No battery gauge (part of the Audio suite).An in-line remote would have been nice too but as these differ for iPad and Android, we can live with using the phone/pod controls for now.No external battery charger (the magnetic battery cover is really easy to remove).Omission of a two or 3-pin airline jack but these are relatively easy to buy as an after-market product.The choice of pre-sets cover most tastes including heavy rock.Works while recharging (the microUSB cable is a bit short).Good acoustic insulation (keeps sound out) and effective active noise cancellation.Yes, it is a little heavier than the garish plastic cans but it suits the pointy end of the plane very well.In a few days of use, I could not fault it. Folds flat to fit in soft carry case provided.With Bluetooth and ANC activated: 6 hours (tested) Sound pressure level: 110 dB per volt to 1kHz.Once set to your preferences you don’t need to use the suite again. A seven band equaliser (centre frequencies of 60 Hz, 150 Hz, 400 Hz, 1 kHz, 2.4 kHz, 6 kHz and 15 kHz) has pre-sets (Flat, Pop, Club, Punchy, Deep, Crystal, User).

You can get various effects like concert hall, jazz club, living room, or silent room. IOS and Android users can also download the free Parrot Audio Suite, which helps adjust the DSP. The four microphones (two more than its main competitors) located inside and outside each earpiece as well as a bone conductor sensor in the ear pad do a superb job of reproducing your voice during phone calls or when chatting to the airline attendant. It incorporates active noise cancelling (ANC) using a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that generates ‘anti-noise’ to eliminate up to 25dB of background ambient noise. Start the music - put it back on your head. Pause the music - slip it down around your neck. Change the track – swipe forward or back. The innovative design extends to the touch control. Parrot Zik is a premium, active noise cancelling headset that uses either Bluetooth (NFC pairing) or a standard 3.5mm audio cable to listen to music or make and receive a mobile phone call from your smartphone. OK time to stop fantasising and down to business. The quality workmanship and materials should endure just as long. The black leather, matt finish, stainless steel and black trim is timeless – it will still be a classic a hundred years from now.

Parrot audio suite