Reviews by regancipher
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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YouTube: regancipher
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Hidizs MS3
Price: £93.49 - Hidizs direct
Review Reference: RC121
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable Oxygen-Free Copper Cable
9 x Pair spare tips (3 x vocal SML, 3 x bass SML, 3 x balanced SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Hidizs Branded Carry Pouch
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Firstly, happy new year to everyone here at Headfi, and a big up to me for my 100th Headfi review! Today we're taking a look at the HIDIZS MS3. HIDIZS are, in their words "an acoustic brand focused on recreating natural and authentic sound, capturing the essence and emotions of musical performances". Having been founded by a musician with expertise in psychoacoustics, their approach claims to 'recognize that each listener has a unique auditory perception, aiming to respect those differences, focusing not just on technical excellence, but also perceived sound, too.'. Thank goodness for that!!
This approach has clearly paid dividends though, earning three consecutive VGP 'golden prize' awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and generally being recognised here at Headfi and in the wider market as a brand you can trust. Whether it's IEMs, DAPs, DACs or amps, their products tend to be characterised by high quality craftsmanship, operating at the less budget-conscious end of the market, augmented by a strong market position courtesy of over a decade establishing the HIDIZS brand.
The Mermaid MS3 have been around a little while - released almost 6 months ago now - but they probably haven't quite had the fanfare they deserve, despite killer 'shark fin' aesthetics theming the plates and connectors, and outrageous build quality accompanying a competitive launch price that has now been reduced even further. At time of writing, the MS3 are available from HIDIZS direct for just £78.99 - an absolute steal given their impressive hardware. (EDIT - price has gone back up to £93.49 - still a great deal!)
Whilst much has already been said about the MS3 already in the below reviews here on Headfi, we've since seen some very popular IEM releases perhaps stealing the limelight from the MS3 somewhat, so now seems like an opportune moment to revisit and see how well they've aged, and assess whether and to whom they offer a good option in this uber-competitive space.
Unboxing
The Mermaid MS3 come in an impressively-authoritative outer enclosure which oozes understated quality. There's no wild mermaid-or-otherwise-theming - instead you get a sharp image of the MS3 and a brief summary of the driver arrangement. It's a pretty large, heavy enclosure which provided the contents with ample protection on their long journey over to the UK!
Inside, on the first floor you get a pretty nice selection of eartips and a first glimpse of the other two replaceable pneumatic sound tuning filters. The stock-fitted rose gold are listed as 'balanced', reflecting Hidizs' signature style, and are targeted at listeners of pop and folk. 'Charm Red' is their bassy, energetic filter, better suited for rock and metal, whereas 'Quiet Silver' is marketed for classical music lovers. I'll go into more detail on whether these are accurate representations in the Audio & Sound Signature section.
The eartips are all actually pretty usable. They're targeted at comfort over isolation and are very soft, unravelling when you remove them. I guess the best compliment is I didn't switch them out straight away, and have been using the vocal tips without complaint throughout my testing regime and beyond.
The MS3 also come with a carry pouch, and thankfully, a cable! The cable is incredibly impressive - probably the best freebie cable I've ever seen with a sub $200 set - it's a 4 core, 192 strand OFC cable at the standard length of 1.2m. It's so thick that the thumb pull barely budges over the top of it! The cable terminates to either 3.5 or 4.4mm depending on how you order, and at the other end you've got red and blue marked 'shark fin' detachable 0.28mm 2pin plugs.
The pouch is OK, although a little less impressive. It comes in faux leather effect material with metallic hinges keeping it shut. It's serviceable, but isn't going to offer your tuning filters any real protection.
Overall it's a pretty decent unboxing experience that aligns to its price. It will satisfy those who don't have a load of accessories already in their inventory, but for those of us with hefty existing collections, we aren't going to see too much in the way of tangible benefit, the excellent cable aside.
Design & Build Quality
If the unboxing was arguably a shade underwhelming, the same cannot be said for the design and build quality of the MS3, which tick every box as far as aesthetics and ergonomics go. If an IEM could ever be sexy, then the MS3 is probably the one you'd get permission to break your marital vows for! Granted, it bears more than a passing resemblance to their big brother, the MS5, but they aren't just a lift-and-shift - despite being a fraction of the cost, for me the MS3 are a better look and fit.
Working in the aviation industry, I was intrigued to see that the MS3 are crafted from 'aviation aluminium alloy' shells, carved by five-axis CNC. The panel is particularly eye-catching, with its black oxidation treatment and three-dimensional 'flame' style design.
The immediate first impression of the MS3 is its unmistakeable quality. The shells, despite weighing over 7g, do not feel especially heavy thanks to their well-proportioned, ergonomic dimensions, but they do feel incredibly well made. The faceplate measures 19mm wide and just over 22mm high - sure, they aren't quite as dainty as something like the Simgot EA1000, but they're still small enough to barely be noticed in the ear. Their teardrop-shaped profile rests subtly against the antihelix and around the concha, and combines tastefully with the polished rose-gold outer edge to present an alluring visual experience. The look is enhanced further by the self-styled shark-fin connectors - a fairly minor inclusion but one that doesn't go unnoticed. There's only a very slight reinforcement in the ear hook, which works well in preventing it from pulling when you're on the move and doesn't cause any discomfort or irritation.
The insides of the IEM feature a very shallow graduation upwards and outwards from the nozzle. The curvature is so slight that it's quite hard to see without the spotlight, but it's enough optimise the balance of fit and the need to create sufficient isolation. The depth of the IEM tops out at just under 24mm, and whilst this makes it a little deeper insertion than some of the competition, the whole belies the part - there's very little feeling of presence or occlusion. There's a tuning hole on the inside, and a plastic shield protecting the connectors - and it is this attention to detail that is quite symbolic when it comes to the MS3 - everything about the design is very deliberate and thoughtful.
With the nozzle undressed, you get a little glimpse of the balanced armature. The filters are quite small and fiddly, but unscrewing and replacing them isn't too much of an ordeal.
The filters, complete with o-ring to optimise sound delivery, are a bit fiddly, but again HIDIZS' attention to detail is reflected here, with orings around the edge to optimise the seal. All three filter types use differing thicknesses of what appears to be black foam on the inside.
The fit, at least for my odd-shaped ears and shallow ear canals, is quite perfect. HIDIZS have absolutely nailed the ergonomics, and it helps that they look pretty good too.
Audio & Sound Signature
The MS3 is a fun, energetic IEM which showcases HIDIZS' own take(s) on Harman, and its certainly enough to give them their own, vibrant character.
The MS3 boasts a hybrid driver configuration of a single DMDC 3rd Generation PEEK driver handling the bass, and two Knowles SWFK-31736 composite balanced armatures dealing with the mids and highs. HIDIZS redesigned the the crossover point, using tantalum capacitors for their higher frequency response and lower equivalent series resistance, with the aim of delivering higher resolution, better, more accurate treble extension and wider sound field performance ability, but despite this, driver cohesion steps aside in favour of powerful, slightly boomy lower frequencies, crispy trebles (sometimes a little too crispy), dynamics and quite impressive technicalities.
With a judicious sub-bass extension, the MS3 provides low-frequency physicality without one-note boom, benefitting tracks leaning on synthetic or acoustic bass texture alike. It's definitely not in the basshead realms, but there's enough power to lend bass guitars increased resonance and electronic kick drums a floor-shaking 'first few rows' immersion. That power tends to linger and then disperse a little inconsistently though - whilst the initial impact is certainly there, it can dissipate a tad unsatisfyingly.
There is plenty of midbass presence, categorised by a little bleed from the upper bass regions into the midrange - enough to add warmth and richness to the sound, but it can sometimes border on a little sloppy. On more bassy reproductions, the power and resonance can sound a shade uncontrolled, especially with wider bore tips and on lower quality sources, blurring it a little. It does improve somewhat after a lengthy burn-in and with careful tip selection. Bass is energetic, fun and enjoyable, more than it is clean and textured.
Departing the bass region, the MS3 midrange begins a smooth downward slope, crossing the Harman target at 400Hz. The trajectory continues descending further, reaching a +4dB valley at 800Hz relative to target before rising back upwards.
The prolonged dip through the lower mids provides a relaxed warmth. Male vocals have fair depth and texture, but join cellos and horns in a set-back, mildly recessed staging. Acoustic guitars, pianos and strings for the most part sound lifelike and enjoyable, although violins can extend to strident in solo. The mid-mids see a quantifiable recession, before an elevated upper midrange presents. The lift at 1.5kHz injects crisp presence to higher guitar tones and adds clarity and presence to female voices, which are much more forward than male vocals, although they do fall short in depth and sweetness compared to some of the smoother sets on the market. On female vocals and percussive tracks, you do get a little taste of the BA timbre, with a little splash to cymbals too. Depending on the vocalist, the sound can thin out a tad. Vocals are probably not the strong suit of the MS3, but the mids are generally well-done with good note weight and, for the most part, decent transparency.
Ascending into upper frequencies beyond 3kHz the MS3 Gold takes a decisively assertive stance, at times crossing +10dB over the Harman Target, opening out the sound and bringing crunchiness and energy to percussive elements. This begins mildly at 5kHz before aggressive elevation persists spanning from 7kHz to 15kHz - no relaxation or restraint here. The fulsome lower and middle treble emphasis adds substantial shimmer and detail portrayal to guitar work, but notes don't always decay with crisp decisiveness - it is, for the most part, a clean treble delivery, but its slightly peaky nature, whilst adding bite to accentuate transients, can sometimes also present a metallic sheen over percussive elements. This is especially evident on tribal house and funk tracks layered with drums.
The mid treble is more intense than most Harman-inspired sets, and whilst not always orthodox-sounding, the MS3 is one of the more resolving sets around the $100 mark. Detail retrieval is very strong at this price bracket, and imaging is also excellent. Instrument separation is better in the mid and higher frequencies, as you would expect, and the positioning, imaging and layering are all very strong. Staging is a tad constrained, although wider than it is deep, and the MS3 have good dynamics. HIDIZS have struck a nice balance here between delivering detail and precision, whilst at the same time bringing a healthy dose of warmth, fun and energy.
The MS3 comes with two other 'funny' filters to offer alternative sound signatures - one slightly more than the other! The silver nozzle doesn't seem to be a particularly wide deviation from the stock rose gold, but its an even brighter sound, adding further detail and punchiness to the trebles, but also thinning out vocals more. It's a hotter sound, and on higher volumes, this filter does reveal a bit too much low level sibilance though. If you're treble sensitive this is probably one to avoid, but does certainly strut its stuff with classical music on mid volumes.
The red filter is a far bigger deviation, boosting the bass, smoothing out the 5k peak and moving and enhancing the 7.5kHz peak to 8kHz. It shifts the tone a bit from bright to slightly darker and loosens the reigns even further. Basslines are richer (although less controlled) but not as punchy as the Gold filter. The note weight is a bit thicker and the sound overall a little smoother, with a more intimate presentation. I particularly enjoyed this filter with vocal jazz, soul and melodic techno where the warmer sound smooths out the vocals and the trebles are much more rounded and less edgy.
It's always nice to get very usable filter options - and all three are definitely that - but the stark deviation from red to gold has me wondering what a filter somewhere in the middle of the two would have offered. As always seems to be the case!
The Simgot EM6L are another hybrid driver option at around a similar price, sporting 4 BA's as opposed to 2. They also retail at $109 - roughly the launch price of the MS3. Putting the audio to one side, the build quality of the MS3 feels a bit more sturdy and more premium. The EM6L are slightly smaller and more lightweight, but both wear equally comfortably. Both are straightforward to drive, although the EM6L definitely benefit from a bit more oomph.
The EM6L sound is a bit smoother and warmer throughout. With the centre point of the bass at around 45Hz rather than 80Hz, the EM6L has a little more rumble. Both models bleed a little into the midrange, although it's perhaps a little more obvious on the MS3. With its more recessed midrange, vocals are a bit thinner and at times shoutier on the MS3, which is more susceptible to low treble sibilance, regardless of filter. The mids are more transparent on the EM6L - they are a bit more natural and musical than the MS3. Trebles are safer on the EM6L, remaining a little truer to Harman throughout the upper registers. The EM6L have a slightly faster transient response, but the MS3 are more fun and energetic. The MS3 have three filter options, whereas with the EM6L you're stuck with its default sound - not that that is a bad thing, mind. Both models punch above their weight in technical performance though, with the EM6L offering arguably slightly better imaging and the MS3 a marginally wider sound field.
Both are great choices, but the MS3 at the current price might represent a more competitive value proposition for those who value the added versatility. If you prefer a more natural tone and timbre, you'll probably favour the EM6L.
Summary
The HIDIZS MS3 has aged pretty well, faring well against the competition especially at their current reduced price. The unboxing and overall presentation is very good, albeit a carry case would have added gloss. The build quality of the IEM is first class and punches well above its category. It is a very versatile and comfortable IEM that offers good isolation and is straightforward to drive.
The sound represent HIDIZS' take on Harman nicely with a well-done v-shape and triple driver crossover. The bass is more about power than precision, and its energy and vibrance lend itself well across genres, particularly to pop and EDM. The midrange is recessed, but the thicker note weight and added warmth presents well on soul and RnB. If you prefer classical music, you'll probably be less enamoured. The elevated upper mid register gives pianos and strings crispness and detail. The trebles are reasonably clean and not overdone, with good exclamation to percussion and cymbals - but the BA timbre is definitely tangible here. The technical performance of the MS3 is a particular highlight, with great imaging and separation for a sub $100 set.
MS3 is a good choice in its price bracket, and the three very usable filters bring added versatility. If you seek a balance of a wider soundstage, good technicalities and energy, and favour this over a natural tone and timbre, then this might be one to add to your collection. Given this retailed at $169 at one point, the current offer price at HIDIZ is an absolute steal.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: Hidizs MS3
Price: £93.49 - Hidizs direct
Review Reference: RC121
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Hidizs
- Model: Mermaid MS3
- Driver: 10.2mm Dual Magnetic Circuit Dual Cavity Gen3 PEEK+PU Dynamic Driver and 2 x Knowles SWFK-31736 Composite Balanced Armature Driver
- Tuning: Three filters - Gold, Silver and Red
- IEM Weight: 7.41g
- IEM Dimensions: 22.6mm (height) x 19.1mm (width) x 24mm (max depth)
- Shell: Aviation Aluminium Alloy CNC Integral Molding Shell
- Impedance: 18Ω±15% (at 1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 112dB/Vrms (at 1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-50kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz
- Cable: High Purity Oxygen-Free Copper 4-Strand Mixed Braiding 1.2m
- Connector: 0.78 2 Pin Gold Plated Socket
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable Oxygen-Free Copper Cable
9 x Pair spare tips (3 x vocal SML, 3 x bass SML, 3 x balanced SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Hidizs Branded Carry Pouch
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Firstly, happy new year to everyone here at Headfi, and a big up to me for my 100th Headfi review! Today we're taking a look at the HIDIZS MS3. HIDIZS are, in their words "an acoustic brand focused on recreating natural and authentic sound, capturing the essence and emotions of musical performances". Having been founded by a musician with expertise in psychoacoustics, their approach claims to 'recognize that each listener has a unique auditory perception, aiming to respect those differences, focusing not just on technical excellence, but also perceived sound, too.'. Thank goodness for that!!
