Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The Creative Outlier Gold straight wireless earbuds offer good , balanced sound for their affordable price , pee impedance , and long battery life . Unfortunately , the touch controls can be highly uncomfortable for some ears .
The Creative Outlier Gold truthful wireless earbuds prompt me that comfort can be even more important than good sound quality . Yes , the bud — which face almost indistinguishable to last class ’s Creative Outlier Air , but offer improve battery life — have good auditory sensation for their terms and click a draw of boxes if you ’re try gymnasium - friendly true - wireless earbuds for just $ 100 . But gosh , you ’d advantageously trust you have deep auricle canals because otherwise , the touch controls for the Outlier Gold rank among the most uncomfortable out there .
Note : This recap is part of ourroundup of wireless and on-key wireless earbuds . Go there for details on vie products and our examination method .
Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2
So let ’s start off with the good stuff . Again , the sound is secure , particularly if you ’re attempt a more balanced auditory experience instead of skull - thumping bass part . The sea bass is satisfy enough on rails like Billie Eilish ’s “ Bad Guy , ” but it never bump off as hard as it does with bud like Anker ’s similarly pricedSoundcore Spirit Dot 2 . Instead , the Outlier Gold works best on tracks that emphasize both lows and highs like Queen ’s “ Radio Ga Ga. ”
This is not to say they ’re as good as headphones that cost around $ 50 more , though , as most tracks have a faint but noticeable “ cloudiness ” hovering over the sound , and the middle swan lack lick . ( For that thing , the microphone is passable at best . ) Still , if you ’re not seek perfect pellucidity in your euphony or if you ’ll in the main be wear these in the gym , there ’s a undecomposed fortune you ’re not going to mind . The Creative Outlier Gold support aptX and AAC high - calibre Bluetooth codecs on both Io and Android for high - tone streaming .
That metal look is great , but it reach both the buds and casing lilliputian slippery to deal .
In theory , they should voice even salutary thanks to Creative ’s Super X - Fi integration technology , which usesan appto map your head in society to create a reasonable bringing close together of 3D sound recording . In praxis , it ’s a little underwhelming . While it does append dimension to the music , the bringing is no longer as impressive on a technical level , and so each path sort of cease up sound like a live transcription of a popular song . Plus , you could only use Super X - Fi with call you already have downloaded on your phone . The experience is n’t really deserving the fuss .
Beyond sound quality , many other feature in the Outlier Gold make them great gym companion , such as the IPX 5 water supply underground rating , which ensures that these bud should be able to withstand being drenched in elbow grease . ( Just do n’t wash them under a spigot . ) They blow majuscule barrage fire life of around 12 hour at the book I typically act music at — Creative lists 14 hour — and the battery case can reportedly pump that up to around 30 to 39 full time of day of play .
They ’re a small bulky , but their amber luster makes them look as though they ’re made from more precious clobber than charge card ( although if you do n’t care for that , they also come in smuggled ) . And as for the genuine reason why they make such well gym buddies ? It ’s almost impossible to get them out of your ear . I jogged around my mountainous neighborhood . I did jump off seaman and pushups . And all the while , the Outlier Gold stayed in place . As a bonus , that soused seal of approval creates impressive passive dissonance cancellation .
There ’s only one band of extra eartips to choose from .
Hard-pressed
So here ’s the catch : That snug tantrum is related to the Outlier Gold ’s worst lineament . You do n’t bug the controls for the Outlier Gold : Instead , you crusade down intemperately on stiff , large buttons on each bud to execute any activity . Seriously , you really need to put some effort into it . A exclusive press on either bud plays or hesitate the music , while pressing double on the left bud go to the previous trail . On the right bud , a double crush omission forward to the next shroud . Holding down the right button raises the volume , while harbor down the left lowers it . you may summon your voice assistant with a threefold press , but no music can be play .
I was sick of this by the conclusion of the first day . At least with my spike , the Outlier Gold ’s angle top reach so far into my head that press them caused real discomfort . Those volume operate ? Yikes . “ pain sensation ” is too potent of a give-and-take , but it ’s not far from the truth . By the middle of the week , I ’d begun dread press the buttons ( or even tire out the Outlier Gold at all ) , as every press mat up a bit like forcing a gigantic Q - Tip in my capitulum . I eventually started do by most playback and volume control on my speech sound or else and feel them more satisfying after that .
I ’ve seen other complaints about this , but they ’re not common . After all , these are fundamentally the biovular twins of the pop Outlier Air . mayhap I have short ear duct . Maybe the opening for my ears is too wide . But if this worries you , I ’d suggest coiffure your tidy sum on a unlike set of buds . If you have an Android phone , the Samsung Galaxy Buds are a dandy alternative for just a few more dollar .
As for the case , I admired the way originative break from the familiar flip - top plan and made a longish type where the bud slide out of a compartment when you press your thumb on one side . Nifty . The caseful is pretty large as a result , though , and in fact , I thought I was looking at some kind of battery brick when I first opened the box . That mass makes it take up a peck more room in a pocket , and it sometimes had me fumbling while trying to perpetrate out the bud .
Creative put all that redundant real estate to estimable use by include a few features I rarely see in sheath , namely two LED illumination that report whether the leftover and right buds are properly sit down on their larboard , a light that changes from blue to red if the case billing is gloomy , and a light that let you know if the case is in reality charge . It uses a USB - A to USB - C cord , too , so charging is somewhat swift .
Far more information than other cases usually give you .
It may be a little awkward to handle the case , but I ’d be a lot more worried about how clumsy it is to perform simple action mechanism like pause the euphony on the earbuds themselves . I also do n’t care for the awkward pairing operation . Creative made some impressive earbuds for the price , no doubt , but you ’re expire to be in for a lot of headaches if your ear are as sensitive as mine apparently are . They ferment well enough if you handle playback on your earphone , but if you ’d like to use touch controls for everything ( and why would n’t you ? ) , you ’re in for a lot of head ache .
Bottom line
The Creative Outlier Gold true wireless earbuds bid good , balanced sound for their affordable price ; water resistance and long battery life make them peculiarly in force fellow for the gym . Unfortunately , the touch control can be extremely uncomfortable for some ears .
