On 20th April, we were delighted to be invited by Sony to attend Mumbai Comic Con 2024 at Jio World Convention Centre. Sony created excitement amongst gaming enthusiasts as they unveiled the much-anticipated PlayStation 5 Slim. This launch marked a significant moment for gamers in India, as they eagerly awaited the sleeker and more compact version of Sony’s flagship console.
At the heart of the event was not just the PS5 Slim itself, but also the accompanying accessories that Sony introduced- the Inzone headphones and earbuds. These accessories promised to enhance the immersive gaming experience that the PS5 is known for, delivering crystal-clear audio and ergonomic design. I got to try out the Inzone Headset myself and it is well-worth the accompaniment of your gaming PC and PS5. The launch event was nothing short of spectacular, featuring interactive showcases where attendees could experience firsthand the power and capabilities of the PS5. From stunning graphics to lightning-fast loading times, the console left a lasting impression on all who tried it.
One of the event’s highlights was a gaming competition where the winner had the chance to win a PS5. Gamers showcased their skills, battling it out for the coveted prize in intense gaming sessions. In addition to the gaming competition, there were other exciting casual competitions where attendees could win accessories by participating in quizzes centred around the popular anime series, Demon Slayer. This added a fun and engaging element to the event, bringing together gaming and anime fans to celebrate pop culture.
Overall, the launch of the PS5 Slim at the Mumbai Comic Con was a resounding success, leaving attendees eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get their hands on the latest offering from Sony. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and exciting lineup of accessories, the PS5 Slim promises to redefine the gaming experience for years to come.
Indian audio brand boAt has once again raised the bar in the audio technology industry with the launch of its Nirvana Series. Designed in India, the Nirvana Series offers an unparalleled affordable price point and distinguishes itself as a highly exclusive offering. The latest addition to the series is the boAt Nirvana Eutopia, the first-ever Indian brand to offer head-tracking 3D spatial audio.
The boAt Nirvana Eutopia headphones are designed to place you virtually in the heart of your music. They feature state-of-the-art 3D accelerometers and gyroscopes, harnessing spatial audio technology to create a lifelike 3D audio environment. The headphones’ revolutionary head-tracking functionality allows you to orient yourself towards the sound you wish to focus on. As you move your head, the audio dynamically adapts, preserving the direction and alignment of the sound origins. This creates the sensation of being fully immersed within the depicted scene.
The boAt Nirvana Eutopia headphones are equipped with Ceva for 3D Audio and Virtual 3D, allowing you to seamlessly switch between Head Tracked Spatial and Fixed Spatial modes using the accompanying app. The headphones feature expertly calibrated 40mm dynamic drivers driving immersive 3D Spatial Sound, delivering an authentic listening journey that transcends conventional stereo audio.
The headphones offer an impressive 20-hour battery life (15 hours in Head-Tracked Spatial mode). With ASAP Charge and the Type-C port, a quick 10-minute charge provides 90 minutes of uninterrupted enjoyment. The headphones also feature dual microphones equipped with ENx Technology, delivering crystal-clear calls by meticulously filtering out background noise.
The boAt Nirvana Eutopia is designed around Bluetooth v5.2 technology, offering seamless audio experiences, faster pairing times, and more dependable connections. The headphones are fully customizable at your fingertips. Through the dedicated boAt Hearables app, you can access extended features, address any issues you encounter, troubleshoot connectivity problems, and even receive live firmware updates.
The boAt Nirvana Eutopia headphones are available in Black and White options and are on sale for an astonishing price of only ₹3,999. They can be purchased from boAt-lifestyle.com and marketplaces.
Inbase has recently launched three new wireless earbuds models. They are called Inbase Freebuds Elite, Freebuds Neo and Freebuds Dots. Each model has its own unique features and provides an improved audio experience.
The Inbase Freebuds Elite model offers premium sound quality with HD audio and a Bluetooth 5.3 connection. It has a sleek matte metal finish, IPX5 resistance, and a one-tap voice assistant feature. It also has a long battery life of 40 hours and a comfortable design.
