PlayGo N37 Review: Well-built entry-level wireless earphones

Priced at Rs 2,999, the PlayGo N37 has some things to like and some, not so much. We were impressed with the build and comfort of these earphones – especially the super-flexible neckband and the secure fit of the buds. What we didn’t like was the lack of AAC codec support and the overemphasised bass response that mars the overall sound quality of the earbuds due to auditory masking in the mids and highs. The earbuds struggle to stand out amongst competitors such as the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Mi Bluetooth Earphones Pro.

World of Play is an audio company that has a fairly decent portfolio of affordable audio products. We’ve reviewed a few products from this company in the past and they were pretty appealing offerings for the inexpensive price point. The company’s latest wireless earphones offering is the PlayGo N37 – a sporty, affordable neckband-style wireless pair of earphones with some alluring features such as IPX5 water resistance rating and USB Type-C charging. Priced at Rs 2,999, the PlayGo N37 competes against the likes of the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Mi Bluetooth Earphones Pro, both of which come equipped with Active Noise Cancellation which is unavailable on the PlayGo N37. So, it immediately has a handicap due to the lack of ANC, which is getting more and more prevalent at the sub 3K price point in the wireless earphones category. Let’s see how the PlayGo N37 performs in our tests and if it can redeem itself enough to get a recommendation from us.

PlayGo N37: Build and comfort

The highlight of the PlayGo N37’s build is what the company calls a “Premium, Ultra-Flexible Design”. We first expected this statement to be an exaggerated gimmicky statement but upon handling the earphones for the first time, we were pleasantly surprised. The neckband really is one of the softest and most flexible ones we’ve felt and it even feels surprisingly premium for a neckband pair of earphones under 3K. The material feels smooth and comfortable on the skin and contorts to the exact shape of your neck.

The earphones also have plastic modules on either side, one with just the Play logo while the other one features all the buttons and the charging port. The right side module houses the toggleable power button, but for some reason, it is labelled LED, which seemed slightly odd to us. We actually thought the toggle activated some sort of RGB pattern on the earphones but it is simply the power button… 

You also have the volume + and volume - buttons that double as controls for switching tracks and there’s a multifunction button that can be used to answer calls, pause and play music, and activate the voice assistant. Next, you have the USB Type-C charging port tucked under a flap, presumably to keep the earphones water-resistant.

The earphones are available in two colour variants – Yellow and Black, and Teal and Black. We got the former for review. The neckband and modules portion is black while the wires and earbuds are yellow. The earbuds also have a gold and yellow dual-tone design, which looks pretty flashy and the look can be unappealing to some while attractive to others. The earbuds have magnetic housings, so they attach to one another when not in use.

The earbuds have an angled nozzle that further enhances the fit and there are also silicone wings available over the silicone ear tips that ensure a snug fit in most ears. We found the earphones extremely comfortable and secure to wear, even over extended periods of time. Additionally, the seal created by the ear tips and the wings makes for excellent passive isolation, so much so, that we didn’t really miss the Active Noise Cancellation feature too much that is present on competitors such as the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Mi Bluetooth Earphones Pro. In most environments, you will be satisfied with the isolation generated by the secure fit.

PlayGo N37: Features

Now, these earphones aren’t as feature-laden as competitors such as the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Mi Bluetooth Earphones Pro. The former even comes with app support, customisable controls, and more! You won’t find all that here, so we did dock a lot of points in the features section. 

However, the PlayGo N37 does come with some enticing features that make it a moderately decent deal at under 3K. You get Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity with 33 feet or 10m of wireless range. Additionally, you also get voice assistant support which can be activated by long-pressing the multifunction button. 

There’s also IPX5 water resistance so you can easily use these earphones when running or working out without worrying about damage due to sweat. Add to that, the secure fit of these earphones and you’ve got yourself a pretty serviceable sports wireless earphones. You also get USB Type-C charging. There’s also fast charging support where merely 10 minutes of charging provides users with 3 hours of wireless playtime. 

So, the PlayGo N37 has a decent set of features for the price but we did miss app support that would allow us to customise controls and change EQ settings. If like us, you also value app support, the Realme Buds Wireless 2 is definitely the way to go then.

PlayGo N37: Sound quality, microphone, and battery

Equipped with 10mm EBEL (Extra Bass, Extra Loud) drivers, the PlayGo N37 performs true to its driver’s name. These earphones are extra loud and do have extra emphasised bass response. So, if that’s what you’re about, you won’t be disappointed. The earphones are so tremendously loud that we usually listened to them at only 35-40 percent volume, whereas we usually listen to most earbuds at about the 60-70 percent volume mark. But do note that the earphones’ sound tends to distort a fair amount at higher volume levels. Additionally, these earbuds only support the SBC codec and not AAC, which is usually common at this price point. AAC codec will get you slightly better sound quality than SBC, so it is disappointing that these earbuds don’t support the codec.

As for the sound signature, as we mentioned earlier, these earphones are bass-boosted. So, right from the low bass region of the frequency response curve to the high bass region, the bass is heavily boosted making for boomy, dark bass response that masks the clarity of the rest of the frequency range. The mids and highs suffer from serious auditory masking, especially the highs post 2kHz since they are already under-represented.

So, this sound signature works acceptably with genres such as pop, rap, EDM, and Bollywood, but the earphones don’t work for genres that have a lot of nuance and detail in the high-mids and highs such as rock and classical. For example, in the track Pull Me Under by Dream Theatre, the cymbals and hi-hats sound listless and lack detail, partly due to the underemphasis of the highs and partly due to the overbearing bass response.

Nevertheless, if you are specifically looking for a bass-boosted sound signature at an affordable price, what the PlayGo N37 provides is pretty decent. However, we do prefer the Realme Buds Wireless 2’s sound signature more since it does have boosted bass but the mids and highs retain a lot more detail too.

As for the microphone performance, the earphones pick up the caller’s sound and relay it audibly but the output can sound slightly distorted at times. The battery life of these earphones is rated at 10 hours by the company. In our tests, at 60 percent volume, we got about 9 hours and 15 minutes of wireless playback time which is pretty close to the company estimate.

