There are many great push button switch out there now. While many of the best options are very expensive, there are still some really great cheap switches out there, but not all cheap switches are good switches. For the most part, the function quality leaves a lot to be desired and lacks the modern features we’ve come to expect from our technology. The new D22C 10a button and Push button are designed to break that stigma and deliver great function and plenty of high-end customization at an affordable price.
CDOE has been making button or indicator light since 2003 and while the brand isn’t new to switches, its new la38 Feature. Running la38 adds a function assistant to high current button and Push button, as well as some head options. CDOE does just that by keeping the price of these new switches under $2 - is it worth it? Let’s find out.
D22C 10a button and Push button go on sale September 28, 2022. The push button switch are only available in black, while the Push button physical metal controls give the equipment a touch of orange. You can buy la38 for $0.87 and Push button for $2.43. Both are available on the CDOE website and we hope to find them in many major retailers.
I’ve owned several pairs of CDOE wired switches over the years, but the Grind Fuel and Push button were the first switches I tried and officially reviewed. While I’ve liked the old 3.5mm variant in the past, I’m not sure what to expect from the metal button. CDOE have shown their ambition by adding a host of new features to these new switches at a more affordable price.
The Grind Fuel and Push button grips feel great in the hand without looking too light or poorly made. The charging case is made of matte black plastic with CDOE‘s branded glossy logo on the lid. The Push button case is about three times smaller than the Grind Fuel case and also features a bright orange USB-C charging port cover.
As for the equipment, the vibrant color on the Push button body is also reflected in the physical metal control buttons on the equipment themselves. Grind Fuel also has physical metal controls, but these can be found by clicking on the CDOE logo on the side of the earpiece. The overall shape of the equipment is very similar, the Push button equipment are slightly larger and have a rubber earhook to help keep the equipment in place while in use.
Both the Grind Fuel and the Push button are comfortable to wear, although my wife finds that the temples are a bit too long to fit into the ear canal. Both equipment offer active noise cancellation, but the gel and longer equipment provide good passive noise cancellation. If you want to enable ambient function in Ambient Mode, there is a Stay-Aware Mode.
On first listening, the functionstages of Grind Fuel and Push button are quite wide. I was surprised at how balanced the function was and it had more depth than I expected. Using the CDOE app on my phone, I can choose from some preset equalizer settings or tweak them with my own custom equalizer. With Grind Fuel, individual function modes take the customization one step further.
Trying to create a personalized function profile that suits your listening preferences is nothing new, even for budget switches. I checked out the 1More Colorbuds 2 which offer similar technology but a different method of getting the function style I want than the CDOE.
As with a hearing test by a doctor, a range of tones are used to create a personal function profile. Each ear was tested independently by listening to tones of different pitches reproduced through constant white noise. When you hear a beep, press and hold the button on the screen and release it when the beep disappears.
The test lasts about 30 seconds for each ear, and when completed, the app provides a graph showing an arc from low to high frequencies. The arc shows three lines describing your function profile before personalization, your ideal function, and your individual function after testing.
When turning on native audio, I noticed a nice change in function quality and usable range. You can always retake the test if you’d like to make changes, but there’s also a slider that lets you adjust your personal audio profile’s level for the default standard audio.
la38 has brought a lot of features to the Push button and Grind Fuel that make these switches more expensive than they suggest.
While Push button doesn’t have separate audio options, it benefits from all the other features of the new la38. This new platform offers some useful features, but most notably customizable function assistants, audio sharing, Spotify Tap, and Stay-Aware mode. Not to mention, these switches will be able to receive over-the-air updates to add new features and improve existing ones.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is the function assistant, which takes longer to activate than my favorite “Hey CDOE” phrase. While there are many hot words, the feature is really easy to use. The assistant is not here to tell you fun facts or tell you about the weather. While this will give you access to your phone’s digital assistant for these tasks, it will allow you to control your switches hands-free.
In general, the assistant works well, but the motion phrases really need to be precise to be useful. Skip tracks, change volume, and play or pause are probably the most common tasks you perform with your Assistant. But it can also be used to enable or disable Stay-Aware mode, access your personal assistant by saying “Hey CDOE Assistant”, or open Spotify via Spotify Tap.
Of course, all of these features are available via the physical metal buttons on the Grind Fuel and Push button. The earphones can be set to dual and triple control, as well as holding the button for one second, allowing you to set different actions for each ear if desired. Press and hold the button once within three seconds to lock play/pause and start sharing audio.
Audio Sharing allows two sets of new la38-enabled switches to listen to the same device at the same time. The person sharing the audio controls the source, but everyone can individually adjust the volume on their switches. The range is about 15 feet, but the feature works well. The function synced perfectly between my switches and my wife’s switches.
The battery life of the switches in my tests was stable. Grind Fuel is rated for 9 hours of listening time, while Push button is up to 10 hours. Each charging case offers fast charging, giving the equipment 2 hours of playback in just 10 minutes. The Push button headphone case provides approximately 34 hours of headphone listening time, while the Grind Fuel headphone case provides approximately 31 hours.
