T3 India

Music

Review: Sony WH-1000XM5

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Price: ₹ 34,990

While the whole world was locked up in their homes, Sony audio labs seem to have been quite busy. This is the fourth headphone from Sony in 2022, and the fifth of their audio devices we are testing this year. Looking at the lineage and the quality of the previous 1000-series headbands, the WH-1000XM5 certainly carries much expectation.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a clean, plain, and somewhat ‘suppressed’ design. Each earcup pivots on a single hinge, and Sony has done away with the fully foldable, lay-flat design of the XM4. For the same reason, the case is larger and less compact than the old case, though it now has a collapsible design. The headband is thinner, and the adjustable part of the stem seamlessly hides into the headband. The headphone shell is made of carbon composites.

The headphone uses Bluetooth 5.2 and offers support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs. The device offers wired connectivity with a 3.5mm stereo mini jack. The earcups have a flat back design and the back surface of the right earcup offers touch control. The left earcups house the ANC/Transparency and Power/Bluetooth buttons. The earpads have ‘soft fit leather’ cushioning. The pads are extremely comfortable to wear over a long period.

The headphones use newly developed 30mm drivers in place of the 40mm drivers of the XM4. However, the device offers a deep and wide sound stage with lots of details. The XM5 may not be the best headphones for bass or volume, but it offers a wide range of audio that can cover most genres of music. What has differentiated the latest line-up of Sony headphones is the Headphones Connect app, which is quite feature-rich. The app allows you to customise the settings and play around with the equaliser. The equaliser allows you to fine-tune the audio to suit your tastes since the device offers enough bandwidth to bring out finer details. The device offers 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos.

The main feature of the XM5 is the improvement in Active Noise Cancellation. It uses eight microphones and two high-performance processors, Integrated Processor V1 and HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, to achieve superior, real-time noise cancellation and two beamforming mics each on either side help in picking up your speech with precision and improve call quality. The device offers Speak to Chat feature that pauses playback when you start to talk. You can set the sensitivity and waiting time in the app. To effect temporary transparency, you only need to cup your hand over the right ear cup. The Auto NC Optimiser helps in optimising atmospheric pressure. The result is efficient noise cancellation without causing any discomfort due to pressure differences. The XM5 also offers advanced features like DSEE Extreme and Adaptive Sound Control. The headphones also offer Alexa and Google Assistant support. It can be paired with two devices at a time. The Quick Access feature lets you resume Spotify playback with two or three taps. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offers up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC, and we have no reason not to believe it. Though we never used the device continuously for 30 hours, it went on for a really long time without charging. It takes 3.5 hours to charge the battery fully, but a 3-minute charge will provide 30 minutes of listening.

Rating

WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent sound quality, superior noise cancellation, Speak to Chat, equaliser

WE’D IMPROVE Expensive, No water resistance

THE LAST WORD The Sony WH-1000XM5 is so far the best headphones we have tested, offering superior ANC sans any discomfort. These are surely expensive, but we wouldn’t consider that a deal-breaker for such premium headphones.

Review: Sony LinkBuds WF-L900

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Price: ₹ 19,990

The buds with the hole, to let the world through—would be an apt catchline for the LinkBuds if we could borrow it from Nestle’s popular mint brand. The WF-L900 is unlike any true wireless earbuds we have seen, with a ring-shaped driver and a hollow at the centre.

The WF-L900 comes in a small case made of recycled plastic. The case has a mechanical closure and can be opened by pressing a button. The earbuds are also quite small compared to the usual TWS. Even the buds are held in place with plastic pegs inside the case. Wearing the device is quite a task initially. The ring stays in your ear canal, while the rubber supporter has to be fitted inside the upper cavity and twisted a bit till it is secured firmly. Sony provides five pairs of supporting rings in the box, and it is very important to select the appropriate one. After the initial fiddling around, it is quite comfortable to wear and use. The buds weigh approximately four grams. The light construction and non-protruding design ensure that the device does not slip out even during your runs. The buds hold an IPX4 rating for protection against splashes and sweat.

The open-ring design facilitates full-time audio transparency. Though loyal ANC-lovers could have a hard time liking this, the open design makes it extremely comfortable, without any pressure difference felt in the ears. The Headphones Connect app allows you to update firmware and activate, set up, and customise Speak to Chat, Equaliser, 360 Reality and other features. With adaptive volume control, the device ensures that the background sounds do not overpower the audio. Sony has designed the LinkBuds to facilitate all-day wearing without discomfort, and features like Speak to Chat combined with transparency makes this possible. Speech detection sensitivity and pause duration can be adjusted from the app. If this is not done properly, you will find the music pausing even without speaking a word.

