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Review of JBL FLIP and MICRO wireless speakers w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of JBL FLIP and JBL MICRO Wireless Bluetooth speakers. http://www.jbl.com/estore/jbl/us/pr..._JBL_US?skuId=JBLFLIPBLKAM_JBL_US&searchMode= and http://www.jbl.com/estore/jbl/us/pr..._US?skuId=JBLMICROWIRELESS_JBL_US&searchMode=
"Hear the truth" - is the slogan of JBL products. I don't know if everybody will truly understand this message unless you had a chance to test and to compare dozens of other speakers and headphones. Fortunately I had such opportunity, as you have seen from my previous reviews, and I can tell you with certainty - JBL delivers this message loud and clear, crystal clear! Of course you wouldn't expect anything less from a company that specializes in some of the top audio products under umbrella of Harman. But I was still very surprised how they were able to deliver such high quality from such compact package. Let's take a closer look at what I found.
I'm going to start my review with FLIP. This summer after my review of UE Boom, I got a number of comments and requests to compare these two portable wireless speakers together. Finally I got my chance, but more about comparison a little bit later. I always like to start with a package of the product since it sets a review tone. Once you pick up the box, there is no mistake you are dealing with a premium product, and as a matter of fact the packaging proudly carries an acknowledgment of 2013 International CES Innovations Award. Both FLIP and MICRO have it. Taken out of the box, FLIP looks a little bigger than a can of soda, about 6 1/4" in length and 2 1/2" in diameter. Weighting at 12.5 oz (354g) is not exactly feather light, which is actually a good sign of decent drivers used inside. But overall its very compact, easy to handle with one hand, and also comes with a very neat neoprene zip top traveling pouch. In addition, you also get AC adapter. OK, let me get this out of the way - yes, unfortunately FLIP has to be charged from AC adapter rather than typical micro-usb cable. This is probably the only negative comment you are going to hear from me about this speaker. Once charged up, you get up to 5 hours of playback time, as long as you don't blast it at full max volume.
FLIP is designed to stand upright or to be placed horizontally. For upright position, the end of the speaker without control buttons has a rubber non-slip ring. Due to the design with angled ends, upright position is feasible but will require a flat surface and in general easier to knock the speaker down. Horizontal position makes more sense, and to prevent it from rolling JBL designed two little rubber feet and a small rubber kickstand-stopper. I also found horizontal position better for sound with speakers firing up at an angle. The other side of the speaker has a power button which also used for Bluetooth pairing, Volume up/down control, and Call button. In addition to pairing up as an external speaker, FLIP also works as a speakerphone and I found it to handle calls very good with a crystal clear audio. In the back you have AC adapter plug and AUX Input for the occasions if you want to connect FLIP with 3.5mm audio cable to your source.
Now, here comes the fun part - audio quality. FLIP packs two 40mm drivers with a built in bass port, and let me tell you - it delivers one of the cleanest sound I heard from a portable wireless speaker! Doesn't matter if you have your volume all the way down or cranked up to the max, you will hear undistorted detailed performance with an amazing clarity. Its a relatively balanced sound with emphasis on midrange and treble, while bass adds a nice quality punch. Of course, you have to be realistic that such a small speaker can't deliver significant "quantity" of bass, but the quality is definitely there, balanced very nicely with mids and treble. The sound gets very loud and fills up the room, and can work great outdoors as well. I was honestly amazed by the clarity of the sound. Most of the speakers I reviewed in the past just focus on wireless aspect of delivering the sound and maybe tuning their speakers for extra bass which distorts at higher volumes and overpowers mids and highs. Here you can see that JBL engineers really paid attention to the sound quality, and still were able to deliver it up to 50ft away from your source. Nowhere does it say which BT ver they used, but it really doesn't matter because sound is delivered uncompressed and uncompromised.
Now, back to my original mentioning of FLIP vs BOOM. You have two great companies that have deep roots in audio engineering and technology, so both deliver an outstanding sounding product. But in terms of the final sound quality, I have to give FLIP an edge over BOOM because I felt the sound was more consistent over the whole volume range and was more clear and detailed. The bass sounded very similar in both speakers. Where BOOM has an advantage is longer battery life and micro-usb charging port. BUT, it also cost $100 more. So you really have to think about if if that worth extra $100 for you. Or perhaps, you might want to look into JBL CHARGE which is $150, has enhanced bass response, micro-usb charging, long battery life, and ability to be used as external battery to charge other devices, although it's a little bigger than FLIP.
Here are the pictures of FLIP.
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Next, I'm going to look at MICRO. This little guy is simply outstanding! With a hockey pock dimensions of 3.5" in diameter and 1.5" in thickness and weighting only 4.8 oz (134g) - it doesn't get any more portable than that. It's small enough to go into your pocket or being clipped to your backpack. With a same 40mm driver and a bass port - the sound is as clear and detailed as I found it with FLIP, except in this case you have a single driver instead of two which also results in MICRO being not as loud at the max. Also, this is audio only speaker, not speakerphone connection. It has a very impressive Bluetooth range, tested up to 50ft in open space. But to distinguish it further from FLIP, it comes with a few tricks of its own.
First of all, you get your wish with micro-usb charging port that will provide you up to 5 hours of wireless performance (based on moderate volume level). Next, you get analog wheel volume control. Some people might think, what is a big deal? Most of the wireless speakers have digital volume control and as soon as you turn them on volume goes to default high level with a few loud beeps to indicate pairing. In this case, volume will be as high as you set it to be, so there is no loud pair up beeps. Those who have little kids in the house and want to enjoy listening to your wireless speakers after kids go to bed - you will know what I'm talking about and will really appreciate that feature. But we are not done yet. If you want to use your MICRO wired, it has a built in cable with 3.5mm plug neatly wrapped and stored inside of the module. That is fantastic if you are listening to a device which doesn't have bluetooth or if you don't want to go through a hassle of pairing it up. Last but not least, there is a mystery 3.5mm port on the MICRO. Since you already have built-in cable, this is definitely not AUX in port. I actually had to read instructions to figure out what it's for - to daisy chain more MICRO or other speakers to MICRO. Now, this is simply brilliant because it turns MICRO into wireless transmitter!!! This way you can turn ANY speaker into wireless speaker just by plugging it into MICRO daisy chain port.
Overall, I was VERY impressed with sound quality and design of both FLIP and MICRO. In my opinion, MICRO is perfect in every aspect, while FLIP has only one negative of AC adapter. Also, one might argue about 5hr battery life where some of the other speakers might deliver more. But the Sound Quality and wireless performance of both makes up for any shortcomings. Just think about it, would you rather take 10-12hr of mediocre distorted sound or 5hr of eye candy design with crystal clear sound with a nice bass punch? Also, both of the products are priced very reasonably. Definitely gets my high recommendation!
Here are the pictures of MICRO.

