JBL REFLECT Eternal

JBL has teamed up with Swedish company Exeger to create an on-ear headphone that can be charged completely by the Sun.

The headphones use Exeger’s Powerfoyle technology that turns the headband into a photo-voltaic surface.

The battery charges quickest in direct sunlight, but will receive charge from indirect and indoor lighting as well.

Specs

The battery holds 24 hours of charge, and just 1.5 hours in direct sunlight will convert enough energy for 68 hours of playtime. With that kind of efficiency, you might never need to plug in the REFLECT Eternal at all, though a USB-C cable is included.

Other specs include 40mm drivers, voice assistant compatibility, and an IPX4 ‘splashproof’ rating.

Welcome to the Future

While still in the prototyping stage, the JBL REFLECT has already achieved it’s early crowdfunding goals, and is set to ship production units in October of 2020.

It’s only a matter of time before solar charging becomes the universal standard. Leave it to the Scandinavians to pave the way for the rest of us.

The $75 early bird special has sold out, but you can still hop on board for $99 and $129. Retail is looking like $165, and you can choose between Red and Green.

Pick ’em up on the IndieGogo page.

JBL REFLECT Eternal

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post JBL REFLECT Eternal appeared first on Major HiFi.

TOKK Wire(d)less Earbuds

In-the-Box

The TOKK Wire(d)less Earbuds come with a charging case, a micro-USB charging cable, 3 pairs of silicone eartips, 3 pairs of silicone wings, a 3.5mm cable, and the battery extension cable. Both cables attach via 2.5mm ports built into each earbud.

Fit

The earbuds look big, but have a fit comparable to the WF-1000XM3 from Sony. They leave some breathing room for your ears, but don’t stick out too far. And the all-black finish ensures they don’t look too flashy.

The TOKKs come with 3 different sizes of silicone eartips, plus 3 tips that have a silicone wing attached for stability. I prefer the wing-tips; the standard tips feel a little loose. But with the wings in place, the fit is secure.

Case

The case is on the bigger side, but it is incredibly light. The earbuds have a 5 hour battery life, and there’s no info on how many charges the case provides. But the battery extending wire (which has an extra 10 hours) fits into the case along with earbuds, allowing you to charge both simultaneously.

The charging cable provided for the case is very short, and I’m disappointed it isn’t USB-C. Also, the earbuds don’t fit into the case if you’re using the wingtips, which is annoying. If you use the wingtips, you’ll have to take them off each time you want to charge the earbuds.

Also, the standard 3.5mm cable doesn’t fit into the case at all. Admittedly, if you are using the 3.5mm connection, you won’t need the charging case, but it would’ve been nice to be able to conveniently carry all the accessories at once.

Controls

The controls are handled by a large button on the surface of each earbud. And although the battery-extension wire looks like it could have controls on it, everything is handled on the earbuds.

The buttons are responsive, the commands are intuitive, and the earbuds stick out far enough that they can be pressed without driving the buds further into your ears. TOKK got everything right as far as controls go.

Sound

The box says these earbuds support AAC, which means better sound quality for iPhones. But I was honestly not very impressed by the sound quality. The earbuds have significantly more low-end when using them wirelessly, and plugging in the wire brings out some more high-end detail.

Conclusion

These earbuds are 3-in-1. They are a good fit for listeners who want the convenience of wireless, along with an old-school wire for backup.

The extra battery is a nice touch. You get 5 hours on the buds, 10 hours with the battery pack cable, plus the recharges on both with the case. That could total up to quite a few hours of playtime.

Pros- Switch between wired and wireless, good fit, good controls.

Cons- Okay sound quality, bulky case.

Find them on Amazon.

TOKK Wire(d)less Earbuds Review

MajorHifi may receive commission from Amazon. 

The post TOKK Wire(d)less Earbuds Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

Ikko ITM05 Music Patch Review

Design

If you couldn’t already tell from the pictures, the aptly named ITM05 ‘Music Patch’ is a portable DAC/Amp that deviates from the standard USB-stick design. It’s a thin square shape reminiscent of the much cheaper FiiO A1. But instead clipping to your shirt pocket like the A1, the ITM05 adheres directly to the back of your phone by reusable adhesive strips.