This approach has clearly paid dividends though, earning three consecutive VGP 'golden prize' awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and generally being recognised here at Headfi and in the wider market as a brand you can trust. Whether it's IEMs, DAPs, DACs or amps, their products tend to be characterised by high quality craftsmanship, operating at the less budget-conscious end of the market, augmented by a strong market position courtesy of over a decade establishing the HIDIZS brand.
The Mermaid MS3 have been around a little while - released almost 6 months ago now - but they probably haven't quite had the fanfare they deserve, despite killer 'shark fin' aesthetics theming the plates and connectors, and outrageous build quality accompanying a competitive launch price that has now been reduced even further. At time of writing, the MS3 are available from HIDIZS direct for just £78.99 - an absolute steal given their impressive hardware. (EDIT - price has gone back up to £93.49 - still a great deal!)
Whilst much has already been said about the MS3 already in the below reviews here on Headfi, we've since seen some very popular IEM releases perhaps stealing the limelight from the MS3 somewhat, so now seems like an opportune moment to revisit and see how well they've aged, and assess whether and to whom they offer a good option in this uber-competitive space.
Unboxing
The Mermaid MS3 come in an impressively-authoritative outer enclosure which oozes understated quality. There's no wild mermaid-or-otherwise-theming - instead you get a sharp image of the MS3 and a brief summary of the driver arrangement. It's a pretty large, heavy enclosure which provided the contents with ample protection on their long journey over to the UK!
Inside, on the first floor you get a pretty nice selection of eartips and a first glimpse of the other two replaceable pneumatic sound tuning filters. The stock-fitted rose gold are listed as 'balanced', reflecting Hidizs' signature style, and are targeted at listeners of pop and folk. 'Charm Red' is their bassy, energetic filter, better suited for rock and metal, whereas 'Quiet Silver' is marketed for classical music lovers. I'll go into more detail on whether these are accurate representations in the Audio & Sound Signature section.
The eartips are all actually pretty usable. They're targeted at comfort over isolation and are very soft, unravelling when you remove them. I guess the best compliment is I didn't switch them out straight away, and have been using the vocal tips without complaint throughout my testing regime and beyond.
The MS3 also come with a carry pouch, and thankfully, a cable! The cable is incredibly impressive - probably the best freebie cable I've ever seen with a sub $200 set - it's a 4 core, 192 strand OFC cable at the standard length of 1.2m. It's so thick that the thumb pull barely budges over the top of it! The cable terminates to either 3.5 or 4.4mm depending on how you order, and at the other end you've got red and blue marked 'shark fin' detachable 0.28mm 2pin plugs.
The pouch is OK, although a little less impressive. It comes in faux leather effect material with metallic hinges keeping it shut. It's serviceable, but isn't going to offer your tuning filters any real protection.
Overall it's a pretty decent unboxing experience that aligns to its price. It will satisfy those who don't have a load of accessories already in their inventory, but for those of us with hefty existing collections, we aren't going to see too much in the way of tangible benefit, the excellent cable aside.
Design & Build Quality
If the unboxing was arguably a shade underwhelming, the same cannot be said for the design and build quality of the MS3, which tick every box as far as aesthetics and ergonomics go. If an IEM could ever be sexy, then the MS3 is probably the one you'd get permission to break your marital vows for! Granted, it bears more than a passing resemblance to their big brother, the MS5, but they aren't just a lift-and-shift - despite being a fraction of the cost, for me the MS3 are a better look and fit.
Working in the aviation industry, I was intrigued to see that the MS3 are crafted from 'aviation aluminium alloy' shells, carved by five-axis CNC. The panel is particularly eye-catching, with its black oxidation treatment and three-dimensional 'flame' style design.
The immediate first impression of the MS3 is its unmistakeable quality. The shells, despite weighing over 7g, do not feel especially heavy thanks to their well-proportioned, ergonomic dimensions, but they do feel incredibly well made. The faceplate measures 19mm wide and just over 22mm high - sure, they aren't quite as dainty as something like the Simgot EA1000, but they're still small enough to barely be noticed in the ear. Their teardrop-shaped profile rests subtly against the antihelix and around the concha, and combines tastefully with the polished rose-gold outer edge to present an alluring visual experience. The look is enhanced further by the self-styled shark-fin connectors - a fairly minor inclusion but one that doesn't go unnoticed. There's only a very slight reinforcement in the ear hook, which works well in preventing it from pulling when you're on the move and doesn't cause any discomfort or irritation.
The insides of the IEM feature a very shallow graduation upwards and outwards from the nozzle. The curvature is so slight that it's quite hard to see without the spotlight, but it's enough optimise the balance of fit and the need to create sufficient isolation. The depth of the IEM tops out at just under 24mm, and whilst this makes it a little deeper insertion than some of the competition, the whole belies the part - there's very little feeling of presence or occlusion. There's a tuning hole on the inside, and a plastic shield protecting the connectors - and it is this attention to detail that is quite symbolic when it comes to the MS3 - everything about the design is very deliberate and thoughtful.
With the nozzle undressed, you get a little glimpse of the balanced armature. The filters are quite small and fiddly, but unscrewing and replacing them isn't too much of an ordeal.
The filters, complete with o-ring to optimise sound delivery, are a bit fiddly, but again HIDIZS' attention to detail is reflected here, with orings around the edge to optimise the seal. All three filter types use differing thicknesses of what appears to be black foam on the inside.
The fit, at least for my odd-shaped ears and shallow ear canals, is quite perfect. HIDIZS have absolutely nailed the ergonomics, and it helps that they look pretty good too.
Audio & Sound Signature
The MS3 is a fun, energetic IEM which showcases HIDIZS' own take(s) on Harman, and its certainly enough to give them their own, vibrant character.
The MS3 boasts a hybrid driver configuration of a single DMDC 3rd Generation PEEK driver handling the bass, and two Knowles SWFK-31736 composite balanced armatures dealing with the mids and highs. HIDIZS redesigned the the crossover point, using tantalum capacitors for their higher frequency response and lower equivalent series resistance, with the aim of delivering higher resolution, better, more accurate treble extension and wider sound field performance ability, but despite this, driver cohesion steps aside in favour of powerful, slightly boomy lower frequencies, crispy trebles (sometimes a little too crispy), dynamics and quite impressive technicalities.
With a judicious sub-bass extension, the MS3 provides low-frequency physicality without one-note boom, benefitting tracks leaning on synthetic or acoustic bass texture alike. It's definitely not in the basshead realms, but there's enough power to lend bass guitars increased resonance and electronic kick drums a floor-shaking 'first few rows' immersion. That power tends to linger and then disperse a little inconsistently though - whilst the initial impact is certainly there, it can dissipate a tad unsatisfyingly.
There is plenty of midbass presence, categorised by a little bleed from the upper bass regions into the midrange - enough to add warmth and richness to the sound, but it can sometimes border on a little sloppy. On more bassy reproductions, the power and resonance can sound a shade uncontrolled, especially with wider bore tips and on lower quality sources, blurring it a little. It does improve somewhat after a lengthy burn-in and with careful tip selection. Bass is energetic, fun and enjoyable, more than it is clean and textured.
Departing the bass region, the MS3 midrange begins a smooth downward slope, crossing the Harman target at 400Hz. The trajectory continues descending further, reaching a +4dB valley at 800Hz relative to target before rising back upwards.
The prolonged dip through the lower mids provides a relaxed warmth. Male vocals have fair depth and texture, but join cellos and horns in a set-back, mildly recessed staging. Acoustic guitars, pianos and strings for the most part sound lifelike and enjoyable, although violins can extend to strident in solo. The mid-mids see a quantifiable recession, before an elevated upper midrange presents. The lift at 1.5kHz injects crisp presence to higher guitar tones and adds clarity and presence to female voices, which are much more forward than male vocals, although they do fall short in depth and sweetness compared to some of the smoother sets on the market. On female vocals and percussive tracks, you do get a little taste of the BA timbre, with a little splash to cymbals too. Depending on the vocalist, the sound can thin out a tad. Vocals are probably not the strong suit of the MS3, but the mids are generally well-done with good note weight and, for the most part, decent transparency.
Ascending into upper frequencies beyond 3kHz the MS3 Gold takes a decisively assertive stance, at times crossing +10dB over the Harman Target, opening out the sound and bringing crunchiness and energy to percussive elements. This begins mildly at 5kHz before aggressive elevation persists spanning from 7kHz to 15kHz - no relaxation or restraint here. The fulsome lower and middle treble emphasis adds substantial shimmer and detail portrayal to guitar work, but notes don't always decay with crisp decisiveness - it is, for the most part, a clean treble delivery, but its slightly peaky nature, whilst adding bite to accentuate transients, can sometimes also present a metallic sheen over percussive elements. This is especially evident on tribal house and funk tracks layered with drums.
The mid treble is more intense than most Harman-inspired sets, and whilst not always orthodox-sounding, the MS3 is one of the more resolving sets around the $100 mark. Detail retrieval is very strong at this price bracket, and imaging is also excellent. Instrument separation is better in the mid and higher frequencies, as you would expect, and the positioning, imaging and layering are all very strong. Staging is a tad constrained, although wider than it is deep, and the MS3 have good dynamics. HIDIZS have struck a nice balance here between delivering detail and precision, whilst at the same time bringing a healthy dose of warmth, fun and energy.
The MS3 comes with two other 'funny' filters to offer alternative sound signatures - one slightly more than the other! The silver nozzle doesn't seem to be a particularly wide deviation from the stock rose gold, but its an even brighter sound, adding further detail and punchiness to the trebles, but also thinning out vocals more. It's a hotter sound, and on higher volumes, this filter does reveal a bit too much low level sibilance though. If you're treble sensitive this is probably one to avoid, but does certainly strut its stuff with classical music on mid volumes.
The red filter is a far bigger deviation, boosting the bass, smoothing out the 5k peak and moving and enhancing the 7.5kHz peak to 8kHz. It shifts the tone a bit from bright to slightly darker and loosens the reigns even further. Basslines are richer (although less controlled) but not as punchy as the Gold filter. The note weight is a bit thicker and the sound overall a little smoother, with a more intimate presentation. I particularly enjoyed this filter with vocal jazz, soul and melodic techno where the warmer sound smooths out the vocals and the trebles are much more rounded and less edgy.
It's always nice to get very usable filter options - and all three are definitely that - but the stark deviation from red to gold has me wondering what a filter somewhere in the middle of the two would have offered. As always seems to be the case!
The Simgot EM6L are another hybrid driver option at around a similar price, sporting 4 BA's as opposed to 2. They also retail at $109 - roughly the launch price of the MS3. Putting the audio to one side, the build quality of the MS3 feels a bit more sturdy and more premium. The EM6L are slightly smaller and more lightweight, but both wear equally comfortably. Both are straightforward to drive, although the EM6L definitely benefit from a bit more oomph.
The EM6L sound is a bit smoother and warmer throughout. With the centre point of the bass at around 45Hz rather than 80Hz, the EM6L has a little more rumble. Both models bleed a little into the midrange, although it's perhaps a little more obvious on the MS3. With its more recessed midrange, vocals are a bit thinner and at times shoutier on the MS3, which is more susceptible to low treble sibilance, regardless of filter. The mids are more transparent on the EM6L - they are a bit more natural and musical than the MS3. Trebles are safer on the EM6L, remaining a little truer to Harman throughout the upper registers. The EM6L have a slightly faster transient response, but the MS3 are more fun and energetic. The MS3 have three filter options, whereas with the EM6L you're stuck with its default sound - not that that is a bad thing, mind. Both models punch above their weight in technical performance though, with the EM6L offering arguably slightly better imaging and the MS3 a marginally wider sound field.
Both are great choices, but the MS3 at the current price might represent a more competitive value proposition for those who value the added versatility. If you prefer a more natural tone and timbre, you'll probably favour the EM6L.
Summary
The HIDIZS MS3 has aged pretty well, faring well against the competition especially at their current reduced price. The unboxing and overall presentation is very good, albeit a carry case would have added gloss. The build quality of the IEM is first class and punches well above its category. It is a very versatile and comfortable IEM that offers good isolation and is straightforward to drive.
The sound represent HIDIZS' take on Harman nicely with a well-done v-shape and triple driver crossover. The bass is more about power than precision, and its energy and vibrance lend itself well across genres, particularly to pop and EDM. The midrange is recessed, but the thicker note weight and added warmth presents well on soul and RnB. If you prefer classical music, you'll probably be less enamoured. The elevated upper mid register gives pianos and strings crispness and detail. The trebles are reasonably clean and not overdone, with good exclamation to percussion and cymbals - but the BA timbre is definitely tangible here. The technical performance of the MS3 is a particular highlight, with great imaging and separation for a sub $100 set.
MS3 is a good choice in its price bracket, and the three very usable filters bring added versatility. If you seek a balance of a wider soundstage, good technicalities and energy, and favour this over a natural tone and timbre, then this might be one to add to your collection. Given this retailed at $169 at one point, the current offer price at HIDIZ is an absolute steal.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: IKKO OH300
Price: £49.68 - Amazon UK (currently £32.00 at IKKO)
Review Reference: RC120
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable Oxygen-Free Copper Cable
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x narrow bore SML, 3 x wide bore SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty Card
YouTube Review:
Introduction
IKKO are a brand that likes to do things their own way, refusing to flood the market with release after release and shunning the Harman profile that typifies your average budget IEM release these days. Their individualistic approach has seen them pick up a string of VGP awards over the last few years, including for the OH10 - a very popular IEM with the Headfi community. The OH300 joins the OH10S in branching away from the original OH10, retaining a similar fun, energetic sound but bringing a rather unique-looking photochromic glass faceplate to enhance the visuals. The OH300 is the budget-friendly option, sporting a single LCP driver and retailing for around £50 - a price bracket where the competition is fierce - but they definitely have their merits. If you like a fun, bassy sound and don't mind their slightly larger profile then these could be a plum choice.
