Grell TWS/1 customizable in-ear headphones | Engadget

A brand new entrant to the true wi-fi headphone area you say? Sure, that is likely to be a reasonably widespread incidence nowadays, however this one – Grell Audio – comes with some fairly robust heritage. Its founder, Axel Grell, is well-known within the headphone trade for his in depth work at Sennheiser on a few of the firm’s most prestigious merchandise. The TWS/1 is his first solo product beneath the Grell model. Accordingly, we’re to see what the $200 wi-fi buds can do.

The TWS/1 has a contemporary look. The largely round design is barely interrupted by a small, AirPod-like protuberance on every bud. Originally the plan was to have the outer casing solely metallic however physics and radio waves meant that some concessions (plastic components) have been wanted. Overall, they preserve a premium really feel that stands above that always discovered at this worth level. They visually remind me barely of the Jabra Elite 75t, however somewhat decrease profile.

In phrases of match, that barely extra streamlined design means you don’t really feel like one thing is balancing in your ear which may generally occur with extra rotund fashions. As per standard they arrive with a charging case that guarantees 4 full prices of the TWS/1. The buds themselves supply round 6 hours per cost which holds true in my expertise with ANC activated. Curiously, the buds are positioned within the case with the correct one to the left and vice versa. I’m unsure why this might be, nevertheless it does take some remembering (you’ll quickly be reminded because the buds don’t match the opposite approach round).

In a world of me-too merchandise, it’s exhausting to face out. The best differentiator is worth, then sound high quality and or further/premium options. It appears Grell Audio has tried to sort out all three of those, and with normal success, I’d say.

The worth level places the TWS/1 in an uncommon class. Many premium manufacturers are touchdown within the $250+ zone whereas extra reasonably priced choices, like Google’s second-gen Pixel Buds or the aforementioned Jabra’s dwell within the $150 space. Budget choices, south of $100, are additionally more and more extra widespread. This, then, pitches the TWS/1 on the overlap between high-mid and low-premium. I’d wager that is solely intentional as function set and construct high quality skew greater finish, however the barebones packaging and extra accessible worth point out a extra mainstream viewers.

As for sound high quality, that is the place issues are somewhat extra clear. In my testing, I used to be usually happy with the default sound. It was maybe somewhat on the thinner facet for my private desire with a slight weight on the decrease finish for a sometimes business sound. But Grell has partnered with SoundID – a third-party app that tunes choose manufacturers of headphones to your private desire/listening to.

We’ve seen issues like this earlier than, most notably with Nura which takes this to an entire new degree. SoundID is a bit more understated in its method. It nonetheless makes use of some type of listening to take a look at, however quite than asking in the event you can hear sure tones, it merely performs you some music and asks “which do you prefer, A or B.” Once I accomplished this quick take a look at, the distinction was evening and day. With my very own private profile activated (it uploads to the headphones so it applies it doesn’t matter what you might be listening on), my standard mixture of mid ‘10s indie and rave nonsense got here alive.

I’ve a slight desire for dynamic vary and beefier low and mid-high frequencies. At least, I presume I do as a result of that was the largest change in sound after finishing the take a look at and I immediately discovered them far more gratifying. In the SoundID app, you’ll be able to toggle between the default sound and your individual profile and it actually does make an enormous distinction. You don’t want the app to get good sound, however I’m going to guess that you just’ll be happier with what it provides you.

Coincidentally, SoundID can also be the place you’ll get software program updates for the TWS/1. I had one throughout my testing and it improved just a few issues together with the marginally unresponsive contact controls. They’re nonetheless not studying my faucets 1:1 however its about on par with most different touch-control buds I’ve used. Before the replace, it was far more irritating (or, perhaps I simply discovered the approach?).

Those controls aren’t user-configurable, so that you’re caught with what Grell provides you. But, thankfully, that’s just about all the pieces you’d need and with out too many sophisticated faucet or gesture mixtures. Swiping ahead or again on the left ear skips tracks, up or down on the correct for quantity, and so forth. It was the one faucets that I used to be having points with which management play/pause on the correct and transparency mode on the left – each of that are extra annoying if not activated instantly.

This brings us on to good(er) options. As talked about, the TWS/1 has Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode – each of which have gotten more and more customary. But there’s additionally a Noise Annoyance Reduction (NAR) mode. Grell defined to me throughout their preliminary announcement briefing that ANC is nice for lower-frequency sustained noises, however doesn’t work as effectively for higher-frequency annoyances (assume, crying child on a airplane). NAR is Grell’s personal try at providing some discount of a majority of these sound.

In observe, I discovered it exhausting to pinpoint the distinction that NAR makes. With ANC, it’s straightforward to listen to the low rumble of the highway exterior my house lower in quantity. It’s perhaps not essentially the most highly effective ANC I’ve heard nevertheless it does the job. With NAR, regardless of the ear equal of squinting is, proved to be somewhat extra indeterminate. It does appear to barely enhance the listening expertise together with ANC, nevertheless it’s additionally exhausting to inform how a lot of that was me keen it to take action. It’s an attention-grabbing idea although and one which I hope Grell can proceed to enhance over time.

Other small perks embody a “mono” mode (listening with only one bud). This isn’t as widespread appropriately in my view and it provides extra flexibility for those who need to preserve some spatial consciousness with out having to put on each buds. It’s additionally, clearly, how some folks desire to deal with their calls, too (reliving the Bluetooth headset days).

Another small added bonus is wi-fi charging “compatibility.” It’s not one thing I used to be capable of take a look at, however the extra issues that assist it the higher? Or, on the very least, it’s a pleasant perk for these already invested within the wi-fi charging world.

All in, Grell has given worth, options and sound high quality sufficient consideration that the result’s a promising first product from an rising model. The worth level, specifically, strikes a very good stability between signaling premium ambitions with out placing it too far out of attain for mainstream casuals. I’d like to see some additional advances on the NAR know-how and the controls may nonetheless be extra responsive, however in the event you’re in search of a contemporary set of true wi-fi headphones which are customizable to your style, these are an ideal place to start out.