When it comes to audio brands, some focus on sound quality while others prioritize fashionable design, and MONDO, a relatively young and ambitious brand that emerged in recent years, belongs to the latter category.
Recently, they unveiled the MONDO Freestyle by Defunc wireless earbuds in a retro style with vibrant orange ear tips reminiscent of the Sony Walkman from the 80s or the Koss Porta Pro, if you will, and the price is not too high, so it’s definitely a great way to upgrade your earbuds, and now I’ll tell you why.
A bit of history for those who are not familiar with the MONDO brand – it was founded in 2022 by the European music label Monza Music, the street culture platform DOPEST, and the audio brand Defunc from Stockholm, Sweden. The presence of Defunc in this collaboration tells us that the new MONDO earbuds are about combining stable sound quality with an affordable price.
MONDO is an anomaly in the headphone industry in recent years. Just when everyone thinks that the Bluetooth headphone market has become too competitive and oversaturated, MONDO successfully captures the market position in three main creative areas: “design”, “ease of use” and “sound effect”.
The new Freestyle headset was completely sold out just two days after its launch, and the number of pre-orders exceeded the sold stock by two times, which says something. However, the most attractive aspect is, of course, the exterior appearance and design.
Such a distinctive design language that clearly pays homage to the 80s, despite the knobs and switches on the hardware part and the signature packaging design with angled cuts – all reminiscent of headphones from the era of cassette tape players. Overall, like their slogan in Sweden, “vintage yet innovative,” everything is done appropriately and stylishly.
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Specifications
- Type: overhead
- Drivers: dynamic, 36 mm
- Playback frequency: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Wireless interface: Bluetooth 5.3
- Wired interface: USB-C cable
- Battery: 200 mAh
- Call noise cancellation: dual microphone with ENC
- HD decoding
- Sensitivity: 105 DBS
- Declared autonomy: 22 hours of playback or 20 hours of talk time
- Full charge time: up to 1.5 hours
- Mobile app: for Android and iOS
Design and package
The On-Ear Freestyle Bluetooth headphones, as the name suggests, are wireless Bluetooth headphones designed to be worn on the ears.
They are available in several color options: black-grey, black-orange, pink, and transparent housings, with lightweight metal material for the headband and thin ear cushions, making them very comfortable for long listening sessions of your favorite music.
The headphones arrived in a large, convenient box with a very pleasant-to-touch coating, which is one of the advantages if you plan to give them as a gift. The package includes a charging cable, documentation, and a well-made storage pouch typical for devices of this level. Additionally, each pair of MONDO Freestyle comes with two types of ear tips, which enhance bass reproduction and allow users to easily and comfortably replace them. In my case, the extra ear tips are black, suitable for those who prefer a more classic look.
The metal headband of the headphones is flexible, making it easy to adjust and wear, while the ear cushion material is comfortable on the skin, doesn’t collect debris, and is easily replaceable.
Of course, the transparent casing with black ear cushions is particularly intriguing, reminiscent of the retro style of the 80s, but even my orange ones stand out quite nicely during the review.
As I mentioned earlier, the MONDO Freestyle Bluetooth headset is also available in a fully pink version, which is a very “girly” color and suitable for fashionable ladies.
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Design and technologies
Regarding the hardware, the MONDO On-Ear Freestyle wireless Bluetooth headset features a built-in 36-millimeter dynamic driver with a frequency response range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, supports aptX HD decoding, and incorporates a newly developed structure that prevents sound leakage and controls bass amplification, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing others even when enjoying music in a quiet place.
It should be noted that a 36mm dynamic driver in a slim housing weighing only 78g is almost the limit of what can be accommodated in the casing. To achieve better performance from this semi-open design, a “unique structure has been developed to prevent sound leakage and provide an environment for optimal acoustic characteristics,” according to the manufacturer’s claims.
