Archeer A320S Bluetooth Speaker with True Wireless Stereo
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Unboxing
First of all, ignore the package's conditions since, well, this is how i got the package from the courier. Luckily everything was fine inside. Anyway, just like the previous A320 i reviewed last year, this one comes with the same amount of accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable, 1x 3.5mm Audio Cable, 1x Kit of Rubber Pads, 1x Protective Pouch and the Speaker (of course).
Also as regards the design and materials, everything looks exactly the same, with a nice bamboo-style front, some sort of fabric all around the device. Everything is well-made, with no imperfections (even better than the A320) and a great attention to details.
The whole back side features the same bamboo-style look with an air output (for the Subwoofer) on the bottom and the I/O Zone in the middle.
In the I/O Zone, completely rubberized so a bit easy to scratch, there is an AUX/Audio Input 3.5mm connector (just like a standard headphone jack) required to use the device in wired mode, a Reset Button, a Red LED that turns on while the built-in battery is charging and a Micro-USB port (for charging).
On the lower side instead there isn't anything at all, with just a sticker (that can be removed) with some data about the device.
As regards the Speakers, just like on the A320, there is a Subwoofer in the center and one speaker/tweeters for each side. It is said that, compared to the predecessor, the quality has been improved slightly. Is it true? Well, follow my next paragraph to know more.
On the upper side instead there are all Keys (Volume Up/Down, Play/Pause, Power), and an Activity/Connection LED with a Microphone just below.
Sound Quality
Compared to the A320, what Archeer says is slightly true, i notice an higher amount of high frequencies while keeping low frequencies reasonably high. But, it doesn't mean that it is perfect since it isn't at all. This is still a speaker made for bass-lovers, with the most punchy sound you can probably get from a bluetooth speaker and terribly high sound pressure.
Of course this means that there is a lot of output power there, and this is true, as you can see from this photo taken while running my classical Dolby Sound test.
Still, i would have preferred to get a switchable equalizer in order to switch from a full-bass to a more balanced mode in order to satisfy all kinds of users.
But, the main reason why i choose to get this new A320S model instead of keeping my old A320 is the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) mode, with the possibility to pair to speakers together in order to get the best sound experiece. Does it work properly? Yes, super-fast to configure and, together, the output power gets even higher. Technically, you get 25W x 2, with a total of 50W! My sound meter isn't even able to record the difference, but some decibels extra are here.
Controls and Connectivity
Unlike the A320, on this model there seems to be a Microphone, and my smartphone confirms it since Phone Calls are supported too. This is an huge improvement even though the result is not the best, but still better than nothing.
Unfortunately there is no Bluetooth Version upgrade or APT-X support addition with this new model, thus it still works on Bluetooth V4.0. It isn't bad, but you will never be able to get the same audio quality you can get using the wired connection instead.
Let's say that an small Bluetooth Version upgrade plus the addition of an Optical Audio Input would have made this device almost perfect.
Conclusions
After many days of testing, i might say that this isn't a product for everyone and, most important, if you already have the A320 model and don't need, or can't afford, to get two A320s for the Stereo Feature, then it would be useless to get it.
I am partially happy of this new model, and i say partially because i would have expected an higher amount of upgrades, especially considering that this is still a pretty expensive piece of technology.
This is a product, or better a niche product, that i can recommend to those audiophiles with super-high bass "in the blood", but for those who prefer a more clear and high-pitched sound that can't use an equalizer to reduce the amount of low frequencies, then this might not be the right product.
Pros:
- Built-in Microphone
- Good Battery Life
- Outstanding Power Output
- Supported Dual Speaker pairing (TWS)
Cons:
- High frequencies are still limited
- No Optical Input
- Outdated Bluetooth Version with no APT-X support
Rating: 8.7
Packaging and Accessories: 9.5
Design and Materials: 10
Sound Quality: 9.1
Connectivity: 7
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page (for A320, can't find the official A320s webpage): http://www.archeer.com/Bluetooth-Sp...Audio-System-for-Bedroom-Livingroom-p-40.html
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/Ooqlp
Ocean of Review
This is oceanofreview.com which you can read trusted review.
