Wearable

Are the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones the Bargain They Seem?

2024-02-06

The Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones offer a tempting proposition: long battery life, comfortable design, and clear audio at a budget-friendly price. But with numerous options in the wireless headphone market, do these Sonys stand out enough to warrant your hard-earned cash? Let’s delve into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.

Specs at a Glance:

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Battery life: Up to 50 hours
Drivers: 30mm dome
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Weight: 192g
Microphone: Yes
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Beige (Some of these color options are only found at this link)

Pros:

Marathon Battery Life: The WH-CH520’s claim to fame is its exceptional battery life. With up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge, you can leave the charger at home for days, making them ideal for long commutes, travel, or extended listening sessions. Even if you forget to charge, a quick 3-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of playtime, getting you back to your music quickly.
Lightweight Comfort: Weighing a mere 192g, the WH-CH520s are featherlight and comfortable for extended wear. The adjustable headband and soft earpads conform well to different head shapes and sizes, minimizing pressure and fatigue. Plus, the swivel earcups conveniently fold flat for portability.
Balanced Sound: While not audiophile-grade, the WH-CH520s deliver a well-balanced sound profile suitable for most genres. Bass is present but not overpowering, mids are clear, and highs are decent without being harsh. Additionally, Sony’s DSEE technology helps restore detail lost in compressed audio formats.

Cons:

On-Ear Design Lacks Isolation: Unlike over-ear headphones, the WH-CH520s sit on your ears rather than encompassing them. This design choice compromises passive noise isolation, meaning you’ll hear more ambient noise. While not ideal for noisy environments like airplanes or busy streets, it might be acceptable for quieter settings.
Lacks High-End Features: The WH-CH520s are a fairly basic offering, omitting some features found in pricier models. They lack active noise cancellation, multi-point pairing, and a dedicated audio jack. If these features are important to you, consider upgrading to a more premium option.
Snug Fit Might Not Suit Everyone: While the earpads are soft, the on-ear design can feel snug on some users, especially those with larger ears. This can lead to discomfort during extended listening sessions. If you prefer a looser fit, these might not be the best choice.

Verdict:

The Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones are a solid choice for budget-conscious listeners who prioritize long battery life, comfortable design, and balanced sound. They’re perfect for everyday use, travel, or extended listening sessions where frequent charging isn’t an option. However, their on-ear design compromises noise isolation, and they lack some features found in pricier models. If you need active noise cancellation, multi-point pairing, or a more spacious fit, look elsewhere. Ultimately, the WH-CH520s offer a good value proposition for casual listeners seeking a comfortable and long-lasting audio companion, but keep their limitations in mind before making a purchase.

Additional Notes:

If you can slightly stretch your budget, consider the Sony WH-CH720N, which offers similar features with the addition of active noise cancellation and should provide a more secure fit.
If sound quality is your top priority, you might want to explore options with larger drivers or higher-fidelity codecs like aptX.

I hope this review helps you make an informed decision about the Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones!

New Bee Bluetooth V5.0 Wireless Headset: A Buzzworthy Choice?

2024-01-11

The New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 promises convenient, hands-free communication on the go. But before you dive into this buzzing bargain, let’s take a closer look at its strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide if it’s the perfect fit for your ears (and lifestyle).

Pros:

Crystal Clear Calls: The New bee boasts CVC 8.0 noise cancellation technology, aiming to filter out background chatter and deliver crisp, clear calls even in noisy environments. This can be a game-changer for busy professionals or anyone who frequently finds themselves taking calls on the move.

Comfort and Convenience: Designed with a snug, lightweight fit, the New bee earpiece promises long-lasting comfort without weighing you down. Its multi-function button allows you to control calls, music playback, and even activate voice assistants with ease, keeping your hands free and your focus on the task at hand.

Budget-Friendly Buzz: Compared to other Bluetooth earpieces on the market, the New bee V5.0 carries a surprisingly affordable price tag. It also comes in three different colors. This makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious users who prioritize functionality over high-end features.

Cons:

Battery Life Blues: While the New bee boasts up to 6 hours of talk time on a single charge, some user reviews report shorter battery life, especially when using features like noise cancellation. This could be a deal-breaker for those who rely heavily on their earpiece throughout the day.

