When Mark Clayton was building his career as a wide receiving system with the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams , he belike did n’t imagine that biography after the NFL would run him to dispute monolithic audio brands like Beats , Bose , Sony , and Apple , but that ’s exactly what he ’s doing .
Clayton , now 42 years erstwhile , is about to launch theLivv Pro , a solidification of “ sumptuosity sports headphone , ” that look like nothing else on the market . With their unique ( and patented ) zig - zag headband shape , triangular earcups , and metal Au accents , the Livv Pro are designed to give a more untroubled fit than traditionalwireless headphoneswithout sacrificing the audio quality and versatility you ’d anticipate from those other stain .
I interviewed Clayton in 2024 to learn more about these fundament , and he generously arranged for his company , Livv Audio , to air me a set of matte black Livv Pro to check out ( they also come in an off - white “ creme - caffe latte ” colour ) .
They ’re a pre - production span , so this is n’t a grade review — we only do that when we test full - production machine . Still , Clayton ’s team says they ’re 95 % superposable to what folks will get when they turn over over the $ 350 asking price ( coincidentally , the same price as the Beats Studio Pro ) , so I suspect my observations will likely hold for the final product .
A new category?
Google “ beneficial sports earphone ” and you will remark that almost every tilt refers towireless earbuds . To me , that just makes sentiency . I asked Clayton why he decide to target the sports crowd with an over - ear design . “ When you go to the gymnasium , I bet you see people with over - ear headphones too , ” he say . “ mass have their preference . ”
He ’s proper . When I look around at my local gym , I see heap of people weary full - sizing , over - earwireless headphone , like theSony WH-1000XM5,Bose QC45andQC Ultra Headphones , plenty ofBeats Studio 3 / Studio Pro , and even the occasionalApple AirPods Max .
In other word , people like them for workout whether they ’re designed to be used that way or not . If the Livv Pro successfully tap into this under - served market , they could be the first production in a fresh family : high - functioning , over - ear variation headphones .
The design
Technically , these are n’t the first - gen Livv Pro . Clayton ’s original design was produced asa very limited outpouring in 2016 . He says that the first variation pull together peachy feedback , peculiarly from the uber - participating parkour residential area , but it lacked aggregate - market appeal . char , in particular , were halfhearted about the look .
Today ’s Livv Pro owe a boastful hat - bakshish to Beats . The selection of headband materials , the aim of the flexible joint and sliders , and the mode the headband seamlessly transition into the earcup housing , all screamBeats Studio Pro . Perhaps the terms is n’t such a co-occurrence .
Despite these similarity , the Livv Pro are n’t a 1:1 knockoff , and you could see where Clayton ’s choice make his cans better for workourts .
Like the Beats , big businessman and ANC control are managed through the same push . But unlike the Studio Pro , which use a tiny and difficult - to - find clit , the triangular Livv Audio logotype on the correct earcup serves this purpose much intimately , peculiarly when you need to have a quick schmooze with your trainer or even the barista at your local java shop class . The playback and volume clit are put within easy reach of your quarter round on the rear edge of the same earcup .
You also getIPX4 protectionfrom sweat and splashes — the lower limit , in my opinion , for combat-ready use , but which the Beats lack .
The earcushions tie magnetically — like Apple ’s pricy AirPods Max — make it well-heeled to clean the inner surface where swither will inevitably accumulate , and leisurely to replace when they inevitably break down ( Livv Audio sells replacement sets for $ 49 ) .
They ’ve also get wear down detector that pause your tunes when you take them off , something the Studio Pro should have but do n’t .
I am a piddling concerned that in take so much stirring from the Studio Pro , the Livv Pro may have also inherit the Beats ’ problems with durability , particularly with their headband and hinges . I experienced no problem , but my time with them was n’t long enough to reveal this form of thing .
The Livv Pro fall with two cablegram : double - USB - C for charging and USB sound , and a USB - C - to-3.5 mm for analog sources .
They ’re cover in braided nylon and generously sized at 56 inches — making them longer and more pliant than the 1 that transport with the Studio Pro . The analog cable system even works when the Livv Pro are power down — take that , Beats .
That wild headband
Then there ’s that swoopy headband . It ’s supposed to fulfil two tasks : make a more secure fit , and give you the option of lean the behind backward , so that the headband rests just behind your crown . This could increase comfort if you ’re sensitive to press in that region , but Clayton plainly need headphones that would n’t suddenly shift forth when training .
I ca n’t say I detect a importantly more secure fit while wearing the Livv Pro versus the Beats Studio Pro , but Clayton ’s designing absolutely delivers on the versatility promise . The forward connective to the earcups create a equilibrium , let you press the headband a few degrees forward or slow-witted from the shopping center position , without feel like the cans are about to slew right off your pass . I tried doing that with the Beats and let ’s just say they were n’t very conjunct .
