Priced at Rs 2,799, the earbuds seem to be a decent audio accessory
for people on the go and health and fitness enthusiasts who choose secure fit
over audio performance, call quality and snug fit.
The Hammer KO is a
pair of entry-level true wireless stereo earbuds manufactured by home-grown
technology startup Hammer.
These basic wireless earbuds come with a hook-based design for a secure fit –
that seems to set it apart from peers in the budget segment. Except for hooks,
however, there is nothing novel about these earbuds. They have Bluetooth v5.0
for connectivity, microphones for voice calls, touch controls and IPX4 water
resistance rating.
So far as design
is concerned, these earbuds are not ergonomically sound, thanks to their
hook-based build. But they sure are lightweight. The earbuds are made mostly of
plastic, with matte texture on the outer side, and rubber hooks. The ear hooks
do make them comfortable to wear, but the Hammer
KO lacks snug fit, despite being an in-ear earphones.
This hampers the
earbuds’ passive noise isolation capability. They do not come off the ears
easily, thanks to the hooks, but you need to constantly adjust them for optimal
fit. On the positive side, the earbuds’ ear tips are soft and do not cause any
unnecessary discomfort, even when used for extended hours. The earbuds come in
a rather big storage-cum-charging case, which is not best for carrying around
in hand or jeans pockets. Moreover, the case has an aged microUSB port for
charging.
As for audio
performance, the Hammer KO has a muted sound output, with a weak bass and
underwhelming treble and vocals. There is a built-in microphone on each earbud
for attending calls. However, the microphones fail to pick up voice clearly and
struggle in loud ambient environment. That said, the earbuds are neither good
for music listening experience nor for attending calls. The Hammer KO is touted
to have a 30ft connectivity range, but it loses connection with the parent
device even when it is in close proximity. The earbuds boast touch controls but
they are not intuitive to use.
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