this post is good
I also have a jbl speaker and found this post was so good. love jbl

Review of TTPOD T1S in-ear headphones with in-line remote/mic w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of TTPOD T1S in-ear headphones with in-line remote/mic. http://penonaudio.com/TTPOD-T1S
When I reviewed TTPOD T1E, I was aware it supposed to be their bass-enhanced dual dynamic driver version. At the same time a thought cross my mind how the original T1 version would sound in comparison to this enhanced version. Now, my question has been answered when I received an updated T1S model which supposed to be based on the original balanced sound signature of T1 with an addition of in-line remote/mic. Here is what I found.
Though the external box was very similar, internal packaging took a little step back with a less flashy design. Opening up internal carton revealed included accessories with two pairs of S/M/L eartips, one white silicone and the other black foam, an instruction manual, and a really cool nylon drawstring pouch with a pair of T1S headphones inside. Also, included was a card in Chinese with "T2" in the middle suggesting about upcoming T2 model. T1S earpiece shell design was identical to T1E model which is also the same as T1 model. Even so my T1S had a blue translucent color, I was still able to see all the internal components just like in my other clear transparent T1E version. The overall shape has a dual chamber design with a sound bridged together at the nozzle. But down from there, design was different.
The most noticeable difference was in a cable, starting with a strain relief where T1S had a longer piece with L/R marking on it. Though not very easy to see that marking, the shape of T1S is not symmetrical so you can always rely on that or a fact that Left side has in-line remote. The cable shielding in blue color T1S was all white, non-transparent, round with a rubber texture, and very soft and flexible. Y-splitter and headphone plug had the same round thin design with a textured etched surface. As I mentioned before, left wire side had a universal in-line remote/mic with only a multifunction button and no volume control for use with either Android or iOS devices. I confirmed single click Play/Pause/Call operation, double click to skip next, and triple click to skip prev, and long press for Google NOW. Mic on the remote was at a perfect level to pickup my voice during the call. I always appreciate when manufacturers put the remote/mic in a separate unit closer to earpiece rather than built into a y-splitter.
So, how about the sound? These are not the same as bass enhanced T1E version, but at the same time I found it to be pretty good. The sound signature is balanced with a little bit of mid-forward characteristics. Bass is not as enhanced as T1E but it's definitely above neutral level and has a distinct separation of sub- and mid-bass layers, just scaled down in quantity (in comparison to T1E). Mids are clear, not as detailed, skewed more toward brighter side but still smooth, and a little forward but not too much. Treble is crisp, but not as extended. Soundstage is above average with more width than depth, and a bit narrower in comparison to T1E. I was able to drive it perfectly from any source. Also, with large silicone eartips I was able to get a decent sound isolation.
Overall, if you enjoy the design and fitment of T1E and don't mind a more balanced brighter sound with less aggressive bass, T1S is a great choice of in-ear headphones to use as a companion for your smartphone where you can enjoy your music and switch to a phone call without missing a beat! With a current introduction price of only $39, it's also quite a bargain available in 5 different colors!
Here are the pictures.
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Thanks for a great review of TTPOD T1S sir.

