Plantronics RIG 500 Series now in PH, priced

Plantronics has introduced its gaming headset in the Philippines targeted towards e-sports competitors and it comes in the form of RIG 500 Series. The lineup promises unique personalization of the products, capable audio technology, and a wide compatibility for everyone to enjoy.

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Plantronics RIG 500 stereo PC gaming specs:
40mm drivers w/ low frequency resonators
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Weight: 200 grams
Flexible frame
Self-adjusting headband
Noise-cancelling boom mic w/ flip to mute function
Mic frequency response: 100Hz – 10kHz

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Plantronics RIG 500HD specs:
40mm drivers w/ low frequency resonators
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
24-bit audio
7.1 Dolby technology (PC software)
Weight: 200 grams
Flexible frame
Self-adjusting headband
Noise-cancelling boom mic w/ flip to mute function
Mic frequency response: 100Hz – 10kHz
Breakaway USB cable

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Plantronics RIG 500E specs:
40mm drivers w/ low frequency resonators
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
24-bit audio
7.1 Dolby technology (PC software)
Weight: 200 grams
Flexible frame
Self-adjusting headband
Noise-cancelling boom mic w/ flip to mute function
Mic frequency response: 100Hz – 10kHz
Easy-swap cables for USB and analog connections
Vented and isolating earcup sets
Easy-snap components

“Plantronics worked closely with competitive gamers to develop the RIG 500 Series of PC gaming headsets, and like any precision equipment designed for competition, details matter,” said Jack Reynolds, Director, Gaming Products, Plantronics. “The RIG 500 Series is a unique family of e-sports audio gear that can give an edge to pros and hopefuls through its ultra-light comfort and reliability,which is essential for long hours of dedicated practice, and our signature Plantronics audio, which is tuned especially for immersive gaming and clear communication.”

As for the SRPs, the RIG 500 is priced at Php2,795, the TIG 500HD is at Php3,695, and the RIG 500E has a Php6,995 price tag.

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Jaybird’s Freedom is its ‘smallest ever’ headphones

Jaybird has just unveiled what they claim is their “smallest ever” headphones — the Freedom. This portable in-ears has a tiny form factor but supposedly packs a powerful kick for your active lifestyle.

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Jaybird Freedom specs:
Type: In-ear
Driver size: 6mm
Noise-isolation: Passive
Impedance: 16 Ohms
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20 kHz
Battery Capacity: 60mAh Li-Po
Battery Life: 8 hours
Connection: Bluetooth 4.1
Cable Length: 360mm

The buds, which are 20% smaller than the previous iterations, are also made using metal-injected moldings and features a separate three-button remote where all the technology is kept. The built-in battery has a claimed 4 hours of life but the package comes with a portable charger that gives out another 4 hours of continuous playback.

The company is also introducing MySound which is only compatible with models starting with Freedom. It basically lets you control and customize your music from volume to EQ. The Jaybird Freedom is priced at $199 (Php9.3K).

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Samsung Level On Wireless Pro Review

We have another pair of headphones in our hands and this time, it’s from Samsung. As the name suggests, the Level On Wireless Pro boasts wireless connectivity while having noise cancellation and other features that should give you your tech fix. Is it a friendly device for everyone? Find out in this review.

Design and Construction

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The Level On Wireless Pro comes in two colors — bronze and black. Obviously, what we have here is the former and the first thing anyone would notice is its shiny pearlescent finish. The next would be its white cushions, which give the device a two-tone affair going on. This specific color arrangement makes the headphones look quite elegant.

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Printed on the outer side of the cup is the model name surrounded by a chrome lining that highlights the general form factor. There are a lot of smooth curves, here, and no corners.

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Just like a typical pair of cans, the arm is adjustable to fit different users. The Samsung branding sits timidly at the edge.

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At the right side is where you’ll see all the physical toggles. Here we can activate the device by placing the switch in the middle area. Pushing it further would then activate its Bluetooth connectivity. We also see the switch for turning on its ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

The positioning of these controls at the rear of the right cup is easy to reach and feels natural to do, so that’s a good thing.

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Under the left cup, we have the 3.5mm audio jack if you want to go wired, but do keep in mind that the Level On Wireless Pro naturally has a wireless design. Still, if your battery runs out, it’s reassuring to know that you have a backup cable — although of course, you lose the noise cancellation feature.

On the other side is a micro-USB port for charging its built-in 485mAh Li-Ion battery.

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The headband is cushioned with foam wrapped in perforated faux leather similar to the appearance of the Galaxy S5’s rear from 2014.

