Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling portable ear-insert model provides very 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. The ColorBuds 2 has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include - either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Charging/carrying case has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries for an additional 12 hrs. of listening time for a total of 18 hrs. Manufacturer claims dust and water resistance (IPX5). Free 1MoreMuusic app download for iOS and Android mobile devices adds additional features and software updates. When both earphones are used the headphone noise cancellation control default setting switches between ANC and ambient sound monitor (Pass-through) modes by touch control on either earbud or via the 1More Music app. When using one earphone in single ear monitoring mode both ANC and Ambient (Pass through) are off. Has touch controls, defaults are music player play/pause, communications call connect/disconnect, Noise cancelling/ambient sound monitoring control, and voice control activation. Supports voice control when used with Bluetooth connected devices that have those features. Automatically pauses audio when one earphone is taken out of ear and resumes when both are put back. Has quick charge feature: 15 min of charging will provide 2 hr. of playtime. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. 1More Music app download for Apple and Android devices can be used to disable the auto pause feature, customize the headphone touch control functions (play/pause and/or voice control can be swapped for next track, previous track, volume up, and volume down functions), check battery levels, update firmware, and run a built-in headphone burn in audio file. Personalized audio EQ profiles can be created and stored with the SoundID feature using the 1More Music app. This model comes with Four pairs of ear pieces in various sizes, USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case, User Manual, Sticker.
Sound quality: We found the ColorBuds 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 and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise cancelling mode engaged the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep but is a touch soft. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is a bit hazy, grainy, and congested, and a touch soft. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is fairly extended, but is a touch sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying) and smeared. 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 and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Warmish character. The overall sound can be summarized as fairly even, but a bit hazy, grainy, and congested. The noise cancelling electronics do not produce any background noise that is noticeable even in low ambient noise environments. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with low frequencies reduced the most and higher than typical reduction of high frequencies.
Comfort: We found that these earphones as typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening might be uncomfortable for some. Users will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are stable even during vigorous head movement. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional playing and pausing.
