Wireless Earbuds Review: Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, B&O top the chart

The appearance of earphones has changed significantly over the past few years. Today, earphones are about the same size as earplugs. If you are the type that won’t settle for anything less than the best, read on to discover the top four “true wireless” earbuds in existence today.

Bose SoundSport Free

This device is designed to produce excellent sound and also fits perfectly. This is the type of earbud you would love to use during your workouts. With the bundled wingtips spread contact around the ridge of the ear, the gadget will remain in place even during high-intensity exercise.  The Bose SoundSport comes in four different colors for the color freaks.

Features

This device makes use of touch control which is typical with Bose headphones. The power button on the left bud also works for Bluetooth pairing, while the right bud has a button for volume control and another multifunctional button.

When you tap the multifunctional button, you can initiate playback or pause the current track. A double tap takes you to the next track while a triple tap returns the paying media to the previous track.

The device has a bulky charging case that gives it a premium look in spite of its plastic surface.  In contrast to the cases made with fabric and leather, the user can clean this plastic case easily. Gym users will love it. Once you press the catch to unlock the case, it flashes five LED light briefly. This LED light is an excellent indication of the device charge status before usage.

User Experience.

Bose products are known for their punchy bass and seamless playback experience that sounds great with all types of music.  This earbud is the largest among the ones listed in this review. Perhaps the larger size enhances the deep bass and helps to attain the 300 minutes playback after a single charge.  Although the earbuds do stick out a bit from the ears, it is not an issue for most users. The ear tips are replaceable, they are also equipped with wing tips and available in three different sizes. So, you can always get a perfect fit.

The part I love best about the SoundSport Free is the placements of the physical buttons. The positioning of the buttons makes it possible to skip tracks and adjust the volume conveniently.

Price: HK$1,849

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless

This product is the first true wireless earbuds by Sennheiser, and I can say they got it right the first time. The earbuds look gracefully black and equipped with a touch-sensitive metallic surface. The manufacturer claims that the product can deliver a top-notch sound stage with audiophile-quality music playback.

Features

The charging case has a small size, and it is made with fabric which makes it easy to hold without slipping. The case has enough power for two full battery charges. This means it can keep the earbuds working for eight hours because the device has four hours of battery life. The earbuds fit snugly inside the case and are secured in place with magnets.

When you tap the recessed button at the back of the case, the small LED light becomes active and indicates the remaining charge in the device.  The colour codes are green, yellow and red which indicates full half and empty respectively. The device allows you to check the remaining battery for each earbud separately, and to configure various default behaviours through the Sennheiser Smart Control app.

Some of the features of the earbud include the support for the Qualcomm aptX Low Latency audio which allows audios to sync perfectly with its video content. There is also a “Transparent Hearing” feature that makes use of dual inbuilt microphones. This function allows the external found of the playing media to filter in “transparently”.  This device comes in handy while trekking of performing other outdoor activities.

User Experience

As a true wireless earphone, the various gesture commands such as taps, double taps, and press-and-hold works perfectly. However, the fact that performing the same touch gesture on the right and left earbuds activate different commands makes it confusing to use. The procedure of pairing with another Bluetooth device is fairly easy, Just tap and hold the buttons of both earbuds for some seconds.

Although the touch controls may be ambiguous, the audio function of the Sennheiser earbud is perfect.  The sound output is exceptionally clear so you can enjoy every single note of your music. The sound scheme aligns with the quality of the Momentum headphone family of Sennheiser.

Another smart feature is the proximity sensor that automatically pauses the music when it detects that an earbud is removed. When you replace the earbud, the music starts playing again.

Price: HK$2,499

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0

This product has several features that are improvements over the first generation wireless earbud from Bang & Olufsen.  The Beoplay E8 2.0 features a new charging case that supports wireless charging and more robust battery capacity. The look of this product exudes luxury; the leather charge case and stainless metal overlay on both the casing and earbuds is an epitome of perfect craftsmanship. Well, the price tag says it all anyway.

Features

Come to think of it, the charging case is the smallest in the list, but it is supercharged with three recharges. As a result, you can continue using the earbuds to play media content for 12 hours on the go. The case can be charged with any USB Type-C or a Qi WiFi charger. When the earbuds are inserted, the led lights on the case pulse gently to indicate that the device is charging. The LEDs remain visible even when the case is closed.

The user will really love the four different sizes of silicon tips shipped with the earphones. It also has additional foam tips for users who love passive voice isolation.  This earbud also uses touch control exclusively. When the user taps the left earbud, it cuts off the sound and activities transparency mode. This mode amplifies the surrounding sound without the need to remove the earplugs.

User Experience

Unlike the buggy first generation Beoplau E8, the second generation operates perfectly.  The music sounds perfectly natural and has excellent spacing and clarity. Although the device does not have emphatic bass feature, it's not really designed for the bass lovers.

Summarily, this device works great, and use a charging case that is smaller than all other competing brands. You may need a little practice to get used to the tap commands on the earbuds to use them perfectly.

Price: US$350

Sony WF-1000X Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

This is the only brand of true wireless earbuds that provides active noise cancellation among all these ones listed here. This brand was launched a year ago so the design and functions may not be on par with the cutting edge models from other brands. Although, it is still a great buy for the price tag.

I consider the tactile buttons of this device to be the simplest and the most reliable.  It has only one on each earbud. The button on the left earbud toggles the noise cancellation modes, it also used for Bluetooth pairing. On the other hand, the button on the right earbuds functions to play, pause and skip tracks. It can also be used to pick calls when the phone rings. Unfortunately, it does not have any volume control features. Perhaps adding extra control on such a small device is not practical.

The user can choose from three noise cancellation modes. These modes are the normal noise cancelling and another two modes called “ambient.” The Ambient cancellation feature can amplify the background sound in the normal mode or amplify announcement and conversations in the voice mode.

User Experience

This earbud is quite easy to use. I manage to pair it and figures out the functions without making reference to the Quick Start Guide. Moreover, the Sony Headphone Connect App is the fastest to and most reliable when it comes to detecting its brand of earbuds.

The music playback is great; it has an excellent dynamic range. But we cannot say the same about the noise cancellation feature. Perhaps the noise isolation effect of the foam ear-tips that are shipped with the regular tips is the culprit here. You should also bear in mind that that voice prompts and audio from phone calls is only audible in the left earbud.