Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds?

You get a plethora of ear tips and wings to choose from.

These earbuds have a number of features to protect your hearing in noisy environments. Since a good fit is key to blocking out noise, the Milwaukee earbuds come with a wide variety of ear tips and wings. You get three foam ear tips, three silicon ear tips, and three different sizes of wings to lock into your ear.

Despite all the accessories, I still could not attain a comfortable fit with the Milwaukee earbuds. The earbuds are shaped in a way that requires you to insert them very deep into your ear canal. So deep that I was actually worried about harming my ears. While this deep insertion helps to block out noise, I found it extremely uncomfortable. I could not wear the Milwaukee earbuds for more than a few minutes at a time. Having tested hundreds of earbuds, I’ve never run into this issue before, so this really is a problem exclusive to these earbuds.

I could not properly wear the earbuds without experiencing pain and discomfort.

If you can overcome the fit issues that I had, there is a lot to like about the design of the Milwaukee earbuds. They are impact-resistant, dust-resistant, and water-resistant. The charging case is excessively large, but it features a swappable REDLITHIUM USB 3.0 battery. If you already have a few of these batteries from your other Milwaukee tools, it is easy to swap them in and out so you always have a charge when you need it.

Is there an app for the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds?

The Milwaukee earbuds do not have an app or any software tricks. This means you don’t get features typically found on premium wireless earbuds such as an equalizer to adjust the sound quality.

How do the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds connect?

You can connect the Milwaukee earbuds to your source of choice via Bluetooth.

The Milwaukee earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth 5.1. This isn’t the latest version of Bluetooth, and you don’t get any high-res Bluetooth codecs or Bluetooth Multipoint support. That said, I didn’t experience any connection dropouts or stutters when using the Milwaukee earbuds with my iPhone.

How long do the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds last?

You can remove the battery that is inside the charging case.

According to our testing, the Milwaukee earbuds last 11 hours and 1 minute, which is very impressive battery life for wireless earbuds. You get a few extra charges from the removable REDLITHIUM USB 3.0 battery inside the case. When the battery is inside the case, you can power the case via USB-C.

How well do the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds block noise?

While the Milwaukee earbuds do not have active noise canceling, they do have exceptional passive isolation. Considering these earbuds are advertised for their hearing protection on job sites, this makes sense. They have an official Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 25 with the foam ear tips and 22 with the silicon ear tips.

Our testing shows that the Milwaukee earbuds block an average of 80% of ambient noise. Low-frequency ambient noise is reduced by about 10dB, while high-frequency noise is reduced by up to 50 dB. This far exceeds the passive isolation performance of most earbuds. Earbuds with good noise canceling will reduce more low-frequency ambient noise, such as the rumble of an engine, than the Milwaukee earbuds. That said, these are pretty much the best earbuds on the market when it comes to blocking out high-frequency noise such as the clank and clatter of metal.

The foam ear tips can down out a significant portion of noise from a drill.

There are a number of reasons why the Milwaukee earbuds do a great job of blocking out noise. First, the earbuds ship with foam ear tips, which inherently block out more noise than the silicon ear tips found on most wireless earbuds. Second, the earbuds get inserted deep into the ear canal, which prevents noise from traveling to your ear drum. Finally, the earbuds themselves are very large, which provides a large barrier to block out noise.

A button press activates the Jobsite Aware mode, which amplifies noise around you to help you stay aware of your surroundings while still actively limiting the intensity of loud external noises. This feature aims to ensure you can stay aware on a worksite without putting your hearing at risk from a sudden unexpected noise.

In practice, I found the Jobsite Aware mode just loud enough to have a conversation sitting next to someone in a quiet room without music playing. While playing music, or if in a noisy environment, the Aware mode does not amplify enough sound to carry a conversation. That said, it’s loud enough to stay aware of approaching vehicles and other potential dangers. You can increase or decrease the volume of the Jobsite Aware mode by double-tapping the left earbud, though I would prefer setting an exact volume of the ambient sound within an app like you can with the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2.

How do the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds sound?

Milwaukee may not be an audio company, but they know how to make good earbuds. Surprisingly, I have no major complaints about the sound quality of the Milwaukee earbuds.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Milwaukee earbuds was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

An Overall score of 4.8 is very impressive.

A simulated panel of listeners rates the sound quality of the Milwaukee earbuds very high. This means there is a very good chance you will enjoy the sound of the Milwaukee earbuds — even if it’s not everybody’s favorite. The high Immersiveness rating is a bit surprising, given that the long nozzles sometimes make your music feel like it’s coming from inside your head. Still, these seem to be competent crowd-pleasers.

Reviewer’s notes

Listening to music with the Milwaukee earbuds is a surprisingly enjoyable experience. The sound quality will vary depending on how far you manage to jam the earbuds down your ear canal, but in most cases, I enjoyed the way the earbuds sound.

The sound quality is perfectly fine.

The earbuds don’t have the same amount of detail in the highs as the earbuds with the best sound quality. This makes listening to “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson a slightly underwhelming experience as the percussion and guitar elements sound slightly muted. Comparatively, the bassline in tracks such as “Break My Heart” by Dua Lipa stand out. While I wouldn’t reach for the Milwaukee earbuds for critical listening, they are great for casual listening. I found the thumping basslines helped power me through a workout, so I’m sure these earbuds could help you get through the toughest of jobs.

Objective Measurements

The Milwaukee earbuds have a frequency response that most people will find pleasing. Compared to our headphone preference curve, the Milwaukee earbuds have slightly more of an emphasis on lows and less on the highs. In practice, this means bass guitars sound comparatively louder than cymbals. Since there is no app, there is no native equalizer support to adjust the frequency response.

The somewhat less-emphasized highs are also interesting, given that the earbuds seem to undershoot this range a bit. Our preference curve is known for being on the loud side for the highest octave, but quieter in the 2-5kHz range. The Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds are quieter than we’d hoped from 2kHz on higher, which is a little surprising — but should only manifest in your tunes as a somewhat duller sound in loud mixes.

Can you use the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds for phone calls?

If you need to answer a call while working, the Milwaukee earbuds are up for the task. The earbuds have onboard microphones that we found to reproduce the sound of the voice clearly. Listen to our demo below and let us know what you think.

Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

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Should you buy the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds?

The Milwaukee earbuds share a swappable battery with other products in the Milwaukee ecosystem.

Only a very select few people should buy the Milwaukee earbuds. You need to have very large ears to get these things to fit comfortably, so if you have small ears – look elsewhere. If you can overcome the comfort issues, then you need to be the type of person who prioritizes passive isolation above all else. These are some of the only official NRR earbuds on the market, making them a suitable choice for job sites that require certified hearing protection.

The Milwaukee earbuds sound good, but you can find other earbuds around this price that sound good and block noise with ANC just as well. You’ll also get a ton more features such as app support with other premium earbuds. On the other hand, these earbuds are ideal for those with Milwaukee tools who can easily swap the battery between the earbuds and tools and toss the giant earbud case in their toolkit.

What should you get instead of the Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Jobsite Earbuds?

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are among the best noise canceling headphones on the market — but they don’t come cheap.

If you want the best earbuds for controlling environmental noise levels, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are your best bet, . Similar to the Milwaukee earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM5 have foam ear tips to passively isolate sound. Active noise canceling provides additional attenuation to block out more noise than any other earbuds we’ve tested.

You can also block out a lot of noise without spending a lot of money. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 have excellent noise canceling at a very affordable price, . That said, ANC is not as good at blocking out incidental noise as passive isolation, which means these earbuds aren’t as safe on a worksite with sudden loud noises.

Frequently asked questions

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation)?

The Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) absolutely screams “luxury product” right out of the box. Not only do the headphones come with a super-ostentatious case and build, but also some Macassar Ebony paneling on the backs of the earcups that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-end cigar shop. These are headphones meant to fit a certain image, and it’s not hard to figure that one out.

A friction rod allows you to get the right fit without futzing with preset adjustment intervals.

Using a friction-rod design, the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation)’s ear cups have an extreme range of motion in relation to the band, able to swivel or pull out quite far. The padded band is also able to unfurl quite far, so the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) can meet larger heads with no sweat. Though the headphones are quite heavy at 427g, the very plush ear pads and wider cup design distribute the weight well. However, be aware that you might strain your neck a bit, as that’s a lot of mass to add to your head.

