Now it’s time for the second part of our annual Headphone
Shootout – the In-Ear Monitors. Due to their increase in popularity, this year
we are focusing on just True Wireless models. Due to the pandemic, it has been
a crazy year. Some are doing well, but others are devastated. Due to the
financial struggle for many, we thought we would do things a little differently
and start with a more entry level model, and see how performance goes up from
there as prices increase. Models this year start with JBuds Air at $49 MSRP,
followed by Creative Outlier Air V2 $79 MSRP, 1More
Color Buds Ture Wireless $99 MSRP, JBL Club PRO+TWS $199
MSRP and Master and Dynamic MW08 $299 MSRP. And as sometimes happens with March
Madness, let’s see if we have any surprises.
Many of us, especially with the economy this last year, are
having to count pennies, and justify all spending. So we thought we would start
off with a true entry level model with the JLab JBuds Air. JLab is known for
being a brand that provides products for those on a tight budget. They have
many budget minded models to choose from. The JBuds Air is only $49 and
provides that great value many are looking for.
AUDIO
Speaker: Φ8mm Dynamic, Neodymium Magnet, 20Hz-20kHz, 32 Ω
Output: 103±3db
Microphone: Right ear only, MEMS, - 38dB ±3dB
BATTERY
Battery Life: 6 hours in each earbud, 18+ hours in charging
case
Input Power: DC 5V, 50mA
Earbud Battery: 60mAh lithium polymer
Earbud Charge Time: 1.5 Hours
Rapid Charge: 15 min charging = 1 hour playtime
Charging Case Battery: 500mAh lithium polymer rechargeable
Case Charge Time: 2 Hours
BLUETOOTH
Version: Bluetooth 5
Range: 30+ ft.
GENERAL
Weight: 5g per earbud, 50g charging case
IP Rating: IP55
Warranty: 2 year warranty
3-
The HU: Sugaan Essana –
Lightning at the beginning didn’t sound as life like. The sound of the Lute was
there, but sounded a bit flat. Vocals were sufficiently smooth and sounded natural.
Bass had good low-end extension, but was a bit muddy.
Next up is the Creative Outlier Air V2. It is another budget
True Wireless IEM. Creative is known for its award-winning Super X-Fi software.
And even at their low bargain price, they are Super X-Fi ready. Let’s see what
we get.
Features and specs:
Interface: USB-C (Charging)
Product Type: True Wireless Headphones
Weight: Charging Case: 60g, Earbuds: 2 x 6g
Color: Metallic Blue
Frequency Response: 20–20,000 Hz
Driver: 5.6 mm graphene-coated driver diaphragm
Battery Type and Life
Battery in Charging Case: 1 x Rechargeable Lithium Polymer
Battery 450 mAh, Battery in Earbuds: 1 X Rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer
Battery 80 mAh in each earbud
Charging Time: 1–2 hours
Connector Type: Bluetooth 5.0 (Class 1 device)
Bluetooth Profiles
HFP (Hands-Free Profile), A2DP (Wireless Stereo Bluetooth),
AVRCP (Bluetooth Remote Control)
Bluetooth Operating Frequency: 2.4 GHz
Audio Codec: aptX, AAC, SBC
Operating Range: Up to 10m / 33 ft
Wearing Style: In-ear, True Wireless
Microphone: Frequency Response: 100–10,000 Hz
Type: Omni-directional x 2
Sensitivity: - 42 dBV / Pa
Weather-proof Resistant: IPX5
Operating Temperature: 0–45°C
Built in microphone: Yes
Music playback and calls control: Yes
Controls: Touch controls (Volume and Playback controls)
The Creative Outlier Air V2 came in a nice color printed box
with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM
held in place by custom molded plastic. Materials used in the construction was
mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of construction, as well as the fit
and finish was good. Also included was the charging cable, extra ear tips and
owner’s manual.
The design of the Creative Outlier Air V2 is a simple one.
You get the charging case, extra ear tips to get a good fit, and a detachable
charging cable. While you don’t get whole lot of extras, it does have some
great features. It works with both Siri and Google Assistant, you can use for
calls, and even has touch controls. And being Super X-Fi ready is killer, just
download the app. Bang for the buck is huge. Now let’s see how they sound.
