From Mivi Collar to Jabra Elite 65t, a selection of pairs to consider

The market is flooded with headphones and earphones. Here is a selection of wireless and wired pairs to consider

Toshiba RZE-BT180H

Toshiba RZE-BT180H

 

The fluorescent review pair feels a bit tight on the ears. Jogging tracks sounded nice and we managed a reasonably good call on my way home. While this isn’t meant for audiophiles, we liked the fact that one could connect it directly to a device if there was no charge.

Price: Rs 2,849

Audio-Technica QuietPoint 40BT

Audio-Technica QuietPoint 40BT

 

This pair is light and the neckband comfortable to wear for long hours. While there’s noise cancellation, ambient noises do seep in. But calls and videos were handled well on this pair. And music playback is fine, as long as you aren’t a bass-head. The long battery life is great.

Price: Rs 17,990

Wired

HyperX Cloud Alpha

HyperX Cloud Alpha

 

With today’s immersive games, this pair seemed the perfect fit. While playing Battlefield 4 and Star Wars: Battlefront, I could truly appreciate the sound design. The pair looks nice, is comfortable to wear over long periods and delivers crystal clear audio for videos as well. What more could a gamer want?

Price: Rs 10,499

boAt Nirvana Tres

boAt Nirvana Tres

 

Truth be told, we approached this pair apprehensively, but found most bang for the buck. One of the two wired cans in this review, this pleasantly surprised with its clarity and width, especially while listening to multi-channel audio or soundtracks. This pair’s comfortable fit makes it the pick for everyday listening.

Price: Rs 3,990

Wireless

Mivi Collar

Mivi Collar

 

This looks classy in black, though the neckband felt flimsy. They paired easily with  an Android phone and calls were pretty good. This bass-heavy pair supports high-definition music, which makes it fun listening to such tracks. The cable management system is also good when the earphones aren’t in use.

Price: Rs 4,999

Jabra Evolve 75e

Jabra Evolve 75e

 

With active noise cancellation (ANC) and a neckband design, this pair is comfortable to wear all day. ANC works like a dream and is a blessing in noisy environments, both during conferences as well as music. Also, it comes with a pre-paired USB dongle, allowing easy pairing across devices.

Price: Rs 27,170

Airpods alternatives

Bose SoundSport Free
 

Bose SoundSport Free

 

While ambient noises aren’t killed, this pair excels while listening to music: from Kumar Gandharva to Katy Perry, this pair didn’t disappoint. Plus, the app lets you locate the buds, which stick out of your ears. 

Price: Rs 18,990

Sony WF-1000X 
 

Sony WF-1000X

 

If you want the Apple AirPods but don’t own an iPhone, these earbuds are able to step up to the plate. The noise-cancelling buds are comfortable and make for a seamless audio experience.

Price: Rs 14,990

Jabra Elite 65t
 

Jabra Elite 65t

 

This pair drowns out a major part of ambient noise. Call quality is excellent, as is watching videos. But guitar riffs sound screechy and the treble a tad too bright.

Price: Rs 12,999

By: Abhik Sen & Kakoli Chakraborty