audiosplitz: News

Master & Dynamic MH40C1 Concrete Headphones

April 02, 2017

3 Things Learnt From Galaxy S8 AKG Earphones

March 23, 2017

As the Samsung Galaxy yearly launch approaches next week, the question on many minds is will the Galaxy S8 drop the 3.5mm jack like what Apple did with the iPhone 7? Well, according to a leak from Korean website, Giddlehd.com, it appears that Samsung has decided to keep the 3.5mm jack and bundle the S8 with AKG-branded earphones. These AKG in-ear earphones come with an in-line remote and a straight 3.5mm jack.

Update (24 Mar) - Included new shots from Techrum.

If this is indeed what will be bundled with the Samsung Galaxy S8, here are 3 things we learnt:

1. Quickly Leveraging on AKG Branding

Samsung announced the acquisition the Harman group for a (measly) US $8 billion in mid November and completed the takeover last week. This comprises of its (highly profitable) automotive tech, general audio and professional audio visual solutions lineups. AKG forms part of the general audio portfolio, alongside others like JBL and Harman Kardon. It is quite refreshing that Samsung is swiftly acting to introduce AKG to its existing ecosystem of products and including this audiophile branding with its flagship smartphone.

2. The 3.5mm Jack Is Not Dead

No it isn't. Despite Bluetooth headphones overtaking the wired variant in terms of sales in the US in July 2016, the reality is that many headphones are still wired and people will continue to use them. After all, there are a ton of audiophiles (and normal folks) that have bought wired headphones for a better sound experience before the rise of wireless. Why alienate them? If true, then it's good that the Korean chaebol has stuck to its guns and kept the 3.5mm jack.

3. Inspiration from Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Pro Headphones?

If you compare these AKG earphones to the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Pro Headphones, there are some similarities. Below the Y-connector, the AKGs appear to be using a braided cable, for a more tangle-free experience, below the Y-connector but right above that, silicon cable is used. The eartip mesh looks strangely familiar too. If you consider that Xiaomi delivered a really good pair for a darn good price, it makes sense that some design pointers were taken in to give a nice touch to the AKGs while keeping the overall Galaxy S8 bill of materials (BOM) cost reasonable.

Leaks aside, next week (29 Mar to be precise), we will find out together what audio gear the Galaxy S8 eventually comes with.

Update (30 Mar 2017)
The AKG earphones will be bundled in the Samsung Galaxy S8 box but can also be purchased separately at USD 99 from April 2017.

Bang & Olufsen

B&O BeoPlay H4 - First Look

February 12, 2017

Digital Marketing

2017 - Expectations For The Year

January 26, 2017

Kia Ora everyone!

Just two weeks back, I came back from one incredible journey - A 63 day visit to Aotearoa, or commonly known as New Zealand. Needless to say, it was an eventful trip where I got the chance to experience a whole different culture with my family.

While the journey was packed, we had the chance to visit different places and absorb each town's culture. We experienced everything from the Kaikoura Earthquake, a change in Prime Minister to the festivities of the New Year period.

With that, I am now back in Singapore, at the tail end of January but in time for Chinese New Year, and have decided to set some expectations for the upcoming year.

Number 1
I have decided to start a new blog called nzfamilytravel.blogspot.com to share the full experience with others while my mind is still fresh. In addition to the full breakdown of what we did during 63 days, I will go into accommodation reviews, the planning process, car rental selection, etc. Do feel free to visit should you be planning a road trip to New Zealand.

Number 2
audiosplitz.com will diversify to include digital marketing related articles. While I love music, I am equally passionate about search engine optimization (SEO) and web analytics. Basically, how / what people search when they are online and how it drives conversions. Audio hardware reviews and news will continue but there will be a reduction in the scope.

Now I'll give one reason why. Not two. I could but I won't. Just one. And I'll talk about it from the audio side of things :)

During my NZ trip, I listened to all the latest hits on the car radio like Clean Bandit's Rockabye and Charlie Puth's Dangerously and it was honestly quite refreshing. Shocking as it may come across, it is something I hadn't done in some time. My song selection when reviewing audio products somehow remained relatively constant in comparison to the songs being pushed out on radio each day. After all, when testing two or three headphones, you likely need a constant music source type as a basis to set a comparison. I realized that the very hard focus on headphone reviews needed to be spread out a little to broaden my perspective of things.

