Tag: cancelling

SKULLCANDY’S Method 360 ANC Earbuds Feature Premium sound by Bose

Skullcandy, in partnership with Bose, is breaking  barriers in personal audio with the release of Method 360 ANC – a premium true  wireless earbud engineered for high-quality audio, advanced noise canceling, and  everyday style.  

Designed for those who want it all – sound quality, comfort, and design – without  breaking the bank, this is Skullcandy’s most advanced audio experience to date.  

“This product sets a new standard,” said Justin Regan, VP of Marketing at Skullcandy.  “We’re launching at £99.99 because we want more people to hear what’s next. But  make no mistake – Method 360 ANC belongs in the premium tier.”  

Refined fit, redesigned experience: Method 360 ANC features an all-new slider  charging case with a built-in O-ring clip, upgraded tactile finish, and up to 40 hours of  battery life. The earbuds come with multiple sets of fit fins and gels that leverage licensed technology from Bose for a secure, ultra-comfortable fit and superior noise  isolation.  

Skullcandy Method 360 ANC with Sound by Bose technology is now available globally  at Skullcandy.com (https://www.skullcandy.com/products/method-360-anc) and select  retail locations. Consumers can choose from five unique colorways including Black,  Bone, Primer, Plasma, and Leopard.  

  

Technical Details Include:  

  • Sound By Bose technology – Industry-leading audio tuning and performance.  ● Battery Life – Up to 40 hours when ANC mode is turned off (11 in buds, 29 in case).  Up to 32 hours when ANC mode is turned on (9 in buds, 23 in case).  ● Noise Isolating Fit – Ergonomic, ovalized design provides all-day comfort and a  noise-isolating fit. Three different sized pairs of fit fins and three sets of ear gels,  leveraging licensed technology from Bose, help ensure a perfect fit and block out  unwanted sound.  

  • Adjustable 4-Mic Hybrid Active Noise Canceling – Next-level premium noise  cancellation with customizable Stay-Aware mode options.  
  • Low Latency Audio – Provides an optimal experience for watching videos or  playing games.  
  • Auto On/Connect and Wear Detection  
  • IPX4 Sweat + Water Resistant  
  • Skull-iQ App Compatible – Unlock Method 360 ANC’s full potential with the Skull iQ App. Choose one of 3 preset EQ settings or customize your own, reconfigure the  button functions, adjust your Stay-Aware or ANC modes, and more.  
  • Rapid Charge – A 10-minute charge provides 2 hours of playtime.  ● Clear Voice Smart Mic – Provides a reduction in background noise to ensure calls  are crystal clear.  
  • Spotify Tap Compatible  
  • Preset & Custom EQ Modes  
  • Google Fast Pair  
  • Multipoint Pairing – Pair to multiple devices at once for seamless transitions.  ● Natural Voice Sidetone for Calls – Counteract occlusion, allowing users to hear  their own voice more naturally.  
  • Bluetooth® (v5.3) + LE Audio  

  

Launch Event  

Skullcandy debuted Method 360 ANC on April 15 during an exclusive event at Hall des  Lumières in New York City, where brand partners, top creators, and leading tech and  lifestyle media got a first look.  

The evening featured on-stage appearances by Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow,  Bose CMO Jim Mollica, brand visionary Bimma Williams, and skate icon Tony Hawk,  who also headlines the campaign launching alongside the product.  

“Method 360 is the real deal—killer sound, zero hype,” Tony Hawk, skate legend and  Skullcandy brand ambassador.  

See Our Skullcandy reviews

Tech Review – Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2

The Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2 have been on my bonce the last few weeks and is their latest cans on offer and as promised we will doing more headphone reviews over earbuds but keeping the pace going on both.

Presentation to begin with is excellent here as seen below in the unboxing a review and you get nicely laid out instructions in the box and lots of detail on the box which is not cheaply made, you also get a hard case for travelling and storing away when not in use and you should use this by the way to get more longevity out of them

The build quality is top notch here with plus ear cups and headband which makes for comfortable listening for hours which is nice, the top of the headband has a leather finish giving them a premium look.