It also supports USB-C charging or connecting to a device for audio transmission, adheres to Bluetooth 5.3 specification (which offers a 4-fold range and 8-fold data volume, enabling seamless and lag-free data transmission, doubling the operating speed, and enhanced channel selection algorithms to improve audio stream quality), and features ENC Dual Microphone technology, allowing for calls even in strong winds, so whether it’s for listening to music, watching movies, or making calls, it handles it all seamlessly.
It’s also worth noting the built-in 200 mAh battery, which fully charges in just 1.5 hours, providing 22 hours of playback or 20 hours of talk time, which is quite impressive. Rarely during testing did I find myself needing to recharge the earbuds more than once, and this longevity will certainly be a blessing for those who frequently use their wireless earbuds.
Both sides of the earbuds are equipped with round rotating elements. The left side is designed for playing the previous/next song, while the right side is for adjusting the volume, in case you’re not satisfied with app controls.
Underneath the soft ear cushion hides a movable structure that adjusts to the shape of your head and ears for comfortable wearing of the headset.
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Application
It’s worth mentioning the convenient application separately. MONDO has developed an extremely user-friendly and intuitive application that can be quickly mastered by both adults and children, and that’s another plus.
The connection happened literally with just one click — all it took was pressing a small button on the right earbud, and after the audible signal, the headset was connected to the phone via Bluetooth. After that, a new connection automatically appeared in the application.
It has several sections, and literally all of them are shown in the gallery photos. The first ones are the earbud controls, Remote Control – where you can adjust the volume or skip tracks directly from your phone, then there’s the equalizer, where you can choose from preset options or enable User EQ and customize the sound to your liking. There’s also a page for timely application updates and a useful Find Device feature, which accurately determines the location of the earbuds on the map, which can come in handy. Next are the Product Categories, where the manufacturer provides detailed information about their products, and a page with user data and manuals. Overall, in my opinion, it’s the most convenient app for earbuds that I’ve seen, even though it lacks language selection.
Sound
Certainly, none of this would matter without decent sound quality, and in that regard, the MONDO Freestyle excels. The sound immediately pleasantly surprised me; during my initial music listening through them, I was impressed by their tonal balance, which may not have the richness of one or two layers typical of the On-ear form factor but instead offers a certain neutrality. And that’s actually a good thing.
They sound sharp and lively, and this additional lack of over-saturation hasn’t harmed the filling of all frequencies: the highs are well-defined, the midrange is pleasantly voluminous, and the bass is fairly well-balanced. Overall, a pleasant atmosphere and smooth sound are guaranteed, and for deeper bass, you may need to tweak the equalizer. If you play around with it nicely, you can achieve truly stunning sound.
It’s worth mentioning the sound quality during calls. There’s no active noise cancellation, but there’s a claimed dual-microphone setup with ENC. On less bustling roads, car noises are perceived more as visual distractions than auditory ones, and your conversation partner doesn’t hear them either, which, in my opinion, is excellent. However, there’s not complete immersion, and you might need to raise your voice slightly in other places.
I’ll return to the quite comfortable and slim headband, which distributes pressure well across the head, so it doesn’t feel heavy or, worse, painful after wearing it for several hours. The ear cups securely but not overly snugly fit around the ears to ensure you’re always comfortable.
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Conclusions
When three different spheres – music, art, and technology – come together, new ideas are quickly born, envisioning the creation of a brand deeply rooted in street culture, with a profound understanding of the industry and the ability to rapidly develop and respond to changing trends, which can swiftly be transformed into real products.
Despite the fact that the On-ear Freestyle headphones may seem simple, their technical specifications make them a real gift: Bluetooth 5.3 technology, compatibility with aptX HD, a special application for management and equalizer settings, as well as up to 28 hours of continuous playback time on a full battery charge – all at a more than acceptable price.
Indeed, the Freestyle headphones not only sound great but also look stylish. Their design is the perfect combination of 80s style and modern sophistication, making them a stylish accessory for any outfit and occasion.
The Defunc MONDO Freestyle headphones are the kind of headphones I can confidently recommend for consideration.
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Where to buy