Basically, I am saying that diversification will be the focus for me this year. So it will be the creation of one new travel website nzfamilytravel.blogspot.com and the addition of digital marketing content to audiosplitz.com.

What are your expectations? Feel free to give me a buzz.

aptX

Klipsch Reference Over-Ear Bluetooth

January 23, 2017

Digital Marketing

Happy 2017!

December 31, 2016

Bang & Olufsen

B&O BeoPlay A2 Active - First Look

November 11, 2016

B&O launched the BeoPlay A2 Active on 3 Nov, marking the second dedicated portable speaker released in 2016 after the BeoPlay A1. As the direct successor of the BeoPlay A2 released in Oct 2014, let's give you the lowdown on what the A2 Active offers and the differences from its predecessor.

Update (10 Mar 2017) - Here's the review of the BeoPlay A2 Active

BeoPlay A2 Active (2016) vs BeoPlay A2 (2014) Comparison
While they look practically the same, the new BeoPlay A2 Active does boast a few subtle differences that improves on the original BeoPlay A2. Let's check out three of them.

1. Splash and Dust Resistant
This is of course why the A2 Active is called as such. It is built to be more rugged and the speaker should be able to weather the elements more effectively.

2. Charging connectivity
Previously, there was DC power input and a USB-A connector. Now, you can only charge the device using the new and more compact USB-C port that all the new Apple MacBook Pros come with.

3. Accessories
There was a leather strap on the original A2. To fit the A2 Active's positioning, there are now 2 canvas straps that are more durable (and fashionable according to B&O).

B&O BeoPlay A2 Active - What Else?
So what does B&O's new speaker continue to have?

It is of course still styled by B&O's usual industrial designer and collaborator, Cecilie Manz. The A2 Active maintains a 1.1kg profile and Bang & Olufsen's signature sound in a portable package. With the Beoplay app, you can adjust the sound profile to your preference and even pair two A2 Active speakers together to listen in full stereo mode. You still have a Line-In should you want to connect to your music device through a 3.5mm audio jack. And you get an astounding 24 hours of battery life with slightly less than 3 hours of charging.

Pricing and Availability
The BeoPlay A2 Active portable speaker goes for USD 399 / EUR 399 / SGD 549.

Natural and Stone Grey will be the 2 colors available from 3 Nov 2016. You can buy it from Amazon via this affiliate link. You can also visit the B&O Play online store or if you are in Singapore, you can visit Bang & Olufsen Grand Hyatt Showroom.

Update (10 Mar 2017) - Here's the review of the BeoPlay A2 Active

Bluetooth

Samsung 2016 New Level Audio Gear

November 06, 2016

1 Nov - Samsung announced 4 additions to their Level series of mobile audio accessories at a media launch held in Singapore at Elements & Co for the Samsung Gear S3 watch. To summarize the range of audio products, there are 3 in-ear earphones (2 wireless) and a portable speaker.

What's the Big Deal?
The Samsung Level range of audio products has been gradually growing over the past few years. With this launch, we can see the Korean chaebol is improving its Level range and is now offering very affordable active noise canceling (ANC) products for users. Let's check each of them out.

1. Level Active

Samsung Level Active

Category - Sports Wireless In-Ears
Price from - USD 69.99 (Amazon) / SGD 98 (Lazada.SG)
Colors - White / Black
Similar products - Jaybird Freedom Wireless / Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless

Samsung Level Active

The Level Active are Bluetooth buds that offer performance tracking by pressing a button on the right earbud to pull run time and distance data from the Level and S Health apps. There are customizable fit options where you can choose between earhooks and wingtips. Oh, and these buds have P2i nano-coating promising splash resistance.

