INTRO

Lately, TWS earphones like the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 have been impressing me more than the budget wired earphones in the same pricing range. With new technology from xMEMS that makes promises to improve our aural experience, the xMEMS technology is better suited for TWS given that it requires a constant voltage to keep the plates charged. While this may add an additional drain on the battery of the TWS, it does not seem to impact it too much.

DESIGN COMMENTARY

The xMEMS are similar flat panel type drivers, they do not have the excursion to reproduce bass frequencies as well without being larger than normal, so it seems better suited for treble duty for the time being. They do have larger models, but I am not aware of any commercial products using them currently.

MEMS have already been used for microphones in some wired models and also smartphones, now they are using it as an actual driver. There were even suggested automotive applications from other technology companies. It is a wide band piezo style silicone based surface mount device.

Seeing new technology making tons of promises is nothing new, the question is does it live up to the hype? So what does xMEMS promise? You can read about it here, or I have summarized my take:

• Semiconductor components that can be surface mounted, good for automated assembly.
• Improved material stiffness, this pushes the breakup mode higher in frequency where it is less audible especially if it can be pushed above 20Khz. They are claiming >10khz, so it must still be in the audible band.
• Phase Coherence
• Near-zero phase shift
• Excellent transient response
• Shock resistant up to huge values
• Easier fabrication (This implies a cost savings somewhere, either for the consumer or the manufacturer, most likely the latter.)
• Better uniformity. I have some experience in what they call binning. The tolerances of products may ultimately be graded and “binned” into lets say A,B,C etc categories. Binning can be used to match tolerances, charge more, provide longer warranties, charge less if they are slightly outside of tolerance, or used in other less demanding applications, etc or a combination of these. With better uniformity and stricter tolerances, then there is better matching from Left to Right channels.

Creative Aurvana Ace 2 is plastered predominantly on the rotating splash page for www.xmems.com They are the first model to use the Cowell/xMEMS coaxial driver so we are not getting all the claimed advantages of their single full range xMEMS model. It is new nonetheless, there are other brands using them too however, I see Noble Audio also has a model available for example.

FEATURES

The Creative Aurvana Ace 2 priced at $149 comes in a familiar earbud styled shell like the Airpod Pro, and charges via USB-C or wireless in a translucent compact case. On the bottom is a pairing button, and the USB-C port.

A new trend I am seeing more and more of is oval shaped nozzles. I know this is supposed to be a better match for our ears, however I seem to have mixed experiences with fitment. The Creative Aurvana Ace 2 shell is longer than the Moondrop Space which also has a similar shape and oval nozzles, and therefore fits better for me and of course others may have a different outcome.

With the Creative App, users can update firmware ( I already updated twice in the span of a month), change EQ presets or modify your own, and change the button controls. Screenshots are below. Additionally there are three sound modes, ANC, Ambient and off. I noticed the off mode keeps wind noises at bay, ANC and Ambient both amplify wind noise. Highly encouraged to use the app, otherwise you will miss out on firmware updates that may be required for proper operation.

Unfortunately, the ANC testing is at the wrong time of year as I have yet to fire up the lawn mower and have no airplane trips scheduled. Best I can do is test in the bathroom with the fan on. Bathroom fan testing reveals a quiet hair dryer sound, it is similar to the Moondrop Space. Sony WF-1000XM3 still reigns supreme for me (I have not tried the XM4/XM5 models).

The ambient mode on the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 was actually more enjoyable than the ANC. Somehow it improves the Ace 2 soundstaging similar to open-back earphones without the loss of bass. On windy days it will boost windnoise, but inside it works out great.

I briefly played with the EQ settings, it reacts strangely in that making changes to a band also makes changes to the surrounding band. You will notice it if you set a band, and then makes changes to the one right next to it, move it up or down and watch the neighboring band also move up or down with it. I have never seen this behavior with other apps, either is a glitch with the APP, or the Q is too wide.

SOUND

Tested with iPhone 13 and LG G8.

I would describe the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 as a V shaped tune if not close to Harman. Bass comes through boisterous and fat on the Creative Aurvana Ace 2, over accentuating say foot stomps that normally only slightly show up causing a jarring sensation.

Given Creative’s heritage in computer based audio for gaming purposes, this is probably a purposeful design goal and not necessarily a negative if primary use is for gaming. There are also soft landings on the bass hits and could use more definition. It slogs along on a Sunday stroll rather than with purpose.

Lower mids sound full and warm, while midrange comes through realistic sounding with plenty of blank spacing around them. This lets the vocalist sound like they are singing in a larger space and not closed in and dull. Woodwinds are soft and delicate sounding.

Creative Aurvana Ace 2 delivers on the quick transient treble response, I do not pickup any coloration. There are some hiccups, horns have trouble sounding continuous. Perhaps there is a crossover between the drivers smearing it making them sound jagged. Sparkle and air tail off in a good way, cymbals and triangles for example have nice shimmer and ringing as required.

Coming back to the bass output on the Creative Aurvana Ace 2, it pulls the wide stage forward with the whole stage between your ears. Timbre is pretty spot on, height is predictable. The KZ VXS Pro sounds less forward and lower midbass provides a tad more definition.