Related
This is a review of iHave NFC BT4.0 headset. http://www.tvc-mall.com/details/IHA...r-iPhone-iPad-Samsung-Sony-HTC-Etc.-BLUE-506/
Every time I think these single on-ear headsets are the thing of the past, I ran into more people on the street or in the cars using it. That is why I continue reviewing these wireless bluetooth headset and constantly look for something new and innovative. Typically, they all have a similar functionality, only with different design looks. But some do stand out by offering the latest low power BT4.0 or support of A2DP and HFP profiles to stream your audio from the phone. More expensive models from brand names go into other features but those will cost you over $100. While I was researching for the next review, I came across this new Chinese brand, iHave, which is currently being sold on www.tvc-mall.com as one of their official distributors. When I started to read the spec, I thought to myself that it's almost too good to be true, so obviously I requested a review sample to test it myself so I can share my review with you. Here is what I found.
This iHave headset arrived in a very professional package with a nice clear display presentation, though I wasn't able to read anything on the back since it was in Chinese. Luckily, they included a set of detailed instructions in English, although the operation is very intuitive so you don't even need instructions. In addition to headset, the accessories included 3 sets of eartips including 2 with stabilizer, behind the ear hook, and a magnetic charger. Though there is no direct micro-usb connection to headset, to keep a design slim, the included magnetic charger is something you will find only in high end expensive headset. For whose who use this type of headset, you probably aware that plugging/unplugging of micro-usb connector puts a lot of wear'n'tear on the headset. Here, it's a zero effort to bring it close for an attachment and plugging full usb connector into your wall charger or computer. It fully charges in less than an hour, provides almost 4hr of talk time, and about 5 days of standby time.
Now, about the headset design. It's very thin and lightweight, with an elegant surface texture. It definitely doesn't look or feel cheap, though made out of plastic. Conveniently located at the corner of back edge, there is a multifunction button, wide enough for easy location. At the bottom edge you have a physical on/off switch which is a great option to eliminate any second guessing if you headset is on or off. At the top edge, you have volume up/down rocker which also supports playback control. YES, you can skip next/prev track when streaming the music by holding down volume buttons, while multifunction button works as play/pause. I hardly seen any other headsets of the same type which offer full A2DP1.2 and HFP1.6 support including playback control.
And if that wasn't enough, this headset also support NFC for a fast pair up with your phone. All I had to do is to place it near my Note 2, and it recognized and paired to phone and media audio within seconds without me even lifting a finger. The operation was very robust and worked even with my phone case on. You can pair it up with up to 8 bluetooth devices, and it even supports pair up with 2 devices at the same time. Though I tested the calling in relatively noise free environment (everything sounded crystal clear), it supports CVC6.0 dual mic noise cancellation.
Overall, I was very impressed with a design and a performance of this wireless headset. Pretty much it included every piece of available technology from magnetic charging clip, to NFC and BT4.0 support with the latest A2DP1.2/HFP1.6 protocols, full playback controls when streaming audio media from your phone, and universal compatibility with any bluetooth enabled devices. It also looked really cool. The best part? It only cost $27.89. At that price and with all these features, instead of calling it iHave they should rename it to iMustHave This one definitely gets my recommendation!
Here are the pictures.
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I have to admit that over time I've used several mid/low end bluetooth speakers and I ended up giving all of them away as presents to my friends. They were all fantastic accessories for my mobile phone but they were lacking ... something.
We all know there is no such thing as a perfect gadget or device and, if you add the human subjectivity, you end up with an endless quest for a "great device".
All in all, now I'm settled (at least for a while) ...
Basically this is a JAMBOX replica which really delivers, at a fraction of the price of the original.
Here are some photos with the package and its content:
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After opening the box I found the actual device and the cables supplied with it.
The speaker itself is plain black and feels soft when touched. The coating, even if it's very nice, it's making the surfaces prone to fingerprints so you may feel "forced" to clean it often .
The controls are somewhat classic ... volume up/down, answer/hang up, prev/next and play/pause functions, all on 3 buttons. The functions are available by short or long pressing the respective market button.
The main power switch as well as the power supply/charge and audio in/out connectors are located on the back of the device, clearly marked and easily accessible.
Now, after all the photos let's talk a little bit about the functionality of the device:
Pairing:
If you have a regular phone (not NFC enabled) then, after switching on the speaker, you can easily find it when searching for bluetooth devices and you can add it. That's all.
