Helm Audio is a relatively new audio company that focuses on high-end experiences at a reasonable price. They've made some waves at tech shows like CES over the last couple years, and today we're getting a chance to check out their truly wireless Helm Audio earbuds.
At $129 they promise better sound quality than what you typically get out of cheaper earbuds, and they're designed to be a little more durable for working out. Let's dig in and see if they're worth the extra cash upfront as opposed to some of our cheaper favorites.
Bulky design
In an age where most of these headphones are trying to stay sleek and slim, it's immediately apparent Helm wasn't really concerned with that here.
The case is extremely bulky with a big, bright Helm Audio logo right on top. There are also no magnets or anything here, so the top is held in place with plastic clasps. That's fine with most things, but I definitely have some concerns about how long those plastic tabs will last over a few months of heavy use.
In my testing everything was fine, although they were kind of tough to open up.
On the side of the case you'll find a microUSB charging port, and there are some LED charging lights and battery indicators on the front.
The headphones themselves are pretty hefty as well, with a diamond plastic pattern on the outside. There's a physical button on both headphones to handle playback controls and answering calls, and some winged tips to better fit in most ears. Despite their size, they genuinely are pretty comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time.
Wireless experience
Helm Audio touts a lot of the wireless features of these headphones. They're Bluetooth 5.0 and support Qualcomm's AptX codec, which means they should have some pretty decent range and very little latency for watching movies, listening to music, and playing games. That also means they're sporting an efficient connection, which is better for battery life on both the headphones and your smartphone.
Getting them set up was pretty easy, but quirky. They're paired through the left earbud, so you'll have to select Helm True Wireless L in your Bluetooth settings. If you pair with the right earbud, apparently you've botched the pairing process and have to redo it.
You'll always have to use the left earbud to keep these paired. As far as I'm aware, you can't intentionally only pair the right earbud, and even if you do it might not work properly.
I also had connection issues where the right earbud would unsync from the left earbud, and I'd have to put everything back in the case and back out to get it linked back up, which isn't fun. Especially if you're in the middle of a workout. This also commonly happens if you take the right earbud out of the case first.
When you first put them in your ear you'll also get an alert about their “power level,” which is either low, medium, or high. This is the battery level, but it's worded pretty strangely. Sometimes they also take a few seconds to pair up with your phone, and they generally take longer than similar earbuds.
Fantastic sound
Okay, so the actual wireless part of these is a little hit or miss, but how about the sound quality? For all of the other faults with these earbuds, the audio portion does not disappoint. At its price range I think these might be some of the best headphones I've heard, regardless of what you're listening to.
They're incredibly bass heavy with a ton of thump for earbuds. If there's any complaint it's that they tend to rumble more than punch, and if you listen to some particularly bass heavy music in the first place some of the low end can muddle a bit. But otherwise, they chug right along and sound fantastic. The midrange delivers a full, warm sound, and they roll off smoothly on the high end so avoid any shrill tones but without muddling up vocals or speech.
That sound profile makes them equally good for movies, TV shows, and podcasts. Action movies will still sound dynamic and loud, but your podcasts and TV shows will have adequate separation between noise and talking. With their sporty, workout-friendly design they're definitely more designed for music, but they can handle everything well.
I would appreciate an app to be able to fine-tune the sound a bit, which seems like an odd omission for a company that talks up its audiophile pedigree, but that's a small complaint.
Worth it?
I'm all over the place on these. They definitely have a place in the market, but they're not for everyone.
I can't ignore how quirky and frustrating the wireless experience is on these. Disconnects, weird pairing requirements and problems, and the bulky, cheap-feeling case don't do Helm Audio any favors here. They're not gonna fit in your pocket well, and the design focuses very heavily on working out.
But with that being said, they're very workout-friendly; they're water resistant, built to stay in your ear, and the bigger case allows for much longer battery life than what you'd get otherwise at 30+ hours. Plus they really do sound great, beating out some other headphones that are well above Helm Audio's price range.
At $129, if you're looking for an excellent pair of workout headphones, I'm a big fan of these. If you don't fall into that category, though, it seems like other earbuds might be a better fit without quite so many compromises.
Helm Audio 5.0 Wireless Earbuds | $129 | Helm Audio, Amazon
- Boba Story Lid Recipes – 2026
- Dice Dreams Free Rolls – Updated Daily
- The Netflix miniseries everyone is talking about: “I couldn't look away” from this terrifying new hit
- I couldn't stop watching: The explosive action film shattering Netflix records despite mixed reviews
- Harry Hole: The Nordic Thriller Smashing Netflix Records With a Perfect 100% Rating
