lot of budget options, the big bass doesn’t sound overly cluttered or lethargic here. For instance, when I tuned into Black Eye by Allie X, the punch of the drum machine was rapid and didn’t overstay its welcome. And there’s impressive depth on offer too. When tuning into tracks with imposing sub bass – like The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – the low-end boom rumbling through the track hit with massive impact, but was still clear and controlled.

But booming bass output doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality. In I Want You by Moloko – a busy, layered track – breathy, grand vocals maintain admirable presence and clarity, even alongside the punchy bass and flurry of strings, keys, percussive elements and more.

Even when listening to more mellow tracks like I Remember You by Masayoshi Takanaka, rhythmic guitar was tonally accurate, sweet harp trills never sounded tinny and smooth bass, though prominent, never overstepped its remit. Instrument separation isn’t bad at this price point, but I did feel some of the string and guitar elements could’ve sounded a little more spaced out, for a more airy, nuanced listen.

Having said that, you will get to pick out some neat details with the Sonoflow Pro – that’s thanks to the inclusion of both a 3.5mm headphone slot for wired listening and higher-resolution Bluetooth audio via LDAC. Delicate synths that gradually build are audible early in Kolter’s Overflow and light samba drums in SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe add some added seasoning to an already groovy tune.

All in all, you get surprisingly good sound from these budget-friendly 1More headphones. General audio isn’t as crisp as I’ve heard from cans like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and you won’t get stunning spatial audio like the Sonos Ace. But if you want clear, decently detailed sound, the Sonoflow Pro have you covered.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

Earcups of the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: design

  • Sleek on-ear look
  • Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
  • A little flimsy

Something I really appreciate about the 1More Sonoflow Pro is their curved on-ear look. They’re angled slightly, which gives a more defined, sharp look to them in use – something I already liked about the original Sonoflow model. On top of that, the Black model I tested had an attractive matte finish, making for a very attractive pair of over-ears.

But they’re more than just a pretty face. The Sonoflow Pro are also pretty comfortable to wear – even for longer listening sessions. They might not quite have the cushion-like comfort of the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, but there’s still plenty of padding on the headband and plump earcups and so I was happy to listen with these for hours on end. They’re also foldable, making them a compact option for on-the-go use.

The only thing I didn’t really love design-wise is that these cans don’t feel the most durable. The headband is pretty thin and the buttons appear and feel quite plasticky. There’s also no waterproofing or dustproofing here – but that’s pretty common for over-ears. This is no dealbreaker, just don’t expect premium build quality.

Back to the positives though: I loved the hard carry case which is included in the box. It will keep your headphones damage free if you want to throw them in a bag when traveling – that’s an enticing bonus. There’s also a USB-C charging wire and 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable with an attached mic, which offers relatively clear, albeit not ultra-crisp quality for phone calls.

  • Design score: 4/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 in carry case

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: value

  • Awesome all-round budget package
  • Included case makes for staggering overall value
  • Similar price to original Sonoflow, but some key improvements

It will come as no surprise that the category these cans perform best in is value. Their list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 is already great, but again, these are available on sale semi-regularly, meaning you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Solid sound, sleek design and even a carry case – not bad at all!

Not only that, but these are priced exceptionally closely to the original 1More Sonoflow cans, while still offering some significant improvements. You get enhanced ANC, longer battery life and faster charging – specifically, the Pro give you ten hours of playtime with a five minute charge, double as fast as the standard model.

There are some amazing cheap headphones out there, like the Earfun Wave Pro, for instance. But these 1More cans have better battery life, a more distinct on-ear look and color options. It's a case of several smaller improvements adding up to one big uptick in value. You really can’t ask for much more from some sub-$100 headphones.

  • Value score: 5/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 headband

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51?

Buy them if…

You want capable ANC
I found that the Sonoflow Pro offered better-than-expected ANC, which kept me focused on my music at all times, even when in busier, more chatter-filled areas. There’s a passthrough mode if you want to keep some ambient sounds, too, which is a nice touch.

You’re not looking to spend your life savings
With a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130, the Sonoflow Pro are certainly on the more budget-friendly side of the spectrum. They’re also available at a cut-price from time to time, meaning you’re getting up-to-scratch audio and a sleek design at a more than reasonable price.

Don’t buy them if…

You want S-tier audio
The Sonoflow Pro have a pleasingly customizable sound and given their price, you’re getting very solid audio quality too. But they’re not going to offer that immersive, carefully separated, premium sound that audiophiles will be looking for. If you’re looking for peak performance, you’ll be better served by cans like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the Apple AirPods Max.

You want phenomenal build quality
Now don’t get me wrong, I like the way the Sonoflow Pro look on, but there’s no denying they’re still pretty plasticky. The headband and button controls aren’t the sturdiest, so if you’re looking for premium build quality, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

USB-C port on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

(Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: also consider

Earfun Wave Pro
For some time, the Earfun Wave Pro have held the title of best budget option in our guide to the best over-ear headphones. And it’s easy to see why. These cans supply stupendous battery life, above-average sound and a neat design all at a temptingly low price. You can’t ask for much more than that! Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review.

Sony WH-CH720N
I’ve personally owned the Sony WH-CH720N for well over a year and can comfortably recommend them. They offer great sound for the price you pay, as well as upscaling technology for lower-quality music files. On top of that, you get effective ANC, a handy companion app and a classy set of color options to choose from. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: How I tested

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Used at home and on public transport
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 over the course of two weeks. I used the over-ears in a variety of environments, including at home, on walks near built-up roads and on public transport. Typically, I connected the headphones to Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy 24 FE with the LDAC codec enabled for the best quality audio.

When listening to music, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. I also tested the headphones with my Windows laptop to test out quality using a wired connection. When appropriate, I also compared the Sonoflow Pro directly to the Soundcore Space One Pro.

I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro and they’re better, but never twice as good as the non-Pro 5 –and sadly, they’re double the money
2:30 pm | March 15, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: | Comments: Off

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro: Two-minute review

You may have heard of Chinese tech company Xiaomi from its impressive camera phones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, its impressive budget mobiles like the Poco X7 Pro or its powerful tablets like the Xiaomi Pad 5. You may not have heard as much about its earbuds.

It's true that the tech giant's in-ear headphones have yet to feature in our best earbuds guide, but perhaps this is that time? The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro are the latest offering from the company, a rare ‘premium’ pair of earbuds alongside the unending line of budget buds it releases under its Redmi line. They’re the specced-up version of the Xiaomi Buds 5 from six months prior, as well as the new iteration of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro.

Like most earbuds made by smartphone companies, you’re probably checking out this Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review because you’ve found a deal that combines one of the company’s latest smartphones (perhaps the Xiaomi 15 or Xiaomi 14T) with them for a low price. And frankly, that’s probably the only time you should consider them: the buds are acceptable but nothing special, with a price that’s particularly uncompetitive (unless you’ve found them in a bundle).

There’s certainly some impressive acoustic engineering on display here, with each earbud boasting two drivers and a tweeter, but unfortunately the driver array doesn’t deliver equally-impressive audio chops, with music lacking the necessary bass impact and energy to invigorate your tunes.

A trip down the specs list will show some head-turning features, like a high audio bandwidth or the ability to play music over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth. The latter is exclusive to a more expensive model of the buds called the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, not this model, but both options require very specific Xiaomi phones that’ll rule out many buyers.

That may seem harsh, but the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro do solve many issues of their non-Pro siblings: they’re comfortable to wear, easy to tote around and don’t fall out of the ear at the slightest provocation. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has seen a particularly improvement, both in the ability to remove noise, and the customization over its various modes.

Ultimately, because this proposition costs more than some really impressive rivals, it’s hard to recommend picking the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro off the shelves (virtual or physical). But as a bundle bonus alongside another gadget, it could be the music companion you need – and that’s equally true if you can find them reduced in sales.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Price and release date

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Announced in February 2025
  • Costs £159.99 / AU$340 (roughly $210)
  • Over twice as expensive as non-Pro

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro were announced in February 2025, alongside the Xiaomi 15 series of smartphones as well as the Pad 7 and a few other gadgets.

If you recall, the Buds 5 sold for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140); the Buds 5 Pro have undergone a serious price hike. They go for £159.99 / AU$340 (roughly $210), so they’re over twice the price of their predecessors.

As Xiaomi only sells its Redmi earbuds in the US, the Buds 5 Pro aren’t on sale there. In Australia, I noticed their prices from Xiaomi’s own outlets ranging from $340 to $380, so the price is a little nebulous.

Later on in this review, I’ll touch more on the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, a more advanced model that I didn’t test. These cost roughly £20 / AU$40 (roughly $30) more than the standard model, depending on where you find them.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Specs

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Features

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Several ANC modes
  • 8-hour battery life (with ANC off)
  • Xiaomi app has EQ and more

Xiaomi has bumped up its feature set with the Buds 5 Pro, offering a few improvements over the non-Pro model, and it does make the earbuds much more competitive.

First up is the battery life – the buds themselves will last for 8 hours of listening if ANC is turned off, and while Xiaomi doesn’t provide an ANC-on figure, I’d guess at about 6.5-7 hours based on my testing. The battery life of the case itself has only seen a modest improvement of one hour over the past model, but the resulting figure of 40 hours in total is nothing to sniff at.

Charging is done with USB-C or wirelessly via Qi, and for the former at least, it’s pretty snappy. Xiaomi estimates that you’ll get 4.5 hours of listening time on 10 minutes charge with a fast enough charger, and while mine isn’t up to Xiaomi’s specs, I was still pleasantly surprised with how little you needed to charge these things for them to be on 100%.

Another improvement is ANC, or Active Noise Cancellation – it’s still not industry-leading but these buds offer a marked improvement over the Buds 5 (I’m sure the silicon tips help, more on that later). You get the usual three modes: on, off and transparency, with the latter letting you choose between enhancing ambient sounds, voice or both. It’s a neat way to let you avoid the downsides of passthrough modes while still enjoying the benefits.

There’s an adaptive noise cancellation mode, which can be toggled between ‘light’ and ‘deep’ (I'll be honest, I cannot discern the difference here). This helps retain some juice when you’re listening, as it dials ANC up or down, depending on how noisy your surroundings are.

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

This can all be changed in the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which brings a few extra features. This includes turning on adaptive sound and volume, the ability to change what touch controls do, a spatial audio feature called Dimensional Audio, and a voice memo recording feature which you can enable via the app or via gestures.

An eight-band equalizer is hidden deep in the app’s menus, but I found myself using the six presets most of all. These include ‘decrease bass’, ‘enhance voice’ and the enigmatically-named ‘audiophile’, as well as two Harman Kardon-tuned versions called ‘Harman AudioEFX’ and ‘Harman Master’. The app doesn’t reveal what these mean, but Harman’s website reveals that the former is a tool which intelligently balances the dynamics of a song.

The Buds connect to your phone, tablet or laptop via Bluetooth 5.4. There’s also a model which supports Wi-Fi connectivity to your phone, which I didn’t test. This pair, called the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi and one of the big audio breakthroughs we saw at MWC recently, cost a little more and only let you use that titular feature alongside the expensive Xiaomi 15 Ultra, however more phones are apparently going to gain support in the future. The benefit to this pair is that you can listen to 96kHz / 24bit audio using the 4.2Mbps bandwidth, so it’s one for hardcore audiophiles to keep an eye on.

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Design

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Silver case is lightweight and small
  • Silicon eartips make buds stay in ears easily
  • Buttons on each bud stem

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro’s case is near-identical to the non-Pro model’s. It’s a slender silver clamshell with a USB-C port on its underside, that opens up to reveal the buds. It’s made of plastic and weighs 41.8g, so it’s pretty lightweight (though 5g heavier than the Buds 5’s).

A compliment I levelled on the previous buds stands true here: the design of the case makes it really easy to remove the buds quickly, as the stems aren’t buried in the case. I appreciate buds that reduce the time taken faffing with the case.

Now onto the earbuds: these show a big improvement over the Buds 5 (and remember, I have thoroughly tested both) in that they have silicon tips that keep the buds securely in your ears. The non-Pro model lacked this, and my biggest issue with them was that they just wouldn’t stick in my ear. The addition of tips removes this issue.

In fact I never had a problem with the Buds 5 Pro’s fit: they never felt wobbly or ill-fitting, and they’re nice and lightweight so it wasn’t a burden wearing them. They weigh 5.6g which is pretty svelte for earbuds.

The stems of each earbud house a button that you can trigger by squeezing the stem. You need to squeeze them quite hard though, and there’s not much in the way of response to show that your squeeze has registered as in the past buds (which gave a light ‘click’ to show the button had been pressed). It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a slight regression.

