ADV. Model X+

ADV Model X+ Review: Basshead cleverly done

ADV (formerly Advanced) is going wild with their range of TWS products nowadays, one of them being Model X. Nope, it is Model X+ to be exact. They recently launched their upgraded Plus(+) model, taking over their former Model X that gained quite a good reaction among the community. Let us now go through the features, sound quality, and performance of Model X+.

Packaging

Model X+ comes in a modern, dark-themed packaging with detailed spec and info printed on the outer sleeve. Other than the earpieces, it includes a charging case, 4 pairs of silicone tips, 1 pair of foam tip, a wrist strap, a cloth carrying pouch, a Type-C charging cable, and paperwork. It is good to see them including additional carrying pouch and wrist strap, which I found quite useful when carrying around.

Spec and features

Earpieces sport the same shape and design as the original Model X but with everything upgraded for the interiors. Let us go through the changes that were taken from the old one. Model X+ uses a large 10mm graphene dynamic driver with a new tuning that lifted up sub-bass and lower treble for fuller and richer sound. Model X+ now also supports mono mode for both left and right earpieces. It does not require extra settings and simply pulling out a single earpiece would do the job. The earpieces would automatically divert back to stereo mode once the mono earpiece detects the other earpiece, which is quite handy and hassle-free.

The faceplates are touch-sensitive and could be controlled by taking different actions. Taping once for play&pause / answer&end phone calls. Taping twice for previous / skip tracks. Tap and hold for volume control - applying to the left earpiece would gradually decrease the volume while the right earpiece would increase it. Lastly, taping three times would activate voice control if available.

Design and comfort

Quite a sleek, sexy design the Model X+ has. Somewhat simplistic in design, but not boring or stale. The housing is made of durable and lightweight with all components bonded near seamlessly. The inner side of the shell is finished with a fine grainy texture with a matte black color, making it look nice to the eyes and feel nice to the ears. The outer side of the shell has a glossy black finish with a long LED indicator on the lower side that blinks in cyan. There is a small vent on the upper side of the faceplate for pressure release.

The nozzle is average in length along with the shape and angle ergonomically made. The nozzle diameter is about T400 and has that short nozzle shape found from most other TWS IEMs. Although the earpiece looks to be large, the housing narrows down as it heads to the nozzle and snugs into the canals without any bothering edges or humps. The thickness is also on the slimmer side and will not stick out from the ears. The fit is very firm and stable, yet to experience any shaking even when I was doing exercises. Overall, the shapes are very ergonomically made and would fit most people without a problem.

Playtime and connectivity

Model X+ plays for 5-hours on a single charge and possible to play up to 25 hours by its charging case. A 5-hour length is more than enough for me to use them without feeling pressured to charge. So far, I have never run out of battery during usage. The charging speed for the earpieces is pretty fast too. I was not able to find any official specs for that, but I can see the charging speed is sure above average.


For latency, Model X+ performs very well. I was not able to catch any latency while synced with games or videos, at least to my senses. Bluetooth stability is also up to par and maintains a consistent connection. Not the "best of the best" connection I have seen so far, but definitely in the "very stable" range. unless the antenna part of the device is excessively covered or blocked, the connection always stays intact for both earpieces and provides an unbothered listening experience. The connection strength is also quite good and keeps a smooth transmission even when the device is fairly far away. The official spec tells the connection distance reaches up to 10m which my testing turned out to be the same as described.

Charging case / Function

Despite the smaller and slimmer size, the charging case has been packed with more features. The opening is installed with magnets along with the case supporting wireless QI charging. Model X+ now uses a Type-C charging port which allows the case to be charged visibly faster. A single LED light is installed at the front of the case which stays turned on when the earpieces are getting charged and blinks once the charging is completed. However, there does not seem to be a way to identify the remaining battery amount of the case.


Another drawback is that the earpiece cradles are very shallow which precisely fits in with the earpieces - but by a narrow margin, which is also for the stock tips only. Almost any other TWS eartips (Spinfits, E-Pro, etc.) will keep the earpieces bulged out from the cradle, making it impossible to close the case. Besides, the earpieces will automatically turn off once the earpieces are correctly stored in the charging case - which means that if you are going to use those aftermarket tips, you will have to manually remove the eartips and store them elsewhere every time after usage. Of course, this wouldn't be an issue if you use the stock tips (or any compatible aftermarket tips).

Sound impression - Lows

Model X+ sports a bassy sound signature topped with delicate upper frequencies. Lows are quite large in body and show a strong, bold, and dark rumble. It does produce reverbs, but not too overdone or bloated. The texture feels soft which focuses more on smoothly flowing down the bass like a water flow. Quite impressing as the bass is very large and vibrant in both quantity and color, yet it does not lose its core density as well as delivering lively dynamics. Those lifeless, loosened-up basshead sounds are never the case for Model X+. I would say Model X+ stays loyal to the basshead sound signature while thoroughly respecting the high-fidelity criteria at the same time.

