Is a gimmick or trend? 5 popular wireless headset comparison evaluation

With 'suddenly like a spring breeze, thousands of trees and pear tree bloom' to describe the Bluetooth headset in the last two years, the popularity of the consumer group, a bit over-exaggerated, but since now has the music and the general public away in 2016 The first year in the phone to cancel the 3.5mm interface began to count on the iPhone cruel cut 3.5mm interface driven, and consumers because of specific scenes, the birth of the new demand increase driven by these two aspects, the Bluetooth headset has been more and more The more consumers are welcome.

According to well-known research firm Gartner, sales of Bluetooth headsets are expected to reach about 130 million units in the 2017. At the same time, Statista's report also pointed out that global shipments of headsets were 349 million in 2016. Both data Comparison, we find it easy to find, Bluetooth headset is becoming the main consumer of future consumer headphones.

From the consumer point of view, this is of course to meet their due to a variety of active passive, has been driven by the intention of consumer Bluetooth headset, before buying can get the reference.More worth noting is that this selection of Bluetooth Headset, are using the hot wireless nowadays the structure of the real wireless architecture for manufacturers and consumers, are a big step toward the future.Consumers are seeing manufacturers in this direction to develop hard to meet the consumer For unfettered to listen to demands, but also to promote the continuous improvement of manufacturers.

Without further ado, into the topic of this year PConline Bluetooth headset Hengping, we have chosen 5 representative in the market of true wireless Bluetooth headset, they are:

BOSE SoundSport Free True Wireless Bluetooth Headset E-commerce price Loading...

Pioneer SEC-E221BT E-commerce price Loading...

Jabra Elite SportE-commerce price Loading...

Sony WF-1000X E-commerce price Loading...

Apple AirPods wireless headphones E-commerce price Loading...

The main contrast test content and score accounted for:

Which of the five true wireless headphones is actually lower? Let's start with the first close contact with them.

Appearance & wearing experience comparison

As explained in advance, each of us has our own subjective opinions about the appearance of each headphone, and therefore, this section contrasts with us and pays more attention to analyzing them because of their different design, such as the length of the catheter, the earphone Set of earloop shape, cavity size and weight, etc., to examine differences in wearing experience (stability + comfort).

First on the results, after a detailed analysis, we slowly look:

BOSE Soundsport Free: wearing experience is still good

Friends familiar with BOSE products, will certainly remember the biggest bright spot in the BOSE in-ear headphones - shark fin earmuffs design. It is this patented shark fin earmuffs, making the stability of BOSE in sports have been relished How can shark fin earmuffs be absent from true 'wireless' headphones? The consumer testimonials of consumers over the years prove that 'shark fin earmuffs' are soft And can support the entire auricle friendly unique ID program, can bring the most outstanding wearing experience.But please note that the size of the shark fin earmuffs will be slightly larger, if the profile of a small natural born ear friends in the When wearing, this part of the experience will be discounted.

Bose Soundsport Free stability test

BOSE Soundsport Free cavity design is not so dazzling compared to the shark fin earmuffs have become the classic elements of the BOSE brand.Before there are friends who pay attention to BOSE Soundsport, you will find that Free is actually the meaning of wireless version .While the front wide Narrow cavity design, coupled with the appearance of rounded lines, with the use of shark fin earmuffs feel quite comfortable, but contrast QC20 body used from the cavity of the IE2 era design, BOSE Soundsport Free's cavity design is biased towards simple moderate In order to solve this situation, BOSE also provides a variety of colors for users with personality.

Pioneer SEC-E221BT: This is a wireless male headset?

For the first time to see the pioneer SEC-E221BT friends, if you do not understand this is a true wireless headset, but also read some celebrities wearing custom headphones, then it will certainly think this is a custom headset.In the design point of view, Pioneer SEC-E221BT similar to the public earphone headset, whether it is contour lines or piano paint surface, are designed to improve the wearing stability and better, but if you want to count the size of the battery and the sensor, the cavity size is inevitable There will be some big, in this case there is no similar shark fin earmuffs accessories, wearing stability can not help but make people knead a sweat.