Thanks for this review.
Vectron I’ve become your fan after reading your reviews. Way you write about product from packing to core details is great to let all the readers get most details about the product.
I’ll be needed some help and even welcome all other members to provide valuable suggestion. I would like to buy In-Ear phones for about $50-60 and even better if they are not with mic.
I’ve heard of many companies and read many reviews of Beyer Dynamic, Sennheiser, Klipsch, Grado, Shure, Bose, Audio-Technica and AKG. Now completely confuse.

jas.inde said:
Thanks for this review.
Vectron I’ve become your fan after reading your reviews. Way you write about product from packing to core details is great to let all the readers get most details about the product.
I’ll be needed some help and even welcome all other members to provide valuable suggestion. I would like to buy In-Ear phones for about $50-60 and even better if they are not with mic.
I’ve heard of many companies and read many reviews of Beyer Dynamic, Sennheiser, Klipsch, Grado, Shure, Bose, Audio-Technica and AKG. Now completely confuse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What music do you listen to, style?? What do you like the most in your songs, strong bass or detailed vocals? What is the audio source these headphones will be connected to? What files are you using, mp3 w/low quality compression or high quality FLAC? Answering to this will give me a clue what to recommend.

vectron said:
What music do you listen to, style?? What do you like the most in your songs, strong bass or detailed vocals? What is the audio source these headphones will be connected to? What files are you using, mp3 w/low quality compression or high quality FLAC? Answering to this will give me a clue what to recommend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My all time favourite is Latin Pop Music, Pitbull and Linkin Park. I don't like much of a treble music. Mostly I connect them to iPod and Macbook and in mp3 format. I hope this will help.

jas.inde said:
My all time favourite is Latin Pop Music, Pitbull and Linkin Park. I don't like much of a treble music. Mostly I connect them to iPod and Macbook and in mp3 format. I hope this will help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need something with a good strong bass to carry the beat You can get TTPOD T1E (on dx.com for $36: http://www.dx.com/p/ttpod-t1-enhanc...rphone-transparent-silver-335002#.VCtPYLB0z3g) or get VSonic VSD3 (on Penon for $45: http://penonaudio.com/VSONIC-VSD3). Original SoundMagic E10 for $35 is great too.
VSD3 will be the best bang for the buck because it actually has a removable cable and higher quality sound.

vectron said:
You need something with a good strong bass to carry the beat You can get TTPOD T1E (on dx.com for $36: http://www.dx.com/p/ttpod-t1-enhanc...rphone-transparent-silver-335002#.VCtPYLB0z3g) or get VSonic VSD3 (on Penon for $45: http://penonaudio.com/VSONIC-VSD3). Original SoundMagic E10 for $35 is great too.
VSD3 will be the best bang for the buck because it actually has a removable cable and higher quality sound.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are the benefits of a removable cable?

desertmod1 said:
What are the benefits of a removable cable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Majority of failures with in-ear headphones happen at the point of the connection of the cable to the headphone earpiece/shell. That's where cable has the most amount of stress due to bending or people pulling on the cable (even by accident). Once your wire breaks, you throw aware your pair of headphones. That's ok if dealing with disposable $10-$20 headphones, but when you invest $50-$100 or some of the the $300-$500 in-ear headphones I reviewed on this forum - you don't want to through away your investment if the cable breaks. Furthermore, removable cable gives you an option of audio only cable (just a straight wire) or with in-line remote/mic so you can use your fancy headphones with your smartphone phone to control music remotely and to pick up calls. Another advantage, there is a number of higher quality pure oxygen-free copper (OFC) wires some even with enhanced conductivity using silver-plated manufacturing process. That will enhance a sound quality of your headphones.

I see make sense, but is there a standard connection for all IEMs? What if they don't make your cable anymore?
vectron said:
there is a number of higher quality pure oxygen-free copper (OFC) wires some even with enhanced conductivity using silver-plated manufacturing process. That will enhance a sound quality of your headphones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read that in a double blind test nobody could tell the difference between a really expensive cable and a wire hanger.

