Freedom from wires: TOP 5 Bluetooth headphones

The model with the Pro prefix has become an improved version of the wireless headset Samsung Level U Wireless . It is still made in the form of a kind of rocker or bagel, which is put on the user's neck, but at the same time it is not subject to the childhood sores of its predecessor.

Both bowls received magnetized cases — by fastening them together, you can pause playback or reject an incoming call. In addition, the magnetic mount serves for ease of wearing. In-ear headphones are held tightly enough, and three types of complete ear pads of different sizes will help you choose the most comfortable option for your own ear geometry.

Samsung has taken care of protecting the headphone case from splashes and sweat, but it's still not worth letting them get wet in the rain. As for ergonomics, everything is fine here — the keys on the right horn with a logical arrangement for the convenience of blind control are responsible for switching tracks and adjusting the volume . But with a place for the slider to turn on the headset, they lost — it is very difficult to find it on the inside of the back of the case.

In terms of sound, Samsung Level U Pro Wireless is a strong middling. It is possible to enjoy soft and voluminous sound thanks to the support of the UHD Audio codec, which provides wireless audio transmission in 96 kHz/24 bit resolution via Bluetooth connection. But note that on a noisy street or in the subway, the volume reserve for comfortable listening to tracks may not be enough.

To configure the headset and connect it to a smartphone, you need to install the Samsung Level branded application on the latter. Under the Sound Alive icon, it hides a six-band equalizer and sliders for adjusting the timbre for low, high and medium frequencies. Well, since the model combines the functions of a headset, it would be useful to mention its microphone — complaints from interlocutors about the quality of sound transmission almost never arise.

 

Powerful bass, NFC, Apt-X support, long-term battery life, convenient operation.

 

 

Large size, the appearance of creaks of plastic elements of the case is possible.

 

First of all, Sony's product attracts fans thanks to its powerful bass — headphones are part of the Extra Bass product line, which support bass amplification technology and their deep sound over the entire low frequency range.

The wide bowls of the model fit snugly to the ears, and soft ear pads made of leatherette completely cover them, providing wonderful sound insulation. Extraneous sounds will get through to the auricle, except when traveling in the subway.

With prolonged continuous listening to musical compositions, the owner of the headphones may begin to experience some discomfort, because the large size of the model affects the convenience of its long-term wearing. Another unpleasant moment may be associated with the appearance of creaks of plastic elements of the case, which, however, is not found in all copies.

Given the focus of the Sony MDR-XB650BT, it is recommended to use the headset to listen to modern electronic music recorded using a computer. Headphones also reproduce other musical genres quite well, but somewhat in their own way, but jazz will not sound on them. Owners of Android smartphones will also appreciate the model's support for the Apt-X codec, which allows you to feel all the charm of sound thanks to high-quality audio transmission via Bluetooth connection.

According to the manufacturer's assurances, the battery life of the headphones is about 30 hours. In fact, this figure is confirmed — in most cases, the built-in battery will have to be charged less than once a week.

 

Clear sound, touch control, water protection, secure fit.

 

 

There are no significant disadvantages.

 

The wireless headset from the "daughter" of the famous Harman/Kardon company is positioned as a solution for sports. The model is attached to the neck by means of a frame with flexible arches, which repeats the natural bend of this part of the body. The headset does not interfere with exercising or running, and the headphones themselves do not fall out of the ears.

On the body of each earphone there was a place for a small touch panel, with which the switching of tracks, pausing playback, as well as answering calls and ending a conversation is controlled. The command to action depends on the duration of the contact of the finger with the touch panel and the specific side of the touch. So, the right earphone can block touch control and rewind tracks to the beginning or one track back, and the left one can activate voice commands, pause playback, rewind it one track forward or answer an incoming call.

With a fairly modest diameter of the radiator (8.6 mm) the deep fit of the headset into the ear canal allows you to feel completely immersed in your favorite music with a clean and pleasant sound, complemented by distinct upper frequencies and deep bass . The sounds of the surrounding world practically do not disturb the ear, therefore, when jogging in the morning or evening on the street, it is advisable not to wind up the volume of tracks to the maximum in order to control the situation around you.

