Verdict
Pros
- Very affordable
- Plenty of features
Cons
- Limited battery life
- Poor sound quality
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £19.99
- aptX Bluetooth
- Magnetic caps
- Three-button remote
What are the TaoTronics TT-BH07?
As this review is published, the TaoTronics TT-BH07 are the most popular wireless headphones on Amazon. This may come as a surprise when you consider that most people are unlikely to have heard of TaoTronics.
It’s no work of black magic, though. The TaoTronics TT-BH07 are exceptionally affordable at £20, and feature technology that’s present in earphones costing well over £100.
They look surprisingly good, too – although the unengaging sound means you’d be better off spending a little more on the decent Skullcandy Method Wireless.
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TaoTronics TT-BH07 – Design and comfort
The TaoTronics TT-BH07 are simple, super-light Bluetooth earphones. There’s no neckband, only a cable, a little remote and a pair of slightly oversized earpieces.
I’ve come to accept that wireless neckband earphones are practical, but for wearing day-to-day, I’d much rather a plain cable model such as the TT-BH07s. To compensate, the TaoTronics TT-BH07 feature silicone hooks that nestle into your ears to ensure a snug fit.
When not in use, you can attach one earpiece to another; magnets sit behind the nicely finished metal caps on each. Had I been unaware of the price, I’d assumed they might cost £80.
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If you don’t like the invasive feel of the hooks, you can remove them and simply use the tips. However, since the TT-BH07 earpieces are larger and heavier than average, I think you’d be better with the hooks in place.
Look carefully at our photos and you’ll see a slight disparity in the width of the seams holding part of the shell together. It’s no great surprise that these probably aren’t made to the same standards as a more expensive Sony pair, for example. Nevertheless, in the hand they do feel fairly sturdy.
It’s the TaoTronics TT-BH07 remote that feels cheap. A long stick of plastic, it’s nothing special, but it does alter how the cable falls, which seems awkward. The buttons, on the other hand, are well spaced and make operation easy. A rubbery flap sits over the micro-USB charge socket to give the earphones a hint of unofficial sweat-proofing.
Battery life of up to five hours isn’t really long enough for the way I use headphones, but this sort of stamina is acceptable given the price. And I imagine some may be looking at the TaoTronics TT-BH07 for use in the gym or for a work commute, rather than for listening for hours a day.
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TaoTronics TT-BH07 – Wireless and features
These earphones include some remarkable features given their price, and the most important is the least assuming. Bluetooth connection reliability is fairly good. It doesn’t cut out when your phone is in your pocket and it isn’t prone to blips when you move your head too quickly – a real problem in some wireless headphones.
There’s another sign the TT-BH07s use a surprisingly good Bluetooth chipset: aptX. This is a better-quality Bluetooth codec that streams music at a higher data rate. Frankly, it won’t make much difference in an earphone that uses a cheap driver, but it does give TaoTronics another thing to brag about.
Some buyers have complained about Bluetooth connectivity becoming worse after a time, although I’ve yet to experience any such issue.
TaoTronics TT-BH07 – Sound quality
The TaoTronics TT-BH07 earphones tick tech boxes in the way few other budget wireless earphones can. Sound isn’t anything to shout about, however.
Dynamically, these earphones are flat, which makes them a dull listen. Depth of bass is poor and the mids are crude. The TT-BH07 simply sound small and lifeless.
TaoTronic’s claims of good balance aren’t entirely empty, since there’s no obvious tonal skew that makes music sound unnatural, offensive or odd. But the TT-BH07 are also a cold and unengaging listen that won’t make you want to listen to your music often.
I also found the sound quite tiring; the lack of smoothness or refinement making it quite hard on the ear at higher volumes.
The obvious counter-argument is that the TaoTronics TT-BH07 are cheap enough for this not to matter. However, you’re really better off with the slightly more expensive, and much more fun, Skullcandy Method Wireless. And if you can’t go above £20, I’d suggest giving up on wireless and buying the Philips SHE9105 instead – they produce a far more satisfying sound.
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Why buy the TaoTronics TT-BH07?
The TaoTronics TT-BH07 are good earphones to show off as a bargain find. Features such as aptX Bluetooth and magnetic earpieces seems truly unusual in a set of earphones costing only £20.
However, their lifeless, flat sound shows that the TaoTronics TT-BH07 aren’t quite the complete package. I’d recommend spending a little more on a set of £30-35 wireless earphones, or settling with a better-sounding wired pair.
Verdict
Features galore and an ultra-low price, but these earphones don’t produce great sound.
Trusted Score
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Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