An improvement here is that the buds have an IP54 rating, offering limited protections against fine particles (like dust) as well as moisture (like sprays of water). IP certification is a nice reassurance that your chosen gadgets can withstand a dose of mother nature.

  • Design score: 4/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Sound quality

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 11mm driver + planar + tweeter
  • High max volume
  • Impressive mids and decent trebles, but lacking in bass

Xiaomi has really stuffed the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro with tech: each bud has an 11mm dynamic driver alongside a planar driver and a ceramic tweeter.

While the midrange is much meatier than I’m used to in earbuds and the treble is clear and agile, the Achilles’ heel of the Buds 5 Pro is bass, which can range from ‘a little lacking’ to ‘conspicuously absent’ depending on the song.

Not everyone is a bass-head, and I count myself among that crowd, but even I felt that songs were lacking a little je ne sais quoi as a result. Using the equaliser can help a little bit, but the odd lack of a bass boost mode hurts (there’s treble enhancer, and bass reducer, not no bass enhancer or treble reducer?).

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

If you don’t care much for heavy grime or drum-and-bass music (or perhaps you listen to genres with so much intrinsic bass that no earbud can remove it and a tempered performance might actually help things), you’ll likely be fine with the Buds 5 Pro. But I can see this being a deal-breaker for some buyers.

Perhaps compensating for this issue is the Buds 5 Pro's eye-watering max volume. At some point in testing, I crank earbuds up to their max volume to see how high they can go. The Buds 5 Pro made me regret that I didn’t take the buds out of my ears before doing so!

A little feature I need to flag for a very slim market (hello, audiophiles who may still wear wireless earbuds) is that the Buds 5 Pro support a 2.1Mbps transmission rate of lossless audio, which would be great for high-res streaming… if it wasn’t for the fact that it only works if your mobile is one of a select number of recent top-end Xiaomi phones. So it’s not for everyone.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Value

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Struggle compared to some rivals
  • Pick them up bundled or discounted

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro would be decent buds, sitting at the high end of the budget market, if that’s what they cost. But they don’t – they’re a little pricier than I would have expected, and they also cost more than some really impressive competitors that I’ll list below.

It’s not a huge margin, but you can save £40 / AU$80 and pick up some great competitors pretty easily.

That’s why, as I said in the introduction, these are great in a deal or bundle. But it’s harder to recommend picking them up on their own.

  • Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro?

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy them if…

You find them bundled
If you can pick these up alongside a flagship Xiaomi phone, you'll be able to use their top-end features and will likely get them at a discount.

You need a reliable ear fit
Unlike the Buds 5, these guys stick in your ear well, and won't fall out unless you take them out.

Don’t buy them if…

You're on a budget
These aren't cheap earbuds, and you should only consider these if you have money to burn.

You're a bass head
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro won't offer you the booming bass of some other earbuds, so they won't impress bass-heads.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Also consider

Xiaomi Buds 5
The natural comparison, these buds are a lot cheaper. However they don't sound as good, have worse ANC and don't fit in the ears well.

See our full Xiaomi Buds 5 review

Nothing Ear
These buds from rival phone maker Nothing sound great, have loads of unique features and look distinctive. Best of all, they undercut the Xiaomis.

See our full Nothing Ear review

How I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Tested at home, in the office and at the gym

I used the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro for two weeks in order to write this review. They were mostly paired with my Android smartphone although I did use them on a Windows laptop too.

This testing involved trips to the gym, walks around my neighborhood, working at home, streaming TV shows and idling at home. It was mostly done on music but I did listen to some podcast too.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years now, and in that time have tested plenty of wireless earbuds as well as a huge number of Xiaomi devices.

  • First reviewed in March 2025
I tested this suave Bluetooth speaker from Sweden and it left me with mixed feelings – here’s why
12:30 pm | March 1, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: two-minute review

The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker aims to offer good vibrations, a pleasing design and stunning, portable build. Don’t worry, it’s only a Bluetooth speaker. And for the most part, this diminutive portable speaker achieves what it sets out to do. It has an eye-catching shape fit for fashionistas, decent all-round audio and impressive build quality. But unfortunately for the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker, it just falls short of its competitors in a couple of crucial areas.

Before we get into that, though, let’s start with a sound assessment. Due to its tiny size, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is pretty limited in terms of the quality and volume it can produce. It has a single 45mm, 5W full-range driver that produces typically clear, tonally-accurate audio. Some sounds can get a touch edgy at times – especially those in the treble range while listening at higher volumes.

But again, I still felt that the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker sounded fine given its intrinsic limitations. Specifically, I was surprised by the meatiness of the bass on offer. Next to the not-much-smaller JBL Go 4, I found the Joy speaker capable of dishing up superior low-end impact. You won’t find the extra serving of detail that some of the best Bluetooth speakers can deliver, though, with more subtle sonic ornaments often hard to uncover. It’s also worth noting that the speaker only harnesses the basic SBC Bluetooth codec, so you won’t be able to enjoy higher-quality aptX files at their very best.

Perhaps unconventionally, the draw of this speaker isn’t all too much to do with sound – it’s about style. Happy Plugs refers to the Joy Speaker as “fashion tech designed in Sweden”, giving it a real sense of identity. Its rounded look, attractive color options and lace attachment certainly give it that je ne sais quoi, something that can often be overlooked in a cheaper, more bare bones speaker such as this.

Speaking of price, this Happy Plugs product will set you back just $49.99 / £39.99. Realistically, that’s pretty standard stuff for a speaker in this weight class but still, it's a looker for the money. Competitors like the JBL Go 4 and Sony SRS-XB100 have very similar list prices. Other than its winsome design, the Happy Plugs Joy doesn’t really do enough to set itself apart from some pretty fierce competition, in my view.

That predominantly comes down to its disappointing feature-set. Sure, the built-in mic works to a commendable standard and the ability to pair another Joy Speaker for stereo sound is handy, but that’s about it as far as features go, bar the inclusion of an AUX port for wired listening. There’s no companion app or way to adjust EQ – something I’d expect for a speaker released in 2025.

Another issue is the poor dust- and waterproofing offered by the Joy Speaker. It is only IPX4 rated, meaning it can withstand some water splashes or rainfall, but little else. Given you see a whole bunch of competitors, like the Ultimate Ears Miniroll, offering IP67-rated protection against dust and water submersion, IPX4 just feels a bit underwhelming, I’m afraid.

When you pair the fairly feeble protection against the elements with the speaker’s 5W maximum power output, it’s safe to say the Joy Speaker is better suited to bedroom use, rather than taking into the great outdoors or a party environment.

And if a small, personal speaker is all you’re looking for, the Happy Plugs Joy is still an OK option at a reasonable price. Its stylish edge will no doubt earn its fair share of plaudits, even if there’s a shortage of features and undercooked protection against the elements. Overall, I’d still say you’re better off with the JBL Go 4, or even one of the best waterproof speakers like the excellent Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 – both of which offer impressive audio in a similarly mini package, but one that can also be dunked fully in a pool and survive.

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker in someone's hand

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: price and release date

  • $49.99 / £39.99 (about AU$80)
  • Launched in January 2025

The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker released at the beginning of 2025, carrying a very modest list price of $49.99 / £39.99 (about AU$80). That price applies to each of the four color variants this speaker comes in, namely: Black; Blue; Green; and Pink. The Happy Plug Joy Speaker’s main competitors at this price-point include the excellent JBL Clip 5 and supremely durable LG XBoom Go XG2T – more on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.

Someone undoing rubber tab on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: specs

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: features

  • Lacks companion app and EQ adjustment
  • Middling battery life
  • Has effective built-in mic

I don’t like to do this, honestly I don’t – but I’m going to start on a negative note. The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker has a pretty limited set of features. For a speaker released in 2025, that’s pretty disappointing – even for a small one like this.

A lot of that stems from the omission of a companion app, which instantly restricts what this thing can do. You won’t find any ways to adjust EQ, view connected devices or get the visual on battery life, for example. That’s a bit of a let down when you consider that small options like the JBL Go 4 offer all of this and more (we’ll talk more about this little treasure later).

There are some features of note, though, like the inclusion of a built-in mic, stereo pairing and an AUX port for wired listening. Now, in fairness, the inbuilt microphone is above average – I found call quality to be slightly superior to my phone in speaker or earpiece mode. Similarly, when recording a voice note, I felt that my speech was clear at varying distances, even if there was a bit of feedback lurking in the background.

Stereo pairing is a handy inclusion, especially as this speaker can’t get too loud – more on that later. AUX is cool too if you’re into wired listening, but I suspect most will stick with Bluetooth. This uses version 5.3, which is plenty good enough – although some competitors are using version 5.4 as of the time of writing.

On top of this, you’re getting up to eight hours of playtime with the Happy Plugs Joy. That’s fairly average stuff. Sure, it’s superior to the seven hours offered by the JBL Go 4, but it’s vastly inferior to the fantastic 16 hours you’ll get with the Sony SRS-XB100. A strong battery life would’ve added some much needed credit into this speaker’s account, but ultimately it just feels a bit uninteresting, feature-wise.

  • Features score: 2.5/5

Button controls on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: sound quality

  • Decently clear all-round audio
  • Surprisingly full bass output
  • Fairly weak power output

Sound-wise, I was left with conflicting thoughts on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. Right off the bat, I can tell you that the manufacturer’s claim of “high quality audio” is stretching the meaning a bit. When tuning into That Lady Pts. 1 & 2 by The Isley Brothers, I found some percussive elements to be a touch tinny-sounding at high volumes and side-by-side with the JBL Go 4, vocals occasionally lacked control.

But overall, I still felt that sound quality was solid for both its size and price. And in some areas it outclassed the Go 4. For instance, when bumping Dasha - Tour Mauborg Remix by Fusion Affair, the bass thump running throughout hit with significantly more impact and weight when listening via the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. Similarly, I was impressed by the depth of the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X, even if the speaker wasn’t quite dynamic enough to replicate the bouncing effect of the bass bounding throughout the intro.

In addition, I sensed that the acoustic guitar running through Come sweet death, second impact by Megumi Hayashibara was fairly expressive and tonally accurate. It was also pleasantly forward until vocals entered the fray and deservedly assumed the limelight. I will caveat that with a note that densely layered tracks, such as I Want You by Moloko, aren’t expertly emulated, with synths, vocals, percussion, strings and more sometimes bunching up to create a slightly restricted-sounding result.

But much of that is down to the inherent limitations of speakers this small. You’re rarely going to be smacked by a majestically broad, nuanced soundstage or massively full-sounding profile from a model this mini – I have tested enough speakers of this size to know it. I wasn’t getting a huge dose of detail out of my favorite tracks either, with more granular sonic elements often left under wraps. That reminds me: this speaker only supports the basic SBC codec – no aptX or LDAC for less-compressed Bluetooth streaming this time out, I’m afraid.

Another issue that’s pretty typical of tiny speakers like this is relatively low power output. And the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker doesn’t look to buck that trend. It has a single 5W 45mm driver that can’t get all too loud. Sure, it will have enough power for solo bedroom listening, but if you’re turning up to the party with this, you’re going to be left wanting more. On that note, if you’re more of a party animal, it's well worth checking out our guide to the best party speakers.

So here I am, left with pretty mixed feelings. Overall, I’m leaning towards a positive outlook on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker – and not just because of the name. It offers generally clear audio, surprisingly attention-grabbing bass output and stereo sound – if you have two paired in stereo mode. But there are some imperfections, too, including occasionally tinny output, restricted volume potential and a lack of detail.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Someone pressing a button on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: design

  • Small, stunning appearance
  • Outdated IPX4 waterproofing
  • Beautiful color options

But arguably the main strength of this lil’ speaker is its eye-catching design – after all, Happy Plugs itself describes the Joy Speaker as “a statement piece”. I’m not sure if it’s quite the fashion revolution that it's made out to be, but still, I really like the look of this speaker. (Is it worth mentioning that some of the TechRadar team call this review sample Grogu? I suppose I just have.)

The Joy speaker almost has a rounded trapezoid structure, with a classy-looking fabric speaker grille on its front and reverse side. It also has five small, easy-to-use button controls on the top, which subtly blend into the rubber casing that coats the edge of the device. These include play/pause, call and volume controls, as well as power on/off and Bluetooth. There’s a small LED that flashes to indicate if the speaker is charging or in pairing mode, which is a useful visual prompt as well.

