Wireless Headphones

BeatsX

The BeatsX is a bluetooth wireless headphone released by Beats by Dre or known as Beats Electronics today. The BeatsX also has Apple’s new customized low-power Bluetooth chip, the W1, which is als0 included for the AirPods and PowerBeats3 Wireless. Best thing is, it supports automatic pairing with Apple devices updated with the latest versions of its operating systems. Some examples are IOS 10, MacOS Sierra and WatchOS 3.

Among the other Beats models, the BeatsX is the best model as it was the first to be designed by Apple and other engineering teams. Another thing, the BeatsX is the only one capable to charge using a lightning cable.

The BeatsX is rocking that neckband-style wireless headphones that became so popular with the Tone headsets released by LG. There is something better about this compared to other neckband headphones and that is BeatsX including a Flex-Form cable. It has two wires which are extremely malleable, sturdy and lightweight. Why the company decided to do this is because they want you to anchor both sides of the wires equally.

Photo credits: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beats-Dr-Dre-BeatsX-Earphones-Black/dp/B01LW9IKX7

These lightweight buds are also magnetized too. The only down side to it is that people with smaller necks may find that the cords are a little too long for them. Given that this earpiece is Bluetooth, people doubt their audio and voice quality but that is not an issue for the BeatsX. The headphones carries up to 8 hours of battery life, which is decent, but for some it may not be that appealing. The advantage is that, a five minute charge via its lightning port does give a usage of two hours.

In my opinion, I would get these headphones as it is much more convenient compared to wired headphones. Even though, the headphones might be a little too expensive for some people, but it is worth buying it as it has an improved microphone and charging ports. The price of the BeatsX is starting at $150 and is also cheaper compared to other models.

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless

The V-Moda crossfade 2 Wireless has a really good design considering its many joints and modifiable parts, making it suitable for anyone no matter their head size or shape. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has an amazing battery life, which can last up to roughly 13 hours of continuous use with a reasonable recharge time of 2.5 hours (2 hours 30 minutes).

Its battery has a power of 430 mAh which is pretty impressive especially for a headphone. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has a width of 5.8 inches, depth of 3.3 inches, height of 7.8 inches, and a weight of 0.309 kilograms (309 grams). One of the best features of this headphone is that its bass is accompanied with a sub-bass of great quality. Also, this headphone has a really detailed and clear bass, thanks to its predecessor. Its General Bluetooth profiles are : Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Headset Profile (HSP)

The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has a sensitivity of -42 decibels (microphone) and a sensitivity of 107 decibels (headphones). Its impedance is 32 Ohm and its frequency response is 5 Hz. This new model is really well built, feels very sturdy, and has a highly bendable “Steelflex” headband that conforms to your head nicely. But it is heavy. Also, the headphone is nicely balanced and sounds relatively open for a closed-back headphone.

The headphones fold up to fit into the smartly designed carrying case which is provided upon purchase of this headphone. Overall, this headphone is really good, with an exception of its hefty price ($300+) and its heavy weight.

Jabra Elite Active 65t

The Apple’s Airpods have dominated the truly wireless headphone category since their arrival in late 2016, but Jabra’s Elite 65t ($170, £150 or AU$300) and Elite Active 65t ($190, £170 or AU$350) are among a handful of truly wireless models that are compelling alternatives. The Jabra Elite Active 65t also have advantage in their performance compared to Apple’s Airpods as they include a more secure fit and better noise isolation.

Comparing the Jabra Elite Active 65t to the other wireless headphone, the Jabra Elite Active 65t have a more refined, comfortable design, improved sound, slightly better battery life, excellent call quality and voice support for all major virtual assistants, including Amazon’s Alexa on-the-go. With voice support in the Jabra Elit Active 65t, it can be very convenient for you to ask virtual assistance using your wireless headphones to help you out with anything you need. Example being you cooking and needing the best recipe for the dish you are preparing while listening to music with the Jabra Elite Active 65t, you can just simply ask for help using the voice support function in Jabra Elite Active 65t

The Jabra Elite Active 65t is identical to the Elite 65t but with a slightly grippier finish, with three feature upgrades: Added sweat-resistance with an IP56 rating (versus IP55 for the standard Elite 65t), a built-in accelerometer and a quick charge feature that allows you to get 1.5 hours of juice from a 15-minute charge in the included charging case. That charging case is also coated with the same, faintly rubberized finish you’ll find on the buds.

They also removed a built in heart-rate monitor as compared to the Elite 65t, but that is actually a good thing. Why? Removing that features allows the Jabra Elite Active 65t to last longer, from 4.5 hours to 5 hours. The Jabra Elite Active 65t unfortunately has an additional two charges for the charging case which to me is a bummer. Overall the Jabra Elite Active 65t has mostly nailed the design this time round. The earphones come with three different sized eartips and while there are no wings or fins to hold the buds in place, they are still able to stay secure in your ears.

In my opinions, if you do not have a budget for wireless headphones, the Jabra Elite Active 65t is for you. But if you do, i would recommend you to not purchase this wireless headphone as there are still lots of other wireless headphones outside which are cheaper than the Active 65t if you are not looking for quality products.