Shokz's Newest Open Earbuds Prove the Brand Is Serious About Sound Quality
Shokz may have popularized the bone-conduction category, but lately, the audio brand has been branching out, with unique offerings in the open-ear earbud space. The latest are the OpenDots One, which launched today and join an increasingly crowded clip-on earbud market, competing with styles from rivals like Bose, Anker, and JLab.
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We put the Shokz OpenDots One to the test ahead of their launch. While they're not perfect, they make a compelling case for being one of the best clip-on earbuds you can buy, offering the right combination of comfort, sound quality, and performance.
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Pros: Great sound, comfortable all-day fit, impressive battery lifeCons: Iffy touch controls, priceyStated Battery Life: 10 hours (earbuds) 40 hours (earbuds and case)Water resistance: IP54
Similar to Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, Shokz OpenDots One feature a flexible band with a driver that sits in the outer ear. The unit that houses the battery clips behind the ear, giving these earbuds something of a resemblance to earrings.
The case is compact and features a stylish two-tone design. The earbuds themselves are impressively lightweight, yet secure on the ear. The case is also wireless-charging compatible, which is a nice touch. I wore them on a long bike ride, and, aside from minor adjustments, I was able to forget they were there.
The most unusual design decision is that the earbuds are interchangeable. There's no left or right markings. I thought this was an oversight at first, until I realized they're designed to be swappable without affecting stereo sound. Shokz explained that they 'utilize Dynamic Ear Detection Technology to automatically recognize which bud is in each ear.'
Shokz's user-friendly app allows for easy control over the earbuds, including customizing the touch controls and EQ modes. You can choose between presets, including 'Vocal' and 'Bass,' or create a custom sound profile using the five-band EQ. The earbuds also feature a Dolby Audio mode, although I didn't find it added much to the listening experience on most songs.
There are features I do find handy, including multipoint pairing for connecting to two devices at once. One surprising feature that I've rarely seen on open-ear earbuds is wear detection; the earbuds automatically pause and play when you take an earbud out. There's a slight delay, but it works pretty reliably.
The earbuds' touch controls were one of its weakest points; they were simultaneously slow to respond and somewhat overly sensitive. Either pinching the barrel twice or double-tapping on the band portion controls playback and phone calls. It works, but the slow response time could be improved. But if you find yourself accidentally pressing the controls, you can turn off the pinch or tap controls.
Impressively, Shokz has managed to produce some of the best-sounding open earbuds I've tested, with a level of clarity that's rare for earbuds of this type. The bass response is surprisingly robust, befitting a pair of workout earbuds. There are inevitable tradeoffs, including reduced detail in the highs, but overall, there's a lot to love about how these earbuds sound.
The lightweight design and compact case make these great for workouts, and the water resistance comes in handy for sweat and rain. That said, I wouldn't limit these to workouts. The sound quality is crisp and detailed enough to suit use at the office or everyday wear for any setting where you want to remain aware of your surroundings. The earbuds also have up to 10 hours of playtime on a charge, with a total of 40 with the case.
Shokz OpenDots One earbuds are among the best sounding from a pair of open-ear earbuds, and the clip-on design is comfortable for all-day wear, whether you're running and biking or sitting at the office.
At $200, these are a fairly pricey pair of earbuds, especially considering the niche category they're competing in, and the fussy controls could be improved. Still, they undercut Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds in price by $100, and while I would give Bose the edge in audio quality, the OpenDots outlast the Ultra Opens in battery life while still delivering great sound.
