If, like me, you like to listen to music while you work out(and not just music) Teufel’s new AIRY SPORTS are the bluetooth sports earbuds for you! I have been testing them for about two months, and now I am ready to tell you about them in depth. And I’m sure you’ll be excited about it, too, and will want to put it on your next wish list (small spoiler, Uncle Big doesn’t listen to us anyway…RunLovers will be out soon, too!).
What they look like
Lightweight and waterproof, first of all. AIRY SPORTS weigh only 20 grams and have IPX7 certification-on a value scale ranging from 1 as a minimum to 8 as a maximum-for liquid-proofing. IP class is an international certification that standardizes the level of protection of devices to the penetration of solids and liquids. IP, in fact, actually means Ingress Protection . IPX identifies the degree of impermeability (or not) with respect to liquids.
With AIRY SPORTS you can then run in the rain, sweat (if you are like me, a lot) but also swim (temporary immersion up to one meter) and shower.
But it is the Teufel technology that impresses and makes AIRY SPORTS earbuds among the best I have ever tried (and I have tried many). For starters, the Bluetooth technology used, which employs Qualcomm apt-X® and AAC codecs: both guarantee audio quality – transmitted synchronously – close to the CD format, thus clean sound decidedly faithful to how it was produced and, thanks to the 12mm linear HD driver, zero distortion, bass control (which could be more pronounced) and treble accuracy on any device. And then, and this is really crazy cool, you can manage the equalizer by adjusting it individually or by choosing from different configuration settings. Through the Teufel Headphones app., (free, available for both iOS and Android operating systems), which is necessary to pair the headphones with the devices, you can in fact change the equalizer depending on what you are listening to: increase the bass output if you are listening to rock music by opting for the eponymous function or choose between classical, pop, playlists and even podcasts, so you don’t miss any nuance of Sandro and Martino’s voices.
Battery life is also excellent, in Lithium-Ion: up to 25 hours of audio playback, maximum and full charge in less than three hours (around an hour if you’re about halfway through). As far as Bluetooth is concerned, the manufacturer claims 10 linear meters as the maximum distance to the device: in my outdoor tests I got up to 14 linear meters; indoors the distance is reduced to between 6 and 8 meters by changing rooms and according to the thickness of the walls.
Wearability
I don’t know about you, but for me comfort is very important: I’ve had top-of-the-line sports earbuds but annoying to hold in the ear or with a tendency to move/run out as well as entry-level headphones, not particularly brilliant on sound reproduction or functions but comfortable to wear. Because, let’s face it: if you have to stop every km to fix headphones that move or retrieve phone every time you have to change tracks you end up not enjoying the ride.
AIRY SPORTS are worn via soft silicone hooks; although they are smooth they stay firmly attached to your ears even if you move around a lot (I’ve even danced in them) and they don’t bother you even if you wear glasses. The shoulder strap is adjustable and long enough to have the inline remote control-which gives you access to all functions-at your fingertips, or rather inches. The remote control has a good distribution of buttons (+ and – buttons on the sides, O button with also on/off function) but I would have liked thicker symbols on the soft touch to better locate the chosen button. Three ear-tips included in the package: small, medium (which I use) and large.
What they do
Chapter functions. In addition to playing music, with the AIRY SPORTS, you can also, of course, make phone calls with it: the speakerphone has Qualcomm® cVc ™ technology for wireless calls, with Skype, FaceTime, Meet etc etc and with voice control via Google/Siri. Real added value of these earbuds is the ShareMe feature that allows you to connect two headphones via app: you just set it up the first time in the app, and the AIRY SPORTS send the signal wirelessly and with lip-sync to a second pair of AIRY SPORTS.
Okay, all beautiful but-how much do they cost?
(I know you were thinking about it).
And here another plus: Teufel adopts a sales policy with no middlemen, so much so that there are no Italian dealers or distributors of the Berlin-based brand.
AIRY SPORTS are purchased online directly from the teufel website with free shipping and return: that’s right, even return. In fact, if you are not satisfied with your purchase you have a full 8-week trial and, indeed, free return.
AIRY SPORTS are priced at 119.90 euros (but are now on offer for 99.99 euros) and as many as five colors are available: Night Black, Moon Gray, Steel Blue (like mine), Colar Pink and Arctic Blue.