PlayGo N37: Verdict

Priced at Rs 2,999, the PlayGo N37 has some things to like and some, not so much. We were impressed with the build and comfort of these earphones – especially the super-flexible neckband and the secure fit of the buds. What we didn’t like was the lack of AAC codec support and the overemphasised bass response that mars the overall sound quality of the earbuds due to auditory masking in the mids and highs. The earbuds struggle to stand out amongst competitors such as the Realme Buds Wireless 2 and the Mi Bluetooth Earphones Pro. While the Mi earphones have a similar sound profile as the PlayGo N37, the Realme Buds Wireless 2 has a somewhat more balanced sound signature along with ANC and app support. So, it is hard for us to recommend these earphones over the Realme Buds Wireless 2 since the Buds Wireless 2 are also lower-priced while having better sound quality and a more extensive feature set.

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Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods Review: ANC TWS that struggles to stand out

Priced at Rs 2,999, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods are a decent option for those who want to immerse themselves in the world of ANC without breaking the bank. However, with many brands offering the same and more at under 3K, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods struggles to stand out in this segment. 

Boult Audio is a home-grown audio company that has a vast portfolio of affordable audio products including wireless headphones, speakers, and TWS earbuds. The latest TWS offering from the company is the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods, an Active Noise Cancelling pair of truly wireless earbuds priced at Rs 2,999. The earbuds compete against the likes of devices such as the Realme Buds Q2, the Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro, and a few more ANC-enabled TWS under 3K. Although the earbuds are officially priced at 3K, they are available at Rs 2,499 on Flipkart for a limited period. But how do these earphones perform and should you consider them over other competitors in this price range? We're going to find out. 

Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods: Build and comfort

Sporting a rectangular-shaped charging case with a matte texture, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods have a mediocre build and design. These earphones are available in two simple colours - White and Black. We got the latter for review and it looked pretty ordinary. There's nothing eye-catching about the case, there's a simple Boult Audio logo on top. 

The matte texture is resistant to fingerprints but can get smudged and scratched. There's an LED indicator on the front, a USB-C charging port on the left and a pairing button inside the case. The case has a pretty sizable footprint but is slim enough to fit in pockets easily. The case's hinge feels very rickety and we're worried if it will stand the test of time. 

As for the earbuds, they also sport a larger footprint than what we usually see these days. The buds have very long stems with the Boult Audio logo on the back. The top part of the stems is a touch-sensitive surface for gesture input for music and call controls. The touch controls work decently well but there are some misreadings every now and then. 

The earbuds' have an angled design for better fit and comfort. The buds fit moderately well but if you have smaller ears than usual, you may have difficultly finding the perfect fit with the provided ear tips. They are comfortable to wear but the long stems add some heft to the buds, so you may feel some discomfort after a few hours.

Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods: Features

The Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods comes packing features such as Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode, IPX7 water resistance and USB Type-C connectivity. The earbuds' do a mediocre job cancelling out ambient sounds when on the ANC mode but they don't match up to the performance of the Realme Buds Air 2 which cancels some ambient sounds more effectively.

The Soulpods can cancel low, constant sounds such as an AC drone, flight rumble, and more but has a hard time with anything else. The Ambient Mode on these earbuds work well and amplify surrounding sounds. 

There's no companion app support, so you cannot customise these earbuds at all. You get an excellent companion app with Realme earbuds, so if you like tweaking your earbuds' controls, look elsewhere. The earbuds have touch controls that can be used to pause or play music, skip tracks, activate voice assistant and change noise cancellation modes. There are no volume controls, which is disappointing. 

There's also mono bud use where you can use either bud independently of each other which is convenient. There's no in-ear detection feature or gaming mode present on these buds, which is present in competitors such as the Realme Buds Air 2 and Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro. The IPX7 rating means that you can use these earbuds when working out or in light rain.

Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods: Performance

The Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods feature 10mm drivers and support the SBC and AAC codecs. The earbuds can get pretty loud, although we wouldn't advise you to listen at over 80 percent volume since the sound begins to distort past this level. The Airbass Soulpods come with a bass-boosted, dark sound profile with boosted bass, decent mids, and underemphasised highs. 

Uncompensated frequency response graph of Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods (Orange) vs Flat Response (Blue)

In the frequency graph generated for the Airbass Soulpods, the range up to 250Hz is massively boosted. This means the bass response has a lot of heft to it, so much so that it ends up sounding a bit muddy at times. The exaggerated bass response may appeal to bassheads especially when listening to genres such as rap, pop, hip hop, EDM, and Bollywood. However, we wish Boult Audio had tuned this part of the frequency range more conservatively as the boosted nature of the bass shrouds the details in the mids and highs. This happens since the mid-range and highs are muted in comparison to the lows. 

On its own, the mid-range sounds full-bodied and energetic and the highs sound pretty decent as well, but the lows simply overpower them both in most instances, especially in genres with a lot of bass presence. Even in rock tracks, the drums overpower the lead vocals and instruments. 

However, these earbuds aren't as dark and muddy sounding as the Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro that is priced the same. The Realme Buds Air 2 and the cheaper Realme Q2 do have a more balanced sound signature though while still sounding dynamic and fun and we prefer that over the Airbass Soulpods' sound profile.

Uncompensated frequency response graph of Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods (Orange) vs Realme Buds Q2 (Yellow)

As for microphone performance, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods really surprised us with its performance here. The microphone picks up sound well and produces natural-sounding voices during calls with minimal distortion. This is possibly due to the long stem design of the earbuds and the lower positioning of the mics. You won't have any problem making calls with these buds. 

Moving on to wireless connectivity, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods is powered by Bluetooth version 5.0 which is a step down from competitors such as the Realme Buds Q2 and Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro that come with Bluetooth 5.2. We faced a lot of issues when pairing this device and with subsequent connections. At times, when you try to connect the earbuds only one side turns on and connects to your paired device, and this can get frustrating very quickly. 

Also, the buds would sometimes disconnect from the source device and we would have to put them in the charging case and remove them to connect again. This didn't happen too often, but pairing the buds to a device for the first time is a hassle since it doesn't happen as seamlessly as we'd hoped. The buds also have a slight delay between video and audio and there's no gaming or low latency mode, so you'll have to make do with the delay. It isn't too jarring, but it's present nonetheless.

Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods: Battery life

The Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods' battery life is rated at 24 hours, earbuds and charging case combined. The buds themselves at rated at 6 hours of wireless playback time on a single charge. If you turn the ANC feature on, the earbuds' battery life drops lower. 

In our testing, we recorded 4.5 hours of playtime on the buds alone with ANC turned on. The case provided 3-4 additional charges. There's no fast charging support on these earbuds and they charge up to full in about 2 hours. The battery life is mediocre and competitors like the Realme Buds Q2 with its 28-hour battery life and Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro with a whopping 30 hours of total battery life easily outperform the Airbass Soulpods.

Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods: Verdict

Priced at Rs 2,999, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods are a decent option for those who want to immerse themselves in the world of ANC without breaking the bank. However, with many brands offering the same and more at under 3K, the Boult Audio Airbass Soulpods struggles to stand out in this segment. While the earbuds have a bass-boosted sound signature that would be liked by bass lovers and a great microphone, the sound signature is a bit too dark and muddy, the wireless connectivity is unreliable, and the battery life is nothing to write home about. Options such as the Realme Buds Q2, The Realme Buds Air 2, and the Redmi Earbuds 3 Pro offer more value for money be it with an excellent companion app or with aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec support. It is hard to recommend the Airbass Soulpods over those earphones simply because they provide more bang for your buck.

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Sony HT-S40R soundbar home theatre Review: Sony fixed my biggest problem with budget 51 setups and it works really well

On paper, the Sony HT-S40R looks like a successor to the Sony HT-RT3. Its biggest advantage is the setup for the surround speakers. They connect to a wireless amplifier that connects to the subwoofer wirelessly, eliminating the need to connect the surround speakers physically to the subwoofer as we’ve seen on the Sony HT-S20R and the Sony HT-RT3. While the setup isn't truly wireless, it is very convenient. The overall sound output from the soundbar is very good, considering the price point. It can produce punchy sounds for movies, is good for gaming and music lovers as well. Its build may feel a little plasticky, but it does not look cheap at all. It is convenient and easy to set up and comes with a 6ft HDMI cable in the box for ARC connectivity. While the front channel separation may be a bit weak, the overall surround sound effects are good. If you have a Sony HT-RT3, you don't need to upgrade to this one. However, if you are looking for a good 5.1 soundbar under 30K to bring the theatre home, then you can definitely consider the Sony HT-S40R. 

 

If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the pandemic is that no matter how good your TV is, if you don't have an equally awesome sound system, you will miss going to the theatre. For the premium user, we have devices like the Sennheiser Ambeo (review), Samsung Q950A (review) and even the Sony HT-Z9F (review). But not everyone is looking to spend a premium on a soundbar especially when there are so many options available on a budget. For a budget of Rs 30,000, we have the likes of the Sony HT-RT3, JBL Bar 2.1 and many more. While some of the soundbars mentioned here are 2.1 setups, some are a 5.1 setup with the rear speakers connecting to the system via physical cables (for the budget offerings). While I'm all for a good 5.1 setup like the Sony HT-S20R (review), cable management for the rear surround speakers can be a bit of a hassle. It looks like Sony agrees and has done something unique with the S40R - made the rear speakers wireless.... kinda. While wireless rear speakers are common in high-end soundbars, this is the first time I have seen them on a sub 30K soundbar. Their implementation, performance and lag will be touched upon in this review. Has Sony made it easy for more people to set up a 5.1 home theatre without the hassle of cable management? Does this soundbar bring the theatre home? Read on and find out!

Sony HT-S40R: Specs at a glance

Total Maximum Power: 600W Soundbar Weight: 2kg Subwoofer Weight: 7.8kg Audio Inputs: Optical-audio input, Analogue audio input (stereo mini), USB type A, Bluetooth, HDMI ARC. Soundbar Dimension: 900 x 52 x 74.5 mm Subwoofers Dimensions: 192 x 385 x 362 mm HDMI Input: 0 HDMI Output (Audio Return Channel): 1 HDMI input support: Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch, Dolby Dual mono Optical audio support: Dolby Digital, LPCM 2ch

Sony HT-S40R: Build and Design

Just like we’ve seen with the Sony HT-S20R and the Sony HT-S500RF (review) we reviewed earlier, Sony has the front right, left and centre channel in a single bar. The bar is wide and fits the length of a 43-inch TV. We’ve been using this soundbar with a 43-inch Redmi TV and it sits flush below the TV blending into my entertainment setup. The bar itself has a very traditional Sony look to it and that's not a bad thing. You have a grill up front covering the drivers and there are distinct demarcations for the front right, left and centre channels. The soundbar curves around the edges but it doesn't have too rounded edges which are nice. The grills covering the speakers don't wrap around the bar as we saw with the S20R. The soundbar is fairly slim and is designed for tight spaces below the TV. You can wall-mount it as well.

Just like the above-mentioned Sony Soundbar, the S40R’s main bar connects to the subwoofer via a proprietary cable. Speaking of the subwoofer, it is identical in its look and design to the one found on the S20R but is heavier. You have the subwoofer duct upfront and at the top, we have a display. Next to the display is the USB port for music playback. You also have touch-sensitive controls at the top of the subwoofer and there. All the connectivity options are at the back of the subwoofer. The cable that connects the soundbar to the subwoofer is rather long. You also get a decently lengthy HDMI cable in the box with the soundbar but if your TV is mounted quite high, you may want to consider getting a longer cable. I still wish the connectivity options were behind the main soundbar like most other bars, but considering the minimal design and compact form factor of the main bar, I think I'm getting accustomed to the connectivity options being housed in the subwoofer. It may not be the best when it comes to hiding the cables popping from behind the TV though. 

Moving over to the satellite speakers, this is where the story gets very interesting. Gone are the days of running the speaker cable below a carpet or hiding it beneath sofas! The rear satellite speakers connect to a wireless amplifier. All you need to do is connect the two satellite speakers to the wireless amplifier, connect the amplifier to a power source and you are good to go. The length of the cable connected to the satellite speakers is fairly long, so you don't need to pull an extension cord close to the position of the speakers. 

Speaking of the design, the wireless amplifier is slightly bulky but you can wall-mount it as well if you like. It only has a power port, ports for the speakers, power and link buttons. It also has an LED light to indicate the connection status. 

