The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is focused on delivering an affordable set of active noise cancellation earbuds. Think of it as a budget version of the Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro earphones.
New Wingtip Design
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE comes with a new wingtip design to make sure they don’t fall off. People with smaller ears may want to try the optional stability bands.
These are closed earbuds with silicone tips. By default, they come fitted with medium ear tips, but the package includes small and large ear tips. Use the proper tips, and you will find that they are light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE supports three levels of noise cancellation – ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), Ambient (Transparency), or Off.
It is surprisingly good at noise cancellation when you turn on ANC. Budget ANC earbuds generally use only one microphone to receive ambient noise for cancellation. But the Buds FE appears to use two microphones for noise cancellation, delivering better than expected noise cancellation.
On top of that – when you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.
The Ambient / Transparency mode is decent – allowing you to hear conversations, or public announcements while still cutting down on ambient noise. It’s not as good as the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, of course, but you won’t realise it if you never compare them before.
Unlike the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the Galaxy Buds FE is only IPX2 splash-resistant, which means it’s rated to withstand some dripping water (up to 3 mm per minute), limited to a maximum tilt of 15°.
That basically means that these earbuds will withstand sweat and a little bit of rain. You can certainly wipe these down with a damp cloth. However, under no circumstances should you wash the Galaxy Buds FE under running water!
I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds FE before you put them back into the charging case.
Connectivity
The Galaxy Buds FE connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, but does not support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, so they can only be connected to one device at any one time.
However, they support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account. But if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.
Bonus : You can use the SmartThings Find feature to remotely trigger a beeping sound to locate any misplaced earbuds!
Battery Life
The biggest problem I had with the Buds2 Pro was its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I could get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.
The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE actually lasts longer with a similar-sized battery (60 mAh vs 61 mAh in the Buds2 Pro) – about 6 hours with ANC enabled, and 8.5 hours with ANC disabled. Not quite as long as I would like, but still pretty decent at its price point.
Its charging case has an internal 479 mAh battery that provides another 15 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 24 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.
The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE supports quick charging – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of ANC-enabled battery life.
Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.
The Galaxy Buds FE is Samsung’s attempt to break into the $100 wireless earbuds market, and is targeted at the large number of Samsung fans who have not yet jumped onto the wireless earbuds bandwagon.
It offers Samsung fans the most important features of the Galaxy Buds2, at a more affordable price point. Now, you won’t get access to premium features like 360 Audio, AKG tuning, or a 2-way dynamic speaker system. But these features are not really deal-breakers for most users.
Dollar-for-dollar – the Galaxy Buds FE definitely offers much better value for your money. In fact, I expect it to cannibalise the sales of the Galaxy Buds2. Samsung fans will either opt to pay more for the premium Galaxy Buds2 Pro, or settle for the cheaper Galaxy Buds FE.
Now, there are slightly cheaper alternatives to be sure, but they won’t come across as well-polished. On top of that, you can count on regular software updates from Samsung.
For those reasons, I think it deserves our Editor’s Choice Award!
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Where To Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM399 / US$99.99 / £99 / A$199.
Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 31 October 2023) :
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!
Find out just how good it really is, and why its 24-bit audio support is something audiophiles will love!
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : What’s In The Box?
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.
Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.
Inside, you will find the following items :
A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Key Features
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, with a slew of improvements.
Despite its name, it is the second generation version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro, and not an improved version of the Galaxy Buds2 we reviewed last year.
Comfort
These are amongst the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5.5 grams and are 15% smaller.
They feel less intrusive, and are also more discreet than the last generation Buds Pro – fitting snugly into your ear.
The earbuds come with medium ear tips fitted, but the package includes small and large ear tips, allowing you to swap them out for a snug fit.
IPX7 Water Resistant
Unlike the Galaxy Buds2, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro are IPX7 water-resistant, so you can carry on using them even in the rain!
While they are officially rated to withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of fresh water for up to 30 minutes, Samsung do not advise you use them at the beach or in the pool.
I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds2 Pro before you put them back into the charging case.
Even so, water-resistance is one of the things I love about Samsung wearables and smartphones. As a rather clumsy person, I’ve dropped my fair share of gadgets, and more often than not – into pools of rainwater, or even swimming pools!
Active Noise Cancellation
Budget ANC earbuds use one microphone, with mid-range ANC earbuds like the Galaxy Buds2 use up to two microphones to receive ambient noise for cancellation.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro uses three microphones with high signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio to expand the amount of ambient noise it can cancel, and you can tell the difference. Its ANC performance is markedly improved from the last generation.
I managed to test them out on two turboprop flights which are noticeably louder than your typical airliner, and they worked great! The noise outside the planes was greatly muted, and once onboard, it’s like you are in your own oasis of peace and quiet.
If you need to listen to someone speak, there is an Ambient mode that temporarily disables ANC and lets you listen to the outside world. When you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.
You don’t even have to turn Ambient mode manually like with the Galaxy Buds2. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with the Voice Detect feature, which automatically activates Ambient mode when you start talking! Just make sure you enable it in your Galaxy Wearable app first!
24-bit Audio
If you are an audiophile, you will love the 24-bit audio support in the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
24-bit audio has been around for a while, offering higher audio resolution and fidelity. However, adoption has been limited so far to expensive music players and audio devices.
After all, the entire chain – from the music file to the music player (software or hardware) and the earphones / headphones, plus the connectivity between them – must support 24-bit audio.
So it’s great to see Samsung driving the 24-bit audio effort forward by making sure that its mobile devices support 24-bit audio. Just make sure you upgrade to the One UI 4.0 or higher, to enable its proprietary Samsung Seamless Hi-Fi codec.
Built on the Scalable Codec it introduced several years ago, the Samsung Seamless codec is able to encode full 24-bit audio to transmit to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro wirelessly.
The only downside is that it’s proprietary, and will only work with Samsung Galaxy devices running One UI 4.0 or higher.
360 Audio
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro also supports 360 Audio, which is basically their version of the spatial audio feature in Apple AirPods. It’s not enabled by default, because you may not want to turn it on all the time.
The 360 Audio feature only works with apps and content that support Dolby Atmos surround sound. When enabled, it delivers a 360-degree surround sound effect for a more immersive experience.
On top of that, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro supports head tracking, so the 360 audio you hear will actually change with your head movement!
While it doesn’t do much for music (very few are encoded for Dolby Atmos), you should enable it for movies and games.
Connectivity
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.3, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s new Seamless codec, but not aptX, LDAC or LHDC. Again, please note that the Samsung Seamless codec is proprietary, and will only work with their devices running on One UI 4.0 and above.
These earbuds do not offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means they can only be connected to one device at any one time.
They support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account, but if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.
Battery Life
The biggest problem I have with the Buds2 Pro though is its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I can get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.
This is really a trade off – a larger battery (and consequently, longer battery life) would mean a heavier and more obtrusive earbuds. There is only so much Samsung can squeeze out of the tiny 61 mAh battery in each earbud.
The charging case with an internal 515 mAh battery provides another 13 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 21 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.
They support quick charging though – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of battery life.
Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Our Verdict
If you want the very best TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation technology from Samsung, there can be no doubt – the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is it.
It is amazing that such a small package comes with so many great features – 24-bit audio with 360 Audio, active noise cancellation with three SNR microphones, and IPX7 water resistance.
While the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is not cheap, those features do really make a real difference in the enjoyment of your music, videos and games.
For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Just be aware of its relatively short battery life, lack of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, and reliance on a proprietary codec which limits 24-bit audio to Samsung devices.
If you are in the Samsung ecosystem and would like to enjoy 24-bit audio and/or surround sound, you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
But if you are not using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, or do not need 24-bit audio support, then these are not the earbuds you are looking for. You are better off buying the cheaper Galaxy Buds2!
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro : Where To Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM899 / S$328 / US$229 / £189 / A$349.
Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 11 November 2022) :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Sony Penang Audio Plant : Slated To Close By March 2022
Just over a year ago, Sony announced the closure of their PG Tec manufacturing facility, which spanned a land area of 172,000 m², with a total built-up area of 95,000 m².
Based in the Prai Industrial Zone, the Sony PG Tec facility produced audio products like the WH-1000XM3 and WP-SP900 headphones, wireless speakers, home theatre systems and Blu-ray players.
It was also the home of a local Sony R&D team that designed the Sony MHC-V81D sound system, amongst other audio products.
At that time, Sony said that the PG Tec audio plant would stop operations in September 2021, and close by March 2022.
The 3,400 or so employees at the Sony PG Tec facility were offered the option of a severance plan, or relocation to the Sony EMCS factory in Bangi, Selangor. Some 1,800 employees are local, while another 1,600 are foreigners.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Known for its sturdy yet lightweight body, HUAWEI MateBook D14 comes in a sleek and stylish design with a 14-inch FullView Display that boasts screen-to-body ratio of 84%.
The HUAWEI MateBook D14 has a large 56Wh battery that can serve you to last throughout the day, and a built-in fingerprint sensor that lets you quickly and securely log in.
Its support for HUAWEI’s Multi-Screen Collaboration feature lets you interact seamlessly between between your laptop and smartphone. It also allows you to take control of your smartphone using your laptop, allowing for greater productivity!
