Tag: #EARBUDS

Tech Review – Skullcandy Grind HAZE limited edition earbuds

The Skullcandy Grind HAZE are the latest on offer from the company who has been dishing out some really cool collaborations over the last while and it does not seem like it is stopping anytime soon either and we say let it continue to bring something different to the market albeit updated models of past but we love it and the 420 friendly earbuds are the newest and affordable and not shy on features either and after my testing the last while they get my approval and not only that they look cool to boot.

You can see the full unboxing if you missed that to get an idea of what to expect should you wish to pick these up but be quick.

The case these come with is cool with a somewhat transparent lid with a beige colour case which I think complements each other well and also well built, the case is pocketable too and does not get dirty with a matt finish and draws attention like the earbuds themselves.

Yes the earbuds also draw attention with several colours and a cloth like material on them which makes it easy to remove from the case and this is a good idea I think as some earbuds have been known to be tricky to remove from the case over my years of testing but not here, there is LED lights on each side and the outer part has a purple and orange tone which all blends in well and not only that they fit well too and again this is down to you on deciding the right tips to suit your ears.

Skullcandy Grind HAZE – techbuzzireland

How do they sound? Well as expected they sound great as all Skullcandy earbuds do from my testing and no features dropped over the aesthetics here which is good we have all the features as expected and more and the bonus here is Skull IQ which we have spoken about several times here which just makes life super easy by calling out the commands rather than fuss about with your phone or even the earbuds themselves, the controls on the earbuds are excellent too and again we go through this and the app in the video review below.

The sound is great as expected no lag latency nice volume highs lows and mids no distortion on max volume and in general well balance and of course you have the app to set these up to your liking too, you have a decent battery life too and not forgetting all the features packed in here for the money if you want a flashy case and pair of earbuds you need to check these out.

 

The App

 

Product specs:

Limited-Edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds – £69.99 MSRP

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, and more

  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skullcandy App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the earbuds

  • Premium Audio Quality – Experience supreme sound thanks to expertly-tuned acoustic drivers, dual noise-reducing microphones for natural and clear call quality and a noise-isolating fit

  • Up to 40 Hours of Battery Life – Listen longer with 9 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 31 hours in the charging case

  • Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability via the Skullcandy App by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels

  • USB-C Rapid Charging Case – For 10 minutes spent in the case, receive 2 hours of battery life

  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn-on and pairing with the last device used

  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance – Go on any adventure without missing a beat

  • Built-in Tile™ Finding Technology – If an earbud is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

The Grind Haze can be bought for £69.99 MSRP on Skullcandy.com

Video review

First Look – TOZO Golden X1 earbuds, custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts

TOZO is a new brand to techbuzz and they have kindly sent us their latest product to hit the market  their flagship earbuds Golden X1 custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts and we are excited to check these out as we do cover the biggest range of earbuds in Ireland and we like to test out new brands and yes there is more to come and sitting on our desk, today though we take a first look at the TOZO X1 and see what is on offer before we go test them out so if you have any questions feel free to ask as usual and check out the unboxing below and have a quick look at the features on offer so stay tuned for a full hands on review soon.

TOZO Golden X1 flagship earbuds

Features

Compact Structure & Exclusive Heavy Configuration

  • 12mm diameter hybrid drivers and balanced Knowles armature driver

  • LDAC HD audio decoding technology authorized by Sony
  • Hi-Res Wireless certification by JAS (Japanese Audio Association) supporting users with a 12Hz to 44.1 kHz wide frequency range
  • ANC and ENC noise cancellation functions, 6 built-in microphones designed with ENC noise cancellation

First OrigX Audio Golden Curve Presents Perfect Quality

  • HI-FI digital, material, and cavity acoustic technology compensates for the frequency lost when the sound passes through the ear canal curve, keeping the sound that reaches the eardrum closest to reality Perfected Ergonomic Design

Perfected Ergonomic Design

  • Matches the curvature of the human ear and fits the pinna, the soft silicone earplugs use a three-dimensional angle positioning to achieve the best in-ear effect
  • Breaks through the traditional shape and has a 45° inclined angle

Minimalist Appearance & Detail Design with High Quality

  • Digital display in the charging case to show the state of charge of LR earbuds
  • Charging case space capsule design under the background of the meta-universe era
  • The waistline of earbuds is like a swell of muscle to present the explosive power of deep bass, which is also smaller than ordinary earbuds
  • Supporting Two Devices Together & Innovative Wireless Charging

BUY

Unboxing Video

Tech Review – Skullcandy X Burton Mod True Wireless Earbuds

The Skullcandy mod are an affordable pair of earbuds with style and good sound packed in and this time around they have a new coat so to speak with a new collaboration with Burton which brings a more stansoutish look and garner attention like their other models available which I like, I am fed up with the boring same coloured earbuds and headphones and these are fine by me even though they are most suited to the ladies.

