Tag Archives: true wireless earphones

Campfire Audio Orbit Review

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Campfire Audio is at it again! Only last month they dropped Trifecta – quite possibly the most impressive wired IEM release in decades. And now, finally they turn their exploratory gaze to the world of true wireless. Orbit is Campfire Audio’s first ever true wireless earphone, and I can imagine that this is something fans of the brand have been expecting/wanting for a very long time. Well, now it’s here – and this is what we think about it.

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The Looks

In true Campfire Audio fashion, the Orbit is presented in a beautifully simple and yet visually striking box. There is something quite retro about the colour and font choices for the Orbit, with a very neutral and natural colour palette for the font, box and earphone housings – then there’s a bright splash of green to shake things up a bit. Just a reminder that this is indeed a Campfire Audio product.

Very eco-friendly and also very attractive

The packaging is all made of what looks like recycled cardboard, with no plastic in sight. Very eco-friendly and also very attractive. Open the box and there an explosion of gold which looks like sunbeams coming from out of the centre, with a deep blue box containing all of the goods.
Along with the Orbit, Campfire Audio has included a number of silicone and foam eartips in small, medium and large sizes. There is also a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, user guide and the coveted pin badge.

Campfire Audio Orbit earbuds and charging case

Campfire Audio has designed the Orbit from scratch, resulting in a unique style like no other. The case is nice and small and is finished with a smooth matte finish that feels very pleasing to touch. The two-tone colour style is in all neutral, earthy tones which is new to me – and I really like it. The shape is also interesting, with smooth angled edges along the sides, and the case tapers towards the bottom which makes for easy entry into a tight pocket when on the move. Lift the lid and there’s that lovely green colour again! Nestled in the case are the earphones, which fit very securely and regardless of their compact size. They are easy to remove too.

As for the earphones, their shape reminds me of the Saber with is small housing size and comfortable fit. The Orbit housings are again using the matte finish and two-tone colour style. There is also a stainless-steel sound nozzle which not only looks great – this surely adds to the Orbit’s durability.

The Inside

The Orbit uses 10mm custom full-range dynamic drivers, with a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) film diaphragm. They are also packed with impressive tech: Bluetooth 5.2, AAC and AptX Adaptive codec support handling up to 24bit/48KHz audio, Qi wireless charging and 8.5 hours playtime plus a whopping 30 hours of reserve power from the carry case.

Campfire Audio Orbit open charging case

A Word of Advice

In trying the Orbit, I noticed that the housing shape made it slightly tricky to get that fit right in my ear, so I made sure to move them around until I felt a good seal. Once in place and with the right tips, the Orbit is very comfortable and secure with an airtight seal.

IMPORTANT INFO

When fitting the earphones, first make sure to try all of the supplied eartips in order to get the best fit possible. Getting a good fit is extremely important, as creating a seal between the eartips and your ear canal is what makes or breaks any earphone. If you don’t have the correct fit, sound will come across very thin and lacking in bass. This is not representative of the earphone. Finding the right tip – whether that’s silicone or foam – is the first step, then spend some time adjusting the earphones in your ear so they feel like they are blocking out external sounds. This process may be a bit fiddly at first, but you will get used to it, and be happy you did it as that will deliver the best possible sound.

The sound is massive. It slams when needed with bass that drops low and punches high

The Sound

As for the sound – I had to keep reminding myself that this was a wireless earphone. We know Campfire Audio can create incredible wired earphones, having released some of the best sounding IEMs in history. The Orbit not only manages to carry on this tradition without the need for cables. There is now a Campfire Audio product that delivers their well known bombastic and engaging audio in a more affordable and convenient to use package.

The Orbit makes full use of the custom 10mm drivers, and it is as though they have wrung every bit of quality out of them. The sound is massive. It slams when needed with bass that drops low and punches high. Details come across with crispness and clarity, yet they are still very much a part of the overall listening experience. There has always been an organic quality to Campfire Audio earphones, and the Orbit is certainly this.

It’s hard to imagine that there is just one 10mm driver (per side) creating what sounds like a whole production suite in my head. The higher frequencies appear effortlessly, bringing everything together and helping to create space and depth – which there is plenty. Vocals are smooth and natural sounding, yet very present. They never get lost in the mix, they manage to be the focus when needed and if I didn’t know any better – I would think they were singing directly to me. Words that come to mind are lush, liquid, edgy, smooth, impact, moreish, quick, yum… I think you get the picture.

Campfire Audio Orbit up close

To top things off, Campfire Audio has also developed an app for the Orbit. Here you can view the individual battery levels, edit the touch controls, set the EQ (presets and custom) and update the firmware. This is all done very easily and the app is simple yet visually bold with quick response and connection.

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Lypertek PurePlay Z5 ANC TWS Review

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The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 was released in the first half of 2022. This is their first ANC model and what an absolute treat they are. Feature packed & with impressive sound quality to boot. How do they do it for such a competitive price?