12.12 Offer :RM1,199 (RRP : RM1,399) with FREE Smart Magnetic Keyboard worth RM399
The HUAWEI MatePad is a great option for those who are looking for a tablet at an affordable price. It even comes with a keyboard case that protects it when closed, and turns it into a laptop when open!
It is designed to offer studio-quality audio with its quad-speaker, Histen 6.1 3D stereo and quad-channel Harmon Kardon sound system. And it supports HUAWEI’s Multi-Screen Collaboration feature which lets you transfer, drag and drop files between devices, as well as screen sharing between tablet, smartphone and laptop!
The tablet comes with 64 GB of storage, which can be extended to 512GB storage through an optional microSD card. It also supports 4G LTE connectivity – all you need to do is insert a SIM card!
12.12 Offer :RM1,999with FREE M-Pencil and Smart Magnetic Keyboard worth RM998
Running on HarmonyOS 2, the MatePad 11 is the first HUAWEI tablet to feature a 10.95-inch FullView display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for a silky-smooth visual experience, and a DCI-P3 colour gamut for real-to-life colours!
The MatePad 11 comes with the 2nd Generation M-Pencil stylus, which boasts an almost imperceptible lag as low as 2 ms. It has 4,096 pressure levels and tilt sensitivity, giving you a natural writing and drawing experience.
The MatePad 11 is also a multimedia powerhouse, with quad-channel large amplitude quad-speaker system, tuned by Harman Kardon.
It is further enhanced with Histen 7.0 for greater bass and a new sound field enhancement algorithm, giving you that immersive cinema-like audio experience when you watch movies!
The HUAWEI MatePad T10 comes with an anti-glare screen that is TÜV Rheinland certified Eye Comfort. By reducing the amount of blue light significantly without affecting the screen colour tone with its true tone technology, it ensures that you have greater viewing pleasure while preventing eye strain.
Whether it’s for work, watching movies or social media, this is a highly-affordable tablet that offers better eye comfort for everyday use!
The HUAWEI WATCH GT2e lets you work out anywhere you want, inside and outside the gym with a tracker that supports precise positioning systems and delivers professional sports guidance.
It lets you easily monitor your heart rate with its accurate TruSeen 3.5 and a calorie counter that displays the amount you have burnt after each session.
The HUAWEI WATCH Fit offers you a total of 96 Effective Workout Modes to start your personal fitness training immediately.
It also delivers precise and real-time workout metrics for 11 professional sport modes, inclusive of running, swimming, and cycling. And it comes along with 85 more custom workout modes for a diverse fitness routine throughout the month.
Tthe HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i are active noise cancelling TWS earbuds, that lets you hear only what you want, while its dual-mic system comes with a slit-duct design that works to effectively reduce outdoor wind noise.
It also boasts an exclusive beamforming technology that uses AI noise reduction technology to pick up your voice with extra accuracy, maintaining its quality regardless of the environment you are in.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!
Find out just how good it really is, and why it offers such great bang for your buck!
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : What’s In The Box?
First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.
Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.
Inside, you will find the following items :
A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-A to USB-C charging cable
Extra ear tips (small and large)
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Key Features
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, and the lightest pair they ever made.
Despite its name, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is not really a second-generation Buds, but a more affordable version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro.
Comfort
These are really the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, and if you fit them right – you can hardly feel them.
They come with three sets of ear tips – small, medium and large, allowing you to fit them snugly.
But please note that the Galaxy Buds 2 are not IPX7 water-resistant like the Buds Pro. These earbuds are only IPX2 sweat-resistant, so you should avoid wearing them in the rain.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has two microphones to constantly monitor ambient noise, 98% of which Samsung says will be cancelled by its Active Noise Cancellation technology.
Its noise cancelling performance is good, delivering much clearer audio while driving (haven’t been flying lately!) and in noisier surroundings. However, don’t expect the same level of noise cancellation as premium over-ear ANC headphones like Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45.
If you need to listen to someone speak, it has an Ambient mode (with 3 levels) that temporarily disable ANC and lets you listen to the outside world.
And when you take out one ear bud, the Buds 2 cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the ear bud back on.
Audio Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has decidedly better audio quality than the original Galaxy Buds, but I suspect audiophiles will say that it lacks the refinement and richness of more premium earbuds like the Buds Pro or Sony’s WF-1000MX4.
That would not be a fair comparison, and it doesn’t really matter unless you are comparing them side-by-side. The Buds 2 sounds great, and you can further adjust it to suit your proclivities using its equaliser setting.
Instead of worrying about how it compares against its far more expensive competitors, it’s best to learn how to get the best fit possible for the best sound and active noise cancelling.
Connectivity
The Galaxy Buds 2 connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codecs, but not aptX.
The earbuds support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices, but does not offer true Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – switching from your phone to your computer, for example.
Battery Life
There is a downside of the reduced weight though – a battery life of 5 hours with ANC enabled, and up to 7.5 hours with ANC disabled.
That may seem a little short for some, but it’s really not so bad because the ear buds support quick charging – popping them into the charging case for 5 minutes gets you another hour of use.
The charging case, incidentally, has enough juice for three full charges. That’s 20 hours of battery life in your pocket.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Our Verdict
The Galaxy Buds 2 is the cheapest and lightest pair of TWS earbuds from Samsung, and it boasts many of the best features from the far more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro.
Unless you have plenty of cash to splash, the decision is simple – just get the Galaxy Buds 2 and enjoy it!
Battery life is shorter and it’s not water-resistant, but the Buds 2 has a better fit and is both lighter in weight and on your wallet!
For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Frankly speaking, the Buds2 will kill a lot of budget TWS earbuds. Why settle for less when you can get an affordable pair of AKG-tuned ultra-light earbuds from Samsung?
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Where To Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM499 / S$248 / US$149.99 / £139 / A$219.
Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 28 October 2021) :
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!
Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!
vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!
vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!
They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…
Comfortable Fit
Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.
They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!
Super Strong Bass
Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.
Active Noise Cancellation
The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!
You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.
It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!
And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.
Microphone Noise Cancellation
Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.
Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.
The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud. This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.
Multipoint Connection
Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.
If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.
Ultra-Low Latency
Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.
The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!
Battery Life
Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.
With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.
vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications
To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :
Specifications
TWS 2 ANC
TWS 2e
Design
In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating
IP54
Speaker Unit
12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation
Yes
No
Microphones
3
2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation
Yes, 3-Mic
Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency
88 ms (min.)
117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec
aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC
AAC / SBC
Wear Detection
Two capacitive sensors
None
Google Fast Pair
Yes
Controls
Pressure +
Touch
None
Battery
45 mAh (each earbud)
505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life
(Noise Cancellation Off)
7.3 Hours
7.6 Hours
Battery Life
(Noise Cancellation On)
4.1 Hours
–
Charging Time
60 minutes (earbuds)
110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port
USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions
23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions
60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight
4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight
41.9 g
vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals
The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp
Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
vivo just introduced a new pair of neckband headphones – the Wireless Sport Lite!
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo Wireless Sport Lite!
vivo Wireless Sport Lite : What You Need To Know!
The new vivo Wireless Sport Lite was introduced together with the new vivo V21 series smartphones on 28 April 2021.
While designed to complement the new V21 and V21 smartphones, they will work well with other smartphones too.
Golden Ear Acoustics
The vivo Wireless Sport Lite boasts an 11.2 mm moving coil for a strong bass, and a high polymer diaphragm for a more powerful bass and to balance the different frequencies.
Its Daikoku aluminium-coated bronze coil also produces more crisp higher frequencies, to match the powerful bass.
It also comes with a double-layered sound chamber, with front and back vents that enable you to feel the music, as well as hear it.
The Wireless Sport Lite was tuned by the renowned Golden Ears acoustics team, to deliver the best possible audio quality.
Ergonomic Design
The vivo Wireless Sport Lite is very light at just 23.9 grams, so you will barely remember it’s there!
For maximum comfort, you can choose from three sizes of soft ear tips to find the perfect fit.
Its neckband is designed to contour comfortably around your neck, and has a flexible memory metal wire that bounces back to shape even after being coiled up.
Low Latency
If you are a gamer or like to watch movies on your phone, you may be worried about the Bluetooth latency.
vivo says that the earphone to smartphone full loop latency was brought down to as low as 80 ms in the Wireless Sport Lite.
This means better gaming audio performance, and no syncing issues with your movies!
Active Noise Cancellation
The vivo Wireless Sport Lite also supports active noise cancellation (ANC)!
It will cancel out ambient noise, so that you can clearly hear your fellow gamers during a gaming session.
It also makes for clear voice and video calls with your family and friends, no matter where you are.
Long Lasting + Tough
The vivo Wireless Sport boasts a long battery life of 18 hours. It also supports fast charging, giving you 5 hours of playback time after just 10 minutes of charging.
It is also IPX4 rated, which makes it splash-proof, allowing you to use it outdoors – in both rain and shine!
vivo Wireless Sport Lite : Price + Availability
The vivo Wireless Sport Lite neckband earphones come in two colour options – Blue and Black.
They are both priced at RM 159 (about US$39 / £28 / A$50 / S$51).
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Sony has decided to close their PG Tec factory, which manufactures audio products like WH-1000XM3 headphones!
Find out what’s going on, and what this means for their 3,400 employees and Sony fans!