desertmod1 said:
I see make sense, but is there a standard connection for all IEMs? What if they don't make your cable anymore?
..........
I read that in a double blind test nobody could tell the difference between a really expensive cable and a wire hanger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MMCX connector is the most popular, but not everybody using it.
Where did you read about such "double blind test"? lol!!! People usually joke around that if you have $40 upgrade cable and $240 upgrade cable it will be hard to tell a difference. Honestly, they are probably right because it's just a matter of cable purity and more expensive material which drives the cable price up rather than sound improvement. BUT, if you are comparing a regular basic copper wire and pure 5N silver-plated OFC cable - there will be a noticeable sound improvement. Trust me, I have at least half a dozen of silver-plated cables and have done plenty of testing. Only trust your own ears rather than reading "what someone else said or heard"

Review of iClever IC-BTH01 bluetooth headset with aptX support w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of iClever IC-BTH01 wireless Bluetooth headset. http://www.amazon.com/iClever-Lightweight-Headphones-Microphone-Transmitter/dp/B00RF27R9I/
I always say that wireless headphones/headsets are my weakness, thus a reason why I review a lot of them. One particular headset design with two earbuds connected by a short cable with built in inline remote has been a topic of a lot of my reviews. There are a lot of brand name manufacturers with their own interpretation of this design, and also a lot of other companies rebranding one particular design from China. Some of you might ask, what is a point of singling out one specific company if they are all rebranded from China and just the same thing with a different name? Well, apparently there is a variation among many models I looked at, and this is the first one I found to be suitable for review. To be honest, I already tested a handful of similar headsets and never bothered to write a review about it. This one is not 100% golden, but it has more features and better quality in comparison to others. Here is what I found.
iClever is part of HISGadget brand (http://www.hisgadget.com/) which specializes in various electronic gadgets. My review model of their latest headset (IC-BTH01) arrived in a nice small packaging with a clear display to fully reveal the headphones and a detailed list of key features and specification on the back. Along with a headset, you get a selection of accessories such as 3 sets of hybrid eartips (S/M/L sizes), a pair of stabilizer fins for improved fitment, usb to micro-usb charging cable, a pair of clips to control the cable length, and a detailed instruction manual. No storage case or pouch was included which makes sense because packaging is very small with hardly any room for extras. Eartips are actually of a surprisingly good quality to provide a good seal and secure fitment. Stabilizer fins could be useful for some, though in my case I found them unnecessary. One thing to note, iClever design prevents the fin from sliding all the way down the earpiece which is great because other similar headsets had an issue where there was no stopper and pushing earpiece in my ear affected the fin by sliding around.
USB to micro-usb cable is also great news because you don’t have to deal with proprietary cable attachments. On the back of the right earpieces there is a cap which you lift to reveal micro-usb connector. The full charge will give you about 5-6 hours of playback time, and charging of headset itself was pretty fast – a little over an hour using my 2A smartphone charger. Bluetooth pair up was quick and it got connected to phone and media audio right away. There is also an option for NFC, though I wasn’t able to test since I’m having an issue with NFC on my phone (has nothing to do with headset, but rather my phone setup). Also, I was able to test the wireless range to work flawlessly for up to 40 feet away from my phone in the open area.
With a Bluetooth version BT 4.0, this headset supports every available profile such as HSP, HFP, A2DP, and AVRCP. Regardless if you are playing music or switching to a call, it worked as expected. With a flat rubbery cable and sealed in-line remote, this headset is definitely great for exercising and outdoor activities; just make sure you don’t get it in a direct contact with water. Plus, if you sweat excessively during exercising, you might want to look for eartips that will cover a nozzle of earpieces since the moisture can get inside of the driver. But for a general use they are great, and inline remote performed well with multifunction button controlling Play/Pause/Call and Volume buttons controlling up/down volume change with a single click, as well as track skip with a long press of the same buttons. Plus, the cable has a small tab/clip which can be moved around, and I found it useful when headphones are not in use to connect earpiece together around my neck when they are not in my ears.
But a true star of these headphones is a support aptX codec which is very rare to see in such “generic” design. Bluetooth signal is transmitted digitally, encoded/compressed at a source (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) and decoded/uncompressed at the target (your headphones). Typical BT audio compression focuses mostly on midrange with roll off of lows and highs to save bandwidth. With aptX codec you get a wide bandwidth compression to preserve low and high frequencies which results in a more accurate and dynamic sound quality. So if your source supports aptX codec (most of the newer phones do), you will enjoy a benefit of higher quality audio! Together with an angled nozzle of earpieces (so they don’t stick out too much), and a selection of the right size eartips to give you a good seal for a bass and a more robust fitment, you will enjoy a benefit of a clear and detailed sound with a nice bass punch and a pleasant treble sparkle without a need to EQ anything. The sound was definitely more balanced, detailed, and transparent in comparison to other headsets, such as the one from Jabra, Plantronics, Jaybird, and others I reviewed in the past.
A lot of people ask me “which one is better”, and it’s a hard question to answer because wireless headset is a function of 3 things: encoded digital signal from a source, chipset/DAC used to decode it inside of your headphones, and the drivers of headphones itself. Other brand name products haven’t implemented aptX codec yet, so they are relying on internal processing of the signal to enhance the missing bits of sound quality, to enhance it, and to use better quality drivers. In case of this iClever model, the drivers might not be top of the line, but the fact they use aptX codec means they don’t have to rely on internal signal processing to compensate for shortfalls of missing aptX support. And speaking for drivers, iClever and other similar designs all have one common problem of driver flex. When you insert the headphone earpiece in your ear and use a large size earip for a better seal, you have air going into the nozzle and pushing on the driver membrane inside. If earpiece doesn’t have an air vent hole, there is no place for the air to exit and it could cause internal pressure with an audible “click” of the driver known as driver-flex. With so much electronics inside of these earpieces, there is no room for air vent, and it’s a common problem with ALL of these sports wireless headsets. The only solution is to play around with a fitment and different eartips while trying to avoid that “pop” because it can damage the driver.
Overall, I was very impressed with iClever IC-BTH01 wireless headset model, and finally was able to enjoy a clear and detailed wireless sound without a need to adjust the EQ. These are not bass-head headphones for those who are used to Beats wireless in-ear headphones and their muddy low end. iClever model is about accuracy of the sound, about the quality rather than exaggerated quantity. If you want more booming bass, use EQ, otherwise enjoy a crispy clear sound with a decent bass and treble extension!
Here are the pictures.
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Vectron,
Is the sound quality as good as the gobeats 2?