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Tom's Guide
7 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I tested Sony WH-1000XM6 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for a month — here's the winner
Sony's latest ANC headphones are a good pair of headphones, with some key improvements over the previous model under the hood. But how do they square up against their noise-canceling nemesis? The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are the best way to block out noise, period. But how do they fare when you stack them up against Sony's newest set of cans? Let's find out. The Sony WH-1000XM6 launched with a bang in 2025 and we reviewed them favorably, highlighting their new sound signature and improved noise canceling. They have a new, if un-innovative, look, and a brand-new hard case to protect them in your bag. Yet, they still have to fend off their long-standing Bose rivals: The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones come with a super comfortable fit and better noise canceling, and are ready for the fight. But is that enough to sink Sony's flagship? To find out, I've organized a sunset duel. I've been using both headphones for the last month to work out which ones you should spend your hard-earned dollars on. The fight this time around is tricky for both of our entrants, so let's put them out of their misery. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Price $449 / £399 / AU$699 $429 / £449 / AU$645 Colors Black; Silver; Midnight Blue Lunar Blue; Deep Plum; White Smoke; Black Size Not specified Not specified Weight 8.9 ounces 8.8 ounces Battery life (rated) Up to 40 hours Up to 24 hours Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC, aptX HD support support Special features Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio ANC, Immersive Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable EQ, quick charge We don't need to spend much time on this point. Both headphones will set you back between $428 and $449, depending on which sales you're looking at. That's not a small price for a pair of headphones, and marks what looks to be the new launch price point of flagship headphones from now. At $449, both models $150 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max, and the same price as our pick for the best wireless headphones, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3. Although the 1000XM6 are currently cheaper, the Bose headphones have a lower price floor. They've been on the market for a longer time, and we've seen their price drop significantly during deal events. You can save $20 on the Sony by buying them today, or you can wait for Black Friday or Prime Day and pick up the Bose headphones at two-thirds the price. The XM6 are a well-built pair of headphones, with compact earcups and a folding hinge so that they can fold up and fit into a case. The headband has also been widened for comfort reasons (we'll get to that), rounding out the key physical differences between the old and new models. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The case is vastly improved, however. I really like the magnetic clasp, and I've only come to like it more during my comparison period. I'm not sure about the longevity of the mechanism as of yet, but for now it's a winner. Comfort is also better, but still not perfect. I've found that the headband, while wider, still presses on pressure points across the top of my head. There are also bits inside the earcups that interfere with my piercings. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are not wholly uncomfortable — far from it — but they're less comfortable than their Bose rivals. Bose's headphones are not only more padded in all the right places, but also uses better foam inside to make sure that they remain comfortable for long periods of time. They're light, which can make them feel slightly cheap, but that does add to their overall comfort in the end. The Sony WH-1000XM6 are not wholly uncomfortable — far from it — but they're less comfortable than their Bose rivals. The case is much the same as the XM6 in terms of sturdiness, but it's slightly more compact. That makes it easier to pack into a bag when you're going on a trip or getting ready to go to work. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a more handsome pair of headphones as well. There's more variety to the kinds of materials used here, with metal in the folding armatures making them feel better built than the flimsy feeling XM6. Overall, thanks to a more comfortable fit, better case and more interesting style, the QuietComfort Ultra take home the points for design. After a strong start for Bose in the design and price sections, the controls section is the place where Sony is going to start clawing back some crucial points. The controls you'll find in the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones aren't really all that good. I don't like the inaccurate touch volume slider, and the multifunction button that does almost everything else is a pain to use. The two buttons on headphones are the same shape, only differentiated with a little bump on the Bluetooth pairing button. I've found skipping accidentally and initiating pairing mode unintentionally is far too easy. I don't like touch controls, but the gesture based controls on the XM6 are better than those