2. Level Box Pro

Samsung Level Box Pro

Category - Speakers
Price from - SGD 198 (Lazada.SG)
Colors - Gold / Black
Similar products - Bose SoundLink Mini II / Beats Pill+

Samsung Level Box Pro

These are 20W Bluetooth speakers that measure 200 x 55 x 62 mm and last 9 hours on the trot. It supports what Samsung calls ultra-high quality (UHQ) audio and supposedly offers twice (512kbps) the sample rate of the SBC codec (328kbps) which overall, aims to promise a richer sound experience. Two can be paired via the Level app for a stereo listening.

3. Level In ANC

Samsung Level In ANC

Category - Wired Noise Canceling In-Ears
Price - SGD 78 (Lazada.SG)
Colors - White / Black
Similar products - Sony MDR-EX750NA / B&O BeoPlay H3 ANC

The Level In ANC stands out for two things - Active noise canceling (ANC) in an affordable package. We had reviewed a few ANC in-ear units in our Noise Canceling Immersion series of articles and can agree that at SGD 78, it is quite a steal.

4. Level U Pro ANC

Samsung Level U Pro ANC

Category - Wireless Noise Canceling Neckband
Price - USD 78.88 (Amazon) / SGD 148 (Lazada.SG)
Colors - White / Black
Similar products - Bose QuietControl 30

Samsung Level U Pro ANC

Neckband headphones are the hottest thing in the market along with truly wireless earbuds such as the Samsung Gear IconX. Samsung improves on its Level U Pro by adding active noise canceling. The earbuds can be magnetically linked to keep the buds tangle-free. When unclasped, they conveniently resume track playback or answer calls.

Availability
All 4 products are available at Samsung Official Store, Samsung Experience Stores, Lazada.SG and major consumer electronics stores in Singapore.

Bluetooth

Jaybird X3 Wireless - Review

November 01, 2016

Jaybird is no stranger to sports wireless earbuds. In this niche, it single handedly catapulted this category to the spotlight after being ranked one of the top 5 brands in the premium headphone segment. After their CES 2016 announcement, the hotly anticipated Jaybird X3 Wireless (USD 129.99) finally sees the light of day with a launch last week. For the record, these Bluetooth buds are the direct follow up to the successful X2. Let's check out how the Jaybird X3 fares.

Pros (+): Decent battery life; High ambient sound blockage; Intuitive voice prompts; App support.
Cons (-): Charging clip needed on your travels.

Design
There will be 4 colors available at launch - Blackout, Sparta, Alpha and Road Rash, of which the first 2 can now be pre-ordered on Jaybird's website. If you are more familiar with basic color schemes like myself, you can read them as black, white, dark green and red.

The case opens like a book to reveal a transparent blister on the right side, practically similar to the Jaybird Freedom Wireless F5's presentation.

Spilling out the packaging contents, you get:

Jaybird X3 Wireless buds
Charging Cable + Charge Clip
Comply Foam Isolation Tips (S / M / L)
Silicon Tips (S / M / L)
Silicon Ear Fins (S / M / L)
Cord Clips x 2
Shirt Clip
Carry Pouch
Quick Start Guide

Jaybird X3 Blackout - Packaging Contents

The Jaybird X3 Wireless is incredibly light at 13g like its predecessor. The earbud exterior looks more streamlined (read flatter) than the X2 while the in-line remote, styled after the Freedom Wireless F5, is now fatter but easier to grasp. There is actually a direct relation between the earbud and remote which you will find out as you read on.

Jaybird X3 Sparta - Over-the-ears mode

Like the X2, you can wear these buds in over-the-ears or under-the-ears mode. The cord is flat-styled, making it convenient to fit on the cord clips to tighten the cord around your head for the purpose of microphonics reduction.

The carry pouch is marked improvement over the X2. Like the Freedom F5's pouch, it is lightweight, more portable and comes with a squeezable clasp to keep its contents in.

Let's take a break and check out a video of how the X3 is used:

Features
The Jaybird X3 Wireless is sweat-proof. The marketing blitz talks about a 'double hydro-phobic nano coating super-tight seam'. We prefer to just try them out with a jog and after one run, so far so good. The unit still works as it should.

