Design and features:The earphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on, and you can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. The True Wireless ANC has integrated microphones as well as music player and call connect/disconnect controls that work with paired Bluetooth devices, and controls to switch between noise canceling and ambient sound monitoring. Additional features include an auto pause feature that stops audio playback when either earphone is taken out of an ear, support for Apple Siri and Google Assistant digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth capable devices that have those features, and wireless recharging with optional Qi-compatible wireless charging mats. This model comes with seven pairs of ear pieces in various sizes and types, four pairs of removable ear bowl supports in various sizes, a USB charging cable, a charging cradle/carrying case with built-in battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries approximately 2-2/3 times between its own charges, and a carrying bag.
Sound quality: We found the True Wireless ANC delivers sound quality that falls in the fair range - meaning that it has sonic shortcomings that leave a lot to be desired when listening to music but don't rule it out for dialog and communication and excellent active noise reduction. With either of the noise cancelling modes engaged the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is somewhat even, but it is muffled and somewhat congested and a bit grainy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is fairly extended but is generally subdued and the mid to upper treble is a bit sizzly. The sound lacks liveliness and it is closed (sound-wise it's fairly obvious you have something plugging your ears) and does 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). Warm character. The overall sound can be summarized as bassy and muffled. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. The noise cancelling settings and the ambient monitor setting produce a very noticeable rushing sound that is audible when there is no audio program material to drown it out and during quiet audio passages.
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 and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal, but that they will generally stay in place during casual use. Users with medium, and 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. Some uses might tapping the earphone to switch between the anc and ambient sound monitoring functions drives the earphone further into the ear bowl and/or canal and causes ear discomfort.
