In the jungle of True Wireless headphones, we no longer know what price to pay to have good sound. To try to answer this question, “20 Minutes” compared the new headphones
Earbuds ANC of Mobvoi and the
AZ60, from Technics. The first are entry-level (sold for 59 euros), the second high-end (229 euros). Do we play the game?
Earbuds ANC, from Mobvoi: low price and honorable quality
Mobvoi? This Chinese brand (we owe it the Ticwatch watches) is trying to break into the market for True Wireless headphones with noise reduction.
Sold 59 euros, the Mobvoi Earbuds ANC are Bluetooth 5.0 and available in black only. They are supplied with three pairs of silicone tips and incorporate fairly large transducers: 13 mm, compared to 6 to 9 mm most often. These headphones are sweat resistant (IPX5 standard). While their storage case offers two successive recharges, their autonomy is 4h30 with noise reduction activated and up to 5 hours without noise reduction. They charge in an hour via USB-C but are not compatible with wireless charging.
Our opinion : The small stems for the ‘AirPods’ look of these Mobvoi earbuds seem outdated and their excessive length heightens that feeling here. Their touch surface is however well thought out for most controls. The Mobvoi application on which you have to register to customize the sound does not seem to be operational. As we close these lines, we are still waiting for the email requested many times with a Verification code to find out…
The sound of the Mobvoi Earbuds ANC asserts itself, with strong bass, as we have seen in particular with peace, Meute’s new single. At the same time, the treble sometimes tends to hiss a little, as when listening to Love You Like a Love Song by Selena Gomez & The Scene. A scholar mixing however, allows these headphones to give off a feeling of warmth, regardless of the musical repertoire chosen. Listening at high volume does not suffer from distortion.
For its part, the quality of the noise reduction is honorable. In the middle of the street, we estimate that the headphones manage to reduce the hubbub of cars by around 60%. For its part, the Transparent mode, which slightly amplifies surrounding noise (for more security when listening outdoors) generates a slight breath effect.
AZ60, from Technics: big budget shortcomings included
Technics, the hi-fi brand owned by Panasonic, is diversifying and investing in the True Wireless headphones market while cultivating its high-end DNA.
Sold for 229 euros and available in black or grey, the AZ60 incorporate transducers 8 mm in diameter. Supplied with seven pairs of tips, they have no stems and discreetly find their place at the entrance to the ears. Waterproof (IPX4), they can withstand splashes of water, rain and even sweat. Here, the controls are tactile and complete, including volume adjustment.
Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint, the AZ60 can be connected to two Bluetooth devices without having to be re-paired. Through the Audio Connect application, you can reinforce the bass, treble, voice or the dynamics of the restitution. It is also possible to fully customize it using an equalizer. Their autonomy is announced at 4 hours with noise reduction, and up to 5:30 without.
Our opinion : For our tests, we ran the “Golden Hits” playlist on Apple Music. Of The grenade by Clara Luciani, at South by Nino Ferrer, enough to probe the versatility of the AZ60! Who distinguished themselves in all circumstances. The surprisingly round basses of dreams of Fleetwood Mac echoed the chiseled highs of blue words by Christophe (and without sibilants!). Listening here is very “vinyl” and you have to delve into a more recent repertoire, as with Fade out Lines by The Avener to feel the eardrum of the very good dynamics of the headphones, with monstrous bass.
Note that in addition to the usual AAC and SBC codecs, the AZ60s are compatible with LDAC (much rarer), which allows you to listen to music close to CD quality (990 kbps). The touch controls are relevant. Just don’t get tripped up between a double tap on the left to increase the sound, a triple tap on the right to go back to the previous track, or even a long tap on the left to summon your voice assistant!
For its part, the noise reduction is effective. To be triggered when desired from the right earpiece, it can be dosed, like ambient noise control, on a scale of 1 to 100 through the application. But 100 does not mean that silence will be completely silenced around you. High-pitched noises, keyboard clicks will remain present.
When autonomy, Technics respects its promise, but does not work miracles. Surprisingly at this price level, charging by induction is not allowed. Uncool. Finally, half of the box of these earphones is occupied by printed instructions in all languages, ie 129 grams of paper that we could have largely done without… for earphones that weigh only 7 grams each!
Our Verdict…
Sold 170 euros more expensive, Technics high-end noise reduction headphones offer much more, including more effective noise reduction and better audio quality that can be customized. But they are not without shortcomings. We can count on a possible price drop in the coming months, and hope for a good deal…
Entry-level headphones from Mobvoi give us our money’s worth, nothing more. We will recommend them more for their correct sound, quite all-purpose, than for their noise reduction which will not be their first argument.