Sony PG Tec Facility Will Close By September 2021!
Sony has decided to close their PG Tec manufacturing facility, which spans a land area of 172,000 m², with a total built-up area of 95,000 m².
Based in the Prai Industrial Zone, the Sony PG Tec facility produces audio products like the WH-1000XM3 and WP-SP900 headphones, wireless speakers, home theatre systems and Blu-ray players.
It is also the home of a local Sony R&D team that designed the Sony MHC-V81D sound system, amongst other audio products.
Penang Gov Confirms That Sony Will Close PG Tec Facility
Dato’ Haji Abdul Halim, the Penang Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development Exco, confirmed the decision, stating that the Penang state government will hold a press conference to address the matter.
According to him, the decision to close this high-tech manufacturing facility was due to “internal restructuring due to fierce market competition”.
The 3,400 or so employees at the Sony PG Tec facility will be offered a severance plan, or relocation to the Sony EMCS factory in Bangi, Selangor.
Some 1,800 employees are local, while another 1,600 are foreigners.
The Sony EMCS PG Tec facility is still operating at the moment, and will close in stages, fully ceasing operation in September 2021.
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Google Play Music is officially dead across the world, and you have until December 2020 to migrate your music library and playlists to YouTube Music.
Find out how to download your music library and playlists from Google Play Music before they are deleted forever!
Google Play Music Is Dead : Whaaaaat???
On 4 April 2020, Google dropped the bombshell – they announced that they were replacing Google Play Music play with YouTube Music by December 2020.
They would kill off Google Play Music starting September 2020 in New Zealand and South Africa, and October 2020 for the rest of the world.
Users will no longer be allowed to stream from, or use the Google Play Music app from that point onwards. They will only be allowed to transfer their music libraries to YouTube Music.
Even that migration offer is limited to December 2020, after which the Google Play Music libraries will be deleted and will no longer be available to download or transfer to YouTube Music.
Google Play Music Is Dead : Download Your Music Now!
Google offers the option to migrate your Google Play Music libraries and playlists to YouTube Music, but you may not want to do that for these reasons :
128 kbps quality limit for free subscriptions
you can’t upload your own music through the app, only using an Internet browser
offline playback of your own music requires you to upload and then download the same music
Before deciding what to do next, the first thing you should do is download your music library.
You have until the end of December 2020 to download your music, so do it now!
Open Google Play Music.
Tap on Manage Your Data.
Tap on Download your music library.
Leave Google Play Music checked.
Select to export once.
Select the more common .zip file format, or the .tgz alternative
Select the maximum file size you prefer – 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 10 GB or 50 GB.
Google will split your files into multiple compressed files based on the maximum size you selected.
Newer operating systems (Windows 10, macOS) can support files larger than 4 GB.
Tap Create export and let Google archive and compress your music library.
You will receive an email with a download link when it’s done.
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Improving on last year’s Galaxy Buds, it boasts a new 2-way speaker design by AKG, and an adaptive 3-microphone system.
Announced together with the Galaxy Note20 smartphones, the Galaxy Buds Live extends that with active noise cancellation (ANC), and a more spacious soundscape.
This is the first time ANC is offered on an open type TWS earbuds by Samsung. It also boasts 12 mm speakers by AKG, with a large driver and bass duct.
It has a 6 hour battery life, which is extended to 21 hours with its charging case.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live | Galaxy Buds+ : Malaysia Deals For Oct-Nov!
Here is the official price list for both TWS earbuds in Malaysia :
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Jabra is introducing a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!
Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t Get FREE ANC Upgrade!
On 21 October 2020, Jabra announced a FREE ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) upgrade for all Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t true wireless earbuds!
By taking advantage of the superior Qualcomm digital audio processor already built-into the Elite 75t, Jabra is able to introduce this free ANC upgrade via a firmware update in the Jabra Sound+ app.
The Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t with ANC as standard will be available for purchase in October 2020.
Jabra Elite 75t + Elite Active 75t : Now With ANC
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t.
Improved Comfort + Secure Fit
Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.
They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.
Better Battery + Charging Capabilities
Jabra extended the Elite 75t’s battery life by 50%, from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. They also extended its charging case’s battery capacity, allowing the Elite 75t to offer a total battery life of 28 hours, versus 15 hours for the 65t.
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.
Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.
MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)
Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.
MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.
MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.
4-Microphone Technology
Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.
Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for lower-latency audio with lower power consumption. That means longer battery life without the fear of audio dropouts!
IP55 / IP57 Dust + Water Resistance
The Jabra Elite 75t is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!
The Jabra Elite Active 75t, on the other hand, is IP57-rated, which allows for water submersion up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.
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If you are a BTS fan, here are the key features and an unboxing video of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition True Wireless Stereo earphones!
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : Unboxing!
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition is a limited edition version of the Galaxy Buds Plus True Wireless Stereo earphones in the unique purple and black colour scheme.
It is only available for pre-order (details below), but Samsung shared with us their official unboxing video, which we “improved” and shared with you here :
2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.
Adaptive 3-Microphone System
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.
You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.
Better Battery + Wireless Charging!
The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition can last 11 hours, with an additional 11 hours of battery life in its battery case! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery lifeon-the-go!
They also feature 3X faster wireless recharging speed – it now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition has an official RRP of RM 899 (about $211 / £170 / A$307 / S$294), which is RM 300 (50%) more expensive than the regular Galaxy Buds Plus.
To sweeten the deal, Samsung is offering a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition worth RM 199 (about $47 / £38 / A$68 / S$65) with every pre-order!
The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition pre-order deal will last from 19 June 2020 until 5 July 2020. You can either collect your pre-ordered earphones on 9th July 2020, or have them delivered directly to you.
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition earphones are here, for all of you BTS fans!
Reserve using this limited pre-order deal now, for a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition!
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition : A Quick Primer
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition is a limited edition version of the Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earphones.
Available in the unique purple and black colour scheme, it offers these same great features :
2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.
Adaptive 3-Microphone System
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.
You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.
Better Battery + Wireless Charging!
The Galaxy Buds Plus can last 11 hours, with an additional 11 hours of battery life in its battery case! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery lifeon-the-go!
They also feature 3X faster wireless recharging speed – it now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition has an official RRP of RM 899 (about $211 / £170 / A$307 / S$294), which is RM 300 (50%) more expensive than the regular Galaxy Buds Plus.
To sweeten the deal, Samsung is offering a FREE Wireless Charger Pad BTS Edition worth RM 199 (about $47 / £38 / A$68 / S$65) with every pre-order!
The Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition pre-order deal will last from today, 19 June 2020 until 5 July 2020. You can either collect your pre-ordered earphones on 9th July 2020, or have them delivered directly to you.
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There is a special Father’s Day Deal for the Jabra Elite Active 75t water-resistant true wireless earphones!
Get the details of the Father’s Day Deal, and a quick primer on the Jabra Elite Active 75t!
Jabra Elite Active 75t : Father’s Day Deal!
To celebrate Father’s Day, Jabra is offering a FREE pair of Jabra Elite 45e in Gold Beige as well as free delivery, with every purchase of the Elite Active 75t!
All you have to do is purchase the Elite Active 75t from their official store below, from 13 June until 21 June 2020.
Here are the purchase options in other countries :
Similar to the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY), the Active version brings the same great call and music quality expected from Jabra yet 22 percent smaller than its predecessor for a better fit.
Noise Isolation
The Elite Active 75t is also designed to further enhance comfort through optimal earbud design, based on thousands of ear measurements and scans to determine the optimal earbud shape and size.
This provides superior passive noise reduction for an improved sound experience overall. And you can activate the integrated HearThrough feature to let surrounding sound in when needed.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t earbuds also offer personalised sound and customisable controls with Jabra MySound and Jabra MyControls through the Jabra Sound+ App.
Jabra MySound
This feature allows users to individualise their music experience to their preference. The user’s hearing profile is benchmarked through a simple auditory test consisting of a series of beeps and the output is optimised based on these results, for a truly individualised listening experience.
Jabra MyControls
This function enables the user to define the button controls on the earbuds in a few simple steps. Some users may focus on music or media button actions whilst others may want the buttons to revolve around calls. This remap of the buttons further enhances the custom experience for the user.
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Samsung Malaysia has some great 2020 QLED TV deals this month, if you are looking for an upgrade! Check them out!
Samsung Malaysia June 2020 QLED TV Deals!
To celebrate the official availability of the latest 2020 QLED TVs, Samsung Malaysia just announced their Raya Bergaya, Ceria Bersama promotion with these great deals!
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Jabra Evolve2 85 is the flagship of the new Evolve2 family of business headphones. Here is a quick look at the latest Jabra wireless ANC headset for the workplace!
Jabra Evolve2 85 : Wireless ANC Headset For The Workplace!
The Jabra Evolve2 85 is the flagship wireless headset of the new Evolve2 family of business headphones, offering the very best audio technologies Jabra has to offer.
Six Variants!
The Jabra Evolve2 85 is available in six variants, allowing you to select the best variant for your requirements :
Connectivity : USB-A or USB-C
Charging Stand : With or Without
Optimisation : Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication
Active Noise Cancellation
The Jabra Evolve2 85 features their digital hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, which offers 50% better noise cancellation compared to their previous-generation Evolve 80.