These headphones are pretty much purpose-built for the computer or Hi-Fi setup, and not to be taken out and about with you. For one thing, the cost of these headphones is astronomical, so you might be tempted to baby these things. For another, the outside world might adversely affect these headphones through inclement weather, so these are best left tethered to where you do your serious listening. The upside is that the most commonly dirtied components, the ear pads, are easy to remove and clean. They’re held onto the earphones by some strong magnets and aren’t dislodged unless you really want them to be.

The padded band of the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is wide and strong.

Much of the design of the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is extremely similar to the original Meze Audio Liric — the vents, isodynamic drivers, and basic design is all virtually the same. The driver design is interesting in that it’s split up to take advantage of the natural anatomy of your outer ear, and this type of driver is not only in the Liric headphones, but also the higher-end Empyrean. However, Meze Audio changed up the structure of the mask in front of the driver to include what it’s calling a Quarter-Wavelength Resonator Mask. Essentially, this is put in place to keep sound above 7kHz under control, and it seems to do its job.

How does the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) connect?

You can use a balanced 4.4mm connection, or a regular unbalanced 3.5mm TRS connector.

The Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) connects to source devices via a Y-shaped cable with 3.5mm TRS or 4.4mm balanced termination. Each stem of the Y-cable terminates in a mono TS plug that inserts into the female 3.5mm jacks on each ear cup. Because the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is so easy to drive, you shouldn’t have any trouble with power, or need for extra equipment. You should only need a DAC if your source doesn’t support the files you’re trying to listen to, or if there’s noise introduced by the signal chain somewhere.

How well do the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) block out noise?

Though the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) will most likely spend its time in a quieter setting — like in an office, by the computer, or dedicated listening station — it can still isolate you from outside noise to a respectable degree. Blocking an average of 68% of outside noise, a good seal will mean that you can expect quieter sounds like environmental noise, computer fans, and weird house sounds to get all but muted. Loud housemates will be dulled, but as always: the best way for you to avoid noise is for there not to be any around you in the first place.

How do the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) sound?

Though the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is a fair bit bassier than audiophiles used to open-back headphones might be expecting, the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) will sound great to most listeners.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

With high scores across the board, it’s a good bet that most people will like the sound of the Meze Audio Liric II.

The Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) sounds very good, as a simulated panel of hundreds of listeners would rate the headphones very highly. Extremely high Timbre and Distortion scores make up for a somewhat less stellar immersiveness score. However, that score isn’t low enough to affect the overall much, and consequently, it’s a safe bet that most people will quite like the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation).

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

For a set of audiophile headphones, this is an interesting response, as it’s one of a select few that emphasizes bass as much as it does. Though sub-bass falls off a little bit, this will sound a fair bit more “normal” to more novice headphone enthusiasts. The high end seems to have a more toned-down ear gain bump that our target favors, and this will be a plus for longer listening sessions.

There’s a bit of wobble in the high-end response, but this isn’t exactly to the degree where it would count as a flaw, as each deviation is within 4dB at worst. However, some people will perceive these ranges of over-emphasis as added detail, as some of the softer sounds in these ranges like echo, room effects, and string attack will be much easier to hear. However, some high harmonics might end up grating at high listening volumes — which is something you should be avoiding anyway.

The Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) measures well, but some audiophiles might be looking for something else.

Though we don’t often find distortion to be all that objectionable in audio products, the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is outstanding at keeping a lid on added junk noise and unwanted changes to your audio. The multi-paned planar magnetic drivers that we saw on the last version of Liric headphones is truly creative, and are quite solid in this department. If you can hear junk noise, be sure that there isn’t something wrong with your signal chain, or source.

If we were to wager who would be the intended audience for this kind of sound, it would definitely be the above-30 crowd, as Knowles’ research shows that extreme treble extension is something preferred by older listeners. Though the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) isn’t a set of in-ears, there’s something to the idea that good sound is universal, as evidenced by our experiences with having independent validation of our preference curve.

Can you use the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) for phone calls?

As the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) does not have a microphone, you can’t use it for phone calls. Though it’s possible you could find a replacement cable with one, the included options with the headphones don’t have such an assembly.

Should you buy the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation)?

The Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is certainly a looker, and proof positive that headphones look better with the classic build materials.

If you’ve read this review all the way through, you probably already know whether or not the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is something that you want in your life. The long and short of it is that these headphones are exactly the kind of thing I talk about when I say that expensive headphones are (sometimes) worth it. For those not looking to chase an uncatchable audio quality dragon, the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) is a solid buy for those with almost $3,000 to blow on headphones. It may not be able to do everything you want to do at all times, but it will work quite well at a computer or listening station.

To state the obvious, there are headphones that are cheaper and do more than the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation). Additionally, headphones like the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) are mainly geared toward those who aren’t really all that concerned about money in the first place and are picking their next set of cans to serve as a set piece or something they’ll never have to replace. Is the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) good? Yes. Is it thousands of dollars good? Well… the wood speaks to me. I like it.

What should you get instead of the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation)?

Those looking for an alternative will deal with matters of taste more than objectively better or worse sound. Truth be told, at this price point, there’s not exactly a dearth of options, but the idea of “value” is right out the window.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is a time-tested model of high-end headphones.

Should that $2,000 you’d need to spend to get the Meze Audio Liric (2nd Generation) seem a little too steep for you, you may want to check out the Focal Azurys (). Closed-back headphones in the high-end bracket face diminishing returns the higher you go, so if what you care about is a striking aesthetic and good sound, you could have both for about a quarter of the price.

If you’re not after a bassier sound, you should probably take a long hard look at the Sennheiser HD 800 S (). It’s an extremely competent set of headphones, an icon, and a solid performer. The HiFiMan Sundara () is also an extremely utilitarian set of headphones that performs extremely well.

Frequently asked questions

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What I like about the Marshall Emberton II

With its IP67 protection rating, the Marshall Emberton II is ready for the great outdoors or your musty old jam space.

In true Marshall amplification style, the Emberton II sports a rock-and-roll design reminiscent of one of their classic tube amplifiers. Each side of this omnidirectional unit contains a 2″ full-range driver and a passive radiator. With its rubberized finish and IP67 protection rating, this portable speaker is ready for the beach or your next poolside hang. It easily fits in a backpack, though at 673g it is heavier than competitors such as the JBL Flip 6.

Controlling the Emberton II is dead simple. You’ll find a multidirectional button to control your power and playback and a dedicated Bluetooth button on the top of the unit. While none of these controls are backlit, the multi-control button is pretty intuitive. Push up or down for volume control, left or right to go back or skip a track, and press in the middle once to pause. It couldn’t be easier. You also get a red LED battery life meter.

The multi-control button makes the Emberton II a breeze to use.

While there isn’t much going on in the Marshall Bluetooth app, you’ll at least want to download and install it to take advantage of its “Push” EQ setting. While listening to Forest King by 3 Inches of Blood on the Marshall Emberton II, I noticed a very prominent emphasis on the mids. While this always helps instruments like distorted guitars cut through the mix, this stock preset also changes the sound of the snare drum tone I’m used to hearing on this heavy metal track.

After selecting the Push EQ preset, the Emberton II takes on more of a “U-shaped” frequency response. This enhances the bass, dials back the mid-frequencies, and increases some treble frequencies for a more exciting sound. While the guitars are pushed back slightly, so is the unnecessary “bark” from the snare drum for a better listening experience. This preset also makes kick drums a bit punchier and adds clarity to cymbals.

“I know, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.”The Emberton II separates your music’s left and right channels with good definition. When compared side by side with the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3, the Emberton II with the “Push” EQ activated does a much better job in reproducing treble frequencies, even after adjusting the Megaboom 3’s EQ settings. With the Emberton II, you can easily hear the details of the drummer’s cymbal work and other treble-related elements, such as reverberated vocal tones. When it comes to rock music, the Emberton II sounds better to my ears than the Megaboom 3 by far.

What’s not so good about the Marshall Emberton II?

Omnidirectional speakers are ideally placed in the center of your gathering.

