Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones Review

The new Logitech FreePulse wireless headphones utilize Bluetooth 2.0 technology with EDR technology so they sound crystal clear.

Summary

While the concept of wireless headphones is not new (FM radio frequency and infrared wireless headphones have been in the market for over a decade) these analog transmission methods left a lot to be desired. Static noise, poor battery life and limited range plagued the success of wireless headphones and as a result traditional wired headphones and ear buds have dominated the market. The new Logitech FreePulse wireless headphones utilize Bluetooth 2.0 technology with EDR (enhanced data rate) and promise to improve on all the flaws of the previous technology – but do they work well enough to justify replacing your wired headphones?

Design and Look & Feel

Designed to be paired with all types of Apple iPods, the FreePulse headphones come with several small adapters to fit the original iPod, the iPod Video, the iPod Nano and the iPod Mini. Included in the box with the headphones is the wireless receiver, iPod adapters, AC power recharger, stereo mini-jack extension cord and a quick-start guide. After an initial charge of the headphones and receiver that takes about 40 minutes, the next step is to find the right iPod adapter to fit the receiver to your iPod. After finding and attaching the adapter to the wireless receiver, you connect the receiver to your iPod and are ready to start enjoying music. For those people who have MP3 players other than the iPod, there is also a short extension cable to work with any media player that has a stereo mini-jack.

Each side of the headphones is equipped with a soft rubber loop attached to the ear cup that is used to hold the headphones in place on your head. This over-the-ear design provides a fairly tight fit and works well for everyday use around the house or office. However, I would not recommend these headphones for use while working out. While running or using an elliptical machine, for example, the rubber loop over the ear does not hold the ear cups tightly in place and they jostle back and forth. The spring-steel headband provides some support and is rugged enough for exercising, but does not keep the ear cups from jostling around during a workout.

Previous wireless headphone models were heavy and bulky due to the built-in receiver, but the FreePulse headphones are extremely lightweight. The lightweight, over-the-ear design of these wireless headphones provides you the mobility to move around the house or office without fear of tangling or catching the wire while walking. Another plus point that adds to the comfort level is the soft padding used in each ear cup. Using them for 2+ hours at a time, the headphones never felt uncomfortable or felt like they were weighing my head down.

Overall, the modern design of the headphones is rather sleek but is also underwhelming. Each ear cup has a black, shiny surface and is adorned with the Logitech logo. Unfortunately for those of us who like to take our iPod with us when we’re on the go, these headphones are not as easy to transport. They cannot be folded and are a bit awkward to fit in a coat or pants pocket. Aside from the steel colored headband that looks like plastic but is actually made of “high carbon spring steel”, the shape and style of these headphones is unremarkable.

Image Courtesy of Logitech

Features and Specifications

- 30mm Neodymium drivers that deliver crisp, powerful audio performance
- Lightweight at 2 ounces (56.7 grams)
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with interference-free frequency-hopping
- Adapter fits all devices with a standard audio mini-jack
- Custom plates included for most recent iPods
- 33 Foot (100 meter) range
- 7+ Hours of battery life
- Volume controls and bass boost control on the headphones
- Digital transmission format

Performance Testing

The performance evaluation of the FreePulse was done using two sources – an iPod Nano and a PC with a Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card. MP3 listening of both 128kbps and 320kbps was done on both sources, as well as music CDs on the PC. A wide selection of classical, rock, alternative and hip-hop music was used in the evaluation.

To get the headphones connected to the wireless receiver is a straightforward process that only requires turning on each device, holding the “Connect” button each device and then waiting for a connection to be established. Once connected, a small blue light is emitted from each device that confirms a successful connection. Volume controls are found on the right ear cup and can be adjusted by pressing the upper section to increase the volume, and the lower section to decrease the volume. A bass boost function can be activated by simultaneously holding the upper volume section and the “Connect” button on the headphones.

By and large, the sound quality of the FreePulse headphones was satisfactory. Clearly transmitted music without static or background noise is truly the selling point of these headphones. Obstacles such as walls, cabinets or other electronic devices cause no problems for the FreePulse headphones. Within a 25-30 foot radius of the wireless receiver, the sound quality remained stable and free from interference.

Performance with the bass boost turned off revealed that the headphones provide only a limited degree of strong, punchy bass. For hip-hop and rock music the bass drum was adequate, but the low frequencies did not extend nearly as low as other competing models. Turning the bass boost on did result in stronger bass tones in all music tested, but the bass boost is obviously an artificial set of low-end frequencies that tends to muddy the low end. I prefer to listen to music as the recording artist intended and to leave the bass boost turned off.

Mids and vocals fared slightly better, with smooth vocal response while listening to classical music and faster paced hip-hop tunes. I was pleased to find that the headphones did not have any trouble keeping up with faster paced music. Instrument sounds were clearly separated and did not blend together, as they tend to do with less expensive headphones and ear buds. High frequencies were pleasing to listen to throughout my testing, although not smooth and easy to listen to as other high-end headphones.

Long-lasting battery performance is definitely a characteristic we all look for in mobile devices, and the FreePulse delivers in this area. Testing the time to drain the rechargeable batteries revealed that over 6 hours of music can be enjoyed before a recharge is needed, assuming that the wireless receiver and the headphones are in the same room. Once you start to move around to other rooms in your house or in your office, expect closer to 5 hours of playback time before needing to stop for a recharge.

Conclusion

Overall, the FreePulse wireless headphones are a viable alternative to wired headphones for general, everyday use. With 5+ hours between charges and clear, accurate music reproduction up to 30 feet from your music source, these headphones are an easy way to step into the mobile world of wireless music. However, in the $100 price range features such as a collapsible design for easy transport and some type of cancellation or noise blocking would have made these headphones an outstanding value.

Pros:
• Clear sound reproduction
• Easy to use and lightweight
• In-line volume control
• Good battery Life

Cons:
• Not easy to transport
• Not ideal for exercising
• Missing noise canceling features (not necessary though)