Its over-ear design, with soft memory foam ear cushions cover your ears completely, further improving noise isolation.
More Powerful 40 mm Speakers
It comes with more powerful leak-tolerant 40 mm speakers, paired with their most advanced digital chipset and the latest AAC codec.
10 Microphones!
The Jabra Evolve2 85 comes with not one, or two, but TEN microphones to guarantee the best possible audio clarity.
There are two microphones in the boom arm, and four microphones in each ear cup, to deliver 40% better audio transmission.
Busylight + Microsoft Teams Integration
The signature Jabra Busylight helps alert your colleagues when you are busy, and should not be disturbed.
In addition, the Microsoft Teams variant comes with a dedicated button with a special status indicator LED to signal different issues – missing a call or a meeting, for example.
Battery + Charging
The Jabra Evolve2 85 has a long battery life of 37 hours, and a full charge takes just 2.5 hours, thanks to its fast charge capability!
In case you forgot to charge it, just 15 minutes of charging will give you 8 hours of battery life.
Jabra Evolve2 85 : Price + Availability
The Jabra Evolve2 85 headset will be available for purchase in Beige and Black colour options in June 2020, at these price points :
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The Jabra Evolve2 65 is part of the new, redesigned Evolve2 family of business headphones. Here is a quick look at this new wireless headset for the workplace!
Jabra Evolve2 65 : Wireless Headset For The Workplace!
The Jabra Evolve2 65 is wireless variant of the Evolve2 40, offering the same audio features, with the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity.
Eight Variants!
The Jabra Evolve2 65 is available in eight variants, allowing you to select the best variant for your requirements :
Speakers : Mono or Stereo
Connectivity : USB-A or USB-C
Charging Stand : With or Without
Optimisation : Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication
Improved Passive Noise Cancellation
The Jabra Evolve2 65 features improved passive noise cancellation, through a new angled ear cup design, and engineered oval memory foam ear cushions.
More Powerful 40 mm Speakers
It comes with more powerful leak-tolerant 40 mm speakers, paired with their most advanced digital chipset.
Multiple Microphones
The Jabra Evolve2 65 comes with not one, or two, but three microphones for 25% better audio transmission!
Even if you do not extend the microphone in the boom arm, two other microphones in the right ear cup will pick up your voice.
Busylight + Microsoft Teams Integration
The signature Jabra Busylight helps alert your colleagues when you are busy, and should not be disturbed.
In addition, the Microsoft Teams variant comes with a dedicated button with a special status indicator LED to signal different issues – missing a call or a meeting, for example.
Battery + Charging
The Jabra Evolve2 65 has a long battery life of 37 hours, and a full charge takes just 90 minutes, thanks to its fast charge capability!
In case you forgot to charge it, just 15 minutes of charging will give you 8 hours of battery life.
Jabra Evolve2 65 : Price + Availability
The Jabra Evolve2 65 headset will be available for purchase in Beige and Black colour options in June 2020, at these price points :
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The Jabra Evolve2 40 is part of the new, redesigned Evolve2 family of business headphones. Here is a quick look at this new headset for the workplace!
Jabra Evolve2 40 : On-Ear Headset For The Workplace!
The Jabra Evolve2 40 is corded variant of the Evolve2 65, offering the same audio features, just without Bluetooth connectivity.
Six Variants
The Jabra Evolve2 40 is available in six variants, allowing you to select the best variant for your requirements :
Speakers : Mono or Stereo
Connectivity : USB-A or USB-C
Optimisation : Microsoft Teams or Unified Communication
Improved Passive Noise Cancellation
The Jabra Evolve2 40 features improved passive noise cancellation, through a new angled ear cup design, and engineered oval memory foam ear cushions.
More Powerful 40 mm Speakers
It comes with more powerful leak-tolerant 40 mm speakers, paired with their most advanced digital chipset.
Multiple Microphones
The Jabra Evolve2 40 comes with not one, or two, but three microphones for 25% better audio transmission!
Even if you do not extend the microphone in the boom arm, two other microphones in the right ear cup will pick up your voice.
Busylight + Microsoft Teams Integration
The signature Jabra Busylight helps alert your colleagues when you are busy, and should not be disturbed.
In addition, the Microsoft Teams variant comes with a dedicated button with a special status indicator LED to signal different issues – missing a call or a meeting, for example.
Jabra Evolve2 40 : Price + Availability
The Jabra Evolve2 40 headset will be available for purchase in June 2020, at these price points :
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A new software update for Samsung Galaxy Buds will introduce three new Buds+ features! Here are the details!
Samsung Galaxy Buds : Get Update For Buds+ Features!
Starting today (4 May 2020), you will be able to update your Galaxy Buds with three new features that were hitherto available only in the Galaxy Buds+.
Here are the three new features you can enjoy after updating your Samsung Galaxy Buds!
Microsoft Swift Pair
Microsoft Swift Pair lets you more easily pair your Galaxy Buds to your Windows 10 PC, so that you can use it for remote video meetings, or just listen to music while you work.
Like the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, your Galaxy Buds will also support the capability to pair with multiple devices, allowing you to use them across your mobile and PC devices.
Your PC must be running on Windows 10 version 1830 or above. Go to the Bluetooth & other devices menu under settings to pair your Galaxy Buds.
Samsung Easy Pair is used to quickly pair with mobile devices
Microsoft Switch Pair is used to quickly pair with Windows 10 PCs
Ambient Sound Capability
Ambient Sound lets you hear your surroundings and remain aware of the world around you, even while you are watching movies or listening to music.
You can also choose to experience Ambient Sound with one earbud in, giving you more options on how to tune in, or tune out, of your surrounding environment.
Ambient Sound can be pre-set and enabled through the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app.
Spotify Personalised Playlist
Using a simple ‘Tap & Hold’ gesture, you can launch Spotify and start listening to music wherever you left off.
Tap again, and Spotify will recommend a playlist just for you. This update lets Spotify offer you a personalised playlist with a single press!
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If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
One of the best TWS earbuds in the market are the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, which are turned by AKG.
Find out if the new Galaxy Buds Plus (Galaxy Buds+) are TWS earbuds you’re looking for!
True Wireless Stereo : What Is It?
True Wireless Stereo or TWS for short, refers to the ability to transfer stereo music wirelessly through Bluetooth.
The music player (or smartphone) transmits the music to a TWS Master device, which then forwards it to a TWS Slave device. This allows both TWS Master and Slave devices to deliver stereo music to you
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus : TWS Earbuds Tuned By AKG!
Announced together with the Samsung Galaxy S20 family of smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus or Galaxy Buds+ is their second-generation TWS earbuds design.
Improving on last year’s Galaxy Buds, it boasts a new 2-way speaker design by AKG, and an adaptive 3-microphone system. Let’s take a closer look at its key features…
2-Way Dynamic Speaker System by AKG
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus features a new 2-way dynamic speaker system, tuned by AKG. It combines a tweeter with a woofer, to deliver both clear high notes and a rich and powerful bass.
Adaptive 3-Microphone System
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus also comes with an adaptive 3 microphone system to make sure background noises will never drown out your voice.
The two outer microphones work together with the inner microphone to cancel out background noises, whenever you are on a call.
You can also use it to tune out ambient noise while listening to your music, or whenever you just want some peace and quiet.
Better Battery + Charging!
Samsung greatly improved the battery life on the Galaxy Buds Plus, almost doubling it over its predecessor – from 6 hours to 11 hours!
Even its battery case has a much longer battery life, up from 7 hours to 11 hours! That means you get a total of 22 hours of battery lifeon-the-go!
Samsung also improved its recharging performance. It now takes just 3 minutes of charging to get you an hour of playback time. That’s 3X faster than its predecessor!
On top of that, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and its battery case are Qi-certified. That means you can recharge either or both using any Qi-compatible charging pad.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus is available in two colour options – White and Black, with Blue, Red and Pink options in select countries, at recommended retail prices :
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The Jabra Elite 75t – their 4th generation wireless earbuds – are here! Find out what Jabra has improved over last year’s Elite 65t, which are already impressive in their own right!
Jabra Elite 75t : Improved 4th Gen Wireless Earbuds!
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is their fourth-generation wireless earbuds, offering two key improvements over last year’s Elite 65t. Let’s start with the official tech briefing on the Jabra Elite 75t :
Improved Comfort + Secure Fit
Jabra used thousands of ear scans from all over the world, to create a profile of the most optimal 3D shape and size for the Elite 75t.
They promise that they will offer an improved fit that is more comfortable and secure, allowing you to use them for long hours, and without fear of them falling out.
Better Battery + Charging Capabilities
Jabra extended the Elite 75t’s battery life by 50%, from 5 hours to 7.5 hours. They also extended its charging case’s battery capacity, allowing the Elite 75t to offer a total battery life of 28 hours, versus 15 hours for the 65t.
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) also has fast charging capability – a quick 15 minutes charge in its charging case will give you an hour of battery life.
Incidentally, Jabra will offer an Elite 75t variant in Q2 2020 that will have a charging case with wireless charging capability, in addition to USB Type C wired charging.
MyControl + MySound (Coming In Q2 2020)
Jabra will introduce two new features through a future firmware update – MyControl and MySound.
