audiosplitz: In-Ears

Red Headphones for SG National Day!

August 03, 2017

Singapore's National Day that falls on 9 August is just around the corner! Folks take time to get festive by sporting the colors of red and white in the streets and this year is no different. What better way to set a patriotic tone than to sport red headphones to go with your attire? That said, here's five stylish headphones /earphones to set the mood for the occasion.

1. Beats Solo3 Wireless
Price - SGD 398 (USD 299)
The (Product) Red campaign in raising awareness for HIV has been going on strong for 11 years now. In the process, you get some great looking red colored products. The Beats Solo3 Wireless is already a great looking pair of on-ears to begin with and certainly made even more striking by the red finish.
Read - Beats Solo2 Wireless review

2. Bose SoundSport Pulse Wireless
Price - SGD 319 (USD 199)
Bose made its foray into wireless sports in-ears last year and upgraded the original SoundSport Wireless (SGD 239) with the 'Pulse' functionality. This adds a heart rate sensor and relays this information to the Bose Connect app. It looks pretty much the same as the non-Pulse version and comes in a single color variant - *drumroll* Red!
Read - Bose SoundSport Wireless review

3. Jaybird X3 Wireless
Price - SGD 215 (USD 129)
Jaybird's latest buds are generation 3 of their huge selling X-series of sports in-ears. They upgraded from the original (named Bluebuds X) with the Jaybird X2 and now the latest incarnation comes with app support. The red variant is called Road Rash and looks pretty darn striking.
Read - Jaybird X3 Wireless review

4. Plantronics BackBeat FIT
Price - SGD 129 (USD 84)
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT has been around for a while and while there are some new colors that were launched in late-2016, the original red version with a greyish hue looks great. Like the name implies, it fits great and makes for a great companion when jogging.
Read - Plantronics BackBeat FIT review

5. Sony MDR-XB950BT Extra Bass
Price - SGD 269 (USD 198)
Sony's Extra Bass series of headphones has been quite a seller for them and the sheer volume of reviews on Amazon (2000+) for the XB950BT can attest to that. They have a newer version called the XB950B1 but hey, there's nothing like the classic version, eh? They, of course, have a red variant.

Audio Quality

Klipsch Reference X12i - Review

July 24, 2017

The current Klipsch Reference X-series was launched sometime in late 2015. We had tried the top of the line Reference X20i previously (and it was pretty darn good) and now given the chance to try the X12i. If the X20i did not exist, chances are the X12i would've been Klipsch's creme de la creme since it is after all, the successor of the X11i. Nuff said. Let's check out the Reference X12i in this full review!

Type - Wired In-Ears
Price - USD 349 / SGD 509 (Usual: SGD 599)

Pros (+): Great balance in bass and treble; High noise isolation; Good ear fit.
Cons (-): Befuddling wallet case design; Unboxing process could be improved.

In The Box
The box is marked by a striking transparent plastic, at the top, that showcases the buds in its full glory while the lower half is a traditional box that details its contents. Tearing the seal on the bottom allows you to slide the plastic casing out.

Pop open the plastic casing and there's the buds pedestal at the top and the accessories packed in a thin cardboard box. Admittedly, the cardboard is a little flimsy and some effort could have gone to explaining how to actually open it.

By contrast, the brown plastic holding the earphone cord is sturdy and simple to open / close.

So taking everything out, the packaging contents include -

Klipsch Reference X12i earphones
5 x Silicon Eartips ( Single Flange - S, M, L / Double Flange - M, L )
Carrying Pouch
Cord Clip
Quick Start Guide + Warranty, Safety Guides

Klipsch Reference X12i packaging contents

Design
The Klipsch Reference X12i weighs a decent 15g, understandably lighter than the Reference X20i (22g) that comes with screw type connectors. The X12i buds are aluminum-milled though the connection points (the 3.5mm straight jack and Y-connector) are made of lightweight plastic. The convenient tangle-free 1.2m cord looks great with its translucent nature that reveals the copper wires within.

