The Tronsmart Onyx Pure are the latest earbuds now on offer from the brand that delivers affordable tech and quality audio, the earbuds are a standard look with a clean finish and do a good job in the audio department for the price so lets look some more into the earbuds.
The look and design is a fairly standard affair here clean and simple in a plastic housing and all looks well and the concave area where you will control the earbuds works really well and works each time virtually erasing all kinds of false controls which can often happen with earbuds.
The fit well and are an average sized earbud that will not protrude too much when fitted, tis may again be different per person as all our ears are different, once secured with the right tips you are good to go they are solid and block out external noise quite well too.
The controls as mentioned work well we have these split on both sides as expected from tronsmart but it is a simple affair with three taps being the most which in this case is to change the EQ on the left and activate your voice assistant on the right we go through all this in the video review below so check that out.
When it comes to sound they do a decent job and for the price this is taken into consideration, overall there is nice bass here, this is obtained via the left earbud, there is no app access but the EQ setting makes up for it, from my usual testing the highs lows and mids are fine in all genres and for video music gaming and more they held up well not getting tinny on maxed out volume either and no lag latency.
Calls are also fine on these not the best quality in the world they are clear but again take the price into consideration and the overall package here they do a good job for the money and a bargain for the price.
The Pamu Slide 2 are the latest earbuds now on offer from the company and I have been testing these out for a good while to get a fair grip on them, we unboxed these and compared them to the previous model and clearly seen there is a difference in side overall between both the earbuds and the case and of course the packaging and all of this bringing the profile down which is good but has this had an effect of the sound lets see..
Size fit and comfort.
These are again much smaller with a thicker stem on the width and half the size in length and this made a great fit for me, the stem is wider which looked better and felt more secure they are very comfortable too and i think they look better IMO with the finish they have with the smooth stem and circular design touch area with a nice finish to distinguish both.
Controls and App
OK so the controls are considered small it is a small earbud but work really well as mentioned they touch area is distinct here finished off with a nice circular design, in the video review we go through the app and its features which makes it once again of the better apps out there when it comes to control and features and makes the overall experince a joy to use, but do see the video for more on this. In the app you have controls for ANC Wind Noise reduction, Passthrough, Gaming modes, EQ presets and edit vocal enhancements, transparency mode and of course your feature controls such as skip/play/pause tracks etc..
Battery
Battery life is decent to be fair and with a an app to customise and maximize performance pressing hard on some features of course will impede on the stakes claimed like all make I got around 25 hours maxed out on volume and ANC which is still good and that is better than one might expect at the price point too and not forgetting they are not large earbuds.
Sound
Once again the company has pulled it off overall here with the sound anyone that uses these will be happy you have all the profiles covered here all genres highs lows and mids, bass and treble, especially the bass end of things here is where they shine and if you like bass these are for you, however with the app you can enjoy them with any genre in fact and again with gaming and more, call quality is also quite good, wind noise reduction works well vocal enhancements work and so to does the ANC and hear through you can also use these independently and no lag latency noted. so for an overall package that is very affordable PAMU have delivered a great package here in a very overcrowded market.
Powerful, Punchy Bass – Drop the bass with 10mm dynamic drivers that go deeper and stronger.PEN ensures a natural and full mid&low frequency, while Titanium makes the high-frequency sound more clear. The PEN & Titanium composite membrane helps deliver an unprecedented performance with beautiful balance across the full frequency range.
It is great to see some new tech from JBL and the first review we have is their latest true wireless earbuds the all new Live Pro 2 and there is plenty more to come from the brand this year and it all looks good from seeing it hands on at their launch event last month in Dublin, for the last few weeks I have been testing the latest true wireless and I have been very impressed with them.
The presentation is as always great with JBL products especially their earbuds which come in the traditional box we are all familiar with and you can see the full unboxing on our YouTube channel where we go hands on with all our tech for better context check out the presentation and unboxing HERE
Again these can easily be an airpod alternative and most likely better due to the new features provided and again Apple have a serious competitor on their hands here given the love they get and for me these are again better and cheaper, better build looks and design too so an all round winner in those departments.
They fit really well too and again like any earbuds check out the tips and get the right fit to get the full audio experience as within the app you get to ensure the fir is right and it might take a few goes to get this right which was a bit annoying however it is worth it in the end trust me, the fit is snug once you pick the right tips great noise isolation that is notable straight away and you cant really ignore that fact when trying them out. After that you are good to go once you check out the app and we go through this in the video review so you can see what you are getting.
