Symphonized NRG 3.0 Review

by David Wright | Last Updated on November 26, 2020

Symphonized NRG is popular among enthusiasts fond of wired in-ear headphones with aesthetic appeal and compelling design. However, technical features are also important, and this Symphonized NRG 3.0 review will walk you through the major considerations before you make the final decision.

Symphonized NRG 3.0 is the 3^rd version of the product line. Let us see what kind of upgrades this latest model comes with.

Symphonized NRG 3.0 Overview

Since the Symphonized NRG 3.0 is a budget headphones, it is unfair to compare its sound quality with the high-end and more expensive models.

The design and material of the NRG 3.0 are decent but weighs slightly more than most of the wired headphones. The reason is that the wire is a bit thicker, and on occasion, you might notice the drag against your shirt or jacket. However, the headphones are stable when running and easy to carry.

The Symphonized NRG 3.0 is a passive headphone and blocks most of the ambient noise.

Items in the Box

• Symphonized NRG 3.0 In-Ear Headphones
• Six Earbuds Tips (different sizes)
• User Manual
• Pouch

Design

Wooden earbuds are the distinction of the Symphonized NRG, and the 3.0 version also features a straightforward design with a variety of color options, including:

• Dark Wood / Black & Gray Theme
• Dark Wood / Red & Gray Theme
• Medium Dark Wood / Orange & Gray Theme
• Medium Dark Wood / Blue & Gray
• Medium Dark Wood / Purple a& Gray Theme
• Light Wood / Yellow & Gray Theme

The cable is rubberized and features the 2-color theme. However, its feel and look are far from premium.

Comfort

The Symphonized NRG 3.0 headphones weigh 0.03 lbs. The in-ear fit is comfortable, and the additional six ear-tips in the pouch let you select the most suitable pair for optimal fit.

The material of these tips is flexible, but they don’t feature foam. The feel is more like most of the conventional in-ear headphones. The designers have made a good job to keep things simple yet effective.

Control

The in-line controls are easy to access and use, and the buttons’ tactical feedback isn’t bad either. Symphonized NRG 3.0 in-line remote supports volume, music controls, and calls. The microphone controller is missing, though.

No talk-through, no noise cancelation, and no channel mixing. The buttons’ size seems slightly smaller than usual, but the spacing between the buttons makes it easy to identify them without even looking at the remote.

Portability

The LxWxH dimensions of the Symphonized NRG 3.0 are 1.7” x 1.6” x 1”, and they occupy a volume of 2.7 Cubic Inches. Portability of the Symphonized NRG 3.0 in-ear headphones is easy, and their pouch makes it more efficient.

The downside is that this pouch doesn’t offer much protection. The pouch’s only purpose seems to keep the headphones from tangling with something else inside the pocket or bag.

Build

The durability of the Symphonized NRG 3.0 is decent. The rubberized cables are relatively thicker than most of the wired headphones. The wooden earbuds don’t easily break or crack after dropping on the solid floor.

The remote control has a nice and cool fit, and apparently, nothing looks out of the place.

Since you don’t usually find uni-body earbuds, some parts’ loosening is obvious after a few months of use. Expensive headphones often come with detachable lines, but you can’t expect that feature in a budget in-ear headphone. To me, Symphonized NRG 3.0 build quality is pretty good overall.

Stability

One of the most important considerations of the Symphonized NRG 3.0 is stability when running or walking. The tips remain comfortable even if the earbuds slip a bit deeper inside the ear, and usually, they do. Dislodging the earbuds amidst casual listening becomes slightly tough, but it doesn’t hurt.

The stability during running and walking is better than most of the in-ear headphones. Symphonized NRG 3.0 is missing stability tips or clips, which means the usual intentional tug on the cable will pull the earbud out.

Sound

0.11 dB Average Standard Deviation suggests excellent Frequency Response Consistency. With a nice fit and proper seal (selection of the right ear tip), you can ensure outstanding performance every time.

Brass Range Performance is below average. The response feels flat, and you can easily notice the impact of heavier bass. The high-bass also features a somewhat annoying additional bump, which optimizes boominess.