Sound Quality Sting: While the New bee performs adequately for calls, some users have noted a lack of clarity and depth in music playback. The bass might be underwhelming for audiophiles, and overall sound quality may not be on par with more expensive options.

Connection Concerns: Occasional connectivity issues have been reported by some users, with the earpiece dropping calls or experiencing audio lag. This can be frustrating, especially during important conversations or while enjoying music on the go.

The Verdict: A Hive of Potential, with Some Buzzkillers

The New Bee Bluetooth Earpiece V5.0 offers undeniable value for its price. Its comfortable design, clear call quality, and convenient controls make it a compelling option for those seeking a basic, hands-free communication solution. However, potential drawbacks like shorter battery life, underwhelming sound quality, and occasional connectivity issues should be considered before taking the plunge.

Ultimately, the New Bee might be the perfect fit for budget-conscious users who prioritize call clarity and convenience over audiophile-grade sound and rock-solid connectivity. But for those seeking a more premium experience, it’s worth exploring other options that might better suit their needs and budget.

Bonus Tip: Before making your decision, consider checking our other headset reviews and comparisons with similar earpieces in your price range. This can help you gain a wider perspective and identify the option that best aligns with your priorities and lifestyle.

Remember, the perfect earpiece buzzes differently for everyone. So, listen carefully to your needs and choose the one that resonates with you!

EKVANBEL V5.3 vs. Apple Airpods: A Budget-Conscious Battle for Your Ears

2023-12-18

The wireless earbud market is a battlefield, with budget options like the EKVANBEL V5.3 Model A6L squaring off against tech giants like Apple and their AirPods (3rd Generation). Both promise convenient connectivity, clear calls, and immersive audio, but which reigns supreme? We spent weeks putting these earbuds through their paces to find out.

Design and Comfort:

EKVANBEL V5.3 (Model A6L): These earbuds sport a sleek, minimalist design with a comfortable fit. The earpieces are lightweight and sit snugly in your ears without feeling bulky. They come with three sets of ear tips to ensure a personalized fit.

Apple AirPods: AirPods are known for their iconic, stem-like design. While some find them comfortable, others struggle with their one-size-fits-all approach. They can feel loose and prone to falling out, especially during workouts.

Audio Quality:

EKVANBEL V5.3: The V5.3 boasts surprisingly good audio for its price range. The sound is clear and well-balanced, with decent bass and crisp highs. While they won’t blow audiophiles away, they’re more than adequate for everyday listening.
Apple AirPods: AirPods offer a richer, more nuanced listening experience. The bass is punchier, and the overall soundstage is wider. However, some users find the audio too bright or treble-heavy, especially at higher volumes.

Call Quality:

EKVANBEL V5.3: The V5.3 features dual microphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) for clear calls. We found that our voice was picked up well, even in noisy environments. However, the ANC isn’t as strong as on higher-end earbuds.
Apple AirPods: AirPods Pro offer superior call quality with their advanced ANC technology. They effectively block out background noise, making your voice crystal clear to the other caller. However, standard Airpods lack ANC and struggle in noisy environments.

Battery Life:

EKVANBEL V5.3: The V5.3 boasts an impressive 96 hours of playtime with the charging case. The earbuds themselves last for about 8 hours on a single charge.
Apple AirPods: AirPods offer a more modest battery life, with around 5 hours of playtime per charge and 24 hours with the charging case. AirPods Pro fare slightly better, with 4.5 hours per charge and 24 hours with the case.

Features and Connectivity:

EKVANBEL V5.3: The V5.3 supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology for a stable and reliable connection. They also have touch controls for music playback, volume, and calls. However, they lack some of the advanced features of Airpods, like automatic ear detection and seamless device switching.
Apple AirPods: AirPods seamlessly integrate with the Apple ecosystem, offering features like automatic ear detection, pause/play on ear removal, and easy switching between Apple devices. They also support Siri voice commands for hands-free control.

Verdict:

The EKVANBEL V5.3 is a compelling option for budget-conscious listeners. They offer surprisingly good audio quality, decent call performance, and an impressive battery life. However, they lack some of the premium features and seamless integration of Airpods.

