REVIEW: Philips TAT1209BK is a cheap and complete wireless headset

Wireless headphones have become synonymous with freedom, haven't they? And for those who don't want to spend more than R$200 on a product like this, Philips TAT1209BK It comes with the proposal of delivering good bass and interesting acoustic isolation, even without noise cancellation. See what we think.

Design

The model follows the standard of models in this category: simple, but usual. It is all black (although it was launched in pink and white variants abroad) and there is a small LED on each unit to indicate that both headphones are connected to your smartphone. In addition to fitting well in the ear, it is nice to note that the carrying case fits in your pocket, making it easy to carry around on a daily basis.

The box, in addition to the carrying case, also contains the instruction manuals and a USB-C cable for recharging. You can use your cell phone's power source, or connect the USB-C cable to a computer to recharge.

Regarding the shape of the headphones, they are in-ear – the kind that “enters” the ear so that the sound is sent directly to the ear canal. Honestly, I prefer the models with sponge, as I am a person who listens to music for most of the day, but, on occasions when I was away from home and needed a simpler model, Philips TAT1209BK was present because it was light and compact.

In addition to the silicone rubbers present in the models, there are three other options for the headphones to fit perfectly in your ear. It is interesting to use the smallest ones to have a good fit, but this is up to you.

And the model also has IPX4 certification, which guarantees operation even if it comes into contact with splashes of water or sweat.

Audio quality

The big highlight of this headset is Philips are its great bass. Although it is not a premium model, it managed to deliver superior quality to many headphones that I have tested in these almost four years that I have been in the showmetech. To make this work, it has a sound system with 10-millimeter directional speakers on both sides and a maximum sensitivity of 97 decibels.

The day-to-day experience is very assertive: songs with stronger bass and very well reproduced drums and bass. In addition, I noticed details in music production that were generally imperceptible when using models from other brands.

You can turn the bass boost on or off with three taps on the earbuds, but I strongly recommend having it on at all times when you have the earbuds on. I will point out that wireless in-ear headphones are not my favorite type, but when using them in situations where foam earbuds would be unfeasible, I was quite impressed by the high quality for the price of this model.

The highs are not this model's strong point: in situations where the singers' voices were a little thinner, I noticed a slight distortion, but nothing that is a big problem. The marketing material is all focused on highlighting that the Philips TAT1209BK delivers “great bass”, so it makes sense that this is the model’s negative point.

At the same time, this does not mean that fans of singers and bands with higher-pitched vocals will have a bad experience, but it is important to know that, in fact, this is not its best feature. But for a model below the R$200 range, the bass delivered was of great quality.

Insulation

Because it is part of the entry-level category, this model does not have noise cancellation for its music playback. However, at the same time, it is possible to notice that the rubber ear pads sent by Philips provide good muffling. Combined with medium to high volumes, we come close to a noise cancellation experience.

When making calls, the processor in these headphones can identify the action and perform a slight noise cancellation, but just the way the rubbers fit in the ear is enough for the user to have a good experience.

Still, it is worth remembering that the Philips TAT1209BK It's a headset that costs under R$200. So don't expect it to have noise cancellation or a voice detector that lowers the volume when you're talking to someone, as these are features present in more expensive models.

However, its fit manages to provide a certain level of muffling of external noise and I recommend that, when you are walking on the street, you keep the volume level between low and medium, as maximum volume “blocks out” everything around you.

Use of gestures

Here we have an aspect that may be a problem for some users: the gesture control cannot be changed if you want to. Philips lists all of them in the instruction manual sent in the product box, so it's up to you to memorize them. They are:

Gesture	Headphone side	Action
One touch	Both sides	Answer a call
One touch	Left	Bass Boost Activation
two rings	Left	Game mode activation (focused on reducing latency)
two rings	Right	Pause or play a song
three rings	Right	Skip to next track
three rings	Left	Go back one track
two rings	Both sides	Hang up a call
Press the sensor for two seconds	Right	Turn on the microphone

If your cell phone is far away, using gestures is very interesting, but this model lacks support for the application Philips Headphones, available to Android e iOS, makes this experience a bit confusing.

Who knows, a future update might allow buyers to configure gestures however they want, but until then, count on your memory to remember everything the way you want it. Philips he chose.

Connectivity

To connect with other wireless devices, the Philips inserted an antenna Bluetooth 5.3 that delivers a range of ten meters and allows it to connect with smartphones with Android ou iOS, but you can also use it connected to Macs or Windows computers.

However, it is only possible to use the Philips TAT1209BK connected to one device at a time, so you will need to make the choice here. So much so that when it is connected to a cell phone or computer, it is not even detectable by other devices.

Battery

In addition to the good bass, another good point of this wireless headset is TWS Philips's biggest selling point is its battery life. The manufacturer promises a maximum of 18 hours of battery life with the support of the carrying case – enough for a full day of normal use, if you consider the time you spend sleeping. In theory, the headphones charge for six hours and the carrying case charges for another twelve hours.

In my experience, the model managed to reach a maximum of 17 hours when the volume was at maximum level. I used it for 5 continuous hours and, when I put the model to recharge, I used it for two more times of 6 hours each.

Charging, done via the USB-C port on the back of the carrying case, takes two hours to complete. My tip here is to plug the model into the socket overnight, so you won't be caught off guard by a low battery life.

Price

O Philips TAT1209BK can be found in the following stores for:

• R$ 159,90 at Amazon
• R$ 146 in the Free Market
• BRL 190 at Magazine Luiza

When looking at this price range, it is a direct competitor of the Airdots, da Xiaomi, which can be found on Amazon for R$ 112.

Conclusion

Considering its price range and category in which it is inserted, the option of Philips It delivers an interesting sound experience, especially if you are someone who values ​​quality bass. Although it does not have noise cancellation, its insulation can muffle external sounds, giving that preview of a premium experience.

Another highlight is its long battery life, as it can run for five hours straight and, with the support of the carrying case, it reaches the end of the day with enough battery to be active the next day. As it is recharged via USB-C port, you have the convenience of using the same charger as your cell phone with the Philips TAT1209BK. The purchase recommendation is showmetech.

Technical Specifications

Mark	Philips
Model	TAT1209BK
driver	Dynamic, 40mm
Frequency response	20 20.000-Hz
Impedance	16 Ohm
Protection	IPX4, against splashes and sweat
Shot Put	35 grams
Surround Sound 7.1	Yes
Noise cancellation	No
Battery life	Up to 16 hours of direct talk time
Wireless range	Up to 10 meters
Loading	USB-C
wire type	USB Charging Cable
cable size	30 cm
Price	R$ 159,90 at Amazon R$ 146 in the Free Market BRL 190 at Magazine Luiza

Do you have any questions about the experience using this model? Tell us Comment!

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