The Inbase Freebuds Neo model offers immersive HD sound, dual HD microphones, and passive noise isolation. It has a long battery life of up to 30 hours, and users can choose from a range of trendy colors.
The Inbase Freebuds Dots model is the smallest of the three and has powerful 13mm audio drivers. It offers up to 40 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and premium features like voice assistant and fast Type C charging. It also has a snug-fit design and passive noise isolation.
Inbase aims to merge style and functionality for an unparalleled audio experience with these TWS earbuds models. Each model is designed to cater to diverse preferences while embodying Inbase’s commitment to delivering reliable, high-performance tech accessories. The TWS earbuds are launched at an affordable introductory price of Rs 899 for a limited period.
According to Nitesh Kumbhat, Co-Founder of Inbase, the company’s vision is to integrate innovation and practicality into everyday tech experiences. With the launch of Inbase Free Buds Elite, Neo, and Dots, Inbase continues to uphold this vision, delivering TWS earbuds that prioritize superior audio performance and cater to a diverse segment of people. These releases exemplify Inbase’s dedication to enhancing lives through technology, offering a perfect blend of form and function to users.
In summary, the Inbase Free Buds Elite, Neo, and Dots offer unique specifications and features that cater to diverse preferences. The Inbase Free Buds Elite has a premium matte metal finish, a comfortable design, and a long battery life of 40 hours. The Inbase Free Buds Neo offers a snug fit design, dual HD microphones, and a variety of colors to choose from. The Inbase Free Buds Dots combines a compact form with a snug-fit design, powerful audio drivers, and up to 40 hours of playtime on a single charge.
Christmas is approaching, and it is time to gift yourself or loved ones the perfect top-quality headphones and earbuds. We’ve curated the Christmas wishlist that has something for every audio enthusiast, from gamers who want the Sony INZONE H5 or for a competitive edge to music lovers who want the Apple AirPods Pro for a premium wireless experience. This list has been carefully picked to offer you the best audio devices.
First on the list is the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation), priced at ₹24,900. These wireless earphones provide a premium audio experience by effectively blocking out extraneous sounds, allowing you to totally immerse yourself in your music, movies, or podcasts, with 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than their predecessors.
Next is the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, priced at ₹19,999. These earbuds provide seamless connectivity and intelligent features that adapt to your surroundings. The adaptive Active Noise Cancellation provides a personalized audio experience in a crowded or quiet room. These earbuds also boast a sleek and modern design, making them a standout accessory that complements your style for any occasion.
The SONY INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset is designed exclusively for PlayStation 5 gamers. Priced at ₹19,990, this lightweight, comfy headset features 360 Spatial Sound for exact positional audio. The AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone promises that your voice is crystal clear during online matches, and the dedicated control buttons allow you to easily modify volume, mic mute, and game/chat balance.
For those who want to immerse themselves in Hi-Res certified JBL Pro Sound, the JBL Tour One M2 is the perfect choice. Priced at ₹34,999, these headphones come with True Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology and four noise-sensing mics that adapt to your surroundings, minimizing distractions. You can easily control the ANC modes with the JBL Headphones app and enjoy an unparalleled audio journey wherever you go.
Finally, the boat Airdopes 121 v2, priced at ₹2,999, brings a blend of style and performance to your audio experience. These wireless earbuds provide seamless connectivity, crisp sound quality, and a trendy design. With a sleek design, they fit comfortably in your ears, making them ideal for long listening sessions.
So, whether you’re looking for premium wireless earphones, wireless gaming headsets, or high-quality headphones, these exceptional audio devices will surely exceed your expectations.
The over-ear, closed-back, and wireless Sony WH-1000XM5 are labelled as the 2022’s best noise-cancelling headphones, and we couldn’t agree more. The fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones might feel slightly less premium than before, but it delivers the finest sound quality in the segment. The WH-1000XM5 last around 30 hours with noise-cancelling switched on and around 40 hours when ANC is off.
