Heena Sharma Blog

  The OPPO Enco W51 is an affordable pair of true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones with noise cancellation feature. At Rs 4,999, the Enco 51 is one of the few TWS earphones with in-ear design for noise isolation, an array of six microphones for digital noise cancellation, and an ingress protection rating (IP54) for water and dust resistance. The earphones are touted to be as good for attending voice calls as it is for listening to music. Is it? Let’s find out: Design The OPPO Enco W51 looks similar to the OPPO Enco W31 (review), which is another budget in-ear TWS earphones, but without noise cancellation feature. The earphones look premium and have a touch of novelty. Being an in-ear earphones, the Enco W51 offers secure and snug fit besides good passive noise isolation. However, the earphones’ hard silicone tips and oval design make them unsuitable for extended usage as they cause discomfort to ears after some time. Read More

Sony India on Tuesday expanded its Extra Bass wireless speaker range with the launch of the SRS-XB43 , SRS-XB33 and SRS-XB23 .Priced Rs 8,990 onwards, the speakers will be available from July 16. The speakers boast 'Extra Bass' sound output, which is one of the core capabilities on the XB wireless speakers line-up. "Backed by Sony's newly-developed X-Balanced Speaker Unit, these speakers provide high-sound quality and powerful sound pressure for a richer, deeper, and more rewarding listening experience," the company said in a statement. The SRS-XB-series speakers come with IP67 rating for protection from water, dust and rust. They have built-in Google Assistant. The SRS-XB43 and SRS-XB33 support up to 24 hours of music playback, according to the company. The SRS-XB23, on the other hand, supports up to 12 hours of on-battery time, and up to 10 hours on ‘Extra bass Mode’, the company claimed. Read More

Sony recently launched its wireless Bluetooth headphones, the Sony WH-CH710N , in India. With active noise cancellation its key feature, the headphones seem to be an affordable alternative to company’s premium WH-1000XM3s headphones. The new headphones from Sony look promising, but how does it fare in the overall scheme of things? Let's find out. Design and build The headphones weigh around 200 g, which is considered light weight in its segment. It is a treat for those who desist bulky headphones. Moreover, the headphones’ band has a comfortable fabric wrap with good amount of cushion that does not feel heavy when resting on head. The earcups have soft cushion, too. However, they are not the best and you might find them inconvenient in hot weather conditions. The headphones have matte finish, which looks impressive. However, the plastic built might not appeal to all. Read More

When Apple introduced the Airpods in 2016, it set a new trend of wireless earphones designed such that there is no trace of a cable or wire. Xiaomi, with its Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 , has joined a long list of smartphone and audio accessory makers that have followed in Apple’s footsteps to bring their own iterations of true wireless earphones since. Besides other generic features like an easy pairing, in-ear detection, touch control and quick charge, the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 boasts low latency and high-definition audio codec (LHDC), which seems to give it a clear edge over other affordable TWS earphones. On paper, the Mi True Wireless earphones 2 appears to be an all-rounder in its segment. Read More

Sony likes a good mess. It wants you to abandon the idea that 5.1-channel surround sound can be delivered without getting tangled in wires (unless you spend a fortune on it). On the contrary, affordable TVs can be made to sound better with cheap single-unit soundbars. The bargain starts at as low as Rs 1,000. Add some credibility to it and you get the Mi Soundbar 8 for Rs 4,999 (Mi Store), the Samsung HW-N300 for Rs 5,899 (Flipkart) and the JBL Bar 2.0 for Rs 6,999 (Amazon). These time-tested 2.1-channel soundbars can do with the minimum space designated in front of a TV and can light up a small room with loud music and clear vocals. But the output usually maxes out at around 150W and the virtual surround sound is not absolute. The stubborn Japanese techies at Sony are unconvinced. The next league of soundbars comes with an additional subwoofer. And we must now scramble to find space for a boxy unit that usually weighs above 5 kg. The price-friendly Boat has the Aavante Bar 1...

CloudWalker has launched its BURST TV Soundbars through Amazon India with the price range starting from Rs 5,999. The soundbars have been designed to fit in perfectly with any smart TV, and are equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.0 Technology, built-in or external subwoofer and 11 LED Party light modes, The BURST TV Soundbars are available in two ranges -- BURST I2000 and BURST E3000 . BURST I2000 features: The 2.1 channel wired Bluetooth Soundbar with built-in subwoofer comes with a 50W sound output and full-range sound drivers. The Soundbar features the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology that can enable music streaming directly from a smartphone, tablet or other compatible devices. BURST E3000 features: The 2.1 channel wired Bluetooth Soundbar backed by an external subwoofer is equipped with a 100W sound output. The external subwoofer offers 60W output. Read More

The Bluetooth technology , having eliminated a clutter of wires to handle, has made life a lot easier for users. It has made it easy to enjoy music on the go — during a run or workout, or even while commuting in a crowded metro train. Though they came late on the scene, true wireless earphones caught people's fancy immediately. Even if their penetration remains lower than wired earphones because of their high price, the year 2019 saw the launch of several true wireless earphones that impressed with their sound quality and overall performance. Blaupunkt BTW-01 true wireless earphones Blaupunkt BTW-01 true wireless earphones Blaupunkt BTW-01 is lightweight and bass-heavy. It doesn't fall off your ear; and if you prefer carrying your music to your workout sessions, this is one of your best options. At Rs 5,999, this pair of true wireless earphones is certainly not a budget device, but it stops short of joining the premium category. Considering that premium true wir...

Most high-end headphones these days look good, sound as they should, and possibly carry a new feature or two to catch audiophiles’ attention. Skullcandy 's Crusher ANC has all these and a little more — its bass-specific tuning sets it apart from others in the high-end headphones space. When we say high-end, it means, among other things, a hefty price tag. Sure, at Rs 24,999, the Crusher ANC is no cheap top. Is that a deal to go for? Let's find out. The most common challenge that high-end headphones face is that there are just a few players and each, with its own appeal, is vying for the attention of a small set of discerning buyers. The Crusher ANC’s appeal lies in its noise cancellation and its unique and impressive sensory bass feature. Additionally, there is an in-built Tile Bluetooth tracker to help you locate the headphones using the Tile app on your smartphone. Design Skullcandy follows the conventional design for its over-the-ear headphones; they are collaps...

Festive-season sales are over, and most high-end Bluetooth headphones and earphones are off the discount lists now. If you did not buy one when the offers were still in place and are now looking to settle for a decent value-for-money audio device, we can offer you some help. Business Standard reviewed a few earphones, earbuds and headphones that are not just light on the pocket (well, most of them) but also pack good sound quality. Here are some of our picks: Fingers Go Duet TVS Pods Sometimes, there is a reluctance to go for wireless earbuds, as there is a fear these would slip out of ears, especially while commuting. But, that side, it's a great device to listen to music and attend calls, without the hassle of tangling wires.Fingers true wireless earphones Fingers recently launched Go-Duet TWS pods, and it's a tiny set of earbuds with a whopping 30 hours of battery life. So, basically, you have to charge the case once and it goes on and on. We tried to see how...