The controls are all on one side and you have all the requirements needed here by the usual combination of taps which are as follows.

Check battery level – Double Press power button

Play and Pause – Press center button

Skip track – Double press centre

Reverse Track –  Triple press center ( I feel these would have been better placed on the volume keys with a long press)

Volume – Volume up/down key press once.

Voice Assistant – Again sees you pressing the center button.  So effectively the center button is an MFB ( Multifunctional Button)

The sound

There is three modes to start with and you should check these out.

  • Music Mode: enables users to experience listening through high-end speakers and is the most subtle, maintaining the original source material.

  • Cinema Mode: emulates the low frequency excitement that users experience in a theatre that employs subwoofers for an immersive, larger-than-life sound through clarity, presence, and natural sounding dialogue.

  • Podcast Mode: brings the voice of a user’s favourite podcast host closer to their ears.

Unlike some earbuds or headphones there is a notable difference here between these and this again is subjective to one’s audio taste but for me these work well and are excellent and give you all angles to get a feel for how audio works if you have not tried such before. Also in the app as you can see in the screenshots you can pick between the EQ settings, again a must have and you must try this it is again yes you guessed, excellent.

 

ShurePlus PLAY App 

 

Additional Features and Benefits:

  • Enhanced Environment Mode: Immerse yourself in the outside world with a simple switch. The adjustable slider on the ShurePlus™ PLAY app lets you refine the ambience settings to your liking.

  • Extended Battery Life: Holds up to 45 hours of battery life with quick charging capabilities, more than doubling runtime from the earlier generation. The quick charge feature provides up to five hours of use with only 15 minutes of charge.

  • Customizable EQ: Choose from a variety of presets or create your own personalized sound profile using the ShurePlus™ PLAY app. Save your settings directly to the headphones for a seamless and personalized audio experience across different apps and devices.

  • Crystal Clear Communication: Experience superior call quality with beamforming microphone technology and proprietary automatic gain control (AGC) settings. Leveraging six microphones, the precision-engineered system adjusts automatically to minimize surrounding noises, providing unmatched clarity for video calls and phone conversations.

  • Cutting-Edge Bluetooth® 5 Wireless Technology: Seamlessly connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop with the class one transmitter, offering enhanced stability and a remarkable range of up to 100 meters.

  • Premium Headphone Amplifier: Enjoy support for Snapdragon Sound™ with Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive technology for high-res music streaming, and AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs.

Overall these are the best yet I have tried from Shure when it comes to headphones and their app is also excellent giving them more justification for their high price they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and when it comes to the audio experience you have more than enough at your fingertips to get the desired audio experience you need and it is a joy to wear them and block out the outside world.

BUY

Video review

Tech Review – TOZO HT2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

The TOZO HT2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones have been on my head the last while and a pair of headphones I have been looking forward to testing out. TOZO is a new brand on my radar now after testing many of their products and they have been consistent in delivering good quality products and audio to date and also a nice smartwatch called the TOZO S3 which we recently tested out and their newest earbuds the TOZO T12 Tonal Dots they also have some open ear headphones called the Open Buds which again an excellent product.

With TOZO I have openly said they need headphones and we finally got them and after spending some time with them the wait was worth it. I am now shifting to headphones more so than earbuds as I constantly have earbuds all week long in my ears and could not wait to test these and they did not disappoint at all.

They are really clean to look at and unlike other brands they do not scream their name, they are plain and I do give out about plain earbuds and being one colour but TOZO is a new brand to many and they get away with it this time round I would like to see more colours later on but not an issue right now.

They are light and comfortable to wear for long sessions which I do quite regularly either listening to music or watching films I test the like for a living and go into my element and I got what I expected here, loud crisp clear sound when watching new movies and excellent audio when listening to my playlist that I use for testing and with their app the experince is enhanced giving you control over your audio.