On the side of the Joy Speaker, you’ll discover a tab, under which lies a USB-C port that can charge the speaker from 0-100% in two and a half hours, as well as an AUX port. This will let you play music via a wired connection, if you feel so inclined.

One more highlight – I’m a big fan of the color options available here. I tested out a broccoli-shade green model, but there’s also a dusty pink or blue and a deep black variant available. These colorways compliment the speaker’s “fashion tech” identity to a tee and make for a nice break from the plain, single color direction a lot of rivals go in.

This is all positive stuff so far, but when it comes to practicality, this speaker is a bit of a mixed bag. First, the pros. The lace attached to the side of the speaker looks sleek and is super effective for hanging it off a backpack or nearby attachment. There are also four mini rubber feet on the speaker that keep it in an upright position, even if it gets knocked a little. But I have one major gripe: the dust and waterproof rating.

The Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is only IPX4-rated, meaning it’s resistant to light rain and splashes of water, but little more. For a speaker in this age, that’s simply not cutting it. Almost every major manufacturer is putting out IP67 – or at least IPX7-rated speakers, which enables them to survive submersion under water for extended periods of time. IPX4 isn’t ideal for listening at the beach or in the shower, for instance, whereas a speaker like the Ultimate Ears Miniroll will easily be able to pull through.

  • Design score: 4/5

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker against pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: value

  • Price is in-line with competition
  • Sound is about what you’d expect in this range
  • But competitors offer superior feature-set and durability

At $49.99 / £39.99, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker very much blends in with rivals including the JBL Go 4 and Sony SRS-XB100. It’s by no means expensive, but not a crazy bargain either. Due to its age, you can occasionally find the Go 4 for less than $40 / £30, which is phenomenal value for money, so with time, I’d hope to see the Joy Speaker discounted to a similar level.

For a speaker of its size, the Joy Speaker does perform pretty well where it matters most – sound. Of course, you’re not going to get perfectly crisp, detailed or booming audio, but for the most part it's expressive and clear enough to keep you engaged and enjoying your queued tunes. And of course, it is very easy on the eye. There’s not a lot of power here and it's not so well protected against the elements, but if you’re just looking for a speaker to use in your bedroom, it will do the trick, no problem.

Ultimately, there are a host of better-value options out there. I mentioned the JBL Go 4 there, which can sound a little thinner through the low-end but does have EQ adjustment options, a useful companion app and superior protection against the elements. Even the LG XBoom Go XG2T – which I marked down for limited EQ presets – still had some… and it offered superior battery life.

In its own right, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is fine value-wise. It gets the basics right, but just skips out on a few too many niceties to outdo its rivals. Unless you’re a real lover of its design, I’d wager that you’ll be tempted to consider some of those other options.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker on table

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker?

Buy it if...

You’re all about style
If the most important thing for you is stunning looks, the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker is well worth considering. It comes in four neat colorways, has a mini, curved build and dons well-sized buttons to boot.

You’re on a budget
The Happy Plugs Joy isn’t outrageously cheap for a speaker of this size, but it’s definitely not overly expensive either. At $49.99 / £39.99 it’s a nice option if you’re on a budget, although there are some small competitors, like the LG XBoom Go XG2T, that can be found at a similar pricepoint on sale, so make sure to weigh your options.

Don't buy it if...

You want top-tier sound quality
Given that it’s a small-sized speaker, the Happy Plugs Joy sounds decent. But if you want a beautiful sonic experience for this size, you’ll be better off with an option like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 – more on that below.

You’re looking for a speaker that’s shower or beach-ready
One of my biggest gripes with this speaker is its weak dust and waterproofing. It’s just IPX4 rated, meaning it can survive water splashes, but not submersion or anything. That’s not great considering a lot of competitors, like the JBL Go 4, can withstand being dunked a meter underwater for 30 minutes.

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: also consider

JBL Go 4
The JBL Go 4 is a diminutive, stylish and solid-sounding speaker that’s ideal for on-the-go listening. It offers pretty controlled audio given its size and surprising levels of loudness. On top of that, it has a superior IP67 waterproof rating, in-app EQ adjustment and cool color options to match. Read our full JBL Go 4 review.

Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
Tribit has been putting out some amazing value audio tech over the past two years and the Stormbox Micro 2 is no exception. With excellent sound quality, fantastic protection against the elements, an awesome 12-hour battery life and the ability to charge your phone, there’s just so much to love here. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 review.

Happy Plugs Joy Speaker review: how I tested

  • Tested for one week
  • Mainly used at our music testing space at Future Labs
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I spent hours playing music on the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker. I tried it out in a handful of environments, but mainly at our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality in a quiet, controlled space.

When blasting tunes, I mainly took to Tidal using my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also tested the Happy Plugs Joy Speaker alongside the JBL Go 4 to compare sound quality, design elements and loudness.

  • First reviewed: February 2025
  • Read more about how we test
Testing the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 actually changed my priorities when buying sports-focused earbuds –and that’s something I thought could never happen
1:40 pm | February 26, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Two-minute review

I'll be frank (you can still be whatever your name is): a lot has changed in the world of Bluetooth audio since May 2019. That's when the Powerbeats Pro 2's forefathers burst onto the relatively new true wireless earbuds scene and promptly cornered its fledgling athletic sub-genre.

The thing is, the wealth of reliable earbuds any of us can pick up now for as little as $20 were inconceivable six years ago, so the Powerbeats Pro 2 arrive as an interesting (quite large, cumbersome even) proposition. If their storied heritage did not exist, we might actually question what Beats was doing releasing a set of earbuds with a large curling tail on one end that does not facilitate open-ear listening, but instead includes a more traditional driver housing and neck for creating a closed seal betwixt its ear-tip and your ear canal.

One might argue that in the past few years engineers have collected substantial data and used it to create concha-fit and droplet-shaped ergonomic driver housings, which means we no longer need arms for our earbuds – even for sports. We might even think it odd for Beats to be pitching such a design at athletes – because other bright sparks have invented open-ear true wireless earbuds in the past four years, and these let us easily hear traffic or our trainer's voice as we work out.

But the Powerbeats Pro 2 get a hall pass for most of this, owing to the love we still have for the then-groundbreaking inaugural Powerbeats Pro. I remember the huge video ad I saw every day at London's Waterloo Station, featuring Serena Williams serving both looks and tennis aces while wearing an ice-white, Wimbledon-friendly set of Powerbeats Pro. Those earbuds – which arrived before the inaugural AirPods Pro and actually, before the 'Pro' suffix became a mainstay of the audio vernacular – soon seemed as iconic as the superstars who wore them.

So we need to be asking not only how the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand up against the best noise-cancelling earbuds aimed at regular users, but also how they compare to the best open-ear headphones that, until recently, were the preserve of athletes. Okay, as a set of 'regular' wireless earbuds, the case you'll be toting around is quite big – not quite coffee coaster big, but close. However, if you're an Apple Music subscriber the head-tracked spatial audio works very well, and the noise cancellation is quite good; neither is as good as what you get with the AirPods Pro 2, but the spatial audio in particular isn't far off.

Slipping them on isn't as quick a job as it is with other earbuds, but once they're on, if security is your main issue with Apple-styled buds you'll be pleased – these Beats ain't going anywhere. Also, at 10 hours from the buds and a further 3.5 charges in the case (for a whopping 45-hour total) the battery life is impressive, although if you're using ANC or spatial audio it's eight hours and a maximum playtime total of 36 hours. For clarity, you'll only get 5.5 to seven hours from your AirPods Pro 2 before they need charging. Not bad, eh?

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earpiece held in a woman's hand

See the sensor? (Image credit: Future)

However, for a set of sports-focused earbuds that sit inside the ear, a good transparency mode is important, and despite Beats' assurance that this is the most natural-sounding transparency mode in any set of Beats earbuds (with the adaptive algorithm powered by the H2 chip updating over 200 times per second) I've heard many more effective transparency profiles – and simply turning ANC off isn't something I'd advise, since this listening profile adds to the already-slightly tinny issues through the top end, making the soundstage a little too forward and sweet overall.

Price-wise, they're also a little hot and heavy-handed. Despite arriving at the same price as their older siblings, times have changed. You can buy similar designs for considerably less now; you couldn't then.

But stop everything! We need to talk matters of the heart. Because make no mistake, you should feel ready to place your heart in Powerbeats Pro 2's hands here, either via the Health app or your compatible, linked fitness app. Beats told me heart-rate monitoring had been on the company's mood boards for inclusion since 2014, and the feature's debut here is the result of well over four years on the bench with engineers (and subsequently in the ears of over 1,000 real-world athletes for testing).

What I can tell you is that the heart-rate monitor is here now, beautifully implemented in certain third-party apps when linked with Apple's Health app. And because of the pulse readings, the super-secure fit and the excellent battery life, you may be prepared to forgive the few shortcomings I've talked about so far, plus a couple of sonic shortfalls I've yet to get into.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Price & release date

  • Unveiled on February 13, 2025
  • Priced $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95

How often can a product come in at the same $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95 price as its 2019 counterpart and still not be considered great value? Simply put, competition has brought prices right down. These days, $100 / £100 is top-end for inclusion in our best budget wireless earbuds guide, and anything above that goes into mid-range and flagship territory.

For a brief comparison in the world of 'regular' buds, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds come in at $299 / £299 / AU$449 and Technics' outstanding EAH-AZ100 are also in the same ballpark, at $299 / £259 / AU$499. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 currently cost around $199 / £199 / AU$349. Sports-focused options often come in a fair way under these kinds of figures (the Shokz OpenFit Air arrived in summer 2024 with a $149 / £119 price-tag for example) although the Bose Ultra Open buck the affordable trend – they can now be yours for a similar $249 / £249 / AU$349.95, having arrived at $50 more than that.

All of this is food for thought, but don't forget that none of the options I've listed above can monitor your heart rate…

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 outside on a rainy day, held in a hand and close to a flower-bed

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Specifications

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 outside on a rainy day, held in a hand and close to a flower-bed

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Features

  • Heart-rate monitoring is useful – unless you use an Apple Watch
  • Spatial audio with head-tracking enhances commutes
  • Disappointing IPX4 splash-proof rating

Let's start with the ticker-taker. It's not a new concept as I've already mentioned – Beats wanted to include it back in 2014 – but it's been a long time in development. The tiny sensor at the helm in Powerbeats Pro 2 (which is derived from the Apple Watch, but is actually 1/16th of the size of the sensor in the Apple Watch Series 10) contains a photodiode, an optical lens, an accelerometer and an LED sensor, but Beats admits that this component "wasn't that minuscule at first". And while the ear is actually a great place to access your pulse, developing a sensor small, light and accurate enough to wear comfortably in a headshell was a "long, arduous process".

Well, it's here now – and if you're not using anything else, it's good. You need to be wearing both earbuds to get a reading, because when you do, that green LED light sensor in each earpiece pulses over 100 times per second, then measures the light reflected back to calculate how many times your heart is beating per minute.

Accessing the feature might seem a little limited or even disappointing at first (there's no juicy 'Heart-rate' bubble in your iPhone Control Center when you click through, as I might have hoped), but this is because the Powerbeats Pro 2 are really meant to only start taking readings when you begin a workout, rather than constantly monitor your pulse throughout the day or whenever you choose to summon a reading. That said, you can dig into your iPhone's Health app, then either tap Browse at the bottom-right then Heart > Heart Rate to call up a live figure, or go to Summary at the bottom-left then Show All Health Data > Heart Rate, to see a graph of your live heart rate. But really, you're meant to be in training and with a third-party fitness app. The only currently supported one I use is Nike Run Club, but once you've linked the app and given the necessary permissions in Settings, it works a treat.

It's worth noting two things: if you wear an Apple Watch while using the Beats, the Watch readings are always prioritized, and secondly, the Powerbeats Pro 2 don't work with Apple Fitness Plus yet (which means no Strava support, i.e., the one I'd really like it to work with). At the time of writing, heart-rate monitoring through the Powerbeats Pro 2 is available in these iOS apps: Peloton, Slopes, Ladder, Open, Runna, YaoYao, and Nike Run Club, so plenty of activities are covered.

If you're on Android, it's different again (and arguably, better). Here, the feature will work with any fitness app that supports heart-rate monitoring; you just need to manually start each training session with a double tap and hold on either earbud.