The final feature that I find invaluable is multipoint connection and the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 comes equipped with said feature. It worked flawlessly between my Iphone and LG G8. Initially I had trouble with my Lenovo laptop, but after a firmware update it seemed to rectify the problem of it immediately disconnecting. I did have a hiccup a few times where one earpiece was disconnected, I am not sure if it was user error or on purpose, but sticking them back in the case and then pulling them out made them both start working again.

GOOD TRAITS

Ambient, ANC modes
Multipoint
Wireless Charging
Brightish Treble sounds quick and mostly concise
EQ settings/App
Low Latency toggle in app
Charging case is pocket friendly

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

Computer connection disconnects
Oval nozzles does not always fit well in my experience
Bass is boosted too much and could use more definition
ANC is not at Sony levels.
APTX Lossless and lower codec support
EQ band changes affect surrounding bands, needs work.

FINAL REMARKS

Creative Aurvana Ace 2 is a good choice for TWS if you want accentuated bass and clear upper treble but do not necessarily need top tier ANC. Although it is not a strong contender for ANC performance, the ambient mode is nice and opens them up. The petite case is appreciated, and has wireless charging, battery life seemed middle of the road.

At $149 value is on the low side when you start comparing to the larger market share of Sony, Bose, Apple and Sennheiser for example. You can even find the good models from those brands used for cheaper. I am not completely sold on xMEMS being the end all be all, but for a first go it has better dynamics and timbre than some planars and BA drivers, but there is not a big difference noticed yet.

Disclaimer: I appreciate that Creative sent these free of charge for evaluation, this review as always is influence free, guilt free, and gluten-free.

CREATIVE AURAVANA ACE 2 SPECIFICATIONS

Product Page

CREATIVE APP SCREENSHOTS

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Available for purchase direct from Creative, Amazon and other retailers.

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About my measurements.

The post Creative Aurvana Ace 2 TWS Featuring xMEMS IEM Review – Come As You Are appeared first on Music For The Masses.

MACK’S ThermaFit Soft Foam Ear Plugs are barrel-shaped noise stoppers that work well for my large ear canals in terms of comfort, fit, and effectiveness. They are also well suited for Flents Quiet Please users who cannot handle their new formula.

I thank Mack’s for supplying their ThermaFit for my review upon my request – after I could not purchase them at a reasonable price in Canada.

Introduction

Noise is unwanted sound. Noise annoys as the Manchester punk outfit Buzzcocks sang in the late 1970s. My three closest neighbours have an air conditioner, one of them also a hot tub. The guy across the street runs 2-stroke engines 12 month a year, for gardening in the summer and snow clearing in the winter. It is buzzing at any time of the day in and around my house, and sadly also during the night. To add insult to injury, my wife developed snoring recently.

Sadly, I am very sensitive to noise. As a classically trained (but failed) musician, hearing training was part of my education. This hard-acquired sensitivity is backfiring now. The city does not help as their bylaws do not factor in many environmental noises and the resulting vibrations. The choices are moving, educating the neighbours…or dampen the sound by insulating my ear canals.

That’s what the old Greeks did with beeswax, wool, cotton etc. whatever worked. But it was a German guy, Max Negwer, as late as 1907, who produced the first commercial ear plugs “Ohropax” (ear peace), mainly made of wax. Classical musician (another one) Ray Benner and his wife Cecilia purchased Mckeon Products in 1962. The company sold only Mack’s moldable clay ear plugs, named after the company founder. The couple subsequently invented the moldable silicone ear plug, saving swimmers from ear infection.

Memory foam ear plugs followed in 1972, marketed by the Cabot Safety company. They are made from either polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane. The disposable ear plugs were born and quickly occupied the drugstores. Memory foam is the most comfortable, optimally moulding, and best sound absorbing material to this date.

Today, many people rely on ear protection for sleep. Some have been subscribing to ear plugs for decades. Others need protection on job sites. For all of us, companies like Mack’s offer a broad range of ear plugs for all ear shapes and noise reduction levels.

Ear plugs come in different shapes, mainly conical/tapered or cylindrical/barrel shaped. I am only concerned with the barrel shaped ones as only these fit my large ear canals, namely Mack’s ThermaFit.

Until recently, the US market featured two memory foam darlings, the Flents Quiet Please and the Mack’s ThermaFit. In Canada, only the Flents were readily available. Recently, Flents changed suppliers and completely switched the product around: different shape, different comfort and fit, and different materials with different physical properties. Long-term subscribers went mad: they reported skin rash, lack of insulation, lack of hold etc. they felt deceived and betrayed.

Mack’s ThermaFit ear plugs come to the rescue. They are very similar to the original Flents Quiet Please. In this article we will have a good look at these.

Specifications MACK’s ThermaFit Soft Foam Earplugs

What makes a good Ear Plug?

People need ear plugs for all sorts of situations and environments, as discussed above. The plugs have to insulate properly (duh!!!) but also provide good comfort, fit, and breathability. They should be skin friendly and not trigger allergies. Important is their ability for long-term use. Many people have subscriptions with the supplier and have used the same product for decades. Product continuity means reliability and is therefore of utmost importance.

The Mack’s ThermaFit tick all these boxes.