Sound impression - Mids

Although the lower mids are very slightly recessed (more like a half step back), it has large and full-bodied imaging that keeps the vocals just as prominent - but in a complete fatigue-free manner. The imaging size for the mids is just as big as the lows, actually. Anywho, I believe this action has been done purposely as the vocals are vividly presented but never gets tiring or spiky. Upper mids have a good amount of air, but with a warm temperature and only highlighted within maintaining the relaxing, smooth atmosphere. Upper mids also gain a minor amount of crispiness, but not much. It serves more like a nudge to let the listener feel a bit of a refreshing bite. Vocals are powerful in dynamics and liveliness with a decent tonality. Both male and female vocals work out well, though it does a better job processing meaty-sounding vocals. Spikes or sibilances are not found whatsoever.

Sound impression - highs

Highs are a little more recessed than the mids and also a lot lesser in quantity. Though it does not necessarily feel like the highs are lacking in frequency range as I could hear the small micro treble details from the behind - just very small in imaging size and quantity. It does a minimum job which is to deliver just the necessary details only and not taking a step further than that. In Model X+, highs are a secondary element that supplements the lows and mids with small shines and treble tingles. This will continue the fatigue-free, warm sound signature but good enough to relieve the atmosphere from getting too warmish or stuffy.


Staging is quite large, mainly done by the deep, vast bass, supplemented by the just as large vocals, and lastly, the small treble garnishes on the top. Separation is thoroughly up to par and does not get mixed up in instruments. Those small portions of highs are important a lot more than you would think when looking at the big picture, as they take quite a big role in taking charge of the analytical performance.

Verdicts

TWS products are still in an experimental stage to this day, meaning they still have inherent flaws that are left as future assignments - mainly sound quality and stability. Nevertheless, Model X+ is a very well made, high-quality product that is hard to find any major flaws or disappointments to complain about, especially for its reasonable asking price. This one is going to be easily recommendable for anybody looking for a quality, reliable TWS earphone.

Specifications

• Driver unit: 10mm graphene dynamic driver
• Impedance: 32ohm+/-15%
• Sensitivity: 90dB+/-3dB at 1kHz
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Music time: Up to 25 hours (w/ case) / up to 5 hours (earphones only)
• Charging time: 1 hour
• BT version: 5.0
• Connection distance: 10m (33ft)
• Input port: USB-C
• Battery: 400mAh (case) / 50mAh x 2 (earphones)

Model X+ product page

Price: $80.

3 years warranty!

Credits to the ADV. team for providing the Model X+ for review.

Design


Being a true-wireless pair the Model X+ is well-shaped considered the dynamic graphene driver of 10mm and having all the wireless tech inside, battery, antenna, etc. Even so, the earpieces are very light made of all plastic which feels of good quality. The shape and color are nice too, shiny black on the outer side and a more matte finish for the inner side. Moreover, it features good ergonomics in spite of the larger shells with good nozzle angle, length and about standard width. Ear tips rolling is fine and actually highly recommended for the Model X; personally I’ve settled with the Spinfit CP360 for a best seal. Isolation is quite good and the earphones sit fixed, rarely needing to be adjusted. Another advantage on the Model X+ is the IPX5 rating, convenient enough if used under rainy days or active use.


The charging storage case is compact and very light with a rubber-like coating. Charging port has been updated to the modern Type-C USB and also features wireless Qi charging (not tried yet). It may not be as tough as metal charging cases found with other TW earphones, but then it is way much comfortable to carry around. There is very small LED light outside to indicate the case battery level. The case will store the earphones with any of the included tips installed but may not fit other tips (e.g., SpinFit).


There are integrated touch controls on both sides for usual playback functions as play, pause and track skipping, phone calls, and also volume control and voice assistance with the corresponding app. It is also possible to manually power off the earphones - alternatively, they will turn off after a few minutes of being paused. The touch section has a concave shape what makes easier, more natural to operate over other touch buttons on other true-wireless models, and also more comfortable than those having a large physical button that needs to be pressed towards the ear.


Battery and Wireless performance

Battery time is about what could be considered now a standard or bit above. The earphones hold around 5~6 hours of playback, and the case will add a few cycles more. The case is compact to carry anyway and the earphones charge fast enough.

Bluetooth version is of 5.0, now a usual standard for true-wireless sets. Pairing is simple and next connections are fast. The wireless connectivity is very stable, rarely drops or pause of transmission. No interference or noise on the audio signal even on crowded areas, and no hiss either. Supported codecs are limited to only SBC and AAC; no AptX unfortunately.


