When it comes to bone conduction or open-ear audio, the first brand that comes to mind is Aftershokz. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find the company now as it celebrated its 10th anniversary; back in 2021 with a rebrand. It’s now known as Shokz. Shokz has continued its leadership in open-ear audio products leading the foray into the space with other brands like Huawei and Bose following suit. However, Shokz continues to set itself apart thanks to the deployment of bone-conducting technology that delivers clear sound. The latest product to employ this technology is the OpenFit Air.
The new OpenFit Air joins the company’s renowned lineup as a true wireless, open-ear audio solution. It’s also deviating from the bone conduction technology that has been the hallmark of Shokz products. The new OpenFit Air uses what Shokz is calling DirectPitch technology. This technology optimises sound delivery through the use of superposition. A little bit of a throwback to high school physics – a superposition is an overlap in one or more waves that can result in an amplification of the strength or amplitude of the wave. Using this concept, DirectPitch is able to deliver sound in a directed way that reduces sound leakage and prevents audio degradation. Paired with Shokz’s OpenBass Air and low-frequency technology, the OpenFit Air can deliver full sound with powerful bass. This allows your ears to be unobstructed while you enjoy that new Billie Eilish album.
The OpenFit Air also comes with four microphones that are able to track and isolate your voice with Adaptive Beamforming. This builds on the small 18x11mm drivers that drive the audio experience of the Air. These drivers deliver rich, full audio which immerses you in your audiobook or podcast while allowing you to be aware of your surroundings.
The earbuds themselves are lightweight, weighing only 8.7g. They are made of soft silicone making them sweat-resistant and comfortable. It’s also pliable to fit all ear shapes for better comfort and sound quality. The Air-Earhook, which hooks on your ear as the name suggests, has an ultra-fine 0.75mm flexible nickel-titanium memory alloy that provides added security and better fit when you use the OpenFit Air. The Airs also come with IP54 water and sweat resistance with a 10-metre Bluetooth range.
The battery on the OpenAir Fit can give you a full six hours of listening on a single charge. The case adds 22 hours of battery life or about 3 full charges on a single, complete charge. Need a quick top-up mid-run or workout? The OpenFit Air will be able to give you 2 hours of listening with a 10-minute charge. You’ll also be able to take control of your listening session with intuitive touch controls and even connect to more than one device with multipoint pairing.
Pricing & Availability
The Shokz OpenFit Air are now available online at the Nove Marketing website and in retail outlets like Urban Republic. They will be retailing for RM599 and will be available in three colours: pink, white and black.
It looks like Spotify’s road to lossless audio is long and full of hurdles. It’s been about three years since the streaming giant first announced it would be adding lossless audio to its offerings, but we’ve yet to see it materialise. However, Spotify does seem to like to tease us with leaks and “updates” to its apps.
In the latest leaks that have surfaced thanks to Reddit user OhItsTom, we finally get a glimpse of some of the features and app interfaces for “Lossless” on Spotify. The screenshots of the desktop app show that Spotify might be considering ditching the “HiFi” branding and sticking to “Lossless”. It also gives us a glimpse of the quality that Spotify is gunning for with Lossless and it’s an impressive 2117kbps. That said, it looks like a majority of the offerings will be 24-bit audio FLAC files. The interface also indicates that audio files could be as large as 15.9MB a minute. That’s a HUGE file! A typical song would be between 65MB to 80MB which isn’t too bad considering ripping lossless tracks from a CD can sometimes go larger than that.
In addition to this, it looks like Spotify will be including a whole bunch on introductory screens for Lossless when it finally launches. It does suggest using Spotify Connect over Bluetooth for a better listening experience for lossless. It will also come with a compatibility checker for Spotify Lossless that will let you know if your device can support Lossless audio.
These screenshots are the latest in leaks that have been teasing the upcoming release of Spotify’s Lossless Audio support. However, it comes after more rumours pointed to Spotify introducing a brand new tier – Supremium – to its offerings. The Supremium tier would set you back USD$20 a month. This is about USD$5 more than the Premium tier which is priced at USD$16.99. There is also no indication if this tier would be supported in the Family plan. Currently, Spotify Premium is priced at RM15.90 a month in Malaysia while the Family Plan is priced at RM24.90 a month.
With the holiday season closing in as we enter the last month of the year, Sonos is kicking it off with their 12.12 promotion on their audio and speaker systems.
If you’re looking to brighten your living space or home theatre setup, you just might want to grab a couple of Sonos speakers during the sale. During the 12.12 promotion, you’ll be able to grab your favourite products at a special discount. Here are a few of the incredible deals you can expect to see:
Check out the full list of deals and purchase them on TC Acoustic’s official website or head over to the Sonos Concept Store at The Starhill if you prefer to shop in-person.
Sennheiser‘s ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are now available in Malaysia. The feature-rich headphones mark a new dawn for Sennheiser in Malaysia after the acquisition of Sennheiser’s commercial business by Sonova. The headphones are also the trailblazing product for a new partnership between Sonova and StreamCast Asia as the exclusive distributor of Sennheiser consumer audio products in Malaysia.
The ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are not just another pair of headphones; they promise to be the ultimate “Soundtrack to Your Life.” These headphones combine the legendary Sennheiser acoustics with the tranquillity of Hybrid Active noise-cancelling technology. Engineered with the discerning audiophile in mind, the ACCENTUM Wireless headphones feature 37mm dynamic transducers, meticulously tuned to provide exhilarating sound experiences. They deliver exceptional bass performance and striking clarity. The acoustics have been refined to offer broad-spectrum ANC performance, effectively reducing external disturbances through a combination of passive isolation and concealed microphones targeting both low and high frequencies.
Source: Sonnova Consumer Hearing
What truly sets these headphones apart is their remarkable battery life, offering an astounding 50 hours of playback time on a single charge. For those moments when time is of the essence, the “quick charge” feature provides an additional 5 hours of listening with just a 10-minute charge. Additionally, the included USB-C charging cable allows these wireless headphones to be used as wired ones when Bluetooth is not an option. This not only adds to their versatility but also contributes to reducing electronic waste, promoting sustainability.
The ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are not only about audio excellence; they are touted to excel in handling voice calls as well. With two built-in microphones and a dedicated wind-reduction mode, they ensure that voice calls are crisp and clear. Thanks to adjustable side tone and advanced signal processing, conversations remain natural and free from fatigue, effectively minimizing background distractions. The multipoint feature allows seamless switching between active wireless connections, making these headphones an ideal choice for individuals who frequently switch between VoIP calls on their computer and streaming a podcast on their mobile devices during meetings.
In terms of design and comfort, the ACCENTUM headphones have been thoughtfully designed to ensure extended wearing comfort. The earcup and headband padding contact points gently conform to the wearer’s shape, providing a secure and natural fit. This design reflects the compact fold-flat design of the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, showcasing a cohesive and sophisticated look that places equal emphasis on sound and ergonomics.
Source: Sonnova Consumer Hearing
Staying in control of the ACCENTUM’s features is made intuitive with the simplified 4-button layout and the optional companion smartphone app. From managing Bluetooth connections and features to experimenting with the 5-band EQ, the Smart Control App enhances the headphone experience with a user-friendly interface that fits in your pocket. The Smart Control App can also store user presets and deliver updates, ensuring that the ACCENTUM headphones continue to operate smoothly as the devices they connect to evolve.
Pricing & Availability
The ACCENTUM Wireless headphones are available in two elegant colour options: black and white with sandstone accents. Both colours will be available for purchase from November onwards, and you can find them at the official Sennheiser website and all authorized Sennheiser resellers at an attractive price of RM999.
Ruark is one of the biggest names when it comes to premium audio experiences. The England-based audio company has built a name for itself with its classically inspired and timeless audio products. They’ve delivered everything from bookshelf speakers with the MR1 to the aesthetic R3 to full audio speakers within a table with the R7. Now, the company is introducing a whole new lineup of speakers that build upon its successful foundations. The new Ruark R410, the first in the 100 series, brings Ruark’s offerings into the realm of high-resolution digital audio with support for Qualcomm’s aptX HD and HDMI eARC.
Updated Aesthetics with Classic Touches & Modern Finishes
The hero of the 100 series is the new R410 speaker. Still keeping with Ruark‘s signature classical wooden design, the R410 brings Ruark’s design a decade into the future with inspiration taken from the late 1970s. The speaker is uniquely designed with horizontal wooden grilles accented by the soft brown tones of the mesh and the metallic silver of the legs.
The whole body is made of sustainably sourced wood. This wood mimics the appearance of hardwood and delivers the qualities that allow for Ruark’s signature sound. To achieve the deep wooden texture and finish, the wood is treated and dyed to the intended colour. The R410 is also designed to blend seamlessly into any space.
Nestled in the face of the Ruark R410 is a small touch screen which shows you what’s playing and enables you limited controls. The R410 is also built to produce the best audio quality you can get. Ruark proudly boasts that its new audio products come after 3 years of research and refinement.
The R410 comes with a brand new “RotoDial” control system. The RotoDial has been a signature feature of Ruark’s audio offerings since its conception. The new RotoDial features an updated design which retains the signature Ruark touches and tactility. In addition to the one embedded in the top of the speaker itself, the R410 comes with a remote RotoDial which connects to the speaker via Bluetooth.
Still Built for Sound
Ruark has spent time optimising the design and build of the R410 for the best audio quality. The R410 comes with optimised reflex enclosures that allow it to throw crisp sounds with warm tones and full body over large distances. It comes with Ruark’s NS+ drivers which empower deep bases and natural mids. The custom 20mm tweeters bring added detail to the already full sound.
The Ruark R410 also comes with new-generation digital amplifiers. This allows it better efficiency and output with ultralow distortion. A two-channel amplifier assembly is mounted directly onto the rear of each bass mid-unit for shorter signal paths and to prevent signal degradation.
The new R410 system supports all new-generation streaming connections including Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect.