found on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The touch pads on either earcup can be swiped for volume and skip, and then tapped for play/pause. I still don't like how moving my hair can be mistaken for a command, or how I can accidentally pause when I want to turn the volume up, but there are some redeeming factors. For example, the power button and ANC button are very easy to tell apart — the power button is round, and the ANC button is long. Simple and easy to use. The Sony WH-1000XM6 take the round when it comes to controls. The Sony WH-1000XM6 have an updated sound profile, and while it's not my favorite, I do prefer to the way that to the Bose sound. Sony has focused more on the vocals of your music this time around, and we've ended up with a pair of headphones with some top-notch vocal clarity. Unfortunately, I've found that means that soundstage has taken a hit. The XM5 had a very wide soundstage, and that's taken a back seat with the XM6. The new model is slightly more restricted, and spatial imaging (where everything is on the soundstage) isn't as well defined. Sony's bass-heavy sound isn't horrible, but I wish it were a little bit less in-your-face. I've found dialing it back in Sony's very solid EQ helps a bunch, but it's a shame that I have to. To be clear: The Sony WH-1000XM6 sound very good, but the likes of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 have shown what wireless over-ears are really capable of. The Bose straight-up sound worse than the Sony WH-1000XM6. They're bassier and warmer, and you lose some top-end detail and presence. There are going to be some people who are fans of their looser attention to detail and sloppier low-end, but the Sony sound noticeably better. You can EQ the Bose slightly with a three-band adjuster, but they never quite manage to sound as good as Sony's headphones — let alone other headphones you can pick up for the price. Both sets of headphones have good apps and well-rounded feature sets that have their fans and detractors. Both sets of headphones have good apps and well-rounded feature sets that have their fans and detractors. We'll start with the XM6. The Sony Sound app has been recently re-done, and it works very well. It can be slightly confusing for first-time users with some of the features hidden away in separate sub-menus, but once you know where everything is you'll be navigating the headphones' multiple features with aplomb. It's in the app that you'll find the noise-canceling modes. I don't really get these — I just leave my ANC on max level when I want it. Transparency is the one mode I do use frequently, however, as well as the 'off' setting, so that I can save a little battery. Inside the app there's also the EQ, and it's very good. Plenty of bands for adjustment make it very easy to dial the sound in exactly as you want it. Spatial audio is here as well, and it's much better than Bose's option. It's similar to Apple's headtracked Dolby Atmos, only it's built for Amazon Music Unlimited as opposed to Apple Music. Bose's app is also very easy to use, I find. Everything is better laid out than Sony's app, but there are fewer options for customizing your headphones. I don't miss the multi-step ANC adjustment, and I like how you can turn the ANC to transparency and back. Not off, however, for Bose does not believe in turning ANC off. To each their own, but it would be nice to have the option to save some battery life. EQ is good, although not as in-depth as Sony. It gives you ample opportunity to change the sound of your headphones in the long run, however. Giving you ample opportunity to make use of the 'off' slider is Bose's version of spatial audio. It's an in-house 'enhancement' of whatever music the headphones are playing, but I find it just makes music sound anemic. It's the best of these in-house systems, also found in the likes of the Marshall Monitor III and the Nothing Headphone (1), but it's still better left in the 'off' position. Perhaps the most important part of the whole competition here — has Sony finally caught up to the might of the Bose noise-canceling machine? Short answer: No. The longer answer is that Sony's noise canceling is better than that found on the older XM5. Thanks to a new chip and some more clever algorithm changes, the ANC handles some annoying noises better than before. But Sony where promising the best ANC, and the best ANC we have not received. They still struggle slightly with really loud noises that the Bose manage to block out, and they're less of a step up over their predecessor than I was hoping for. Perhaps that's unfair, but the Bose headphones prove that better noise canceling is possible. The Bose headphones prove that better noise canceling is possible. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have sat at the top of the list of the best noise-canceling headphones for a long time for a reason. They're really, really good at it. They block out more noise than just about anything else, making your commute and office time more comfortable. Transparency modes across both are good and sound natural. However, the Bose win thanks to superior ANC overall. If only it could be turned off for some extra battery life. Another quick and easy one to decide here: The Bose lose out on battery life thanks to their limited 24 hours of staying power. That's not great, and the Sony handily beat them out with 35 hours of battery. During my testing, I found that the battery life claims of both pretty much matched the expected life on the specs sheet. Remember that you can extend the XM6 to 40 hours when you turn off the ANC as well, something you can't do with the Bose headphones. Fast charging is a helpful bonus for both headphones: 3 minutes of charging the XM6 gets you 3 hours, while the Bose get 2.5 hours after a 15-minute charge. Both aren't the best around, but there is a clear winner overall. I put these two headphones head-to-head when the XM6 launched, but I didn't have both in hand at that point. Now that I've had ample testing time with both sets of headphones, I can find a clear winner — and it's Sony with the XM6. They might not look quite as pretty as the Bose or have better ANC performance, but their sound, features, and battery life ultimately win them the competition. If you're looking for the best ANC you can buy, I've found you're still better off with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. For just about everything else, the Sony are the headphones of choice. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Sony WH-1000XM6 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Price and value (5) 3 3 Design (15) 13 14 Controls (10) 7 5 Sound quality (25) 22 20 Active noise cancelation (20) 15 20 Call quality (10) 9 9 Connectivity (5) 5 5 Battery life (10) 8 5 Total Score (100) 84 80
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
It's a... speaker in a picture frame? I just got the Samsung Music Frame, and I'm conflicted
I'm a big audio nerd, which basically means I'm always on the lookout for the best speakers. I'm on a mission to upgrade my home sound system from, well, nonexistent, to existing. I recently got my hands on the Samsung Music Frame, which ticks all my boxes: unique, innovative, stylish, and, surprisingly, sounds great. However, it doesn't really add much to my sound system — it's incompatible with the rest of my tech. So far, I've got a lovely Bose Smart Soundbar, a couple of portable speakers for park trips and car journeys (no, my car doesn't have Bluetooth, yes, I know that's tragic), and one weighty party speaker. I still need a subwoofer (but Bose subwoofers are soooo expensive) and a really good pair of desktop speakers. If you've got a Samsung Q Symphony TV and a Samsung soundbar, then the Music Frame is a no brainer. Still on the fence? Here's my overall first impressions. Let's just take a moment to talk about the most unique part of the Music Frame, and, well, the only reason I'd recommend it wholeheartedly. Its design. The Music Frame is the most innovative speaker I've ever seen, and I've seen a huge range of speakers. The Samsung Music Frame is currently $100 off at Amazon. For existing Samsung users, the Music Frame makes a lot of sense, integrating with other Samsung tech. The design is very innovative and the sound quality is also better than I expected given the small size of the speakers. It can be wall mounted or be placed on its stand. As I must obey the rules of my landlord, I was forced to use the stand. Imagine how cool the Music Frame would look on the wall, though. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. You can even customize the artwork in said Music Frame (for an extra cost... of course). I've not got around to that yet, seeing as I just unboxed this thing yesterday. All in due time. On top of having Apple AirPlay and Chromecast (which works with both my Spotify app and my Qobuz app), the Music Frame also has Alexa and Google Home built in. As I don't use Alexa or Google Home, this is irrelevant to me, but if you partake in the smart home ecosystem, rest assured that the Music Frame will treat you right. I was able to get the Music Frame up and running in seconds thanks to the SmartThings app. My boyfriend named the speaker "Longjohn Beatbox" (don't ask) and now it sits snugly in the rest of my Samsung smart home, alongside my Bespoke Jet AI Ultra ("Chief Dusty") and washing machine ("Mayor Spinny"). I know it means very little, but I do like seeing all my gadgets nice and happy together in my virtual home. Maybe, like Toy Story, they all wake up at night and talk about me. All good things, I hope... all good things. Seeing as the Music Frame is just 2 inches deep, I didn't anticipate mind-blowing sound quality. Why, I hear you ask? Well, it's a frame. It's literally a frame. There's simply no room for ground-shaking woofers. My Tribit StormBox Blast 2 has 60mm woofer, which is roughly 2.4 inches. Ergo, Samsung Music Frame = too small. The Music Frame sounds better than you'd expect, though. I upped the bass to max in the SmartThings app, and also upped my bass in the Spotify app (despite Spotify's EQs being famously bad). The bass-heavy track sounded way better when I played via Qobuz's Airplay over Spotify's, but on both apps, still sounded bassier than anticipated. No, it didn't rattle my bones or irritate my downstairs neighbors (they hate my Tribit StormBox Blast 2), but it did the trick. See, here's the thing: I don't actually think Samsung intended this to be the "Music" Frame. I think the Music Frame is intended to be a rear-speakers-for-Samsung's-luxury-soundbars product. You can sync up the Music Frame with the Q990D (amongst others) for a surround-sound