LG C2 42 Review: Best small-screen OLED TV money can buy

The LG C2(42) is a very good option for anyone who is looking for a small-screen OLED TV. It offers all the goodness of a top-notch OLED at a size where there are rarely any good options available in the market. Be it gaming or watching movies, the LG C2 (42) is a very good option, and its size also makes it a viable choice for being used as a high-end gaming monitor.

The last few years have seen an uptick in the number of people looking to go the OLED way for their next big TV for their living room. However, the number of those looking to buy a smaller OLED panel TV as a secondary set for their home, or even as a monitor for their desktop PCs, is still not huge. This is mostly because good OLED panel monitors do not come cheap, and the TVs, well, usually do not come small. 

The C2 (42) Evo OLED TV is LG's answer to such concerns, as it promises not just very good picture performance, and pixel-level dimming, but also brings to the table support for key gaming technologies like VRR, 120Hz refresh rate, G-Sync and more. 

We've had the LG C2 (42) with us for a while now, giving us a decent idea about the device, and more importantly, enough insight to help us answer the most important question of them all: Is it worth your money? Read our review to find the answer to this question and more. 

LG C2 (42) OLED TV: Specifications

Model name: :LG C2(42) OLED42C2PSA

Panel Size: 42-inch 

Panel Resolution: 3840 x 2160p (4K)

Panel Refresh Rate: 120hz

HDR 10 support: Yes

HDR 10+ support: No

Dolby Vision Support: Yes

HDMI 2.1 Ports: 4

HDMI 2.0 Ports: 0

USB Ports: 2

Bluetooth: Yes, 5.0

Wi-Fi: Yes, dual-band

Ethernet: Yes

Speakers: 40W down-firing stereo speakers

Processor: a9 Gen 5 AI Processor

MRP: Starts at Rs 1,39,900

LG C2 (42): Display and Picture Quality

LG has been going big on OLED technology for years now and this has resulted in it launching some extremely good OLED TVs. Having used the C2 (42) for a while now, we can safely say, this new TV from LG definitely joins the list. 

This is down to multiple reasons, and one of them is the company's use of Evo technology for the panel of the TV, which it is important to note, was restricted to LGs top of the line G1 range of OLED TVs up until last year. This technology improves the brightness of the panel through a new lighting element in the pixels themselves. 

Now, the interesting thing is that the Evo technology used on the smaller 42-inch model of the LG C2 we're reviewing today is slightly different than the one that's used on the models that are 55-inch and above. As such, on the 42-inch model of the C2, the gains are not as pronounced as the bigger models, because LG has had to cram in millions of pixels into very little space. However, the use of Evo technology has allowed LG to at least help the 42-inch model match, and at times even surpass, the picture performance of last year's bigger LG C1 models. 

(Peak luminance SDR)

Additionally, the presence of LG's new A9 Gen5 AI processor on the TV ensures that the C2 42 handles complicated scenes as well as video processing and the upscaling of low-resolution content really well. Plus, you also get support for HDR, HDR10 Pro, HLG and Dolby Vision. Although, there is no HDR10+, which may actually not be a big miss considering most content on streaming sites these days is mastered for Dolby Vision. 

So in day-to-day use, you'd notice the AI processing and the evo branded OLED panel of the TV coming together to push out some great visuals, with very good contrast, dynamic range and brightness peaks to wow. In fact, the performance is so good, that in bright scenes you can figure out the difference between really bright and moderately bright parts of the frame -- all without the loss of any details. Darker scenes too are handled well by the TV, and since the panel uses self-emitting pixels to create visuals, there is also no blooming or halo effect to ruin the experience. 

(Peak luminance HDR)

Set to the Filmmaker mode to simulate HDR performance, the LG C2 (42) also performed really well in terms of colour reproduction, with skin tones also proving to be quite accurate. These findings were corroborated by the results of the Calman tests we ran on the TV, as the C2 (42) clocked some really impressive numbers. 

Spectracal C6 Colorimeter paired with Calman Ultimate showed the TV clocking very good average DeltaE figures in the above-mentioned colour profile, with the max Delta error also at acceptable levels. The EOTF curve generated for the Filmmaker mode also showed just how well the TV is calibrated to handle dark and bright sequences, with the TV also showing good performance in maintaining a strong RGB balance in tests.

(Colour accuracy HDR)

Gamut coverage was also on point, with the TV covering about 130 per cent of the BT.709 colour space. Results for the slightly more challenging DCI-P3 were close to 100 per cent, with the panel also covering around 70 per cent of the BT.2020 colour space. Even in the luminance tests, we got really good results, with the LG C2 (42) reaching a peak of 292 nits in the SDR tests, and 750 nits when tested for HDR.

(RGB Balance and EOTF curve)

LG C2(42) Gaming

Apart from being a very good TV for watching movies and consuming multimedia content, the 42-inch LG C2 also makes for a very good TV (alternatively a monitor) for gaming. There's support for a lot of gaming first features, such as 4K 120Hz, VRR and G-Sync/FreeSync support. There's also support for ALLM for decreased latency to improve gaming experiences. Interestingly, all these features are supported on all four HDMI 2.1 ports, of the TV, making it a very good choice if you have multiple devices that can take advantage of this technology. 

All of these features combine to create immersive gaming experiences, and backed by the TV's rich handling of colours and deep blacks, we found the LG C2(42) taking our breath away when running HDR-ready games such as Dirt 5 or Assassin's Creed Valhalla. 

LG C2(42) Audio 

LG C2(42) comes with 40W down-firing stereo speakers, so in theory, the sound quality on the TV shouldn't be great. But reviewing the TV I found out that was definitely not the case. Despite its small frame, the LG C2(42) manages to sound good enough for the most part. While it may not be good enough for a living room set-up, this OLED TV will definitely be good enough if you plan to keep it in a smaller room.

However, if the above-par audio experience is what you're looking for, then investing in a decent soundbar is recommended. But like we mentioned above, the Dolby Atmos supporting speakers on the TV should do the trick even if you don't. 

LG C2 (42): Should you buy it?

The LG C2(42) is a very good option for anyone who is looking for a small-screen OLED TV. It offers all the goodness of a top-notch OLED at a size where there are rarely any good options available in the market. 