We have again a simple earbuds that sits well in the ear and block out most of the outside world once the right tips are fitted which something everyone should do with new earbuds., The controls work really well on these as before and I like them as they have a button underneath the Skullcandy logo, the commands are on point and you can see more in the video review below and what the app entails which enhances the user experience which is most welcome at this price point too.

The earbuds hold up to 7 hours of play time, and the case fully charges the buds more than 3 times between plug-ins. Plus, with Rapid Charge, just 10 minutes of charging will give you 2 hours of play time though this will vary on volume and EQ settings but from my testing they are not far off the claims here perhaps 30 mins or so with max volume on and high bass which is better this time around than the Push Active.

Overall the audio experience is good here despite no ANC but you have access to the app as seen below and more features than usual at this price including tile etc. Calls are fine here too and not forgetting multipoint connections either which is useful for many people these days carrying more than one device.

The App

Jake Burton Carpenter spent more than four decades advancing snowboard design and fighting for lift access for snowboarders at resorts around the world. Skullcandy was born on one of those chairlifts with a snowboard (probably a Burton) strapped to our founder’s feet. Without Burton, snowboarding would not be what it is today. In a way, Skullcandy might not be either.

 

Skullcandy x Burton Mod True Wireless Earbuds – £54.99 RRP

  • Multipoint Pairing

  • Clear Voice Smart Mic

  • Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode

  • Customization via Skullcandy App

  • Up to 34 Hours of Battery Life + USB-C Rapid Charging Case

  • True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2

  • Auto On/Connect

  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance

  • Built-in Tile® finding technology

BUY

Video Review

First Look – Skullcandy Grind HAZE limited edition earbuds

Skullcandy are on a roll with collabs of late and their latest offering again is limited and called the Grind Haze, The 420-focused Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds are backed by Skullcandy’s voice-driven platform, Skull-iQ and if you have not tried Skull-iQ it is a great feature to have on your earbuds and basically lets you control them by giving a command “hey skullcandy” and what you want done and it is a feature that works really well as we have tried and tested in on several pairs of earbuds from the company now.

Derek Steiner, director of global brand partnerships comments “Leaning on the iconic Purple Haze strain for inspiration, it’s no coincidence our 420 limited-edition Grind HAZE buds look good enough to smoke. They also pass the vibe check thanks to hands-free voice control, which makes it easy to maintain a chill atmosphere while mellowing out to a relaxed playlist.”

Today we bring you a hands on first look at the latest earbuds and of course if you have any questions feel free to ask and we will answer as we always do and stay tuned for that full hands on review soon here and on our YouTube very soon.

Skullcandy Grind HAZE out of case – tecbuzzireland

Product specs:

Limited-Edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds – £69.99 MSRP

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, and more

  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skullcandy App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the earbuds

  • Premium Audio Quality – Experience supreme sound thanks to expertly-tuned acoustic drivers, dual noise-reducing microphones for natural and clear call quality and a noise-isolating fit

  • Up to 40 Hours of Battery Life – Listen longer with 9 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 31 hours in the charging case

  • Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability via the Skullcandy App by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels

  • USB-C Rapid Charging Case – For 10 minutes spent in the case, receive 2 hours of battery life

  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn-on and pairing with the last device used

  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance – Go on any adventure without missing a beat

  • Built-in Tile™ Finding Technology – If an earbud is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

The Grind Haze can be bought for £69.99 MSRP on Skullcandy.com

Unboxing Video

Tech Review – Skullcandy X Burton Push Active True Wireless Earbuds

In the latest collaboration with Skullcandy we have the Burton Mod True wireless which comes in a fancy looking case as was before and slightly larger than others only this time this one looks better and stands out which looks cool. It has a nice finish and feel to the case and non slippy which is helpful due to its size but still this case gives you up to 34 hours of battery life and you have got rapid charge built in via USB – C

Now we have reviewed these before in their first iteration and nothing much has changed to be frank and honest about it and they still stand up to their merits back then as they do now. One thing that I loved most about these is the voice control options which you still today do not see.

