Introduction

In the audiophile world, there is no lack of options for high fidelity (or hi-fi) audio. However, a relatively small company based out of California has made a lot of noise in this market over the past five years.

Audeze is widely considered to be one of the best in the audio business. The company routinely creates some of the best-sounding headphones targeted directly at the audiophile crowd. The Mobius gaming headset is one such device, though it is geared for gaming. The headset offers spectacular sound quality and has several well-designed features, including 3D audio that can be tuned to the shape of the user’s head.

I’ve used the Audeze Mobius for the past three months with my Windows desktop PC. From the moment I put it on and pumped lossless audio through its planar drivers, I fell in love. Here’s why.

Design and Fit

The Audeze Mobius looks similar to most other high-end headphones on the market. I do appreciate the more subdued aesthetic; most gaming headsets have a cyberpunk-esque look, which is garish in my opinion. The Mobius earpieces are black with a honeycomb graphic on the side of each earpiece, so they won’t stand out in public. Audeze also offers the Mobius headphones with a copper-colored trim around the earpieces, adding some smart-looking color.

The Mobius headphones are made from a soft, flexible plastic that can twist and bend comfortably. It feels a bit thin in the hand, but the headband has retained its shape despite some prolonged torsion. The adjustable shafts that extend the earcups feel more rigid. They stay in place when adjusted to secure a good fit.

There is a strip of memory foam along the center of the headband. It’s a bit uncomfortable as it reshapes around the head, but the discomfort fades after about 10-15 seconds. The foam around the earcups is full and soft, creating a good seal around my medium-sized ears. The vinyl coating surrounding the foam holds up to pinching and squishing, so it shouldn’t peel off anytime soon. 

The biggest downside of the Mobius headphones is their weight. These are wireless headphones, so they have a relatively large battery inside them. Without cables, the headphones weigh about 365 grams, and my head feels every one. After using them for a while (roughly 30 minutes), I stop noticing the weight. However, they never sit as comfortably as non-wireless headphones like the Audio Technica M50s, which weigh about 200-250 grams.

Overall, the fit and finish are excellent. There are other headphones made from sturdier and lighter stuff, but the Audeze Mobius headphones are well-made. Considering they target the gaming market, these cans don’t look like traditional gaming gear, which is a plus in my book.

Audio Quality

Sure, the Audeze Mobius headphones look nice, but how do they sound? In a word: stunning. The Mobius headset is one of the only gaming-oriented headsets to use planar magnetic drivers in lieu of the more common dynamic drivers. The result is clean, distortion-free audio. Bass, mids, and highs ring through the earpieces clearly, and the overall quality is excellent.

I ran the Mobius through lots of lossless audio, and everything sparkled. In particular, the Mobius handles subtle touches in music better than most gaming headsets and beats some mid-range studio options. Ghost notes on the snare in jazz pieces, fingers sliding across guitar strings, and even orchestra members inhaling before blowing their horns are all barely audible but present, creating a rich audio experience that is one of the best I’ve enjoyed.

The Audeze Mobius’ drivers are 100 mm in size. They can handle frequencies from 10 Hz to 50 kHz and can be cranked up to 120 dB. I didn’t notice any distortion at max volume when hooked up to my Windows desktop PC via USB or the 3.5 mm headphone jack. 

Microphone Quality

The included microphone offers solid voice quality suitable for streaming, video calls, and even voice recording. It’s about on par with mid-range USB microphones like the Blue Snowball. It is detachable, and there is a dedicated mute switch and volume wheel for the microphone, giving users quite a bit of control over how their voice is captured. A dedicated microphone is still a better option for those reliant on voice recording or streamers that want the best quality voice, but the microphone included with the Audeze Mobius is a step above the ones typically included with gaming headsets.

Software and Features

Another high point of the Audeze Mobius headset is its extensive feature set. Physically, the Mobius headphones have multiple connection options and lots of dials for ease of use. The headphones can connect to an audio source via Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm audio cable, USB-A, or USB-C. I cannot notice any difference between the USB and 3.5 mm connection; the quality of each connection is similar enough that I can’t tell whether one has an advantage over the other. The Bluetooth connection is solid but experiences some pitch and connection issues inherent to all Bluetooth audio devices. The Mobius headphones support SBC, AAC, and LDAC. The range is decent (roughly 8-10 meters from the audio source). The battery lasts about 8-9 hours at 50% volume.