whoisloon said:
Vectron,
Is the sound quality as good as the gobeats 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find it (iClever) better, and fitment of iClever is more comfortable because BBG2 are bulkier and fit straight (rather than angled).

Thanks vectron! I really appreciate your inputs.. It's cause of your reviews I decide which one to buy

Review of Meelec Air-Fi Touch wireless bluetooth on-ear headphones w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of Meelec Air-Fi Touch wireless Bluetooth on-ear headphones with headset functionality. http://www.meelec.com/Air_Fi_Touch_Bluetooth_Wireless_Headphones_p/hp-af65-bk-mee.htm , also available on http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-Advanced-Bluetooth-Headphones-Functionality/dp/B00S5F3Y6Y/
Meelec is always pushing the limits of headphone technology combining unique design elements with a great audio performance at a budget price. Usually it’s not an easy task because often manufacturers loose a focus making their headphones stand out from the crowd with fancy looks while lacking in sound quality. Try to search for wireless headphones on Amazon or eBay and you’ll get a ton of similar looking results from companies you never even heard of. The problem with “similar looking” products creates a lot of confusion because people assume they all perform the same. Or for example, lately I’ve noticed a number of wireless on-ear headphones with a slim folding headband and small rectangular earcups. Most of the shoppers who look at the picture and the price won’t even realize that a lot of manufacturers start with a common exterior design shell and add their own internal components, controls, headphone drivers, battery, etc. That’s why I got a bit confused when I saw an announcement of Meelec new Air-Fi Touch wireless headphones – the picture looked familiar. But once I start reading their spec, I couldn’t help myself but comment after every line with “wow!” or “cool!” I couldn’t wait to get my hands on these headphones for testing, and here is what I found.
I know on-ear headphones are usually smaller in size, but the package Air-Fi Touch arrived in was really compact! Of course, it was a dead giveaway about folded portability of these headphones, but before I opened a box I took a tour around it. Typical to other Meelec products, they always leave a lasting impression with their cover graphics that pops out at you like 3D. There is a lot of useful info about headphones as you read description and functionality bullet points, and when you get to the side of the box to read the full spec – you will quickly realize they didn’t skimp on a single option. Well, maybe NFC pair up was missing, but I couldn’t even imagine where you would fit it considering touch surface. Besides, I personally find NFC to be redundant after initial pair up.
Out of the box, you are greeted with a sturdy moon-shaped zippered case. I was very pleased to see a hard shell case considering so many manufacturers skip it in favor of a pull string pouch. Also, included was a box with accessories which had usb to micro-usb charging cable, 3.5mm audio cable, and comprehensive instruction manual. Charging cable is a regular smartphone type micro-usb so you are not locked into any proprietary connectors. Audio cable was rather thin and a bit flimsy, but its intent is to be used as a backup if your rechargeable battery drains empty or you can’t use Bluetooth. Still, having an option for wired or wireless connection is very useful in any situation!
Unboxing and accessories
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With a storage case open, you see Air-Fi Touch neatly folded inside, even with a little bit of room to add audio and charging cables. As I mentioned before, exterior of the design did look familiar, but that’s where all these similarities end. Starting with a headband, which like a rainbow goes from one earcup to the other, it’s made out of a durable plastic with a glossy exterior finish all the way around outside. Inside at the top there is a nice soft foam layer covered in pleather. Next to folding hinges you will find a soft touch plastic, and the part of the headband which extends for height adjustment is reinforced with a stainless steel metal piece. Height adjustment had a nice click action and overall there were not creaks or squeaks as I twisted and bent the headband.
Earcup exterior had the same glossy plastic finish, staying consistent with headband design, and it also had a golden trim that matched color of Meelectronics lettering at the top of the headband. The earcup attachment to the headband has both horizontal and vertical pivoting action for a better fit around your head/ears. Earpads had soft foam covered in perforated pleather, matching softness and finish of inner headband padding for a complete uniform look. I do have to note that by nature of on-ear design the fitment is usually not a problem since it’s independent of your ear size, but you will have to do some adjustment to find a sweet spot for the best sound performance. This is typical for most of the compact on-ear designs, and Air-Fi Touch is not an exception.