Pioneer SEC-E221BT stability test

In order to solve this problem, the vanguard in the SEC-E221BT cavity inside the front slightly convex, with a shorter catheter length, and the silicone sleeve is also a very fit design, these are considered to enhance the wearing experience bonus. However, Due to the shape of the SEC-E221BT itself, if the ear is smaller than a friend, wearing the E221BT will still feel worn tight; friends with a large ear will not feel fit, both of which will lead to the final wear Experience has had an impact.

Jabra Elite Sport Zhen Yue upgrade version: vectorized style

Jabra Born in sports headphones on this piece of building I believe we are all witnessed, and this participation in the comparison evaluation of Elite Sport Zhen Yue upgrade version is also more biased in the field of exercise - this is the only one from Hengping With heart rate detection products.We estimate that many of my friends will this Hengping this Elite Sport upgrade version, and BOSE Soundsport Free described above contrast.

Jabra Elite Sport Sport Stability Test

From the design point of view, Jabra Elite Sport Zhen jump upgrade version still follow the previous Jabra products adhere to the vectorization, simplified design style is different from BOSE, Pioneer and Sony these three brands of products will be key To do the side of the headphone cavity, Jabra Elite Sport Zhen Yue buttons are basically on the panel, the operation will greatly enhance the accuracy of blind operation.In addition to this, the cavity design what are the highlights In the first half of the cavity in order to better fit with the pinna designed 'little pointed' is commendable, but in the earmuffs, Elite Sport upgraded version of the ear hook size smaller, mainly Support points in the back of the pinna, likely to cause fatigue.With the texture of the earmuffs slightly harder, so the contrast BOSE's 'shark fin', the effect is still inferior.

Sony WF-1000X: small cute beans

The title in the subtitle, not the cable from Hifi to WF-1000X change in the official Lynx flagship store, Sony himself WF-1000X claiming to be 'noise reduction beans.' In fact, the perception on the hand Look, WF-1000X really looks like a lentil appearance.This 'lentil' can not only make full use of transverse development of the shape to withstand the pinna, and the position in front of the cavity, there is also an extension from the earmuffs , Was a semi-oval-like shark fin ear hook, but the size of the ear hook is small, most of the fixed role is the headset catheter, more suitable for a small ear pinna friends wear a little bit similar to the traditional in-ear headphones.

Sony WF-1000X stability test

As for the exterior design, the front of the cavity of the WF-1000X is a metal baking process, with a black main color (only AirPods are white ~ in this contest), it looks very sense of technology, which also Just in line with Sony has always left us the impression, so these five headphones on the 'Yan value', we unanimously approved WF-1000X.

Apple AirPods: Familiar recipe, different flavors

Even if you are not an Apple mobile phone user, but certainly will not feel strange when getting started AirPods, after all, the same EarPods with AirPods, since the launch of the iPhone5 in sync on sale, has been in use ever since.Don't say Apple's production of genuine, all kinds of replica Or drawing on the design is already a bad street already, but if you think of AirPods as just a cut-line version of EarPods, it would have been a little over-simplistic.

Apple AirPods stability test

Compared to the four products introduced before, AirPods the lightest weight and slender slender, although the location of the headset handle is to be more coarse is in this volume, Apple also into the W1 processing chip, pickup microphone and Some of my friends might ask why Apple wants to use such a 'trimmed' design instead of re-developing a cavity. Friends who used EarPods believe that Will have a little something like the head of the plug impressed the experience, the advantage is that there is almost no compression of the ear canal, the pivot point of fixation are in the auricle. AirPods basic feeling of wearing and the former no significant difference, such a benefit Is that we have a reference before buying, if the rabbit left the impression that you left the well, then AirPods naturally less than where to go.

In addition to headphones, as well as storage box!

Not only to consider the appearance and comfort, carry-on storage box is a lot of friends in the choice of true wireless headphones will consider a point size, surface material, storage convenience, which contains a large number of storage boxes need to be considered Element.After all, install X cool at a moment, charging crematorium, ah, now the true wireless headset a single battery life is really not enough, relying on the storage box for battery life has become a mainstream solution, followed by a major focus of our Comparison part - life.

According to the four points raised above, whether the design of the storage box (charging box) is reasonable or not will also make a difference contrast to the final experience.

