As I continue on my quest to find the “perfect” wireless earbuds for “me”, I jump at every opportunity to review whatever earbuds come my way. The Optoma BE Free5 earbuds seem interesting, so with much anticipation, here we go:

What is it?

The Optoma BE Free5 wireless earbuds are a pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds that can be used for both listening to music and receiving and making phone calls.

What’s in the box

1 x BE Free5 Wireless Earbuds
1 x Charging Case
3 x Pairs Ear Wings in three sizes
3 x Pairs Ear Tips in three sizes
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The Optoma BE Free5 wireless earbuds are designed with grapheme audio drivers with AAC Bluetooth codec support for both Apple and Android Oreo. They feature mic noise canceling, a charging case that can charge the earbuds 4 times on one charge for close to 16 hours of listening time, an IPX5 rating for water resistance, and on and off and touch controls for phone and music functions, and for Siri and Google Assistant. They also include 3 sizes of Ear Wings and Ear Tips for the perfect fit and comfort, and they remain in your ears while exercising and moving around during normal daily activities.

All of the control functions are handled via the surface of the earbuds.
When you first use the earbuds, you press the right earbud surface and hold it down until it flashes red and blue, and this puts it into pairing mode.

Once paired, the next time you use the earbuds, you power on the earbuds by pressing the right earbud for 2 seconds. It then engages the Bluetooth connection, and it is confirmed by voice command. Pressing either earbud for 2 seconds turns them on individually as well, and pressing either one for 4 seconds turns them both off. They can also be turned off by placing them in the charging case. When placed in the charging case, the LEDs on each earbud light up orange when charging. On the outside on the front of the case, there are 2 LEDs. The one on the left Lights up orange when the case is less than 25% charged and white when it is greater than 25% charged. The LED on the right lights up orange when the case is charging and white when it is fully charged.

When in playing mode, touching and holding the left earbud for 2 seconds lowers the volume, and touching and holding the right earbud for 2 seconds raises the volume. Pressing either the left or right earbud once controls play and pause. Pressing the left earbud twice, forwards to the next track and pressing the right earbud once answers and hangs up calls. Pressing the right earbud twice activates the mic for Siri and Google Assistant, and once the mic is active, pressing the right earbud once will mute the mic. If that all sounds confusing, it is, and it takes some time to remember the controls and to get used to them.

At the back of the charging case, there is a micro USB port for charging the internal battery of the case.

Performance

These earbuds perform quite well in most categories. The sound is very good and clear, and the Lows, Mids and Highs all sound present and bright. However, I did encounter a few issues that knock the performance rating down a bit:

1: While on phone calls, I could hear the person on the other side of the call quite clearly, by everyone I tested with said that I sounded as if I had my hand over my mouth and that they could tell that I was using a device.

2: While not very frequent, the earbuds either both lost the Bluetooth connection, or sometimes one side would drop out and then come back while the music continued to play in the other ear.

3: Several times, when I placed the earbuds in the case and assumed as per how most wireless earbuds work, that they disconnected from the phone, they did not. I would miss calls and then after checking to see why I did not hear the phone, I would discover that the Bluetooth was still connected and I would have to go into the phone settings and disconnect. The other way to avoid this is to power off the earbuds before placing them in the charging case.

4: Since there are no individual buttons for functions, touching anywhere on the surface of the earbuds, activates some function. This is a bit annoying for me when placing them in my ears or adjusting them, since touching them on the surface is the only comfortable way of handling them.

What I like

I like how nicely these earbuds fit in my ears, and that that stay put even during rigorous activities. I also really like the style, the sound, and the range of the volume. I like that they would last quite a long time on each charge, and I like the convenience of access to Siri which worked quite well on my iPhone.

What can be improved

• The Bluetooth connectivity
• The phone call clarity for both parties on the call.

Final thoughts

The Optoma BE Free5 wireless earbuds are quite promising, and with a few adjustments could be one of the better earbuds that I have tested. I know that each person is different and that the things that I find as both positive and negative may not be the same for others. I do like how they sound, and I love that they are completely wireless and fit my ears nicely, with the included options for comfort. I will continue to use them and likely submit an update in the weeks or months to come. Regardless, for $99 they are a decent deal, and in my opinion, buyers should give them a try.

Price: $99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Optoma.