On both iOS and Android you can turn the feature off in the settings if you don't want it taking readings.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 case, held in a woman's hand

Yes, I love the color so much, I did this…  (Image credit: Future)

Now, on to Personalized Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and dynamic head-tracking. This is Apple's 360-degree sound tech that adjusts the audio based on the shape of your ears, head, and – if you toggle it on – using your Apple device as a source so the audio has a fixed point of origin (and this moves between each ear as you move your head towards said source device). I really rate this in Powerbeats Pro 2, thanks to the solid fit and seal the design promotes, particularly when listening to more acoustic tracks. Want to hear how good it is? Try listening to Sam Fender's Arm's Length and holding your device at arm's length. Good, no?

The Powerbeats Pro 2 only support lossless audio with ultra-low latency on the Apple Vision Pro, so while high resolution is possible on these earbuds, it's an expensive route – and I do not own a Vision Pro headset (but leave a comment if you've tested it – I'd love to know whether there's a notable uptick in audio quality).

Call quality? It's good: the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a total of six microphones (three per earpiece) and callers throughout my testing said I sounded very clear and, on one occasion, "particularly empathetic". Beats says there's machine learning-based noise isolation tech at play, so callers will hear your voice at its best, aided by a voice accelerometer to detect when you're speaking and thus enhance clarity. What I can tell you is that if you take calls often on your earbuds, you'll be pleased here.

Other notable features include the option to customize what a press-and-hold of the physical 'b' button does on each earpiece (between Siri and noise control functions), automatic ear detection, Find My to locate a lost earbud in iOS (you can select which earbud you'd like to emit a beeping noise if it's around the house, or see where they are on a map) and Find My Beats on Android via the companion app. But there's no U1 chip in the charging case – and no inbuilt speaker as there is in the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4's charging nests, so the case itself is silent. There's also an ear tip fit test that's actually quite picky; I had to adjust to smaller ear tips to get the green light in both ears, even when I personally felt like I had the fit right.

As any AirPods owner will know, there's no multi-point connectivity in Apple earbuds – and that hasn't changed here. You can 'share' the audio you're hearing in your Powerbeats Pro 2 to other Beats or Apple earbuds in the vicinity using Apple's proprietary Share Audio option, but make no mistake, your Powerbeats Pro 2 can only be paired to one source device at a time. You also cannot tweak the EQ on a dedicated tab with the Powerbeats Pro 2 – although on iOS you can go into your iPhone's settings > Apps > Music > EQ to tweak things a little.

Finally (and I'm putting this under 'features' rather than 'design' since any sports-specific earbuds really ought to focus on durability) there's a somewhat disappointing IPX4 rating for the earpieces, and the case is neither water- nor sweat-resistant at all. What that means is that while wearing the buds for sweaty workouts should be fine (the Powerbeats Pro 2 will survive light rain, humid environments and splashes of water), they absolutely positively cannot be submerged in the drink, which seems at odds with their, er… athleticism. And it's not that it can't be done: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earpieces boast an IP57 rating, meaning they'll survive a 30-minute full submersion in water up to a depth of one meter.

  • Features score: 4/5

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, three screengrabs on iPhone to show ANC, heart-rate and spatial audio features

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Sound quality

  • Energetic and forward-sounding – almost to a fault
  • A little tinny in some profiles; beaten by the original Powerbeats Pro for bass weight
  • Turning off noise-canceling negatively affects the sound

This is not quite the glowing praise that long-term fans of Beats' Powerbeats Pro might have been hoping for. A 3.5-star rating for sound quality is not bad and make no mistake, the sound here is not without merit, but this is a huge and hotly-anticipated seventh-iteration Beats earbuds product and the heavily-leaked follow-up to the iconic Powerbeats Pro, nearly six years on. And I have to do my job: the sound isn't excellent – and not just because only the relatively lowly SBC and AAC codecs are supported (ie. no hi-res audio, unless you're using them with the Vision Pro).

Perhaps in part because the driver is smaller than in the original Powerbeats Pro (a 9.5mm dual-layer driver versus 12mm in the originals) the sound very different, and just a little more constricted. Deploying noise cancellation gives the Pro 2 the best chance to shine, and here, with dynamic head-tracked spatial audio also toggled on, there is separation and a healthy serving of detail in Tom Petty's textured vocal in Free Fallin', with guitar strings grazing each ear and a bridge as dynamically abrupt and agile as I remember. Nevertheless, cue up Gunna's One of Wun and the smouldering track is notably moodier, fuller and more resonant through the low end in both AirPods Pro 2 and my Technics EAH-AZ100. Listen with the Technics and I'm dropped into the mix; switch to the Beats and I'm just a little bit above it, wanting to get stuck into the bass a little more.

The lengthy acoustic guitar intro in Rod Stewart's Maggie May (known as 'Henry' and played by Martin Quittenton) has energy and pep – there's no faulting the Powerbeats Pro 2 for timing across the frequencies – but as the track continues, the forward-focused nature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 rather over-emphasises the keys and mandolin in the upper mids, even making Rod-the-Mod's voice sound a touch tinny. And sadly, things don't improve when you turn noise-canceling off, which appears to heat the soundstage up a notch, as if we're listening on cassette tape. Cue up the transparency mode and it helps quash the marginal sweetness, but during a run I simply didn't feel like enough ambient noise filtered in – and there's no way to tweak the levels of filtering in (or being nixed) here rather than 'Transparency', 'Off', or 'Noise cancellation'.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, three screengrabs on iPhone to show ANC, heart-rate and spatial audio features

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Design

  • A triumph for security (and for on-ear volume tweaks)
  • Case is smaller, but still big by today's standards
  • They take a few seconds to fit – especially if you wear glasses

I've mentioned the slightly disappointing 'only splash-proof' IPX4 rating, so that's out of the way. I've also praised the up-to-45-hour stamina, which is a huge plus. Other than that, there's a lot to celebrate in the design department.

Said design (including the case, which can now charge wirelessly) is quite big by today's standards, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are only as big as some of the best open-fit earbuds – the kind with the arm that slinks around your ear. In fact, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is an open-fit pair of earbuds given their size, but they're not – and for me, it's one of their biggest strengths.

In 2025, it's a very unusual proposition. Each earpiece also has a physical volume rocker on the bar above the 'b'-branded driver housing and because nothing works as consistently and reliably as physical buttons (maybe you're wearing gloves 'cause you're skiing; maybe your phone's in your kit bag) it's an excellent decision. It also means you're not fiddling with multiple presses of a main multi-function button to switch volume, which, as anyone used to this knows, can often mean unintended track skips or Siri piping up.

And the praise keeps coming! The colorways are excellent (see the 'electric orange' and 'hyper purple' colorways as well as your more standard black and 'quick sand' gray) and despite squeezing in that heart-rate monitor, Beats has made the Powerbeats Pro 2 light, very comfortable and unmovable. I tried to dislodge them during aerial hoop and silks training, spinning upside-down at speeds I've no business attempting these days, and they never even moved. Added to the extra pair of ear tips in the box, to equal five rather than four (the ear tip fit test won't let you off lightly either), they're honestly some of the most well-fitting earbuds I've ever tested.

The only downside to all this security? Fitting them requires a little bit of work and if you're someone who tends to leave the house in a rush, you might find yourself reaching for earbuds you can throw in and go. Unlike open-ear options, you do need to make sure the Powerbeats Pro 2's headshell is properly in your ear, then snake the arm around your ear, then twist everything back towards your crown, to lock it in. I often found myself accidentally pressing playback buttons while doing this or dropping one if I didn't sit calmly to perform these tasks, especially since I wear glasses to look at my screen (and the arms of your glasses sit in the same spot as the arms of the Powerbeats Pro 2, behind the ear). The thing is, if security is your main issue, it's worth it. Ultimately, the design here is still a hit with me.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

TechRadar's Audio Editor, Becky Scarrott, wearing Beats Powerbeats Pro

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Value

  • Excellent battery life
  • Heart-rate monitor is a current USP
  • Sonically they can be beaten for the money

At $249 / £249, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are not cheap for a sports-focused set of earbuds – and indeed against Apple's AirPods lineup, considering Apple now makes its new AirPods 4 for just $129. But the Powerbeats Pro 2 do contain a ticker-taking sensor no other AirPods can currently boast, and stamina levels that far exceed anything most earbuds can boast.

For me, the design is one of this proposition's biggest strengths; to others, the case may be a little big for the class of 2025. They aren't winning any awards sonically either – but the audio performance is a step up on most of the cheaper, sub-$100 wireless buds on the market when you deploy noise cancellation and dynamic head-tracked spatial audio. As always, it's a matter of priorities.

Honestly, I never thought I'd recommend a product that can't boast top-tier sound. But these earbuds go on for hour after hour, take your heart-rate and feel super-secure in your ears, so here we are…

  • Value score: 4/5

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 outside on a rainy day, held in a hand and close to a flower-bed

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review:

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 outside on a rainy day, held in a hand and close to a flower-bed

(Image credit: Future)

Buy them if...

You need buds for gymnastics, athletics, dancing or training
Niche? Maybe. But these earbuds offer the most secure fit I've ever tested in a true wireless design.

You want to track your heart rate (without a watch)
The heart-rate monitor is currently an Apple- and Beats earbuds first, and it works very well.

You're willing to pay for better stamina
A 45-hour maximum playtime is up there with the best battery life we've ever seen – and it leaves AirPods for dust

Don't buy them if...

Sound quality is king
The sound here is a shade under excellent across the frequencies, feeling a little light in terms of bass weight, and a little heavy-handed through the treble

You want an in-app tweakable EQ tab
No dice here, friend…

You want to keep your ear canals uncovered
Given their larger, sports-focused design and ear 'hook', you'd be forgiven for assuming this is an open-ear design in 2025. But make no mistake, these are in-ear earbuds.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 in packaging, held outside above a black table

(Image credit: Future)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Prefer device-agnostic head-tracked spatial audio plus some of the best ANC in the business? These September 2023-issue earbuds from Bose are a great shout – and the in-ear security is nearly as good as the Powerbeats Pro 2. You'll have to forego multi-point connectivity, super-stamina (it's only 6 hours here) and a heart-rate monitor, but you'll get more detail from the sound quality.
Read more in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

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

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 outside on a rainy day, held in a hand and close to a flower-bed

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

  • Tested for two weeks; listened against the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, Technics EAH_AZ100, JBL Live Beam 3, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra
  • Used at work, at home, during aerial training and on a beach in Florida
  • Listened to Tidal, Apple Music and Spotify on an iPhone 12 Pro, a Sony Xperia 1 V and a MacBook Pro

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 became my musical travel companions for two full weeks – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period. They accompanied me while running errands (fast walking; on the London Underground network), at home and throughout a surfing vacation in Florida – although they never joined me in the water (they're not waterproof, you see).

To better test the fit and security of the Powerbeats Pro 2, I wore them during a particularly upside-down aerial silks training session, a lyra (aerial hoop) class and a pole class, and they didn't budge once.

To test the audio quality across the frequencies, I consulted TechRadar's reference playlists (spanning everything from electro-pop to blues) on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal, but also to podcasts and albums on Spotify, and YouTube tutorials (mostly about how to bleed car brake pads, in case you were interested) on my MacBook Pro.

I’ve been testing audio products for just over six years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in a previous life, sound quality, the overall user experience and security have always been non-negotiable markers for me – and having heard how effective (and stress-relieving) ANC can be when the anti-phase tech is done well, I have grown to love it.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: February 2025
I tried this seriously stylish budget gaming microphone for a week, but its middling sound left me wanting more
5:00 pm | February 22, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: One-minute review

The real highlight of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk are its design and feature set, which punch above its budget-friendly price point.

It’s super compact and very stylish, with a robust stand that incorporates metal elements to look and feel premium. It’s incredibly easy to adjust and position too, thanks to a small, foam-footed base and a smart swivel mechanism that allows the microphone to be rotated by a full 360 degrees.

The prominent LED ring indicator is a smart inclusion and something that you wouldn’t necessarily expect at this price point, providing a convenient and easy way to check whether the microphone is muted and even adjust some basic settings on the fly.

That said, the recording quality is a let-down out of the box. Its default configuration sounds very jagged and does a poor job of cutting out background noise. Luckily, the compatible JBL Quantum Engine software gives you everything that you need for better recordings. With a few settings tweaked, namely the EQ profile and noise reduction level, it’s perfect for chatting with friends or dialing into meetings - but still not clear enough to rank among the best microphones for streaming.

If you're interested in picking up a streaming microphone on a budget, there are options out there that look and feel substantially worse, but sound noticeably better such as the AKG Ara. If you can wait for a sale, you can regularly find old favorites like the Blue Snowball for not that much more than the price of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk which offers far more bang for your buck.

