JBL has launched the JBL Tour PRO 3, the brand’s most advanced True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds yet.

With the introduction of dual drivers, JBL Spatial 360 with Head Tracking, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0, and an improved Smart Charging CaseTM packing truly unique features, JBL Tour PRO 3 redefines the TWS listening and user experience and leads the way in TWS Smart technology

“The JBL Tour PRO 3 sets new standards in customisation, performance, and convenience. New Zealanders will be particularly excited by the new generation Smart Charging Case. The new audio transmitter technology unlocks so many potential scenarios for improving the listening experience, from air travel to group listening sessions,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

At the forefront of the JBL Tour PRO 3’s innovations is the second-generation Smart Charging Case. The case not only provides full control of the earbud features, but also acts as a wireless audio transmitter, enabling ‘Everywhere Entertainment’ from any USB or analogue source such as an inflight entertainment system. Simply plug in the charging case for an instant and automatic connection to your earbuds.

Better yet, the direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth, making it the perfect companion for gaming, calls*, movies and music.

JBL Tour PRO 3 is JBL’s first TWS model with full Auracast functionality. Easily share audio content with any Auracast-enabled device using the AuracastTM button on the Smart Charging Case display. Or join an existing broadcast by simply tapping in with the case and accompanying app so you can listen to the same content as your friends and family.

The redesigned Smart Charging Case now features a 30% larger screen than its predecessor, all wrapped in a smaller, more pocketable package. The screen provides seamless control over music playback, call management, access to ID3 Tag, caller ID and media file information, and more without needing to access your phone.

The JBL Tour PRO 3 brings JBL Spatial 360 and Head Tracking technology from any audio source. This feature transforms stereo sound into a fully immersive experience – particularly beneficial when watching movies or playing games. Head Tracking deepens the immersive experience by making sounds appear to come from outside your head and stay fixed in space, even when you move your head.

No matter what you are listening to, enjoy it in excellent quality. JBL Tour PRO 3 boasts a hybrid dual driver system in each earbud, a first for JBL TWS, delivering JBL’s legendary Pro Sound. The balanced armature driver handles the high notes with enhanced clarity, freeing the 11mm dynamic driver to provide powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals. With a dedicated DAC for each driver reproducing a specific part of the frequency range from 20Hz to 40kHz, enjoy every detail in stunning definition, closer than ever to studio sound reproduction.

Further enhancing audio quality, the Hi-Res certified wireless audio codec LDAC, delivers three times more data than the standard Bluetooth codecs, resulting in exceptional high-resolution sound.

Most features of the JBL Tour PRO 3 are fully customisable, including the True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 technology. This advanced system measures over 50,000 times per second, adapting to environmental changes and compensating for sound leakage.

For the best comfort and performance, JBL Tour PRO 3 ships with an extensive selection of ear tip options. Find your perfect fit with five different sized silicon and one additional set of foam ear tips.

With six microphones and a hydrodynamic windproof design, the Tour PRO 3 ensures clear and undistorted voice transmission during calls. The earbuds use a new, proprietary, JBL Crystal AI call algorithm to enhance clarity even in noisy environments. Your voice will now not only be clear in places with low frequency stationary noises such as traffic or at a train station, but also in situations with more sudden high frequency noises such as coffee shops.

Further enhance your calling experience with the new smart call equalizer, Voice Call. This features a sound level optimiser which helps reduce the volume of loud talkers or amplify quiet talkers.

For a fully personalised sound, the Personi-fi 3.0 hearing test offers a customised sound profile. This JBL algorithm accurately measures and adjusts for individual hearing profiles using 12 bands for EQ compensation and 14 warble tones. The adjustments are now made separately for each ear, providing the most personalised listening experience to date.

Additionally, Tour PRO 3 allows users to personalise the display lock screen and wallpaper with any photo and supports display commands in 13 languages.

JBL Tour PRO 3 will be available in Black and Latte colourway.