For me it is volume to the max and forget about everything else that is going on. No lag latency no tinny sound and just a great audio experince for the price overall, the buttons work well albeit they are small but worked well after spending some time with them, all features are present such as volume control skip and reverse tracks call management and voice assistant access.

You also have transparency mode and wind reduction and noise cancellation thrown in for good measure making them more appealing for their price. I am hoping now they make another pair of cans soon but as for these for the price you can’t go wrong. See the video review for more and a look at their app and features.

The App

TOZO App – techbuzzireland

Features 

  • [ANC & ENC Noise Cancellation] Featuring a hybrid ANC algorithm and 3 ANC microphones, TOZO HT2 deliver exceptional noise control across a wide frequency range. Whether it’s the roar of airplane engines, subway rumble, or office chatter, it effectively minimizes noise interference, ensuring an unparalleled listening experience. In addition, the excellent ENC call noise cancellation makes it possible for you to talk clearly even in noisy streets.
  • [Up to 60 Hours of Playtime] With up to 60 hours of listening time of our over ear headphones in ANC OFF mode, triple as much as other Bluetooth headphones. A single charge gives you enough juice to listen to over 700 songs or soundtrack multiple long haul flights. Also equipped with a 3.5mm audio cable, you can effortlessly transition to a wired mode when the battery has run out, guaranteeing uninterrupted listening.
  • [Both Wired and Wireless Connections] Equipped with dual 40mm drivers, TOZO HT2 bring you superior Hi-Res audio sound with a well-balanced deep bass, make you have a better listening experience. Plus, it breaks the single connection method, support both wireless and wired connection. When with wired connection, custom oversized 40 mm dynamic drivers produce Hi-Res sound for extraordinary clarity and detail.
  • [All-day Comfort & Adjustable Design] TOZO HT2 uses ultra-soft protein leather earcups, which allows you to wear it for a long time without feeling uncomfortable. The earmuffs can also automatically adjust the angle to suit users with different head shapes. Making them the ideal headphones to work from home or watch your favorite movie.
  • [Foldable Design] The foldable and lightweight design allows you to fold and place the headphones anywhere, you can easily fold the headphones into carrying bags and travel cases, taking up less space in your backpack, which are perfect for travel, sports and everyday use.
  • [Intelligent TOZO APP] Enjoy different styles of music with TOZO APP, offering a various selection of EQs to tailor the sound to your preferences. With the convenience of TOZO APP, you can easily switch between different EQs and enjoy your favorite music anytime, anywhere for the ultimate personalized listening experience.

BUY 

Video Review

Edifier Launches The New W320TN Earbuds With Adaptive Noise Cancellation And AI Multimodal Adaptive System

Edifier International, prominent designer and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets, announces the W320TN True Wireless Noise Cancellation Earbuds. True Wireless Adaptive Noise Cancellation Earbuds with AI Multimodal Adaptive System, Hi Res sound, 27.5 hours battery life and a new open fit design for an ultra-comfortable fit.

The Edifier W320TN earbuds feature an advanced AI Multimodal Adaptive System that employs a combination of various sounds and algorithms to provide users with top notch noise cancellation, 

superior sound quality and clear calling capabilities. With these earbuds, users can enjoy an immersive experience with no distracting ambient noise and make and take calls with ease thanks to the advanced noise cancellation technologies. The earbuds also come with multiple modes that allow users to customize their audio experiences with the Edifier Connect App. 

The Edifier W320TN introduces an AI Multimodal Adaptive System which combines multiple sounds and algorithms to ensure that users have the strongest noise cancellation, the best sound quality and the clearest calls. The W320TN creates an appropriate depth of noise reduction. Air leakage was identified as the issue impacting sound quality and immersive experiences in earphones. Through careful testing and analysis, parameters were set to balance perception of the real world with the desired immersive environment. This leads to improved sound quality and a more satisfying user experience.