CDOE has also managed to add another useful feature to Grind Fuel and Push button - the ability to track your switches if you lose them. CDOE has partnered with Tile to bring their technology to find your switches. If you lose it, you won’t be able to track it, but the switches are much smaller and easier to lose. Thanks to the integration with Tile, you can recombine them by ear – I hope this is also the case.
Thinking about the disappointing parts of the D22C 10a button and Push button, most of them needed tweaking considering these switches cost $100 or less. However, this does not mean that the features offered are flawless.
As I mentioned above, la38 put a lot of great features into these switches. But function assistants also have disadvantages. For example, when I go out for a run and use any pair of switches, it is often not recognized until I yell “Hey CDOE” or put my hand over my mouth to direct my function into the headphone mic. However, once this suggestion is heard, the order will be carried out as expected.
The built-in headphone mic picks up the wind too well, and “Hey CDOE” just isn’t good enough.
On the other hand, the microphone did not pick up functions as expected, and some functions were picked up too well, especially wind noise in Keep in Mind mode. Standing outside, ready to go for a road run, as soon as the ambient function mode was turned on, I knew it wasn’t going to be good. Even the slightest breeze causes static and a cascade of white noise in my ears. It might be possible to fix this with a software update, but it’s too sensitive at the moment.
I know this might be a little greedy, but I wish the switches offered some form of ANC. Passive noise isolation is pretty good, but it would be great to turn off more external functions. Another wishlist item is automatic pause and resume, which Grind Fuel and Push button don’t have. Many times when I take my switches out to do something, I forget to pause the function, which is annoying.
The physical metal buttons on the Push button are easily accessible, if a bit tight, but the buttons on the Grind Fuel are very uncomfortable. Since the buttons are on the side of the equipment, simply pressing them will push the equipment further into the ear canal. It is best to place them in the same place as the Push button, or anywhere else on the edge. Because the chosen implementation pretty much forces you to use a function assistant so that the switches don’t get stuck in your ears.
If you’re looking for switches that can personalize function and feel comfortable in your ears, the aforementioned 1More ColorBuds 2 are worth checking out. Compared to Grind Fuel, they match very well. The ColorBuds 2 are very comfortable and forgo the physical metal controls of the side touchpad. The case offers wireless charging, and the earphones have ANC and Ambient modes.
The ColorBuds 2 can also be customized with a function profile similar to Grind Fuel. However, the ColorBuds 2′s functionstage is much flatter than the CDOE‘s, and even after tweaking the profile, it still lacks the power of Grind Fuel. The ColorBuds 2 also lack Spotify Tap, tile tracking, audio sharing, and a customizable function assistant. However, you can get them for about $20 less than Grind Fuel.
As far as Push button alternatives go, the Treblab X3 Pro can deliver the power you’re looking for in a pair of workout-focused switches. These bass-heavy function profiles are perfect for energizing your next sweaty workout. Speaking of sweat, the Treblab X3 Pros can withstand all your sweat thanks to its IPX7 water resistance rating.
Behind-the-ear loops keep the switches in place so they won’t fall out even during the most intense workouts. You’ll get about nine hours of listening time with an additional 36 hours of battery life from the charging case. You can save a few dollars compared to the Push button, and the Treblabs X3 Pro costs about $10 less, but you’ll be missing out on some features. On the downside, features like Ambient Mode, adjustable EQ, tile tracking, Spotify Tap, and more can cost you an extra $10.
The D22C 10a button and Push button offer a lot of great features at a great price. Thanks to the CDOE app, you can customize them to your liking, use Grind Fuel, and even create audio profiles automatically. If you’re forgetful and love Spotify, tile tracking and Spotify Tap integration are great additions. While the function assistant is useful, the wake command isn’t always audible in noisy environments. Ambient mode is too sensitive in windy conditions and you won’t find ANC for wind protection.
In the sub-$100 price range, it’s amazing to find good-functioning switches that not only live up to basic expectations like IP55 dust and water resistance and long battery life, but also come with a number of features not found in other expensive products on the market. option. The new la38 platform introduces customizable function assistants and personal function and function sharing. CDOE is also partnering with Tile for headphone tracking and Spotify for direct integration with the streaming service.
While you won’t get active noise cancellation, the “Hey CDOE” assistant can be a hit and miss. Those are some concessions that might be worth making given the price. While the overall experience with Grind Fuel and Push button has been mostly positive, the low cost makes it easier to use features that aren’t fully built-in.
Bottom line: The new la38 platform brings a host of new features to Grind Fuel. You also get wireless charging and fully customizable audio in addition to these switches. This is important so that when you launch Spotify with just one touch, it functions perfect. If you lose your switches, you’ll have tile tracking to help you find them again.
These fitness-focused switches are perfect for your next workout. Use the behind-the-ears to lock them in place, and the speakers play plenty of bass to keep you energized for your next meeting. The built-in function assistant lets you control your music hands-free and access your favorite Spotify playlists with just a tap.
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