The app itself has plenty of features which are great and you can control your earbuds from there or from the buds themselves, also I must point out take the left side out first then the second to get both going do not take both out at the same time as I have had several ask about not being able to connect one side.
The sound is where it matters most for people and they are fantastic, they are loud punchy nice bass highs lows and mids are fine and direction, they for me are one of the best earbuds so far this year and up there a the top tier costing less money competitors and giving better sound and app options to play around with to get the right notes for you.
You have 11mm drivers in these guys and six mics so calls are also great and during my testing both ends clear, noise cancelling on these is also pretty good and one of the best ones in this area this year and you have other options to play with with ambient and hear your own voice which is not present in many earbuds today. One thing missing that could of been included was the support for aptx codec but with the app you can fine tune to your own needs and still get an excellent audio experience at a great price.
You get extra niceties with wireless charging and quick charge too which helps and also what is cool is the use of Google assistant again we demo this in the video below so do check that out for more details. You also get dual connect and you have an IPX5 rating. On a budget of the asking price then? Pick these up you will not be disappointed.
JBL LIVE Pro 2 Features:
● JBL’s Signature Sound from 11mm drivers
● Up to 40 hours of playback time (10 hours in the earbud; 30 hours from charging case)
● True Adaptive Noise Cancelling with smart ambient
● 6 microphones with noise and wind isolation technology
● Dual Connect + Sync with Google Fast Pair
● Hands-Free Voice Control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
● All Access Touch Control or use via the dedicated JBL headphone app
If you are into bass and on a budget look no further these headphones have this have a deep sound and excellent ANC too and from testing these and other high end headphones in recent times the ANC on these cans is up there with the more expensive headphones. The headphones have no app but is not required really if you fit into the overall sound stage from these headphones.
There is simple controls here split between both sides and is kept really simple you have an ANC toggle a power on/off toggle that acts as a play/pause button too and you have volume keys, these are nicely raised and easy to navigate and work quite well.
Comfort is another thing here, deep soft cups that give great passive noise isolation out of the box and that is a good start, they have a ratchet style of arms which are marked to ensure both sides are the same when wearing them and they also have good maneuverability on the ears too to get the best fit for you.
Heightened Listening Experience
Features dual 40mm Neodymium Iron Boron dynamic drivers coupled with strong audio codecs to deliver virtually natural and authentic sound quality without distortion. With Bluetooth V5.0, E9 ensures a smoother watching and listening experience delivering sound in sync with visual media. Enjoy your favorite tracks and videos with stunning accuracy, rich details, exceptional clarity, and synchronised sound.
Bass is where it is at with these headphones and this is who these are for, not only that if you like your music in deeper tones they are for you too however overall they perform really well with all genres and for music, gaming and movies you will enjoy the deeper tone to this pair of headphones if that is what you prefer but regardless they give an overall good audio experience for the price.
See the video review for more below and how these headphones work.
The kit came in a great looking package, a case with numerous accessories, without the bag a high potential to lose all the parts. The bag facilitates the carrying of additional items in the case. The gimble is designed to allow it to use its motor and sensors to ensure the camera is supported and stabilised to ensure video footage is smooth and stable even when on the move. The kit is stolid to allow weight cameras from a variety of the major brands to work. The OLED display while small allows the setting visible.
Features:
【Small Size Strong Power】 Crane-m2s is super light yet strong enough to hold various cameras, like your phones, action cams, and mirrorless cameras. The 549g super lightweight body, combined with stronger motors and extended axes, makes it a must-have for run-and-gun filmmakers
【Power up Fast】Supports PD Fast Charge protocol. Charging time can be minimized to 1hr 41min. Runtime up to 10hrs
【Extra Bright In Tiny Light】The integrated fill light adopts outstanding lumen amplifier technology to offer 1000 lumens of brightness in a 2.8c㎡ light source. The adjustable 5-level light and 4-color filters give you unlimited possibilities of creation in various filmmaking environments next-level quick release
【Unleash Your Creativity 】Various shooting modes available: Pan Follow, Follow, Lock, POV, Vortex, Go, etc
【Next-Level Quick Release】CRANE-M2S comes with the newest quick-release plate that’s only seen on Zhiyun flagship gimbals. It features a V-shape design and dual safety locks which ensure utmost safety and efficiency. You could also choose to upgrade to a universal balance-free quick release plate for run-and-gun scenarios
Accessories:
1xZhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal Stabilizer
1x Mini tripod
1x Fill light filter
1x EPP carrying bag
1x TypeC to Micro Camera Charging Cable
1x TypeC to TypeC Camera Charging Cable
1x TypeC to USB cable
Setup:
The manual and marketing advise easy “ Easy Setup – Get Ready Anytime” Quick depending on your view of Quick, don’t expect to get operational within 1 hour, this is not due to the setup, but rather to understand how the kit works, download the software, connect to Bluetooth and calibrate the unit. The manufacturers manual as supplied has limited info with the main website as a marketing tool. This does give a full video on the Button introduction and installing and balancing.
