audiosplitz

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless - A First Look

July 12, 2015

Bose QuietComfort 25 - Premium Experience

July 05, 2015

Also known as the Bose QC 25, this pair of closed-back noise cancelling headphones comes hot on the heels of its predecessor, the QC 15. Generally, there are 4 models - an Apple iOS-compatible unit available in September 2014, the Android friendly version launched in March 2015 along with black and white color variants. We will review the black Apple friendly version. And oh yes - before we kick things off, a big thank you to Atlas for providing a unit for testing.

Design
The entire experience of unboxing the SGD 529 (SGD 499 for a limited time period) priced Bose QuietComfort 25 right up to its everyday usage is an undeniably premium one. The box comes in a shrink wrap with an opening on the top to accommodate a slot hang tab. Pulling out the interior box exposes a blue colored flap doubling as a setup guide. Flip this and a black cushioned layer up to unveil the carrying case. Zipping open the case will reveal the folded headphones, the accompanying cable and the airplane adapter / AAA battery fitted snugly into the bottom left.

The Bose QC 25 have an unassuming design that exudes class. They are very much different in terms of looks from the flashy Beats-styled headphones. The unit boasts a solid dual-hinge design at the cups that allows you to contort them for practical reasons such as safe keeping and angling to your facial contours for comfort.

Interestingly, if you want a larger variety of colors, this option is available on Bose's US site where you can use an online design tool to customize 9 parts of the headphones such as the ear cups and domes.

Features
Setting up the 196g headphones is a piece of cake. First, you take the AAA battery from the carrying case, open a tab on the right side and pop it in. The lengthy 140+ cm cable also needs to be plugged in so you just slot the straight end firmly into the base of the left side.

The headphones' unique selling point is the noise cancelling function. Upon triggering a switch on the right side, a green light will illuminate.

The QC 25 will function both when the noise cancelling is on and off. The only catch is that the sound quality is distinctly different in both modes. While it's turned off, the audio volume level is not as loud and ambient noises are far more apparent. When on, the sound is clearer, tighter and even the user guide mentions that this is the ideal 'for best quality audio'.

As per Apple remotes, the in-line remote lies on the left side. The actuation isn't as solid as one would expect but does the job as required when tested with an iPad Air. The 3 buttons deliver volume up, play/pause and volume down functionality respectively. In addition to iOS devices, they actually run pretty much the same way on iTunes using a MacBook Air I plugged the QC 25 to.

Performance
Comfort. That is the first word that came to mind upon trying the Bose headphones on my ears for the first time. When walking, the headphones snug fit allows one to enjoy the music without worrying they will fall off unceremoniously. Personally, I found them just a tad bulky when walking as I am more accustomed to on-ear headphones such as the Sennheiser PX 100 that are half the weight.

According to Bose's website, the total duration of the noise cancelling on an alkaline battery can be up to 35 hours. The indicator will start to flash when there's 7 hours left. At the very end of the battery life the noise cancelling will be intermittently switched off, a clear indication of the need to change the AAA.

When tested with trance anthems such as Funabashi's The Legacy, this is where the strength of the bass quality is made apparent. The thumping bass provides a resonance that is excitingly engaging. Vanessa Quinones' vocals on Dario G's Voices comes through well enough such that the balance between the bass and treble provide an altogether satisfyingly pleasant listening experience. And yes, this testing was performed when the noise cancelling is on.

Let's talk about noise cancelling. I did not have the chance to board a plane to test this function so I settled for the next best thing - sitting at the back of a fully loaded bus with a revving engine. It clocked 81 decibels according to a decibel reading app and at this level, I could hear the music very nicely with the excellent noise cancelling. Apart from the occasional interruption from high frequency noises such as motorcycles accelerating or bus alighting bells, the QC 25 is able to eliminate the low frequency sounds more than adequately. Even when tested on the MRT, the train acceleration was barely noticed. The only significant sounds heard were from "Doors Closing" and accompanying chimes at the station stops.

Overall
The Bose QC25 is a top notch choice for frequent travellers who want their own sound space without the engine roar of a bus or plane. While rather pricey, this is one of the rare products that truly summarizes everything succinctly and holds true to its name - QuietComfort.

Audio Sources
The Legacy (Stoneface & Terminal Remix) - Funabashi (Spotify 160kbps MP3) on iPad Air
Voices - Dario G with Vanessa Quinones (ALAC) on Samsung Galaxy S4

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Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless II

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Apple

Apple Music - Should Spotify users care?

June 19, 2015

Apple Music's launch at WWDC 2015 was the hot topic in the music scene last week. Should you care? Well, if you love music and Spotify is your cup of tea, damn right you should.

What's So Special?
Much has already been said online on what Apple Music is about. Let's summarize all that:

1. A streaming music platform.
From the makers of iTunes, it's not their first venture into cloud music (think iTunes Match) but this long overdue (and awaited) service is likely to cause a certain Swedish company a few sleepless nights.

2. 30 million songs.
Their iTunes legacy can continue with a massive database. Taylor Swift? From WWDC, that looked like a yes, but just today, it appears that she is saying no to the release of her current 1989 album on Apple Music.

3. Audio Quality
256kbps AAC. It's different from the 320kbps MP3 being offered by Spotify Premium but in terms of audio quality, it's best to give a blind test to both the AAC and the MP3 formats to see if there's a significant difference.

4. Apple Music Connect
Artists can share info on their material through lyrics, backstage photos. Fans can comment and if the artists find it worth their while, they can reply you too. In a nutshell, another potential social media platform.

Pricing
USD 9.99 for single membership.
USD 14.99 for family membership (up to six members). This is big advantage over Spotify. This translates to support for 5 more pax at just USD 5 more.

