audiosplitz

CES 2018 - Sony's 2nd Gen True Wireless Earphones

January 10, 2018

To kick off the 2018 with a bang, the yearly Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas always plays host to some really interesting gadgets. Sony usually makes it a point to stamp its mark with some great tech. They duly obliged by showcasing quite a few audio products, but we choose to focus on just this - the Sony WF-SP700N true wireless earphones.

Type - Truly Wireless Buds
Price - TBC

Sony WF-SP700N

Sony is starting to get into the groove with the launch of its 2nd generation pair of true wireless earphones.

What's Special?

1. In its category, they claim these are the first in the world to offer the noise-canceling and splash-proof (IPX4) functionality. Can't disagree with this.

2. Google Assistant - Sony says they are planning to bring this compatibility to these buds and given the prevalence of AI-driven products, this certainly adds to its value when giving voice commands on the move.

3. Ambient Sound - This mode allows external sound in to blend with music playback. Definitely a useful feature should you want to jog safely with nearby traffic.

Other Specs
Battery life - 3 hours
Weight - 7.6g each
Weight (Charging Case) - 45g
Accessories -

Charging case
charging cable (micro-USB)
4 x Silcon earbuds
2 x Arc supporters

Significance
All the big players are now established in the truly wireless arena. What does the future hold? With Apple, Google, Amazon determined to fight it out in the voice assistant domain, manufacturers of true wireless earbuds will likely head toward implementing these in their products within the next year.

Pricing and Availability
These buds will be available in Asia-Pacific from Q2 2018. Pricing is to be confirmed.
4 colors will be available - black, pink, yellow and white.

If you liked what you read, do feel free to support us by buying from Amazon through this affiliate link.

Update (8 May 2018)
The Sony WF-SP700N will be available in Singapore at Sony Stores from 24 May 2018 for SGD 299. When you purchase a unit, you will get a free Fitbit Flex 2, in the form of a redemption letter.

Amazon Alexa

2018 Smart Speaker Roundup

December 11, 2017

As 2017 comes to a close, it's important to look back at what defined the year in music hardware. Speakers and headphones have evolved considerably to a level where app support is practically the norm. True wireless earphones hit the mainstream.

Beyond that, 2017 was all about digital assistant-powered devices such as smart speakers. It kickstarted in May at the Google I/O conference where they announced the expansion of the Google Assistant ecosystem and capabilities. Apple soon followed with the HomePod smart speaker announcement at their WWDC event in June. If not already clear, the next frontier for the big tech companies would be in artificial intelligence and digital assistants. The only question is which would emerge victorious or would there somehow be a convergence of digital/voice assistants in the future? We'll leave that question for another time while we check out the smart speakers that hit the markets this year and pave the way for 2018.

1. Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)

Voice Assistant - Alexa
Launched - Oct 2017
Price - USD 99.99
What's the deal? -
It ups the ante on the 1st gen with a new speaker, with Dolby processing, and new design. It fits very well in the living room as it doesn't look as industrial as its predecessor.

2. Amazon Echo Dot

Voice Assistant - Alexa
Launched - Oct 2016
Price - USD 49.99
What's the deal? -
A very compact alternative to the Amazon Echo, with all the capability of Alexa at your disposal. It connects through a 3.5mm audio cable or Bluetooth. At half the price of the Amazon Echo, this is a great option to an entry-level smart speaker.

3. Apple HomePod

Voice Assistant - Siri
Launched - June 2017. To sell in Early 2018.
Price - USD 349
What's the deal? -
Apple's first big speaker since the discontinued iPod Hi-Fi. To make the deal sweeter, make them look more compact, add Siri voice assistant and presto, you get the Apple HomePod. Would've sold like hotcakes if they'd come out by X'mas. Likely will sell like hotcakes once they are out in 2018, anyway.

4. Google Home Mini

Voice Assistant - Google Assistant
Launched - Oct 2017
Price - USD 49
What's the deal? - No prizes for guessing who its competitor is. The Google Home Mini is about the size of the Echo Dot, has a similar price tag and looks pretty darn good. Only drawback is the lack of a 3.5mm jack.

5. Harman Kardon Invoke

Voice Assistant - Microsoft Cortana
Launched - Oct 2017
Price - USD 199
What's the deal? -
It looks very much like an Echo, or Bose SoundLink Revolve, but is the very first to feature Microsoft Cortana digital assistant. The speakers, unlike the Home or the Echo, are more powerful and hence sound that much better.

6. Sonos One

Voice Assistant - Alexa
Launched - Oct 2017
Price - USD 199 / SGD 329
What's the deal? -
If you've noticed, Oct 2017 was a popular month for smart speaker launches. Likely one of the best sounding smart speakers in the whole selection, the Sonos One differentiates itself from the Sonos Play:1 by the integration of Alexa. Like the other speakers in the Sonos ecosystem, they run only on the Wi-Fi network.

Bose

Bose SoundSport Free - First Take

November 17, 2017

Remember the Bose SoundSport Wireless from 2016? Now, cut away those cables to leave you with just the buds.

