Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen.) in the test: Alexa in the ears
The Amazon Echo Buds were not a sound revelation in the test three years ago. The true wireless headphones weren’t a letdown either. The effective noise cancellation and the good Alexa integration were particularly convincing. The somewhat short battery life of just under five hours and the sound that was a bit too bass-heavy were less good. Can the second generation outperform the weaknesses of its predecessors? COMPUTER BILD tested the new Echo Buds.
The best true wireless in-ear headphones
KEF
Details about the test
Per
Very clear and precise sound
High resolution
against
Complicated relationship
Chunky transport box
Sony
Details about the test
Per
good sound
Great noise cancellation
against
Only three sizes of eartips
Samsung
Details about the test
Per
First class sound
Active noise cancellation
against
Somewhat fiddly operation
Restrictions for iOS users
Samsung
Details about the test
Per
Outstanding sound quality
Useful automatic functions
JBL audio
Details about the test
Per
Clear and precise sound
Battery life of almost 8 hours
against
Touch operation reacts very sensitively
jabra
Details about the test
Per
good sound
Long battery life (7.5 hours)
against
Only three pairs of essays
Angry
Details about the test
Per
good sound
Very effective noise canceling
against
Press continuously
Few replacement ear pads
LG Electronics
Details about the test
Per
Balanced sound
Good battery life (6 hours 50 minutes)
JBL audio
Details about the test
Per
Great sound
Strong battery life (9 hours)
against
A little uncomfortable
Large and scratch-prone charging case
Complete list: The best true wireless earphones
Great: Amazon supplies rubber wings for a better grip.
The shipping giant has revised the look of the Echo Buds: the fingertip-sized earphones look a bit more modern and valuable thanks to the flat outside. The plugs are four grams lighter than their predecessors and sit comfortably in the ears. There is a slight pressure over time, but it is not uncomfortable. For a firmer grip, Amazon supplies three pairs of rubber wings that can be slipped over the in-ears with a little fiddling. The Echo Buds (2nd generation) have a water- and sweat-resistant housing (protection level IPX4) and, in combination with the firm hold, are well suited for sports such as jogging.
Navigation in the Alexa app is very easy thanks to the clear menu navigation.
The true wireless headphones are operated via small touch surfaces on the outside. The free Alexa app (for iOS and Android) allows users to customize the commands. The controls work well and the Echo Buds implement the commands quickly. However, it is not without reason that the Amazon headphones have the “echo” in their name. Like their loudspeaker brothers, the in-ears react to voice commands. Phrases like “Alexa, louder.” or “Alexa, play Queens of The Stone Age.” put the Echo Buds into action with only a short delay. Smart home owners can also control the Alexa household with the headphones. However, the paired mobile device requires a constant internet connection, otherwise Alexa will refuse its services. Integration into the Alexa app is also mandatory. Although you can listen to music with the paired Amazon plugs, the full range of functions is only available when the headphones are linked under “Devices”.
With the workout function, the Alexa app monitors the training of users.
In addition to the many Alexa skills, the Echo Buds also come with a practical workout function. Athletes enter their height and can say “Alexa, start my workout.” start their physical activity. The headphones and app record the distance covered, the calories burned, the average pace and the steps taken. After the workout, Alexa gives a brief summary of the workout. So far, however, this function has been limited to jogging.
Echo Buds in the sound test: only average
The sound doesn’t quite keep up with the useful functions. In the test, the sound with hissing highs was a bit negative. The bass foundation is decent and goes pretty deep. Depending on the title, the in-ears play music a bit grumpily. The mids are clean, but a bit cheeky in the upper range. Depending on the pitch, singing voices sound somewhat reserved or exhausting, and pointed s-sounds cloud the overall picture.
The built-in microphones are not only used for voice recognition, they are also used for active noise suppression: the microphones record ambient noise, while the in-ears generate exactly the opposite sound. The calm in the ear results from the superimposition of waves. The noise cancellation of the Echo Buds is good, but it doesn’t quite come close to the Apple AirPods Pro. The noise canceling mainly dampens low frequencies and works excellently against driving noise on the train. However, the Amazon headphones are powerless against chattering fellow passengers. In addition, a significant self-noise is annoying in quiet surroundings when noise canceling is activated.
In the test, the Echo Buds (2nd gen.) lasted about five hours with noise canceling switched on and voice control activated. In view of the functions, this is a reasonable value. However, compared to competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 (six hours and 49 minutes) or the Huawei Freebuds Pro (seven hours and 27 minutes), Amazon lags behind.
Amazon Echo Buds (2nd gen.) in the test: conclusion
Amazon
Echo Buds (2nd Gen)
Good noise cancellation
Very good voice control
Bass partly a bit grumpy
Audible self-noise
Their predecessors cannot trump the Echo Buds (2nd gen.). They sound too hissing for that and, depending on the frequency range, too cheeky. With the annoying self-noise, the true wireless afford an avoidable blunder. The noise canceling can be switched off, but that would be a shame because of the good damping. The real star is Alexa. The voice control works smoothly and allows countless functions. Also good are the high wearing comfort and the possibility to improve the hold with the help of rubber wings. The battery life, on the other hand, is only average. Those who can do without Alexa will find better-sounding and more enduring alternatives such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, which are 30 euros cheaper.