How do the Mack’s ThermaFit perform?

Mack’s ThermaFit are made of porous PVC, in the USA. You can see that the ThermaFit are more porous than its competitors (discontinued Flents Quiet Please and 3M Classic), which makes for increased comfort (less surface area in ear canal) and less sweating through better breathing. Less sweating also means that the ThermaFit don’t fall out easily.

I find the Mack’s in-ear tension very soothing. They are shorter than the 3M Classic, and hence you can lay optimally on the side with them. The longer 3Ms are more for job sites in my opinion, and the Mack’s better suited for sleep.

As to sound reduction: varies with insertion depth…the deeper the better. Upon inserting the ear plug, make sure you roll/squeeze them properly, then raise the ear with the other hand while pulling it back from the head: back and up! This ensures the perfect seal.

Rating is rating, and any ear plugs rated at 29 dB insulate the same…there may be slight variations depending on the noise frequency to be blocked and on the fit in the individual ear canals.

None of these works perfectly against a 110 dB leaf blower (obviously not, at 29 dB NRR), they just may round the edges somewhat. For 100% results, you may have to add a noise cancelling headphone like the Bose QC35. I tested the combination of the Mack’s with the older Bose QC15, which reduced my neighbour’s aggressive 2-stroke weed wacker noise to zero.

Are the Mack’s ThermaFit an adequate Replacement for the Flents Quiet Please?

Strictly yes. You cannot put a newspaper between the discontinued Flents and the Mack’s. The Mack’s have better porosity, but the dimensions are essentially the same.

Concluding Remarks

Mack’s ThermaFit ear plugs are as good as it gets for me. They are my new preference for overnight use. I wished they would be more easily available in Canada, too.

Have a good and healthy sleep!

Until next time…quietly yours…and keep on listening!

The post MACK’S ThermaFit Soft Foam Ear Plugs Review appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The new version of the Flents PROTECHS Quiet Please Foam earplugs, advertised as “Now SOFTER for more comfort!”, has essentially nothing in common with the long-established, trusted version. They are problematic for many regulars and consumers should be warned. Fortunately, alternatives exist.

Introduction

Noise is unwanted sound. Noise annoys. We all have some kind of noise sensitivity, be it your neighbour’s leaf blower, lawnmower, or Harley Davidson, the snoring partner next to you, or the hot tub and air conditioner by your bedroom window. Some of us are exposed to industrial noise at work, for example at a construction site. Others are sensitive to loud concerts.

We have different options to minimize or block noise. For example, we can deploy noise-cancelling earphones and headphones, with or without music. But these need battery power and frequent recharges – and they may be bulky — and therefore useless for sleeping. The simplest way to achieve effective noise insulation is therefore achieved just by blocking the ear canals mechanically.

The old Greeks stuffed anything that fit into their ears: beeswax, wool, cotton etc. But it was not until 1907, when German company Ohropax (“ear peace”) released the first commercial earplugs, just in time for WWI. These were only moderately comfortable and it took until the 1960s for the first mouldable silicon earplugs to provide relief.

The designs further advanced with the invention of memory foam earplugs, which first appeared in 1972. Memory foam appears to be the most comfortable, optimally moulding, and best sound absorbing material to this date.

Flents adopted the memory foam idea in their Quiet Please earplugs, which had been produced unaltered back to at least the early 1980s, possibly earlier. The Quiet Please have attracted a huge following since then – and many people have relied on them for decades. The perfect product, it seemed. Made in USA.

But, recently, the company changed suppliers (now in Taiwan). While they kept name and colour of the product, the box now sports the banner “New SOFTER for more comfort!”

In reality, the product was swapped out completely: the new version has nothing in common in terms of dimensions and material properties. As a fallout, haptic, fit, comfort, and noise blocking capabilities have changed, resulting in dissatisfied regular customers.

In this article, I will summarize the problems, reported by others and experienced myself, and look at some alternatives.

Specifications Flents PROTECHS Quiet Please Earplugs

Switching Suppliers — Consequences For the Users

The original Flents Quiet Time earplugs, used by many regulars for decades, were made of porous memory foam. The earpieces were compressed and inserted into the ear canal where they expanded slowly to optimally fill them. Their porosity minimized the pressure against the ear canals (while maximizing noise blockage) and made them breathable. They felt comfortable to my ears. An excellent, very popular product. And rightly so.

Flents did not produce these earplugs themselves but relied on an external US supplier, which stopped producing them recently. The company chose a new supplier in Taiwan, which could have been a good choice. After all, the famous SpinFit silicone eartips for in-ear monitors come from there.

However changing the supplier also changed the complete earplug design: the new version under the old name is a completely different product. Regular subscribers feel betrayed and vented in their recent reviews on amazon.com and amazon.ca.

So what went wrong? Let’s have a good look.

When looking at the above images you recognize the following: the original Quiet Please were thicker, shorter, and more porous. The new version is slimmer, longer, and has this dense, greasy, slippery, waxy surface. They are certainly not the same!

What you don’t get from the photos is that the new version is much softer between your fingers, much harder in your ear canals, and it extends much faster. It is very difficult to insert them into my ears and achieve a decent seal. That stems partly from the slimmer shape and partly from the strangely soft consistency.