Unboxing
The OH300 come in a small, bold outer enclosure which showcase the design of the buds, along with the Hi-Res Audio logo. It is a simplistic, uncluttered styling that extends further into the overall unboxing experience, and it gives you that first glimpse of the photochromic design that symbolises the raison d'etre of this release.
Unperturbed by many of their competitors' more extravagant, themed affairs, IKKO have kept the overall unboxing experience simple, with accessories kept to the bare minimum. You're getting 6 sets of eartips - 3 SML in wide bore, 3 SML in narrow, an instruction manual and a high purity copper cable. There's no carry case nor pouch, so if you're the kind of buyer that likes to get a load of freebies in the box, prepare to be a little disappointed. Fortunately, the accessories are serviceable, although due to the shape of the OH300 you may still look to roll those tips anyway.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing to address when examining the design is the OH300's signature - their photochromic glass faceplates, designed to safeguard the circuitry components from ultraviolet damage in sunlight. This has the added bonus of presenting a blue hue in strong light, and whilst it does certainly differentiate the OH300 from other IEMs, the effect isn't quite as startling in the flesh. Nevertheless, the shells are very well designed with good build quality and QC.
Looking away from the plate, the rest of the shell is predominantly plastic, but don't let that put you off. The OH300 is a beefy, robust IEM with a custom 'feel' to the inside. They're a relatively heavy IEM - over 5g - and they're also a deep insertion design with a pretty long nozzle, bringing their overall width to over 25mm. The semi-transparent smoked look enables the internals to be seen with a close look. It's an attractive overall design that is certainly eye-catching, and the brass nozzles reflect solid craftsmanship - the OH300 feel much higher quality than many of their competitors at a similar price.
The cable and connectors are also respectable quality - the latter being a 2 pin QDC type. The ear hooks are augmented by a silicone sleeve that gives them a little more malleability and hold. The price-performance parity is about right here, although the absence of chin slider again on the cable is a minor quibble.
The teardrop shape of the IEM has an ergonomic geometric to it, following the contours of your antihelix and sitting quite naturally against your concha. The ear hook coils pull quite tightly, but I didn't feel any discomfort - instead walking around outdoors I felt a sense of confidence that the hooks wouldn't come loose - something that should be bare minimum, but isn't always the case.
The only slight disappointment for me with the design is how bulky they are, which may or may not be a problem for you depending on your ear anatomy. The 25.5mm depth and long nozzle mean they don't really fit my shallow ear canals particularly well, and whilst they do provide excellent isolation, the deep fit could at times feel a little awkward for me. I could still use the OH300 for a few hours at a time without any issue, but any more than that and I'd need to give my ears a little rest. Bear in mind, my ear canals are definitely not as deep as the average ear - I often have this problem with IEMs, and the ill-fitting look you see above is not so much reflected in real life.
Audio & Sound Signature
The OH300 are the first non-Harman set I've listened to for a while, and after a brief period of readjustment I was able to enjoy what they had to offer - a fun, warm, bouncy v-shape sound that excel particularly with non-complex, energetic genres such as pop, EDM and R&B, where the relaxed treble can combined with polite upper-mids and an enriched low end, offering good detail without fatigue.
A broad +6dB lift spanning 80Hz up through 500Hz injects plenty of warmth and body. The slope ascent brings acoustic instruments forward with woody resonance and injects electronic genres with atmospheric depth. The enlarged bass presence remains tight and punchy thanks to the restrained mid-bass - its a richer, colourful bass rather than a more physical rumble. The bass is punchy and energetic, and whilst this isn't a basshead set, if you like a richer, slightly thicker tone then the OH300 should have enough in the locker for you.
Though the midrange the OH300 takes a politer stance, the sound retains sharpness and clarity, at least when the volume is a little higher. While male vocals shine around 300Hz, a notable -3dB dip at 800Hz can pull some female artists voices and guitars back in the mix. This reduces clarity and intimacy at lower volumes, yet prevents hardness or fatigue at higher levels. Overall the mid contour sounds smooth rather than articulate - atmospheric instruments like strings focus on tone over texture. Vocals maintain intelligibility if not constant presence. The laidback upper-mids likely contribute to the OH300's genre versatility, though critical listeners may want more midrange energy. I tend to prefer a more prominent midrange due to the style of music I favour - progressive house, melodic techno, opera and vocal jazz - but for more energetic listening I found myself enjoying what the OH300 had to offer far more than I thought I would.
As per previous, treble takes a slightly more laidback stance than some of the brighter sets that have passed through the RC test bench, rolling off the extension and dialing brilliance back considerably compared to target, counter-balancing other frequencies nicely to set the tone. A relaxed downward slope prevents vocal sizzle or cymbal sting in exchange for fatigue-free listening. There's no hardness present - rather a graceful triangle decay delivering adequate air and sparkle without fatigue. Ikko have boxed clever here - arranging the treble in a slightly different way to the OH10S due to the absence of BA.
There's enough detail to satisfy non-critical listening, and whilst the OH300 sounds best when enjoying the heart of the music, rather than analyzing every last detail, that isn't to say the sound is blurred or incoherent. Imaging is accurate with a hint of precision - placement is very good for a sub $50 set here, and with its natural staging and tonality, it is unquestionable that IKKO have put their years of experience into the tuning, eeking out strong performance from a relatively bare-bones driver arrangement.
So how do the OH300 compare to other similarly priced buds? At time of writing, in the UK you can pick up the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 for around £7 less than the OH300, but I personally wouldn't bother. Listening to aggressive hip hop or EDM, the Zero 2 stomps with authoritative slam thanks to its +7dB boost at 40Hz. The boosted sub-bass force shouldn't be understated, allowing synthesizers to growl fiercely while kicks punch with physical impact, but it sounds rather pillowy and bleeds more into the midrange, obscuring details and congesting the sound. Ambient electronica loses its sparkling clarity and jazz pianos sound a shade boomy, lacking the crispness of the OH300. The OH300 provides cleaner mids along with smoother, more fatigue-free treble. Its smoother sound won't rattle ear drums, but instrumentation remains more intelligible across genres without the coarseness that blights the Zero:2. Fans of vocal-centric pop and acoustic styles will almost certainly prefer the OH300's smooth tuning, whereas bassheads will probably favour the less refined Zero:2.
The EPZ Q5 are close to the MSRP of the OH300, and are another Harman-diffuse field set which impressed me. The Q5 are a more musical set, with a dialled-down midbass and upper mid-register extension that suits my preferred styles - melodic techno, vocal jazz, etc by bringing an even cleaner, more cohesive sound to instruments and vocals, and particularly percussion, which has more bite and granularity. However, whilst the bass is clean and reasonably well-textured, bringing a slightly quicker attack and decay, it lacks a little robustness compared to the fuller, thicker sound of the OH300. Non-complex vocal arrangements and rock and metal can both paradoxically sound a bit echoey on the Q5, whereas the sound is fuller and more dynamic on the OH300. Both sets benefit from great imaging for the money, and both are amongst the best picks at around this price, depending on your preferred genre.
Summary
The OH300 are a continuation of IKKO's excellent work with their OH10 and OH10S, and represent a solid addition to their portfolio and a good option in the crowded budget category, especially at their current reduced price of £32.
The photochromic effect is probably more gimmick than tangible benefit, but it makes for an attractive, albeit slightly bulky IEM that offers great isolation and is straightforward to drive. The build quality and craftsmanship are high, despite the predominantly plastic, and whilst the lack of accessories may not appeal to beginners who perhaps don't have carry-cases or pouches and rooms full of spare tips, the cable and tips they do come with are serviceable.
Whilst lacking the theming of some of their competitors, the OH300 may not seem quite as exciting a choice, but they deliver good performance, build quality and finishing, and their engaging, dynamic sound will register with those who enjoy punchy-sounding baselines and a smoother treble.
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Model: IKKO OH300
Price: £49.68 - Amazon UK (currently £32.00 at IKKO)
Review Reference: RC120
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: IKKO
- Model: OH300
- Driver: 10mm liquid crystal dynamic driver
- IEM Weight: 5.22g
- IEM Dimensions: 24.2mm (height) x 17.0mm (width) x 25.5mm (max depth)
- Shell: CNC+PC+ Photochromic Color-Changing Glass
- Impedance: 32Ω±15% (at 1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 107dB/Vrms (at 1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-50kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Cable: High Purity Oxygen-Free Single Crystal Copper
- Connector: 0.78 2 Pin QDC with 3.5mm jack
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable Oxygen-Free Copper Cable
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x narrow bore SML, 3 x wide bore SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty Card
YouTube Review:
Introduction
IKKO are a brand that likes to do things their own way, refusing to flood the market with release after release and shunning the Harman profile that typifies your average budget IEM release these days. Their individualistic approach has seen them pick up a string of VGP awards over the last few years, including for the OH10 - a very popular IEM with the Headfi community. The OH300 joins the OH10S in branching away from the original OH10, retaining a similar fun, energetic sound but bringing a rather unique-looking photochromic glass faceplate to enhance the visuals. The OH300 is the budget-friendly option, sporting a single LCP driver and retailing for around £50 - a price bracket where the competition is fierce - but they definitely have their merits. If you like a fun, bassy sound and don't mind their slightly larger profile then these could be a plum choice.
Unboxing
The OH300 come in a small, bold outer enclosure which showcase the design of the buds, along with the Hi-Res Audio logo. It is a simplistic, uncluttered styling that extends further into the overall unboxing experience, and it gives you that first glimpse of the photochromic design that symbolises the raison d'etre of this release.
Unperturbed by many of their competitors' more extravagant, themed affairs, IKKO have kept the overall unboxing experience simple, with accessories kept to the bare minimum. You're getting 6 sets of eartips - 3 SML in wide bore, 3 SML in narrow, an instruction manual and a high purity copper cable. There's no carry case nor pouch, so if you're the kind of buyer that likes to get a load of freebies in the box, prepare to be a little disappointed. Fortunately, the accessories are serviceable, although due to the shape of the OH300 you may still look to roll those tips anyway.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing to address when examining the design is the OH300's signature - their photochromic glass faceplates, designed to safeguard the circuitry components from ultraviolet damage in sunlight. This has the added bonus of presenting a blue hue in strong light, and whilst it does certainly differentiate the OH300 from other IEMs, the effect isn't quite as startling in the flesh. Nevertheless, the shells are very well designed with good build quality and QC.
Looking away from the plate, the rest of the shell is predominantly plastic, but don't let that put you off. The OH300 is a beefy, robust IEM with a custom 'feel' to the inside. They're a relatively heavy IEM - over 5g - and they're also a deep insertion design with a pretty long nozzle, bringing their overall width to over 25mm. The semi-transparent smoked look enables the internals to be seen with a close look. It's an attractive overall design that is certainly eye-catching, and the brass nozzles reflect solid craftsmanship - the OH300 feel much higher quality than many of their competitors at a similar price.
The cable and connectors are also respectable quality - the latter being a 2 pin QDC type. The ear hooks are augmented by a silicone sleeve that gives them a little more malleability and hold. The price-performance parity is about right here, although the absence of chin slider again on the cable is a minor quibble.
The teardrop shape of the IEM has an ergonomic geometric to it, following the contours of your antihelix and sitting quite naturally against your concha. The ear hook coils pull quite tightly, but I didn't feel any discomfort - instead walking around outdoors I felt a sense of confidence that the hooks wouldn't come loose - something that should be bare minimum, but isn't always the case.
The only slight disappointment for me with the design is how bulky they are, which may or may not be a problem for you depending on your ear anatomy. The 25.5mm depth and long nozzle mean they don't really fit my shallow ear canals particularly well, and whilst they do provide excellent isolation, the deep fit could at times feel a little awkward for me. I could still use the OH300 for a few hours at a time without any issue, but any more than that and I'd need to give my ears a little rest. Bear in mind, my ear canals are definitely not as deep as the average ear - I often have this problem with IEMs, and the ill-fitting look you see above is not so much reflected in real life.
Audio & Sound Signature
The OH300 are the first non-Harman set I've listened to for a while, and after a brief period of readjustment I was able to enjoy what they had to offer - a fun, warm, bouncy v-shape sound that excel particularly with non-complex, energetic genres such as pop, EDM and R&B, where the relaxed treble can combined with polite upper-mids and an enriched low end, offering good detail without fatigue.
A broad +6dB lift spanning 80Hz up through 500Hz injects plenty of warmth and body. The slope ascent brings acoustic instruments forward with woody resonance and injects electronic genres with atmospheric depth. The enlarged bass presence remains tight and punchy thanks to the restrained mid-bass - its a richer, colourful bass rather than a more physical rumble. The bass is punchy and energetic, and whilst this isn't a basshead set, if you like a richer, slightly thicker tone then the OH300 should have enough in the locker for you.
Though the midrange the OH300 takes a politer stance, the sound retains sharpness and clarity, at least when the volume is a little higher. While male vocals shine around 300Hz, a notable -3dB dip at 800Hz can pull some female artists voices and guitars back in the mix. This reduces clarity and intimacy at lower volumes, yet prevents hardness or fatigue at higher levels. Overall the mid contour sounds smooth rather than articulate - atmospheric instruments like strings focus on tone over texture. Vocals maintain intelligibility if not constant presence. The laidback upper-mids likely contribute to the OH300's genre versatility, though critical listeners may want more midrange energy. I tend to prefer a more prominent midrange due to the style of music I favour - progressive house, melodic techno, opera and vocal jazz - but for more energetic listening I found myself enjoying what the OH300 had to offer far more than I thought I would.
As per previous, treble takes a slightly more laidback stance than some of the brighter sets that have passed through the RC test bench, rolling off the extension and dialing brilliance back considerably compared to target, counter-balancing other frequencies nicely to set the tone. A relaxed downward slope prevents vocal sizzle or cymbal sting in exchange for fatigue-free listening. There's no hardness present - rather a graceful triangle decay delivering adequate air and sparkle without fatigue. Ikko have boxed clever here - arranging the treble in a slightly different way to the OH10S due to the absence of BA.