These also fit really well too and have over ear hooks that goes around the ear and will not fall out of your ears,even for the most active folk and can be worn jogging or in the gym, there is one button on each side for controls but they have a new trick up their sleeve and buttons do not have to be used at all and you can just say “Hey Skullcandy” to do what you need them to do, more on this in the video below you need to see this in action.

At the price you pay here you get great sound however no ANC but this is fine with the really secure fit you will not hear much going on outside anyway unless outdoors in a noisy environment, with my ususal test loop they performed really well, highs lows and mids are fine and a good balance overall and then you have the app to play around with too with the EQ settings and also edit the button controls too which is excellent.

Check the video review below for a more in depth look.

The App

Skullcandy x Burton Push Active True Wireless Earbuds – £79.99

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology

  • Hands-free voice control

  • Up to 44 hours total battery + rapid charge

  • IP55 sweat and water resistant

  • Flexible, over-ear hooks for a secure, exercise-focused fit

  • Update features with the Skullcandy App

  • Built-in Tile® finding technology

BUY

Video Review

Skullcandy launches limited edition buds in celebration of 420. The Grind Haze

The limited-edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds give off a “buds in a jar” display-worthy look enhanced by a clear-colour, smoked grey case. The “Haze” colorway features a silvery, sage green colouring with a luxuriant texture and is enhanced by purple accents and striking orange highlights, reminiscent of the iconic Purple Haze strain that is undoubtedly going to take centre stage this 420 holiday.

The 420-focused Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds are backed by Skullcandy’s voice-driven platform, Skull-iQ™. With a simple “Hey Skullcandy” command, users can play or pause content, accept or reject calls, launch Spotify and more, all without lifting a finger–doesn’t get much more mellow than that. Plus, over-the-air updates provide the freshest features as soon as they’re available.

The exclusive buds have rolled out globally and are available for £69.99 MSRP on Skullcandy.com, just in time for 420.

Derek Steiner, director of global brand partnerships comments “Leaning on the iconic Purple Haze strain for inspiration, it’s no coincidence our 420 limited-edition Grind HAZE buds look good enough to smoke. They also pass the vibe check thanks to hands-free voice control, which makes it easy to maintain a chill atmosphere while mellowing out to a relaxed playlist.”

Product specs:

Limited-Edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds – £69.99 MSRP

  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to take calls, change tracks, adjust volume, turn on Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, and more

  • Over-the-Air Updates – Update earbuds via the Skullcandy App to add new features for enhanced functionality and to extend the life of the earbuds

  • Premium Audio Quality – Experience supreme sound thanks to expertly-tuned acoustic drivers, dual noise-reducing microphones for natural and clear call quality and a noise-isolating fit

  • Up to 40 Hours of Battery Life – Listen longer with 9 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 31 hours in the charging case

  • Personal Sound – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability via the Skullcandy App by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels

  • USB-C Rapid Charging Case – For 10 minutes spent in the case, receive 2 hours of battery life

  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn-on and pairing with the last device used

  • IP55 Sweat and Water Resistance – Go on any adventure without missing a beat

  • Built-in Tile™ Finding Technology – If an earbud is misplaced, simply ‘ring’ it from the Tile app

Tech Review – Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro

Next in from Soundpeats is the Capsule3 Pro and with some beefed up specs from recent models I have reviewed I was looking forward to checking out what there had to offer and when it comes to additional specs they have certainly beefed things up and they look cool and come in a cool charging case too offering up to 52 hours playtime which is not seen all that often in earbuds yet alone headphones however as you guess the cranked up ANC still takes a hit on that however nothing to sniff either. The ANC is top notch here citing up the 43db which again is a nice number..

These fit nicely in the ears and will not fall out and look great with the colour accent which matches the case they do not have a huge stem and rather subtle and stand out as a few people have asked me what earbuds am I using this time and complemented on the looks.

