Most budget wireless headphones are plagued with a myriad of issues, including poor wireless performance, poor battery life, and poor sound quality. These headphones always feel as if they are just cheap alternatives to the real deal. I always recommend going for a higher-priced wireless headphone if you want a proper wireless experience.
However, a company called Tribit wants to change this notion. With the Xfree Go, they want to prove that you can have a great sounding and well-built device with exceptional wireless connectivity at a budget price point.
So in today’s review, we will be putting the Tribit XFree GO through its paces by testing its build quality, comfort, wireless performance, battery life, and sound quality. We will see if the XFree GO truly lives up to Tribit’s claims.
Disclaimer
The review unit featured in this article was provided by Tribit. We thank them for their support and for making this review possible. However, this does not affect our review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Contents
Packaging and Accessories
The XFree GO has an attractive and well-designed packaging, something that is very uncharacteristic for budget headphones. I am glad that some effort was placed in designing the box instead of pouring everything into the product. It gave me a good and lasting first impression.
We are immediately greeted by the hard case upon opening the box. It contains the headphones as well as the following accessories:
– Micro-USB charging cable
– 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable
– Instruction booklet
– Warranty card
The presentation is not too flashy, but I appreciate the minimalistic approach. Tribit made sure to give you everything you need to immediately use the headphones. Also, the inclusion of a hard case was quite surprising. Budget oriented products, even those from big-name companies, tend to skip the hard case, so it is a nice bonus.
Design and Build Quality
The XFree GO immediately felt better than most headphones that I have tried in the budget price range. It is still predominantly made out of plastic but not the same cheap plastic that is commonly seen in its price range. Additionally, most of the crucial points such as the hinges, the headband adjustment, and the ear cups are made of metal.
The plastic material is, of course, not on the same level as more expensive models such as the Tribit Quietplus, but it still feels solid. It also contributes to its lightweight nature, which helps achieve a more comfortable experience for longer listening sessions.
In terms of the design, the XFree GO is not as stealthy and minimalistic as the more expensive Tribit QuietPlus. There is a large “X” along with a Tribit logo on both ear cups. I personally think it gives the headphones a bit of character, but others might prefer less branding.
The XFree GO has a folding design that makes the headphones more compact and portable. Additionally, the ear cups swivel up to 90 degrees. It is surprising to see these features at this price point, but personally, I would have preferred to see fewer moving parts just like the QuietPlus.
More moving parts mean more points of failure. But during my testing period, it did not feel like the headphones were going to break at any given point. There were no squeaking noises while swiveling the ear cups, so I am quite confident that these will last.
Additionally, the XFree GO can be used in wired mode via the 3.5mm headphone jack. While I would never usually use the XFree GO in wired mode, it is nice to know that I can keep on using the headphones even if the battery dies while I am using it outside. This also means that the XFree GO can be used with devices that do not support Bluetooth.
I do have some minor issues with the XFree GO’s design. One of them is the use of Micro-USB for its charging port. Most devices, including Tribit’s QuietPlus headphones, already utilize USB Type-C for charging. It would have been nice to see it here as well since I tend to only bring one type of cable.
The other gripe that I have is the lack of distinction between the left and right ear cup. I know that the controls indicate the right side, but it would have been nice if there were bigger indicators of the left and right side, similar to the QuietPlus.
Fit and Comfort
The clamping force of the XFree GO felt perfect out of the box. It was stable enough on my head but did not have the same tight initial fit other headphones have. This no longer requires a break-in period and can be immediately used.
As for the ear pads, they were soft and allowed a comfortable experience. Tribit has confirmed that the ear pads are removable so you can replace them if they ever get worn out.
The ear cups are, however, smaller than most over the ear headphones, and my ears were touching the drivers. I was starting to feel a bit of discomfort after a few hours of use, but it did not reach a point where I had to remove the headphones.
One thing that could be improved in the XFree GO is the headband padding. It is quite thin, and I could sometimes feel the pressure building up on top of my head. This may cause some issues for people with larger heads.
Controls
The Tribit XFree GO has a relatively simple but effective control scheme. There are only three buttons found on the back of the right ear cup. The center button acts as the power on and off button but can also function as the play/pause and assistant button.
The other two buttons control the volume and track skipping. The buttons are well placed, and their function is quite obvious as it follows other universal control schemes.
Wireless Performance
The most critical aspect of any wireless headphone is its wireless performance. And this is unfortunately where most budget headphones fall apart. Luckily, the Tribit XFree GO has exceptional wireless performance.
