REVIEW – TaoTronics SoundSurge60 headphones have a comfortable design, Bluetooth connection and built-in microphone.

What is it?

These over-the-ear headphones come with noise-canceling capabilities and fold up nicely to fit inside their hard-shell carrying case. 

What’s in the box?

• Headphones 
• Carrying case  
• User guide 
• 3.5mm audio cable 
• Charging cable

Hardware specs

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 or 3.5 mm audio cable
• Playing time per full battery charge: 30 hours
• Charge time: 5 minutes for 2 hours of playing time
• Battery: 2 lithium metal batteries included
• Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.4 x 3.1 inches
• Item weight: 9.8 ounces
• Shipping weight: 1.15 pounds
• Model: TT-BH060
• ASIN: B07L5LPSQT

Design and features

Setup

Our headphones arrived charged and ready to use. 

Pairing them with Bluetooth was quick and easy, almost as simple as plugging in the audio cable (which also came with it). Of course, the nice part of the Bluetooth connection was that it made them wire-free, certainly a bonus for anyone using them for exercising or gaming.

The headband is adjustable and fits everyone in my family, from my husband who has a larger-than-average noggin to my 11-year-old. We agreed that the over-ear cushioning was very comfortable, even cushy enough to sleep with them on during a long airplane ride or road trip. 

The charging port is located on the left earpiece.

On the right earpiece are all of the other controls: The volume up/down toggle, the power button, the audio input jack and noise-canceling on/off switch.

Performance

The overall sound quality was pretty good. They weren’t as striking or awe-inspiring as higher-end models, but for this price point, the sound was good. There wasn’t any static, and music quality was clear and consistent.

Similarly, the microphone was embedded into the design, and it was clearer and easier to hear than just using a phone or computer mic when we tested it on a Facetime call.

You can flick the switch for noise-canceling, which glows blue to let you know it’s on.

Again, it wasn’t 100 percent perfect. My son could still hear road noise while we were driving, though it certainly softened the sound and kind of felt like you were in a tunnel. However, if he turned his music up, the road noise was effectively canceled out. 

Inside our house, it does a good job muffling but not completely eliminating household noises like the air conditioner, ceiling fan or water running. When my husband had music on, he couldn’t hear the ambient noise around him at all, but could still hear me clapping my hands behind him and our voices were audible but hushed. 

There is some residual noise if you are standing next to someone wearing these headphones, so if your tunes are cranked up, the folks around you will hear some of it. Take note if you’re planning to travel with these!

Besides that minor issue, the headphones are a good choice for travel, work or school because they’re good quality yet aren’t so pricey that losing them would cost you hundreds of dollars. 

Plus, they come with a zip-close, hardshell carrying case with a mesh compartment perfect for stashing your cords and chargers.

The battery life is amazing, which is another bonus for taking them on a road trip or even an overseas flight. We’ve been using the Surge 60 for weeks, among all four of my family members, and we’ve only had to recharge once. The website says these run for 30 hours per battery charge, and I believe it. They also say that 5 minutes of charging time gives you 2 hours of playing time, another great benefit for traveling, taking to class or work, or really for anyone who’s often on the go.

What I like

• Comfortable fit
• Long battery life
• Convenient, high quality carrying case

What I’d change

• More effective noise-proofing

Final thoughts

These are a solid pair of headphones, with decent noise-canceling and easy Bluetooth pairing.

Price: $69.99 ($5 off coupon available now on Amazon)
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by TaoTronics.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Headphones

TaoTronics SoundSurge 60 active noise cancelling headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 20, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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REVIEW – In the world of headphones, design can be as important as: 1. Sound; 2. Quality; and 3. Comfort. Many times it seems like you can have any two of them—just not all three. V-Moda is one headphone maker that disagrees with that. Their headphones—beginning with the original Crossfade to the latest wireless Crossfades—are designed like no other headphones with outstanding comfort and great sound. Except that V-moda doesn’t stop there, because if you want, they offer customization to make your headphones your headphones. They call this customization the V-Moda Over-ear Custom Shield Kit.