The setup is crucial to the use of the gimble, which can involve the use of the App ZY Play in terms of calibration and the mechanical mounting and balancing on the unit.
The setup required various adjustments depending on the product type and weight of the unit and requires to be balanced to ensure the motor does not burn out which can be confusing. This is paramount to spend time on this balancing as if not done correctly can cause various issues afterwards.
Pan Follow mode (PF): The tilt axis and roll axis motors are locked, and the camera rotates with the handle while panning horizontally. Push the joystick up/down to control the tilt axis angle, and push it left/right to control the pan axis of the camera.
Follow mode (F): The roll axis motor is locked, and the tilt axis and pan axis motors follow the rotation of the handle. Push the joystick up/down to change the tilt angle of the camera and left/right to change the horizontal orientation of the camera.
Point of View mode (POV): All three motors move when the handle is rotated.
Vortex mode (V): The tilt axis motor rotates upward by 90° , and the tilt axis, roll axis, and pan axis motors follow the rotation of the handle. Push the joystick to the left/ right to control the rotation of the pan axis. How to Use CRANE-M2 S
Go mode (GO): The roll axis motor is locked, and the tilt axis and pan axis motors quickly follow the rotation of the handle.
Compatible :
The crane can be used on a variety of cameras of various sizes and weights. This includes the main brands on smartphones, iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, Xiaomi or traditional cameras from the Sony, Panasonic Nikon, Fujifilm and the GoPro HERO. Connection with a smartphone mount is included while action camera accessories need to be purchased separately.
Warranty:1 year
Conclusion:
The CRANE-M2S is solid with excellent accessories and response to the buttons, The kit is required to be set up and balanced on initial use but changing from 1 unit to another again required the kit to be balanced. This balancing time with practice can be reduced with experience and the use of the quick release. This setup for each time the kit is used is by far the biggest niggle, It does work, but a novice could take an hour to get an understanding of the levers and adjustments. During this time errors in terms of zzz and axis, often come up. There is little in the way to advise on the messages rather than trial and error until balanced correctly. Again changing a camera when familiar required the balancing to be done, this can be reduced down to less than 5 minutes if used constantly but again take practice and experience to set up.
Once operational the operations are smooth, the button reactive logically, and the app works as expected with the quick mounting screw a real possible allowing for a large range of compatible units from the main brands, Overall a great product for the budding amateur to provide stable footage while on the move.
The Jabra Engage 55 came in the usual style box with the features called out on the packaging. The earphones are noticeably lighter than many predecessor units, while had the usual features in terms of headset flexibility adjustments and came with the typical Jabra charging stand.
Accessories
The Kit came with a carry case, cables, charging stand and a USB DECT adapter instead of a wireless base. You can see the unboxing here and walkthrough by Jim who has also tested this headset and finds it a “must have” piece of kit.
Setup:
The setup as described on the packaging is easy – plug in the supplied Link 400 adapter in the USB laptop port, turn on the power on the headset and are ready to go. Corporate laptops may need to have the USB port checked if locked down to facilitate access.
Jabra direct
Optional software may be downloaded to upgrade the firmware on the unit or additional features
Charging & battery life
The Earphones come with approx.13 hours battery which can be charged via the supplied charger holder or via the USB A charging cable supplied. (An audio warning is given in the event of low battery) During a call should be a low waring audio sound these earphones can be plugged into a laptop, or wall charger to ensure no drop in the call.