The XFree GO features Bluetooth 5.0. This is becoming more common even on entry-level devices, so this isn’t anything new. However, what is surprising is the speed and stability of its connection.
The XFree GO always instantaneously connects to my devices. The power-on voice prompt is always followed by a connected prompt. And once the connection is established, I did not experience any dropouts or disconnection issues.
Tribit claims that the XFree GO can keep its connection up to 52 feet. I did not try to do anything crazy to test this. Instead, I tried to simulate an actual use case scenario.
I connected the XFree GO to my desktop setup located on the second floor of my house. I then tried to go to various rooms both on the first and second floors. The connection was stable despite the amount of obstruction and thick walls. This was the case in all of my devices.
Additionally, the XFree GO can connect with up to two devices simultaneously. This is not heavily advertised, but it is found in the manual. I tried this with my laptop and my smartphone, and once it was properly set up, it worked great.
There are a few quirks. Pausing the music on my laptop to switch to my smartphone had a slight delay. However, it does not deter too much from the overall experience since it works. You rarely see this feature even on higher-end devices.
Battery Life
The sound quality and other features of the headphones will not matter if the battery dies within a few hours of use. But just like the wireless connectivity, the Tribit XFree GO’s battery life is excellent as well. It has a ridiculously long 24-hour battery life that flat out beats other budget offerings.
During my test period, I had an incredibly difficult time fully consuming the XFree GO’s battery. I did not get any low battery prompts even after using it all day on my desktop setup.
Additionally, the headphones automatically turned off when it has not played any audio for a specific amount of time. This is a lifesaver for those who forget to turn their headphones off.
I would have loved to see a battery indicator on the headphones. The XFree GO does not come with an app, so aside from the battery indicator on iOS/Android, there is no way to tell how much battery is left.
In terms of charging, the XFree GO only requires three hours for a full charge. Additionally, a ten-minute charge would give the XFree GO a four-hour battery life.
Overall, I can see this lasting anywhere from one to two weeks if I were to use this on my commutes and other short-burst activities such as gym sessions. The battery life alone is a killer feature on these headphones simply because you do not even have to think about it.
Sound Quality
The Tribit XFree GO’s sound quality easily punches above its price range. It has a fun and engaging sound signature with an emphasis on the bass. But unlike most bass-heavy headphones, the XFree GO allows enough space for vocals to shine through. It is primarily designed for pop, electronic, and other bass focused genres, but listeners of more intimate and vocal-based music will enjoy these as well.
The bass hits hard and is capable of reaching low bass notes. The bass does not sound as clean or as clear as the Tribit Quietplus, but it sounds more energetic and more fun to listen to.
The bass can keep it down on more mellow tracks where the vocals are supposed to be the focus. It was able to keep up with acoustic tracks and other vocal-based tracks. It did sound warmer and felt like it lacked treble extension, but it still did a good job.
Overall, the XFree GO had an enjoyable listening experience. It may not be the best pair for genres like classical and orchestral, but it performs well for its intended purpose.
Microphone Quality
Tribit is marketing the XFree GO to have CVC 8.0 for crystal clear calls. While it is not the best microphone that I have heard, it is good enough for phone calls. Throughout different tests in various conditions, people on the other end could still clearly hear me.
Verdict
Check price of Tribit XFree GO at Amazon | Check on Tribit’s Official Website
It is quite rare for a product that isn’t coming from a big name company to execute nearly all of its advertised features. But that is what Tribit has done with the XFree GO. It provides a stable Bluetooth connection, an incredibly long battery life, and a good sound quality at a fraction of the price of its competitors.
It is, of course, not a perfect wireless headphone. The build and design could have been better, but for its asking price, you won’t find a pair that performs as well as the XFree GO in all categories. It is truly a budget headphone that delivers a proper wireless experience. The XFree GO gets our seal of approval.
Specifications
Style: Over-the-Ear
Drivers: 40mm dynamic
Bluetooth: 5.0 Qualcomm QCC3003
Qualcomm cVc (Clear Voice Capture) microphone
Playing time: Up to 24 hours
Full charge: Three hours
Quick-Charge: 10-minutes burst gives up to 4 hours playback
Charging port: Micro USB
Weight: 225g
Accessories: Audio cable, charging cable, hard case
Stephen is a musician, cinematographer, and headphone enthusiast who is passionate about reviewing audio equipment. He has been playing guitar for at least a decade, which introduced him to professional recording equipment such as headphones and in-ear monitors. With the help of reviews and online content, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the hobby. His goal is to give back to the community by providing quality content to help others enjoy the beautiful (and expensive) world of audio.
Favorite Headphones: Sennheiser HD660s