As mentioned, the the Marshall Bluetooth app is a little lean. A custom EQ of any kind would be a welcome addition to further personalize the Emberton II sound. In terms of connection, Emberton II connects via Bluetooth 5.1 and is SBC only. No codec support exists for higher bit rate options, which isn’t anything new for portable speakers, but it also doesn’t support multipoint connection.

We also experienced a disappointing battery test. Unfortunately, in our standardized testing, the Emberton II lasted only 9 hours and 8 minutes. Marshall advertises 30-plus hours of playback with the Emberton II. A lackluster battery performance is always a letdown. However, it’s still enough time to listen to Guns ‘n Roses’s Appetite For Destruction at least ten times on repeat.

Lastly, it’s essential to remember omnidirectional speakers aren’t ideal for personal listening and perform best in the center of a gathering. Since your playback is fired hard left and right out of the enclosure, you won’t catch all the production-related details of your favorite song if you’re facing the speaker directly. The omnidirectional design aims to help fill your party area with as much sound as possible. Consider a more traditional, directional Bluetooth speaker for personal listening around the house.

Should you buy the Marshall Emberton II?

The Emberton II is also available in a black and gold finish and cream.

The Marshall Emberton II is a decent-sounding omnidirectional speaker in a fun rock and roll package, suitable for smaller-sized gatherings. It’s durable, dead simple to use, and easily packable if you want to bring it along on your next beach day. As long as you don’t plan on listening for more than 10 hours at a time, you’ll have a blast with this speaker.

However, if you like the idea of an omnidirectional speaker for your next gathering but aren’t digging the Marshall amp-like finish, check out the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 (). This popular party speaker is also built to withstand the great outdoors with its IP67 protection rating, not to mention it’s drop-proof and floats. It can also easily fit into your backpack with its cylindric design.

Marshall Emberton II review: FAQs

It turns out that’s an easy question to answer — it’s the Heavys H1H over-ear headphones.

What you need to know about the Heavys H1H

The Heavys H1H headphones are a serious pair of over-ear headphones designed to give the best possible sound when listening to heavy music. Heavy metal, technical death metal, doom metal, hard rock, you name it. Anything with distorted guitars, driving bass lines, punchy kick drums, and vocals ranging from singing to full-on screaming.

However, we can’t forget the dynamics of subgenres like progressive metal, where you’ll often encounter the softer, melodic side of metal, where clean guitars shimmer with plenty of reverb and delay to create a soundscape you’d think belonged on a Pink Floyd album. Honestly, the Heavys headphones can handle it all.

The Heavys offer interchangeable shells, including ones with official artwork from your favorite metal band.

In terms of design, the Heavys headphones have plenty of features and connection options. The H1H uses a unique 8-driver (four per side) design for sonic annihilation, “Hellblocker Noise Cancelation (ANC)” to keep outside noises at bay, transparent mode, and Bluetooth 5.1 with support for SBC, AAC, and aptX adaptive codecs. It also supports wired connection via an included 3.5mm cable, audio over USB-C, and a microphone for taking phone calls.

Capping it off, my favorite feature of the Heavys is the physical volume knob, which doubles as Play/Play button. I love that you can dial in the exact volume of your music rather than relying on increments from your phone buttons. Did I mention you can also make the H1H headphones your own with swappable earcup shells?

So, how does the Heavys H1H sound?

As a musician with my own heavy metal band, I was eager to experience the Heavys H1H headphones. Can there indeed be one heavy metal headphone to rule them all? The first thing I noticed about the Heavys headphones is how comfortable they are to wear despite their large size. The headband is cushy, and the earcups are very roomy, providing a quality seal around my ear. With the “Hellblocker” noise canceling engaged, I quickly cued up my go-to reference album, Opeth’s Ghost Reveries, and began my journey.

Hearing the clean opening chords of the album’s opening track, Ghost of Perdition, I knew we were off to a good start. The details of the timed delay effect accompanying the isolated opening clean guitar chords can be heard. As the rest of the band kicks in, I’m immediately satisfied with the low-end punch from the kick drum and the snap from the snare drum. The distorted guitars sound crip with good definition, not to mention the clarity and separation of the Hammond and Moog synths that add an extra layer to this progressive metal soundscape. Before I knew it, the 10-and-a-half-minute track ended, so it was time to put on something a little… heavier.

Local metalhead enjoys the sound of the Heavys headphones.

Born in Dissonance is a grooving yet complex metal track drenched in polyrhythms by Swedish heavy metal titans Meshuggah. The low-end resonance of Fredrik and Mårten’s 8-string Ibanez guitars sounds enormous in the roomy earpads, while the steady rhythmic pulse of Dick’s semi-distorted bass guitar and Thomas’s kick drum locked in together had me air drumming in no time.

Lastly, I knew I had to crank up a classic for good measure. Cueing up Holy Diver by Dio seals the deal for me. The first thing I noticed was the excellent separation of all the instruments on this track, especially regarding the mid-heavy left and right rhythm guitars, not to mention the details of the reverberated snare tone. Of course, Ronny’s voice is sounding as powerful as ever. Overall, the Heavys headphones are undoubtedly an ideal pair of cans to enjoy your favorite heavy tunes.

Should you buy the Heavys H1H?

The Heavys H1H headphones are an excellent pair of over-ear headphones for sitting down and enjoying all the details of your favorite heavy music. On the other hand, if you are just flipping through Spotify on your short commute to work, there are cheaper alternatives out there.

In my years of touring with my band, I noticed plenty of metalheads enjoy collecting vinyl and appreciate all the tangible details that come with it. The ritual of listening to your favorite album from start to finish. Taking in the incredible artwork. With or without its wired connection, this scenario is the perfect time to “unplug from the world.” Put on the Heavys headphones, and enjoy the finer details of your favorite tune, and by the finer details, I mean a double kick drum rattling your brain, the crisp, impactful chug of a palm-muted electric guitar in your ear, and the overall sound of heavy music, the way it’s meant to be heard. Rock on!

Frequently Asked Questions:

It’s hard not to get hyped as yet another generation of high-end earbuds gets released. Samsung really tried to throw in everything but the kitchen sink with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, but are they any good? Complicated products with lots of features make that question a little harder to unpack — but if you’ll give us some of your time, we’ll unwind it for you.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on July 19, 2024 to provide a statement from Samsung about its decision to investigate quality control issues further.

What’s it like to use Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are very easy to use, and build upon many of the design lessons learned from Apple — for better, or worse. For starters, the lollipop and stem design is a clever way to hold earbuds in place by snaking a hard physical object through your tragus and antitragus, and the ear tips with the completely removable nozzle ensure that people of varying ear shapes will be able to use the earbuds without much discomfort. I was able to listen for about an hour at a time before the unseasonably hot weather in British Columbia made me sweat enough that a fit was difficult to maintain.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro definitely look the part of flagship earbuds.

Hidden away inside the casing of each earbud are two channels — a dynamic driver and a planar magnetic one — and dual amp to power each driver. On paper, the specs are impressive, but that much hardware has a power cost. This showed up in our battery testing, but more on that later.

The earbuds come stuffed into a rather small, wireless charging-enabled case with a clear window for a lid. This case will fit easily into just about any pants pockets, as it’s quite small and thin. On the bottom of the case is the USB-C charging port, which is a little strange, but given the fact that the earbuds have a door keeping them in, you don’t have to worry about knockouts when you set your earbuds on the desk like you would with other models that share this design feature.

Samsung is known for cutting-edge tech, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro fit that mold quite well.

New to the Galaxy Buds Pro design is the blade-shaped lollipop stems, which serve as a vehicle for interesting lights as well as controls. If you don’t want to use a series of taps and swipes to control your earbuds, you can also bark orders to them — just be aware that it won’t be a complete picnic if you have cheeky friends. I had to avoid keeping this feature toggled because my five-year-old, sweet as she is, sees any piece of technology as a way to call other people. Because the earbuds have a tendency to allow anyone speaking the commands to control your earbuds… it was wise to avoid giving up that kind of control.

Removable ear tips mean do hard plastic bits getting jammed into your ear canal.

These earbuds are a solid choice for workouts. Because of the IP57 rating, the secure fit, and ambient sound modes that allow sirens to pass through, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro would do as well on a commute as they would if you decided to run to work instead.

Should you use the Samsung Wearable app for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro?

