Tronsmart S4 Bluetooth Headphones
My love affair with Bluetooth Neckband Headphones continues today with the latest model from Tronsmart – the S4’s. Boasting a huge battery, Active Noise Cancelling and the 4.1 CSR chipset for less than $50. These could be awesome value for money, let’s find out!
Highlights
- Bluetooth 4.1 CSR Chipset
- Active Noise Cancelling Technology
- 15 hours with ANC, 20 hours without
- Pairs with 2 devices at a time
- In-call vibration for handsfree
- Lightweight Neckband design
Pros and Cons
Where to Buy?
| Amazon Marketplace | Free delivery | view |
1Unboxing the Tronsmart S4 Headphones
The Tronsmart S4 come very well presented in good quality retail packaging. Inside the box, the headphones are neatly retained in a moulded section with the accessories underneath. Included are two additional sets of earbuds, a cable clip, USB charging cable and a tiny user manual.
I was a little surprised by the absence of a carry case. The last set of Tronsmart Neckband Headphones I recently reviewed came with its own drawstring bag.
Perhaps the design of the S2’s makes it easier to coil them into a bag. The S4’s thicker neckband is probably better suited to being stored in a rigid case.
There are plenty of generic neckband headphone cases available, should you wish to buy one separately.
2The Design and Build Quality
The S4 Headphones are made from a combination of matte black plastic and a glossy dark chrome. The metallic finish gives them a premium quality appearance without the added weight. As with most Bluetooth Neckband Headphones, they weigh practically nothing (just 49g /1.7oz). With most of the weight resting on you shoulders, you barely even notice that you have them on.
The neckband is made from TPU which is a flexible plastic that’s resistant to oil, grease and abrasion. It’s nicely shaped to sit securely around the neck and has stayed in place whilst at the gym and out on a jog.
I’ve had the Tronsmart S4 on for the entire day and have absolutely no complaints with regards to the comfort of the neckband or the earbuds.
3The Features
The three main control buttons are positioned on the top or the left arm. The central button powers the device on, Bluetooth pairs, plays and pauses tracks and provides multiple handsfree call functions. The arrow buttons either side will adjust the volume on a quick press or skip tracks when held for two seconds.
| V4.1 with CSR Chipset | 15 Hours playtime | 20 Hours playtime | 2.5 Hours |
Pairing and Connections
The Tronsmart S4 headphones will pair with two devices at the same time, I tested this with my Galaxy S7 Edge and an iPad. Once both devices are recognised, you can re-establish the second connection whilst maintaining the first. This means you can be working on your laptop or tablet and still receive calls from a smartphone directly into the headset.
The Bluetooth range is a solid 10m (33 feet), the connection seems very reliable and it reconnects to known devices extremely quickly.
The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The active noise cancelling is toggled on and off with a switch on the underside of the left arm. It works independently from the Bluetooth headphones and can be used on its own without it paired to a device. The overall effectiveness of the ANC will be dependant on how well the earbuds fit inside your ears. They fit really well in mine, which obviously adds a certain amount of passive noise reduction.
I’m currently sitting in the office with my window open. There’s a guy outside cutting grass, birds are tweeting, planes are flying over and there’s noise from my PC fan.
When I toggle the ANC on and off the difference is substantial. Practically all the low-end noise is stripped away, the PC fans are totally inaudible and the outside noise is heavily muted.
As with just about every set of ANC headphones (even the Bose Quiet Comforts), there is a very slight static noise when active. It’s unnoticeable with the music playing, but you can hear it when you’ve only got the ANC on.
4Audio Quality and Performance
The Tronsmart S4 headphones make use of the 4.1 CSR chipset which promises CD-Quality wireless transfer as long as you have a device compatible with aptX (most are these days). The sound performance for the price you’re paying is good. The bass is rich and the highs are crisp. The mids can seem a little soft on some tracks, but they’re adequate enough at this price point.
As with Tronsmart’s other Bluetooth headphones, the audible notifications could be improved. The vocals seem much louder than they need to be. I will purposely take the buds out of my ears before powering them down, just to avoid the “POWER OFF!”
5Verdict
Anyone looking for an affordable set of Bluetooth Neckband Headphones with Active Noise Cancelling technology will love these. If you travel on public transport or work in noisy environments they will make a big difference compared to regular earphones with just passive noise reduction. I’m a huge fan of around the neck style headphones for running and training at the gym and these are ideal for that purpose. They’re comfortable to wear, have a huge battery life and the ANC works really well.
The Tronsmart S4 is currently at the top of my list of the best affordable Bluetooth Neckband Headphones.
| Amazon Marketplace | Free delivery | view |
