Home Reviews ,,,,, When Avantree sent us the NB03 audio system for testing we thought it was the classic headphone kit with a round neck support. In reality, the product is very different and is designed to accompany the user throughout the day. The peculiarity of this product lies in the double audio output: it can in fact both play music inside the in-ear headphones with removable cable, and directly in the speakers incorporated along the structure, thus becoming a sort of wearable speaker.
There are so many uses: from running outdoors to intense workouts in the gym, to listening to music on the subway or in an armchair and managing phone calls via headphones or hands-free from the office.
Packaging
In the box we find:
How they are made
The headphones can be folded to be inserted into the supplied case and thus take up less space in the bag. When open they have a shape similar to headphones with a headband, however they are not worn over the ears but must be placed around the neck like a necklace, taking care to place keys and buttons towards the upper side (to help us in the direction there are the letters L (left, left) and R (right, right) embossed on the inner edge).
They are made entirely of black plastic, externally glossy and internally satin. On the other hand, a part of the in-ear earphones is made of aluminum, the one that is inserted into the ear and that is most subject to pressure and wear. Overall they weigh 130 grams and the headband, from one end to the other, is 48 centimeters long.
The rear portion, the one that rests on the nape, is very thin (1.3 cm) and is internally lined with a soft rubber layer. The two side flaps that can be folded inside to reduce the overall dimensions are larger and thicker (3.4 x 1.8 cm) as they incorporate the speakers and buttons for remote music playback.
Specifically, on the left side there is the switch to switch from speaker mode to headphones mode, on the right side there is the rocker that adjusts the volume and manages the skip of the tracks, the ON / OFF switch and the hole for the microphone. In both there is a button that activates the mechanism to rewind the retractable cable of the earphones, bringing them back into position reducing the clutter and avoiding any tangles.
The battery charging socket is located on the lower edge of the right flap, well protected by a rubber cap. On the outer edge of the latter we find the multifunction button and the LED indicator.
How are they doing
To pair them with your smartphone, simply turn them on: they will be immediately visible in the list of nearby Bluetooth devices and with a click you can pair them with the device. At this point all that remains is to press the Play button on the music player and start listening to the music.
With the switch on speaker mode the music will be played by the two side speakers. The volume is not very high: if you place the “necklace” on the desk top, at maximum level, the volume is comparable to that of a 5W speaker. Wearing it, however, the perceived volume will be much greater: this is because the two speakers will be closer to the ears. In this sense, the stereo of the device also helps a lot: in fact we will have two small 5W speakers positioned about 17 cm away from each ear. Indoors, the volume at maximum level is also excessive, while outdoors it is perfect for listening to music well but also keeping our ears alert to what is happening around us.
But just flick the switch to headphone mode to completely isolate yourself. The soundproofing is excellent: at this moment we are testing the system again and with the volume around 50% and the headphones tucked into the ears, we cannot perceive the clicking of the computer keys while typing.
The audio quality is very good overall. In headphones the music is slightly more muffled while from the speakers the sound is clear and crystalline. However, they are not headphones for audiophiles: on the market at the same price in this perspective there are better headphones.
Conclusions
Avantree NB03 are headphones and portable speaker together: light and comfortable, they can be used to train in the gym or outdoors but also to listen to music on the subway or occasionally on the sofa at home. The ability to switch from speaker to headphone mode in an instant is the added value of this product, which can thus adapt to situations.
The possibility of answering phone calls using the same system is very interesting. For example, while we are wearing the earphones, just press the side button to answer an incoming phone call. Then, if we want to switch to “hands-free” mode to let what we are listening to listen to, just move the switch to speaker mode.
Retail price
Avantree NB03 headphones are on sale on Amazon for 59.99 euros.
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