The rear satellite speakers themselves are small and compact. The driver is covered by a mesh grill that doesn't wrap around the speaker and while they may feel light and flimsy, they are actually decently well built. You can wall-mount the satellite speakers if you like.  

Sony HT-S40R: Set up & connectivity options

When it comes to connectivity, the Sony HT-S40R has optical-audio input, Analogue audio input (stereo mini), USB type A, HDMI ARC, Optical port and Bluetooth 5.0. 

As for the setup, connect the front soundbar to the back of the subwoofer. The cables and ports are colour-coded. Place the rear speakers in a comfortable position, preferably at ear height facing you. Connect the satellite speakers to the wireless amplifier and connect the amp to a power outlet. There will be a red light on the amp when you switch it on. If it flashes green, don't panic. Just power on the soundbar and you should see a steady green light letting you know the connection is stable. Or, you could simply call Sony’s helpline number and request an installation!

Sony HT-S40R: Remote control

Coming to the remote control, it is the exact same remote control you get with the Sony HT-S20R. Plastic, minimal and compact is what comes to mind when we hold it. The buttons are rubbery making them easy to press. The power and input buttons are right at the top making them easiest to reach.  The remote gives you access to 5 different sound modes - standard, cinema, music, voice and night. There is also an auto sound mode. There is also a Dimmer button that dims the display on the subwoofer for a more immersive viewing experience. There are other controls like playback and subwoofer controls. 

Sony HT-S40R: Performance

To test the performance of the Sony HT-S40R, I have broken it up into music, movies and gaming. We played a lot of content from Blu-Ray movies to content off streaming services, gaming via the PS5 and much more. Before we dive in, know that I did not notice any lag from the surround speakers. The performance was as good as a wired connection and in the time I used the HT-S40R, I did not notice any drops from the rear speakers as well. 

Sony HT-S40R: Music performance

Sony is known for making good headphones, earphones and Bluetooth speakers, and the same legacy translates to its soundbars. You do get the slightly extra bass from the soundbar which will appeal to most. I reduced the subwoofer settings by a couple of points to remove the over present bass. Overall, music can be described as good from the soundbar and quintessential Sony, which is a good thing. We heard a bunch of songs on this bar like Wicked Games, Bad Habits, Asylum for the Feeling by Silent Poets and a few more. The instruments are clear, vocals audible and the soundbar works well. If you are one that likes to listen to music from all the speakers, then know that the audio comes from the surround speakers as well as the front left and right, giving you quite a holistic sound. For music, my personal favourite soundbar is the Yamaha YAS 209. But then again, that soundbar is priced close to 35K and is a 2.1 setup only.

Sony HT-S40R: Movie performance

I connected the Sony HT-S40R to the recently launched 43-inch Redmi TV that has an HDMI ARC port. I connected a PS5 (review) to the TV and used the console as my main media device. In the past, especially with budget soundbars, I have seen that the content plays from all the speakers all the time and this doesn't give an immersive experience, especially for content mastered in 5.1. I am happy to say, that isn't the case here. Considering the price of the soundbar, its performance is quite good. There is clear channel separation from the surround speakers though the channel separation from the front feels narrower. I recommend keeping the rear satellite speakers at a 45-degree angle behind you with the driver facing you at ear height for the best surround experience. I also bumped up the rear satellite speaker to +6 (which is the maximum) to ensure I didn't miss any details. The speakers were about 3-4 feet away from my listening position. 

Ready Player One is a great example of good channel separation and the same is the case here. While the dialogues were slightly softer than I’d like in this sequence, you can't manually bump up the centre channel only. You can use the voice mode on the soundbar to enhance the vocals but at the cost of the rest of the effects. While the soundbar has a bunch of presets like Cinema, Standard, Music, etc. I found keeping it on the Auto preset did a good job at judging the content and representing it the best. In the case of Ready Player One, the Auto preset gave the same experience as Cinema. The effects of cars flying all around you are very clear and the jump from surround left to right gives a good experience. 

Same for a lot of the action sequences in Altered Carbon on Netflix. When bullets fly all around the room, you can feel them. Another good example of immersive channel separation is when Batman enters the motorcycle chase sequence in the Dark Knight Rises. The shift of the sound of the motorcycle from behind you to in front of you can be felt. While the fluidity in channel separation isn't as good as the Samsung Q950A, there is no comparison considering the Samsung bar costs Rs 1,00,000. But for comparison, considering the price of this soundbar, it is pretty good. 

Sony HT-S40R: Gaming performance

When it comes to gaming, I played some games on the PS5 and the experience was a lot of fun. The soundbar can get loud and keeping it at about 60-65 per cent volume fills the entire room. In a game like Ghost of Tsushima when you bring up the guiding wind, it gushes from the surround speakers quite prominently before hitting the front speakers. Even the archers firing the arrows swish about you. The only catch is that you need to need to keep the surround speakers' level at +6 and placer them a little more than an arm's length away to enjoy the surround experience. The further you keep the surround speakers, the less pronounced their presence. Even in Dirt 5 (review), you get quite the immersive experience with the cars whizzing all around you. If you are upgrading from your TV speakers to this soundbar, then you will definitely have a more immersive experience. 

Sony HT-S40R: Bottom Line

On paper, the Sony HT-S40R looks like a successor to the Sony HT-RT3. Its biggest advantage is the setup for the surround speakers. They connect to a wireless amplifier that connects to the subwoofer wirelessly, eliminating the need to connect the surround speakers physically to the subwoofer as we’ve seen on the Sony HT-S20R. While the setup isn't truly wireless, it is very convenient. The overall sound output from the soundbar is very good considering the price point. It can produce punchy sounds for movies, is good for gaming and music lovers as well. Its build may feel a little plasticky, but it does not look cheap at all. It is convenient and easy to set up and comes with a 6ft HDMI cable in the box for ARC connectivity. While the front channel separation may be a bit weak, the overall surround sound effects are good. If you have a Sony HT-RT3, you don't need to upgrade to this one. However, if you are looking for a good 5.1 soundbar under 30K to bring the theatre home, then you can definitely consider the Sony HT-S40R.

