Design and features:The Surface Earbuds have integrated microphones and touch sensitive volume, music player, call connect/disconnect, and digital voice assistant activation controls for paired Bluetooth devices. Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Additional features include support for various digital voice assistants when Bluetooth paired to mobile devices and Windows 10 computers that have the appropriate apps installed, and manufacturer claimed water resistance. This model comes with Three pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, a USB charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries 2 times between its own charges. The free Surface Audio app download for Apple or Android mobile devices can be used to change the sound of the earphones, show the battery level, disable the touch controls, and update the earphone's firmware. When used with Android mobile devices the earphones can play the Spotify music service directly (i.e. without having to open the app on phone first).
Sound quality: We found the sound of the Surface Earbuds is highly dependent on how they fit in your ears. With an optimal fit the sound quality falls in the Very Good range, but with a less than optimal fit the sound quality may be no better than Fair, so you should check the return policy before you buy. At its best the overall sound can be summarized as clear and slightly grainy. With the Surface Audio app EQ set to "Flat" (the as received state of the earphone) we found the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and is fairly detailed, but the deepest bass is lacking. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is slightly thin and grainy and the upper midrange is a touch etched (a bit more sharply outlined then it should be). The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but somewhat smeared (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer sound blurred). The sound has a good sense of liveliness and is open--sound-wise it seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. The model does a good job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the audio program that's being listened to was recorded) in the upper midrange, but only so-so elsewhere. With a non-optimal fit the overall sound degrades by becoming somewhat bassy and dark.
Comfort: We found that these earphones do not produce pressure in the ear canal. Users with small ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use. Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use and are fairly stable during vigorous head movement. Users with larger sized ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use and are fairly stable during vigorous head movement. Some users, regardless of earbowl size, may not feel that these earphones fit securely due to the shape of their earbowls. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional volume level changes, playing, pausing, or audio track switching.