If you phone.tablet is NFC enables though, the pairing is as easy as touching it on the NFC sensitive area of the speaker and you're good to go.
Even if the NFC area is not marked on the speaker, it is there, as marked in the picture below:
The blue LED visible in the above picture will flask quickly while the device is in "pairing" state and slowly when in normal functioning mode.
I have to say here (for the picky ones) that the LED is bright so it may be somehow annoying if you look at it in low light (or at night).
After the pairing you can start using it as an external speaker and also as a speakerphone, because it has a microphone and an answer/hang up button.
Voice call quality:
When used for voice calls the voice of your call partner will sound very clear and nice (and I mean VERY CLEAR AND NICE ) but, at least in my case, the other party was hearing me a little too over-processed (probably because of the noise canceling DSP inside) but there were no complaints about not understanding me (the voice was a little metallic/robotic when I was not speaking loud enough to make a good difference from the ambient noise).
Music quality:
This is something highly subjective
If I'm comparing the speaker to my home sound system then ... there is no comparison that can be made. As an old commercial for muscle cars was stating: "there is no replacement for displacement" ... the speakers are small so you can not expect that bass fulfilling sound. Nevertheless, the audio quality is GREAT. If you have the intention to use this little BT speaker when you;re in vacation or when camping then you will have nothing to complain about. The bass is not strong but is there, definitely. The median frequencies are extremely clear, w/o being too saturated, while the highs are just in the right quantity.
I personally listen to Leonard Cohen type of music (involving a lot of vocal play) and the voices are nice, warm and natural, w/o popping out from the speaker.
If you look at a spectral analysis of the output (using any audio analyzer out there, like this one for example), you can see the spectrum being nicely populated (with the obvious lack of bass).
All in all, the music is great and the max volume is still usable w/o too many distortions.
Connectivity:
This a big plus for this little buddy ...
As you can see from the picture with the connectors, you have access to line-in as well as to line-out connectors.
What does this mean?
Line-in - you can use the speaker as a conventional speaker, with the included cable, and you can play music from any player, even if it's not bluetooth capable. Just plug it in and go .... Of course, you will not be able to use any of the call capabilities while in line-in mode.
Line-out - you can use the speaker as a bluetooth interface between your phone/tablet and some high-quality speakers. I plugged it to my home stereo system and the result was extremely nice, with great sound (the EDR enabled Bluetooth standard did its job)
The USB connector is being used for charging the unit using any USB port. I personally use one of the many usb adapters I have lying around the house.
Battery life:
This is subject that I can not clearly review simply because I did not managed to drain the battery yet .
After receiving the unit (2 weeks ago) I plugged it into a power adapter and I left it there until the charging status LED (a tiny RED LED located below the BLUE one) turned off. After that I've used the unit about 1-2 hours every other day and it's not dead yet. I still have to use it in order to see the battery life. Until now though I only can say it has a great autonomy on battery .
Final words:
This is not the first speaker with this form factor and size I've come across but surely is one great gadget for the price.
If you look at the audio quality for this price range then it's a safe buy - one of the safest I come across.
I can only recommend it to anyone who wants a great bluetooth speaker for only ~35 USD.
Here is the link I used (from amazon): http://www.amazon.com/HAVIT®-HV-SK4...=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1401162562&sr=1-4
I hope you find this review useful. I don't do reviews usually but this was special and I thought it deserved one.
Archeer AH07 Bluetooth Headphones
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Unboxing
The Headphones are packaged into a stylish and compact, premium-like and solid package, with some basic accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable, 1x 3.5mm Audio Cable, 1x User Manual, and the Headphones (of course).
As regards the Chassis, well there is a mixture of Metal and Plastic, together with a soft-cushion in order to make its wearing experience comfortable.
Each side can be rotated/adjusted, here you can see the internal slider. This is something rare to find, even on high-end headphones.
Thanks to the soft-cushion, made of artifical leather, there are no issues as regards prolonged usage.
Over-ear pavilions (please correct me if i'm using the wrong word) guarantee a better sound insulation, but i found the soft-cushion, at least on my skin, getting pretty hot after some minutes of usage. This is probably caused by the almost-perfect insulation that reduces to minimum the amount of air coming to ears, or just my skin.
Sound Quality
As regards the sound quality, well i am not an audiophile so i can't provide you some professional audio tests, but basing on my power-user experience, i can definitely say that these headphones are able to provide an almost high-end experience, with a great sound quality and complete frequencies coverage.
