Review: Dance like there’s no wires with Boompods Wireless Headpods
These Wireless Headpods are a Bluetooth 4.0 headset from the BOOMPODS family of products that I recently discovered. They are available in a choice of matte black or white, and comes with a USB lead for charging purposes and an audio cable for connecting to non-bluetooth music players. Also included is a nice zipped Neoprene travel bag for storing the headset when not in use.
Constructed of plastic with a padded headband and faux leather ear piece cushions, this is an on-ear type of headset. Both the headband and earpeices can be adjusted to allow for a more comfortable fit. Each earpiece is on a hinge, so it can be easily stored.
One thing that annoys me about headphones, is when you can’t see which ear is L and which is R. It took me an embarrassing 20 mins to find out, before I looked at the instructions, It was hidden in a series of grey dots and made to look part of the pattern. Fortunately there is a much easier way of identifying the right ear piece from the left. All the various control options, plus the micro USB port for charging this headset, are on the right earpiece.
Charging is done via the included MicroUSB cable, for a 3 hour charge, I managed to get around 10 – 12 hours of playtime. That same port can be used to connect to audio jack port of non-bluetooth devices. Unlike most audio cables which have a 3.5mm jack plug at each end of the cable, the one supplied with the Headpods has a 3.5mm jack plug at one end for attaching to the MP3 and a micro USB plug at the other end. This means you won’t be able to charge and use your Headpods at the same time.
The right earpiece houses the unit’s various controls. A centrally positioned button provides multiple options. It’s the on/off switch but it can also indicate Bluetooth pairing and connection status. You can also use this central button to accept and end calls when linked to a smartphone. The music will then stop and then restart the start and end of the call. There is obviously a built-in microphone for use when making calls. Around this central button are options to change the volume level plus cycle forwards and backwards through tracks. Though tricky at first I found I got used to the controls and didn’t have any problems navigating tracks and changing the volume.
After a bit of adjusting I found these to be really comfortable. The over the ear design has always been a plus point for me, as it cushions the ears, and keeps the sound from bleeding out. I had to turn these guys up really loud in order for my colleagues to moan about my choice of Twisted Sister album.
These feature twin drivers so they deliver a really good audio quality. Coming in at just over £50, they are a bit expense. But for 12 hours of play time, a comfortable design and intuitive controls, I feel they are worth the money.