I ’m scarcely what you ’d call a gym rat , and my one rule about run is that I only do it when I ’m being chased . Still , I did a variety of free - exercising weight and machine exercises , include ones that had me lying on my back and my front . I even spend a few painful minutes on a treadmill ; the Livv Pro did n’t budge , and they proved very comfortable . As you might gestate from a solidifying of cans designed for sports , the clamping force is stronger than most wireless phone , but I was agreeably surprise by the atmospheric pressure ’s even statistical distribution . They gripped my head teacher without squeezing it .
This is all the more impressive when you regard the size of my straits . It ’s lilliputian , at least as far as manlike humans go . With some headphones , the smallest headband accommodation is n’t small enough . Not so with the Livv Pro — in fact , I jade them with both slope open to the first notch . This bodes well for cleaning woman too .
I still prefer wireless earbuds for mold out — I find over - ear cans get too hot and heavy . But if I had to pick a set of over - ears for the gym , the Livv Pro would be inviolable rival .
If we keep go with the Beats comparability for just a little longer , there are three little drawbacks to the Livv Pro ’s design . They weigh more : 11.35 ounces versus 9.45 for the Beats . The anatomy makes them a shade bulkier when folded . And I was aware of the advancing swoop of the headband in my peripheral vision .
In a controlled environment like a gym , it ’s a non - issue . out of doors , especially when running on streets or sidewalks , it could dissemble the approach of a car or other risk , reducing the time you have to react .
Uneven audio
Perhaps it ’s a reflection of their pre - production status or the fact that the comrade app was n’t quick yet , but I found the character of thewirelessaudio lacking . I put an emphasis on wireless because the pumped audio was fantabulous . That strongly suggests a software outcome , not a trouble with hardware , which would be much tougher to fix .
Using Bluetooth , the music sounded clearly compressed , even fromlosslesssources like Apple Music . It was like listening to a low - bitrate MP3 . I detect it most in the midranges , which felt hollow . The bass was underwhelming and the highs were unpleasantly shouty .
All of this changed when I plugged in one of the USB cables . The bass acquire sureness and resonance , the mids yielded detail and texture , and the highs were clear and effortless . It may not storm you that when I plugged in the Beats Studio Pro , they save a very similar well-grounded touch .
I enjoyed it so much , that I ’m not sure if I ’d apply the extra EQ setting in the app even if I had access to it .
Clayton says they ’re great for his favorite genre : rap , EDM , and coxa - record hop , and I agree . Frankly , they ’re great for all genres .
Without access to the EQ choice that will be usable in the Livv Audio app , it ’s difficult to say just how far you ’ll be capable to boost the bass , but I get the mother wit the 40 mm number one wood are capable of more low - remainder than their out - of - the - boxful tuning generates .
Analog and USB sound recording connections performed similarly when using a high - character DAC . On its own , Livv take the internal DAC can serve PCM via the USB audio frequency connective up to 32 - bit/96 kHz . What I really appreciate is the Livv Pro ’s ability to lick with parallel source even when power down .
ANC and transparency
The Livv Pro ’s haphazardness canceling will help mask distracting background knowledge sounds , but they are n’t in the same league as Sony’sWH-1000XM5or Bose’sQuietComfort Ultra Headphones , which obliterate a broader range of mountains of frequencies . On the other hand , foil style is very clear- almost too unclouded . I hope the mobile app lets you dial back the amount of gain on the mics . Right now it feels like the outside world is being amplified by about 10 % instead of simply passing through at a impersonal mass .
Shifting between ANC mode is instant when you press the logo button , which is n’t true for all ANC cans .
The only matter that ’s missing is the ability to switch between ANC and transparentness without passing through the “ off ” manner — another pick I desire will arrive with the app .
Call quality
Calling on the Livv Pro works well , and — shocker — they sound a slew like the Beats Studio Pro . Outdoors , they do a expectant job of pour down background sound . Your callers will likely never find out loud trucks or other distraction . However , the louder these sound get , the more your voice will be distort as the algorithm undertake to suppress the noise around you .
Indoors , as with most wireless earpiece , your articulation will be consistently clear .
I was initially hesitant to use the Livv Pro for video calls — I thought the aim would face a little goofy on camera . But when see straight ahead , the headband ’s unusual contour disappears . Unless you deform your head to one side or the other , they look just like a even set of wireless headphones .
They also haveBluetooth Multipoint , a handy characteristic for link two devices ( like a phone and a laptop computer ) at the same time , which the Studio Pro want .
Battery life
Livv Audio pegs stamp battery biography at 50 hours with ANC off and 40 minute when it ’s on . I did n’t get a chance to test this claim fully , but even if it turn out to be less , they ’ll still handily mystify flagship headphones from Sony , Bose , Beats , and Apple in the stamina department .
Conclusion
Over - ear headphones might not be everyone ’s pick for working out , but one thing ’s for certain : there are few options for those who like them . The Livv Pro stand out both visually — there ’s nothing like them in the gymnasium or on the street — and technically , with features that are thoughtfully project for fitness .
My pre - production pair struggle with wireless audio quality but sweep through the wired test . If Livv Audio can fix this issue and give users helpful adjustment to EQ , ANC , and transparence in the app , I think we ’re look at a rarity in the audio world : a newcomer with a product that take exception the biggest brand name in the business .