Range:
The range as quoted by the Jabra is a staggering 150 Meters from your computer using the compact USB DECT Link 400 adapter. To put this in perspective, UK football stadiums are typically 105 by 68 metreswhile Croke Park pitch covers an area 145m long by 88m wide. As per my test, this is measured by “Line of sight” (LIS), with no opticals blocking in the way from the laptop to the headset allowing clear conversation. This worked well in the back garden but as I tested in the front, with various walls, and barriers the range diminished quickly albeit the dect technology is far superior to Bluetooth as the DECT wireless range is 15 times the average range of Class 2 Bluetooth® device. (i.e., do not expect anything close to 150 Meters in a built-up area while may work in an open warehouse, or office plan type area). This will also diminish how many people are using the network.
Security.
In modern-day, most businesses train their staff on phishing, vishing and the treats of using Wi-Fi in the local café in terms of hacking. The Jabra Engage 55 steps up this in terms of technology with the Secure Dect wireless adapter, which has additional FIPS military-grade 256-bit encryption algorithms, to prevent snooping and keep communication, and exchanges away from prying ears or technologies.
Audio quality.
This is one of the first areas many people ask, is the Audio, ok?
In essence, most of the teams/ video calls are not focused on the high and low frequencies of classical music but on the background, noise heard on the calls. The Jabra comes with a great ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) Microphone that is designed to block out noises like a dog barking, or a lawn mower going in the background. This can easily be demonstrated when using a noisy keyboard, the sound of the keystrokes is dramatically reduced using this headset. Surprising when listing to YouTube music etc the quality is good. The earphones ensure conversations are concise and clear while the microphone must be positioned correctly to ensure this quality.
Hearing Safety
This is an area often forgotten which maybe become more apparent in years to come as many users try to turn the volume to max and use earphones for full-day use. This is similar to builders using high power tools. in the past now suffering from hearing loss, The Jabra brand came with a SafeToneTM 2.0, in hearing protection which consists of PeakStop™ prevents sudden loud audio spikes and IntelliTone™ 2.0 limits overall audio exposure. This type of technology should be mandatory for the future to ensure we are not damaging our future generation’s hearing,
Niggles,
If using the hybrid model to travel to the office, you have to carry a dongle and a spare USB A lead, this is a step backwards from the C charger lead as used in most newer Android phones. This is to facilitate the docking station which works if the unit is placed in a stationary environment, Jabra would do well to replace the supplied USB A cable with the modern USB C Cable.
These earphones are not compatible with smartphones coming with no Bluetooth option which means the dongle has to be plugged into the laptop at all times which is another part of the laptop when on the move, ( should you require a Bluetooth option possible look toward the Engage 75 or Jabra Evolve 2 75 which has multimode allowing 2 Bluetooth devices connected at the same time,https://techbuzzireland.com/2021/12/08/tech-review-jabra-evolve-2-75/
Warranty
This comes with a 2-year warranty with the option to replace the battery if required at a later stage. This is great to see on a quality product.
Conclusion:
The Jabra Engage 55 is a headset that out of the box works well with no technical setup required while has advanced options for the firmware via the free Jabra direct software. The key features in terms of being lightweight, excellent range and call security are inbuilt also. This has the often-forgotten hearing safety built-in without any deterioration to the audio of the unit. ANC works well to reduce unwanted back noise to ensure superior quality calls. There are slight personal niggles on the cables supplied but just personal choice and do not affect the operation of the unit. Again, the unit is not designed for Bluetooth products, but Jabra has many other products that work in this area. The future proof in terms of the option to upgrade the firmware and, warranty, battery replacement is excellent.
The Jabra Engage 55 delivers on quality, power, range, and security with ANC to ensure an immense user experience effortless from a trusted brand.
The Creative Zen Hybrid wireless headphones are the latest pair of cans on offer from the company and affordable, with a matt white finish they look clean and one could argue a bit more expensive than they are and if you missed out on the introductory offer you have really lost out here it must be said. These come well presented in a small box and details clearly visible to their feature set. You can see the full unboxing below if you missed it before we reviewed them.
These cans are not huge nor heavy and ideal for long term use be it for music or gaming and podcasts, and so on, either way will enjoy them an with access to their super app SXFI you can control and customise even more adding to the value for money here, having tested other headphones in the past headphones combined with the app is a win win for most.
The headphones are very comfortable and light which is important as these can be used not only for music but gaming and more the controls are all one one side which again I like and these controls are slightly raised and easy to navigate and you have a handy ANC button at your disposal too, no creaks noted during use and no sweating of the cups but on long term use like several hours depending on the humidity there was slight sweating, nothing like what I have come across before though.