Once in, the new, denser Quiet Please have more pressure points, they don’t breathe, and they don’t seal properly. They irritate my ears and tend to fall out by themselves during sleep. In comparison, the originals are heavenly comfy and seal very well.

My observations are consistent with the current amazon reviews (September 2023). There, customers report a slick, greasy plastic feel and miss the original porous foam. They further complain about poor expansion capabilities, poor fit, lack of wearing comfort, and that they are falling out. According to many, the new version does not block noise effectively anymore.

But most of all users report dry and itchy ears, irritation, rashes, burning sensation, inflammation, and pain. O dear. I can confirm that these rubber moulds act like squeegees on my ear canals, particularly on hot, sweaty summer nights. Sore ears keeping us from sleeping at night – earplugs undermining their job? Not good.

Alternatives to Flents PROTECHS Quiet Please Earplugs

I tested Mack’s Thermafit Soft Foam Ear Plugs and 3M Classic. Both have approximately the same dimensions and very similar material properties to the original Quiet Please — and all, including the new version, have a 29 dB NRR. Both work very well for my ears in all aspects. I found Mack’s Thermafit very comfortable, optimally fitting, and well insulating. Could not be better.

Can’t say too much about my 3Ms as they are 9 years old and may have lost a bit of their inner tension and become somewhat brittle. They may have been designed primarily for jobsites. But the Mack’s cover the loss of the “old” Quiet Please seamlessly and completely as they have very similar dimensions and physical properties. It is no coincidence that Mack’s founders Ray and Cecilia Benner invented the mouldable silicone earplugs back in the early 1960s.

Concluding Remarks

The new version of the Flents PROTECHS Quiet Please is considered to be a dip in the mud by many – and could become a disaster for the company (if the faithful amazon.com and amazon.ca regulars have their way).

While currently still in denial, the company may have to find another supplier or at least resume production using the original recipe. Coca Cola is a textbook example of reversing such a glaring mistake with their oversugared “New Coke” back in 1985. Otherwise, their loyal customers will talk with their feet. In the meantime, the discerning users and disgruntled regulars may try Mack’s Thermafit, 3M Classic earplugs, or something similar. And perhaps do the Pepsi test.

I wish you a good night’s sleep!

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post Flents PROTECHS Quiet Please Foam Earplugs Review – New, Improved, And Unusable appeared first on Music For The Masses.

INTRO

Fiitii HifiDots challenge the user right from beginning. They come from the brain child of someone concerned with major ear juice intrusion, who must believe humidity is a major issue to be dealt with by multiple layers of protection.

The $200 Fiitii HifiDots have high ambitions, focusing on the art of storage, but fall short of dethroning mainstream players in terms of sound qualities. They have good Active Noise Cancellation and a strong midrange centric boost with mild bass lift complimented with a bright sizzling top end.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Sometimes building a better mousetrap makes sense, but the Fiitii HifiDots picked the wrong thing to focus on. Upon opening the box the first thing you see is directions on how to remove the earpieces from the case. Not a good sign. Puzzled, I completely ignored it and opened the spaceship styled pod with a satisfying button push to reveal the EarPods.

Trying to pluck them from the pod was the opposite of satisfying, and after fiddling with them I managed to extract them. Now I understood why there were directions just to get them out. For fun For fun, I handed it to my unsuspecting wife who thought the case was “cool” but quickly became frustrated when trying to pull the earpieces out. Fiitii should have stuck to inserting them stem first into the charging case like 99% of the earphones that have stems.

The Fiitii HifiDots come with a sleek charging pod, but heavy like a good lake skipping stone. Fidgeters will rejoice, those nearby will curse and swear them to eternity for messing with the space pod door.

Putting them back in is a chore as well if you do not put the stem in first, and even after doing it the right way does not just drop in place. No idea why they needed to make this difficult, the Fiitii Air 2 was fine.

Eartips have to go, there is some kind of concern about cleanliness of the earphones being gunked up that they are also causing sound from coming out. Perhaps those with surgical skills can cut out the protection portion of the eartip to remove at least one obstacle.

Anyone who has ever used a commercial grade industrial heat gun, the type that you open or close the veins to allow more air in or out to control the temperature…yeah that is what you have here except no control, just blockage.

I did manage to fit the Fiiti HifiDots in the charging pod with different eartips. The latching mechanism keeps the lid closed, but does put strain on eartips and the closing mechanism rubs on the shell when using third party ear tips.

SOUND

Overall the Fiitii HifiDots are midrange centric with presence with a delicate thinner bass profile from the 10mm DLC dynamic driver and a muffled treble from the dual BA driver. Bass notes are soft and gooey with male vocals sounding slim and nimble. Female vocals avoid chestiness and sound distant.

Brassy instruments are kept in check and sound unsteady in the higher registers where the treble is highly hampered by the multiple layers of ear tip and screen. I would recommend to cut out the ear tip screen to improve the treble and even give the bass room to breathe.

Cymbals, triangles, flutes etc all bear the brunt of sounding un-exciting and reminiscent of a worn out cassette tape. There is extra sizzle and crisp but it’s like burning a piece of meat- overcooked and lacking flavor no real definition.

