Zebronics Speakers, Headphones & Soundbars Reviewed

Table of Content

• Zebronics' foray into audio: A glimpse
  
• Zebronics Speakers: Portable Audio on the Go
  
• Zebronics headphones: Made in India, ready for your everyday life
  
• Zebronics Soundbar: Home Theatre Sound Without the Fuss
  
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Over 20 years have gone into establishing zebronics as one of India's better-known consumer electronics names. From a small, no-frills computer peripherals vendor to a brand with a reach that spans wireless speakers right to cine-grade soundbars. Zebronics has consistently brought products that punch significantly above their weight for a budget-conscious buyer. An inherent knowledge of the Indian market - where value-for-money and features scrutiny are paramount - is etched into every product Zebronics makes.

Zebronics is particularly interesting today due to the breadth and sheer consistency of its audio line. Today, one finds Zebronics speakers, headphones, and soundbars within almost all sections of the budget and mid-range market. A college student searching for a portable Bluetooth speaker, a work-from-home employee on the lookout for a no-frills headset, or a family setting up a home theater, all are found gazing at a Zebronics product. This guide considers Zebronics' performance within these three categories and details the advantages of specific models and purchasing criteria.

Zebronics' foray into audio: A glimpse

The brand's current portfolio wasn't built overnight. It primarily concentrated on computer peripherals during the early 2000s, supplying keyboards, mice, and cabinets to a large number of PC owners all over India. Gradually, audio products started making their presence felt in the portfolio, and these included basic computer speakers and headphones meant for desktop users.

Day by day, I found out that the way people are using audio-visual products all around the world was quite different. The music player was replaced by the phone, and the music disk by a music streaming service. People started looking for audio products that allow people to switch around the media quickly, are connected without wires, and can play audio all day. Thus, it developed a dedicated product range catering specifically to these preferences. This line enabled it to establish a good foothold within the organised retail and e-commerce market and take on foreign brands, but with much lower prices. As a result, zebronics has gained a sizeable customer base consisting of young students and professionals, and also those buying their first ever audio accessory.

For a wide range of electronics and accessories, you can explore Zebronics’ official website for the latest products.

Zebronics Speakers: Portable Audio on the Go

The range of Zebronics speakers is possibly the most visible section of the company’s audio line-up. Head out to any electronics store across India, or go online to any major e-shopping website, and you will find zebronics speakers everywhere, across many different price points.

The Range at the Entry Level

For anyone who just requires the basic wireless speaker functionality without wanting to spend more than a couple of hundred rupees, there is thezeb-County andzeb-Delight speaker, which comes in as a compact cylindrical Bluetooth speaker featuring Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, a playback via a USB and TF card slot, along with an FM radio in the speaker. The speakers deliver four to six hours of battery backup, enough for light indoor usage.

Highlights common across Zebronics’s entry level speakers:

●     Bluetooth 5.0 ensures a steady short-range connection

●     Built-in microphone allows for hands-free calling

●     The TF card slot enables offline music playback

●     Charges via micro-USB/Type-C port, depending on the model

●     Certain models have an IPX5 or IPX6 rating for water resistance.

Mid-Range Speakers To Consider

Taking things up a notch in the price range ladder are speakers such as the Zeb-Delight Pro and Zeb-Bellow 40 speakers that boast improved bass response and battery backup as well. The latter, ZeBellow 40, is a 40w speaker that is also equipped with a passive radiator that boosts its lower frequencies without producing distorted output at higher volumes. Such added emphasis on the lower frequencies goes a long way, especially if you use your speakers at higher volumes or have poorly treated rooms and outdoors, where the room can reflect the lower frequencies appropriately.

The Zeb-Companion series is another interesting addition; it consists of bookshelf-style wired speakers targeted for use alongside computers. These come in wooden enclosures in a few models that not only help with resonance but also reduce cabinet vibrations, thereby preventing distortions and making use of a 3.5mm audio-jack connection.

Points to remember before buying

●     Output wattage is usually inflated by companies. A 40W speaker from zebronics givespeak power and not its RMS or constant power. So do not expect a deafening volume as it sounds on paper.

●     Battery life may not be as stated on paper because usage level matters. While running at 70% of maximum volume may last for 4-6 hours, continuous usage at 100% may bring that down to 1-2 hours or so.

●     The microphone quality on the entry-level models is barely passable for phone calls. However, it may not be appropriate to use for professional conference calls or for recording.

Zebronics headphones: Made in India, ready for your everyday life

The range of Zebronics headphones has expanded greatly in recent years, and a progression that is important to look at is the brand's increasing shift toward producing its headphones domestically. This product range, by Zebronics, is an all-India manufacturing marvel with a dynamic EQ allowing the user to switch to a varied sound preset perfect for music, movies, or calls.

What is the "Dynamic EQ" feature?

Dynamic EQ isn't anything new in audio, but it's not often available on budget headphones. Compatible zebronics headphones have a button on the ear cup that lets the listener flick through pre-set EQ profiles. These usually consist of:

●     Bass Boost boosts bass response for genres such as electronic music and hip-hop

●     Vocal Clarity-raises the mid-frequencies to make speech easier to understand on calls or through podcasts

●     Flat/Natural-This provides audio at a neutral output, often the preferred option when listening to music in the genre of classical or audiobooks

This makes headphones on which this feature is found much more flexible than their single EQ profile rivals in similar price ranges.

