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The first a set of Bluetooth headphones that allow you movement without wires. The second a device to turn almost any audio system into one that is wireless. So you choose if either or both these devices have a place in your life.
A set of on ear headphones that can be Bluetooth or connected via a standard 3.5mm audio cable which is supplied. The headphones come in a zip all around hard sided case which is oval at 19x15x7cm and considering the headphones are full size this is quite small. The secret is that they fold in at the point of expansion, click back to open and you have up to 3cm of enlargement on each arm. The earpads are leather as the middle 16cm of the headband.
First a quality Bluetooth headset from Plantronics and second, also from Plantronics, a set of stereo headphones - also using Bluetooth connectivity. Two items with different backgrounds the first to give you clear voice communication and the second for clear audio.
First something that's so small and light you could forget you are wearing it. In its most compact form it is 8x4x3cm and it weights just 17grams. It works via Bluetooth and like the unit below can be charged by a supplied USB to micro USB cable however this unit is also supplied with a mains charger and an assortment of plug ends for most countries as well as a cigar lighter charger for use in the car.
Having a set of noise limited headset for a younger child is important as once a child’s hearing starts to get impaired it’s a one way street. Also important for a younger child is not to plug the ears and that any headphones or headset are wire less for obvious reasons as you don’t want them strangling one another.
The distance from the centre of the well-padded headband to the top of the also well-padded ear pieces is 10.5cm with no side expansion, this can increase to 13cm fully expanded, total weight is 123grams. Unlike other headsets where the speech arm sticks out or is a removable piece this unit has one that is curled up inside the right earpiece and pulls out to the chin area when required, it is up to 8cm long and is flexible.
This is the latest set of over ear headphones to cross my desk. On the face of it they are Bluetooth meaning you have the freedom to move around within the range of Bluetooth. However unlike earbuds which are either Bluetooth or corded with this set from Shure you have the option to use them corded should you wish to do so.
The Aonic 50 wireless headset measures 15cm from earpiece to earpiece when parallel; there is 18cm from base of earpiece to centre of the well-padded headband. There is 3cm plus of expansion available on each side for those who need it. The right earpiece has USB ‘C’ connection for charging as well as on/off button, volume up and down and a slider control. The left earpiece has the 3.5mm connection for the times for wish to use them corded.
While these are sold as for kids they were big enough – with the slide extensions – for me to wear so unless you have a rather large head they could well be suitable for an adult as well. These are solidly built and should certainly stand the rough treatment often handed out by younger children.
The headphones are 16cm wide at the earpieces when opened to horizontal; they are also 16cm from the tip of the earpieces to the inside of the well-padded headband, that is with the 2cm of expansion expanded. The weight of them is 132 grams. I was surprised that no instructions were given and while I soon worked out the controls – and if I could – I am sure most children could also do so.
When travelling on a very long journey these headphones could let you listen to your favourite music from start to finish.
Trust Electronics, a leading value-for-money brand for digital lifestyle accessories, has released four new affordable wireless headphones and earpad products. Given the choice of the Nika Touch wireless earphones, Primo Touch Bluetooth wireless earphones, Tones Bluetooth wireless headphones or Eaze Bluetooth wireless headphones, I opted for the latter model which, incidentally, was the most expensive unit in this quartet of products, priced at £34.99.
When considering the purchase of a set of ear buds, Currys/PC World can offer a product with its own neck band.
Headphones come in a variety of styles. shapes and sizes. In the case of the Goji PRO Wireless Headphones, this personal listening audio piece of equipment is of the in-ear variety. These headphones combine a necklace support facility with wireless Bluetooth connectivity with fast battery charging facility giving up to 12 hours of power to produce its personal audio functionality.
These are just gels that fit into the ear there are no wires or brace the Bluetooth connection is direct from the back of the bud to the SmartPhone. Unlike some other devices you can use just one bud should you wish so ideal if you have a hearing aid in the other ear.
Each bud weighs only 6grams. Rather than have a USB lead to clip into the bud the USB connection is to a 57gram case that is also a second battery so if the buds run out of power just place them in the case to recharge even if you are nowhere near external power. So you could wear the buds on your journey to work, place them in the case and they are ready to wear recharged from the case on your journey home. The case is 6x6x3cm and slips easily into a pocket, purse or bag.
A recent distributor event in London saw me get access to several brands new to me one of these was a firm with a range called Kitsound and I left with a pair of Active Noise Cancelling headphones that can be wired or Wireless.
In the box are the on/over ear headphones, a 1metre 3.5mm to 3.5mm lead, a 75cm USB ‘C’ to USB lead for charging, an airplane style connector plug and a drawstring bag to keep everything in when travelling. There was also an eight sided User Manual which at 21x14.5cm was printed single language in a font at a readable size even for those of us with less than perfect sight, others should follow suit.
This is the second offering from Sennheiser that I have seen in the ‘sports earbuds’ category. Being wireless means that it matters not how much vigorous exercise you do as the only connection is between the two buds whatever position the rest of your body contorts to the earbuds stay firmly rooted to your ears.