Be it gaming or watching movies, the LG C2 (42) is a great option for all that you may want to use it for, and its size also makes it a viable choice for being used as a high-end gaming monitor. However, it is this size that also ends up being the biggest headache for the TV. 

Compared to the bigger-sized models of the C2, this 42-inch model does not enjoy the same generational benefits in the display department and moreover does not also come at a price that makes it a very enticing offering. Making this one a TV that you can skip for a larger variant of the LG C2 itself or maybe an OLED from the Sony A80K line-up. Unless of course, you need a small-screen TV for your bedroom or a high-end OLED monitor for your desktop. In that case, the LG C2(42) may just be the perfect TV for you. 

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Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: A cut above the rest

Sony has done it yet again! Expectations are always soaring when it comes to Sony’s flagship WH-1000X series of headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5 more than just meets it. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are, without a doubt, best-in-class noise cancelling headphones. These headphones are a statement to rivals from Bose, Sennheiser, and Jabra to sit up and take notice.

Revered by many, Sony’s WH-1000X series has rarely disappointed with its class-leading Active Noise Cancellation and reliable sound. The winning formula by Sony continues with the latest and greatest noise cancelling headphones from the company – the Sony WH-1000XM5. These latest ANC over-ear headphones come with a major design overhaul but in its essence, it exhibits the DNA of the WH-1000X lineup we’ve come to love. However, the redesign and a sprinkling of ever-expanding features have bumped the price up from the previous iteration. Sporting a price tag of ₹34,990, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is now placed closer to the price range of two of its most fierce competitors – Bose NC 700 and Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. While it was not just the lower price point that made the Sony WH-1000X lineup stand out, the price hike can be a cause for concern in the price-conscious Indian market. The question remains, does the Sony WH-1000XM5 completely justify its cost or does it fall short? Let’s find out in this review.   

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Build and design

Sony hasn’t applied the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” strategy this time around with the Sony WH-1000XM5. In fact, the flagship headphones from Sony get a complete design overhaul this year. The headphone’s profile is slimmer, smoother, and curvier than its predecessor. We’re glad Sony decided to redesign these headphones since the Sony WH-1000XM4 had an almost identical design to its predecessor and honestly, design and hardware overhauls are what keep tech interesting and fresh. 

The headphone has fewer visible joints and hinges and more discreet microphones. The whole look is more “stealthy”, for the lack of a better word. The design also allegedly improves the flow of air across the headphone frame to mitigate wind noise. However, this design departure has given the boot to the foldability of the headset. Much like the Bose NC 700, the Sony WH-1000XM5 simply lie flat but doesn’t fold away into a more portable unit, which can be a polarising design for some. 

It deters users from just stowing away this headset in their bag since it feels much more vulnerable since it can’t be folded away into a ball. We encourage users to use the supplied hard carry case since it will keep your pricey investment safe. However, the case will definitely take up more real estate in your bag than the Sony WH-1000 Mark 4 would have taken in its folded state. 

That aside, the headphones are primarily built out of plastic but it feels exquisite and premium to the touch. Also, Sony’s dedication to the environment impresses us – the WH-1000XM5 is made predominantly of recycled ABS, a material that was first used by the company in their LinkBuds. The eco-friendly aspect carries over in the packaging with no plastic whatsoever used in it. The branding is minimal throughout the headset – just a tiny Sony logo on each hinge. The headphones are available in Black and Silver (more like beige) colour variants and we loved how classy our Silver review unit looked.

The headband now has sliders instead of clicking extenders. This feels sturdier than earlier designs and the extending process is now more seamless. It extends quite a bit so even those with larger heads should get a good fit. The earcups can be swivelled to lie flat inside the case or on your chest when not in use. The headband is now slimmer and the ear cups have a slightly different shape – more ovoid than oval. 

Onboard controls remain largely the same – there are two physical buttons on the left ear cup (power and ANC) and the surface of the right ear cup is touch sensitive. You can swipe up and down to change volume, double tap to pause and answer calls, swipe forwards or backwards to change tracks, and press and hold for Assistant. Quick Attention makes a comeback, so you can rest your palm on the right ear cup to instantly jump into Ambient Mode. The headphones house a USB-C charging port on the right cup and a 3.5 mm audio jack on the left cup for passive listening.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are exceptionally well built with no creaks and rattles whatsoever when in use. However, if you’re looking for gym buddies or cans you can take out in the rain, the Sony WH-1000XM5 isn’t the one for you since there’s still no official IP rating. 

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Comfort and fit

Although the headband is slightly slimmer and the ear cups seem a bit less plushy than previous iterations, surprisingly, we found that comfort didn’t take a hit at all. The WH-1000XM5 is slightly lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 250 grams. We were effortlessly being able to sit with these cans on our heads for hours on end with little to no signs of discomfort. There was no painful hotspot created on top of our heads after a few hours of listening to music – a problem we surprisingly faced on the WH-1000XM4. 

The streamlined ear cups were plush enough to comfortably engulf our ears. Previous iterations didn’t quite accommodate those with larger ears, but with the WH-1000XM5, the padding is wide and deep enough to accommodate most ear sizes. The soft vegan leatherette material can get slightly hot though, especially in Mumbai’s sweltering heat. However, if you sit in a room with AC or a speedy fan, then you shouldn’t face too much of an issue here. The memory foam in the headband and ear cups make for a comfortable fit and the clamping force is just perfect, they feel secure enough but without the feeling of crushing your ears. 

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Active Noise Cancellation and other features

If you’re willing to part with ₹34,990 of your hard-earned money, you would expect a cutting-edge pair of headphones with almost every modern-day feature at your disposal. And the Sony WH-1000XM5 delivers just that for you. These headphones are chock full of premium features including ANC, an accompanying app, fast charging, and more. 

Let’s start with Sony’s lauded Active Noise Cancellation technology. To help with delivering the best noise cancellation possible, the Sony WH-1000XM5 leverages the integrated V1 processor and upped the number of microphones from four to a whopping eight. 