Weight: 250 gms
Style: Over-Ear, Wireless
Noise Cancelling: Yes
Water/Sweat-Resistant: No
Battery Life: Up to 30 Hours
Bose QuietComfort 45
Everyone gets a call while listening to the music, and nobody likes to switch from headphones to a mic and if you are one of those people, add Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones to your cart. You can wear these lightweight Bose headphones throughout the day as they are exceptionally comfortable and has a 24-hour battery life.
Style: Over-Ear, Wireless
True Wireless: No
Connection Type: Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant: No
Active Noise Cancellation: Yes
JBL Tune 660NC
We know not everyone can pay above the odds just to own a pair of headphones, and for such people, we have JBL Tune 660NC on our list. TheTune 660NC headphones are the best budget headphones under the tag of 10,000. They are budget headphones but will not disappoint you for sure as they’ve punchy sound, comfortable design, long-lasting battery and fantastic noise-cancelling features.
Weight: 168 gms
Style: On-Ear, Closed Back, Wireless
Noise Cancelling: Yes
Battery Life: Up to 44 Hours
Jabra Elite 45h
Another one priced under 10,000 but don’t judge it on the basis of its price. The Jabra Elite 45h are the best on-ear headphones for casual listeners. The Jabra Elite 45h lasts about 67 hours and is meant to accompany you anywhere. The lightweight on-ear headphones deliver the excellent audio quality, have intense mic clarity and a design that grabs a lot of attention.
Type: Supra-aural (on-ear) Wireless
True Wireless: No
Connection Type: Bluetooth
Water/Sweat-Resistant: No
Active Noise Cancellation: No
EPOS Audio H6PRO Acoustic Gaming Headset
We have covered one headphone in our list, designed specifically for gamers. The premium EPOS Audio H6PRO Acoustic Gaming Headset is the official audio partner of Cloud9 and delivers exceptional audio clarity. The lightweight headphones are designed to keep gamers away from the rest of the disturbing environment and have an awesome gaming experience.
Weight: 313 gms
Warranty: 2 years
Style: Over-Ear, Closed-Back, Wired (Also available in Open-Back)
Truly wireless earbuds and neckbands have taken over the decade-old style of wired earphones and headphones, which are way cheaper than these newbies, but the newbies are making headlines in the rising world of the audio industry because of one freshly risen feature, ANC or Active Noise Cancellation. The hyped feature was once limited to high-end audio products but is now making its way to the budget section.
You may have heard some of your friends or colleagues discussing the benefits and advantages of active noise-cancelling headphones, and due to fear of moving out, you might have added a pair of active noise-cancelling headphones to your wish list, but have you ever considered spending a few minutes to check what are they actually? Are they worth a shot? And whether you genuinely need them or not?
What is Active Noise Cancellation & How it Works?
The ANC or Active Noise Cancellation concept was first developed in late 1930s, and after a couple of decades, it eventually landed in commercial airline headsets. Active Noise Cancellation is a technology that combines hardware and firmware to reduce unwanted ambient sounds by using active noise control as part of the listening experience.
In short, it keeps ambient noise away by adding a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first. The term Noise Cancellation does not commit to removing the sound altogether, it only diminishes the surrounding noise significantly, giving the illusion that the noise is cancelled, but when you add Active before the Noise cancellation, it works differently and actively looks for the noise to counterpoise it.
A number of earbuds or headphones features an inbuilt noise cancelling technique that works through ear tips or ear cuffs and reduce the outside noise by some amount, but ANC loaded devices have specific earbuds that help them make a significant difference in your listening experience and the technology used to create them is far more complex than the usual passive noise cancellation.
ANC uses electronics to prevent undesirable or excessive volume, such as the hum of jet engines on aeroplanes and traffic, from reaching someone’s eardrums. Sound travels in waves through the air, and when two identical waves with the same frequency but the opposite amplitude meet each other, they are called out of phase as they cancel each other out, and this method helps you hear absolute pure music, which comes from your headphones.