Yes, you should use the Samsung Wear app with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. Though apps can sometimes be a huge pain, the Samsung Wearable app is necessary to make use of the most advanced features of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, including voice commands, adaptive noise control, AI translation services, 360 audio, Find My, and more. Long story short: the earbuds just aren’t the complete package without the right hardware and software behind them — and that means using the app.

The Samsung Wearable app enables a 9-band EQ, along with presets.

Though that might sound like a drawback, it’s not a huge one. If you’re looking at the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro to begin with, you’re likely someone who’s already got a Samsung phone, or at the very least an Android phone.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro connect?

The pairing button lives next to the USB-C port.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro connect to your source device via Bluetooth 5.4 over the SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec, and Samsung Seamless Codec. However, just be aware that unless you have a relatively new Samsung phone, you cannot use the latter codec for higher-bitrate listening. Though SBC and AAC are more than fine for most, much hay was made by Samsung for supporting a higher-quality codec at launch, and you should know that it’s not a given that you’ll be able to use it. If you’re hoping that your earbuds will provide you with lossless or near-lossless listening, you’ll have to have a relatively new Samsung phone in order to use it.

Audio quality up to 24bit/96kHz’ is available on Galaxy S24 series, S23 series, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5 and Tab S9 series with One UI 6.1.1 or above.
Additional devices may be supported in the future. — Samsung, on the product page for the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro

We had a few issues managing devices in the lab, as we had to pair and re-pair the earbuds to the test computer and phone to do things like change EQ, presets, or turn the ANC on/off. But there weren’t any dropouts, or other common issues with Bluetooth earbuds, so that’s a plus. It was only when we tested the buds with a new phone that we experienced our only stutters in playback. If that edge case is what it takes to get some of these hiccups, a firmware update might be able to handle it.

New to the world of Samsung earbuds is Auracast support, which is a bigger plus for you down the road than it is now. Auracast can be used to broadcast and share your tunes, as well as hear venue-specific announcements and more.

How long do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro’s batteries last?

Withstanding our standardized battery test for 4 hours and 31 minutes, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro chew through battery a bit faster than we’d hope — but it’s still well beyond what’s needed for a commute. International travelers might want to take note, as this short battery life would require several charge cycles to last an intercontinental flight (depending on how long that actually is).

Having products with poor battery life also means more frequent charge cycles, and could end in a battery that loses its ability to recharge as well as you need it to. True wireless earbuds only last so long, and models without replaceable batteries tend to end up as e-waste pretty quickly compared to other kinds of personal audio products.

How well do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro cancel noise?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are quite good at blocking out noise, and decent — not amazing — at canceling it. With a good fit, you can expect about 57% of outside noise to be hushed without ANC, and about 76% when the unit is enabled. While that’s fine enough for most, it’s definitely a cut below what other products at this price point provide, and it’s unclear whether a firmware update will fix this or if this is as good as it gets.

For those of you interested in more advanced features, Samsung baked in a few goodies into the Wear app to attempt to make the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro’ ANC a little more useful in daily life. However, when it’s as poor as it is, some of these features — namely, siren detection — are probably not necessary. As a gut check with newer earbuds, sometimes I pass around new products around the office, and my colleague Adam confirmed it wasn’t just me: the ANC isn’t quite as good as it was on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro. He had no trouble hearing things around him while walking into the office.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro sound?

Samsung has a lot of institutional knowledge on how to make personal audio products that sound good, and it shows with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — with relatively high scores across the board, most people will like the sound of the earbuds.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

Out of the box, and even if you don’t listen with a Samsung phone, the Buds3 Pro sound quite good.

The simulated panel of listeners returned high scores for Timbre and Immersiveness, with a merely “okay” level of distortion. Remember that this sample, in particular, was not recorded using Samsung’s proprietary codecs, so this should be viewed as the performance floor of the earbuds. Depending on your tastes, you may also perceive different EQ presets to be better or worse than this.

The Clear EQ preset does very well, offering better distortion scores and slightly improved timbre at the cost of a slight hit to immersiveness, which is rated as merely “good.”

For example, the “Clear” EQ preset — the preset that most closely aligns with our Headphone Preference Curve among the provided options — posts a higher Distortion score with only a mild hit to Immersiveness (but is still rated positively). This EQ mode slightly edges out the default behavior by one-tenth of a point, so it’s entirely possible you won’t really care too much about the difference. Any way you slice it, though, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro will likely be a crowd-pleaser.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

The default sound of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is pretty much what you’d expect out of a set of earbuds nowadays, with a 5dB bass overemphasis to compete with outside noise and more masses-friendly tuning. There really isn’t much more to talk about until you get to the highs, where there’s a rather pronounced over-emphasis from 4kHz to 9kHz. We’ve seen this one before, and it’s unlikely to truly sour anyone’s listening experience — just make a mental note of it, and if you find that music with lots of high-end is fatiguing, try another EQ preset if you like.

I am heartened to see as much treble extension as I do, as many earbuds tend to tail off a bit earlier than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro do. The upside here is that it’s much easier to tone down something that you don’t want to hear than it is to rescue an underemphasis — especially when it comes to wireless audio products. Sure, this does depart from our preferred response, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from the last few years, it’s that different responses can attain similar listener preference scores. Given that Samsung has access to a lot of research from very talented audio engineers, I’m unsurprised to see a response that differs in the specific ways that the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro do.

Can you use the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro for phone calls?

Yes, you can use the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro for phone calls, and they come with a number of advanced features as well. For example, you can use “super wideband call” functionality that will allow you to record up to 16kHz instead of the usual 8kHz. The intended consequence of this is improved call quality, but there are a number of factors, including your network, that will determine what your conversation mates actually hear. Below are samples we collected in the lab.

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

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Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro?

Though they look a bit like a Cybertruck and AirPods had a baby, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are 2024 tech chic.

If you own a newer Samsung phone, there’s really not much downside to picking up the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, as they’re the company’s vision of what earbuds in 2024 are meant to be like. But if you’re like me and don’t need AI in every damn thing, you should probably look for something a bit more affordable. Two hundred and fifty dollars for earbuds is a lot of money, and anybody asking that much needs to deliver a lot for the purchase to make sense. While the Samsung-only features are extremely useful to someone who travels a lot, they may not be as necessary if all you want is a simple set of ANC earbuds.

For one thing, there are earbuds out there that are a little easier to control and block out more noise than the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. Additionally, these can sometimes be difficult to fit, and if you don’t have a Samsung phone: you’ll lose access to some of the advanced features of the earbuds. If you own an iPhone or older Android phone: you should probably search for something else, instead.

How do Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro compare to Apple AirPods Pro 2?

After their USB-C update, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are much less frustrating to use.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro take square aim at providing a credible alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro 2 for Samsung devices, and it delivers — but should you still give Apple’s earbuds a look? Well, that depends entirely upon whether you’re using an iPhone or a Samsung phone. If you’re on the fence about jumping into one platform or another, then there’s a few things to consider. For example, whether you’re hoping your earbuds are going to be used more for entertainment or dealing with ever-changing demands from the world around you.

Both earbuds are projected to be crowd-pleasers.

In terms of pure performance, the AirPods Pro 2 have the edge on ANC and battery, but sound quality is a bit of a push — though the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro do offer higher-bitrate listening with Samsung devices than the AirPods Pro 2 can accommodate. Given that Bluetooth codecs — and specifically AAC in particular — have come quite a ways, it’s not as big of a deal as it used to be.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro compare to the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro?

The older earbuds don’t have a stem, but work quite well still.

Though it might annoy some, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are very different than their successors when it comes to ANC performance and features. Additionally, we found the older earphones slightly easier to fit than the newer ones. Both sets of earbuds are excellent, and if you aren’t crazy about AI features: you may want to just grab the older buds on sale if you can find them, .

The newer Buds3 Pro have the edge on the Buds2 Pro, but only just.

As far as sound quality goes, both earbuds are great — though it’s slightly more likely that the newer Buds3 Pro will be more preferred by more people. However, the ANC is much better with the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro than it is with the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. We’re unsure why there was a drop in ANC performance from generation to generation, but it’s noticeable.

What should you get instead of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro?

