I don’t review Bluetooth in-ears very often, but
occasionally I find products that really suit me well. That was the case with
the Samsung Galaxy Buds, which surprisingly provided convenience, portability,
good sound, and a truly wireless experience. It’s a tall order to beat, but I
have tried several others recently with items like the Sony WF-1000XM3
providing a better sound experience and added noise-cancellation features, but
with at the loss of comfort.
Recently, Status Audio contacted me about reviewing their
newest Bluetooth product, the BT Transfer. I had not used any of their items
before, but their over-ear headphones, the CB2, was relatively popular and
sparked some interest. I was a little surprised to receive a product that
wasn’t going with the industry norm these days – a truly wireless earphone.
This BT Transfer, uses the traditional around-the-neck wire
method for wireless. The earphone also comes with a large remote piece with
easy to use buttons and a variety of tips. The tips have hooks on them that go
in your ear to lock them in-place while being active. While I have fully
embraced the true-wireless movement this year, finally, I still see the
benefits of an around-the-neck wireless headphone, especially for those that
are active and need to quickly put your earphones down, and just let it droop
down, instead of awkwardly holding them in your hands or putting them in your
pockets for a quick breather.
The BT Transfer has a somewhat generic bass-heavy sound
signature that does accentuate the highs a little bit to provide a V-shape, but
I still feel it leans towards a more bassy experience. In normal, sit-down
listening, which is how I usually listen to headphones and how I approach my
reviews, the BT Transfer sounds a bit muddy, and boomy. The mid-range does fall
a little behind and sounds recessed. I don’t particularly like the resolution
as much as other products, but given that this is made for an active lifestyle,
I took these to the streets with me and for quick workouts.
Here, the bass increase helps round out the sound a bit
more, especially with outside noise. The Transfer doesn’t leak a lot and
isolates sufficiently well, but with active movement, the bass does sound a
little more balanced. I still find the in-ear to be a little muddy, and lacking
some clarity, but in-general, for the price ($79) these aren’t really that bad.
Comfort while walking around was surprisingly good. Most
Bluetooth earphones I’ve tried have been extremely uncomfortable to wear, and
that’s due to cheaply made designs, the addition of electronic hardware beefing
up the device, or combinations of both. The included tips really add to the
comfort level for these. Without them, these would feel more cookie-cutter to
me and I probably wouldn’t be able to wear them for long periods of time.
So at the end of the day, these won’t be replacing the
Samsung Galaxy Buds for me as a daily driver for walking around, working out,
and doing chores and yard work, but they could find a spot in the cases where I
feel the need for extra security of the neck cord.
Comments
Post a Comment