House of Marley’s new buds easily beat Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QCE II in one area
This key number on the spec-sheet made me get up, stand up
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I’ll get straight to the point:House of Marley’s new Champion 2 earbuds might seem a novel mix of wood and plastic visually, but the battery life is no joke.
To clarify, the company’s new Champion 2 earbuds boast a whopping 10 hours of listening from a single charge – and 35 hours total with the compact case. This claim puts them streets ahead of theSony WF-1000XM5andBose QuietComfort Earbuds 2for battery life, with theSonyflagship earbuds coming in at eight hours for the earbuds, 24 hours total in the case, and the Bose option promising just six hours from the buds and a further three charges in the case.
The clued up will know that 10 hours is achievable in another true wireless design. You get 10 hours of stamina from the wallet-friendlySony WF-C500earbuds, but here’s the thing: those only have one extra charge in the case, aka 20 hours total, so you can see why we’re impressed with House of Marley’s new progeny.
The rub is the lack of active noise cancellation, which will sap the stamina of any set of earbuds and so is something you won’t get with the Champion 2, or Sony WF-C500.
But irrespective of noise nixing, battery life alone puts the new House of Marley Champion 2 up there with thebest true wireless earbudswe’ve ever tested. They even improve on the staying power of the excellentCambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plusfor juice on a single charge (you get seven hours from the also-devoid-of-ANC Melomania 1 Plus, in high performance mode), although their 35-hour combined total is equal to the House of Marley pair.
Is this love? If House of Marley can live up to its stamina claim, yes
It’s no good waxing lyrical on the sonic prowess of your earbuds if they can’t last your commute on a single charge. Surely, any music is better than no music at all – ie. your buds languishing in their case for an entire journey?
Elsewhere, the Champion 2 offer an IPX5 water resistant rating, 6mm high-definition drivers, soft gel tips for fit security and a mic for call-handling. And the build is nothing if not sustainable, using FSC certified wood, the company’s own Regrind silicone (made by reclaiming and upcycling post-process and post-consumer silicone scraps that would otherwise go to waste ) and 100% plastic-free recyclable packaging.
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You’re probably aware of the eco-conscious audio manufacturer House of Marley – yes, created in collaboration with Bob Marley’s actual family. If not, the company’sRebelandLiberate Airearbuds are a good place to start, as is theGet Together Solospeaker. (Is it possible to get together solo? And if so, could you be loved?)
House of Marley’s Champion 2 launch coincides with the launch of an over-ear option called thePositive Vibration Frequencyboasting 40mm dynamic drivers and over 34 hours of playtime.
Prices? Of course: the Positive Vibration Frequency over-ears are priced$99.99(roughly £78, AU$150) and are available now in the US.
The House of Marley Champion 2 earbuds are also available now, priced$89.99and although we can’t see them listed in the UK, Australia and other regions just yet, that sub-$100 asking fee (or around £70, AU$135) would make them eligible for ourbest budget wireless earbudsand no mistake.
(Hot tip: check out theEarfun Air Pro 3if you want a budget option with active noise cancellation. You’re welcome.)
Are these little earbuds capable of singin' sweet songs of melodies pure and true? Watch this space.
Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.
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