A close up of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Price and availability

  • Costs $49.95 / £39.99
  • Available via Amazon and JBL
  • Easy to find in the US and UK

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is readily available from both Amazon and JBL in the US and UK. It costs $49.95 / £39.99, making this the cheapest entry in the JBL Quantum Stream line right now. At this price, it’s a good value option overall for general use, especially if you’re looking for a more affordable choice that doesn't take up a lot of space on your desk.

That said, those seeking a microphone for content creation would be better off waiting for a sale and spending a little more on something like the HyperX DuoCast - which routinely drops down to around the $60 / £40 mark and offers higher quality recordings.

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Specs

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Design and features

  • Stylish and compact
  • Feels premium
  • Good set of features

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is very stylish for a microphone of its price. It’s compact, with a circular plastic base complete with a small foam ring to help keep it in place on your desk.

It has a simple stalk-like design, with a cylindrical metal column and a small plastic capsule connected by a ball joint that allows it to be rotated a full 360 degrees. Also joining the column and capsule is a short wire with an orange and black braided that introduces subtle splash of color.

At the end of the capsule is a translucent ring illuminated by an LED. This is a bright green by default, turning red when the microphone is muted. The option to dim or even turn off this light would be appreciated, but it’s not particularly intrusive either way.

On the base, you will find a gray JBL logo and an adjustment dial. It's a good size and can be used to adjust the monitoring headphone volume when you’re connected to a 3.5mm headphone jack on the rear. It can also be pressed down to quickly mute the microphone, or held for a few seconds to adjust the microphone gain - indicated by the mic’s LED turning purple. It’s all very intuitive and one of the biggest reasons to consider the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

While the microphone itself is a single unit, there is a removable USB-C cable. This is a good 6ft length and feels high-quality, matching the orange and black aesthetic of the wire found on the mic.

While I very much like the integrated stand setup, you should bear in mind that this microphone cannot be mounted to a boom arm unlike other budget picks, so is not suitable if that’s your preferred setup.

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk muted and rotavated.

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Performance

  • Audio quality isn’t great out of the box
  • Sounds much better when you tweak the EQ
  • Noise reduction also helps

When you first plug the JBL Quantum Stream Talk into a computer, a popup automatically appears asking whether you would install the compatible JBL Quantum Engine Software - a convenient feature that saves you from having to dig around on a support website to find it. I would highly recommend installing it, as I found that tweaking the microphone’s settings is almost essential.

Out of the box, I was unimpressed with its performance - recordings sounded choppy with a flat, almost nasal quality to them. Booting up Discord for a quick call, background noise was very noticeable, as was any movement of the surface on which the mic was placed. This is a little strange, as the JBL Quantum Stream Talk uses a super-cardioid pickup pattern that should, in theory, really help it hone in on just your voice.

Still, you can achieve decent sound with the JBL Quantum Engine Software in hand. For me, the sweet spot was enabling the “Bright” EQ profile, which bumps up the level of almost every frequency, and turning up both the noise gate and noise reduction settings to medium. Listening back to recordings made with Audacity, my voice sounded a little sharp but otherwise more than ideal for casual chatting. With a few more tweaks, I am sure I could get it to sound even better.

The JBL Quantum Engine Software.

(Image credit: JBL)

JBL notes that the microphone is compatible with the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch too. Plugging it into my PS5, it provided significantly better sound than the integrated microphone of the DualSense Wireless Controller but is not up to par with any of the mics on the best PS5 headsets. Still, the option to use this model with your console is appreciated and increases its utility somewhat.

That said, this is also marketed as a streaming microphone and I am hesitant to recommend it for that purpose. If you’re able to spend a little more, you can find models that sound better out of the box.

This is doubly true if you’re shopping over a sale period, where the likes of the iconic Blue Snowball routinely have their prices slashed to just $20 / £20 or so more. Still, if your budget really can’t extend beyond the $49.95 / £39.99 mark and you just need something quick, this should just about suffice until you’re able to upgrade.

Should I buy the JBL Quantum Stream Talk?

Buy it if...

You want a small microphone
The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is a good option if you’re looking for something compact - its small size makes it easy to fit on your desk and it’s very stylish overall.

You want a good set of features
Its LED indicators, useful mute button, and decent set of options in the JBL Quantum Engine software all help the JBL Quantum Stream Talk punch above its modest price tag.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a content creator able to spend more
If you’re keen to get into streaming, then I would recommend spending a little bit more on a model that sounds better out of the box. Alternatively, wait for the sale and pick up a favorite like the Blue Snowball for cheap.

Also consider...

Want to weigh up your options? Here are two gaming microphones to consider alongside the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

AKG Ara
The AKG Ara is a decent alternative at a similar price. It sounds better out of the box but lacks the gain control, looks worse, and feels cheaper in the hands.

For more information, check out our full AKG Ara review

HyperX DuoCast
The HyperX DuoCast is frequently available on sale for only slightly more than the JBL Quantum Stream Talk. This entry-level streamer mic offers better sound, two distinct polar patterns, and pleasant RGB lighting if you’re able to stretch the budget.

For more information, check out our full HyperX DuoCast review.

A close up of the branding on the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the JBL Quantum Stream Talk

  • Used for over a week
  • Tried with PC and console
  • Tested with calls and local recording

I used the JBL Quantum Stream Talk as my daily driver for over a week. During that time I tested it with both PC and console with a range of tasks including making calls to friends, recording audio files locally, and attending virtual meetings for work. I made sure to thoroughly test the compatible JBL Quantum Engine software, experimenting with its features to find the best setup.

Throughout my time with the microphone, I compared my experience with my hands-on testing of other models all across the price spectrum ranging from the likes of the Blue Snowball to the Blue Yeti and SteelSeries Alias.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025.

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker that I love for blasting party bangers
4:00 pm | February 11, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: Two-minute review

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a Bluetooth speaker that does exactly what it says on the tin. It blasts onto the scene with booming bass output, high volume levels and blaring LED lights – this thing is by no means subtle! And at $249.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.99 it’s by no means cheap, either – so let’s find out if the Boom 2 Plus is worth the cash.

It only seems right to start with the main attraction: bass. With BassUp 2.0 activated you’re going to get deep pumping low-end output, ideal for genres such as EDM or hip-hop, and for occasions such as house parties. Without it, you may find that bass is a touch underwhelming, so it’s worth toggling it on for when you really want to ramp up any low-frequency audio. Still, I didn’t find the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus could offer quite as ground-shaking bass as the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2.

All-round sound quality is up-to-scratch, too. I found mids and highs to be clear and free of tinniness – a big relief. On top of that, there’s a nine-band EQ so you can get a more neutral sound if that’s what you’re after. The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus isn’t going to supply the phenomenal attention to detail that some of the best Bluetooth speakers can offer, but it does include the AAC codec this time around, so it's a little better for Apple users in particular.

This speaker comes with a nice set of features, all of which can be accessed via the free-to-download Soundcore app. You can pick from preset or custom EQ calibrations, toggle BassUp, and alter light settings. The LED lights attached to the side of the speaker can sync up to audio output for a more immersive listening experience, and watching them rumble as the speaker pumps bass is highly satisfying.

The lights were one of many features already included in the original Anker Soundcore Boom 2. Now, don’t get me wrong, the standard-sized model is a decent budget option, but the Boom 2 Plus is an upgrade in almost every way. You get more power – as much as 140W for hitting high volumes – a more curved, quality-looking design, and a strap for carrying the speaker over long distances.

But the Boom 2 Plus isn’t without its drawbacks. Of course, its far more expensive – yet still only has the IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it still lacks a dustproof score. On top of that, the Boom 2 Plus actually offers less playtime than the standard Boom 2, with just 20 hours on offer. Now, that’s not too bad, but considering rivals like the Earfun UBoom X can muster 30 hours, you may be left wanting more.

But overall, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is still an adept party speaker. You’re getting plenty of bass and plenty of ways to personalize both its sound and appearance. If you can grab it at a cut-price, I’d argue it's an option well-worth considering, but unfortunately there’s some really stiff competition in this price range. And if you’re able to stretch your budget a little bit further, I’d recommend going for the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 instead, which ultimately packs more of a punch and better protection against the elements.

Reverse side of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Price and release date

  • $249.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.99
  • Launched in May 2024

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is significantly pricier than the standard Boom 2 model, coming in with a list price of $249.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.99. That’s compared to the usual Boom 2’s launch price of $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$219.99. I’ve spotted it on sale for around $200 / £170, though, so keep your eyes peeled for a bargain.

This 2024-issued model is available in a number of color options – all of which cost the same. The colorways available to you are: Adventure Green; Explorer Green; and the variant I tested, Phantom Black.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Specs

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus with strap attached

(Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Features

  • Nine-band custom EQ
  • Customizable LED lights
  • 20-hour battery life is decent, but nothing special

In terms of features, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is almost identical to its standard-sized sibling. Button controls enable you to toggle on the low-end-boosting BassUp option, sift through light show settings and pair to a second speaker via PartyCast 2.0. And once again, there’s a USB-C port which enables the Boom 2 Plus to become a power bank.

If you download the Soundcore app, however, you get access to even more features. The standout is EQ adjustment, which grants access to a nine band equalizer and a small selection of presets: Soundcore Signature, Voice, Treble Boost and Balanced (as well as BassUp). I would maybe have liked to see a few genre-specific options, but there’s still plenty of customizability here.

The app also lets you personalize the Boom 2 Plus’ lights remotely. There are six effects available: Flash, Flame, Lightning, Scan, Cyclone and Bounce. On top of that, you can play around with a color wheel to get an even more tailored look to the speaker’s LEDs. The lights are on passive radiators which rumble violently during bass-heavy tracks, and this was enjoyable to watch, especially in dark rooms. They sync up to sound output, which makes for an immersive audiovisual experience, but if that’s not to your taste, you can switch them off entirely.

One benefit of going lightless is that you’ll save some battery life. And that might be useful, because the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus actually offers less playtime than the standard Boom 2. That’s a little disappointing and given rivals such as the Earfun UBoom X can serve up an impressive 30 hours, its fair to say this speaker’s battery life is a bit unimpressive. 20 hours is by no means bad, but it’s worth noting that BassUp – like the lights – will contribute to faster drainage.

One thing you do get over the standard edition, however, is an aux-in port, which enables wired listening – pretty neat. Otherwise, you’ll be relying on Bluetooth 5.3, which is plenty good enough, and there’s also Google Fast Pair for a speedy setup.

  • Features score: 4/5

Button controls on the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Sound quality

  • Booming bass with BassUp 2.0 on
  • But won’t offer massively sophisticated all-round audio
  • Impressive volume levels thanks to max 140W power output

Just by hearing this speaker's name, you probably know exactly what you’re going to get here. And if you guessed big, booming bass – congrats, you were right. Well, that is if you have BassUp 2.0 turned on – without this bass isn’t actually that impactful for a speaker of this size. But don’t get me wrong, having BassUp 2.0 on will definitely mean the low-end soaks up most of the limelight. For a party speaker, though, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

When tuning in to Favorita by kryptogram, I was impressed by the speaker’s bass output with impactful, deep drum kicks instantly grabbing my attention. Similarly when listening to a house track, Dasha - Tour Maubourg Remix by Fusion Affair, the speaker showcased solid low-frequency response, with dominant, pumping bass. When I threw on Diva Bonita by bbno$, the track’s imposing sub-bass came through with authority, something that you’ll miss out on from a lot of cheaper models.

When I put the Boom 2 Plus next to the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, however, I did find the latter offered considerably weightier power in the low end – even with its XBass feature turned off. Of course, that model is a little more expensive, but if you want ultimate bass performance, I’d recommend it over this Soundcore speaker.

Regardless, the Boom 2 Plus can get very loud. That’s in part thanks to its high maximum power output of 140W – 100W of which comes from the two 50W woofers, with the remainder stemming from the speaker’s dual 20W tweeters. Pair that with the Boom 2 Plus’ competence in the bass department and you’re looking at a speaker that’s primed for parties or outdoor events, where you want to power through excess noise.

If you want a speaker capable of delivering a highly nuanced listen, though, this isn’t a top option. Sure, you get AAC this time (meaning any tracks played in AAC on a compatible device will be played without conversion or other inteference – most notably for Apple Music users on Apple devices) rather than SBC (the standard Bluetooth codec) alone, and there’s a nine-band equalizer that can help you tune a more balanced sound – but I still found there was a lack of detail, particularly in the mid and treble frequency range.

When listening to I Want You by Molko, I wasn’t struck by a true-to-life cymbal crash or particularly natural-sounding, breathy vocals. The speaker also wasn’t highly capable of managing this track’s densely layered mix, so you may want to turn to a model like the Edifier D32 if you’re looking for stronger instrument separation.

