audiosplitz: Bose

IT Show 2016 - Portable Music Roundup

March 12, 2016

One of the quarterly consumer tech shows is now in full swing at Suntec Convention Centre from 10 to 13 Mar 2016.

Wait no more!
Check out our roundup of portable audio gizmos at the IT Show 2016 that is going for steal.

Wireless Earphones

Earin
Price: SGD 329 (from SGD 349)
Features - Totally wireless (ie. no cables) / Trend setter / With charging capsule
Location - audiosplitz / Treoo (6571)

Jabra Rox Wireless
Price: SGD 128 (from SGD 168) with Free Magnetic Pouch
Features - Wireless / Dust and water proof
Location - Best (8245) / Harvey Norman (6138) / Nubox (309)

Wireless Headphones

Sennheiser URBANITE XL Wireless
Price: SGD 419 with Free Gift of either OCX 686 Sports or PMX 686 Sports wired earphones (each valued SGD 149)
Features - Over-ears comfort / Wireless or wired / Touch controls / NFC
Location - Sennheiser

Sony MDR-1ABT
Price: SGD 399 (from SGD 499)
Features: Over-ears comfort / Wireless or wired / Touch controls / NFC
Location: Treoo (6571)

Noise Canceling
Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC 20)
Price: SGD 399 (from SGD 499)
Features: Kick-ass noise canceling / Wired / Aware button for toggling ambient sound level
Location: Atlas Warehouse Sale (336)

Sports Earphones (Wired / Wireless)
Bose SoundSport In-Ear
Price: SGD 99 (from SGD 219)
Features: Wired / Great value / Comfortable StayHear tips
Location: Atlas Warehouse Sale (336)

Jaybird X2 Wireless
Price: SGD 229 (from SGD 259)
Features: Wireless / Excellent sound / Great fit / Comply Foam tips
Location: audiosplitz / Treoo (6571)

Sony NWZ-WS413
Price: SGD 149 with Free Casing
Features - Dust and Waterproof (you can swim with it!) / 4GB memory / No external music device needed
Location - Sony (8115)

Wired Earphones
Jays a-JAYS Five
Price: SGD 108 (from $138) for Android / iOS
Price: SGD 69 (from $138) for Windows
Features - Great value / Great bass / Dedicated in-line remote for device type
Location - Treoo (6571)

Wired Headphones
Klipsch Reference R6i On-Ear
Price: SGD 175 (from SGD 199) for 1 pair purchase promo at 10% off
Price: SGD 169 (from SGD 199) for 2 pairs purchase promo at 15% off.
Features - Very lightweight / Great bass / iOS compatible remote
Location - Best (8245) / Challenger (8321) / epiCentre (8101) / Harvey Norman (6138) / Nubox (309)

Speakers
UE BOOM 2
Price: SGD 269 (from SGD 319)
Features - Wireless / 360 degree type / 15h battery life
Location - Best (8245) / EpiCentre (8101) / Nubox (309)

Bang & Olufsen

Noise Canceling Immersion - The Verdict

March 02, 2016

Good March to one and all!

A few weeks back, we started the Noise Canceling Immersion Series where we took a look at 3 really awesome in-ears.

They were the Sony MDR-EX750NA, the Bose QuietComfort 20 and the Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 ANC. For noise canceling earphones, these are no doubt 3 of the hottest models you can find in the market today.

The big question was how good were these and how do they match up with each other?

Packaging contents

	Sony	Bose	B&O
Earphones	Y	Y	Y
USB Charger	Y	Y	Y
Total Eartips	4 (SS / S / M / L)	3 (S / M / L)	5 (XS / S / M / L / Comply Foam T-200 M)
Carrying Pouch	Y	Y	Y
Flight Adapter	Y	N	Y
Clothing Clip	Y	Y	N
User Guide	Y	Y	Y

Sony MDR-EX750NA

Bose QuietComfort 20

Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 ANC

Feature Comparison

	Sony	Bose	B&O
Length	1.5m	1.32m	1.35m
Weight	27g (exc. cable)	44g	40g
Volume Controls	N	Y	Y
Controls Location	Y-connector	Y-connector	Left cord
ANC Power Button Location	Y-connector	Battery module	Battery module
Awareness Button	N	Y	N
Device Compatibility	iOS / Android (no vol controls)	iOS / Android	iOS
Battery Life	16h	16h	20h
Charging Time	2h	2.5h	2.5h

Sony h.ear in NC - Control module with ANC switch

Bose QC 20 - Control module with Aware button on the edge

B&O BeoPlay H3 ANC - Control module

We pitted them in the several tests and obtained some interesting results.

So now, let's announce what is the top choice in the following categories.