Because the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are so locked to a single ecosystem, listing alternatives will be difficult. To be sure, no alternatives are going to offer all the same features as the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro for Samsung phones, so you have to decide if the real-time translation, ultra-wideband mic, and higher-quality Samsung Bluetooth codecs really are worth the extra money. If you have an iPhone or non-Samsung Android phone: you can easily find something else.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 are among the best noise canceling headphones on the market — but they don’t come cheap.

To wit, the JLab Epic Lab Edition () might not offer all the bells and whistles of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, but they do offer very decent audio quality and a lower price tag. Alternatively, you could look to snag a Jabra Elite 8 Active () on sale, or the somewhat-aging Sony WF-1000XM5 () as credible competitors in the sound quality department. All of the above also edge out the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro in terms of noise canceling, though none of these options have the AI features of the Samsung buds.

Frequently asked questions

Sonos is renowned for its ecosystem of smart speakers with built-in support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with various voice assistants like Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa. In the past, we encountered some frustrating connection issues when we reviewed the original Sonos Roam portable Bluetooth speaker. At first glance, the new Roam 2 appears very similar to the original, so let’s dive into this Sonos Roam 2 review and see what’s new and what, if anything, has improved.

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What I like about the Sonos Roam 2

With its soft-edged triangular shape, like the original Sonos Roam, the Roam 2 has a sleek look and packable design. It feels great in hand no matter which way you hold it. There are no bulbous parts bulging out or rope attachments hanging from somewhere. The Roam 2’s exterior is mostly metal, aside from a set of feet on its underside and the rubberized end caps.

The Roam 2 lives up to its name; it’s incredibly portable.

One end contains your tactile controls, and the other is free of controls, allowing the unit to be used vertically. Combined with an IP67 protection rating, Sonos does an excellent job of producing a speaker ready for your next outing. That said, it will also look good around the house if you plan to integrate it into your home smart setup.

Since it looks like the original, you have to look closely to find what’s new. You’ll eventually notice the new Bluetooth button on the rear of the unit. Here’s the big reveal — unlike the original Roam, you are no longer required to use the Sono app to set up the initial Bluetooth connection. Tap the Bluetooth button to pair it to your device like any other Bluetooth speaker. That is the main difference between the Roam and Roam 2. Of course, you will still need to download the Sonos app to access the fancy goods like Wi-Fi streaming, Apple AirPlay 2, Trueplay, Sonos Voice Control, and the better-than-nothing 2-band adjustable EQ.

Regarding the sound quality of the Roam 2, it shares the same drivers and mono playback as the original. It has a tweeter, a mid-woofer, and an overall decent sound for its size. Compared to the popular JBL Flip 6, the Roam 2 doesn’t have as much bass and treble but doesn’t feel like it’s lacking anywhere. Listening to Mr. White by Khruangbin, the grooving bass guitar tone from Laura Lee’s Fender Jazz Bass is present and upfront in the mix, but you can still hear all the reverb-drenched, treble-related details of Mark Speers’s signature guitar tones.

The Roam 2 is also ready to rock vertically.

Adding a few points to the Bass slider in the EQ kicked the thumping bassline from Queen’s Cool Cat up a notch, but don’t get too carried away because the low-end can quickly take over your mix. After some experimentation, I didn’t find the need to increase the treble frequencies when listening to any rock or instrumental music; in fact, I preferred it over the stock treble-leaning Flip 6. Overall, I enjoyed the sound of the Roam 2 when using it as a simple portable Bluetooth speaker, both around the house and at the beach. I found that it reproduces most instruments quite well.

What I don’t like about the Sonos Roam 2

Once I could finally establish all the connections, the Roam 2 provided a stable performance. Still, the Sonos app has its hurdles. Upon first receiving the Sonos Roam 2 at SoundGuys HQ, I couldn’t get the speaker to connect to our Wi-Fi, even after multiple hard restarts, not to mention deleting and re-installing the app several times. Once home, I had better luck, but it still took over an hour of restarting my device, the app, the speaker, and the router to establish the Roam 2’s Wi-Fi connection. I also experienced dead buttons within the app; occasionally, the EQ sliders would slide, but with no effect registered. Again, I was forced to restart the app every time to get past these hiccups.

The Roam 2 now features a color-matched logo.

The Roam 2 isn’t much of an upgrade from the original; it’s more of a replacement. At least this is reflected in the price; the new Roam 2 sells for the same price as the original. Bluetooth button aside, there are no hardware upgrades. As mentioned, it uses the same drivers as the original Roam. It also offers the same battery life and still only supports SBC and AAC codecs when connected over not quite the latest Bluetooth 5.2. Of course, connecting over Wi-Fi will allow for higher-quality streaming around the house.

Should you buy the Sonos Roam 2?

There’s plenty to love about the Roam 2—its build, size, and sound. If you’re already a Sonos user looking for a portable speaker, the Roam 2 is an ideal choice. It’s a great on-the-go speaker that won’t look out of place around the house. Existing Roam users don’t need to upgrade.

The Roam 2 retains its IP67 protection rating, making it suitable for the beach.

I can’t deny the frustration, not to mention the time it takes to get through the initial setup and then deal with the app quirks. Still, with the addition of its new Bluetooth operation, you could forgo the app and enjoy the Roam 2 as a standalone, dead simple portable Bluetooth speaker with good sound to accompany your next picnic in the park. It can be that simple. That said, plenty of other affordable Bluetooth speakers are available with good companion app support.

For significantly less money, check out the Soundcore Motion 300. () This portable speaker offers 30W of output, an IPX7 protection rating, and stereo sound compared to the Roam 2’s mono playback, although it’s slightly bigger and heavier. Android users can also take advantage of its LDAC codec support.

Of course, the popular JBL Flip 6 () would be another alternative. It’s IP67-rated, offers 12 hours of playback, a 3-band customizable EQ, and is closer in size to the Roam 2.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What I like about the Ultimate Ears Everboom

The signature Volume + and – are easy to find.

The Ultimate Ears Everboom features a rubberized silicone top and bottom, while the rest is wrapped in a soft but durable fabric. While this fabric doesn’t feel as robust as the material wrapped around most JBL portable speakers, the Everboom is built to take on your next adventure with its IP67 protection rating. This makes it dustproof and waterproof, but it’s also drop-proof (from the height of 1m), and like most Ultimate Ears speakers, it floats on water. The included loop and carabiner are also a nice touch that helps with placement options.

Controlling the Everboom is simple. You can’t miss the massive Volume + and – controls on the front of the speaker, and you’ll find the rest of the controls along the top of the unit. However, the only button backlit is the power button, which doubles as your battery life indicator, so finding the other ones in a darker setting is a bit of a struggle. Ultimate Ears advertises a 20-hour battery life with the Everboom, which is on par with other mid-sized portable speakers such as the JBL Charge 5.

Downloading the Ultimate Ears Boom app will help you get the most out of the Everboom speaker. While there is little going on, you’ll at least want to take advantage of the EQ options, including the 5-band custom EQ to personalize your sound. Here, you can also link up with other Ultimate Ears speakers. I paired the new Everboom with a Megaboom 3, and running two or more omnidirectional speakers simultaneously sounds fantastic. It truly provides a much more “room-filling” sound than just using a single speaker and can seriously up the party vibes for larger gatherings.

Your battery meter is built into the Everboom’s power button.

Regarding sound quality, the Everboom contains two active full-range transducers and two passive radiators. Omnidirectional sound aside, this mid-sized speaker’s performance is acceptable and par for its size, but there isn’t too much to get excited about. Using the 5-band EQ, you can squeeze a bit more low end out of the Everboom. This made for a more prominent pulsing bass guitar and kick drum when listening to You Make My Dreams (Come True) by Hall and Oates, without disrupting treble-related details from the accompanying synth line. Overall, the Everboom has an acceptable sound for your next outing, but you still won’t exactly be rattling any windows with its bass response.

What I don’t like about the Ultimate Ears Everboom

The Everboom’s oval shape is less packable than the cylindrical Megaboom series.

As mentioned, the Everboom doesn’t boom more than the existing, cheaper Megaboom series. Of course, this is the reality of smaller, portable Bluetooth speakers. While the Everboom sounds decent at lower volumes, cranking it up also reveals some distortion closer to the max volume, and even then, it doesn’t get super loud. You can easily still yell overtop of any music playing.