MyControl lets you personalise the touch controls, with the option of using either left or right earbud by itself. Otherwise, you can only use the right earbud independently.
MySound lets you create and use a personalised hearing profile using a series of audio tests. This will offer you a significant improvement in audio quality.
4-Microphone Technology
Like the Elite 65t, the Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) comes with four microphones for clearer voice pickups and better wind noise reduction.
Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity
The Jabra Elite 75t (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows for lower-latency audio with lower power consumption. That means longer battery life without the fear of audio dropouts!
IP55 Dust + Water Resistance
It is IP55-rated for dust and water resistance. That means it is sweat- and splash- resistant, but not waterproof. Do NOT take it for a swim!
Jabra Elite 75t Price + Availability
The Jabra Elite 75t is available in two colour options – Titanium Black and Gold Beige.
It is priced at USD 179.99 / €169.99 / A$297 / S$288 / RM 949.
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The new realme Buds Air TWS earphones look very similar to the Apple AirPods they are targeted at, but they are quite different internally.
Take a closer look at the realme Buds Air, and find out what it offers, and the great launch deal realme is offering!
realme Buds Air : AirPods Lookalike TWS Earphones!
After Apple introduced their AirPods, everyone wants to get into the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earphones game, including realme.
It is no coincidence that their Buds Air is designed to look very similar to the AirPods, right down to its charging case!
But while the realme Buds Air look superficially like identical twins of the Apple AirPods, they are quite different internally. Let’s take a look…
Custom R1 SoC
The realme Buds Air uses a custom R1 SoC (system-on-chip) that offers Bluetooth connectivity and smart controls.
Super Low Latency Gaming Mode
A long press on both earbuds will kick them into the Gaming Mode, which offers dual-channel transmission with super-low latencies.
Instant Auto Connection
Once paired with your smartphone, the realme Buds Air automatically reconnect whenever you open the case cover.
Smart In-ear Detection
The realme Buds Air uses an optical sensor to detect when they are in your ears. They will automatically pause music playback when you remove them, and start the music up again when you place them back.
Touch Controls
The realme Buds Air offers four touch controls :
Double tap : answer a call, play / pause music playback
Triple tap : skip to the next song
Long press on one side : launch voice assistance, end / decline a call
Long press on both sides : launch or exit Gaming Mode
Wireless Charging Case
The realme Buds Air’s charging case supports Qi wireless charging, in addition to USB-C wired charging.
Charging case
– adds 14 hours playback time
– supports Qi wireless charging
– supports USB-C wired charging
Dimensions
51.3 mm high
45.3 mm wide
25.3 mm deep
Weight
42.3 g
realme Buds Air Price + Availability + Deal!
The realme Buds Air will be available for purchase starting 21 January 2020, with a recommended retail price of RM 299 / S$99 / US$73 / £56 / A$106.
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It will come in three colour options – White, Yellow and Black. Initially, only White will be available, with Yellow and Black to follow at a later date.
But for one day only – on 21 January 2020, realme will offer it at an incredible price of just RM 199, at :
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The Edifier W860NB and W828NB are both active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones, with an over-ear design.
In this article, we will compare both models to find out how they differ, and where they are similar. Find out which is the best option for you!
Edifier W860NB Primer
The Edifier W860NB is their first active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphone, targeted at the value premium market. Hence, it sports a premium design with touch controls.
It also has folding ear cups with neodymium drivers, NFC support and a complete set of accessories including a hard travel case.
Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : What’s The Difference?
The Edifier W860NB has a more refined design, while the W828NB has a sportier design.
They can both be folded for more compact storage, but the ear cups of the W860NB can further be tilted inwards to fit its hard travel case.
If touch controls are important, then obviously you will prefer the W860NB, but the W828NB has a BIG advantage – Bluetooth 5.0.
Bluetooth 5.0 is more than twice as fast as Bluetooth 4.1, letting the W828NB avoid audio synchronisation issues. It is also more power efficient, which means a longer battery life.
Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : Our Recommendations
If you prefer an all-in kit or a more premium build and arguably better audio and noise cancellation performance, you should definitely get the W860NB.
But if you want the best possible Bluetooth connectivity for better audio synchronisation and battery life, then get the W828NB.
One thing is for sure – they are both very affordable active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones, and offer great value for your money.
Edifier W860NB vs Edifier W828NB : Specifications
Specifications
Edifier W860NB
Edifier W828NB
Type
Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Ergonomic Features
Adjustable Headband (up to 6 cm total)
Padded headband and ear cups, with faux leather covers
Noise Cancellation
Yes, Active Noise Cancellation
Connectivity Options
Wireless : Bluetooth 4.0
Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Wireless : Bluetooth 5.0
Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Touch Controls
Yes
No
NFC Support
Yes
No
Bluetooth Codecs
Qualcomm aptX
A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)
Qualcomm aptX
A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)
Bluetooth Range
10 meters / 30 feet
Audio Drivers
40 mm Neodymium Drivers
Not specified
Impedence
32 Ohms
24 Ohms
Frequency Response
20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity
97 dB
100 dB
Battery
1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery
1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery (estimated)
Rated Battery Life
Standby : 1,500 hours
Music without ANC : 45 hours
Music with ANC : 25 hours
Standby : 1,500 hours
Music without ANC : 80 hours
Music with ANC : 25 hours
Rated Charging Time
4 hours @ 5 watt USB
Edifier W860NB Price + Availability
The W860NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 119.99 in the US, and RM 499 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
The Edifier W828NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 89.99 in the US, and RM 399 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Apple AirPods Pro are a popular choice for those who want active noise cancelling earbuds, but there is actually a better alternative – the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3.
Don’t believe us? Find out why the FreeBuds 3 is a superior alternative to the AirPods Pro!
Why FreeBuds 3 Is The Best Alternative To AirPods Pro!
Reason #1 : Low Latency Bluetooth Connectivity
One of the biggest problems affecting Bluetooth earbuds is latency – the delay from when the audio data is transmitted to the earbuds, and when the sound emits from the speakers.
High latency causes the sounds and images of the movie you are watching to go out of sync. It is also a big problem in games, where audio cues can mean the difference between winning and losing!
Most TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds like the AirPods Pro uses a binaural single-channel connection, where the smartphone transmits the audio data to the primary earbud, which then forwards one of the channels to the secondary earbud.
This is simpler to implement, but results in greater latency and higher power consumption by the primary earbud.
A select few TWS earbuds use dual-channel transmissions to both earbuds simultaneously, which reduces latency but results in higher power consumption by both earbuds.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 avoids both issues because it uses their proprietary Isochronous Dual Channel Transmission technology to transmit the left and right channels to each earbud synchronously and separately.
This reduces latency to just 190 ms (lower than the AirPods Pro), ensuring accurate synchronisation, while reducing power consumption!
Reason #2 : Less Chance Of Interference
In public places, interference is a big issue because there is an abundance of both active Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, and they are all using the same 2.4 GHz spectrum!
This may result in higher audio latencies, or even worse – a disconnection of one or both earbuds from your smartphone!
The HUAWEI Isochronous Dual Channel Transmission technology reduces the chance of interference from other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.
Reason #3 : Powerful Kirin A1 Chipset
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is powered by the Kirin A1 – the world’s first Bluetooth 5.1 SoC, which supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 as well.
With an industry-leading 365 MHz audio processor, it is powerful enough to simultaneously perform real-time noise cancellation for both earbuds, as well as real-time 3A call noise cancellation, with automatic echo cancellation (AEC), automatic gain control (AGC) and adaptive noise reduction (ANR) for the microphones!
Reason #4 : More Comfortable Fit
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 is the world’s first active noise cancelling Bluetooth earbuds with an open fit design. Because they won’t close up your ear canals, they are more comfortable to wear for long hours of use.
Its Dolphin Bionic Design is not just aesthetically-pleasing, it’s designed to ensure a more secure yet comfortable fit so you can run and jog without worry.
Reason #5 : Personalised Noise Cancellation
The open design is more complicated to handle because it lets more ambient noise leak in. To correct for that, HUAWEI generated 9 sets of noise reduction profiles, based on extensive research of real human ear canals of different ages, genders, ear sizes, etc.
This lets you optimise its active noise cancellation performance with a simple click in the HUAWEI AI Life app (available in Google Play Store and HUAWEI AppGallery). This gives it a leg up over its competitors that are based on standard ear models.
Reason #6 : Noise Reduction For Voice
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 reduce noise through two mechanisms. Its microphones are shielded by a wind noise reduction duct, so you can speak clearly even if you are running or cycling.
Whenever you speak, the FreeBuds 3 uses bone vibrations to distinguish your voice from background noise, ensuring you are clearly heard even in noisy environments.
Reason #7 : Super Fast Pairing!
Thanks to its support for Bluetooth 5.1, it connects much quicker to your smartphone than Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds like the Apple AirPods Pro.
It is also designed to automatically turn on and pair with your smartphone, whenever you open its charging case. It’s ready to use by the time you place it in your ears!
Finally, The FreeBuds 3 Is MUCH CHEAPER Than AirPods Pro!
The eight and final reason – the HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is MUCH CHEAPER than the AirPods Pro!
With a retail price of RM 679 / ~US$163 / £139.99 / ~A$239.99 / S$219, you will get a better pair of wireless earphones with lower latency and better active noise cancellation for both voice and audio… at a steep discount!
