My Apple AirPods check all the boxes, but although I was able to pair them successfully to my PC, I was surprised how the sound quality went from awesome to sounding like “tin-cans-on-a-string” whenever I used them for calls. My peers said my voice sounded distant, muffled, and otherwise distorted. However, when using the AirPods with my iPhone, I’ve received compliments on how well they sound.

I also tried several other Bluetooth headphones (Beats, JBL, Soundcore, etc) and found they all performed similarly: when listening to audio, sound quality was fine, but as soon as the microphone was needed, the sound quality became horrible.

Why do Bluetooth headphones sound bad on a PC?

When you pair your Bluetooth headphones to a Windows PC, you’ve probably see that your headphones show up twice:

1. Headphones (Ryan’s AirPods Stereo)
2. Headset (Ryan’s AirPods Hands-Free AG Audio)

If you’ve played around with the volume/output settings, you’ve probably notice that #1 sounds great while #2 sounds like garbage.

When simply listening to audio, #1 (“Headphones”) is used and provides a wider frequency range (44-48KHz). It’s able to do so because audio is only going one-way: from your PC to your earbuds.

When you add your microphone into the mix, you have audio going back and forth, which narrows the amount of the small bandwidth available in the Bluetooth protocols. In order to “fit” both audio and the microphone into one narrow stream, the audio quality drops to a lower frequency range of 8KHz. This is known has a HFP (Hands-Free Profile) version of 1.5, which has been widely used on PCs for the past few years. Unfortunately, it sounds like garbage to both you and the people listening to you.

How do I improve Bluetooth call quality on PC?

Thanks to this helpful post on Reddit, I learned that HFP versions 1.6 and 1.7 doubles the frequency range to 16KHz (sometimes referred to as “HD Voice”), which greatly improves audio quality during calls. It is widely used in smartphones, which is why your Bluetooth headset sounds so much better when paired to your phone as compared to your PC.

So how do your get your PC to use HFP 1.6/1.7 and not HFP 1.5? Sadly, most built-in Bluetooth chipsets used in PCs and older Macs only support HFP 1.5 and you’ll need a new Bluetooth dongle to get HFP 1.6.

Unfortunately, this is not as easy as picking up a $10 Bluetooth dongle on Amazon as most do not advertise what HFP version they use. If you want to be sure, the somewhat pricey Jabra Link 370 USB adapter supports HFP 1.6 and will increase the sound quality of most Bluetooth headphones (assuming they support HFP 1.6 as well). If anyone finds another Bluetooth dongle that uses HFP 1.6 or higher, please let me know in the comments!

UPDATE: I found the Avantree DG80 USB adapter on Amazon is a cheaper alternative that also does a great job of providing better call quality with Bluetooth earbuds.

Avantree DG80 USB Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Connecting Headphones to…

$29.99

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Jabra Link 370 (UC) USB Bluetooth Adapter, Black

$80.11 $101.00

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Either one of these adapters will show as 1 “sound card” to your PC and will automatically handle the switching between “headphones” mode when you’re listening only and to “headset” mode when the microphone is needed (the Avantree can be manually switched by pressing the button twice on the dongle if it doesn’t automatically switch). They both do a much better job of managing the Bluetooth profiles than what is built-in to Windows.

For the Jabra Link 370 USB adapter, you’ll need to use the Jabra Direct software to pair the dongle with your AirPods (or other headphones). The software might not show the AirPods as “paired” immediately, but if you close and re-open the software, it should show upon re-launch. Once your pair your AirPods to the Jabra dongle, the AirPods will “remember” the dongle and you can move the dongle to another PC and continue to use them (this is nice if you don’t have admin rights on your work PC, for example, to install the Jabra Direct software). In fact, I’ve plugged the Jabra adapter into the dock of my Nintendo Switch and was able to listen to my games through my AirPods (although, the latency made this unusable, so don’t buy the Jabra adapter specifically for the Switch).

The Avantree DG80 USB adapter does not require any software installation, however, if you have an issue with sound only coming from one AirPod during calls, you may need to perform a firmware update on the dongle.

Looking for a cheaper alternative?

Another way to work around this issue is to use another microphone, like your laptop’s built-in microphone or a USB microphone. In Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or whatever conference program you normally use, look in the program’s “settings” and manually change the audio to the “headphones” profile for your Bluetooth headphones and set the microphone to your laptop’s microphone (or external USB microphone). This unfortunately takes away your ability to walk around the room to stretch your legs, but will improve your sound quality and allow you to listen through your headphones.