I struggle to understand the need for the Everboom in the Ultimate Ears lineup. It barely differs from the Megaboom, a staple for years for a tough-as-nails outdoor party speaker. They offer similar omnidirectional sound, the same battery life, and even roughly weigh the same. However, with its cylindrical shape, the Megaboom is more packable between the two.

Lastly, while not specific to the Everboom, all omnidirectional speakers shine when placed in the center of your gatherings but are not ideal for personal listening around the house. While you experience 360 degrees of sound, your music is fired hard stereo left and right from the unit. If you’re facing the speaker directly (with the large Volume + and – facing you), you won’t hear all the details in the treble frequencies of your music, like the percussive attack of a drumstick tip on a ride cymbal, for example. Shifting your position to the speaker’s side allows you to face the drivers directly, and you’ll notice better clarity in the high end, but you’re still only hearing the left or right channel of your audio.

Should you buy the Ultimate Ears Everboom?

The Everboom is waterproof, dustproof, drop-proof, and buoyant.

The Everboom is so similar to the Megaboom series that it’s hard to justify spending the extra $50 on it. As mentioned, both units offer the same omnidirectional sound, durable build, app support, and battery life. The difference, if any, in bass response was negligible when comparing the Everboom to the Megaboom 3.

With its more packable design, the recently released, more affordable Megaboom 4 ( ) makes a better on-the-go speaker for your next outing. If you’re after booming bass for your beach party, the Everboom doesn’t quite cut it. You’ll have to shell out some more cash for a bigger Ultimate Ears speaker like the Hyperboom or for the same price as the Everboom consider a different brand and check out the impressive Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus () to get your next party started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

The Arctis Nova 5X is cool and comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is incredibly comfortable to wear. I prefer its fabric ear pads to the pleather found on other headsets, which can become hot and sticky, especially in the summertime. The headset is breathable and snug enough to get a good seal. The suspension band, which has a groovy green line pattern, also helps to keep the headset feeling light by distributing weight. There are also notches on the inside to let you adjust how tight the strap rests on your head, akin to a snapback hat. Overall, I could wear these for a multi-hour gaming session with no problem.

Th Arctis Nova 5X is lightweight, breathable, and discreet.

The headband extension works a bit differently than I am used to; instead of having grooves of indentations to adjust the length, the earcups can slide out about an inch and a half and stay in place from the clamping pressure within the headband – very similar to the Sony WH-1000XM5. It was a little tight at first, and I found I had to set the right length before putting the headset on, as it is tricky to do once on your head, but this area may loosen up over time with extended use.

The headset’s look is sleek, black, and low-profile, which doesn’t scream “gamer” and could fit right in at an office. The retractable, bendable boom mic fits seamlessly in the earcup, and the wire is flexible enough to find a comfortable position by your mouth. Just be careful not to jam it back into the earcup, and you may need two hands to line it up properly to stow while wearing the headset.

My favorite feature of the Arctis Nove 5X, however, has to be its wide compatibility. Though no fault of their own, a big problem most gaming headsets face is that Microsoft and Sony have their own proprietary wireless audio systems to overcome the latency of Bluetooth, and, of course, they’re not interoperable. As such, it’s often too expensive for companies to add support for both into a single headset, so they usually make two. Most gamers tend to have either one console or the other, but some people, like myself, who own both a PS5 and Xbox Series X (low-key flex), would prefer one headset to rule them all. Fortunately, the Arctis Nova 5X Wireless has a handy solution, previously employed in the Arctis Nova 7X.

The USB dongle offers a clever cross-platform solution, but its wide design can obstruct other ports.

If you get the 5X version instead of the standard Arctic Nova 5, the included USB-C 2.4-GHz dongle has a little switch that lets it toggle between Xbox compatibility and, well, everything else. You could literally plug this into the base of your phone and connect that way instead of Bluetooth if you wanted. The only downside is that the dongle is so dang wide, it can easily cover up the other available ports. This is especially troublesome on PS5 as it covers only the front-facing USB-A port. Granted, you can use the included USB-A to USB-C extension cord to connect the receiver, but this adds another cable to your setup.

How do you control the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

There are a lot of buttons and dials on these earcups. The left earcup has a big mic mute button and a volume dial, while the right earcup has a power button, a quick switch button, and a ChatMix Dial to adjust the balance between chat and game audio. Multimedia controls are all done via the Power button, as shown in the table below:

There are also several ways to control the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X via the app. More on that below.

Should you use the Arctis Nova 5 app for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

Yes, absolutely. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is so far the only one to support the new Arctis Nova 5 mobile companion app, which provides a simple way to tailor your audio to whatever game you are playing, regardless of which platform or console you are connected to. The EQ settings are saved to the headset itself.

Notably, the app contains over a hundred game-specific presets. These are created by SteelSeries audio engineers, but the company states that they incorporated developers’ feedback to emphasize the audio characteristics specific to each game. While this might not give you much of a competitive edge in gameplay, it is cool to hear your games at least a little more closely to how the creators might have intended them to sound.

You can also monitor battery life, change EQ presets for both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth modes separately, and control microphone volume and sidetone. In case you aren’t aware, sidetone amplifies outside noise when you need to be aware of your surroundings, much like an ambient mode.

How do you connect the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X can connect via Bluetooth 5.3 to compatible devices, or you can use the 2.4GHz connection to the USB-C dongle for less latency. Unlike the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, you cannot connect to both at the same time, but you can quickly switch between them with the press of a button.

How long does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X’s battery last?

In our standardized testing, we found the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X last 42 hours and 10 minutes while connected to a PC using the 2.5 GHz USB-C dongle. That is less than SteelSeries’ advertised 50 hours of playtime. Still, it’s important to remember that variables such as what volume you are listening at and whether you are using the microphone can affect how fast the battery drains. For reference, the headphones were playing at around 50% volume for the duration of our test. SteelSeries advertises 60 hours of playback via Bluetooth, but again, that will vary based on how you use them and if you are switching between connection methods.

Over 42 hours of play time is still pretty good for a gaming headset. The Arctis Nova 5X also supports fast charging, with 15 minutes of charging yielding around 6 hours of playback if you need a quick top-up.

How well does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X attenuate noise?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X does an okay job blocking out external noise. There’s no active noise canceling (ANC), so it’s just down to the headset’s passive isolation performance to block out anything happening around you. The results are pretty average for a pair of over-ear headphones. At the office, I was able to hear my co-workers’ mechanical keyboard clamoring and occasional banter. Things like a doorbell ringing are heard very noticeably.

How do the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X sound?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X sounds pretty good for any genre of game, especially if that game has its own EQ preset.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

The Arctis Nova 5X has scored well for Timbre and has very little Distortion, as indicated by the high scores.

The Arctis Noiva 5X scores fairly well across the board. The only real shortcoming is in Immseriveness, and it can be hard to pinpoint the distance and direction of some in-game sound effects, such as the footsteps of approaching enemies. Still, an overall score of 4.2 means most people should like how this headset sounds.

Reviewer’s notes

You can quickly switch between listening to your games via the wireless dongle and music via Bluetooth, but not both at the same time.

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X’s default frequency response follows our in-house target fairly loosely, with a handful of deviations. There’s a notable low-end roll-off, over 10dB lower than we like to see, which makes sub-bass very quiet. The bass emphasis is then about 2dB too high from 100Hz to 300Hz. There’s also a pretty significant dip around 5kHz, which swings up into over-emphasis from roughly 6kHz to 10kHz, which can get very grating over time.

Thankfully, the custom equalizer and the game-specific presets can help to ameliorate some of these foibles.

How good is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X’s microphone?

The thin, retractable microphone is very flexible.

While wearing the headset to play Helldivers 2, my teammates could clearly hear my voice with very little distortion. In our test recording, which you can listen to below, the mic quality is pretty impressive for a gaming headset in ideal conditions. There is no foam cover for the microphone, so the noise rejection suffers a little bit in the face of ambient noises and will pick up things such as clackety keyboards in an office setting. Still, it’s not enough to overshadow your voice; you will remain intelligible.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Office conditions):

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X microphone demo (Reverberant space):

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Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is a great value headset for any gaming console.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is one of the most versatile gaming headsets I’ve tested so far and offers great value for its price. Its wide compatibility across all the major gaming consoles, including Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC, and even Steam Deck, makes it a solid choice for multi-platform gamers. The headset’s comfortable design is suitable for long gaming sessions, with a battery life of over 42 hours. A comprehensive companion app with numerous EQ presets allows for extensive audio customization. Plus you get decent microphone performance for multiplayer gaming to boot.