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is available in two colour options – Carbon Black and Ceramic White, and you can purchase it directly from HUAWEI Malaysia here! For more information, see HUAWEI’s FB post!
Here are some online purchase links, with prices accurate as of 1 December 2019 :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The modern world is noisy, and that’s why so many people are turning to ANC earbuds like the new HUAWEI FreeBuds 3.
In this article, we will take a look at how HUAWEI Freebuds 3 delivers superior ANC for both voice and audio, giving it a leg-up over the competitors!
Why Active Noise Cancellation?
For decades, we have been relying on over-ear headphones to reduce external noise from disrupting our enjoyment of music and movies. The covering of our ears with padded ear cups is what’s called passive noise cancellation or reduction.
Some of us even resort to in-ear earphones, where the ear buds are inserted directly into the ear canals. Again, they serve to passively block noise from the outside.
Both of these passive noise cancelling solutions help, but they only offer minimal noise reduction. And even worse – they are uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) delivers far better noise cancellation, and it does this without using thick padding or requiring you to insert anything into your ear canals.
That’s why everyone wants active noise cancelling earphones – once you tried one, you will never go back!
HUAWEI FreeBuds 3
HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) offers active noise cancellation in an open fit in-ear design, which offers maximum comfort; with a Dolphin Bionic Design to ensure a better fit.
HUAWEI Kirin A1
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is powered by the Kirin A1 – the world’s first Bluetooth 5.1 SoC. This allows it deliver a stable and fast Bluetooth connection for accurate audio and video synchronisation.
The HUAWEI Isochronous Dual Channel Transmission technology transmits audio data to each ear bud synchronously and separately, to reduce latency and ensure accurate synchronisation.
Active Noise Cancellation
The Kirin A1 has a fast 356 MHz audio processor, which allows the FreeBuds 3 to capture and cancel background noise in real-time. This allows you to enjoy your music, or calls, even in noisy environments.
Tests have shown that ambient noise is reduced by half, even sudden loud noises like train brakes and car honks.
HUAWEI also allows you to adjust 9 different parameters to fine-tune its noise cancellation performance for more challenging environments.
Bone Conduction Sensor + Aerodynamic Mic Duct
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) does not just reduce noise to your ears, it also reduces noise when you speak!
Its microphones have an aerodynamic duct design to reduce wind noise, and it uses bone conduction voice sensors to pick up your voice vibrations.
When the ambient noise levels are too high, it uses your bone conduction vibrations to enhance the quality of your calls, making sure that your voice is clearly heard above hubbub around you!
14 mm Driver + Bass Tube
In addition to a 14 mm dynamic driver, each ear bud has a bass tube tucked right behind, delivering a louder and punchier bass.
AAC Coding
Unlike most earphones that use SBC or aptX, HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 uses AAC coding – the only Bluetooth audio codec that makes use of psychoacoustic modelling to compress the data.
AAC coding delivers significantly better audio quality with lower latency and power consumption. However, it is a processing-intensive codec.
Hence, HUAWEI advises that you pair the FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) with HUAWEI smartphones, because they are designed to encode audio using the AAC codec, instead of the more common SBC or aptX codecs.
Long Battery Life
Thanks to the highly-efficient Kirin A1 chip, the FreeBuds 3 can last 4 hours of non-stop music playbackwith active noise cancellation turned on.
Its carry case doubles as a portable charger, allowing you to recharge the FreeBuds 3 up to four times!
It even supports wireless charging, so you can use any smartphone that supports Qi wireless charging to recharge the FreeBuds 3 and its charging case!
Super Fast Pairing!
HUAWEI designed the FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) for easy and fast pairing. Even pairing them for the first time to a HUAWEI smartphone is as simple as tapping on the pop-up window to confirm the pairing!
Thereafter, your FreeBuds 3 will automatically turn on and pair with your HUAWEI smartphone when you open its charging case.
Watch how fast it turns on and connects to the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro! Hint – it’s less than a second!
Charging Case : 1 hour (wired)
Ear Buds : 1 hour (in charging case)
Ear Bud Dimensions
41.5 mm x 20.4 mm x 17.8 mm
Charging Case Dimensions
60.9 mm x 60.9 mm x 21.8 mm
Weight
Ear Bud : 4.5 g (each)
Charging Case : 48 g
HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 Price + Availability
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 (MY | SG | UK) is available in two colour options – Carbon Black and Ceramic White, with the recommended retail price of RM 679 / ~US$163 / £139.99 / ~A$239.99 / S$219.
You can purchase it directly from HUAWEI Malaysia here! For more information, see HUAWEI’s FB post!
Here are some online purchase links, with prices accurate as of 1 December 2019 :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Edifier W828NB is their latest Bluetooth headphones to offer active noise cancelling capabilities, at a very low price point.
Edifier seems to believe that everyone should be able to afford a decent pair of wireless active noise cancelling headphones, with the W828NB as a more affordable alternative to the excellent W860NB.
In this review, we will take a close look at the Edifier W828NB and share with you our tests of its noise cancelling capabilities. Find out if this is the wireless ANC headphones for you!
Why Active Noise Cancellation?
One of the most important gadgets any frequent traveller must have is a good pair of headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) capability. Whether you want a good night’s sleep, listen to music or watch a movie during a flight or a road trip, active noise cancellation is the way to go.
Passive noise cancellation using over-ear headphones or in-canal earphones may be sufficient for use in an office, but is quite useless on a flight. You can turn up the volume to hear through the noise, but that could damage your hearing.
The best way to listen to music or a conversation in a movie is to use active noise cancellation to literally “erase” the ambient noise. Then you can hear without actually turning up the volume!
Edifier W828NB Gold Specifications
Let’s kick this review off with a quick look at its key specifications :
Specifications
Edifier W828NB
Type
Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Ergonomic
Features
Adjustable Headband (up to 6 cm total)
Padded headband and ear cups, with faux leather covers
Noise Cancellation
Yes, Active Noise Cancellation
Connectivity
Options
Wireless : Bluetooth 5.0
Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Touch Controls
None
NFC Support
No
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Range
10 meters / 30 feet
Audio Drivers
Not specified
Impedence
24 Ohms
Frequency Response
20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity
100 dB
Battery
1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery (estimated)
Rated Battery Life
Standby : 1,500 hours
Music without ANC : 80 hours
Music with ANC : 25 hours
Rated Charging Time
4 hours @ 5 watt USB
Edifier W828NB Price + Availability
The Edifier W828NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 89.99 in the US, and RM 399 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) comes in a large premium cardboard box. Let’s unbox it and see what we find inside!
Once you fully unbox it, this is what you will find inside :
One pair of Edifier W828NB active noise cancelling headphones
One Edifier W828NB user manual
One soft travel pouch
One USB Type A to micro-USB 2.0 charging cable
One 3.5 mm audio cable
The soft travel pouch is big enough to fit the Edifier W828NB headphones, as well as its cables.
Unfortunately, the package does not include a 3.5 mm aircraft plug adaptor, which means you won’t be able to connect it to the audio system of older airliners.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Edifier W828NB Up Close!
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) is a sturdy-looking pair of wireless headphones. Designed for travel, it can be folded for compact storage inside its travel pouch.
If you are used to gaming headsets, you may find its ear cups on the small side, but that’s because they are designed to hug your ears.
The build quality is good, with a blend of quality plastics, metal and faux leather. We like the choice of a smooth matte finish that is fingerprint smear resistant. Overall, it feels like a premium pair of cans.
Unlike the excellent but more expensive Edifier W860NB (US | UK | AU | SG | MY), the W828NB lacks touch controls or a hard travel case. On the other hand, it supports Bluetooth 5.0 and is 25% cheaper!
Let’s delve deeper and see what we find, shall we?
Edifier W828NB Controls
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) saves cost by doing without the W860NB‘s touch controls.
The ANC switch at the bottom of the left ear cup controls its active noise cancellation circuitry. You can actually turn on its ANC feature on without playing any music, if you just want some peace and quiet.
On the right ear cup, you will find the Power button which turns on its Bluetooth connectivity, and the Volume control buttons.
You can actually use the W828NB without “turning it on”, or if it runs out of battery power. Just plug in the provided 3.5 mm audio cable and you are good to go!
But note that the Volume control buttons only work when you are connected to your smartphone or music player using Bluetooth.
Edifier W828NB Audio + Charging Port
You will find the 3.5 mm audio port at the bottom of the left ear cup, which allows you to connect the W828NB directly to your smartphone or music player, or the airplane’s audio jack.
Unfortunately, while Edifier provides a long 3.5 mm audio cable, they did not include an aircraft port adaptor. You will need to purchase a separate adaptor, if you wish to connect to the audio systems of older airliners.
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) is rated to last for 25 hours, with ANC turned on and music playing wirelessly through Bluetooth. You recharge its battery through this micro-USB port at the bottom of the right ear cup.
Edifier did not include a USB charger, only a USB cable which you can connect to your computer, your smartphone’s USB charger or even a power bank.
According to Edifier, it will fully recharge in 4 hours using a 5 watt USB charger or USB 3.0 port. If you are recharging it using an older USB 2.0 port though, it should take twice as long.
How Comfortable Is The W828NB?
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) has an adjustable headband that is padded at the top, and wrapped in soft faux leather.