In the end, the results of Huicheng are as follows:

There is no doubt that Apple's AirPods size control is the best, portability is also natural.Use of the charging interface is also unified for the lightning interface, the key to the total life time can actually reach more than 24 hours.For Apple users, this has been It is quite invincible configuration.It is noteworthy, just done the piano paint process, and the whole body of white AirPods storage box, but be careful not to scratch, plus dirty words ..... so please pay attention to daily maintenance.

The other four brands of storage boxes, the surface material is divided into three factions: Jabra and BOSE choose the type of skin surface, Sony matte spray, both of which are designed to meet the current style of digital products and Pioneer as Typical Japanese manufacturers, the choice of cortical materials package storage box size, Sony and BOSE's storage box is undoubtedly the largest, but it is strange that the results between the two have opened a larger gap; followed by Followed by the Jabra and Pioneer boxes, both close to the size, the total life are also more than half a day (12 hours or more.) But compared to Apple's storage box can easily hides in the pants pocket, with the abnormal total life time, This part of AirPods victory, I believe we are nothing big opinion.

Control & APP additional features comparison: obvious difference

This section is for the headset in the convenience of control and additional features in contrast, compared to the starting point on the four words, 'easy to use' users can adjust the headset for the first time (when listening to acquaintances suddenly talk to you How to do?), APP is easy to use, there are no obvious effect of additional features and sense of science and technology, are our study focus.General simple analysis and comparison, the final results are compiled as follows.

BOSE SoundSport Free right ear plug as the main plug, with volume addition and subtraction and multi-function buttons above, the left ear plug there is a not commonly used Bluetooth connection keys, buttons layout and reasonable control of the functionality of the only Tucao, Is the middle of the right side of this multi-function keys feel more rigid, short key stroke.Bose SoundSport Free body more features, it is through the phone Bose Connect to achieve.Bose through Bose Connect in addition to some of the general settings In addition, Free SoundSport has designed the 'Find My Headphone' feature for those who are concerned about losing their headsets.

Pioneer SEC-E221BT each side of an oval-shaped function keys, in addition there is not too many function keys.Although there is only one function keys, but through different keystrokes, or can play music.R headphones Double-click the button on the volume plus volume, L double-click the button on the headset for volume reduction. R long press 2 seconds for the next song, L long press 2 seconds for the previous song. L button on the phone during a call, But also to achieve the click to answer, long press refused to pick up the function. Look at the above operation, I believe we have felt a little dizzy, indeed pioneer SEC-E221BT need some time to learn, control convenience is more general. As APP part Pioneer SEC-E221BT does not match the APP, do not know later Pioneer will launch a program to enrich the headset features.

As mentioned above, Jabra Elite Sport will be key design in the cavity panel on the left cavity, plus tap is to increase the volume, long press is to switch to the previous song; minus tap is to reduce the volume, Long press is to switch to the next song, while the right of the cavity, the above button tap or long press is the outgoing program, the following button tap is play / pause or answer the phone, long press is the headphone switch.Compared with the SEC -E221BT, Jabra Elite Sport buttons although it is necessary to learn, but still have to be more clear and simple.

If the other four headphones are equipped with APP under, give the feeling of yellow are almost able to use 70-80%, then the Elite Spor upgrade with or without APP, can be said that two headphones. Elite The Spor Upgrade supports the renowned 'Jabra Sport', which monitors heart rate with multiple sensors such as heart rate detection and gyroscope, etc. It not only monitors and analyzes the current state of motion but also provides a great deal of exercise fitness Tutorial, to help you create a sport plan.In short, Elite Spor upgrade is more like a sports equipment than a simple wireless headset, in the field of sports can provide not only the number of features and professional, ridicule Said that perhaps the function of the 'headset' is not its main focus.It is worth mentioning that, Elite Spor upgrade support for somatosensory control, suddenly someone talk to you when listening to the song to win the right earphone immediately suspended play, with the back And automatic recovery, simple operation is very practical.

Sony WF-1000X button distribution is also adhering to the left and right sides of the left ear button for the switch and noise reduction mode adjustment, the right ear button for playback control, there is no volume adjustment function, the user to adjust the volume by the phone. The ease of manipulation on the headset is more common because Sony is focusing on the APP and the functional parts.

