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[REVIEW] Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones

Audiomax by AVANTEK has kindly provided these bluetooth headphones for review.
Packaging-
The packaging reminds me of the overpriced premium headphones that you get from “Dr. Dre Beats” but for the audiophiles, we all know that the beats are just overpriced gimmicks. But yes, what I’m saying is that there’s nothing wrong with the packaging. It gives them that stand out look that grabs your attention as you can see from the photos above.
Included in the box is:
HB-8A Headphone
Instructions
AUX Cable
USB – Micro USB Cable
Drawstring Pouch for safe storage
Design-
Kudos to Avantek/Audiomax, they have really thought hard on these headphones, no design flaws as of yet. The side of the headphones have a brushed aluminium finish to them, good job too as they stand out perfectly. Would I wear them outside. Of course! The cushions are extremely comfortable, after trying them for 2 hours I didn’t feel the need to take them off for a break. If they are too small for you, they can easily be extended just like any other headphones.
Sound Quality-
As you can probably expect what I’m going to say. The quality of the sound these headphones can produce is really good. I haven’t tried them loud but at a comfortable volume level that I can listen to all day. Even with some minor adjustments to the EQ (Equalizer) on my phone, there was no distortions. Even for Bluetooth you always worry about the fact as they are wireless that you might encounter some kind of distortion, but I didn’t.
I’ve tried these whilst cycling and did the job perfectly, I didn’t really notice any wind distortions whilst listening to music. I’ve kept my phone in the backpack without issue with the Bluetooth connection.
Features-
Pairing the headphones is relatively easy. Whilst the headphones are off, hold and long press on the call button, the headphones will power on, whilst still holding down, the light will flash blue and red (Pairing Mode) and phone picked up the headphones. Long pressing again will turn it off.
There’s 2 volume buttons next to the call button so no need to use your phones volume control.
The headphones also come with a built-in microphone. After testing with Skype I was heard clearly without the trouble of repeating myself, but this also depends on the quality of your broadband connection to the end-user your trying to communicate with.
Specifications-
Bluetooth CSR 4.0
aptX
Integrated Microphone
Noise Cancelling Technology
Range 8-10 Meters
Call – Music playtime: 19 hours
Charging time: 2-3 hours, depending on charge.
Information below is taken from the product page. Source from Amazon.
Exquisite Sound Quality
With their state-of-the-art drivers, the headphones deliver crystal-clear highs, vigorous mids and deep bass for the richest listening experience. The Apt-X technology provides high-speed transmission while the passive noise isolation technology filters out ambient noise for maximum audio quality.
Convenient Use
The on-ear stereo headphones provide an impressive hands-free solution for receiving calls and streaming music. To pause or resume music in Bluetooth mode, just push the Power/Call button. When a call comes in, simply push the same button to answer, or hold the Volume Up button to reject. Easily change volume or track number by pressing the Volume Up/Next Track and Volume Down/Previous Track buttons.
Comfortable Design
The aluminum construction keeps the headphones light but sturdy, and the foldable design allows you to take them wherever your day takes you. The ultra-soft ear cushions ensure a snug seal while the adjustable, air-quilted leather headband provides maximum comfort for extended wear.
Verdict-
Would I recommend these headphones? YES! not only do they look great, but they produce amazing sound quality. Getting a pair of the Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth headphones is something that you won’t regret, if you’re looking for a new pair that is.
The headphones have been rated Gold from Reviews Insider.
Sample pictures are located on the original review located Reviews Insider I can't get the pictures to size correctly on this forum sorry.

How much does it cost?

£45.99 on Amazon

atomfix said:
£45.99 on Amazon
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Thank you for the info

Thanks for the review. All my earphones are IEMs(in ear) because I think over ear headphones are heavy. Though Audiomax HB-8A has aluminum construction, do you think it will fit comfortably with a person like me who is used to wearing IEMs?

I685 Headphones Are Awesome

#BiosI685meiyuan
I like these headphones a lot. They're quire fashionable to wear and they feel soft. They can bend so its more transportable then usual headphones. I received them fast in the mail. The sound is actually really good. You can hear audio quite clear. Its even able to work with phone calls. The cord is long and is covered with thick thread. These headphones come with a mic and sound adjuster .
The headphone cushions are really comfortable and just because the headphones in general bend doesn't mean they cant extend. I would really recommend these headphones to any of my friends. :laugh:
http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Intone-...p/B0116Z5X2M/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