These are what are called ‘Fin type’ buds in that the fin goes inside the outer part of the ear taking the strain off the bud itself which plugs into the main cavity of the ear. Perhaps the most important thing with earbuds is that you use the correct size and for that purpose there are four different sizes of buds in the box. It is important not to stuff the buds into the ear - not only for comfort – but also for clarity of sound.
I think of Focal for higher end quality speakers and even headphones, here something a little less expensive a set of wireless earbuds for use most likely on the move and probably with either your iOS or Android SmartPhone.
They are 55cm from one earbud to the other the connecting cord has two boxes in the cable the one most will know seems to do everything as the three buttons and LED when charging/linking/dying as well as connection for USB charging are all in the 4x1x.5cm box. The one thing I did not mention is microphone which seems to be the job of the slightly larger 4.5x1x.7cm box.
Until earlier this year I thought of Sennheiser for quality headphones, then I reviewed the Flex 5000 which came with a set of earbuds, since then a pair Sports buds and now this Bluetooth offering to give you total freedom of movement.
As regular readers will know my ears often swell after an hour or so of use of earbuds so I tried the smallest buds supplied thinking they would not be big enough however because there is little of no weight on the buds as you wear the control unit around the neck like a collar (open neck) the short length of cord between the neck and the ear is not load bearing.
A pair of lime green earbuds – other colours are available – have kept me company on a range of journeys in an around London. The first advantage is that your SmartPhone remains well and truly out of site be it in your pocket or purse.
These are described on the box as Wireless Sports Headphones with LED neckband.
While Currys / PC Word sell products from various manufacturers, the company also offers some of its own products such as this set of headphones.
The Goji Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones forms part of the Currys / PC World’s family of in-house products. This set of headphones is of the over-the-ear variety. Included in the box with the headphones are a micro-to-standard USB charging cable, 3.5mm audio cable, instruction booklet and a draw-string soft carry pouch for keeping everything together when not being used and in transit.
I am always worried when I see something that has a similar name to an already reviewed product, this I am told is different as you now have Bluetooth but even though my memory is short these still look familiar, why not Further Grind or even Grind 2.
20cm from the bass of the earbuds to the top of the padded headband is the maximum size this includes the 3cm of adjustment possible on each sideband. The earpads are circular at 7.5cm and the weight of the unit is 180grams. When the unit is at maximum size there is a wire that runs down either side just inside the frame but when at minimum size this juts out and could catch. I was happy with them at their smallest size as this leaves a small space at the base of my ear for it to breathe.
Having looked at a number of Jam Speakers in the past, it was time to try out a headset from the company.
The Jam Transit Lite is a pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones. As part of the HoMedics Jam series of products, the Jam Transit Lite belongs to the On-the-Ear style of headphones. Predominately black in colour, with a mixture of matte for the headband element and lacquered surrounds for the earpieces, this headset is supplied with a micro-to-standard USB lead for charging purposes and an audio lead with 3.
Bluetooth audio systems able to play music from your phones, here a device that you just link via Bluetooth and the music plays as long as you have charge no lead is required.
These are lightweight on ear headphones weighing only 180grams. There is 3cm of movement in each arm and the measurements I am giving are when the arms are fully extended. From the base area in between the earpieces to the top of the headband is 19cm, the earpieces themselves are circular at 7cm across and 3.5cm deep. When I wear them I tend to use about half the expansion and being old I wear them in the old way on top of my head.
The last item I reviewed from Sennheiser was a set of earbuds I did not even know they did earbuds this is a quality Bluetooth set of headphones. In the past I have reviewed several sets of wired headphones so for those who prefer not to be tethered
As always my job is to point out problem – however minor – often at the expense of waxing lyrically about the good points. Well I found one minor niggle here so let’s get it out of the way, when I paired it with a PC I am currently reviewing it insisted that it was an Bluetooth earpiece which it is not but as it worked correctly I almost let it pass. The headphones when fully compressed are 20cm from base of the earbud to top of the headband, there is 4.
Easily recognised by the skull logo, the SkullCandy range of headsets has been expanded by new models including the topic of this next review.
SkullCandy Inc., the company behind the popular brand of headsets, has recently expanded its range of lifestyle audio devices with a series of wireless offerings. I have been checking out the Hesh 2™ Wireless product. This is an on-ear style of headphones available in a choice of camouflage with red embellishment, grey with hot lime embellishment or, as in the case of my review sample, black with silver embellishment.
While devices, such as televisions, smartphones and tablets, have their own speaker facility, you can enhance this output with the addition of a soundbar.
While the product number SB-2501 gives very little away regarding this piece of kit, an inspection of the packaging from Evolve Audio reveals that it is a soundbar with wireless sub-woofer and wireless headphones. Accompanying these elements are an assortment of leads, remote control and button battery plus a Quick Start Guide and User Manual. The leads cover mains power, USB charging facility and connectivity between the soundbar and a television.
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