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The outer side of the headband is plain and without any markings or accents. This creates a plain/minimalist feel and could both be a good or bad thing. I, personally, like it.

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The arms also fold inwards to make it travel-friendlier. Overall, the plastic-dominated headphones are not that heavy but not too light either. The entire form factor is also pretty flexible and could withstand light bends without feeling flimsy.

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Out of the box, the package includes the Level On Wireless Pro, a carrying pouch, microUSB cable, and 3.5mm audio cable.

Continued on next page: Features, Sound Performance, and Comfort Factor.

 

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JBL Everest 300 Wireless Headphones Quick Review

JBL launched the Everest lineup at last year’s IFA and the 300 model is one of the budget-friendly ones. Although with that said, it doesn’t skimp on useful features as these wireless pair of cans got some pretty interesting feat up its sleeve.

Read on and find out what it could offer in this quick review.

Design and Construction

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The entire form factor of the Everest 300 is made of plastic. This keeps things light but makes it feel a bit flimsy upon handling.

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The circuitry it holds inside results to the outside being softly embossed and the company wasted no space by placing their logo on the back of each earcup.

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Since the Everest 300 is designed to be used wirelessly, all the physical controls are lined up along the edge. Here we have the power button on top and the ShareMe 2.0 button right below it.

Users need to press and hold the power button to turn the device on or off while the sharing button only needs to be pressed once to activate. We’ll get to what it does in just a moment.

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On the other side, we have the volume up and down as well as the play/pause button sitting in the middle.

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The Everest 300 could be folded on its hinges to easily pack it and bring it on a trip.

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The company boasts that this has been equipped with what they call Sculpted Ear Cushions that “provide unprecedented fit and comfort”.

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When the Everest 300 is out of battery to be used wirelessly, users could still enjoy music and opt to bring out the included cable and use it as a normal, wired pair of headphones.

The package also comes with a USB cable for charging, but any other cable for charging smartphones work just fine.

Features

We’ve mentioned that the Everest 300 has a few interesting features to offer its users. Below are the main ones:

Bluetooth 4.1 – This makes it possible to listen to music without using any cable. It also makes the Everest 300 compatible to any Bluetooth-enabled device.

ShareMe 2.0 – Sharing music, as we’ve noticed, is JBL’s specialty with their products so we’re not surprised to see something similar here. It basically lets users share audio to other Bluetooth-enabled devices – be it other headphones or a nearby speaker.

Built-in microphone – It uses echo cancellation that produces better voice quality when used for calls.

Long-lasting battery life – The company claims that the Everest 300 could last for 20 hours on a single charge.

Additionally, there is an accompanying app called My JBL Headphones that supposedly let you control the settings of your headphones wirelessly as well as indicating the battery level and other neat things.

The problem is, we had some problems right after clicking and opening the Android app. It just kept asking us to connect the headphones even though it was already linked via Bluetooth. Just to be safe, we tried hooking the cable to the smartphone but it didn’t fix anything.

Upon looking online and checking other user reviews, we saw a lot of posts from other people experiencing the same problems. We like the concept of the app and we would say it is well-thought out, but this simple bug we came across with hindered users from experiencing the full potential of the gadget-app tandem.

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Performance

We brought the Everest 300 with us during our trip to Barcelona for the recently-concluded MWC. To be specific, we used it on the plane right before it took off and although it didn’t have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) like its more expensive siblings, the passive effect of its on-ear cushions effectively blocked out external noise and minimized the sound outside.

By just turning your music up, it could easily drown the loud engine of the aircraft.

We played music after music and we noticed that it carries the JBL signature — a decently-balanced sound that will make you want for just a bit more oomph in the lows section. If you could remember, this was the case for the first-gen JBL Pulse which they fixed upon the introduction of the Pulse 2.

The comfort factor is also appreciated as we didn’t experience any significant strain on the ears during the long flight.

One thing we noticed, though, was that when we used it to watch movies, the audio was a bit delayed compared to the video. This is most likely due to the time it takes to stream audio content over Bluetooth which is unnoticeable when you’re just playing music. It’s not that bothersome when you watch, but you’ll definitely notice the slight lag.

Finally, for the battery, we used it for about 10 hours on the plane and it didn’t run out of power just yet.

Conclusion

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The JBL Everest 300 is a recommendable device for those who travel a lot but don’t want to compromise sound quality over ease of use or comfort. Its companion app that won’t work properly is certainly a turn-off until it becomes fixed, but its ShareMe 2.0 is pretty cool to use. Grab a JBL Everest 300 for Php7,499.