When it comes to calls they are also great and this was both ends on my testing and when it comes to the most important part is how do these sound in all situations, first there is no lag latency and for the gamers especially this is welcome, when it comes to movies and music and my usual test loop they pass with flying colours with nice volume levels no issue with highs lows and mids but this can change on the source of your music and EQ settings of course and overall a really excellent pair of earbuds for any one who want more than decent audio at their price point and shows up even more expensive earbuds

 

With LDAC™ High-resolution Codec Tech, SOUNDPEATS Capsule3 Pro is certified by Hi-Res Audio Wireless, supporting transmission of up to 990 kbps, transmitting pure high-fidelity sound, and bringing out every last detail. The custom-made 12mm biodynamic divers and Bluetooth5.3 of Capsule3 Pro let you get lost in the seamlessly tuning audio, from 20 Hz to 40 kHz, from luscious treble to boundless bass!

 

 

The App

As seen above we have the app which is familiar and simple to use with a nice UI and comes with plenty of sound adjustments so you can be in control you also can control the ANC, Game mode and more and this can also be done from the earbuds themselves, 3 taps on the right for voice assistant 3 taps on the left to toggle game mode, tap and hold for 1.5 seconds to skip tracks there is oddly enough no reverse track here and to higher and lower the volume it is tap once, you can also control the calls on the earbuds.

Overall these are one of the best pair of earbuds this year for the money with the features on board and the ANC quality there is no wireless charging on the case which might be a caveat for some but for me these are an easy recommendation and will not only suit those who want to listen to music or movies they are for the gamers too.

Capsule3 Pro  Ultra Long Lasting Hybrid ANC Earbuds
Features:
Hi-Res Audio & LDAC Codec Tech
12mm Driver（Frequency Response: 20Hz~40kHz）
8 Hrs Single Playtime & 52 Hrs Full Playtime
Hybrid ANC Tech (as Deep as 43dB)
Clear Call with 6 mics  (FF+FB+CALL Mic)

Game Mode & Standardized Touch Control

 

Buy at the link below:
UK Amazon:  https://bit.ly/Capsule3Pro-UK  £44.09   ( 25% off coupon +5% off code:   BRAYUOC2 )
US Amazon:  https://bit.ly/Capsule3ProUS   $49.27   （20% off coupon +  12% off Code: INWYBJXK）

Tech Review – Urbanista Atlanta earbuds

The Urbanista brand has the names on their earphones as the names of cities. The Urbanista Atlanta has the basics done very well in packed with great features and charging options. The case for the earphones is solid (Slightly larger than some cases used in the past) The brand on the case and earphones are visible with an easy-to-fit into the case without the chance of falling out. The buttons are not visible in terms of no protruding buttons with a visible LED on the case for charging either via USB C cable or wireless changing.  The logo is pronounced while out of site when placed on a table for storage,

Contents:

  • USB Type-C charging cable
  • Quick start guide
  • Silicone tips (small, medium & large)

 Available in: Steel Blue, Vibrant Red, Pure White, Midnight Black 

Key features

  • Playtime 8 hours
  • 34 hours of total playtime
  • Hybrid active noise cancelling
  • Transparency mode
  • Microphone noise reduction
  • Automatic play/pause
  • Multipoint connection
  • Touch controls
  • Voice assistant support
  • Wireless charging
  • IPX4 water resistant (earphones)
  • USB Type-C charging
  • App support

 

Specifications :

  • Drivers type: 10mm dynamic, moving coil
  • Sensitivity: 107 ±3 dB SPL/mW @ 1kHz
  • Driver Impedance: 16 Ohm ±15%
  • Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kH
  • Microphone type: MEMS
  • Bluetooth® version: 5.2
  •     Bluetooth® profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP • Audio codecs: SBC and AAC

Setup:

The QuickStart guide is clear in terms of clarification on the flashing lights and touch controls but does not contain a handy  QR code but does give a website setup link, A TechBuzz uses a modern dual sim phone, this had issues connecting to the App  – Urbanista Audio app.  When connected to an iPhone connection to the app was instantaneous. Once connected the multipoint option works efficiently allowing connection to a phone/laptop.

