Samsung Level U Pro Wireless in-ear Headphones Review
Verdict
Pros
- Decent microphone
- High maximum volume
- UHQA ready
Cons
- Non comfortable to wearable while running
- Harsh treble
Cardinal Specifications
- Review Price: £seventy.00
- UHQA ready
- Water resistant
- 9 hr quoted battery life
- 13mm Dynamic and 13mm Piezo drivers
What are the Samsung Level U Pro?
The Level U Pros are the premium neckband headphones in Samsung's current line upwards. They're designed to be the ultimate companion for Samsung's forthcoming Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones.
They're besides waterproof and Samsung claims audiophiles volition enjoy "Ultra High Quality Audio" (UHQA) when paired wirelessly to one of its tiptop handsets.
However, with the jury still out on UHQ audio and wireless headphones full general audio quality, can the Samsung Level U Pro's justify their $99 (£lxx) price tag?
Samsung Level U Pro – Design
The Samsung Level U Pro'due south take a adequately typical neckband headphone design similar to the Tone Platinum wireless headphones gear up to arrive with the LG G5 subsequently this year.
With the notable exception of the Audio Technica ATH-ANC40BTs, I've never been fully sold on neckband, or wireless headphones for a variety of reasons. Chief of which is the fact they're not massively comfortable to wearable, specially when exercising.
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This partially remains true with the Samsung Level U Pro's, though as collar headphones go they're keen.
The plastic frame feels a little inexpensive but is more than rugged enough for everyday utilize. For avid runners they're too water resistant – though they don't accept an IP rating so you wouldn't want to get defenseless in a downpour wearing them.
The plug covering the set'southward microUSB charge port is also reasonably unimposing and ensures the collar doesn't expect overtly chunky or out of place. Magnetic locks in the ear buds too make information technology easy to stop the cable flapping about when y'all're non listening to music.
Forth the Level U Pro'south right side you'll also detect the usual assortment of volume, play and suspension controls typical to most collared headphones.
Wearing the Level U Pro's on my commute to and from work, I institute they're reasonably comfortable to wear. Once I'd picked and loaded the headphones with the correct sized buds for my ears, the Level U Pro's fit neatly around my neck and, despite not having active noise cancellation, were snug plenty in ear to block out well-nigh background sounds.
I was as well surprised how light they are. Despite featuring a large battery Samsung claims offers nine hours of music playback, the Level U Pro's feel feather light.
Running with the headphones was a slightly dissimilar story. Like every neckband set I exam the headphones awkwardly jumped around on my neck. The bud's seal with my ear also had an annoying habit of breaking, which created however another distraction that stopped me finding my rhythm while running. I experimented with a multifariousness of different bud sizes and didn't find a unmarried i that worked.
That said, these are problems I've had with all collar manner headphones, save the Audio Technica ATH-ANC40BTs, which come with active racket cancellation.
Samsung Level U Pro – Sound Quality
The Level U Pro's UHQA technology is being marketed by Samsung as a fundamental selling point. For those that missed it, UHQA is a fleck of tech available on select Samsung smartphones, similar the Galaxy S7.
Samsung claims information technology delivers a true 24-fleck digital audio experience "with upwardly to 2x wider frequency range than standard CD-quality wireless sound."
I've always taken Samsung's claims with a pinch of salt. The Galaxy S6's UHQA "upscaling" tech made a best a negligible difference to general sound quality that 99% of people wouldn't notice. What's more than, those that do will likely take invested in their own Hi-Res sound collection and a more than expensive pair of cabled headphones.
However, when it comes to sound quality, as wireless headphones go, the Samsung Level U Pro's are solid.
Paired with a Nexus 5X the earphone'due south do a solid chore not pushing any 1 end of the sound spectrum. The 13mm Dynamic and 13mm Piezo drivers deliver fairly well balanced, articulate audio quality throughout my testing.
Bass, while non quite as punchy as the Audio Technica ATH-ANC40BT's, is solid and delivers plenty power to ensure audio doesn't sound muted or flat. Listening to God is an Astronaut's stellar Historic period of the Fifth Sun while running, the bassline powered through without clouding the music'south overall sound.
Spooky out to some of Chopin'southward nocturnes, the notes were wonderfully clear, and felt had suitable clarity in both the low and mid-range.
My but issue with the Level U Pro's sound quality stalk from the style it handles high frequency audio. Treble's have a tendency to audio forced and on sure types of music I definitely noticed sibilance creeping in.
Listening to the Disharmonism, Mick Jones jangled guitar and Joe Strummer'southward shouted vocals had a slightly abrupt edge. The effect reared its ugly head again during a session listening to acoustic tracks from Nick Drake and Michael Hedges. Through the Level U Pro's the two artists' otherwise soothing folk tracks took on an unwanted, slightly harsh tone.
The is an issue I experience on every wireless prepare I've tested, so it isn't a total deal breaker for the Level U Pro's. Information technology just reinforces my belief people interested in unparalleled sound quality should still opt for cabled headphones, particularly when they're thinking about shelling out over £50 for a pair.
Samsung Level U Pro – App and Call Quality
The Level U Pro work with Samsung'due south Android Level app. The app offers a diverseness of fairly useful features, including the ability to see the headphone's current bombardment level. There are likewise controls for sound settings similar bass and clarity.
It too includes controls for the Level U Pro's call alert and notifications settings. Those that wish to can set the headphones to vibrate on their neck when incoming messages, calls or general alerts come in. If you fancy making your own 2 person silent disco, the app besides lets you stream music from your smartphone to a second pair of connect Level U Pros, though I can't honestly think why anyone would desire to do this.
Equally an added bonus, the headphones also feature a dual-microphone with racket reduction and echo cancellation tech, so you lot can take calls on the Level U Pros.
Should I buy the Samsung Level U Pro?
The Samsung Level U Pros are pretty adept as wireless collar-style headphones go. They offer reasonable sound quality, characteristic a useful companion app, and water resistant design. Outside of the Sound Technica ATH-ANC40BT'southward these are the all-time neckband headphones I've tried recently.
However, I'thousand nonetheless not convinced about collar-design or wireless headphones in general. The design feels cumbersome, peculiarly when you're exercising. In that location are also significantly better value for money cabled headphone options out in that location, like the £threescore Sennheiser CX 5.00s, that offering superior audio quality.
Verdict
If you're after collar-style, wireless headphones the Level U Pro's are worth checking out.
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