With a 12mm ring driver, the L900 delivers competent audio similar to other Sony TWS devices, though with a more natural feel closer to open-back headphones than the restrictive sound you get from usual headphones. In fact, you don’t feel that you are wearing a pair of headphones. Call quality is excellent with clear pick-up and providing a great listening experience with a clear voice. You can control the device by tapping on the buds or the front portion of your ears. The buds are not too loud, and even at the maximum volume, you don’t feel any discomfort. It features DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) to enhance audio using Sony’s integrated processor V1 that powers their flagship. The headphones support Google and Alexa voice assistants. Fast and Swift Pair offer quick Bluetooth pairing.

Sony claims a playback time of up to 5.5 hours on a single charge and up to 17.5 hours with the charging case, but a realistic figure would be somewhere around three hours and 10 hours respectively, at least with our experience with initial charging cycles and with 50 per cent volume. It also offers 90 minutes of playback with 10 minutes of quick charging. On the negative side, though the charging indicator lights up while charging, it doesn’t indicate once the device has been fully charged.

Rating

WE’RE IMPRESSED Lightweight and compact design, balanced sound profile, extremely comfortable for continuous listening, speak-to-chat function


WE’D IMPROVE No ‘charge full’ indicator


THE LAST WORD The Sony LinkBuds is a refreshingly new device that is made for all-day listening and provides an audio experience that is close to the natural.

ODE TO A LEGEND

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LATA MANGESHKAR (1929-2022)

What can we add to the millions of words said in praise of India’s foremost female singer, Lata Mangeshkar? Suffice it is to say that she had a sweet , golden voice that was unparalleled and was the result of complete dedication to the profession of singing.

The Mangeshkar family came from a modest background and Lata was the eldest of the siblings.

She initially modelled herself on Noor Jehan but soon developed her own style and reigned as the number one female singer for Hindi films for decades. Her initial rise to fame was courtesy of composers Shankar Jaikishan for whom she was the default singer. ‘ Barsaat’ (1949), for which she sang almost all the songs, shot her into the limelight and after that she did not look back.

Even though she had little formal education, Lata was both street smart and sharp. She ensured that the pinnacle she had reached remained hers alone by boycotting composers and producers who encouraged new singers. Her spats with Sardar Mallick, S D Burman and Shankar Jaikishan are well known. But for her spat with Rafi and Shankar Jaikishan, she would have sung many more hits that went to other singers like Suman Kalyanpur and Sharda.These traits, however, only showed that she was human after all.

India and Indians will continue to enjoy the haunting, sweetvoice of Lata Mangeshkar for decades to come. RIP Lata Mangeshkar!

T3 lists below Lata’s TOP 30 songs.

1 Jiya bekarar hai – BARSAAT (1949) Shankar Jaikishan
2 Ye zindagi usiki hai – ANARKALI (1953) C Ramchandra
3 Rajaki aayegi baaraat- AAH (1953) Shankar Jaikishan
4 Aaja re pardesi – MADHUMATI (1958) Salil Chowdhary
5 Pyar kiya to darna kya – MUGHAL E AZAM (1960) Naushad
6 Ajeeb dastan hai yeh – DIL APNA AUR PREET PARAI (1960) Shankar Jaikishan
7 Aap ki nazaron se – ANPADH (1962) Madan Mohan
8 Kahin deep jale kahin dil – BEES SAAL BAAD (1962) Hemant Kumar
9 Tera mera pyaar amar – ASLI NAQLI (1962) Shankar Jaikishan
10 Jo waada kiya who – TAJ MAHAL (1963) Roshan
11 Dil bekarar sa hai – ISHAARA (1964) Kalyanji Anandji
12 Lag ja gale se – WHO KAUN THI (1964) Madan Mohan
13 Aaja aayee bahar – RAJKUMAR (1965) Shankar Jaikishan
14 Yeh sama – JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE (1965) Kalyanji Anandji
15 Aji roothkar – ARZOO (1965) Shankar Jaikishan
16 Lo aa gayi unki yaad – (1966) Ravi
17 Aa jaane ja – INTEQAM (1969) Laxmikant Pyarelal
18 Bindiya chamkegi – DO RAASTE (1969) Laxmikant Pyarelal
19 Inhi logon ne – PAKEEZAH (1972) Ghulam Mohammed
20 Teri bindiya re – ABHIMAAN (1973) S D Burman
21 Satyam shivam sundaram – SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM (1978) Laxmikant Pyarelal
22 Rimjhim gire saawan – MANZIL (1979) R D Burman
23 Yeh kahaan aa gaye hum- SILSILA (1981) Shiv Hari
24 Tujhse naaraaz – MASOOM (1983) R D Burman
25 Ae dil e nadaan- RAZIA SULTAN (1983) Khayyam
26 Pyar ka dilko dikhake sapna – ANUBHAV (1986) Rajesh Roshan
27 Wada na tod – DIL TUJHKO DIYA (1987) Rajesh Roshan
28 Arre re arre ye kya hua – DIL TO PAAGAL HAI (1997) Uttam Singh
29 Humko hamise churalo – MOHABBATEIN (2000) Jatin Lalit
30 Kaise piyase – BEWAFA (2005) Nadeem Shravan