Touch controls

The Urbanista Atlanta buttons are multi-purpose allowing for double- and triple-tap commands to control music and calls. This has options via the  Left and right side long-press can be customized through the Urbanista Audio app or  Play/Pause: Double-tap left or right side.

Other taps  include

  • Previous song: Triple-tap left side.
  • Next song: Triple-tap right side.
  • Answer/Hang-up: Double-tap left or right side.
  • Reject a call: Long-press left or right side.
  • Activate voice assistant: Long-press left side.
  • Toggle between ANC and Transparency: Long-press right side

Warranty: One-year warranty

Charging:

The Urbanista Atlanta has done the basics superbly in terms of abundant power options. This came with a universal USB C cable charging allowing the option to swap cables between most newer android phones,  The option to use a wireless charger again is another bonus. The supplied charging case will automatically start charging the earphones when placed in the case. In the event of a low battery, a voice prompt is given to advise of 30 minutes of playtime remaining. The earbud’s power is visible on the app and gives 8 hours of playtime, or when plugged in the charging case a prodigious 34 hours of playtime.  The “Battery Status Indicator” (1) will pulse during charging and continuously lit when the case is fully charged. • 0-30 % – LED pulses amber • 30-100 % – LED pulses white • 100 % – LED turns solid white.

Conclusion:

The Urbanista Atlanta has numerous positives in terms of features multimode, excellent charging options and battery life, The great features are let down by a measly 1-year warranty from a known brand which should have shown conviction in the quality of their products to give a dazzling warranty.  The charging case while bigger than many used before does the job as necessary.  The setup to an iPhone or used with a windows laptop worked as expected but had issues and had to reset the earphones to get working on an android dual sim phone. The app had additional features allowing the customised approach of the earphones which was logical & easy to use.  The audio Sensitivity and Frequency response is standardised in terms of industry-standard given good quality audio while the microphone for calls did not filter out external sounds as seen on more specialised earphones.  Overall this is a set of earphones with a wealth of features and benefits for customised use with a good quality audio experience.

BUY 

Video Review

Tech Review – ACEFAST Crystal 2 T8 earbuds

Earbuds come in all shapes and sizes and we have seen them all covering the biggest range in Ireland. We thought we had seen them all until now.. These are quite different in all aspects including the case and bring a decent presentation too which for me at first gives a great impression.

When we first opened these the case itself was what grabbed my attention and it will grab yours too. But back to the presentation, it is excellent with a nice cover display with plenty of detail and then you remove that to get another presentation inside showing the contents through a plastic cover. Inside then you get the booklets and so on your USB-C cable the tips are in a clear case and then you get a case holder and lanyard strap which overall is a nice decent package as a whole which is great..

But it is the earbuds and case where it is at on an aesthetic look, you have a (3D embossed display) charge reading with numbers and lines and the case lights up and breathes when charging and it just looks cool it is a pity it did not change colours to suit the range of colour options they have which could be implemented with an App which I am sad to report there is not but this is fine they still look super cool in the case and watching them charge up and see the insides which would be for the real techies out there.

The case itself is also different as it does not slide or flip open, the earbuds are housed in the side of the case and drop out which is new and cool and they are solid in there so do not worry about them falling out either.. But in other news this case is one of the best I have seen and how it implements technology with the breathing light and more which you will see in the video review below, I want to see more of this.

The earbuds themselves are also shaped different with a curve on the stem and fit really well in the ears and there is a touch area on each earbud to change things around, there is some features missing here but they have the basics and next thing is you will want to know is how they sound right?

Ok so they have no app to start with and this could have changed things up a gear however it is fine if you just want a pair of earbuds that sound good and just work which is what they do. I am always one to complain about the lack of an app but sometimes this is not required and this is one of those times due to how they sound out of the box.

We have our controls nicely placed on these it must be said with the contour shape of them they are in a spot where your finger will naturally tap so no missing commands when you tap.  You can skip and reverse tracks lower and higher the volume play and pause and manage calls also included is game mode and you have a voice assistant. Calls are pretty decent too with a dual mic and ENC and were fine on my testing.

Overall these are super cool looking earbuds and one thing people ask when you see all new shiny lights and stuff like that is there a compromise well in this case here not really to be fair they sound great decent volume nice bass no tinny sounds or distortion on max volume and in general just good for an out of the box experience.

BUY

Video Review