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Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth earbuds

Optoma BE Free5 wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 29, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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As my search continues for the perfect wireless earbuds for “me”, I was happy to review another contender. Here we go:

What is it?

The SOUL Electronics truly wireless earphones – the X-Shock Earbuds are a pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds for listening to music and other audio from any audio device with Bluetooth capability. These earbuds also handle mobile phone call functions.

What’s in the box?

1 x Pair of X-Shock Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
1 x Charging Case
4 x Booklets (Instructions, Warranty, Quick Start, Additional Info.)
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Carabiner
1 x Storage Pouch
2 x Pair Exchangeable Ear Tips

Design and features

The X-Shock earbuds are a pair of white earbuds with clear accents that cover the blue and white LED indicators. They are lightweight and well built. The white charging case feels well built and “expensive’ in your hands, and the magnetic clasp that closes the case works without issue. On the side of the case there is a loop, that allows you to connect the carabiner so that for your convenience, you can hang the case from your belt loop or any such type of place. The charging case measures approximately 3 1/2 ” x 2 1/2″ x 1″, and with the cover open, on the front from left to right, there are 4 LEDs that indicate the charge level as well as the charging progress, an output USB port for charging other devices, and an input micro USB port for charging the case.

The X-Shock earbuds come with 2 pairs of white translucent Ear Tips.

Specifications

Bluetooth Version: 5.0, Range: 10 meters
Full charge: 1.5 hours
Playtime approx.: 3.8 hours x 16
Standby Time: 200 hours
Charging Case Capacity: 3000mAh

Performance

As with any wireless earbuds, you first receive them, you should charge them fully. Once they are charged, when you first take the X-Shock earbuds out of their charging case, they automatically go into pairing mode and show up in the Bluetooth selections on your phone.

These earbuds perform very well. The lows, mids, and highs are very well balanced and the maximum volume is more than adequate while never overwhelming. The earbuds only come with 2 pairs of Ear Tips, and neither pair proved to be a good fit for me. They were not big enough to provide the necessary seal, and when I first tried them, I was very disappointed until I realized the issue. Since I have tested several other earbuds, I was able to “borrow” a pair of larger Ear Tips (black) that were provided with another pair, and they worked perfectly with these X-Shock earbuds.
After that, my experience was just great. There have been very few Bluetooth disconnects, and whenever they occur, it is always in a known high interference area. Here are the operational functions of the earbuds:

Master Earbud: Left earbud
End Call: Press once on the left earbud
Refuse Call: Press twice on the left earbud
Redial Call: Press three times on left earbud
Answer Call: Press once on the left earbud
Turn on/ off: Hold for 6 seconds on either earbud
Siri/ Google Assistant: Hold one second on left earbud to turn on/off
Forward call: Double press on left or right earbud
Play or Pause: Press once on left or right earbud

I always seem to encounter quality issues when I use wireless Bluetooth headsets or earbuds for phone calls. the party on the other end of the call always knows that I am using a device. While the call was very clear on my end and clear enough on the other end, I still had the same issue. I am beginning to suspect that this issue may somehow have something to do with me rather than the devices

Nevertheless, my main and most frequent use is always for music, and these earbuds excel in that area. What puts these earbuds “over the top”, is that after I first charged the case, I used these earbuds for 90 minutes daily for 5 days each week, and after one month the case still is more than 50% charged. The case battery seems to last forever.

What I like

I absolutely love the sound, fit and feel of these earbuds, and how well they function is just about every area. I really like the design of the charging case, and the ability to use its internal battery to charge other devices via its USB port. I also like that they automatically go into pairing more once removed from their charging case. Of course, I must mention the case battery that seems to keep the earbuds charged forever

What can be improved

These earbuds should come with more than just 2 sizes of Ear Tips so that there are more options for the best fit.
Also, when charging the case, the cover has to be left open to accommodate the charging cable.

