Aside from the Click, we have another X-mini audio device in our arsenal. If the Click is an ultra-portable Bluetooth speaker, the new device we have is a fusion of a Bluetooth headphone and a portable speaker in one. This is our quick review of the X-mini Evolve.
Design and Construction
When we first find out that the Evolve is a dual-purpose device, we expected it to look different from the rest of the Bluetooth headphones but that’s not the case. When you open the packaging of the product, it’s presented in its folded state. The two ear cups can be folded when storing although there’s no included pouch or hard case for it. Its two-tone gold and black hues give it a bit of character when worn.
The device is well-cushioned, both for the head and the ears. The leather material for the ear-muffs are soft and should not give much strain when used for hours. The control buttons are located on the right cup including the power/Bluetooth switch plus the volume up and down. Two ports are also situated here, one micro-USB port for charging and a 3.5mm jack for a wired connection, and the microphone pinhole. Also on the right side is the simple switch for headphone and speaker function.
The overall construction of the Evolve is surprisingly great. It flexes without a hint of creak plus the arm gives satisfying clicks when adjusted. The glossy body is attractive to fingerprints and smudges but nothing unusual here.
Features and Setup
The wireless headphone slash speaker connects via Bluetooth with support for version 4.1 and the profiles that come with it. The operation is simple, just long press to turn it on and you’ll hear a prompt and the LED will blink blue, keep on pressing until you hear a second prompt which then lights up a blinking red indicating that it’s open for pairing.
The Evolve supports hands-free calling thanks to the built-in microphone so you don’t have to reach out for your phone when answering or rejecting a call.
As mentioned, the Evolve’s main trick is the ability to become a speaker when you want. While the inner drivers on both ear cups are for private listening, the exterior grille hides the additional drivers for it to be able to produce louder sounds. The process of switching is fast and simple. Just slide the switch to your preferred mode of use and it will instantly function.
Sound Quality
Evolve’s main purpose is to be your Bluetooth headphone, understandably the quality would go to the inner drivers. When connected using Bluetooth to a Moto E (2nd Gen), the sound quality is good with decent mids and highs. Although, the bass tends to muffle and overpower at times, especially when it comes to electronic music. The main player conveniently used is Spotify with streaming settings set on Extreme — not the best benchmarking tool but it’s what’s common.
As for the loudspeaker function, it’s definitely nowhere near the dedicated Bluetooth speakers, even with tiny ones like the brand’s own Click. It’s more of an additional feature for those who likes to wear headphones on their neck and listen to more audible music. It’s amazing though to have dual-purpose headphones.
Battery Life
What’s giving juice to the device is a built-in 1000mAh rechargeable battery cell with a claimed rating of up to 30 hours of listening when used as a headphone or down to 6 hours if as a speaker. While we weren’t able to affirm the exact hours of continuous playback, since its last full recharge about 5 days ago, the headphones still have juice with accumulated use of 3-4 hours per day.
Conclusion
For Php 5,490, the Xmini Evolve is a pretty decent Bluetooth headphone and a wireless speaker as well. Its dual function is a nifty feature to have and does have its perks. You can avail of this through the following stores: Electroworld, Abensons, PowerMac, Egghead Audiohub, Robinson’s Galleria, Astroplus, Takatack, Lazada, Storm Benefits, Reeco.ph, Beeper City, Odyssey, Telcom Davao City.
X-mini Click specifications:
Bluetooth v4.1
Range: Up to 10 meters
Driver (internal): 40mm
Frequency Response (internal): 20Hz – 20KHz
Sensitivity (internal): 112dB/1mW
Speaker (external): Magnetically Shielded 40mm
Output (external): 3W
Frequency Response (external): 20Hz – 20KHz
Battery: 300mAh
284 g (w/o cable)
What we liked about it:
- Acts as a headphone and a loudspeaker
- Long battery life
- Good sound quality for headphone
What we didn’t:
- Loudspeaker quality could be better
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