Unboxing the Creative Zen Hybrid
The headphones are fine without the app but may sound a bit hollow for some however once you download their app the game changes completely for me and I am a huge fan and as mentioned had the pleasure to test this app out several times, the app is on preview during my testing and did a good job and can only get better and I may come back again later with another review when full access is granted but even as is it does a decent job.
In the app you can skip/reverse play/pause and adjust the treble and bass and also customise presets if you like so you have plenty to mess with for now, the sound quality is great and with the extra bass and treble to play with for me this is good if you are a bass fan you are going to like it, for gaming they are also great, music and movies again great with good direction no overlapping and good highs lows and mids with no lag latency noted either.
For the money you cant really complain the battery life is also good at this price and you get 5 hours of playback with a 5 minute charge and this is noteworthy here, In real life testing the battery life would hit around 35 hours for me maxing out the lot which is what I tend to do and have them at max volume which is not good for the ears but when I have headphones on and when testing I do not want to know what else is going on but you have ambient mode at your disposal too which is no common in most headphones and ideal for catching those things you might want to hear going on.
Calls where also fine on these and clear both ends which is great should you need to take any and overall for the money here the clean design that look well with that matt finish you can’t expect more however the price to performance ratio is getting better these days and it is a crowded market but with Creative being a well established brand and great products and of course their SXFI app it does give more than most for the money here.
See the video review below for more insights.
Key Features of Creative Zen Hybrid
Hybrid ANC (feedforward and feedback mics on each earcup)
Ambient Mode
Battery life – up to 37 hours (ANC turned off), up to 27 hours (ANC turned on)
Up to 5 hours of playback with only 5 minutes of charging
40 mm Neodymium drivers
Foldable design, with carry pouch included
SXFI READY
Pricing and Availability
Creative Zen Hybrid is priced at £ 99.99 and is available at the Creative online store.
I do not need to tell you every house should have a smoke alarm but they a super important and again no need to explain why, they come in all shapes and size and again cost differences are there they are now installed in all new builds and wired but this little guy is wireless and smart and works really well and I have put it to the test.
The design is simple and familiar and it is smaller than most out there, it is easy to set up and the app is simple to use too which we go through in the video review and a live sample of it in action, a stock image review will have no context which is becoming too common and just lazy so we go through all out tech hands on for better context.
How does this work.
It is simple, you get a battery with it, mount to wherever suits connect to the app and you are done, it is that simple.
What features do you get.
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Connection – Most tech is this anyway
Easily connect this alarm to your X-Sense app via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. Then you can control the alarm afar and be warned about any emergencies.
Easy Installation
1-minute installation in any circumstance with our included accessories, adding an attractive twist to your home.
Loud 85 dB Buzzer
Be alerted to fire hazards through the detector’s loud 85-dB alarm with a flashing LED indicator.
Full App Control
Control your smoke alarm from your fingertips. You can activate the self-check function, check the battery level and enable timely notifications, all within the app.
Instant Notifications
See what’s going on in the app notifications and be alerted to any fire hazards as soon as possible.
Overall this is a great cost effective product so for example if you have a garden shed or storage area outside or similar you can use this product there or indeed just add it your home for some extra security.
Check out the video for more and if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Need to spruce up and protect your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra well a company called ESR has some ideas which does just that, cases for the S22 ultra are not hard to find however lens protectors is a newish thing these days and something you do need to look into, I found out the hard way with my iPhone 13 pro earlier this year and had to fork out a pretty penny to get one of the lenses repaired which cracked somehow and with the phones out now today with huge humps on the rear or lenses simply not protected perhaps now is time more should look into offering lens protection.
The case first of all is simple and clean and offers full protection of the device front and rear, this does also work when the lens protectors are fitted so there is no worry here thinking the case won’t fit of you get both. The case also comes with a metal kickstand and it is not plastic in which many cases with a kickstand are so there is a better offering here straight away, all ports are available as expected and it does work with wireless chargers too, you have no need to remove the case from your phone and enjoy media both horizontally and vertically. There is a lip on the front which enables you to leave your phone face down, the keys work well too with nice travel and function well all the time. You also get additional grip with the case which is helpful and you should check these new Samsung phone cases for sale.
The lense protectors are great and an easy install to with how this was presented it looks like the whole camera hump was removed in the pack and you simply sit on top of the existing set up on your phone and apply some pressure and peel off and that is it, for a first time install myself it was nice to see and I would recommend anyone that has phones that have a similar lens setup to invest in this product.
