Samsung Music Frame, BlueAnt Pump X, AirPods 4 and Buds 3 Pro Australian reviews
Apple’s smallest and smartest audio product is likely to be one of the hottest Christmas gift items this year, along with a picture frame that has been to both seen and heard.
Nothing brings out the sounds of summer like cool new audio innovations.
Companies like Apple, Samsung, Sony, Sonos, Technics, JBL, Belkin, Skullcandy and Aussie firm BlueAnt, are competing for a lucrative gift market that ranges from a couple of hundred dollars for a product to thousands for top of the range soundbars.
We put some of the latest products which offer something a little different to the test.
MUSIC FRAME BY SAMSUNG
For something that looks like a picture frame, Samsung’s most innovative audio product produces amazing sound.
Music Frame looks like it is designed more for people who care about how their TV and audio technology look in the loungeroom than how it performs.
But looks can be deceiving, in this case pleasantly.
This is a speaker with superb bass and a great range to bring out vocals, guitars, piano and every instrument in your favourite tracks.
Music Frame also allows you to display your own images, photographs or artwork to tie in with your decor.
It’s not digital, but rather old school charm with printed images. One reviewer even put an old 45 record in his display which I thought was a nice touch.
Our review unit came with artwork of a record player while we were sent some Christmas art to make it even more festive.
There’s a dedicated website where you can buy high quality prints but at $46 a pop plus delivery, it’s expensive compared to ordering a print of your favourite photo at Officeworks.
Music Frame is obviously designed as the perfect companion to Samsung’s Frame TV but you can pair it with a whole range of devices through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
If you have a Samsung soundbar or TV, you can use Q-Symphony to boost your bass and surround sound, while leaving guests guessing where it is actually coming from.
Boasting three six-way speakers and Dolby Atmos sound, Music Frame is also a great stand-alone speaker with a sound big enough to fill any room in the house.
We set it up in the front room, where I like to sit and just enjoy some music while checking out the view of the neighbourhood with the pooch.
While it works particularly well through Samsung’s Smartthings app, you can also stream music straight to it through bluetooth from Apple Music, Spotify or other music services.
You can control with your voice by using the built-in Alexa feature or a Google Home device. Interestingly it doesn’t work with Samsung’s own Bixby which I use often to change channels on the TV but it can be controlled by the Samsung TV remote. You can also use Chromecast built-in or Apple Airplay for music and podcasts.
If you have a Samsung phone on Android 8.1 or above with NFC, you can just tap it against the Music Frame to mirror and enjoy your music in surround sound.
Music Frame disperses sound evenly throughout a wide area creating what Samsung describes as a ‘sweet spot’ in the room. There’s also a night mode to reduce the boom which neighbours might appreciate and a voice enhancement feature.
Weighing in at about 5.9kg with packaging when it arrives, it comes with a wall mounting kit and a removable face to swap out images easily.
With a recommended retail price of $699, the speaker is definitely aimed at those who want the finer things in life, though we have seen it advertised online for as little as $500.
PUMP X HEADPHONES BY BLUEANT
Aussie audio firm BlueAnt has come up with a cool audio innovation designed for sweaty gymgoers.
The latest over-ear headphones, Pump X has memory foam ear pads and cooling gel ear pads, which can be easily swapped out.
As you would expect, the 40mm dynamic drivers definitely pack a punch as promised with an X-mode for those wanting even more sound intensity for their workout.
The headphones definitely have a firm fit which may not be to everyone’s liking, similar to that of Beats headphones.
But they certainly won’t fall off whether you are jumping up and down, running or going crazy against the boxing bag.
They combine sweat resistance and a IP54 rating designed for the sweltering Aussie conditions.
What is pretty impressive is the 34 hours of claimed playtimes with Automatic Noise Cancellation on or 58 hours with ANC off.
Ten minutes of charging will provide about four hours of ANC playback.
They have a great sound with one button to switch from the deep, bass-pumping X mode to noise cancelling or transparency.
The Aussie headphones have four microphones to ensure clarity on calls whether you are on the train, at the gym or on a video call for work.
The Pump X retail for $299 and come in black and gold, white and gold, black and silver, complete with a carry pouch with hook.
APPLE AIRPODS 4
Apple says it analysed thousands of ear shapes and more than 50 million data points to come up with this year’s AirPods 4.
And as a long time user, I can say they are definitely the most comfortable with the top model even offering automatic noise cancellation without the need for eartips.
Super lightweight, they connect to your phone or Apple product quicker than any rivals while AI features work as they should.
I’ve been using the noise-cancelling ones since they were released and they remain my go to option, especially if I’m deliberately going for a walk with the dog without my phone but just want some tunes via my Apple Watch Ultra 2.
With the H2 chip, the tech advances on previous models are significant.
Voice isolation, enabling clearer call quality, is certainly one of them, along with Siri interactions such as being able to nod your head yes or shake your head for no to respond to Siri announcements.
The USB-charging case is noticeably smaller than its predecessor and can be also charged using an Apple Watch charger or Qi-certified charger to deliver 30 hours of battery life.
Most importantly, the new acoustic architecture, low-distortion driver, and high dynamic range amplifier make for great music, or sound when watching your favourite movie.
AirPods 4 now also feature a force sensor on the stem to play or pause media and mute or end calls with a quick press.
With upgraded microphones, the power of the H2 chip, and advanced computational audio, AirPods 4 with ANC help to reduce environmental noise like aeroplane engines and city traffic.
I’ve tested them moving the lawn and they cut the sound very well though some reviewers have said the ANC is not as good as the previous models with eartips.
AirPods 4 with ANC introduce intelligent features like transparency mode to keep users aware of their environment; Adaptive Audio, which dynamically blends Transparency mode and ANC based on the conditions of a user’s environment; and Conversation Awareness, which lowers the user’s media volume when they start speaking to someone nearby.
The last feature is very impressive. As I talked to my dog on our walk, the music quickly fades and then picks up when I stopped. If I sing aloud to the music (in tune), it sometimes notices the difference and leaves the music up while other times the music drops.
Fortunately you can turn the feature off if you sing a lot on your walks!
AirPods 4 start at $219 or $299 for ones with noise cancellation.
GALAXY BUDS3 AND BUDS3 PRO
With their AirPod like stem, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds3 Pro needed to set themselves apart from Apple’s offering.
And they have done that with a more angular design and lights on the stem, as well as some pretty clever AI including using interpretation services if you are listening to a foreign language.
While I don’t find them quite as comfortable as Airpods 4, the sound and noise cancellation of the Buds3 Pro are on par, and overall sound quality.
What is a big bonus is the ability to control your music more easily through voice commands.
Simply saying two words allows you to control functions like playing or stopping music without manually touching the earbuds or a connected smartphone.
Like the Apple product, the microphones in the Buds3 series analyse both internal and external sound in real time to enhance sound and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) quality through Adaptive EQ and Adaptive ANC.
If you are listening to music, your Galaxy Buds3 Pro will constantly collect and identify surrounding sound and automatically adjust the optimal level of noise and sound without manual adjustment through Adaptive Noise Control, Siren Detect, and Voice Detect.
While you can turn the lights off on the blade, they are a cool point of difference.
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One gripe I have had is how the angular blade seems to be make it harder to put the buds back in their charging case, particularly if are fumbling in the dark while watching a movie on your projector or listening to music in bed.
Galaxy Buds3 Pro comes with eartips for better noise cancellation, while Buds3 are the open type for people who prefer to use the device in a variety of situations for an extended period of time.
They are priced from $299 to $399 but shop around as they can be found for as much as $50 to $100 off.
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