What is it?

The custom shield kit is an extra-cost service V-Moda offers to buyers of their Crossfade headphones. V-Moda’s headphones come with a metal plate on the ear cup exterior. These plates are removable and can be replaced with other colors, metals or customizable designs (what I’m reviewing). These designs can be printed, laser engraved or embossed. Artwork/designs can be either chosen from ready-made selections, personally made and uploaded by you or developed in conjunction with one of V-Moda’s own designers through their concierge service. Each one of these choices has its own pricing structure. These choices are so numerous that I won’t list all the prices in this review. However, to give you an idea, prices for the shields run from a basic color with no printing for $35 all the way up to solid platinum for $28,000—I kid you not! Ordering is done through V-Moda’s web site. Delivery takes anywhere from 2-20 days, depending on design and metal chosen.

Design and features

It’s hard to talk about design for the custom shields because it’s totally up to the buyer. I can only relate my own experience based on what I ordered, but it should give you an idea of the possibilities. 

Note that the custom shields are purchased separately and do not include the headphones. Also custom shields can be purchased later for those who already own a V-Moda Crossfade headphone. 

Since I am an art director by day, I decided to go with one of my own designs—my personal logo. V-Moda offered to print what I wanted, as long as it followed their basic guidelines and rules. Copyrighted art or design (Coca-Cola or Nike, for example) is not allowed. 

If you’re not an artist, V-Mode offers a good selection of designs to choose from. In fact, there are almost too many choices, which can be a bit overwhelming. Also, the multi-step process of making selections can be confusing because choices are dependent on whatever previous selection was made. 

The process is: After you choose your headphone (if you don’t already own one), you navigate to the Shield Kit page. From there you choose Type for the design you want and then choose: Color Printed, Laser Engraved or 3D Printed (embossed). After choosing Type, choose Design and then choose: Designs, Monograms or Upload Your Own (my choice). As I said, it can be confusing because the choices are almost limitless. It requires taking your time to get what you want—or close to it. Note that V-Moda’s FAQ section is a big help for answering any questions, especially if you’re uploading your own design. They even provide a useful downloadable template for sizing and placement of art.

For my design, I downloaded V-Moda’s template and used Adobe Illustrator. Accepted formats from most art apps are: JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP, .TIFF, .PSD, .PDF, .AI, .EPS, .SVG, .DOC(X), .CDR.

My logo is usually black/white, but since this process allows multi-color designs, I decided to test that out. After preparing the art, it was then uploaded. I received an emailed confirmation and all I had to do then was wait. It didn’t take long.

Just a few days later, the shields arrived in a bubble-wrapped envelope. Inside were the shields, a small allen (hex) screwdriver and a package of tiny screws. When ordered, you can also choose the color of screws. I went with plain black. All that needed to be done for each shield was removing the six screws that held the original shield and replace with the new design. This process is easy enough to do. Even though the screwdriver and screws are magnetic, the screws are tiny and can easily be dropped or misplaced, so paying attention is a good thing.

The printed shield is identical to the design I uploaded and color accuracy is spot-on. Interestingly, my design on the shield felt slightly embossed even though I did not request or pay for 3D printing. It gave the design a bit of welcomed depth. One caveat is that while one shield was printed perfectly, the other had small but noticeable bubbles in the paint. I’m okay with it, but I can see where some might want to return the defective shield for a re-print.

Once the new shields are screwed into place, that’s it! You now have your headphones.

What I like

V-Moda’s ready-made designs are almost limitless. Any custom design is only limited by your imagination—provided you’re budget allows. All tools are provided and moving and replacing the shields is easy.

What I’d change

There are so many choices and design directions, that unless you know what you want beforehand, the complete process from beginning to end can be daunting. 

