STACK #213 July 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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The sound quality and functionality of true wireless earbuds has never been more advanced or affordable, and we’ve made it easy to choose a set that suits your lifestyle and hip pocket.

ENTRY-LEVEL Marshall Minor III True Wireless In-Ear Headphones Designed for pair-and-play simplicity, the Minor IIIs deliver quality sound and vocal clarity for tunes and calls, and the key features to enjoy music on the move. Packing custom-tuned dynamic 12mm drivers, the audio is excellent for open-fit earbuds, with natural bass that doesn’t overwhelm and good mids and high-end. A sensitive touch panel controls playback and calls, and music will auto pause when a bud is removed. Battery life is good for 25 hours – five in the buds and four additional charges in the case – and a quick 15-minute charge delivers 90-minutes of play.

Sony WF-C500 True Wireless In-Ear Headphones With an ergonomic design for a snug fit and the fundamental features you need in earbuds, the C500s combine simplicity and quality sound at a great price. 360 Reality Audio elevates audio for an immersive experience, while the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine restores compressed recordings to source quality. A physical button on each bud controls volume, tracks and hands-free calling. Smart functionality includes Fast Pair with Android devices and Swift Pair with a PC, support for Google, Alexa and Siri voice assistants, and a companion app to customise EQ settings. The C500s are ideal for commuting and the gym, with ten hours battery life per charge and 20 hours in the case.

Jabra Elite 7 Active ANC True Wireless In-Ear Headphones These earbuds will stay put thanks to ShakeGrip – the tapered eartips are made from a liquid silicone rubber compund for a secure fit that keeps the sound in. There's Active Noise Cancellation, a bonus in entry level-buds, with five levels to choose from via the Jabra Sound+ app. Tap the bud for HearThrough mode to access outside sounds. Four mics ensure clear calls, and there's Alexa built-in and Google Assistant support. An IP57 rating protects them against sweat when working out, and the buds store eight hours of power, with a further 30 hours in the charging case.

At a glance Colour: Black Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2

At a glance Colour: Black, Navy Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 Noise cancelling: Yes Battery life: 30 hours in case, 8 in buds IP rating: 57 Charging: USB-C

At a glance Colour: Black, White Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Noise cancelling: No Battery life: 20 hours in case, 10 in buds IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C

Noise cancelling: No Battery life: 25 hours in case, 5 in buds IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C

MID-RANGE

Audio-Technica ATH CK550TW True Wireless In-Ear Headphones These sleek earbuds pack top acoustic tech and 9mm Solid Bass HD TWS drivers to reproduce full range audio with truly powerful low-end that doesn’t overwhelm. ANC and HearThrough modes block and admit surrounding noise, respectively, and there is a Low Latency mode for gaming and movies. Tactile buttons on the buds provide easy control of sound and ANC, while the comprehensive companion app offers further options. And there’s multi-connection to switch between two devices simultaneously. Battery life is among the highest available – a whopping 20 hours of continuous play with up to 50 hours in the charging case.

Sony WF-LS900N LinkBuds S True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones At a mere 4.8g, these buds are the world’s smallest and lightest noise cancelling true wireless earbuds to date. But don’t let the diminutive dimensions deceive you – the LinkBuds S are packed with cutting edge tech including ANC and natural ambient modes that auto-adapt to suit surroundings, smart Adaptive Sound Control, and Hi-Res Audio Wireless support. The 5mm driver unit delivers full-range audio with deep bass that can be tweaked using the companion app’s EQ, and sound can be expanded with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personaliser app. Precise voice pickup ensures clear conversation, with easy tap-access to built-in Alexa and Google voice control and touch sensors for ANC, volume and track control. The buds hold six hours of charge, plus 14 hours in the case. Ergonomically designed for a stable fit, there are four sizes of silicone eartips included. At a glance Colour: Black, White, Ecru Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 Noise cancelling: Yes Battery life: 20 hours in case, 6 in buds IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C

Sony WF-L900H LinkBuds True Wireless In-Ear Headphones Sony’s LinkBuds deliver ‘real world’ listening. Unlike conventional earbuds, the speaker diaphragm’s protective surface coating is integrated into the housing and the LinkBuds’ unique open ring design delivers audio transparency by tuning in the outside world for an authentic open-air experience. With precise voice pickup, well-balanced audio, advanced signal processing and adaptive volume, the buds are ideal for music, video conferencing and more. Hands-free functionality extends to the intuitive tap controls – which work by tapping near the ear, not the buds – along with Google and Alexa voice control. Bud battery life is good for 5.5 hours with a further 12 hours in the charging case.

At a glance Colour: Grey Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 Noise cancelling: No Battery life: 12 hours in case, 5.5 in buds IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C

At a glance Colour: Black Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2

Noise cancelling: Yes Battery life: 30 hours in case, 20 in buds IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C

14 JULY 2022

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