The Parrot Zik 2.0 are an above-average, feature-packed set of headphones. The design is stylish and comfortable, but the unique touch controls can get a little frustrating. By default, the audio reproduction is also only satisfactory, though this can be improved by adjusting settings through a bundled app.
Our Verdict
The Zik 2.0 are good everyday headphones. They have enough features to handle most test cases and environments.
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Great sturdy and durable design.
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Feature packed.
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Great customization options thanks to The Parrot Zik app.
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Sensitive touch controls.
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Poor treble audio reproduction
Decent for neutral listening. They deliver a customizable audio profile but sound too closed for pure and isolated neutral listening.
Good for commuting. The Zik 2.0 are comfortable and have a decent control scheme. They're well-built and not too cumbersome. Additionally, the noise canceling works well in loud environments and will substantially reduce the ambient noise of a busy commute or noisy flight.
Above-average for sports use. They're comfortable, stable and wireless, with a good control scheme. However, they’re a bit too bulky for strenuous exercise.
Above-average for office use. They don leak much and cancel a great deal of ambient noise and chatter in a busy office.
- 6.7 Mixed Usage
- 6.1 Neutral Sound
- 7.3 Commute/Travel
- 6.9 Sports/Fitness
- 6.8 Office
- 5.1 Wireless Gaming
- 7.0 Wired Gaming
- 6.8 Phone Call
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jun 05, 2019: We've updated the Build Quality section of the review to better reflect the defect with the pads.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Feb 26, 2016: Review published.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Parrot Zik 3.0 are slightly better than the Parrot Zik 2.0, but not by much. The Zik 3.0 have a slightly more durable design with earcup pads that will last longer than on the Zik 2.0. The Zik 3.0 are a bit more customizable and have fewer bugs in their software than the Zik 2.0. The 2.0, on the other hand, have a slightly stronger isolation profile that isn't as adaptive but cancels a bit more noise overall.
The Parrot Zik 2.0/Zik 2.0 Wireless are much better wireless headphones than the Skullcandy Hesh 2. The Zik have a lot more customizable features than the Hesh 2. They're also better built and a bit more comfortable than the Hesh 2. Since they're noise cancelling headphones, they do much better in noisy conditions. On the other hand, the Skullcandys are much lighter and have an easier-to-use control scheme. They also have a longer battery life than the Parrot, and since they're cheaper, they might be a better value for some.
The Bose QuietComfort 35/QC35 Wireless 2016 are a better noise canceling headset than the Parrot Zik 2/Zik 2.0 Wireless. The Parrot are better-built and look a bit more premium. They also have a lot more customization options via their app and a stronger isolation performance since they do not leak as much. However, the Bose are more comfortable and have a better-balanced default sound quality than the Parrot. They also have a much longer battery life which makes them more suitable for long trips and traveling. They're slightly easier to use than the touch-sensitive control scheme of the Parrot.
If you prefer in-ear headphones that are more compact to carry around, then go for the Jaybird X3, but if you're looking for noise cancelling over-ears, the Parrot Zik 2.0 are a good option. The Parrot Zik are well-built over-ears with great noise cancellation that make them a suitable choice for commute and travel. They also have a lot more features and customization options than the Jaybird X3. However, the Jaybird X3 are a lot more portable. They're also a better choice for sports, since they have a breathable and stable in-ear design.
Test Results
The Zik 2.0s look and feel premium. The sleek metal headband is moderately padded and has a unique hinge mechanism that looks well-thought-out and polished.The oval ear cups are large, well-padded and match the headband which comes in many color variations. They look amazing, feel amazing, and are definitely a pair of stylish headphones.
Despite being slightly heavy, these headphones are decently comfortable. The only issue is the size of the "ear-hole" on the pads. If your ears are on the larger side, you may have difficulty getting a comfortable fit.
These headphones lose points for the "Smart Touch Panel". Although the design is very clever, the lack of tactile and visual cues means that mistakes are inevitable. The Zik 2.0 also has a sensor that turns them off when they are not being used, to save battery.
The Zik 2.0 are decently portable headphones. They have relatively small ear cups that fold flat, to not take too much space. However, they do not fold into a more compact format, which may be too bulky for smaller handbags and won't fit in any pockets, even larger jacket pockets.
Comes with a soft fabric pouch that will protect the headphones from scratches and does not add bulk. Sadly, it will not shield them from hard falls, which is disappointing given the ZIK 2.0's premium appeal.
Update: 06/05/2019 We've updated the build quality score of the Zik 2.0 to reflect the tear in the padding. This seems to be a widespread issue that has been addressed with the Zik 3.0. On the upside, you can purchase replacement pads for both models directly from the Parrot website or on Amazon.
Very solid feel and high-quality material. The metal parts feel strong, and the plastic parts seem quite durable. Very solid click on the headband adjustments, with marks on the headband representing each notch.
The Zik 2.0 like the Zik 3.0, deliver an above-average listening experience. They're sufficiently tight on your head and won't slip off during moderate physical activity. Sadly, these are not sports headphones and the large ear cups and weight of the headphones makes them sway a little when running.
Great performance throughout the frequency range. With ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) set to Off these headphones provide very good isolation down to 600Hz. The ANC seems to be kicking in from 600Hz downwards, so enable it when you want more bass isolation. Using the smartphone app that comes with the Zik 2.0, you can also set the ANC to "Street Mode" which opens up the headphones so you can hear the surroundings and have a conversation.
Minimum leakage from the bass to the low-mid range. However, there is increased leakage in the treble range from 1KHz to 6KHz.
The microphone of the Parrot Zik 2.0 was not tested, due to issues regarding connecting them to our test computer.
The Zik 2.0 have a mediocre-at-best battery life. They won't be the ideal headphones for prolonged use through the day but last a bit longer than the Zik 3.0. They also have an auto-off timer to save power and can play audio while charging which is convenient if you're close to a power source. However, they take a long time to charge.
The Parrot Zik suite a is a sleek and feature-packed app that offers an incredible amount of control. It gives you access to both a graphic and an advanced parametric equalizer with presets. It gives you control over the amount of noise canceling provided. It has an auto-off timer, an in-app player, and a unique community feature, that allows members of the app to share presets and equalizers. It is simply one of the best headphone companion apps we've tested so far.