Zoom meeting picture by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The post Why does the mic sound so bad when connecting my AirPods/Bluetooth headphones to my PC? appeared first on Technically Well.

Video Review

Sound Quality

The sound on Soundcore Flare 2 is impressive, much like the Flare 1 model. Not only do you get crisp highs and full mids, but bass is also enhanced more on the Flare 2 compared to its predecessor. In addition, the sound is noticeably louder on the Flare 2:

Highs still become distorted at high volumes (when you reach about 80-85%), but the speaker still gets loud enough to fill a medium-sized room before hitting that point.

If you need to fill a large room or an outdoor party, you’ll likely want to look at pairing multiple Flare 2 speakers together, or check out one of Soundcore’s larger offerings such as the Soundcore Trance.

Bass Performance

As noted earlier, the bass on the Flare 2 is even better than it was on the Flare 1. It’s not quite as bass-heavy as the Sony SRS-XB32 speaker, but it will likely satisfy most listeners. If bass is not your thing, the bass boosting effect can be turned off by pressing the “Bass UP” button located on the back of the speaker.

Design

Probably the main difference you will notice on the new Flare 2 is the addition of an light ring on the top of the speaker, which the LED-lighting nerd that I am really enjoys! The light ring on the Flare 1 was located on the bottom and was sort-of hidden, especially if you set the speaker on a dark surface. Now, the LED lights are a lot more noticeable on the Flare 2.

Other than the LED rings, the cylinder shape is very much the same as the first generation of the Flare speaker.

The buttons have also been changed around a bit. You’ll now find the power button on top of the speaker and the Bass Up button on the back of the speaker.

The dimensions for the Flare 2 are very similar to the first generation: 3.5 x 3.5 x 6.3 inches.

Features

• Additional lighting modes: Now that the Flare 2 has two LED light rings, Soundcore has added some additional lighting effects to the speaker. You can access most of them by pressing the “light” button on the top of the speaker. They can also be accessed and further customized by using the Soundcore app.
  The lighting modes are: Party Time, Phasing Beats, Bouncing Beats, Circle Beam, Cool Breath, and “Who’s Next?” (which is a bit of a “spin the bottle” game).
• Party Chain: On the Flare 1, you could only pair the speaker to one other Flare 1 speaker. With the Flare 2, you can pair the speaker to up to 100 other Flare 2 speakers. However, please note that the Flare 2 cannot be paired to the Flare 1.
• Water Resistant: The Flare 2 has an IPX7 rating, meaning that it can be submerged in shallow water (up to 3.3 feet) for up to 30 minutes. Oddly, there is no “dust” rating (hence the “X”) on the Flare 2 whereas the Flare 1 had an IP67 (dust-tight) rating.

Battery Life

Battery life is still rated up to 12 hours on the Flare 2, which is the same as the Flare 1. Normal usage (with the lights) tends to net about 9-10 hours of play time.

The Bad

The speaker itself sounds and looks great, but one thing that agitated me was the accompanying Soundcore app. The first time I launched the app in order to explore the features of the Flare 2, the Soundcore app displayed a full page ad for Soundcore’s new wireless headphones. While I can appreciate the discount it advertised, disrupting my workflow to show a full screen ad that I need to manually close in order to get to the speaker settings is a big no-no in my book.

Anker Soundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth Speaker, with IPX7 Waterproof Protection and 360° Sound for...

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Pricing

Typically, you’ll find that JLab products are competitively priced below many other brands.

JLab Audio - JBuds Air Sport True Wireless In-Ear Headphones...

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Design and Fit

The ear hooks on the JBuds Air Sport provide a very secure fit compared to other truly wireless earbuds that simply sit in your ear. The soft ear hooks fit comfortably around my ears and stayed in place during workouts and running.

I do find that the sweatier I get, the “seal” into my ear canal can work loose and I lose some of the bass, but the ear hooks keeps the earbuds from falling completely off of my ear. So if you’re purchasing these for working out, you shouldn’t be disappointed, but please note that this “seal” also creates an underwater-like effect, meaning I can hear every footstep vibration amplified when these earbuds are in.

