French Parrot has never been known to the public as a company that specializes in acoustic solutions. Gadgets for mobile devices (remember the famous AR.Drone), hands-free systems for cars; Parrot’s great experts adept in creating applications for mobile operating systems. And in 2012, we decided to combine their expertise in this regard, to invite industrial design star Philippe Starck to create a wireless headset for smartphones and tablets. She received the name Parrot Zik and became “an instant classic”. The combination of original design, excellent noise reduction, excellent mobile application and created a high-quality sound effect, allows beginners in the field surpass many veterans. And now, after a little more than two years, we are dealing with a new model – Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones.
From the first Zik novelty is redesigned, the number of noise-canceling microphones (eight to five), a lightweight construction (minus 55 g), Bluetooth 3.0 standard, and, of course, the updated application. As you can see, the differences are many, it is an interesting update.
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Philip Stark and put his hand to the second Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones. In the first place, this time, the opportunity to Parrot write his name on the rim and once again shine a master’s hand. But seriously, there are differences, and serious: completely changed the form of interface connectors, microphone hole; cups themselves have become thinner and more dynamic look from this. The general style has not changed – the same unusual twists, suggestive of something from a scientific (or not) fiction, let down to the cups on one side only holders, plenty of color variations (although in our test was the usual black Zik 2.0), leather interior headband and cups, both inside and outside.
This is slightly less massive than before, but still large headphones that look great and quality made. They weigh 270 grams (the first version – 325 grams), the materials used excellent – leather and metal, all as befits a headset of this class.
Cups freely swinging on their mounts, can be rotated 90 degrees – a foldable headphones, complete which they can be removed when wearing the bag. The headband is adjustable in height, but the system is not very successful – working tightly and clearly recorded. Sit on the ears Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones good them, as would be closed headphones with soft ear pads. But headband, besides being inconvenient to adjust, rather strongly presses on the crown. For a comfortable working, but more than a half to two hours at a time they will not stay in these headphones. For transatlantic flights is not the best choice.
All controls and connectors – on the right cup. Behind we see the power button, below – drowned in a cup, and the audio jack microUSB port (for charging the headphones). The outer surface remains and serves as a sensor for controlling the tracks, rebound / receive calls. It should be noted that the settlement of the cable to the right-hand cup – a decision unusual and controversial; Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones but generally not too suitable for use with a cable (more than talking about below), so the problem is not large.
It revealed a problem with the location of the power button – I pushed her almost every time the corrected color headphones, turn them off and thereby knocking the connection with your smartphone. We had to push again and wait a few seconds, when everything will be restored.
In the left cup is the battery compartment, for this part of the cup is made removable. Fastened it on magnets, rather than snap, it is a convenient solution; besides, it is impossible to break the mechanism.
Wires themselves are provided with a fabric sheath (not tangled) and connectors in the corporate style (with orange piping and polished metal). Style is manifested here.
FUNCTIONALITY AND SOUND
Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones features such as playback control system, as well as headset-predecessor. Mechanical button is only one, it is used to turn on / off the headset. The remaining steps are performed by the touch surface on the outside of the right cup. Swipe your finger up and down – change the volume, back and forth – to switch between tracks, simply touch with your finger – stop / start the track or to answer the call. At first, this seems uncomfortable, and the panel – are too sensitive; but enough to get used one day. About the main drawback – the unfortunate location of the power button, – mentioned above.
Another nice features of the headset: the tracks stop by themselves, if you remove Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones with ears (this cancels the function), playback is picked up automatically when you put on it – even if it is through a significant period of time, the headset reacts to the player on your iOS or Android itself by oneself; sensors located inside the bowl, and allow it to keep track of when the conversation began to focus and microphones to capture voice, rather than noise reduction.
Noise excellent – Headset “chops off” almost all ambient noise; the level can be adjusted manually – if you do not want to completely disengage from the external events that can be arranged. You can pay all at the mercy of the headset, it is using eight microphones monitors all sources of noise, and she decides to chop off and what to leave. However, in many situations simply closed headphone design. Active Noise somewhat overestimate – for example, in an airplane baby cry quietly cut off a well adjacent to the ears of the cups; really need an active noise reduction except in the underground. However, this is a moot point, for everybody – many prefer to complete isolation.
Communication with the device is done by Bluetooth 3.0 (as opposed to 2.1 in the first Zik) supporting A2DP profiles, AVRCP and PBAP (but again without aptX). Mating takes place quickly and easily, to heighten the convenience of the left cup embedded NFC module that allows even speed up the process. Contact a reliable, no problems during testing I did not reveal.
You can also use the Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones with a wire that is the case with this headset is not the best idea. Oddly enough, the sound of a wired and wireless connection is different. And not for the better for the wire, and from all fronts: scene completely lost bottoms, tops, are in fact only the average frequency. This is the case if the headset is on. If she sat charge or are turned off, the sound still comes, but it is simply impossible to estimate – using Parrot Zik 2.0 in this mode is completely meaningless.
The sound is in wireless mode can be estimated as the good. Without enthusiasm, but in-class wireless headsets Parrot Zik 2.0 sounds decent. There are good low frequency, moderately good top and middle; dynamics of suffering, but there is quite clearly looming scene; several lubricates impression inevitable echo effect, which can not get rid of. Compare Parrot Zik 2.0 with (up to “five thousand” range and even cheaper) at a cost comparable wired headphones I would in any case not. And among wireless solutions is at least as good (we can recall the Harman / Kardon Soho BT, for example).
But the average user is likely to appeal to digital converter built-in acoustic signal, which allows to get something digestible, even from internet radio signal is compressed to 128 Kbit / s.
Working time is approximately equal to what it was in the first version: in the region of six hours. With wire connection – up to 18 hours, but have to sacrifice sound quality.
APPLICATION
The first Parrot Zik stood out against the background of an excellent mobile application. What can I say, it was even better.
Changed design, get a black background, a more modern style and different movement logic. Noise reduction is now much more configurable, and not just at the level of “on / off”, and live you can watch the level of external noise and the fact that from it “left” headphones. You can still adjust the stage and sound effects (from ordinary room to the concert hall).
The equalizer was different graphic variations, to customize the sound on the Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones is not only simple, but interesting. An important “trick” Parrot are preset to various quadrupeds musicians. Lou Reed in application for Zik 2.0, but there are, for example, La Roux, Conchita, Simian Mobile Disco, Gotan Project and Cloud Nothing. This, of course, marketing is in its pure form, but listen to the presets from famous musicians curious.
Appendix perfectly executed, it is very convenient to use, it can really be considered as one of the reasons to buy this particular headset. The second version is available for Android and iOS. Yes, it’s free.
Appendix perfectly executed, it is very convenient to use, it can really be considered as one of the reasons to buy this particular headset. The second version is available for Android and iOS. Yes, it’s free.
OPINION
Parrot Zik 2.0 headphones for android phones – is, of course, not so much just another headset to your mobile device as a separate gadget, and to what extent – a cult object. Excellent app with flexible settings, “smart” and adapts to the user’s behavior, easy connection, an active high level of noise reduction, touch control, the reputation of the French company and, of course, corporate design with a halo hand of the master – all this has already created the necessary ground for the success of the headset. There is no reason to believe that the second version of the Zik this success is reached.
But also there is no reason to ignore the flaws, which include and are not the too comfortable headband, and a rather average sound (with a wired connection does not hold water), and low battery life (with the de facto impossibility of use in a discharged state). And, especially now we have a high price. Which, however, remained unchanged in dollar terms relative to the first version. I do not interfere with her success.
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