In addition to the USB-C port and 3.5 mm jack used to connect to a device, the left earpiece also holds two volume wheels. One is used for the headphones’ volume, and the other is reserved for the microphone. Clicking and scrolling the headphone and volume wheel will scroll through tracks or EQ presets, respectively. Long pressing the mic wheel will cycle between audio modes (Hi-Res, 2-channel stereo, and 7.1 channel). These shortcuts take some time to learn and use effectively, and there are short pauses as the headphones switch to the next setting, but they can be time savers. 

Lastly, there is a button labeled “3D.” This enables the flagship feature of the Mobius: 3D audio, which uses Waves NX technology. Once 3D audio is enabled, clicking this button anchors the headphones to a point in front of the user. The feature simulates a speaker set up and works very well; as I turn my head to the left, the left earpiece grows quieter and the right earpiece gets louder, similar to what happens with desktop speakers.

This feature also works well in games, particularly first-person shooters that support 3D audio. Characters walking behind the in-game player will sound like they’re coming up behind the player, and spatial audio is handled well. The feature feels a bit gimmicky at times, but it can add to the immersion of some games. It’s also one of the best implementations of spatial audio I’ve experienced with a headset, gaming or otherwise.

The dedicated Audeze app deserves a special mention. The customization options here are overwhelming, but many are quite useful. If users are so inclined, they can measure their head to get precise spatial audio via the 7.1 channel mode and 3D audio setting. I didn’t take the time to change these options for this review, and the spatial audio worked well enough. There are also eight dedicated sound profiles that highlight certain aspects of games, but they only seem to change the audio curve to push highs or emphasize mids and lows.

One improvement I’d like to see is the ability to set a custom sound curve. If that option exists, I haven’t found it in the software yet. Considering these are billed as high-end studio-quality headphones, the lack of full customization of the audio curve is confusing.

Conclusion

The Audeze Mobius headset is one of the absolute best audio purchases gamers can make. The headphones sound excellent out of the box and have lots of customizable options, many of which are targeted straight at gamers. The included microphone is also significantly better than most headset mics and should be adequate for streaming, video calls, and voice recording.

The pièce de résistance of the Mobius is the 3D audio feature, which works very well. It’s not always useful, but it can greatly add to a game’s experience. The excellent audio quality is another plus; it’s hard to find headphones at this price point that sound this good.

There are some downsides, the chief of which is the lack of control of the overall audio curve. It would be nice if users could tune the full audio range to their liking via the app, but this option is strangely absent. The weight also takes some adjustment, and the battery life isn’t as good as other Bluetooth headphones’. Otherwise, the experience is fantastic.

Apple has slyly made its entry into the Hi-Fi audio market by launching its new AirPods Max over-the-ear headphones. It comes with all the bells and whistles one would expect out of a high-end audio product and a price to match. The AirPods Max will retail at US$549 on Apple’s official website. You can pre-order your pair now, and shipping is expected to start on December 14.

The Apple AirPods Max comes with a 40mm Neodymium driver custom-designed by Apple. It uses the same H1 chip found in other Apple audio products and employs what Apple calls ‘computational audio’ to deliver a superior listening experience. Some of its features include Adaptive EQ (equalizer) that changes dynamically adjust the frequencies of the audio depending on real-time factors like the fit and seal of the headphones. The included Gyroscope and accelerometer can work in tandem with the AirPods Pro Max’ H1 chip to deliver a surround sound experience by tracking the user’s head movements.

Other AirPods Max features include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is made possible via three microphones dedicated for the task. On the flip side of things, there is what Apple calls a ‘Transparency Mode’ too. It allows you to be more aware of your surroundings by letting in some ambient noises. Switching between the mode is seamless and made possible via a tap of a button. The included position sensor automatically pauses music when either earcup is turned or when the headphones are taken off.

Like regular AirPods, the AirPods Max can switch between compatible Apple devices such as an iMac, MacBook, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Another exciting feature is the ability to ‘share’ an audio stream between two sets of AirPods. The AirPods Max also features a ‘case sensor’ which put the headphones in ultra-low-power mode whenever they are stowed away into the included carrying case.

Apple claims that the AirPods Max can deliver up to 20 hours of battery life with ANC enabled. A cursory glance at the official spec sheet suggests that the headphones can be charged with a Lightning cable directly. Apple has also included a USB-C to Lightning cable inside the box. The headphones even come with an Apple Watch-inspired Crown that can help users adjust volume, change tracks, invoke Siri and the likes. Apple also lets you get a custom engraving on the AirPods Max via its official website.