1-
Toto: Africa -Kick drum had very good low-end
extension with good authority and impact. Congas had good resolution of the pad
and good impact. Cowbell sounded natural with good tone. Vocals were smooth
with good texture of the timbre. Drums had good dynamics and extension. Cymbals
were crisp and clean. Recorder was smooth with good air. Piano sounded natural.
2-
Queen:
Bohemian Rhapsody - Vocals were pleasantly smooth with good texture of
the timbre. Piano sounded natural. Cymbals were crisp and clean. Drums had good
depth and dynamics. Kick drum played deep and with good authority.
3-
The HU: Sugaan Essana – The thunder at the intro
sounded very natural and showed a wide soundstage. The lute had very good
resolution of the bow across the strings. Vocals were nice and raw with very
good resolution of the texture of the timbre. Bass was not only really deep, it
was clean and played with good authority.
1More does not have a long history, but they are still
taking the industry by storm. They provide a great sounding product at a huge
value. Up for review today is their ColorBuds. They are a True Wireless model
that comes in some fun colors. We were provided the pink version.
Features and specs:
Model: ESS6001T
Single Earbud Weight: 4.1 g
Case Weight: 32.1 g
Gross Weight: 40.3 g
Earbud Battery Capacity (Single): 55 mAh
Case Battery Capacity: 410 mAh
Earbud Charging Time: 70 Mins
Case Charging Time: 85 Mins
Earbud Dimensions: 27 × 21 × 20 mm
Case Dimensions: 60 × 30 × 38 mm
Speaker Impedance: 22 Ω
Bluetooth Range: 10 m
Playtime
* Earbuds Fully Charged
Call: 6 Hours
Music Playtime : 6 Hours
Audio Format: aptX / AAC / SBC
Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.0
Bluetooth Protocol: HFP / A2DP / AVRCP
Input: 5V 1A
* Earbuds and Case Fully Charged
Phone Call: 22 Hours
Music Playtime: 22 Hours
The 1More Color Buds came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the IEMs. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM held in place in the charging case. The charging case was securely held in place by custom molded paper. Materials used in construction was mostly plastic. Quality of the materials used, as well as the fit and finish was good. It was a little better than expected for its price point. Also included was charging cable, extra ear tips, and owner’s manual.
I liked the design of the 1More Color Buds. They actually apply
balanced armatures for high quality sound. They also use dual mics for a good
quality calls. It’s an aggressive price point to employ a balanced
armature. The different colors available
are also fun.
1-
Toto: Africa – Kick drum had good impact and low-end
extension. Congas had very good resolution of the pad. Cowbell had good
resolution and tone from the impact. Vocals were very smooth with very good
texture of the timbre. Recorder had very good air with great smoothness. Drums
were dynamic, with good depth and impact. Cymbals were crisp and clean. Piano
sounded very natural.
2-
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody – Vocals were very
smooth with very good texture of the timbre. Cymbals were very crisp and clean.
Piano sounded very natural with very good harmonics. Drums were dynamic with
nice depth. Kick drum had good low-end extension and played with authority.
3-
The HU: Sugaan Essana – The thunder at the intro
was very life like and showed a wide soundstage. The lute had very good
resolution across the strings that was not only clean, it had good energy.
Drums were dynamic, played deep, and had good output.
Next up is the JBL Club PRO+ TWS. They are designed for
performance. JBL has been providing quality products for decades. Buy a JBL,
and you know you’ll get a quality product. The JBL Club PRO+ TWS is a true
wireless IEM, but you also get ANC cancelling as well. There’s even an app that
works the ANC features and also tailors the sound to you.