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Fit and Comfort 9/10

The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 have quite a different design to previous Lypertek models. They have a rounded body and a stem which greatly improves ANC effectiveness along with mic placement for calls. This design also works really well in terms of fit. Even for smaller ears they are easy to put in and get a solid, secure fit for everyday use.

These are really comfortable & super easy to wear for long listening sessions

Comfort wise, once you find the right eartips (and there are plenty included to choose from) they are easy to wear for long listening sessions. This is not only due to the smooth housings but the light weight of the earpieces as well. There are no issues wearing these for a few hours at a time. The Z5 is also an optionl for light sports use due to their comfy and secure fit.

ANC 9/10

The ANC is a huge new feature for Lypertek, and one that works very well. When using these in areas with a constant stream of noise (such as sitting on a train) they do a great job to drown it out. It is easy to toggle on and off with the touch controls or via the app. Lypertek have absolutely nailed it with the Z5.

Purecontrol ANC App 10/10

The app is fantastic and easy to use. It allows the user to also fine tune the earphones to their tastes. With EQ curves (including custom ones), ANC on/off and also an Ambient mode which allows outside noise to be heard. LDX (Lypertek Definition eXpander) mode is also supported on the Z5. It has a dedicated button within the app to turn it on and it works well to enhance the space, depth and clarity of the sound. An absolute must try!

Mic 9/10

The stem is perfect for better microphone placement than normal true wireless designs. Resulting with the call quality on the Z5 being truly excellent. At home or out and about, the other person will hear your voice with great tone and clarity. It goes without saying these are some of the best we have tried when it comes to call quality.

It goes without saying these are some of the best we have tried when it comes to call quality.

Auto Ambient Mode 10/10

Simply one of the best features from the App. This turns ambient mode on automatically when you pause music & is such a handy feature to have. It means you don’t have to take the Z5’s out of your ears to hear people or announcements.

Sound 10/10

The below assessment is with all sound enhancements turned off. You can easily tune the PurePlay Z5 to your tastes with EQ. Not forgetting that the LDX mode is a great one click boost for those wanting and more spacious and engaging sound.

Bass: The perfect amount for out and about listeners in my opinion. These are punchy and fun whilst retaining good body and control. The bass is well controlled and keeps up with complex mixes with ease

Midrange: Open, spacious and natural, the midrange is portrayed in excellent fashion on the Z5’s never sounding drowned out or pushed too far back in the mix. Vocals manage to cut through the mix with great clarity and presence without sounding peaky or harsh.

Treble: Well extended yet not overly hot or in your face. The transition from the upper midrange in to the lower treble is well controlled without any unwanted sibilance. Yet there is still good energy in the lower treble to stop them from sounding dull or dark.

Instrument separation is really impressive, especially for a true wireless model.

Soundstaging and Instrument Separation

There is a good amount of air around instruments and good layering overall. They might not throw out the widest of soundstages but they manage to sound quite airy and open. Instrument separation is really impressive, especially for a true wireless model. these sound very controlled and well separated even when listening to complex music tracks.

Other Notable Features:

  • IPX4 rating means they’ll be fine for most sports use, but they are not ideal for use in areas of high moisture or heavier rain.
  • The case has the usual USB-C charging port & also supports wireless charging.
  • Touch controls – you can modify the touch controls in the app to your liking. But of the box they are fool-proof (2 taps on the right to skip track forwards. 2 taps on the left to skip backwards. 3 on the right for volume up. 3 on the left for volume down. 2s press on either to turn ANC on/off. 1 tap then long press on either to activate voice assistant. 2 taps then long press to manually turn them off).
  • Safe mode! a touch control configuaration that helps you not to accidently do something you didn’t want to.
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • All the main codecs (AAC, aptX Adaptive, SBC).
  • Battery life is 7hrs (+28 from the case) with ANC off, and 4hrs (+16 from the case)

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Lypertek SoundFree S20 Wireless Earbuds Review

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SoundFree S20 wireless earbuds – Best budget buds

The new budget offering from Lypertek offer up an engaging and fun listening experience. Without forgetting the finer details.

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Fit and Comfort

The SoundFree S20 have a smooth inner housing and slightly elongated nozzle, which allows for a great fit with the right eartips. They are not heavy and sit securely. Excellent if you want to use them for active sports use.

Comfort is excellent due to the lightweight design and smooth edges. They also sit fairly flush in your ears and allow for long listening sessions with ease. The angle of the nozzle really does help when it comes to the comfort of these.

Features

The SoundFree S20 has a claimed battery life of 8hrs, with an extra 40hrs from the charging case. I have found this claim to be quite accurate during listening sessions but it is of course volume dependent. The case supports wireless charging and has a USB-C port too. They use Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC and AAC codecs. The S20 is IPX5 rated, this means you can use them in light rain showers. I would not advise taking them swimming or in the shower.