Final Thoughts

Even though V-Moda’s headphones are unique looking out of the box, I like that they offer this service for those who aren’t satisfied with the stock design. Being able to upload custom designs, using a ready-made design or even using V-Moda’s help with designs are nice choices to have. Plus the price range can fit any budget—even for those with $28,000 to burn!

Price: $35 – $28,000 US
Where to buy: V-Moda
Source: The sample for this product was provided by V-Moda.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Headphones

V-Moda Over-ear Headphone Custom Shield Kit review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 9, 2019 at 1:46 pm.

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REVIEW – Let me first state something about this review: I don’t play computer games—period. I’ve never liked them and I think they are a waste of time. Now that that’s out of the way, this review is about a new gaming headphone—so why on earth am I reviewing it? Simple—the Audeze Mobius is one of the best-sounding headphones I’ve heard in recent memory. 

What is it?

The Audeze Mobius headphone is primarily designed for gaming, but excels with music as well. Due to some digital signal processing (DSP) magic called “Waves Nx head-tracking technology,” Audeze calls Mobius  “More than a headphone, it’s an experience.” That’s not hyperbole, folks.

Specs

• Style: Over-ear
• Planar transducer
• Ultra-thin diaphragm
• Neodymium magnet
• Audeze Cipher DSP
• Built-in balanced amplifier
• Frequency response: 10Hz – 50kHz
• Ear pads
• Contoured memory foam, faux leather ear pads
• Detachable microphone with separate volume control
• Lithium-polymer battery
• Bluetooth (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
• USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm analog audio
• Weight: 350g (including battery)

What’s in the box

• Mobius headphone
• Detachable boom mic
• USB-USB-C cord
• USB-C-USB-C cord
• 3.5 mm mini plug cord
• Soft pouch
• Downloadable app (Windows only)

Design and features

When does a headphone cease to be a headphone? Once you’ve heard Mobius, that won’t seem like a weird question. Let me explain. Audeze is known for its expensive to uber-expensive headphones—all planar magnetic speaker-based. Planar speakers are a different animal in headphone design and it’s only been in the last few years that this type of speaker has been shrunk to headphone (and also earphone) sizes. What is a planar magnetic speaker and why should you care?

Here’s an over-simplified, layman’s explanation (warning—nerdy, geek-talk ahead): Most headphones have what is called a dynamic cone. It looks and acts much like a traditional speaker. Dynamic speakers are made up of many parts that have to work in tandem to sound their best. Age and use can upset that balance over time. Planar technology was originally developed at NASA for space use. Audeze (and other headphone makers) have adapted this technology for audio use. Audeze’s planar speaker diaphragms are thinner than a human hair helping create accurate music reproduction. The diaphragms can help music sound more alive and make listening a more personal experience. Anytime music (and gaming sound effects) can sound more realistic, it’s a win for everyone.

Audeze uses planar technology in the new reasonably priced (for Audeze) Mobius headphone. But sound quality is only part of the picture, so to speak. Audeze has also incorporated surround-sound functionality into Mobius using Waves Nx technology. Waves is a separate company that is a developer of digital signal processing. DSP is used in countless movies, music and gaming. DSP helps make possible 3D audio by utilizing three technologies: Sound localization, head-tracking and room emulation.

Sound localization allows whatever you are hearing to remain fixed in space. For instance, when wearing headphones—as you turn your head, the sound moves with you, giving music an in-your-head feeling. With sound-location, whatever you hear stays in place, so as you turn your head to the right, a singer’s vocals will shift to your left ear—much like real life. Turn to the left and sound shifts to your right ear. Turn around and music sounds like it’s behind you. To say it’s eerie is an understatement. It sounds like you are in a room and not wearing headphones at all. 

Sound localization is made possible by the two other technologies mentioned earlier—head tracking and room emulation. Head-tracking measures the tiniest of head movements 1000 times-per-second. This is fed into some kind of algorithm making the location of sound possible. Room emulation is a tool that gives a sense of space and sound reflection and this is what makes the Mobius headphones so cool. 

