Blaupunkt BH-21 eqz

Swanky Headset but with Sound Leakage

In a bid to offer uninterrupted music experience, German audio manufacturer Blaupunkt has come up with a new pair of wireless headphones in the Indian market called the BH-21 EQZ at Rs 2,999. The headphone features over-the-ear design and special audio modes such as “Blaupunkt Music Mode” and “Turbo Bass Mode”.

They feature v5.0 Bluetooth connectivity and can also be used as wired headphones with the aux cable available in the box. As per the company claims, it can live up to 24 hours on a single charge. In a market that seems to be ruled by the likes of JBL,

Skullcandy and other brands, let us find out how the new headset performed on our burn test.

Design

The new offering by the brand is built using Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic -- a common thermoplastic polymer. It’s a headset so it automatically gives a bulky look, but, it is very much light weighted. In many headsets, you may find the cushioned ear cups a little frustrating as it generates sweat around ears while holding it in your head. However, this headset, which features round ear design and soft cushioned ear cups, make the listening

experience much better. The headphones swank a trendy look with a metal bearing which makes it sturdy and captivating.

Functionalities

The headphone has physical buttons on the earcup for answering calls, adjusting the volume and media playback. You will find them on the right side along with the charging USB. There’s a dedicated button for switching between the different equaliser modes too such as Blaupunkt Music mode or Turbo Bass mode. According to the company, the Turbo Bass mode has come for the first time in the Indian market and it is specially designed for the music-loving Indian audiophiles to offer superior sound quality. The headset can also be used as a wired headphone and you get an auxiliary cable in the box.

Performance

The sound quality of the headset is crisp and clear when you listen to your favourite music in low volume. Its sound signature is sharp and the bass is on the heavier side. But, while using the headset with high volume, we discovered a fair amount of leakage and found that the audio which I was listening to was also audible to people nearby me. This is a similar kind of setback that I came across while reviewing Hong Kongbased Transsion Holdings’ Oraimo Studio OEB H66D. Another major disappointment is that the device lacks the noise cancellation feature.

The headset that weighs 399 grams comes equipped with Bluetooth v5.0 connectivity. It has a speaker size of

40mm which is normal for the headphones priced at this range. The frequency response of Blaunpunkt

BH21 headphones is 20Hz to 20KHZ (20,000Hz) and has a sensitivity of 102+3db.

Battery

One of the major highlights of the device is its battery department. On normal daily usage, the headset with a 500mah battery lasted for more than three to four days on a single charge. According to the company, the headset has a playtime of 24 hours and takes around three hours to completely charge for a full charge. We are very much satisfied with its long-lasting battery.

Verdict

Blaupunkt BH-21 Eqz’s design, performance and features give the device a cool look. However, sound leakage may disappoint you a lot. As per our burn test, we can only tell you that while checking headsets over Amazon, you can surely give it a look. ■