Pricing & Availability
The Ruark R410 will be available at the end of Q4 2023 at specialised stores. It will be priced at MYR8,899.
R410 Features at a Glance (provided by Ruark Audio)
Streaming Support
(High resolution music file support up to 24-bit 192kH) Spotify Connect Tidal Connect Apple AirPlay 2 Chromecast built-in
Broadcast Support
DAB/DAB+/FM & Internet radio
Connectivity
aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity HDMI with eARC TOSLINK digital input (24-bit 192kHz) UPnP™ media server compatible RIAA phono input
Dimensions
H133 x W560 x D290mm 9.5kg
Navigation
High-resolution 4in colour TFT
Amplifiers
Fully Active 120W RMS Digital Class D amplifier 2 x 20mm silk dome tweeters 2 x 100mm long throw NS+ bass mid units Dual bass reflex enclosures
Bose has unveiled a trio of new audio products set to redefine the listening experience: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, and QuietComfort Headphones. These devices maintain Bose’s signature sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort while introducing a significant innovation—Bose Immersive Audio.
Bose Immersive Audio
Bose’s Immersive Audio is the company’s take on directional audio. Unlike its competitors, the technology doesn’t use AI to approximate audio direction – particularly when it comes to headphones. Instead, it generates a wider, more spacious soundstage that allows for layered, multidimensional sound. The best part? It’s platform agnostic – meaning that it’s done on the headphones itself. The onboard IMU and Bose’s proprietary digital signal processing software allows for a live concert-like experience, even with audio sources that don’t natively support spatial audio.
It comes with two modes: Still and Motion. “Still” mode keeps audio stationery for a consistent experience, while “Motion” mode, adapts sound according to your position and movements.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
These headphones replace the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 as Bose’s top-tier over-ear headphones. They address a common concern by folding it down for easy storage. The headphones introduce Bose’s Immersive Audio technology, along with CustomTune audio calibration. They provide clear calls, accurate voice assistant responses, and up to 24 hours of battery life.
The new QuietComfort Ultra headphones feature a completely re-engineered system with proprietary signal processing, advanced microphones and a robust chipset. These technologies enable improved noise cancellation and CustomTune while supporting Bose’s Aware mode with ActiveSense and improved voice pickup.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Building on the success of the QC Earbuds II, the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer noise cancellation, CustomTune calibration, responsive touch controls, and now Immersive Audio. Improved call quality is achieved through adaptive filters and dynamic microphone mixing. It also comes with an IPX4 water and dust resistance rating. They provide up to six hours of battery life, with an optional case for wireless charging.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Replacing the QuietComfort 45 Headphones, these offer high-fidelity audio and noise cancellation. Users can customize noise cancellation levels and modes. They provide up to 24 hours of battery life, support multipoint Bluetooth 5.1, and include a Spotify Tap button for convenience.
Compatibility and Connectivity
All three products support Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, including Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec for audio streaming. They are Bluetooth 5.3 compatible and feature Google Fast Pair for Android devices. They are also compatible with Bose SimpleSync technology, allowing personalized pairing with select soundbars and speakers.
Pricing & Availability
Pre-orders for these products are now open.
The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are priced at GBP£449 (MYR2,610.17) while the Earbuds will cost GBP£299 (MYR1,738.21). Both will be available starting in early October in Black and White Smoke.
The QuietComfort Headphones will be available on September 21, 2023, in Black and White Smoke. There will also be a limited-edition Cypress Green colour. It will be priced at GBP£349 (MYR2,028.89).
The wireless charging case which is compatible with both the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the QC Earbuds II will be on sale for GBP£49.95 (MYR290.38).
There isn’t any word yet on when these products will be available in Malaysia. However, you can still purchase it on the Bose website.
Dolby Laboratories has unveiled Remember those days of needing professional equipment to get the best quality sound from your sound systems? Well, that’s about to come to an end with the new Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, – a huge update to its Dolby Atmos surround sound. The technology brings a feature set we’ve grown accustomed to with Samsung‘s flagship QLED TVs with Q Symphony and Sony‘s Acoustic Center Sync to a broader range of TVs starting with TCL TVs that are being announced at IFA 2023.
Source: Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect will be able to seamlessly merge your TV’s built-in sound system with compatible wireless accessory speakers anywhere in a given space. FlexConnect will then intelligently adapt to your room’s layout and your chosen speaker arrangement giving you the most optimised audio experience from every corner of your space. Sonos also introduced a similar feature with their recently announced Sonos Era 100 and Era 300 speakers.
These are the hallmark features that Dolby Laboratories has highlighted:
An Improved Dolby Atmos Experience: FlexConnect incorporates compatible wireless speakers into your Dolby Atmos-enabled TV setup. Thanks to this, it’s able to replicate the position of the object better for a more immersive sound experience. This means you’re not just watching; you’re feeling every moment through your ears.
Unconstrained Speaker Placement: FlexConnect removes the constraints of traditional speaker placement. No matter your room’s size, furniture arrangement, or power outlet locations, you can position your speakers wherever they fit best. This newfound flexibility allows you to optimize your audio setup without compromising on sound quality.