There's enough detail to satisfy non-critical listening, and whilst the OH300 sounds best when enjoying the heart of the music, rather than analyzing every last detail, that isn't to say the sound is blurred or incoherent. Imaging is accurate with a hint of precision - placement is very good for a sub $50 set here, and with its natural staging and tonality, it is unquestionable that IKKO have put their years of experience into the tuning, eeking out strong performance from a relatively bare-bones driver arrangement.
So how do the OH300 compare to other similarly priced buds? At time of writing, in the UK you can pick up the 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2 for around £7 less than the OH300, but I personally wouldn't bother. Listening to aggressive hip hop or EDM, the Zero 2 stomps with authoritative slam thanks to its +7dB boost at 40Hz. The boosted sub-bass force shouldn't be understated, allowing synthesizers to growl fiercely while kicks punch with physical impact, but it sounds rather pillowy and bleeds more into the midrange, obscuring details and congesting the sound. Ambient electronica loses its sparkling clarity and jazz pianos sound a shade boomy, lacking the crispness of the OH300. The OH300 provides cleaner mids along with smoother, more fatigue-free treble. Its smoother sound won't rattle ear drums, but instrumentation remains more intelligible across genres without the coarseness that blights the Zero:2. Fans of vocal-centric pop and acoustic styles will almost certainly prefer the OH300's smooth tuning, whereas bassheads will probably favour the less refined Zero:2.
The EPZ Q5 are close to the MSRP of the OH300, and are another Harman-diffuse field set which impressed me. The Q5 are a more musical set, with a dialled-down midbass and upper mid-register extension that suits my preferred styles - melodic techno, vocal jazz, etc by bringing an even cleaner, more cohesive sound to instruments and vocals, and particularly percussion, which has more bite and granularity. However, whilst the bass is clean and reasonably well-textured, bringing a slightly quicker attack and decay, it lacks a little robustness compared to the fuller, thicker sound of the OH300. Non-complex vocal arrangements and rock and metal can both paradoxically sound a bit echoey on the Q5, whereas the sound is fuller and more dynamic on the OH300. Both sets benefit from great imaging for the money, and both are amongst the best picks at around this price, depending on your preferred genre.
Summary
The OH300 are a continuation of IKKO's excellent work with their OH10 and OH10S, and represent a solid addition to their portfolio and a good option in the crowded budget category, especially at their current reduced price of £32.
The photochromic effect is probably more gimmick than tangible benefit, but it makes for an attractive, albeit slightly bulky IEM that offers great isolation and is straightforward to drive. The build quality and craftsmanship are high, despite the predominantly plastic, and whilst the lack of accessories may not appeal to beginners who perhaps don't have carry-cases or pouches and rooms full of spare tips, the cable and tips they do come with are serviceable.
Whilst lacking the theming of some of their competitors, the OH300 may not seem quite as exciting a choice, but they deliver good performance, build quality and finishing, and their engaging, dynamic sound will register with those who enjoy punchy-sounding baselines and a smoother treble.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: EPZ G10
Price: £46.91 - AliExpress
Review Reference: RC119
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable 4-core single crystal copper silver plated (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty Card
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x flat style SML, 3 x medium bore SML)
1 x Carry Case
1 x Microfiber cleaning cloth
YouTube Review:
Introduction
EPZ have had quite the year, raising their heads above the parapet of relative Chifi obscurity to elevate their profile enough to force the usual suspects into raising their game substantially if they hope to maintain market share going into 2024. I recently reviewed their G10, and was wowed with what I encountered - EPZ don't just deliver good audio hardware, but they make the whole consumer experience enjoyable, with themed unboxing experiences and relatively decent accessories given their price bracket.
The 5 in Q5 I'm sure represents the 'Five Years of Glory and Prosperity' that have followed EPZ building their brand out in 2019. Whilst they are relative newcomers to the market - they aren't strangers to the scene, having been originally founded much earlier, focusing mostly on OEM manufacture of shells and audio components. Realising that they could probably carve themselves a niche in this saturated marketplace - that's exactly what they've done - and we're now seeing the fruits of their labour, with high quality products thanks to their experience and expertise, with nicely engineered shells and the use of their own in-house drivers delivering excellent value for money and audio that belies the relatively lowly price tag.
The Q5 are another Harman-diffuse-field set with a slight w-shape sound, and great build quality and ergonomics, albeit with more than a hint of homage paid to Meze Audio's Advar. If you can get over the stylistics, you're left with a very technically capable IEM that excels with some genres in particular. Whilst it perhaps isn't quite up there with the G10 in terms of bang-for-buck, the Q5 are one of my favourite sets of 2023 for their straightforward driveability, excellent comfort and mature, natural sound.
Unboxing
Theming is something we've grown somewhat accustomed to with Chifi releases throughout 2023. It isn't enough any more to deliver a Harman sound without a story - and with EPZ here, it manifests in quite the unboxing, which takes the unravelling of a few layers to get access to the goodies. Eventually, you're greeted with the first of a few accessories - the EPZ carry case. It's fairly unremarkable, measuring 100mm wide, 72mm high and 36mm deep, but there's enough room for the sleek shells of the Q5 and their cable, as well as room in the side pocket for the array of spare tips.
And it is quite the array. EPZ have included a SML selection in both flat and NiceHCK 7-style rounder, medium-bore tips. The latter are similar to those included with the G10, and whilst they worked on that model, they don't jive well with the Q5, for me at least. I'll talk about their positional sensitivity later, but the experience initially wasn't great for me until I switched the tips to the Azla Sednaearfit Crystal ones - this mitigated the driver flex I was experiencing with the former, and ill-fit and comfort with the latter. Don't take my word for it though - tips are a very subjective experience, and at least EPZ have given you a couple of options here.
Also in the box are a somewhat hard-to-read manual, a QC approval card and an EPZ-branded microfibre cleaning cloth, which helps no end with the inevitable finger-marks which plague the black version I'm testing here.
Finally, there's a 1.2m MMCX 4-core single crystal copper silver plated cable, and it's a good one too. Overall, a pretty nice package for those who don't have boxes and boxes of this stuff already - if you're entering this hobby and you're looking for a set that can get you up and running quickly, EPZ are a brand that you can't really go wrong with.
Design and Build Quality
The Q5 are very slim-profile, stage-style IEMs that feature a high-quality glossy piano-black finish and concave funnel-style void with a tuning aperture in the centre. Sure it's a homage to the Advar, but they're $600 IEMs - whilst they may look similar on paper, and maybe even on the screen, in reality, an homage is really all it is. Despite that, the Q5 do possess their own impressive build quality and finish, although as you would expect, it's a long way from the precision engineering on its look-a-like.
The Q5 are a low profile, slimline IEM, measuring 20.3mm wide, around 18mm high and around 20.3mm in depth. There's a nice curvature to the outside, and the macro shot here reveals the persistence in underlining the 5 year anniversary theming, with the message 'EPZ AUDIO - STARTED IN 2019' circling the tuning hole. They're lightweight too - weighing in at just over 4g, which is slightly below average for 3d printed resin shells, no doubt aided by the carbon drivers.
Here's evidence of where the cleaning cloth comes in handy! The inside of the dermatologically-friendly 3d printed resin shell has very subtle curves, but despite this, it ensures a snug, comfy fit with decent isolation, matching up with the antihelix area quite well.
As mentioned previously, it's a single pin MMCX connector which marries the cable and the IEM, which is kinda expected being a stage-style IEM. MMCX ensures a little more flexibility in the wearing, but you do have the rather tiresome 5-20 minute spell the first few times you connect (and remove them) where you 'find the bite' and are able to get them to click into place rather than pretend they're connected and then suddenly release. Once connected, they work well with a more active user.
The nozzles and MMCX connector have a matching brassy finish. The nozzle is medium insertion, so not too invasive, but sufficient isolation with good noise cancelling properties without feeling too stuffy.
The connectors display the L (or R) on the outside to denote which is which. As you see here, it's an ultra-ergonomic design that in truth probably fits Kemar better than it does me! The ear hooks are super comfy, although I did notice they had a habit of coming loose the first few times I wore them. After getting used to them, they have remained in place ever since.
Overall, it is a super-comfy, lightweight, ergonomic IEM with good fit for prolonged use. Isolation is also good enough to ensure that the Q5 are a versatile, go-to set which work well for both home and active use.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Q5 sport a dual cavity, dual magnet 10mm dynamic driver, developed in-house by EPZ. The back of the box shows the frequency response - a mild W shaped sound that, like the G10 and many others in its price category, follows the Harman 2019 target curve, however it has enough nuances to the sound to stamp its own authority and position it for some music styles more than others. For vocal jazz, opera, blues, movie soundtracks, and particularly melodic techno, the Q5 are very well positioned. For rock and metal, they're perhaps not quite so well suited, and when we look at the graphs, there are plenty of hints as to why that might be.
As I mentioned in my review of the G10, the Q5 has a moreish sound that does bring me back to it quite often. Its sound signature aligns to my preferred music style - Anjunabeats - with a slightly elevated lower frequency response, warmth and natural tonality and solid texture to the midbass. The subtle boost at 80JHz injects warmth and body, and as with the G10 steers clear of one-note thump. Kick drums are clean and tight, fast and punchy. The bass is tactile and tangible, and not coloured or blurred, leaning into midbass rhythm over subbass rumble. Its mix of mid bass punch and top-end air produce a sound with momentum and spaciousness. You still get full lows to anchor the sound, but details shine through with the Q5's fast transient response. For deep, progressive vocal house from the likes of Eli & Fur, the Q5 are really in their element - bass conveys power more than prominence. They aren't basshead IEMs, but the texture is above average in its bracket.
Through the midrange, the Q5 captivate - for the most part. Lower mids accentuate 300Hz for male vocals, which sound natural and buttery. Move over to opera, and tenors in particular resonate emotion with expression, power and weight. The Q5 are a very musical set, endowed with transparency- strings receive added spice and detail and synths have a rounder attack. As the response ascends, so does the energy - the upper mid lift places female vocals brightly atop mixes. Mostly, female vocals are silky in their presentation, augmented by the warm, organic, immersive sound signature.
Where the Q5 don't excel is rock. The peak at 5k can result in perception of low treble sibilance. Whilst the Q5 don't wilt at a congested arrangement, more complex, energetic rock tracks don't flex the Q5's surprisingly excellent imaging. Guitars can have a metallic overtone - the only real blot on the copybook of an otherwise believable, honest-to-the-source presentation. The trebles are otherwise slightly-south-of-neutral, dialling back brilliance in favour of realism with a graceful triangle decay of sparkle and space without fatigue. Its a polite treble response that gives sufficient attack and texture to percussion and sizzle to cymbals to offer a happy medium of detail and energy that makes prolonged listening enjoyable, and rarely fatiguing.
Imaging on the Q5 is a particular highlight. Layering and coherency impress for a single DD budget set - they're a smooth, musical IEM with accurate and precise placement and good width to the soundstage. Resolution here is much better than I'm used to experiencing at sub £50. The Q5 are a real gem, with technicalities that make a mockery of their price and are a real statement of intent from EPZ in this respect.
However, their positionally-sensitive nature is worthy of a mention here. It takes a while to organise the Q5 into optimum position, with optimum tips too. There is a slight brightness to the Q5 that is more detectable with more simple styles of music. This is amplified unless the Q5 are pointed in their prime position. It took me quite a while to work out what that was. It also took quite a bit of tip rolling to get the sound spot on too. This is quite subjective, but is reflective of my own experience with the Q5.
Comparing them to the G10, the Q5 are a more lively listen. Thanks to the increased lower mid-focus, male vocals exude more creaminess, and are unmatched by their more linear little sister. The G10 is smooth, but the Q5 have crisper note presentation. Strings have more rosiny bite and cymbals more shimmer than the G10, but on rock and 80s the G10 offer slightly greater versatility, negating the metallic overtone on more congested performances.
The Q5 cost a bit more than the G10, and whilst musically the Q5 are superior, the G10 will appeal to those on a strict budget with their excellent bang-for-buck.
The Zero2 are the darling of reviewers across Headfi and YouTube, but it didn't really tickle my fancy. It feels a bit like they went too far the other way from the Zero, and the result is a coarser, boomier, less-resolving affair with more rumble but inferior staging and technicalities. Next to the thunderously bass-soaked Zero2, the Q5 may underwhelm for those who feel the need for low-end power. Listening to thumping hip hop or aggressive EDM, the Zero 2 stomps mightily thanks to the boosted 40Hz slam, whilst synth growls shudder, but switching genres quickly reveals the Zero2's weaknesses. Ambient electronica loses its glistening atmosphere, smothered in blurry echo. The Q5 by comparison projecting clear and true, with its euphonic, more accurate and faithful midband reproduction, augmented by added air and vastly superior microdetail.
The Zero2 cost quite a bit less than the Q5, but the Q5 are worth every extra penny a far better value proposition.
The Simgot EA500LM are even warmer than the Q5, with a little more subbass rumble and thump, whilst delivering great texture and depth within their price category. The subbass extension makes them a more discerning basshead set than the Zero2, with a thicker note weight than the Q5. From a treble perspective, the LM sharing a similarly bright yet natural presentation to the Q5, rarely teetering on the fatiguing. The staging is more intimate on the EA500LM, but their improved technical performance means they cope slightly better with more congested arrangements, making up for the notably inferior width with slightly superior depth and height. The LM also offer some added versatility by including additional nozzles for alternative tunings.
Summary
This is the second EPZ set I've been testing over the last few weeks, and again, it doesn't fail to impress. Both of EPZ's single DD releases in 2023 have showcased their abilities to deliver modern, Harman-df tuning with above average technicalities, whilst also projecting what buyers want in terms of the ergonomics and overall package. Both the G10 and Q5 are ideal for newcomers feeling their way into the hobby, with build quality and overall package that offer great value for money and longevity.
Due to the way the stock tips engaged with my ears, it took a little tip rolling to mitigate driver flex and maximise comfort and audio delivery, but once I did I was extremely happy with the Q5. Some will no doubt take exception to the Advar-homage appearance and MMCX cable, but these are very minor quibbles as far as I'm concerned. The Q5 is a very solid choice in the sub £50 category, and outperforms many IEMs priced much higher by the names we know, but perhaps are falling out of love with.