Sony impresses greatly on the noise-cancelling front and proves exactly why the company is exalted as the best in business for effective ANC. Last time around, with the Sony WH-1000XM4, the company focussed on improving low-end ANC and this time around, they’ve gone for an improvement in the higher frequencies. And the result speaks for itself. The Sony WH-1000XM5 confidently envelops you into a cocoon of silence despite the cacophony of the outside world. 

The low rumbles of an AC or airplane are non-existent and mid-range and higher-frequency sounds are dulled out to a great extent. Sony explained that the new 30 mm driver design makes use of a high rigidity dome and dome to diminish some of the higher-pitched sounds. So, even if your music isn’t turned up too loud, chances are, you will hear almost no ambient noise with ANC turned on. These headphones are truly a masterclass for ANC and we’re excited to see how future generations mask out higher frequencies even further.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 can also recognise your environment and optimise noise cancellation as you move around with a feature called Adaptive Sound Control. It learns your daily routine and recognises where you are. The headphones can then switch between noise cancellation and ambient modes intelligently based on your location and preferences. In our tests, we found that this worked more seamlessly than it ever has before. Ambient Mode is pretty good; it has improved in how natural it sounds compared to its predecessor, but Apple’s AirPods Max is still the king of Ambient Sound.

Another one of Sony’s best features is the excellent Headphones Connect app. You can tweak Adaptive Sound Control settings within the app (change the level of Transparency and more). The app also features a custom equaliser, a couple of preset EQs, Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, and toggles for multipoint connection and DSEE. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio only supports one service in India though, which is disappointing. 

One thing missing is customisable controls, but to be fair, the controls are supremely intuitive and there’s absolutely no need to customise them. You can, however, change the function of the NC button on the headphones to include Spotify Tap which fires up Spotify using two or three taps.  

Speak to Chat returns as well but it's not a feature we enjoy using since it goes off at the worst times – when someone else in the room is talking loud or when we’re singing along with the song playing. Quick Attention, which we mentioned above, is one of our favourite features and works flawlessly. There’s also Wear Detection where simply taking your headphones off pauses the music and putting it back on resumes it – a feature we absolutely love.

Sony’s DSEE Extreme engine makes a comeback as well which allegedly upscales compressed music to near hi-res quality and the headphones are also compatible with LDAC codec alongside the more traditional SBC and AAC codecs. There’s no aptX or aptX HD but LDAC does allow streaming of high-quality audio on many compatible Android devices at higher bitrates than conventional Bluetooth. 

The Sony WH-1000XM5 also brings back the beloved multipoint connectivity feature, i.e. the ability to connect two devices simultaneously. This feature is an absolute godsend and works seamlessly. We love being able to have the headphones connected to both our mobile phone and laptop and the ability to switch effortlessly between them. However, you still can’t use this feature with LDAC active, which is a bummer.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 support your device’s native assistant but they also come with Alexa built-in, which is great. There’s both OK Google and Alexa wake-word detection as well, which is a rarity. So, you can perform handsfree actions from playing music, answering calls to reading notifications, and much more.  

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Sound quality, microphone, and connectivity

Sony chose to go with a smaller 30 mm driver this time around compared to the 40 mm one that sat inside the Sony WH-1000XM4. This initially made us a bit sceptical about the new headphones’ ability to convey dynamic sound with a sense of space, but with some technological wizardry, the XM5s sound just as good as their predecessor, in fact, they sound a bit more spacious than the Mark 4s. With LDAC codec and DSEE Extreme toggled on with Sony’s default EQ setting, the sound was dynamic, open and detailed. 

While FLAC files sound stellar with these headphones, DSEE Extreme can even eke out extra detail when you’re streaming music over Bluetooth on Spotify or YouTube Music. Those who follow Sony must know that the company does tend to boost the bass a bit when compared to other frequencies, and you get a similar warm, bass-boosted sonic profile out of the Mark 5s.  

In tracks such as Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, the bass kick is rich and punchy but it can slightly impact the clarity of the mids. But much of this is negated with LDAC and DSEE turned on. If you’re a casual music listener, you won’t be able to tell but if you’re an audiophile, we’d suggest diving into the custom EQ in the app and tweaking down the bass response by a bit. 

Mids, by themselves, are delivered with unerring precision and the headphones have impeccable timing as well. In Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, you can hear the drive and weight of the drums with ease but the Mark 5 also keeps the vocals clear with little sibilance. In crowded tracks such as Selkies by BTBAM, the instruments are clear and distinguishable. There’s a slight peak in the highs that allows more clarity to come through but this doesn’t sound tinny, thankfully. The headphones reproduce sound with lavish detail, something that’s only hindered a tiny bit by the slightly boosted bass and low mids. 

Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are sonically advanced headphones with rounded and punchy bass response, exquisite mids, and sparkly highs. The cans don’t distort at high volumes too, something we had an issue with on the Mark 4s. We constantly tried pushing the volume levels but didn’t hear an ounce of distortion, which is seriously impressive. In the wired mode, the headphones sound just as good if you keep them turned on, but if you turn them off, the sound quality takes a slight hit, especially in the low bass and highs.

Moving on to the microphone performance, the Sony WH-1000XM5 sports eight microphones and an AI noise rejection algorithm. The call quality on the headphones is just exemplary. Wind noise is almost non-existent and both ends of the conversation are clear and discernible. The Mark 5’s microphone is a great improvement over the Mark 4, which already had a good and reliable microphone. As for connectivity, you get Bluetooth v5.2 and there were no instances of lag or stutter during our testing period.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Battery life

The battery life of the Sony WH-1000XM5 remains largely unchanged from its predecessor. However, we’re not complaining since the more streamlined design could have meant that the battery life took a hit, which it didn’t. The headphones are rated at 30 hours of wireless playback time with ANC turned on and 40 hours with Noise Cancellation turned off. This is excellent battery life performance in our books, and the headphones even matched up to their rating in our tests. It lasted a little over 30 hours with NC turned on and AAC codec active. If you do keep LDAC on, you may see the numbers drop a bit.

If the cans run out of juice, the Sony WH-1000XM5 comes with fast charging capabilities where just 3 minutes of charge can get you a whopping 3 hours of wireless playback. However, you must use a USB PD charger for this. While we didn’t get to test this feature thoroughly, we will do so in the future, and update this review. 