When it comes to ports and controls, these are probably the CLEANEST headphones you will ever see. Right side has only micro-usb port for charging, at the end of the headband, while left side has 3.5mm audio input jack. The only other control on the left side is a very small multifunction button closer to the edge of the headband behind earcup. As a matter of fact, that button was my guide to figure out which side is Left and Right since the actual L/R marking on inside of the headband was a raised lettering that blended with a plastic finish. It’s not a showstopper, but I would recommend Meelec to make that lettering a little bit bigger and maybe color it in gold. So why do I make a big deal out of L/R side orientation? True to its Touch name, this pair of headphones has “invisible” controls on the left side where sliding your finger up/down will raise or lower the volume and sliding it back/front will skip track next or previous. Keep in mind, there is a small typo in instructions stating to slide front/back for next/prev while in reality it’s the opposite and instructions will be updated in the next print. But the fact that you have a touch pad control was quite amazing for $99 pair of headphones (a feature found in $400 Zik).
Design details
Now, more about the actually functionality and performance of Air-Fi Touch headphones. Just like a lot of similar headphones, these feature a rechargeable battery, but unlike others Air-Fi Touch battery lasts a whooping 24 hours with 200 hrs of standby!!! That is almost a double of other similar headphones, and we are talking about a model with a more advanced functionality in comparison. The connection to your phone/tablet is very simple with a common long press of multi-function button to enter pair up mode, and selecting Air-Fi Touch from a list of discovered devices for an immediate connection to phone and media audio. Once paired up, I confirmed wireless range to be operational for about 40ft in an open space.
These headphones support BT4.0 with every popular profile, such as A2DP, HSP, HFP, and AVRCP. But the real shining star in here is support of Bluetooth lossless audio codec aptX and AAC!!! I don’t use any Apple devices to comment on their proprietary AAC codec, but I can tell you with certainty that if you are looking into a new pair of wireless headphones – support of aptX is a MUST!!! This codec covers a wider frequency range and utilizes a less brutal compression to preserve digital stream without too many loses. Of course, if you don’t have a quality receiver and decoder on your headphone side, aptX will be pointless. Also, the headphone features a mic with a great sensitivity where I had no issues placing phone calls and people on the other side heard me loud and clear, though testing was done in a relatively quiet environment since I don't use public transportation.
Without a doubt, headset phone functionality is a great convenience, but I was more interested in audio performance of these headphones. I already mentioned before that on-ear design requires a bit of adjustment to find a sweet spot for the best audio performance. Also, you shouldn’t expect too much from sound isolation since this is not an over-ear design that encapsulates your ears, plus the clamping force was not that strong. At the same time, once you start playing music and before you put them on your ear, they can sound like a pair of semi-open speakers if you place headband around your neck. But as soon as you place them on your ears, sound leakage was down to minimum. I was actually surprised about it and tested it multiple times with my wife next to me. You can definitely use these headphones in quite places where you don’t want to disturb people next to you.
So how does it actually sound? First of all, another shocker for me was how close wired and wireless performance turned out to be!!! Thanks to aptX support and great tuning of their 40mm drivers, the gap between wired sound using 3.5mm audio cable and wireless sound both tested with my Galaxy Note 4 was down to minimum. The sound itself is nicely balanced, detailed, and with just a perfect amount of bass enhancement without going overboard. On-ear design is usually not easy to tune for bass performance unless you enhance it at the expense of a bloated low end. Here, bass was surprisingly well controlled with a nice punch and some sub-bass rumble, and no spillage into lower mids. Mids were sweet and smooth, just slightly recessed, clear but not too detailed (meaning, not that analytical). Treble was clear and non sibilant, great for extended listening without fatigue. I also found soundstage to be above average in depth and about an average in width.
Overall, these headphones did impress me with their sound performance and unique Touch control functionality. I do have to admit, touch controls have a bit of a learning curve to get used to, but within 5-10 minutes it felt like second nature. Other than Play/Pause/Call with multi-function button, there is no other clicking functionality, just swiping which should extend lifetime of the product. I do wish multi-function button would be a little bigger because some people with sausage fingers might have a hard time pushing it. Also, these headphones are intended more for walking or just sitting/relaxing. Their clamping force and overall design is not intended for active lifestyle. But once you submerge yourself into their sound, you will be pleased of how well wireless audio can perform with aptX codec, and you can enjoy this feeling for the whole 24 hours on a single charge! With its compact folding design and excellent storage case, these also make a great travel companion. I really enjoyed Air-Fi Touch and would definitely recommend it!