Samsung is now rumored to introduce its next-gen TWS earbuds as the Galaxy Buds Pro during the S21 launch event. Now, there is even more evidence for this theory, coming direct from the FCC in the form of a new certification. It is for a product called SM-R190, touted to be these accessories’ model number in a prior leak.

The Commission’s new documentation may also corroborate much of this pre-exising story, right down to the appearance of the name “Buds Pro” on its identifying information, which appears to have been sourced directly from Korean authorities.

This part of the FCC’s assessment also contains a schematic for what is probably the earbuds’ charging case, which gives it a rounded cuboid footprint. A new render freshly posted by Evan Blass on Voice purports to show the same in 3D and full color.

On that note, it looks like the Buds Pro might be styled so as to match every color option currently linked to the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. Blass’ new “Galaxy Buds Pro” renders show a finish that could be called Phantom Violet, at least; furthermore, the FCC lets slip that they may also come in black.

As for the earbuds themselves, their new images also suggest that they go back to the Buds/Buds+ form factor for this new version. Then again, it also looks like this design has been highly refined, and also exhibits the small external grilles seen in the Buds Live. This may be a further hint that Samsung intends to debut these Pros with active noise cancellation (ANC).

Finally, their FCC approval also contradicts earlier reports, in that these “Galaxy Buds Pro” may actually have a charging case with more battery compared to that of the Buds+: 500mAh, rather than 472mAh as in these pre-existing TWS earbuds.

Cambridge Audio has announced its next pair of TWS earbuds, but they are not true successors to the Melomania 1 that we reviewed earlier this year. The company will continue to sell the Melomania 1, but the earbuds will become the entry-level option to the Melomania Touch. As the name suggests, the Melomania Touch has touch controls instead of the buttons that Cambridge Audio included in the Melomania 1, although the changes do not end there.

The Melomania Touch also has 7 mm drivers, which are larger than the 5.7 mm ones found in the Melomania 1. Additionally, battery life has been increased from 36 hours to 50 hours. The earbuds themselves still last up to 9 hours, but the charging case of the Melomania Touch packs a larger battery than the one that the Melomania 1 has. The Melomania Touch also supports USB Type-C charging, which is an upgrade in itself from the micro USB charging of the Melomania 1. According to Cambridge Audio, the Melomania Touch can go from 0% to 100% charge in two hours.

There is no IP rating with the Melomania Touch, which is a shame. However, Cambridge Audio has developed the Melomania app, that is compatible with Android and iOS devices. According to the company, the app has customisable EQ settings, a Transparency Mode and an option for finding your earphones. The app can deliver firmware updates to the Melomania Touch, also. Moreover, the app features High Performance Audio Mode, which Cambridge Audio claims uses ‘hi-fi grade amplification technology’. The earbuds also support Bluetooth 5.0, along with the Qualcomm aptX and AAC codecs.

The Melomania Touch will be available to purchase in Europe, the UK and the US from January 1 2021 for €139.95, £129.95 and US$149.95, respectively. Cambridge has produced black and white versions of the Melomania Touch too, giving people a bit of choice. 

Details about the AirPods 3 have leaked again, only a few days after Bloomberg reported on production schedules and designs of Apple’s upcoming audio hardware. The AirPods 3 is expected to arrive sometime in 1H 2021 alongside the AirPods Pro 2, with the AirPods Studio, Apple’s upcoming over-ear headphones, due in March 2021.

Now, several photos of the AirPods 3 have appeared online, seemingly confirming Bloomberg’s assertions. It looks like Apple will bring the design of the AirPods Pro to the next AirPods, albeit with silicone tips. The stem from current AirPods remains though, which Bloomberg suggested may be done with away. The website warned that production issues might force Apple to include a stem, which may be why we see one here.

Bloomberg believes that the AirPods 3 will not have active-noise-cancellation (ANC), like the AirPods Pro. However, the company will base the earbuds on a new chipset, differentiating them from the current AirPods. Essentially, the AirPods 3 resemble a scaled-down AirPods Pro, with Apple even bringing along the pressure-sensitive touch areas from its premium earbuds. We expect Apple to keep the AirPods at US$199 with a wireless charging case unless it increases the price of the US$249 AirPods Pro.

Creative Technology has unleashed a new pair of true-wireless earbuds (TWS), the Outlier Air V2. Released initially in Japan, the earbuds have now reached the UK where they currently retail for £64.99. The earbuds will eventually retail for £74.99 though, and will be available in the US from November 5.