Sound

Right out of the box, I immediately found the sound on the Model X+ to be positive. However, there is just one important condition – the right ear tips. Unlike other true-wireless sets where the included tips are decent to good, the ones on the Model X+ are not favorable at all. Probably due the shape and/or length of the tips as they don’t provide a decent fit and seal. Moreover, they tend to muffle the sound quality. I had to switch to the Spinfit CP360 which are made specifically for TWS sets, but other tips work as well on the Model X, as long as they don’t have a too wide core. Sony tips (usually known as ‘hybrid’ tips) work just fine and improve the sound as well.

My preferences when trying a wireless (or true-wireless) set may vary from the usual wired in-ear earphones, and partly due the form factor and portability, where the total balance and accuracy can be traded for a more fun and easy going sound. It is not to say the Model X is lacking in detail or overall balance, but it is more about being fun to listen, forgetting about cables and a more dedicated audio source, and actually, the Model X has become one of the most wireless sets I’ve been using along another favorite pair, the Jays m-Seven.

Overall, the Model X+ presents a kind of v-shaped signature; not a sharp curve but you definitely get a warm tuning with a stronger emphasis on the low-end and enough energy on the highs. It is a bit dark sounding but nothing dull or off sounding. The bass is more dominating, impactful and full. Texture is thick, missing in some layering but then it is fun and not too overwhelming. Sub-bass has strong presence, though the mid-bass lift is even more pronounced. Not much extension, which can be addressed to being wireless and speed is about average. Big bass quantities over total precision and control, but still very enjoyable to listen.

The bass power mixes into the midrange, not overshadowing rather adding the thicker and warmer texture, mainly on the lower mid. The midrange is actually less distant then expected putting a relatively good balance. Fairly smooth and forgiving; there may not be too much air, neither it focus into tiny micro details but it has a very good level of clarity. Vocals sound very pleasant too, a bit more forward. Upper midrange has good presence as well giving extra texture to upper instruments.

Treble is laid-back, more forward than the midrange but still behind the bass, so while it doesn’t give a dark signature is not too bright either. It is mostly smooth, limited in upper extension, but there is still more than enough energy when called for. Sibilance nor harshness are present, at least not at acceptable listening volumes.


VS Zolo Liberty+ ($100~150)

Build quality is practically the same on both, very good being all plastic as true-wireless sets. The Model X, however, offers much better ergonomics and higher isolation. Battery time is twice over the Liberty+ but still no improvements over Bluetooth codecs.

As for sound, the Liberty+ presents a lively v-shaped sound with a bit less mid-bass power and more even and balanced sub to mid-bass response. It is less warm with the midrange cleaner, thinner but similarly forward. Treble is brighter on the Liberty+ having detail being more obvious and also less forgiving. Soundstage is similar, about average on both, though the Liberty+ is airier thanks to the treble response.



VS Jays m-Seven ($100~130)

The m-Seven is easily one of my favorite earphones when it gets to wireless gears. Almost perfect ergonomics, good isolation and no need to go ear tip rolling to find a best sound. Battery is still among the best, around 9 hours and features same IPX5 rates for sport use or weather conditions. That said, the Model X+ turns to be the closest rival of the m-Seven in many aspects, good comfortable fit, similar touch controls (and easier to operate on the Model X), compact and lightweight charging case. The m-Seven has some issues with BT connectivity, and that’s where the ADV Model X has a clear win, despite holding less playback time.

In terms of sound, these two sound more similar than different, despite the specified different drivers’ sizes (6mm vs. 10mm) and different impedance. Powerful bass with an overall dark yet very fun signature, good level of detail just being more laid-back. The m-Seven has still greater bass strength but it is also larger and with less mid-bass bloat. Midrange is less forward while still very warm, while the Model X is nicer with vocals music genres. Treble extension is about the same, though the Model X is more balanced and holds more energy, making the m-Seven the darkest sounding among all the True-wireless I had compared. m-Seven still wins in soundstage, especially when paired with a compact player as the Shanling Q1. The Model X+ is a bit thicker sounding and a bit less wide than the m-Seven, but it pays off having a bit more balanced presentation.



VS Jade Audio (FiiO) EW1 ($40~50)

The EW1 from Jade Audio/FiiO is the most affordable of the bunch, and only one supporting AptX yet. It is more compact with a more capsule like form factor, similar battery time as the Model X+ and features same IPX rate. It is comfortable but the Model X+ fit is more secure and snugly around the ears and has higher isolation.

For what sound quality goes, the EW1 has a warmer and thicker sound, more bloated and dominating mid-bass that overshadows the midrange. Vocals are sweeter on the EW1 but is less airy and resolving. The Model X+ brings a bit more treble energy and overall better balance with a more convincing soundstage for what true-wireless can present.