Third party eartips do help, but there is still a coloration in the timbre. Vocals are forward with some lower midrange being pushed to the background. Sony WF-1000xm3 in comparison have an even stage with a softer treble and more grunt in the midbass to midrange transition that gives bass guitars more presence. The Drop Grell TWS also has a softer treble with a shallow stage, but good timbre. Bass is fuller again than the Fiitii HifiDots midbass to midrange region with a much mellowed out and relaxed diffuse field.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROWESS

Fitii Hifidots other claimed features include quick charge2/3 but no wireless charging, ANC and a control app. Aptx lossless is the top codec no LDAC. Multi-point connection did not work. Fiitii App that is supposed to allow the user to change button control, greeting, EQ, etc however does not work either at the time of this review.

Given these currently missing features and functionality, value takes a major hit. I would consider them over-valued at their $200 MSPR.

Charging time is 45min for the earbuds and 1 hour for the case. The case has a 460mAh battery and the earbuds 35mAh battery extending total runtime to 30 hours. Individual runtime is advertised at 6 hours or 4.5hours for heavy ANC use.

ANC was pretty good and worked well in both airplane use and my gas powered lawn mower test, the mild ANC is hard to tell if that means off or if it is still active. The Sony WF-1000XM3 is still my benchmark as the ANC is great and fully adjustable with the Sony app, but the Fiiti Hifidots held their own with only slight high frequency engine noise leaking through exhibited as a faint whistle.

WRAPPING THINGS UP

Fiitii Hifidots have several marks against them in terms of design, functionality, and with less than stellar treble resolution washout. ANC works well enough, IPX rated and alcohol wipe tested as well, they are trying very hard, but just squeak through a passing grade. At $200 for them competition is tough, and they do not have enough redeeming qualities to dethrone the big players.

Disclaimer: We gratefully received these free of charge direct from Fiitii and the opinions here are of my own thoughts.

MANUFACTURER PRODUCT PAGE

https://fiitii.com/product/true-wireless/hifidots/https://fiitii.com/product/true-wireless/hifidots/

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About my measurements.

The post Fiitii HifiDots TWS Review – Rube Goldberg Strikes Again appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — Not cheap; easy to lose.

Executive Summary

The Dekoni EARPLUGZ aim to attenuate ambient noise near-evenly across the frequency spectrum by 21 dB while not completely eliminating it. This is designed for situations where one still wants to stay aware of their surroundings at a reduced volume, such as in (heavy metal) concerts or simply on the bus/train on their daily commute or on the job.

Introduction

Noise is unwanted sound. We are sometimes in situations where ambient noise is getting unbearable. Some of us are sensitive towards low-frequency hums emitted from industrial installations, others cannot handle aggressive high-pitched noise from chainsaws and leaf blowers.

In this article, we are not talking about a device that produces sound but rather one that removes some of it. Noise annoys.

The easiest solution would be to eliminate most of the noise with either noise-cancelling headphones, or, much easier, with industrial-grade foam earplugs. This may work as long as we do not have to be aware to our surroundings, let’s say on the job, or when waiting for grandma’s phone call at home. Conventional earplugs also compromise our sense of balance considerably. I speak of experience as I live on a steep hill that ices up in the winter. Try descending with plugged ears…

Dekoni have teamed up with Lucid Audio and hearing-aid/hearing-protection manufacturer Etymotic Research to offer relief in such situations. The idea was to design small, light, and comfortable $30 “EARPLUGZ” that do not switch the sonic world around us completely off, but rather attenuate ambient noise by 21 dB. The user can still hear their surroundings in full sonic context but at a reduced level. The Dekoni EARPLUGZ are not designed as total noise eliminators, let’s say on airplanes or in bed at night.

Sound pressure level in dB is plotted on the logarithmic scale so that sound pressure doubles every 10 dB. If I calculate this correcetly, the Earplugz remove 75% of ambient noise, and this is claimed to happen nearly evenly across the frequency spectrum. This, if true, is amazing, as the majority of noise attenuating materials fail at very low frequencies.

Applications

The idea is noise attenuation while not losing contact to the surrounding environment, and also to protect our hearing from damage. Find a few applications for the EARPLUGZ that came to my mind. I am sure you can add a few more.

Protection from your own Activities

• Lawn mowing, vaccum cleaning
• Drilling, sawing, sanding, grinding, and other handymen chores

Protection from Activities by Others

• rock concert, movie theatres
• office noise, noisy libraries
• traffic noise, on the bus/train/airplane, at railway stations and airports
• car and motorbike races
• neighbour’s leaf/snow blower, hot tub, air conditioner, parties, barking dogs
• construction noise
• visiting mother-in-law

Physical Things

EARPLUGZ are tiny polycarbonate devices that work with the Gemini line of Dekoni’s BULLETZ foams. In the box, you find 3 pairs of Gemini foams (S/M/L), the pair of clear plastic shells, a somewhat waterproof aluminum case, a carabiner, and a lanyard. The Gemini are slow rebound foams with 3 mm bores that also fit a large number of earphones [BULLETZ fit chart]. They can be rinsed to remove earwax but need replacement every 3-6 weeks, depending on use.