The post JBL Launches the Tour Pro 3 True Wireless appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Samsung’s pioneering Bluetooth ear buds have certainly evolved from their first consumer released Icon X.

We have had the small round shaped buds, through to the weird ‘Beans’ and now Samsung have gone more mainstream with their new Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.

Retaining true wireless mixed with HD quality audio Samsung took a more conventional design and added even more features for your wellbeing.

First up to connect the Galaxy Buds3 Pro you’ll need the Galaxy Wear app. This is available on both Android and iOS, and you do not need a Samsung phone to get the most out of these buds.

Once synced up you can expect to have some crystal clear audio pumping in to your ears, with noise cancelation and Voice Aware.

Handsfree is brilliant as the Buds3 Pro successfully block out any environmental noise.

Voice Aware is exactly its namesake, rock out while holding a convo in person. The Buds3 Pro will prioritise voice over music or media.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro come with lights on both stems of either buds, called ‘Blade Lighting’. This is an indicator light for Voice Aware, charging and more. It’s not a light effect that stays on.

Samsung has added siren awareness even if you have the Active Noise Cancelation on, when out and about with your tunes dialed up to max volume, you’re not going to get knocked down by a speeding emergency vehicle. This is also a feature to be used in office too. If you’re using the Buds3 Pro at work and the fire alarm goes off, you’re sure going to hear it.

Touch control on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro is similar but different to what we have seen in prior models.

Swipe up or down the stem to control volume. Pinch to pause or play, or answer a call.

Each bud has a 24 bit codec for Ultra High Definition and a new 2-way speaker system that separates differing notes or instruments if listening to music.

The Buds3 Pro actually do split audio up extremely well. There’s a definite separation from higher notes through to the rumbling of the bass when streaming music.

Mobile gaming and movie watching was on par with having audio through a multi-channel soundbar set up.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro have got it when it comes to superior personal audio.

If you are using these on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you’ll get the additional ‘feature’ of 360 surround which utilises head-tracking. But I say ‘feature’ loosely.

It only works if your phone is unlocked and at times the head-tracked audio gets stuck in one position. Something that since Samsung introduced a few years back, has never quite got right (or allowed it on other Android devices).

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro take Galaxy AI to another level as they will tweak the audio according to your fit, environment and media you are listening to.

The Buds3 Pro are also super comfortable for long periods of use.

Battery wise, you can expect to get around 6 hours if you’re using ANC (Active Noise Cancelation) or with ANC off you’ll get an extra 1 hour. My advice, go hard at full volume with ANC on, it doesn’t make a lot of difference in battery life.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are wireless chargeable and the sleek but retro-looking case will give around four full charges.

The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are a change from what we are used to from Samsung, but it is a change for the better. For most it will be an easier fit and wear, they are more intuitive and smart, but best of all is the audio experience you’re in for with a set of these.

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JBL is at the top when it comes to audio production.

From large sound stages, recording booths, to your home and on-the-go, only JBL sound the way they do.

They also bring us busy outdoors (and indoors) people functions that we never knew we needed, such as a Smart Charging Case for their earbuds.

As we saw with last years Tour Pro 2 TWS, JBL have now released the Live Flex 3.

The Smart Case comes with the same functionality as the Tour Pro 2, where you can tweak your audio settings, control music and volume as well as customize the lock screen.

You can also set up your smart phone’s notifications to come up on the case screen. This is a bit hit and miss though.

The buds themselves are super comfy for long wearing periods and put out an astounding tub-thumping mix of highs and lows, with a rumble for that bassline.

However, they are prone to slipping out of your ear due to having no silicone tips.

Side touch functionality is still there, to take a call or control your music or media, and the Live Flex 3 are also a bit prone to the occasional Bluetooth drops as their Tour Pro 2 also suffers from.

But the JBL Live Flex 3 will see you right for that long commute, flight and literally all-day.

A whopping 50 hour battery life from full charge (or around 10 hours on a 15 – 20 minute charge up) means you are not going to have to charge these up every few hours.

