POC Obex Connect Headset Review: Loud and Clear

I spend most of my winter weekends in Colorado snowboarding at resorts across the state. The better part for me is the social side—there isn’t any tea hotter than that spilled on the chairlift. But 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 working towards by myself, it’s additionally good to have some leisure.

I’ve used Bluetooth earbuds to take heed to podcasts and music once I trip, and I’ve examined some helmet audio programs, however the sound is usually meh. I’ve by no means actually gotten into recurrently listening to something on the slopes. Recently, I had the possibility to attempt the POC Obex Connect 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 number of soundtracked runs each time they snowboard.

Go With the Flow

The Obex Connect headset may be paired with any of the helmets in POC’s Obex line, or you may 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 Connect ones in, then tucked the connecting cable behind the adjustment dial at the back of the helmet. The audio ear pads felt simply as smooth, well-cushioned, and heat as those that got here with the helmet.

They additionally embody simply as a lot area on your ears—I by no means felt just like the pads have been urgent in opposition to my head. Instead, they cradled my ears. If you could have earrings that you just don’t take out, you understand how necessary that is!

The Obex MIPS helmet itself is a strong piece of drugs. It has a snug, 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 identify, the helmet includes a multidirectional influence safety system (MIPS), the gold commonplace in helmet building that permits your head to maneuver relative to the helmet throughout influence and restrict rotational power.

Once I had the system put in in my helmet, I downloaded the POC Connect app (iOS, Android), and tried to pair my telephone with the headset by way of Bluetooth. I couldn’t do that straight from the app—I had to enter my iPhone’s Bluetooth settings and choose the headset, but it surely was seen there and paired immediately. The course of 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