STACK #216 October 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Water resistance The sweat will flow when the heat is turned up in a workout. IP ratings cover dust and water resistance. The higher the rating, the better the protection, so if excessive sweat or inclement weather is a factor, shoot for a high number. Battery life Lithium batteries have come a long way in delivering long life, and offer anything from five to 12 hours use from a single charge (sometimes more). Moreover, the earbud storage cases typically hold two to three full charges, so you can rely on constant music even if you’re running an ultra-marathon. Controls It doesn’t matter how much you’re in the ‘zone’, at some point you’ll want to skip a track, pump up the volume or take a call. You don’t want to keep reaching for your phone, so this is where intuitive controls play a part, and most earbuds now feature the convenience of touch controls.

Move to the Groove

e in the great the five most ations when rts earbuds.

It’s time to get activ outdoors. Here are important consider buying a pair of spo

Words Bec Summer

OTHER ESSENTIALS

T he weather has finally turned, and it’s bag, but a good banging tune piped into the ears during a workout can give you the lift and inspiration to push through the pain and smash your goals. But when choosing the right pair of sports earbuds, there are only five things you need to consider – check these off the list, and you can’t go wrong. Wireless or True Wireless? Yep, this one can be a little confusing. Think of wireless earbuds as a necklace with an earbud on each end, which was once the preferred tech for runners and athletes. And then came true wireless. True wireless is precisely what the name suggests – the earbuds are powered individually without cables. If you’re asking us, it’s true wireless all the way. time to get outside and shake off winter’s hibernation. Exercising is not everyone’s Ready to tune up and train?

Sound – Audio quality is subjective, so what we consider good may not particularly resonate with you. Sports earbuds tend to be bass-heavy straight out of the box, but if you opt for a pair with a customisable EQ, it’s possible to tweak the audio settings through an app. ANC – Excellent for blocking out the drone of the gym sound system or the kids fighting in the background while you smash out squats, active noise cancellation is a handy feature to have. An ambient noise setting will allow runners, for instance, to be sonically aware of their surroundings, such as traffic noise.

Comfort All ears are shaped differently, and manufacturers make provisions for this by supplying a selection of different gel bud sizes in the box. A good fit is vitally important – you don’t want buds toppling out during a run. Sports earbuds have been designed with motion in mind, and as such, some feature wingtips to spread tight in the lobe or hooks to fit over the ear to prevent the buds from coming loose.

Sennheiser Sport True Wireless True Wireless: Yes Battery life: 9 hours in the buds. 27 hours in charging case. Touch Control: Yes ANC: No Bluetooth: 5.2 Rating: IP54

Bose Sports TW Earbuds True Wireless: Yes Battery life: 5 hours in the buds. 10 hours in charging case. Touch Control: Yes ANC: No Bluetooth: 5.1 Rating: IPX4

Jabra Elite 5

True Wireless: Yes Battery life: 7 hours in the buds. 21 hours in charging case. Touch Control: Physical buttons ANC: Yes Bluetooth: 5.2 Rating: IP55

These are our three recommendations t

hat

suit all budgets.

66 OCTOBER 2022

jbhifi.com.au