Review of Meelec Matrix 2 AF62 wireless Bluetooth 4.0 headphones+aptX w/lots of pics!

This is a Review of Meelectronics Matrix 2 AF62 full size wireless Bluetooth 4.0 headphones with apt-X support. http://www.meelec.com/Matrix2_AF62_Stereo_Bluetooth_Wireless_Headphones_p/hp-af62-cf-mee.htm, also available on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-Bluetooth-Wireless-Fidelity-Headphones/dp/B00DOP3NPW/
It seems that everywhere you look you see another new pair of wireless sports earbuds or wireless speakers. Makes sense since a lot of people use their smartphones for media storage and don’t want to be bothered with wires while exercising or listening to music at home or outdoors. But sometimes you just want to enjoy a private listening session where sports headphones won't provide enough comfort and speakers are the opposite of privacy. That’s where full size wireless headphones come into the picture. Unfortunately, wireless full size headphones are not as common as in-ear models, they cost a lot more, and some add noise canceling which could be either a blessing or a curse. Though not a new release, Matrix 2 from Meelectronics still represents an excellent value for under $90 considering its build and sound quality that can easily go head-to-head with some other models that cost at least 2x as much. Here is what I found when I got a chance to test these Bluetooth wireless headphones.
I knew beforehand that Matrix 2 supposed to be a full size over ear headphones, but I didn’t expect a packaging box to be that slim, even for a folding pair of cans. Both the front and the back of the packaging box have a high res picture of Matrix 2 that almost ready to pop out of the carton. As usual, you can read a plethora of useful info going over the spec, controls, and the technology behind these headphones. The part that stood out for me the most was Bluetooth 4.0 support with apt-X and AAC codecs and up to 22 hours of playback time. Perhaps it’s not exactly groundbreaking by the standards of today's releases, but considering these headphones came out 2 years ago – I think it was impressive how Meelec future proofed their design.
Out of the box you get a very slim form fitted hard shell case with a carbon fiber finish to match the headphone look. Obviously, it’s not a real carbon fiber and rather a printed (or stamped) finish, but nevertheless it looks sharp and feels like a quality case. Along with a case, the other included accessories were usb to micro-usb charging cable and a basic 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. I believe during Matrix 2 initial introduction it was a time when a lot of companies were transitioning from AAA batteries to rechargeable batteries. So this is another example of how Meelec made the right choice introducing a higher capacity rechargeable battery with a common smartphone/tablet micro-usb connector. As a backup, in case if you run out of juice after continuous 22hr playback, you can use any standard or included 3.5mm cable to driver these headphones from HO of your audio source.
Unboxing and Accessories.
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As I already clued you in, Matrix 2 folds flat for a very compact storage. This is where I have a little gripe with a design. Perhaps the rotation joint between the headband and the yoke (y-fork part holding earcups) will wear out after some time, but out of the box and even after a few weeks into my reviews I felt it was still stiff and I had to apply a little bit of force to rotate them. I’m used to headphones with looser joints that allow an easier “self-adjustment” rotation of earcups around my ears. I have a feeling they might get looser after awhile, and my impression is based after first 2 weeks of use.
But regardless of that, the idea of folding flat design with a slim case is great when you are traveling or just concerned about safety storage of your headphones. Also, just like you find a faux carbon fiber finish on the exterior of the storage case, you can see and feel the matching finish on outside of earcups and the top of the headband, except it’s printed on a softer vinyl material. When it comes to carbon fiber finish, there is a very fine line between tacky and classy, and Matrix 2 definitely fits the classy definition of it. With an exception of plushy padding covered by soft pleather on the inner side of headband, the rest of the material is a lightweight durable plastic with a nice soft touch finish. This matte finish was actually great in resisting fingerprints, a common problem with other glossy piano finish headphones.
The headband height adjustment has a precise click mechanism and you can see inside a reinforcement metal steel band which bends and twists without any creaks or squeaks. In general, Matrix 2 has a very comfortable clamping force and it was great to wear these headphones for extended period of time. Just don’t expect too much noise isolation, due to earpads being a bit on a shallow side and in combination with softer clamping force. Though earpads were not as beefy, the opening was large enough for a comfortable fitment without my ears touching the driver. The only other comment I have about overall design is that I wish L/R marking outside of earcups would stand out more for an easier ID.
Design.
With a closer look at both earcups, you will find a lot of physical control buttons and a few other ports. Unlike some other manufacturers who try to combine controls into multi-function buttons, here Meelec partitioned almost every control with a separate dedicated button.
