Pioneer is a brand intrinsically linked to hi-fi and car audio systems, with developments in the portable audio product range. Their new product, the Pioneer Rayz Plus smart noise canceling earbuds marks an interesting proposition for Apple users. This is one of the few Lightning cabled audio devices which have a smart feature-set that differentiates from its peers. Here are our first impressions of the Rayz Plus.


Type - Smart Noise Canceling Wired Earbuds
Price - USD 59.99 / SGD 209

Read - Noise Canceling Immersion - A 3-Part Series

Target Users
Strictly iPhone / iPad users who want noise canceling earbuds with nifty smart features.

What's the Deal on These?

1. Smart Noise Canceling
The Pioneer Rayz Plus is marketed to adapt noise canceling to your ears through calibration via the smart button. It's interesting as others either have a on/off or different tiers of noise canceling levels but this is just a single button that adapts based on your environmental noise. If you choose to customize the smart button, you can fiddle with this by installing the Rayz app on App Store.  

2. Lightning Earphones
As a Lightning earphone, the plug has another purpose other than audio transmission from your iPhone / iPad. Other noise canceling earphones always have a battery pack hidden somewhere for purposes of powering the noise canceling feature. The Rayz Plus does not need this as the power is drawn directly from your iOS device. 

3. Smart Sensing
There's a few areas to cover here - 
One is when the buds are in your ears, the music plays. Once you lift them out, it autostops. Simple and practical. 
Second is when you make a call and you talk. Once you stop talking, the mic will auto mute.
Interestingly, there's a plethora of other options available when you install the Rayz app. We've just scratched the surface.

4. Talk and Charge 
The Rayz Plus offers an added feature over its sibling (called Rayz) - the ability to charge your iOS device through an integrated charging port located close to the Lightning port. You simply plug your Lightning charger to the port while the earphones are in use and boom, charging is in progress.

5. Voice Commands
The Rayz Plus is able support automatic voice recognition and hence 'Hey Siri' commands are available in the event the buttons on the in-line remote aren't able to fulfil your needs. 

Significance
In the wired space, innovations are being pushed and the Pioneer Rayz Plus is a good example of this. We've seen conventional noise canceling earphones but this pushes the boundaries with interesting features that make these stand apart from traditional options available.

Price & Availability
Three colors (Rose Gold, Graphite, Bronze) have been launched in February 2018 in Singapore at USD 59.99 / SGD 209.  

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.

Truly wireless buds made their entrance to the mainstream in 2016 to much fanfare thanks to offerings from big manufacturers (Apple, Samsung) and others that have established themselves in the niche (Bragi). It's an exciting space that has room for growth and Doppler Labs is a company that sees the potential in the hearables sector for bigger things than just the 'primitive' function of listening to music. 

We reviewed the Here Active Listening system, their first commercially available buds exactly a year back and now, Doppler Labs' has added music playback capability. After attending Here One's Singapore launch back in June, we bring you a full review! 

Read - 
Advent of Truly Wireless Earbuds
Here Active Listening System review

Type - Truly Wireless Earphones 
Price - USD 299 / SGD 459

Pros (+): Remarkably vibrant sound quality; Pass-through listening; Highly customizable audio features; Great fit.
Cons (-): Pairing may take a while to work; Battery life.

In The Box
The Here One truly wireless buds come in 2 color combinations - Black and White. For purposes of this review, we obtained the latter. 

The box is undoubtedly sturdy, something that you'd associate with a company that rhymes with 'Zappel'. Popping open the top gives you the charging case with the buds enclosed. Taking off this layer gives access to the rest of the accessories that are neatly presented. 

On taking out the packaging contents, we get:

• Here One Wireless Smart Earbuds
• Charging Case
• 3 x Silicon Buds (S / M / L)
• 3 x Foam Buds (S / M / L)
• Charging Cable (USB to micro-USB)
• Quick Start Guide and Safety Information

Design
The Here One buds weigh a reasonable 12g (for both), comparable to other truly wireless buds like the Samsung Gear IconX (12g), though are slightly heavier than the Apple AirPods (8g). The overall aesthetic is almost the same as its predecessor with exception of more contact points to link with the Charging Case. The outer edge is a touch panel that allows finger taps to actuate certain functions while the inner portion has five contact points that link to the case for charging purposes.

