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Which ones are more worth it for the summer?

Updated:27/06/2022 02:41h

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It’s not easy to choose headphones; more if the offer has multiplied exponentially in recent years. Everybody makes headphones now, both the old companies and, Sonysuch as cell phone manufacturers, or even speaker manufacturers, such as Amazon with Alexa. The offer seems to have no limit, but what is better, to trust the sound brands of a lifetime or the new products.

At ABC we have collected a few fairly recent ones that we have been testing over the last few months with the aim of helping you choose the ones that are closest to your needs. Especially considering that summer is approaching, which means more free time and, for many, also long days of travel in which it is worth having a device of this type to kill time.

Echo Buds True Wireless

J. O.
J. O.

Let’s start with one of the newest on the market and probably the most attractive offer, the Echo Buds True Wireless from Amazon second generation, with ANC, and Alexa perfectly integrated for almost 140 euros. First, what we liked least, the box, with a somewhat cheap appearance, especially the lid, which looks like it’s going to fall off at any moment.

The design is too simple and it has a considerable size, but there is a version with wireless charging, which is always appreciated. If you are an Alexa user, and you use services like Prime Music, these headphones have the best possible integration, you can do the same as with any speaker, from controlling home automation, to ordering products on Amazon or listening to the news.

The sound is according to its price range, we could even say that it is good for what it costs; Obviously there are better ones, but also much more expensive. Noise cancellation is also effective, it doesn’t block absolutely everything, but it’s more than enough. In addition, it has a transparency function, that is, it allows us to choose the level of noise cancellation that we want, for example, in case we go down the street, to know what is happening around us. It has an interesting function from the application that warns if we are not using the right pad for our ear. Something we haven’t seen anywhere else.

The autonomy is about four or five hours, it depends on whether we have the noise cancellation turned on. With the box to load them on top we can reach 15 hours. Another interesting function, which is not so common either, is that it is able to record sports activities once activated from the phone.

Sony LinkBuds S

J. O.
J. O.

Los Sony LinkBuds S They offer better sound for a slightly higher price, almost 200 euros. Obviously it is not the fantastic WF-1000XM4, but its cheaper version, with a true wireless system and ANC. Its strong point is lightness, you hardly notice that you are wearing them, as well as the case, which is one of the smallest and lightest we have tested. Although the finishes are not premium, Sony does not pretend that they are, since it uses recycled materials seeking sustainability, according to him.

Everything is controlled from the Sony ‘app’, so it’s completely necessary to get the most out of the LinkBuds S. We don’t particularly like having to download more apps on a phone already saturated with them, but almost all headphones they need and Sony’s is no exception.

The battery far exceeds the Echo Buds, it is close to six hours, 20 with the box. The good thing is that 5 minutes of charging is equivalent to an hour of playback. The cancellation is the best that we are going to be able to try at this price. Sony knows that this is where it can get its chest, and it does. In addition, it has modes to be able to listen to outside noise at different levels, but the best thing, which the Echo Buds do not include, is how it adapts to the environment, if we are on public transport the level of noise cancellation will rise, but if we walk it will will go down so that we are aware of the surroundings.

As a negative point we have noticed some inconsistency in its use, they didn’t always work 100%Sometimes, when I went running with them on, they turned off and there was no way to turn them on again until I put them in the box, or sometimes only one earphone turned on, and the same thing, until I put them in the box, it was impossible for them to work correctly. The LinkBud S are the most balanced of the three, great sound and cancellation, for a competitive price.

OPPO Enco X2

J. O.
J. O.

Lastly, we have the OPPO Enco X2, with a different format, as a stick. OPPO has included some premium details on the box that breaks the white with the logo of Dynaudio, the audio brand that has supervised its quality. OPPO is one of the newest in the headphone market, but it enters with force, with very competitive noise cancellation, up to 45 decibels, being able to leave you completely isolated from the environment. The battery is average, about five hours and with the box with spherical wireless charging almost 20 hours. The price moves in the 100 euros.

The configuration is done through the application, which takes five minutes but prepares the headset for your listening space, and the difference is noticeable, especially thanks to the equalization that has been developed together with Dynaudio Enco Master EQ. Through the application you can select the different Dynaudio filters, real, simple, clear and punchy.

Another aspect that we liked in the tests is the mesh filter that the headphones have that stops the wind on calls, one of the weak points of other headphones, talking or listening to music when it’s windy. The shape of these headphones also makes them the best for calls, the ones that will transmit the best audio on the call.

In general the OPPO Encho X2 excel in almost every aspectthe Chinese brand wants to gain a foothold in the market and for this it seeks to offer more for less, premium features at a mid-range price.

We’re aware that we haven’t discussed touch control on any of the headsets, but the truth is that none of them do it quite right, and it’s generally more confusing than anything else. Voice commands are much easier, or use the mobile for anything other than stopping or playing content.

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