The W320TN is equipped with LDAC audio encoding and decoding, with a sampling rate of 96kHz/24 bit. They also transmit 3 times the music details when compared to other earbuds, avoiding sound loss during transmission. With Hi Res Wireless certification, it possesses the ability to decode and restore audio accurately, thereby presenting the subtle changes in sound quality with clarity. 

Crystal clear voice calls can be experienced with advanced technology featuring 3 + 3 microphones and AI Adaptive Environmental Noise Cancellation. Say goodbye to background noise and enjoy uninterrupted conversations with family and friends. This feature ensures that users will be heard loud and clear, no matter where they are, allowing users to stay connected with confidence and clarity.

The Edifier W320TN has a long battery life. For just 10 minutes of charge, users will get an hour of use. With ANC on, playtime will be 3.5 hours for the earbuds and 14 hours with the charging case whilst with ANC off there will be 5.5 hours playtime for the earbuds and 22 hours with the charging case.

The W320TN features an open fit design. The earbuds are ergonomic and fit snugly into the ear without causing any pressure on the actual ear. The built in infra-red wearing detection sensor intelligently knows the wearing status – keeping noise cancellation on and playing music when the earbuds are put into the ear and pausing noise cancellation and music when the buds are taken out of the ears. The W320TN can be connected to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously for fast switching between devices. With Google Fast Pair, the W320TN can quickly and effortlessly pair with your Android device under Bluetooth.

Edifier W320TN

With a low latency of 80ms in game mode, users are able to master a variety of mobile games. Audio and video synchronisation secures victory for players by guiding them to accurately identify the position of enemies. The IP54 rating (dust- and splash-proof) means that users can go to the gym or an exercise class without worrying about perspiration during exercise.

Main Features:

  • Long Battery Life. Playtime with ANC off is 5.5 hours plus 22 hours with the charging case.
  • Open Fit & light weight design – reducing the pressure you may feel.
  • Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation automatically offers the most suitable noise cancellation mode., The ANC mode can also be adjusted manually using the Edifier app.
  • Hi Resolution Sound provided by larger 13mm dynamic drivers plus LDAC codec and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
  • Crystal clear call quality identifies voices and filters out disruptive noise. 
  • Wear Detection – Music will play / pause automatically.

Price & Availability:

The W320TN is available at £99.99 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C7Q43WRR

 

 

 

 

#IFA2023 -Shure unveils 2nd Gen AONIC 50 wireless noise-cancelling headphones: now featuring spatial audio and advanced hybrid active noise cancellation

Shure introduced its highly anticipated AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2. Drawing on decades of stage and studio expertise, the AONIC 50 Gen 2 Headphones break new ground with a revolutionary spatialized audio experience, designed to captivate music enthusiasts and discerning audiophiles alike. Building on the success of the AONIC 50 Headphones, this second generation sets a new standard for premium, high-fidelity audio, enhanced active noise cancellation, and 50 percent more battery life than the first generation, with up to 45 hours of runtime.

Meticulously crafted with premium materials and studio-quality sound through custom-engineered 50mm dynamic drivers, AONIC 50 Gen 2 Headphones are an embodiment of comfort and style that take listening to the next level. They have been designed by leveraging Shure’s experience designing headphones for studio professionals with long hours in mind. With customisable EQ features and new hybrid active noise cancellation technology, users can tailor their unique preferences using the free ShurePlus™ Play App for a personalised audio experience.

At the heart of the AONIC 50 Gen 2 Headphones is Shure’s new spatialized audio technology, powered by a proprietary algorithm, designed using a combination of acoustical modeling and critical listening to delicately enhance the spaciousness without compromising the original audio. This feature provides three distinct modes—Music, Cinema, and Podcast:

  • Music Mode: enables users to experience listening through high-end speakers and is the most subtle, maintaining the original source material.

  • Cinema Mode: emulates the low frequency excitement that users experience in a theatre that employs subwoofers for an immersive, larger-than-life sound through clarity, presence, and natural sounding dialogue.