Note: there is a customizable HQ application for Windows users. Since I’m a die-hard Apple fan-boy, I haven’t been able to try it out. Audeze promises a Mac version someday. I’ll believe it when I see it.

There’s a lot of other magical things going on, but this is already getting too technical, so I’ll stop. If you want to read more about this, you can click here and geek out.

All Mobius controls are built into the left ear cup. First, there’s a button that controls the 3D effect. There is an AUX port for the included removable microphone for gaming and phone calls. There’s a sliding on/off mic switch at the top of the ear cup. A USB-C port is for charging the internal battery and for 5.1 and 7.1 surround. An AUX port is for analog audio input. There are two volume wheels—one for the mic and one for general headphone volume. Both wheels can be pressed to perform different functions whether its play/pause or equalizer settings. These functions have a bit of a learning curve to use without looking. Lastly, there’s an on/off/pairing/take call button. 

When 3D is switched on (and it can be turned off), it’s kinda magical. Sure, it’s a gimmick, but who cares? Headphones sound a bit flat after listening to Mobius for a while. A long press on the 3D button will set either Manual, Auto or No 3D effect. A short press establishes the “Center’. What this means is that the center is facing front. In Manual mode, setting Center locks in what is directly in front of you. Auto will re-set Center when you stare in any specific direction for a few seconds. I learned quickly that Manual is the best setting—just set and forget.

Note that Mobius headphones will play true 5.1 and 7.1 surround but it is dependent on the source. In other words, Mobius has to be plugged into a 5.1 or 7.1 via USB to work. Of course, we are talking only two speakers inside Mobius, but the effect sounds real. You cannot hear 5.1 or 7.1 when wireless—however the emulated 3D effect is still pretty cool. 

After going on and on about how great the 3D aspect is, it’s the audio quality of Mobius headphones that’s most important. Audeze has a record of truly excellent-sounding headphones and they’ve incorporated much trickle-down tech into Mobius, making the planar magnetic speakers sound amazing. The ability of the planar diaphragm to recover from frequency transients allows music to sound crisp, detailed and more lively than any sloppier-sounding speaker could ever hope. 

This means that Mobius can handle any genre of music with ease. Even though Mobius is not designed to be heavy on bass, it’s still impactful and hard hitting when called for. That’s exactly how bass should be. The middle frequencies (where most vocals are) are a delight. Singers are intimate-sounding as if they are in the room—no doubt helped by the 3D effect. I appreciate that the high frequencies are not sibilant or harsh. There’s a balance to the audio that makes the Mobius headphones easy to listen to for hours.

Build quality is pretty good. I wouldn’t say Mobius headphone are the sturdiest phones I’ve reviewed. They are mostly plastic, so I would not overly twist them—although they can be spread a bit to make them looser-fitting on the head if desired. I would compare them to the feel of Bose or Sony headphones. The replaceable ear cups have a cushy memory foam that’s quite comfortable.

Mobius comes in two color choices: Audeze calls them Team Blue and Team Copper. Gotta love the gaming metaphor. However, my review version must be Team Non-descript Black, because it’s neither Copper or Blue—just black. Bummer.

Now that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Mobius headphones for music listening, will they make me rethink gaming? Not a chance.

What I like 

• The 3D effect is amazing
• Sound quality is amazing
• They’re such fun to use

What needs to be improved

• A bit less plastic would be welcome
• Expensive—but reasonable for Audeze
• Hard case not included

Final Thoughts

I know this review sounds a bit giddy at times, but it’s seldom that a piece of tech can end up being so much fun! Even with all of its 3D gimmicks, Audeze’s Mobius headphone is one terrific sounding headphone in its own right. But whoever said that great audio had to always sound so serious? 