There is a small button on them, placed at the top so you don’t press them into your canals when using it. This button has multiple functions (play/pause/skip tracks/volume up and down), and also allows you to activate ambient mode which allows you to hear external noises. This mean you no longer need to take them out to listen to the outside world. There is a microphone on each earpiece for calls, I found call quality to be acceptable but not a stand-out feature of the S20.

Sound

Bass

Full bodied, punchy and fun is how I would first describe the bass on the S20. However they never become muddy or overblown. There is a subtle lift in the sub-bass and you can easily hear the rumble. Bass is well balanced with good punch and control. Those who found the PurePlay Z3 a little too neutral, will enjoy the extra warmth down low on the S20. Whilst the bass is certainly present and boosted, the S20 don’t sound overly bass heavy or dark.

Midrange

The bass is well controlled, which allows the midrange to cut through with authority and power. Male vocals sound clean without any added body, the detail inherent means you can hear all the emotion present in the vocals without much veil. Female vocals fare equally as well. Without any real peaks in the upper midrange, guitars and vocals are well separated and each have their own space within the soundstage. Overall excellent performance in the midrange, that gives real insight into the recording.

Treble

Clean, precise and ever present the treble thankfully isn’t just an afterthought. Carefully tuned to be there, but without causing fatigue, often the most tricky part of a frequency response yet Lypertek have pulled it off. Yes, for this price you cannot expect the most faithful tonality but thankfully you can cleanly hear cymbal crashes and violins. They are not dull or veiled, instead they are exciting and add a bit of air to the sound, however they are not the most detailed in the treble region (partly due to bluetooth compression).

Genres and Soundstage

The S20 lend their hand to most modern genres, bringing out the best in Rap and Hip-Hop whilst handling heavier rock with ease too. They wouldn’t necessarily be my first pick for classical and jazz, but these are aimed at the active general user and the sound works well for that.

Soundstaging is actually rather impressive for the price and design, whilst not overly wide there is accurate placement of instruments and good layering between them too.

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Lypertek Pureplay Z7 secures “Recommended” award from Headfonia

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Lypertek’s all new premium, high end true wireless earphones pack a punch. At £199 you really are getting more than you pay for. An Extention to the Pureplay series, the Lypertek Pureplay Z7 True Wireless earphoness have been receiving praise arcross the board for their superior sound profile, unbelieveably long battery life and customisation options via its reputed App.

Having been recently shortlisted for the reader nominated best Audio Brand of 2021, Lypertek have really come out with their guns blazing in their most recent iteration of the Pureplay series. Packed to the brim with features and tech, the PurePlay Z7 are well suited for long listening sessions. Harnessing their 1 dynamic and 2 Balanced Armature drivers a piece, they last up to a superb 10hrs per charge (+70 additional hours from the charging case). They even have a quick charge function that will give you 2hrs of play time from just 15 minutes.

Lyperteks Pureplay Z7 has got the ball rolling by obtaining a “Recommended” award from Headfonia.

In their detailed review, Headfonia pours through the Pureplay Z7’s features and goes into warranted detial about their technical performance and unique Sound Signature. Read their review in full here: Lypertek Pureplay Z7 Review

If videos are more your thing then don’t forget to watch our in depth analysis of the Pureplay Z7 here. Also, our very own in-house guru Oscar has also given his verdict on the Pureplay Z7 here

The Lypertek Pureplay Z7 is also compatible with wireless charging and Lypertek even offer a super slim high speed wireless charging pad to match.

Cleer Ally Plus II Reviews- True Wireless Earphones that are Cleerly something special

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As you are probably well aware, the Cleer Ally Plus II are a new iteration of the Ally Plus true wireless earphones that were first released back in November 2020. The Ally Plus II now offers wireless charging and a new hybrid noise cancellation feature. It also comes with the Clear+ app used to adjust the EQ and to personalise controls.

The Cleer Ally Plus II have been doing the rounds across the reviewing world over the last few months and are being praised not only for their affordability but also for their excellent audio quality and overall ease of use. If you are in the market for a new pair of True Wireless ANC earbuds, then these are a no brainer for £130!

Coming in two colours, Midnight Blue or Stone, the Cleer Ally Plus II are touted as a perfect companion for on-the-go lifestyles by Jabba Reviews.

What Gadgets 4.5/5 star review points out how Cleer have cleerly thought about the comfort and fit for users of the Ally Plus II. The inclusion of 8 pairs of ear tips, both round and angled makes certain that you will be able to get a good fit and perfect seal. Read their opinion in full here: Cleer Ally Plus 2 True Wireless Review

Mobile Tech Talk comments on the Cleer Ally Plus II having a “a unique look”. Their 4.5 star review can be found here. Mighty Gadgets 9/10 review for the Ally Plus II centers around The Ally Plus II’s “excellent sound quality with a slight bass emphasis, Its Superb battery and the aptX Adaptive.”. A full review from them can be accessed here.

If videos are more your thing then don’t forget to check out an excellent, in depth video review of the Ally Plus II with music and mic samples from Brian Unboxed on Youtube.

