Verdict
A accountable sourcing of supplies and a totally repairable modular design make the Fairbuds XL a somewhat distinctive prospect within the headphone house, permitting for true long-term use, although they do lack a few of the smarts of equally priced options from Sony and Bose.
Execs
- Constructed from recycled supplies
- Modular design is simple to restore
- First rate ANC capabilities
- Preset and customized EQs by way of Fairbuds app
Cons
- Not the neatest headphones available on the market
- Vocals can generally sound muddy
- No quick charging tech
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Modular designThe modular design of the Fairbuds XL imply that virtually each element might be simply changed, with low cost components avaialble from the Fairphone web site. -
Environmentally-consious focusIn addition to a modular design, the Fairbuds XL are created utilizing largely recycled supplies. Fairphone additionally ensures that each one manufacturing unit staff around the globe are supplied with a real dwelling wage. -
Nice audio efficiencyThe 40mm dynamic drivers ship {powerful}, rounded bass and a large soundscape suited to a variety of genres of music.
Introduction
Fairphone, the corporate behind the environmentally acutely aware and simply repairable Fairphone 5, has dipped its toes into the audio world with the Fairbuds XL.
Following the identical sustainable, repairable focus as the corporate’s newest smartphone, the Fairbuds XL are a totally modular pair of over-ear headphones which might be each sustainably manufactured and impressively simple to restore with low cost substitute components from Fairphone and a bevvy of video tutorials taking you thru each single step.
Nonetheless, the give attention to modular design signifies that the Fairbuds XL lacks in different areas, with seemingly on a regular basis good options like auto play/pause tech and quick charging not current on the £219 / €249 cans.
So the query is, are the Fairbuds XL well worth the premium price ticket Fairphone is asking for? Properly…
Design
- Good fashionable design
- Joystick management for many actions
- Modular design for straightforward repairability
Most over-ear headphones don’t are inclined to stray from the template, and the Fairbuds XL don’t both – on the floor, a minimum of.
They feel and look virtually the identical as every other pair of over-ear headphones, sporting a luxurious vegan leather-based headband with loads of cushioning that helps alleviate the build-up of strain over longer listening durations, with complementary soft-touch earpads on the oval-shaped earcups that sit actually properly across the ear.
The largely plastic and aluminium construct means the headphones are light-weight at 330g, and there’s nearly the correct stage of clamping drive; not too unfastened that the headphones slip misplaced, however not too tight that I really feel strain when worn.
The inexperienced end of the Fairbuds XL I used to be despatched is pretty engaging, with a mix of varied shades of inexperienced and the occasional pop of orange within the type of cables. There’s additionally a speckled end on the outer rim of the earcups, additional including some razzle-dazzle to proceedings.
In the event you aren’t a fan of the colorful end, nevertheless, the cans are additionally out there in a way more muted all-black end.
Controls are dealt with nearly solely by a joystick on the again of the correct earcup, permitting for fast changes to quantity, in addition to the flexibility to skip songs and even reply calls. The opposite button, which sits simply above, permits you to cycle by the ANC, transparency and default listening modes, and there’s a USB-C port for charging on the underside too.
After all, it is a Fairphone product and that signifies that, in addition to trying good, the Fairbuds XL are extremely simple to restore because of a largely modular design.
You may swap absolutely anything out on the Fairbuds XL, from the scarf masking to the drivers and even the battery, with low cost substitute components out there from Fairphone and loads of easy-to-follow video tutorials outlining the method.
This isn’t solely higher for the atmosphere, permitting you to switch damaged components somewhat than eliminating an in any other case completely fantastic pair of cans, nevertheless it additionally means you’ll be able to stick with it utilizing the Fairbuds XL for for much longer than virtually every other pair of headphones available on the market in 2023.
If longevity is necessary to you, the Fairbuds XL actually tick that field.
The modular design is additional improved by way of sustainable supplies, with the Fairbuds XL sporting 80% recycled plastics and 100% recycled aluminium within the headband base – however make no mistake, this doesn’t make them really feel in any means low cost or any means much less strong than any competing over-ear headphones.
That’s not all, both; as with the Fairphone 5, Fairphone has dedicated to paying dwelling wage bonuses and selling employee voice packages throughout its manufacturing line to make sure higher working situations for its workforce – one thing the corporate must be counseled for.
Options
- 26-hour battery life
- Hybrid ANC
- Preset and customized EQs
Regardless of costing over £200, the Fairbuds XL aren’t absolutely the smartest over-ear cans round – the worth is targeted extra on the repairability and sustainable manufacturing of the headphones than snazzy high-end good options.
As such, you gained’t discover options just like the Communicate to Chat characteristic of the Sony WH-1000XM5, and even the flexibility to routinely pause music when the headphones are eliminated.
It’s the same story with battery life, providing a somewhat commonplace 26 hours with ANC enabled or 30 with out, and a somewhat sluggish cost time of round 3 hours. The important thing profit right here is that, in addition to lasting for an industry-leading 500 cycles, you’ll be able to swap out the battery fairly simply as soon as the potential does start to wane.