A Simple 5-step Path to Setting up a Home Theatre: Audio POV

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Over the last year, the importance of quality home entertainment has increased. To better understand the impact 2020 has had on entertainment, Dolby conducted a consumer study with Wakefield Research, which revealed that Indian consumers are prioritizing and seeking better experiences possibly driven by long hours spent at home. Indian consumers are spending more on quality to better connect with content—and to connect with each other.

There was a clear shift in consumer preference for premium content experiences. Consumers are willing to invest in premium quality content and in devices and are being able to have an enhanced audio and visual experience. The study reveals that 94% of consumers in India are willing to pay more for a premium subscription for enhanced video & audio quality, whereas 96% of them will upgrade their entertainment equipment in the span of the next 6 months.

There is a variety of equipment available in the market, depending upon one’s budget, area, and technology upgrade. Many of us hear “home theatre” and think of soundproof rooms, cushioned seats, and a large screen. However, building a home theatre does not need to break a bank.

Whether you want to upgrade the audio in your living room or invest in a full home cinema set-up, here are our recommendations to ensure you get a seamless entertainment experience.

Space Optimisation

Where you plan to set up your system can dictate what you will need. If you have a fairly large room, invest in a home theatre system but for a smaller room, you could go with a soundbar with a sub-woofer.

If you are doing up a big room and want surround sound with a theatre experience, go for a 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound system. This has 5 or 7 separate speakers, including a centre speaker, and an audio-video receiver or home theatre. For an immersive experience, get a Dolby Atmos-enabled sound system.

Large speakers can overwhelm a small room. Hence, when setting up a home entertainment system in a smaller space, consider getting a Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar.

Another important aspect is to buy a home theatre system that has a Dolby Vision compatible logo. This will pass High Dynamic Range Dolby Vision video through the home theatre to the television and will enable you to enjoy the HDR content.

Allocate the right budget

When you plan the home entertainment system, it is important to understand how to divide your budget. Don’t neglect the speakers. They are a critical component in experiencing great sounding audio. While planning the setup, allocate the bulk of your budget (up to 80%) on speakers and about 20% on the amplifier. Don’t spend large amounts of money on unnecessary features or a very expensive amplifier.

A common misconception is that all home theatre devices which deliver a cinematic experience are expensive. Today, an Indian consumer can find living room audio devices with next-generation object-based immersive audio technology like Dolby Atmos, at various price points that suit the needs of the price and quality conscious Indian consumer.

Choose the right supporting equipment

Video accounts for a major part of the cinema experience. The right television can enhance your entertainment manifold. It is recommended to go with 4K (or UHD) televisions that support Dolby Vision HDR and are Dolby Atmos enabled. Another important consideration is the eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) feature found in most new smart televisions. This enables you to transmit the original full-resolution audio signal back through the HDMI cable to your home theatre or soundbar and reproduce immersive audio without compromise. The home theatre should always be connected to the ARC/ eARC port of the television.

If there is no eARC port available on the television, it may be better to connect your media streaming device (TV stick) directly with the home theatre system for enhanced audio output.

Everything In the Right Place

Nowadays, most home theatre systems and soundbars are easy to plug and play. However, one needs to consider the positioning of the speakers while setting it up. For optimal effect, place your Dolby Atmos enabled speakers at the height of your ears when seated, with no obstructions between you and the speakers.