 

JBL Everest 300 specs:
Speakers: 40mm drivers
Design: Supra-aural
Sensitivity: 100dB
Frequency response: 10Hz – 22kHz

What we liked about it:

  • Passive noise cancellation
  • Long battery life
  • Satisfactory sound reproduction
  • Good for traveling thanks to its wireless design

What we didn’t like:

  • Buggy app
  • Delay in streaming sound

The post JBL Everest 300 Wireless Headphones Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

JBL Reflect Response Sports Headphones Quick Review

Targetted towards those who have an active lifestyle and require devices that could keep up with them, the JBL Reflect Response headphones might be the perfect companion on your next run. Here’s our quick review.

Design and Construction

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Having a behind-the-neck sports design, the face of the Reflect Response flaunts a glossy plastic material with the company’s logo placed front and center. The remaining material has a rubbery feel to it and carries a matter finish to deviate from the main piece and give it emphasis.

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The main switch is squeezed almost at the edge of the device and is accompanied by a single LED light that indicates the status of the unit whether it is on, off, or searching for a device to pair with.

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Just underneath the power button is the microUSB port for charging the Reflect Response. It is protected by a rubber flap that repels liquid away from the port.

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The stems that support the gadget when wrapped around your neck is somewhat similar to those that are found in sunglasses — not just with the looks but also even the flexible material they have almost felt the same, just more bendable.

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Since it is poised to be used when you’re working out or going for a run, users no longer need to press anything to navigate the music. If you look closely, you’ll see the sensors embedded on the outside surface of each earbud.

This makes it possible to just lightly tap on them which will have a corresponding command depending on which side and how long you trigger the sensor.

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The bundle includes a set of interchangeable buds that come in different sizes and shapes depending on what the user needs and feels comfortable with. Additionally, there’s a travel pouch included to easily pack and bring it anywhere.

Features

Since the Reflect Response is technically called smart headphones, it should naturally have features that make it “smart”, right? Below is a rundown of the device’s features that should help individuals concentrate more on the task at hand and less on stopping just to skip to the next track.

Touch Control Technology – Control music playback and phone calls by touching the outside of each ear bud.

Ergonomic fit neckband – The device is lightweight with a patented, ergonomic designed neckband to accommodate the needs of a serious athlete.

Ergonomic ear tips –  They help keep the buds to stay in place regardless of how intense your workout routine is.

Sweatproof – It has a nano-coating technology that protects the internal components from sweat so you can concentrate solely on your training.

Reflective cables – Jogging at night? Keep safe and stay visible with the reflective cable that it uses.

Bluetooth connectivity – Obviously, it connects via Bluetooth for wireless streaming of audio to the earbuds, leaving you to freely move around without getting bothered by any dangling cable.

10 hours+ audio playback – The company claims that it is equipped with a battery that could last more than 10 hours on a single charge so you could train continuously without having to worry about your headphones dying.

Performance

We got to try out the Reflect Response while jogging and even riding a bicycle on an off-road trail and one thing is for sure — the earbuds latch to your ears even when you make big and sudden movements. I personally did a lot of those especially in cycling where I had to do shoulder checks whenever I was turning or switching lanes.

Sound quality is appreciated in the entire spectrum since it’s got authoritative mids, a good brightness to its highs, and a solid bass performance considering that these are just in-ears with very little physical space for sound reverberation. Additionally, distortion was also kept to a minimum even when the volume was cranked to the loudest.

Its in-ear design also blocks off external noise, acting like passive noise cancellation. This way, you can be disconnected from the outside world while you lift weights, jog, or simply walk around the neighborhood. Be mindful, though, where you use it as being unaware of your surroundings may lead to accidents.

Conclusion

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The JBL Reflect Response is a solid performer with specific users in mind. As mentioned in the beginning of this review, it targets those with an active lifestyle by providing the mentioned features and honestly, it delivered well doing them.

One major gripe that we do have is that there’s no way of controlling the volume aside from your smartphone. So, when an instance arises and you have to suddenly talk to someone, it’s either you just pause the music or remove an earbud. The JBL Reflect Response retails for Php7,490.

JBL Reflect Response specs:
Driver type: Dynamic
Driver size: 8.6mm
Design: Behind-the-neck
Frequency response: 10Hz – 22kHz

What we liked about it:

  • Touch-sensitive controls
  • Secure fit
  • Full sound
  • Reflective cables

What we didn’t like:

  • No volume controls

The post JBL Reflect Response Sports Headphones Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.