The “buttons” on these earbuds are really just touch sensors on each earbud. They can be activated inadvertently while adjusting the earbuds, but they generally work well for playing and pausing music, as well as rewinding and skipping tracks.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is very good on these earbuds. When seated properly in your ear, the JBuds earbuds have a very good bass output and mids and highs also sound very balanced.

The sound quality is not quite up there with Apple AirPods, but at half the price, the JBuds Air Sport earbuds have more than acceptable sound quality.

The JBuds Air Sport headphones also have 3 music EQ settings that, thankfully, do not require a separate app in order to activate. The three available settings are:

• JLab Signature (my preference as it also enhances the bass)
• Balanced
• Bass Boost

Features

Be Aware Audio

One feature I was very much lucking forward to was the Be Aware Audio. This can be activated by tapping the right earbud 3 times (unfortunately, there’s no voice prompt to let you know if the feature is on or off). When activated, the headphones use the mics on the earbuds to let you hear what is going on around you. Normally, the headphones will muffle outside noises as the tips “seal out” your ear canal.

Unfortunately, I found this feature can be disorienting. Since the mics are amplifying the sounds around you, they can sound louder than they really are and you can’t tell from which direction the noise is coming. This felt very confusing to me and, when running outside, I still prefer the Apple AirPods since they don’t muffle outside noises and you can naturally hear what’s going on.

Talking with the Be Aware Audio feature on would amplify my voice back to me and make it sound robotic, which was very distracting when trying to talk to someone.

IP66 Sweat Resistance

The JBuds Air Sport headphones have an IP66 water resistance rating, meaning that sweat and splashes are OK, but these should not be submerged in water (for example, don’t wear them while in the pool). You must dry the earbuds before returning them to the charging case.

Connection

The connection between the left and right headphone seems to do fairly well. Indoors, I don’t really experience a lot of issues with the sound cutting out between the two headphones unless I’m near a router or other interference. Outdoors, the sound cutouts are slightly more frequent, especially if I wear my phone on the left side of my body (it pairs with the right earbud). Overall, I’m very pleased with the connection stability.

It’s important to note that the right earbud is the master, so if you want to use only one earbud, it must be the right one. The left earbud cannot be used independently.

Battery Life and Charging

On a full charge, the JBuds Air Sport headphones last up to 6 hours and the charging case can recharge the earbuds about 4-5 additional times, so you could get up to 34 hours of usage when the case and earbuds are fully charged. In a pinch, charging the earbuds for 15 minutes will give you up to an hour of playback time.

It’s important to line up the charging pins properly when returning the earbuds to the case or they may not make a solid connection. There is a magnet in the case that helps “pull” the headphones into the correct spot, but you’ll want to verify that the blue charging indicators light up on each headphone.

The earbuds and charging case are somewhat bulky, especially when compared to the Apple AirPods. They definitely don’t fit in my jean’s pockets. I was surprised to find that the charging case has a built-in USB cable, which is very convenient as you don’t need to remember to bring along your own cable.

The post JLab JBuds Air Sport True Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review appeared first on Technically Well.

JBL - LINK 20 Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker with the...

Listen to music for up to 10 hours with this black JBL portable speaker. It has a built-in Google Assistant that responds to voice commands, and it delivers rich stereo sound while you stream music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This water-resistant JBL portable speaker is made of durable materials, so...

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Sound Quality

The JBL Link 20 features two 10W drivers and can get loud enough to fill a large room with music without distortion. As is typical with many JBL products, the sound quality is very good with crisp mids and highs and adequate bass, although I was expecting a stronger bass response from a speaker this size. That’s not to say the bass is bad: the lows are enhanced nicely and do not muddy the sound. But it won’t give you a strong “thud” like the bass-enhancement feature of the Sony SRS-XB30. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any type of EQ setting or bass enhancement feature for the speaker.

Design

The JBL Link 20 sits tall (8.3 x 3.7-inch) and can easily be carried from room to room, although holding it is a little awkward due to the wide size. A fabric mesh surrounds the speaker. The power and mute buttons are located on the back of the speaker while the Google Assistant and volume controls are located on the top as well as two microphones.

Four white LEDs on the front of the speaker indicate when Google Assistant is listening. Near the bottom of the front, 3 white LEDs in the shape of the classic WiFi symbol show you the signal strength (and seem to flash if it temporarily loses connection). There are also 5 white LEDs located on the back of the speaker, directly above the power button, to show you how much power is remaining.