If the scientific and technological content to judge these five headphones, Sony WF-1000X should be regarded as the most prominent one, a major bright spot is that in such a small size still did the active noise reduction. And through the matching APP program , We can switch the WF-1000X noise reduction mode, ambient sound control, and load the EQ equalizer for the WF-1000X, etc. However, the WF-1000X additional functions are basically based on active noise reduction , And its noise reduction performance can be described as 'tasteless, discarding a pity' This point in our previous evaluation of the WF-1000X (evaluation details poke here) which are also detailed analysis. So to say, WF-1000X let the yellow once again Admire the strength of Sony in the headset technology, however, we feel that in such a small volume into too many high-tech features, a bit radical, the actual experience is not mature.

Because adhering to the EarPods design style, Apple AirPods appearance can not find a button, but this does not mean that can not be completed in the AirPods body operation.Compared to the other four headphones using the buttons, AirPods no external keys in The operation is even more cool, although there are only three functions for double click on Siri and click on pause / play music, but thanks to the built-in W1 chip, we are still looking forward to seeing more features in the future.

Are Bluetooth, who is more stable and convenient connection?

In all fairness, Bluetooth headset development to the present, more and more powerful in the chip performance, Bluetooth specification version of the continuous improvement of the case, so the connection between the Bluetooth headset and mobile phone basic need not too tangled. In order to ensure rigorous after the actual measurement, this evaluation The five headphones in the open space, the connection distance with the phone more than 30 meters, but due to the use of true wireless connection, so another connection on the surface of the problem again - between the two headphones or connected with the phone What is stability?

In addition, we also need to focus on one of the common question - the delay of the Bluetooth headset delay has always been the Bluetooth headset and even bluetooth stereo have some old problems, may simply listen to the song and will not feel the delay, mainly reflected in our watching movies or When the TV series, the characters lines and mouth often do not correspond; play the game with the sound is not synchronized with the picture is always slow beat, etc. Especially playing games, such as mobile games CF, rhythm masters this sound element will affect the game In the case of operation, the delay processing is not necessarily bound to have a significant impact on the experience, so in this Hengping, this is our main test direction.

The result is as follows:

From the above table we can see that the five true wireless headphones in this part of the performance of the most outstanding is Apple AirPods. Have to say that the strength of the W1 chip really amazing, not only the delay can be neglected, and repeated testing of this AirPods can be disconnected for the most part in a week, followed by the Bose ShoundSport Free and Jabureau Elite Sport upgrades, which are within an acceptable range, not sensibly sensitive or Used to play the game, the basic perceived not significantly delayed.The less performance is the pioneer SEC-E221BT, although the connection between the stability of the phone is not bad, but sometimes between the left and right ears there will be a little delay out of sync People uncomfortable, and the stability of almost mean.

The only one who would like to slightly swipe is the Dafa WF-1000X. The WF-1000X delay perception is the most obvious among the four models, and its stability is rather poor. From time to time, the right earphone can get deaf and occasionally a 2-3 second automatic connection, and sometimes Directly suspended animation, you need to restart in order to rule out the anomaly. The scene of this situation, most of them concentrated in the case of walking or low battery. Oh yes, before the test WF-1000X prompts a firmware update, hold update = replacement The idea of ​​upgrading the firmware to try, but failed to update five times did not succeed I do not know what is the meaning ...

Based on the essence: Whose voice is better?

Reasoning, no matter what kind of headphones, is wired, Bluetooth or our comparison of the true evaluation of the wireless headset, its fundamental purpose is to listen to the sound. Compared to the past, Bluetooth headset sound quality is getting better is already an indisputable In fact, a variety of transmission specifications such as APT-X, AAC, Sony LDAC and even the forthcoming promotion of Bluetooth 5.0 next year, more and more new technologies give the Bluetooth headset can do good sound quality.However, in the current situation, The vast majority of Bluetooth headsets are still some distance with the wired headset.This 5 true wireless headphones can not hear the yellow so I blow a half page, generally not much difference, more is the style different.

From Lao Huang's own subjective ratings, the 5 headphones really do not open the gap between the sound quality is generally 'routine' are 'two Alice, the middle slightly concave' tuning which, of course, BOSE Soundsport Free sound no doubt Is the most pleasing to the human ear, it changed the past Bose home audio products too much deviation training, so that the overall sound becomes more Naiting and better sense of hearing, the editor of the other three Xiaobian will be the best Listen to this vote for the BOSE Soundsport Free. The disadvantage is that the sound field is slightly smaller, not suitable for large scenes of music. In addition, Jabra Elite Sport Zhen Yue upgrade version is to give us a better impression of a Although its vocals are a bit 'thin', the bright spot is that resolution is not bad.