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Samsung HW-Q950A soundbar Review: Bringing the house down

The Samsung Q950A is one of the best soundbars we’ve tested when it comes to sound output. It has very good audio quality for all content, be it movies, TV shows, games and even music. It has very clear channel separation, detailed sound and can give you a very immersive experience. Not to mention the fact that it can get very loud. While the Dolby Atmos “height” experience isn’t the best, it is in no way a deterrent to the overall immersive experience the soundbar offers. The SmartThings app makes setting up and controlling the soundbar easy. The only downside to the soundbar is the placement of the display on the bar itself and the short length of the supplied power cable for the satellite speakers. If you are looking for a premium surround sound experience and looking to bring the theatre home, then the Samsung Q950A could definitely be one to consider.   

The theatres have finally opened and the one thing we learned during the almost 2 years of lockdown during the pandemic is the value of a good surround sound system to bring the theatre home. There are soundbars in various price segments from about 30K to 50K and even Rs 1,00,000 there is something for everyone depending on your budget. But if you are looking to bring the theatre home, then chances are you are at something that packs in quite the punch. While the Sony HT-Z9F (review) was one of our favourite soundbars in 2020, in 2021, that honour goes to the Samsung Q950A. If you are in the market for a premium soundbar, then this is the one to get. While we have reviewed the Sennheiser Ambeo soundbar (review) and that is a fantastic soundbar for what it offers, in terms of a surround sound experience, the Samsung Q950A has some interesting tricks up its sleeves. Let's dive in. 

What’s in the box

In the box, you get the soundbar itself along with a wireless subwoofer, wireless rear satellite speakers and remote control. You also get 4 power cords, an HDMI cable and standard documentation. There is also wall mounting brackets for the soundbar. The remote control accompanying the system is compact and has all the essential functions. The functions on the remote control are quite basic and for an in-depth experience, you are better off using the Samsung SmartThings smartphone app to set up and control some of the features of the soundbar. While individual channels can only be controlled by the remote control, I wish this feature were there in the app as well. 

Connectivity options

When it comes to connectivity options, the soundbar has an HDMI port for eARC and two HDMI pass-through ports that support 4K HDR pass through. The soundbar also has an optical port, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The speaker also boasts support for DTS-X and Dolby Atmos. The soundbar has upward and side-firing drivers to simulate a more immersive surround sound effect. When it comes to smart features, the speaker supports Amazon Alexa but unlike the Sony HT-Z9F, does not support Chromecast. 

Setting up the Samsung Q950A

Setting up the Samsung Q950A is plug and play. Place the soundbar under the TV, plug in the subwoofer and rear satellite speakers into a power outlet. All the speakers sync to the soundbar automatically. Download the SmartThings app and follow the onscreen instructions. I would recommend enabling the Auto EQ feature on the soundbar to make the most of what it has to offer. The Samsung Q950A supports eARC making it future proof. For the best surround sound experience, I recommend placing the surround speakers at ear height facing the place you will sit.

Samsung Q950A: Build and design

Premium and commanding is the first thing that comes to mind when you see the Samsung Q950A for the first time. The soundbar is long, nearly the entire width of the 55-inch LG C1 (review) we tested the soundbar with. It isn't very tall but is fairly deep which means it will occupy considerable space when kept on a table. The cloth fabric that covers the speakers attracts dust very easily which means you will spend considerable time cleaning the soundbar. It is quite similar to what we saw on the Sennheiser Ambeo but the speaker grill in this case is not removable. The soundbar also has physical controls on the top. 

The only downside to the design of the display is on the top of the soundbar and not the front. While on a day-to-day basis the display will show you the source and volume level, it is some nuance controls that will be difficult to change. So, if you want to raise the volume of the centre channel or surround channel, for example, you cannot do so from the app and need to resort to the remote control and soundbar display. Considering the size of the display this can get quite cumbersome. I wish the Samsung Q950A had implemented something similar to the Sony HT-Z9F where you got a full-screened display on your TV when connecting the soundbar via HDMI, making navigating the settings very easy. The soundbar itself has 15 drivers firing in different directions to simulate the surround sound effect from the front. It has up firing and side-firing drivers as well. The edges of the soundbar have a nice angular design giving it a unique look.

Moving over to the subwoofer, it is heavy and has an unassuming form factor making it almost invisible and that's a good thing. It is tall but not as wide as one would expect. Its looks are quite deceptive as the soundbar packs a punch. 

The rear satellite speakers have the same finish as the main soundbar and have drivers firing in three directions - top, front and side. The different directions of the drivers ensure you get a better surround effect from the back. 

Samsung Q950A Soundbar: Performance

If like me, you've missed going to the theatre, then this soundbar will definitely compensate for that. We paired the soundbar with the LG C1 for the duration of this review and an immersive cinematic experience is the best way to describe its performance. But before we get into the details of the performance, let's run through some important things to keep in mind. Firstly, I recommend you use the SmartThings app to calibrate the soundbar for the best audio output. Once calibrated, I suggest leaving the Auto EQ on to get the best surround effects. Secondly, while there are sound modes like Standard, Movie, etc., leaving it on Adaptive Sound and forgetting about it yielded the best results, especially for Dolby Atmos content.

Movies

Netflix has a large catalogue of Dolby Atmos content but where the Dolby Atmos capabilities of this soundbar truly shine is with Blu-ray content and content we played from the Apple TV app. Ready player one is one of our favourite tests for Dolby Atmos surround sound. The race at the 12-minute mark in the movie is a great example of channel separation and immersive surround sound effects. The clarity and immersion in the channel separation from left to right, or for a car whizzing past you from behind is absolutely immersive. The sequence where one of the racers crashes and becomes coins just envelopes you from all the sides.

The only downside to the Dolby Atmos effects is the virtual representation of the height channels. While you will feel the sound all around you, you will not hear it from above. Despite the speakers having upward-firing drivers, the sound still feels like it is coming from somewhere in front on the top or on the side on top and not directly above you. This is most evident in the leaf falling or the introduction to Dolby Atmos video you've probably experienced in a Dolby Atmos movie theatre. Nonetheless, this is in no way a big negative for the soundbar as the overall sound for movies, be it in the dialogue, background score or even when mixed, audio is absolutely sublime. If you are looking for an immersive movie-watching experience, then this is definitely a soundbar to invest in.   