The Volume is high enough, and low frequencies (aka Bass, even though this isn't the correct definition) are here. I haven't noticed any lack of frequencies, the sound is equilibrated and well calibrated.
This is my Loudness/Volume Test while running a Dolby Sound Test. Result: 82.2 dBA (MAX)
As regards the built-in Microphone, it seems to work just as fine as on the majority of headsets. Nothing to say about it.
Is there something negative about sound quality? Yes, but not directly related. Sound Insulation isn't perfect, it doesn't have any active noise cancellation system so what provides the insulation is just the pavilion. I am not saying that it isn't good, it is definitely enough for me, but in case of loud environments it could be a problem.
Controls and Connectivity
I was able to pair the headphones with my device in just one step (using BT), and after being connected i didn't experienced any issue as regards stability or such. There is APT-X support here for high-definition BT Audio.
There is also the possibility to use Wired Connection instead of Wireless (using BT), without having to use its internal battery, and i do not notice any Quality difference compared to the Wireless connection, maybe because i'm using a last-gen device.
As regards the controls area, there are just three buttons here, but they are multi-functional. The Power Button works also as an Answering Button and as a Music Control for Play/Pause, and the Volume Buttons are used to control the volume (of course), to Reject/Mute a Call and as a Music Control for Next/Previous song.
Conclusions
I am impressed by the quality of these headphones, being a Piston 3 user where sound frequencies are a bit messed up, i can definitely hear the difference. Archeer...well done!
Summarizing all, these AH07 Headphones are really well-made, nice build quality, and what matters most is the sound quality that is great.
So...do I recommend this accessory? Well, i haven't tested lower-end headphones so i can't provide you a comparision or such, but considering the mid-range price, i doubt it is possible to find something better at the price target. Recommended if you want to buy something well-made, with great sound quality, at an acceptable price.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Great Sound Quality
- Solid
- Comfortable
- Acceptable Price
Cons:
- Sound Insulation could have been better
Rating: 8.8
Packaging and Accessories: 8.5
Design and Materials: 9.5
Sound Quality: 9.5
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.archeer.com/Archeer-AH07...laxing,Up-to-14-Hours-Playback-Time-p-20.html
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/2b5mP2M
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/wLYZ9
These are the BlitzWolf BW-ANC1 Earphones.
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Unboxing
Unlike previous audio products i reviewed in the past, this one comes in a rather boring external packaging, but the amount of accessories well over expectations, with a nice rigid case, a small USB Cable (no Type-C sadly) and the usual replacement earbuds in different sizes.
Something that stand-out for this product is the Nylon-Braided cable for extra durability, but the two cables that go from the little box to each earphone is not braided (for some reason).
Starting from the box, it is made of Metal with Rubberized Buttons (Play/Pause/Answer + Back + Forward). The clip is OK, keeping the little box stable anywhere it is placed. It is not the most compact solution, but i guess they i had to go for this instead of something slimmer in order to include a beefy battery.
On the top of this box, there is a dedicated button to control ANC (working only when the whole thing is turned on, excellent solution) with a dedicated white LED. Near the ANC LED, there is also a standard Blue LED for the BT connection.
The microphone is placed on the right earphone's cable and it is included in a small cone made of Metal. Well engineered in my opinion.
Each earphone features a metal chassis (not as good looking as in the photo to be honest, not the same shown color) and is compact, quite comfortable.
Sound Quality
Thanks to the APT-X support, those are the best sounding earphones i have ever tried, but not perfect. The sound seems to be slightly tuned to increase low frequencies (as usual). Other than that, i can't find any flaw in the sound quality at all.
The volume is quite high, there is no distortion even at maximum volume, and the APT-X support is correctly recognized by my smartphone as shown here.
Also, the Active Noise Cancelling feature works flawlessy, there is no extra noise added to the sound (like background noise or anything like that) neither interferences.
Nothing to complain about call quality, the microphone position is just excellent matching wired earphones.
Conclusions
As promised some months ago, i would be focusing on those ANC products that are becoming more and more common and affordable. This is, with no doubts, the most balanced i have ever tested. Good sound quality, decent battery life and no flaws in the design.
If only there was a built-in equalizer to switch between different presets...
