POC Obex Connect Headset Review: Loud and Clear Leave a comment

I spend most of my winter weekends in Colorado snowboarding at resorts across the state. The very best half for me is the social facet—there isn’t a tea hotter than that spilled on the chairlift. However for those who’ve ever been snowboarding or snowboarding, you realize that generally communication is proscribed, like once they’re zooming forward of me. (It’s cool, it’s solely my second season!) If I’m practising alone, it’s additionally good to have some leisure.

I’ve used Bluetooth earbuds to hearken to podcasts and music after I journey, and I’ve examined some helmet audio programs, however the sound is usually meh. I’ve by no means actually gotten into commonly listening to something on the slopes. Lately, I had the prospect to strive the POC Obex Join headset, a helmet audio and communication system the model just lately launched with Harman Kardon. The audio high quality of this factor blew my thoughts and formally turned me into somebody who all the time wants a couple of soundtracked runs each time they snowboard.

Go With the Movement

The Obex Connect headset might be paired with any of the helmets in POC’s Obex line, or you will get it included with the Obex Connect backcountry helmet. I attempted it with the Obex MIPS, and it was straightforward and intuitive to put in. I pulled the common ear pads out of the helmet and snapped the Obex Join ones in, then tucked the connecting cable behind the adjustment dial at the back of the helmet. The audio ear pads felt simply as mushy, well-cushioned, and heat as those that got here with the helmet.

Additionally they embody simply as a lot area on your ears—I by no means felt just like the pads have been urgent towards my head. As a substitute, they cradled my ears. If in case you have earrings that you simply don’t take out, you understand how vital that is!

The Obex MIPS helmet itself is a stable piece of substances. It has a cushty, light-weight really feel, with an inside dimension adjustment dial, adjustable overhead vents, a goggle clip, an adjustable plastic clip chin strap, and entrance air flow over the goggles to assist stop fogging. As indicated within the title, the helmet contains a multidirectional affect safety system (MIPS), the gold normal in helmet building that enables your head to maneuver relative to the helmet throughout affect and restrict rotational power.

As soon as I had the system put in in my helmet, I downloaded the POC Join app (iOS, Android), and tried to pair my telephone with the headset by way of Bluetooth. I couldn’t do that instantly from the app—I had to enter my iPhone’s Bluetooth settings and choose the headset, but it surely was seen there and paired straight away. The method was fast and straightforward, even on a windy mountain street on the way in which to a ski resort. After that, I might management my music, calls, and voice assistant from the helmet itself.

Screenshots courtesy of Kristin Canning