The Mid-Range Performance of the Symphonized NRG 3.0 is good. The continuation of the high-bass bump is almost 3dB (overemphasis). Somewhat muddy sound is the feature of these headphones at Hyper-Low Mid. The Mid and High-Mid ranges push back leads or vocals more than you’d like.

Talking about the Treble Accuracy, the performance is poor here. Over 5dB underemphasis at Low-Treble feels slightly out of the place as it negatively impacts vocals. There is inconsistency at high-treble as well. The overall sound feels bass-heavy and dark.

Noise Isolation

Symphonized NRG 3.0 headphones are good at noise isolation. Though you don’t get an active noise cancellation feature with this model. The reduction of 5dB, 19dB, and over 40 dB (Bass-Range, Mid-Range, and Treble Range, respectively) better than most budget headphones without active noise cancellation.

Leakage

21.21 dB at 1 foot is excellent in terms of leakage of any headphone. It is even quieter than some expensive headphones.

At the Bass-Range and Mids, the leakage is closer to none. Slight leakage is audible at Treble-Range.

Microphone

Symphonized NRG 3.0 has an in-line microphone that supports analog audio. It is not detachable. The quality of audio input is good in quiet surroundings; however, if you want to record something for a webinar or a YouTube video, you will have to go for a noise-cancellation microphone.

Conclusion

I can conclude this review with smiley lips since this model’s features are better than what I usually expect from budget headphones. However, if you are a critical and music-sensitive geek, you may not get the sound quality you are used to if you mostly go for expensive and high-end headphones. But I think that Symphonized NRG 3.0 is among the best in-ear budget headphones available currently.

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Tozo T12 Review

by David Wright | Last Updated on October 21, 2020

If you didn’t like the quality and design of the Tozo T10 earbuds and dock, then you might love reading this detailed Tozo T12 review from a buyer’s perspective.

Tozo T12 earbuds feature a truly wireless closed-back in-ear design. They carry a dynamic microphone for sound recording and calls. Before digging deeper into Tozo T12 earbuds, let’s start with the pros and cons:

Tozo T12 Pros

• Water Resistance Rating is IPX8
• The ergonomic and comfortable in-ear fit
• Wireless charging
• Wide soundstage with powerful pass
• The dock / case is much improved
• Longer battery life than Tozo T10

Tozo T12 Cons

• Weaker sound at high frequencies
• No dedicated or companion app

In the Tozo T12’s Box:

• Tozo T12 Earbuds
• 6x Ear-Tips of different sizes
• Charging cable (USB-C Interface)
• Charging Dock
• User Manual

Tozo 12 Wireless Earbuds – A Promising Upgrade

If you disliked the lack of aesthetic appeal and no so good design of the Tozo T10 Dock and earbuds controllers, then it’s worth checking out the new upgrade from the brand. Though Tozo is still struggling a bit somehow, the brand is proceeding in the right direction with improved models.

Enthusiasts have started noticing Tozo because of its price vs. features ratio. Now I am going to evaluate the design, battery, connectivity, and sound quality of the Tozo T12:

Design

The outlook of the Tozo T12 wireless earbuds is largely conventional. The primary material of T12 earbuds is matte plastic, which is good at resisting fingerprints.

The outer ring features a glossy accent. The T12 earbuds’ size is slightly larger, and the shape is rounder than that of the T10 earbuds.

Comfort

Tozo T12 Earbud weighs 0.03 lbs. The comfort level is decent. Without tips, the T12 earbuds can slip deeper into the ear canal. However, the package comes with various ear tips for you to use the most suitable tip-size.

Touch-sensitive Controls

Earbud controls of T12 are touch-sensitive. That is what the Tozo T10 is missing and turned into a huge flaw since you had to press the controls so hard that they slipped deeper into the ear.

The plusher tips make the Tozo T12 earbuds less tiring. The touch-sensitive controls support music, calls, and volume. However, these buttons lack microphone control, channel mixing, talk through, and noise cancellation. And you get no additional controls with the Tozo T12 wireless earbuds.

Portability

The dimensions of the Tozo T12 earbuds are:

• Length: 1.5-inches
• Width: 1.1-inches
• Height: 0.8-inches

The volume of the earbud is 1.3 cubic inches.

