Headsets and Earbuds

3Mar

By Olivia HoultonNo Comments

EarFun Air Pro 4i Review

Finding good-quality but affordable earbuds has always been a challenge. There is a vast market of earbuds, and it is hard to know which ones are worth their money. The EarFun Air Pro 4i offer a new option within this market. It is the newer, slightly cheaper version of the EarFun Air Pro 4 that was released in 2024. At £49.99, is it an affordable, good-quality option? Is it really fun for your ears? Having suffered with the same earbuds for several years, I jumped at the opportunity to review the EarFun Air Pro 4i. Will these become a staple in your ears? Let's dive in and see why these are a great, affordable option. Design & Features The EarFun Air Pro 4i is a stem design, opposed to a bud. The silicon tips allow for a comfortable but secure fit. This is further amplified by the...

Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 Headset Review

12Feb

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Steelseries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 Headset Review

Ok, it's no shock to anyone that I'm a bit of a fan of the Steelseries brand. So when they came and asked if we wanted to check out the Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 Wireless headset, naturally, I jumped at the chance. Retailing at £179.99, this headset is on the higher end of a lot of people's budgets, but does it warrant that price tag? Coming in three colourways, black, white and magenta, and being a multiplatform headset, it can be used on the PC, PlayStation or Xbox. Sound of Substance? Having recently reviewed the Nova 3X, we are already slightly familiar with the newer design of the headsets. What I wasn't quite ready for was just how comfy this headset is. Let's dive in and find out if that's where it stops. Design Features Featuring a set of Neodymium Magnetic Drivers, giving you an in...

3Feb

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

ifi GO blu Air Review

If you are the kind of person who still carries a dedicated wired setup because "Bluetooth just doesn't hit the same," prepare to have your world gently shaken. We have all seen those bulky portable stacks that make your pocket look like it is carrying a vintage scientific calculator. But what if you could shrink that fidelity down to the size of a matchbox and clip it to your lapel? Going Wireless with Your Favourite Wired Device The ifi GO blu Air is the slimmed-down, ultra-portable sequel to the legendary GO blu. It is designed for the audiophile who wants to cut the tether to their phone but refuses to sacrifice the soul of their music. At £129, it is a lighter, more affordable gateway to high-resolution wireless audio that manages to be both a tool and a toy in the best possible way...

2Feb

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

ifi GO pod Air Review

If you are an audiophile, you know the struggle. You have spent more money than you care to admit on a pair of high-end in-ear monitors that sound like an angel whispering secrets into your brain. But then, you step outside. Suddenly, that glorious one-metre braided copper cable becomes a liability. It snags on door handles, tangles on the zip og your clothes, and makes you look like a human telephone switchboard from 1922. You want the freedom of wireless, but you refuse to settle for the compressed, muddy sound of standard Bluetooth buds. ifi Lets Go! Enter the ifi GO pod Air. This is the younger, leaner, and more affordable sibling of the original GO pod. It promises to turn your favourite wired IEMs into a pair of true wireless powerhouses without murdering the sound quality in the p...

Razer Barracuda X Chroma Phantom White Headset Review

13Nov

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Razer Barracuda X Chroma Phantom White Headset Review

It's another week, and it feels like a regular occurrence when a Razer review comes to town. This time we are looking at the Razer Barracuda X Chroma Phantom White headset. The Barracuda line has been around for quite a while, but back in 2022 the whole range got a revamp. Numerous other Barracuda headsets were released, but recently the Phantom White Suite dropped. Being touted as a headset resulting from feedback from the community, it had high hopes. Bringing wireless audio and dynamic illumination into one seemingly cohesive entity. Has Razer hit another highlight in the headset market? Lightweight Comfort and Durability Razer products are both loved and hated in the industry. I have always loved the Razer lineup, especially their headsets. Whilst for audio purists they may not have ...

Edifier ES850NB Wireless Headphones Review

31Oct

By NathanNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Edifier ES850NB Wireless Headphones Review

The market is flooded with wireless ANC headphones nowadays, from the likes of Sony, Bose and Sennheiser to name a few. Not only producing premium products but midrange and budget offerings as well to suit each individual buyers needs. The midrange market is often seen as the sweet spot for audio amateurs and enthusiasts alike. With buyers looking to find that premium performing product for a competitive price. Enter Edifier and the ES850NB. We’re big fans of Edifier here at Thumb Culture. Retailing at £149.99 let’s dive in and check out their latest wireless ANC headphones to see how they stack up against so much competition. Battery life for days! We’re big fans of Edifier here at Thumb Culture. Retailing at £149.99 let’s dive in and check out their latest wireless ANC headphones to se...

28Oct

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS Review

When you get contacted by the team at Nacon about their newest headset, the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS, you just have to listen. With a brand-new look, we just couldn't resist, and here we are a few weeks later. After extensive testing, we're ready to deliver our thoughts and let you know whether this headset should be top of your Christmas list or not. New RIG, Same Sound Now, before we get too far into this review, let's talk about the price point. At less than £70, this shocked me, especially sitting through the marketing presentation and hearing a lot of buzzwords. I was waiting for a much higher price point. So now that my flabber has been ghasted, let's jump into the main section of this review. Design Features Straight away, you might notice something with the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS, it's...

26Oct

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Sony Inzone H9 Headset Review

With the release of the Inzone H9 II back in August, we thought we'd see whether the previous iteration, the Sony Inzone H9, was still worth a purchase. So even with it's bigger brother having been released, just what did this headset offer to a gamer who enjoys loud explosions, as well as clear music? Let's find out. I'm in the Inzone...ahem. Costing a mere £199.99 on the Sony official website, you can class this headset as a bit of an investment. Is it really worth it, though? Is it worth such a high price point? We'll give you the lowdown on the main features and then let you decide. Design Features Coming in black or white, we were lucky enough to get the colour that matches our lovely PlayStation 5 Pro. Getting up and running was easy, simply plug in the included USB dongle and tu...

Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition Headset Review

24Sep

By CharlotteNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition Headset Review

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Gengar Edition has been available outside of Asia for just over a month now. Although currently out of stock due to popular demand, the headset will usually set you back £150 from the Razer website. I remember watching this launch across select countries in 2024 and being heartbroken I would seemingly never get my hands on it. Then a year on a magical parcel turned up from Razer, and I've never been more excited about a headset. Who doesn't want to rep their favourite chunky ghost Pokémon during work calls and gaming sessions?! It's Mischief Time! Now we all know how I felt about the wireless version of these Kitty headphones. If you missed it, they got a Thumb Culture Silver Award and I was less than impressed by the sound quality. Whilst this may be the same h...

5Sep

By NathanNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Sony WF-C710N Wireless Earbud Review

Alongside their premium products, Sony have an incredible habit of producing top notch audio products at an affordable price too. Let’s see if the Sony WF-C710N True Wireless Earbuds do the same. Clear sound, clear calls, clear design Retailing at £99.99, the WF-C710N are available today from Sony’s official website. Design The Sony WF-C710N are available in 4 different colours. If you’re after a traditional looking earbud that looks like every other one on the market, go for the White, Black or Pink options. However, if you want to hark back to those transparent PlayStation controllers of the past, the Glass Blue option is for you and it’s certainly striking. It reminds me a little of the PS4 Pro 500 Million Edition I was fortunate to own a few years back and I’m all for it. som...