The headband can be extended by 3 cm on each side, in 9 steps. When fully retracted, it is small enough to fit a child of about 8-9 years of age.
Its ear cups are amply padded and covered in faux leather. Being designed for travel, the ear cups are on the small side. The good news is that they hug your ears, preventing slippage even when you shake your head to the music.
On the other hand, faux leather does not breathe like real leather. So it will get humid inside the smaller space pretty quickly if you are wearing them in warmer weather.
The ear cups can be folded inwards, for a more compact form factor that allows it to fit into the soft travel pouch.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Edifier W828NB Active Noise Cancellation Capability
Active noise cancellation is conceptually simple. One or more microphones pick up ambient noise, which is used to generate opposing sound waves that cancel out the noise before it reaches the user’s ears.
However, it has not been easy or cheap to implement. For one thing – noise detection and the generation of its opposing sound waves happens in real-time.
It is complicated by the need to mix the noise-cancelling sound waves with the actual audio output (of your song or movie), and deliver the output without any noticeable lag.
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) is one of the few affordable wireless headphones to boast active noise cancellation. It has an ANC microphone at the side of each ear cup, pointing backwards.
From what we can tell, the W828NB uses analogue negative feedback circuitry to generate its noise cancelling sound waves.
Analogue noise cancellation is simpler and cheaper to implement, but limits its active noise cancellation to the lower frequencies.
For active noise cancellation of higher frequencies, they would need to add a fast digital signal processor to handle the complex noise cancellation algorithms.
Edifier W828NB Noise Cancelling Performance
We tested the Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) on seven flights, recording its noise cancellation capability using a cardioid microphone, the best examples of which you can see in this video.
Before you watch the video, please keep in mind that it was quite impossible to fully isolate our microphone in the ear cup. So the actual effect is more pronounced than what you’ll hear in this video.
In the airplane cabin clip, you can distinctly hear how the W828NB cuts out the low-frequency rumble, but the higher-frequency sound of the air-conditioning is still audible.
Turning on active noise cancellation will markedly reduce low-frequency noise. This gives you a better appreciation of whatever you are listening to. However, this includes voices of people around you. In fact, airline announcements were clearer with ANC turned on, than turned off.
However, we noticed some static feedback whenever the plane landed. It always happened right after the plane touches down – it’s as if the static feedback is caused by the sound of the airplane’s tyres. It tapers off as the plane slows down.
Bluetooth 5.0
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) has a big advantage over the more premium Edifier W860NB – Bluetooth 5.0.
Its Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity is more than twice as fast as the W860NB‘s Bluetooth 4.1, allowing it to deliver audio data at lower latencies. It also uses less power.
This should let the W828NB avoid audio synchronisation problems that sometimes affects Bluetooth 4.x devices.
It is also the reason why the W828NB can wirelessly play music for 80 hours (without ANC), compared to just 45 hours for the W860NB.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Edifier W828NB : Our Verdict
Anyone who has ever tried using headphones with active noise cancellation on a flight will appreciate what a difference they make.
They will also realise just how useful noise cancellation can be in other applications – better audio clarity at lower volumes, concentrating better in a noisy office, sleeping better, etc.
The key impediment for the widespread adoption of active noise cancellation can be summed in one word – COST.
Headphones with active noise cancellation are generally much more expensive than regular headphones, and some are prohibitively so. This is where the Edifier W828NB comes in.
Priced at just $89.99 / S$157 / A$119.99 / RM 399, it is incredibly affordable. In fact, you can equip a family of three with W828NB wireless headphones for the same price you would pay for a single pair of Sony 1000XM3 (US | UK | MY) headphones!
But just how effective are its noise cancellation capabilities?
The Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) is best at cancelling out low-frequency noise. At higher frequencies, it is limited to passive noise reduction courtesy of its over-ear design and padding.
That means it will effectively cut out most of the annoying rumble of jet engines and road noise; leaving voices quite audible.
If you really need to cut out the higher frequencies, then you need to splurge on headphones that perform digital noise cancellation like the Sony WH-1000XM2 (US | UK | MY) or the latest Sony 1000XM3 (US | UK | MY) headphones.
The ability to block voices may or may not be a good thing, depending on your point of view. It may be nice to cut out annoying chatter and crying babies, but that may mean you won’t be able to hear important announcements or alerts.
We also noticed that it has a static feedback issue whenever a plane lands. Edifier should definitely look into this problem.
However, we love that the Edifier W828NB used Bluetooth 5.0, with a large battery with enough battery life to last even the longest flight and then some. We also like its classy matte finish, and excellent build quality.
Overall, the Edifier W828NB (US | AU | SG | MY) offers a great combination of features, at a great price point. It really punches above its weight.
Edifier W828NB : Where To Buy?
The Edifier W828NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 89.99 in the US, and RM 399 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
We managed to get our hands on the award-winning Edifier W860NB Bluetooth ANC headphones in both the regular Black colour, and the more exclusive Gold edition.
Check out our colour comparison of the Black and Gold colours, and let us know which you prefer!
The Edifier W860NB ANC Bluetooth Headphones
One of the most important gadgets any frequent traveller must have is a good pair of headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) capability.
Whether you want a good night’s sleep, listen to music or watch a movie during a flight or a road trip, active noise cancellation is the way to go.
The Edifier W860NB is one of the few affordable Bluetooth headphones with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) capability.
Turning on its ANC feature literally “erases” ambient noise, letting you listen to music or the conversation in a movie without turning up the volume!
Edifier W860NB Specifications
The Edifier W860NB in both Black and Gold colour options have the same specifications :
Specifications
Edifier W860NB
Type
Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Ergonomic Features
Adjustable Headband (up to 6 cm total)
Padded headband and ear cups, with faux leather covers
Noise Cancellation
Yes, Active Noise Cancellation
Connectivity Options
Wireless : Bluetooth 4.1
Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Bluetooth 4.1 with support for :
– Qualcomm aptX
– A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)
Bluetooth Range
10 meters / 30 feet
Audio Drivers
40 mm Neodymium drivers with titanium dome diaphragms
Impedence
32 Ohms
Frequency Response
20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity
97 dB
Battery
1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery
Rated Battery Life
Standby : 1,500 hours
Music without ANC : 45 hours
Music with ANC : 25 hours
Rated Charging Time
4 hours @ 5 watt USB
Edifier W860NB Colour Comparison
Let’s take a close look at both Black and Gold colour options, and compare them side-by-side :
Now that you have seen both Edifier W860NB models side-by-side, which colour do YOU prefer? Black or Gold?
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Edifier W860NB Black + Gold Colour Purchase Options
The Edifier W860NB has a recommended retail price of US$ 119.99 in the US, and RM 499 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Are you looking for an affordable pair of active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones? The Edifier W860NB Gold might just be what you are looking for.
It is one of the few Bluetooth headphones in the market that offers active noise cancellation capabilities at an affordable price point.
In our in-depth review of the W860NB Gold active noise cancelling Bluetooth headphones, we will show you why it won our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
Why Active Noise Cancellation?
One of the most important gadgets any frequent traveller must have is a good pair of headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) capability. Whether you want a good night’s sleep, listen to music or watch a movie during a flight or a road trip, active noise cancellation is the way to go.
Passive noise cancellation using over-ear headphones or in-canal earphones may be sufficient for use in an office, but is quite useless on a flight. You can turn up the volume to hear through the noise, but that could damage your hearing.
The best way to listen to music or a conversation in a movie is to use active noise cancellation to literally “erase” the ambient noise. Then you can hear without actually turning up the volume!
Edifier W860NB Gold Specifications
Let’s kick this review off with a quick look at its key specifications :
Specifications
Edifier W860NB Gold
Type
Over-Ear Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Ergonomic Features
Adjustable Headband (up to 6 cm total)
Padded headband and ear cups, with faux leather covers
Noise Cancellation
Yes, Active Noise Cancellation
Connectivity Options
Wireless : Bluetooth 4.1
Wired : 3.5 mm audio cable
Bluetooth 4.1 with support for :
– Qualcomm aptX
– A2DP SBC (sub-band coding)
Bluetooth Range
10 meters / 30 feet
Audio Drivers
40 mm Neodymium drivers with titanium dome diaphragms
Impedence
32 Ohms
Frequency Response
20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity
97 dB
Battery
1,400 mAh lithium-ion battery
Rated Battery Life
Standby : 1,500 hours
Music without ANC : 45 hours
Music with ANC : 25 hours
Rated Charging Time
4 hours @ 5 watt USB
Edifier W860NB Gold Price + Availability
The Edifier W860NB Gold has a recommended retail price of US$ 119.99 in the US, and RM 499 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Edifier W860NB Gold Up Close!
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY)) is an elegant-looking pair of wireless headphones. We like how Edifier chose to use a very nice smooth matte surface that is fingerprint smear resistant.
The W860NB Gold is also very well-built, with a good blend of quality plastics, metal and faux leather. It has a good heft, and feels like a premium pair of cans.
Nestled in both ear cups are 40 mm neodymium drivers with titanium dome diaphragms, designed to deliver strong bass with a wide soundstage.
Despite its modest price point, the W860NB Gold boasts touch controls, as well as a very nice and tough storage case and all the accessories you’ll ever need.
