Touch control is the new black, one could say. I have to admit, earbuds of all headphones would be the last type of headphones I would expect that technology to be added to. Dodocool DA156 Bluetooth headphone comes with a touch-sensitive interface – is this a super useful feature or just a marketing gimmick?
Dodocool DA156 – review
At this price point, the box comes with spare rubber pads case and a charging cable. No revelations, just what would you expect from similarly priced headphones. The sporty aesthetics leaves very little to guess in regards to the purpose. It’s all about sport, and IPX5 rating warrants the music in any weather conditions. The weather is nice outside so it’s time to take the Dodocool DA156 for a spin.
Music to my ears?
There was no wow factor, but the headset will keep you going. The sound profile is fairly balanced without excessive bass. I opened the EQ to bring a little more dynamic to the sound. I have a feeling you will be tweaking it as well. I’d say expect an OK performance. I can see myself using these at the gym, but they won’t be my daily driver.
The product page mentioned the noise cancellation. The effect must be very weak as I was not able to tell much difference between the buds being on/off inside my ear. Most of the noise is blocked out by a snug fit.
On the bike, get set, go!
I’m actually impressed with the touch control. This is because of two reasons:
- I have not expected the headphones to work with my cycling gloves (not touch compatible)
- It’s so easy to use, no need to look for a correct buttons
With these in mind, they are not the best for cycling. The shape of the Dodocool DA156 causes extra wind resistance which translates to the extra noise at greater speeds. You can get away with a sub 20km/h commute. My helmet also was catching on over the ears bands, which makes it far from ideal for cycling.
Run for your life!
The same over ear band that caused issues with the helmet, is more useful at the gym, or while running in the park. The headset stays in place and has no connectivity issues regardless of where the phone is located. Streaming music from my LG Urbane smartwatch was also uninterrupted.
I found the cable linking the buds of Dodocool DA156 a little bit too long – your experience may vary.
Everyday use
With 8h of battery life, Dodocool DA156 will carry you through any exercise routine. Another point worth raising is the lack of volume control. You can only adjust the volume using your phone or the streaming device.
The headphones can handle calls, but the mic is poor. You will get by in a quiet environment, anywhere else just stop and use the phone instead. At least you can bring up the assistant and the mic is (or assistant is) smart enough to figure out what is that you are trying to say.
Conclusion
It’s a bag of mixed feelings. I like the touch interface, but there is no volume control. I like to use the Google Assistant, but the calls are not what I would expect. The snug fit thanks to the band, also causes the interference with helmets. At least the price point is reasonable. If you can live with the drawbacks mentioned in my review, you can grab a pair from the links below!
