Pioneer SE-C8TW Truly Wireless in-Ear Headphones: A Complete Review

Pioneer SE-C8TW Truly Wireless in-Ear Headphones: Feature and Specifications as mentioned on Amazon

• A truly wireless design (No cables)
• Built-in Bluetooth Veer 4.2
• Pioneer notification app for Android devices
• Approximately 3 hours of continuous playback
• Included charging case with 1-hour recharging
• 3 different ear tip sizes included for the best fit

Pioneer SE-C8TW Truly Wireless in-Ear Headphones: A Complete Review

Wireless headphones somehow quickly became familiar. It seemed that only the first cables had just started to disappear, and now every second one has Earbuds.

Do you not like this design? Such popularity has forced serious manufacturers of audio equipment to choose: “change course” and release their version of truly wireless headphones or lose market share. Many wisely decided to fight.

I have in my hands a solution from Pioneer with the completely unforgettable name SE-C8TW. But the name is not the value of headphones for music lovers. By the way, the manufacturer recommends calling this model simply- Pioneer C8.

Appearance and design features

The set is standard: the headphones themselves, a charging case, a USB Type-C cable, and two pairs of interchangeable rubber nozzles.

The charging case is quite voluminous, moderately heavy, with a metal “shell.” The combination of pleasant coolness, accuracy, and some massiveness creates a feeling of “the real thing,” which is nice to hold in your hands. Pioneer – well done! Unfortunately, Chinese manufacturers cannot offer this.

The case opens like a pencil box: the central part with the headphones comes out from the side – you need to push your finger from the connector’s side. It will not open on its own, even if shaken. Inside there are two ribbed guides, thanks to which a quiet buzzing accompanies the headphones’ removal. I can’t say how quickly they will wear off, but after a week of active use, including regular clicking with a pencil case for pleasure, nothing has changed.

Headphones for charging and storage are placed in recesses with three contacts. The recesses are the same, so you can swap the right and left modules. Well, or follow the inscriptions on the cases. The only thing that is somewhat upset is that sometimes one or the other earphone does not start charging. Then focus on the red LED: if it does not light up, then move the module in the slot and slightly press.

Immediately beneath the connector were four LEDs showing the remaining battery power. It is enough to fully charge the headphones twice and get a total of nine hours of playback. The case itself charges in 3.5 hours, but it all depends on the charger used.

An excellent check was made on the remaining charge: you need to shake or gently tap on the case, and the diodes light up briefly. By the way, they are clearly visible through the rubber plug. Also, for me, a great solution.

The headphones themselves are rubberized. I don’t know what advantages this gives over ordinary plastic, but live it looks fresh and interesting. I will write as a plus. The sound guide is quite large and is located symmetrically.

Control

Management is carried out using a single mechanical button. On the one hand, by pressing the mechanical button, you slightly press the earphone into your ear, which is uncomfortable. On the other hand, there is no problem with recognition – everything will work even with gloves on, which is important for cold weather. Yes, and pressing is pleasant, confident, the course of the button is designed almost perfectly.

Headphones turn on and off by long-pressing the button. There is no auto power on when removing from the case. For better or worse, everyone decides for himself.

Otherwise, everything is standard: a single press starts playback, pauses, or picks up / hangs up. A double press is responsible for rewinding tracks. Only for some reason, the left earphone, and not the right one, is responsible for switching to the next track. It’s strange because most people perceive the movement forward from left to right. Three times press – call voice assistant.

Sound

First, some official data:

• Claimed frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz.
• Driver: dynamic, diameter 6 mm.
• Supported codecs: SBC and AAC. Unfortunately, LDAC or aptX is not.

Headphone bass is abundant. This solution will definitely appeal to fans of low frequencies, but if the composition already has a sufficient number of “bottoms,” then you will hear a rumble. The bass does not control it; it does not have speed; there is no sharp slap/hit. The bass lacks density and saturation; it is somewhat unnatural. It’s a shame because Pioneer is engaged in DJ equipment, where these very basses occupy an important place.

There is now a top-rated “plug”: the bass and treble are raised, and the midrange is omitted. And because of this, the mid-frequency range is not read as well as we would like.

High frequencies are flat, but this is typical for wireless headphones. If the composition has many trebles, then the appearance of a specific “sand” is provided to you. So the only solution here would be if not the selection of music for headphones (which smacks of delirium), then at least correction using the equalizer.

A virtual scene is how you see the room where the music sounds – not deep or wide. The performer seems to be sitting in front of you on a stool and playing only for you alone—a sort of lodger.

Of genre preferences, it is worth highlighting rock as the most not recommended for listening. It will be somewhat porridge and without much enthusiasm. Something light, dance styles, and compositions with synthesized sounds will do best.

Headset Features

You can talk only through the left earphone. A single press will work to receive/hang up the call, and the sound can be heard in only the left earphone. Why doesn’t the right earbud work? It’s still a mystery.

The sound of your interlocutor’s voice is natural, pleasant, uniquely identifiable. Your voice is heard somewhat deafly – a typical story for such a remote microphone location. The interlocutors periodically noted a small “digital” sound but did not notice the wind’s sound at all. I talked, walking along my street, and I was never asked to repeat what was said. So I can declare with all responsibility: the headphones passed the “excellent” test!

Summary: Should you buy Pioneer SE-C8TW Truly Wireless in-Ear Headphones?

Pioneer has a proprietary application that can read out notifications. True, for some reason, it exists only under Android. Whether the version for iOS will appear, the story is silent.

At the time of writing, the lowest price for headphones is $54.06. In my opinion, a little expensive.

Of course, Pioneer is not an unknown Chinese manufacturer. Still, a serious game-changer, in which sound quality is good, is difficult to achieve the highest sound class in True Wireless headset compared to wired solutions.

The assembly plays on hand, a wonderful case with USB Type-C, decent work as a headset, and this is important. But “only” 9 hours of operation (when competitors provide up to 20 hours), Bluetooth 4.2 (many “Chinese” have version 5 already), and not the most interesting sound make the purchase doubtful. I can’t call the headphones bad. But they are clearly overrated. And I sincerely hope that Pioneer fixes it.