The ITM05’s main connection apparently works with both Lightning and USB-C, although I didn’t have any Androids handy to try it out. Once connected to your phone, headphones are plugged into either the ITM05’s 3.5mm output or the balanced 2.5mm output. Plus you can still charge your phone using the lightning / USB-C input.

Attached to the back of my iPhone, the Music Patch keeps a pleasantly low profile, and is less cumbersome than using a USB DAC and the corresponding cable. The built-in connector extends like a scorpion’s tail directly to my Phone’s port; no extra wires or shoddy connections.

The ITM05 comes finished in either black or white imitation leather, and looks far classier than your standard USB-DAC. My sole concern with the physical design is the durability of the adhesive strips on the back; I wonder how many times they can be used before losing their stick (UPDATE: the ITM05 does come with backup strips).

Specs

The ITM05 uses two CS43198 DAC chips, and boasts a distortion rating of only .0008%. The output of the 3.5mm and 2.5mm jacks are 1.8V and 2.0V, respectively.

While using the ITM05, my Phone’s battery did drain slightly faster than normal. However, the power draw seemed on par with other portable DAC/Amps in the price range.

Sound

To understand the sound of the ITM05, I’ll do a side-by-side comparison with 2 other DAC/Amps of similar size and price: the Ultrasone Naos and the DragonFly Red. I’ll be testing them with IEMs (the Kinera Odin) to match the power and portability of the DACs, and also because IEMs are what I myself would walk around with. Lossless audio provided by Tidal.

The ITM05 has an extremely smooth sound profile with an emphasis on the upper midrange. Instrument clarity, separation, and left-to-right soundstage are all noticeably improved while using it. Without it, my iPhone audio sounds grainier in the high-end, and duller overall. There is a subtle low frequency boost, but the sub bass is largely left alone. Here’s how it fares against the competition:

ITM05 vs. DragonFly Red

These two units share an emphasis on the midrange, but the ITM05 feels cleaner and more fluid than the DragonFly Red. At louder volumes especially, the DragonFly can feel harsh by comparison.

Where the DragonFly holds the edge is in a more tactile bass boost, and better depth of space. The ITM05 does improve the soundstage and separation, but the DragonFly Red impressively evokes the feeling of being immersed in and surrounded by the music.

Overall, the DragonFly feels louder and more energetic, while the ITM05 feels smoother and more focused.

ITM05 vs. Naos

The Ultrasone Naos was the cleanest of the 3, narrowly beating out the ITM05. But the Noas lacks the midrange emphasis of its competitors and instead emphasizes the sub-bass and highs.

The ‘V’ shape of the Naos was enough to turn me off, but if you’re looking for the absolute least distortion or the absolute most bass, the Naos is the one for you. But for midrange excitement, the DragonFly Red beats the Naos, and the ITM05 beats both of them.

Conclusion

The ITM05 has a liquid smooth midrange that pulls everything into sharper focus. The DragonFly Red is more exciting (and louder) with a better soundstage, but doesn’t have the same laser-like focus or fluid feel of the ITM05.

At the end of the day, the main selling point on the ITM05 is the application. Being able to adhere it to the back of my iPhone is much more convenient than the conventional USB-stick setup. I didn’t miss using an adapter cable at all.

I do wish the ITM05 added some more bass. And comparing the soundstage to the DragonFly Red can make it feel narrow. But my user experience was so much simpler with the ITM05, I can overlook the differences in sound. If you’re sick of adapter cables wearing out and causing noise, give the Music Patch a try.

Pros- Ultra-smooth and focused midrange, improved clarity, great design.

Cons- Doesn’t add much bass

Get the early-bird pricing on the IndieGogo Page.

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post Ikko ITM05 Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

When Apple decided to eliminate the headphone jack on the upcoming iPhone 7, the world cringed. And when Apple unveiled its wireless alternative, the Airpods, the world laughed. Well, who’s laughing now?