That mentioned, there are some robust qualities together with Bluetooth 5.1 help with dual-point connectivity that allows you to join to 2 gadgets and change audio enter between them seamlessly. Simply pause on one machine (like your telephone) and play on one other (like your laptop computer). It’s not precisely an unique characteristic, granted, nevertheless it’s actually good to see right here.
There’s additionally hybrid ANC capabilities – commonplace ANC together with a transparency mode – although the previous is actually stronger than the latter, which struggles to let in any significant sound at something greater than extraordinarily low volumes.
The ANC, however, is nice sufficient to take the sting off the hum of background noise on the streets of London and even a busy café on a Saturday morning, although it couldn’t fairly quieten the (generally ridiculously loud) London tube.
I additionally assume Fairphone must work on dampening the results of wind on the ANC mics, with the wind taking part in havoc with the ANC capabilities on even barely gusty days.
Away from the headphones themselves, there’s additionally the devoted Fairbuds app for each iOS and Android. In addition to offering a approach to ship software program updates to your cans, you’ll be able to rename your headphones and browse between a variety of equaliser presets to tweak the output of the cans relying on the fashion of music you hearken to.
My solely actual grievance is that, in contrast to rivals that title EQ settings primarily based on what they’re for – i.e. bass increase, vocals – the EQs are named after cities around the globe, from Amsterdam to Tokyo. You do get just a little description as you swipe by every preset, nevertheless it’s not ultimate for at-a-glance choice.
Sound High quality
- Highly effective, rounded bass
- Extensive soundstage
- Vocals can generally sound muddy
Let’s dive into crucial component – sound high quality. The Fairbuds XL pack a 40mm dynamic driver in every cup that packs fairly a punch normally use, with {powerful}, rounded bass that’s current with out being too overpowering, as some headphones boast. That mentioned, when you do need omnipotent bass tones, you’ll be able to simply create your personal customized EQ within the Fairbuds app.
Quick-paced, bassy songs just like the Skream remix of La Roux’ In for the Kill and Flux Pavillion’s I Can’t Cease sound tight, brilliant and well-balanced with a reasonably huge soundstage that helps add presence to performances.
However whereas the sound is usually punchy and brilliant, vocals can generally come throughout as just a little muddy. Meaning the crisp vocals of P!nk in titles like Who Knew don’t at all times come throughout in addition to they might, with a barely blunt supply at instances.
I do assume the expertise is considerably curtailed by the dearth of help for newer, greater high quality Bluetooth codecs like aptX Lossless or LHDC, as an alternative capping out on the (nonetheless first rate however not the very best) aptX HD.
Switching genres a bit, listening to Hans Zimmer’s Day One – in any other case often called the Interstellar theme tune for these unfamiliar – delivered superbly heat tones with a sharpness that completely fits the upper notes of the piano.
The sound completely envelops you, with nice sound separation that allows you to select the assorted notes performed individually, and it’s the same story when listening to any classical songs, from Claire de Lune to Moonlight Sonata.
That each one mentioned, the headphones ought to greater than serve the overwhelming majority of customers’ wants, although audiophiles could need to look elsewhere.
Newest offers
Do you have to purchase it?
You need your headphones to final for years
The modular design of the Fairbuds XL means you’ll be able to swap out virtually any half if it goes flawed, with low cost substitute components out there on-line.
You need the neatest sound expertise
Regardless of its price ticket, the Fairbuds XL miss out on good tech like auto play/pause, quick charging and clever ANC discovered on equally priced rivals.
Ultimate Ideas
The Fairbuds XL are a somewhat distinctive prospect within the headphone house, with a totally modular design that encourages repairs somewhat than substitute, and its dedication to each recycled supplies and offering a superb dwelling commonplace for its manufacturing unit staff must be counseled.
That’s additional improved by the charming look of the headphones and simply how snug they’re to put on over lengthy durations, with simply the correct amount of clamping drive to remain safe with out being too tight. Smaller parts, like a joystick management, are additionally nice to see.
It does lack in smarts, nevertheless, with no auto play/pause tech, clever transparency mode or every other fancy options you see in lots of premium options.
Audio high quality is fairly good general, with {powerful} bass that makes fast-paced Pop, Hip-Hop and Dubstep sound nice, although vocals can generally come throughout just a little muddied. As such, it’ll be sufficient for the on a regular basis person, however these with a eager curiosity in audio could need to look elsewhere.
How we take a look at
We take a look at each pair of headphones we evaluation totally over an prolonged time frame. We use industry-standard exams to check options correctly. We’ll at all times inform you what we discover. We by no means, ever, settle for cash to evaluation a product.
Discover out extra about how we take a look at in our ethics coverage.
Examined with real-world use
Examined with a variety of music genres
FAQs
It takes round 3 hours to go from flat to full, with no quick charging tech out there on the cans.
Sure, with an IP54 score, they need to survive a brief rain bathe.