Lastly, but by no means least important, our very own in house guru Oscar gives his verdict of the Ally Plus II here

Click here for a full breakdown of the features and specs of the Ally Plus II

Lypertek’s PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earphones raking in awards!

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The best just gets better: Following up with Lypertek’s shortlisting for the reader nominated best Audio Brand of 2021 from Trusted Reviews, Lypertek has continued to gather momentum and prestige among the audio world. The follow up to the original Tevi, Lypertek’s Pureplay Z3 2.0 True Wireless earphoness have been collecting review after review, praising their deisgn, battery life, customisation options via its reputed app and its undeniable affordability. At £99 it is hard to argue that you would get more bang for your buck with anything else.

Tech Radar awards the Pureplay Z3 2.0 their Editor Choice Award ; “Lypertek continues to punch above its weight and outside of its pricing bracket with the PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earbuds, a stellar-sounding and well-priced package.

Trusted Reviews offers Lypertek’s Pureplay Z3 2.0 its very own Highly Recommended Award: “The PurePlay Z3 2.0 are another excellent pair of affordable true wireless from Lypertek, with the new app and features extending its lifespan and adding more value than before.”

Soundphile’s Review puts it bluntly: “If you are in the market for all-round solid earphones with a “mainstream” tuning, these are the ones to get, period.“

This is still only the beginging for Lypertek and their wonderful creations. With their recently released Z7 adding into their ever growing pool of products, we are certain that we will see even more innovation and newer arrivals in the months to come.

For a full features breakdown please watch our video review here or you can read all about them here.

Cleer Ally Plus II ANC True Wireless Earphones

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Cleer Audio have released an update to the original Ally Plus, with better sound quality along with improved features this is a great true wireless earphone for the everyday commuter.

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Fit and Comfort

The Ally Plus II fit well enough in my ears, they do have quite a large inner housing that houses the driver and a short stem which makes them not as sleek as some other models. Personally I prefer a model with a longer stem as I find they fit better, but these still sit securely in my ears once I settled on the right eartips.

Comfort is good, I do get a bit of pressure on my concha – due to the odd shape of my ears, but for 95% of people out there this design is perfect and provides a secure fit. Once you find the right tips the Ally Plus II are comfortable for long listening sessions and stay put for active usage such as running.

Features

The main feature on the Ally Plus II is ANC – you can switch between a very effective ANC mode and Ambient mode. The ANC is very effective with lower frequency noises, helping drown out traffic and transport noise, making them ideal for commuters that travel by bus, train or plane. Need to hear your surroundings? Just double tap the right side to activate ambient mode allowing you to hear external noise.

The Cleer+ app is really handy too, the app allows you to fine tune the mix between ANC and Ambient sound, by using a simple slider bar. There is a 5-band EQ which lets you tailor the sound to your tastes and you can update the firmware easily too. There is a user manual within the app, along with touch pad controls (you can change what double/triple tap does on the L or R earphone). Overall the app adds an extra layer of functionality, best of all the user interface of the app is super user friendly and easy to navigate.

You can easily control playback via the earphones themselves, double tap the L side to skip track forwards, triple to skip backwards. Double tap the right to switch between Ambient and ANC mode (there is no “off” mode though), volume is done via double tap but on the second tap you press and hold for 1s (Left for volume down, Right for volume up). Play/Pause/Answer calls is done by a single tap on either side.

Codec wise you get SBC and aptX Adaptive – sadly it doesn’t look like there is AAC for Apple users so they will be limited to SBC. Battery life is up to 10hrs with ANC on, and 11hrs with it off. The case provides an extra 20/22hrs playback and a 5 minute charge provides up to an hours playback. Whilst this is far from the class-leaders such as the Lypertek Z3 2.0, it is still more than enough for the average user. The case charges via USB-C but also supports wireless charging which is quickly becoming the norm.

The earphones are IPX4 rated, this means they are good for your average daily use and can survive gym use and rain showers – but you don’t want to submerge them or accidentally take them in to the shower with you.

Mic quality is good when used for calls, again not neccessarily the best in class but a lot better than quite a few true wireless models on the market.

Sound

Bass: The bass on the Ally Plus II is very good for day to day usage, they are a little warm overall with a pleasant amount of body and low-end emphasis. They are not boosted to the point they drown out the rest of the frequency range, however they do have a slight lift which makes them easy yet fun and engaging to listen to. This also helps with outside noise, and when you turn ANC mode on you do notice they increase the low end a little more than with Ambient mode active. The bass is not overly snappy or controlled and is a little slow to react when listening to complex tracks, however modern pop, hip-hop and more mainstream genres are where these shine offering up a bold and punchy sound signature.