Upcoming Earbuds of 2020

The wireless earbud market is booming, and companies are scrambling to keep up. We’ve seen the emergence of touch controls, wireless charging, and active noise cancellation in the wireless world, and there are no signs of slowdown. 2020 will bring us many things, including new earbuds. Here’s a list of some big-brand names that have been confirmed for next year:

Microsoft Surface Earbuds

These large, circular earbuds are quite a departure from the Airpod-style, although they look like they could be just as polarizing. The first true wireless offering from Microsoft, the Surface Buds include gesture recognition and an impressive 8 hour battery life per charge.

Android users can enjoy extra integration with apps like Spotify, Office 365, Outlook and Word, including screen-free controls for each. The Surface Buds will retail for $249.99.

Google Pixel Buds 2

Ditching the wrap-around wire from the original Pixel Buds, the Pixel Buds 2 are truly wireless and will retail for $179.

Battery life is an average 5 hours per charge, and while there is no active noise cancellation, Google says the buds are designed to let you hear “just the right amount of environmental sound”.

It’s unclear if the Pixel Buds 2 use any touch controls, but users can expect full Google Assistant Support and even a real-time Google Translate function.

Bose Noise Cancelling Earbuds 700

Information on the Earbuds 700 is scant; the Bose website shows only a sketch. But they’ll be released alongside the Earbuds 500 to succeed the current Soundsport Free Earbuds. What separates the 700 from the 500 is active noise cancellation, which Bose humbly calls “truly astonishing”.

No word on a price for either bud yet, but I would not be surprised if the 700 approaches the $300 mark.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

With even less information than the Bose Earbuds 700, the Galaxy Buds+ are just a whisper in the wind right now. We can speculate they’ll compete directly with Airpods Pro, with active noise-cancellation and a price between $150 and $200.

What It’s All About

No doubt, 2020 will be a year for the ages. A new decade, a new President, a new pair of wireless earbuds… what a time to be alive. And hopefully, if all goes according to plan, 2020 will be the hottest year on record! All right!

Upcoming Earbuds of 2020

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post Upcoming Earbuds of 2020 appeared first on Major HiFi.

The q-Seven is a wireless over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation, priced around $160 USD. This is a unique niche in the marketplace; premium noise cancelling over-ears start around $200, and low-end options run about $100. The q-Seven will be one of the few models priced in between. Let’s see how they do in the Jays q-Seven Wireless Review.

Jays q-Seven Wireless Review

In-the-Box

Along with the headphones, Jays provides a manual, 3.5mm cable, micro-USB charging cable, a suede carrying pouch and a Jays sticker. Everything is black, grey, and simple in true Jays fashion.

Design

The headphones are plastic but look classy. The headband has a leather (or maybe faux-leather) exterior. The earcups have an interesting design that makes them look like speaker cones. It’s a pleasant departure from typical designs.

There is a multi-purpose button and volume button on the right earcup, and a noise-cancelling button on the left earcup. Battery life is 30 hours on a single charge.

Controls

The multi-function button, stamped with the ‘power’ symbol, controls almost everything. Inexplicably missing from the control scheme is the ability to skip tracks. Triple taps instead redial the last call; a function I still find unnecessary. One tap is play/pause, two taps activates voice control.

The volume + / – button a single long button, with the two controls on each end. This can be confusing when reaching for it blindly, as it’s tough to discern which end you are pressing. There is a little braille dot on one end, but two separate buttons or perhaps a raised + and –  would’ve made it easier for my hands to distinguish.

I also failed to fully grasp the noise cancellation button. Press the button once, noise cancellation is activated, and a white LED comes on. To hear your surroundings, you press the button once more, but nothing changes to indicate HearThrough mode has been activated. No noise, and the LED stays the same. Then to exit HearThrough mode, you press the button again. I honestly could never tell when I was in HearThough mode or not. The sound didn’t change enough for me to notice.

Sound Quality

The only competitor I have on hand to test is the HD 4.5 from Sennheiser, which retails for $179. But the Jays is significantly better in terms of comfort and sound quality.

Jays q-Seven had more detail in the midrange and the high-end than the Sennheiser. The Sennheisers may have a touch more bass, but the difference is negligible. The Jays were also louder than the Sennheisers by 15-20%.

Overall the Jays sound well-balanced and detailed. I have no complaints about the sound quality for the price. If you need a more engaging sound, you’ll have to make the jump up to $200 and beyond.

Noise Cancellation

Interestingly, the sound quality was better with the noise cancellation activated. Low-end noises were blocked out the most; I could still hear higher-frequency sounds from the environment. Turning off the noise cancellation let a bit too much low frequency back in, and the sound became a little muddy.

Conclusion

The controls could be improved, but overall Jays provides a strong mid-level alternative to the active noise-canceling over-ears out there. They’re stylish, have good sound quality, and decent noise cancellation for a price well under the premium.

Pros- Swedish aesthetic, good sound quality, mid-range alternative to higher-end models

Cons- Dodgy controls

Get them on Jays website.

Jays q-Seven Wireless Review

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post Jays q-Seven Wireless Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Leaked

The tip comes from notorious smartphone leaker Evan Blass, @evleaks on Twitter. He has a long history of supplying the Internet with accurate information on upcoming smartphones before the official announcements.

The tweet is short, but speaks volumes: “First came the AirPods Pro… …then came the Galaxy Buds+.”

This means we can reasonably expect to see active noise-cancellation and a jump in price from the original Galaxy Buds.

With Apple, Bose, and Sony all rolling out noise-cancelling earbuds, it would only make sense that Samsung join the party. We’re not sure whether the price will be lower than the competition, or on par.

But there aren’t a ton of noise-cancelling options on the market currently, and fewer still for less than $200. If the price is right, the Galaxy Buds+ could become a very competitive option indeed.

The new Galaxy S11 however, won’t launch until well into 2020. Chances are that Samsung will release the Galaxy Buds+ and the S11 in sync, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Leaked

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Leaked appeared first on Major HiFi.

Positive Vibration XL Review

If you’re looking for a pair of environmentally-conscious headphones, look no further than the House of Marley. There a handful of other companies that use sustainably-sourced wood, but none as large or as comprehensive as the House of Marley.

You can visit the ‘Materials‘ page on their website to see the full scope, which includes bamboo, recycled plastics, recycled fiber, FSC certified wood, and more.

House of Marley is also partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to global reforestation. Tree planting is one of the single best actions we can take to sequester carbon out of the atmosphere and mitigate the harmful effects of human-induced climate change. I strongly urge you visit their website, and read the book Kiss the Ground by Josh Tickell to educate yourself further.

Design

Even if you don’t care about where the materials came from, they make for a good looking pair of headphones. A $100 price tag typically guarantees cheap plastic, but the Positive XL is mostly fabric and brushed aluminum. The wood stamped Marley logo provides the finishing touch.

The headphones have a healthy weight, but remain incredibly comfortable on the head. They aren’t as snug as some other models, which means your ears have room to breath but outside noise also has room to enter. But I’d bet the durability of the Positive XL against its plastic counterparts any day.

Control buttons reside on the right earcup, and the box includes a cloth-threaded 3.5mm wire wrapped in twine. The headphones quick-charge by USB-C, and have a 24 hour battery life.

Functionality

The control panel rests on the back of the right earpiece, in a perfect spot for easy reach. The center button controls play/pause and power on/off, and the two volume buttons can also skip tracks when held down. Double tapping the center button activates the voice control. The scheme is easy to use and easy to remember.

Sound

Compared to other models at a similar price range, the Positive XL has a mellower sound with a more natural midrange.

Both the Sennheiser HD 4.40BT and the Sony WH-CH500 have more bass than the Positive XL, so bass fiends should look elsewhere. The Positive XL doesn’t sound thin, but the bass is much more relaxed and out-of-the-way than the other options.

The midrange is where the Positive XL really shines. Good instrument separation, and a totally natural sound. The midrange on the Sonys and Sennheisers sounded unnaturally altered by comparison; likely a result of the bass boost. It should come as no surprise that older and more intricate styles of music (like reggae) sound great on the Positive XL. But if you listen to modern pop or hip-hop, you may want a more boosted sound.

When switching to wired usage, the sound actually became less engaging. Music seems less vivid, and the soundstage more narrow. Wireless is definitely the way to go for the Positive XL. The wire does include a microphone, so you can still take phone calls if the headphone dies.

