Over the past few years, California-based Phiaton has earned much recognition for a headphone lineup that embodies modern styling, quality audio, and tends to pack in more features than the competition. Combined with very affordable price-points, it’s easy to understand their popularity. We check in with Phiaton’s all-new BT 100 NC earphones to see if they up the ante for mobile-friendly convenience and all-around use.
- The Phiaton BT 100 NC's are a pair of neckband-style in-ear headphones (basically earbuds), which is nothing new form factor-wise. But what makes these stand out from the pack is the Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support as well as ANC (active noise cancelling) – and the NFC pairing, IPX4 sweat-/water-resistance, vibration notifications, and built-in microphone for hands-free calling are nice feature additions, too.
These earphones are made primarily of very lightweight plastic wrapped around the ends of a smooth, flexible band. Although the plastic makes the unit feel a little on the cheap side, it makes sense for maintaining lighter weight with water-resistance, two ideal properties for a piece of audio tech sitting about the neck. The hands-free button on the left arm also doubles as as power on/off, and the play/pause button on the right arm doubles to activate Bluetooth pairing mode. The volume rocker, which also serves double-duty for track control, and the ANC switch are located on the inside of the left arm in easy reach, while a covered micro USB port located on the outside is used for either charging or connecting audio devices.
When not in use, the earphones tuck neatly into the front storage openings. The hold is firm, but sometimes requires a bit of wiggling to stick them in. The audio cables are thin with moderate protection at the connection points. While the BT 100 NC's are far from being considered rugged, it has no problems withstanding the rigors of physical workouts or daily casual wear. Just be sure to throw it on the top of your other gear in gym bags, backpacks, or briefcases.
The Phiaton BT 100 NC's have a very quick startup and connection time, with announcements accompanying the various states of power and connectivity. Although the female voice sounds a little hollow and veiled, she'll do. One interesting feature added to the unit is the way it vibrates to alert for incoming calls or when you’ve stepped out of Bluetooth range of your connected device. Depending on your perspective, this is either convenient or a touch annoying.
NFC pairing with the Phiaton BT 100 NC's is easy if you know where the NFC area on your smartphone is. If you’re unsure or if it’s too much hassle, regular Bluetooth pairing works just as well. The wireless range is indeed good for the full 33 feet (10 m), although it can start to get dicey after the 26-ft (8-m) point, depending on what may be in the way (your physical self counts). But even when you have your connected smartphone/tablet in-hand, the Phiaton BT 100 NC still suffers the very rare spit/click or momentary skip while music is playing.
The earphones come a special micro-to-USB audio cable, a USB charge cable, additional color-coded ear tips, and an extra set of cable clips. That audio cable is ideal for long trips, where the battery could die out before you're done jamming to some tunes. Just plug in and keep the music going without the need for wireless connectivity.
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