The Outlier Air V2 combines the best of the Outlier Air and Outlier Gold but with a fewer notable improvements. Firstly, the design of the earbuds and their charging case remains identical, with the earbuds sitting against your ears rather than just balancing in your ear canal as is the case with many earbuds. Creative Technology has finished the earbuds and charging case in what it has called Metallic Blue, which offers a balance between the gold of the Outlier Gold and the black of the Outlier Air.

The company claims that the earbuds should last up to 12 hours between charges, while the charging case should provide another two charges before it needs recharging. Overall, that should yield up to 34 hours use before you will need to recharge the Outlier Air V2.

While this is slightly worse than the battery life of the Outlier Gold, the Outlier Air V2 feature touch controls and Qualcomm cVc 8.0 technology for improved call quality. The inclusion of touch controls was one of our most-requested features when we reviewed the Outlier Gold earlier this year and should make the Outlier Air V2 much easier to use than its predecessors.

The Outlier Air V2 also supports Qualcomm aptX, AAC, Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-voice calls. Each earbud contains 5.6 mm graphene-coated drives – the same as the ones that Creative Technology includes in its other Outlier TWS earbuds. Naturally, Super X-Fi support is on board Outlier Air V2, too. 

OPPO’s Enco line of TWS earbuds has a new member. The X variant, like some of its siblings, conforms to the basic Apple AirPod-clone shape, although they may have shorter stalks than usual. The OEM claims they are packed with parts such as triple-layer composite large dynamic coil unit and superconducting magnetic planar diaphragms to make up their 11 millimeter (mm) drivers.

The Enco X buds connect to a paired Android or iOS phone with Bluetooth 5.2. They deliver their audio using OPPO’s in-house DBEE3.0 sound system, which, as it claims, drives “Hi-Fi audio” and the LHDC codec (an unusual choice among TWS devices these days).

They are also rated to exclude noise using a dedicated chipset and a triple-mic system that also functions for clarity during voice calls. The IP54 Enco X buds also support a “transparency mode” and might last for a total of 30 hours when combined with their case.

They are now available to pre-order in Nocturne Black or Song White, with a third Bamboo Green colorway to become available later. They have been priced at 999 yuan (~US$150).

Apple has devoted much of its latest Special Event to the iPhone 12 series, which has been revealed to be as expensive as its predecessors in some cases. However, the company has launched accessories that are much less so. The Beats Flex earphones offer some popular wireless features for a relatively bargain price.

These new products share a “neckbud” form-factor with the Powerbeats, although they resemble something like the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z product in looks. Despite their unusually budget nature, they still have the W1 chipset from the original AirPods.

This module allows for “seamless” pairing with any and all of a given user’s Apple mobile devices, “Class 1 Bluetooth” and potentially superior connection integrity and Audio Sharing, which allows the same stream to be synced across multiple Beats- or Apple-branded audio devices.

Beats also asserts that these new Flex earphones are rated for “accurate bass and ultra-low distortion” due to their “advanced acoustic platform”. Besides this, they boast automatic pausing as a result of connecting them at the earbuds with their integrated magnets, as though Android OEMs have not done this with their own branded neckbuds for quite a while now.

These new wireless earphones are now available in Apple’s web-store, if only in their Beats Black or Yuzu Yellow colorways, for US$49.99. There are also Flame Blue or Smoke Gray options, although they will only go on sale later in winter 2020.

Just a few days ago, @choco_bit revealed the supposed design of the Apple AirPods Studio, much to the chagrin of other leakers like Jon Prosser. Since we reported on it, @choco_bit also published a video showing the AirPods Studio in white. Again, the publication of this video caused a lot of bother on Twitter. It seems fairly nondescript to the untrained eye, but you can make up your mind after having watched it below. 

Now, @L0vetodream has shared more information about Apple’s first AirPods-branded over-ear headphones. Specifically, it concerns the inclusion of Apple’s U1 chip, which the company uses in the iPhone 11 series and the Watch Series 6. The U1 is an ultra-broadband chip that Apple uses to determine the precise location of another U1-equipped device. The iPhone 11 can, for example, find another U1 device via AirDrop by just pointing them at each other. The advent of AirTags is expected to bring greater versatility to the U1 chip as it will make it much easier to find devices like a missing pair of AirPods.

Apple will utilise the U1 in the AirPods Studio to automatically assign the correct audio channel regardless of orientation, according to @L0vetodream. This had been rumoured before, but it had been unknown how Apple would implement the feature. Apple is expected to announce the AirPods Studio for US$349 in multiple colours and styles.