Plenty of companies have been making true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds within the past years, so it’s rare to see wireless earbuds with a neckband.
When the Sudio Elva came my way, I thought it looked outdated.
They’re designed for the active lifestyle, so even if they fell out of your ears while jogging, you have the neckband that keeps them from falling to the ground.
That was helpful in my case, especially when tucking my hair behind my ears.
TWS earbuds would always fall to the ground from that motion, but with the neckband, they didn’t fall far and I could just pick them back up and stuff them into my ears.
The last time we saw a design like this was in Sudio’s Tre line from 3 years ago.
It didn’t come with a neckband, just a tangle-free wire to drape around the neck and hold the two earbuds together.
However, you’ll see me using Sudio Fem and Sudio Ett as a point of comparison in this piece, as these were their latest models this year and also what I had access to in terms of their wireless earbuds.
Plenty To Unpack
It came in a compact box packed with plenty:
- Sudio Elva neckband earphones
- Sudio Flyg Bluetooth flight adaptor
- USB-A male to female adaptor (for Sudio Elva)
- USB-C to USB-A (for Sudio Flyg)
- 5 additional pairs of ear tips
- Owner’s guide for Sudio Elva
- Owner’s guide for Sudio Flyg
- Warranty card and information
The Sudio Elva has an interesting way of charging. Its left earbud has to be detached from its cable with the three-button controller.
Hence, it’s impossible to use them while charging, but that’s not something I would usually do anyway.
Rated IPX5, it’s splash, rain, and sweat proof so it’s suitable for workouts.
There are little magnetic rubber nodes that clip the earbud cables together. It’s adjustable along the length of its tangle-free wires to ensure that you have the option to secure them together in different ways.
A control panel is placed on the left side with 3 buttons. The middle button is to turn the earphones on and off, play-pause and answer calls.
Double-click will change the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) mode. Press-and-hold for 5 seconds during power-up will set up Bluetooth pairing.
Sudio Flyg comes along with these earphones.
It’s a device that lets you plug into any headphone jack, whether on your phone, computer, or TV to give it Bluetooth capabilities.
That allows you to pair not just the Sudio Elva, but any wireless earbuds to them, which makes this package an attractive deal.
It has 2 foldable connectors meant for plugging into an in-flight entertainment system, and a stereo plug to use for normal audio devices with a 3.5mm jack.
It’s unlikely that people will be using this much on flights given the current situation, so it might not be very useful to have until travel becomes safe again. Not to mention that most devices nowadays already have Bluetooth functions.
I tested the stereo jack with my computer and it worked as it should. To pair, I had to hold down the Sudio Flyg’s only button and place the Elva close to it.
How Did They Sound?
Based on my brief tests with Sudio Fem, it seemed to lack definition in every area.
Sudio Ett, however, had a more well-rounded balance between higher and lower tones.
Bear in mind that my taste in music mostly consists of pop and musicals. Much to my surprise, the Elva performed well for both.
You can choose between 2 modes, ANC-off and ANC-on. I used them in the office throughout the work day.
The noise cancellation was able to drown out the sounds of my colleagues’ loud clicky mechanical keyboards, as well as the hum of the air conditioner.
Using the ANC-off mode, the best way for me to describe how my music sounded was as if I was standing outside a concert hall with the door closed.
It sounded similar to the Sudio Fem. Its treble was metallic, and lacked definition. The bass sounded ever so slightly better than the higher pitches.
Once I switched to ANC-on though, the tables were turned. Mid-tones and trebles sounded much fuller, better balanced, but the bass became “tinny”.
Its overall volume got louder, which feels as if I finally walked into the concert hall where the music was actually playing.
When it came to calls, I could hear the other person clearly, and I was told that I sounded clear, albeit a tiny bit muffled.
Verdict
In terms of audio quality, Sudio Elva are a good pair of earphones for me. Especially with the ANC-on putting emphasis on the trebles of the music I frequently listen to.
Comfort-wise, once I changed the bud tips to the XS size, it fit snug and didn’t fall out of my ears even during my jog.
Its neckband grew on me. Being someone who finds in-ear earbuds tiring to wear all day, I liked that I could drape it around my neck when I didn’t want them in my ears.
Unfortunately, the neckband made it a hassle to keep in my bag. I couldn’t just wind them up like a regular pair of wired headphones due to its stiffness.
For battery life, Sudio claims it has a 15-minute quick charge for 1-hour listening.
With a full battery, it’s supposed to get you 11 hours of playtime for music and 10 hours with the ANC-on mode.
It’s worth noting that Elva can pair with multiple devices at a time, like I did with my laptop and phone.
When turned on, it will automatically connect to the device most recently connected.
In order to switch devices though, you would have to first disconnect Elva from the device you are currently using and repair with the next device you want to pair to.
When you purchase a pair, you get free worldwide shipping as well as a 12-month international warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Neckband with no-tangle cables gives peace of mind | Trebles sound metallic without ANC, while bass sounded “tinny” with ANC-on |
| Comes with a Bluetooth adaptor for any wireless earbuds | Neckband stiffness makes it difficult to store in bags |
- The Sudio Elva earphones + Sudio Flyg will launch on September 14, 2020, and will be priced at RM599, according to a Sudio representative.
- Each purchase of the buds online at the official Sudio website will come with a free card holder.
- For a 15% discount, enter the code WIRELESS15 at checkout.
VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion into our Facebook page.
