Devialet Gemini II True Wireless Earbuds
In late 2020, Devialet unveiled their vision of truly wireless earbuds with the introduction of the Devialet Gemini. It was evident that the esteemed French audio company aspired f or these earbuds to exude both sophistication in design and extraordinary power in sound quality, and they unquestionably succeeded. Fast forward to today, and Devialet has leveraged the knowledge gained from their previous creation to bring us the next evolution in audio technology: the Devialet Gemini II. Boasting a myriad of enhancements, we were eager to delve into the world of these earbuds and explore the exciting new features they bring to the table. Design & Build Quality Within the packaging, you'll discover an array of essentials: the charging case, the earbuds, a USB-C cable, and a selection of four distinct eartip sizes, ensuring a customized, secure fit. The fit and craftsmanship of both the case and earbuds are truly exceptional. Despite their compact and lightweight design, they exude a sense of unparalleled quality, both in terms of tactile feel and visual aesthetics. New Case This redesigned case represents a remarkable 40% reduction in size and a 35% decrease in weight compared to the original Gemini case, embodying a significant transformation. With a thoughtful redesign, it now features a convenient flip-top lid, granting effortless access to your earbuds while they remain snugly nestled within the case, charging discreetly. While the previous case for the original Gemini earbuds showcased a slick sliding mechanism, which was undoubtedly cool, it tended to occupy more pocket space and occasionally proved unwieldy. Hence, we wholeheartedly embrace the practicality and elegance of this upgraded case. Colors The Devialet Gemini II earbuds are available in three stunning variants Iconic White, Matte Black, and the illustrious Opéra de Paris edition which exudes opulence at a premium price point. The white version boasts silver accents on the earbuds and a shimmering metallic band encircling the case, proudly showcasing the Devialet logo at its center. In contrast, the matte black edition features a similarly captivating metallic band on the case but in a darker hue, complemented by sophisticated dark gray accents adorning the earbuds. However, the pinnacle of luxury lies in the Opéra de Paris edition, where the case band is adorned with authentic 22-Carat PVD gold plating, creating a truly regal and exclusive experience. Features & Technology Devialet Adaptive Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation has seamlessly integrated itself into the realm of modern headphones, becoming an indispensable feature. Whether your sanctuary is a bustling coffee shop or a serene escape in the skies, Devialet has masterfully engineered their proprietary technology to transport you there. Leveraging the embedded microphones in each earbud, the Gemini II’s dynamically adjust to the shape of your ear and actively engage with your surroundings, orchestrating a harmonious silence of up to 40dB, allowing you to savor your music without the intrusion of distractions. While noise cancellation can occasionally compromise sound quality on lower-tier products, introducing unwelcome artifacts and white noise into your auditory experience, Devialet's meticulous engineering shines through. Throughout our rigorous testing, we can confidently assert that this ranks among the elite in noise-canceling earbuds, rivaling, and often surpassing its competitors. Active Wind Reduction One of the notable features that piqued our interest is Devialet's implementation of Active Wind Reduction. This feature not only minimizes wind noise while listening to music but also enhances call clarity when using the earbuds for phone conversations. Each embedded microphone is shielded with an anti-wind material, and a specialized cavity protects the microphone membrane from the effects of wind exposure, ensuring that your voice remains exceptionally clear. In addition, Devlialet took an extra step to include a bone-conduction voice sensor along with its beamforming microphones that pick up your voice and then use post-processing algorithms to cut out any unwanted background noise. To maintain an undisturbed musical experience, Devialet's software detects wind conditions and adjusts the adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode accordingly, seamlessly adapting to your surroundings while preserving the quality of your music. Internal Delay Compensation Devialet has introduced a patented algorithm that discreetly addresses the internal delay produced by the noise cancellation loop. This innovation operates silently in the background, elevating the caliber of noise cancellation, particularly in the realm of higher frequencies. Bluetooth 5.2 Multipoint When it comes to earbuds designed for a wide range of tasks like watching content on your phone, taking calls, and enjoying music, versatility is crucial to ensure they remain user-friendly. Thanks to the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.2 and Qualcomm AptX technology, the Gemini II earbuds excel in providing a hassle-free audio experience. You can watch videos on your phone or engage in phone calls without concerns about latency issues. Additionally, these earbuds offer multipoint connection and auto switch capabilities. This means you can seamlessly connect them to two different devices simultaneously, and they will automatically switch between the devices based on which one you are actively using. Moreover, you can