Lypertek PurePlay Z5

Lypertek was only founded in 2017, but it has already attracted attention in the consumer headphone market with products that offer good value for money, such as the Tevi and PurePlay Z7, both of which have earned accolades from us. Now, the new PurePlay Z5 feature noise cancelling for the first time

Haptics and Bluetooth

The lightweight matte black plastic construction of the Lypertek PurePlay Z5 takes its design cues from the “wings” familiar from Apple designs, where the built-in microphones for communication are directed towards the mouth. On the outside of each earpiece are touch-sensitive surfaces that enable touch control. The indispensable charging case with USB-C port also comes in matte black.

For user-friendly configuration, Lypertek has completely redeveloped the corresponding iOS and Android app “PureControl ANC”. Here, the true-wireless headphones can be configured really conveniently, controlled and, if necessary, have their firmware updated (test level 1.3.5).

For data transmission, Lypertek relies on Bluetooth 5.2. In addition to SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive is also offered as audio codecs – a good configuration for headphones in this price range.

A comprehensive selection of fitting pieces is supplied. There are several pairs each made of thick or thin silicone as well as memory foam, these can pretty much be used to achieve the desired size and external insulation. As we never tire of pointing out, the right fit contributes so much to the quality of the sound reproduction. Finally, the Z5 is certified to IPX5 in terms of its water and sweat resistance, making it suitable for sports use. And if you misplace an earpiece while doing using them, you’ll find a search function in the app.

In practice

Thanks to their light weight of four grams per earpiece, ergonomically angled drivers and the numerous fitting pieces, the Lypertek PurePlay Z5 fit comfortably, without pressure, and securely in the ear.

According to the company’s own statements, the focus is not only on sound quality but above all on a particularly user-friendly operation. In fact, the app is designed to be clear and even offers a setup wizard when you first start it.

Touch control of true wireless devices often causes a problem when functions are triggered unintentionally. Some manufacturers, therefore, choose not to use single clicks, but conversely, this reduces the range of controllability. Instead, Lypertek leaves the choice up to the user. So you have the choice between a standard or a safety mode, the latter prevents single clicks and thus virtually eliminates accidental function triggers.

In both modes, the functions can be configured in the app in pairs for the left and right earpiece. Play/pause, track jumps, volume control, switching for noise cancelling and calling up the voice assistant can all be assigned.

Of course, it is also possible to handle telephone calls. The controls on the device can therefore be configured as desired and in practice were pleasingly reliable. Actions are confirmed by voice messages that are easy to understand, but cannot be switched off.

One noteworthy feature is a switchable automatic function in which the Z5 automatically switches to ambient mode when music is interrupted. The manufacturer has deliberately omitted other automatic functions such as auto-pause or an automatic switch-off. The Z5 simply switches on when you take it out of the case and switches off when you put it down. In this context, I would also like to praise the extremely fast pairing.

It is also possible to work with only one earpiece at once – which is practical for telephone calls. According to the manufacturer, the Z5 is not intended to get bogged down in options, but rather to perform everyday functions in a way that is as practical as possible. However, Lypertek is very attentive to the wishes of its customers and adjustments to the functionality are, in principle, possible.

The range of the wireless link is good and covers several rooms without interruption.

Let’s take a look at the built-in rechargeable battery: depending on the volume, it provides up to seven practical hours of playing time, which is reduced to about four hours when noise cancelling is activated. However, the charging case holds a further three full charges, so that you get almost 28 hours of runtime. A fast charging function is supported as well as wireless charging, for example via the in-house charging pad (to the manufacturer’s website). The charging times for full refuelling are 83 minutes (for the headphones) and 93 minutes (for the charging case).

The Z5 performs equally well in terms of voice quality, thanks to two microphones with Qualcomm’s cVc 8.0 noise cancellation. In several test calls, the party on the other end of the call confirmed perfect intelligibility with hardly any background noise. Only if you run into some wind does the quality significantly drop, although this also happens with the competition.

Noise cancelling

The Lypertek PurePlay Z5 use hybrid noise cancelling. First of all, there was quite good passive isolation with these headphones in both directions. However, the majority of the work is taken care of by an active electronic circuit that picks up external noise as usual via a microphone and feeds it into the signal path in phase opposition, thus significantly attenuating it. The circuit itself cannot be controlled but is unexpectedly efficient for headphones in this price range. Low-frequency and static noises in particular are effectively lowered, including annoying keyboard rattles. The result is a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio. The isolation from the environment was quite strong. I liked it! Admittedly: Noise cancelling doesn’t offer complete sound neutrality, but at least it can be switched off.

The opposite of ANC is the ambient sound mode, which sends the
outside world to the drivers via microphones in order to better communicate. This works well technically with good results. In addition, there is the automatic mode mentioned at the beginning, which allows you to start a conversation by touching the earpiece without having to take it out of your ear. However, it is also useful to be able to switch off Auto-Ambient, to create a pure relaxation room without any music, when you are on a train journey, for example.

Sound

For this price range, the Lypertek PurePlay Z5 deliver a remarkable result. The 10-mm-diameter dynamic drivers leave nothing to be desired. This is especially true in LDX mode, which can be left on without worry. According to the manufacturer, this is a specially developed sound profile that the test device actually uses to gain transparency and width and to move the stage further forward.

The result is an enjoyably punchy accentuated bass down to the sub-range, plenty of detail in the mids and highs and a cleanly constructed stereo image. The Z5 are not completely neutral, but they are well balanced. In the bass, they deliver a certain emphasis that enhances listening pleasure in mobile mode, but hardly ever leads to annoying side effects.

The mids act in an equally balanced manner and deliver the necessary bed with sufficient details for acoustic, electric, distorted and electronic instruments as well as voices. In the highs, too, the Z5 sounds pleasingly airy and rich in detail. These headphones act fast, dynamically, without harshness and also provided the stereo stage with the desired space for presentation.

In summary, the Lypertek PurePlay Z5 manage to deliver an entirely appealing blend of punch, warmth and analytics as well as listening pleasure and, equally important, without causing fatigue. And last but not least, the Z5 deliver powerful levels while generally performing without annoying distortion, even when the bass is strong.

Deactivating the LDX mode allows the use of the convenient EQ with its seven fixed operating frequencies and a range of ±7 dB. It allows for adjustment to taste, which can be tuned depending on the demands of the situation and can be stored in two separate settings. Among the usefully configured pre-sets, in addition to a neutral EQ curve, there is a setting that linearises the reproduction by lowering the bass a little and slightly emphasising the mids around 1 kHz. These headphones score extra points for this feature alone!