Effortless Setup: Setting up Dolby Atmos FlexConnect requires no additional equipment or a tangle of cables. Using acoustic mapping, your TV’s built-in microphones locate each wireless speaker in the room. Once they’re all accounted for, the system automatically calibrates itself to deliver the most optimized audio performance for your unique environment.
Dynamic Audio Balancing: FlexConnect intelligently distributes audio signals from your TV to each wireless speaker. It takes into account the capabilities and locations of all your available speakers, ensuring that the sound immerses you.
The technology will be making its debut in TCL’s latest TV lineup coming at IFA 2023. It will not be surprising to see other brands begin to include this feature in their upcoming offerings.
The Sony Walkman brand started in 1979 with personal battery powered cassette players. That was genesis for the portable audio industry, one of the first personal audio player small enough to fit in your pockets. The boom in the stereoscopic headphone industry can also be attributed to that.
In 2001, Apple brought their famous iPod to market. When that launched, the iPod became the household name for portable audio. All the other brands, including Sony’s Walkman, had to take a backseat.
Today, something like an iPod is ‘old-fashioned’. You can store lossless audio files and even play them on a modern smartphone. There are many streaming platforms today as well offering you music and even podcasts at the same time.
For all of these, you trade audio quality for convenience. Proper audio processors will make your smartphones bigger. Your streaming platforms use highly compressed audio for better economy, latency, and efficient storage.
For audiophiles and purists though, convenience is a hindrance to purity and greatness. A dedicated media player is always the way to go. Sony’s Walkman is still one of the biggest brands in this space. In the Walkman stables, there are also options to fit different budgets.
One of their latest additions to the Walkman family is the NW-A306, a mid-range media player for enthusiasts. It packs Android 12, like a smartphone. It is an extra device in your gear bag that will set you back MYR 1,599. In that case, is this relevant? Is it even worth the asking price?
Design
It looks like a rather compact and thick smartphone. Thanks to Android 12, it feels like an actual smartphone. Unlike a smartphone though, this has more buttons than the usual on/off an volume rocker buttons.
The front of the device is a glass plane protecting a 3.6-inch LCD panel and Sony branding at the bottom. The camera-less ridged back plate with a Walkman badge carved into it is aluminium. The ridge is meant to improve grip, we think. We reckon that a cheap silicon case would do a better job.
The sides are also aluminium like the back plate. On the right side of the device is where all your media and volume control buttons are. There is also a ‘hold’ toggle to prevent accidental presses. The entire device speaks quality and feels rigid, durable.
You can only get the NW-A306 in boring ol’ black. It is not meant to attract attention though. We would go so far to say that the Sony NW-A306 is meant to be subtle and stealthy.
Hardware
Sony does not mention the sort of processor inside the device. It is made with audio in mind though. For that, Sony has several effects processors inside for better audio reproduction and immersive effects.
USB Type-C (USB3.2 Gen1) Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, OPP, DID) LDAC AptX AptX HD DSEE Ultimate Vinyl Processor ClearAudio+ 360 Reality Audio Hi-Res Audio Hi-Res Audio Wireless 10-band equaliser
Features
You can upload MP3 files in the thousands, which would be a waste. You want FLAC or WAV format in the NW-A306 to get the best out of it. If you can, you want DSD format audio for it.
Android 12 Interface
Android is a familiar interface. Everything is intuitive and where you expect to find them. Even if it is not the most updated Android 13, it is familiar and simple to work with.
You still get Bluetooth and WiFi, but that is about it for connectivity. You will not be able to customize too much in terms of your back, recent apps, and home button too. But they are there, like a regular Android.
You can access Google Play Store. You can install Netflix and Prime Video, but you watch movies at HD resolution and on a miniscule screen, we do not recommend it. You can install other media players for it if you want alongside Spotify and Tidal.
DSD Audio Playback
All the NW-A306’s hardware goes into supporting one of the best lossless audio formats you can get. While technically you do not lose too much audio artifact through 32-bit FLAC and WAV formats, you still lose some artifact thanks to limited sampling rate at up to 384 KHz. That is not the case for DSD format.
The specific DSD format the NW-A306 plays is up to DSD 256, or DSD 11.2 Mhz. Whichever way you look at it, 11,289,600 Hz is plenty more than 384,000 Hz, meaning you get a lot more detail in your audio. FLAC and WAV formats offer better depth though. At up to 32-bit, you technically have much higher volume floors offering more powerful and full low-end sounds. Even then, 1-bit DSD 256 format audio contains somewhat more detail and with the right headphones, you might prefer it.
The difference is marginal and might not sound too different over untrained ears. You also need quality headphones with neutral and balanced drivers to tell the difference. Sony does not include any earphones with the NW-A306.
Direct, or Processed
The amount of customization and upscaling you can get from Sony’s media player is nothing short of astonishing. If you thought that Sony’s wireless headphones do well in upscaling audio, you might want to try one of these with a decent pair of headphones.