I’ve had this review pair for a bit over one week and they are still going strong after one full charge when I first received them.

The JBL Live Flex 3 are the buds to have in your bag or pocket, and take with you, for reliability.

If you’re a fitness fanatic or someone that moves around a lot, they may not be the best due to their ability to fall out.

At home, work or that long haul flight, you can’t go wrong. You can put your phone away and pump up the jam on your fav playlists from the Smart Case.

The post JBL Live Flex 3 Ear Buds Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL continues its legacy of innovation, with the latest addition to its popular True Wireless lineup, the JBL Live TWS 3 series.

Featuring JBL’s Smart Charging Case, the new Live series takes the true wireless experience beyond audio, thanks to the 1.45” inch LED touch display.

“At JBL, our strategy is to push the boundaries with each generation of our headphones, to offer consumers the best possible technology at each pricepoint. The Live 3 TWS series is no exception,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

“Alongside the Smart Charging Case, a first for our Live series, we’ve also added enhanced wireless audio technology, including Hi Res audio, True Adaptive NC and Spatial Audio for a more immersive experience.”

The latest version of the JBL’s first Smart Charging Case provides consumers with full control of almost all features and functions in real time, with just a tap on the 1.45″ inch LED touch display.

Customise your listening experience by adjusting volume and EQ, controlling your music, taking phone calls, and seeing messages, without needing to open your device. You can even customise the screensaver with your favourite photos.

Building on the sound quality of the previous generation, the JBL Live 3 TWS series delivers monumental audio, with dynamic drivers powered by JBL Signature Sound. Each driver is perfectly tuned to deliver deep bass, balanced mid-range, and refined high frequencies at any volume level. JBL Spatial Sound makes you feel like you’re at a concert as the sound comes from virtually everywhere around you.

Tune out the outside world entirely or customise just how much ambient sound you decide to let in, with four noise-sensing mics that automatically adapt to your surroundings in real time. The auto compensation in the JBL Headphones app adjusts and optimises the Adaptive Noise Cancelling level to your wearing and ear canal conditions, ensuring effective noise cancellation tailored to your personal hearing experience.

With three different wearing styles available – Buds, Beam and Flex – the JBL Live TWS 3 series ensures comfort and flexibility.

All models are available in Black and Silver on the 1st August 2024.

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Hear your PlayStation 5 games as they were meant to be experienced with PlayStation’s Pulse Explore wireless earbuds.

Delivering lossless audio via studio quality planar magnetic drivers the Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connected buds optimise both gaming and other media audio, with crystal clarity.

The Pulse Explore buds come with a PlayStation styled sliding charging case, USB-C charging cable and a USB-A dongle.  Connecting up to your PS5 is super easy and you have two options. Bluetooth or via the near-to zero latency 2.4GHz dongle.

Similar to the PlayStation Pulse 3D headphones released back in 2021.

The Pulse Explore wireless buds are a bit more portable and great for those that are not a fan of full sized over the head headphones.

Offering a similar sound experience the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds are 3D audio equipped for compatible games.

And this is other worldly. Giving a whole new feel to your gameplay.

PlayStation’s Pulse Explore wireless earbuds can be used with your smartphone too.

Connecting up either to Android or iOS you’ll be streaming the best hits from your playlists with HD quality sound.

Uniquely designed, the curvy winged Pulse Explore are a comfortable fit, even for long durations of play or general use.

I found the best time I had with these was when using them with PSVR2. Placing the buds in, pulling the VR visor down and boom you’re totally submersed in the world of PlayStation VR.

And although it is still to be released the Pulse Explore will be a must have when using the PlayStation Portal Remote Player.

Battery life will give you up to 5 hours playtime from a single full charge.

The case however is a bit low on the charge capability, giving you two full charge cycles, or 10 hours.

My first run with the PlayStation Pulse Explore was bang on around 5 hours total. The case itself, also fully charged actually only gave me around 8 hours, a full 5 hour play then after a charge up, 3 hours.