Of course, that’s not something this model has to excel in. Ultimately, this is designed to be a party speaker that leans into its low-frequency talents and it does that well. Also, even if they’re lacking a bit of detail, mid-range and treble frequency sounds rarely sound tinny or harsh, even at higher volumes. I also found that I could get a fairly balanced sound profile out of this speaker after turning BassUp off in Soundcore Signature and slightly tweaking EQ.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

Soundcore logo on the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Design

  • More curved, premium looking design this time out
  • Still only IPX7 rated
  • Eye-catching LED lights

In terms of looks, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is a huge upgrade on its standard-sized sibling. It’s less stubby and blocky looking, now donning a wider, more curved look. On top of that, the metallic speaker grille has a more premium feel and appearance, creating a far cleaner aesthetic overall.

Of course, much has remained the same – the LED lights on the side of the speaker are still bold and vibrant – they can also sync up to bass output for a more immersive listening experience. And the button controls on top of the speaker are again well-proportioned, clear and responsive.

But with this speaker’s added length comes added bulk – meaning Anker has had to make a change here. That’s right: this model comes with a strap included, which can be attached to hooks on the handle. This is pretty basic; there’s no shoulder pad or anything, but it’s still a nice addition if you’re going to carry the Boom 2 Plus over longer distances. This is also welcome as the Boom 2 Plus is more than twice as weighty as the standard model, coming in at 8.4lbs / 3.8kg – though this is still fairly lightweight overall.

Something that, perhaps disappointingly, has remained much the same, though, is this speaker’s ingress rating. Like the standard Boom 2, this is IPX7 rated. Now, the positive here is that the speaker can be submerged in up to a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes – something we’d expect from all of the best waterproof speakers. It's floatable too if you want to take it into the pool with you, for instance.

The bad? This thing skips on a dustproof rating again, meaning it might not be the best beachside companion. If you want a more rough and ready model, look for the IP67 rating, which a ton of competitors have, including the fantastic Bose SoundLink Max.

But enough moaning. I did like the small rubber tab on the reverse side of the Boom 2 Plus. Simply flick this up or down and you get access to the USB-C charging port – which can be used to charge the speaker or external devices – as well as the aux-in if you want wired listening.

I was also a fan of the multiple color options available. You can grab the Boom 2 Plus in Phantom Black, Explorer Blue or Adventure Green – all of these look neat and are discreet enough to bring out the best of light features in dark rooms.

  • Design score: 4/5

LED lights on the side of the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Value

  • Considerably more expensive than standard model
  • But does offer improved audio and design
  • Unfortunately rivals offer better bang for your buck

The Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus has a list price that’s almost double that of the standard model. So, with added price, you’re going to expect a massive improvement. Do you get that? In many ways, yes. I would argue that this model is far better looking and, perhaps unsurprisingly, has bassier, cleaner audio. If you want an all-out party speaker, it’s no contest – the Boom 2 Plus is far superior.

At the same time, you get a smaller battery life and there are some lingering issues such as the lack of a dustproof rating. Perhaps a larger problem for the Boom 2 Plus, though, is that it’s sitting in an awkward spot price-wise. If you go cheaper, you can grab the Earfun UBoom X, which also packs plenty of bass, as well as highly customizable audio. And if you can push your budget just a little more you can get the mighty Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, which is a top-tier party speaker in my book – it can also double up as a karaoke machine if you’re into that kinda thing!

In its own right, though, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is still a solid Bluetooth speaker and plenty good enough to keep the party moving. If you can get it for less than $200 / closer to the £150 mark, it’s a model well worth considering. Nonetheless, there is some stiff competition, which can’t be ignored.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Rubber tab open to expose USB-C and AUX ports on the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus?

Buy it if...

You want a bass-heavy party speaker
If you want a Bluetooth speaker for house parties or events, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus has you covered. With a maximum power output of 140W and BassUp feature for booming low-end output, you’re certainly going to keep your guests entertained.

You want a lightweight option
Some boombox-like speakers can be heavy. Really heavy (I’m looking at you Tribit Stormbox Blast 2). But much like the standard model, the Boom 2 Plus bucks that trend, coming in at 8.4 lbs / 3.8kg. Combine that with the included strap and this speaker is pleasingly easy to take with you on the go.

Don't buy it if...

You want premium all-round sound
If you want a nuanced, supremely separated sound, this speaker isn’t for you. With the right tuning, you can get clear, decently balanced audio, but still, you’re not going to uncover the finest details.

You want a speaker that can brave any environment
The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus skips on a dustproof rating, meaning it’s not totally primed for all outdoor environments. There are a ton of options with the coveted IP67 rating, but you can go a step further with the LG XBoom Go XG8T, which actually has military-grade protection against the elements.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: Also consider

Earfun UBoom X
Like this Anker speaker, the Earfun UBoom X won’t offer the most detailed, revealing sound quality. But it does still pack quite the low-end punch, has some integrated LED lights and a wired connectivity option. The real win is that this model has a 30 hour battery life and super-low price for a speaker of its size, making it a very viable candidate to be your next party speaker. Read our full Earfun UBoom X review.

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
I’ll keep it simple: the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 is one of the best portable party speakers money can buy. It’s only a bit more expensive than this Anker model, but has superior bass output, more playtime and an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating. It doesn’t get much better than that. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review.

Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus review: How I tested

Hook on the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over the course of one week
  • Mainly used at our music testing facility at Future Labs
  • Predominantly listened to tracks via Tidal

I listened to the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus for hours at our music testing facility at Future Labs. I blasted a bunch of tracks from my own music library alongside tunes from the TechRadar testing playlist, which we use to assess audio performance across a variety of genres. I connected to the Stormbox Blast 2 with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and mainly listened to songs via Tidal.

Further to this, I played a podcast episode on Spotify and watched video content on YouTube in order to assess vocal clarity across different platforms. When appropriate, I used the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 to compare elements like sound, design and ease of use.

  • First reviewed: February 2025
  • Read more about how we test
Recensione Redmi Buds 6
3:44 pm | February 4, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone & Communications Pro | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Redmi Buds 6: Recensione rapida

Gli auricolari true wireless sono diventati un accessorio indispensabile per chi desidera ascoltare musica, effettuare chiamate o seguire contenuti multimediali senza fili e con la massima libertà di movimento. Xiaomi, con la serie Redmi Buds, ha sempre puntato su un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo, offrendo dispositivi accessibili ma ricchi di funzionalità. Con i nuovi Redmi Buds 6, il brand cerca di alzare ulteriormente l’asticella, proponendo un doppio driver per una qualità audio superiore, cancellazione attiva del rumore fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata.

Rispetto ai modelli precedenti, i Redmi Buds 6 migliorano diversi aspetti chiave, come la qualità del suono, la riduzione del rumore e il comfort. Pur mantenendo un prezzo competitivo di circa 43 euro, offrono funzioni avanzate che si trovano solitamente su dispositivi più costosi. Tuttavia, ci sono anche alcune limitazioni da considerare, come la mancanza della ricarica wireless e la scelta di un cavo USB-A a USB-C invece di un più moderno USB-C a USB-C. In questa recensione analizzeremo nel dettaglio tutti i pro e i contro, valutando se i Redmi Buds 6 rappresentano davvero la scelta ideale per chi cerca auricolari economici ma performanti.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Design, comodità, ergonomia

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un design moderno e compatto, progettato per un uso quotidiano confortevole e discreto. La custodia ha una finitura opaca che migliora la presa e riduce le impronte, un dettaglio che la rende più elegante e resistente nel tempo. È disponibile in tre colorazioni: Ivy Green, nero e bianco, permettendo una scelta estetica più ampia rispetto a molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo.

Il peso ridotto della custodia (43,2 g con gli auricolari inclusi) la rende facilmente trasportabile in tasca o in una borsa senza risultare ingombrante. Anche gli auricolari, che pesano solo 5 g ciascuno, sono leggeri e ben bilanciati, riducendo la fatica anche durante sessioni prolungate di ascolto.

Per garantire la migliore vestibilità possibile, Xiaomi include punte in silicone intercambiabili in più misure. Questo dettaglio è fondamentale per migliorare sia l’isolamento passivo dal rumore esterno sia il comfort, evitando che gli auricolari si spostino o risultino fastidiosi dopo un uso prolungato. Inoltre, la certificazione IP54 assicura resistenza a polvere e schizzi, rendendoli adatti all’uso in palestra o sotto la pioggia leggera.

Un aspetto da considerare è l’assenza della ricarica wireless, una funzione sempre più diffusa anche in modelli economici. Sebbene comprensibile per un dispositivo dal prezzo contenuto, avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente la comodità d’uso. Inoltre, il cavo incluso è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che potrebbe risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Applicazione per smartphone

I Redmi Buds 6 sono compatibili con l’app Xiaomi Earbuds, disponibile per Android e iOS, che aggiunge un livello di personalizzazione e controllo avanzato alle cuffie. L’interfaccia è intuitiva e ben organizzata, permettendo di monitorare la batteria sia degli auricolari che della custodia, nonché di regolare impostazioni fondamentali per l’esperienza d’ascolto.

Tra le funzioni principali, spicca la possibilità di personalizzare i comandi touch per ogni auricolare, consentendo di assegnare azioni diverse a tocchi singoli, doppi o prolungati. È possibile, ad esempio, attivare/disattivare l’ANC, gestire la riproduzione musicale, rispondere alle chiamate o attivare l’assistente vocale.

L’app include anche quattro preset EQ per adattare il suono alle preferenze personali:

Bilanciato – un profilo neutro per la maggior parte degli ascoltatori.

Bassi potenziati – ideale per chi ascolta generi come EDM, hip-hop o rock.

Voce enfatizzata – perfetto per podcast, audiolibri e videochiamate.

Alti migliorati – consigliato per generi musicali con strumenti ad alta frequenza, come jazz o musica classica.

Un aspetto molto apprezzato è il supporto al dual device pairing, che permette di collegare due dispositivi contemporaneamente. Questa funzione è particolarmente utile per chi lavora con un laptop e uno smartphone, evitando la necessità di riconnessioni manuali. Ad esempio, si può ascoltare musica dal computer e passare automaticamente alle chiamate in arrivo sul telefono.

L’app offre inoltre strumenti pratici come il test di tenuta delle punte auricolari, che aiuta a verificare la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo per migliorare isolamento e comfort. Infine, consente di aggiornare il firmware, garantendo che gli auricolari siano sempre ottimizzati con le ultime migliorie software.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Isolamento passivo

Grazie al design in-ear, i Redmi Buds 6 offrono un buon isolamento passivo già senza la necessità di attivare l’ANC. La forma ergonomica e il peso ridotto (5 g per auricolare) permettono una tenuta salda e confortevole, riducendo naturalmente il rumore esterno. Questo aspetto è particolarmente utile in ambienti rumorosi, come uffici, trasporti pubblici o palestre, dove un buon isolamento passivo migliora l’esperienza d’ascolto senza dover sempre ricorrere alla cancellazione attiva del rumore.

Un ulteriore supporto all’isolamento è dato dalle punte in silicone intercambiabili, che consentono di adattare gli auricolari alle diverse conformazioni dell’orecchio. L’app Xiaomi Earbuds include inoltre un test di vestibilità, che verifica la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo e aiuta a scegliere la misura di gommini più adatta. Questo non solo ottimizza l’isolamento acustico, ma migliora anche la resa sonora complessiva, evitando dispersioni di bassi e assicurando un audio più definito.

La leggerezza e la forma compatta delle Buds 6 le rendono ideali anche per l’attività fisica, garantendo stabilità anche durante movimenti intensi, come corsa o allenamenti in palestra.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Riduzione del suono ANC

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una cancellazione attiva del rumore (ANC) fino a 49 dB, un valore notevole per questa fascia di prezzo. Grazie ai quattro microfoni integrati, gli auricolari analizzano i suoni ambientali e li eliminano in tempo reale, migliorando sensibilmente l’esperienza d’ascolto, specialmente in ambienti rumorosi.

Nei test effettuati su voli, trasporti pubblici e uffici affollati, le Buds 6 si sono dimostrate molto efficaci nel ridurre rumori di fondo costanti, come il ronzio dei motori, il brusio delle persone o il ticchettio delle tastiere. Anche se non raggiungono il livello di cancellazione di modelli premium, la loro performance è più che adeguata per la maggior parte degli utenti.