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Model: EPZ G10
Price: £46.91 - AliExpress
Review Reference: RC119
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: EPZ
- Model: Q5
- Driver: 10mm self-developed dual-magnetic circuit, dual-cavity ceramic carbon nano-composite diaphragm
- IEM Weight: 4.17g
- IEM Dimensions: 18mm (height) x 20.3mm (width) x 20.3mm (max depth)
- Shell: 3D printed resin shell & acoustic cavity
- Impedance: 26Ω±15%(@1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 109dB/Vrms(@1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-50kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Cable: 1.2m 4-core single crystal copper silver plated cable
- Connector: MMCX Single Pin with 3.5mm jack
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable 4-core single crystal copper silver plated (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty Card
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x flat style SML, 3 x medium bore SML)
1 x Carry Case
1 x Microfiber cleaning cloth
YouTube Review:
Introduction
EPZ have had quite the year, raising their heads above the parapet of relative Chifi obscurity to elevate their profile enough to force the usual suspects into raising their game substantially if they hope to maintain market share going into 2024. I recently reviewed their G10, and was wowed with what I encountered - EPZ don't just deliver good audio hardware, but they make the whole consumer experience enjoyable, with themed unboxing experiences and relatively decent accessories given their price bracket.
The 5 in Q5 I'm sure represents the 'Five Years of Glory and Prosperity' that have followed EPZ building their brand out in 2019. Whilst they are relative newcomers to the market - they aren't strangers to the scene, having been originally founded much earlier, focusing mostly on OEM manufacture of shells and audio components. Realising that they could probably carve themselves a niche in this saturated marketplace - that's exactly what they've done - and we're now seeing the fruits of their labour, with high quality products thanks to their experience and expertise, with nicely engineered shells and the use of their own in-house drivers delivering excellent value for money and audio that belies the relatively lowly price tag.
The Q5 are another Harman-diffuse-field set with a slight w-shape sound, and great build quality and ergonomics, albeit with more than a hint of homage paid to Meze Audio's Advar. If you can get over the stylistics, you're left with a very technically capable IEM that excels with some genres in particular. Whilst it perhaps isn't quite up there with the G10 in terms of bang-for-buck, the Q5 are one of my favourite sets of 2023 for their straightforward driveability, excellent comfort and mature, natural sound.
Unboxing
Theming is something we've grown somewhat accustomed to with Chifi releases throughout 2023. It isn't enough any more to deliver a Harman sound without a story - and with EPZ here, it manifests in quite the unboxing, which takes the unravelling of a few layers to get access to the goodies. Eventually, you're greeted with the first of a few accessories - the EPZ carry case. It's fairly unremarkable, measuring 100mm wide, 72mm high and 36mm deep, but there's enough room for the sleek shells of the Q5 and their cable, as well as room in the side pocket for the array of spare tips.
And it is quite the array. EPZ have included a SML selection in both flat and NiceHCK 7-style rounder, medium-bore tips. The latter are similar to those included with the G10, and whilst they worked on that model, they don't jive well with the Q5, for me at least. I'll talk about their positional sensitivity later, but the experience initially wasn't great for me until I switched the tips to the Azla Sednaearfit Crystal ones - this mitigated the driver flex I was experiencing with the former, and ill-fit and comfort with the latter. Don't take my word for it though - tips are a very subjective experience, and at least EPZ have given you a couple of options here.
Also in the box are a somewhat hard-to-read manual, a QC approval card and an EPZ-branded microfibre cleaning cloth, which helps no end with the inevitable finger-marks which plague the black version I'm testing here.
Finally, there's a 1.2m MMCX 4-core single crystal copper silver plated cable, and it's a good one too. Overall, a pretty nice package for those who don't have boxes and boxes of this stuff already - if you're entering this hobby and you're looking for a set that can get you up and running quickly, EPZ are a brand that you can't really go wrong with.
Design and Build Quality
The Q5 are very slim-profile, stage-style IEMs that feature a high-quality glossy piano-black finish and concave funnel-style void with a tuning aperture in the centre. Sure it's a homage to the Advar, but they're $600 IEMs - whilst they may look similar on paper, and maybe even on the screen, in reality, an homage is really all it is. Despite that, the Q5 do possess their own impressive build quality and finish, although as you would expect, it's a long way from the precision engineering on its look-a-like.
The Q5 are a low profile, slimline IEM, measuring 20.3mm wide, around 18mm high and around 20.3mm in depth. There's a nice curvature to the outside, and the macro shot here reveals the persistence in underlining the 5 year anniversary theming, with the message 'EPZ AUDIO - STARTED IN 2019' circling the tuning hole. They're lightweight too - weighing in at just over 4g, which is slightly below average for 3d printed resin shells, no doubt aided by the carbon drivers.
Here's evidence of where the cleaning cloth comes in handy! The inside of the dermatologically-friendly 3d printed resin shell has very subtle curves, but despite this, it ensures a snug, comfy fit with decent isolation, matching up with the antihelix area quite well.
As mentioned previously, it's a single pin MMCX connector which marries the cable and the IEM, which is kinda expected being a stage-style IEM. MMCX ensures a little more flexibility in the wearing, but you do have the rather tiresome 5-20 minute spell the first few times you connect (and remove them) where you 'find the bite' and are able to get them to click into place rather than pretend they're connected and then suddenly release. Once connected, they work well with a more active user.
The nozzles and MMCX connector have a matching brassy finish. The nozzle is medium insertion, so not too invasive, but sufficient isolation with good noise cancelling properties without feeling too stuffy.
The connectors display the L (or R) on the outside to denote which is which. As you see here, it's an ultra-ergonomic design that in truth probably fits Kemar better than it does me! The ear hooks are super comfy, although I did notice they had a habit of coming loose the first few times I wore them. After getting used to them, they have remained in place ever since.
Overall, it is a super-comfy, lightweight, ergonomic IEM with good fit for prolonged use. Isolation is also good enough to ensure that the Q5 are a versatile, go-to set which work well for both home and active use.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Q5 sport a dual cavity, dual magnet 10mm dynamic driver, developed in-house by EPZ. The back of the box shows the frequency response - a mild W shaped sound that, like the G10 and many others in its price category, follows the Harman 2019 target curve, however it has enough nuances to the sound to stamp its own authority and position it for some music styles more than others. For vocal jazz, opera, blues, movie soundtracks, and particularly melodic techno, the Q5 are very well positioned. For rock and metal, they're perhaps not quite so well suited, and when we look at the graphs, there are plenty of hints as to why that might be.
As I mentioned in my review of the G10, the Q5 has a moreish sound that does bring me back to it quite often. Its sound signature aligns to my preferred music style - Anjunabeats - with a slightly elevated lower frequency response, warmth and natural tonality and solid texture to the midbass. The subtle boost at 80JHz injects warmth and body, and as with the G10 steers clear of one-note thump. Kick drums are clean and tight, fast and punchy. The bass is tactile and tangible, and not coloured or blurred, leaning into midbass rhythm over subbass rumble. Its mix of mid bass punch and top-end air produce a sound with momentum and spaciousness. You still get full lows to anchor the sound, but details shine through with the Q5's fast transient response. For deep, progressive vocal house from the likes of Eli & Fur, the Q5 are really in their element - bass conveys power more than prominence. They aren't basshead IEMs, but the texture is above average in its bracket.
Through the midrange, the Q5 captivate - for the most part. Lower mids accentuate 300Hz for male vocals, which sound natural and buttery. Move over to opera, and tenors in particular resonate emotion with expression, power and weight. The Q5 are a very musical set, endowed with transparency- strings receive added spice and detail and synths have a rounder attack. As the response ascends, so does the energy - the upper mid lift places female vocals brightly atop mixes. Mostly, female vocals are silky in their presentation, augmented by the warm, organic, immersive sound signature.
Where the Q5 don't excel is rock. The peak at 5k can result in perception of low treble sibilance. Whilst the Q5 don't wilt at a congested arrangement, more complex, energetic rock tracks don't flex the Q5's surprisingly excellent imaging. Guitars can have a metallic overtone - the only real blot on the copybook of an otherwise believable, honest-to-the-source presentation. The trebles are otherwise slightly-south-of-neutral, dialling back brilliance in favour of realism with a graceful triangle decay of sparkle and space without fatigue. Its a polite treble response that gives sufficient attack and texture to percussion and sizzle to cymbals to offer a happy medium of detail and energy that makes prolonged listening enjoyable, and rarely fatiguing.
Imaging on the Q5 is a particular highlight. Layering and coherency impress for a single DD budget set - they're a smooth, musical IEM with accurate and precise placement and good width to the soundstage. Resolution here is much better than I'm used to experiencing at sub £50. The Q5 are a real gem, with technicalities that make a mockery of their price and are a real statement of intent from EPZ in this respect.
However, their positionally-sensitive nature is worthy of a mention here. It takes a while to organise the Q5 into optimum position, with optimum tips too. There is a slight brightness to the Q5 that is more detectable with more simple styles of music. This is amplified unless the Q5 are pointed in their prime position. It took me quite a while to work out what that was. It also took quite a bit of tip rolling to get the sound spot on too. This is quite subjective, but is reflective of my own experience with the Q5.
Comparing them to the G10, the Q5 are a more lively listen. Thanks to the increased lower mid-focus, male vocals exude more creaminess, and are unmatched by their more linear little sister. The G10 is smooth, but the Q5 have crisper note presentation. Strings have more rosiny bite and cymbals more shimmer than the G10, but on rock and 80s the G10 offer slightly greater versatility, negating the metallic overtone on more congested performances.
The Q5 cost a bit more than the G10, and whilst musically the Q5 are superior, the G10 will appeal to those on a strict budget with their excellent bang-for-buck.
The Zero2 are the darling of reviewers across Headfi and YouTube, but it didn't really tickle my fancy. It feels a bit like they went too far the other way from the Zero, and the result is a coarser, boomier, less-resolving affair with more rumble but inferior staging and technicalities. Next to the thunderously bass-soaked Zero2, the Q5 may underwhelm for those who feel the need for low-end power. Listening to thumping hip hop or aggressive EDM, the Zero 2 stomps mightily thanks to the boosted 40Hz slam, whilst synth growls shudder, but switching genres quickly reveals the Zero2's weaknesses. Ambient electronica loses its glistening atmosphere, smothered in blurry echo. The Q5 by comparison projecting clear and true, with its euphonic, more accurate and faithful midband reproduction, augmented by added air and vastly superior microdetail.
The Zero2 cost quite a bit less than the Q5, but the Q5 are worth every extra penny a far better value proposition.
The Simgot EA500LM are even warmer than the Q5, with a little more subbass rumble and thump, whilst delivering great texture and depth within their price category. The subbass extension makes them a more discerning basshead set than the Zero2, with a thicker note weight than the Q5. From a treble perspective, the LM sharing a similarly bright yet natural presentation to the Q5, rarely teetering on the fatiguing. The staging is more intimate on the EA500LM, but their improved technical performance means they cope slightly better with more congested arrangements, making up for the notably inferior width with slightly superior depth and height. The LM also offer some added versatility by including additional nozzles for alternative tunings.
Summary
This is the second EPZ set I've been testing over the last few weeks, and again, it doesn't fail to impress. Both of EPZ's single DD releases in 2023 have showcased their abilities to deliver modern, Harman-df tuning with above average technicalities, whilst also projecting what buyers want in terms of the ergonomics and overall package. Both the G10 and Q5 are ideal for newcomers feeling their way into the hobby, with build quality and overall package that offer great value for money and longevity.
Due to the way the stock tips engaged with my ears, it took a little tip rolling to mitigate driver flex and maximise comfort and audio delivery, but once I did I was extremely happy with the Q5. Some will no doubt take exception to the Advar-homage appearance and MMCX cable, but these are very minor quibbles as far as I'm concerned. The Q5 is a very solid choice in the sub £50 category, and outperforms many IEMs priced much higher by the names we know, but perhaps are falling out of love with.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: EPZ G10
Price: £29.50 - AliExpress
Review Reference: RC118
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable 4-core single crystal copper silver plated (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Purple Light Torch
1 x Warranty Card
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x wide bore SML, 3 x double flange SML)
1 x Headphone Splitter for PC Gaming
1 x Carry Pouch
YouTube Review:
Introduction
EPZ are another of 2023's IEM 'winners', with a number of high-quality, low-cost releases that have shaken up the IEM market and genuinely given the usual suspects something to think about. Marketed as a 'gaming IEM' by EPZ, the 'Symphony Dragon' have a hidden 'colour changing' secret encapsulated into their impressive shell design, and this branding extends to some thoughtful accessories which combine with the impressive bang-for-buck build and Harman diffuse-field tuning to deliver a real contender in the rather congested sub $40 pool of entry-level IEMs, and a package that many will find a better bet than the basic 'cable and tip' offerings from many of their contemporaries.
Unboxing
Like many of the 'new breed' of Chinese IEM manufacturers, EPZ have leaned heavily on theming to differentiate themselves from the army of alternative Harman-diffuse-field options on the market, and it makes for a very pleasant unboxing experience. The G10 come in a small gift-box style outer enclosure which show off some of the key features - their PU & LCP driver arrangement, the 3D printed resin shell, and the fluorescent green panel which truly gives EPZ a notable niche.
On the top of the box you'll see the words 'Symphony Dragon' etched in English and Chinese, and in EPZ's marketing material, they call the G10 'Phantom Dragon'. Which one is it? Who knows, but clearly the sacred 'Dragon' bit is important, and no doubt this has some meaning attached to the positioning of the G10 as a 'gaming IEM'.
EPZ have included a highly impressive and diverse array of accessories in the box, design to augment and enhance the consumer experience. Firstly, you've got a very welcome and well proportioned miniature carry-pouch. The soft drawstring bag keeps the IEM and accessories nicely protected - this was very useful when taking a few sets of IEMs out for the day for testing and a very welcome addition.
Also included is a 3.5mm splitter cable. This is aimed at gamers who want to separate out the mic and headphones for a PC sound card, and again it's a really nice addition that doesn't cost the earth to include, but is one of those things you easily misplace and then find you have to buy another one from Amazon for an inflated next-day-delivery price. There's some spare tips - similar to the NiceHCK 07 ones I've used in previous reviews - as well as three sets of fat-top double-flange ones.
Hang on - what's this, a mini torch?! Yep, this is where the 'Phantom' is unleashed! The resin shell of the G10 has a fluorescent panel which changes colour when UV light is shined on it, morphing from dark grey to green and gold, the effect of which I'll show you a little later on in the review.
