TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - Amidst all the pure black true wireless earphones, Sabbat actually offers the E12 in different colours with a premium shiny, metallic look. It's not the only choice you can make.
Specs of the Sabbat E12:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
+-6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and a USB-C cable
$65 on AliExpress or Amazon US/ EU/ UK - check current price
Design, charging and comfort
Sabbat E12's charging case is made from a cheap, shiny plastic. It's a fingerprint magnet, but it's a clever one, with a USB-C charging port supporting fast charging (listen 2-3 hours by charging 15 min), four light indicators showing how many battery of its 750mAh power the case has left, and it even supports wireless charging. Place it on a charging mat, and the case will recharge.
The earpieces itself are available in different colours, such as shiny red or silver metallic. Even though it's all plastic, it looks like a premium product. A downside are the small nozzles on the earpieces. Three times, I've had a rubber ear tip stuck in my ear after I took out the Sabbat E12. To avoid this, you have to pull the rubber ear tips all the way down on the nozzle. On quite a few of the 8 pair (!) delivered ear tips, the seal will then be flimsy however, because you may not get the Sabbat E12 deep enough in your ear.
It's definitely possible to have a comfortable fit with the E12, but it may not be the most tight, trustworthy fit you'll find on an earphone.
Connectivity and controls
Connecting the Sabbat E12 to your device, is as easy as taking both earpieces out of the charging case. They will disconnect once you put them in again, and reconnect out of them just as simple. The Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity holds for about 10 meter and is stable during music and calls.
The earpieces have physical buttons, but you don't have to press them painfully hard to get them to work. Click once and you'll play/ pause, click twice for the next or previous song and hold the button for two seconds to activate the voice assistant of your phone. Or... click three times to adjust the volume up (right) or down (left). It's great to have volume buttons on your earphones. The Sabbat controls like a breeze.
Calling and watching movies
If Sabbat has something under control, it's the call quality of their true wireless earphones. The Sabbat X12, which has an AirPod-like insertion rather than a rubber in-ear one that closes in your ear, offered maybe the best quality on the market. The Sabbat E12 extends that position. The microphone quality is good. On the other end of the line you'll sound a bit far away, though clear and loud enough.
Watching movies is flawless on Android, as is the case with almost all wireless earbuds and earphones. Unfortunately, just like with so many competitors, audio doesn't sync well with video in YouTube on an iPhone.
Sound: Two different sound signatures
The Sabbat E12 have a metallic look - they are plastic however
The Sabbat E12 has seen high praise, but I'd like to make a few notes on the sound quality. Foremost, let's get something out of the way. Some customer reviewers are complaining the Sabbat has way too much bass, and that it drowns out the other frequencies. Other users surprisingly experience a lack of bass.
The tiny nozzle and short ear tips definitely play their part in this. It comes hugely recommended to try the seven (!) pair ear tips that come delivered with the E12. The transparant ear tips offer more transparency in the sound, the black ones emphasise the bass.
With the transparent tips, the bass is best described as supportive. It's there when it needs to be - not very deep, not with a big thump - it's a smooth, warm addition to the mids and highs.
Higher notes play the main role on the E12. With the transparant tips, the Sabbat makes them sound warm, and makes enormous room for violins, (female) vocals and the like. They can seriously sparkle on the E12, brimming with detail and nuances. They're surrounded by lots of air: music is everywhere around you, at a pleasant distance rather than pumping directly in your ears.
Unfortunately, with the transparant tips, the upper mids and highs can also sound exaggerated. In podcasts, vlogs or music playback on high volumes, voices can sound a little blown up, reaching harsh levels at times. You may want to turn the volume down on some moments.
With the black tips, the highest and harshest notes are reduced a bit, and lower mids and bass gets more presence. Unfortunately, mids like male vocals and guitars, are muffled a bit more in this scenario. The black tips also take away some of the impressive airiness the E12 can achieve with the other tips.
So here we have it: the Sabbat E12 sounds good in its own way with two different kind of ear tips, but fails to combine all the greatest elements in one experience.
Verdict
Are practicality and calling important on your true wireless earphone? With all the important controls on its earpieces and the above average call quality, the Sabbat E12 may be right for you. Definitely take time to discover the different ear tips on this one.
FOUR STARS - RECOMMENDED
Buy the Sabbat E12 / check current price:
Buy Sabbat E12 at Amazon Europe (Germany)
I bought the Sabbat E12 for my own listening and review purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