Final thoughts

I absolutely love these X-Shock earbuds, They sound great and function very well. They are reliable and the design and style are great. As I always say, the perception of sound and sound quality is subjective, and there is no one type or size, or style for all. However, I feel very comfortable recommending these.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Soul Electronics Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Soul Electronics

The post SOUL Electronics X-Shock wireless earbuds review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth earbuds

SOUL Electronics X-Shock wireless earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 28, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Six months ago, I reviewed some wireless earbuds that are one of the more unique available—the Nuheara IQbuds intelligent truly wireless earbuds. With simple smartphone app adjustments, you can control how much outside noise you want to hear—a safer choice when walking on a city street—or how much of the outside world you want to tune out so you can retreat to your happy place. They’re pretty cool! However, these original IQbuds are a “one-hearing-fits-all” earbud. Their effectiveness is independent of how bad—or good—your hearing is. That’s changed with the new IQbuds with BOOST technology featuring Ear ID—software that will test your hearing and automatically adjust the wireless earbuds specifically to your unique hearing profile. It’s nothing short of amazing.

What is it?

The Nuheara IQbuds are truly wireless earbuds that have no wires—they are two completely separate earphones/buds that let you determine how much or how little of the outside world you hear while wearing.

Specs

EARBUDS

• Dimensions: .8 in x 1 in x .6 in
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth: 4.2
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, HFP, HSP, AVRCP, aptX, aptX Low latency
• Near Field Magnetic induction(NFMI): 10.579MHz
• Microphone: Digital MEMS (2 per earbud)
• Speaker: High Fidelity Balanced Armature
• Battery: 120mAH (per earbud)
• Discharge Time: 8 hrs audio streaming / 12 hrs hearing processing
• Weight: .3 oz (per earbud)
• Ear Tips: 8 pairs silicone reusable, 3 pairs Comply memory foam
• Recommended operating environment: Storage: temp 68-86° F, Charging: temp <113° F Operation: temp <140° F
• Water resistance: “Sweat/rain resistant. Internal circuits coated with NanoProof water protection, which is rated at IPX7.”
• Streaming: Low latency streaming for TV audio

CHARGE CASE

• Dimensions: 3.8 in x 1.8 in x 1.3 in
• Charge Capacity: 5v
• Battery: 1140mAH
• Weight: 2.5 oz

Design and features

It’s interesting comparing both versions of the IQbuds. The all-black (and more expensive) BOOST version looks more business-like than the original’s fancier black w/bright silver design. Yet, behind that stealthy, black exterior, there is some genius stuff going on.

The IQbuds BOOST have everything the original IQbuds have and more. Nuheara claims that their Ear ID system is a “clinically validated audiometric hearing assessment that calibrates the IQbuds to give you a better hearing experience.” I am not an audiologist, but for this review, I am taking Nuheara at their word. 

Note that in late 2017, the Senate passed a bill allowing people to purchase hearing aids without a doctor’s prescription. The old law required consumers to buy hearing aids only through certified audiologists, which drove up prices. This new law allows products such as the IQbuds with BOOST to be available to everyone with no prescription required.

During the initial BOOST setup, I did the hearing test using Nuheara’s redesigned (and much friendlier looking) free app (iOS and Android). The test was done in a quiet room and took about 15 minutes. As the iPhone’s screenshot of Ear ID chart shows, I have moderate hearing loss, especially in the higher frequencies—no surprise at my age. However, I am surprised that my hearing isn’t as bad as I had originally thought.

Important: Despite the new law, the hearing test in the app does not replace a professional test for people with severe hearing loss. It is designed to help customize the IQbuds for someone who may have trouble distinguishing voices in a crowded place (like me) or suffer from minor hearing loss. 

Inside the app, there are many settings that help fine-tune the IQbuds.  When “World” is turned on, many sounds are accentuated. Move the dial more to understanding speech with less world noise and vocals suddenly sound like they are pushed forward—almost like the person is closer than they really are. In normal conversation, I am constantly asking my wife to repeat herself because I can’t understand what she is saying (I will not make a joke here). These buds really do help with what I hear and more importantly—understand. That’s where the magic lies with the IQbuds BOOST. Comprehension is dramatically improved.

Let me say right now that the hearing test only helps with hearing and understanding the outside world around you. The Ear ID customization has no auditory effect on music or anything else you listen to from a Bluetooth source.  When paired with a smartphone for example, the IQbuds BOOST work like any other earphone—with the exception of dialing in how much of the outside world you let in. If the “World” setting is completely off, the IQbuds active noise canceling isolate quite well. They are great for removing yourself from the noise of commuting, the drone of an airplane engine or even the background din of an office. With “World” on, it’s a whole ‘nother worl … well, you get the picture.