enjoy a wireless range of up to 60 feet, allowing you to leave your phone on the counter and move around your house without worrying about disconnections. These features make the Gemini II earbuds exceptionally convenient for everyday use. 22 Hours of Battery Life Another feature we loved was the ability to charge the case with wireless charging. There is a USB-C port on the bottom to charge but being able to just set these down on a wireless charger made it so much easier to always have the case charged up and ready to go. We put the Gemini II’s to the test within a few days of usage. We used them for everyday meetings, casual music listening, and watching YouTube videos throughout the day. The 5 hour battery life proved to be enough in most cases. Since most of the time the case is nearby or brought with you, it’s easy enough to pop them back into the case to charge back up between uses. Only once did they die on us after about 4 and a half hours of listening to music at about 50% volume with the noise cancellation turned on. We would have liked to see an hour or two more of battery life but this is about standard for most earbuds on the market today. IPX4 Water & Sweat Resistant The Gemini II’s will be just fine to use while working out. They will be sweat resistant and resistant to any light water splashes. However, you can’t submerge these in water. This rating is pretty standard for any earbud competitors on the market. Touch Sensitive Controls & App The Gemini II’s have touch sensitive buttons on each earbud that are capable of recognizing a short single tap, double tap, double tap and hold, and a single long press. And you’re able to customize these actions for the left and right earbud to your liking. We kept the single tap on both earbuds to play/pause our content, double tap on the left for the previous song, and double tap on the right to go to the next song. Then we made the double tap and hold on the left to decrease volume and double tap and hold on the right to increase volume. These settings worked really well for me and kept me hands free for most of the time. The Gemini II’s come with their own sleek app with EQ controls and some standard presets. You can also change the tap actions and turn them from transparency mode to noise cancellation mode. In addition, it shows you the battery life of the earbuds. That’s about it. It’s very easy to use and gets the job done. Sound Arguably one of the most important aspects of any pair of headphones is how they sound. So how do the Devialet Gemini II’s sound? We put them to the test with multiple tracks and were rather impressed. Starting with the lows, these earbuds offer a deep and controlled bass response. The bass is tight and well-defined, adding a pleasing foundation to the music without overwhelming other frequencies. It strikes a harmonious balance, allowing for enjoyable listening across various genres. Moving to the midrange, the Gemini II earbuds showcase impressive clarity and detail. Vocals and instruments are rendered with precision, providing an intimate and lifelike soundstage. The midrange carries a warmth and depth that brings out the subtleties in acoustic music while still handling more complex arrangements with finesse. In the high frequencies, these earbuds maintain a crisp and articulate presentation. The treble is well-extended, offering shimmering highs without any harshness. This allows for an engaging listening experience, particularly for genres with intricate cymbal work and delicate harmonics. Overall, the Devialet Gemini II earbuds deliver a sophisticated and well-balanced sound signature for such compact earbuds. Improvements So far, the Gemini II’s have nailed just about everything you could ask for in a pair of high end earbuds. Most features are similar to competitors in the market except for the sound quality. We think that is where the Gemini II’s have a leg up if you mainly care about getting the best sound from a pair of compact earbuds. However, there is one factor that we haven’t touched on yet, the price. The Gemini II’s command a whopping $449 for the black or white versions and $649 for the Opéra de Paris version. That is on the very high end of any consumer earbud on the market today. When commanding a price that high, customers are going to expect the very best. For this price, we would have liked to see 6-7 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.3. We don’t think those would make or break a purchase, but they would have been really nice to have. Overall Recommendation If you're on the hunt for some of the best-sounding wireless earbuds, you should definitely consider the Devialet Gemini II's. These earbuds excel in delivering high-quality sound across the board. However, it's important to note that they might not have all the bells and whistles you'd find in some other earbuds, and they do come with a higher price tag. But if you’re mainly focused on getting exceptional audio performance and are willing to invest in that experience, the Devialet Gemini II's are a solid choice. We’re here to help! Audio Advice has been in the industry since 1978, and throughout the years, we’ve developed a team of professionals who live and breathe all things audio and video. We spend countless hours testing and reviewing every product we sell to be sure it stands up to our extremely high-quality standards. With our state-of-the-art home theater audio lab, we can become product experts and provide our customers with in-depth, honest feedback. 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