Features

The most notable feature of this speaker is that it is powered by Google Assistant. The Google Home app guides you through the setup process of connecting it to your WiFi, giving the speaker a name, learning your voice and connecting it to your speakers. The Google Home app also installs JBL’s software updates to the speaker, which is nice as you do not need to download a specific JBL app to manage the speaker.

The Google Assistant does an excellent job of hearing my “Hey Google” command from across the room, even if it is already playing music. You can ask Google to play music from supported services such as Google’s own music service, Pandora and Spotify. Unfortunately, Slacker Radio (one of my favorite streaming music services) is not directly supported by Google Assistant, so I can not activate Slacker Radio by voice. However, the JBL Link 20 acts as a Chromecast Audio receiver, so if I have the Slacker Radio app open on my phone, I can cast the music to the speaker without needing to pair via Bluetooth. Slacker Radio will continue to play on the Link 20 via WiFi, even if I kill the Slacker Radio app on my phone. The JBL Link 20 can also be linked to other Google Home speakers for multi-room sound.

Google Assistant can also do things like check your Google Calendar, play the news and control smarthome devices. However, the JBL Link 20 cannot make phone calls at this time like the Google Home speaker.

Battery Life and Portability

The built-in 6000mAh battery gives you up to 10 hours of sound and portability, allowing you to carry it around the house or even out in the yard, if your WiFi extends that far. For times when you’re away from home, you can pair the speaker via Bluetooth to your phone to play music. However, without a WiFi internet connection, the Google Assistant will not operate. It can not “tether” off your phone’s mobile internet connection via Bluetooth (but it could if you set up your phone as a mobile hotspot and used another phone to configure the JBL Link 20 to connect to that hotspot… a somewhat convoluted process). The battery can be recharged in about 4.5 hours using the included 2 amp Micro USB charger.

JBL - LINK 20 Smart Portable Bluetooth Speaker with the...

Listen to music for up to 10 hours with this black JBL portable speaker. It has a built-in Google Assistant that responds to voice commands, and it delivers rich stereo sound while you stream music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This water-resistant JBL portable speaker is made of durable materials, so...

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Sound Quality

As is typical with Anker’s other SoundCore speakers, the sound quality of the Boost model builds upon the already great sound of the Anker SoundCore 2.  The Boost also features clear mids and highs and takes bass to the next level with the BassUp enhancement feature.  Turning this on gives you surprisingly strong bass performance that may annoy your neighbors!  If you’re not a fan of bass, turning off the BassUp feature will still enhance the lows nicely but for a more relaxed listening experienced.  Sound quality is almost as good as the Flip 4 speaker (some people may not notice a difference).

Bass Performance

I was very surprised by the amount of bass this unit can put out given its somewhat small size.  With the BassUp feature on, the unit gives a satisfying, thudding bass effect that sounds great with a wide variety of music.  I tested it out with rock, pop and hip hop and the music sounded great and was not muddied by the strong bass at normal volume levels (it gets a little muddier the higher you go).

Features

Like the SoundCore 2, the SoundCore Boost also has a water resistant rating of IPX5 means you don’t need to worry about splashes if you’re listening poolside (just don’t take it in the pool).

Like the JBL Charge speaker, the Anker SoundCore Boost has a full-sized USB port that you can use to charge your your phone.  However, you will need to bring along your own charging cable.

The SoundCore Boost also has NFC pairing, making it easy to pair (and switch between) NFC-enabled Android phones.

If you receive a phone call while using the speaker, it can act like a speakerphone.  However, callers claimed that I sounded too far away while using the speaker, so this would be more ideal for a quick call rather than using it as a conference room speaker.

Battery Life

The SoundCore Boost can achieve up to 12 hours of battery life, but battery life decreases as your turn up the volume on the speaker.  The speaker can be charged by a standard Micro USB port (some the Sony SRS-XB30 lacks).  Charging your phone from the built-in port on the Boost will also subtract from the speaker’s built-in 5200mAh battery.

Anker SoundCore Boost 20W Bluetooth Speaker with BassUp Technology - 12h Playtime, IPX5...

Anker SoundCore Boost 20W Bluetooth Speaker with BassUp Technology - 12h Playtime, IPX5...

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Sound Quality

The sound quality on the SoundBuds Lite does not disappoint. As is typical with eartips that “seal” to your ear canal, these earbuds have great bass response. Mids and highs also come through very clear and are not drowned out by the bass. These are noise cancelling earbuds, so they would not be ideal if you’re using them in traffic or a busy area where you need to be aware of your surroundings.