So how do the IQbuds sound when only listening to music? Quite well, actually. The single balanced armature speaker is—ironically—the same speaker design used in hearing aids—as well as many earphones made for music. Frequencies across the range are balanced and warm, meaning bass is slightly boosted. This is a good thing since armature speakers can sound sterile if not tweaked a bit. I have no issues using the IQbuds exclusively for music listening—they work great. Also, the Bluetooth signal is strong. I didn’t experience any dropouts.

The IQbuds with BOOST are touch sensitive to various, customizable commands which is done in the app. I have mine set up so that one tap on the right bud will either let noise in (World on) or block it out (World 0ff). A female voice alerts you what function your tap performed. It can’t get any easier. Settings can be adjusted for various things to happen depending on a single or double tap or even resting the finger on a left or right bud. Apple Siri or Google can also be called upon if desired (I left that setting turned off). There are many different tap choices, depending on which bud you’ve customized. 

In my review of the original IQbuds, I said “Comfort for me is an issue with the IQbuds. While they aren’t uncomfortable, I can use them for up to two hours and then some ear pain creeps in.” That hasn’t changed, even though the IQbuds with BOOST are 1mm smaller in length, but otherwise, identical. There are many sized ear tips supplied—both round and oval shaped. Again, YMMV.

A notable improvement over the original IQbuds is water resistance. The internal circuits have been coated with what’s called NanoProof water protection—and has earned the IQbuds with BOOST an IPX7 rating. This is important, especially for those who exercise and sweat. However, I wouldn’t go swimming with them.

The IQbuds with BOOST have the same hearing presets as the originals: Workout, Street, Home, Office, Restaurant, Driving and Plane. And they can be adjusted within the app.

The case is identical to the original IQbuds. It will charge the buds 2-3 times before needing to be recharged itself. Red and green lights inform you how much charge is left in the case and buds.

What I like

Understanding conversation in any noisy situation can help someone feel less isolated by being able to join in any discussion without asking people to repeat themselves or misinterpreting what’s been said. The IQbuds with BOOST can be a huge aid in helping people gain confidence in social situations—or even just hearing the TV more clearly.

What needs to be improved

Long-term comfort is still an issue (at least for my ears).

Final Thoughts

The IQbuds with BOOST are expensive—but when compared to the price of custom hearing aids, they look like a bargain. Are the BOOST advantages with built-in Ear ID worth the extra $200 over the price of the original IQbuds? That’s a hard question to answer. It’s not like you can test both in your local BestBuy or smartphone store and then decide. You have to rely on the Nuheara website and read many reviews (never base a buying decision on only one review—even this one) to make an informed decision.

If you have minor issues with hearing and clarity, you may be satisfied with the regular IQbuds. However, if hearing and understanding conversation in crowded situations bothers you to distraction, the additional BOOST tech and hearing app should help even more.

Price: $499 US
Where to buy: Nuheara
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Nuheara.

The post Nuheara IQbuds intelligent truly wireless earbuds with BOOST review appeared first on The Gadgeteer.

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Tagged: Bluetooth earbuds

Nuheara IQbuds intelligent truly wireless earbuds with BOOST review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 22, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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I am a fan of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, and these types of earbuds have been the focus of my search to find the best fit for me. When I first got the chance to review the Jabra Elite 65e Wireless headset, initially I was not very interested because the design included a wire from earbud to earbud. However, I decided to give them a chance. Here is how things worked out.

What is it?

The Jabra Elite 65e headset is a wireless Active Noise Cancelling headset that provides access and functionality for music listening and cell phone functions via Bluetooth.

What’s in the box

1 x Jabra Elite 65E Headset
3 x Pairs of EarGels
3 x Pairs of EarWings
1 x Micro USB Charging cable
1 x Storage Pouch
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The Jabra Elite 65E headset is designed as 2 earbuds that are connected by a wire that incorporates all of the controls and the charging option. The middle of the wire is built thicker and of a rubber material, and forms the neckband that when worn properly, rests around your neck. The included pairs of EarGels and EarWings come in 3 different sizes and can be easily interchanged for the best fit.

