In the event you’re after an affordable pair of true wi-fi earbuds then the Duet 50 Professional must be in your listing. With their strong sound (when you’ve discovered the suitable ear-tip), beneficiant battery life, plus options that give them exercise attraction, they provide great worth for the value.
Execs
- Low cost
- Lengthy-lasting battery
- Sensible choice for runners/health
- AptX appropriate
Cons
- Default ear-tips not one of the best sounding
Availability
- UKRRP: £39.99
- USARRP: $54.99
- EuropeRRP: €54.99
- CanadaRRP: CA$68.99
- AustraliaRRP: AU$69.99
Key Options
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Battery lifeA whopping 130 hours
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Bluetooth connectivityaptX compatibility
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WaterproofingIPX5 water and sweat resistance
Introduction
Again Bay is a Boston-based audio model I’ve spent a while attending to know – I reviewed its EQ 40 neckband headphones in 2020.
These headphones put in a satisfying efficiency at an reasonably priced worth, and Again Bay hopes to repeat the trick with the Duet 50 Professional. That includes super-generous battery life at 130 hours – by the far the longest I’ve come throughout – and aptX compatibility, they arrive in at a worth that may have you ever rubbing your eyes in disbelief.
Design
- Mini buds
- Cosy match
- Stable playback controls
- Huge charging case
By true wi-fi requirements, the Duet 50 Professional are diminutive. They don’t fall prey to an inexpensive aesthetic, as an alternative presenting a lovely shiny end. The world for button presses is clearly signposted by means of its shiny floor and the gleaming Again Bay emblem. Taking them out of the case is like taking out a pearl from an oyster.
They’re solely out there in a single color (black), and so they slip into the ear neatly. I’ve not skilled any consolation or match points, plus Again Bay gives quite a lot of ear-tips with which you’ll be able to experiment. You’ll wish to mess around with these since they will affect the Duet 50 Professional’s ultimate sound. Noise isolation is nice, because the proper ear-tip can cut back exterior sounds by a big quantity.
Button presses are clicky and don’t require a lot strain for these with an aversion to pushing in earbuds. Every part is roofed from quantity, observe skipping, playback and taking calls to activating a voice assistant.
The charging case is an enormous one, nevertheless it ought to nonetheless slip right into a slim pocket. Just like the earbuds it’s completed effectively, however extracting the earbuds from the case appears like I would like a miniature crowbar.
Options
- Gargantuan battery life
- Charging case can double up as an influence financial institution
- AptX Bluetooth assist
- IPX5 score for water-/sweat-resistance
The spotlight of the Duet 50 Professional is the excellent battery life. There’s round eight hours per earbud with 122 out there within the case: greater than the JLab Air Sport’s 40 hours, the EOZ Air’s 90 and the Mifo O5 Plus’ 100. The ‘Professional’ model include essentially the most battery life, with the Slim and customary model (identical earbuds, completely different case) providing 30 and 40 hours respectively.
The charging case can double up as an influence financial institution to cost one other gadget, and Again Bay has thoughtfully included a USB-C converter cable. There’s no room for Qi wi-fi charging, so re-charging the case again to full by way of a USB-C takes 2.5 hours.
In any other case, there isn’t an excellent deal to speak about, which displays their worth. The Duet 50 Professional are easy in that regard, with no noise-cancelling or transparency mode. Bluetooth connectivity is 5.0 and codec assist extends to SBC, AAC and aptX. The presence of aptX ought to give them a leg up in audio high quality.
In the event you’re a eager runner/health fanatic then you definately’ll be happy to be taught that the Duet 50 Professional have a IPX5 score, adequate to withstand water and sweat. The one different function of be aware is the inclusion of omnidirectional MEMS microphones for taking calls.
Sound high quality
- Requires experimentation
- Ear-tip dimension has an impact on the sound
- Able to large bass efficiency
Listening to the Duet 50 Professional for the primary time, I used to be dissatisfied by how tinny and harsh they sounded. As first impression goes, I wasn’t enamoured.
However, you’d have probably observed the rating – so what modified? The ear-tips. Ear-tips can impact the match, seal and the sound, and with the Duet 50 Professional that impact is pronounced. Going for the larger choice resulted in a thicker, weightier, bassier tone that made the default choice weedier by comparability. This assessment will come on the Duet 50 Professional from the angle of the larger ear-tip.
The Duet 50 Professional’s low-frequency efficiency isn’t what I’d name essentially the most detailed, however there’s sufficient variation that it avoids changing into one-note. There’s a satisfying meatiness and energy to basslines in The Prodigy’s Invaders Should Die and Parisian Goldfish’s Flying Lotus, whereas in Brian Bennett’s Picture there’s sufficient element to provide it presence with out overriding the mid-range. With different tracks that contain vocals, the bass can really feel prefer it’s competing with the lyrics.
Vocals are easily outlined when bass isn’t as distinguished; it avoids the sibilant tones that journey up costlier true wi-fi buds. Whereas the mid-range is sweet and clear for essentially the most half, it isn’t essentially the most detailed – however in contemplating the value, it’s acceptable.
A take heed to the woodblocks initially of Hans Zimmer’s Mountains, and in comparison with the Lypertek SoundFree S20, the Duet 50 Professional come up slightly quick when it comes to high-quality element, and the observe is organised in a barely flatter method. The trade-off is a sound that’s a bit extra ahead and has extra of a thrust.
Excessive frequencies are the one facet of the Duet 50 Professional’s general efficiency I discover missing. There’s extra definition within the Lypertek’s rendition of Rick Smith’s Bullet Lower, and whilst you may swap to the default ear-tip, it sounds too skinny to essentially take pleasure in. There’s good sound to be discovered within the Duet 50 Professional, however I feel experimentation is required. A minimum of Again Bay offers you the choice of discovering your method.
Conclusion
There’s a lot concerning the Duet 50 Professional that impresses. They’ll produce an excellent sound when you’ve discovered an ear-tip to your liking; the battery life is super-long; plus they make a high-quality choice for operating and health exercises. For an reasonably priced pair of earbuds, the Duet 50 Professional supply competitors to related merchandise costing twice as a lot.
Must you purchase it?
You’re after a pair of earbuds for listening and exercises
With an IPX5 score, glorious match and seal, the Duet 50 Professional are an excellent choice for health fanatics. I’ve used them on runs a number of instances and haven’t discovered them to be missing but.
You need a extra nuanced sound
The tuning with the default ear-tip choice is slightly skinny and tinny, and whereas greater ear-tips ship greater bass, it comes on the expense of element.
Verdict
In the event you’re after an affordable pair of true wi-fi earbuds then the Duet 50 Professional must be in your listing. With their strong sound (when you’ve discovered the suitable ear-tip), beneficiant battery life, plus options that give them exercise attraction, they provide great worth for the value.
Trusted Rating
FAQs
Does the Duet 50 Professional assist wi-fi charging?
The reply to that’s no, however the Runner 60’s case does assist wi-fi charging
Can I exploit the Duet 50 Professional’s charging case as an influence financial institution
Sure, the Duet 50 Professional’s charging case can even function a charger for a cell gadget with a USB-c connection (adapter is packaged together with the case).