Music

While audiophiles will argue about the advantages of a dedicated 2.1 setup built for music, I'll say considering the dynamic nature of this soundbar, and its multiple use cases, it produced some of the best audio we’ve experienced from a soundbar for music. There are some instances where we’ve heard the subtlest instrument and that's a very good thing. While music is generally a 2.1 experience, there are some songs that give a surround sound experience thanks to the very smart implementation of the surround sound speakers. A song like Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede has parts of the song coming from the surround speakers to add depth and immersion. Even classic songs like Wicked Games by Chris Isaak had a good amount of definition. We listened to quite a few songs on this soundbar and if you are having a party at home, know that you won't need to convince people to hit the dance floor. 

Gaming

Sony’s 3D audio is a fantastic reason to wear headphones when playing games on the PS5 (review). But the only downside to that is that the audio from the controller's speaker is a part of the headset removing you from the immersion especially in games like Deathloop (review) and Returnal (review) where it has such fantastic implementation. With the Samsung Q950A soundbar, the implementation of surround sound for games is brilliant. You can manually tweak the position of the speakers from the PlayStation’s system UI and this just enhances the surround experience. 

In a game like Ghost of Tsushima (review) where the enemy archers make a sound before firing an arrow, the sound comes from the precise point behind you (if that's where the archer is) and you can hear the arrow swish all around you. The same for a game like Spiderman Miles Morales (review). When you use your Venom powers to smash the ground the ripples can be felt all around you. It's an incredibly immersive experience. 

Remote control

The soundbar comes with a standard simple remote control very reminiscent of the one found on Samsung TVs. It has a nice curved design making it ergonomic to hold. It also doubles up as a universal remote if you have a Samsung TV. The remote control has playback controls, volume and woofer controls, Bluetooth pairing, source and power. It's simple and you need to use the remote control and the display on the soundbar to change the level of different channels. For more in-depth controls, you need to check out the Samsung SmartThings app.  

Bottom line

The Samsung Q950A is one of the best soundbars we’ve tested when it comes to sound output. It has very good audio quality for all content, be it movies, TV shows, games and even music. It has very clear channel separation, detailed sound and can give you a very immersive experience. Not to mention the fact that it can get very loud. While the Dolby Atmos “height” experience isn’t the best, it is in no way a deterrent to the overall immersive experience the soundbar offers. The SmartThings app makes setting up and controlling the soundbar easy. The only downside to the soundbar is the placement of the display on the bar itself and the short length of the supplied power cable for the satellite speakers. If you are looking for a premium surround sound experience and looking to bring the theatre home, then the Samsung Q950A could definitely be one to consider.

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Dizo Buds Z Review: Eye-catching design

The TWS market is chock-full of affordable options and the Dizo Buds Z may find itself slightly lost in the crowd. The earbuds definitely gets most things right, be it the consumer-friendly bass-boosted sound signature, eye-catching design, comfortable fit, and app support. However, it loses out to its competitors in some key areas such as battery life, microphone performance, and audio codec support.

The true wireless earbud market is being flooded with entry-level options, each seemingly offering up eye-catching specs and features without breaking the bank. Dizo, a brand under the Realme Tech Life ecosystem, having already launched 3 entry-level TWS this year, has now launched its fourth TWS earphone -  the Dizo Buds Z. Priced in the sweet spot under 2K, these earphones aren't the most feature-laden entry-level TWS we've tested yet, but they still offer considerably more than the basics. These earphones compete with the Oppo Enco Buds, the Soundcore R100, and others in the sub-2K price range. Let's see if they bring enough to the table to set them apart from the rest. 

Dizo Buds Z: Performance

The Dizo Buds Z are equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers and have a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. The buds are powered by Bluetooth v5.0, which is a step down from some of its competitors such as the Oppo Enco Buds that come with the latest Bluetooth v5.2. Another area where the Dizo Buds Z comes up short is audio codec support, it only supports SBC codec while competitors such as the Soundcore R100 and Oppo Enco Buds support SBC as well as AAC, which is slightly superior to SBC when it comes to audio transmission.

All that aside, the Dizo Buds Z has a warm sound signature with boosted bass response that many will enjoy. For objective testing, we use a microphone from iSEMcon coupled with an adapter from SLS Audio. We connect this set up to a PC running the SMAART Di-v2 software that generates frequency graphs for headphones.

Uncompensated frequency graph of Dizo Buds Z (orange) vs flat response (blue)

In the frequency graph generated for the Dizo Buds Z, you can clearly see that the bass, especially the sub-bass is boosted quite a lot. There's a massive spike in the low-bass region that can cause some muddiness in the bass region, meaning low-frequency instruments and bass beats can sound a bit too dark at times. However, the upper bass region from 125Hz to 250Hz is well-represented and sounds detailed, especially for earphones under 2K.

Uncompensated frequency graph of Dizo Buds Z (orange) vs Oppo Enco Buds (red) vs Realme Buds Q2 (yellow)

The mids and highs up until 8kHz are massively boosted so they are up and front in the mix. That means vocals and lead instruments are very prominent when listening to music. However, the boosted nature of the mids and highs does overpower the quieter areas from 125Hz to 250Hz where a lot of detail in modern music lies. So, when listening to genres such as rap, pop, hip hop and EDM, you may feel like the track lacks some weight and energy at times. Also, the exaggerated highs tend to be the cause of some sibilance and harshness in the treble regions. Overall, we prefer the Dizo Buds Z's sound signature over the Oppo Enco Buds' extremely dark sound profile, but there's still room for improvement.

The Dizo Buds Z, however, provides a pretty enjoyable listening experience at this inexpensive price point, but if you can stretch your budget by a little, the Realme Buds Q2 offer a more balanced and detailed sound profile while still being energetic and punchy.

Active Noise Cancellation isn't present on these buds, to keep the price point low, but the buds do have decent passive isolation. Although, if you're in a particularly noisy area such as a train station or loud office environment, you will hear surrounding sounds pretty easily.

As for the microphone, the Dizo Buds Z, equipped with Environmental Noise Cancellation, come with mediocre microphone performance that usually works well in indoor settings. If you're outdoors or in a noisy setting, your voice can sound too distant over calls and ambient sounds are also picked up pretty easily, making for calls with a fair bit of disturbance despite ENC. 