Availability
On 30 June in 100 countries. From then, users get a free 3 month trial after which membership fees apply.

The platforms initially supported are iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC.

Come Fall (Sep - Oct range), Apple TV and Android phones will be supported.

Apple Music vs Spotify comparison

What's the impact if I'm a:

- Spotify (Free) user
You are streaming at up to 160kbps MP3 music. There is not much reason to switch to Apple Music as you get somewhat limited features.
For example, you get access to:
1. Beats 1 Radio station and Apple Music radio stations.
2. Connect feature.

- Spotify (Premium) user
Will you only use one account? Not much impact. Will there be more people you know using the service? Yes? Then Apple Music's Family Membership will look mighty enticing, but let's see if Spotify will match or better Apple's offer.

You are already running 320kbps MP3 music so you may want to assess how different Apple Music's default 256kbps AAC music will be like.

Bluetooth

Bose SoundLink Mini II - A First Look

June 15, 2015

Just last week, Bose announced the launch of the SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker II, an update of its highly rated original. Marketed as a portable speaker with great sound quality, the first version was a resounding success worldwide. While we itch to lay our grubby hands on a unit for testing, here's a breakdown of the tech specs.

What's So Special?
Measuring 51 x 180 x 58 mm and weighing 1.5 lbs, this maintains the compact size and remains the smallest Bluetooth wireless speaker in Bose's range. It comes in Carbon and Pearl colors.

Here's a quick summary of improvements that the SoundLink Mini II boasts over the original:

1. Speakerphone function - It can now act as a speakerphone at the press of a button. Press again to let the music resume.

2. Longer battery life - The Mini II now generates 10 hours of playback instead of the previous 7 hours.

3. USB powered - Unlike the AC powered original, the new version now allows you to charge conveniently via a standard micro-USB port.

4. Multi-connect - You can play music on up to two devices at a time by pairing them up via Bluetooth. In addition, the 8 most recently used Bluetooth devices are stored in memory.

5. Easy pairing - The Mini II walks you through voice prompts to simplify the wireless Bluetooth pairing process.

Availability
The SoundLink Mini II is currently not available in Singapore. Customers can register their interest and will receive a notification when pre-orders will start (expected to be mid-June 2015).

Pricing
This will go for a cool SGD 329, an arguably decent price for a product of this quality. 5 colored soft covers are sold separately at SGD 39 each.

We await with bated breath how the Mini II will fare. Stay tuned for a product review.

Update (18 Sep 2016)
Here's the long awaited review of the Bose SoundLink Mini II. Why did we take so long to deliver? Read on.

Where To Buy
If you like what you have read, do feel free to support me by buying either the Carbon or Pearl variants from Amazon via this affiliate link. Prices start from USD 199.

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Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless II

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In-Ears

Sennheiser CX 5.00 - Classic Design

June 09, 2015

I was able to test out the CX 5.00G in-ear earphones, priced at SGD 139, thanks to the folks in Sennheiser. The version I laid my hands on was the Samsung Galaxy compatible pair (identifiable by the 'G' appended to the product name). The Apple iOS friendly units are labeled CX 5.00i and are similarly priced.

2 year warranty? Hell yea.

Design
The retail packaging measures a very compact 302 x 282 x 278mm. Opening the seal at the bottom allows you access to the inner foam packaging and the quick start guide. Pulling out the foam enclosure will reveal a compact and elegant white plastic casing housing the earphones proper. A total of 4 different sizes of ear tips come in the box.

A simple design that exudes class.

The CX 5.00 is a classy pair of earphones and has an aesthetic that can grow on you. The feel of the 1.2m elliptical cable is more premium than their usual thin cable offerings and a welcome variation from the (practically mainstream) flat type cables. On one end, you get a very solidly designed L-shaped 3.5mm jack and on the other, the ear pieces, adorned with a faux-chrome finishing, are rather nicely angled for your ears. When placed on your ears, the in-line remote sits on the right side of the Y-cord.

You can attach an additional set of earpieces and the L-shaped jack at the back of the enclosure.

Features
This is the first Sennheiser pair of Android-compatible in-ears I have tried without the annoying volume slider / dial and you know what? This is a great arrangement. The Sennheiser CX 5.00 earphones sport an in-line remote containing a microphone and 3 increasingly standard buttons for Android - volume up, Play/Pause and volume down respectively.

Playback and calls. We get the idea

During playback, tapping the Play/Pause button twice allows skipping of tracks which it delivers effectively. Taking calls and stopping them is done by a single press. The actuation of the buttons is quite satisfying and responds well to each press made.

Cable rustling is heard when walking but not too pronounced as the cable is rather lightweight. If the rustle annoys, you can get a separate clip to lock the cable down to your shirt.

A 3 button remote. Android lovers rejoice!

Performance
These are a really comfortable pair of in-ears. I have tried these on my ears for hours (walking, sitting) and I never felt the weight nor do they feel overly constricted in the ear.

The audio quality is better than the average run-of-the-mill earphones provided with your smartphones. As with most earphones, some time is needed to break in for a more optimized audio experience. After a few days of usage, a sampling of Utada Hikaru's Fight The Blues, produced clear vocals but fell a little short of my personal preference of a brighter and crisper sound. Fourplay's build up just before the minute mark of Bali Run is laden with an overdose of bass though somehow, the overall effect is that the sound is warm and competent.

Overall
The classy and comfortable design of these Sennheisers is a welcome change from prior models. Android users will welcome the integration of dedicated 3 button in-line remotes built for compatible phones such as the Samsung Galaxy range.

Package contents and USPs

Audio Sources:
Fight The Blues - Utada Hikaru (ALAC) on iPod nano gen 2
Bali Run - Fourplay (192kbps MP3) on Samsung Galaxy S4

Updated on 23 July:
Additional photos.