Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video

1More’s ColorBuds 2 boast way more features and a lower price

By

We know from experience that 1More has a proven track record for delivering premium audio products at affordable prices, and its latest true wireless earbuds, the $80 ColorBuds 2, appear to be no exception. Packed with active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and wireless charging, you can buy them today in black, white, and gold. And 1More is offering a $10 discount for orders received before October 5 if you use the code “COLORBUDS2.”

They’re the most recent set of true wireless earbuds from smaller brands that manage to include a huge array of features for well less than $100, putting pressure on more established brands like Jabra, whose recently released Elite 3 also cost $80.

1More ColorBuds 2 in gold.

In addition to being 1More’s most affordable set of ANC earbuds (beating the $100 ComfoBuds Pro by $20), the ColorBuds 2 are also the company’s first Bluetooth earbuds to incorporate Sonarworks’ SoundID technology — something 1More announced at CES 2020. SoundID attempts to optimize the sound quality of headphones and earbuds by digitally adjusting the EQ based on an individual’s hearing. Since everyone hears sound a little differently, SoundID takes you through a series of A/B sound comparisons that, in theory, should create a custom listening profile. By combining this profile with its knowledge of the specific acoustic properties of a set of headphones (like the ColorBuds 2), Sonarworks claims it can deliver a much-improved level of audio quality.

Recommended Videos

The ColorBuds 2 are also equipped with an impressive array of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive. When connected to a compatible phone, aptX codecs can deliver higher-quality audio than SBC or AAC.

Battery life for the ColorBuds 2 when ANC is turned on is a claimed six hours for the earbuds and a total of 18 hours when you include the charging case. That goes up to eight and 24 hours when you turn ANC off. While those total times may not be especially noteworthy, the individual earbud times are still quite good when you compare them to a product like Apple’s AirPods Pro (4.5 hours with ANC, 24 hours total).

Related

You can use each earbud independently, and an IPX5 rating should mean that the ColorBuds2 will have no problem surviving even the sweatiest of workouts — just don’t immerse them in water when you’re cleaning them.

When 1More released the first-gen ColorBuds in 2020, we were impressed by their sound quality and design, but noted that their controls and Bluetooth 5.0 range weren’t as good as we expected. While 1More doesn’t appear to have made big strides in these areas (though the ColorBuds 2 use Bluetooth 5.2 instead of 5.0), given all of the other new features and a lower starting price, it’s looking like the sequel will be considerably better than the original.

We’ll let you know if that turns out to be the case when we publish our review.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Simon Cohen
Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like…
Grell Audio promises audiophile-grade wireless earbuds for $200
Grell Audio TWS/1 noise-canceling true wireless earbuds.

Grell Audio isn't a household name, but its founder, Axel Grell, is something of a legend in the audiophile community. As Sennheiser's lead headphones designer for the better part of 30 years, he was a driving force behind the company's line of highly regarded audio products, like the pricey but extraordinary HD800 and HD800S. Now, out on his own, Grell has his sights set on a new goal: To produce a set of true wireless earbuds that don't compromise on sound quality and, perhaps more importantly, don't cost the equivalent of lease payment on a Ferrari. His first attempt is embodied in the Grell TWS/1, a slick-looking set of earbuds that cost $200, and can be pre-ordered from the Grell Audio website starting today and shipping expected by November.

"I always try to create the best possible acoustical experience for the money, no matter the price point," said Axel Grell in a press release.  The TWS/1 features and specs seem to support Grell's statement. With the exception of active noise cancellation (ANC), most of the embedded tech appears geared toward a higher standard of audio performance: High precision dynamic drivers,  dynamic transducers with a tolerance of +/- 1 db, and strong support for high-quality Bluetooth codecs like SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD,  aptX adaptive, and LHDC. Grell has even included Sonarworks' SoundID personalized tuning software to help folks adapt the sound of the TWS/1 to their particular hearing profile.

Read more
These Icelandic women just upstaged the Powerbeats Pro in nearly every way
Dottir co-founder Annie Thorisdottir.

It's been two years since Beats released its popular Powerbeats Pro workout earbuds and, so far, there's no sign of a new version. But if a pair of Icelandic CrossFit world champs have anything to say about it, you can stop waiting right now. That's because their new audio company, Dóttir Audio, has just released its first product, the $150 Dóttir Freedom On-Grid, a set of Powerbeats Pro alternatives that look a lot like Beats' buds, but go way beyond what those earbuds can do.

Dóttir, a common Icelandic surname suffix that means "daughter," is the brainchild of Katrin Davidsdottir and Annie Thorisdottir, who met and became best friends through their mutual love of CrossFit. Both of them have won the top honors at the CrossFit Games twice, with Thorisdottir being the first woman to do so. The pair decided to launch Dóttir as a brand that develops headphones for athletes, but also supports female empowerment and equality.

Read more
It’s official: You don’t need to spend more than $100 on true wireless earbuds
Sennheiser CX 400BT

Two years ago, if you wanted a set of true wireless earbuds with features like active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, wireless charging, great battery life, and great sound quality, you were looking at spending at least $180, but probably closer to $250-$300. But time has a funny way of leveling the playing field and nowhere has that been more true than in the true wireless earbuds market.

Today, you’ll still pay upward of $250 for the very best models from top-tier brands like Sony, Bose, Apple, and Jabra, but you no longer have to do that just to get access to leading-edge features. In fact, the latest cohort of true wireless earbuds priced around $100 is so good, most people won’t benefit by spending more. You may not recognize the brands, but don’t let that stop you. I've had hands-on (and ears-on) time with each of these earbuds, and they won't disappoint. Let’s take a quick look at some of the features that are most in-demand, and how much you need to spend to get them.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)

Read more