Carrying Case:
Included is a miniature wallet case where both sides are linked with a Klipsch-branded elastic band. The interior has two thin sleeves within though on first glance, it's a little tricky to figure how to slot the buds within for safekeeping.

Features
In-Line Remote:
If you're familiar with Klipsch remotes that come with their earphones, this looks very much in line with its brethren like the R6 In-Ear Bluetooth. The volume controls marked with '+' and '-' flank the bronze-colored multi-function button that serves to play (single press) and skip tracks (double or triple press).

Earbuds:
You get a flurry of 5 pairs of silicon buds within of which there are 3 single- and 2 double-flange options and chances are you just need to lock down on one set for day to day usage. The single-flange M-size that's fitted by default suited just nice.

Performance
Sound Quality:
A sample of Calvin Harris' How Deep Is Your Love is intense in its pounding beats yet Ina Wroldsen's vocals are able to come through clearly without overwhelming the senses. Trying out Clean Bandit's melodic Symphony served to reinforce the notion with its clear instrumentation being expressed gently through the buds yet never sounding overly bright. This is a stark contrast to many a earbud out there where the emphasis is purely on the bass and not much else.

Fit and Noise Isolation:
Insertion into the ears is really comfortable, no doubt helped by the elliptical design of the tips. The proper method to wear 'em is to slot them in and tilt the buds downward. This results in a snug fit that provides a better than average noise isolation from ambient sounds. If there are issues with cable rustle (microphonics), you can use the provided plastic cord clip to prevent the cable from swishing around when you're walking.

Overall
The Klipsch Reference X-series serves as a timely reminder that there is life in wired earphones. Some improvements could be made in the design of the wallet case and unboxing process but if you're talking about the buds proper, there's very little to fault. Sure most companies are veering toward a wireless future but if you were to link your music device to the X12i vis a vis a pair of default buds bundled with your phone, you may well rediscover the joy of listening to music.

Where To Buy
Klipsch is currently holding a Klipsch x Logan promotion until mid-August in Singapore. Do check out more details here!

The Klipsch Reference X12i goes for USD 349.

Credit to Klipsch and TC Acoustic for a review unit.

In-Ears

Klipsch x Logan Singapore Promo

July 10, 2017

Indianapolis-based Klipsch has collaborated with Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel to deliver the powerful (and heart-thumping) audio experience of Logan through their X-Series earphones. In case you've been living under a rock in 2017, Logan is the 10th installment in the X-Men film series and the 3rd Wolverine movie. It's a helluva show, even as a standalone, and it's now out on Blu-Ray.

That said, Klipsch is holding a Klipsch x Logan promotion for its Reference X-Series earphones until 14 August 2017 in Singapore.

Now, the Reference X-Series earphones, namely the X20i, X12i, X6i, XR8i, have been out since late 2015. If you're not too familiar with these, fret not! Here is our coverage that you can check out.
Read - Klipsch's New Reference X-Series
Read - Klipsch Reference X12i - Review
Read - Klipsch Reference X20i - New In-Ear Flagship

Klipsch Reference X6i, XR8i, X12i and X20i

L to R: X6i, XR8i, X12i and X20i

What Are The Details of the Promo?

1. TC Acoustic Showroom - Mystery Gift
Just purchase any of the Klipsch X-series earphones, namely the X20i, X12i, XR8i, X6i, from the TC Acoustic Showroom and you'll get a mystery gift in the form of Logan merchandise.

2. Webstore - 15% Off
If you purchase from the webstore, you can get a 15% discount off these four earphones. The link is as follows - https://store.tcacoustic.com.sg
Let's break down the promo prices for simplicity.

Klipsch Reference X20i
SGD 849 (Usual - SGD 999)

Klipsch Reference X12i
SGD 509 (Usual - SGD 599)

Klipsch Reference XR8i
SGD 399 (Usual - SGD 469)

Klipsch Reference X6i
SGD 279 (Usual - SGD 329)

3. Warranty Sign Up - Sweepstakes
Once you buy any of the units, do register for the warranty at this link (tcacoustic.com.sg/warranty-contact/) and you'll automatically enter a sweepstakes to win a separate gift.