Best Value
> Sony MDR-EX750NA (h.ear in NC)
From USD 140 at Amazon

Putting things in perspective, the Sony h.ear in NC at SGD 199 was priced way lower than the B&O BeoPlay H3 ANC (SGD 349) and the Bose QC 20 (SGD 499). However, value is measured not just by the monetary value but by the overall experience you get vs the price. While the plasticky build material didn't inspire much confidence, the active noise canceling (ANC) of the Sony was just a notch below the QC 20 and sound quality was decent. Features-wise, the Bose's Aware button gave some brownie points.

As you can guess, the Sony MDR-EX750NA average overall performance paired with an agreeable price make this a winner in the value category.

Best Sound Quality
> Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 ANC
From USD 249 at Amazon

The Bose QC 20 boasts a resounding bass that gives some punch yet is let down by a somewhat muddied mid-range and is not so clear as expected. It appears that Bose emphasizes the bass over all else.

Sony on the other hand, attempts to juggle the audio pretty well. Bass is solid but vocal delivery ain't too clean.

Bang & Olufsen is no doubt the best of the 3, using the silicon buds. There's good balance where bass and treble have distinct separation though clarity comes across more than the lows. Should you need more bass on your travels, just swap to the Comply Foam tips.

Best Noise Canceling
> Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC 20)
From USD 249 at Amazon

All the 3 earbuds were put through a series of tests to check out the active noise canceling (ANC) ability.

	Sony	Bose	B&O
Tested in car with Stereolab's Parsec on the car audio. No music on the ear buds.	While the high frequencies still squeeze through, the bass from Parsec is reduced considerably. Slight hiss can be heard.	Muffled vocals are still able to come through. However, the constant bass from Parsec is not just reduced but is almost completely eliminated.	With Comply Foam tips - While ANC is effective, low frequencies can still be heard though the sound is the most natural sounding.
Tested at the back of a bus with a revving engine	Low frequencies are quite well filtered but rumbles can still be picked out by the ear.	Low frequencies of the bus accelerations are delightfully obscured.	Bus accelerations while blocked sufficiently, are still quite audible.
Tested at a bus stop with helluva lot of traffic coming and going	Traffic is blocked considerably but there's no denying that the Sony is relatively effective. Highs and the higher lows still reach the ear though.	Traffic sounds are surprisingly blocked out with exception of the higher frequencies like car honking .	Traffic sounds come through with relative ease. Had to toggle taking out the Comply tips and switching the ANC on/off to hear the difference

The winner for ANC was quite clear. Only one unit, in the form of the Bose QuietComfort 20, blocked low frequencies to such a degree that you'd actually worry about your safety when you cross the road. Quite astounding.

Conclusion

So, what does this tell us? Is there a perfect noise canceling earphone? It's not so simple to say. There are a multitude of factors in play. Some want purely noise canceling, others may need excellent sound, some may desire value, etc.

There are actually so many other considerations such as weight, microphonics and comfort (to name a few) which you can look at in the respective reviews below for further insight.

At the end of the day, it all depends what you need. All 3 choices were undoubtedly top in their respective categories. One thing's for certain - the experience we had with all 3 was freakin' awesome. We had an absolute whale of a time in the testing process.

If you have any thoughts on the review process, feel free to ping us. We'll duly oblige :)

Noise Canceling Immersion - A 3-Part Series
Part 1 - Sony h.ear in NC (MDR-EX750NA)
Part 2 - Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC 20)
Part 3 - Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 ANC
The Verdict

Bose

Noise Canceling Immersion Part 2 - Bose QuietComfort 20

January 16, 2016

The Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC 20) marked the company's first effort for noise canceling in-ears. June 2015 saw the addition of new color and dedicated iOS / Samsung Galaxy variants. In this day and age where product lifecycles have been considerably shortened, it's interesting to note that more than two years after its initial launch, the QC20 remains Bose's flagship model for in-ears.

As Part 2 of the Noise Canceling Immersion series of articles, we eagerly check out how the Bose QC 20 (SGD 499) measures up.

Pros (+): Mind-numbingly good noise canceling; Dedicated device controls; Easy-to-access Aware Mode button.
Cons (-): Steep pricing

Design
Out of the black / white color and device SKUs, we received the white Samsung Galaxy compatible unit.

As usual, we dive in to unbox the product.

Taking away the shrink wrap, we slide away the outer cover. We are greeted with a blue sheet with the Bose logo smack in the center.

There's a black foam beneath the blue sheet, probably to cushion the contents. And right below is the gracefully presented product embedded in a black plastic.

Taking out this layer gives you access to the QC20 carrying case and all the accompanying accessories stored within. The white piece on the left, you ask? That's the drying agent.

