Amazon released the completely wireless earphone "Echo Buds (2nd generation)" on February 16th. The USB Type-C charging case is ¥ 12,980 (tax included), and the wireless charging compatible case is ¥ 14,980 (tax included), and the lineup is available in two colors, black and glacial white.
According to the company, the demand for high-quality earphones is increasing due to the increase in home entertainment caused by the Korona-ka and the spread of remote work. There is a need for products with high quality audio, hands-free operation, and affordability. This Echo Buds (2nd generation) is an item that meets those requirements.
In terms of sound quality, it is equipped with a 5.7mm dynamic driver. In addition to using it as a normal Bluetooth earphone, it also supports the Alexa function, and you can play music by voice operation by combining it with a smartphone that has the Alexa app installed. Furthermore, it is equipped with an ANC (active noise canceling) function and almost covers the specifications required for recent earphones. Considering the price in the mid 10,000 yen range, it is a bargain.
So, this time I tried the sound and usability of Echo Buds (2nd generation). The package is quite compact with W95 x H50 x 95 mm. The main body + charging case, USB cable, ear tip & wing tip are included in it.
The surface of the charging case has a smooth resin finish, which is unexpectedly comfortable to touch. It's a size that fits in the palm of your hand, W66.8 x H39.1 x D28.6mm, but when you take it, it's unexpectedly heavy (although it's about 60g when combined with earphones), and it feels dense, making it a gadget lover. I'm happy.
First, pair it with your iPhone 12 and check the sound. The iPhone has an Alexa app, so when I took the Echo Buds (2nd generation) out of the charging case and launched the app, it automatically recognized it as a new device.
Then, the fit test of the ear tip is performed. The Echo Buds (2nd generation) come with 4 different ear tips to help you see which size fits your ears. By the way, at this time, it seems that more accurate measurement can be achieved by wearing a wing tip (a tool that attaches to the earphone body and fixes it to the ear).
Put the earphones in your ears and play the test tone according to the instructions of the app, and the result will be displayed in 3 stages, so please find the "best" combination. It seems that the optimum ear tip may be different for the left and right ears, so it is a good idea to try various things.
You can listen to music as soon as the measurement is finished. When I tried tweeting "Alexa, play the Beatles on Amazon Music", he played the recommended song. The sound is well-balanced without forcing the band. The vocals of John and Paul arrive with a moderate thickness, and the sound of the guitar and the low range of the drums are well organized.
It's not a high range that goes through cleanly or a low range that feels heavy, but I'm not dissatisfied with the point of enjoying music comfortably. I tried listening to female vocals such as Norah Jones and Yumi Matsutoya on Amazon Music, but the impression was the same.
Next, I tried playing a 44.1kHz / 16-bit / FLAC sound source with the iPhone music playback application "foober2000". The bass at the beginning of Erykah Badu's "Rimshot" is heavier and more subdued than the Rossy-compressed Amazon Music. It's a very slight difference, but if you want to listen to your favorite songs, try using the music playback app.
By the way, I've been listening with ANC off so far. With EchoBuds (2nd generation), you can switch ANC by saying "Alexa, turn on noise canceling" by voice (you can also turn it on / off by pressing and holding the earphone sensor).
The ANC effect is constant, and the impression is rather modest. Due to the effect of eartip optimization mentioned above, it is not easily affected by the surrounding sounds, so it is not enough to suppress noise. However, it moderately suppresses background noise on trains and buses when commuting, and the change in sound quality due to ANC will not be noticeable (although not zero).
I tried using the Echo Buds (2nd generation) with ANC on at remote meetings and online product launches, and it was comfortable to hear the speaker's words. The aim of having people use it for things other than listening to music has been fully achieved.
Then, I watched the prime video in combination with Amazon's tablet "Fire HD 8 PLUS". Honestly, I want a little more bass in the sequence of the departure and landing of the F14 Tomcat from the opening title of "Top Gun". The engine sound is elegant (?), And the awesomeness and fear unique to a fighter is modest. However, this is common to most earphones, and it can be said that it is a good idea without failure.
Next, in "Field of Dreams", I chose a scene where Ray (Kevin Costner) visits Mann (James Earl Jones)'s room. The astringent voice of Jewels Earl Jones is reproduced firmly, which is good. The sound of an outdoor car running behind the conversation, the buzz of the baseball field scene that follows, and the hustle and bustle spread out properly.
In The Blues Brothers, Aretha Franklin sings "Sink" enthusiastically, and her voice is comfortable. However, unfortunately, the lip sync is off and the clapping sounds delayed. However, it would be nice if you weren't so nervous, and many smartphones these days have delayed the video in advance on the app side, so it's unlikely that you'll be worried about lip-sync misalignment, so I don't think it's a problem. ..
This time, I tried using EchoBuds (2nd generation) in three scenes: music playback on a smartphone, remote work, and watching videos on a tablet, and it is a straightforward impression that you can enjoy it in a well-balanced manner for any purpose. In particular, the ease with which you can enjoy music by voice operation in combination with the Alexa app is an irreplaceable attraction.
Amazon & Alexa users are encouraged to check out Echo Buds (2nd generation) once, including how to use it to meet recommended songs.
(Interviewed and written by Tetsuya Izumi)
Fully wireless earphones with active noise canceling Echo Buds. Premium speaker drivers deliver clear, balanced sound. You can enjoy up to 15 hours of music playback with the charging case. You can also play music and podcasts, set phone calls and reminders, and switch on the air conditioner before you get home just by talking to Alexa.