Pairing over Bluetooth (4.1) is a breeze. Just hold the center button until the LED flashes red/green, select 'Jaybird X3' from your mobile device (up to 2 are supported simultaneously) and you're connected. One useful feature - should you be jogging with a friend, 2 Jaybirds can be linked to a single music player so both of you can hear the same tracks together, of course provided both of you are within 10 meters of each other.

The voice and audio prompts are indeed handy. The voice assistant somehow no longer has a name (it was 'Jenna' previously) but you get necessary prompts when pairing is in progress or checking the battery life percentage.

The in-line remote lies on the right side for under-the-ears mode and is flipped to the right on over-the-ears mode. It contains controls to play / take calls, adjust the volume and skip tracks. The LED indicator, previously located on the X2 earbud, is now aligned with the buttons on the remote while the charging point are now 4 contact points on the back of the remote. A niggling point is the charging cable needs to be brought with you at all times as you need to clip the X3's remote onto the charge clip to initiate USB charging.

Jaybird X3 - Blackout

The Jaybird MySound app works on iOS 9+ / Android 4.4+ and currently supports both the Freedom Wireless and the X3 Wireless earbuds. Key features include customization of equalizer and sound setting selections used by Jaybird endorsed athletes. What was useful to me was the ability to see the battery life on Android that only iOS users had access previously. The ability to switch left and right audio channels is excellent when using over-the-ears mode.

Jaybird X3 - MySound app

Performance
While not available in Singapore just yet, I had a chance to try out the X3 Wireless from someone who just came back from the US (how lucky is that).

Sound quality from the 6mm drivers was surprisingly bassy. The past 2 Jaybirds I'd tried sparkled with treble but I felt some improvement in the lower frequencies when trying Armin Van Buuren and VanVelzen's Take Me Where I Wanna Go. Should you want to tweak the sound, the Jaybird MySound app allows you to tailor a custom sound profile that will stick with you even when using other music devices.

Regarding the fit, over-the-ears mode like the past 2 Jaybirds I tried was really snug. You can jump up and down and the buds stay inside while nicely wrapped around your head. In other words, great fit and close to zero cable rustle.

Interestingly, Jaybird provided Comply Foam Isolation tips instead of Sport tips like it did for the X2 and Freedom F5. Isolation tips (vs Sports) tend to deliver a higher level of noise isolation which more effectively blocks off ambient sound giving an immersive sound experience. I personally like Isolation tips more as you are kept in your own world while jogging, though a little bit more attention needs to be paid to your surroundings to ensure unintended accidents.

(To understand more on Comply Foam Isolation, Sport and Comfort tips, do read our guide on how to use Comply Foam.)

Comply Foam - Sport, Isolation and Comfort

The Jaybirds deliver an 8 hour battery life on a full charge of 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can get 1 hour of playback on a 20 minute charge. This is quite in line with sports wireless buds like the UA Headphones Wireless (8 hours) and the Jaybird X2 Wireless (8 hours).

Jaybird X3 Road Rash

Overall
The Jaybird X3 Wireless is a decent choice when choosing a pair of sports wireless buds. No doubt you'll need to bring the oh-so-tiny charging clip along on your travels but the X3 offers much from the customizable sound profile, good battery life and good ambient sound blockage. Do use these on over-the-ears mode and remember to swap the audio channels in the MySound app for optimal results.

Pricing and Availability
The Jaybird X3 Wireless is now available for pre-order from jaybirdsport.com at a price of USD 129.99. Their shipping date will be sometime in November.
Alternatively, they are also now available on Amazon at USD 129.99.

Update (3 May 2017)
The Jaybird X3 is now available as of today in Singapore for SGD 215.

Jaybird X3 Blackout

Apple Siri

Erato Apollo 7 True Wireless Earphones - Review

October 18, 2016

Initiated as a Kickstarter project in 2015, California-based Erato Audio developed the Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds. Truly wireless earbuds are 2016's flavor of the year, even more so with iPhone 7's removal of the earphone jack. It's all the more timely that the Erato Apollo 7 (SGD 499 / USD 299) now hits the markets in Singapore with its most recent launch on 8 Oct. Oh, and it did scoop the 2015 Red Dot Honorable Mention Award on the way.