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Verdict

Sony has done it yet again! Expectations are always soaring when it comes to Sony’s flagship WH-1000X series of headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5 more than just meets it. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are, without a doubt, best-in-class noise-cancelling headphones. These headphones are a statement to rivals from Bose, Sennheiser, and Jabra to sit up and take notice. While the Bose NC 700 are extremely capable ANC headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5 takes it a notch higher with excellent low-end noise cancelling and improved higher frequency sound mitigation. 

Add to that an overhauled design, great sound quality, a plethora of features, and a comfortable fit, and you’ve got the winning formula for an exquisite pair of noise-cancelling headphones in 2022 right here. Even with the price hike, those willing to spend will get their money’s worth with the Sony WH-1000XM5. Our only serious gripe is the lack of IP rating, which means we cannot recommend these cans to gym-goers or to those who live in particularly rainy areas.

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OnePlus Nord Buds CE Review: Decent at best

All things considered, the OnePlus Nord Buds CE is a decent buy if you are already a fan of the brand or are looking for a pair of earbuds that you can rely on for calls in the office or at home. 

In the last few years, OnePlus has been very proactive in the Indian market when it comes to launching new products. Apart from selling their top-of-the-line products, they have also understood and catered to the need for budget devices for Indian audiences. A prime example of that is their Nord line of products. They are targeted towards the people who are out in the market, looking for strictly value-for-money products and want to get their hands on a OnePlus product without breaking the bank.

The OnePlus Nord Buds CE, as the name suggests, are an addition to that same line of products, joining the OnePlus Nord Buds in OnePlus’ quest to stand tall against competitors like Realme, Xiaomi, and Oppo. The brand has launched its new TWS earbuds in a market that, off-late, has seen a steep rise in competition. So, to gauge whether OnePlus’ latest offering can stand up to the claims and competition it faces, we put the OnePlus Nord Buds CE to the test at the Digit Test Centre. Here’s what we found out.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE: Build and Fit

OnePlus Nord Buds CE are designed in a way which looks much higher than its price at a distance, but when you have a closer look, the flaws start to come to the surface. The oval-shaped charging case is made with glossy plastic and sports a subtle OnePlus branding on the front. Fresh out of the box, the case looks absolutely beautiful. However, even if you use it carefully, it tends to pick up scratches with time, dampening the looks quite a bit.

The earbuds come in two colours – Misty Grey and Moonlight White. Our Misty Grey review unit had some fans around the test centre. However, a few more colour options and a dual-tone design would have been great additions to the overall look of the earbuds. The hinge connecting the rest of the case to the lid, due to the lack of a string opening and closing mechanism, felt lose and quite flimsy. And, we did not have a great experience during day-to-day use. 

When it comes to the buds, they also carry over the same colour scheme as the case. They have a long stem, which we are generally not big fans of. The buds slid in and out of the case with ease. They have what we call here the AirPods-esque design, meaning that the fit was polarising. While some found it to be perfect, others had complaints of pain within an hour and a half of usage, which is a really short time considering the modern usage times. So keep that in mind. We’d recommend trying the buds out for yourself before making a purchasing decision.

As for the controls, they are embedded at the top of the stem, with the touch-sensitive region having a matte finish compared to the rest of the buds. The sensitivity of the touch sensors is great, and the slightly different finish on the stem makes it easier to recognise the touch-sensitive areas. However, if you are someone who finds the fit sub-par and has to reach out to the buds to fix it through the day, then you could find yourself triggering the actions that are associated with that touch pattern.

As a package, these look exactly what you pay for them. Not overly cheap, and not in the top brass either. The design and fit of the OnePlus Nord Buds CE are designed keeping a set target audience in mind, and we feel they would live up to the expectations of the people who are buying them for the most part.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE: Features

While you may see many pairs of earbuds that are extremely popular in this price range, the OnePlus Nord Buds CE are inclined towards keeping things simple. Like their cousins, the OnePlus Nord Buds, which we reviewed earlier, these earbuds have a limited number of features which otherwise fill up the reading materials of other earbuds.

For EQ and other customisations, these rely on the HeyMelody app when connected to non-OnePlus devices and OnePlus’ offerings below OnePlus 6. For devices newer than the OnePlus 6, all the functions of the HeyMelody app can be found in the device settings itself. The documentation may not say so, but other devices on ColorOS 11.0+ can find the same settings as the newer OnePlus devices baked into the settings. The app works well as usual and covers all the bases for OnePlus users.

The earbuds come with a low latency Game Mode that can be triggered by a triple tap on the stem. As advertised by OnePlus, the Game Mode brings down the latency to 94ms. The Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with OnePlus Fast Pair, ensures that there is a seamless and lag-free connection maintained between your device and the earbuds.

As we mentioned in our OnePlus Nord Buds review as well, the buds pack limited features. But whatever is baked in there is well optimised and taken care of during the development process to ensure that the user experience on this front is covered well.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE: Performance

When it comes to performance, there is nothing to write home about the OnePlus Nord Buds CE. As you can see for yourself in the graphs that we have below, the sound signature of the earbuds is bass-heavy. The mids are also underemphasised. To add to the misery is the fact that the design of the earbuds, due to the poor frequency response of the drivers, brings down the overall listening experience by quite a bit.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE (Yellow) vs OnePlus Nord Buds (Pink) vs Pink Noise (Green)

Comparatively, the Nord Buds, which retail for about ₹500 more, perform relatively much better. The bass is mellowed down, and the highs too are much better reproduced, giving a listening experience that is overall much better. However, at this price, a price difference of ₹500 can be a huge factor in swaying purchasing decisions. So, when strictly looking ₹100 on either side of the ₹2,299 price point of the OnePlus Nord Buds CE, then you can make these to be an enticing deal. Remember to test these out for the fit because the sound can vary a lot depending on the fit of these earbuds.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE (Yellow) vs Pink Noise (Green)    

Also lacking in these earbuds is Active Noise Cancelling. It would be nice to have addition, but considering the price and the fact that the more expensive Nord Buds lack ANC, we did not set our expectations high. The surrounding noise, when listening to music above the 70 per cent volume mark, was toned down. But again, due to the design, it depends a lot on the user’s ear shape. 