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds consente di regolare l’intensità dell’ANC in base alle necessità, permettendo di scegliere tra più livelli di cancellazione. Questo è utile per trovare il giusto equilibrio tra isolamento e comfort, evitando quella sensazione di pressione auricolare che alcuni utenti avvertono con ANC troppo aggressivi.

Un’altra funzione apprezzata è la modalità trasparenza, che permette di amplificare i suoni ambientali, rendendo più facile ascoltare annunci nei trasporti pubblici o interagire con le persone senza dover rimuovere gli auricolari. La modalità voce migliorata è particolarmente utile per chiamate o conversazioni rapide, enfatizzando il parlato e filtrando il rumore di sottofondo.

Grazie alla combinazione di ANC efficace e modalità trasparenza ben implementata, le Buds 6 risultano ideali sia per chi vuole immergersi completamente nella musica o nel lavoro, sia per chi ha bisogno di rimanere consapevole dell’ambiente circostante.

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità musica

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una qualità audio sorprendente per la loro fascia di prezzo, grazie all’architettura a doppio driver. Ogni auricolare è dotato di un driver dinamico in titanio da 12,4 mm, responsabile dei bassi potenti e della resa delle frequenze medio-basse, e di un driver piezoelettrico in ceramica da 5,5 mm, che migliora la riproduzione degli alti e la separazione dei dettagli sonori. Questa combinazione, solitamente riservata a modelli più costosi, garantisce un suono ricco e bilanciato, con un’ottima definizione degli strumenti e delle voci.

La mancanza di un equalizzatore personalizzabile può risultare una limitazione per gli utenti più esigenti, che preferiscono regolare manualmente le frequenze in base ai propri gusti. Tuttavia, la qualità audio offerta dal doppio driver compensa questa assenza, garantendo una riproduzione fedele e ben equilibrata.

Nel complesso, le Buds 6 si distinguono per una resa sonora dettagliata e dinamica, rendendole una scelta eccellente per chi cerca auricolari economici senza rinunciare a una buona esperienza musicale.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità audio in chiamata

I Redmi Buds 6 sono progettate per garantire una qualità audio in chiamata chiara e affidabile, grazie a un sistema a quattro microfoni con riduzione del rumore AI. Questa tecnologia analizza e filtra i suoni di sottofondo, migliorando la nitidezza della voce e riducendo le interferenze ambientali.

Nei test effettuati in ambienti chiusi, come uffici o stanze silenziose, le Buds 6 garantiscono una trasmissione vocale pulita e naturale, senza distorsioni o eccessiva compressione del suono. All’aperto, in contesti più rumorosi come strade trafficate o luoghi affollati, la riduzione del rumore AI si dimostra efficace nel minimizzare il vento e i rumori di fondo, permettendo all’interlocutore di sentire chiaramente la conversazione.

Un ulteriore vantaggio è la possibilità di utilizzare un solo auricolare per le chiamate, utile per chi preferisce mantenere un orecchio libero per ascoltare l’ambiente circostante.

Queste caratteristiche rendono i Redmi Buds 6 particolarmente adatte a chi utilizza spesso gli auricolari per riunioni di lavoro, chiamate su piattaforme come Zoom o Teams, o semplicemente per conversazioni telefoniche in mobilità, senza preoccuparsi della qualità del microfono.

Redmi Buds 6: Batteria

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un’autonomia eccellente, superando molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo. Gli auricolari offrono fino a 10 ore di utilizzo continuo senza ANC e circa 5 ore con la cancellazione del rumore attiva. Questo permette di coprire un’intera giornata lavorativa o lunghe sessioni di ascolto senza doverli ricaricare frequentemente.

La custodia di ricarica amplia ulteriormente l’autonomia, portandola a un totale di 42 ore, garantendo così diversi giorni di utilizzo senza necessità di collegare il dispositivo alla corrente. Un punto di forza è il supporto alla ricarica rapida, che permette di ottenere fino a 2 ore di riproduzione con pochi minuti di ricarica, una funzionalità particolarmente utile in situazioni di emergenza.

Un aspetto da considerare è la mancanza della ricarica wireless, che avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente l’usabilità, specialmente per chi utilizza caricabatterie wireless con il proprio smartphone o altri accessori. Inoltre, il cavo incluso nella confezione è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che può risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C, ormai standard nei dispositivi più recenti.

Nonostante questi piccoli compromessi, i Redmi Buds 6 si confermano tra le migliori opzioni in termini di durata della batteria e velocità di ricarica, offrendo un’ottima esperienza d’uso per chi cerca auricolari affidabili e con una lunga autonomia.

Redmi Buds 6: Confronto con altre varianti

La gamma Redmi Buds 6 include diverse varianti, pensate per soddisfare esigenze e budget differenti. Il modello Redmi Buds 6 Lite è la versione più economica, ma mantiene un buon livello di cancellazione del rumore fino a 40 dB e un driver dinamico da 12,4 mm. La sua autonomia arriva a 7 ore di utilizzo continuo e 38 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Play sono invece prive di ANC, ma offrono un driver da 10 mm e cinque modalità EQ per personalizzare l’audio. Hanno un’autonomia leggermente superiore, con 7,5 ore di utilizzo e un totale di 36 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Active presentano un design semi-in-ear, che privilegia il comfort rispetto all’isolamento passivo. Sono dotate di un driver più ampio da 14,2 mm, ma l’autonomia è inferiore rispetto agli altri modelli, con 6 ore di riproduzione continua e 30 ore complessive.

Infine, i Redmi Buds 6 Pro rappresentano la versione più avanzata, con un sistema a triplo driver (11 mm + 2 piezoelettrici), supporto all’audio Hi-Res LDAC e una cancellazione del rumore fino a 55 dB. Questo modello è pensato per chi cerca la massima qualità audio e una cancellazione del rumore superiore.

Redmi Buds 6, ne vale la pena?

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono un equilibrio ideale tra funzionalità avanzate e prezzo accessibile, posizionandosi come una delle migliori opzioni nella loro fascia di mercato. Con un costo di circa 43 euro, questi auricolari garantiscono un’eccellente qualità audio grazie al sistema a doppio driver, una cancellazione attiva del rumore efficace fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata che permette di affrontare giornate intere senza preoccupazioni.

Alcune mancanze, come l’assenza della ricarica wireless e il cavo USB-A a USB-C anziché un più moderno USB-C a USB-C, avrebbero potuto migliorare ulteriormente l’esperienza d’uso. Tuttavia, considerando la qualità complessiva, queste limitazioni risultano secondarie rispetto ai numerosi vantaggi offerti.

I Redmi Buds 6 sono una scelta consigliata per chi cerca auricolari versatili, performanti e dal prezzo competitivo, senza rinunciare a funzionalità avanzate come l’ANC, la personalizzazione tramite app e il dual device pairing. Un prodotto solido, capace di soddisfare sia chi desidera un’esperienza musicale immersiva sia chi necessita di auricolari affidabili per chiamate e utilizzo quotidiano.

Ragioni per comprare

Audio di qualità con doppio driver

Il sistema a doppio driver (12,4 mm + 5,5 mm piezoelettrico) offre bassi profondi, alti cristallini e ottima separazione sonora.

ANC efficace fino a 49 dB

La cancellazione attiva del rumore riduce significativamente i rumori esterni, migliorando l’esperienza d’ascolto su voli, trasporti pubblici o ambienti affollati.

Autonomia eccellente e ricarica rapida

Le 10 ore di utilizzo continuo e le 42 ore totali garantiscono un’intera giornata di ascolto senza interruzioni.

Ragioni per NON comprare

Manca la ricarica wireless

L’assenza di ricarica wireless può essere un limite per chi possiede uno smartphone compatibile e vuole maggiore comodità.

No supporto a codec avanzati

Manca la compatibilità con aptX o LHDC, limitando la qualità audio per chi cerca un suono ad alta risoluzione su dispositivi compatibili.

No equalizzatore personalizzato

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds offre solo quattro preset EQ, ma manca la possibilità di regolare manualmente le frequenze audio preferite.

Alternative

Se i Redmi Buds 6 non ti convincono del tutto, esistono diverse opzioni valide nella stessa fascia di prezzo o leggermente superiore. Ecco tre alternative da considerare, ognuna con caratteristiche specifiche che potrebbero meglio adattarsi alle tue esigenze.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2

Questi auricolari semi-in-ear offrono un’ottima ergonomia e una qualità audio equilibrata, con autonomia fino a 40 ore grazie alla custodia di ricarica. Pur non avendo ANC, la loro vestibilità garantisce un discreto isolamento passivo. Sono ideali per chi cerca auricolari leggeri e comodi per un utilizzo quotidiano.

Sony WF-C510

Sony è sinonimo di qualità audio, e i WF-C510 offrono un suono ricco e dettagliato con supporto DSEE, che migliora la resa delle tracce audio compresse. L’autonomia è eccellente, con 10 ore per carica e fino a 30 ore con la custodia. Non hanno ANC, ma compensano con una resa sonora superiore.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS

Questi auricolari Hi-Res certificati sono tra i migliori nella loro fascia di prezzo per qualità audio. Supportano il codec LDAC, offrendo una maggiore fedeltà sonora rispetto ai normali SBC/AAC. Sono semi-in-ear, quindi non offrono ANC, ma la loro qualità audio e connettività stabile li rendono un’ottima alternativa.

Recensione Redmi Buds 6
3:44 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone & Communications Pro | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Redmi Buds 6: Recensione rapida

Gli auricolari true wireless sono diventati un accessorio indispensabile per chi desidera ascoltare musica, effettuare chiamate o seguire contenuti multimediali senza fili e con la massima libertà di movimento. Xiaomi, con la serie Redmi Buds, ha sempre puntato su un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo, offrendo dispositivi accessibili ma ricchi di funzionalità. Con i nuovi Redmi Buds 6, il brand cerca di alzare ulteriormente l’asticella, proponendo un doppio driver per una qualità audio superiore, cancellazione attiva del rumore fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata.

Rispetto ai modelli precedenti, i Redmi Buds 6 migliorano diversi aspetti chiave, come la qualità del suono, la riduzione del rumore e il comfort. Pur mantenendo un prezzo competitivo di circa 43 euro, offrono funzioni avanzate che si trovano solitamente su dispositivi più costosi. Tuttavia, ci sono anche alcune limitazioni da considerare, come la mancanza della ricarica wireless e la scelta di un cavo USB-A a USB-C invece di un più moderno USB-C a USB-C. In questa recensione analizzeremo nel dettaglio tutti i pro e i contro, valutando se i Redmi Buds 6 rappresentano davvero la scelta ideale per chi cerca auricolari economici ma performanti.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Design, comodità, ergonomia

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un design moderno e compatto, progettato per un uso quotidiano confortevole e discreto. La custodia ha una finitura opaca che migliora la presa e riduce le impronte, un dettaglio che la rende più elegante e resistente nel tempo. È disponibile in tre colorazioni: Ivy Green, nero e bianco, permettendo una scelta estetica più ampia rispetto a molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo.

Il peso ridotto della custodia (43,2 g con gli auricolari inclusi) la rende facilmente trasportabile in tasca o in una borsa senza risultare ingombrante. Anche gli auricolari, che pesano solo 5 g ciascuno, sono leggeri e ben bilanciati, riducendo la fatica anche durante sessioni prolungate di ascolto.

Per garantire la migliore vestibilità possibile, Xiaomi include punte in silicone intercambiabili in più misure. Questo dettaglio è fondamentale per migliorare sia l’isolamento passivo dal rumore esterno sia il comfort, evitando che gli auricolari si spostino o risultino fastidiosi dopo un uso prolungato. Inoltre, la certificazione IP54 assicura resistenza a polvere e schizzi, rendendoli adatti all’uso in palestra o sotto la pioggia leggera.

Un aspetto da considerare è l’assenza della ricarica wireless, una funzione sempre più diffusa anche in modelli economici. Sebbene comprensibile per un dispositivo dal prezzo contenuto, avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente la comodità d’uso. Inoltre, il cavo incluso è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che potrebbe risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Applicazione per smartphone

I Redmi Buds 6 sono compatibili con l’app Xiaomi Earbuds, disponibile per Android e iOS, che aggiunge un livello di personalizzazione e controllo avanzato alle cuffie. L’interfaccia è intuitiva e ben organizzata, permettendo di monitorare la batteria sia degli auricolari che della custodia, nonché di regolare impostazioni fondamentali per l’esperienza d’ascolto.