Second time round it exceeded the two full charge cycles giving 12 hours total. So it tends to fluctuate a bit.

Nonetheless if you’re planning on doing a 5 hour VR, on screen or a future Remote play you’ll be fine.

Either at home or on the go the PlayStation Pulse Explore wireless earbuds are a studio experience you can put in your pocket and play or rock out with.

The post PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

I’ve covered a lot of Bluetooth earbuds over the years.

Essentially they all do the same thing, with other brands outputting better HQ audio than others.

JBL are synonymous with a top shelf listening experience and recently added the functionality of being able to pair more than one device at the same time. So you don’t have to, you know, repeatedly disconnect, connect, disconnect, reconnect.

They even released an innovative set with a fully functional touch screen on the charge case with their Tour Pro 2. These are my daily’s. I love them.

So now with the release of JBL’s Quantum TWS Air earbuds that dual connection has been taken even further.

In the charge case are the two Bluetooth earbuds, and a USB-C dongle.

Your first thought might be, ‘do I need to pair these up with the dongle to use them?’. It’s a yes and no. More of a no. The Quantum TWS Air will pair to any Bluetooth device. Smart phone, tablet, PC and more.

The 2.4GHz USB-C dongle enables you to have a stronger, low latency connection between your PC and the earbuds with our interference in what could be a cluttered wireless home network.

Think of a wireless gaming mouse, but for audio.

And speaking of gaming, the Quantum TWS Air Bluetooth earbuds excelled.

Depending on what sound or sound enhancement your gaming RIG or laptop has will alter your experience.

I paired up my Windows ROG Z Flow laptop / tablet hybrid and boom the audio was second to none for both gaming and media streaming.

Using the dongle on a MacBook, the experience was not the same. I’d even say watered down, with a rumble of bass totally missing.

The same experience via direct Bluetooth connection on both devices as well.

Pairing via Bluetooth to my smart phone was great and the connection was super stable (the Tour Pro 2 would drop connection before the last firmware update resolved it).

However both Android and iOS with the Bluetooth connection have a wee bit too much treble and not enough boom.

There’s four beamforming mics for hands free calling as well as gamer chat, audio is enhanced with JBL’s own Quantum Surround and I do recommend you download the free app or smart devices so you can tweak the settings to your liking.

Battery is fantastic. The Quantum TWS Air Bluetooth earbuds will last four hours with the case holding up to 16 hours. Battery life of course is dependent on what you’re using them for. For example, if you’re gaming with chat you’ll likely see less than a four life span.

While the JBL Quantum TWS Air earbuds packed the rumble via the 2.4GHz connectivity, I know not everyone likes their ears to vibrate to bass like me.

So if you’re after a pair of solid and reliable earbuds for work and play at a more than reasonable price tag, the JBL Quantum TWS Air Bluetooth buds will see you right with their alternate connection options right from the charging case.

The post JBL Quantum TWS Air Earbuds Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Huawei are known for packing in top shelf specs without the high price tag.

They did it with with their smartphones in the past, with their smartwatches currently and this transcends over to personal audio.

Here we have the Huawei FreeBuds 5i. A mid range set of wireless earbuds that punches well above it’s mid tier.

Up to 42 db (decibels) the FreeBuds 5i can rumble with deep bass and hit those high notes with perfect clarity.

This is driven by 10mm drivers per bud.

Handsfree hasn’t missed that immersive audio either with two mics on each ear bud.

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i also uses AI for it’s Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) as well as detecting the fit in to your ear.

If the ear buds don’t go in super snug the FreeBuds 5i will adjust audio accordingly so you don’t miss out on HD clarity.

There’s differing settings for the ANC for, as you guessed it, different environments.

And you can stream your fav playlist from morning to night non-stop.