The Arctis Nova 5X is one of the best value multi-platform gaming headset on the market.

While it lacks active noise cancelation and has some minor design quirks, such as perhaps too many buttons, the Arctis Nova 5X excels as a multi-purpose gaming headset. Its ability to seamlessly switch between platforms, combined with its overall performance and features, makes it an attractive option for gamers seeking a single headset to cover all their audio needs without breaking the bank.

What should you get instead of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro 2023 has one of the best microphones.

For those considering other options, there are several alternatives worth exploring. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless () offers premium features like active noise cancelation (ANC) and a hot-swappable battery system. It is ideal for gamers who want top-tier performance and don’t mind the higher price tag.

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) stands out with its foam-covered microphone for superior call quality and Bluetooth 5.2 support, perfect for users who prioritize voice communication and multi-device connectivity. It’s a tad more expensive at , but it has better passive isolation and longer battery life.

Budget-conscious gamers might prefer the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 () a wired option that delivers solid comfort and sound quality at a lower price point.

Frequently asked questions about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X

The multiple ear tips and ear wings included help ensure you get a good fit no matter the size or shape of your ears.

I tend to start sleeping on my back, then roll over to my side, and sometimes find myself on my belly. As with anything in your ears, it will take some getting used to, but I quickly adjusted to the feel of the Sleep A20 earbuds and never felt any uncomfortable pressure while pressing my ears into the pillow. They come with four sizes of ear tips for blocking noise and three sizes of ear wings to rest in the concha, so you have plenty of options to find your right fit. There are also three sizes of what Soundcore calls “breathable” ear tips, which have two slots at the end of the ear tips to allow for more airflow but compromise isolation.

A plethora of included ear tips and ear wings help ensure you get a good fit.

The Sleep A20 has no active noise canceling, so using the ear tips and wings to get a good seal is crucial to ensuring optimal noise isolation. The ear tips have two layers of rubber seals that sit outside the ear canal to help block out sound, but even so, they are not foolproof for blocking out noise. In my overnight testing during a hot summer evening, I couldn’t hear my partner rustling beside me or any buzzing or humming from my apartment’s appliances. Still, I could hear the occasional car racing down the road from the open window despite listening to a recording of rainfall at 60% volume.

As you can see in the chart above, the Sleep A20 earbuds provide minimal isolation (0-10 dB) at low frequencies below 500 Hz, moderate isolation (10-30 dB) in the mid-range from 500 Hz to 2 kHz, and the best isolation (30-40 dB) at higher frequencies above 2 kHz. The peak isolation of about 40 dB occurs around 5-6 kHz, which means the earbuds are best at blocking out high-pitched sounds like crickets singing in the trees or birds chirping in the early morning.

Rainfall is the default sound effect that comes pre-installed with the Sleep A20 earbuds and starts playing as soon as you put them in your ears, but I quickly found myself searching for alternatives within the Soundcore app. Both the Rain and Misty Railway recordings were lacking in clarity and had very poor envelopment. I want to be able to hear the distinct raindrops and or waves against the shore to be mentally transported to a peaceful location. But instead, it all sounded staticky, dull, and muddy, and I’m reminded I’m in bed wearing earbuds and listening to shoddy recordings. I don’t know where Anker is sourcing these recordings from or if they are getting them themselves, but perhaps they need better equipment.

The app gives you two listening modes: Bluetooth and Sleep. You can use Bluetooth 5.3 (with support for SBC and AAC) to listen to playlists or podcasts from your favorite music streaming apps. These earbuds are not designed with audio performance as a priority, so don’t think you can use them as your daily commuting earbuds, too. Simply put, the sound quality is poor and especially tinny. For instance, Freddie Mercury’s vocals, especially in higher ranges, sound thin or piercing in “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. The cymbals and high-hat also sound overly crisp or harsh.

Sound quality isn't great, and neither are most of the sleep presets.

Aside from the library of presets, the Sleep mode is where you can set your bedtime and alarm, and there’s also an optional Smart Volume that does its best to raise the volume to mask noise disturbances. To access any of the Sleep Data tracking, you will have to set up a Soundcore account. Not setting up an account will not mitigate privacy concerns; I set up my account after two nights of sleeping, which, to my surprise, loaded all that prior data. It tracks things like how light or deep your sleep was, how long and when you were awake, how many times you rolled over, and what position you tend to sleep in the most. Some of this data can be illuminating or at least explain why you feel so tired during the day.

Battery life is excellent, so you won’t have to worry about the Sleep A20 earbuds dying in the middle of the night. Soundcore claims 14 hours of playtime (10 hours with Bluetooth), which is more than the recommended 8 hours of sleep per day I attempt to get. The charging case provides an additional 80 hours of playtime (55 with Bluetooth on), and I was able to leave it on my night table to recharge the buds for a few days before needing to find a USB-C cable.

The Sleep A20 earbuds come in a smooth, circular case.

All in all, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are a decent solution for light sleepers seeking audio-assisted slumber. Their comfortable design, customizable fit, and impressive battery life are definite strengths. The earbuds can block out some ambient noise but struggle with low-pitched frequencies. They do stay secure throughout the night, even for restless sleepers.

However, the lackluster quality of some pre-installed sound effects is a notable drawback. At , they’re a considerable investment, but for those struggling with noise disturbances or who rely on audio to fall asleep, the Sleep A20 could be a worthwhile purchase. Just don’t expect perfect passive isolation, and be prepared to experiment with custom sound mixes to get the most out of these sleep-focused earbuds.

What are the best Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 alternatives?

The 1MORE Z30 Sleep Earbuds are smaller, but they don’t have ear wings.

Here are a few alternative earbuds designed for sleeping to consider:

• 1MORE Z30 Sleep Earbuds ($79.99 on Amazon): These are slightly more affordable and have an ergonomic fit. They don’t have ear wings, so they are slightly less secure and more likely to fall out of your ears. But they have a similar battery life and a companion app.
• Bose Sleepbuds II: These earbuds have officially been discontinued, but if you can find them in stock, they are a high-end option. However, they will effectively be resurrected by former Bose engineers as the forthcoming Ozlo Seepbuds.
• Loop Quiet Ear Plugs (): If you can do without any audio, these earplugs have better passive isolation and are effective in various loud environments and use cases aside from sleeping.

Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 review: FAQ

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

What’s it like to use Fairphone Fairbuds?

Using the Fairphone Fairbuds is as banal and straightforward as the standard earbuds of the last five years have been. There aren’t many bells and whistles; the earbuds act as a companion to your computer or phone to handle calls, music, or anything audio.

Ovoid nozzles mean a better fit in your ear canal.

The earbuds are fairly chunky, but the tradeoff for that extra bulk is that the Fairphone Fairbuds are the most repairable earphones ever made — the have the most ability to be maintained, and not just by trained professionals. You can do the work on the cheap if you’re comfortable with a small Philips head screwdriver and pushing in connectors. From the battery to the PCBs to the connectors in the case, you can pretty easily make repairs to the Fairbuds yourself, which is something that’s absolutely unheard of. You can also use pretty standard parts for the repairs instead of relying on bespoke, tailored components. These earbuds will be able to continue working long past true wireless earbuds’ average end-of-life due to the ability to maintain the product. That’s outstanding. From here on out, I get to lord this over every other soon-to-be-ewaste earbuds that hit the market without removable batteries as proof that it can be done, and that giving manufacturers grief for not making a more maintainable product is perfectly valid.

The battery of the charging case is easily accessed and removed.

Comfort isn’t a big issue for the Fairphone Fairbuds, as the ovoid nozzles and included ear tips do a good job of meeting human anatomy — better than the typical perfect cylinder nozzles, anyway. A somewhat low weight and the fact that the outside of the bud can rest on your antitragus means there are two points of contact for the earbuds to secure their fit. You shouldn’t have any issues with comfort here. However, because there are only three sizes of ear tips, it’s possible — however unlikely — that getting a good fit may be difficult. If you find that to be the case, you might want to look into third-party ear tips.