Midrange: There is a bit of a dip in the midrange and the bass bleeds in a little, causing male vocals to sound a little too thick and slightly dull. Female vocals lack a bit of bite too, not quite grabbing your attention, there is a veil over the midrange and it is lacking in clarity. Luckily there isn’t anything missing as such, they are just a little too laid back and smooth for my personal tastes, this does however lead to a fatigue free sound. The in-app EQ is quite helpful though, and with a bit of tweaking you can get a bit more from the midrange.

Treble: There is a bit of a dip in the lower treble to ease any sibilance, then there is a bit of a boost immediately afterwards which brings out cymbals quite nicely. There is enough energy but again these lack a certain precision and are not particularly linear in the treble region. They sound quite closed in and lacking air and extension, with a relatively early roll-off.

Genres and Soundstaging

These are tuned to do well with more mainstream genres, so anything pop, hip/hop and slower alternative rock tends to sound fairly good, but they lack the tonal accuracy to bring out the best in acoustic tracks, and lack the speed and control needed for complex metal.

Soundstaging is fairly average, the relatively early roll-off in the treble doesn’t help as this robs the Ally Plus II of some air and space. Whilst they don’t sound overly closed in, they don’t excel in this area either.

Who is it for?

  • Frequent commuters who need excellent ANC
  • Active users looking for comfort and a secure fit

Conclusion

The Cleer Ally Plus II are quite a good true wireless earphone, for the price they have some excellent features including great battery life and excellent ANC. When it comes to the sound they have a warm and smooth sound signature that is fatigue free but lacking a little when it comes to clarity. They are easy and fun to listen to, but also a little too dull to really excite you, the app is really easy to use and with a bit of tweaking of the EQ you can easily tune them to your tastes. So if you are looking for a good earphone for noisy commutes or active use the Ally Plus II is a great choice, if you value sound quality over features though, I personally prefer the Lypertek Z3 2.0.

Cleer Audio Ally Plus II TWS Announcement

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The Ally Plus II true wireless earphones add improved design, features and sound to its affordable noise cancelling.

Ally Plus II Announcement – Based around custom-tuned 10mm dynamic drivers, Cleer Audio’s latest true wireless stereo earphone, the Ally Plus II, delivers a level of what the company describes as ‘industry leading hybrid noise cancellation’ along with features and performance normally associated with products at double the price.

The Ally Plus II’s Adaptive Noise Cancellation is especially tuned for optimal effect and uses Feed Forward and Feed Back mics to monitor a listener’s surroundings in order to provide the most appropriate suppression of environmental sounds. 

Cleer has also updated its Cleer+ control app which provides further options to customise the ambient noise levels. The app also allows changes to EQ levels plus a custom option to personalise the listening experience even further. 

Moreover, the audio quality is enhanced by Cleer’s custom filters which are applied alongside ergonomic features such as the sound pipe angling the eartip to provide an improved listening experience. Specialised silicon ear tips reduce pressure in the ear canal to make wearing the Ally Plus II for extended periods more comfortable.

Those extended periods of listening are supported by a battery life of up to 11 hours which can be boosted by a further 22 hours of playback which is supplied by the small jewel-box style charging case which offers both USB-C and Qi wireless charging options. There’s also a transparent window in the lid so you can check that your Ally Plus II earbuds are connected and charging correctly.

Call quality comes courtesy of strong wireless connectivity, dual microphones and Qualcomm’s cVc (Clear Voice Capture) 8th generation noise reduction technology which makes chatting on the go clear and easy. 

Available in Midnight Blue and Stone

Cleer Goal true wireless sports earphones review

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The Cleer Goal true wireless earphones are designed for active users, allowing you to hear your surroundings as you work towards your personal best.

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Fit and comfort

The Goal is completely unique when it comes to fit. They have a hybrid design, with Apple Airpod style earbuds held in place using replaceable rubber fins. This combination is intended to keep the earphones secure while in use, allowing you to hear what’s going on around you while you listen. With that in mind, don’t expect the Goal to create a seal around the ear – they are designed to sit in place with the help of the provided fins. There is a selection of different sized fins, and it is important that you try them all to find the best fit for you. I used the large size, and they worked a treat – saying that, they do take a bit of getting used to as it is such a different experience when compared to standard earphones. Once you have twisted them into place, they stay put and you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them.

Features

Being a true wireless earphone, the Goal uses touch sensitive controls to play/pause, skip tracks, take calls, adjust volume and activate voice assistant. The controls are very easy to use, as the touch area is easy to find thanks to it being scooped slightly into the housing – the perfect size for finger tips. The earphones are IPX4 rated, so they are sweat proof and water resistant which is ideal for working out. You also get a total of 20 hours of battery life from the Goal – with 6 hours from the earphones and them a further 14 hours from the supplied charging case. The case itself works very well, and the design isn’t the smallest – yet it is shaped in a way that is easy to slip into a pocket.

Sound

Due to the fit of the Goal, the sound is airy and spacious. As there is no seal created, you’d expect there to be no bass. Cleer have managed to avoid that though. By using a custom tuned 14mm dynamic driver, bass is punchy and very present – providing depth and body. The mids are very cleer, and they allow vocals and snare hits to really stand out and bring rhythm to the experience. The treble brings air and space to the mix, which overall is wide and well defined.