Tra le funzioni principali, spicca la possibilità di personalizzare i comandi touch per ogni auricolare, consentendo di assegnare azioni diverse a tocchi singoli, doppi o prolungati. È possibile, ad esempio, attivare/disattivare l’ANC, gestire la riproduzione musicale, rispondere alle chiamate o attivare l’assistente vocale.

L’app include anche quattro preset EQ per adattare il suono alle preferenze personali:

Bilanciato – un profilo neutro per la maggior parte degli ascoltatori.

Bassi potenziati – ideale per chi ascolta generi come EDM, hip-hop o rock.

Voce enfatizzata – perfetto per podcast, audiolibri e videochiamate.

Alti migliorati – consigliato per generi musicali con strumenti ad alta frequenza, come jazz o musica classica.

Un aspetto molto apprezzato è il supporto al dual device pairing, che permette di collegare due dispositivi contemporaneamente. Questa funzione è particolarmente utile per chi lavora con un laptop e uno smartphone, evitando la necessità di riconnessioni manuali. Ad esempio, si può ascoltare musica dal computer e passare automaticamente alle chiamate in arrivo sul telefono.

L’app offre inoltre strumenti pratici come il test di tenuta delle punte auricolari, che aiuta a verificare la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo per migliorare isolamento e comfort. Infine, consente di aggiornare il firmware, garantendo che gli auricolari siano sempre ottimizzati con le ultime migliorie software.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Isolamento passivo

Grazie al design in-ear, i Redmi Buds 6 offrono un buon isolamento passivo già senza la necessità di attivare l’ANC. La forma ergonomica e il peso ridotto (5 g per auricolare) permettono una tenuta salda e confortevole, riducendo naturalmente il rumore esterno. Questo aspetto è particolarmente utile in ambienti rumorosi, come uffici, trasporti pubblici o palestre, dove un buon isolamento passivo migliora l’esperienza d’ascolto senza dover sempre ricorrere alla cancellazione attiva del rumore.

Un ulteriore supporto all’isolamento è dato dalle punte in silicone intercambiabili, che consentono di adattare gli auricolari alle diverse conformazioni dell’orecchio. L’app Xiaomi Earbuds include inoltre un test di vestibilità, che verifica la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo e aiuta a scegliere la misura di gommini più adatta. Questo non solo ottimizza l’isolamento acustico, ma migliora anche la resa sonora complessiva, evitando dispersioni di bassi e assicurando un audio più definito.

La leggerezza e la forma compatta delle Buds 6 le rendono ideali anche per l’attività fisica, garantendo stabilità anche durante movimenti intensi, come corsa o allenamenti in palestra.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Riduzione del suono ANC

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una cancellazione attiva del rumore (ANC) fino a 49 dB, un valore notevole per questa fascia di prezzo. Grazie ai quattro microfoni integrati, gli auricolari analizzano i suoni ambientali e li eliminano in tempo reale, migliorando sensibilmente l’esperienza d’ascolto, specialmente in ambienti rumorosi.

Nei test effettuati su voli, trasporti pubblici e uffici affollati, le Buds 6 si sono dimostrate molto efficaci nel ridurre rumori di fondo costanti, come il ronzio dei motori, il brusio delle persone o il ticchettio delle tastiere. Anche se non raggiungono il livello di cancellazione di modelli premium, la loro performance è più che adeguata per la maggior parte degli utenti.

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds consente di regolare l’intensità dell’ANC in base alle necessità, permettendo di scegliere tra più livelli di cancellazione. Questo è utile per trovare il giusto equilibrio tra isolamento e comfort, evitando quella sensazione di pressione auricolare che alcuni utenti avvertono con ANC troppo aggressivi.

Un’altra funzione apprezzata è la modalità trasparenza, che permette di amplificare i suoni ambientali, rendendo più facile ascoltare annunci nei trasporti pubblici o interagire con le persone senza dover rimuovere gli auricolari. La modalità voce migliorata è particolarmente utile per chiamate o conversazioni rapide, enfatizzando il parlato e filtrando il rumore di sottofondo.

Grazie alla combinazione di ANC efficace e modalità trasparenza ben implementata, le Buds 6 risultano ideali sia per chi vuole immergersi completamente nella musica o nel lavoro, sia per chi ha bisogno di rimanere consapevole dell’ambiente circostante.

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità musica

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una qualità audio sorprendente per la loro fascia di prezzo, grazie all’architettura a doppio driver. Ogni auricolare è dotato di un driver dinamico in titanio da 12,4 mm, responsabile dei bassi potenti e della resa delle frequenze medio-basse, e di un driver piezoelettrico in ceramica da 5,5 mm, che migliora la riproduzione degli alti e la separazione dei dettagli sonori. Questa combinazione, solitamente riservata a modelli più costosi, garantisce un suono ricco e bilanciato, con un’ottima definizione degli strumenti e delle voci.

La mancanza di un equalizzatore personalizzabile può risultare una limitazione per gli utenti più esigenti, che preferiscono regolare manualmente le frequenze in base ai propri gusti. Tuttavia, la qualità audio offerta dal doppio driver compensa questa assenza, garantendo una riproduzione fedele e ben equilibrata.

Nel complesso, le Buds 6 si distinguono per una resa sonora dettagliata e dinamica, rendendole una scelta eccellente per chi cerca auricolari economici senza rinunciare a una buona esperienza musicale.

Redmi Buds 6

(Image credit: Redmi Buds 6)

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità audio in chiamata

I Redmi Buds 6 sono progettate per garantire una qualità audio in chiamata chiara e affidabile, grazie a un sistema a quattro microfoni con riduzione del rumore AI. Questa tecnologia analizza e filtra i suoni di sottofondo, migliorando la nitidezza della voce e riducendo le interferenze ambientali.

Nei test effettuati in ambienti chiusi, come uffici o stanze silenziose, le Buds 6 garantiscono una trasmissione vocale pulita e naturale, senza distorsioni o eccessiva compressione del suono. All’aperto, in contesti più rumorosi come strade trafficate o luoghi affollati, la riduzione del rumore AI si dimostra efficace nel minimizzare il vento e i rumori di fondo, permettendo all’interlocutore di sentire chiaramente la conversazione.

Un ulteriore vantaggio è la possibilità di utilizzare un solo auricolare per le chiamate, utile per chi preferisce mantenere un orecchio libero per ascoltare l’ambiente circostante.

Queste caratteristiche rendono i Redmi Buds 6 particolarmente adatte a chi utilizza spesso gli auricolari per riunioni di lavoro, chiamate su piattaforme come Zoom o Teams, o semplicemente per conversazioni telefoniche in mobilità, senza preoccuparsi della qualità del microfono.

Redmi Buds 6: Batteria

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un’autonomia eccellente, superando molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo. Gli auricolari offrono fino a 10 ore di utilizzo continuo senza ANC e circa 5 ore con la cancellazione del rumore attiva. Questo permette di coprire un’intera giornata lavorativa o lunghe sessioni di ascolto senza doverli ricaricare frequentemente.

La custodia di ricarica amplia ulteriormente l’autonomia, portandola a un totale di 42 ore, garantendo così diversi giorni di utilizzo senza necessità di collegare il dispositivo alla corrente. Un punto di forza è il supporto alla ricarica rapida, che permette di ottenere fino a 2 ore di riproduzione con pochi minuti di ricarica, una funzionalità particolarmente utile in situazioni di emergenza.

Un aspetto da considerare è la mancanza della ricarica wireless, che avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente l’usabilità, specialmente per chi utilizza caricabatterie wireless con il proprio smartphone o altri accessori. Inoltre, il cavo incluso nella confezione è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che può risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C, ormai standard nei dispositivi più recenti.

Nonostante questi piccoli compromessi, i Redmi Buds 6 si confermano tra le migliori opzioni in termini di durata della batteria e velocità di ricarica, offrendo un’ottima esperienza d’uso per chi cerca auricolari affidabili e con una lunga autonomia.

Redmi Buds 6: Confronto con altre varianti

La gamma Redmi Buds 6 include diverse varianti, pensate per soddisfare esigenze e budget differenti. Il modello Redmi Buds 6 Lite è la versione più economica, ma mantiene un buon livello di cancellazione del rumore fino a 40 dB e un driver dinamico da 12,4 mm. La sua autonomia arriva a 7 ore di utilizzo continuo e 38 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Play sono invece prive di ANC, ma offrono un driver da 10 mm e cinque modalità EQ per personalizzare l’audio. Hanno un’autonomia leggermente superiore, con 7,5 ore di utilizzo e un totale di 36 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Active presentano un design semi-in-ear, che privilegia il comfort rispetto all’isolamento passivo. Sono dotate di un driver più ampio da 14,2 mm, ma l’autonomia è inferiore rispetto agli altri modelli, con 6 ore di riproduzione continua e 30 ore complessive.

Infine, i Redmi Buds 6 Pro rappresentano la versione più avanzata, con un sistema a triplo driver (11 mm + 2 piezoelettrici), supporto all’audio Hi-Res LDAC e una cancellazione del rumore fino a 55 dB. Questo modello è pensato per chi cerca la massima qualità audio e una cancellazione del rumore superiore.

Redmi Buds 6, ne vale la pena?

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono un equilibrio ideale tra funzionalità avanzate e prezzo accessibile, posizionandosi come una delle migliori opzioni nella loro fascia di mercato. Con un costo di circa 43 euro, questi auricolari garantiscono un’eccellente qualità audio grazie al sistema a doppio driver, una cancellazione attiva del rumore efficace fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata che permette di affrontare giornate intere senza preoccupazioni.

Alcune mancanze, come l’assenza della ricarica wireless e il cavo USB-A a USB-C anziché un più moderno USB-C a USB-C, avrebbero potuto migliorare ulteriormente l’esperienza d’uso. Tuttavia, considerando la qualità complessiva, queste limitazioni risultano secondarie rispetto ai numerosi vantaggi offerti.

I Redmi Buds 6 sono una scelta consigliata per chi cerca auricolari versatili, performanti e dal prezzo competitivo, senza rinunciare a funzionalità avanzate come l’ANC, la personalizzazione tramite app e il dual device pairing. Un prodotto solido, capace di soddisfare sia chi desidera un’esperienza musicale immersiva sia chi necessita di auricolari affidabili per chiamate e utilizzo quotidiano.

Ragioni per comprare

Audio di qualità con doppio driver

Il sistema a doppio driver (12,4 mm + 5,5 mm piezoelettrico) offre bassi profondi, alti cristallini e ottima separazione sonora.

ANC efficace fino a 49 dB

La cancellazione attiva del rumore riduce significativamente i rumori esterni, migliorando l’esperienza d’ascolto su voli, trasporti pubblici o ambienti affollati.

Autonomia eccellente e ricarica rapida

Le 10 ore di utilizzo continuo e le 42 ore totali garantiscono un’intera giornata di ascolto senza interruzioni.

Ragioni per NON comprare

Manca la ricarica wireless

L’assenza di ricarica wireless può essere un limite per chi possiede uno smartphone compatibile e vuole maggiore comodità.

No supporto a codec avanzati

Manca la compatibilità con aptX o LHDC, limitando la qualità audio per chi cerca un suono ad alta risoluzione su dispositivi compatibili.

No equalizzatore personalizzato

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds offre solo quattro preset EQ, ma manca la possibilità di regolare manualmente le frequenze audio preferite.

Alternative

Se i Redmi Buds 6 non ti convincono del tutto, esistono diverse opzioni valide nella stessa fascia di prezzo o leggermente superiore. Ecco tre alternative da considerare, ognuna con caratteristiche specifiche che potrebbero meglio adattarsi alle tue esigenze.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2

Questi auricolari semi-in-ear offrono un’ottima ergonomia e una qualità audio equilibrata, con autonomia fino a 40 ore grazie alla custodia di ricarica. Pur non avendo ANC, la loro vestibilità garantisce un discreto isolamento passivo. Sono ideali per chi cerca auricolari leggeri e comodi per un utilizzo quotidiano.

Sony WF-C510

Sony è sinonimo di qualità audio, e i WF-C510 offrono un suono ricco e dettagliato con supporto DSEE, che migliora la resa delle tracce audio compresse. L’autonomia è eccellente, con 10 ore per carica e fino a 30 ore con la custodia. Non hanno ANC, ma compensano con una resa sonora superiore.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS

Questi auricolari Hi-Res certificati sono tra i migliori nella loro fascia di prezzo per qualità audio. Supportano il codec LDAC, offrendo una maggiore fedeltà sonora rispetto ai normali SBC/AAC. Sono semi-in-ear, quindi non offrono ANC, ma la loro qualità audio e connettività stabile li rendono un’ottima alternativa.

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