Design and features:This model has customizable controls with play/pause, next track, call connect/disconnect, and digital voice assistant activation default settings; the controls can be changed to provide volume up/down, and previous track functions. Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. It supports unspecified digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth connected devices that have those features. The charging/carrying case has a built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries for an additional 25 hrs. of playtime for a total of 35 hrs. It can be recharged via USB cable or with optional wireless charging accessories. The free House Of Marley Headphones app download for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features and software updates. The app was found to be very glitchy during out tests.
Sound quality:We found the Champion 2 delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. The overall sound can be summarized as a bit bassy, grainy, and hazy. With the House of Marley app equalizer set to "Signature" (default setting of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even but is a bit grainy, hazy and congested (think sonic traffic jam) . The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a bit prominent, smeared and sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. It also does a decent job of recovering the room ambience of recordings. The app is a bit glitchy during our tests and did not always work; when it was working changing the tone settings did not always noticeably affect the earphones sound.
Comfort and Fit:As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some.
Small
Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their ear bowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place, but that they will stay in place during casual use and are stable during fairly vigorous head movement.
Medium
Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are stable during fairly vigorous head movement.
Large
Users with large sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement.
Some users might find pressing the various earphone controls drives the earphones farther into the ear canal and may cause ear discomfort .