Features and specs
General Specifications
Bluetooth version: 5.1
Driver size (mm): 6.8
Audio Specifications
Driver sensitivity at 1kHz/1mW (dB): 102
Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 10 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance (ohms): 16
Dimensions
Weight (g): 13.7
Weight (oz): .48
Control and Connection Specifications
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.6, HFP V1.7
Bluetooth frequency: 2400 - 2483.5 MHz
Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, _x001F_/4 DQPSK,
8DPSK
Bluetooth transmitter power: < 9.5 dBm (EIRP)
Battery
Battery Type: 3.7 V, 55 mAh
Charging time (hours from empty): 2
Maximum music play time with ANC off (hours): 8
Maximum music play time with ANC on (hours): 6
The JBL Club PRO+ TWS came in a nice-looking color printed box
with photos and specs. Opening the box revealed a well-protected IEM held in
place in custom molded plastic. Materials used in the construction was mostly
plastic with some metal. Quality of materials used as well as the fit and
finish was very good. Also included were some extra ear tips, charging cable,
and owner’s manual.
1-
Toto: Africa – Kick drum had very good impact,
depth and played with very good authority. Congas had very good resolution of
the impact on the pad. Cowbell had very good resolution of the tone which
wasn’t tinnie. Vocals were silky smooth with very good texture of the timbre
and really showed the harmonics. Cymbals were really crisp and clean. Drums
were very dynamic and showed great impact. Recorder had very good air, and very
smooth. Piano sounded very natural.
2-
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody - Vocals were silky
smooth with a resolution that revealed nuances of the texture of the timbre.
Cymbals were very crisp and clean with a lot of energy. Drums were very dynamic
with good low-end extension. Kick drum was very deep and played with very good
authority. Imaging was also very good and shown through the wide soundstage.
3-
The HU: Sugaan Essana – The thunder at the intro
sounded extremely life like, being extremely dynamic as well as deep, throwing
a really wide soundstage. Drums were also dynamic, deep, with good authority.
Vocals sounded nice and raw, with very good harmonics of the texture of the
timbre. The lute had very good resolution of the bow going across the strings,
that was not only really clean, but also provided for some good imaging as
well.
Last but not least is the Master and Dynamic MW08. While Master and Dynamic does not have the lengthy history of some manufacturers, they have been providing quality headphones throughout their entire history. Now they have a brand new True wireless model, the MW08. You can now get ANC, with their new MW08 true wireless IEM. And it comes with the quality build, sound, and styling that Master and Dynamic has come to be known for. There is even an app as well.
Features and specs:
DIMENSIONS: 21.19mm x
20.22mm x 25.08mm
DRIVERS: 11mm Beryllium
WEIGHT: 9.0g each
MATERIALS: Ceramic
WATERPROOF LEVEL: Wireless earphones feature an IPX5 water
resistance rating
EARPHONE BATTERY LIFE: Up to 12 hours playtime / 10 hours
with ANC
EARPHONE CHARGE TIME: 50% charge in 15 minutes, 100% charge
in 45 minutes
MICROPHONE TYPE: 6-microphone talk solution - 3 microphones
in each earphone
ACTIVE NOISE-CANCELLING: Hybrid ANC with All Day ANC and ANC
Max modes
AMBIENT LISTENING MODES: Awareness Mode, Voice Mode
The Master and Dynamic came in a nice-looking color printed
box with photos and specs of the IEM. Opening the box revealed a well-protected
IEM held securely in its charging case. And the charging case was held securely
in place by custom molded cardboard. Materials used in the construction was
almost entirely of metal and ceramic. Quality of materials used was excellent,
as well as the fit and finish. These are top of the line EIMs and it showed.
Also included was the USB adapter, charging cable, polished stainless steel
charging case, several sets of ear tips, a soft carry bag, and owner’s manual.
I love the design of the Master and Dynamic MS08. You get
premium features, such as Bluetooth 5.2, six mics for premium call experience,
and a protected external antenna. You also get extended durability for extended
longevity. And then there is the Master and Dynamic styling and premium look,
with the polished stainless steel, and use of ceramic coatings. Master and
Dynamic has a history of products not only looking phenomenal, but also
sounding as good as they look. Let’s see if that trend continues.
1-
Toto: Africa – Extremely tight, deep base that
played with excellent authority. Congos had very good resolution of the pad and
its impact. Cowbell had very good resolution of the tone without any tinniness.
Vocals were smooth like honey with very good harmonics and texture of the
timbre. Recorder had very good smoothness and air. Drums were extremely dynamic
with good impact. Cymbals were crisp and clean. Piano sounded very natural.
