The Anker SoundBuds Curve are affordable, wireless headphones. They are a good choice for the gym and sports in general since the sound quality is pretty good. And they are also super portable since they come with a case that can easily fit in your pocket. But with so many other choices out there, why should you pick these headphones specifically? That’s just one of the questions we’ll try to answer in this detailed Review of Anker SoundBuds Curve: Best Workout Buds
Contents
Review of Anker SoundBuds Curve: Best Workout Buds
1. Design
This is one of our favorite styles of earbuds, as the hook around the ear really helps keep the earbuds secure while running, and also allows me to pop them out slightly so we can hear the traffic around me. The design is similar to the Beats PowerBeats2 (or PowerBeats3) earbuds, except the remote is on the right side instead of the left.
Although the remote control is a little bulky, the included collar clip helps keep it stable during running so it’s not whacking us in the face.
2. Sound Quality
You won’t be surprised to hear that these headphones don’t sound as good as a pair that costs five times as much, like those from Jaybird, Bose, or Sony. The bass is OK, but it doesn’t really “thump” as hard as you might like when listening to Wu-Tang. The midrange is also just OK, which means if you listen to a lot of fast metal music like Napalm Death, things get a little muddy. If you listen to Ed Sheeran, which every other headphone and speaker reviewer seems to, it sounds fine, we guess. It sounds like Ed Sheeran. Take that for what it’s worth.
So, the SoundBuds are not on-par with the high-end stuff, but you shouldn’t take that to mean they are objectively bad. We didn’t notice much distortion when the volume was cranked, even if they could stand to be a little louder. And they don’t sound “tinny,” which is typically the product of cheap, underpowered drivers.
The noise-canceling also can’t quite compete, especially when it comes to Bose, the unofficial champions of canceling noise. The Anker phones do a good job of blocking out external noise, especially when they’re sealed into your eardrums, but it’s not quite enough to block out the constant rumble of a train.
3. Technology
Built with both aptX and CVC noise cancellation, they carry a healthy amount of vibrancy while emitting clear, realistic, and resonating sound. What are these technologies that Anker included? AptX is a digital audio data reduction technology that assists with lossy stereo sound that can occur with any Bluetooth connection. It dramatically reduces transmission loss which may equate to poor sounds, choppiness, lag, or distortion – all things unwanted.
CVC noise cancellation is a technology that assists with keeping out unwanted background noises or distractions. It keeps ambient noise to a minimum while you’re listening, which in turn means that you won’t need to crank the volume up to a ridiculous level just to drown out the environment around you. While this is excellent for listening to music, it’s also excellent for taking a phone call with the integrated microphone.
4. Battery
The SoundBuds Curve can last up to 12 hours on a single charge. If you forget to charge the SoundBuds before your run, you’ll be happy to know that a 10-minute charge can yield 1 hour of playback time. The SoundBuds can be recharged with a standard Micro USB cable and USB wall charger (such as your phone’s charger).
5. Connectivity
The Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019 are Bluetooth-only headphones. They don’t support any low latency codecs and aren’t recommended for watching videos or gaming due to their high latency, though some apps may compensate for this.
Overall it does appear that you get what you pay for. As with many cheaper versions of this type of product, there are some issues with the sound quality of these earphones. Though they don’t crack like some versions, the simple movement of the body can be heard and is amplified with these earphones. They also completely disconnect when the Bluetooth is out of range and this could be something as simple as a wall obstruction. On top of this, when they don’t disconnect but are struggling to maintain a connection they stutter and break up. When they finally lose connection they don’t automatically reconnect when back in range but rather require a full Bluetooth power off and power on to get them up and going again. That all said, these are very inexpensive earphones. They are very good for those wanting something cheap and wireless.