Charging Case:
The case measures a lengthy 98 x 36 x 29mm and when the buds are stored, it doubles as a charger. On the practical side, there are four LEDs within that indicate the battery life of the buds at any time. There's absolutely no worry that the case will spill the buds out when stashed in a bag as the magnetic clasp that shuts the case is incredibly strong. 

Features

Playback / Voice Commands:
While there may be no physical buttons on the Here One, you perform taps to the buds to activate certain features. A single touch takes calls or stops music playback (if already started) and allows ambient sound to pass-through. Now, this feature, while not entirely new, is interestingly one that triggered Doppler Labs to file a lawsuit against Bose. Either way, it works as it should and it's mighty useful. As for a double tap, it activates Apple Siri or Google Now depending on your smartphone, so you can give voice commands. 

Layered Listening / App Support:
This feature was what made the Here Active Listening System interesting. Once you install the app (compatible with iOS 9.0+ / Android 5.0+), you can tune environmental sound to your preference and then fuse it with your music. 

To give some examples, there's db adjustment, live EQ mixes and noise filters. For potential usage, you can listen to music while fully able to hear / block your surroundings, ideal for bus commuters that require a measure of safety when crossing roads while wanting to isolate noise while on a bus. If you want to amplify speech, just select this filter option and this will give increased focus on chatter directly in front which we found to be mighty useful in situations such as standing at a bus stop.

Pairing:
Doppler Labs' pairing of buds with smartphones did not appear to be extensively tested. I had some intermittent issues when trying them out with the Sony Xperia XA (running on Android 6.0) where I had to reinstall the app twice as it was stuck in the 'Connecting to buds' screen for quite a while. Once it works, you just need to open the app and Bluetooth activates once the prompt is acknowledged. 

Tip - Should there be problems when pairing, there's a tiny hole on the underside that allows a full reset of the buds. 

Performance

Sound Quality:
The improvement to its experimental predecessor, the Here Active Listening System, is clearly the addition of music playback. Putting it on its paces, the Here One's sound quality is remarkably vibrant, especially when using the silicon tips. A sample of Kygo & Selena Gomez's It Ain't Me gives a really good balancing act of the treble (the snapping alongside Selena's vocals) and especially when the bass from Kygo's wizardry kicks in. For slower tracks like Craig Armstrong & Elizabeth Fraser's This Love, the instrumentation and vocals sound completely natural. It's not overly bright nor muffled like you'd hear from other buds. If you are wondering about sound drop offs inherent in some truly wireless buds, there was no such problem here. 

Noise Isolation / Fit:
You have a choice of silicon tips and foam tips that come in the box. If it's noise isolation, use the foam tips (which pretty much function like Comply tips). If you want a good fit, both the types of tips insert snugly into your ear, though if you choose to jog, foam may add that added assurance. 

Charging:
A full charge of the Here One through the provided micro-USB cable will give 2 hours playback that is subpar when considering buds like Bragi The Headphone (6 hours) and Apple AirPods (5 hours) though slightly higher than the feature-packed Samsung Gear IconX (1.5 hours).  

On the flipside, a quick charge of 15 minutes promises a very decent 1 hour (50% of the full charge). The buds themselves are rated at 60mAh and if the power isn't enough to last your commute, the case has a rating of 560mAh which potentially gives 3 additional full charges once you plonk the buds in to charge. They'll emit a (soothing) pulsating orange light from the front when charging takes place. 

Overall
The Here One buds are remarkable in many ways. As a music playback device, it performs unexpectedly well and the ear fit is excellent. The one thing that could be improved is the consistency of the app pairing with the buds, but the layered listening feature set offered by the app provides a highly customizable listening experience that is highly unique.

The Future
The Here One highlights the potential of the hearables market and how it can evolve to cater to folks who want the flexibility to tune out certain noises to focus on other sounds like voices. That's where you see that Doppler Labs is not just an audio hardware company but one where innovation is part of its mantra. Should Doppler Labs venture into audiology, which it very well could based on the Here One feature set, perhaps future product iterations may even extend to provide the elderly an alternative hearing device for those in need. 


Credit to Doppler Labs and Leader Radio Technologies for an evaluation unit.

It appears B&O Play has decided to take noise canceling more seriously.

Mid-June saw the launch of B&O Play's latest product - the B&O Beoplay E4, a pair of noise canceling in-ears. It looks similar to the BeoPlay H3 ANC launched 2 years back but sports some significant upgrades. Let's have a closer look at the differences.

Type - Noise Canceling In-Ears
Price - USD 249 / EUR 249

What's The Big Deal?

1. Upgraded Active Noise Canceling (ANC)
B&O Play touts this as the next generation ANC with its hybrid ANC tech so it remains to be seen if it really holds up. We experienced decent noise canceling (though not at the mind-numbing level) from the H3 ANC where we pitted it in a shootout against the Bose QuietComfort 20 and Sony MDR-EX750NA. Expect the E4 to improve on this. 

Read - Noise Canceling Immersion - The Verdict

2. Transparency Mode
This mode allows users to stop the music and hear environmental sound instantly, a feature sorely missing from its predecessor. The toggle to turn on the ANC now doubles in activating the transparency mode. 

3. Streamlined Battery Pack
The H3 ANC's battery was a thick circular piece whereas the Beoplay E4 now steamlines this into a slimmer rectangular frame. However, there's no change to the battery life or behaviour. It still lasts for 20 hours with ANC activated and takes 2.5 hours to charge. 

4. What Else?
The in-line remote is now clad in a more sturdy anodized aluminum and features three clearly delineated playback buttons. The effective Comply Foam Isolation tips (T-200) will still be included, thankfully so. The Beoplay E4's cord is now a little shorter at 1.3m though the overall weight of the full cord is increased to 50g (from 40g). 

Pricing and Availability
The B&O Beoplay E4 is now available worldwide in Black at USD 249 / EUR 249. 
If you are in Singapore, it retails for SGD 379 and is sold at Bang & Olufsen Grand Hyatt and Takashimaya stores.

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.

Bose introduced a whole slew of portable wireless audio products in their June product launch. One of them is called the Bose QuietControl 30 or QC30 (USD 299.95 / SGD 529) and it hit the shops in North America in Nov 2016 and Singapore just this month. These are their first pair of neckband headphones, in a product category pioneered by the LG TONE series. We check out how these fare in a full review! 

Pros (+): Controllable active noise cancelation (ANC) levels; Good fit; Intuitive voice prompts; App support.
Cons (-): Not for jogging purposes; Non retractable cable.

Unboxing
The Bose QC30 currently comes only in a black color scheme. 

The new packaging identity seen on the Bose QC35 / Bose SoundSport Wireless is yet again seen for the QC30. Sliding off the outer cover, we pop open up the inner black box to get access to the neckband headphones. Here's what's in the goodie bag:

• Bose QuietControl 30 (QC30)
• Charging cable (micro-USB)
• StayHear+ buds (S / M / L)
• Carry case
• User Guides

Design
The Bose QuietControl 30 is approximately 28 grams (1 oz), and the neckband design does feel thicker than the LG TONE Active. The key advantage of neckband headphones is you can simply slink them around your neck and voila, you're good to go. The buds have a subtle 'Bose' logo right in the centre, surrounded by the microphone input holes for ANC noise measuring purposes. Do note that when you remove the tips from your ears, the cable will dangle downwards as they are not retractable.  

The circular carry case is gigantic but needs to be given the size of the QC 30. Within lies an inner pouch to conveniently place any eartips or charging cables.

Features
The in-line remote controls lie on the right cable. The layout is similar to Bose's other buds - a multifunction button (Play / Take calls) flanked with the volume buttons. Skipping tracks is still restricted to double (or triple) tapping the centre button though it would certainly have been more intuitive for users if they implemented holding the volume buttons to do the same.