As we mentioned before, the Dizo Buds Z are powered by Bluetooth v5.0. The wireless connection is pretty great, for the most part, save for some occasional stutters and lags in the audio. Also, when Game Mode is turned on, there's a brief period where the audio you're listening to distorts and sounds choppy, but it resolved itself within seconds during our testing. The Bluetooth connection process is also very simple. Once paired, the buds instantaneously connect to your device as soon as you open the charging case, no extra steps are required. Also, there's very minimal latency when using these buds to watch videos and play games. Additionally, you can activate Game Mode that lowers the latency to 88ms.

Dizo Buds Z: Features

Priced at Rs 1,999, the Dizo Buds Z don't boast of a plethora of features as seen on earbuds in the 2.5K to 5K price range. However, they do come with the basics such as app support, IP rating, and a few others. The Dizo Buds Z can be used with the Realme Link app that allows users to perform certain functions. You can check the battery levels of your earbuds at a glance, switch between three EQ presets - Bass Boost+, Dynamic and Bright, perform firmware upgrades and customise earbud controls.

Users can tweak earbud controls for the following the double-tap, triple tap and hold and hold actions. You can choose to add functions such as pause/play music, seek tracks, quick switch between paired devices, voice assistant, and game mode. There are no volume controls, which is disappointing since some competitors such as the Oppo Enco Buds offer volume control. Within the app, you can also toggle on/off game mode, volume enhancer, and auto-answer. There's not much else you can do via the app, but the customisability offered for this price is plentiful.

The earbuds are IPX4 water-resistant, so they can easily withstand sweat or light splashes of water, making them suitable to use when exercising. You also get 88ms low latency game mode, as we mentioned before, which is a good addition for those who consume a lot of content or play a lot of games using earbuds. The earbuds also support mono earbud use, meaning you can use either earbud independently of the other. 

Dizo Buds Z: Battery life

The Dizo Buds Z, so far, have proved to be a pretty decent pair of TWS earbuds for the price with an enjoyable and dynamic sound profile and a reasonable number of features. However, one area that has disappointed us has been battery life. The Dizo Buds Z come with a lacklustre battery life of 16 hours in total, buds and case combined. This looks rather paltry in front of competitors such as the Soundcore R100 that comes with 25 hours of total playtime, and the Oppo Enco Buds with its 24-hour-long battery life.

The earbuds on the Dizo Buds Z, by themselves, have a playtime of 4.5 hours. Again, nothing to write home about. In our tests, the earbuds lasted around 4 hours and 5 minutes at 60-70 percent volume. The case provided 3 additional charges, with some juice to spare. The Buds Z do support fast charging where around 10 minutes of charging gets you 1.5 hours of playtime, which is quite decent.

Dizo Buds Z: Build and comfort

Build and design is one area where the Dizo Buds Z truly shines. Don't get us wrong, you're not going to find an extremely premium build on these earphones like you would on mid-range to high-end earbuds, but for the price, the Dizo Buds Z comes with an attractive design and reliable build quality. The Dizo Buds Z has a pebble-shaped charging case with a matte texture that feels more premium than other buds in this price range with their glossy textures. The buds are available in three colour variants - Leaf, Onyx, and Pearl. We got the Leaf mint-green coloured variant for review, which looks fantastic.

The pastel green shade is easy on the eyes and looks unique. The case is very compact and doesn't bulge out of pockets too much. The front of the case houses an LED battery indicator and the DIZO logo while the bottom features a USB-C charging port. The case is extremely easy to open one-handed and shuts close with an audible and satisfying snap, which we love. Additionally, the magnets inside that hold the buds are extremely strong and the buds stay put even when you shake the case with force.

The earbuds have a stem design and feature a glossy texture in contrast to the case's matte texture. The stems or stalks have a lovely iridescent finish that makes the buds stand out. The back of the stems also doubles as touch-sensitive zones to control music and calls. The touch controls are fairly reliable and we encountered very few misreadings with these.

The buds are also super lightweight at merely 3.7g each and this translates to hours of comfortable usage. They also provide a pretty decent fit that stays put during most activities. However, when running the buds do shuffle slightly and you may feel the need to readjust them. Overall, the Dizo Buds Z has a stellar design for the price and is comfortable to wear over long periods of time.

Dizo Buds Z: Verdict

The TWS market is chock-full of affordable options and the Dizo Buds Z may find itself slightly lost in the crowd. The earbuds definitely get most things right, be it the consumer-friendly bass-boosted sound signature, eye-catching design, comfortable fit, and app support. However, it loses out to its competitors in some key areas such as battery life, microphone performance, and audio codec support. Additionally, if a consumer decides to spend a few hundred rupees more, the world of Active Noise Cancellation and other appealing features is opened up to them with earphones such as the Realme Buds Q2 and the Boult Audio Soulpods. The one area where the Dizo Buds Z stand out in the sub-2K price point is design. The earbuds look gorgeous with the iridescent effect on the stems and the charging case's matte texture looks premium. So, if looks and build matter the most to you, the Dizo Buds Z are a good option in the sub-2K price point. 

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PlayGo BH47 Review: Affordable Active Noise Cancellation cans

The PlayGo BH47 is a great entry-level on-ear wireless headphone for those who want to experience some ANC goodness without breaking the bank. The headphones also offer a fairly balanced sound profile with dynamic bass response and detailed mids. However, the microphone performance leaves something to be desired and we’re not fans of the dated micro-USB charging. Battery life, however, is pretty stellar, providing most users with a few days to a week’s worth of usage without having to reach for the charging cable.

With the surge of people working from home during the pandemic, Active Noise Cancellation has never been more sought-after. Audio companies across the globe are working tirelessly to bring this nifty feature to their products at several price points. While we’ve already seen the implementation of this feature on entry-level true wireless earbuds, the feature is also making its way to entry-level Bluetooth cans. To this end, PlayGo’s latest offering, the PlayGo BH47 is an Active Noise Cancelling pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones priced at Rs 6,999. The headphones launched at the 7K price point but can now be purchased for as low as 4K on e-commerce websites such as Amazon, which is a steal deal, on paper at least. Let’s find out more about the PlayGo BH47 headphones and if they make a splash in the entry-level wireless headphone market.

