MEDIA INVITE

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the TechTalk, the newly added section on this blog for the technology geeks where you will find honest reviews on the latest gadgets and accessories in the market. Most of these posts will be contributed by my boyfriend, Alphonsus Neo, who is an absolute technology enthusiast. With years of experience in the telecommunication industry, he lives and breathes technology and definitely knows his stuff. so Enjoy!

An invitation was extended to me by JBL a while back as a contributor of this blog to test out their latest offering – the Under Armour Bluetooth wireless earphones. For the uninitiated, Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company that is very popular among athletes for its high quality shirts that helps to keep them cool and dry even after an intense work out.

Fitness buffs definitely should rejoice because Under Armour has joined hands with JBL to create the perfect pair of Bluetooth earphones that is compatible for both iOS and Android users hoping to listen to some music while they exercise. Perfect may seem a strong word to use but trust me, despite some of my gripes that I will share along the way, this product is definitely a beauty and a keeper!

Just look at the packaging, the bright red screams to you as you walk pass it along the aisle.

If the packaging can be an indication of how well made a product is, then the Under Armour Wireless definitely does not disappoint. It reminded me of the packaging of a MacBook Pro, which is not an easy feat by far.

So the packaging looks great, so what? Let’s get into the nitty gritty details that all of you out there are looking for.

For starters, it is extremely light weight which is great because the last thing you need while exercising is a pair of earphones tugging on your ears. The Under Amour Wireless comes with TwistLock^TM Technology that helps to keep the earphones snugged tightly into your ears while you run on a treadmill or climbing a mountain. Unlike conventional earphones which you directly insert into your ears, the Under Amour Wireless is placed at a slightly 45 degrees angle at the entrance of your ear before turning it in a clockwise direction to ‘lock’ the earphones securely in. It did feel slightly uncomfortable initially because admittedly, it takes some practice to get the technique right. But once you have mastered it, it stays in your ear! I tried to shake and tilt my head vigorously left and right but it still wouldn’t budge, if I tried to shake my head any harder I am sure I would have to wear a neck brace for a couple of weeks.

The Under Armour Wireless’ cord between the earbuds measures just slightly over 30 cm which might not sound incredibly long, but it gets the job done as it doesn’t impede head movement at all. After all, this is a sports earphones which means that long dangling wires are a big no-no. Does anyone know the feeling when earphone wires starts to get slimy and the condition of the wires deteriorate because of the sweat? Well, the Under Amour Wireless so far hasn’t presented this problem during the weeks of testing because of its IPX5 sweat proof feature. Of course, you still have to be conscientious and do your part in ensuring you wipe off the sweat after each exercise session. Don’t be too overly worried that tugging constantly at the wires as you clean may cause it to become dislodged as during the product briefing, it was shared that the Under Amour Wireless was made to be as rugged as possible which meant all the connections were reinforced to prevent that from happening.

But the real test for any pair of earphones is not how well it can withstand wear and tear, but its sound quality. And boy does it deliver, JBL has graciously included a solid pair of 5.88 mm dynamic drivers into the Under Armour Wireless. It definitely will not disappoint those who are looking for a pair of earphones with enough bass to help them power through a 10 km run that’s for sure. However, for those who are looking for noise cancellation features, move along because these earphones are not meant for you because the good folks at Under Armour and JBL have the common sense not to include this feature in a pair of sports earphones. Now, the last thing you would want is a pair of sports earphones that cancels out all ambience noise such as the horn of a car that is about to hit you because you were not paying attention while you were running.

The Under Amour Wireless also comes with a pretty standard 3-button mic which allows you to control tracks, volume and calls easily without the need for you to whip out your phone. If you decide that the Under Armour Wireless is your cup of tea, this will set you back $289. This might seem like a hefty amount but if you do your homework, you will also realise that similar earphones by other reputable brands costing around the same price range. However the key difference is the brands behind the product. With Under Armour’s unique experience in understanding the needs of athletes as well as JBL’s brand name for delivering quality speakers, you will be hard-pressed to find another brand in the market that can fully understand the needs of athletes. If it is any comfort, the Under Armour Wireless Bluetooth earphones also come with a 12 month premium membership for MapMyFitness that is available on both iOS and Android app stores.

Thanks for reading!