Conclusion

The Cleer Goal is obviously designed for active use, and perform very well in this setting. Once you have found the right fit, they will stay in place and the added benefit of hearing your surroundings makes them ideal for jogging or even going for a long walk while listening to your favourite podcast.

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 True Wireless Earphones Review & Video

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Lypertek PurePlay Z3 True Wireless In Ear Isolating Bluetooth Earphones Review

Hey everyone, John here. Lypertek are new on the scene, and they have arrived with a bang! Their latest model is the PurePlay Z3: True Wireless earphones that look and feel as good as some of the pricier models out there. These are going for £99 so could be quite the steal! Let’s find out.

BUILD

On opening the Lypertek PurePlay Z3, the first thing that strikes me is the supplied charging case; it doesn’t look like your usual £99 product. The case actually reminds me of Sennheiser’s £250 True Wireless model… just saying. The material outer coating feels great to touch and shows that they mean business. There’s nothing cheap about the build here! The case opens and closes with a solid feel, and the battery level lights add to the sleek design. Then there’s the earphones themselves. Lypertek has gone for a simple design that looks attractive and very well built; they have a minimal look that’s been finished nicely.

COMFORT

The PurePlay Z3 sits very comfortably in my ear, they have managed to angle the sound tube perfectly to give a secure and solid fit. Supplied with the earphones are a selection of eartips, including Lypertek’s own Flexifit foam tips. For me, the foam tips provided the best fit in terms of comfort and sound. When trying the PurePlay Z3 yourself make sure to try all of the supplied tips in order to achieve the best fit for you.

FEATURES (size, isolation, accessories)

Lots of features have been packed into the PurePlay Z3. In terms of controls, you can play/pause, skip tracks, increase/decrease volume, take calls and enable your voice assistant all from the buttons on the side of the earphones. I really like the way the buttons have been placed, they are easy to press and do not cause any discomfort when used. Pairing is very easy with the PurePlay Z3. The earphones turn on as soon as they are removed from the case, then with two button presses on either earpiece, the PurePlay Z3 goes into pairing mode, then you can find them on your device. Whether you pair to the right or left earpiece doesn’t matter: once you connect to one of them, the earphones are ready to use.

SPECS

The PurePlay Z3 uses the latest wireless technology, supporting Bluetooth 5.0 as well as aptX and AAC audio codecs. Battery life is very impressive. You get up to 10 hours of use when the earphones are fully charged, and then with a fully charged case you can get a total of up to 70 hours while out and about! This is one of the highest ratings I have come across. You also get an IPX7 waterproof rating which will protect the PurePlay Z3 from sweat and rain, ideal for those long gym sessions or a run in the rain.

SOUND QUALITY

Listening to the PurePlay Z3, I would never have associated this level of sound quality with a sub £100 True Wireless earphone. These instantly grabbed my attention with their crisp and dynamic sound. Lypertek have tuned the Graphene coated 6mm driver extremely well.

Bass Response

Bass comes across well controlled and punchy. There’s power here without getting bloated and I never get the feeling of too much bass. The PurePlay Z3 goes low and provides weight while allowing the mids to breathe.

Midrange (Instrumental/Vocals)

Midrange is crisp and cuts through without being too forward for my tastes. Vocals and snares sit nicely in the mix without getting lost, and whether listening to intricate jazz rock, pop or ambient electronic, the PurePlay Z3 handles different genres well without ever sounding muddled.

Treble (Extension)

Up top, the PurePlay Z3 provides definition and space without harshness or the risk of fatigue. Treble has a smooth edge, which delivers a focused and engaging sound. While they don’t have the widest sound, soundstage provides depth and the level of separation will allow you to pick out where sounds are coming from.

Microphone

Call quality is very impressive with the PurePlay Z3. The microphone does a great job of picking out speech, providing clear call quality.

CONCLUSION

In terms of build and sound quality, I’d say that the PurePlay Z3 definitely competes with the big (and pricier) brands such as Sennheiser, RHA, Samsung, Apple and Jabra. Then when you factor in the £99 price tag, the PurePlay Z3 becomes serious True Wireless competition. In my opinion, the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 is a no brainer for those looking for a new True Wireless earphone.

Video Review: The Difference Between Wireless and True Wireless

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Wireless Vs True Wireless

Hey everyone, John here. We’re all moving into a wire free world. You can get a wireless version of most gadgets now, and to make things confusing, you can even choose whether you want wireless or true wireless. What’ll be next… really true wireless? Or the truest wireless? Anyway, we’re going to explain the differences between wireless and true wireless.

