Opening the lid discloses additional sections of lustrous and dull polymer, configured as attachable earpieces that encircle the back of your ears. Having experimented with numerous open-design headphones over recent years, it’s challenging not to feel somewhat unimpressed by their unadorned aesthetic. This design, while strikingly akin to Soundcore’s Aeroclip (and various other models), appears less distinctive. Weighing 6.4 grams, they are weightier than my preferred pairs, yet still sufficiently lightweight for continuous use. The robust rear component offers a remarkable nine hours of playback duration, supplemented by an additional 27 hours from the charging unit.
Sony’s decision to arrange the case’s magnetic cradles such that the earpieces point downwards towards the front, rather than outwards to the sides, was somewhat vexing during everyday handling. Almost every other attachable earpiece I’ve encountered projects outwards, enabling effortless placement onto your ears with a single movement. Sony’s model, however, compels an ungainly twist of one hand for placement, and the other for their return. Though a minor detail, this inconvenience persisted across several days.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Following the Aeroclip design principle, the Clip cleverly adopt Soundcore’s most advantageous characteristic: tactile controls situated on the band joining the two earpiece units, rather than on the rear as seen in numerous less expensive alternatives. This setup is vastly more practical and skillfully implemented, permitting playback toggling, track advancement, and sound level adjustment through dual, triple, or swift presses. Nevertheless, my slight reservation stems from the fact that Sony’s Connect app does not permit the customization of singular functions, only combinations, which consequently resulted in superfluous options or functions I found unnecessary.
The app grants access to several typical Sony features, such as DSEE for superior wireless audio and 360 Reality Audio, offering immersive spatial sound (should that be your preference). Furthermore, there’s an adjustable 10-band equalizer and a trio of audio profiles, encompassing Standard, Voice, and Sound Leakage, intended to prevent you from inconveniencing those nearby. While I personally haven’t encountered that issue with open-ear designs, the option is nonetheless provided. Additional functionalities encompass multipoint connectivity and expedited entry to Spotify and Amazon Music.
Subpar Call Quality, Reliable Audio Playback
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Numerous inexpensive open-ear headphones contend with inferior call clarity; however, I anticipated a higher standard given the Clip’s price point. The voices I heard frequently sounded metallic, occasionally distorted. Conversely, a caller on the other line remarked that my voice resembled that of someone on a speakerphone. Sony asserts that its AI Voice Pickup technology is engineered to distinguish your voice, further purporting to incorporate bone-conduction for the attenuation of external noises, yet the mechanism failed to provide a gratifying outcome in my usage.
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