Over-Ear vs On-Ear Headphones

Headphones are available for use, either Over-Ear and On-Ear, from zebronics. The Over-Ear headphones, which are represented by models like the Zeb-Duke and Zeb-Slam, permit a greater amount of passive noise cancellation since the earcup encompasses the entire ear. However, the On-Ear versions, which are lighter and more portable, are subject to external ambient noise leak.

Over-ear headphones are usually preferred when students and commuters have to wear them for extended periods due to their greater comfort. Models like those available at Croma often feature sufficient padding on the headband along with low clamping pressure, making it easier to enjoy listening sessions that last two to three hours without any discomfort.

Wired vs Wireless

The zebronics family of wired headphones generally includes basic stereo headphones that can connect to your device via a 3.5mm jack. A lot of the models of Zebronics headphones have an inline mic, so they can be plugged into your computer/gaming rig and used for taking calls/gaming. Wireless headphones by Zebronics connect via Bluetooth 5.0/5.3, and play time on most of these models can be between 20 and 40 hours on a full charge, depending on the model of the headphone.

One of the major perks of using a wired headphone is latency. Wireless audio has some inherent latency built in (it becomes somewhat noticeable when watching a video). When used for a gaming PC/editing, you get zero latency, making the wired headset preferable for professional use.

Zebronics Soundbar: Home Theatre Sound Without the Fuss

The range of zebronics sound bar represents the brand’s highest tier for audio products. Shipping with a hefty 900W output, the Juke Bar 9920 aims to compete with full-blown home theatre brands by including support for Dolby Atmos.

The Juke Bar 9920: Unique Features

Support for Dolby Atmos in this price range is quite unusual, as most Dolby Atmos soundbars are several times more expensive. For a brand that's traditionally known for budget products, sending out a 900W sound bar with this feature means that it's trying its luck at the next level.

Some notable specifications for the Juke Bar 9920 are:

●     900W total system output

●     Dolby Atmos & DTS:X support

●     Wireless subwoofer for convenience

●     HDMI ARC connectivity with the TV

●     Bluetooth 5.0 support for streaming

●     Wall-mountable design

The Dolby Atmos processing delivers a sense of height and dimension that ordinary flat speakers can't. It makes a difference whether you’re watching an action movie or listening to a concert recorded in Atmos.

Middle-tier sound bars

If you don't need 900W, then the Zeb-Juke Bar 3820 & Zeb-Juke Bar 5530 produce reasonable stereo sound, with the sub, in medium-sized rooms. Both can easily connect via bluetooth optical & aux.

How to setup a Zebronics Soundbar

It’s remarkably simple compared to setting up full home theatre systems. All you need are 2-3 cables:

●     HDMI ARC or optical to the TV

●     Power cable to both the TV and the subwoofer

●     Bluetooth pairing if using your phone as a source

Zebronics sound bars typically feature simple remotes where you can adjust volume, input sources, bass boost, and choose EQ presets. No separate apps or calibration devices needed.

Conclusion

Something that many consumer electronics manufacturers fail to build is a catalog that has products that actually serve the purpose for a large cross-section of customers without pretending to be something it isn’t. Zebronics has managed to build one, both for portable and desktop needs, in its Zebronics speaker catalog, which offers unadulterated, functional, portable sound devices and desktop solutions.

 The zebronics catalog is similar. It has an extensive range, but has also provided the necessary feature additions to a normal catalog with features such as Dynamic EQ and proudly states Made in India, making it stand out from the crowd. Besides that, the company has also successfully made its place in the soundbar market with the Juke Bar 9920, which also possesses Dolby Atmos, showing their capability to stand their ground in the premium segment as well. Being a producer of economical and practical audio devices, it is still one of the safest options for the average Indian user.

FAQs

1. Zebronics products reliable in the long run?

Zebronics' build quality is decent for regular everyday usage at the entry-level, although at the low end, the materials reflect the cost. The mid and premium Zebronics range are quite well-built. Most models are supported by a year's warranty and there's a decent service network within India.

2. Zebronics speakers vs. JBL or Boat at the same price?

At similar price points, Zebronics speakers generally boast features that are missing from competing models, like built-in FM Radio and TF Card support. The sound profile is broadly similar with JBL offering crisper highs and Boat focusing more on bass. The response for general listening is more balanced.

3. Zebronics headphones can be used for gaming?

Several zebronics headphones are marketed as suitable for gaming with support for wide sound staging and microphone. For casual gaming, these perform decent but in competitive gaming which requires pinpoint positional audio you should opt for a specialized gaming headset with surround sound processing.

4. Does Juke Bar 9920 need a specific TV for Dolby Atmos?

The TV should have HDMI ARC/eARC and be capable of passing a Dolby Atmos signal to the external device. Any smart TV released after 2018 likely satisfies these conditions but it would be wise to double check in your TV settings.

5. Where can I buy Zebronics products in India?

Zebronics products are sold on their official website, and all major Indian e-commerce sites, including Amazon and Flipkart, as well as via many online and offline retailers such as Croma, Reliance Digital and independent computer shops all across the country.