The portability of the earbuds isn’t an issue with most of the brands; what counts is the size of the Dock or charging case. The Tozo T12 Charging Dock is comparatively taller than most of the truly wireless earbud docks.

Still, the dimensions of the Dock (3.0-inches x 1.5-inches x 1.4-inches) are convenient to carry around. The volume of this hard-charging case is 6.3 cubic inches.

Charging Case

The design is good, sturdy, clean, and overall it’s better than the Tozo T10’s charging case. The case is also water-resistant (IPX8).

The spring-loaded lid keeps the charging dock from opening inside the pocket. The USB-C charging interface is on the back of the dock. The package contains the Type-C charging cable.

Wireless charging is supported, and there is also a miniature interior display demonstrating the battery status of the dock and the buds.

Battery

The Tozo T12 comes with a rechargeable battery. The continuous battery life of Tozo T12 earbuds is 5.3 hours, and the dock offers 23.9 hours of reserve charge. The charging time is around 70 minutes.

The good news is that the Tozo T12 earbuds offer to charge without interrupting audio (Mono audio through an earbud while the second one is charging). However, it doesn’t support passive playback.

Connectivity

Tozo doesn’t improve in this regard. Just like Tozo T10, the Tozo T12 earbuds also come without a dedicated or companion app.

This model is an in-ear Bluetooth-only version, and the earbuds use Bluetooth 5.0  version. The model doesn’t support multi-device pairing and NFC pairing. The line-of-sight range is 183 feet.

The Tozo T12 earbuds are also compatible with PCs, but in this case, the audio latency is much higher, which is not good, especially for gaming.

These earbuds are not compatible with PS4 consoles.

Sound Quality

Sound Profile

The sound profile is a bit V-shaped and exciting while providing more of a low-end thump. The treble response is overly brighter with little sound piercing. The bass amount is 5.15 dB, whereas the treble amount is 0.75 dB. Tozo T12 earbuds sound more versatile with better mids where the lead instruments don’t get suppressed.

Frequency Response Consistency

The Average Standard Deviation is 0.06 dB. It is much better than most of the wireless earbuds. By selecting the right ear-tips and tighter seal, the listening experience is better than I expected from Tozo.

Bass Accuracy

With Standard Error 5.55 dB, Low-Bass 8.33 dB, Mid-Bass 6.0 dB, High-Bass 4.22 dB, and 10 Hz Low-Frequency Extension, the Tozo T12 wireless earbuds don’t stand out in this regard. Bass accuracy is nothing but mediocre, though I was expecting something much better this time from Tozo. Some tracks, across the range, sound overemphasized with a distinct boom at times.

Mid Accuracy

Unlike bass accuracy, the Mid Accuracy of Tozo T12 is excellent. 1.56 dB Standard Error, 0.61 dB Low-Bid, -2.13 dB Mid-Mid, and 0.0 dB High-Mid reflect above-average mid accuracy.

However, you may notice a slight dip at times in the Mid-Mid that makes instruments sounding from the back. Vocal in Mid Range is much clearer since there is no sign of harshness or clutters.

Treble Accuracy

The treble accuracy of Tozo T12 earbuds is neither good nor bad. Standard Error is 4.12 dB, Mid-Treble 0.82 dB, Low-Treble 4.12 dB, and High-Treble 1.82dB are suggestive of an average treble performance. The low-treble response is overemphasized, and it makes the earbuds sound harsher than you’d like.

Noise Isolation

The noise isolation of the Tozo T12 wireless earbuds is above average. The overall Attenuation is -21.98 dB with -10.73 dB Bass and -19.38 dB Mid, whereas the Treble isolation is -36.54 dB. However, you may feel uncomfortable with low-pitch sounds such as the rumble of a plane, bus, or train at a distance.

Microphone / Sound Recording

The Tozo T12 wireless earbuds come with an integrated microphone. The recording quality is just OK, much similar to what you get from the Tozo T10 microphone.

The sound recording turns out to be far from natural. It is more muffled and thinner than your original voice. Also, the noise cancellation feature of the microphone is closer to mediocre.

In short, there is not much improvement in the microphone of the T12 as compared to its predecessor, the T10.

