Outer Audio: TREBLAB X5 Review

Are you looking for an affordable alternative to the Apple Airpods? The TREBLAB X5 Wireless Bluetooth Sports Earphones might be what you’re after.

At under $70, they’re more than $100 cheaper than the Apple AirPods (with Wireless Charging Case) making them a far more affordable option. But are they any good?

The Design

The TREBLAB X5 looks similar to the Airpods in that they’re an earbud headphone with the extra bit sticking out the ear. The earbud, however, is very different and resembles that of a “normal earbud” rather than Apples oval style.

The TREBLAB X5 feature four buttons to control your Bluetooth device. This is convenient when working out because you don’t have to reach for your phone every time you need to adjust something.

On the right earbud is a volume up and down button. The left earbud features the next and previous or answer and hang up for calls. On both earbuds, the upper button is also used as the power switch.

Features

When you put the earbuds in your ear and turn them on, a voice prompt tells you “power on” so you know they’re working. One neat feature is you don’t have to power the TREBLAB X5 off when you’re done. Simply place them back in the case, and they power off and begin charging.

Speaking of battery life, you get up to 6 hours of playing time with the earbuds on a full charge. The storage case holds up to 4 full charges so you can expect about 24 hours of playing time before you have to recharge the case at the socket. More than enough time for a run or working out at the gym.

Treblab claims the X5 has “Advanced Passive Noise Cancellation,” but I classify this more as noise-isolating. There certainly isn’t any active noise cancelation going on inside the TREBLAB X5.

The earbuds utilize cVc 6.0 Cancellation Technology which does provide better noise-isolation than products without it, but it’s still not going to give you the experience you get from proper active noise canceling.

If you tend to sweat a little during your workouts, you’ll be pleased to know the TREBLAB X5 is IPX4 rated. This simply means the earbuds are splashproof. You definitely do not want to submerge the TREBLAB X5. Sweat and some rain, while you are working out, won’t be an issue.

Fit and Comfort

Where the TREBLAB X5 are winners is comfort. These earbuds are well designed to fit comfortably inside your ears, which also adds to the noise isolation.

Treblab is generous enough to supply you with three expandable foam ear tips and three silicone ear tips. With these, you should find a fit to suit your ears. Also, you get three ear fins which provide a more secure fit when working out.

The foam tips are best for general use while the silicone tips are better for training as they won’t absorb any moisture or sweat.

What Do The TREBLAB X5 Earbuds Sound Like?

When it comes to sound quality, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the TREBLAB X5. As a cheaper option to the Airpods, the TREBLAB X5 is definitely not far off in terms of quality. Especially impressive, given the X5 are half the price.

There isn’t much bass to speak of, but then this is the case for most earbuds. The sound you get is pretty mid-range heavy but clear enough to hear everything clearly. If you’re looking for bass, then these might not be the right choice for you.

Downsides To The TREBLAB X5

The TREBLAB X5 biggest stumble is when it comes to calling quality. You can hear the caller perfectly, but your voice to them comes through a little muffled and distant. This is a little disappointing since the ability to make and receive calls is why many people will buy the TREBLAB X5.

Another issue is dropout on the left earpiece. After doing some research online, we have found many people experience the same issue. It’s only a second or so delay, but often between tracks, the right earpiece will start playing a second before the left.

The reason for this is probably not dropout, but the headphones are going into hibernation immediately when a track ends. When the next track starts playing the left earpiece wakes up and starts playing again. It’s not a deal-breaker in my opinion, but might be annoying to some people.

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What’s in the Box?

• TREBLAB X5 Earbuds
• Silicone ear tips (3 size options)
• Expandable foam ear tips (3 size options)
• Ear fins (3 size options)
• Micro USB charging cable
• Charging/storage case

Conclusion

So, final thoughts on the TREBLAB X5. For under $70, these headphones are a good buy. If you’re looking for earbuds to make and receive calls, then the these might not be right for you. At under $100, you are not going to find earbuds with decent call quality anyway.

Other than that, I would buy these over the Apple Airpods. The Airpods might look cool, but they’re excessively overpriced and only marginally better sounding than the TREBLAB X5. Yes, the call quality is superb on the Airpods, and you don’t get the same dropout on the left ear as you do with the TREBLAB X5, but are these worth an extra $100? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

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