Aftershokz Trekz Titanium
MSRP $129.95
“Withstanding both salty sweat and the daily pounding of the gym bag, Trekz Titaniums are perfect for fitness.”
Avg
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Fast charging time
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A fast, simple equalizer
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Large volume range
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Sweat-resistant fit
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Solid construction
Against
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Firm on larger heads
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Hard to deal with equipment
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There is no prior command to follow
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
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When I have to go somewhere, I prefer to do it by bicycle. I also love my tunes; a good cadence helps keep my pedaling rhythm steady. But headphones drown out the world around me, and hearing that car engine rev up behind me could save my life. Aftershokz has addressed the lack of situational awareness of traditional headphones with the Trekz Trekz Titanium AS600 bone conduction headphones: they sit on your cheekbones in front of your ears and conduct sound through the bone, not your ear canal.
Compared to in-ear headphones, bone water headphones don’t block out noise from the outside world, so you can hear that pedestrian yell “look out!” or the screeching tire on your six as the driver tries to overtake you on the bend. Bone conduction headphones are great for people who like to exercise outside and suit any situation where you want to have personal sound but still hear what’s going on around you. Trekz Titanium offers all that and more, in a tough, waterproof package that makes them perfect for fitness.
Big unboxing
The Trekz Titanium headphones come in a clear, hard case, not one of those vacuum-sealed boxes that you need scissors to open. Inside there’s a semi-hard faux leather pouch that closes with a zip for storage, which was handy, along with a micro USB charging cable, headband adapters for smaller heads, external noise-blocking earplugs, a user manual and warranty cards .
Fortunately, the Trekz Titaniums themselves don’t look like they’ll ever need that warranty card. The headphones get their name from the titanium alloy band that connects the two probes. It is surrounded by a waterproof polymer that protects against the inevitable sweat. The transducers themselves are solidly constructed — good feel but not heavy, with good, solid stitching — which should be the case for headphones at this price point.
Features
Aftershokz Trekz Titanium AS600 has three buttons: Power on and volume up (same button) and volume down are located on the bottom of the device behind the right ear along with a micro USB charging port, while a larger and more accessible multifunction button is located on the outside of the left transducer .
Hold the power button for five seconds to enter pairing mode and connect to devices via Bluetooth 4.1. Connecting to my Galaxy S5 is a breeze; not so much with my older HP Touchsmart laptop or my PS4. It would be nice to use PS4 headphones that don’t connect to a controller, or to be able to listen to music on my computer while keeping an ear open to the phone in the next room, but the Titanium is for sports, not sitting around. Aftershokz makes a Gamez headset for that.
The multifunction button controls the most common actions, such as answering calls and skipping tracks – unfortunately, these do not support “previous track” selection. It’s a little annoying in this modern age and seems like an overlooked feature. I had a pair of JVC wired headphones that could play “previous track” with three taps of the master button, bought for less than $20 in Chinatown. I expected at least that feature from a $130 headset.
The volume buttons handle more advanced things, like changing the equalizer or checking the battery status. There will be one or two beeps to confirm the action or Audrey (Aftershokz voice guidance system) will confirm out loud. For example, Audrey says “Equalization changed” when switching between two equalizer settings — in case you missed the drastic change in sound from strong bass to highs.
The only annoying thing is Audrey it is not A side note was that the Trekz Titaniums automatically activate my phone’s Driving Mode when connected. Even when I turned off Driving Mode via the notification panel, it would turn back on automatically if I used another app and sent the screen to sleep. In Driving Mode, the phone automatically answers incoming calls and texts with a busy message, so it was annoying to the caller, and annoying to me that I couldn’t turn it off. It’s a safe but very inconvenient feature. If I turn something off once, it should stay off.
Suitable for fitness
It’s worth noting that fit might be an issue for some. Over-the-ear headphones that wrap around the back of a cyclist’s neck have to contend with helmet straps as well as goggles. The literature suggests putting the headphones on first before working on anything else, but unfortunately Aftershokz’s pictures and the reality of the device don’t match that.
Depending on the shape of your head, titanium might be more comfortable to wear over helmet straps, meaning you need to remove them before removing the helmet (unlike headphones). Furthermore, the order of important equipment for cyclists who ride in traffic is certainly first the helmet, then glasses, then headphones – headphones work not come first.