Conclusion

The strongest selling points on the Positive Vibration XL to me are the materials and the aesthetic. They look far more stylish than any other headphone in the pricepoint, and are probably more responsibly-sourced than any other headphone on the market, period.

I like the sound profile, but it will not be everybody’s cup of tea. The average consumer is looking for bass and volume, and the Positive XL is light in both respects. But fans of jazz, classical, vintage rock or reggae will feel right at home.

Pros- Sustainably sourced materials, great aesthetic, natural midrange.

Cons- Sound may be too relaxed for some tastes, little sound isolation.

Pick one up at the House of Marley.

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post House of Marley Positive Vibration XL Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

Mebuyz Earbuds Review: S2 TWS 3D

In-the-Box

The S2 comes with a rubberized charging case, micro-USB charger, manual and 3 silicone eartips; all the standard accessories. The packaging, thankfully, is small and efficient.

Design

The charging case is larger than average, and has a sleek look with the ‘Mebuyz’ logo on the front in Deco lettering. Though made of plastic, the exterior has a classy matte rubber finish. The case has both a micro-USB and standard USB port, which means you can also use it to charge your phone or tablet.

Battery life is 4.5 hours, which is about standard. But thanks to the heft of the charging case, the buds can be recharged again and again for a total 60 hour playtime. They can also be used individually in mono mode.

Waterproofing is rated IPX5. So while the earbuds can’t be submerged under water, they will hold up against sweat or rain.

Fit

The earbuds are small, and have a subtle rubber hook that presses against your inner ear for stability. The fit is snug, and the hook prevents the earbuds from falling out. The sound isolation wasn’t the best however, because I couldn’t get a super tight seal. But the earbuds are comfortable and, more importantly, stable.

Controls

Mebuyz uses a single button on each earbud in place of touch controls, which can be a tricky thing to design properly. But luckily, the button protrudes far enough from the bud that it can be pressed without discomfort.

Controls are responsive, but lack a volume command. One press is play/pause, and a long press skips the track forward or back. I’m disappointed that Mebuyz didn’t include a double or triple-tap command; they could have remedied the lack of volume control, and made skipping forward and back feel more natural.

Sound

I like the sound of the of the S2. It’s a very well-balanced profile, with equal attention given to each part of the frequency range. They sound similar to my old favorites from GeeKee, but with a bit more roundness to the low-end. However, the S2 can’t play very loud at all. I don’t blast my music by any means, but even I had to crank things up to 75-80% volume.

If you like more bass, I’d recommend the Strauss & Wagner TW401 for $10 more. If you need a TON of bass as well as volume, and you’re willing to spend more, go with the Raycon E25.

Conclusion

The S2 is a well-rounded pair of earbuds. The powerful charging case is similar to the Aikela X10, but more compact and lacking USB-C (unfortunately). The sound is balanced, with more bass than the GeeKees but less than the Strauss & Wagner.

I think my only real complaints are 1) the looseness of the seal, which almost spoils the otherwise great fit. And 2) the relatively weak volume. Other than that, nothing wrong with these buds for 50 bucks.

Find them on Amazon.

Mebuyz Earbuds Review: S2 TWS 3D

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post Mebuyz Earbuds Review: S2 TWS 3D appeared first on Major HiFi.

Aikela X10 Review: TWS Bluetooth 5 Earbuds

In-the-Box

The X10 comes with a large charging case, USB-C cable, extra eartips, a multi-language manual, and a nylon drawstring carrying pouch.

The USB-C cable is a plus, but the eartips are on the flimsy side.

Design

The X10 have a below-average battery life of 3 hours, but the charging case packs a whopping 42 extra charges. The extra power comes at the cost of size; the case is thick, and about the size of my palm. Not very pocket friendly, but it can be used to power other devices like your phone. And with the amount of power it can store, you’ll have plenty of juice left over for the earbuds.

An IPX7 rating means you can immerse the earbuds in water, although you probably won’t need to. But it’s enough waterproofing to withstand any weather or workout conditions.

You can use the earbuds one at a time in mono mode, and you can pair them to 2 phones simultaneously. Also, these earbuds are NOT active noise-cancelling. The Bluetooth chip may reduce some ambient noise for phone calls, but almost all true wireless earbuds do that.