And finally, do note that the mystery gifts from the TC Acoustic Showroom and the warranty sign up are good while stocks last.

Have We Tested These Buds Yet?
We've tried the Reference X20i quite a while back. Once you break into it, you can really start to appreciate the nuances in the sound that audiophiles tend to veer towards. Check out our review here.

We'll be bringing the Reference X12i (Klipsch have kindly provided a unit) for a spin and will give you our impressions of these buds soon!

Update (24 Jul 2017):
Read - Klipsch Reference X12i review

In the meanwhile, here is a comparison of the ratings of the buds, according to the Klipsch website.

Klipsch Reference X6i, XR8i, X12i and X20i comparison

Credit to Klipsch for the review unit.

Bang & Olufsen

B&O BeoPlay E4 - First Look

June 19, 2017

Doppler Labs

Here One Launch in Singapore

June 02, 2017

Doppler Labs launched the Here One truly wireless smart earbuds in Singapore today at a media launch at the We The People Kickstarter Store in Millenia Walk.

It was a fitting location given its origins. We actually reviewed their first commercially available and Kickstarter-backed product back in Aug 2016. That was called the Here Active Listening System . It did not play music. Instead, they delivered an audio augmented reality experience.

And today, Here One is their next generation product that still maintains the AR experience fusing it with listening to music. Let's check out what the Here One offers.

Type - Truly Wireless In-Ears
Price - USD 299 / SGD 459

What's The Big Deal?
The specs are quite comparable with its truly wireless peers. We're looking at buds of a 12g weight that can last for 2 hours playback. There's a charging case that offers 3 more rounds of charge for the buds.

However, these are not a pair of run of the mill earphones. To do the Here One justice, we'll focus on what differentiates these buds from the rest.

1. Smart Noise Cancellation
Doppler Labs' buds incorporate what they term as Real-World Sound Control that allows the ability to dynamically increase / decrease specific sound types. For example, you can suppress the ambient sound of a plane's engine or if somehow you want to increase it, you sure can. This is controllable through their app. This is quite different from traditional active noise cancelation (ANC) where all ambient sounds are lowered.

2. Speech Enhancement
You can reduce background noise and amplify human speech. For example, you can enhance a nearby conversation.

3. Machine Learning
Interestingly, the machine learning engine behind the buds, called Smart Suggest, is able to use your location, past use and preferences to provide suggestions. If you're in a subway, the app will supposedly push a suggested sound profile for your approval.

Sophia Velastegui, Chief Product Officer of Doppler Labs presenting the Here One features.

Who Is It For?
The most obvious usage is for folks who listen to music but at the same time can conveniently double the device as a hearing aid.

Pricing And Availability
The Here One is priced at USD 299 / SGD 459.

If you are in the US, they are currently available through their online store.
If you are in Singapore, they are available from 5 May at selected retailers including truewireless.sg.

Doppler Labs, LRT and We The People teams striking a pose.

Apple

Apple AirPods - The Review

May 29, 2017

The Apple AirPods need practically no introduction. These were the truly wireless earbuds that were introduced to much fanfare last September as loads of folks anticipated their entry into the Apple ecosystem. And since then, they finally hit the shops around Dec 2016 and there have been a load of reviews on these.

Now what makes it interesting is to see how these fare against the world! Ok, what we mean is how they compare with its truly wireless earbud peers.

But first, let's review them. A trip to Holiday Villa Johor Bahru provided a good occasion to test the buds and a spot to take some shots!

Read - Advent of Truly Wireless Earbuds

Type - Truly Wireless Earphones
Price - USD 159 / EUR 179 / SGD 238

Pros (+): Supremely comfortable fit; Simple to use; Great battery life.
Cons (-): Non-existent noise isolation

In The Box
The Apple AirPods unsurprisingly come in one color combination - white. That's classic iPod gloss white if you want specifics.

In typical Apple style, the box is incredibly sturdy and sized at a compact 99 x 99 x 34 mm, ideal for two things - cutting on shipping costs and hardy enough to pass drop tests (not that we tried :).

The unboxing is like what you'd expect from an Apple product - impeccably neat and premium. The top lid pops upward to reveal a booklet with the distinctive line - Designed by Apple in California.