  • Podcast Mode: brings the voice of a user’s favourite podcast host closer to their ears.

“The AONIC 50 Gen 2 is designed to deliver an exceptional listening experience that is built on the heritage of the previous generation. We incorporated the latest innovations, including spatialized audio options and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound™ Technology, taking the audio to the next level,” said Sean Sullivan, Associate Director of Global Product Management, at Shure. “For passionate audiophiles and music lovers, the magic lies even in the tiniest details. The AONIC 50 Gen 2 provides a pure, high-resolution listening experience paired with our latest digital signal processing (DSP) options, so listeners can customise to their preferences and immerse themselves in their own private concert.”

This second-generation headphone ushers in new hybrid active noise cancellation technology, improving on the performance of the earlier generation and more effectively eliminating external distractions, enabling a truly immersive and natural listening experience. By using microphones inside and outside the earcup, the AONIC 50 Gen 2 offers users the ability to fine-tune their auditory environment, effortlessly controlling the level of ambient noise. Featuring four selectable modes—Light, Moderate, Max, and MaxAware—the new MaxAware setting strikes the perfect balance between blocking unwanted noise and maintaining awareness of your surroundings, making it ideal for on-the-go conversations.

Additional Features and Benefits:

  • Enhanced Environment Mode: Immerse yourself in the outside world with a simple switch. The adjustable slider on the ShurePlus™ PLAY app lets you refine the ambience settings to your liking.

  • Extended Battery Life: Holds up to 45 hours of battery life with quick charging capabilities, more than doubling runtime from the earlier generation. The quick charge feature provides up to five hours of use with only 15 minutes of charge.

  • Customizable EQ: Choose from a variety of presets or create your own personalized sound profile using the ShurePlus™ PLAY app. Save your settings directly to the headphones for a seamless and personalized audio experience across different apps and devices.

  • Crystal Clear Communication: Experience superior call quality with beamforming microphone technology and proprietary automatic gain control (AGC) settings. Leveraging six microphones, the precision-engineered system adjusts automatically to minimize surrounding noises, providing unmatched clarity for video calls and phone conversations.

  • Cutting-Edge Bluetooth® 5 Wireless Technology: Seamlessly connect to your phone, tablet, or laptop with the class one transmitter, offering enhanced stability and a remarkable range of up to 100 meters.

  • Premium Headphone Amplifier: Enjoy support for Snapdragon Sound™ with Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive technology for high-res music streaming, and AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs.

Snapdragon Sound Technology, incorporated into the second generation of AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, is designed to provide an unparalleled audio experience. By optimizing a suite of technologies by Qualcomm Technologies across connected devices, Snapdragon Sound delivers consistent, crystal clear and captivating audio. Users can enjoy every detail of their music just as the artist intended and feel better connected to colleagues and loved ones through voice and video calls with true-to-life audio.

“Qualcomm Technologies is excited to work with Shure, a premier brand known and loved by audiophiles, on their new AOINIC 50 Gen 2 headphones” said Mike Canevaro, Director, Marketing, Snapdragon Sound, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “By incorporating Snapdragon Sound into these headphones, Shure is ensuring their customers hear every detail of their music exactly as the artist intended, with robust and reliable connectivity.”

The AONIC 50 Gen 2 joins Shure’s famous AONIC product lineup, which is already well known for its acoustic superiority, reliability, innovation, and excellence. Additionally, the modern “all-black” design has up to 45 hours of battery life to provide long-term listening and comfort. The redesigned carrying case, smaller than the previous generation, delivers a portable design that folds flat for easy storage. These headphones are the all-in-one solution for those looking for studio-quality sound, improved hybrid noise cancellation, spatialized audio technology, extended battery life, advanced environment mode, and more.

Pricing and Availability:
The AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2, will be available in Black in September 2023 at Shure.com and select retailers starting at RRP £349. Purchase includes a two-year warranty, protective zippered carrying case, 3.5mm audio cable, and a USB-C charging/audio cable.