Overall – this is a nice hassle-free buy-and-enjoy package, but let’s delve deeper and see what we find, shall we?
Edifier W860NB Gold : Buttons + Touch Controls
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has two separate power controls on the right ear cup.
The Power button turns on its Bluetooth connectivity and touch controls, while the ANC switch turns on its active noise cancellation circuitry.
They actually work independently of each other. You can turn on the active noise cancellation capability without “turning on” the W860NB Gold.
In fact, you can also listen to music using the 3.5 mm audio cable without, yes, “turning it on” using the Power button. Similarly, you can turn on its Bluetooth connectivity and listen to music, without turning on ANC for a longer battery life.
Its touch controls are also on the right ear cup. But they only work when you are connected to your smartphone or music player using Bluetooth.
The touch controls allow you to change tracks and volume, or accept and end calls, without touching your smartphone or music player.
Just swipe right or left to skip ahead or backwards, and swipe up and down to control the volume. Tapping the centre twice pauses and resumes your music, or accepts and ends a phone call.
Edifier W860NB Gold : Audio + Charging Ports
On the left ear cup, you will find the 3.5 mm audio port. It allows you to connect the W860NB Gold directly to your smartphone or music player, or the airline’s audio jack, using the provided aircraft port adaptor.
Hidden under a rubber cover is a micro-USB port that serves as a charging port. Edifier did not include a USB charger, only a USB cable which you can connect to your computer, your smartphone’s USB charger or even a power bank.
They say that it will fully recharge in 4 hours using a 5 watt USB charger or USB 3.0 port. If you are recharging it using an older USB 2.0 port though, it should take twice as long.
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How Comfortable Is The W860NB Gold?
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) has an adjustable headband that is padded at the top, and wrapped in soft faux leather.
The headband can be extended by 3 cm on each side, in 9 steps. When fully retracted, it is small enough to fit a child of about 8-9 years of age.
Its ear cups are also padded and covered in faux leather. Being designed for travel, the ear cups are on the small side. The good news is that they hug your ears, preventing slippage even when you shake your head to the music.
On the other hand, faux leather does not breathe like real leather. So it will get humid inside the smaller space pretty quickly if you are wearing them in warmer weather.
Incidentally, the ear cups can be folded inwards, for a more compact form factor if you prefer not to keep it in the hard case, which is admittedly quite bulky.
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The Edifier W860NB Gold’s Active Noise Cancellation Capability
Active noise cancellation is conceptually simple. One or more microphones pick up ambient noise, which is used to generate opposing sound waves that cancel out the noise before it reaches the user’s ears.
However, it has not been easy or cheap to implement. For one thing – noise detection and the generation of its opposing sound waves happens in real-time.
It is complicated by the need to mix the noise-cancelling sound waves with the actual audio output (of your song or movie), and deliver the output without any noticeable lag.
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is one of the few affordable wireless headphones to boast active noise cancellation. It has an ANC microphone at the side of each ear cup, pointing backwards.
From what we can tell, the W860NB uses analogue negative feedback circuitry to generate up to 97 dB of noise cancelling sound waves.
Analogue noise cancellation is simpler and cheaper to implement, but limits its active noise cancellation to the lower frequencies.
For active noise cancellation of higher frequencies, they would need to add a fast digital signal processor to handle the complex noise cancellation algorithms.
Its Noise Cancelling Performance
We tested the Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) on eight flights, and many road trips. We tried to record the effect of its noise cancellation capability using a cardioid microphone, the best examples of which you can see in this video.
Before you watch it, please keep in mind that it was quite impossible to fully isolate our microphone in the ear cup. So the actual effect is more pronounced than what you’ll hear in this video.
In the airplane cabin clip, you can distinctly hear how the W860NB cuts out the low-frequency rumble, but the higher-frequency sound of the air-conditioning is still audible.
In the car cabin clip, when active noise cancellation is turned on, the low-frequency road noise is cut out. But you can still hear the higher-frequency wind noise, and even the radio music in the background.
Turning on active noise cancellation will markedly reduce low-frequency noise. This gives you a better appreciation of whatever you are listening to. However, this includes voices of people around you. In fact, airline announcements were clearer with ANC turned on, than turned off.
Edifier W860NB vs. Sony WH-1000XM2
This is a grossly unfair comparison, to be sure. But this is something quite a few of our readers will want to know – how does the Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) compare against a premium ANC wireless headphone that costs 3X as much – the much vaunted Sony 1000XM2 (US | UK | MY)?
Based on our subjective tests using the awesome Sony ZX300 Walkman (US | UK | MY), here is how the W860NB Gold compares in active noise cancellation performance to the Sony 1000XM2, in our opinion :
about 80% as good in the lower frequencies, and
about 50% as good in the higher frequencies.
This is very good performance. Impressive actually, when you consider their large price difference.
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Qualcomm aptX Support
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) supports the proprietary Qualcomm aptX audio codec. When used with smartphones, music players and other devices that support aptX, it can deliver lower latencies and better audio quality.
The aptX audio codec is more efficient than the default SBC (Sub-Band Coding) Bluetooth audio codec, delivering a higher bit rate with lower latency. The lower latency is especially important when you watch a movie with wireless headphones, because nothing is more distracting than a movie with unsynchronised audio!
However, make sure you enable aptX on your smartphone or player, or you will end up using SBC. Most smartphones, for example, default to SBC, even if they officially support aptX. In fact, you may need to make the change in Developer Options.
The W860NB does not support the newer and more advanced aptX-HD, which delivers HD Audio over Bluetooth; or aptX Low Latency, which promises a very low latency for better video and gaming performance. This is something for Edifier to look into adding into the next version.
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Edifier W860NB Gold : Our Verdict + Award
Anyone who has ever tried using headphones with active noise cancellation on a flight will appreciate what a difference they make.
They will also realise just how useful noise cancellation can be in other applications – better audio clarity at lower volumes, concentrating better in a noisy office, sleeping better, etc.
The key impediment for the widespread adoption of active noise cancellation can be summed in one word – COST.
Headphones with active noise cancellation are generally much more expensive than regular headphones, and some are prohibitively so.
This is how the W860NB Gold stands out above its competitors. Its affordable price point allows you to literally equip a family of three with W860NB wireless headphones for the same price you would pay for a single pair of Sony 1000XM3 (US | UK | MY) headphones!
But just how effective are its noise cancellation capabilities?
The Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) is best at cancelling out low-frequency noise. At higher frequencies, it is limited to passive noise reduction courtesy of its over-ear design and padding.
That means it will effectively cut out most of the annoying rumble of jet engines and road noise; leaving voices quite audible.
If you really need to cut out the higher frequencies, then you need to splurge on headphones that perform digital noise cancellation like the Sony WH-1000XM2 (US | UK | MY) or the latest Sony 1000XM3 (US | UK | MY) headphones.
The ability to block voices may or may not be a good thing, depending on your point of view. It may be nice to cut out annoying chatter and crying babies, but that may mean you won’t be able to hear important announcements or alerts
The W860NB Gold also impressed us in other ways. it has very useful touch controls on its right ear cup, and a large battery with enough battery life to last even the longest flight and then some. We also like its classy matte finish, and excellent build quality.
Overall, the Edifier W860NB Gold (US | UK | AU | SG | MY) offers a great combination of features, at a great price point. It really punches above its weight.
We are so impressive with its value proposition, we gladly award it our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Great job, Edifier!
Where To Buy The W860NB Gold?
The Edifier W860NB Gold has a recommended retail price of US$ 119.99 in the US, and RM 499 here in Malaysia. Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
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The AfterShokz Xtrainerz is a tough pair of waterproof standalone MP3 headphones with bone conduction technology, designed for swimmers!
Let’s take a closer look, and see how the AfterShokz Xtrainerz differs from its Bluetooth brother, the AfterShokz Aeropex!
AfterShokz Xtrainerz
AfterShokz Xtrainerz is basically a standalone version of the AfterShokz Aeropex, with a built-in media player and 4 GB of storage.
Join our good friend Adam Lobo for his explanation of the key features of the AfterShokz Xtrainerz, as well as the AfterShokz Aeropex which boasts Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.
New Bone Conduction Tranducers
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz (US | UK | AU | MY) features bone conduction transducers that are now angled at 30-degrees, for significantly reduced vibration and improved audio quality.
It has also been enhanced with PremiumPitch 2.0+ technology for a dynamic bass and higher volume, with minimal vibration.
8 Hour Battery Life
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz (US | UK | AU | MY) has a long battery life of 8 hours, letting you enjoy a whole day of music without worrying about battery life.
Waterproof Design
Rated at IP68, you can submerge the AfterShokz Xtrainerz (US | UK | AU | MY) under 1.5 meter of fresh or salt water for up to 30 minutes.
On top of that, it is corrosion resistant – the AfterShokz Test Team put it through a 72-hour salt spray test with zero corrosion.
Its magnetic charging port is designed to detect moisture and alert you, while preventing charging to avoid damage.
4 GB Storage
Leave your phone and audio player on the shore, or at home! The AfterShokz Xtrainerz (US | UK | AU | MY) has 4 GB of storage – enough for at least 500 MP3 songs.
In addition to MP3, its built-in audio player also supports WAV, WMA, AAC and FLAC audio formats, so you can enjoy your music from different sources.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