But back to the fit: People with smaller heads can slip on the little “fitbands” that come with the headphones, or they can size down and grab the new Trekz Titanium Mini. Those with larger heads may find it difficult.
Aliya Tyus-Barnwell/Digital Trends
Aliya Tyus-Barnwell/Digital Trends
In my case, after about an hour the pressure of the Trekz Titanium started to give me a headache. Part of this was due to the playback at high volume. When I turned the volume down on my next run, it took about two hours for the pain to make me pull them down around my neck or turn them upside down to move the pressure point. After a few days I got used to it, but it was an uncomfortable ride for a while. Aftershokz has an online measurement system so customers can gauge the fit, but there are still only the Mini and the regular Titanium. My head measures about eight and a half inches from ear to ear, which puts my head firmly in “regular” Titanium.
In my case, the headphones were snug on my head, but fell on the back of my neck if I didn’t place them on my helmet or hair. There is plenty of room for a low ponytail, although the design is best for those with short hair. If you have long hair but wear it up during exercise, then the Trekz Titanium will suit you well, but the fixed band lacks versatility. These headphones require a little thought, whereas most headphones just pop into your ear.
On the other hand, they didn’t slip and slide when my face started to sweat – this wasn’t a problem for me until the temperatures really started to rise this summer.
Sounds good, can you hear me now?
Despite not being traditional, the sound quality was clean and even rich to the point of bordering on heavy bass. The basic EQ was a nice addition to soften some of the tracks, as the vibes of hours of hardcore music in the gym will no doubt lead to headaches.
Resistant to salty sweat and the daily pounding of the gym bag, Trekz Titaniums are perfect for fitness.
Through several weeks of testing, I never had a problem hearing my music, even on the crowded streets of New York City, where cars are bumper to bumper and construction crews are busy at work – even though the people standing next to me could hear my music volume as well. The volume range is great: when it’s loud you can still hear the world around you, when it’s quiet you can still hear your music even though it’s not actually in your ear.
The same quality was evident in the microphone. I never had to repeat myself during phone calls, as I often had to do with my headphones. The position of the microphone on most wired headphones puts it too far from your mouth so that a little wind muffles your voice. At extreme speeds (25 mph) the wind can overpower the Titanium’s microphone, but those are the moments to brake and talk, or get off the phone and fly.
For a long and happy battery life, plan ahead
One more reason to just hang up and ride is battery life. The company’s claim of six hours is pretty accurate, but that’s not long enough for a full day’s driving. However, if you’re using the Trekz Titanium for commuting, you can always charge it at work, assuming you have access to a power outlet. If not, bring a portable battery.
When you turn it off, remember to turn off Bluetooth on your phone unless you need it for something else. The extra drain on my battery using Bluetooth compared to wired headphones was negligible, but leaving Bluetooth on with nothing connected will drain the battery unnecessarily. Again, I recommend a portable battery that will last you longer days.
When we were at home base, the Titanium battery charged in record time – again, the Aftershokz estimate was dead for about an hour and a half.
Warranty information
Register your product online and get a two-year limited warranty if you buy Titanium through an Aftershokz authorized dealer. The company requires proof of purchase and the serial number from the attached warranty card.
Conclusion
Thumbs up for a really good microphone and for removing the problems that still exist with wired headphones – no cable to catch and tear is always worth mentioning with sports headphones. But the Trekz Titanium AS600 isn’t easy to store without a case – they don’t fit easily in a pocket like headphones, so it’s good that the build is solid.
They may be a little tight on the dome, but that keeps them from slipping and I got used to it over time. I can’t say that the bone conduction headphones can easily be used as in-ears, but they never came off when the cable caught on something. Nor did I lose a single earbud, as is my constant fear when using fully wireless headphones.
The sound, of course, is not as amazing as my Bose over-ear Quiet Comfort headphones. But again, I’m afraid to take them out of the house. The Trekz isn’t intended for studio monitors anyway; they are designed to practice and maintain situational awareness. The Aftershokz Trekz Titaniums do both exceptionally well, handling the salty sweat of long rides and the daily pounding of the gym bag that comes with an active lifestyle.
If you exercise where the ability to hear the world around you is essential, the Trekz Titaniums are a great option.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn