Parrot Zik 2.0 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
$99.99
$199.99
50% off
Reference Price
Condition: New
Top positive review
111 people found this helpful
Best for air travel
By A. Storfer on Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2014
Let me preface this review by saying that I've owned and tried many types of headphones. These headphones have the best noise cancellation when on the plane or at home hands down. Period. I have owned Beats, Bose, and Audio Technica (the $300-400 versions of each). In fact, I just flew and compared the Bose QC 25 and the Zik 2.0 on the plane, and it wasn't even a contest. The big place where the Bose and others do not block out noise is the frequency range of people talking. I suspect this may have to do with FAA regulations so you can hear the captain of the plane in case of an emergency. With the Parrot Zik 2.0s on, I couldn't hear the people around me talking and only faintly the captain. With the Bose on, I could hear the annoying people talking constantly behind me.Of course these are the most advanced headphones money can buy right now. They work with an app that works on iOS or Android phones and this highly customizeable. Besides an eq, the app allows a variety of concert hall settings that can be adjusted and sound particularly good if you're listening to live music and want more of an effect of being at a concert. Besides that, they have touch controls on the right earpiece. Tap, they pause. Tap/slide finger up/down - adjust volume, slide finger front or back - forward or reverse. They even pause when you take them off. They have 8 microphones to filter out ambient noise.Besides for air travel - they sound very, very good. At home, however, I would choose the V-Moda Crossfade 100s. These have the best sound in a headphone under $500 IMO. I tested the crossafdes against just about everything in the pricerange of $150-500 and the level of separation and detail is unparalleled. On the plane, however, the "noise isolation" of the crossfades just couldn't compare to the Ziks which have active noise cancellation. I found myself having to turn the crossfades up quite a bit to hear the full sound range and then they were too loud in some frequencies. The Ziks just sound better than anything I've tried while on the plane. Period.In case you're wondering, these are worth the upgrade from the Zik 1.0 for several reasons. 1) They are lighter and noticeably more comfortable than the 1.0s. This is especially noticeable when you wear them for a couple of hours and the 1.0s would start to hurt your head. Not the case with the 2.0s. 2) They have 8 microphones and do a better job of noise cancelling (30db vs 25db- this may seem small but is very noticeable). 3) They have a pass through option for being on the street - they allow street noise in so you can hear while you're riding your bike or walking on a crowded street. 4) The app that comes with the Zik 2.0 is much improved from the Zik 1.0. It has a better range of options for equalization and has customizeable settings for artists to download they're preferred settings for their music (the 1.0s only had a Lou Reed setting). 5) They just SOUND BETTER - better separation, better imaging and better less muddy sound.Overall, I can HIGHLY recommend these for travel. These have the best noise cancelling I've heard. The sound is excellent and the app makes the sound very adjustable. They sound very good at home and can be tweaked to your hearts content as well. There really are only 2 cons about these headphones. 1) For $400 they should come with a case - all their competitors do. They come with only a cloth bag and you need to spend another ~$40 on a case. 2) The battery life is not that great. They have a rechargeable battery in them, and it lasts about 6-7 hours on the plane with the noise cancelling and eq on. NOTE - this is a different battery than the Zik 1.0 battery. The Bose or Beats take a AAA and it lasted about 15-20 hours when I used them.
Top critical review
46 people found this helpful
it doesn't "click" like it should each setting and will actually pull out ...
By hypokondriak on Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2014
FINAL UPDATE 11/27:I am returning both headphones and going with a different brand/model at this time.Upon further examination of both headphones I determined the internal aluminum is actually snapping. I don't treat my products roughly and I certainly don't treat $400 headphones roughly (the second pair within minutes of ownership). I am blown away at how easy this aluminum snaps. This won't be an issue for any of you with smaller heads, but for those of you with larger heads just be very careful with extending the left can (the right doesn't appear to have the same problem for me).For the record, I contacted Parrot as well and they responded same day and also offered to repair or replace them, but after 24 hours of reflection with a second broken pair I just cannot justify the $400 price tag with future risk at this point.Bottom Line: Yes I would buy these headphones again after a redesign to fix what appears to be a design weakness and adjustments to accommodate larger heads. The sound was fantastic, the features were outstanding, and companies that think and push this way are the ones that deserve our money. Unfortunately in this situation I just can't make it happen so I am moving on.-----------------------------------------------UPDATE 11/26:I received a second Zik 2.0 replacement from Amazon and it also exhibits the same defect with the left headphone. The "stop" that prevents you from extending the headphones too far does not work properly and the headphone extends past the limit with ease. Once you extend it past this limit the internal ratchet system is broken for good. The right headphone does not appear to have this same problem. I have adjusted my rating to 2 stars until Parrot resolves this issue.I do think the audio quality with these headphones is superb after many days of use. Although the sizing is way too small to be practical for users with head size above average, I do think those users that fall within the limited sizing range of these headphones will have a very comfortable listening experience. I am right at the edge of sizing (read below) and I still believe these headphones are more comfortable than Beats Studio Wireless, the noise cancellation is better, and the audio quality is night and day difference.The sensors are still way too sensitive and this has been confirmed after several days of use now across two different units. In fact, I must have crazy active jaws because the act of eating food with these things on was actually pausing music via the presence sensor (i.e. thinks I'm pulling the headphones off so pauses music). I would really like to see Parrot update the app to allow users to customize sensitivity (i.e. High, Medium, Low).-----------------------------------------------Negatives:1) CAUTION as other users have mentioned these things are made for small heads. I returned a pair of Beats Studio Wireless for the new Zik 2.0, and the Zik's BARELY fit my head. Technically they don't fit (I have to tip them forward). I don't know what Parrot was thinking here - I was only 1/2 through the range on the Studios. So be warned if you have a medium or large head these might be a very tight fit.2) My Zik 2.0 arrived with a broken left headphone adjustment too...it doesn't "click" like it should each setting and will actually pull out of the head band. Luckily Amazon is easy to exchange with so I'm going to try a new pair and see how that works, but makes me a little concerned about Parrot's QC.3) I echo other comments in that the sensors on this are way too sensitive. It has been pretty annoying in that you go to adjust the headphones and music stops...or barely touch the side and you've screwed with volume, paused track, etc. I wish they gave the user the option to dial down the sensitivity.Positives:1) Audio quality is way better than the Beats Studio Wireless. These aren't going to be reference level audio, but I think they are the best bluetooth headset that I've heard so far. I think the EQ and customizations are really easy to use to tweak the sound as you like too.2) Despite the terribly small sizing range, the ear cups are nice in that they fit around my ears just fine. The Beats Studio Wireless sat on my ears in parts and caused some raw spots with extended listening.3) Lightweight, compact design, and look nice. I think they are a sharp headset and don't feel bulky at all.4) Noise cancellation is superb. Bose might be a little better, but the Bose bluetooth headphones don't have the active noise cancellation and the ones that do require a cord. So I think Parrot wins here (night and day better than Beats Studio noise cancellation).Overall I will probably keep these because they are the best option for me in the $400 range with bluetooth and ANC, but if there was better competition I would probably not keep these.P.S. Parrot if you read this please get your people running the twitter account to start responding. In the days leading up I saw many people asking about release date, availability, etc and you IGNORED them. Not cool.
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