2-
Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody – Vocals were smoother
than silk, with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre, giving
pleasant details of the nuances. And the harmonics of the vocals were nothing
short of aural nectar for my ears, revealing great imaging and a wide
soundstage. Cymbals were extremely crisp and clean with a lot of energy. Drums
were dynamic, tight and good low-end extension. Kick drum was deep, punchy, and played with a
lot of authority. Piano sounded very natural, more than it should at this price
point.
3-
The HU: Sugaan Essana – The thunder at the intro
was extremely life like. Not only was it extremely dynamic, crisp and clean, it
was also very deep with great authority, yielding a soundstage that was
surprisingly equally as life like, being both very wide and also deep. Drums
were also very dynamic, deep, really full, and played with great output. Vocals
were nice and raw, providing very good definition of the texture of the timbre,
giving excellent harmonics. The bow of the lute as it went across the strings
was also crisp and clean with very good resolution and provided good imaging as
the player dances across the middle of the stage.
The sound of the JLab JBuds Air was a bit more warm over all. The highs were there, but was not as crisp or detailed and tended to sound a bit flat. The Creative Outlier Air V2 had a more neutral sound that was maybe just a hair on the warm side. The 1More ColorBuds was also more neutral in sound, with a bit on the bright side. And while they had great low-end extension, they were a bit more restrained on the bass output, as was expected from a single balanced armature. The JBL Club PRO+TWS was neutral in sound, being maybe a hair on the bright side. Yet the low-end extension was extremely deep, and had the ability to hit like a sledgehammer. They also provided a wide and deep soundstage that took the sound up to a whole new level. The Master and Dynamic MW08 were right neutral in sound. And they took the whole sound up a level even further. Resolution, size of soundstage, fullness of bass, I almost felt like I was with the band in the recording studio.
Now let’s see how they did for Bluetooth performance. To test Bluetooth performance, I set my LG V40 phone in my reference theater room in one corner of my basement, and walk around the basement testing for any drops. I then walk up the stairs to the main floor, walk around the main floor, and then walk up to the 2nd floor and walk around the second floor. Lastly, I take my phone onto my front porch and walk down the street to test distances. This Bluetooth performance test is extreme, and designed to find out the limits of the IEM’s Bluetooth performance, which is well far over what the manufacturer rates them at.
The JLabs JBuds Air had no problems on the same floor, was a little glitchy on the main floor, and got really glitchy and not useable on the 2nd floor. Outside they reached 250ft without much problem. The Creative Outlier Air V2 had some of the best Bluetooth performance I have heard in a headphone. It had zero problems on the same floor, zero problems on the main floor, and no problems on the 2nd floor either. Outside was the same result with no problems out to 250ft. The 1More ColorBuds had zero problems on the same floor, had a few glitches on the main floor, and was really glitchy being not really useable on the 2nd floor. Outside they managed to have no problems going out to the 250ft. For the JBL Club PRO+TWS, they had zero glitches on the same floor, a single glitch on the main floor, and an additional glitch on the 2nd floor. Outside they went the 250ft with no problems. Lastly, the Master & Dynamic had zero glitches on the same floor, two glitches on the main floor, and played but was really glitchy on the 2nd floor. Outside they had no problems out to the 250ft.
This years IEM’s all performed well. The JLab JBuds Air lacked energy and sounded a little flat for the highs, but still did well for its price point. Bumping up to the Creative Outlier Air V2 gave a big improvement, as well as moving up to the 1More ColorBuds. Moving up to the JBL PRO+ TWS gave another big performance in sound quality, and going up to the Master & Dynamic MW08 took things up a level further. There were no real surprises in a model performing better than another at a higher price point. They all performed well at their price points. Based on their design, features, quality, and performance, the Creative Outlier Air V2 has earned our Value Award. The 1More ColorBuds has earned our Recommended Award, the JBL Club PRO+ TWS has earned our Highly Recommended Award, and the Master & Dynamic MW08 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.us1more.com www.us.creative.com, www.jbl.com, www.jlabs.com, www.masterdynamic.com.