The term wireless, when it comes to headphones, has been around since the late 60’s. Back then, wireless headphones needed their own transmitter in order to get a wire free signal to them. These transmitters used radio frequencies and were mainly used to watch TV with. Earphones were also used in this way but were not very common. The early wireless earphones had a stethoscope design and were mainly used for those who were hard of hearing and needed some assistance, again mainly to watch TV with or listen to the radio.

Then something amazing happened. Bluetooth. This technology named after the 10th century king of Denmark (King Harald Bluetooth) changed the world of wireless listening, and opened it up to everyone to be used anywhere.

With the help of Bluetooth, wireless earphones have become extremely popular. Now the name would suggest that there are no wires, but this is not the case. Wireless earphones can connect to your device wirelessly, however there is always a wire that connects the two ear pieces together.

Wireless Earphones

There are three main design choices for wireless earphones. Possibly the most common type is where the wire is designed to fall behind the back of the head, with a cable tightener used to fit the wire as tight as you like. This design is very good for active users, as the tight fit means there is less chance of the wire moving around while in use, and helps provide a secure fit of the earphones.

Another style of wireless earphone is where the cable is designed to rest along the back of the neck, using a longer wire with a looser fit. This design is potentially more comfortable as you don’t have a wire tight behind your head, it does however move around more as there is nothing securing it in place.

Lastly and recently gaining popularity is the neckband design. Similar to the previous, but these earphones have a solid neck band which holds the wire in place, achieving the best of both worlds. Having the wire secure around the neck is also useful when not in use, as you can just let the earphones dangle without the risk of losing them.

Having a wire between the earphones not only allows them to connect to each other, it also provides space for a microphone, controls and batteries to be placed. This means that the ear pieces can be smaller, controls are easy to use, call quality is very good due to the microphone being placed close to your mouth and battery life is very impressive, with some models achieving up to 30 hours from a single charge.

Now, how do you get more wireless than wireless? You go true wireless.

True Wireless

With true wireless earphones, not only do they connect wirelessly to your device, the ear pieces themselves connect wirelessly to each other. So, no wires at all.

It’s obvious why true wireless earphones have become so popular, as there are many benefits. The main one being: no wires. You get complete freedom. This makes true wireless earphones ideal for active use, as much as general portable use; they can do it all. Having no wires makes them extremely comfortable, so much so that sometimes it’s easy to forget they’re in your ears. No wires also means that there is nothing to get tangled. Hurrah!

True wireless earphones are supplied with their own carry case, which also acts as a portable charger. So when you’re done using them, not only will the case keep them safe, it will also charge the batteries up for when you next need them.

True wireless earphones aren’t all perfect though, there are a few compromises to be made for all of the practical benefits.

As there are no wires, everything needs to be packed into the ear pieces. Speaker driver, amp, DAC, battery, controls, microphone and all the other techy bits needed for them to work. This means that the ear pieces are bigger than normal wireless earphones and there isn’t much space. Batteries are smaller giving less usage time, with around 10 hours being the maximum on a single charge. The microphone is further away from your mouth, which effects call speech quality. Sound quality is compromised, as the drivers need to share space with everything else and there is less power to work with. They are also a lot easier to lose, being so small means they can easily be dropped or misplaced without being careful.

True wireless earphones are still new, and the quality, performance and value for money is constantly improving. So even though it is easy for me to pick at the problems. I can see why the benefits of convenience, comfort, functionality and style outweigh the negatives. Me personally, I’m still a wired earphone kinda guy. But with the rate at which the true wireless technology is advancing, that could one day change.

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 True Wireless Earphone Review

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Lypertek PurePlay Z3

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The PurePlay Z3 (formerly known as TEVI) are a smooth and discreet, nothing really stands out on them with a small logo and silver trim ring on the faceplate. They smooth black finish looks great, there is a slight difference in colour between the 2 sections of the body but it doesn’t detract from the overall look.

Build quality is excellent, the joins in the housings are very smooth and they are finished to a high standard. The charging case is fabric coated and solid, and the buttons on the faceplates have a very positive click. Overall everything feels very well put together and durable for long term use. They are also IPX7 rated which means they are fine for your daily run and gym use.

Features:

The PurePlay Z3 use the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology along with support for aptX, AAC and SBC codecs. Pair them with an aptX compatible device and you’ll get slightly better sound quality of course, but AAC also sounds very good.

The controls are easy to learn and intuitive, two click on the right to increase volume, two on the left to decrease. Three clicks on the right to skip track forward, three on the left to skip backwards. Single tap on either will pause the music, and a 2s press on the left will bring up Siri/Google assistant. You can also pick up calls and there are built in microphones that work very well.

Battery is rated at 10hrs per charge (SBC 50% volume), and I would say that figure is quite accurate from testing, using aptX will decrease this slightly but the increase in sound quality is worth the trade-off. The charging case supports another 6 whole charges, making these very impressive compared to the current competition.

Connectivity and signal stability are excellent, they pair easily and only cut out if you go out of range or add objects within the transmitting path (walls etc..). Overall, they work as advertised and don’t cut out if your phone is in your pocket or within a reasonable distance.

