Design & Construction

The Sony h.ear in 2 WIRELESS are the second version to the h.ear in Wireless released 2 years ago. With the same goal in mind, Sony focused heavily on style and audio quality giving it users the ideal way to enjoy the best of both world without sacrificing any of them. The h.ear in 2 Wireless NC is the only wireless in-ear headphone in the h.ear lineup. Having a revamped range of colours to a more sophisticated, classy look, Sony is targeting young consumers of today's world. The h.ear in 2 Wireless NC feels durable and isn't prone to scratches as the previous model. On the left of the neckband you will find the (From Back-Front): LED light, Power Button, Mic, Volume buttons and Play/Pause button while underneath,  you will find the Micro-USB port for charging and wired usage. It takes about 2.5 hours to charge from a dead battery. Pairing via both NFC and bluetooth should be simple and quick. Both sides of the neckband bear the Sony logo and the right side has the NFC. The neckband is very light and will not cause discomfort to those who wear them all day. At the rear of the neckband, there is a vibration feature to notify users of incoming calls. The in-ears gives off this matte yet bright colour scheme which surprisingly resist fingerprints smudges very well.

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Sound Quality

The 9mm High-Resolution hybrid headphone drivers are unbelievable great. They produce an extremely bright, clean sound signature that creates a enjoyable sound experience. Bass comes off as boosted giving a reasonable thump while the mids and highs are full of resolution and details. The highs do not sound too sharp and tinging. It also has a wide soundstage and instrument separation. You can really hear the details in high-resolution tracks. Users can have more control over the sound settings via the Sony Headphones Connect App, available for download on the App Store and Play Store. The first function is Virtual Surround Sound which include presets like outdoor-stage, club, hall, or arena style sound. However, the presets did not really enhanced the sound and I personally do not use it as it makes my music output rather unnatural and artificial. Next, there is an equalizer inside the app to enable the best output of music. With a large category ranging from Bright, Excited, Mellow, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Speech Etc. You can also choose to customize your own too! This makes the headphones great for all genres of music ranging from soothing jazz to bass-heavy EDM tracks. Call quality was okay, the caller manage to hear me on the other end but the mics on the headphone do pick up my surrounding noise.

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Connectivity & Portability

The headphone operates both passively and wirelessly. From my test, it was surprising to know that the volume of the headphones drop a little while in the wired mode. In wireless mode, it supports LDAC, AptX codecs and Bluetooth Version 4.1 for clear audio transmission. The mic and controls on the earcups are disabled in wired mode and users cannot charge the headphone and use it at the same time. Listening via the proprietary Micro-USB to 3.5mm cable is possible. Users can put the headphone in Bluetooth pairing mode by holding down the power button for 7 seconds when its switched off. The battery life peaks at 8 hours in wireless mode. The headphones' connectivity to the app is about 70% perfect as I do occasionally experience it being unable to detect my headphones when its already connected via Bluetooth. This may be slightly frustrating especially when you need to tune the sound immediately. The neckband features a magetic cable clip where users can magnetise the wires together to keep it neat around their upper body when not in use. It would be nice to include a carrying pouch but sadly, Sony didn't.

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PROS

• Stylish, Modern Design

• Clear, Bright Sound Signature

• Easy Controls For Music Play & Calls

• Equalizer In App

• LDAC & AptX Codecs Supported

• Passive Operation

• Magnetic Cable Management

• Vibration For Incoming Calls

• A Range Of Colours

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CONS​

• Imperfect App Connectivity

• Not Water-Resistant

• No Carrying Case

• Mic and Controls Not Available In Wired Mode

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The Bottom Line

The Sony h.ear in 2 WIRELESS is a contender if you looking to purchase a stylish around-the-neck in-ear headphone. Features like High-Resolution Audio support and easy to use playback controls makes it an attractive buy, however the app connection is slightly flawed which may irritate some users. It is highly recommended for daily commutes. A range of colours are available to fit users of different gender and personalities.