The pTron BassBuds Tango is the latest entry from pTron in the TWS market. The price is reasonable at Rs 1,299. But is it a good deal? Here is what I thought after using the product for music and calls for about a week.
pTron BassBuds Tango: What’s good?
TWS’s entry-level earbuds sound good for the price. You will definitely feel the sound lying flat when compared to more expensive models with better audio output. However, keeping my expectations realistic at this price point, I still enjoyed the experience.
On tracks with major drops like Radioactive by Imagine Dragons or Namastute by hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut, the slightly bass-heavy output doesn’t distort. It is also possible to crank up the volume pretty loudly, and there is great noise isolation thanks to the silicon tips. As a result, you are unlikely to go above 60 percent volume.
While the treble levels may sometimes be overshadowed by bass, especially when listening to hip-hop or EDM playlists, I wouldn’t call the experience ‘unbalanced’ since you can still enjoy vocal-heavy tracks here such as Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen or My Immortal by Evanescence. In an Eminem rap with a bass-heavy beat, like Till I Collapse, you can still hear each syllable clearly.
The connectivity is also quite good, and once you remove the buds from the case, the reliability remains solid until you cross the 9-10 meter barrier or let two walls stand between you and your phone. The connection can, however, take a single concrete wall.
Touch gestures are also nice here and have excellent sensitivity. They’re sensitive enough to pause playback when my dog sniffs the new object in my ear as soon as he comes close. Calling out phone numbers when you get a call is also helpful when you cannot reach your phone.
If you use these buds and case moderately, they will last you a full week on a full charge, although some may find the charging process to be a little slow. On your next trip, you likely won’t need a separate cable since it’s a USB-C port.
pTron BassBuds Tango: What’s not good?
Ptron BassBuds Tango comes with a simple, uninspiring charging case. This alone is not a problem, but I’m more concerned about the inability to secure the buds once they’re put in the case. It snaps on nicely, but give it a light shake and the person next to you on a bus could hear the racket inside. It sounds almost like shaking a matchbox.
Even at this price, even with the plastic build of the buds and case itself, unwanted movement is one too many compromises. Although the tight lid has a satisfying shut, if it becomes loose over time, it will make more noise.
The call quality of the earbuds is pretty average despite the advertised “ENC” (Electronic Noise Cancellation) capabilities. It works fine indoors, but add some nearby traffic and things can get messy.
There isn’t much else here to complain about, but if I had to nitpick, I’d pick the lack of a button or multi-level charging LEDs on the case, which makes pairing and checking the battery more challenging, but then again, these are compromises common to this price point.
Verdict: Should you get the pTron BassBuds Tango?
The pTron BassBuds Tango are not bad for an entry-level product if you’re on a budget and looking for a simple, reliable pair of earbuds. There is good sound quality and good connectivity at this price, which is often an issue with this price. The gesture support is also good.
It is impossible to have good outdoor call quality at this price, but BassBuds Tango are adequate indoors. Only major downside here is that the earbuds could have been better fitted in the case. A software update won’t change this.