[ WWW.TECHLIFE.NET ] [ 049 ]
4Beats by Dre BeatsX Wireless Earphones
MEET SOME GOOD-SOUNDING EARBUDS THAT CAN CHARGE IN FIVE MINUTES.
THIS IS A bold new product from Beats, which
since its acquisition by Apple has become a
really quite traditional headphone maker.
Instead of sticking to bass-heavy earbuds or
expensive over-ears, the company has crafted a
new pair of musically inclined in-ears. That
said, the BeatsX borrows much from its
predecessors while carving out its own niche as
one of the first evenly-balanced pairs of ‘phones
from the bottom-end loving company.
But the BeatsX has two tricks up its sleeve
that few headsets from Beats by Dre have had
before: the first is Fast Fuel, a feature that
enables the earbuds to last up to two hours off
a single five-minute charge; and the second is
Apple’s W1 wireless chip.
Having the two earbuds connected via a
cable might not sound like the ideal solution to
some — a cable has the tendency to weigh the
earbuds down — but it’s harder to lose, plus the
wire between the two buds can provide a home
to in-line controls and a battery. The in-line
controls are basic and effective. You can use
them the raise and lower the volume, pause the
music, skip tracks and rewind. There’s also a
built-in microphone.
The BeatsX is one of the most comfortable
pair of wireless in-ears we’ve ever worn. That’s
largely because most of the weight is carried in
the thickest part of the cable that sits around
your neck, leaving two smaller cables with
earbuds attached to run up to your ears. This
technique helps the BeatsX sit snugly in the ear
without giving you the feeling that they’re about
to fall out. As for the in-ear fit, Apple ships each
package with four different eartips and two sets
of wings that hold the headphones in place.
The BeatsX is water-resistant, but not fully
waterproof. When they’re outside of your ear
and loosely hanging on your chest, the earbuds
snap together thanks to built-in magnets that
help keep the wires from getting tangled.
You’d be right to expect a lot in terms of
sound quality from a $200 pair of headphones.
And while the BeatsX hits a few of the right
notes, it’s not pitch-perfect for the price.
The sound quality is relatively clear for a pair
of in-ear drivers. You won’t find shimmering
highs and sparkling mid-ranges here, but the
sound is far from flat or hissy. What’s more
surprising is that the overall balance is on an
even keel. Highs and lows could perhaps have
been more pronounced than they are, though.
However, even with a seemingly airtight seal,
we could still hear people’s conversations going
on around us. We weren’t expecting a Bose
QC-level of noise-cancellation, but some would
have been welcome. That said, the BeatsX
doesn’t leak sound. But if you’re used to a pair of
Beats sounding like the inside of a woofer, you
might be disappointed. We would’ve liked more
clarity, though. Nothing sounded dull or drab,
but there was a distinct lack of energy.
Using the BeatsX as a Bluetooth headset issurprisingly easy, with one click on the remote
to answer calls and two to hang up. Apple’s W1
chip acts as the brains behind the wireless
operation in the BeatsX. The chip helps the
headset sync with compatible devices and
preserve battery life. These earphones have a
longer battery life than Apple’s AirPods —
about eight hours to the AirPods’ six.
The BeatsX caters to the workout crowd, who
are looking for a solid-fitting pair of in-ears that
won’t weigh them down, and regular music
listeners. There are issues with sealing out noise,
but these are forgivable given the battery life.
If you’re looking for a no-fuss pair of earbuds
and don’t mind dropping some cash on them,
the BeatsX may be for you. If you’re a thrifty
audiophile, then higher-quality options are out
there for less.WINNERAPPROVED
AWARDBEATS BY DRE BEATSX
WIRELESS EARPHONES
$199.95
http://www.beatsbydre.com/au
CRITICAL SPECS
Bluetooth; wireless; Lightning to USB-A cable (for
charging); battery life 8 hours; in-line remote for volume,
calls and music controls; built-in mic; four different
sizes of eartips, plus optional secure-fit wingtips;
available for iOS and AndroidTECH BENCHRADAR