[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]Tested at $26

Today we’ve got a budget Bluetooth earphone, the Blitzwolf BW-BTS1. The BTS1 is a beautifully crafted earphone with an IPX4 rating, meaning it’s sweat and splash proof so it’s great for use while playing sports or working out.

With its CNC steel body, 6+ hours of battery life and great sound this is my current favourite ultra-budget Bluetooth earphone. Read on to find out why.

Buy on:

Specifications

Bluetooth Version	CSR8645 V4.1
Transmission   Distance	10m
Receive Sensitivity	97dB±3dB
Frequency   Response	20-20kHz
Battery Capacity	110mAh 3.7,V
Charging Time (h)	1.5h
Talking Time	7h
Music Time (h)	6-8h
Standby Time (h)	200h

Package and Accessories

The Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 comes in a super simple white cardboard box with green trim and the model number printed on the front.

Inside is a black zipper case with Blitzwolf branding in white on the top. The BTS1 earbuds and the rest of the accessories are found inside the zipper case.

Inside the box

• Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 Bluetooth earphone
• USB to Micro-USB charging cable
• Shirt clip
• 3x pairs of silicone wings (S, M, L)
• 3x pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L)
  
• 1x cable cinch
• User manual and warranty card

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Build Quality and Design

The Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 has a simple but very solid build quality. The first thing that stood out to me was the polished finish and sturdy housings. These feel really robust in the hand and the oxidised black paint is super smooth to the touch.

Its earpieces consist of a long cylindrical body with an angled nozzle. You can see the Blitzwolf branding printed in white along the side of the body. There is a small vent near the base of the nozzle and the nozzle itself has a solid ridge to secure the eartips.

One thing I love about the BW-BTS1 is the magnetic shells. The magnets snap firmly together and then the earphones can be worn securely around your neck when not in use.

Partway down the smooth, rubberized cable is a 3-button inline control and microphone. All 3 of the buttons have raised symbols on them so you can tell which one is which without looking. This is where you’ll find the USB charging port as well, just next to the – button.

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Comfort and Noise Isolation

The BTS1’s familiar cylindrical shape is one that is common to many earphones, except that in this case they’re much longer their wired counterparts. This means they protrude out from your ears a bit but this doesn’t affect comfort in any way.

Thanks to their super smooth finish the housings feel exceptionally comfortable. They’re quite similar to other Bluetooth earphones such as the excellent 1MORE iBFree and more comfortable than others, such as the Brainwavz BLU-200.

Noise isolation is quite good, helped in part by the silicone wings that add an extra seal on top of the eartips. With music playing, you won’t hear much of what’s going on around you. Noise leak is very minimal too, so you’re unlikely to disturb anyone nearby with your music.

Functionality and Operation

You can actually connect up to 2 Bluetooth sources simultaneously and easily switch between them. This is a pretty neat feature so could swap between two different phones or between a phone and a DAP, for example.

Bluetooth operation is similar to other devices so if you’ve used one before you’ll be familiar with it right away. The BTS1 has an operational distance of up to 10m.

The LED located on the inline control indicates various states. For example, it flashes blue and red when in pairing mode and it flashes blue intermittently when paired to a Bluetooth device. The LED is very small and not too bright so you won’t notice it at all unless you’re looking right at it. Nice!

There are voice prompts which people generally love or hate. Personally I like them, so it makes me happy when I get prompts for things such as:

• Power on
• Power off
• Battery Low
• Pairing
• Phone One Connected
• Phone Two Connected

Battery Life

The BTS1 is rated to have a 6-8 hour battery life depending on how you use it and that was spot-on for me during testing. Using the USB cable you can fully charge the battery in 1.5 hours and there’s a red LED that shows the charge status.

There’s a 200 hour standby time, 6 hours of music playback and 7 hours of call time. 

Sound

So what can you expect when it comes to sound from a $25 Bluetooth earphone? Well, you might be very surprised. The Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 actually sounds really good and it can compete with and even outperform several wired IEMs in the same price range.

The BTS1 has a warm sound with punchy bass, clear midrange and smooth treble.

Bass

It carries weight and authority but it’s not overdone in the least. I find it very tastefully done and it adds just the right amount of body to the sound. A slow attack and decay give the mid-bass a meatiness that is enthusiastic but not overdone. Remember, this is a sports earphone so a bit of extra bass is likely what people would want here.

Mids

With some of the warmth carrying over from the meaty bass, there is some bleed into the mids. The BTS1’s midrange is warm and smooth. There’s good clarity throughout and while it’s not the most resolving it is smooth and easy on the ears. It doesn’t sound recessed but is fairly intimate and relaxed.

Treble

Just like the rest of the BTS1 signature, the treble is smooth and not harsh in any way. It’s crisp enough to reveal some detail and provide clarity without any hint of sibilance or fatiguing brightness.

Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 Conclusion

So there you have it. The Blitzwolf BW-BTS1 is a great Bluetooth earphone for sports, working out or just everyday use. It’s has a high-quality construction, good battery life and excellent sound quality. But my favourite thing about the BW-BTS1 is the price. At just $25 this one is a steal.

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