When it comes to microphones, during calls in indoor environments, the mics perform well. As soon as you have some background noise, these do not do a good job separating the audio, so your voice ends up being muffled. There are other earbuds in the market for a similar price which come with frills like artificial intelligence-based noise cancelling. But as we have found in our tests that the tech ends up being nothing but a spec-sheet filler. And, OnePlus, while advertising the AI Noise Cancelling for calls, fell right into the trap, which they could have easily avoided.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE: Battery Life

The battery life on the One Plus Nord Buds CE was sub-par. For ₹1,799 you can get the Oppo Enco Buds2, which have a much better battery life. In our test, we found that the Enco Buds2 lasted for 28 hours (with the charging case), while the Nord Buds CE (with the charging case) capped out at just 18 with some spare charge left in the case. The advertised battery life of these earbuds is 20 hours, which in itself is much shorter than that of the other earbuds in its class.

The buds themselves lasted for about 4 hours and 30 minutes in our battery test, where we placed them at 50 per cent volume levels. Considering the fact that these earbuds do not have ANC, we expected them to perform much better than they did. They lived up to the expectations set by the spec sheet, but we have seen buds that last much longer than these.

OnePlus also advertises fast charging on these earbuds, which as per their claims, provides 81 minutes of playback for a 10-minute charge via its USB-C charging port.

OnePlus Nord Buds CE: Verdict

All things considered, the OnePlus Nord Buds CE is a decent buy if you are already a fan of the brand or are looking for a pair of earbuds that you can rely on for calls in the office or at home. Otherwise, there are a bunch of options available in the market that bring many more features to the table and would also have a decked-out spec sheet. The TWS earbuds that we would name the OnePlus Nord Buds CE alternative is the Oppo Enco Buds2 which is cheaper and brings along a decent sound signature with appreciable specs for the price. 

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JBL Tune 230NC Review: High on bass Decent overall

The JBL Tune230NC TWS earbuds hold their ground well against their competitors. Their build and design are solid, there are plenty of features packed into the device. The performance is also great after a bit of tweaking. The JBL Headphones app also features a lot of customisation options which, when coupled with the battery life of these earbuds, make them a solid package.

The TWS market has become overly crowded, with offerings from various brands in all the price brackets. Especially when it comes to the sub-six thousand price bracket, the competition is even more cutthroat. Nothing has their ear(1)s, and brands like OnePlus are also out there with their Buds Z2. The consumer is truly spoilt for choices. With JBL coming in with their Tune230NC TWS earbuds, things have gotten even more interesting. So, to find out whether JBL could live up to the standards set by its competitors, we put the Tune230NC through our testing process. And the results were interesting. Here’s what we found out.

JBL Tune230NC: Build, Design, and Fit

The JBL Tune230NC, with its matte black coloured charging case that sports aesthetic touches that would match a Japanese sports car, carrying earbuds that look equally appealing, sure does make a statement. The case is made up of a material that feels super premium to touch and doesn’t attract fingerprints in regular use. The only thing that stopped us from calling it a tank was the fact that it did not have a metallic hinge.

The earbuds compliment the impression that the case sets when you first look at it. You pop open the top of the case and are greeted with two earbuds. The tips have a tasteful presence of JBL’s signature orange colour, which adds that tasteful tone to the overall look of the buds. A long stem, which surprisingly does not add much weight to the earbuds, has a LED light at the top, indicating whether the earbuds are in paring mode, already paired or aren’t connected when pulled out of the case. 

The earbuds fit well in the ears and held well through the ‘head-shake’ test. They are lightweight and can be customised to fit different ear sizes. However, we were slightly disappointed with the number of included ear tips sizes. There are three different pairs, but an extra one would have filled in that tiny slit left out.

At first glance, you might think of these earbuds as an offering from a cheap Chinese manufacturer. However, the JBL branding on both the earbuds and the charging case adds assurance of these being reliable pairs of TWS earphones and also prefaces the quality that these earbuds bring to the table.

JBL Tune230NC: Features

There is not much to complain about the JBL Tune230NC when it comes to the features department because they pack in whatever one could need. Well, not everything, but most of it. For the bass heads, there is the JBL signature Pure Bass sound. While it affects the performance of the device a bit, overpowering the mids and highs when listening to music, there's plenty of it for anyone who loves that thumping bass.

The touch controls on the stem are adequate. We say so because while for the price, they don’t fall short at all. However, when we look at the Nothing Ear(1) earbuds, which also have volume control on their substantially smaller stem, we feel that JBL could have done a bit more there. 

Talking about touch controls, these earbuds have a solid touch-sensitive stem. It takes a bit of time to get the hang of, and some might say it is overly sensitive. But it worked as promised for us, never missing a tap. The customisation of these controls that can be done in the feature-rich JBL Headphones app is something that adds a lot to the experience.

They make up for the lost ground against their competitors in terms of noise cancelling. JBL Tune230NC feature great active noise cancellation. The ANC on these earbuds took away most of the annoying sounds during our Mumbai local rides with these. Another thing that helped them rise high in the rankings was that these come with a fast pair, which let us easily connect to Android devices. Adding to the ease of use was the compatibility of these buds with voice assistants.

JBL Tune230NC: Performance

The performance of JBL Tune230NC is nothing to write home about. We did not expect to say something like this, considering that it is an offering from JBL. But as it happened, these earbuds failed to live up to our expectations.

It wouldn’t take an expert to notice the boosted bass response of these earbuds. It does wonders to make JBL look like a brand that delivered on its promise of Pure Bass. But in reality, this boosted bass cannibalizes the mid frequencies, which greatly affects the music listening experience.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of JBL Tune 230NC (Dark Blue) vs In-House Curve (Dark Green)

We were thoroughly underwhelmed in songs like Rescue Me by OneRepublic, where the vocals are the part that we look out for. The bass was overpowering anything that the drivers were trying to push out apart from it. This even affected the overall bass response, too, as it caused the bass to be muddy and not crisp. We had to make changes to the EQ when daily driving the earbuds to get a pleasurable audio experience. Once you have done that, though, these earbuds shine. 