experience. Hear me out. Rear speakers are ugly, right? Yes. So why not fix the problem and design a frankly gorgeous speaker you can put anywhere in your living room? Problem solved. I actually tested out the Music Frame as rear speakers at one of Samsung's HQs and it impressed me way more than listening to music. I think the Music Frame really excels when used as soundbar rear speakers, but just for music? It'll do. It won't blow your socks off, although it won't have you wincing. Unfortunately, as you might expect, the Music Frame's TV/AV features are restricted to the Samsung ecosystem. If you have a Samsung TV (with Q Symphony) and a Samsung soundbar (like the flagship Q990D), you will be able to sync up all these devices for an awesome home hi-fi setup. The Samsung Music Frame is currently $100 off at Amazon. For existing Samsung users, the Music Frame makes a lot of sense, integrating with other Samsung tech. The design is very innovative and the sound quality is also better than I expected given the small size of the speakers. However, if, like me, you have a Panasonic TV and a Bose soundbar (or any other non-Samsung brands), you're kind of stuck. The Music Frame will be demoted to a pretty Bluetooth speaker. For $400, that's an expensive Bluetooth speaker. Yes, it looks cool, but I don't think it sounds good enough to justify $400. Therefore, unless you have a Q Symphony TV and a flagship Samsung soundbar, I think you'd be better off with a different Bluetooth speaker for now — one that prioritizes sound quality over design. If that sounds like you, why not check out the Sonos Move 2 instead? Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I test headphones for a living — and these are my favorite wireless earbuds for true audiophiles
Look, I know that buying a pair of wired earbuds for $100 is going to sound better than the likes of the WF-1000XM5 and the rest of the best wireless earbuds. Wired options are capable of carrying a higher-quality signal, and the space once taken up by batteries and Bluetooth modules can be better used for drivers and other assorted audio bits and bobs. I thought you'd never be able to get audiophile sound out of wireless buds — until I was lucky enough to try out some very premium earbuds from US manufacturer Noble. My world was turned upside down — amazing sound, epic features, all packed into some very slick-looking earbuds. Wireless convenience with the sound I crave from earbuds, so that I can listen critically when I'm out and about. Turns out the problem was about spending lots of money — although there is a cheaper pair that gets very close. If you're looking for "good sound", you're going to be fine with the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and the Sony WF-1000XM5. They feature a warm and welcoming sound signature that forgoes control and fidelity for comfort and listenability. Bass heads will prefer the Bose's low-end grunt, while most people will be served well by the more restrained Sony buds. What we're looking for is something wholly different. We want a more open soundstage, more detailed highs, rounder mids, and a more controlled low-end. Generally, that's something you'll only find in a pair of wired earbuds. It's a sound profile that audiophiles prefer for critical listening, the idea being to get as close to the artist's intent as possible. I haven't had much luck finding a sound like that in wireless buds. They're generally aimed at more casual listening, which would make sense. I've gotten close with buds from Sennheiser, but there's still been something missing — until I get to earbuds from Noble. With their jewel-like shells and green aluminum charging case, the Noble Fokus Rex5 look like they're worth every part of their $449 price tag. They're a stunning pair of buds, and they feel like they could be run over by a tank and still work for my critical listening sessions. They've got loads of battery life, a comfortable fit, and blah de blah... we're here for the sound. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. And what sound it is. There are five drivers inside, each dealing with a different part of your music. The bass, while not as loud as other, more established options, is extremely well controlled and deliciously deep. That means you can spend more time hearing all the little low-end details, like bass guitar strings being plucked and wobbly synth parts. Classical music timpani are impactful and clear as well — you can feel the drummer hitting his drum. The mids are wide, with loads of definition for guitars and other instruments. Heavy chugging riffs out of my favorite music have just the right amount of edge to be crunchy without being uncomfortable on the ear — epic stuff. The highs are detailed, making for perfect cymbal crashes and soaring electric guitar solos. Wind instruments in classical arrangements sound sublime as a result. I can't think of a better way to illustrate their audiophile credentials than to show you how easy it is to pick out the finer details of a track with them. We'll use Bobby Caldwell's Love Won't Wait because I like it. The chirping cymbals stand out as the song begins, the smooth drum beat bringing the first semblances of funk. The bass introduces itself, and you can hear the guitarist's fingers dance across the fretboard. The orchestra joins the fray, and each