[Review] UNITEK Aluminium Wireless Stereo Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Hey guys,
As a lot of you may know by now, I like reviewing mostly unknown brands to see what their quality is like in comparison to a brand which we all know! Well today I'm back with a review of this UNITEK speaker! (Pictures at the bottom!)
First things first, lets start with the packaging. It arrives in a plastic package which has details about what the speaker can do, such as hands free voice calls, play music and listen to the FM Radio. You can clearly see the speaker, which I think is a nice touch!
I have to say, the speaker was a lot smaller then I expected, like.. a lot smaller! Taking the speaker out of the packaging, you are greeted with an instruction manual which tells you how to do everything with the speaker such as volume up and down and how to power it on. A flat micro-usb cable and a little 'Thank You' card are also included in the packaging!
The build of the speaker is really, really good. It is fully metal and is pretty heavy which makes me believe it is definitely real metal, as it is also cold to the touch. It has a nice chamfer on the top and middle of it, which make it look more premium. The speaker grill at the top is also metal which is great!
On the bottom of the speaker there is a blue LED light which lights up when you turn on the speaker, and flashes while music is playing. All the controls are on the bottom side of the speaker. There is a button which changes from bluetooth mode, to aux mode to FM radio mode (which interestingly uses the Micro-USB cable as the antenna!). There are also the volume up and down buttons, skip track buttons and pause play buttons. There is a port for the Micro-USB cable and there is a SD Card slot in case you have any music on an SD card.
Lets talking about sound quality. It is loud, really, really loud. Shaking desks and vibrating floors loud. It really surprised me since the speaker is so small, but I wouldn't recommend keeping it up that loud all the time in case it blows the speaker! The bass is really good with this speaker which I love and the mids and the highs are pretty decent as well from my testing! Battery life is great, and I got about 4.5/5 hrs of music playback with the speaker. It only took 30 minutes to charge from 0-100% as well.
Overall, this is an excellent speaker and I would fully recommend it to anybody who is interested in one!
Here is a link to all pictures bundled together! http://imgur.com/a/x9WYC
Link to speaker is here!

Good Earbuds under 40$ ?

Hello, my House of Marley Earbuds recently broke and now I'm searching for an replacement. I'm not sure if I buy wired headphones again or switch to wireless headphones. Can someone recommend me some good headphones under 40$ ? Is there also a pair of wireless earbuds with an wired option (that would be ideal) ?

Do you want earbuds, in ear monitors, or headphones? Those are 3 different things. Earbuds, just like apple ipods that don't have a nozzle that goes into your earcanal, the best price/performance ratio in that category is $5 VE Monk+. In ear monitors (IEM) have a nozzle that goes into your ear, a more traditional, probably like the one you had before where you have a nozzle and different size eartips you select to make a better seal. If you want a killer price/performance ratio iems, try Meeaudio RX18, they are on amazon for $5-$6.
It has been awhile since I reviewed budget headphones, back when I used to review and to post on XDA, but I can tell you will not be disappointed with either of these $5 budget gems. Both have a very impressive sound quality, and shows you that you don't need to spend even $40 to get a good iem. Also, IEMs by KZ, like KZ ATE model which you can find for $12-$13 are very good. Of course, there are TOTL flagship iems that cost thousands of dollars, but that's not for XDA discussion

Thank's for the explanation ?. I mean't the In ear monitors. I'l check out the Meeaudio RX18.
What do you think about the Xiaomi Hybrid ?
And is it a good idea to buy a pair of Bluetooth i montiros (mostly for watching YouTube and gamimg) ?

Frostplexx said:
Thank's for the explanation . I mean't the In ear monitors. I'l check out the Meeaudio RX18.
What do you think about the Xiaomi Hybrid ?
And is it a good idea to buy a pair of Bluetooth i montiros (mostly for watching YouTube and gamimg) ?
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Xiaomi makes great stuff, you probably gonna like it! You can never go wrong with hybrids that usually feature dynamic driver (for the bass) and Balanced Armature "BA" driver for mids and treble.
You can find a ton of bluetooth IEMs, typically a pair of earpieces connected by a "wire" with in-line remote. They sound OK, but not all of them have a decent fit/comfort. With a wire-down fit they can fall out easily as you move around. Again, for example, Meeaudio has X6 Plus wireless sports in-ear monitors that have over-ear fit so it stays comfortably in your ear and those are reasonably priced under $30. In general when you are a looking for wireless budget iems, keep in mind that just because they look cool they might not function as good. Big fancy earpieces can easily fall out of your ears, and when you start fiddling with in-line remote to play/pause/skip/volume adjustment - earpieces can also fall out when you pull on the wire. So, over ear fit, regardless if its Meeaudio or someone else - is more desirable.
Another thing to keep in mind, most of these are BT4.1. Definitely make sure they support aptX codec, you will get better sound quality. But be aware, the current mainstream BT protocol still has a sync delay between video and audio. For playing music it's fine, but once you start watching YT or Netflix or playing games, you can have some delay. It's a gray area because I have seen some companies selling low-latency Bluetooth transceivers but not sure if there are headphones to support it yet...

Thank you for your help. I just bought the Xiaomi Hybrid.

Frostplexx said:
Thank you for your help. I just bought the Xiaomi Hybrid.
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Don't forget to come back and share your impressions!

The In ear monitors just arrived and they sound great. They sit also very well in my ears butt its a little tricky to get them in your ears because of the angled design. The only thing that I don't understand is why they change the cable midway from sleeved to rubber. I would recommend these in ear monitors.

