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SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth Headphone Review

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SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth Headphone Review

Competition in the wireless headphones market is always bringing prices lower. The £39.99 price of the SoundMAGIC P22BT is certainly attractive but are there any compromises in the design to achieve this suspiciously low price? We’ll take a look..

Pros:

  • Light and comfortable
  • Low cost
  • Decent isolation
  • Travel pouch included

Cons:

  • Considering the price, nothing!

SoundMAGIC P22BT

Design and Appearance

If you’re familiar with similar wired SoundMAGIC models (such as the P21), the P22BT is constructed in much the same way with a light, small headband and foldable earcups. When adjusted, the headband gives a nice clicky feel and maintains its position quite securely. Numbered marks on the steel part within the headband allow the user to easily find the right size before putting the headphones on, if taking out of the travel case.

Durability and Build Quality

This is where some compromises are expected, but the P22BT is actually quite decent. Granted, it doesn’t have the feel of a premium set of bluetooth headphones, but some of those cost ten times the price of course. Build quality is not as spartan as we might expect for the asking price, but care should be taken as they are not indestructible. Don’t put them anywhere where you might accidentally sit on them!

Comfort

The 70mm earpads are soft and do a good job of keeping the ears comfortable; glasses wearers may feel the pinch after a while, but the arms of the glasses can be worn resting on top of the earpads when in position.

Suitability for intended application

The SoundMAGIC P22BT can be worn around the neck when not in use, but those with a Tyson neck might find it a bit tight. No matter, as the included travel pouch will also keep them safe between uses. Isolation with those soft pads is pretty good for an on-ear, so a good option for roving around in town.

Sound Characteristics

Those familiar with previous SoundMAGIC models will not be surprised to hear that the sound is fairly typical of this brand. The P22BT has a warm tilt, with enough bass emphasis to give those basslines a lift without going overboard. As with all on-ear and over-ear headphones, be aware that the position of the drivers over the ears can alter the sound but the P22BT appears to be more fussy than most and bad positioning can affect the sound quite drastically.

  • Bass

Bass is full and well-rounded, with a decent amount of sub bass coming through too. There is a little bit of flabbiness where it meets the midrange, but it’s well within the realms of acceptability. Generally however, it’s punchy and with good width.

  • Mids

Despite the slight intrusion of the bass into the midrange, the P22BT is really enjoyable! Midrange has an engaging quality about it which gets the listener moving. It’s comfortable, with no piercing qualities when it comes to female vocals for example. Harmonics are good too, bringing out the characters of the instruments nicely.

  • Treble

Fine details are perhaps a bit of a stretch for an entry-level priced bluetooth model; however the P22BT gives a decent impression of what’s going on at the top end of the spectrum. Granted, things can get a bit splashy but not to the detriment of the presentation as a whole. Taken with the rest of the sound, the treble gets away with it.

  • Soundstage and Separation

There is a nice bit of width and depth going on here; the feeling of immersion is not going to transport anyone to a musical paradise, but it gets close. Separation is decent too, with different elements standing well on their own.

Music genres good for and why

The P22BT is a good all-rounder, but is particularly suited to commercial genres such as pop and rock/ dance music etc.

Summary

The SoundMAGIC P22BT is suspiciously low-priced for a bluetooth model, but exceeds all expectations. Watch out this summer however, as wearing these constantly may affect your suntan.

Edifier W830BT Bluetooth Headphone Review

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Edifier W830BT Bluetooth Headphone Review

READ MORE: Best Headphones Buying Guide

Edifier have created a great grab and go Bluetooth headphone, the W830BT‘s sound is not particularly refined, but for the price they are very fun to listen to.

Pros:

  • Big bass – fun sound
  • comfort
  • Build quality

Cons:

  • Sound is a little thick and congested

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Edifier W830BT is an understated looking headphone, with soft edges and a black and silver colour scheme they won’t stand out. They are not made to be flashy and catch peoples attention, instead they look sophisticated and elegant.

The W830BT feel well built, they are mainly made out of plastic but they feel well put together and the headband is reinforced with metal. There are controls on the right earcup, and the charging port is on the left earcup along with the 3.5mm socket for wired use. All the joints are smooth, and with a bit of care, these headphones should last a while.

Accessory wise you get a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable to use them when the battery runs out, a micro USB charging cable and a carry case. The included accessories are excellent and nothing is missing out of the box.

Comfort and Isolation

The W830BT are comfy in use, the clamping force is not too tight, and they are lightweight which means there is not too much pressure on the top of your head. The headband has plenty of adjustment, the top is adequately padded and the earpads are plush and deep preventing your ear from touching the driver.

Isolation is really good on these, they block out moderate outside noise well, and would be perfect for daily commuting. They also don’t leak sound so you won’t be annoying the person next to you.

Battery Life and Bluetooth Connectivity

One of the major selling points of the Edifier W830BT is nearly 95hrs of battery life when playing, this obviously depends on the volume but it is still very impressive and means you won’t be needing to charge them every day.

The W830BT can have 2 devices connected at the same time, they use Bluetooth 4.1 and are AptX compatible. The range is excellent, and I had no issues with audio dropouts.

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READ MORE: Best Over Ear Headphones – Wired and Wireless

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Sound Quality

  • Bass

The bass on the W830BT is full and carries great body and impact, but isn’t overemphasized. The bass presence is a little over neutral, and these are a fuller sounding headphone, but the bass does not drown out the rest of the sound. Kick drums are easily separated from bass guitars, and there is great depth to the bass, it is not there in basshead quantities but the amount will likely be more than enough for most people.

  • Midrange

The midrange is lacking a little bite and clarity, it sits behind the bass and does not have a lot of air and separation. However the midrange is smooth and fatigue-free, these do lend themselves to modern pop recordings over genres which require a detailed midrange.

  • Treble

The treble here again is smooth and would never cause listening fatigue, the treble does not extend very far but it does have some presence and is not completely drowned out. Luckily the treble has an inoffensive tone and doesn’t come across harsh or metallic.

  • Separation and Soundstage

Instrument separation is fairly average on these, nothing special but there is enough to distinguish different instruments. The soundstage is not very wide, these have a more fun and up-front presentation.

Conclusion

The Edifier W830BT is not a headphone for the seasoned audiophile, they are for the average person looking for a quality Bluetooth headphone for out and about use. For this purpose, you cannot go wrong with them, easy to use and fun to listen to, along with effectively blocking out most ambient noise. Perfect for the daily commute, or office listening.