Tik Tech: We tested Lidl's wireless headphones -

20 Minutes

  • Already noted for its electronic equipment such as its Monsieur Cuisine Connect food processor, the Lidl chain of stores and its Silvercrest brand launched on October 19 100% wireless headphones for less than 25 euros.

  • On site, we were able to see that the buyers, of which we were a part, were present and equipped themselves in large numbers.

  • But our tests show that the headphones, even though they are of good manufacture, broadcast poor sound and are likely to create disappointment among people who have fitted them.

Good deal ?

It wasn't the rush like when Lidl launched its Monsieur Cuisine Connect food processor (a copy of the Thermomix sold for three times cheaper).

But there were still people to snatch the 100% wireless headphones from the Silvercrest brand, sold for 24.99 euros, when we went to Lidl d'Eaubonne (95) on Monday, at 8:30 am.

It was the opening.

Radio advertising and the distribution chain's catalog alerted us to this new low-cost tech offensive.

In the department, the headphones were there: with a pink or black finish.

At 8:40 am, there were already not many left.

Racks already robbed on October 19 at 8:40 a.m.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Frankly, we've seen worse ...

Unpacked from their thermoformed plastic case (scissors or cutter are necessary), headphones do not look

cheap

.

Their storage and charging case is covered in a pleasant-touch coating and features three LED charging indicators.

Frankly, we have seen worse.

Retained by a magnet in their case (a good point to avoid losing them), the headphones are however difficult to extract.

The fault of the plastic of which they are composed and which slips between the fingers.

When using for the first time, you must turn on each earpiece with the button on its side and start pairing.

An English female voice guides our steps… Tested with an iPhone 11 Pro, the implementation of our new ears does not pose a problem.

As we suspected, the headphones are not associated with a dedicated application.

Still, they are comfortable to wear, but contrary to what is indicated on their box, they are not "in-ear".

"Intras" sink slightly into the ear canal.

Here, the Silvercrest headphones sit at the entrance to the ear canal.

A priori they hold on well, but it happened during our tests that we lost one or the other.

Silvercrest headphones provide 3 hours of battery life per charge.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

The controls are reduced: each button allows you to pause, go to the next track and to pick up / hang up a call.

Precisely, we take the opportunity to pass a few.

“Hey, I have the Lidl headphones in my ears!

".

Answer: “Speak louder, I can't hear you”.

It was a constant.

On five occasions (and as many phone calls), we had to turn up the volume of our voice so that our interlocutors could hear us better.

Treble, nothing but treble ...

Lost in our playlists, we hesitate.

Here,

Dreams

, the piece of Fleetwood Mac that the whole Earth seems to rediscover following Nathan Apodaca's Tik Tok video will be perfect for the baptism of fire of the headphones ...

Problem: Where are the serious ones?

From the outset, our two appendages deliver a very high-pitched sound, too high-pitched.

We imagine a bad setting, we dive into the user manual (translated), we fantasize about a dedicated application that would have passed under our nose, we hope for an equalizer to improve all that and tell ourselves that we are scares uselessly.

But no.

Nothing.

The 100% wireless headphones from the Silvercrest brand launched at 24.99 euros at Lidl.

- CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

We keep listening, go from rap to classical, from pop to jazz.

We are even launching the latest Cabrel.

The finding is general.

Lidl headphones don't like bass.

They don't like listening at high volume either.

Each attempt results in saturation which appears very early on.

Too early.

The result is mediocre.

15 hours of autonomy

A little annoyed, we put the headphones back in their storage case.

According to Lidl, this would be capable of recharging them five times in a row for three hours of autonomy on each charge.

There is better in the place.

In the Silvercrest earphone price range we find Xiaomi's Redmi Airdots 2 which, for 30 euros, offer 3.5 hours of battery life.

Going upmarket, Google's Pixels Buds (4.5 hours), AirPods Pro (5.5 hours) or Jabra Elite Active 75t (7 hours!) Do better.

At the cash desk of the Lidl store in Eaubonne (95) on October 19, 2020. - CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Balance sheet?

Not good.

Unless you want to hang small rods in your ears at all costs, Silvercrest headphones will disappoint you.

Not imagining that they would equal the bigger ones, however, we hoped that they could have created a surprise, and offer a good performance / price ratio.

This year, 100% wireless headphones are popular.

In the world of mobile sound, they represent a quarter of sales, but above all 55% of manufacturers' revenues (more than those of classic headphones).

No wonder Lidl and its Silvercrest brand wanted to play their little music.

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