Frostplexx said:
The In ear monitors just arrived and they sound great. They sit also very well in my ears butt its a little tricky to get them in your ears because of the angled design. The only thing that I don't understand is why they change the cable midway from sleeved to rubber. I would recommend these in ear monitors.
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Like in the attachment? That one is Xiaomi Pistons 3, so probably similar.
When cable rubs against your clothe, it can create microphonics effect, and it can get worse with that braided sleeve. That's why they change it to rubber sleeving going up above the y-splitter. Plus, rubber sleeving is more durable which makes sense to have at the top, because the clothe braid will be wearing off faster and can get loose after awhile.

Ok that makes sense. I noticed when I wear the headphones for a longer period of time they start hurting a little bit, but i think thats because u have pretty small ears.

Review: Bang&Olufsen Beoplay E8

I am a music addict. I listen to a big varienty of styles: Metal, Electronic, R&B, you name it. Beeing an audiophile in my beginnings, I do not only care about how music is produced but also how it is reproduced. I already own the RMA T20 for on-the-go music consumption. Although they are a great pair of in-ear buds, they still are tied to cables. Since my Pixel 2XL comes without audio port, I was looking for a decent pair of true wireless earbuds that do not need any kind of cord.
Half a month ago, I bought the Bang&Olufsen Beoplay E8 that I find to be the most ambitious true wireless earbuds for audiophiles available today. I tested them thoroughly over the last 2 weeks and want to share an honest review.
Notice: I paid the full price (~260 EUR on Amazon.de) and did not recieve any discounts or incentives in order to write this review. I have no relation to B&O whatsoever. So this review is unbiased and reflects my personal opinion.
TL;DR
Pros:
great sound
precious looking buds and case
nice app with versatile EQ
transparency mode lets environmental sounds through
works nice with phone calls
multiple gestures
dropouts close to none
lipsync audio/video
Cons:
expensive
Micro-USB port
mediocre battery lifetime (~3h)
skip forward gesture often mistaken for a pause gesture
Review
Package
The package contains the 2 earbuds, a charging case, a thin USB-A to Micro-USB cable, several silicone earpieces (L, M, S, XS) and Comply earfoams (M).
Looks
The buds are a little big bulkier than what competitors like the Apple AirBuds offer but they look really precious in my eyes. The case comes with a leather coating and also offers nice haptics. The buds come in two color flavors: Black and charcoal (greyish). Both look nice, I own the black ones.
Pairing
Pairing works painlessly: Holding both touch areas for some seconds, the LED in the right bud indicates that pairing is now active. Then just use the normal bluetooth pairing of your phone.
App
The app is nicely designed and shows some informations about your buds like serial no and battery but also allows making settings.
You can choose EQ presets and make your own ones by placing an indicator in a sound-grid and tuning spacial levels. Sounds complicated but is actually rather intuitive. The app also notifies about firmware updates and does them only fly.
Functionality / Use
The buds provide an average playime of ~3h while the case provide enough power for 2 additional charges.
The interaction concept is based on two touch-sensitive areas (one per bud). A couple of gestures allow turning on, skip forward/backward, pause/play, volume control, transparency mode, call control and voice assistant activiation. Even if the sheer amount of gestures might be confusing for some, I find them easy to learn. Most of the time, they work pretty well. An sad exception is the "skip forward" gesture (double-tip right bud) that is often mistaken as pause (single-tip right bud). Besides this, the control is superiour to every other true wireless bud out there that I tested.
A highlight is the lip-sync audio/video (<0,2s lag) that makes videos a pleasure to watch. I tested other buds with a lag > 1s that made videos almost impossible to watch.
And when talking about comparisons with other buds: Most suffer from dropouts. These buds don't. At least almost. My greatest fear was that frequent dropouts would kill my pleasure. But these buds do really have a stable connection as long as the phone is not to far away from the right bud (master) and the left bud (slave) is not too far away from the right bud. In fact, I only faced short dropouts only in very few moments: While walking through a safety-scan door (interference) and crouching with my phone sticking in my jeans pocket (too much body between the phone and the buds). I don't know wether the up-to-date firmware is responsible for this, but I have absolutely no complaints in this department.
The transparency mode lets you percieve your environment in 3 flavors: environment only, mostly environment with soft music and 50/50.
Phone calls work like a charm and will even work while wearing only the left bud (master).
When put back in the case, the buds turn off automatically.
Sound
The sound is where these buds really do shine. They provide the B&O signature sound. This means: Transparent sound with clear, non-hissing hights, rich mids and present, defined lows. If you favor a modulated sound instead of a neutral one, you will love the EQ that the app features. Even if the sound reproduction cannot fully compete with audiophile cable headphones, I'd call it "almost audiophile". It is by far good enough to satisfy demanding music lovers. The sound is far ahead of any true wireless competition that I've checked.
Comfort
The buds really fit my ears well and despite their size, they have a tight fit that made me never afraid of having a bud dropping out of my ear.
Verdict
These are really great true wireless in-ear buds for audio lovers that unfortunately come with a hefty price tag. If you are into music on the go, you cannot go wrong. If you are looking for a sports companion, you might want to look somewhere else.