Verdict

I don’t have mixed feelings while concluding this review because there are some major improvements, especially in this model’s design and charging dock.

For instance, the design, build, and battery playtime of the Tozo T10 were mediocre, and the idea of a mechanical controller was a major drawback. The design team seems to be more focused on the design features and controllers of Tozo T12, and, in my opinion, they have done much better job this time.

Despite some shortcomings of the T10, they have always been decent headphones at a competitive price. And now, the Tozo team just continues their success by making the T12 even more interesting than its predecessor.

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How to Measure Headphone Decibels

by David Wright | Last Updated on October 20, 2020

Everybody wants to drive up the headphone-volume while listening to their favorite songs, but we hardly realize how damaging it can be. Did you know that headphones producing more than 85 decibel sound can result in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) or even a permanent hearing loss?

As a user, you should know how to measure your headphone decibels to take precautionary damage-preventing actions. Here are some tactics you can use for measuring your headphone decibels.

How to Measure Headphone Decibels on Smartphones

You can measure decibels using your cellphones through various mobile apps. These are discussed separately for each mobile types.

Measuring Headphone Decibels on an Android Phone

As an Android user, you can easily measure the decibel through the “Sound Meter” application. The following steps define how to measure your headphone decibels using the Sound Meter app:

• Open your Sound Meter app.
• Start playing the music on your headphones.
• Place the earbuds near the microphone.

The app will tell you the decibels.

Measuring Headphone Decibels on an iPhone

The process of measuring decibels in the iPhone is the same as Android, but the applications may differ. For iPhone users, some top-rated decibel measuring free apps are as follows:

• Decibel X: Db sound level meter
• Decibel: Db sound level meter

Measuring Headphone Decibels on Windows Phone

People hardly use windows phones nowadays, but some popular decibel measuring apps in windows are as below:

• Decibel Meter
• Sound Meter

The measurement method is the same for Android, iPhone, and Windows.

Measure Decibels through Your Computer

Measuring headphone decibels on the computer is as easy as on phones. You do not need to be a software expert or a programmer to measure it. Just visit Microsoft App Store, download the “free decibel reader” app, and follow the same measuring steps discussed for phones.

But it is better to check your headphone decibels at various volume levels to know the limit for the next time.

Measure Decibels through Common Noises

You can also measure your headphone decibels through everyday noises. You can set common noises as a benchmark and compare it to your headphone volume. You will not get the exact number; rather, you will know the safe limit. Some common noise decibels are listed in the table below:

The noise will get annoying after 70 decibels, and after 80 decibels, it will start damaging your ears and hearing ability if you continuously listen to it for two hours.

Check if your headphone volume matches the sound produced by traffic, and if it does, set the volume down and know the limit.

Measure Decibels through Instruments

There are various decibel measuring instruments available in the market. You can buy a quality instrument and use it to measure your headphone decibels.

Instruments usually follow the same measuring method as phones, but it is essential to check the user manual to know some additional settings.

Final word

Enjoyment is essential, so as your ears and health. Headphones with louder volume can help you escape worldly noise for a bit, but continuously using it will definitely damage your ears and may even turn you deaf. Be careful; your ears are more important than the few minutes of enjoyment.

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JBL E15 Review

by David Wright | Last Updated on October 20, 2020

JBL products have been hot lately, especially after launching their new E-Series. JBL E15 is one of their in-ears earbuds, but it is relatively cheaper than the other series, such as E25’s or E45’s.

In this JBL E15 Review, we will examine if it has an adequate base level, comfortable design, and accurate sounding detailed vocals that must suit our hearing requirements.

JBL E15 Features

Design and Outlook

The JBL E15 in-ear headphones are sleek and stylish. Unlike the E25’s, the cable of JBL E15 will be plugged into your phone or your any other listening device as it is not wireless.

Packaging

The packaging is quite neat and nice. It has an inner and outer box, having the earbuds embedded into a packing foam and bundled wire. The accessories are neatly packed in their own compartments.

Colour Range

The E15 comes in black, white, red, blue, and green colors.

Single Button Remote

If you look part-way down the right side of the cable, you will see a simple single-button remote which is used for playing and pausing the sound/call. You will need to use your phone for the volume control as there isn’t any button for controlling the volume.