Erato Apollo 7 True Wireless Earphones - Gold

Unboxing
There are 4 colors available - Pink, Silver, Gray and Gold, of which we were provided the 4th variant.

Credit - Erato

Sliding out the outer layer reveals a solid white box. The side gives an idea what to expect in the packaging.

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds box

Pop the top lid open for the Apollo 7 earbuds and the charging case.

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds - Gold

Lifting the bottom tab gives access the inner sanctum. Can't be too difficult to guess what lies beneath now, can it?

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds packaging

Spilling out the packaging contents reveals:

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds
Charging capsule
Silicon tips (S /M /L)
Comply Foam Isolation tips (T-600) (S /M /L)
Stabilizers (aka fins) (S/ M /L)
Charging cable
Quick Start Guide
User Manual

Design

The Apollo 7 buds are undeniably tiny. They each sport a single button and a circular contact point on the outer edge. Each Erato bud weighs an astonishing 4 grams, making these what they claim are the lightest truly wireless buds with an omnidirectional microphone. They compare favorably with the 3.5 gram Earin (without mic), the Samsung Gear IconX (6g) and Bragi Dash (7g).

The charging case allows the buds to be stored and charged simultaneously, similar to the Earin and Bragi Dash. There are 2 LEDs on the left side to indicate the charging status of the case from the micro-USB and of the earbuds respectively.

Features
Interestingly the Erato Apollo 7 has no app support and this breaks the trend of all the truly wireless buds we've looked at so far. While we check out the features and performance, we'll also assess whether the buds can hold up purely by hardware and firmware capability.

Breaking down the features:

1. Playback controls
There is a single button on each earbud and each side actually operates a different function. Here's how it works:

Hold - Power on
Longer hold - Pairing initiates
Single press - Play / Pause

Double press (right bud) - Volume up
Hold (right bud) - Next track
Double press (left bud) - Volume down
Hold (left bud) - Previous track

You notice I made a sub list under 'Single press'? Think that's a mistake? Well damn right it isn't! That's 'cos the functions in the sub list only work during music playback. With this, you really begin to appreciate how the buds work on their own without leveraging on an app.

2. Waterproofing
There is a nano-coating which supposedly provides a layer of waterproofing (not submerging we might add). Let's just say that throwing some water on the buds didn't affect its functional duties.

3. Bluetooth (4.1)
Let's start with the basics - usage. I held the right earbud button to power on, did the same for the left bud and presto, both sides were connected. Holding the either button will initiate pairing with your music device. Out of the truly wireless earbuds tested, the Erato gives an added level of control due to the physical button. Other earbuds are only able to initiate pairing by parking / removing the buds from the charging case.

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds - Bluetooth

4. Notifications
The sound / voice notifications are kept to a minimal, all the more surprising given there's no mobile app. However, voice prompts informing that power is on and pairing is in progress is welcome. With a button on each bud for actuating, there's no further sound prompts when playing or skipping tracks.

Performance
As usual, we'll do some tests on the sound quality, noise isolation and whether there are any sound drop offs. Stay tuned!

For starters, do read our article on the different types of Comply Foam and their effectiveness.

Update (Feb 2017)
The Apollo 7 uses micro-sized dynamic drivers. The result is that the sound quality has good bass emphasis while the higher frequencies were quite clear. This is excellent for R&B or EDM tracks. This sound profile can be tweaked since you have both silicon and Comply Foam tips. Comply tips tend to reduce the treble and increase the bass. Personally, I favoured using the Comply tips.

Noise isolation using the silicon tips is decent but if this is a priority to you, do use the Comply Foam instead. Sounds on the bus or train can be blocked significantly and you are able to listen to your music quite peacefully.

Overall
The Erato Apollo 7 is a rare breed of true wireless earphones that is able to function without app support. That said, it's clear that playback controls can be adjusted from the buds directly. Apart from the general aesthetic where the buds protrude from your ears, it's a good all round pair of true wireless buds.

Erato Apollo 7 true wireless earbuds - Charging Case

Where To Buy
If you like what you have read, feel free to support me by buying from Amazon (USD 299) or Lazada SG (SGD 499).

Credit to Erato and TC Acoustic for a review unit.