You get DSEE Ultimate, DC Phase Linearizer, Dynamic Normaliser, Vinyl Processor, and if you are too lazy to find out what you like; you get ClearAudio+ to cleverly transform your music listening experience via a single toggle. If you do not like any of those upscaling artifacts, you can even get to bypass all of Sony’s filters and effects via Direct Source mode or tune it to your personal preference with a 10-band equalizer.
We are not going to go into the technical bits of each effect that Sony offers. All you need to know is that each effect offers a different enhancement to your audio and some of them are pretty self-explanatory. Vinyl processor for example, offers a vinyl like listening experience which adds some warmth and reverb into your audio. We simply turned on ClearAudio+, which will turn off access to every other individual effect.
ClearAudio+ offers Sony’s DSEE Extreme, and other clever AI based effects to enhance your audio from a single toggle. You get more details in your music and the algorithm boosts your volumes a little too. Without ClearAudio+, we set the media player at more than 80% volume. With ClearAudio+, we only need to turn it up to 75% at the maximum.
Sony’s clever DSEE and ClearAudio+ does not just work for the regular DSD or FLAC audio you put into your media player. It also works for the music streaming apps like Spotify and Tidal. You can turn on Hi-Res streaming and the NW-A306 will cleverly upscale your output to 192kHz/32-bit quality.
Your Portable DAC
If you plug it into your PC via a USB cable, you might see a DAC mode on offer. It is not the straightforward plug-and-play solution we expected though. You want to have Sony’s Music Center app for your PC, or Hi-Res Audio Player for Mac. On PC, you are limited to 32-bit 48kHz input/output, which is not quite Hi-Res. Once you have your app installed, and you plug in your device to the PC or Mac via USB, and then select USB DAC mode, you must go into the Walkman app and find “USB DAC” button on the main library screen. Only once you activate DAC mode from there then only you can start enjoying it as your DAC.
With the NW-A306 as your DAC your music listening experience is transformed and you really feel like you are listening to a completely different device even with Tidal and Spotify. You get a much wider sound stage and improved dynamics. Your highs and lows are more distinct and plenty more detailed. You even get deeper lows and better volumes out of your PC.
There is a small matter of delay though. Pressing play on your Tidal or Spotify player takes about a second for the action to turn into audio. It is negligible for music, but it may not be ideal for Gaming or Movies.
Bluetooth Audio + LDAC + Qualcomm aptX HD
Unlike plenty of traditional media players, the Walkman can be used with Bluetooth enabled headphones. It is not just Sony’s headphones though. You can use it with any Bluetooth headphones. We tested it with the Sony WH-1000XM4.
The WH-1000XM4 is not a Qualcomm device with aptX HD chip. Instead, it works with Sony’s proprietary LDAC for the best possible Bluetooth audio experience. If you do have any other headphones that supports aptX HD though, you can work with the media player.
While it is Bluetooth enabled, the sound quality is only as good as Bluetooth 5.0 allows it to be. It also highly depends on the version and calibration of the Bluetooth gear. We think that using a wireless set-up with the NW-A306 is not the best. It is convenient though.
360 Reality Audio
The NW-A306 is marketed to be capable of 360 Reality Audio. The effects of the surround sound are highly dependent on your listening gear too. You want to have a compatible set-up for this. The WH-1000XM4, for example, is sufficiently capable.
We can also only get 360 Reality Audio music and audio from Tidal at this time. That also means that you have to rely on using Tidal to take advantage of 360 Reality Audio. The Walkman app refuses to play 5-channel FLAC and DSD audio files.
We spoke about 360-Reality Audio at length when we reviewed the WH-1000XM4. In that case, we are not going to elaborate on the 360 Reality Audio experience here. In short, we like it.
Performance – There is a Difference
The NW-A306 is not a gimmick. Even at this price range, there is an actual difference between listening to audio with this media player over your modern smartphones. That does not only come from us.
We pitted the NW-A306 against a modern smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and used Tidal as the benchmark. We used a Shure SE535 in-ear monitor earphones on both devices with custom cable from KZ. For the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, we used a USB Type-C to 3.5mm DAC adapter from UGreen.
Smartphone Versus NW-A306
Even with Tidal, there are differences. You get slightly more dynamic range from the NW-A306 than you get on the smartphone. Volumes do not necessarily differ all that much between the two devices, but you get more granular control over volume with the media player. There are also slightly more details in the music on the NW-A306.
Just so that we eliminate any fanboy bias, we let others test the NW-A306 against the smartphone. Most are not able to define the difference, but they preferred the listening experience from the Sony media player. While there are differences, they are so marginal that most might consider it negligible.
Going Hi-Res
Once we get to FLAC and DSD files though, the media player makes more sense. Those who have tested the media player with FLAC and DSD audio reports that you get a significant boost in sound quality. Most of them also prefers DSD audio formats than FLAC. To be fair, we could only get our hands on 24-bit/192kHz FLAC files at the maximum while the DSD files go up to 11.2MHz at 1-bit.