Controls

The X10 uses touch controls and suprisingly, they work great. The commands are intuitive; one tap for play/pause, two taps to skip, and hold for volume. I occasionally overshot my intended volume, but overall I was happy with the touch controls. They aren’t perfect, but for the price, Aikela does a better job than the competition.

Fit

The fit feels light and comfortable, but remains on the looser side. I typically find that earbuds that don’t include any stabilization are at risk of falling during a workout. And sadly, this is the case with the X10. Daily use and moderate exercise should be fine, but anything more intense, like HIIT or sprints, will probably knock them loose.

Sound

The X10 has a chunky-sounding bass that isn’t overpowering, and some high-end to balance things out. I didn’t love the midrange however. Instruments and voices can sound far away, or a little squished. The X10 also doesn’t get as loud as some of its competition, which is bad news for listeners who love to blast their music.

Overall the sound is relatively balanced, with decent bass. But it doesn’t compete with my longstanding favorites at this price: GeeKee and Strauss & Wagner.

Conclusion

The strongest selling point of the X10 may be the charging case. It holds a huge amount of power, and can be used as an extra battery for all of your devices. Plus the USB-C cable ensures you can recharge quickly.

Touch controls are handled well, the waterproofing is impressive, and while the sound didn’t blow me away, it wasn’t terrible either.

Pros- Useful quick-charging case, fluid controls, IPX7 waterproof

Cons- Only 3 hours per charge, okay sound quality

Find them on Amazon

Or, try Strauss & Wagner True Wireless Earbuds

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers.

The post Aikela X10 Review: TWS Earbuds appeared first on Major HiFi.

iTeknic Earbuds Review: IK-BH0004

Design

iTeknic opts for an Airpod-style design, complete with touch controls and “sticks” that house the microphones. The case is nearly the same size as the Airpod Pro Case, and has 3 LEDs to indicate battery life. The buds run an above-average 6 hours on a single charge, and can be recharged 4 times with the case.

Unlike the Airpods, the IK-BH004 come only in black, and have a matte plastic finish instead of gloss. But otherwise the design of the two are quite similar.

Fit

The earbuds fit well, and come with small, medium, and large eartips. I do wish the tips were nicer, but that’s a small complaint.

The buds fit in such a way that only one angle is comfortable. So you can’t point the ‘sticks’ any way you want like with Airpods. I’m not sure if this has any practical effect, but it’s worth mentioning.

Functionality

The Bluetooth commands are controlled via taps on either side of the earpiece. Touch controls can be hit-or-miss on $50 earbuds, but the IK-BH004 prove responsive. My only complaint is that a single tap, instead of pausing the music, raises the volume. Double taps pause the music, and triple taps skip the track. It’s a bit counter-intuitive.

Also, some of the taps are easily confused for phone commands, like redial last number. It’s a command I rarely want to use, but hit accidentally several times. So while the taps are generally responsive, the control scheme could be improved.

Sound

The sound profile on the IK-BH004 is emphasized towards the midrange and high-end. The result is great for call quality, but lacks a strong bass for music. But the sound is well-balanced and shows off high-end detail not commonly found in true wireless earbuds of this price.

If you do prefer more bass, might I suggest the Strauss & Wagner TW401. For only $10 more, it provides a thicker low-end and a more intuitive control scheme. But if phone calls are your main priority, the IK-BH004 are a good choice. The midrange and treble emphasizes vocal sounds while still sounding natural.

Conclusion

The IK-BH004 has solid build quality, and a sound signature that is great for phone calls. The battery life is also a hearty 6 hours. But the controls can be counter-intuitive, and there isn’t much bass to speak of. Whether iTeknics will be a good buy for you depends on your preferences and priorities. But overall, a quality pair of earbuds for the price.

Pros- Good call quality, detailed midrange and high-end, strong battery life.

Cons- Lack of bass, counter-intuitive controls.

Get them on Amazon.

iTeknic Earbuds Review: IK-BH0004

MajorHifi may receive commission from retail offers. 

The post iTeknic Earbuds Review: IK-BH0004 appeared first on Major HiFi.