Earbuds

JBL E15 in-ear units look very similar to E25BT headphones. They are relatively plain, which is okay as it is the signature of the JBL products. It has this semi angled jack support that looks small, but it will decently connect with your phone and other listening devices. We are aware of the fact that we like the headphones to be simple and minimalistic in design.

Cable

The cable of JBL E15 is not merely a plastic but braided nylon. Therefore, it makes the line stronger, long-lasting, gives it a better look, and, most importantly, it will not tangle, which is the most annoying thing about the wired earphones.

Faux Leather Carrying Pouch

The in-ear headphones come with a small leather carrying pouch to put the headphones in for proper protection and a way to keep it organized.

Multiple Silicon Ear Tips

It also comes with two to three pairs of different sized silicone replacement tips, including those that come pre-installed on the headphones. Of course, it’s always great to have several sizes of ear tips, so if, for example, you have small ear canals, most likely, one of the pairs will suit you.

Fit and Comfort

Well, comfort and fitting are a crucial concern while choosing any headphones. At first, after wearing JBL E15 in-ear headphones for a while, it usually fits pretty well. Then it may lose a bit of the seal when we move our jaw enough. Also, when we rock our heads, we can feel them pull slightly from time to time.

It wouldn’t be ideal for the sport-focused activities or used during the workouts as it may fall often. But for day-to-day use like subway, short walks, calls, and conference calls, it is a good choice.

Also, if we wear it inverted or wrap it around our neck, we may mitigate the above-mentioned issues, so it’s not so bad overall.

Sound Quality

The JBL has a history of delivering great-sounding headphones at a great price, and the JBL E15 headphones are no exception. Let us start with its bass.

Bass

The bass levels in JBL E15 are relatively good, but it has a weaker frequency range between 20 – 20k Hz. Well, the frequency here is pretty average for budget earbuds, which is reasonable at this price.

With the level of bass of the JBL E15, these headphones are good for users who are into genres like rock, classical, and pop. But the mega-bass fan should probably look at some more bass-heavy models.

Power/Volume

It has an impedance rating of 16 ohms, so these should work fine with pretty much any device.

Isolation

It is decent, we would say around the medium. It should suffice for most commuter use that isn’t excessively noisy.

Warranty

The JBL E15 has a one year warranty, which is comparatively average for most of the headphone companies.

Package Contents

• Additional Ear Tips
• Faux Leather Pouch
• Warranty and Instructional Pamphlets

Conclusion

Overall, the JBL E15 is reasonable wired earbuds. These in-ear headphones are style and substance, all rolled in one.

In my opinion, all the minor downsides of the E15 that was mentioned in the review are completely acceptable for the model’s price range.

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Best Bluetooth Headphone Adapter

by David Wright | Last Updated on September 29, 2020

Ours is the era of wireless technology. Gone are the days of wired tech and headphones that completely get in the way of our enjoyment. All modern technology experts go after wireless technology, and Bluetooth is the most favored wireless technology.

We already have at least one set of wired headphones, speakers, or earbuds in good shape, but the wires make them too hard to be used in our daily lives. Thankfully, technology is at a point where you can find alternatives to even the slightest inconveniences. Perhaps one of the greatest good outcomes is going wireless. You can now start using your old devices via Bluetooth headphone adapters rather than purchasing an expensive headset.

Today, we bring you the best Bluetooth headphone adapters for turning your old headphones into modern ones. These adapters will turn your wired headphones into wireless ones without offering too many obstacles.

1. Mpow BH129 Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter

Mpow BH129 is one of the most popular adapters. That is pretty tiny in rectangular form (2.05 x 1.10 x 0.47 inches) and weighs 3.00 ounces. The item comes with variations of silver and black colors.

Mpow BH129 is mainly a vehicle adapter, but it supports Bluetooth 5.0 with a transmitter range of 30 ft and has an input and output port of 3.5 mm. Often users use it to render their Bluetooth wired headphones and earbuds more user-friendly.

The adapter and receiver are incredibly quick. It has a 3.5 mm jack, a USB connection and right side volume control. The LED indicator light is at the bottom and tells you when the machine is on, when it’s charging, or when connected with a Bluetooth activated gadget or computer. It has a charger, which can last up to 15 hours per charge while taking only 45 minutes to fully charge it.

