Mivi SuperPods Concerto review: heavy on features and bass, but shaky in execution

Indian audio brand Mivi released a pair of TWS earphones, christened Mivi SuperPods Concerto, at Rs 3,999. The earbuds boast features such as Hi-Res Audio (with LDAC codec support), Dolby Audio spatial sound, 3D soundstage, and active noise cancellation (ANC). Mivi claims to offer “pure sound clarity”. We have tested the pair for over a week, and read how it performed in this 91mobiles’ Mivi SuperPods Concerto review.

Table of Contents

Unboxing

Mivi SuperPods Concerto comes in a good-looking square-ish box. Open it and inside, you get:

Design

Both the Mivi earbuds and the case sport a unique and striking design. This includes the way the case opens and the figure-8 shape of the buds. However, whether this uniqueness appeals to you depends on personal preference.

You see, the way the case lid opens is interesting, but it is difficult to do it with one hand.

Our review unit has the glossy Mystic Silver colour. Its shininess is eye-catching but may appear flashy or even tacky to some. It’s also prone to scratches. So, if you prefer a matte finish like I do, you might want to check out the other colour options, viz., Metallic Blue, Space Black, and Royal Champagne.

The colour aside, the buds fit snugly, and unless you sneeze or jerk the head, it won’t fall out that easily.

I would have liked it better if the buds were a bit smaller. Here, though, despite the longer stem improving reachability, the touch gestures were inconsistent. When I tap on the buds to resume playback after a pause, there is a slight delay of a few seconds before the audio starts. And sometimes, it doesn’t register the touch at all.

The case is also fairly compact, and it fits easily into the coin pocket of my jeans. The presence of a USB-C port at the bottom is another plus. We’ll get to the charging speed shortly, but before that, let’s check out:

Audio, ANC and app support

Mivi has tuned the earphones to emphasise the lower frequencies of sound. So, if you like bass-heavy audio, then this can provide that. Moreover, Dolby Audio support gives a subtle sense of spatial depth. However, I must tell you the bass emphasis comes at the cost of other frequencies.

Say, you are listening to Wildfire by SBTRKT and Little Dragon, the bass portion sounds convincing, but the other instruments sound feeble.

Also, I am not entirely convinced by Mivi’s claim of a 3D soundstage. For example, in a track like Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits, the sound feels congested within the cloud of bass. The atmosphere lacks openness, and any spatial separation between different instruments and sound elements.

I had the same qualm while trying to listen to the highs of Carol of the Bells by John Williams; they sound fine, but don’t touch the heights that some other earbuds can.

Even a vocal-heavy track like Hurt by Johnny Cash sounds bassy in these earpods, taking you away from the raw emotion in his voice.

As for the audio quality during calls, it is passable. I mean, I can hear the other person fine, but people have complained I sound as if I have a cold or if I am just out of bed. I also noticed occasional audio dropouts. Twice, the sound briefly cut out for a split second before resuming in just one earbud, which can be distracting.

Now, some of these audio aspects can be tweaked within the Mivi audio app. The app features options to toggle ANC, Dolby Audio (Spatial audio), Volume Booster, Gaming Mode, and Kids Mode. You can also choose preset equaliser modes or create a custom one, activate the Find My Device option and configure the touch controls.

Here’s how these features work:

Anyways, let’s now see how long and stable this experience stays.

Connectivity and battery

The pairing process is simple. You ensure the buds have enough charge and take them out of the case. Now, you should see the buds listed in the Bluetooth discovery screen on your device. You can also pair it through the Mivi audio app for a more personalised experience.

You can connect to more than one device at a time, but you’ll have to pause playback on one device to hear on the other.

Also, the one connected stays connected even if you move around, within a permissible radius of about 10m.

As for how long it can stay connected, the brand advertises 60 hours of combined playback, with the buds lasting 8.5 hours. While I haven’t tested the full claim, they lasted a week in my usage, which involves using them during office hours with some breaks and occasional home use.

Verdict

The Mivi SuperPods Concerto has a polarizing design and a bass-heavy sound signature that some might enjoy. Features like ANC, Dolby Audio, Gaming Mode, and a customisable equalizer add to its overall appeal. The compact, easy-to-carry case and long battery life are also positives.

However, the experience isn’t without its flaws, like its touch controls are finicky, channel separation is poor, the soundstage feels narrow, and both call quality and the Mivi Audio app suffer from spotty performance. The lack of multi-point connectivity is another missed opportunity.

Ultimately, the Mivi SuperPods Concerto makes sense if you prefer a bass-heavy sound and can overlook its fickle features. But if you prioritize balanced audio and a more refined user experience, other options exist.

Editor’s rating: 7/ 10

Pros

Cons

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