Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable ear-insert model provides good sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its ear plug-like design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. Additional features include Charging/carrying case has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries for an additional 28 hrs. of playtime for a total of 35 hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX5). SoundCore app download for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features and software updates. Has three noise cancellation modes that can be selected using the Soundcore app - Transport (emphasis on low frequency noise cancellation), Indoor (emphasis on midrange noise cancellation), and Outdoor (emphasis on wide-band noise cancellation). The headphone noise cancellation control default setting switches between noise cancellation on and off, but can be customized using the app to switch between any two of three settings (noise cancellation on, noise cancellation off, and ambient monitoring). The app can be used to switch ambient monitoring between full audio range ambient monitoring or vocal range only ambient monitoring. Any of the noise cancelling or ambient monitoring settings can also be selected using the app. Has touch controls; default settings are play/pause/call answer/end, next track, and noise cancellation on/off. Supports various compatible digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth connected devices that have those features. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of charging will provide 1.5 hrs. of playtime. SoundCore app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to adjust the tonal balance of the earphones using tonal presets, custom EQ, switch between noise canceling on/off and ambient monitoring, switch between the various noise canceling modes, switch between ambient monitoring modes, customize the headphone touch control functions (any combination of four functions can be enabled at the same time), check battery levels, and update firmware. This model comes with Five pairs of ear pieces in various types and sizes, three pairs of earbowl supports in various sizes, USB-A to USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case. Quick start guide.
Sound quality: We found the Life Dot 2 XR delivers sound quality that falls in the good range - it reproduces music and voice reasonably well despite the obvious shortcomings in its sound and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise cancelling mode engaged and the SoundCore app set with noise cancelling in transport mode, equalizer set to SoundCore Signature (default), the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) goes fairly deep, but is very prominent and boomy, and has excessive impact. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is grainy, somewhat hazy, and a bit etched (a bit more sharply outlined then it should be), and can be overwhelmed by the bass. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a somewhat prominent and sizzly. While the sound has a good sense of liveliness, it is closed sounding (sound-wise it's obvious you have something plugging your ears) and it does decent job of recovering room ambience. Mixed character - warm bass with coolish midrange and treble. The overall sound can be summarized as grainy, somewhat hazy, and very bassy. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. Orientation changes the noise reduction characteristic - when the noise is coming from the rear a bit less high-frequency noise can be heard. A faint rushing sound can be heard in quiet environments when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort: As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small earbowls might find that the earphone body feels a bit bulky in their earbowl 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 very stable even during vigorous head movement. 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 very stable even during vigorous head movement. Some uses might find tapping to actuate the various earphone controls drives the earphones farther into the ear canal and may cause ear discomfort.
