Lately, a lot of indigenous startups are popping up in the audio space. One such brand is the Gurugram based World of Play. It is Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain’s latest enterprise dealing in connected devices. N82 is a neckband earphone from its PlayGo lineup.
PlayGo N82 comes at Rs. 2,999 and one of its highlight features is the support for Active Noise Cancellation. The sales pitch also consists of Extra Bass mode, up to 16 hours of battery life, and IPX5 water resistance.
The brand is also offering Play at Home service wherein the defective product will be picked up by the company and returned post repair. That’s a cool proposal and all. But, what mainly a customer would like to know is how the newfangled thing sounds. In our PlayGo N82 review, we will share our experience and try to answer if this is a good buy.
First, the hardware specifications —
PlayGo N82 Specs and Price
| Model | PlayGo N82 |
| Driver | 13mm |
| Working frequency | 20 to 20,000Hz |
| Wireless Connection | Bluetooth 5.0, up to 33 feet |
| Ingress protection | IPX5 water resistance |
| Battery | Buds: up to 16Hr from 300mAh; Charging time: 2Hrs, micro USB |
| Colors | Graphite Grey, Metallic Blue, and Metallic Teal |
| Price | Rs. 2,999 |
PlayGo N82 Unboxing
The box contents are:
- The earphones
- Two additional pair of silicone ear tips
- micro-USB cable
- User manual and Warranty card
PlayGo N82 Review: Design and Build
You can pick the N82 in Graphite Grey, Metallic Blue, and Metallic Teal colors. Our is the former and it has a calm demeanor. The neckband is made of decent quality rubberized material and is flexible enough to twist and coil into a backpack. The plastic portion feels tacky though.
You can wear it while going out for a jog, and it will sit comfortably around your neck. The buds don’t jolt out of the ears and the whole thing doesn’t askew that easily. Play has done a good job with its light footprint, fair weight balance, and length of the wire. Oo and the magnetic bud ends are nice to have. The bud ends do satisfyingly fasten but that doesn’t pause the music. So, I feel like deducting a point here.
The default pair of ear tips weren’t fit for me. Thankfully, one of the bundled (additional) ear cushions worked. So, that’s sorted. What I don’t really like is the presence of a micro-USB port.
ALSO READ: Realme Buds Wireless Pro ANC Review
PlayGo N82 Review: Connectivity, Controls and Battery Life
It is pretty easy to set up and connect the earphones with a phone or PC. Simply press the lowest button on the left side control center for a few seconds and you’ll hear the intimation of activation and pairing. Select the PlayGo N82 from the Bluetooth settings on your other device. It will tether and you’re good to go.
You can press the following keys and key combinations to get various things done:
- Press the ANC button for a few seconds to toggle active noise cancellation on or off.
- Press on the Volume + or – buttons for well, you know.
- Press the Power and Volume Minus buttons for a few seconds to jazz up the extra bass.
In my usage, the N82 ran for 15.30 hours (with ANC on and at 70% volume), which is closer to the 16Hr claim from the brand. It takes about 2 hours to fully chargeback. By and large, I am happy with the battery performance here.
PlayGo N82 Review: Audio and ANC
PlayGo N82’s 13mm internal driver produces surprisingly good sound. It is one of the loudest sounding pairs I have experienced in the segment. Although, for the fear of earache, I didn’t dare to use it anymore beyond 70% of volume.
By default, the audio signature is well rounded. There is ample room for various music elements to discernibly shine. In Garaj Garaj Jugalbandi from Bandish Bandits, my ears could pick the tabla, harmonium, and a gush of other instruments in the background, while the vocals were jumping scales. I tested this alongside the pricier Amazfit Powerbuds (review) and the highs and lows in the singers’ voice were better audible in N82. Similarly, in another song by the name — An Issue by Lalinea, the sound staging, and bass drops hit me on another level.
There is a dedicated Extra Bass mode here. I didn’t feel the need for it though as even without it, the output was warm. The bass has got a precise thump. And enabling the Extra Bass dampens the general details, you’d otherwise experience.
ANC should be helpful in hushing some of the homely noise, you’d encounter whilst working. But, since I haven’t been out and about much, I can’t say how these would work in the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lastly, mic check, testing 1 2 3, the call experience was alright for both parties.
ALSO READ: Skullcandy Method ANC Review
PlayGo N82 Review: Verdict
So, there’s very little not to like here. You are getting a fine-sounding in-ear earphone that has an alright build and a useful noise cancellation feature. While it scores praise for the battery life and water resistance, loses out some points for the dated port choice and inexpensive plastic build.
But, overall, for a brand that’s rather new in the scene, Play has done an impressive job with N82. You can definitely consider them for the sub 3K price tag. It is available via Amazon and Flipkart. The native brand is expanding its reach in the offline market too. Play is already available in a hundred cities and around 10,000 stores. So, you may be able to enjoy the touch and feel experience before making the purchase.
Pros
- Nifty active noise cancellation
- Nice audio output
- Long battery life
Cons
- Micro-USB port
- Slightly cheap-feeling plastic
