AirFly Pro 2 Review – The Ultimate Wireless Audio Adapter for travel and beyond

Whenever someone asked me “What is your favourite gadget you’ve reviewed so far and why?”, I’d say it’s the AirFly Pro from Twelve South (or the Deluxe version). It’s a small device that solves a big problem: connecting your wireless headphones to devices that only have a headphone jack. Whether you’re on a plane (ESPECIALLY on a plane), at the gym, or gaming with older equipment, this tiny adapter promises to make your life easier by cutting the cord on wired audio.

It allows you to watch in-flight movies with your favourite earbuds or Bluetooth headphones like my Bose QuietComfort 45 – offering wireless convenience and superior noise cancelling at the same time. Are you still watching with the standard headphones given by the steward/stewardess? Then, yuck.

Twelve South has just made an update to their AirFly Pro and the new AirFly Pro 2 offers improvements to the already awesome, tiny, handy device.

Unboxing and Packaging Contents

The standard edition (the review sample I have here) includes a nice, carry pouch to carry the device and the compact charging cable but there is no airline adapter included (you can purchase it cheaply on eBay or other stores). The Deluxe version includes a fancier, faux suede travel bag and an international airline adapter.

Setup and Pairing Process

Getting started with the AirFly Pro 2 is refreshingly simple. The initial setup involves turning on the device, putting your headphones in pairing mode, and pressing the Pair 1 button for four seconds. The LED indicator guides you through the process, and within seconds, you’re connected just like that.

Once your headphones are paired, the AirFly Pro 2 remembers them and connects automatically when powered on. This makes it perfect for frequent travelers who don’t want to fiddle with settings every time they board a plane. Plus, people don’t usually change their headphones or earphones too often.

Design and Build Quality

The AirFly Pro 2 is impressively compact, similar to the predecessor with roughly the size of a USB drive but slightly thicker. It feels solid in hand that resists fingerprints and scratches. The design is clean and minimal, with just a few essential buttons and LED indicators that are easy to understand at a glance. Sure, some people may not like the design because when you plug the cable in (attached with the unit), the AirFly Pro 2 will be dangling out of the port.

I believe this is to get maximum compatibility because the connector can be made shorter and neater, but it may not fit ports where there are blockages around it.

The device features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack on one end, a USB-C charging port, and three main buttons: power, Pair 1, and Pair 2. There’s also a TX/RX toggle switch on the side that lets you switch between transmit and receive modes. The LED indicators are bright enough to see in various lighting conditions without being distracting.

Compared to the original AirFly Pro, the significant change is being able to pair it to two different devices simultaneously with the separate pairing buttons (and the aptX support and I guess, volume controls too). This is particularly useful for couples traveling together so they can watch the same movie or listen to the same music while each wears his/her own headphones. Setting up dual headphones is straightforward. After connecting the first set through Pair 1, you simply press and hold the Pair 2 button for four seconds to enter pairing mode for the second set. The PAIR 2 light illuminates for 10 seconds once successfully paired.

I honestly haven’t flown with a plane yet while testing the device, but the original AirFly Pro always worked flawlessly with airplane entertainment systems. The audio quality was clear and stable, with no noticeable delay or dropouts. I particularly appreciated being able to use my noise-cancelling headphones during long flights without dealing with airline-provided wired headphones. Plus, it makes the trip to the lavatory so much easier without having to juggle with cables when you get up (and get back in).

If you are gymming, you can also connect AirFly Pro 2 to treadmills and modern exercise bikes with audio ports

Battery Life and Charging

The AirFly Pro 2 offers about 25 hours of battery life which means you can use it for multiple long flights or gym sessions without ever worrying about charging. The USB-C charging is fast and convenient, with a handy, short charging cable included. The device fully charges within two hours, and you can continue using it while plugged in if needed. So if you ever forgot to charge the day before your flight, you can just plug the charging cable while using it on the plane.

Transmit and Receive Modes

The AirFly Pro 2’s ability to function as both a transmitter and receiver adds significant versatility too. In transmit mode (TX), it sends audio from wired sources to your wireless headphones. In receive mode (RX), it receives Bluetooth audio from your phone or tablet and plays it through wired speakers or AUX-IN ports. Pretty handy if you have a nice set of dumb speakers at home (without Bluetooth connectivity) but want to listen to music from your smartphone. Switching between modes is as simple as flipping the TX/RX toggle switch on the side.

Audio Quality

The audio quality through the AirFly Pro 2 is excellent, thanks to aptX support. Music sounds clear and detailed, with good separation between instruments and vocals. There’s minimal compression or loss compared to direct Bluetooth connections.

AirFly Pro 2 Review Conclusion

The AirFly Pro 2 is a well-designed, reliable solution for bridging the gap between wireless headphones and wired audio sources. It excels in its primary role as a travel companion for flights and gym sessions, while the added versatility of receive mode makes it useful in many other situations like listening to music from your smartphone to an old car without Bluetooth connectivity.

The device’s simple operation, excellent battery life, and solid build quality make it a worthy investment for anyone who values the convenience of wireless audio. Whether you’re a frequent traveller, gym enthusiast, or just someone who wants to use their favourite headphones with older devices, the AirFly Pro 2 just delivers.

The ability to connect two sets of headphones simultaneously sets it apart from basic Bluetooth transmitters, making it particularly valuable for couples and families. And yes, the AirFly Pro 2 is still my most recommended tech product to own for many years to come.

TwelveSouth AirFly Pro 2 retails for A$89.95.

Disclosure: AirFly Pro 2 review unit was supplied for reviewing