Presenting the SoundSport Free, Bose's first entry to the truly wireless arena. Launched in late Sep 2017, the entry of the Apple AirPods and the Jaybird Run transition this product category from niche to now, fully mainstream.

Type - Truly Wireless Buds
Price - USD 250 / SGD 319

Read - Advent of Truly Wireless Earbuds

The Lowdown
1. Truly Wireless Hits Mainstream
Bose hits the shops just weeks after the B&O Beoplay E8. Bose on the other hand is representative of the mainstream so it is significant that they hit the market alongside Apple and Samsung.

2. Splash Resistant
An IPX4 rating implies the ability to be used in wet weather conditions. Although the marketing says it's 'water' resistant, you might want to ensure they are not immersed in water.

3. Comfort
The comfort of the StayHear+ buds was tested with the QuietControl 30 and the QuietComfort 20. What can be said is they fit really snugly and we don't see this being any different on the SoundSport Free.

4. Battery Life
The buds hold 5 hours of power, a very decent number when compared to Bragi The Headphone's 6 hours, B&O Beoplay E8's 4 hours and the Samsung Gear IconX's 1.5 hours. It takes 2 hours in the case for the buds to hit full power and the case provides two full additional charges.

Significance
Bose offers a product that consumers will likely love. These are not the most technologically advanced true wireless buds in the market if you consider that others have a transparency mode, full water resistance, touch controls and inbuilt memory. However, they look great and get around to getting the job done - great audio with a Bluetooth connection.

Price & Availability
Three colors (Black, Midnight Blue and Bright Orange) have been launched mid-September 2017 in the US at USD 250. We're checking on availability in Singapore.

Update (12 Feb 2018):
The SoundSport Free hits the shops in Singapore at SGD 319.

Headphones

V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless - Review

October 16, 2017

For the uninitiated, V-MODA is an Italian manufacturer of high end audio products since 2004. I confess I am one of the uninitiated. While I'd checked out the original model back in Sep 2015, this is the first V-MODA product I'm testing so I was relishing a chance to give these a go.

Their latest offering, the Crossfade 2 Wireless (SGD 559) is their second generation over-ears wireless headphones. What sets this apart from the crowd are its 3D printed shields that customize its looks. Let's dive into a full review to see what this offers.

Pros (+): Good sound quality; Comfortable, Solid exoskeleton case, Customizable 3D printed shields.
Cons (-): No app support.

Unboxing
There are 3 colors available - Matte Black, Matte White and Rose Gold, of which we were provided the third option for the review.

To open the package, you've to snip a maroon piece of ribbon, unlatch the top and then you pop open the top lid.

The packaging contents reveal:

V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones
Audio cable (3.5mm to 3.5mm)
Charging cable (micro-USB)
Carrying pouch
1/4 Pro Adapter
User guides

Design
These are huge headphones (309g), as what you'd expect from a pair of over-ears. They are incredibly comfortable once parked on the ears with ovalish earpads. One feature that is a marked improvement from its predecessor is its highly flexible headphone design - its hinges allow it to be conveniently folded inward and the headband can be adjusted to your comfort level.

The exoskeleton case is really solid and looks like something from an Alien movie. Beyond that, it's highly functional - it allows the headphones to be stored in a compacted manner, has straps to park cables and comes with a carabiner cable on the outside to hang someplace of your convenience.

Features
You can connect up to 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously and I had no problems linking up my smartphone. You just have to hold the power switch for 3 seconds downward and Bluetooth prompting will initiate.

You can play music either wirelessly or using the wired cable provided. With the audio cable, you can have an in-line remote that has a single button for playing or skipping tracks. The cable plugs to the headphones through a straight 3.5mm jack and to your device through an L-shaped 3.5mm jack.

Now, there are 3D printed shields that can be added (purchased separately online) that make these a more attractive proposition. There are some defaults that can be selected (Monograms, Vectory, Victory, Logo, Sculpture, Studs) and then you have the option to customize color and styling. You can find out more here.

One thing that can be improved is app support. In this day and age, there are many manufacturers that invest significantly in this area. This could be an opportunity that V-MODA could look into to future-proof its products.

Performance
Interestingly, only the Rose Gold variant supports the aptX codec, that promises high quality sound (the other 2 variants don't). A sample of The Eagles' epic Hotel California (Live) provided a glimpse of clear vocals with an emphasis on bass, which was reinforced when listening to Oasis' room-shaking The Shock Of The Lightning.

V-MODA claims 14+ hours of playback, a figure that is well average when considering the Bose QC35 (20 hours including ANC) or the Sony MDR-1ABT (28 hours). Of course, when you plug the audio cable in, you have access to limitless music enjoyment.

Overall
The V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless is a highly recommended selection in the over-ears category of headphones. While it may lag behind its peers in terms of technological advancement, it looks stylish and its sound quality is pleasantly warm with great clarity. If you need a classic pair, it's well worth the dough you'd fork out.

Where To Buy
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