If you’re an Apple user who prioritizes convenience and advanced features, the AirPods are the better choice. But if you’re looking for a great value with solid sound and long battery life, the EKVANBEL V5.3 are definitely worth considering.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual needs and budget. Consider your priorities in terms of audio quality, call performance, battery life, features, and price before making your decision.

We hope this review helps you choose the right wireless earbuds for your ears!

Why the Enduring Popularity of the LG Tone+ HBS-700 & HBS-730 Bluetooth Headsets? In Review

2023-05-24

It’s amazing when a manufacturer can create a tech product that actually has a substantial shelf-life. Case in point? The LG Tone+ series. The HBS-700 came out in early 2011 and has been going strong ever since. This in spite of the introduction of an “improved” HBS-730 version in early 2013. Now both headsets seem to sell equally well. QTOOTH is going to re-visit this popular series of Bluetooth headsets and take a look at what makes them such a success. Perhaps other manufacturers and designers can learn from what LG has done.

There are a few common issues that come with wearing any Bluetooth wireless headset:

The electronics put weight on the sensitive inner folds of the ear
The ear buds block normal hearing of the environment even when not in use
Due to their typically small size devices are often easy to lose

How did the LG Tone+ series attempt to cure these?

lg-tone+-plus-woman-wearing-around-neck-qtooth

The main thing that set the LG Tone+ HBS-700 apart when it was first introduced was the use of a collar, or necklace, mount for the ear buds. This immediately took the weight of all of the electronics off of the sensitive parts of the ear. The control interface and the electronics are all built-in to the collar itself. Connected by wires, the only part of the device that is inserted into the ear are the small, lightweight ear buds. By placing magnetized holders at each end of the collar mount, LG provided a convenient place to store the ear buds. This simultaneously cured the issues of blocked hearing when not in use and the tendency to lose them. Because the ear buds are stored only inches away from the ear, users always know where they are and can be confident that they can quickly take the ear buds in and out of their ears quickly as needed during use.

It is their unique solution to these three issues is probably what set them apart the most from the competition. There are so many built-in limitations to Bluetooth audio that the variances between models and manufacturers have thus far proven to be very small at best.

lg-tone+-tone-plus-white-bluetooth-stereo-headset-control-button-diagram-qtooth

Here are a few of the other features that have made them great. In our experience, both of the LG Tone+ HBS-700 and the LG Tone+ HBS-730 perform well and reasonably close to their stated technical specs. Great battery life at 10 hours of use and 15 days of standby time. The batteries also re-charge very quickly, sometimes within 90 minutes. The controls are located within easy reach on the collar, even if tucked inside of a shirt or sweatshirt. Because the collar can jump around on the neck a bit, this is our preferred method of wearing them, especially if moving around at work or while working out.

lg-tone+-tone-plus-bluetooth-stereo-headset-balck-main-qtooth

The main complaint we have about both headsets has to do with the quality of the microphones when making a phone call. Although they claim to be using noise-cancelling circuitry and digital noise reduction, in our experience they do not seem to be very effective in noisy environments. Background noise is an issue and we found ourselves raising our voices in order to be understood by our callers. We must stress that this is only an occasional issue and that due to the nature of this design we didn’t really expect the Tone+ to perform at the same level as a dedicated, on-the-ear headset with a microphone boom.

lg-tone+-tone-plus-bluetooth-stereo-headset-balck-top-qtooth

So what’s the real difference between the LG Tone+ HBS-700 and the LG Tone+ HBS-730? The original 700 seems to have a slightly better range and battery life. These two attributes may have gotten sacrificed just a little bit when they added the Apt-X circuitry to the 730. However the Apt-X circuitry did slightly improved the audio experience of the 730 and gave the bass frequencies a little more “oomph”.

So, which is the one for you? If you’re using it primarily for talking on the phone, dictation, or listening to podcasts, choose the LG Tone+ HBS-700. If you are going to be spending more time listening to music, movies or gaming, then the HBS-730 would be a better choice.

Note: And yes, LG did make an even better version called the HBS-800 that had slight improvements in the electronics and subtle cosmetic change. Although it’s a good headset, most people seem to agree with us that they are not worth the nearly 2-3 times amount of money that the other two models can typically be found.

