When comparing Parrot Zik vs Parrot Zik 2.0, the Slant community recommends Parrot Zik 2.0 for most people. In the question“What are the best portable Bluetooth on-ear/over-ear headphones?” Parrot Zik 2.0 is ranked 7th while Parrot Zik is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Parrot Zik 2.0 is:
The highs are the highlight of the Parrot Zik 2.0's sound signature. They are very clear and crisp without adding any harshness to the sound. The bass is also very good as the headphones can produce a very satisfying rumble and punch in the low end. The mids are slightly recessed, so instruments like guitars and the vocals are not too prominent, but are still clear.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Touch sensitive controls
You control the headphones by swipes taps. Swipe up and down to adjust the volume, swipe left and right to change the track and tapping will pause.
Pro Stops playing when you take them off
A jawbone and motion sensors that are built in the headphones can detect when you take off your headphones and stop playback as it happens.
Pro Companion app
There are iOS and Android companion apps for advanced settings. These allow for equalization, virtualization, turning noise-cancellation on and off, and other minor things.
Pro Wireless & wired modes
You can use these headphones both in as a wireless and a wired device.
Pro Decent sound quality
Compared to other Bluetooth solution the sound quality is good, compared to wired solutions the sound quality leaves room for improvement.
Pro Active noise-cancellation
Consisting of 4 microphones (2 inward facing, 2 - outward) these headphones have an excellent noise-cancellation. You can also choose to disable the feature via the app.
Pro Detailed highs and punchy bass
The highs are the highlight of the Parrot Zik 2.0's sound signature. They are very clear and crisp without adding any harshness to the sound. The bass is also very good as the headphones can produce a very satisfying rumble and punch in the low end. The mids are slightly recessed, so instruments like guitars and the vocals are not too prominent, but are still clear.
Pro Decent battery life
From a full charge with all of the audio features on, you can get anywhere from 5 to 7 hours of listening time. However, if you choose to run these in airplane mode (wired connection with noise cancellation) you can get around 16 to 18 hours of use.
Pro Music automatically pauses when taking these off
When you take the headphones from your head or put it back on, the music can automatically pause or resume. The Zik 2.0's Presence Sensor detects such motions, negating the need to manually pause/play the music.
Pro Tapping on the outsite of the cup activates Siri or Google Now
Pro Wired and wireless connectivity
The Parrot Zik 2.0 features Bluetooth as well as NFC connectivity for wireless use, which is great for modern smartphones or devices. If your music player does not have wireless connectivity, a 3.5mm jack can be used.
Pro Light and comfortable
Pro Excellent adaptive noise-cancellation
Consisting of 8 microphones (4 inward facing, 4 - outward) these headphones have excellent noise-cancellation. A feature called "Street Mode" uses the microphones to add noise from the outside to whatever's currently playing allowing you to be aware of your surroundings. You can also adjust how much outside noise you wish.
Pro Informs of who's calling
Pro A number of color variants available
Aside from the sleek looking design, the Zik 2.0 also comes in a number of colors including black, white. blue, red and many more. These options are great if you have a specific color preference.
Pro Right ear cup accommodates gesture controls
You can swipe left or right for previous or next track, tap to play or pause as well as answer calls with the headphones on. This can be very convenient, as you do not need to deal with small and difficult to press buttons.
Pro Companion app offers lots of customizability
There are iOS and Android companion apps for advanced settings. These allow for equalization, virtualization, turning noise-cancellation on and off, changing output frequencies and sound stage among other things. These settings can be applied on an artist/album/song basis and shared with other owners of Zik headphones.
Cons
Con Short battery life
Con Slightly uncomfortable
Con Tied to its app
Anything past basic functions, like noise-cancellation, is manageable only with the app.
Con Charging can be slow
You may need to remember to charge these headphones on a frequent basis. It takes around two and a half hours to charge this battery from empty to full, which may be too long, especially if you are always on the go.
Con Presence Sensor can be too sensitive
At times, even slight unintentional movement of the head can trip off the Presence Sensor, pausing the music. This can get very annoying if it happens frequently.
Con Can be a hassle to take on the go
The industrial design of the Parrot Zik 2.0 looks amazing, but also comes at the cost of the portability. The ear cups cannot be folded into the headband. You will need to account for its size when travelling. An alternative will be for you to hang these off your neck while on the go, which may not always be comfortable.