Up to 28 hours from a full charge will see you rocking out. I’ve had the review FreeBuds 5i for a few weeks now, and they have been my daily buds every day and over the course of three weeks they have only needed to be fully charged once (on an average use of 4 hours per day, 5 days a week).

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i are also an excellent cheaper set for mobile gaming too.

You can dual connect, so there’s no need to unpair with, say, your mobile phone to connect to a tablet, just pair with both and switch devices as you please.

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i are an all rounder and cover almost all bases, and sporting the specs and HD quality audio of more expensive brands.

The Huawei FreeBuds 5i are literally music for your ears.

The post Huawei FreeBuds 5i Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL is launching its most powerful and feature-rich headphones in New Zealand, with the addition of the JBL Tour PRO 2 True Wireless earbuds, and the JBL Tour ONE M2 headphones.

The from JBL’s flagship Tour line-up push performance to the next level with a smart, seamless user experience and superior audio, including immersive JBL Spatial Audio and the first true wireless earbuds to be encased in JBL’s innovative smart case.

“JBL has gone from strength to strength in New Zealand, as we continue to build our line-up of best-in-class audio products for Kiwis to enjoy,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager for JBL New Zealand.

“We’re really excited to bring the latest iteration of our Tour range to market here. Music fans will appreciate the legendary Hi-Res certified JBL Pro Sound packed into these models, as well as smart features like the Tour PRO 2’s smart charging case with its touch display – an absolute game-changer.”

JBL Tour PRO 2 stands out from the crowds with the world’s first smart charging case. Transform your TWS experience beyond audio – just tap the 1.45″ inch LED touch display to manage your music, customise your earbuds, receive calls, messages and social media notifications in real time without touching your phone.

The unique smart charging case allows you to directly access all key earbuds features without using the JBL smartphone app. For a completely seamless experience, JBL has made all app features accessible via the smart case even from non-smartphone devices, such as laptops, PCs, TVs etc.

Built for productivity, the JBL Tour PRO 2’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology tunes out distractions so you can enjoy your favourite audio powered by legendary JBL Pro Sound.

Optimise the ANC performance by taking the Ear Canal Test in a noisy environment – then relax or work in pure silence as the software does the rest. Or turn on the Personal Sound Amplification to boost yours and others’ voice volume without ever removing your earbuds.

You can immerse yourself in your favourite tunes for up to 40 hours on a single charge thanks to the innovative Bluetooth-enabled smart charging case. Lastly, the 6-mic technology ensures a superior call quality in any conditions.

The JBL Tour PRO 2 will be available from May 2023 online and at major retailers including Noel Leeming, JB HiFi, Harvey Norman, PB Tech, Spark, Smiths City, Heathcotes, Mighty Ape, Ari Duty Free and selected 100% stores.

Outperforming the competition and JBL’s own previous headphones, the JBL Tour ONE M2 combines JBL’s best-ever hybrid True Adaptive ANC with JBL Pro tuned drivers to fill your ears with only the best sound, on-the-go, at work or at home.

True Adaptive ANC technology automatically adjusts to the surroundings in real time, eliminating distractions and maximising your listening experience. Advanced built-in voice recognition reacts to your voice, pauses the music, and enables Ambient Aware. Ready to get back to it? Music and JBL’s next level True Adaptive ANC automatically resume once the conversation is over.

With up to 50 hours of playtime, or 30 hours with ANC activated, the Tour ONE M2 will outlast even the longest trip. Forgot to charge and need to dash? Fast charge means 10 minutes plugged in and you’ll be free for 5 hours of legendary JBL Pro Sound.

Audiophiles will also love the ability of the Tour ONE M2 to be tailored to their preferences, by allowing you to set up a customised hearing profile with HARMAN’s advanced Personi-Fi 2.0, for the ultimate personalised sound performance.

The JBL Tour ONE M2 (RRP$369.95) is available now online and at major retailers including Noel Leeming, JB HiFi, Harvey Norman, PB Tech, Spark, Smiths City, Heathcotes, Mighty Ape, Ari Duty Free and selected 100% stores.