Finally, they've included a 1.2m 4-core single crystal copper silver plated cable, with 360 degree directional mic & control unit. The cable is pretty decent quality for a freebie, and the three-button control unit is another welcome inclusion. The outer buttons control volume, and the centre button is double-tapped to cycle tracks backwards, triple tapped to go forwards, and held down to activate voice assistant. The ear hooks are comfortable enough, but a little loose - I did find they would come loose periodically when on the move. The cable is a 2-pin 0.78mm - my preferred style over the increasingly-popular MMCX cable that EPZ used on the Q5.
Design and Build Quality
The G10 are miniature, nicely finished IEMs with a rounded-edge finish to the outer edges, similar in size and finish to the Cadenza - measuring 22mm high, 17mm wide and with a depth of just over 20mm. This puts them slightly deeper-than-average in terms of insertion depth, but shallow enough to not feel especially invasive. The build quality feels extremely high for a budget IEM - far better than your average $30-40 set. Atop the grey-with-a-purple-hint marbled-looking plates is the EPZ logo, with a large gold G in the middle - not the prettiest accompaniment to an otherwise very attractive looking shell, but probably necessary to fully compliment the colour-changing UV effect.
The inside of the G10 is subtly rounded, giving you above-average isolation but very good comfort and longevity. I tested the G10 over four hours today, walking around town in the rain and eating lunch in a cafe. After the initial feeling of knowing the IEMs were there, this went away very quickly, and it was only a little while after I got home that I felt my ears had earned a respite! There's a small vent on the bottom of the IEM close to the nozzle to augment tuning, and a pressure release vent at the top.
The buds are quite lightweight - weighing just under 4.5g - but they don't feel remotely cheap. It's a very well proportioned IEM.
Whilst the fit is very comfortable, it took me a while to get the optimised angle to ensure the G10 sound best. They are quite positionally-sensitive - I found a light amount of pressure to the bottom of the IEM to angle them slightly inwards did the trick. Once in place, the fit and seal were very stable. It is a great option for comfortable, casual listening.
Here's how the shells look when exposed to UV. When paired with a Panerai watch you don't half stand out at glow-in-the-dark golf! EPZ's 'Phantom Dragon' is a nice touch, but in truth a bit of a gimmick. Normal light doesn't charge the effect - it has to be UV light, so without the torch it isn't going to flex very often. My partner asked me if the factory applied the wrong lume!
You do get a couple of extra minutes with the glow, but it isn't a long-lasting effect. Still, a nice differentiator, and the green tips sync up with the design tastefully.
Audio & Sound Signature
The G10 is similarly-tuned to other Harman/diffuse field sets in the market, such as the EW100, Chu2 and Cadenza, but the G10 particularly stands out with female vocal tracks due to its slightly-elevated upper midrange and leaner bass response.
The G10 registers a subtle dip of approximately -4dB compared to the moderate Harman contour under 80Hz. This results in a well-defined, controlled but punchy bass response that circumvents the risk of one-note booms heard in TWS and IEMs of yesteryear. Whilst it misses the visceral sensation of something like the super-textured (and much more expensive) EA1000, the G10 optimises the constraints of its hardware - kick drums have a natural thump and fast decay and electronic basslines move with finesse. There is enough mid-bass impact to prevent the G10 sounding cold or analytical, and it avoids bloat or bleed.
Within the midrange, the G10 adheres closely to the Harman curve, ensuring a faithful representation of vocals and instruments. Its near-flat response from around 200Hz to 2kHz results in a quite natural timbre. Instruments like guitars, pianos, and strings have realistic tonality and dynamics. However, the real strength of the G10 is also its weakness. In female vocal tracks, you get a very clean delivery that accentuates powerful vocals in complex arrangements, but can leave less accomplished vocalists in more simplistic tracks sounding a little cold and thin. If you like Madonna, Adele, Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson - these type of vocalists shine in their bigger performances in particular.
The trebles here are accurate and natural - smooth and coherent with no harshness. Cymbals and percussion have enough shimmer instead of clash, and aggressive snares still have snap but not bite. Considering the price bracket, the G10 has good resolution - this translates particularly well to Jazz, soul and other brass-heavy genres. There's a good amount of space in the staging, with moderate depth. This particularly excels in gaming - as you would expect - where you get quite good transparency and accurate imaging. I'm not really a big gamer, but I tested them out with some casual gaming and could understand why they were marketed in this way.
Overall it's a really pleasant, transparent sound with good musicality - trebles are subtly crispy, bass is tight and punch, vocals are clean and powerful. The G10 is very straightforward to drive, too.
The G10 would be a standout set were it not for the EPZ 'jewel in the crown' - the Q5. When paired with the Azla Xelastec Crystal tips, the Q5 are one of my go-to sets. While the G10 and Q5 share excellent balance overall, the Q5 differs in some subtle ways. It has slightly boosted mid-bass lending drums and synths a rounder attack that makes the Q5 a bit more versatile. Female vocals are smoother on the Q5, although on rare occasions the vocals can sound masked. The trebles are more detailed, whilst retaining the smoothness that characterises the G10, but if you're especially treble-sensitive, you may prefer the G10. Imaging is slightly better on the Q5, and the staging is a little less wide, but better depth and height. The G10 is a better set for gaming - as you would expect - but the Q5 has better musicality and better technicalities.
The Zero:2 is the darling of YouTubers right now as you would expect, but it didn't really tickle my fancy. It feels a bit like they went too far the other way from the Zero, and the result is a coarser, boomier, less-resolving affair with more rumble but inferior staging and technicalities. Whilst the Zero2 undoubtedly brings bigger bass energy and a richer note weight, it achieves this at the cost of balance - compared to the G10, you hear significantly amplified lows, which might favour simplistic electronic tracks, but the bloated bass can overpower guitars in rock tracks, and vocals can lose intelligibility in more complex arrangements. Without a reference point the bass can impress initially, but switching to the G10 (or Q5) reveals more accurate tonality and realistic dynamics across instruments and frequencies. Cymbals and hi-hats can also lose their glimmer on the Zero2, sounding dull or hazy compared to the G10's smoother top end. Genres like EDM and hip hop, where energy triumphs over clarity, are the Zero2's forte, while pop vocals and acoustic fare can come off a shade muddied compared with the brighter, cleaner G10.
Summary
The G10 is another very pleasant surprise from EPZ, who are quickly developing quite the portfolio of options across each price category. Despite being marketed as a 'Gaming IEM' and clearly demonstrating a prowess in this area, they also excel in casual listening - EPZ did Harman particularly well here within the confines of a single LCP driver, delivering nicely-weighted, punchy bass, a smooth midrange and clean trebles with above-average detail.
The G10 also offers a nice unboxing - much better than you're getting with some of the usual suspects. The accessories range from serviceable to 'an added bonus', and the unnecessary but eye-catching gimmick of UV-sensitive shells gives the G10 a bit of character, even if the novelty wears off as quickly as the effect itself!
Whilst the UV effect will catch the headlines, instead, focus on the impressive build quality and design which make the G10 a very comfortable and a good choice for long listening sessions. In a very congested market, the G10 is priced a little cheaper and offers a little more than many of its contemporaries, making it a very good choice for gamers, or those starting or looking to upgrade their IEM journey.
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YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: EPZ G10
Price: £29.50 - AliExpress
Review Reference: RC118
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: EPZ
- Model: G10
- Driver: 10mm Dual Cavity DMC PU + LCP dome composite diaphragm
- IEM Weight: 4.38g
- IEM Dimensions: 22.2mm (height) x 17.1mm (width) x 20.1mm (max depth)
- Shell: 3D printed resin cavity with carbon fibre fluorescent panel
- Impedance: 32Ω±15%(@1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 100dB/Vrms(@1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-50kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Cable: 1.2m 4-core single crystal copper silver plated with 360 degree directional mic & control unit
- Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable 4-core single crystal copper silver plated (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Purple Light Torch
1 x Warranty Card
6 x Pair spare tips (3 x wide bore SML, 3 x double flange SML)
1 x Headphone Splitter for PC Gaming
1 x Carry Pouch
YouTube Review:
Introduction
EPZ are another of 2023's IEM 'winners', with a number of high-quality, low-cost releases that have shaken up the IEM market and genuinely given the usual suspects something to think about. Marketed as a 'gaming IEM' by EPZ, the 'Symphony Dragon' have a hidden 'colour changing' secret encapsulated into their impressive shell design, and this branding extends to some thoughtful accessories which combine with the impressive bang-for-buck build and Harman diffuse-field tuning to deliver a real contender in the rather congested sub $40 pool of entry-level IEMs, and a package that many will find a better bet than the basic 'cable and tip' offerings from many of their contemporaries.
Unboxing
Like many of the 'new breed' of Chinese IEM manufacturers, EPZ have leaned heavily on theming to differentiate themselves from the army of alternative Harman-diffuse-field options on the market, and it makes for a very pleasant unboxing experience. The G10 come in a small gift-box style outer enclosure which show off some of the key features - their PU & LCP driver arrangement, the 3D printed resin shell, and the fluorescent green panel which truly gives EPZ a notable niche.
On the top of the box you'll see the words 'Symphony Dragon' etched in English and Chinese, and in EPZ's marketing material, they call the G10 'Phantom Dragon'. Which one is it? Who knows, but clearly the sacred 'Dragon' bit is important, and no doubt this has some meaning attached to the positioning of the G10 as a 'gaming IEM'.
EPZ have included a highly impressive and diverse array of accessories in the box, design to augment and enhance the consumer experience. Firstly, you've got a very welcome and well proportioned miniature carry-pouch. The soft drawstring bag keeps the IEM and accessories nicely protected - this was very useful when taking a few sets of IEMs out for the day for testing and a very welcome addition.
Also included is a 3.5mm splitter cable. This is aimed at gamers who want to separate out the mic and headphones for a PC sound card, and again it's a really nice addition that doesn't cost the earth to include, but is one of those things you easily misplace and then find you have to buy another one from Amazon for an inflated next-day-delivery price. There's some spare tips - similar to the NiceHCK 07 ones I've used in previous reviews - as well as three sets of fat-top double-flange ones.
Hang on - what's this, a mini torch?! Yep, this is where the 'Phantom' is unleashed! The resin shell of the G10 has a fluorescent panel which changes colour when UV light is shined on it, morphing from dark grey to green and gold, the effect of which I'll show you a little later on in the review.
Finally, they've included a 1.2m 4-core single crystal copper silver plated cable, with 360 degree directional mic & control unit. The cable is pretty decent quality for a freebie, and the three-button control unit is another welcome inclusion. The outer buttons control volume, and the centre button is double-tapped to cycle tracks backwards, triple tapped to go forwards, and held down to activate voice assistant. The ear hooks are comfortable enough, but a little loose - I did find they would come loose periodically when on the move. The cable is a 2-pin 0.78mm - my preferred style over the increasingly-popular MMCX cable that EPZ used on the Q5.
Design and Build Quality
The G10 are miniature, nicely finished IEMs with a rounded-edge finish to the outer edges, similar in size and finish to the Cadenza - measuring 22mm high, 17mm wide and with a depth of just over 20mm. This puts them slightly deeper-than-average in terms of insertion depth, but shallow enough to not feel especially invasive. The build quality feels extremely high for a budget IEM - far better than your average $30-40 set. Atop the grey-with-a-purple-hint marbled-looking plates is the EPZ logo, with a large gold G in the middle - not the prettiest accompaniment to an otherwise very attractive looking shell, but probably necessary to fully compliment the colour-changing UV effect.
The inside of the G10 is subtly rounded, giving you above-average isolation but very good comfort and longevity. I tested the G10 over four hours today, walking around town in the rain and eating lunch in a cafe. After the initial feeling of knowing the IEMs were there, this went away very quickly, and it was only a little while after I got home that I felt my ears had earned a respite! There's a small vent on the bottom of the IEM close to the nozzle to augment tuning, and a pressure release vent at the top.
The buds are quite lightweight - weighing just under 4.5g - but they don't feel remotely cheap. It's a very well proportioned IEM.
Whilst the fit is very comfortable, it took me a while to get the optimised angle to ensure the G10 sound best. They are quite positionally-sensitive - I found a light amount of pressure to the bottom of the IEM to angle them slightly inwards did the trick. Once in place, the fit and seal were very stable. It is a great option for comfortable, casual listening.
Here's how the shells look when exposed to UV. When paired with a Panerai watch you don't half stand out at glow-in-the-dark golf! EPZ's 'Phantom Dragon' is a nice touch, but in truth a bit of a gimmick. Normal light doesn't charge the effect - it has to be UV light, so without the torch it isn't going to flex very often. My partner asked me if the factory applied the wrong lume!
You do get a couple of extra minutes with the glow, but it isn't a long-lasting effect. Still, a nice differentiator, and the green tips sync up with the design tastefully.
Audio & Sound Signature
The G10 is similarly-tuned to other Harman/diffuse field sets in the market, such as the EW100, Chu2 and Cadenza, but the G10 particularly stands out with female vocal tracks due to its slightly-elevated upper midrange and leaner bass response.
The G10 registers a subtle dip of approximately -4dB compared to the moderate Harman contour under 80Hz. This results in a well-defined, controlled but punchy bass response that circumvents the risk of one-note booms heard in TWS and IEMs of yesteryear. Whilst it misses the visceral sensation of something like the super-textured (and much more expensive) EA1000, the G10 optimises the constraints of its hardware - kick drums have a natural thump and fast decay and electronic basslines move with finesse. There is enough mid-bass impact to prevent the G10 sounding cold or analytical, and it avoids bloat or bleed.
Within the midrange, the G10 adheres closely to the Harman curve, ensuring a faithful representation of vocals and instruments. Its near-flat response from around 200Hz to 2kHz results in a quite natural timbre. Instruments like guitars, pianos, and strings have realistic tonality and dynamics. However, the real strength of the G10 is also its weakness. In female vocal tracks, you get a very clean delivery that accentuates powerful vocals in complex arrangements, but can leave less accomplished vocalists in more simplistic tracks sounding a little cold and thin. If you like Madonna, Adele, Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson - these type of vocalists shine in their bigger performances in particular.
The trebles here are accurate and natural - smooth and coherent with no harshness. Cymbals and percussion have enough shimmer instead of clash, and aggressive snares still have snap but not bite. Considering the price bracket, the G10 has good resolution - this translates particularly well to Jazz, soul and other brass-heavy genres. There's a good amount of space in the staging, with moderate depth. This particularly excels in gaming - as you would expect - where you get quite good transparency and accurate imaging. I'm not really a big gamer, but I tested them out with some casual gaming and could understand why they were marketed in this way.