Build and comfort

The PlayGo BH47 finds the right balance between minimalism and flair. The cans come in an all-plastic build with a matte texture and silver highlights around the earcups. The “Play” logo also boasts of a silver sheen that stands out from the minimalistic black body. The headphones weigh approximately 260 grams and feel pretty lightweight when worn. The ear cushions feature soft, padded foam topped with faux-leather material. 

The generous foam padding ensures a comfortable fit and we had a great experience wearing these cans over long periods of time with minimal fatigue. Now, the ear cups do get hot around the ears after some time of listening and can be slightly uncomfortable if you have sweaty ears.  These headphones are circumaural or over-ear headphones that sit around your ears. 

The cups swivel 90-degrees, allowing you to swivel it flat when it rests on your chest when not in use. The cups don’t pivot inwards though so the cups can dig into your collarbone slightly when worn around your neck. The headphones also have metal-reinforced extendable arms to fit heads of various sizes. The extendable arms can be adjusted quite a lot but the mechanism that extends them feels a bit rickety and cheap.

You can also fold the headphones up neatly and tuck in into the soft cloth carrying bag provided in the box. So, these headphones are sufficiently portable and can be carried out easily inside a backpack or medium-large sized handbag. Inside the headphone’s retail box, you also get a micro-USB charging cable, an AUX cable with an L-shaped end, and some documentation. 

As for controls, you can get a multifunction button for pausing/playing music, answering calls, and waking the voice assistant. There are volume up and down buttons that can also switch tracks by long-pressing. Apart from these buttons, the right earcup also houses the micro-USB charging port. We wish the headphones had Type-C charging since micro-USB is awfully dated in 2021.

On the left, you have a toggleable Active Noise Cancellation switch and a 3.5mm audio port for passive listening via an AUX cable. The ANC switch lights up blue when turned on but the blue LED light doesn’t turn off even when you power off the headphones, which is strange and unnecessarily wastes battery. The buttons on the cans work as expected but they feel plasticky and cheap. Overall though, the PlayGo BH47 provides decent build quality and good comfort for the price.

Features

Owing to the inexpensive price of the cans, the PlayGo BH47 isn’t a feature-rich wireless headphone. It doesn’t come with app support, touch controls, Ambient Sound, USB Type-C charging or an IP rating. However, it does possess one feature which is probably the most sought-after feature in audio products currently - Active Noise Cancellation. Priced under 7K, the PlayGo BH47 allow the price-conscious to also get a taste of ANC without breaking the bank.

Active Noise Cancellation performance on these headphones is strictly mediocre. The PlayGo BH47 suppresses low-end, constant sounds to some degree. In a room with the AC on, turning on ANC on these headphones can make a palpable difference. It does a good job reducing the AC’s drone. However, other sounds such as high-speed fans, typing on mechanical keyboards and human voices barely see any suppression and can be heard clear as day. Nevertheless, the quality is acceptable for the price.

The earphones are powered by Bluetooth v5.0 and have AUX support for wired listening. The wireless connection is stable and the wireless transmission distance is pretty decent as well. However, you will experience slight latency when watching content on OTT platforms or playing games on your phone. One of the best features of these headphones is multipoint connectivity that allows users to connect to two separate source devices simultaneously. This is an excellent addition and is something we didn’t expect to get at this price point, but hey, we’re not complaining at all.

Performance

The PlayGo BH47 packs 40mm EBEL (Enhanced Bass, Extra Loud) drivers that provide a fairly balanced sound signature. The earphones only support the SBC codec. At this range, we’re used to the sound signature being too bass-biased, so it was refreshing to see that PlayGo hasn’t gone down that route, since it usually results in muddy and dark sound, which we’re not fans of. Instead, you get a pretty balanced sound signature with a slight boost in bass response that gives it some energy and thump but doesn’t turn things muddy.

Therefore, in tracks with a prominent bass presence such as Shivers by Ed Sheeran, the bass beats are punchy and dynamic but don’t overpower the clarity of the vocals. Even in rock songs such as Sky Is A Neighborhood by Foo Fighters, the drums have a nice kick to them without garbling up lead instruments and vocal performances. The mid-range is also clear and detailed for the most part, however, the highs have a sudden drop-off and can sound slightly imprecise at times. Also, note that the bass response at higher volumes (past 80-90 percent) can get distorted which may sour the experience, so we advise you to keep the volume levels at 60-70 percent. This shouldn’t be a problem, since the cans are loud enough even at those volume levels.

As for instrument separation, the PlayGo BH47 does a decent job keeping the instruments distinct and clear, however, the soundstage is slightly closed off which may cost you some immersiveness. Additionally, the PlayGo Bh47’s audio does suffer from some bleeding, so people around you may be able to hear what you’re listening to. Overall, we’re fans of the fairly balanced sound profile the PlayGo BH47 provides at an affordable price point. 

As for the microphone, the performance is slightly disappointing. When using the headphones to make calls, our voice often sounded too distant and muffled. In an indoor setting, the BH47 does a slightly better job, but there’s room for improvement, for sure.

Battery life

The PlayGo BH47’s wireless playtime is rated at 30 hours (without ANC) and 23 hours (with ANC) by the company. These are some pretty good numbers and you should have no problem using these cans for days from a single charge, provided that you use your headphones for about 5-6 hours per day. In our testing, the PlayGo BH47 lasted 21 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge with ANC turned on and volume levels set to 60 per cent. 

The only thing that disappoints us in the battery department is having to charge the device using the dated micro-USB charger. It’s a good thing that PlayGo provides a charger in the box, since we’ve ditched those pesky micro USB cables for good as most devices have made the shift to USB Type-C charging.

Verdict

The PlayGo BH47 is a great entry-level on-ear wireless headphone for those who want to experience some ANC goodness without breaking the bank. The headphones also offer a fairly balanced sound profile with dynamic bass response and detailed mids. However, the microphone performance leaves something to be desired and we’re not fans of the dated micro-USB charging. Battery life, however, is pretty stellar, providing most users with a few days to a week’s worth of usage without having to reach for the charging cable. Overall, there’s more to like about these headphones than to complain about. They are a good value-for-money option for most people looking to purchase headphones under 7K. However, if you’re mostly going to be using these headphones for calls, we suggest looking elsewhere. 

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