Lifting this away will showcase the AirPods charging case nicely wrapped in a protective sleeve.

Popping out the packaging contents, we get:

Apple AirPods
Charging Case
Charging Cable (USB to Lightning)
User Guides

Design
The Apple AirPods come adorned in signature iPod gloss white and both earbuds weigh 8g, marginally lighter than the Samsung Gear IconX (12g) and Bragi The Headphone (12.5g). What differentiates these from other truly wireless buds is its long cylindrical side that that the other manufacturers clearly do not have. One practical benefit is the earbud weight is more evenly distributed, as the battery takes up the bulk of the space within. And of course, it makes it easier for the buds to be removed / inserted.

If you are familar with the default buds (EarPods) that come with your iPhone, you'll find that the overall AirPods aesthetic is much the same. General differences include the subtraction of the cable (obviously), dual optical sensors and a chrome edge at the bottom complete with a microphone. We'll talk more on their purpose in the Features section.

Charging Case:
The case measures a petite 44 x 21 x 54mm and doubles up as a charger when the buds are stored within. It's nicely styled and its magnetic clasp allows it to shut reassuringly.

Features
While the Apple AirPods look seemingly basic, they are anything but. Once you poke your nose into what they have to offer, you'll realize that there's a myriad of features awaiting especially if you're an iOS user.

Playback / Voice Commands:
While there are no physical buttons on the AirPods, you can actually double tap the exterior of either earbud to enable a function depending on phone you are using.

Siri devices - This activates Siri so you can give voice commands to control playback (eg. turn up the volume) or useful information (give directions / weather check). When calls come in, you can pick them and if you find Siri annoying, you can go to the settings to render a double tap as a play / pause function.
Other devices - There's a singular function - double tapping the exterior of the buds will play / pause music playback. This is arguably more useful than sending voice commands in a packed train with others staring at you quizzically.

Automatic Ear Detection:
The AirPods can detect when they are slotted into your ears thanks to dual optical sensors on each bud. You can even test out their effectiveness by double tapping the side of the bud when covering the sensors with your fingers vs removing your fingers. Even if you cover just one of the two optical sensors, the AirPods take it that the earbuds are not inside your ear.

iOS - On your iPhone, music will pause when you take both buds out of your ears. They will pause and resume playback if a single bud is removed. If you want music to continue even if you remove the buds, you can disable this in the AirPods Settings.
Android - The play resume / pause function doesn't work when using an Android like what I tested with the Sony Xperia XA. However, there's no way to accidentally double tap the earbud when they are not in your ears.

Chilling with the AirPods at the Holiday Villa infinity pool

Pairing:
If you're used to the manual way of Bluetooth pairing, the AirPods offers a refreshingly simpler method of connecting to your music device (at least if you're in the Apple ecosystem).

iOS 10.2 / watchOS3 / MacOS Sierra Devices - Apple's W1 chip may sound like a fancy marketing name but pairing is where you begin to discover its usefulness. All you need to do is open the AirPods charging case next to your device and there will be a setup prompt on your screen. It's that easy.
Other Devices - If you have another product like an Android phone, you'll need to manually pair via Bluetooth. Turn on your phone Bluetooth, pop open the charging case, select 'AirPods' and you're good to go.

Tip - If you have difficulties in pairing, insert the AirPods back into the case and hold the circular Setup button on the back of the case until the LED starts to flash white. You can then restart the pairing process.

Status Light Notifications:
The status light LED is only found inside the charging case between the two buds. The charge status reflects the AirPods if one / both are inserted else it will show the Case status. Here's an idea what they indicate.

Green - Fully charged
Amber - Not fully charged / Charging in progress if USB cable connected
Amber (blinking) - You may need to setup AirPods again
White (blinking) - Pairing mode

Sound Notifications
There are no voice notifications though there will be tones to indicate when the AirPods are successfully connected to your music device or when the charge in the buds is low.

Microphones:
There are two microphones on each earbud. If you notice the bottom of the AirPods, there is a chrome edge and within it is one of the microphones. The second is a small circular hole located on the outside of the earbud.

