JBL Tune 520BT (Blue)

I purchased this wireless headset and colour because it was the cheapest one and the price is great. I've had this for several months already and I can only say good things about  this headset.

 

I use it mostly for commuting and for listening to music or videos on my laptop. The sound quality is great. The headset pairs easily with my mobile and with my laptop, and it auto-switches off when not in use. I love that it comes with  human-voice automated prompts advising of pairing, connecting, and when the device is on and off, which makes such difference. In fact this is one of my complaints about other devices. As the ON button is also the OFF button, and the button responds to pressure, sometimes I don't know if I'm switching in on or off. The voice prompt makes things really easy. 

This headset is very comfortable on my head, not too big or too small. I have a small head, so it might be tight for a large one. I love that the headband is padded. The pods padding is also firm but comfortable to wear.

The battery charges in full in just two hours and lasts for a long time (up to 57 hrs).  The indicator light goes red when the battery is low or the battery is charging. 

The instructions booklet recommended downloading the JBL Headphone App, so I did. You need to switch on your Bluetooth and connect your device, then add it to the app. Once you do, you can customise it. As this is a basic headset, the features options are also basic. However, you can customise:

> The Equalisers (you can choose between presets for bass, club, extreme bass, vocal, jazz, and sound).

> Adjust how much of your own voice your hear during calls through VoiceAware.  

> Adjust it for smart audio or video (not for both).

> Adjust the right/left balance.

> Set a max volume limit. 

> Use auto power off. 

> Change the human prompts language (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Deustch,   Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, and  Russian are available). 

FULL SPECS Can be found HERE. And the Start Guide HERE. 

 

MIND = 

>  Battery Life and Speed Charge (5mins = 3H).

> Wireless 5.3 Blootooth.  

> It has a matching app.  

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House of Marley Buffalo Soldier BT OE Headphone, Black

This is my second House of Marley headset, and I bought it because I had an awesome experience with my now-gone Positive Vibration  headset.
 
GOOD THINGS
> Great packaging bag and complimentary pouch.
 > Elegant looking  and genderless style.
> Made of good-quality sustainable materials.
> Great craftsmanship, all the finishing touches and features feel expensive.
> Easy to pair and recharge.
 > Decent quality sound for the price.
> Great for indoor use or areas that have limited background noise.
> Commands are simple and easy to use.  I love the retro-style volume wheel.
> Very comfortable padded pods.
> If feels very light on my head.
> It has a specific power on/off button.
> Long battery life.
> Affordable.

NOT SO GOOD
-- Charging cable is too short.  
-- The headset cannot be fold, so isn't the best thing for traveling or to carry it around.
-- The head band is made of real leather but has no padding.
-- Instruction booklet is minuscule and the lettering is ditto.
-- It might be a bit too small for big people and too big for people with small heads, like me.
-- As the pods aren't concave but flat-ish, the pods don't hold on to my ears and the headset tends to slid down, forcing me to constantly adjust the headband. It might not be an issue for people with bigger heads and ears, but it is for me as the pods come off my ears often, so that affects the quality and volume of sound I get.
-- Not the best bass.   
-- Not good for outdoor activities. I use it for walking and, due to the fact that slides down and  to the fact that the sound quality is OK, the sound can be muffled by heavy traffic or noisy areas even when I have it at max volume.

OVERALL
Despite purchasing this after almost 5 years I bought my House of Marley's Positive Vibration headset, the Buffalo Soldier falls short for some of the things I loved my previous headset: The headband lack of padding, its lack of foldability, and poor noise insulation system. However, this is a great headset for indoor listening, made from sustainable materials and a decent sound system. It isn't the fanciest or best House of Marley's headset but it' s still good and good value for money.  

UPDATE 5 MARCH 2026

I'm writing this update about 2.5 years after I purchased this headset. The device works perfectly and, despite using it every day, is almost as new. However, the Buffalo series has poorly designed ear pod cushions, with the pod cover poorly made. One of the pods  cover started to deteriorate quite a while ago. Just last week, one of the pods cushions came off from the metallic part of the pod. I could blue it back, but the cover is damaged and cannot be reused or re-glued. At least in Australia, the Buffalo series is nowhere to be found, and there aren't replacement pod covers or cushions for this model either on Amazon Au or House of Marley Au. It's a pity that I have to discard a perfectly fine headset because one of the pod cushions is totally broken and there is no replacement beyond glueing the foam. The sustainability is poor if the designers don't think beyond making a product. Sustainability relies in the making and KEEPING of a product for as long as possible, by designing products that are not only good quality but have, in case of need, spare parts. 

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Logitech HS-LOGI-H110 Stereo Headset with Mic, Black/Grey

The item took ages to be dispatched despite being in stock when I purchased it. Due to lock-down, it took forever to get it delivered. And when it was, the disappointment was enormous, as I wanted this item to do some freelance work and it is not usable for that.
 

The only photo available, conveniently, doesn't show the jacks, and this is a problem as they won't fit most computers unless they are old models where these 2 jacks were the standard. This being the case, you'll need to buy an adapter to fit it in. This being the case, the item ends being expensive for what it is - an average home-use headset. Also, the cable is a nuisance, as it is too long for a laptop. It might be good for a desktop computer, though.

You cannot control the volume via the headset cable but through the computer sound.

Quality of recorded sound is OK with regards to the recorded sound per se, but due to having to use an USB adapter there is background zoom noise that ruins a professional recording. Quality of sound when listening to a video-clip or watching a movie in my laptop is decent.

The headset is a bit tight on the head even for small heads like mine.

I am a fan of Logitech, but this model is prehistoric and not worth the money.

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Pioneer On-Ear S3 Wireless Headphones Blue SES3BTL

I got this headset at a very discounted price thanks to a gift voucher. I choose the blue colour because it looked like a pretty metallic blue and it was the cheapest in the range.

GOOD THINGS.

> Large head band, perfect for both women and men. For females with small heads, the headset tends to slip off a bit when bending.
> The awesome pods rotating system, which allows them to move freely and easily in different angles and adjust to most ears. This also helps the pods to fold flat inside the band, and they can be easily stored and carried.
> The pods cushioning is very comfortable, and they do not press my ears at all.
> Battery life is great, almost two days of generous time with them on.
> Pairing is easily done.
> The quality of the sound is good overall. Decent range and bass.
> If on standby for a while, the headset auto-shuts off, and saves battery life.  
> Good value for money.

 

SO-SO.

> The headset looks and feels cheep and plasticky for a Pioneer.
> I know these aren't meant to be noise-cancelling headphones. However, the volume range is not strong enough to muffle the outside world noises when walking outdoors or while on public transport. 
> Quality of sound and bass is not bad, but I was expecting much more from a Pioneer.
> The charging cable is ridiculously short.
> The top is ridged and hollow as if the padding had to be stuck there but it was never done. Headband has no padding on the top, and it can be uncomfortable to wear if you have the headset on for a while.

 

BAD.

The colour on the packaging and promotional photos isn't the headset true colour.If the headset had been photographed properly I would have not chosen the blue colour heaset. Please, Pioneer masterminds, provide professional photos that reflect the true colour of your products. Otherwise, what's the point?

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