2. CoolStream Duo Bluetooth Adapter

CoolStream Duo is the affordable Bluetooth receiver that lets you save some money and transform old wired devices into Bluetooth-enabled products in your home or vehicle.

It supports the Bluetooth 3.0 standard; the signal range is at max 30 ft, and the battery provides up to 5 hours of playback following complete recharging (recharging requires 2-3 hours).

The adapter is very thin, it suits the hand of everybody, and it is incredibly powerful. The adapter comes in color black. The adapter is perfectly built and has an appealing feel. The design is very small and suits every pocket without applying extra weight to your headphones, earbuds, etc.

You can see CoolStream branding on the front. There’s an on/off turn at the end, 3.5 mm aux port, and the LED indicator lamp. On the rim, the older models with a 30-pin connector have a 30-pin connection.

3. East Brooklyn Labs Bluetooth Adapter

The BAL-M40x and BAL-M50x are two Bluetooth adapters made exclusively for the ATH-M40x and ATH-M50x versions by the business East Brooklyn Labs. So that is a great idea. ATH headphones are now highly common headphones for both professionals and average consumers, with outstanding sound quality. Their biggest issue was wiring, so you don’t have to think about it now.

BAL-M40x weighs less than 1 ounce and is 4.41.32.7 inches in height. BAL-M50x has the same weight but is much lower (1.71.1.1 inches). Both adapters support Bluetooth 4.1V. It takes 30-45 minutes for the battery to recharge completely, which will last up to 6 hours.

The best thing about these low weight adapters is their lightweight. They suit your ears so well that you won’t even know they’re on your ear. There is no extra weight or pain. It also helps the cups seem more appealing.

The sound quality you get is outstanding because the producer has maintained the ATH tone’s consistency. You’ll also get the nice punchy bass that you’re getting from wired headphones.

4. Anker Soundsync A3341

Anker Soundsync A3341 converter with one compact component is both receiver and transmitter. It can be used both directions so that you can move between the modes with one tiny click. It lets you transform all sorts of non-Bluetooth 3.5 mm gadgets (headphones, speakers, TVs, videos, etc.) into compatible Bluetooth goods.

This connector has a size of 2.8 x 0.9 x 2.9 inches. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP profile, and up to 33 ft of signal coverage. The battery will live in receiver mode for up to 17.5 hours, or in transmitter mode for 20 hours. The adapter only comes in color black.

The cables are of good strength and sound comfortable and sturdy. You can see big circular power on/off button on the front side of the connector, which is also used to connect with your phone. You’ll also see a 3.5 mm aux jack, LED warning light, and micro USB charging jack on top. The button on the right-hand side helps you move between transmitter and receiver modes anytime you want.

5. TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver

TaoTronics TT-BA07 is the inexpensive black converter, which you can use as both a Bluetooth signal receiver and transmitter. It utilizes edition Bluetooth 5.0 with a maximum signal length of 33 ft.

It can be connected to two computers around the same moment. The battery lasts up to 10 hours, and the app has an aptX low latency codec, indicating that it helps to watch videos on TV without any interruption. The supplier provides an enhanced warranty of 12 + 6 months coupled with really strong customer support.

How to Choose the Best Bluetooth Headphone Adapter?

No matter what you purchase, you should learn how to select the right one for yourself among various advertising products. The range of products is very wide, so there are models that are better than competitors.

Here are the most relevant things you ought to consider.

Price

Once you have established your new device’s function, you will know how much money you have or how much you want to invest in one adapter. That is really useful because the time wasted hunting for the right adapter should be reduced. You’re going to concentrate on the items in one price category and not waste time worrying about the stuff that’s outside of your preferred range.

The Bluetooth Technology

Bluetooth edition is very significant, as it affects the large signal range and communication efficiency. Newer models of Bluetooth provide a broader spectrum and improved communication and sound quality.

Older models of Bluetooth compressed files too much, so the consistency of the sound was much worse. Today, we have aptX or A2DP profiles that compress files less than older models, rendering them more fun to listen to.

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