• Gradually replacing traditional headphones, True Wireless (or 100% wireless) headphones are increasingly clinging to our ears.
  • Lightness and freedom are the main assets, but the products, whose prices vary from simple to fivefold, offer various benefits.
  • Depending on the manufacturer, autonomy, audio quality, noise reduction performance, resistance... are not always in the same boat.

New sounds. While Apple's AirPods remain the sales champions, the makers of True Wireless headphones are elbowing each other to bite a piece of the pie. With the arrival of sunny days, new products are pouring in, with sales prices, but also divergent performances. Among them, 20 Minutes tested three new pairs: the Jabra Elite 4, par (2) from Nothing and Pi7 S2, from Bowers & Wilkins.

Quality at a low price: Jabra Elite 4

Available in black, beige and lilac, Jabra's new Elite 4 earbuds pair in seconds. And their range of features is complete. Bluetooth Multipoint to be able to connect to a smartphone and computer without additional manipulation, they have a noise reduction system on two levels (activated, or Transparency mode to remain aware of the external environment).



Their app features a five-band equalizer and presets (Neutral, Speech, More bass/treble; Fluid; Energize) to adapt listening to the repertoire listened to. One function allows you to use only one of the two earbuds. At the IP55 standard (they resist strong splashes of water and dust), their autonomy is announced up to 5h30 on a charge and up to 28 hours with their case, depending on the use made of noise reduction. 99 euros.

Our opinion: The range of Jabra headphones is so wide that we end up not finding our way around. Still, for less than 100 euros, these new Elite 4 are an excellent choice. Their noise reduction may be less effective than on other references (such as the Elite 5), but it seemed very relevant, especially in a work environment, by considerably reducing the surrounding conversations and the clicking of our computer keyboard. Above all, the listening quality is excellent, with powerful bass and very high dynamics.

The look at the right price: ear (2), by Nothing

Claiming 200,000 pairs of its first ear headphones (stick) sold, the British manufacturer Nothing returns with its ear (2). Almost two years later, this new model takes the transparent design of its elders, up to the charging case, with a sober look, but totally original.



In-ear type (their tip sinks into the ear canal), the ears (2) are controlled by small pinches on their rods (one pinch for playback/pause; two to move to the next song; three for the previous song; and a long pinch to activate noise reduction). These gestures are customizable through an application, much larger than before, which now integrates an equalizer and allows you to activate the level of noise reduction on three levels. Multipoint (they can be connected to two different audio sources without having to repair them), the ear (2) are protected against splashing water (standard: IP 54). Their autonomy is announced at 6 hours of listening per charge, up to 36 hours with the case. 149 euros.

Our opinion: The improvements made by Nothing to these new headphones are numerous (equalizer, multipoint connection ...). We appreciate the customization of the sound to our ear, using a small test of 5 minutes to be carried out during the first implementation. For its part, listening is powerful. High-Res Audio compatible for uncompressed files, it is very dynamic and detailed, with excellent voice rendering, but can lack a little bass. To amplify them a little more than the equalizer allows, activating noise reduction is a simple trick here that gives more body to low frequencies!

Innovation... in the case: Tour Pro 2, by JBL

A new flagship in JBL's True Wireless headphone range, the Tour Pro 2 is in-ear, multi-point, with touch controls. They have a fairly complete application with an equalizer (Jazz, Vocal, Bass, Club, Studio) and an active noise cancellation system but also adaptive according to certain scenarios (Café, On the road, Plane, Subway). Their autonomy borders on record with 10 hours of listening per charge, and up to three charges per recharge in their case.

Special feature: this case has an integrated 3.7 cm diagonal screen. A first! Interest? Control certain functions, such as active noise reduction, equalization management, playback volume, notification display, remaining autonomy, etc.). It can even act as a flashlight and display the names of performers and songs played. 279 euros.



Our opinion: Very comfortable to wear, the Tour Pro 2 give full satisfaction in their use and we appreciate in particular the quality of the tactile controls, precise (which is not always the case). We remain more doubtful about the relevance of the screen on the case, less practical than that of a smartphone, and moreover is only compatible with the music streaming services YouTube Music and the PowerAmp audio player for displaying the names of artists and titles.

The real sound at the price of caviar: Pi7 S2, by Bowers & Wilkins

With its Pi7 S2, the English brand Bowers & Wilkins wants to distinguish itself in the field of audio quality. And gives itself the means. These premium headphones are in-ear and incorporate two transducers (instead of one usually). They thus form a two-way system. And the Pi7 S2 are compatible with different audio codecs (SVBC, AAC, aptx, aptx HD and aptx Adaptive) which open the field of possibilities for listening to more or less compressed music.



Originality: the storage/charging case of the headphones acts as a Bluetooth transmitter. By connecting it using the small USB-C / Mini Jack cable provided to any source (computer, TV, smartphone ...), it is responsible for transmitting the sound to the headphones. You had to think about it! With an adaptive noise reduction system (it doses its effects according to ambient noise), multipoint, IP54 standard, the Pi7 S2 announce up to 5 hours of autonomy per charge and up to 20 hours with their case. 399 euros.

Our opinion: The Pi7 S2 did not disappoint us during our tests. With them, we were able to test the new Apple Classical service (included in the Apple Music subscription) and we enjoyed listening to Mahler's Symphony No.9. Even stronger with The Unreleased Masters by Jessie Jessie Norman! We also enjoyed Lana Del Rey's new album... The sound is ample, of an exemplary richness, suave and of a beautiful thickness. Bet won! However, we regret that spatial audio is not supported. Too bad, too, that you can't adjust the listening volume from the headphones that have only limited touch functions. Finally, noise reduction leaves something to be desired (especially for high-pitched noise). At 399 euros, the Pi7 S2 still have shortcomings...

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