The earbuds in the same price bracket that was able to surpass these in terms of performance were the Nothing Ear (1). You can see in the graph the bass response of the Ear (1) is much tamer than the Tune230NC, and that makes for a great audio listening experience. The OnePlus Buds Z2 could have matched up but lost out on their mids and fell behind.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of JBL Tune230NC (Dark Blue) vs Nothing Ear (1) (Orange) vs OnePlus Buds Z2 (Light Green)

In terms of microphone audio quality, there wasn’t much to say. These earbuds deliver on the expectations that one would have from a pair of earbuds that fall in this price bracket. During phone calls, the audio remained clear even in noisy environments, and the buds significantly reduced ambient noise. However, sharper sounds like those of things falling on the ground still made their way through.

JBL Tune230NC: Battery Life

In terms of battery life, there was a pleasant surprise waiting for us. In our test, the battery life of these earbuds came out astonishingly close to the bold claims JBL had made. With ANC turned on and volume set to 50 per cent, these earbuds lasted about seven and a half hours, which is impressive. And, with ANC turned off, another hour was added to the battery life.

The case had a type C charging port, which added to our delight. JBL claims that with 10 minutes of charge, you can get enough battery for two hours of music playback. This means that you’d rarely find yourself waiting in crunch situations.

JBL Tune230NC: Verdict

The JBL Tune230NC TWS earbuds hold their ground well against their competitors. The build and design are solid, and plenty of features are packed into the device. After a bit of tweaking, the performance is great. The app also features a lot of customisation options which, when coupled with the battery life of these earbuds, make them a solid package. Nothing Ear (1) would be the only pair that gets past it. But it was meant to be that standout product. Like is the case with a lot of JBL products, the overpowering bass prevents them from being an instant recommendation.

If we were to sum up our experience of using the Tune 230NC, it would be -  Heavy on bass and fall short of the top spot in the race.

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Sony LinkBuds Review: A unique experience

Owning these buds is a unique experience that cannot be matched by the offerings of any other brand. What you earn in terms of style points and unique design and features, you lose out in the form of modern-day essentials like ANC. So, if you are out in the market with a ₹20k budget, and want to try out something new, then go for it. However, if you are looking for anything close to a bang-for-the-buck experience, then stay away from these.

Sony finally took the leap and launched their LinkBuds (WF-L900) in India, pricing them at ₹19,990. This is the latest addition to Sony’s line of premium earbuds, including the Sony WF-1000XM4, which retails at the same price. With their unique design and approach towards giving the users a new audio listening and calling experience, they do stand out. But the question is, are they good enough to stand up to the standards set by others in the market? Well, to find that out, we put the earbuds through their paces in our test, and here’s what we found out.

Sony LinkBuds: Build, Design, and Fit

The Sony Linkbuds have anything but a mainstream design, and wearing them is a statement about your openness to adapting to the latest technology trends. The buds come in a plastic-free package, and their aesthetic parts (case and earbuds shell) are made using recycled plastic material. So, Sony earns the brownie points there.

When it comes to the fit of the earbuds, things start getting tricky. They are small and lightweight. However, given their 8-shaped design language, the fit is either a hit or a miss. Even with their silicon loop, which is meant to hold the buds in place, if your ears are small, then these might not fit you. Some of us at the Digit Test Centre cherished the new design and the lightweight feel of the buds, but people with smaller ears could not get it to stay within their ears. So, you should look out for that. If you have relatively big ears, these slide in like a glove.

In terms of the case, Sony trumps most other TWS makers out there. The case is really small and has great pocketability. The branding is subtle, just like on the buds themselves. The case and the buds lack the sturdiness that someone shelling close to 20k of their hard-earned money would want. The overall feel of the case is flimsy, and with no metal bracket support, you could easily break the lid of the case. And, if you like opening your earbuds case with one hand, good luck. You have to press a button in the front to open the case, which makes opening the case a task that you’d need to pay attention to get it right every time.

Sony LinkBuds: Features

What Sony loses out in terms of the design and build of the case and the fit of the buds, it makes up for it in the features department. These earbuds are a great example of how good engineering can help package well-executed features in a small form factor. Apart from the regular inclusions like in-ear detection and others, the two features that stand out the most are – adaptive volume control and wide area tap.

Let’s start with the wide-area tap. Sony LinkBuds come with a technology that Sony calls the Wide Area Tap. What this does is that it extends the touch-sensitive area from the buds over to the region in front of the ears. So, you can tap on your skin to change tracks. How cool is that!? While this may seem like a gimmicky feature at first glance, the actual performance is way above par. Sony has done a great job of implementing this feature. Even on the buds, the touch response is great.

The second on the list is the adaptive volume control which automatically changes the volume levels depending upon the ambient noise. This feature, just like the wide-area tap, outperformed our expectations. The change in volume when we shifted from one place to the other was smooth and accurate enough to ensure that our music/call was audible at all times.

However, the way that these buds are designed, they miss out on what has become a staple in premium earbuds, active noise cancellation. These earbuds lack ANC and often let too much ambient noise in due to the virtue of their design. The adaptive volume control tries to make up for it, but with little success. We cannot complain much here because when deciding to get your hands on these buds, this is what you signed up for. If you take flights often, then you should look elsewhere or get a dedicated pair of headphones with ANC. During your workouts, though, these would work just fine. They have an IPX4 rating, which is nowhere close to what you get with other products in the price range but have to live with.

In terms of the app, these use the Sony Headphones Connect app, which we discussed in our previous reviews and shared our love for. To sum it up in a single line, it has most of what you could ask for, including custom EQ controls, option to modify the touch controls, etc. Basically, it has all the bases covered.

Sony LinkBuds: Performance

The Sony LinkBuds live up to the expectations that we had set, especially considering the price and the fact that they are made by Sony, who know their way around in making good personal audio products. The soundstage is wide, and instrument separation is great on this pair. The cherry on top is Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), which fills in all gaps in the earbuds' sound quality.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of Sony LinkBuds (Orange)

Every track that we played on these buds sounded like what one would expect when spending so much money on a pair of TWS earbuds. However, the bass response was not that great. The bass sounded muddy and brought down the listening experience in tracks that are laden with bass instruments. The mids and the highs were as we expected them to be. Due to their design, the earbuds could not fit in the coupler of our testing rig, which meant that the bass response was not recorded well in our tests, and the other frequencies too weren’t represented with the accuracy that we’d like.

