REVIEW: Langsdom AirWave Pro 2
Like all things in the exercise space, headphones just seem to be getting better. You find a set that you love and think are the bee’s knees, only to find a new iteration of them come out six months later that somehow manages to up the ante. Improved sound quality and comfort, better durability and battery life…the manufacturers are always looking for gains.
The Langsdom AirWave Pro 2 are a great example of rapid product development. They’re an open-ear sports headphone, created to allow users to hear the outside world while still being lost in their favourite tunes. For runners, it’s a fantastic safety element as it allows you to hear traffic and other potential hazards while you’re listening to a podcast, music or on a phone call whilst running. I’ve found it very helpful because a lot of my miles are in the city and I want to drown out the hum, but still know what’s going on around me.
The Langsdom AirWave Pro 2 features an ultra-lightweight, wraparound frame that sits comfortably around your head and over your ears. The weight is barely noticeable, and the soft rubber is very comfy. The snug fit means there’s no bouncing around, even when a quick surge is needed to catch a set of lights or dodge a wayward dog on a leash – which is surprisingly common for those like me racking up miles in the city. Compared with the original AirWave Pro, the Pro2 feels slightly more refined in both construction and finish. The original model was my go to, but the Pro 2 has now taken the title.
One of the features I particularly like is they include built-in memory storage enabling phone-free music playback during workouts. This means no Bluetooth dropouts, no notifications interrupting your workout and no bulky phone bouncing around in a pocket. These are all plusses for runners because a pet hate for me is having to carry my phone with me on runs. I’m also very fond of the durability in their construction. The IP67 dust and waterproof rating enables them to withstand heavy sweat and rain, and the overall build quality is of a very high standard, even when compared to much more expensive options in the market.
Now to the sound. One of the headline features promoted by Langsdom is its “Acoustic Ocean Premium Sound” technology. According to Langsdom, it translates into better clarity, improved separation between vocals and instruments, fuller bass than many competing open-ear designs and a more immersive listening experience. Do they achieve this lofty claim? Well, to an extent, yes. They are the best sounding open ear headphones I’ve used. There’s clarity in the audio, solid bass and great dynamic range that sets them apart from their competitors. Call quality is pretty good for an open-ear design. Voice clarity is slid, although environmental noise can still affect calls in particularly busy locations. This is to be expected and hardly a concern when the plusses of the Pro 2 are considred.
Next up is the aesthetics. The headphones come in three colourways – coral pink, frost white and storm grey. All the colours look great, and the range means there’s something for everyone’s taste. The accompanying hard-shell case design provides excellent protection when travelling or tossing the headphones into a gym bag, and the colour-matched finish gives the entire package a premium appearance that makes the AirWave Pro2 feel like a much more expensive product.
The final verdict for me is that the Langsdom AirWave Pro 2 are a definite improvement on the previous model. They look and feel great, sound fantastic and are up to the rigours of frequent use. I would definitely recommend them to anyone after a set of over-ear, sports headphones.