Portable Audio Devices

Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega

The product of Creative Technologies, comes in different parts which include the Sound Blaster Tactic3D Headset, the dongle for the USB sound card, the different USB cables and a stand. The ear-cups provide a good noise cancellation and make the sound far better with amazing details, and these headsets enable cross-platform wireless gaming. The connectivity is possible through the Tactic3D BaseStation, and the THX TruStudio Pro is something that raises the productivity of the headset, by bringing an experience that is found in large theaters, during live performances, etc. FullSpectrum 50mm audio drivers and the detachable microphone make the usage experience better.

The audio settings can be customized and shared too. Our testers did some research, and the rating that the Audio Playback gets is 7/10 for having a strong treble and mid-range clarity, having a good clear sound till the range of 20 feet. The Voice FX feature is pretty good, with a neat clarity for both gaming and music. The Tactic 3D Omega wireless headsets are pretty easy to set and have a smooth control panel, getting 7 out of 10. The charge is quick, and a single full charge gave around 17 hours of continuous sound play, getting a rating of 6/10. The soft blue lighting on the side looks neat, and the only disadvantages we see are in the bass and with the headsets being expensive. It is a solid set of wireless headphones, with low bass power, and good wireless gaming, along with the use for PS3, PC and Mac users. The Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Omega is priced at Rs 14,799 in the Indian market.

Creative ZiiSound D5 speakers

Priced at Rs 19,999 in the Indian market, the Creative ZiiSound D5 has various music profiles like Hip Hop, R&B, Rap, Classical & Jazz, Pop, Rock, Alternative, Country, etc. and the input type of the D5 is a 30-pin dock, and the jack which is for the 3.5-mm headset pin. The wireless reception of signals extends to a range of 10 meters, which is long enough for Bluetooth connectivity.

The ZiiSound D5 can have different configurations set for the stereo system, and the power source is AC power, which can be a bit disadvantageous for someone who would want to make things easier with USB charging. The detailing is very neat when the volume level is low, but the details are not the same when a higher level of volume is played, though it scores a good 7 out of 10 for the audio playback. The volume control is possible through the neat slider, which works with the touch response, and the display scores 7 out of 10. What we are impressed with is the interface which is neat and very simple to use; our reviewers rating it 8/10. Of course the ZiiSound D5 has a few drawbacks, including the heavy weight. Design wise, the D5 looks good and works perfectly with iOS devices including the iPhone, iPod and the iPad. The wireless audio experience is up to the mark, and as we said the 3.79 Kg weight is one of the big disadvantages of the ZiiSound D5.

Logitech Mini Boombox

The Logitech Mini Boombox is a perfect replacement for the large speakers, and for the size it has, audio quality is a lot better than what one would expect. These portable wireless speakers from Logitech India, are priced at Rs. 4900, and they produce mono audio and it holds a single USB 2.0 port for connectivity. These speakers have the audio playback enabled through connection with the smartphones, tablets and the other devices which support the Bluetooth wireless audio profile, and along with that, the Boombox takes the connection from the 3.5mm audio output, which include the iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3G and the later phones, and the iPod touch of 2nd or later generation.

The Logitech Mini Boombox apart from the superlative support to the music/audio provides good support for phone calls, through the Bluetooth Hands-Free profile (HFP 1.5), which include all generations of the Apple iPhone. And though there is need for Bluetooth connectivity for the Boombox to provide sound output, it's an easy-to-connect Bluetooth device which works on the concept of plug-and-play. Battery life hits it back, being just 8-9 hours although the compact device could have given a lot more hours of audio output, and the battery scores 6 out of 10. Being compact and light in weight, the Boombox looks neat on any background and for the ergonomics, look and feel, it gets a good 7 out of 10. The areas where the Boombox has a few cons, is the low bass, and the distortion at high volume. The charging cable is too short which restricts the usage while the Boombox is being charged.

Plantronics Voyager Pro HD

The Plantronics Voyager Pro HD is a tiny headset, which takes the hands-free wireless experience and convenience for the users to the next level. Made by Plantronics India Pvt. Ltd. and priced at Rs. 4,999, it is a reasonably priced headset although the vocalist service of its, is charged from the second year of usage. The Voyager Pro HD comes with a Smart Sensor technology which would recognize automatically whether you are to send any calls to your mobile phone or to this headset, and just putting it on would assist in answering the call without the user having to do anything else.

The Vocalyst service of the Voyager Pro HD does the stuff more than one would expect from this tiny headset, as it helps manage the email, check weather and update your status on Facebook using various applications. Using the Voyager Pro HD, one could stream music and podcasts limitlessly, and the technology has made things easier for people to check the battery status of this headset, directly on the screens of the iPhone and Android 3.0 devices to which it is connected to.

The design is sleek and comfortable, making long-time continuous usage too easy for users. When connected to the mobile phones which have the A2DP enabled, the streaming of music, podcasts, GPS and other audio applications is possible. Whispering alerts of the battery indicator, connection status etc. make the user experience a lot better. The audio is of mono type, and clear audio is heard even on the go, giving it 7 out of 10 for the audio playback. The battery is a little disadvantageous, with a talk time and usage of around 4-5 hours, but it doesn't die at any sudden moment, as it indicates low battery 30 minutes prior to talktime capacity.

Sony MDR-XB300 headset

The Sony MDR-XB300, where the XB stands for Extra Bass, is an excellent portable audio headset that is designed with an acoustic charm and the pressure-relieving earpads of the headphones are ultra-thick in size to give a better feel and look to the headsets. Priced at Rs. 2,490, the XB300 is designed to deliver a high level of sound isolation and bass sounds at the best quality. The weight of 120 gm doesn't feel heavy on the head, as most of the bulk is occupied by earpads.

The headphones have a 1.2 m wire, which does give a comfort and no restrictions while one rests back with the wire fitted into the headset sockets. The audio playback test gave 7 out of 10 for a good bass, along with a clear sound on even high levels of sound.