The other day we reviewed the 808 SoundCap beanie with built-in speakers. One comment on the video review stated, “Meh, should have been Bluetooth.” Well it just so happens we have a 1 Voice Beanie with wireless stereo headphones on hand for review. And I do agree with the commenter — the SoundCap is great but cutting the cord and having a wireless, albeit pricier, Bluetooth option is even better.
The cap is a great way to stay warm, is available in a variety of colors and… it delivers wireless sound on the go. From 1 Voice:
The 1 Voice Beanie is a warm, comfortable beanie with headphones sewn in right over your ears. There is also a Bluetooth controller attached to the back of your hat that allows you to connect wirelessly to your phone or audio device.
Basically the beanie is a cloth beanie with two stereo disks, one positioned where it will sit over each ear. The cords from each of the speaker disks meet at the back of the beanie and come together in a 3.5mm plug.
This, in turn, plugs into a Bluetooth receiver disk that sits at the back of the beanie. When you step back and think about it, this is a rather simple approach, but it is one that actually works quite well.
To create a wireless connection you simply hold down the center button on the Bluetooth controller for 3 seconds. The led lights then blink red and blue. This indicates that the device is searching for an audio device. From there, pairing the device to your audio source is as simple as looking for the “1 Voice” device in the list of available Bluetooth devices.
Recharging the 1 Voice Beanie is similarly easy. The wireless disk has a microUSB port inside. Simply plug a cable into this port and the beanie will start recharging.
The company is quick to point out that the 1 Voice Beanie is not waterproof. As they note,
The 1 Voice Beanie is not waterproof, but it is water resistant. You may damage the Bluetooth chip or the battery if the hat gets submerged in water. However, since the beanie is water resistant, you can enjoy your favorite music while skiing and snowboarding.
That means that, while the beanie cannot be put it into the washing machine, since the sound disks are removable you can hand wash the beanie. The wireless controller and the sound disks do need to be kept dry so washing them is not an option and heavy downpours might be. (I like the beanie enough that I didn’t want to test this out.)
The 1 Voice Beanie comes in a number of colors and, as you can see from these marketing shots, it is being marketed to urban hipsters I am anything BUT hip and am old enough that I use words like “hipster” but that doesn’t mean I’m not a fan of this beanie. I am!
Features:
- Superior audio quality: No more dangling wires. Sound disks and our Bluetooth receivers are built right into the beanie for unbelievable sound quality. The receiver is now completely removable, and can be used to wirelessly enable any wired acoustic system.
- Convenience and Comfort: No more ear buds constantly falling out of your ears, or worse giving you an earache. An easy to re-charge battery that lasts 6-8 hours.
- Style/Warmth: The beanie is made of a tight knit to keep you toasty on a chilly day. Look good as you enjoy your favorite tunes while going for a run, commuting to work, or hitting the slopes.
- Unisex: One Size Fits All. Machine Washable
Video Review of the 1 Voice NYC Beanie with Bluetooth Stereo
I like the 1 Voice Beanie. It is a great way to stay warm this winter while listening to your music on the go. At just under $60, it is a bit on the pricey side. Once you get past the price, it is a fabulous product that lets you cut the cord but keep the music going. And if beanies aren’t your thing, then you can check out the other wearable audio products they are bringing to market. Learn more about the 1 Voice Beanie, Earmuffs and headband on the company website.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the 1 Voice Beanie with wireless Bluetooth stereo sound
What I Like: Comfortable; Warm; Decent enough sound; Wireless
What Needs Improvement: Pricey; Not machine washable