Lypertek have revised and renamed the Tevi for 2021, say hello to the PurePlay Z3 2.0 – packing in more features and the same excellent sound quality without increasing the price.
PROS
- Clean and balanced sound signature
- Great features and easy to use app
- Stable bluetooth connectivity
CONS
- The housings are still a little bulky
Fit and Comfort
The PurePlay Z3 2.0 have the same housing as the original Z3 and Tevi, they fit well in the ear but depending on the size of your ears they do stick out a little. They are however very secure in your ear once you find the right size of tips, and I have never found the fit to be a problem. They are lightweight and you don’t really feel them once inserted in your ears, the smooth surfaces ensure no discomfort too.
Comfort wise the smooth housings sit nicely in your ear and the nozzles are a good length to ensure a snug and secure, yet comfortable fit. I find the Z3 2.0 to be comfortable for long listening sessions, and they are ideal for casual everyday use.
Features
The new PurePlay Z3 2.0 packs in more features for the same price as the original Tevi, the battery life is the same with 10hrs from the earphones per charge, and an additional 7 full charges from the case which gives 80hrs total. They now run on bluetooth 5.2 for even more signal stability and lower power consumption, along with the case now supporting wireless charging alongside the normal USB-C charging port (Lypertek sell a charging pad separately). They are also still IPX7 rated, this means you don’t have to worry about them when using them in the gym or out in the rain.
The button is the same as on the original, which means a single press on either for play/pause, double press the right to increase the volume, on the left to decrease. Triple press on the right to skip tracks forward, on the left backwards. There is another new feature though, if you press and hold the button for 2 seconds you’ll hear 2 chimes, this turns on/off ambient pass-through allowing you to hear announcements and your surroundings without having to take them out of your ears; This is a really useful feature for use on public transport.
App
Lypertek have also launched an app with the new PurePlay Z3 2.0, the app works best with this model but it is compatible with some older models after a firmware update (although the features will vary, as ambient pass through is not available for older models).
With the Z3 2.0 you will need to do a firmware update – this is especially important for Android 11 users – within the app when you first install it, to get the best out of them. The update is easy to do and ensure smooth functionality of the app. The app allows you to set custom EQ curves and has some presets too, along with switching on/off the ambient pass through and changing the function of the buttons (you can change the function of the double / triple press actions).
There is a “find my earphones” bit in the app which will show you where the earphones were last connected to your phone, quite handy if you often misplace them.
The app also has a new LDX Audio mode (Lypertek Definition Expander), this is a new custom audio profile for the Z3 2.0, tuned by the audio engineers at Lypertek. It definitely adds more clarity and space to the stock sound and is quite a nice little sound profile if you don’t want to mess with normal EQ modes. Overall the new app has introduced a lot of tweaking potential for audio lovers and it really is an valuable tool for PurePlay Z3 2.0 users.
Sound
Bass: Much like the original, the Z3 2.0 are relatively balanced in their tuning and they don’t accentuate then low end and it always sounds controlled and tight yet has enough body to satisfy most users. The new app will definitely help those who want a bit more power down low, they are incredibly responsive to EQ and you can bring out quite a lot of punch and depth without them sounding bloated or distorted. The DSP in these is really impressive, it pairs perfectly with the hardware and allows full control over the sound signature.
Midrange: I quite like these with a relatively flat EQ, or the LDX mode enabled, as the sound is very well balanced with a good level of detail. The midrange has a way of cutting through the mix with great layering and a realistic tonality. Out of the box, those who enjoy an upfront and intimate vocal performance will really enjoy these, they really get the midrange presentation spot on. Turn on LDX and the sound gets a little more fun and spacious without taking away too much of the midrange focus.
Treble: The treble is never overdone, it does a great job at adding some air and sparkle to the sound without ever sounding peaky or bright and fatiguing. Just like the midrange, the Z3 2.0 have great tonality in the treble region, cymbals don’t sound splashy or overly metallic and they have good extension with only minor roll-off that’s often attributed to bluetooth compression rather than the earphones themselves. There is a good amount of space and air up top and are really enjoyable whilst remaining smooth too.
Soundstaging and Genres
The soundstage with the Z3 2.0 EQ set as flat is fairly average, there’s good layering and separation but the width and height are relatively average. Turn on the LDX mode and it gets quite a bit wider giving a more out-of-head presentation which is really impressive.
The PurePlay Z3 2.0 work well with most genres, out of the box with no EQ they render vocals especially well and work with acoustic and alternative rock well, with a bit of EQ you can bring out more depth and punch which helps when listening to modern pop and rock/metal.
Conclusion
The PurePlay Z3 2.0 have quite a few added features over the original Tevi, this means better bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging and the accompanying app. This isn’t just a minor tweak, the PurePlay Z3 2.0 are a real upgrade over the Tevi and still offer up a detailed and balanced sound signature with incredible scope for tweaking via EQ, all for exactly the same price, these really are the best true wireless earphones for under £100 in my opinion.
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