September 23, 2016

JBL Reflect Aware Active Noise-Cancelling Lightning In-Ear Headphones Review

September 23, 2016/ Nir Schneider

Apple has officially kissed the headphone jack goodbye and put it to rest in favor of the all-mighty Lightning connector. But you shouldn’t worry too much now that every audio brand is starting to release Lightning connected headphones. So if you can’t wait until Apple releases its weirdest looking wireless AirPods or perhaps you’re looking for a higher-quality sounding pair of in-ear headphones to use with your iPhone 7 (or any Apple device with a Lightning port), then you may want to consider JBL’s new Reflect Aware. These sporty and sweat-proof in-ear headphones feature a Lightning connector instead of the now obsolete 3.5mm jack. And for the very first time, the Reflect Aware are the first in-ear headphones to have powered active noise-cancellation technology. And because power is being delivered through the Lightning connector, the Reflect Aware never need to be recharged and don’t even have a weighty built-in battery. The only question left unanswered is whether or not JBL's active noise-cancelling headphones are worth purchasing over others that are truly ahead of the curve – truly wireless earbuds.

August 24, 2016

Bragi Dash Review (vs Samsung Gear Icon X)

August 24, 2016/ The Gadgetmac Team

Meet the Dash by Bragi, the sickest and most technologically advanced wireless in-ear headphones in the wireless game. These aren't just one of the most sophisticated earbuds available right now, they're also truly and honestly wireless...no strings attached. One part activity tracker and heart rate monitor, one part wireless headphones – the Dash can replace your smartphone with their on-board music storage when you're out getting your daily workouts on. So how do these expensive and truly wireless in-ear headphones fare when it comes to the four most important categories: audio quality, battery life, fit, and wireless connectivity? There's a good reason why we've been using and testing Bragi's little pieces of wireless wonder for the past month. Our full review complete with an in-depth comparison of the Samsung Gear Icon X awaits!

July 06, 2016

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H5 Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review

July 06, 2016/ Nir Schneider

Meet the Beoplay H5 by Bang & Olufsen. The classiest and arguably the prettiest, most premium and one of the more expensive wireless in-ear headphones ever made. Have you ever found yourself wanting the best possible sound out of small wireless in-ear headphones, but couldn't compromise on design? Then you might like what Bang & Olufsen has got to offer with its new H5. Made to withstand water, sweat, dust and the occasional thrashing, the Danish designed Beoplay H5 won't require you to wear any awkward stabilizing wings or ear hooks like most other wireless earbuds in order to achieve the perfect fit. They'll also let you customize their signature Bang & Olufsen sound using an Apple Watch-supported app, turn off automatically when snapped together, and even offer to replace any neck jewelry you have as you can also continue wearing them when you pull them out of your ears.

All that's left now is to find out if Bang & Olufsen's first attempt at making wireless in-ear headphones is anything worth writing home about. And more importantly, how do the Beoplay H5 fare when compared to noteworthy alternatives from the likes of Jaybird and Bose? Find out in our full review after the cut!

June 30, 2016

Fender FXA6 In-Ear Monitors Review

June 30, 2016/ Nir Schneider

Internationally renowned for its electric guitars and amplifiers, Fender has released its first ever line of in-ear monitors geared towards audiophiles and professional musicians alike. Although a bit too late to the party there Fender. Nevertheless, we were excited to have been given the momentous opportunity to review one of six in Fender’s new professional-grade series of in-ear monitors – more specifically, the FXA6 model. Hand-assembled and designed in Nashville, the FXA6 are Fender’s intermediate offering boasting an ergonomically-shaped, 3D-printed housing for a better universal fit said to be compatible with 95% of users. Fender’s custom molded-like design is made precisely so that it can fit the natural shape of the ear while not only greatly reducing ambient background noise with a superior seal, but also ensuring a low profile is maintained whilst inside the ear. Where it gets even more exciting is what’s waiting for you on the inside. The FXA6 combine the best of both worlds using a hybrid driver array comprised of a single balanced armature tweeter along with a custom full-range 9.25mm driver to produce some seriously impressive audio performance. In other words, we haven’t reviewed a pair of in-ear headphones quite as good as these.

June 16, 2016

Bose QuietComfort 35 Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review

June 16, 2016/ Nir Schneider

The world’s best active noise-canceling headphones have finally been set free. The QuietComfort 35 are Bose’s new wireless headphones with an industry-leading active noise-cancellation technology and Bluetooth wireless audio streaming with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. The QC35 have a more durable, higher-end design compared to the old QC25 as well as a built-in rechargeable battery. Bose has kept the familiar styling the same between these two models, but it did give the new QuietComfort 35 this coherent fresh coat of matte-finished coloring that looks cleaner than a pair of NMDs. These are said to be the best headphones Bose has ever made, but we'll be the judge of that. So be sure to catch our full, in-depth review down below!

June 08, 2016

Bose SoundSport Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review

June 08, 2016/ Nir Schneider

Bose is known for making some great sounding audio gear, the best noise-canceling technology and weird looking ear tips. But what Bose never thought about making were wireless earphones...until now. The SoundSport Wireless are Bose's newest and first wireless Bluetooth sport in-ear headphones designed for active use and feature a sweat and weather-resistant design with up to 6 hours of playtime, a promising interference-free Bluetooth connection, and a secure comfortable fit using Bose's uniquely shaped StayHear+ Sport tips. How do they sound and perform out in the real world, though, is what we set out to discover to help you make the best purchase decision. Head down under for the full review complete with a comparison between the Jaybird X2/X3!

June 01, 2016

Philips SHB5850 Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review

June 01, 2016/ The Gadgetmac Team

On a budget and looking for a decent pair of wireless in-ear headphones? What if we told you that you can get a whole lot more than a decent pair for a price so reasonable, it’s mind-blowingly amazing. Philips has a few wireless in-ear headphones on offer, but we decided to take the company’s poorly named SHB5850 for a test drive, which promise to deliver clear and powerful sound with rich bass using fairly large 8.6mm dynamic drivers, an ultra-lightweight design with an ergonomic oval-shaped fit, and a 7-hour battery life. What more can you possibly ask for? Well, not much. But to find out if the SHB5850 from Philips are truly worth buying, check out the full review down below!