A soundbar should be placed beneath the television screen. Some Dolby Atmos enabled soundbars have speakers which point upwards and reflect sound off the roof for an enhanced immersive experience. If you have one of these, take care that these speakers don’t get obstructed by the TV. Keep the soundbar below and slightly ahead of the TV.

The Final Touches

The most crucial part after installing a home theatre system is the final alignment of the system. 90% of home theatres have an auto-alignment feature. A small microphone is usually provided, which should be placed at the listening position while running the auto-alignment process. This usually results in optimum quality output. Make sure to keep the listening environment completely silent during the alignment process to guarantee the best results. 

To get the best immersive experience, it is recommended that you stream content in Dolby. Stream your favourite content from Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video or any other streaming service in the unmatched combination of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. People often assume that setting up a home theatre is an overwhelming task, but the key is to get the basics right. Plan it right and enjoy an immersive cinema-like experience in your home

About the Author

Pankaj Kedia is Managing Director for Emerging Markets at Dolby Laboratories and has been with the company since 2009. In his current role, he has developed and executed strategy for growing Dolby’s business across the Emerging Markets region. He has also helped in driving the adoption of Dolby’s technology across the Consumer Entertainment ecosystem. Prior to this, he has worked with Autodesk as their Business and Regional Manager for 11 years. He has an experience of over 25 years in digital entertainment and technology.

Review: Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 Headphones

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Price: ₹7,995

This around-the-ear headphone isolates noise with tight-fitting earmuffs and provides ANC as an add-on

Fastrack had its beginnings as Titan’s urban youth brand, initially establishing itself in watches and sunglasses. Since then, the brand has expanded into various other accessory segments. Reflex Tunes wireless audio devices include TWS earbuds, neckbands, and over-the-head headphones. The F02 is an over-the-head, around-the-ear headphone that offers an affordable solution to high-quality audio.

The Reflex Tunes F02 retails at a price that is within the reach of most people looking at an over-the-head headphone, and at this price, it is feature-packed, offering Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and quick pairing. The device has a typical design, that looks uninspiring, yet provides a comfortable fit with large and well-cushioned earmuffs that efficiently cuts off most of the background noise even without ANC. The adjustable headband also offers soft and thick cushioning. The plastic used in the band and ear cups does not provide much confidence and appears flimsy. Hence, we would advise you to be cautious while bending it. However, we can vouch for its longevity in normal use. The headphones have a foldable design. The ear cups flex a little, helping you fix it properly over the ears. The device is IPX4 certified and hence splashproof. At 260 g, the F02 is quite lightweight. The headphones are available in black and grey colours.

The F02 has all the controls and ports on the right side including a multifunction button for power, pairing, play/pause, and call answer/hang up, a volume up/next track button, a volume down/previous track button, an ANC button, status LEDs for power/pairing and ANC, USB Type-C charging port and a 3.5mm AUX jack. To use the device in wired mode, you only need to plug in the AUX jack irrespective of whether the headphones are powered on or not. Similarly, ANC works even in offline mode. Just flip the ANC switch and it gets active, cutting off most background noise even when the audio signals are off. The Reflex Tunes F02 uses five microphones for audio pickup and ANC. The device houses a 580 mAh battery, and Fastrack claims up to 15 hours of battery life with ANC and up to 20 hours without it. Though our music listening was erratic on this device, thanks to the number of headphones and speakers on review, our estimate was close to what is claimed. The battery takes three hours to fully charge.

The Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 uses a 40 mm driver that reproduces audio with good separation. Though the bass is enhanced, the headphone offers competent treble also, unlike the bass-boost devices flooding the market. The mid frequencies are a bit suppressed, and vocals felt somewhat less refined to our liking. However, considering that this is not a premium device at the top end of the market, Fastrack has done a great job with these headphones. ANC is not overwhelming, and you might not feel much difference when you are listening to music because it cuts off only the most disturbing noise such as the hum of air conditioners and ceiling fans. That being said, these are the only disturbances you feel after the tight-fitting earmuffs cut off most outside noises. Call quality was excellent, both in listening and being listened to. The headphone supports voice assistants including Google Assistant and Siri.

★★★★

WE’RE IMPRESSED Value for money, Comfortable fit, Excellent passive noise isolation

WE’D IMPROVE Build quality

THE LAST WORD The Fastrack Reflex Tunes F02 offers excellent value for money with balanced output, active and passive noise cancellation, and superior call quality in a low-to-mid priced headphone. We would certainly recommend the F02 to anyone looking for affordable over-the-head headphones with ANC.