Are Yamaha TW-ES5A earbuds worth their money? Read on to find out
Despite their convenience, TWS earphones might not be ideal for those who engage in sports activities because they do not always offer a secure fit. Yamaha is addressing this issue head-on with its premium TW-ES5A earbuds. Marketed as sports-centric earphones, these buds promise to provide a secure and comfortable fit, allowing you to focus on your activity without worrying about the earbuds coming loose. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Yamaha TW-ES5A earbuds and determine whether they live up to their claims. So let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
The lowdown
Verdict
Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
Pros
Cons
Verdict
Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
Pros
ConsThe lowdown
The Yamaha TW-ES5A has an unconventional design. The case looks like a miniature briefcase, which is not very pocketable. The case is fashioned out of soft plastic that is prone to scratches and flips open to reveal the earbuds ensconced inside. Unfortunately, the opening and closing mechanism of the case is not very satisfactory, and the lid is also loose. The Yamaha TW-ES5A comes in as many as five colour options. I got the turquoise colour variant for review, which picked up stains quite easily.
The Yamaha TW-ES5A earbuds, much like the case, have a bulky design. However, the dual-tone finish with a glossy outer shell and matte black facing the ear tips adds a touch of elegance. The earbuds do not have touch controls. Instead, they sport three physical buttons, with one located on the left bud and the remaining on the right. The right bud buttons allow for volume control, skipping to the next or previous track, while the left bud button is used to pause or play a track and enable/ disable ambient listening mode. Although the controls are easy to use, the buttons themselves can be uncomfortable to press for an extended period or repeatedly, as they dig into your skin. Furthermore, these buttons cannot be mapped to anything else via the companion Headphone Control app. The buds also have LED lights that switch between red and blue to indicate charge and pair status.
Be that as it may, the Yamaha TW-ES5A earbuds offer a solid in-ear fit that will remain in place no matter what activity you engage in. The buds ship with a range of fins and ear tips, suitable for most ear canals. They are straightforward to replace and are soft enough not to cause discomfort, even for first-time users of fin-style TWS earbuds. The buds are IPX7 rated, which means they can withstand heavy sweating and even rain, but not dust. All said and done, the Yamaha earbuds might not be a discrete choice as they tend to stick out from the ears quite a bit due to their bulky design.