The Fairphone Fairbuds are as Spartan as it gets.

The charging case is a bit girthy, but it’s flat enough to fit into your pockets. Part of the extra bulk is due to the protective casing that holds in the battery, which is removable if you have a screwdriver small enough to get at the tiny Phillips head in the dead center of the bottom of the case. Should the charging case’s battery die, or merely reduce in capacity, you’ll always have the option of replacing the cell — instead of hucking the whole product in the trash.

But just because they’re the “best” does not mean they are “perfect.” And unfortunately, there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the performance of the earbuds.

Should you use the Fairbuds app for the Fairphone Fairbuds?

I usually grit my teeth at having to install yet another damned app, and the Fairbuds app is essential if you want to get timely updates, or change the EQ presets. But that’s really all you’re getting out of this app, outside of some FAQ about how to use the products, and a link to the Fairphone store. There’s no ANC controls, control customizations, or any other settings to speak of. Additionally, you can’t really trust the battery information you see in the app, as I noticed that the battery levels were all over the place while listening to the Fairbuds.

I’m not wild about apps that don’t have a lot of function, and this one would be unnecessary if the earbuds were more reliable.

How do the Fairphone Fairbuds connect?

The Fairphone Fairbuds connect to your phone or computer via a Bluetooth 5.3 over SBC or AAC. However, the connection quality between the Fairphone Fairbuds and a handful of other source devices weren’t that good. For example, my phone had to be quite close by if I wanted the buds to avoid dropouts. Additionally, there is no Multipoint — a bizarre omission for something that uses Bluetooth 5.3 — so you’ll have to manually pair the earbuds to a new source should you want to switch devices.

I will note that there’s a few gremlins in the Fairphone Fairbuds that need a little work, as I sometimes found one channel would simply stop working until I re-paired the earbuds completely. Additionally, the app would report the dead channel as having random battery life percentages, only to go back up to 100% upon re-pairing.

How long does the Fairphone Fairbuds’ battery last?

Forcing the Fairphone Fairbuds through our standardized battery test gave us a result of 6 hours and 34 minutes, slightly on the north side of average for a set of true wireless earphones. Right about now is usually where we trash wireless earbuds as a whole for having irreplaceable batteries and/or having to worry about the relatively short life of your product. But unlike other earbuds, you can actually replace the batteries of the Fairphone Fairbuds when they eventually give up the ghost.

The battery drawer is easy to access, and a helpful label ensures correct installation of replacements.

By removing the rubber rings around the earbuds, you can access the battery door and slide out the battery housing. Once this is done, you can simply pop out the LIR1054 cells and swap in new ones you pick up from anywhere that sells rechargeable hearing aid batteries. Just be sure to dispose of the dead ones properly. Because of this ability, there’s no reason to toss the Fairphone Fairbuds when the batteries no longer work; the earbuds will last as long as you maintain them.

How well do the Fairphone Fairbuds cancel noise?

With their active noise canceling (ANC) unit enabled, the Fairphone Fairbuds do a fair job of attenuating outside noise. Breaking up roughly 80% of junk noise from reaching your earbuds, the Fairphone Fairbuds are very capable of preventing annoying sounds from reaching your ears. Should you disable the ANC, the Fairphone Fairbuds can isolate you from about 66% of outside noise, largely due to a really good fit. Though technically not as good as the top tier of earbuds on the market, this is close enough that we’re okay with saying is good enough for a flight or commuters.

How do the Fairphone Fairbuds sound?

Though the Fairphone Fairbuds excel in their design, the sound isn’t very good. I’m not sure what’s up with these earbuds, but we put the time in; they just can’t be fixed with an EQ preset.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the Fairphone Fairbuds was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

With a mean opinion score (MOS) of 3.6, most people will find the sound to be “okay,” even if the timbre is on the low end of “passable.”

For reasons that will become incredibly obvious as I continue, the very mediocre timbre score drags down otherwise respectable measures in distortion and immersiveness to a very underwhelming 3.6 overall. While this won’t mean that you’ll actively hate the Fairphone Fairbuds, it does mean that most people won’t be huge fans — it’s something they tolerate more than rant or rave about. This is probably perfect for someone looking for earbuds that fit a role, and won’t want for better sound quality down the road.

However, I caution anyone looking at the above chart against interpreting the Fairphone Fairbuds as “average.” Mean opinion scores don’t reflect how products sit within the rest of the market, but how well people would rate a particular product. In terms of scores we’ve come across, the Fairphone Fairbuds are decidedly below average — especially in Timbre.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

I’m not sure what happened here, but there’s something very wrong with this frequency response. For starters, the highs fall off way too early, and while this won’t impact phone calls all that much, it will make your music sound weird. Very weird. This leads to music content with high-frequency sounds that just don’t hold up. As this is a pretty unusual tuning, its flaws will be obvious to anyone moving over from other earbuds.

For starters, the lows and mids are fairly evenly emphasized, though this may not satisfy those looking for stronger bass. But most people will be turning up the volume of these earbuds quite far to make up for the highs being so underemphasized. In that event, mids are going to be extremely loud compared to what we’d like to hear, and that’s an issue.

Can you use the Fairphone Fairbuds for phone calls?

The Fairphone Fairbuds are able to be used for phone and computer chats via their microphone array. Below are samples collected in the lab.

Fairphone Fairbuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

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Should you buy the Fairphone Fairbuds?

If you want earbuds that will last you damned near a lifetime, the Fairphone Fairbuds are the best bet on the market and it’s not close. However, the lack of sound quality will turn many off. Though these earbuds have my favorite design ethos by far, the function is subpar — even if that mainly reflects how far audio has come in the last ten years. It leaves the Fairbuds in a tough spot because they won’t compete with similarly-priced options, and they need more mass appeal to succeed. Additionally, you can’t get them in the US or Canada just yet, though that may be coming soon.

The upside here is that with the Fairphone Fairbuds’ entry on the market, there’s not only proof that more repairable earbuds are possible, but there’s a factory out there already manufacturing these things. The idea that a company can’t make earbuds that last is now definitively proven to be BS, and Fairphone has learned a great deal about designing for products that actually, y’know, last. That’s a bigger win than it sounds like, and it’s entirely possible that Fairphone could equip the successors to these earbuds with next-gen drivers that sound better than the originals by a country mile (and also take up far less space). Heck, due to the nature of how repairable these earbuds are, I wouldn’t be surprised if some DIY enthusiast took it upon themselves to attempt correcting this on their own. If the next earbuds made by Fairphone solve the sound quality problem, I would have no issues whatsoever recommending them.

What should you get instead of the Fairphone Fairbuds?

After spending over ten years telling people that they should be demanding better, and finally getting a kindred spirit in a manufacturer, I don’t want to recommend other products. But these earphones aren’t going to cut it for everybody. On the one hand, there simply aren’t alternatives for people looking for buds as repairable and sustainable as the Fairphone Fairbuds. On the other, the Fairphone Fairbuds are very much the opposite of “cutting edge” when it comes to features. To give you alternatives to these earbuds, you absolutely must sacrifice any delusion of being “eco-friendly” or “repairable.” There’s such a huge hole in the market for this segment, and I’ll happily cheer more companies following Fairphone’s pursuit of products that are built to last a lifetime.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 might be the subject of boasts about eco-friendly manufacture, but can’t be maintained by the end user.

For those of you looking to save money and get better performance, the easy pick here is the Moondrop Space Travel (). These earbuds are dirt cheap, run circles around the Fairphone Fairbuds in terms of performance, and the main drawback is their somewhat disposable nature.

While many people might compare the Apple AirPods Pro 2 () to the Fairphone Fairbuds because of Apple’s sustainability efforts, what Apple does and what Fairphone does are night and day: spending $10 or $20 every few years to repair the Fairphone Fairbuds is far less wasteful than Apple’s battery replacement program. Though companies like Thinksound in the past have accomplished a lot by shortening up supply chains and repurposing overstock from other companies, we haven’t seen the bigger tech behemoths follow suit in a meaningful way. AirPods are not eco-friendly in a way that is comparable to the Fairphone Fairbuds.

Frequently asked questions