TRX Systems’ NEON® Personnel Tracker Solution Used by Houston Police to Ensure Public Safety During Super Bowl

2017-02-27

TRX Systems, developer of the NEON® Indoor Location Solution, today announced that the NEON Personnel Tracker application was used by the Houston Police to help ensure public safety in NRG Stadium for Super Bowl LI.

You can check out the Super Bowl example video here, but here’s a quick look at the technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwLHO-PP60A

NEON Personnel Tracker delivers mapping and location in environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable such as inside large office buildings, in stadiums and underground. By delivering location in these “GPS-denied” environments, NEON improves both command effectiveness and safety for public safety and security personnel. NEON Personnel Tracker delivers location in both 2D and 3D and provides tracking and visualization of personnel in complex indoor and outdoor environments. Accurate tracking is accomplished using NEON’s patented location algorithms which leverage all available device sensors including inertial, magnetic, pressure, light, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS signals (where available) to calculate location.

Working closely with Harris County Central Technology Services and the Houston Police, TRX deployed NEON Personnel Tracker in a solution integrated with the Motorola LEX L10 Mission Critical LTE Handhelds. The NEON solution on the LEX L10 utilized the Harris County Public Safety Broadband network at NRG Park where each officer carrying the LEX L10 with the NEON application was able to be tracked in 3D from the command center throughout the nearly 2 million square feet of NRG Stadium. With real-time 3D visualization of first responder locations inside buildings, police and other first responders have improved situational awareness that helps ensure public safety. A short video showing TRX Systems’ NEON Personnel Tracker at NRG Stadium can be found here.

“Public Safety LTE is a reality and happening right here in Texas. Harris County is committed to enhancing public safety through the use of leading edge technology,” said Shing Lin, Director Harris County CTS. “Applications enabled by Public Safety LTE networks are part of our continuing investment to safeguard the public and effectively manage our resources at major public events such as the Super Bowl.”

Misfit Introduces Ray, Their Most Versatile Activity Tracker Yet

2016-01-05

LAS VEGAS, NV January 5th 2016—Today Misfit announced Misfit Ray Fitness and Sleep Monitor, the newest product in the company’s [easyazon_link keywords=”misfit activity trackers” locale=”US” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]line of design-forward wearables[/easyazon_link]. Ray’s distinct deconstructed and modular design makes it Misfit’s most versatile activity tracker yet.

Only 12mm in diameter and 38mm long, Ray’s sleek form factor and clean lines make it uniquely wearable. Ray features a highly customizable cylindrical aluminum body, able to be worn with Misfit-branded or custom accessories on the wrist or as a necklace. Ray effortlessly complements watches, bracelets, and fine jewelry. Its elemental, interchangeable design makes it easy to personalize. Ray can be elegant or sporty, sensual or bold, striking or subtle.

Ray’s minimalist form conceals powerful engineering. It tracks activity and sleep with a 3-axis accelerometer and, like Misfit Shine 2, incorporates a vibration motor that allows for nuanced user feedback. Combined with a single multicolor LED eye, Ray provides inactivity nudges, text and call notifications, and a silent alarm. Like [easyazon_link keywords=”other wearables by Misfit” locale=”US” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]other wearables by Misfit[/easyazon_link], Ray never requires charging (the user-replaceable batteries last up to 6 months) and is water resistant to 50 meters.

Misfit Ray is compatible with [easyazon_link keywords=”Misfit Link” locale=”US” tag=”uneomediacom-20″]Misfit Link[/easyazon_link], the groundbreaking software experience that turns your wearable into a remote to connect with the world around you. Communicate with friends, turn on your lights, change your music, take a selfie, and more, all with a few taps.

“We designed Ray to be your most valuable accessory,” said Tim Golnik, Misfit’s VP of Product and Design. “Ray’s design distills the essential performance of our wearables and opens up a world of style possibilities.”

Ray comes in Rose Gold and Carbon Black, is now available for pre-order on misfit.com, and will be available in retail locations worldwide in Spring 2016.

Starting from $99.99, Misfit Ray is now on display at International CES at the Misfit booth (#73923, Tech West Sands Expo).