With FLAC, WAV, and DSD format audio, you are getting a tremendous amount of detail pumped into your ears. You get a full sense of width and depth of the dynamic range with these files. You are technically getting CD quality sounds and better. Audio is not just accurate; it also sounds great and clean.
Some Electronic Interference
It is not perfect though. There is still some electronic hiss that goes through to the headphones. You are likely going to put your audio levels at about 70 – 75% volume and the hiss is noticeable at those volume ranges. Once you start playing your music though, the hiss disappears behind the music.
Only 10-Band?
You can switch off ClearAudio+ to select the effects you want and tune your audio via the 10-band equalizer. We think that Sony could give us more than 10-band in their equalizer option for even more control. This is still better than what you get with your Sony Music app on your smartphone though.
Battery Life
Sony says you can get 36 hours of non-stop music playing time with MP3 music. If you play DSD 11.2MHz files exclusively, you only get 14 hours of playback time. This is also considering that you are using a wired 3.5mm jack headphone. That easily covers an entire flight from Kuala Lumpur to London for example.
In our tests, we have not been able to extend the battery life to 14 hours while playing FLAC and DSD files. We estimated that the battery can last up to 10-12 hours in a single full charge at least in our test with music played through the Walkman app. We do recon that you can get about 14 hours of playback time out of it though if you keep your screen turned off while playing music.
The Sony NW-A306 – You Do Not Need it, But You Kind of Want It
At MYR 1,599, it is not what we will call a budget or even sensible buy. While it does sound better than the regular ol’ smartphone, it is marginal if you are only relying on music streaming platforms like Spotify and Tidal. To most, the difference is not enough to justify spending MYR 1,599 for an extra piece of kit to carry. The tiny HD resolution display is not exactly the best to enjoy Netflix and Video Prime on. To source for FLAC or DSD files is an effort too.
When you make the extra effort though, the NW-A306 makes sense. You get an elevated music experience over smartphones. It is no larger than a modern smartphone, making it rather portable. You have the convenience of wireless headphones but spending extra money on a great pair of wired headphones gets you an uncompromised listening experience. You can even use it as a DAC for your PC. If you can appreciate all of that, MYR 1,599 now seems more reasonable.
Is it relevant? We think it is. It is made for those who do not want to compromise too much on sound quality – audiophiles. It is for those who want to keep their devices separate from each other by function. It is for those who want no distraction from their music, a sort of separation between work and enjoyment.
At MYR 1,599, this NW-A306 is reasonably accessible. There are going to be other costs that is attached to buying this music player. You are going to have to spend more on a decent pair of wired headphones. You are also going to be spending a little bit of money on your music collection. Thing is, if audio quality is everything to you, it is worth it.
We loved the WF-1000XM3, this is no secret. I personally own a WF-1000XM3. We actually went out to pre-order one to get it before they officially launched them in Malaysia. It is that good.
But there is something better than an in-ear headphone though. That is an over-ear headphone like the WH-1000XM3. There is a reason why we settled for the WF-1000XM3 though. Its performance is close enough to the WH-1000XM3 and is fractionally cheaper, and it is a lot more portable.
We still love the WH-1000XM3 very much though. It is one of the best active noise cancelling headphone in the industry at its time and still holds its own to this day. If you are looking for a noise cancelling headphone at a budget at this time, the WH-1000XM3 is still a very good choice. The problem is, the new Sony WH-1000XM4 is not that much more expensive in price.
The WH-1000XM4 is still a premium product at MYR 1,599. The question here is not whether it is better than the WH-1000XM3 or not though. The question here should be, should you change from the WH-1000XM3 to this one? Or should you get this one over the discounted Mark III? We find out.
Design
It looks exactly the same as the WH-1000XM3, and that is it. Really, they look the same. They come with the same shaped hardcase too, with a slight difference in material choices over the case. Put the two side by side and they look nearly indistinguishable other than the WH-1000XM3 and WH-1000XM4 label on the head band.
So that is that, right? Not really
The padding on the Sony WH-1000XM4 is of newer materials that is supposed to be more breathable and more comfortable than the WH-1000XM3. This is not to say that the Sony WH-1000XM3 was not a comfortable headphone to work with in any way though. The newer materials ensures that the WH-1000XM4’s earcups are slightly more breathable apparently.
In Malaysia, you are still going to sweat your ears out wearing the headphones out in the open. It will still be warm no matter how you put it, but that is not the fault of the headphone itself. We suspect also that the extra breathability has something to do with the more comfortable clamping force on the headband.
There is another subtle change within one of the earcups too. Specifically, on the left earcup there is now what seems to be a cut out for some sort of a sensor. The sensor is an optical sensor to tell the headphone whether or it is being worn.
Features
The Sony WH-1000XM4 inherits most of its great features from the Sony WH-1000XM3. That is kind of expected. What we did not expect is how much Sony added on the WH-1000XM4 to make it a class of its own.