Controllable Noise Cancelation:
While its predecessor, the QC20 had a single button to power the Ambient Sound mode by fully turning on and off sounds from your surroundings, the QC30 goes one better. The side of the remote features 2 buttons that handily allow you to fluctuate the magnitude of surrounding sounds at 12 different active noise cancelation (ANC) levels. What this means is you can listen to music and hear environmental sounds to suit your comfort or safety (like when crossing a road).

Pairing:
You can pair to your device through Bluetooth or NFC. To link via NFC, you need to activate Bluetooth on your player, power on the buds and press the remote (see the 'N') to the NFC touchpoint of your device. For Bluetooth pairing, hold the power button until the LED indicator flashes blue. Select 'Bose QuietControl 30' from your device to complete the pairing and the LED will give a white glow. The Bose can connect to up to 2 devices simultaneously. You can manage it by stopping music playback on one and then start music on the second.

App Support:
Voice controls were excellent on Bose's previous products and continue to be over here. You get information on the power level, pairing status and it supports up to 11 languages, configurable either by actuating buttons or via the Bose Connect app, that supports all portable audio devices starting from the AE2 SoundLink. You can adjust the product name, power down timing, voice prompt language (out of 11 options) and the most useful is the pairing management to other devices and quick ANC level adjustment. 



Update (21 Mar 2017)
In the latest firmware version (1.2.8), the Bose QC30 now supports Music Share through the Bose Connect app. This allows music to be streamed to two Bose headphones that use the app.


Performance
I would say that the ideal usage for these buds would be when you are traveling by air. I daresay that's where it is actually better than the similar Bose ANC products like the QC35 or the QC20. Why so? Well simply put, the QC35 are headphones so when you choose to rest your head on your seat, the earcups will be the point of contact and as for the QC20, these are wired in-ears so there's always the possibility of tugging them. The QC30 just lies around your neck (ie. no tug) and if you want to figure out what the stewardess is hounding you about, just lower the ANC level. 

Fit:
The very snug StayHear+ tips are the same as the ones used on the Bose QC 20 / SoundSport Wireless and they do not disappoint. Fitting them in the ears, they are gentle on the ears and yet aren't easy to dislodge. Leaving them for hours at a stretch wasn't a problem for me.


Noise Cancelation:
The active noise cancelation (ANC) is like what you'd expect from a Bose. By default, ANC is already activated. The QC20 was astoundingly good for a pair of in-ears and while I did not have them on hand for a mano-a-mano comparison, the QC30 is almost, if not just as, good as its wired predecessor when set at the highest ANC level. When walking, the microphonics is quite negligible and I could turn my head left and right without hearing any cable rustle. However, I would not recommend this for jogging purposes as the neckband will bob up and down. 


Sound Quality:
The sound quality is inclined toward the low frequencies, which to me is good especially when you are traveling ie. with high environmental noise. When listening to Sarah Brightman's Deliver Me (classical), you get relatively decent but never overly crisp vocals but the bass from the orchestration that emanates from these buds is mighty, not in a thumping manner but resoundingly inspiring. 


Battery Life:
According to the Bose website, there's up to 10 hours of power on a full charge that takes just under 3 hours. This is a relatively decent number that compares very favorably with the 9.5 hours from the LG TONE Active (which does not feature ANC) and the 6 hours of the Samsung Level U Pro ANC (with ANC activated).


Overall
With the QuietControl 30, Bose has made one very ideal noise-canceling pair of earphones to use on the airplane. For those used to the LG TONE, sure the cable is non retractable but Bose has done a great job in other areas. The QC30 juggles fit, battery life and app support  easily. And of course, the deal clincher is its ability to adjust the ANC intensity to your level of comfort.  


Where To Buy
The Bose QuietControl 30 can be purchased from bose.com (US - USD 299.95), bose.co.uk (UK - GBP 259.95) or atlas-sv.com (Singapore - SGD 529). 

Alternatively, if you liked this review, do feel free to support us by buying from  Amazon through this affiliate link. 

Credit to Bose, Atlas-SV for an evaluation unit. 

Credit - Bose