The EARPLUGZ are featherlight and tiny that I do not really feel them at all. I doubt that they are easy to see by bystanders. Little handles allow to pull them out of the ear canals easily.

You find more details on the EARPLUGZ product page.

Testing

I had applied to test this product because I have several uses for it.

First, there is the crazy neighbour on the opposite site of the street who has the most aggressive sounding, high revving, 2-stroke weed whacker. When he cuts his grass, the offensive pitch travels right through our house walls.

Second, the neighbour in the attached home has an annoying air conditioner right by my driveway with a low-frequency hum and an aggressive compressor pitch in the higher frequencies,

And she also has a hot tub on her back deck that causes my (attached) house’s plastic siding to resonate, which results in a low-frequency hum inside my office.

Absolutely horrible after a while when sitting on my desk, as emitter and receiver are stationary, and the monotonous noise is excavating my sanity in the hot tub’s 2-3 hour heating cycles.

So when the first-mentioned neighbour whacked his weeds, recently, I stepped up with the EARPLUGZ. And it rounded the sharp, aggressive corners nicely off. The noise become somewhat tolerable, even at a short distance.

Similar with the air conditioner: the noice became less substantial and the nuisance essentially disappeared….at least for the time being.

The problematic low frequencies of the hot tub (120 Hz) were also not a problem as the noise was not very loud to begin with.

BUT, coincidentally, construction took place in the neighbourhood, ca 100 m away, and the ground was compacted by heavy machinery after water and electricity lines had been connected to a new house. This caused a small earthquake, and the EARPLUGZ struggled with those low-frequency seismic waves…and so did my picture frames…they moved.

On the city bus, I like to sit in the back, no the larger, more comfortable benches… right above the vibrating motor. And yes, it calmed the noise, down, too, although, in “real life”, I am using earphones on the commute.

Concluding Remarks

The Dekoni EARPLUGZ perform as intended in that they round the corners of ambient noise off. They even attenuate the low frequencies on buses and the low-frequency hum at my neighbour’s air conditioner to a tolerable level, and they really took the bite out of my other neighbour’s aggressive 2-stroke weed whacker.

Until next time…keep on listening!

Contact us!

DISCLAIMER

The EARPLUGZ were provided by Dekoni for my review. And I thank them for that.

Get the EAPLUGZ from Dekoni.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

The post Dekoni Earplugz Noise Attenuators Review – 2 Efficient Volume Knobs For Your Ears appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Cons — The atrocious, hilariously horrible carrying case Airpods Max comes with (that you can’t avoid using)
– 9KHz peak with ANC on
– Sounds overly processed with noticeable BT compression
– No high bit-rate codec support
– Clamp can be uncomfortable, can feel heavy
– Call quality is mediocre, voice sounds muffled even in a quiet room
– Overpriced

INTRODUCTION

The moment Apple removed the headphone jack from its latest iPhone 7, it spelt doom for the headphone jack itself on all flagship devices. It’s incredible how something as innocuous as the 3.5mm jack became the bane of existence for Apple and how they called it “courageous”, but that rant is best delivered elsewhere. 

This is a review of the Apple Airpods Max, Apple’s most expensive headphone, and one of the most expensive bluetooth headphones out there. If you are someone who is enamored (!) by the Apple ecosystem and also an audiophile, this review shall address your concerns regarding the tonal and technical proficiency of the Airpods Max.

If, however, you are someone who wants the latest trend, I think you can skip the rest of the review and just get the Airpods Max right away (the prices are dropping nowadays). It is definitely the most advanced Bluetooth headphone out there right now, and the competition will take a year to catch up at the very least. However, caveats apply, as always.

All relevant specs here.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. I bought the Airpods Max with my own funds.

Sources used: Apple iPhone 11, Apple iPhone SE, Google Pixel 4XL
Price, while reviewed: $550. Can be bought from Apple’s Web-store.

PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY

PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIES

The Airpods Max come with the (now infamous) “Smart Case” and a lightning-to-USB-C cable. That’s about it. The “smart case” is the worst headphone case in existence and $5 Aliexpress cases with questionable design decisions are less useless.

This smart case is an absolute abomination in design (it looks like a silicone bra), the material choice (attracts gunk/dust and gets dirty real quickly) , the absolute lack of protection (doesn’t even cover the headband), and the absurd requirement for the Airpods to be kept in the cover to put them in deep sleep mode (they don’t turn off otherwise). Usability nightmare.
1/5

BUILD QUALITY

Premium, super-solid, futuristic — these are the operative words. The Airpods Max is built exceptionally well. It’s mostly anodized aluminium with some rubber and plastic parts. There is a curious lack of branding all around, no Apple logo/branding to be seen anywhere.

Let’s talk about the headband first since I find the headband design quite interesting. It’s a two-piece metal construction with the inner steel frame adding rigidity whereas the outer frame (rubber coated) houses the upper-portion of the headband (a fabric layer). The sliding mechanism for size-adjustment is also very solid, though I wish there were some markers for finer adjustments.

The earcups themselves are two chunks of aluminium and are packed with several mics, sensors, receivers, and buttons. This is the most sophisticated earcup design I’ve seen till now and is an impressive feat of engineering.

The right earcup has two buttons up top: the rotary dial (digital crown, as Apple says) that acts as both volume and playback control (press down to play/pause, press twice to skip), and a square button that toggles between Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on/off. Lastly, The lightning port (ugh) is at the bottom for charging.

Opting for lightning instead of type-C is baffling, but I guess they thought of the ease of use for existing iPhone users. The left earcup is bereft of any controls but has an antenna cut-out for RF transparency.

What’s not immediately apparent but catches your attention once you look closer: the numerous microphone holes in both of the earcups. In fact, there are a total of nine microphones. Eight of these mics (two on the top and two of the bottom of each earcup) works for the ANC and the remaining one is used for voice pickup. Two of the eight ANC mics also help in voice pickup, and that rounds up the entire mic assembly.

Other than that there are other interesting design decisions. The earcups can rotate into a flat position for storage, and there is a spring-loaded swivel mechanism which I haven’t seen anywhere before (and a great design decision IMO).

The earcups attach/detach magnetically, and there’s an IR sensor inside each earcup (underneath the cutout in the earcup on the inner-side) that detects if you’ve worn the headphones or not (something that doesn’t work on Android/Windows for some reason).

A highly sophisticated build with premium materials. I guess I can’t really ask for more.
5/5

COMFORT, ISOLATION, AND FIT

The earpads have a cloth exterior with memory-foam inner. Unfortunately, the clamp force is a bit too high. Competing products like Sony 1000XM4 and the Bose QC35ii have superior wearing comfort, and that acts as a detriment.

The headband material is surprisingly comfortable though and distributes pressure evenly across the top of the head. It’s the clamp around your temples that is uncomfortable. The ~400gm weight is also noticeable while wearing.

As for noise isolation, the Active Noise-Cancellation here is class-leading indeed. You can only hear faint irregular noises, but most noises like hum of your laptop, the noisy bus engine are well taken care of.

I also like the transparency mode and found it fantastic during commute (as you can hear the surroundings while crossing the street, or trying to follow a conversation).
4/5

CONNECTIVITY

The BT reception is generally strong, but there were some connection drop issues with older iPhones that had BT 4.0. With BT 5.0 devices and the newer iPhones (that are compatible with the H1 chip) the connection was rock-solid. Pairing was also quite simple irrespective of OS/device.

The biggest downside here is the lack of any lossless codec as Apple is using the archaic AAC codec even in their flagship headphone. It’s a major shame and the BT compression is quite noticeable in many tracks. Call quality is also middling as the voice sounds somewhat muffled.
4.5/5

AIRPODS MAX DRIVER SETUP

Apple doesn’t tell much about the driver setup apart from that it’s 40mm. Looking at iFixit’s teardown I think it’s a PET diaphragm with a PVD metal plating (likely Titanium). The driver looks cool in a matte-black finish but that’s about it. I don’t think there’s much to write home about here (otherwise we wouldn’t hear the end of it in Apple’s promo materials).

TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES

The Apple Airpods Max has a warm, slightly V-shaped (or U-shaped, as some say) sound that focuses more on the “fun” side of things rather than going for neutrality.

The bass response is definitely north of neutral with a sizeable sub-bass boost but the mid-bass is left untouched, resulting in a clean bass-response with no mid-bass bleed. Bass is fairly textured but lacks in definition and speed, partly due to the driver limitation and partly due to the BT compression that takes a toll on the bass region. 

The midrange is perhaps the best aspect of the Airpods Max. The recession in the lower mids tend to drown out male vocals in some tracks with lots of instrumentation, but that’s about my biggest complaint here.

The slight warmth in the lower-midrange coupled with lack of shoutiness in the upper-mids and generally correct tonality makes the Airpods Max good at reproducing both male/female vocals and string instruments. Acoustic guitars sound especially nice with crisp attack and a natural decay. 

The treble is where things start to get divisive. With the ANC on, there is a noticeable rise in the 9KHz peak and the treble becomes fatiguing. With ANC off, however, that issue is mostly mitigated, and in the transparency mode it is completely gone.

It’s ironic that a headphone that went through so much trouble for ANC sounds its worst with that feature turned on. If you are treble-sensitive and want/have the Airpods Max, I’d highly recommend keeping the ANC off/transparency mode on.

As for the rest: resolved detail is middling. This is about as resolving as the $65 Philips SHP9500 and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest. In busy tracks, the cymbals turn mushy and it’s hard to pick apart leading edge of notes.

The staging is fairly tall but lacks height and depth. Apple uses heavy DSP to give you a sense of space (esp when listening to songs with Dolby Atmos) but such tracks are rare and most of all: the DSP tricks sound artificial and lacks the natural stage expansion of an open-back headphone. However, compared to other BT headphones, the staging here is above-average indeed.

Finally, imaging is fairly accurate. Center-imaging suffers though, as is the case with most headphones. Dynamics are fairly good with the macrodynamic punch being delivered with authority (though the sub-bass emphasis can make snare hits and pedals sound a bit muted). Microdynamics are decent for a BT headphone but nothing to write home about.