Talk-to-Chat Transparent Mode
The new Sony WH-1000XM4 is a rather clever piece of kit to bring with you wherever you go. You technically do not have to take it off your ear ever (until the battery drains and you have to charge, of course). It turns on ambient noise mode the moment you want to start a conversation with anyone.
We tried the function in the office to have conversations with everyone else in the office. It only detects speech from you before it turns to transparent mode automatically. Which also means that your friends still need to tap on your shoulders to get your attention and you have to start talking first before the feature itself is turned on.
We do find it nifty in certain situations, and a little jarring in a lot of situations. There are times that we had to say “what?” twice before you can get the headphone to turn transparent mode on. You can still cover the right cup of the headphone to turn on ambient mode temporarily too, which might work better in our opinions.
Transparency mode on the Sony WH-1000XM4 may not be the most natural experience you have on your surroundings too. You can sort of hear your friends when you talk to them in transparent mode, but there are times where you tend to hear more environmental noise and buzz than the people you want to have conversations with. At least the delivery of ambient noise is accurate enough you know where everything is coming from.
Noise Cancelling Made Even better
The WH-1000XM4 packs the same type of audio signal processor from its predecessor. It is the very powerful Sony QN1 processor. This is also the reason why the Sony headphone is not aptX or aptX HD certified. Then again, it is not a Qualcomm processor the headphone packs.
The QN1 on the WH-1000XM4 is programmed differently compared to the QN1 in the older headphone and the WF-1000XM3 though. It is technically more powerful as it now does more complex and robust calculations for noise cancelling. That also means that the noise cancelling in the new WH-1000XM4 is technically better than the WH-1000XM3.
To put it in words, you might hear the headphone feeding you anti-noise at times, when there is no other audio playing through the headphone. When the music comes alive, most of the world is tuned out and quiet. There are still some situations that you can hear the rest of the world, especially when loud noises are involved, but no active noise cancelling technology can remove noise or sounds completely.
Using the active noise cancelling feature on the WH-1000XM4 for an extended period of time is a very comfortable affair. You do not feel like your head is stuck in a vacuum chamber or feel like your eardrums are being sucked dry by the headphone. What we mean to say is that you will not get a headache or discomfort.
DSEE Extreme
But the QN1 does more than just clever noise cancelling. It upscales audio now with Sony’s proprietary DSEE Extreme, an even more powerful version of Sony’s DSEE HX from the WH-1000XM3. What it does is it upscales audio and delivers them more cleanly via Bluetooth. The technology fills gaps in an audio and delivers it to the listener for a better listening experience.
Again, the differences are very marginal to a regular listener. To us at least, the differences between audio delivery between the new headphone and older headphone is hardly noticeable and very easy to miss if you do not pay attention. The differences lie in some of the higher-end frequencies and a slightly fuller low-frequency notes.
In theory then, even Spotify should sound a little more amazing and impressive with DSEE Extreme. It does though, it does work. It does make Spotify sound less Spotify and a little more Tidal. To put it into perspective, Spotify can be likened to compressed MP3 audio format and Tidal delivers up to CD AAC audio format, which has higher bitrate and throughput. In turn, AAC audio format tends to be more detailed and in higher fidelity compared to MP3.
Multi-Device Connection
There was not much we could complain about when it comes to the WH-1000XM3. The only thing we thought was a little lacking was the fact that the headphone could only connect to one device at a time. Sony also fixed that with the new WH-1000XM4.
While the new WH-1000XM4 headphones does connect to multiple devices, do not be fooled into thinking you can connect your smartphone, your notebook PC, and your tablet at the same time. You can only choose up to two devices to connect to the Sony WH-1000XM4.
Connecting your WH-1000XM4 to both devices as simple as you would expect too. You can use your smartphones to connect to the device via NFC and then Bluetooth. Connecting your PC too is just about a simple working with Windows’ Bluetooth.
You might have to keep in mind that the Sony WH-1000XM4 turns off the moment you plug a USB Type-C cable to the headphone. The headphone will automatically go into charge mode. You can still plug the headphones in to a 3.5mm AUX jack for listening though, just that you do not get to use the noise cancelling function.
Performance
Of course, the whole point of a headphone is an audio experience. That is what this MYR 1,599 Sony WH-1000XM4 is all about, the aural experience. For that kind of money, you will not be disappointed with the Sony headphones.
An Aural Experience
It is a solid product no matter how you look at it for MYR 1,599. While the build is mostly plastic, most of the money goes into making the internals as good as it can be. You are looking at a 40mm driver that is capable of producing frequencies from as low as 4hz all the way to 40,000hz. Of course, what you hear depends on your own ears and the music format itself.
We tested most of our audio products with Tidal because it streams at 16-bit/44kHz quality. Spotify streams at half that. That also means that you get higher quality audio and more detailed audio from Tidal to work with.
As with plenty of Sony audio products, we can safely say that the WH-1000XM4 produces a very balanced sound signature. Sound is detailed enough through all the frequencies. Some might say that it lacks lower frequency punch (bass) though, and that is also mostly a matter of preference. Still, the mid and high frequencies shine with detail and there is enough punch for us in the lower frequencies.