Comfort

This is a matter of personal preference, but I’m not a huge fan of necklace-style earbuds as I don’t like the movement of the necklace while I’m running. These would be fine for lifting weights at the gym, doing chores around the house or simply listening while working at the office.

There are several eartips included that allow you to find the perfect fit for your ears. There are also tips with “wings” that help the earbuds stay more secure to your ear for when you’re listening while active. I found the eartips to be very soft and comfortable, even during extended wear (over an hour).

Features

The SoundBuds Lite contain most of the features we’ve come to expect from Bluetooth headphones.
The earbuds have a mic built-in to the necklace and allow you to take phone calls while you’re wearing them. However, since they seal to your ear canal, your own voice may sound like you’re “underwater” and may make long phone calls feel awkward.

The IPX5 water resistance protects the earbuds against sweat and rain, but the earbuds are not completely waterproof and cannot be submerged in water. This is typical of most Bluetooth earbuds.

The controls on the necklace are easy to use. The Play button can be used to play and pause the music as well as answer an incoming phone call. Holding down the Play button for one second will invoke Siri or Google Assistant. Pressing the + and – buttons will increase and decrease the volume, respectively, while holding down the + and – buttons for one second will skip forward and rewind a track.

These earbuds use Bluetooth version 4.1 provides improved battery life and greater sound quality compared to earlier Bluetooth standards.

Charging the earbuds takes about 1.5 hours. As is common with most accessories, there is no wall charger included with the earbuds. However, the charging cable can be connected to a computer USB port or your phone’s wall charger. The SoundBuds Lite accept a 500mA maximum input, so a larger charger will not charge them faster than a standard computer USB port would. When the LED turns blue, the earbuds are fully charged.

Battery Life

The larger necklace allows for a larger battery compared to many other Bluetooth earbuds, giving up to 10 hours of music. Most other earbuds provide only about 4-5 hours due to the smaller battery.

Anker SoundBuds Lite Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Lightweight Neckband Headset, IPX5 Water...

Anker SoundBuds Lite Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Lightweight Neckband Headset, IPX5 Water...

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If you’re wondering what’s different between the SoundCore 2 and the SoundCore 1, check out this comparison chart of the two speakers.

PROs

• NEW! Enhanced bass: The bass response on the original SoundCore was good, but it has been enhanced even further on the SoundCore 2. There is a larger bass radiator on the front-center of the SoundCore 2 that boosts lows and makes both music and podcasts sound great. The bass is not heavy, so don’t expect window-rattling sound that would annoy the neighbors. However, it is a nice boost from the original model.
• NEW! Covered ports: On the original SoundCore model, the charging and Aux input ports were exposed. There is now a cover over these ports on the SoundCore 2, with a small protrusion on the cover to aid in opening it. This provides some additional protection to the speaker to keep out dust and light water droplets, but the speaker is not completely waterproof.
• Clarity: I’m pleased to find that the music clarity of the mids and highs was maintained from the original SoundCore model, which was one of the features that made the original model so popular. Therefore, you will find similar sound quality with a further enhancement to the bass.
• Speakerphone: I tested out the speakerphone feature of this speaker and the caller found the sound quality to be very good and could hear me well, but he could definitely tell that I was not on my iPhone. There was some background hiss due to the lack of noise cancellation, so you will not be able to use the speakerphone effectively in a noisy environment.
• Siri control: You can call up Siri by holding the “Play” button for 2 seconds. This allows you to ask Siri to pull up your favorite playlist or to send a text message without picking up your iPhone.
• Long battery life: Like the original SoundCore, the SoundCore 2 can run up to 24 hours on a single charge. I found this to accurate as I was able to use the speaker a few hours each day and I only found myself charging the speaker about once a week. You can keep tabs on the battery status with the indicator on the iOS status bar.
• Form factor: The speaker retains virtually the same form factor of the original SoundCore, but with rounded corners.

CONs

• High volume: At high volumes (at about 75% of the max volume according to the iPhone volume control), the speaker emphasizes highs and begins to sound “tinny” and even a little “screechy” at times. This issue is actually worse than what I found on the original SoundCore. So this speaker would not be ideal for large parties or for using outdoors. However, this shouldn’t be expected given the speaker’s size.