 

Comfort and Isolation:

The shape of the PurePlay Z3 is ergonomic with soft rounded edges and the perfect angle nozzle to provide a comfortable and secure fit without sticking out too far. The housings are a little on the larger size, but they never feel cumbersome when in use.

Isolation is pretty good; they do a very reasonable job at muting outside noises and are perfect for daily use and commuting.

Sound:

Bass: The bass on the PurePlay Z3 is full yet well controlled, it has a way of adding body without becoming the centre of attention. In terms of presence they are slightly north of neutral but they always sound very well balanced. There is good extension and kicks are backed up with body. The lows really are impressive, preventing the PurePlay Z3 from sounding thin but without making them sound bloated. They handle most genres with ease and have good articulation, lacking only a little speed during complex mixes.

 

Midrange: The lows are slightly north of neutral in terms of presence, but this does not mask the midrange and make vocals sound pushed back or congested. The midrange is well separated, lower male vocals do have a tiny bit of added body, and female vocals cut through with a little more detail but the overall midrange performance is very well balanced. Most consumer true wireless models have a habit of boosting the bass and treble, whereas the PurePlay Z3 comes across a lot more even handed and more suitable for a wide range of genres. There is great separation and layering, yet the coherency between frequencies is also excellent.

 

Treble: The treble is slightly laid back but luckily there is enough presence to prevent the PurePlay Z3 from sounding overly dark. The thing about the treble is that the tonality is just right, they don’t sound splashy or metallic and have great extension and detail. They have good accuracy when it comes to imaging too and they fit well into the frequency range. I would never call these bright though, and the treble is smooth enough that even the most treble sensitive users won’t have any issues with fatigue.

 

Soundstaging is good, not huge but very acceptable as most TW earphones sound very closed in. The detail present here is excellent and the separation between instruments is great.

Conclusion:

The PurePlay Z3 are very impressive, especially considering their sub £100 price point. Offering up a smooth and detailed sound signature that is well balanced yet slightly full. Add to that great stability and functionality and you have a TW earphone that is so easy to recommend, go out and grab one now as they are a game changer in the TW market.

 

Sound: 5/5

Comfort:5/5

Features: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Summer Sounds Guide & Video

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Our Guide to Summer Sounds and Gear

iFi Audio xCAN Portable Wireless Headphone Amplifier

Perfect for those travelers looking to get the best audio while on the move. The iFi Audio xCAN can wirelessly connect to your audio device via Bluetooth, whether you listen to music on your phone, laptop or tablet. The xCAN adds iFi Audio’s high quality amplifier expertise to your setup, able to power some of the more difficult to drive cans with no extra wires. Just plug your favourite earphones or headphones into the xCAN to get the very best out of them.

SoundMAGIC E11BT Wireless In Ear Isolating Earphones

Widely considered to be this year’s best wireless earphones for under £100, the SoundMAGIC E11BT brings years of budget perfection to a Bluetooth neckband design. We’re certain that the E11BT delivers the best sound quality at this price point, with top features like Bluetooth v5.0 technology, AAC audio compatibility and IPX4 water resistance. Then to top it all off, the E11BT has the most impressive battery life going. We’ve experienced over 30 hours of continuous playback from one full charge, which should cover most of your travel needs there and back.

Bowers & Wilkins PX Wireless Full Size Noise Cancelling Headphones

B&W’s PX Bluetooth headphone is still our favourite sounding wireless noise canceler out there. The classic design is tasteful and attractive, showing off the B&W heritage with a modern edge. The earpads are soft and comfortable. They fully enclose the ears and isolation is impressive, blocking out a lot of background noise passively. Then, when you need complete silence, the built-in noise cancelling does wonders. When used with the dedicated app, the PX can be customised to suit most environments. They do it all!

Shanling M0 Portable Wireless Hi Res Audio Player

If you fancy getting better sound on the move, but don’t want to add a large device to your setup, the Shanling M0 could be just what you’re looking for. This tiny player delivers top quality Hi-Res audio and can be used in two different ways. The SD card slot allows you to store your own library of tunes, from MP3 to DSD. It can handle it all. The M0 can also act as a Bluetooth amp and DAC for your headphones. So, if you prefer using Spotify or Tidal on your phone, then wirelessly connect to the M0 to boost the audio quality while using an interface you are comfortable with.

Sennheiser Momentum TW True Wireless In Ear Isolating Earphones

For those that value design and build quality along with great sound, then the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earphones are worth checking out. Relatively expensive for a true wireless earphone, considering there are plenty of cheaper options available, we believe that the Momentum True Wireless is worth the money. From the supplied charging case, with its fabric outer coating, to the earphones themselves: attractive, stylish and extremely comfortable. Sennheiser have put a lot of work into their True Wireless flagship, and it has truly paid off.

Remember to subscribe to our channel for more weekly content and click the links for information on all of the products mentioned. Thanks for watching and happy sunny listening.