What it lacks in punch though, the Sony WH-1000XM4 makes up in detail. The lower frequencies forms with distinction, not just booms that you hear in your ear. You also have to keep in mind that too much lower frequencies can hurt your ears too. This will not do that.
The headphone gets pretty loud too on Bluetooth. If you plug it in though, depending on your source device, the headphone tends to be a little softer and less punchy. We do somehow find a bit more detail when you plug it in though. Just remember that you still need to use the battery if you want to use the Noise Cancelling function and DSEE Extreme.
Listening on the WH-1000XM4 can be very personal though. Via the app, you could also take a picture of your ears and let Sony tune the headphone to your ears. In that case, your friends might not get the same experience as you do on the headphone itself. Of course, the app also allows you to adjust your own equaliser to make it even more personal.
With the WH-1000XM4 as well you get the benefit of Sony’s 360 Reality Audio that gives you some spatial effect. Of course, not all streaming platforms have this feature. That is also why we refer to Tidal for our audio needs, they support the 360 Reality Audio feature.
Battery Life
Sony claims that the WH-1000XM4, like the WH-1000XM3, has 30 hours of continuous playback. That is technically longer than the world’s longest direct flight at 18 hours. We have not had the privilege to travel from Singapore to New York directly for that matter. No thanks to the pandemic situation too, travelling is rather limited to intercity travels by car. Which also means that we have not sat in an airplane for over a year now.
If we do though, we are glad that we have the WH-1000XM4. In our tests, we can assure you that it the headphones can last more than 20 cumulative hours of use. Of course, this also depends on how high or how low you set your volume to. We set our volumes to an average 70 to 75% most of the time and we mostly use it with our PC and smartphone wirelessly. In that regards, we only had to charge the headphone once in a week.
Call Quality
Of course, because we pair it to our smartphone as well, we use it to make phone calls from time to time. On PC as well, by default the headphone connects to the device as two separate devices and go into handsfree mode the moment you get into a conference call. This is also to prevent the headphone to go into talk-to-chat transparency mode.
In hands-free mode, or when you make a call, the audio gets a little distorted for some reason. It is not as bad as before where audio sounds tiny and extra distorted though. We just thought that it sounds a little sketchy at times and it could be a little better and clearer.
It is still convenient for you to just pick-up a call and tune everything else out. Whenever a call comes in, the headphone prioritises feed from the calls on your smartphone or your video conferencing tools first.
On the PC, you will hear the difference between conference calls made in hands-free mode and with hands-free mode turned off. It is night and day. You also want to keep in mind that if you want to use this headphone for multiplayer gaming (it is quite excellent for gaming too, if you must know), you really want to disable hands-free mode and Talk-to-Chat function.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 – Oh Yes!
We really like the Sony WH-1000XM4. They never really changed its design compared to its predecessor. To be fair, the design language has not changed all that much since their first iteration of the noise cancelling over-ear headphone series. Then again, why fix something that is not broken? That is also very Japanese, if we must say.
Issue with that is that ergonomics is the same and the touch controls are the same too. The touch controls are not exactly the Sony WH-1000XM4’s strongest suit. Thank goodness you have a smartphone app to control the headphone too. Of course, the app makes the WH-1000XM4 even more personal.
It is a slightly more comfortable headphone compared to the older WH-1000XM3. It is also better sounding and packs better active noise cancelling algorithm. We thought talk-to-chat function was something that would be a game changer, but we end up looking at it as more of a gimmick now instead.
So, if you are looking to spend a little bit more money for a headphone, the WH-1000XM4 is a good buy. We would recommend it very strongly. The problem only comes if you already own a WH-1000XM3.
To solve the problem, we would not recommend you change from your WH-1000XM3 to this new one. While all the small improvements may make it seem like the fourth-generation headphone from Sony holds a big gap over the WH-1000XM3, the improvements made in the areas that matter is not so much that the older generation headphones become obsolete. If you do want the latest and greatest though, who are we to say that you should not spend your money on the Sony WH-1000XM4?
Ruark Audio just launched in Malaysia. Malaysia is also the first market to the Ruark Audio R3. The new Bluetooth enabled speakers is so much more than just a table top speaker though.
It packs a very powerful class A-B amplifier for superior sound quality even if you compare it to the likes of Senheiser or even Bose. It is just as pricey too at MYR 3,999. It is also a piece of furniture though.
The wood finish is actual wood, instead of laminated MDF boards. It is a piece of decoration in your living room, or your study, or even your bedroom. It can even fit your antique furniture if you really like.
It is not an antique museum piece though. It is Bluetooth enabled, WiFi enabled, Internet enabled, and you can even put a CD into it. It is as modern as the National Art Gallery of Singapore.
The Ruark Audio R3 will be available in Malaysia at the end of August at retail partners accross Malaysia. There are no available colour options available, just that every piece of Ruark Audio’s loudspeakers come from actual wood, so you get different grains. As mentioned, it will be priced at MYR 3,999. More information can be found on their website.
