STACK #189 Jul 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au The Compact True wireless earbuds offer maximum comfort, complete portability and good battery life. Earbuds have come a long way in the short time that they’ve been on the market, and are now at a more affordable price point. These are four of our picks!

Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW Lightweight, comfortable to wear, stylish, quality sound and all for a great price? That’s exactly what Audio-Technica have here. Ergonomic and minimalist, the ATH-CK3TWs reproduce audio with exceptional power, space and detail, along with touch control in each earbud, water-resistant performance, total Bluetooth connectivity, Siri and Google Assistant compatibility, Clear Voice Capture technology for clarity of calls, and low-latency Stereo Plus technology for uninterrupted streaming. Six hours of charge with 24 hours held in the case, they come with four sizes of thin, flexible silicone eartips that will ensure you get a hermetically-perfect fit! Marley Liberate Air Eco-consciousness comes with gorgeous aesthetics here – these ear buds feature Marley’s instantly recognisable natural bamboo wood fibre inlays, with additional recyclable aluminium and recycled plastic all sustainably sourced – as well as top- drawer features: seamless wireless connectivity, nine hours of battery life (with up to 32 hours per case charge) and G-Sensor Ear Housing Touch Control – all in a water- and sweat-resistant product that meets international CE standards. High quality materials, nature-conscious production, and innovative design make Marley a brilliant choice for your next pair of earbuds. Sony WF-XB700 Like your bass? Well, these come loaded with two words: Extra Bass, and they won’t disappoint. According to Sony, you’ll get nine hours from a single charge – we actually got around 11 and the charging case holds an additional 18 hours. Simplicity is key with the snug fitting, splash-proof WF-XB700s that have a single button on each bud that controls volume, pause and track skip, etc. You can take calls and they also support voice assistance. It’s impossible to understate the sound quality on these – the bass isn’t overpowering but it fills out a song and you can crank these right up without any distortion. A magnificent set of earbuds at a price you won’t need to lie about. Skullcandy Indy Evo The Indy is Skullcandy’s most beloved product, and for its new Evo iteration they’ve raised the bar in all lanes. First off, the Evos include that rapid-fire, two- hours-from-ten-minutes charge feature also shared with the Push Ultras. Full charging is where we see an enormous improvement: the individual earbuds now have a battery life of six hours (up from four), and 30 hours total (up from 16) using the case. You also get the excellent Tile tracker tech, along with sweat and dust resistance. Lastly but not leastly, these babies include Skullcandy’s Fearless Use Promise, which means that if any part of the product is lost or damaged, they’ll replace it at a discount!

14 JULY 2020

jbhifi.com.au