Headphones are something that I find people have a hard time agreeing on. For me, I look for something comfortable and versatile that provides good sound. I am far from an audiophile, but I know when my music sounds unclear, has too much bass, or is overly tinny.
For the gym, I prefer my wireless earbuds. However, I wanted some on-ear headphones for around the house and traveling. I happened across Noontec's new ZORO II wireless headphones and figured I would give them a go.
When you open up a new pair of ZORO II's, you'll find everything you need to enjoy your music in any situation. There's a USB cable to keep them charged up, an auxiliary cable for those times you prefer to be wired, and a travel bag to bring everything with you on the road.
The ZORO II is a sharp-looking set of headphones, sporting a two-tone red and black color scheme with silver trim. The padded earphones fit comfortably on your ears and are big enough to fit over some people's ears entirely. And though they are padded, they still have a relatively low profile, so you don't end up looking like Lobot while wearing them.
Not only are the arms adjustable to accommodate various head sizes, but they also fold up to fit nicely in the included bag.
Setup
There are three ways that you can get up and running with the ZORO II headphones, and all of them are extremely simple. The first is to connect them like you would any other Bluetooth device, by putting them in pairing mode and then selecting them in your phone's or computer's settings.
The second is to put your NFC-enabled device up to the section of the ZORO II labeled NFC. This will automatically pair them.
And lastly, you can just connect using the provided auxiliary cable. This will give you sound, but will not allow you to use the ZORO's built-in playback, volume, or in-call controls.
The Good
I have been pleasantly surprised by Noontec's ZORO II. To be completely honest, I had never heard of the company and, frankly, wasn't expecting much. Instead, what I found was that that these headphones rock. The sound quality is fantastic.
I am not audiophile, but I can tell you that, whether it is a phone call, podcast, or music of any type, the output of the ZORO II is crisp. Voice and treble come through loud and clear and the bass is heavy enough for effect, but doesn't overpower the rest.
There is also no discernable difference in sound quality when connected via Bluetooth or hardwired. Not only that, but they do an admirable job of blocking out external noise, so they are a great option for the coffee shop. I even wear them when running the snow blower to nullify the noise of the engine while clearing the driveway. It's almost as if the machine isn't running at all.
The buttons on the ZORO II conveniently let you perform core functions right from the headset without having to fiddle with your phone. You can answer and end calls, control volume, skip tracks, and start and stop music playback.
Another thing to love about these earphones is the battery life. The manufacturer lists it at 35 hours of use between charges. And although I haven't scientifically tested this claim, I believe it because in months of ownership, I have rarely had to plug them in to power up.
Having the option to use an auxiliary cable is immensely handy as well. Not only does it let you use your headphones with a dead battery, but it gives you the freedom to listen to them on a plane uninterrupted without worrying about switching to airplane mode.
Really, Noontec's ZORO II is the perfect travel companion. It is versatile, gets great battery life, filters out surrounding noise, and folds up into a small enough package to fit in your carry-on.
To sum up, the ZORO II sound system is an overall great experience. They have become my headphones of choice over my Skullcandy Hesh 2.0 and Jaybird Bluebuds X when not at the gym.
The Not-so-good
No doubt that there is a lot to love about the ZORO II, but it is not without its foibles. The size of the padded earphones falls just short of being one size fits all, so the headphones could be considered on-ear for some users and over-the-ear for others. It just so happens that my entire ear fits nicely, with some minor finagling, though I can see it getting annoying or uncomfortable for some folks.
I did find that if I wore them for an hour or two straight, I needed to take them off and readjust to give the outside of my ears a break. However, I don't think that is necessarily isolated to just these headphones.
I was reluctant to list the $150 price tag as a con because sound quality of the ZORO II is so good that it rivals that of far more expensive headphones. In my eyes, that could very well be a bargain. However, the average buyer will likely balk at the price, since you can find wireless headphones with similar features for much less money.
Conclusion
Noontec's ZORO II wireless headphones are the complete package, bringing high-end sound over wire and Bluetooth. Built-in call and music controls let you rock out, exercise, or just sit back and chill without having to fumble around with your phone.
They are also easily portable, folding up into their own travel bag, along with all of their accessories. Throw in an efficient outside noise reduction system and wonderful battery life, and now you have quite the travel buddy. The ZORO II's are also sleekly designed, so I don't feel ridiculous wearing them in public.
If you are looking for superior sound at a fraction of the cost of the more well-known brands, Noontec's ZORO II should be on your list.