When worn correctly around your neck, the left side of the neckband contains 2 controls and a LED. The top round button pictured below is the Active Noice Cancellation/HearThrough Button. Holding this button down for 2 seconds will toggle this feature on or off.

The microphone symbol button below is used to activate Siri or Google Now, and to mute and unmute the microphone. In addition, when the headset is on, holding down the microphone button for 5 seconds will toggle the voice guidance on or off.

On the right side of the headset neckband, there are 3 buttons as pictured below. The button in the center of the 3 buttons, is the Multi-function button. When you first use the headset, you have to hold this button down for 3 seconds to turn on the headset and to put it in pairing mode. From there, the pairing process is the same as any other Bluetooth device. Once the headset is paired, the Multi-function button handles the following for calls and music:
– Hold down for 1 second to turn on the headphones
– Hold down for 3 seconds to turn off the headphones
– When listening to music, pressing this button will pause or play music
– When using the phone, this button will answer or end the call
– Double pressing this button will reject a call

The Multi-function button also handles multiple calls:
– Press to end a current call and answer an incoming call
– Hold down for 1 second to put the current call on hold and answer an incoming call
– Hold down for 1 second to switch between an active call and a call on hold
– Double-tap to reject an incoming call when you are already on a call

The + and – buttons control the following functions:
– Use the + or – button to adjust the volume when listening to music or on a call
– When using a Smartphone/Tablet and listening to music, press the + or – button for 1 second to skip a track forward or backward.
– When not listening to music or when not on a call, press the + or – button to hear the battery status.

Above the buttons, there is a status LED that indicates battery level for full, medium, low and very low, and pairing mode and resetting.

On the right side cable between the neckband and the earbud, there is a microphone in the middle.

As a part of the earbud section of the headset, each earbud has a magnet built-in. The magnets allow you to attach the 2 earbuds together when wearing them for added security, cable management, and power management. If you connect the earbuds together via the magnets while listening to music or on a call, the music will be paused or the call will be ended. If you are receiving a call, separating the earbuds will answer the call.

The thick part of the neckband that sits around your neck includes the charging port, and it also vibrates when powered on or off, when the headset connects to your Smartphone or computer, etc., and when there is an incoming call.

Performance

Although I am a big fan of completely wireless earbuds and not a big fan of the neckband, I must say that I LOVE this Jabra headset. It remains charged for quite a long time and recharges quickly. However, those features are just the tip of the iceberg. When placed around my neck, the headset fits so well that I forget that it is there. The fit of the earbuds in my ears is comfortable and secure, and I can wear them for a long time. The buttons function well, and the voice commands are clear and make sense. In terms of the sound, the lows, mids, and highs are well balanced and just sound great, and there is a built-in volume limiter that limits how loud they get. At first, I was a bit annoyed about the limiting, but the volume is more than adequate, and this feature will likely preserve my hearing. Phone calls are clear on both ends, and the Bluetooth connection is very reliable with very few disconnects. The accompanying Jabra Sound+ App is a nice feature, and the ability to equalize your music especially when switching genres is nice. I listen to Contemporary Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Easy Listening, some “borderline” classical music, etc.

Jabra Sound+ App

The Jabra Sound+ App allows you to customize your music along with handling other functions. You can manage the Automatic Noise Cancellation/HearThrough, enable or disable vibration, manage voice prompts, equalize your sound, as well as register your headset for the 2-year warranty and get any firmware updates. The pictures below show some of the available screens and choices.

What I Like

I love the quality of the build of this headset, the built-in features and functionality, and the fit and finish. Holding them in my hand just gives the feel of a quality product. The sound reproduction is pretty darn good, and they are really comfortable to wear.

What can be improved

I do think that while this headset is well built, the magnets that hold the earbuds together could be a bit stronger. I am not sure how that would affect performance, but they do constantly separate while I am wearing them, and on a couple of occasions, the headset fell from around my neck after the magnets separated.

Final thoughts

In a market that is saturated with wireless earbuds of every shape and size and gimmick, the Jabra Elite 65e headset stands out as a quality product in just about every way. It is well built, produces well-balanced sound and most of all remain reliable use after use. If anything changes, I will be sure to write an update, but in the meantime and until I find earbuds that can do better, this headset holds on to the #1 position in my growing collection.

Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Jabra and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Jabra.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth earbuds

Jabra Elite 65e headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 19, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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