Pros:
- Good sound quality
- ANC - Active Noise Cancellation (properly implemented)
- Metal Parts all over the place
Cons:
- Slightly tuned for low frequencies
- Not all cables are nylon-braided
Rating: 8.6
Packaging and Accessories: 8.5
Design and Materials: 9.5
Sound Quality: 8.5
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://bit.ly/2lWVJik
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/mKZvgi1
So I've just received a Bluetooth adapter from UGREEN for review purposes. No strings attached no nothing - 'just write something about it' kind of a deal - which I dig.
Being a huge nerd has its perks. I enjoy surrounding myself with tech that makes my everyday life a bit more enjoyable.
For bluetooth streaming, my everyday driver are the MDR-100ABN h.ear on headphones from Sony.
Once I go running or at the gym or in any environment that involves faster-than-walking pace, I switch to my all time darling, the Elecom LBT-PAR500 receiver which securely stays attached on clothes.
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So where does the UGREEN Bluetooth Audio Receiver fit in?Well that's easy - It's made to nicely sit on your desk or in your car and hook on to your sound system or dashboard. It's designed that way.
The nicest feature it has is the user experience. The reason I'm not using my sound system with my bluetooth receiver is because it's a hassle to plug it in, turn it on first and so on.
The UGREEN receiver turns on the moment it's plugged into an USB port - but not due to the lack of battery - it has one which lasts around 7 hours of playback - 8 advertised and the playback time also depends on the output volume, used codec, etc. I find this extremely useful while sitting hooked in the car. As soon as you turn the key, it will flash it's light and be ready for paring/connecting.
Design wise, it's bulky yet modern - nothing too fancy. One big button on top, a light, and the I/O in the back. It has no microphone tho - so no calls can be made/received on it - it does not utilize hands-free profiles so an incoming/outgoing call will be heard only the phone. It's probably for the best since I personally can't stand loudspeaker calls.
Again, it's a device that should be plugged in and forgotten. The auto-pairing mode once on and the auto-power on when fed to a powered usb port makes it excellent for a car. Once you disconnect from it, it automatically powers off after 5 minutes of inactivity. Personally I like to have it hooked to the sound system with power supplied from the PC - so when I turn on the PC, it'll automatically be ready.
The audio quality and transmission range are as good as you'd expect them to be in 2018 so there isn't any obvious difference. The advertised bluetooth class is 4.1 with EDR (enhanced data rate) should have a transfer rate of 24 Mbps or higher - wish I knew the available bluetooth codecs. It uses AVRCP and A2DP profiles. But it's 2018 - most of the bluetooth adapters sound pretty CD/Studio quality like.
As my impressions have been presented, I'll be switching to a Pro / Con list as it follows.
PROs:
Great price/value ratio - 16$ on Amazon;
Solid build quality - there's also a rubber ring on the back to keep it from slipping;
Easy to pair and connect - great for car installments;
Long battery life and one button for ease of use;
Whilst it is no amplifier, it's louder than the average phone 3.5 jack output;
RCA and 3.5mm connectivity is a plus - they can be used simultaneously;
Lightweight and portable - if need arises.
CONs
It's a bit too light - hence the rubber ring on the bottom;
The package usb micro-usb arresting hooks are a bit too tightly clawed in the device - exercise care when removing the cable - not really a con, more of a caution;
I wish the status light was on the button ring instead of on the side of the device;
Lack of loudspeaker capabilities - I don't need it but it's nice to have;
Lack of player controls.
To conclude, it's a great device for its price. Perfect for a car or for adding bluetooth connectivity to home sound systems. As I said in the beginning - it makes connected life a bit easier.
I'd like to thank UGREEN for this device :silly:. You can find more about them and their products on https://www.ugreen.com/ and you can learn more about the device here or see their listing on Amazon here
Have a good one,
Sebastian
Hi Sebastian,
I was feeling curious if I could change some config settings of this bluetooth device. I read that Ugreen 3044 works using a CSR chip from Qualcomm, so can be "easily" configured via an UART connection to the chip. The reconfiguration work is undergoing, so until I will get some results I will post here my updates.
Anyway, if you want to open the case, I wish you good luck, because I partially broken some small tightening "things", I think they made this either unbreakable or unrepairable. Here are some photos from inside the box, featuring the CSR8635 chip.
Stefan,