The ANC technology works best when you’re around a massive noise source, such as the hums of aeroplanes, which is easier to recognize than people talking or regular day-to-day noises. In some cases, listeners have reported dizziness and headaches while using noise-cancelling headphones, which may be prompted due to extremely low-frequency vibrations towards our hearing hair cells, but this can be solved by decreasing the ANC intensity. The solution is right there, but are they worth taking a risk?
Do You Really Need ANC Support on Your Earbuds?
Clarifying certain things always benefits us in the long run, and when it comes to active noise cancellation, it does provide quality music and podcasts by removing distractions, but it doesn’t improve the sound quality of your headphones. The ANC technology blocks or filters high-frequency sound waves using passive or active responses, respectively, and now it’s time to know about the benefits of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
It helps you to block annoying noises
Active Noise Cancellation earbuds or headphones are handy for commuters who travel long-distance, mainly via planes or trains or even buses, as it aids you to get some quality sleep, even when you’re not listening to the music. The ANC technology reduces the impact of annoying loud sounds such as constant honking, people chattering, disturbing construction noises and audio distractions to help you stay focused.
It allows you to have better conversations
Apart from listening to music in a chaotic environment, the ANC technology helps you avoid “excuse me” or “I’m sorry, could you please repeat that?” during the calls. The noise-cancellation system blocks virtually all of the background noise you hear around you and allows you to have the smoothest conversations of your life.
It cares for you and protects your ears
Anything above 75 decibels is counted as unsafe noise, and when you continuously deal with the audio above 80-85 decibels, you risk losing your hearing ability. You can avoid such risks by wearing proper fit, active noise cancellation headphones as these devices can reduce sound levels by up to 80 dB, almost defeating the massive sound of aeroplane engines which hits 130 decibels regularly.
It helps you reduce stress
When you’re constantly exposed to noise above 80-85 decibels, it automatically creates concerns. After a while, repeated exposures can create annoyance in your brain and lead you to a stressful and hectic life, but if you’re having a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you can have peace of mind, which leads to a healthier life.
It helps you in increasing concentration
How does someone lose concentration? Of course, due to surrounding noise inputs, which leads to less productivity and dissatisfaction. The pandemic days makes us realise how a little bit of annoying noise can distract us from our work or study. So, it’s better to have some device that will kill all the distractive sound and help you concentrate fully, and what’s better than ANC backed headphones? The ANC technology not only allows you to block the outside noise but also sends a text to your colleagues that you’re trying to concentrate.
When it comes to the disadvantages of ANC-backed headphones, we would like to highlight a few things. First of all, they are expensive, they make you unaware of your surroundings, they can be a medium of ear infections and last but not least, they have short battery life. So, the answer to the question “do you really need ANC backed headphones or not?” lies within your lifestyle.
I am an ardent gamer with a fond attraction to all gaming accessories. So, when HyperX sent its Cloud Stinger Core wireless gaming headphones, I had to jump in and grab it before anybody else could! With that, I managed to secure one of the best gadgets in gaming accessories and was about to experience something that redefined my gaming experience.
I have been gaming for a long time and I have seen days where the in-game audios were limited to repetitive, 8-bit, machine-generated sounds. But through the years, games have developed from offering primitive noises to full-blown sound effects. With the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core, these sounds were not just heard by my ears, they were felt. Without further ado, here is what I think about the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Wireless gaming headphones.
Appearance
The Cloud Stinger Core headphones are offered with only a black body in a matte finish. This makes the pair of headphones look sleek and subtle, while also making its presence felt. It can be connected to your PC with the USB that it comes along with and is also compatible with gaming consoles. What stands out about the headphones is its inbuilt mic. It is placed at the end of a swiveling arm, that can not only be used to move the mic away from your face, but also to mute it.