instrument in the horn section is easy to pick out. Bobby starts to croon, and the earbuds reveal the crest of each breath as he sings. The saxophone around 2:11 is smooth, living firmly in the left of the mix. The soundstage (which is how 'wide' your music sounds) places instruments well between the ears, and makes the ensemble sound as big as you'd hope. $449 well spent in my eyes. Note: as a revealing set of buds, these are designed with out-and-out bass performance in mind, so bass heads need not apply. You'll want what comes next... The Rex5 are a very expensive pair of earbuds, make no mistake — but they sound incredible. If you're looking for the best-sounding pair of wireless earbuds without compromise, these are they. If the mega-expense of the Rex5 is too much for you, then you'll want to look at the less-expensive Fokus Amadeus. That doesn't mean they're cheap, however. They'll set you back $320, with solid battery life, a comfortable fit, and some pretty good ANC... again, we're all about the sound today. Where the Rex5 are all about control and high-end detail, the Amadeus uses a single driver setup to show you all the little things that are happening down low in your music. They go all the way down, with some epic sub-bass for some of the most impactful bass out of a pair of earbuds that I've ever tested. That doesn't mean the rest of the frequency range is in any way ignored or pushed aside. They're still very detailed, and the mid-range is very well represented for those all-important instruments. They don't sound better than the Rex5, but they sound different, catering to audiophiles who want to critically listen for all the bits of bass you might otherwise miss. Again, let me take you through a listening session to give you a clearer picture. We'll go with something bassy — Becky Hill and Chase & Status' Disconnected. The depth of Becky's voice in the introduction is something to be envied — the low bits rumble with some impressive presence. Then the synths start to build, and the drums start to ramp up, before the massive bassy crescendo that shakes your skull. The dancing synths that make themselves known later, dancing from left to right. Becky's voice remains completely clear despite the heavy bass, with no signs that she's being overpowered by the low-end. The drums keep time throughout the track, smooth in delivery and controlled in impact. It's a stellar performance, and allows you to see how much variance and detail there can be in drum & bass. The Noble Fokus Amadeus earbuds bring some extra low-end to the table while keeping things easy to digest and easy to decipher. They've also got more battery than the Rex5, although they lose out in sonic detail. If you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on some earbuds, then you're going to do well with the Cambridge Audio A100. They're not 'traditionally audiophile' and there's a bunch of true anoraks that have just turned their noses up at me and demanded I return my Audiophile Club membership card. But I'll stand by them — they're a great way to wirelessly critically listen without the need for something with a wire. They've got some excellent, controlled bass, while retaining that all-important high-end detail that we're looking for with audiophile earbuds. They're not going to hold a candle to similarly priced wired options, but for something wireless, they're better for hobby listening than just about anything else below the $250 price point. I've had loads of fun listening to them on the train and picking apart my favorite tunes – and the fact I'm less worried about them tumbling down the side of my seat just makes them all the more sweet. Let's see how they fare with a quick listen-through of Depth Of Satan's Eyes from mad occult rockers Ghost. The bass guitar hits hard and fast, not overstaying its welcome or overpowering the distorted guitars as the track kicks off. The drums are very well defined, although there's perhaps a little missing out of the very top end of the cymbals. Papa begins his unholy singing, and the buds are more than happy to reveal some extra detail, like his breathing. The synth kicks in, things become more foreboding, and they perhaps slide in behind the guitars a little too much compared to the more expensive options. As the track reaches its peak, the A100 show some dynamism as the volume changes around. The loud parts are loud enough, while the quiet parts are peaceful and calm. There's a lot for audiophiles to like about these little buds. The Cambridge Audio Melomania nab you the convenience of wireless connectivity, while retaining a solid, audiophile-friendly sound signature. They're very comfortable, too. I could write until I'm blue in the fingers about how much fun critical listening can be, but also how you don't need to go out and buy some new buds to do it. Sure, they'll reveal more detail and let you really get in deep with your music, but sometimes all it takes is a little attention. Critical listening is all about listening to music as an activity rather than a background silence filler. You'll find details you never knew were there if you take the time to appreciate your music — although I can't guarantee you won't come away wishing for more. 'Tis a slippery slope, and one without a bottom. Or a financial ceiling. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