Overall. if you loved the original SoundCore, you’ll love the SoundCore 2. You can expect similar sound quality with a little more kick to the bass, as well as long battery life and great portability.

Check out the Anker SoundCore 2 on Amazon

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Better Bass, 24-Hour Playtime, 66ft Bluetooth...

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Better Bass, 24-Hour Playtime, 66ft Bluetooth...

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Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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PROs

• Sound quality: Obviously, one of the most important features of a speaker is the sound quality. The Sony XB30 certainly does not disappoint. Highs and mids come through clear and bass had some kick to it (if it’s not enough for you, you can press the “Extra Bass” button for an enhanced effect). I tested streaming music from Apple Music, Pandora and Slacker Radio and was not disappointed with the sound quality of this speaker.
• Lights: I know some may find this gimmicky, but I really like the lights on this speaker. There is the outer ring that surrounds the speaker on the front that changes different colors and two white LED “strobe” lights on either side. You can set the lights to dance with the music, set a more calming lighting effect or turn off the lights completely by using the SongPal app. The lights really to add a bit of a party atmosphere and helps this speaker stand out from other brands.
• Bass booster: A quick press of “Extra Bass” button substantially increases lows and adds a great bass effect, especially considering the size of this speaker. However, it can make some songs sound a little “muddy” with an overemphasis on lows.
• NFC pairing: If your phone features an NFC chip, it can be used to quickly pair to this speaker with a tap.
• Speakerphone support: You can answer incoming calls on this speaker by tapping the “phone” button. I tested this out and my friend said the sound quality was very good and he could hear me fine. However, if I stepped too far to one side, the noise cancellation feature seems to kick in and makes my voice harder to hear, so be sure you’re in front of the speaker while using the phone feature.
• Siri/Google Assistant support: You can also call up Siri or Google Assistant by tapping the phone button and speaking a command.
• Bluetooth standby: A unique feature of this speaker is that you can leave it plugged in to an AC outlet and it will automatically turn on when you start playing music on your phone. It will go into standby mode (waiting for the next time you play music) if nothing plays for a period of time. This feature can be enabled in SongPal app.
• Charge your phone: The speaker has a USB port on the back. You can use your own charging cable to plug into this port and charge your phone while the speaker is on. This would obviously decrease the runtime of the speaker, but it can come in handy in a pinch.
• Pair with other Sony XB30 speakers: Another unique feature is the ability to pair this Bluetooth speaker with another similar Sony Bluetooth speaker. The other speakers must support the “Wireless Party Chain” function, which currently includes the SRS-XB20, SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40. Up to 10 speakers can be connected.
• Aux in: Non-Bluetooth devices can be used by using an audio cable with stereo mini plugs (not included).

CONs

• Proprietary charger: Unfortunately, this speaker cannot be recharged with a standard Micro USB or USB-C charger. It uses a barrel connector, meaning that you need to remember to bring the included charger with you (and make sure you don’t lose it!). Fully charging the speaker takes about 4 hours.
• No battery life indicator on iOS: Many newer Bluetooth speakers display their battery level on the iPhone/iPad status bar, so you can see when your speaker needs recharged. This Sony XB30 speaker does not do that, although you can use the SongPal app to find it (it’s buried under the Settings option in the app). You can also hold down the “phone” button for about 3 seconds and the speaker will announce its current charge.
• Buggy SongPal app: This speaker seems to use a separate Bluetooth connection when using the app, as I frequently receive messages from the SongPal app that my speaker needs to be paired even while it is currently streaming music from the same device. I’ve also seen multiple instances of the speaker appear in the app even though I’m only using one, so it looks like the SongPal app has some kinks to work out.

Overall, the sound quality and built-in lights of the Sony SRS-XB30 Bluetooth speaker are sure to keep you entertained.  You can start the party anywhere!

Sony - XB30 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black

Get an instant party started with this Sony XB Bluetooth speaker. It quickly pairs with your NFC-enabled device at just a single touch, and it enhances upbeat tunes with its EXTRA BASS mode and flashing multicolored line light. This Sony XB Bluetooth speaker withstands splashes and is suitable...