As with the appearance of the above part of the evaluation, we should not use EarPods look at the past to look at AirPods. And EarPods bias in the mid-range, the sense of hearing for the first resolution is not enough style compared to AirPods resolution A certain increase, both ends of the extension also appears to be more in-depth, the vocal will seem more delicate, especially when listening to girls is even a bit sweet .. Pioneer little sister and Apple AirPods quality is also at a basic level, the difference is Vanguard Japanese typical bright female voice and low volume is very plentiful, but the overall density is still a bit lacking, it sounds not solid enough.

In 5 products, WF-1000X use 'indignant' to describe, although a bit exaggerated, but also expressed Huang disappointed me from the hard quality, its resolution, vocal tuning and other aspects of what All good, the overall tuning can be said to be a bit 'tri-band equilibrium' mean.On the basis of good quality there is EQ regulation of the 'bonus', the user a little learning to further adjust their satisfaction through the APP voice. But it is too loud noise floor problem is not very good impression, or even has affected the listening effect, resulting in the test process some Xiaobian feel its voice will be more 'paste' (in fact, noise floor.) In the stable The bottom of sexual harmony, Sony really do optimize there are many.

PConline evaluation room Summary: Bluetooth is the future but not yet come completely

5 true wireless headset advantages and disadvantages Overview:

A series of evaluation down, this comparison Hengping total score ranked: Bose SoundSport Free> Apple AirPods> Jabra Elite Sport Zhen Yue upgrade version> Pioneer SEC-E221BT> Sony WF-1000X.

Ranking has, but the actual top three products actually no obvious advantages and disadvantages, the three of them have their own advantages and disadvantages:

SoundSport Free is good to hear, comfortable to wear, the signal is relatively stable; Apple AirPods is wearing good at the same time, the signal stability and life time amazing; Jabra Elite Sport Zhen Yue upgrade version is the most expensive of all products Paragraph, it is quite satisfactory other performance, but due to the built-in heart rate sensor and other sports' class additional features is very rich, more inclined to fitness enthusiasts.

The Pioneer little sister (SEC-E221BT) although the signal stability needs to be improved, and other aspects of the performance is not particularly prominent place (oh, yes, life is good!), But one thing not to be overlooked, it is the most among the three Cheap models, leapfrog challenges 2-3 times higher than their worth of products, already equal to reflect their cost-effective advantage.

As for the Sony WF-1000X, its performance is considered two extremes: technology sense. "Although it can be regarded as among the 5 most technologically advanced products, but the problem is also prominent, the signal is too bad is its fatal injury, which Xiao Bian still retains the 'not recommended' attitude, I believe more people start more attention to these products is practical, not how the headset 'cool' (cable powder exception ~), WF-1000X left My impression is not a mature work, the proposal can wait for the second generation.

Write at the end ....

From the overall situation of this evaluation, manufacturers in the initiative to promote, as the use of true wireless headset more and more occasions, consumers can gradually feel the real wireless headset in the experience brought about by the upgrade, the manufacturers also Efforts in the design, wear experience, the quality of sound effects of these aspects of consumer concern.We have reason to believe that the next period of time will be true wireless headset gradually increase the number of more intense competition in the consumer in this Competition, there will be more room for choice.

However, there are many problems lying in the development path of the true wireless Bluetooth headset, the most deadly of which is the issue of battery life.Under normal conditions of about three hours and a maximum of no more than five hours, the user must carry Containing the power of the storage box, for the convenience of a headset for a life.At the same time, the stability of the transmission between the two ears, as well as the bandwidth is sufficient to transmit non-destructive music, but also the true wireless Bluetooth headset must pay attention to the use.

The true wireless headset has brought us to wear unrestrained, but also left a problem to be solved, it seems that the new product will be introduced when the market dilemma.This imperfection is perfect when to solve, no doubt the future of the product Of the development has an impact.With the Bluetooth 5.0 specification chipset gradually listed, we look forward to there will be more outstanding true wireless headset products available, bringing a more excellent experience.