Home iPadia iPad Accessories ,,,,, Whoever buys an iPhone 7 must take into consideration the fact that the old headphones with jack cable will no longer be able to use them if not at least alongside the adapter included by Apple in the packaging of the new smartphone. Those who don't get along with wireless headphones, especially because they aim for higher audio quality or simply because they don't want to depend on limited autonomy from rechargeable batteries, then should consider the Dodocool DA55 as an alternative to the Lightning EarPods.
These headphones, recently touched by our editorial staff, are born to work via cable with the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus due to the Lightning plug, even if they can possibly also be connected to older Apple devices equipped with this socket, as confirmed our tests which were also performed on iPhone 6s and iPad mini 3.
How they are made
They belong to a different category from those on which Apple's EarPods are positioned first of all for the earphones, of the in-ear type, which offer excellent soundproofing and for sure a better stability in the ear cavity.
In the package there are three different sizes, thus being able to adapt to different conformations of the ear. The kit also includes some spare rubber rings that embrace the outside of each earphone and in fact improve the adherence of each headset, which remains practically glued to the ear even with sudden movements of the head. The inner section of the headset, the one that comes into contact with the ear, is made of plastic, while the outer shell is made of aluminum, cool to the touch but nice to look at and certainly more resistant in case of stress.
From a functional point of view, the choice of adopting a rubber system to reinforce the cable near the headset seemed very intelligent to us, compared for example to small cylinders or plastic parts that usually connect the end of the cable to the headphones. In this way it is very flexible, although much less than the cable itself, but this prevents the sheath from weakening in the long run, then breaking the cable following repeated bending.
The cable is very long, including the connector and earphones, measuring 146 cm. The thickness is comparable to that of Apple's EarPods except for the 15 cm long portion that connects the Lightning plug to the main remote control, about twice as thick and reinforced at the joints by a plastic insert for the connector and a rubber insert on the remote control side. .
The latter, completely in brushed aluminum, measures 5 x 1.5 x 0.5 centimeters and offers some dedicated keys to adjust the volume, start or stop audio playback and a button to activate and deactivate the Bass Boost mode.
84 cm of cable connects the main remote control to an aluminum joint, a few centimeters long, which then separates the two cables of each earphone. On the right, about 17 centimeters away, a second remote control is attached, once again with an all-aluminum chassis and smaller than the previous one. This is equipped with a microphone recognizable by the appropriate hole and a single button which, with a single click, allows you to stop / re-start the audio playback, with the double click you pass to the next song (three clicks to return to the previous one) while the long press calls Siri.
Since technology allows it, we would have preferred a single remote control to manage all the functions, as this solution, especially in the first uses, creates confusion (more than once we have searched in vain for the keys to skip songs in the larger remote control), in addition to increase the weight and bulk of the headphones.
Probably a larger remote control than others is a must as this is where Hi-Res technology is packed (the manual says these headphones are capable of providing low-loss signal transmission of 24-bit 48kHzc digital audio on encoding and playing audio files using higher sample rates than the standards used in traditional CDs) and the bass boost system, but at this point it would have been enough to add the Bass Boost button on the smaller remote and leave a section dedicated at the bottom of the cable only to the chips, without other buttons that in fact could only live in the practical button panel placed near the right earphone.
The app that is not there: no problem
When you connect the headphones to the iPhone or iPad for the first time, a message warns us to install an application which, however, at the time of writing, is not present on the App Store. We asked the manufacturer for guidance, and he promptly replied confirming the absence of the app, a situation that does not however affect the use of the headphones as, when it is released, it will only be used to update the firmware.
How are they doing
The first thing that stands out when you put the headphones in your ears and press the Play button on your smartphone, is that these headphones sound much louder than others. They are incredibly powerful, so much so that in the most common listening the volume bar has never exceeded the threshold of 30%.
In home listening, with the volume halfway, even with a melodic and not too pushy piece like “Ti Verei” by Marco Masini, you can completely isolate yourself from external noises. Right now we are carrying out this test to confirm that we can not even perceive the clicking of the keys on our MacBook. Beyond this threshold it is difficult to keep the headphones in the ears, especially if we are at home. Outdoors and in traffic, the 75% volume is more than enough to hide any noise.
Bass Boost, good idea
Assuming that the writer is not an audiophile, by pressing the Bass Boost button which on paper should increase the presence of low frequencies, in reality a general increase in volume is perceived.
Doing some tests we didn't actually notice big differences between activating the Bass Boost mode or increasing the overall volume by 1–2 clicks while keeping this mode deactivated.
Ultimately we liked the idea of boosting the bass, but at the moment we feel that it has not been applied properly. However, considering that the app for firmware updates should arrive soon, we do not exclude that one of these cannot actually correct the functioning of this mode by giving it the right sense that it belongs to it.
Audio quality
The audio quality is really excellent, with a much more complete and colorful sound spectrum than what is offered, for example, by Apple's EarPods. The latter perhaps enjoy a better reproduction of the medium-high frequencies, while the Dodocool DA55 headphones seemed slightly darker when used with the volume not exceeding 30%, a sensation proven by the greater presence of bass which, as explained in the paragraph above, has nothing to do with activating the Bass Boost mode.
The earphones perform at their best with a volume equal to or greater than 50%, a condition where it is actually possible to distinguish the various sound frequencies. With songs like Parsifal Part 1 by Pooh (Live version for 50 years of career) the entry of the two voices preceding the chorus is much more accentuated than, we return once again to the comparison for an easier understanding of our sensations, of the listening to the same song with Apple's EarPods. The sound is enveloping and you can clearly distinguish the movements of the audio flow from one headphone to another built during the mastering of some songs, without forgetting that in some cases it is even possible to perceive, for example, the sliding of the fingers on the strings of the instruments, as in the case of the bass in our particular version of Birdland from the Weather Report.
Conclusions
Those looking for an alternative to the EarPods Lightning can evaluate the Dodocool DA55 not only for the best audio quality, but also for the excellent soundproofing and for the volume power, which manages to completely isolate the user from external noise, even in environments. louder (at maximum volume it is really hard to even hold them in your ears).
The materials are excellent, with the cable reinforced in the right places and with aluminum components that certainly better resist wear over time. The stability is superior not only for the possibility of adapting the earphones to your ear with the right size of the rubber tips but also from the rubber ring that allows the whole headphone to adhere more in the ear cavity.
The price is higher than the average of the headphones with wire, but we must not forget that we are faced with headphones with MFI certified Lightning plug, where the manufacturer therefore had to invest a part in the purchase of the chip approved by Apple to ensure compatibility with all iPhones even in case of future updates.
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Retail price
The Dodocool DA55 headphones are on sale on Amazon for 69.99 euros including shipping. They are available in silver, dark gray, gold and rose-gold colors that go well with the respective versions of Apple devices.
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