Apple does inject some hype about two beam-forming microphones. What does 'beam-forming' mean? You can actually read more on this over here. For the AirPods, the purpose of the beam-forming microphones is to extract voice input from ambient noise so the AirPods user is able to speak loud and clear to the recipient of a phone call.

App Support:

iOS - It would not be accurate to say that the AirPods have no app support. In fact, the support is integrated with iOS 10. If you pop the AirPods charging case open, a prompt will initiate from your iPhone and settings can be configured accordingly. The good thing is the AirPods firmware can be updated. Most recent is from 3.3.1 to 3.5.1 on Feb 1, 2017. Any significant change? Can't really tell from our end though feel free to buzz if you find something.
Android - There's no dedicated app for Android though to be fair, Apple never did mention such compatibility on the packaging.

Performance

Sound Quality:
The Apple AirPods sound quality is quite decent, that is if you do your listening in a relatively quiet environment. I was feeling nostalgic so I decided to give a listen to Kitaro. If that name does not ring a bell, Kitaro is a Japanese artist that specializes in epic instrumental music (some call it 'new age'). He made an equally epic performance compiled in the Live In America (1991) album and with that, I tried his magnum opus, Matsuri. The treble comes out not quite sparkling but nonetheless clearer than many in-ears while bass from the drums came out reasonably well. I reckon these aren't sealed in-ears which likely contribute to the drop in the impact of the low frequencies.

Calls:
Making a few calls, I did a sound check in several locations of incremental ambient noise level. One was in at the Holiday Villa JB infinity pool with a few folks splashing around (low ambient sound) and another was in the heart of KSL Mall (high ambient sound). In those locations, I checked how well the recipient could hear me and the result was positive - they could hear me loud n clear, despite the noisy crowds in the second instance.

Noise Isolation:
Like the EarPods, noise isolation is non existent. Environmental sounds aren't filtered at all and basically, you can safely listen to music while jogging. The flipside is when you're commuting, all the ambient sound from the trains will hit you so you'll have to increase the volume quite a bit to appreciate the sound.

Apple AirPods Charging Case Lightning port

Fit:
This was probably the most comfortable pair of truly wireless buds tested. When slotted in and when the music paused, there were moments where I actually forgot there was something in my ears.

Charging:
To charge the AirPods, all you have to do is slot them in the Charging Case and they are magnetically latched within. If you're wondering how it works, there are two contact points deep inside the two holes of the case that link with the chrome edge of the AirPods to initiate charging.

A full charge of the AirPods through the Lightning cable will provide 5 hours playback / 2 hours talk time while a quick charge of 15 minutes will get you 3 hours / over 1 hour talk time. The charging case states 398mAh of power so we're going to make a guess that that's the total power within the case only. If you use the full capacity of the case in tandem with the AirPods, Apple claims you can get up to 24 hours playback / 11 hours talk time.

Update (6 June 2017):
I decided to completely drain both the buds + case just to check the charge times. Here are the results based on charging through a MacBook Air USB port. As you can see, the charging speed of the buds is really fast.
Charging Case (100%) - 1h 25min
AirPods (80%) - 15min
AirPods (100%) - 22min

Putting all these figures in perspective and considering just the buds at full charge, the playback on the AirPods last above the average. They come up short against Bragi The Headphone (6 hours) but easily edge the feature-filled Samsung Gear IconX (1.5 hours) and Erato Apollo 7 (3 hours).

Overall
The Apple AirPods are a great pair of truly wireless earbuds to own. They are really comfortable to wear and sound drop offs that some truly wireless in-ears unfortunately have are not experienced in these buds. Now noise isolation may be non-existent and options are limited for Android users but if you are a user of Apple products, the AirPods is certainly a convenient, reliable and stylish option for consideration.

Apple AirPods and Truly wireless earbuds compared

In a subsequent part, we will look at a comparison between some of the best truly wireless earbuds in the market. We will look at some of them within the same price range such as the Apple AirPods, Samsung Gear IconX and Bragi The Headphone.

Stay tuned!