Overall it's a really pleasant, transparent sound with good musicality - trebles are subtly crispy, bass is tight and punch, vocals are clean and powerful. The G10 is very straightforward to drive, too.
The G10 would be a standout set were it not for the EPZ 'jewel in the crown' - the Q5. When paired with the Azla Xelastec Crystal tips, the Q5 are one of my go-to sets. While the G10 and Q5 share excellent balance overall, the Q5 differs in some subtle ways. It has slightly boosted mid-bass lending drums and synths a rounder attack that makes the Q5 a bit more versatile. Female vocals are smoother on the Q5, although on rare occasions the vocals can sound masked. The trebles are more detailed, whilst retaining the smoothness that characterises the G10, but if you're especially treble-sensitive, you may prefer the G10. Imaging is slightly better on the Q5, and the staging is a little less wide, but better depth and height. The G10 is a better set for gaming - as you would expect - but the Q5 has better musicality and better technicalities.
The Zero:2 is the darling of YouTubers right now as you would expect, but it didn't really tickle my fancy. It feels a bit like they went too far the other way from the Zero, and the result is a coarser, boomier, less-resolving affair with more rumble but inferior staging and technicalities. Whilst the Zero2 undoubtedly brings bigger bass energy and a richer note weight, it achieves this at the cost of balance - compared to the G10, you hear significantly amplified lows, which might favour simplistic electronic tracks, but the bloated bass can overpower guitars in rock tracks, and vocals can lose intelligibility in more complex arrangements. Without a reference point the bass can impress initially, but switching to the G10 (or Q5) reveals more accurate tonality and realistic dynamics across instruments and frequencies. Cymbals and hi-hats can also lose their glimmer on the Zero2, sounding dull or hazy compared to the G10's smoother top end. Genres like EDM and hip hop, where energy triumphs over clarity, are the Zero2's forte, while pop vocals and acoustic fare can come off a shade muddied compared with the brighter, cleaner G10.
Summary
The G10 is another very pleasant surprise from EPZ, who are quickly developing quite the portfolio of options across each price category. Despite being marketed as a 'Gaming IEM' and clearly demonstrating a prowess in this area, they also excel in casual listening - EPZ did Harman particularly well here within the confines of a single LCP driver, delivering nicely-weighted, punchy bass, a smooth midrange and clean trebles with above-average detail.
The G10 also offers a nice unboxing - much better than you're getting with some of the usual suspects. The accessories range from serviceable to 'an added bonus', and the unnecessary but eye-catching gimmick of UV-sensitive shells gives the G10 a bit of character, even if the novelty wears off as quickly as the effect itself!
Whilst the UV effect will catch the headlines, instead, focus on the impressive build quality and design which make the G10 a very comfortable and a good choice for long listening sessions. In a very congested market, the G10 is priced a little cheaper and offers a little more than many of its contemporaries, making it a very good choice for gamers, or those starting or looking to upgrade their IEM journey.
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Model: 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30
Price: £49.99 (Currently £39.99 at Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC117
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Eartip Pairs (SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Sticker
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Not one to flood the market with release after release, when one does arrive from 1More it usually delivers. In 2023, they've registered only a handful of new releases - SoundPEATS and Soundcore have both churned out about 6 stem-based models alone since the Aero arrived last November - but whilst they may be low on quantity, each release has been categorised by strong performance and competitive pricing - offering a very compelling choice in this ultra-competitive market.
The PistonBuds Pro Q30 aren't the first PistonBuds Pro, and they aren't the first Q30, so it might be difficult finding them through the usual search engine methods! They are a sub $50 stem-based TWS with quite the feature set for the price - including up to 42dB adaptive ANC, 10mm DLC drivers, Spatial Audio, in-ear detection, IPX5 moisture resistance and 6 mics with AI ENC.
There's quite the competition at this price, with the Soundcore Space A40 and SoundPEATS Air4 Pro already established, and low-cost alternatives like QCY HT05 and Moondrop Space Travel offering good performance at an even lower price.
Even so, the Q30 are quickly becoming a favourite of mine, combining the best bits of many of their alternatives, and applying the famed Luca Bignardi tuning 'cherry-on-top' to make them a strong option if you're on a budget, but can push the boat out a little beyond the usual $30 suspects.
Unboxing
The Q30 come in a small, well-presented exterior cardboard enclosure that takes a little patience (and/or long nails) to open! Inside, there's the usual fare of a small USB A to C charge cable, Small and Large tip pairs to complement the factory fitted Medium, and an instruction manual in around 15 different languages. It's quite the professional unboxing experience, albeit without the storytelling magic they included on the Fit Open S50.
Charge Case
The charge case is an adroit-looking affair, standing just over 4cm tall and measuring 6cm across and 2.4cm in depth. It's finished in matte black across the body, and already there are a few shiny scuff marks. On top of the lid, there's a shiny 'glass table style' contrast, with a transparent layer protecting the 1More logo.
It isn't especially heavy, weighing just over 40g fully loaded, and its shallow depth makes it a good candidate for popping in your pocket whilst you're out and about, without weighing you down or feeling overly obtrusive. There's a small LED built into the front, which glows green when the battery is at 80-100%, turning amber at 80% then red at 20%. The USB socket is located, alongside a reset button, at the base. This means you can't stand it up whilst it is plugged in, and it doesn't support wireless charging either.
It's a familiar sight when you open the cockpit - the buds stand back-to-back, with the tips pointing outwards. The narrow frame of the case - a benefit in terms of portability - becomes an annoyance when it comes to usability - you have to pinch your fingertips a little to grip the buds and manage to prise them away from the strong magnets and out of the case. From a usability perspective, it's not ideal - probably the least impressive thing about the Q30 as a package - but 1More are far from alone in this respect, with the much-lauded Moondrop Space Travel, amongst others, offering a similar experience. With time, you'll learn to pinch from the cylindrical area, as demonstrated in my YouTube review, and those frustrations will magically disappear.
The case does support hall-switch mode though, meaning the connection takes place the moment you open the lid, rather than a few seconds after you plonk them in your ears, so when you're setting them up for the first time you have this nice juxtaposition of the buds standing there in front of you in the case whilst you browse the visual user guide in the app, and it makes for a very pleasant first impression.
Design & Ergonomics
The Q30 are an interesting-looking stem-based TWS, with a very short stem (29mm) and a stick-like outer frame that abandons the integrated, 'curved top' approach adopted by Apple, SoundPEATS, and many others. The benefit of a non-integrated design is that you can adjust by pinching your forefinger on the top and thumb on the bottom without registering accidental touches on the touch controls, located towards the top. This makes wearing and adjusting the buds considerably less frustrating.
The design is matte black and gold, with gold tips to the top of the cylinders and the 1More logo etched across the centre of them. There's a hole for the ambient mics at the top, and an opening for the voice mic at the bottom. The nozzles are quite large - similar to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro series - so you'll likely need a larger tip than usual to keep them in place. I sized up to the largest stock tip, and this did the trick for me.
I found the Q30 to be quite comfortable, and great for long listening sessions. The profile does mean they will stick out a little, similar in that respect to the Moondrop Space Travel, but they're shorter and protrude slightly less than the MST. Neither are aesthetic stunners, but the shorter stem at least makes them a little less obvious.
They're also quite lightweight - under 5g each - and IPX5 rated, so using them at the gym or on the daily commute shouldn't shorten the lifespan. I did try them in the gym and whilst out for a run - they're usable, but the constant pounding against the tarmac loosened the grip, making them rather impractical after a while. For weights or resistance bar sessions, they're a far better fit, but check out my review on the S50 if you're looking for something for exercise - they're a much better tailored option.
The controls are a little limited, but the touch controls are well-positioned, minimising accidental touches, and they're capacitive too - meaning if you wear a hood or beanie with them, they aren't going to register every time you move your head. Double-tap is for play or pause and call functions, holding the left side cycles your ANC modes. Triple-tap by default hails voice assistant. Both double- and triple-tap are customisable in the app, allowing you to add volume control, although you'll still be left unable to cycle through your tracks. If you don't care too much for what you're listening to, this shouldn't be an issue, but I know some will bemoan the restricted customisation options - if you're one of those people, do bear this in mind.
ANC
The Q30 take the usual blanket ANC and tailor it into something usable, with a choice of manual ANC setting options depending on your scene, as well as their 'QuietMax' Adaptive ANC, providing a customisable and comfortable experience respectively.
The maximum strength of the ANC (deep mode) is listed as 42dB in strength. In reality, I found it competed with the likes of SoundPEATS Air4 Pro and Soundcore Liberty 4NC, and blew away the Soundcore Space A40 and Moondrop Space Travel. On the daily commute, it's particularly impressive, reducing traffic and road noises comfortably. Even in indoor settings, mechanical keyboard clicks are reduced to taps.
The selection of modes are also quite useful. Wind Noise Reduction, in particular, is incredibly effective - reducing wind noise substantially whilst still retaining some noise reduction. Adaptive mode also worked pretty well and basically instant, ramping up the noise reduction based on the complexity of the scene.
Transparency on this model is OK - whilst voices sound very natural close by (and at a reasonable distance), I could hear a low-rumble white noise undertone. I'm not a big transparency user anyway, but this is something worth bearing in mind if you're especially sensitive to it
Audio & Sound Signature
The Q30 are a bassy, Harman-inspired TWS that deliver a warm, engaging sound thanks to the 10mm DLC drivers and Luca Bignardi tuning that is applied to each and every 1More release.
The lower frequencies are boosted, especially the midbass. The subbass has plenty of depth and a sizeable amount of thump, and big room house tracks like Oliver Heldens' Gecko sound rumbling and thick, although the decay is probably a shade excessive for my tastes. Despite the fat left in the bass, there's still decent harmonic performance, and it doesn't sound too boxy or bloated. This tuning particularly favours EDM, pop and hip hop, but if you're a fan of rock and 80's tracks that are heavy on synths and bass guitars, have in mind they might not sound as natural as they could. The DLC driver does a good job of minimising distortion.
The mids are quite balanced, leaning towards the Harman target's neutral response, with decent extension in the upper registers. Vocals, guitars and pianos articulate well, with clarity and presence, giving a balanced reproduction of instruments and voices. Male vocals have good depth and body, but sit back a little. Female vocals are more forward and gaspy, but rarely sound too shouty. It's a pretty smooth and natural midrange sound.
The trebles also try to follow the target curve as much as possible, giving decent definition to synths, cymbals, hats and strings and providing a little air and sparkle. Percussion has good texture, and whilst the detail is good for a budget set - don't expect too much. It's a single driver arrangement in a TWS, so you aren't going to get supremely textured bass and sparkly trebles - instead the Q30 are tuned with energy, warmth and vibrance in mind. This translates well to most music styles, offering a versatile listening experience, and this versatility extends further in the 1More Music app, which gives you 12 preset EQ's as well as a ten band custom equaliser.
If the bass is too heavy for you - how about 'Bass Reducer'? This gives you a 7dB notch in the subbass and around 3dB in the midbass, retaining some warmth but losing the subwoofer-style sound that characterises this set. It's a good alternative if you're bass sensitive. 'Acoustic' inverts the bass, giving you an elevated subbass but rolling off the low and midbass before crossing over at around 200Hz and elevating the midrange by 3dB up to around 500Hz. The presets aren't amazing - but they're usable - and worth a play around with to see if any of them take your fancy, before embarking on tuning them yourself.
There's one other audio option available - Spatial Audio. 1More recommends using this with optimised sources - such as panoramic music or films - but you can apply it to normal listening and you will notice the difference, giving a more immersive experience. Testing it with Yusef Lateef's Bishop School, it enhanced the experience sizeable, opening out the staging with the flutes, vocals and percussion separating around me. It's definitely one of the more usable Spatial modes out there, enhancing the experience where applicable, as opposed to being a gimmick nobody should consider using (ahem, Soundcore). Spatial Mode also has the perhaps intended consequence that the pronounced low frequency response is tightened up quite a bit - it's become my de facto method of using these buds, something I never thought I would say!
Another popular model in this price category is the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro, and the Q30 show some similarities in the tuning, with both loosely following Harman 2019, albeit with much less lower frequency response on the Air4 Pro. This is quite noticeable, with the Air4 Pro sounding a bit cleaner and sharper, whereas the Q30 has the subwoofer-style bass of the Engine4. If you prefer a brighter sound, the Air 4 Pro may well be a better bet. The Air4 Pro have a thinner nozzle too - this may or may not be a preferred fit for you. Check out my review on the Air and try to decide which fit suits you best, as there is no right or wrong answer here - fit is very subjective.
One of the budget buds that has left reviewers salivating this year is the Moondrop Space Travel, and again, there's plenty of similarities. The Q30 has more robust bass response, and a slightly more natural upper midrange. Both suffer a little with congested tracks, but even so remain excellent budget options. The Q30 are probably worth paying the extra due to the amount of useful additional features, as well as the vastly superior battery life.
Call Quality
The Q30 has 6 microphones and boasts AI environmental noise reduction, designed to provide clearer, more intelligible voice calls. In quiet rooms, the Q30 did pretty well, recreating my voice without any issues. Both outdoors and indoors, though, whilst the noise reduction was very evident, it was perhaps a little too evident, softening my voice to the point I wasn't always fully comprehensible.
I've included a few voice call samples in my YouTube review, where you'll note that wind noise was handled pretty well.
Other Features
The Q30 have a bunch of features usually reserved for more expensive offerings - not just Spatial Audio, which we've already covered. They also have good Multipoint connectivity, moving from phone to laptop quickly and efficiently when the need arises. This is activated by simply toggling it in the 'Experimental Features' section of the 1More app.
I've covered much of the app throughout this and previous reviews, but it's a 'no frills' experience - there's no need to sign up to anything you don't want to, everything is displayed very clearly (including case battery level, which a lot of apps don't offer), and whilst there's not a huge amount of customisation in the way something like the Technics AZ80 and their app give you, what you can change is done efficiently and effectively. You've got lots of straightforward control over sound and ANC, some control customisation and can toggle smart playback. The default setting for smart playback is auto-pause and auto-play - i.e. when you take a single earbud out, your track will pause, and when you put it back in your ear, it will resume playback. You can switch this off, or set it to auto-pause only. It's one of the better-done in-ear-detection options on the market - one of the few I actually leave switched on.
Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.3, and again, no issues whatsoever with drop outs or anything like that, even in congested areas. Latency is excellent - I saw no delay in lip synchronisation on videos and even casual gaming was OK without gaming mode. Toggle gaming mode, and basic games like Roblox and PubG get close to synchronisation. I'm not a gamer by any means, but I do usually notice misalignment issues, but the Q30 seemed to perform to my expectations.