It also has a minimalistic design with only two buttons- one for the power and a dial for the game and mic volume. The soft and supple padding of the ear cups and headband means you can wear them and play video games for hours at a stretch without losing comfort. Its 244g weight means that it won’t bear down on your head, while its steel sliders allow you to get the perfect positioning for your head.
Performance
The Cloud Stinger Core takes its job very seriously and offers a completely immersive experience. Although the 7.1 surround sound from the headphones can only be enjoyed on a PC, the sound output from consoles was also satisfactory. This is because the 7.1 virtual surround sound has to be activated through the HyperX NGENUITY software. It is also only available on Windows, which poses a major drawback for Mac users. Naturally, I also used these headphones to listen to music and watch movies. The surround sound also did complete justice to both and made me forget I was still in my bedroom and not in a Dolby theatre. The 40mm drivers that the headphones are equipped with not only deliver loud and blunt sound crisply but also allow you to hear the softest whispers and the slightest rustle with ease.
This acts as a major benefit for players of the FPS (first-person shooting) genre, where it is important to be able to hear the enemy’s footsteps, which are much quieter than the gunshots and bomb explosions happening all around.
Verdict
The headsets cost around Rs 10,000, making them one hell of a birthday present for a kid. But if you are one of the older guys looking for a good headset for yourself, this is one of the most value for money deals. The headphones do not have a 3.5mm jack due to which they cannot be connected to smartphones. But, they are not meant to anyway. They also offer a battery life of approximately 17 hours on a full charge, which was more than my capacity to play games in a day. Charging can easily be done via a USB-C port, which also makes it less of a hassle. The headphones are also charged quickly and though I didn’t time it precisely, I knew the headphones were ready to play games much before I was. Overall, the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core headphones are made for gamers and serve their purpose perfectly.
What is life without music and beats? My day starts with switching on my vintage Pioneer integrated stereo amplifier, which is matched to a pair of Sony V-700 speakers which are from the 1985’s. How do they sound? Well for most of us it is just good sound, but for those who seek more, they will know how the highs are crisp, the mid-range is detailed and the bass is punchy with almost no distortion. Well, I am not a true audiophile, but I can differentiate between good sound and bad. That’s why I never got myself a Bluetooth speaker because I feel they all sound the same and I do not enjoy the quality unless it some extraordinary sounding one form some manufacturer I cannot afford.
Now comes this package which is handed over to me and I open it to find something of my interest. A pair of over-the-ear headphones from the Swedish manufacturer JAYS. The JAYS a-Seven Wireless headphones now become a part of my everyday schedule and here is my experience of using the a-Seven for more than a month on a daily basis.
The design language from the Swedish manufacturer is very minimal and simple. I paired it with both my android smartphone and my laptop for the source. I also have an entire collection of music in high-quality FLAC format which also ensures a great listening experience when the sound output is good. The first thing to notice is how good the Bluetooth connectivity is. There were very fewer dropouts and even walking around in the house with the phone inside the room did very less to drop the transmission. Only when things got too far, it started to lose connection but, the moment you walk into the range, the music is on. The built-in controls are simple, allowing you to play-pause, skip tracks and rock the volume up and down. The presence of a built-in microphone makes it easy to take calls and the microphone is very efficient for calls as well.
The a-Seven uses the Qualcomm Bluetooth atpX chip which improves the overall audio performance. However, it does not support AAC which is a downer as most Apple devices use AAC format for high-quality music content. The sound from the headphones is quite detailed, especially when you play music from a good and a very good source. The difference is evident.
My playlist includes rock and roll, instrumental and a wide variety of from Dire Straits to Def Leppard, AC DC, Metallica, Guns and Roses, Rolling Stones, Daft Punk and some podcasts with hour-long sets of funk and disco. The sound the headphone deliveres is quite clear with good and punchy bass and clear highs and mid-range. I wish the mid-range was a bit more detailed but it is definitely good for the package.