Incoming voice calls, as mentioned above, can be accepted without taking your smartphone out of your pocket. There is no need to blame the audibility of the interlocutor's voice and the quality of sound transmission in his direction. Also, there is no need to worry about frequent charging of the audio accessory, which plays music on one tank of the built-in battery for 10 hours in a row, and about the failure of the model when exposed to sweat or rain, from which it is protected by a moisture-proof design.

 

Balanced sound, touch control, NFC, removable cable, leather and metal construction, elegant design with three colour options.

 

 

Insufficient noise insulation due to design features, delayed response to touch control.

 

The Bluetooth version of the popular premium headphones from the Harman/Kardon audio brand was announced to the public in 2015 in addition to the wired model Harman Kardon Soho . The design of the headphones uses chromium-plated steel and elegant leather in three colour options: white, brown and black.

The model is part of the family of open overhead headphones, so you should not expect complete sound insulation from it — when listening to music, the sounds of the surrounding world will seep into the ear of the headset owner to a small extent. However, this will not prevent from fully enjoying a balanced sound in the entire frequency range (from 20 Hz to 20 kHz), capable of meeting the requirements of avid audiophiles .

The bowls of the headphones are made in a square form factor, which refers the model to the stylists from past generations. Instead of fabric ear pads, non-removable leather pads with holes cut into them are used. A touch panel is built into the right bowl of the headphones, which allows you to switch tracks, adjust the volume and control the playback of audio files with a single touch on its surface. In order to avoid accidental triggering, it can be blocked by a circular motion of the finger. It takes a little time to get used to touch control, because there is a slight delay in the reaction to touch, which is why at first the finger tries to repeat the command. There is also a "trick" in the design of the left bowl — an NFC is hidden in its depths for quick connection of the headset with Android smartphones.

The built-in battery provides 10-12 hours of battery life of the headphones. Well, if the battery does sit down at the most inopportune moment, a wired connection will help to continue listening to music — the delivery package for these purposes provides for the presence of cables with a chic fabric braid to match the general style of a specific colour of the model. At the end of enjoying your favorite tracks, the headset can be folded and hidden in a convenient soft carrying case, which will also protect the leather elements from damage.

 

Excellent sound, effective noise reduction, touch control, presence sensor, functional application for smartphones and smartwatches, leather and metal in construction, spectacular design.

 

 

No touch control lock, high cost.

 

The third generation of headphones of the Zik series turned out to be truly high-tech, because the most progressive developments of the French company Parrot were used in it.

The headset assumes at once three ways to connect to audio playback sources: wireless according to the Bluetooth standard, wired using a 3.5mm mini-jack or by attaching a USB cable to the right bowl. By the way, all the connectors and controls are located just the same on the right earphone. It also has a built-in presence sensor that allows you to automatically stop playing music when removing the headset from your head. Only a removable battery can be found on the left side of the product.

The outer side of the right bowl is occupied by a touch panel, which makes it possible to control the processes of volume control, navigation through the playlist and incoming calls by moving a finger. You should be careful with it only if you listen to tracks lying on a pillow — the absence of blocking touch input can accidentally activate an unnecessary command.

A separate microphone in the design of the model is responsible for the effective functioning of the active noise reduction system. The intensity of the noise generator is regulated in the Parrot Zik proprietary application, which also has a built-in equalizer and a whole range of different audio settings to be able to twist the most amazing sound. In addition to the traditional compatibility with smartphones, there is a version of the application under Apple Watch.

It's not a sin to mention the spectacular appearance of Parrot Zik 3.0. An elegant combination of metal and leather will distinguish the owner of headphones from any crowd. The headset sits quite tightly on the head, without squeezing anything and without causing inconvenience during prolonged wear. The whole thing costs a lot of money, but is this factor able to influence the choice of a true connoisseur of grace and high-quality sound?