- By Vikas Yadav
- Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sonic Lamb Review: Have you ever wondered why wireless headphones are hardly ever associated with innovation? Mostly, the products are slight improvements over their predecessors, which are advertised as 'good enough' for an upgrade. This mould is what an Indian startup - Rapture Innovation's Sonic Lamb aims to break. Grilled at Sound Hub, Denmark, the headset aims to deliver a never-heard euphoric listening experience to the wearer, which the company boldly calls 'eargasm'.
But do these headphones outclass the competition from Sony, Audio-Technica, JBL and others with these beaming commitments? Well, I have been testing them for over a month now and have detailed thoughts to share. The review can be helpful for buyers looking to buy headphones in the sub-Rs 15,000-20,000 bracket.
Sonic Lamb offers four sound personalisation modes. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
While they offer great sound, they lack a few new-age features like Active Noise Cancellation and dedicated app support (at the time of filing). But, the Sonic Lamb is all about its vibrant audio apparatus, which can impress a majority of buyers. Before we deep dive into that, let's first discuss the design.
Design And Build
Sonic Lamb is made of plastic but has a matte finish that does not make them feel cheap. They tend to attract fingerprints with prolonged usage, but these can be wiped off easily. The ear cushions are soft and comfy. Rapture Innovation Labs claims they have been rigorously tested during quality control for durability, and I take their point. With its adjustable overhead band, comfort is not a problem as the clamping force is moderate.
Extra ear pads are available on the official website to make your purchase future-proof. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
The markings indicating the right and left sides can be more pronounced. It takes a few weeks to learn the ear cup with the volume controls and LED indicator sits on the right side. Plus, I wished they could fold inwards for additional portability. The buttons for sound adjustments and powering the Sonic Lamb are stacked in a confusing position. Even after weeks, I still struggle to locate them sometimes. However, the sound profile adjustment dial is well-placed.
Sound Quality
The product listing claims the headset offers the "world's first Hybrid Driver Acoustics with Wooferpads". It can deliver a subwoofer-like effect for low frequency sounds via air and body conduction, thanks to its patented technology. The combo of 40mm dynamic and 27mm impulse drivers paired with three in-built amplifiers creates a magical experience for the ears. Sonic Lamb's brilliant sound DNA is the foundation of its marketing pillar and it stands strong.
You can feel the blissful bass in your ears, which is a unique achievement for a device at this price. It is sufficient to give you goosebumps and immerse your ears into the setting. It has four listening modes which can be adjusted via the rotating dial to adapt to your needs.
Sonic Lamb offers audiophile-grade sound at HEAR and FEEL mode. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
HEAR: The most relaxing of the lot, this sound profile is best for extended listening. You can chime into calls, podcasts and retro songs in this mode.
FEEL: This is ideal for listening to music with rich vocals and instrumental emphasis. With slight subwoofer at play, this mode has the right balance of bass which complements the treble.
IMMERSE: As the name suggests, the subwoofer effect is prominent and this mode can be helpful for binge-watchers and bass lovers. However, at higher volumes, the boomy signature can become fatiguing.
BEAST: Made for gamers and a total theatre-like experience, this mode utilises the subwoofer unit at its peak potential. This can be a choice for a short burst of ecstasy in your favourite movies and games.
Sonic Lamb offers audiophile-grade sound at HEAR and FEEL mode with sharp details in instruments, crisp vocals and tight bass. They can also output studio-grade 26-bit sound at 96KHz through the UBC-C wired input. In all, the Sonic Lamb is among the best-sounding headphones in the sub-Rs 15,000 price segment with a pulsating mini DJ effect.
The placement and feedback of volume buttons can be improved in the next version. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
As for calling and mic performance, the dual mic system on the headphones is well-tuned to transmit vocals effectively even in noisy environments. However, for supreme results while gaming or live streaming, the attachable boom mic can take charge and perform responsibly.
Shifting to gaming, I did notice delays while firing gunshots in Call of Duty: Mobile Season 10 and triggering nitro in Asphalt 9: Legends. The manufacturer claims a latency range of 200ms to 300ms, depending on the supported codec (SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD). As a result, the notification sounds are audible in a trimmed form due to the delay. However, this difference is not noticeable during videos that are dialogue-heavy.
Battery and Connectivity
Sonic Lamb headphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 for seamless connectivity. Once paired with a device, linking back is fast and seamless. However, if you frequently move around with your phone in a stationary position, the range may be affected. These are minor nitpicks that can be addressed in version 2.0 with a newer BT version.
You can charge the headphones via the USB Type-C port. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
The headset's 1,400mAh battery is enough to keep you going for days. During my testing, I used them mostly in the HEAR and IMMERSE modes and got about 12 hours of battery life. Charging the gadget to 100 per cent took about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Also Read: Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW TWS Review: A Melodious Delight For The Ears Under Rs 7,500
Scope Of Improvements
Although the headphones sound great, there is room for improvement in the adjoining checkboxes that a premium consumer-centric headphone should tick. My basic complaint with the headset is the absence of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Secondly, while sound leakage is a common problem with all headphones, it is more noticeable on the Sonic Lamb at higher volumes.
The pairing LED blinks constantly during music playback. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
While it supports multi-device pairing, frequent audio switching across gadgets feels laggy. Plus, without a dedicated app, it is impossible to track the battery percentage of the device and customise the sound profile as advertised on the website. Moreover, the blinking LED can be an issue in dark environments. However, you can expect the last two niggles to get resolved with the Sonic Lamb app in future.
Sonic Lamb Review: Verdict
To keep it simple, if you wish to chime into supremely detailed sound and crave an unmatched immersive experience, get the Sonic Lamb without a second thought. Priced at Rs 15,999, the headphone is available in three colour options: Obsidian Black, Ember Gray and Moonstone White. The package includes a carry case, a headphone unit, an external mic and a high-quality 1.5m USB Type-C cable. Plus, extra ear pads are available on the official website to make your purchase future-proof.
You can buy the Sonic Lamb if you prefer sound over everything else on a personal audio device. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
However, if ANC, app support, gaming and other fancy features are an essential segment of your checklist, go with the other options.