Training to music: TOP 5 wireless headphones for sports

In addition to good smartphones, the Chinese brand Meizu also produces good headphones. The EP51 definitely has something to attract sports fans to the music, so we couldn't ignore them.

The design of the model was a success. A bright coloured cable in 4 options to choose from, headphones with aluminium inserts, an ergonomic remote control, a very cool zippered case — everything is beautiful and convenient. The same Xiaomi Mi Sports Bluetooth Headset don't take off, forgive us brand fans. By the way, the headphones are magnetic, they can be hung around the neck, connected to each other, and they will not fall off, which is very convenient during sports.

But opinions about the convenience of landing in the ears of users are divided. Someone says that they hold EP51 very securely and do not fall out even when running, while someone does not recommend running in them. We put ourselves in the second category because, having tried all four pairs of ear pads, we could not ensure that the EP51 did not fall out of our ears while running. All the same, probably, it was possible to make them less cumbersome. However, for not very active sports, it’s just right, and, as we have already emphasized, the property is purely individual. Need to measure.

6 hours of talking and listening to music is a good indicator of battery life for a model weighing only 15 g. It’s enough for a couple of workouts, and then you can recharge, which takes an hour from the outlet and an hour and a half from the USB port.

We did not expect special miracles from the sound, so we did not have to be disappointed. Everything is flat, without frills. The claimed support for the aptX codec, it seems that it is present only on the box and in the instructions, although who knows, maybe without it everything would be even worse. But the volume of 88 dB is clearly not enough for some. So, you have to save yourself by a deeper fit of the driver in your ear.

With all the shortcomings of EP 51, the price of 35 – 40 USD compensates for many of them. Or maybe that's all.

Xiaomi is trying to firmly gain a foothold in high positions in the world of mobile gadgets, and it is gradually succeeding. 1More Active is a very good sports headset for only 60 USD.

Pleasant modern design, good ergonomics, behind-the- ear fastening for secure fixation during training, waterproof (IPX4) metal body from splashes, sweat and light rain — everything is done to last and pleases the eye.

Separately, it is necessary to highlight the advanced functionality of the remote control. With 3 buttons, you can perform a lot of operations, up to calling the last number. Sound notifications when turned on will notify you of the current battery level, and the indicator, changing from green to red, will warn you that it is time to charge the headset. It will take 2 hours to charge, despite the fact that in the 1More Active player mode they work up to 8 hours and this is a good indicator for such a compact model, weighing only 23 g.

Against the backdrop of a positive impression of the external characteristics, the sound was no less pleasantly surprised. The aptX codec and 14mm composite diaphragm drivers provided a dense and powerful enough sound that can satisfy even beginner music lovers.

1More Active are packaged in a nice box, equipped with a micro USB cable, 4 pairs of interchangeable ear pads and a soft zippered case. A great gift option that will delight for years to come.

Jabra is known for its quality wireless headsets, and the Sport Pace is no exception.

Everything in the headphones is made for maximum comfort in sports. They sit tightly in the ears, do not fly off, the arms are fixed firmly and reliably. The case received an IP54 protection level — not only from moisture, but also from dust, sand and even light mechanical stress, and the cable has a reflective ability. The main colour of the model is black, with a combination of green, red, yellow and blue to choose from. The design is understated but cute.

Headphones perform the function of not only a headset with the ability to simultaneously connect to two devices (Multipoint), but also a fitness tracker. Voice prompts in a female voice will tell you how many steps you took, how much time you spent on it, and even how many calories you burned while doing it. However for this functionality to work, you need to install the Jabra Sport Life and Jabra Service applications on your smartphone. The latter will inform you about the need for a software update and the remaining battery charge.

By the way, about the battery. Here is the time to remember the principle: "If it arrived somewhere, it means that it left somewhere." Sport Pace does not indulge in battery life, a maximum of 5 hours in active mode and a week in standby mode. Very limited.

The situation is similar with sound. No matter how hard they try to praise Pace for its good sound in video reviews, it is rather mediocre here. However, with a frequency range of 100 – 10,000 Hz, it could not be otherwise. The sound is flat as a board, and the bass effect is achieved only by excessive sound pressure when seated deep in the ear.

In general, if the Sport Pace were good in sound or cheaper ($ 110, after all), they would not have had a price. And so ... It's more like a headset and a fitness tracker than headphones for listening to music.

The JBL brand, which is part of the Harman concern, is rightfully considered the standard of portable sound, which is once again confirmed by the Reflect Mini BT headphones.

From a more solid model in all respects JBL Reflect Fit , the Reflect Mini BT are extremely lightweight and have a comfortable behind-the-ear fit. However you will need to choose the appropriate size of the ear pads. Sweat protection only. Does this mean that it is better not to use headphones in the rain, we did not dare to check. The reflective cable is useful in the dark, it really emits a glow depending on the colour of the model: lilac, blue, red and white. In the black version, the cable is light grey, so it shines with cold white.

With a more detailed acquaintance with the Reflect Mini BT, it turned out that the headphones do not magnetize to each other, so when worn around the neck, it is easy to lose them. In this regard, we recommend that when not in use, wear them in a case, fortunately, it is included in the kit.

As befits a flagship in portable audio, the Reflect Mini BT Wireless Headphones sound very good. Juicy, not too intrusive bass, transparent mids, not crumpled highs. Equalization can achieve quite a decent sound. For every taste and it pleases. In fairness, of course, it is worth saying that fans of hip-hop and pumping rhythm sections are unlikely to be satisfied, but let's realistically assess the possibilities. What else to expect from 6mm drivers?

In terms of battery life, the model also did not disappoint. 8 hours of active talk and music playback and only 2 hours on a full charge.

With such characteristics, paying more than 100 USD for the Reflect Mini BT does not seem critical. If only they were magnetic...

BlueBuds headphones have been officially recognized by the US Athletic Association as sports headphones. Model X became a pioneer in the line, after which the manufacturer released an improved JayBird X2 , which successfully took into account all the shortcomings.

Actually, as such, there are no shortcomings in BlueBuds X. Or rather, it wasn't. Considering that the model was produced in 2013, at that time it made a splash.

They sit in the ears very tightly and comfortably, three sets of ear cushions of different sizes allow you to choose the most comfortable fit, and removable mesh wings provide additional fixation. Ear pads, however, over time, begin to jump off the drivers, and can be lost. New orders are problematic, so you should be careful.

The 54 cm long wire can be shortened by hiding it in special clamps. I was a little amused by the case, which looks like a ladies' cosmetic bag. Too pretentious, but strong and pleasant to the touch. In the hand, thanks to the soft-touch plastic, it does not slip.

The headphones are claimed to be waterproof IPX5, which, in fact, is logical for a sports model, and as the manufacturer emphasizes, it will never let you down. Indeed, headphones can only be ruined by immersion in water, neither profuse sweating, nor exposure to rain are terrible for them.

Management is carried out from the remote control, three buttons. All actions for some reason have voice accompaniment. Over time, it gets boring, but, alas, you can’t disable the function.

The model pleases with good battery life, up to 8 hours in active mode. Originally implemented connector for charging. It is located not in the remote, as in most similar models, but in the case of the left earpiece. To get to the connector, you need to carefully pry off the cover from the outside. In general, frankly, not very convenient.

What really impressed me was the sound. He's really good. Juicy dense basses, voluminous scene. PureSound technology cuts off extraneous noise, which also has a positive effect on sound quality.

All in all, the BlueBuds X are great sports wireless earbuds, but they're not cheap at $170. Because made in USA.