

It wrecks musical dynamics because it’s like turning the volume knob back and forth constantly. Since many of us aren’t making phone calls from ideal environments, an algorithm knowing to crank the volume in response to a noisy truck driving by is smart-it lets you stay focused on the conversation.įor music, I find Adaptive Sound distracting. Related: Best noise cancelling true wireless earphonesįor phone calls, Adaptive Sound works well.

I have a real love/hate relationship with its implementation. By contrast, Adaptive Sound competes with outside noise by being louder than it. Other earphones use a combination of good isolation and active noise cancellation (ANC) to solve this problem, effectively reducing how much noise is competing with your ears. It’s also probably why the buds don’t have any tapping function to adjust the volume manually. These earphones do it for you, turning up the volume of your audio as your environment gets louder, and turning things down as it gets quieter. This is a practice we all do already: when you’re in a loud subway you turn your music up. Using the Pixel Buds app is the only way to adjust EQ modes and toggle the Adaptive Sound setting.Īdaptive Sound is available in the Pixel Buds app, and compensates for the auditory masking that occurs naturally while out in the world by-get this-using auditory masking. It almost achieves this, but it’s just too quiet (more on that in a bit). The Google Pixel Buds A-Series does a little bit of everything, aiming to be your one main set of true wireless earphones at a budget price. The buds can’t take a dip in the pool or officially resist dust, but this rating will save you from the occasional splash of water. The earbuds also come with small, medium, and large silicone ear tips, so you’ll have some leeway to figure out the right fit.Įquipped with an IPX4 rating, you can feel safe in the knowledge that you won’t destroy the A-Series during a sweaty workout. The Pixel Buds A-Series is light enough it sometimes feels like there’s nothing in my ears, and the earbuds’ pressure vents ensure long sessions don’t leave you with vertigo. Once connected though, these are some of the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever worn.
#Pixel buds a how to
I had to Google everything, including how to pair the earphones. The compact case fits discreetly in any pocket.įor a company whose mainstay is organizing information, the box and supplied guide provide very little information.
#Pixel buds a Pc
The charging case has a USB-C connection, and I was surprised to discover it also has a magnet, meaning it’s not going to get yanked off your PC tower by the cable, and you can hang your niece’s artwork on the fridge with it. In fact, it feels like Google has done you a favor by trimming excess weight, though I wouldn’t drop the case from great heights. All told, it’s a pretty lightweight affair. The rather flimsy lid doesn’t exactly inspire long-term confidence, but it hardly feels disposable. The exterior of the Pixel Buds A-Series charging case is plastic, as are the earphones, with rubber hits where necessary. Start here: What makes a good set of in-ears? They’re opaque with a G on the housing where the touch controls reside. Clearly White is the color labeled on the box, but it’s not a pun on translucence. This is probably the most achievable kind of aesthetic when working with a somewhat budget product. The Google Pixel Buds A-Series is cheerful in its execution, from the Tamagotchi-esque charging case to the lightweight earbuds with wings resembling bug antennae. Super lightweight, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series has a design that invites you to take it anywhere.
