While I love listening to music via headphones, I do find headsets of the corded variety just get in my way, no matter what I do. Enter the Rokit Boost Swage 2 Headphones, a capable Bluetooth headset that ably reproduces music, while also allowing you to take or make a phone call using the built-in microphone.
The Rokit Boost Swage 2 headphones sport comfortable leather ear pads that allow you to comfortably wear the headphones during their 8-hours rated playback time. The built-in bluetooth works with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, as well as any bluetooth enabled Android or Windows Phone device.
The Bluetooth capabilities of the Swage 2 can be used to make or receive hands-free phone calls via the built-in microphone. The headphones also include easy to reach multi-function button that allow the user to control volume, switch music tracks forward and backward, and answer and disconnect phone calls. The power switch also acts as the Bluetooth pairing button.
After taking the Swage 2 headset out of the box, I charge them fully, as I always do for such reviews. I did find a micro USB cable included inside the box, but no charger, which wasn’t as big a drawback as you’d think, as I was able to charge the headphones via a handy USB port on my Mac, and later from my iPhone’s wall charger. If you’re like me, you have plenty of USB chargers laying around, so in my opinion, it’s just one less charger to keep track of.
I used the Swage 2 headphones with my Mac, my iPhone, iPad, and even a handy Nokia Windows Phone I had laying around the house. (SHHHH!) In all cases, the Swage 2 reproduced the music I sent its way admirably, and with no distortion.
I am an easy listening type, with a few dashes of country, and some ’80s metal bands thrown in for good measure, so the headphones were subjected to a varying degree of music sources. In all cases, the Swage 2 unit did an excellent job of reproducing the music sources.
Phone calls came through clearly, and the party on the other end was able to hear me clearly.
The Swage 2 headphones are light and comfortable enough that when using them for extended periods of time, I forgot they were there. The only issue I had with them, and I have this issue with other on the ear type headphones, extended periods of use tends to lead to a bit of the sweaty-ear syndrome. Not a deal killer.
I also found the function buttons on the side of the headphones to take some getting used to, as I found myself switching tracks or disconnecting phone calls when I attempted to adjust the volume. Perhaps adding some texture to the indicators on the buttons might help.
I would highly recommend the Rokit Boost Swage 2 headphones to anyone who is looking for a set of Bluetooth enabled headphones that will allow them to listen to music, and take the occasional phone call without getting entangled in wires. I found them comfortable, and they were able to faithfully reproduce all the music I listened to with little distortion.
While there are more expensive headphones on the market, any budget-minded consumer could do much worse than trying out the Swage 2 headphones at their suggested retail price of $64.99 USD.
The Rokit Boost Swage 2 are available for $64.99 on the Rokit Boost website, and Amazon.com. They are currently only available in black. (Although the box mentions white and silver as options.)
Rating:4/5[rating:4.0]