But wait, there is more to share. The headphones look very neat and have a matte black finish. The construction is from lightweight aluminium and the overall ergonomics is very good. The band sits firmly over the head and there is enough padding on the band to keep it comfortable. The earpads are filled with memory foam which is a great thing. I am not a fan of over-the-ear headphones but I was keeping the a-Seven on for hours without worry until it began to hurt from the less padding and the drivers hitting the ears and I think JAYS has been a bit stingy about it. It comes in four different colours but the one unit I reviewed is black in colour. The most important thing though is the very nominal hours of charging required which translated into 25 hours of listening. This is something which more than impressive I would say and I personally could exhaust the battery in almost 3 days of listening while travelling and every break I could.
The standby time of 35 hours allows you to continue from where you left off. I think the headphones still need to burn in a lot and the sound should improve even more. For those audiophile ears, these might not cut in, but for most of the music-loving folks out there, the a-Seven are worth keeping. The box is supplied with a USB cable for charging and a cable for using it as a wired headset. I wish JAYS would have been thoughtful enough to bundle a headphone carrying case or at least a pouch which would have made the whole deal sweeter. For Rs. 7,999/-, this is as good as it can get and the a-Seven wireless is worth investing. One can find some better deals online especially on headphone zone where they are known for selling some very great products for all the audio lovers out there.
More and more people are entering into being creators, especially people who are into full-time sound and music production, the need and rise of professional-quality monitoring headphones are also on the rise. While brands like Sennheiser and Audio Technica make excellent headphones in this segment, they also quite expensive with the quality they provide. However, CLAW has come up with a very affordable but very effective Closed Back Studio Monitor headphones, which promise to deliver quality and comfort.
Looks and Hardware
The CLAW SM100 comes in a solid box. Inside, you get the actual headphones, supported wires (3.5 mm to 3.5 mm and a 3.5 to 3.5 mm which can be fitted with a 6.3 mm jack adapter for studio use. There is no storage pouch included in the box which would have been a great addition to the package. The earcups on the SM100 are large and very nicely padded. The padding is very soft and allows good ventilation as well as keep the comfort quotient for long usage hours. The hinges have an effective design which allows you to fold and tuck them away inside a backpack. Now for the wiring, you get a 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable which also has a microphone and volume control. This allows you to tweak volume levels and answer calls when needed. The other coiled cable comes with a 6.3mm jack adapter for using it with high-end audio system for the studio. The coiled cable is what provides convenience.
Performance
Coming straight to the matter, which is the actual performance of the headphones. I have used it extensively for listening to music while our video editors have used this for working on video edits which include tweaking audio files. The sound output from monitor headphones is flat, which means the monitor headphones do not have any added bass or treble added to the final output sound. This is because, with monitors, creators get the clearest of the output sound that has been recorded which they can edit and add effects in post-production. These headphones reproduce the sound as they were created.
When listening to music, these headphones do not offer anything extra but reproduce the actual sound in a very clear manner. This is likely to attract audiophiles who love to listen to the details in the music. This allows you to hear more than what you hear with other headphones. The headphones come with 50mm drivers which have a lively audio reproduction. Imagine listening to a song and you get to listen to each and every instrument being played individually. My experience with the SM100 has been close to listening to music in a listening room.
For a regular music listener, the SM100 will deliver more clarity and better vocals. The differences might be slight for all regular users but the trained ears will be able to talk about the difference. My time with the SM100 has been only limited to listening to high-quality music files like AAC and FLAC played through my computer with an external DAC. The output was clean the sound clarity was top notch. This essentially means, I am sold on the SM100 and would not mind is swapping with my earphones for listening to music. As mentioned, these are cabled headphones and thus there are limitations to its use, especially in this age of small, light and wireless audio solutions.
Verdict
Introduced at a price of Rs. 6490/-, these headphones are actually a steal deal. No, we are not talking about the high-end monitor headphones which also cost a lot of money, but for creators who are beginning and working their way up, can definitely have these as their weapon of choice for audio monitoring solutions. Not to mention the ease of use and comfort that the SM100 offers.