Starting with a left earcup, you have a microphone and 3.5mm headphone port, though port comes out from a side on the back rather than traditionally from the bottom. Not really a showstopper, just something different, and perhaps more convenient to use with a right angle 3.5mm audio cable. A three dedicated button controls on this earcup are for Power (and Call), Volume down, and Volume up. To distinguish the buttons without looking at it, Power button is smooth while Volume buttons have a bump so you can find them easier by sliding a finger.
The right earcup has micro-usb charging port with a tight cover, and three dedicated transport control buttons with Skip next/prev and Play/Pause in the middle. Here, the middle button is smooth while skip buttons have a bump to easily distinguish these as you slide your finger. It does take a short while to get used to this arrangement, especially since other headphones use Play/Pause/Call while here Call is together with Power button. Also, due to a distinct set of control buttons on each side, I was able to use that as L/R side guidance without even needing to look up earcup marking.
Earcup controls.
When it comes to Bluetooth wireless performance, it was in line with most of the other wireless headphones I tested in the past. Pair up was fast and easy, and audio performance was solid across open space of 35-40ft. Within working range, I didn’t experience any hiccups or drops. Furthermore, Matrix 2 also supports NFC pair up which some people might find convenient. When it comes to making calls, I feel a little awkward doing that with full size headphones because they cover my ears and I can’t hear myself while talking and end up shouting. But if you receive a call during your music listening session, it’s always convenient to be able to pick it up without taking headphones off.
BT pair up.
Even so in the past people were looking at Bluetooth wireless headphones for convenience of cutting the cord, today most of the consumers put wireless sound quality on an equally important level. With introduction and support of apt-X codec (I’m 100% Android so it’s important for me) sound quality definitely went up for many headphones, thus everything comes down now to a driver design and a sound tuning.
After close to 100hrs of burn in, I found Matrix 2 to have a balanced smooth clear sound signature. Low end has not a bad extension down to a sub-bass with a moderate rumble and a less aggressive relaxed mid-bass, all under control and without spilling into mids. It was great to hear a bass slightly north of neutral and without any bloat. Mids were warm and smooth, with lower mids being thicker while upper mids being pushed slightly back (not recessed though). I went back and forth with mids, the reason why I got close to 100hrs of burn in, and came to a conclusion they were lacking a bit of clarity and definition. But it was a very easy fix with 3dB boost around 3kHz which had a significant improvement effect especially on vocals, making them less nasal. Treble was smooth and a little bit rolled off, but still clear and not sibilant.
I'm usually not a big fan of EQing a sound, especially when it comes to wireless performance, but I really felt these headphones were worth it. Plus, I was curious how they compare to some other selective headphones in my review collection.
Sound Comparison between Meelec Air-Fi Touch, Pendulumic Stance S1+, Sennheiser Momentum 2 Wireless, and Meelec Matrix 2.
vs Matrix 2, S1+ ($199) has a more neutral sound with less sub-bass and punchier mid-bass, lower mids are thinner and upper mids have more clarity, also it has a better treble extension; soundstage is very similar; due to a heavier weight S1+ has less comfortable fitment.
vs Matrix 2, Momentum 2 ($499) has a more refined bass with a deeper sub-bass and a faster mid-bass punch, similar mids with just a little more clarity and definition, and a little better treble extension; soundstage is wider; also build quality at that price point is better, though they both have a comfortable fitment. Overall Momentum sounded a bit more colored while Matrix 2 sounded more organic (especially after EQ correction).
vs Matrix 2, Air-Fi Touch ($99) has a similar balanced sound with a tighter bass, more detailed and clear mids, a similar treble, and a similar soundstage. I was uberly impressed with this comparison considering Air-Fi Touch has on-ear design where quality of bass usually suffers, but not in this case.
Conclusion.
In my opinion it was very impressive to review a design of full size Bluetooth wireless headphones released a few years back where it still feels ahead of the curve in comparison to some other recent releases. After a small EQ correction, I found Matrix 2 to really shine with a smooth balanced sound signature and some surprising clarity and details (again, taking EQ boost at 3kHz into consideration). They are not intended to indulge “Beats” bassheads or to persuade seasoned audiophiles or to offer dead-quiet noise isolation during your public transportation ride. What they intended for is to give you hours of uninterrupted and non-fatigue listening pleasure without reaching to your phone or tablet since all the controls are right around your ears. Based on its sound quality (including support for BT4.0 + aptX), build quality, extended battery life, flexibility of using both wired and wireless, and a cool storage case – Meelec Matrix 2 is one heck of a value under $90!