Bass: 3.5/5
Mids: 4/5
Treble: 3/5
Imaging/Separation: 3.5/5
Staging: 3.5/5
Dynamics/Speed: 3/5

SELECT COMPARISONS

vs Sony 1000XM4 ($300): The Sony 1000XM4 is widely popular for a few good reasons: it’s very comfortable, it’s got the branding, and the sound signature is a bass-boosted V-shaped that many find “fun” to listen to. It’s also got LDAC support and good ANC.

However, the Airpods Max has better build and controls, and the ANC on them is superior. Also the sound has better midrange resolution and imaging. Almost twice-the-price better? I don’t think so, but hey – it’s Apple.

vs Bose QC35ii ($200-ish): The Bose QC35ii has been on the blocks for a long time and I find it to be a very enjoyable pair of BT headphones. The ANC is fantastic (nearly as good as the Airpods Max) and they are supremely comfortable to wear. The lightweight helps in carrying too.

The sound signature is more mid-bass focused than the Apple Airpods Max and tends to sound thicker in general with less treble presence. A non-fatiguing sound that’s middling in resolution but very inoffensive.

The Airpods Max, again, has superior build and ANC. However, the tonal profile is different enough to cater to different audiences. Moreover, the price is markedly lower on the Bose. It’s an inferior headphone to the Airpods Max no doubt, but for the price, it’s a very good performer.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

The Apple Airpods Max has stunning looks and perhaps the best balance of sound among wireless headphones around $500. There’s one BT headphone that’s superior in almost all aspects to the Airpods Max, the Hifiman Ananda BT, but it retails for twice as much ($1000) and is an open-back headphone. Plus, the design isn’t anywhere as cool.

In terms of raw sound quality and comparing against wired offerings, the Apple Airpods Max stand no chance. It’s slightly worse than the Philips SHP9500 and that tells it all. Sennheiser HD600/650 duo are on an entirely different dimension altogether, and the Hifiman Sundara/Beyerdynamic DT1990 are technically far more proficient. 

However, you don’t get the Airpods for sound quality. The entry level Airpods are about as resolving as $10 earbuds, and Millions of people bought them. The price point is a bit too high on the Airpods Max though and for non-audiophile, style-conscious consumers it might be a bit too high a premium to pay. 

If you are someone who loves the Apple “ecosystem” (though said ecosystem barely helps here) and got the budget for it, Airpods Max will probably earn you more style points than anything else out there. The sound without ANC is quite good and the easy to use control scheme can be refreshing.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend the Apple Airpods Max to the regular audiophile as they are overpriced, over-designed, and under-performing. They look cool, but you can’t see them when worn. You can feel them though, and the high weight coupled with high clamp-force is not ideal. The sound quality is way below average and will be bested by certain wired headphones under $200.

If you really need a BT headphone, the Bose QC35ii will be an inoffensive, inexpensive option with good ANC as well and great comfort. The Airpods Max, meanwhile, belongs more in lifestyle photo-shoot than actual real-world use.

MY VERDICT

3/5

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Full Specifications are found on the Sony website

The $349 plastic-and-leatherette Sony WH-1000XM4 won’t win any awards for aesthetics; compared to comparably-priced metal-enhanced Masters & Dynamic or B&W, the Sony WH-1000XM4 seem rather dowdy and probably less durable. Comfort, however, is excellent (if not quite as class-leading as Bose)—the phones are lightweight, without undue clamping pressure. UI is intuitive and reliable—other than buttons for power and ANC mode, the most-used functions are controlled by touching the panels. Built-in smart technologies like automatic pause, proximity sensors, etc. are very impressive, as is 30-hour battery life. Microphone quality is flawless.

Noise cancelling on the Sony WH-1000XM4 is eerily good—these are a virtual isolation chamber into which none of the outside world  can penetrate. That said, the ANC does veil the highest frequencies and compromises sound quality significantly—especially considering that the XM4 isolates very well in passive mode, unless you work in a foundry you’re best served with ANC de-activated.

So how do the Sony WH-1000XM4 sound? Pretty good for wireless, actually. Signature is generally balanced, with a rich-textured, slightly warm tonality; soundstage is wide and enveloping and stereo separation is excellent, with lots of air between performers. Presentation is lively—the (not half-bad) Bose NC-700 sound somewhat flat in comparison. Bass is well-sculpted but surprisingly muted in quantity—these are not thumpy Beats—there’s no bleed into the mids and the phones are coherent overall. Mids are forward, with good body and clarity, while high end is smooth though lacking some extension and realism; nuances like cymbals and piano keys some a bit synthetic.  Source material sounds less compressed than most Bluetooth phones (Sony uses some sort of upscaling codec), but these overall lack the realism and timbral accuracy of good wired phones—<$300 models like Sennheiser HD600 OR KEF M500 etc. play on another level, albeit for an entirely different class of user. While missing micro-detail, the Sony WH-1000XM4 does avoid stridency at the extremes and were not fatiguing for extended listening.

Ultimately, these Sony WH-1000XM4 are something of a technological landmark. They are not, however, an audiophile tool and not the best pick for a music-first consumer. I’m also of the mind that the $349 SRP is a bit rich for their generic build and looks, although if you can find them discounted for Black Friday or whatever, they’re a very solid product within their limitations.

MY VERDICT

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