Now, coming to the microphone performance. The Sony LinkBuds are being marketed by Sony to be targeted toward providing the users with a great calling experience in which microphone performance matters. And again, Sony lives up to the standards that they have set for themselves. The audio coming from the microphones is crisp and could be heard with ease by the person at the other end, during our testing.

Sony LinkBuds: Battery Life

The LinkBuds lasted long during our tests. It took us close to five and half hours at 50 per cent volume to drain the battery of the buds. The case promises to give the buds another 12 hours of juice, which pegs the total battery life at about 17.5 hours in total. So you should get through a couple of days of usage with these. There is no ANC on these buds, which also helps them inch closer to the battery life advertised by Sony. The company is also claiming that with just 10 minutes of charge, you can get a listening time of 90 minutes.

Sony LinkBuds: Verdict

The Sony LinkBuds are unique, which means a lot of things. Firstly, there is no product that you can pit them against. Owning these buds is a unique experience that cannot be matched by the offerings of any other brand. What you earn in terms of style points and unique design and features, you lose out in the form of modern-day essentials like ANC. So, if you are out in the market with a ₹20k budget, and want to try out something new, then go for it. However, if you are looking for anything close to a bang-for-the-buck experience, then stay away from these.

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OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Go for it with caution

Priced at ₹2,799, the OnePlus Nord Buds are a good recommendation for anyone looking to buy a reliable pair of TWS earphones in the sub 3k price range. The sound quality is decent, and the best available for bass heads, and the battery performance is enough to get you through long calls.

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Nord Buds, making it the company’s first budget true wireless earphones. The company has been trying to make inroads in the budget segment in the Indian consumer technology space, trying to ride on its insanely high price-to-performance ratio provider reputation. However, their ratios have gotten worse, and it is evident here. There has been a lot of competition in the budget TWS market, with players like Realme and Oppo bringing their A-game to the table with every launch. So, to test where the OnePlus Nord Buds stand, we put these TWS earphones through their paces in our testing process. And the results were interesting, to say the least. Here’s what we found out.

OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Build, Design, and Fit

The OnePlus Nord Buds hold their ground when it comes to build quality. The outer case, which is made of glossy plastic, despite being prone to picking up scratches over time, does give the product a premium feel. OnePlus’ attention to detail with the seams and the overall fit of the buds themselves make the purchase feel worth it, at the first glance. Fingerprints were not a noticeable issue in our white review unit. The inlaid OnePlus logo rounds up the case design perfectly, stopping it from being a plain white box that this case is.

Talking about the boxy design of the case, it is not particularly easy to fit in the pocket. Despite having a narrow body, the height of the case makes it difficult to carry around in the pocket without drawing attention. The design can be a bit polarising, some of us in the test centre liked its unique look, while others didn’t fancy it too much.

The earbuds themselves are light and feature boxy stem that tends not to protrude out. The weight of the earbuds also makes wearing them for a longer period easy. Two silver concave touch-sensitive buttons add a tasteful bling to the rather mute buds’ design. We have nothing from OnePlus to pit these against, but in comparison to others at this price, the experience of wearing them even during long writing or exercise sessions is easy on the ears. The three different-sized ear tips included in the box let the user customise the fit of the buds to a certain extent.

OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Features

At the price at which the OnePlus Nord Buds slot in, one should not hold high expectations. Even the devices that are marketed to be feature-rich, lack proper implementation of the features, making the entire user experience lackluster. However, OnePlus with these earphones lives up to the quintessential OnePlus philosophy of the yesteryears. Doing less but doing it well.

There is no ANC, the range is decent, and there is no wireless charging. These are the features that one shouldn’t expect in this price range too. When we got to our testing though, all the remaining scoring slots took no time to be populated with what we can call decent numbers.

They come with an IP55 rating, which makes them fit to be worn during workout sessions. The controls are intuitive and responsive. The concave shape of the touch-sensitive area on the buds makes it very easy to locate the touch points. Controls can be modified to trigger various actions in the settings menu in select devices, while other users will have to download the HeyMelody app. This itself isn’t densely packed with features but has the essentials like custom and preset EQ settings and touch control modification menu. The battery level indicator in the app is a nice addition as it lets users gauge how much longer they can jam to their favourite tracks, before the juice runs out on these earphones.

OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Performance

In the earlier section, we were talking about jamming to the tunes on the OnePlus Nord Buds. So, let's tell you what we found when we tested the audio performance of these earphones. On the spec sheet, things look impressive. They come equipped with 12.4 mm Titanium drivers that support Dolby Atmos. But the actual performance was underwhelming.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of OnePlus Nord Buds (Light Pink) vs Neutral (Dark Green)

We had set out with high expectations when we decided to play Hotel California on these earphones. It was not long before though that we were brought back to the reality that these are a budget pair of earphones. The sound that we got was laden with bass, with the highs and the mids missing the punch that one would expect a driver of the size that is there in this pair should have.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of OnePlus Nord Buds (Light Pink) vs Realme Buds Air 3 (Orange)

As we played different tracks one thing was apparent that these are meant for the bassheads. For anyone apart from this section that would love the OnePlus Nord Buds, the listening experience would be pretty underwhelming. They came out behind their direct competition on the market, the Realme Buds 3 in our testing process.

Tracks like Uptown Funk sounded fine, but as we moved to the tracks with higher instrument density and a wide soundstage, things got worse. For the price, it is acceptable. These are in no way the next Airpods killer, but OnePlus is also not the company that it used to be, making flagship killers in every segment that they explored. Noise isolation with a sung fitting tip was also decent.

Moving on to the performance of the microphone. This is where OnePlus Nord Buds redeemed themselves. The sound, although muddy at times was clear and even in the most challenging situations, the buds held their ground well. Ambient sounds were suppressed well during calls. Again, not to forget, this is when compared to other similarly priced devices. So, tune your expectations accordingly.

OnePlus markets support for Dolby Atmos with the Nord Buds. However, it is limited to certain high-end devices, and could not be found working with the Nord CE2 that we used during our testing. So, make sure to check the list of supported devices before making your purchase decision.

OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Battery Life

The OnePlus Nord Buds played music for six and a half hours straight during our testing, with the volume set to around 50 per cent. The case promises to provide another four full charges to the earbuds, which would push the overall battery life to around 30 hours. This is standard in TWS earphones these days, and the lack of ANC and transparency modes helps the OnePlus Nord Buds match the numbers mentioned on the spec sheets. With the additional Flash Charge capability baked in, as advertised you can get 5 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging.

OnePlus Nord Buds Review: Verdict

Priced at ₹2,799, the OnePlus Nord Buds are a good recommendation for anyone looking to buy a reliable pair of TWS earphones in the sub 3k price range. The sound quality is decent, and the best available for bass heads, and the battery performance is enough to get you through long calls. In terms of features, they are less but well done. Touch controls are intuitive and accurate, and the buds are IP55 rated, meaning that sweaty workout sessions shouldn’t affect these lightweight earbuds. While these earbuds are perfect for a basshead, you should look elsewhere if you are looking for a well-balanced sound.

If we were to sum up the verdict in a single sentence here, it would be – budget package, that punches well within its weight.

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Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X Review: An excellent mid-range solution for unaltered listening

The primary difference between the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X and the original DT 900 Pros is that the former brings with it improved comfort, replaceable parts, and reduced impedance. If these features aren’t vital to you, it would be prudent to buy the DT 900 Pro instead and save over 15K of your hard-earned money. However, if these features make a difference, then what you’re getting for the price is a clean and natural-sounding pair of studio headphones with a robust build and the ability to be driven by most of your devices.

Building upon the tremendous success of Beyerdynamic’s DT 900 Pro headphones, the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X promises unaltered listening on any device without the need for external amplification. Priced at Rs 28,999, the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X is an open-back circumaural pair of studio headphones designed for professional musicians, DJs, audio engineers and audio mixers. Wedged between the DT 900 Pros and the DT 1990 Pros, the DT 900 Pro X is a mid-range solution that we were excited to try out. Let’s find out how it fared during our testing.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X: Build and features

The Beyerdynamic feel more luxurious than their cost; right from the plushy velour ear pads to the brushed metal headband, the DT 900 Pro X exudes a premium air. At the same time, the headphones don’t look ostentatious, allowing them to easily blend with other equipment in a studio or your home set up. The open-back design means that the cups are well ventilated but this design does allow for leakage and ineffective passive isolation, so it is best to use them in a closed studio.

The build also uses plastic for the outer covering of the headband and the ear cups, but it doesn’t come across as cheap. The usage of some plastic allows the company to keep the weight down to 345g, but these are still heavy headphones that do cause some fatigue after a couple of hours of use. We especially felt a hot spot on the top of our head build up in a while, which can get quite uncomfortable. We would have preferred if the headband’s cushion was slightly more voluminous. On the other hand, the memory foam ear cups were supple and extremely comfortable over the ears.

The headphone extends considerably, so even those with large heads won’t have much of an issue with the fit of these headphones. The clamping force is pretty good and the headphones stay put even when you walk around your apartment briskly. These are pretty comfortable studio headphones but we’ve experienced a higher degree of comfort on some of Sennheiser’s studio offerings.

There’s no folding mechanism and the ear cups don’t rotate, so these aren’t easily portable headphones. Either way, not many will venture out with these studio-grade headphones on a daily basis, but if you do need to transport them, Beyerdynamic provides a cloth carrying case in the box.

Speaking of the box, the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X comes packing two swappable 3-pin mini-XLR cables in the box with a 3.5mm jack for your device at the other end. The cables are of different lengths - 3-meter and 1.8-meter. Beyerdynamic also includes a ¼-inch adapter that screws onto the 3.5mm connector, so you can connect the headphones to an audio interface if needed. Additionally, the headphones come with an array of replaceable parts including the headphone, ear pads, and even the STELLAR.45 drivers, but sourcing them in India may be an issue.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X: Performance

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X are open-backed studio headphones which means air and sound move freely through the grills on the ear cups, allowing for more natural and open sound. This often comes at the cost of isolation. Open-backed headphones also are more prone to leakage, so keep all these things in mind before purchasing the DT 900 Pro X or any open-backed headphones, for that matter. 

Sporting a low impedance of 48Ω (ohms), the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X can be powered by most devices including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, PCs, and audio interfaces. There’s no real need for external amplification as was the case with previous Beyerdynamic studio offerings with an impedance of 250 ohms. The headphones come packing Beyerdynamic’s STELLAR.45 drivers with a frequency response of 5 Hz - 40,000 Hz.

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X is meant to serve as an unaltered audio playback solution for sound engineers, mixers, and critical listeners, and it does just that. For the uninitiated, the sound can be a bit jarring, because these headphones don’t attempt to reproduce sound in a pleasant, enjoyable manner but as it is. So, there are times when you will hear overly harsh high notes, the unpleasant rumbling of low bass, that consumer headphones usually tone down. But all of this is present in all of its glory on the DT 900 Pro X because its job isn’t to shelter you from unpleasant frequencies but to give you an honest, clear representation of sound.

The result? You will hear details in tracks that you’ve never really experienced before on consumer-grade headphones. In songs such as Pull Me Under by Dream Theatre, you can hear every guitar pluck or drum hit to perfection - and sometimes, you can even catch mistakes on old recordings. It really lends a hand in allowing musicians and mixers to create the best-sounding track possible. Of course, higher-range studio headphones produce this unaltered sound with slightly more precision and a wider soundstage. The soundstage on these headphones is quite limiting which may bring out some inaccuracies in imaging. However, for the price, these are natural-sounding studio headphones that can be driven by most devices you own. 

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X: Verdict

The primary difference between the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X and the original DT 900 Pros is that the former brings with it improved comfort, replaceable parts, and reduced impedance. If these features aren’t vital to you, it would be prudent to buy the DT 900 Pro instead and save over 15K of your hard-earned money. However, if these features make a difference, then what you’re getting for the price is a clean and natural-sounding pair of studio headphones with a robust build and the ability to be driven by most of your devices. It is one of the best mid-range options you can find on the market for sound engineers, mixers, DJs, and musicians. An excellent alternative from the Sennheiser camp is the Sennheiser HD 600 which provides accurate sound reproduction as well.

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