Price: $399 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Audeze.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Headphones

Audeze Mobius 3D gaming headphone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 5, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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REVIEW – Noise-cancelling over-the-ear headphones are a great investment for this time of year. If you’re traveling, you’re probably needing the soothing envelope of your own sounds, whether it’s a podcast, an audiobook, music, or something calming like a neutral soundscape. Corded is fine, but if it’s wireless, so much the better. Cowin recently sent us a set of their E8 model Over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones, and I’ve been testing them. Come into my quiet place and let’s talk about them.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The Cowin E8’s are a very nice looking, well-built set of over-the-ear headphones. They arrive in a hardshell, form-fitting protective zippered case with all the cords, cables, and adapters you can imagine.

Hardware specs

• Impact-resistant materials
• Corrosion-resistant stainless steel headband spring
• Premium listening experience with Adaptive Noise Cancelling (ANC)
• 18 Month Warranty
• Cushions feature advanced venting and ergonomic pivoting
• Advanced mic system with HD Voice on calls

What’s in the box?

• Headphones
• Hard-shell travel case with net pocket for accessories
• USB charge cable for battery
• 1/8″ – 1/4″ adapter
• Proprietary audio cable to connect to AUX
• Airline audio adapter
• Velveteen drawstring bag for above adapters

Design and features

The Cowin E8’s are a premium-look and feel in the NC Headphone space. Leather earcups, nicely stitched headband and padding around the earcups, and a soft, springy mesh over the actual speakers inside, as well as firm, sure switches make every touch a positive experience. There is no creak, squeak, or groan when you bend and adjust the unit to your head. The wide steel band that slides into and out of the headband for adjustment is etched to give you a place to reset to, should you share them, or pack them away and the adjustment gets changed.

Like most over-the-ear headphones, the E-8’s fully cover your ears and seal against your head. This prevents much background noise from permeating your soundscape. But sometimes, say, in my office right now, there may be a machine running that is distracting. Like, say, a dehumidifier. Turning on noise-cancellation reduces this noise from a low roar to a slight whoosh. A tiny bit of background music or sounds will remove it entirely.

All controls for the Noise cancellation and the Bluetooth connection, as well as phone and playback controls, are on the right earcup. The top brass round button engages or disengages the noise-cancellation, while the power button turns the Bluetooth radio on or off with a long-press. A short press of the power button while connected will stop or start music playback, or connect/disconnect a call. At the very bottom below the buttons, there is an open microUSB charging port, and the 3/32″ proprietary audio input jack.

Performance

The headphones work well to isolate unwanted sounds from the environment without using noise cancellation technology. If there are really loud or irritating sounds, turning on noise-cancellation will produce an anti-wave to cancel it out. Plane engines, loud machinery, or other loud, repetitive noises will simply disappear.

What I Like

• Nicely padded ear cups with sound-isolating properties
• Comfortable band and adjustments
• Nice travel case with a net pocket for cables
• Easy to find and use controls
• Rechargeable battery for Noise Cancelling feature

What needs to be improved

• Small, non-standard AUX cable for headphones (difficult to replace)
• Not stereo when using cable
• Battery has short shelf-charge life

Final thoughts

I love over-the-ear headphones. Whenever I’m sitting at my Mac, I’m usually wearing a set, since others in the house are rarely in the mood for whatever sounds and music are coming from my virtual environment. The other reason I love them is the immersion you get from being fully surrounded by the soundscape of whatever you’re listening to. The E8s from Cowin are a well-made set of headphones that have a decent sound profile but are hampered by a few little electronics issues. First, they went with a cheaper 3/32” connector into the headphone for the wired connection. Why? The 1/8” jack cannot possibly be that much larger. and you know what? As a result, when operating with the noise cancellation and only the wired headphone, only the right side gets sound. How special is that?

The battery only lasts a few days when not being used or charged. Before you leave for a trip where you’re expecting to use this, make sure you have it freshly charged.

Price: $149.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Cowin

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Headphones

Cowin E8 over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 31, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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