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From the Author
Specs:
- 10mm dynamic driver
- ANC up to 50dB
- SBC, AAC, LDAC, LHDC,
- Bluetooth 6.0
- 11hrs per charge, 40h with case
- IP64 dust/water
- Dual device connectivity
- Game mode with 54ms latency
- Roselink app support
- Wind noise resistance
Hardware Overview
These earphones remind me of the classic Sony WF-1000MX4. They have round tops with a teardrop bottom with a coppery dot on it that is probably more decorative than functional as there are tiny microphone holes above and below it. The top of the earphone has an almost smooth face with some small subtle circles that I assume are intended to give the impression of a ceramic finish; ceramic meaning the kind you create with your hands on a spinning wheel as opposed to perfectly formed ceramics you might buy in a store. This finish is carried over to the charging case and it helps a bit to make fingerprints a bit less obvious but it also makes the case look ever so slightly dirty all the time. The case and the earphones are both pretty compact but not the smallest in the industry. The case is a little bit longer than an iPods charging case or the small squarish cases Samsung used for their Galaxy Buds prior to the 3rd generation. There is a single LED on the front of the case and a USB C charging port and reset button on the bottom. Branding is subtle and inoffensive; a simple "CERAMICS" is emblazoned across the front in a similar coppery color as the dot on the earphones. The earphones are light at 6g each and come with foam eartips installed, which can help provide a better seal but also tend to wear faster than silicone tips. The case does not support wireless charging.
Bluetooth and Battery Performance
Speaking of charging, the battery life with the case is rated at 40 hours and the earphones themselves are rated at 11 hours. The earphones support Bluetooth 6.0 and advanced codecs including LDAC and LHDC. They also support AAC so they can work well with Apple devices. Bluetooth range is about average; I was able to use them with no dropouts or connection issues on the main floor of my house, but they lost connection as I descended down the stairs to my basement and when I went outside to retrieve my mail.
ANC and Transparency
ANC performance will be seal dependent. Good fitting foam eartips can really help improve the effectiveness of noise canceling earphones. I found in my experience that the noise canceling is not particularly notable; with no audio playing you can clearly hear the sound of typing whether on a standard quiet laptop keyboard or a clicky mechanical keyboard. I found myself often pushing the earphones in deeper to ensure I had them properly placed. With audio playing, you'll obviously have a harder time hearing what's going on around you. Lower pitched sounds will be better eliminated than high pitched sounds, so for the rumbles of air conditioners, heaters, and some general life sounds like engines and airplane noise will be diminished but will be audible. The transparency mode is pretty good for this price range; you will hear the sounds around you at a similar level to what it would be without the earphones in but there is a bit of white noise it adds in as well. It's very serviceable for hearing what's going on around you and holding conversations with people near you.
App Features
In the Roselink app, you can control gain, turn on game mode, enable dual device connection, pick your preferred high-resolution codec (AAC, LDAC, or LHDC), find the device, change touch settings, modify prompts and language, pick the noise cancellation mode, upgrade firmware, change EQ settings (Classic, Pop, Hifi, Rock, or custom using the 10 band equalizer), and in the Labs section you can enable adaptive or "extreme" noise cancellation. Extreme noise cancellation turns down volume ever so slightly, but it does actually improve ANC performance somewhat. The sound of me typing on my laptop keyboard was less noticeable but the sound of the mechanical keyboard was still very present. The app warns you that this mode will decrease battery life when you attempt to enable it.
Microphone Performance
Roseselsa says that the Ceramics Ultra have "industry-leading wind noise resistance", but I found their performance in this area to be just below average in the standard ANC mode. Most earphones struggle when I point my portable air purifier at them and these are no exception. Light wind is fine, but in direct breezes, callers will struggle to understand what you are saying. When you active wind noise reduction, things don't really improve all that much. It will still be hard for people to understand you clearly. But in better conditions, the microphones are fine. Your voice will come across clearly with reasonable volume. They aren't professional quality, but you could take important calls with them in a pinch assuming you're not outside in the wind.
Sound Quality
I had the SoundPeats Air6 Pro in for review at the same time I was evaluating the Ceramics Ultra. The Ceramics Ultra have a tiny bit better clarity than SoundPeats Air6 Pro and they are also a bit brighter (using Hifi EQ on SoundPeats). Voices feel a little closer and more intimate as opposed to feeling like you're in a big room offering a nice wide soundstage. Even enabling adaptive EQ on the SoundPeats didn't change my opinion here. I like the sound of both, but if you like brighter treble without having to fiddle with settings, the Ceramics Ultra may serve you better.
Wrap-Up
For less than $50, the Ceramics Ultra present a pretty well-rounded package. Noise canceling is fine for daily use, sound quality is solid, and microphone performance is at or above average depending on your surroundings. There are good options for customization and battery life is also above average. If you're interested in an inexpensive pair of Bluetooth earphones with ANC and a solid app, you may want to take a look at the Ceramics Ultra.
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