Taking everything out, the packaging contents reveal:
- Bose QC 20 earphones (with a rotatable clip)
- StayHear+ tips (S / M / L)
- USB cable
- Carrying case
- User guide and Safety instructions

The Bose QC 20 tips the scales at 44g, mainly due to the 89 x 32mm battery unit (the module that looks like a chewing gum stick). The 1.32m cable bears a white theme punctuated with distinctive turquoise blue stripes that provided a striking visual appeal. The proprietary earbuds (coined as StayHear+ tips), comprising both buds and fins, isn't swappable with other types of earphone buds. Even within Bose's in-ear lineup, the SoundTrue / SoundSport use the StayHear tips (without the '+') so do take note when buying replacements.

The carrying case (70 x 32mm) does its job in adequately protecting the earphones. The zip goes just halfway around the edge, enough to conveniently slip the QC20s within. There's also a compartment within to helpfully slot in the charging cable and/or additional ear tips.

Features
When you purchase the Bose QuietComfort 20, it's the noise canceling that is unquestionably the coveted feature. Two microphones sense the noise - one measures approaching sound and the other detects the sound inside. This is sent to the digital chip in the control module where it apparently takes a 'fraction of a millisecond' to calculate a opposing sound signal to send to your ears. More on the performance in a bit.

The Y-connector is where the control module lies. Bose upgraded the original 2013 single button Android friendly models with 3 buttons - 2 volume flanking a multi-function button which plays / skips tracks / takes calls.

What sets this apart from other remotes is the blue Mode button located at the edge that triggers the Aware mode, an easily accessible feature that's useful when crossing roads. When noise canceling is on, this allows you to tune back to the environmental sound and be more consciously aware of your surroundings. Oh, and the 'S' at the back of the remote is a mark of compatibility with Samsung Galaxy devices.

What's that logo in the center? That's the Aware icon.

Moving down the cable close to the L-shaped 3.5mm jack is the battery unit. Flick the power switch on to activate the noise canceling. As you can see below, there are 2 LEDs and what do they show?
1. Power LED - displays green to indicate there's more than 3h of battery left and blinks if there's less than that. When charging, this flashes an amber color.
2. Mode LED - displays green when noise canceling is on and blanks out when Aware mode is on.
At the other edge, there's a micro-USB port to connect the charging cable.

Performance
The StayHear+ tips are comfortable to the extent that you don't feel any pressure on the ears when used in excess of an hour. Out of the 3 color-coded sizes (S = white, M = grey, L = black), the Medium suited me best. While the silicon buds provide good fit, the fin section helps in lightly lodging in the ear for better stability.

We tried the noise canceling in three areas:
1. Inside a controlled environment (a car) where Stereolab's Parsec was playing in the vehicle.
2. At the back of a bus where the engine is revving frequently.
3. Tested at a bus stop with helluva lot of traffic (buses coming and going)
In these conditions, we did not play music in order to test the active noise canceling.

The noise canceling is undeniably superb. In the first instance, the muffled vocals are still able to come through. However, the constant bass from Parsec is not just reduced but is almost completely eliminated. In the other 2 cases, the low frequencies of the bus accelerations are delightfully obscured. In an ad-hoc occasion, my kid was bawling uncontrollably in the room and I had the Bose QC 20 on the shelf. The wails still came through but it made the experience a whole lot more tolerable. In case you're wondering, yea, my kid simmered down after another ten minutes when she realized she wouldn't get her way :)

We tested the audio quality when noise canceling was on. Chris Martin's vocals on Everglow actually sound rather muddied in terms of the clarity but the depth of the bass is apparent once the instrumentation kicks in at the minute mark.

Bose designed the clothing clip, set just below the control unit, to swivel a full 360 degrees. Once you clip this to your shirt, the microphonics caused by the tug of the cable under the left and right earbuds is taken away. Recommended to use? Yes.

What of the battery life? Once flat, a full 2h charge to the Lithium-Ion battery gives a reasonable 16h of active noise canceling (ANC) usage. Even with no charge, you can still use the unit like a normal pair of in-ears (minus the ANC).

Overall
Bose are the pioneers of consumer-grade noise canceling headphones and their experience really shows with the QC20. While priced at a premium, the undeniably superb ANC complemented with an upgraded control unit sporting a convenient Mode button elevate the QuietComfort 20 to the top echelon in noise canceling in-ear units.

Where To Buy

You can buy the product from www.bose.com. If you like what you have read, feel free to support me by buying via these Amazon affiliate links:

Pricing is from USD 249.

Audio Sources
Everglow - Coldplay (Tidal 1411kbps FLAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4
Take Me To Church - Hozier (Tidal 1411kbps FLAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4

Credit to Atlas, Bose for an evaluation unit.

Noise Canceling Immersion - A 3-Part Series
Part 1 - Sony h.ear in NC (MDR-EX750NA)
Part 2 - Bose QuietComfort 20 (QC 20)
Part 3 - Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H3 ANC
The Verdict