The post JBL’s Tour PRO 2 True Wireless & Tour ONE M2 Headphones appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Skullcandy, the #1 selling brand in true wireless earbuds announced the release of limited-edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds inspired by the legendary Indica-dominant Purple Haze strain.

The drop celebrates increasing acceptance of the cannabis lifestyle with a display-worthy look that exudes a kick back-and-chill vibe.

“From dirtbags with dirtweed to a full-blown lifestyle movement, cannabis culture has come a long way and Skullcandy has been there for it all,” says Derek Steiner, director of global brand partnerships, Skullcandy.

“Leaning on the iconic Purple Haze strain for inspiration, it’s no coincidence our 420 limited-edition Grind HAZE buds look good enough to smoke. They also pass the vibe check thanks to hands-free voice control, which makes it easy to maintain a chill atmosphere while mellowing out to a relaxed playlist.”

The 420-focused Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds are backed by Skullcandy’s voice-driven platform, Skull-iQTM.

With a simple “Hey Skullcandy” command, users can play or pause content, accept or reject calls, launch Spotify and more, all without lifting a finger–doesn’t get much more mellow than that. Plus, over-the-air updates provide the freshest features as soon as they’re available.

The limited-edition Grind HAZE True Wireless Earbuds give off a “buds in a jar” display-worthy look enhanced by a clear-colour, smoked grey case. The “Haze” colourway features a silvery, sage green colouring with a luxuriant texture and is enhanced by purple accents and striking orange highlights, reminiscent of the iconic Purple Haze strain that is undoubtedly going to take centre stage this 420 holiday.

The exclusive buds have rolled out globally.

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Get your summer down under pumping for longer with JBL’s Live Pro 2 True Wireless (TWS) earbuds.

Having previously reviewed the first gen it was safe to say that although the battery life was a wee bit on the shorter side the Live Pro quickly became my fav’s.

Incredible sound, thundery bass and a smart assistant always at the ready (for me, Alexa).

This second generation brings that signature sound from their 11mm dynamic drivers powering the micro speakers.

The best explanation I can give is that the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are like having your own virtual stadium or home cinema (depending on the media you’re listening to) snugly fitted to your ears.

JBL have added smarts to them as well. The True Adaptive Noise Cancelling intelligently adapts to environmental noise. When this is turned on the earbuds will use the inbuilt mic to detect background noise and filter out accordingly. This means that ideally you should get the same audio experience no matter what is going on around you.

And it actually does.

Using the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS over the summer break I found myself in various places. From the super quiet to the insanely loud. The noise cancelation adjusted and never skipped a beat (pun intended).

Once you’ve set the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS up via bluetooth to either iOS or Android I recommend getting the JBL app. This will enable further features such as tweaking the sound settings to your liking.

Handsfree is crystal clear in any environment due to the six in-built mics. Here you can also tweak the audio setting turning down the feedback for your voice using the VoiceAware function, making the callers voice more prominent.

The biggest and best upgrade from the first gen is the battery life.

In all you’ll get 40 hours of use from a single full charge.

The earbuds themselves will have you rocking out for 10 hours and the case will provide another 30 hours of charge. They are wireless charging – but if it all goes red and flatlines the 2 hour full charge up can be a wait.

Something that JBL has added to a few of their latter bluetooth audio products has also been included, and I feel it should be a must for all bluetooth headsets and earbuds. That’s the dual connectivity.

This means you can pair up with two devices without needing to disconnect.

Use on your PC for work (or play), at the end of the day turn that PC off and zone out to audio from your smartphone.

The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS earbuds are totally value. Coming in cheaper than their competitors at just under $300 NZD – yet out-sound their competition a thousand times over.

If you’re looking to change or upgrade your existing wireless earbuds, or about to get your first set these should be on your radar. I cannot emphasise enough just how professionally sounding the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS really are.

The post JBL Live Pro 2 True Wireless Earbuds Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.