Design and features:The Galaxy Buds Live has integrated microphones and touch sensitive music player and call connect/disconnect controls for paired Bluetooth devices. Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications, and the earphones have an auto pause feature that stops audio playback when one earphone is taken out of ear. They support Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Samsung Bixby digital voice assistants when they are used with Bluetooth capable devices that have those features, and the touch controls can be set to control volume and an ambient sound monitor function when the earphones are used with Android or Apple smartphones with the appropriate apps installed. Additional features include wireless recharging with Samsung or other brand smartphones and optional accessories with Qi wireless charging capability, and manufacturer claimed water resistance. This model comes with three pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, three pairs of ear bowl supports in various sizes, a USB charging cable, and a charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries once between its own charges. The free Samsung Galaxy Wearable app download for Android mobile devices and free Samsung Galaxy Buds+ app download for Apple mobile devices can be used to change the tonal balance of the headphones, turn on/off and select between three volume levels of the monitor function, change the function of the earphone touch controls, check the earphone battery level, update the earphone firmware, and help locate the earphones if they are lost or misplaced.
Sound quality: We found the Galaxy Buds Live delivers very good active noise reduction and sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. Depending on how this models naturally fits in your ears the overall sound can be summarized as ranging from somewhat bassy and a bit grainy to somewhat bassy and dark. The sound of this model is very dependent on how the earphone speakers line up with the user's ear canals when sit naturally in the user's ears. With the noise cancelling mode engaged and the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ or Galaxy Wearables app equalizer set at Normal setting. The bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy, and somewhat crowds the midrange regardless of position. Users who's natural fit results in greater ear canal/earphone speaker alignment will find that the midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is a bit grainy, and a touch congested (think sonic traffic jam), and that the treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is fairly extended, slightly prominent, and a bit smeared (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer sound blurred). Users who's natural fit results in less ear canal/earphone speaker alignment will find that the midrange is somewhat dark (there is an opaqueness that covers up fine detail) and a bit grainy and congested, and the treble is slightly subdued. Regardless of fit these earphones the sound has a decent sense of liveliness, it is somewhat closed (sound-wise it's fairly obvious you have something plugging your ears) and only do a so-so job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the audio program that's being listened to was recorded). Warmish character. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones. Noise Canceling: Very Good noise reduction primarily at the lower frequencies. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the sides more high-frequency noise can be heard. Very faint hiss can be heard when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort: We found that these earphones do not produce pressure in the ear canal. Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels bulky in their earbowl; however, this model stays in place for casual use and feels secure during even vigorous head movements. Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are fairly stable even 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 that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional playing/pausing or track skipping.