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PROs

• No wires: I’ve a big fan of Bluetooth headphones for working out, but sometimes the wire gets stuck to my sweaty neck and tugs at the earbud. That’s not an issue with these earbuds as their is no wire connecting the two. This gives you a much larger range of motion when you don’t need to worry about the cord getting caught on something.
• Multiple ear tips: These earbuds stay in place by creating a “seal” in your ear canal.  There are multiple tip sizes included, and I found the smallest ones fit the best for me.
• Great sound: The sound quality is not bad on these earbuds. Bass is good, but it sometimes overpowers the highs and makes the music sound slightly muddy.  But I’m still impressed with the sound quality of these earbuds and their ability to stay in sync.
• Music controls: You can use the buttons on the earbuds to play and pause your music and adjust the volume. This is nice as you don’t need to pull out your phone while you’re working out.  The controls can be a little confusing at first, so here’s a breakdown:
  • Play/Pause: Tap the button once on either earbud.
  • Volume Up: Double-tap the button on the right earbud.
  • Volume Down: Double-tap the button on the left earbud.
  • Next track: Press and hold the button on the right earbud until you hear a beep.
  • Previous track: Press and hold the button on the left earbud until you hear a beep.
  • Answer a call: Tap the button once on either earbud (the microphone is on the right earbud).
• Range: I can wear these while doing housework and get 20-30 feet away with minimal distortion.
• Easy setup: Simply turn on the right earbud and will automatically go into pairing mode.  Link it up to your smartphone, then turn on the left earbud.  It will automatically sync up with the right earbuds.  Turning of the right earbud (by holding down the button) will automatically turn off the left one.

CONs

• Carrying case:  The case is nice, but it is a little difficult to insert and remove the earbuds quickly.  I’ve found myself storing the earbuds in this case (in the netted portion) more frequently.
• Sweaty ears: I found that if I wear these earbuds while running, then tend to work themselves loose eventually when my ears start getting sweaty.  But for a weight training session at the gym, these are fine.
• Battery life: With up to 3 hours of battery life, these earbuds may get you through a workout session at the gym, but you’ll find yourself recharging them a couple times if you’re wearing them throughout the work day.

Tips

• Charging: I’ve found that many small earbuds don’t always prevent overcharging.  I recommend using an outlet timer to only charge these earbuds for 2 hours.
• Sweat: If you wear these while working out, wipe them down with a slightly damp cloth afterwards.

Overall, these earbuds have great sound quality and I’m impressed with their ability to stay in sync with each other.  The pairing process is easy and I like their ability to control music playback without using my phone.

Check out the VAVA MOOV 20 Truly Wireless Earbuds on Amazon

VAVA MOOV 20 True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth In Ear Headphones With Built In Mic Earphones...

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Last updated on October 11, 2023 10:22 am

The post VAVA MOOV 20 True Wireless Headphones Review appeared first on Technically Well.

PROs

• Workout-friendly remote: I was initially worried that the in-line remote on the wire would be flopping around and hitting me in the face while I worked out. But, surprisingly, it stays behind my ear and out of the way, even when doing burpees. The remote allows you to conveniently adjust the volume, change the track, play/pause your music and answer phone calls.
• Sound quality: The sound quality is very good on these earbuds. Bass is light, but music is clear and not distorted.
• Heartbeat sensor: I like that these track my heart rate without needing to wear an uncomfortable chest strap. Whenever I do pull-ups or push-ups, my Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor sometimes stops work or shows a very low reading, but that was not an issue with these earbuds. They do not seem to be affected by arm movements like the Apple Watch (and many other optical sensors). I compared the readings with my chest strap and found the numbers from the JBL earbuds to be very close. The heart rate worked with my Under Armour Record, MapMyRun and RunKeeper apps.
• Bluetooth range: The range is very good on these earbuds. In an open gym, I was able to work fairly far away (20-30 ft) with minimal interruptions.

CONs

• Comfort: The ear hooks (that go over top of your ear) are fairly stiff, and my ear felt a little achy after wearing these earbuds for more than an hour.
• Seals out sound: The earbuds seal into your ear canal and blocks outside sounds. I would prefer some sound to come in for when I’m running outside, for example. Also, when talking on the phone with these in, to me my voice sounds like I’m underwater.

Overall, these earbuds work very well and the built-in heart rate sensor is very convenient. The earbuds stay in place and produce great sound, but they can get a little uncomfortable over long periods.

Check out the JBL Under Armour Sport Wireless Heart Rate In-Ear Headphones on Amazon

The post JBL Under Armour Sport Wireless Heart Rate In-Ear Headphones Review appeared first on Technically Well.