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Samsung's latest wireless headphones tout beyond-CD quality
Wireless headphones and flawless audio quality don't usually mix (you're usually compressing the sound signal to send it over the air), but Samsung thinks it can give this blend a shot. Its newly introduced Level On Wireless Pro headphones include "Ultra High Quality Audio" that supposedly delivers higher-than-CD fidelity whether or not you're plugged in. That seems promising on the surface, but you may have a hard time hearing the difference unless you're a music producer or otherwise meet some specific conditions. You'll need a device that supports UHQA (such as the Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+), and you'll need to shop at a service like Pono's to get the right source material. These might sound no better than other headphones in typical conditions, even if you listen to lossless music from the likes of Tidal -- that's merely matching CD quality, not exceeding it.
Samsung's new wireless headphones are a worthy contender
Last summer, I spent some time getting to know the first four entries in Samsung's "Level" audio line. There's a new item this year, though: a wireless version of the original Level On headphones. In case you missed the first roundup, this model is an on-ear option, and it ended up being my favorite of the bunch. But with the bulk of the features being the same, is the extra $80 worth it to go wireless?
Samsung outs Level On wireless headphones for untethered listening
I took Samsung's Level line of "premium" audio gear for a spin last summer, and now the company is adding another wireless model to the set. The Level On Wireless is exactly what the name suggests: a wireless version of the on-ear headphones in the collection. A group of six built-in microphones offer active noise cancellation to keep those loud talkers from killing your vibe. There's also a touch pad on the the outside of one ear cup, handling controls for S Voice, play/pause and skipping tracks so you won't have to pick up your phone. You can also share whatever you're listening to with other Level devices, thanks to the Sound Sharing tool. After spending a few weeks with the initial lineup, the wired Level On cans were my favorite of the bunch, so this new option is a welcome addition. Samsung says you can expect 11 hours of battery life with both Bluetooth and noise cancellation at work here, bumping to 23 hours if you opt for just the wireless connectivity. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing or availability yet.
IRL: Two weeks with Samsung's Level portable audio line
Samsung's plan to launch its own "premium" portable audio line was unveiled long before Apple nabbed Beats. I must admit I did an eye roll reading the announcement, given the names of the products in the Level line: On, Over, In and Box. The group offers options for all listening preferences, with appropriately named on-ear, over-ear, in-ear and Bluetooth speaker options at prices that certainly rank at the higher end. After two weeks with the lot, I'm not ready to part with my Beats Pill XL or B&O H6s for Sammy's new kit. Here's why.