Battery Life
Battery life is often the Achilles heel with budget sets, and whilst the Q30 did give me just short of 7 hours with ANC switched off (Spatial switched on), with ANC and multipoint both activated, I only got just shy of 4.5 hours. Whilst this isn't bad by any means, bear in mind that the use of these additional features, as well as making and taking calls, will erode your total battery life with the case to around the 18-20 hour mark.
That said, 1More have offset this a little by including an excellent Quick Charge feature - giving you two hours of playtime from 10 minutes plugged in - and have also reduced the total charge time down to 1 hour. For me, I can't think of too many real-life instances where I regularly don't have access to a USB socket for an hour over a prolonged period of time, so this more than balances out the slightly-below-average total battery life.
Summary
The Q30 are a very solid choice in the sub $50 category, giving you a step up from the better performing $30 sets with the inclusion of some very useful features, such as (effective) Wind Noise Reduction, Quick Charge, Spatial Audio and comprehensive sound customisation in the 1More Music app.
The Harman-inspired tuning gives you a warm, mild v-shape sound that translates well to most music styles, and ANC is also very good for the money. Call Quality isn't bad - handling those environmental sounds well, albeit a bit aggressively. Overall, the Q30 are definitely worthy of consideration if your budget is tight, but not too tight.
Other 1More Regancipher Reviews:
Fit Open S50
ComfoBuds 2
Comfobuds Pro
Comfobuds
Colorbuds
Omthing Airfree
Stylish
About 1More:
In the past years, as a professional headphones brand, 1MORE has won many international awards, including 38 International Design Awards (such as iDEA, Red Dot Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF Design Awards and etc.), 12 CES Awards, 3 EHA Awards and 19 VGP Awards.
In addition, many of 1MORE’s headphones have been receiving awards from top-tier media outlets across the world and are being highly recommended by those editors who rigorously tested our products to ensure they meet the highest standards in the headphone market. These media include but are not limited to Forbes, Rolling Stone, WIRED, Digital Trends, CNET and more.
4-time Grammy Award-winning Sound Engineer Luca Bignardi uniquely tunes all of 1MORE’s headphones to deliver a precise representation of the artist’s intended sound.
1MORE has branches in the US, the UK and China. Our channels reach 40 countries and regions, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.
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Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30
Price: £49.99 (Currently £39.99 at Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC117
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: 1More
- Model: PistonBuds Pro Q30 EC305
- Driver: 10mm DLC Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Not known
- Mic: 6 mic AI ENC
- ANC: Yes - Up to 42dB with multiple modes
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: Yes (limited)
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- In-Ear Detection: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 4.74g
- Earbud Dimensions: 28.6mm stem length
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 41.5g
- Case Dimensions: 61.1mm {maximum} (width) x 42.7mm (height) x 23.8mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 410mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours playtime from 10min
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 60 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 7.5 hours (ANC off) 5 hours (ANC on)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 30/20 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
- Firmware Version Tested: V1.0.2
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Eartip Pairs (SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Sticker
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Not one to flood the market with release after release, when one does arrive from 1More it usually delivers. In 2023, they've registered only a handful of new releases - SoundPEATS and Soundcore have both churned out about 6 stem-based models alone since the Aero arrived last November - but whilst they may be low on quantity, each release has been categorised by strong performance and competitive pricing - offering a very compelling choice in this ultra-competitive market.
The PistonBuds Pro Q30 aren't the first PistonBuds Pro, and they aren't the first Q30, so it might be difficult finding them through the usual search engine methods! They are a sub $50 stem-based TWS with quite the feature set for the price - including up to 42dB adaptive ANC, 10mm DLC drivers, Spatial Audio, in-ear detection, IPX5 moisture resistance and 6 mics with AI ENC.
There's quite the competition at this price, with the Soundcore Space A40 and SoundPEATS Air4 Pro already established, and low-cost alternatives like QCY HT05 and Moondrop Space Travel offering good performance at an even lower price.
Even so, the Q30 are quickly becoming a favourite of mine, combining the best bits of many of their alternatives, and applying the famed Luca Bignardi tuning 'cherry-on-top' to make them a strong option if you're on a budget, but can push the boat out a little beyond the usual $30 suspects.
Unboxing
The Q30 come in a small, well-presented exterior cardboard enclosure that takes a little patience (and/or long nails) to open! Inside, there's the usual fare of a small USB A to C charge cable, Small and Large tip pairs to complement the factory fitted Medium, and an instruction manual in around 15 different languages. It's quite the professional unboxing experience, albeit without the storytelling magic they included on the Fit Open S50.
Charge Case
The charge case is an adroit-looking affair, standing just over 4cm tall and measuring 6cm across and 2.4cm in depth. It's finished in matte black across the body, and already there are a few shiny scuff marks. On top of the lid, there's a shiny 'glass table style' contrast, with a transparent layer protecting the 1More logo.
It isn't especially heavy, weighing just over 40g fully loaded, and its shallow depth makes it a good candidate for popping in your pocket whilst you're out and about, without weighing you down or feeling overly obtrusive. There's a small LED built into the front, which glows green when the battery is at 80-100%, turning amber at 80% then red at 20%. The USB socket is located, alongside a reset button, at the base. This means you can't stand it up whilst it is plugged in, and it doesn't support wireless charging either.
It's a familiar sight when you open the cockpit - the buds stand back-to-back, with the tips pointing outwards. The narrow frame of the case - a benefit in terms of portability - becomes an annoyance when it comes to usability - you have to pinch your fingertips a little to grip the buds and manage to prise them away from the strong magnets and out of the case. From a usability perspective, it's not ideal - probably the least impressive thing about the Q30 as a package - but 1More are far from alone in this respect, with the much-lauded Moondrop Space Travel, amongst others, offering a similar experience. With time, you'll learn to pinch from the cylindrical area, as demonstrated in my YouTube review, and those frustrations will magically disappear.
The case does support hall-switch mode though, meaning the connection takes place the moment you open the lid, rather than a few seconds after you plonk them in your ears, so when you're setting them up for the first time you have this nice juxtaposition of the buds standing there in front of you in the case whilst you browse the visual user guide in the app, and it makes for a very pleasant first impression.
Design & Ergonomics
The Q30 are an interesting-looking stem-based TWS, with a very short stem (29mm) and a stick-like outer frame that abandons the integrated, 'curved top' approach adopted by Apple, SoundPEATS, and many others. The benefit of a non-integrated design is that you can adjust by pinching your forefinger on the top and thumb on the bottom without registering accidental touches on the touch controls, located towards the top. This makes wearing and adjusting the buds considerably less frustrating.
The design is matte black and gold, with gold tips to the top of the cylinders and the 1More logo etched across the centre of them. There's a hole for the ambient mics at the top, and an opening for the voice mic at the bottom. The nozzles are quite large - similar to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro series - so you'll likely need a larger tip than usual to keep them in place. I sized up to the largest stock tip, and this did the trick for me.
I found the Q30 to be quite comfortable, and great for long listening sessions. The profile does mean they will stick out a little, similar in that respect to the Moondrop Space Travel, but they're shorter and protrude slightly less than the MST. Neither are aesthetic stunners, but the shorter stem at least makes them a little less obvious.
They're also quite lightweight - under 5g each - and IPX5 rated, so using them at the gym or on the daily commute shouldn't shorten the lifespan. I did try them in the gym and whilst out for a run - they're usable, but the constant pounding against the tarmac loosened the grip, making them rather impractical after a while. For weights or resistance bar sessions, they're a far better fit, but check out my review on the S50 if you're looking for something for exercise - they're a much better tailored option.
The controls are a little limited, but the touch controls are well-positioned, minimising accidental touches, and they're capacitive too - meaning if you wear a hood or beanie with them, they aren't going to register every time you move your head. Double-tap is for play or pause and call functions, holding the left side cycles your ANC modes. Triple-tap by default hails voice assistant. Both double- and triple-tap are customisable in the app, allowing you to add volume control, although you'll still be left unable to cycle through your tracks. If you don't care too much for what you're listening to, this shouldn't be an issue, but I know some will bemoan the restricted customisation options - if you're one of those people, do bear this in mind.
ANC
The Q30 take the usual blanket ANC and tailor it into something usable, with a choice of manual ANC setting options depending on your scene, as well as their 'QuietMax' Adaptive ANC, providing a customisable and comfortable experience respectively.
The maximum strength of the ANC (deep mode) is listed as 42dB in strength. In reality, I found it competed with the likes of SoundPEATS Air4 Pro and Soundcore Liberty 4NC, and blew away the Soundcore Space A40 and Moondrop Space Travel. On the daily commute, it's particularly impressive, reducing traffic and road noises comfortably. Even in indoor settings, mechanical keyboard clicks are reduced to taps.
The selection of modes are also quite useful. Wind Noise Reduction, in particular, is incredibly effective - reducing wind noise substantially whilst still retaining some noise reduction. Adaptive mode also worked pretty well and basically instant, ramping up the noise reduction based on the complexity of the scene.
Transparency on this model is OK - whilst voices sound very natural close by (and at a reasonable distance), I could hear a low-rumble white noise undertone. I'm not a big transparency user anyway, but this is something worth bearing in mind if you're especially sensitive to it
Audio & Sound Signature
The Q30 are a bassy, Harman-inspired TWS that deliver a warm, engaging sound thanks to the 10mm DLC drivers and Luca Bignardi tuning that is applied to each and every 1More release.
The lower frequencies are boosted, especially the midbass. The subbass has plenty of depth and a sizeable amount of thump, and big room house tracks like Oliver Heldens' Gecko sound rumbling and thick, although the decay is probably a shade excessive for my tastes. Despite the fat left in the bass, there's still decent harmonic performance, and it doesn't sound too boxy or bloated. This tuning particularly favours EDM, pop and hip hop, but if you're a fan of rock and 80's tracks that are heavy on synths and bass guitars, have in mind they might not sound as natural as they could. The DLC driver does a good job of minimising distortion.
The mids are quite balanced, leaning towards the Harman target's neutral response, with decent extension in the upper registers. Vocals, guitars and pianos articulate well, with clarity and presence, giving a balanced reproduction of instruments and voices. Male vocals have good depth and body, but sit back a little. Female vocals are more forward and gaspy, but rarely sound too shouty. It's a pretty smooth and natural midrange sound.
The trebles also try to follow the target curve as much as possible, giving decent definition to synths, cymbals, hats and strings and providing a little air and sparkle. Percussion has good texture, and whilst the detail is good for a budget set - don't expect too much. It's a single driver arrangement in a TWS, so you aren't going to get supremely textured bass and sparkly trebles - instead the Q30 are tuned with energy, warmth and vibrance in mind. This translates well to most music styles, offering a versatile listening experience, and this versatility extends further in the 1More Music app, which gives you 12 preset EQ's as well as a ten band custom equaliser.
If the bass is too heavy for you - how about 'Bass Reducer'? This gives you a 7dB notch in the subbass and around 3dB in the midbass, retaining some warmth but losing the subwoofer-style sound that characterises this set. It's a good alternative if you're bass sensitive. 'Acoustic' inverts the bass, giving you an elevated subbass but rolling off the low and midbass before crossing over at around 200Hz and elevating the midrange by 3dB up to around 500Hz. The presets aren't amazing - but they're usable - and worth a play around with to see if any of them take your fancy, before embarking on tuning them yourself.
There's one other audio option available - Spatial Audio. 1More recommends using this with optimised sources - such as panoramic music or films - but you can apply it to normal listening and you will notice the difference, giving a more immersive experience. Testing it with Yusef Lateef's Bishop School, it enhanced the experience sizeable, opening out the staging with the flutes, vocals and percussion separating around me. It's definitely one of the more usable Spatial modes out there, enhancing the experience where applicable, as opposed to being a gimmick nobody should consider using (ahem, Soundcore). Spatial Mode also has the perhaps intended consequence that the pronounced low frequency response is tightened up quite a bit - it's become my de facto method of using these buds, something I never thought I would say!
Another popular model in this price category is the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro, and the Q30 show some similarities in the tuning, with both loosely following Harman 2019, albeit with much less lower frequency response on the Air4 Pro. This is quite noticeable, with the Air4 Pro sounding a bit cleaner and sharper, whereas the Q30 has the subwoofer-style bass of the Engine4. If you prefer a brighter sound, the Air 4 Pro may well be a better bet. The Air4 Pro have a thinner nozzle too - this may or may not be a preferred fit for you. Check out my review on the Air and try to decide which fit suits you best, as there is no right or wrong answer here - fit is very subjective.
One of the budget buds that has left reviewers salivating this year is the Moondrop Space Travel, and again, there's plenty of similarities. The Q30 has more robust bass response, and a slightly more natural upper midrange. Both suffer a little with congested tracks, but even so remain excellent budget options. The Q30 are probably worth paying the extra due to the amount of useful additional features, as well as the vastly superior battery life.
Call Quality
The Q30 has 6 microphones and boasts AI environmental noise reduction, designed to provide clearer, more intelligible voice calls. In quiet rooms, the Q30 did pretty well, recreating my voice without any issues. Both outdoors and indoors, though, whilst the noise reduction was very evident, it was perhaps a little too evident, softening my voice to the point I wasn't always fully comprehensible.
I've included a few voice call samples in my YouTube review, where you'll note that wind noise was handled pretty well.
Other Features
The Q30 have a bunch of features usually reserved for more expensive offerings - not just Spatial Audio, which we've already covered. They also have good Multipoint connectivity, moving from phone to laptop quickly and efficiently when the need arises. This is activated by simply toggling it in the 'Experimental Features' section of the 1More app.
I've covered much of the app throughout this and previous reviews, but it's a 'no frills' experience - there's no need to sign up to anything you don't want to, everything is displayed very clearly (including case battery level, which a lot of apps don't offer), and whilst there's not a huge amount of customisation in the way something like the Technics AZ80 and their app give you, what you can change is done efficiently and effectively. You've got lots of straightforward control over sound and ANC, some control customisation and can toggle smart playback. The default setting for smart playback is auto-pause and auto-play - i.e. when you take a single earbud out, your track will pause, and when you put it back in your ear, it will resume playback. You can switch this off, or set it to auto-pause only. It's one of the better-done in-ear-detection options on the market - one of the few I actually leave switched on.
Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.3, and again, no issues whatsoever with drop outs or anything like that, even in congested areas. Latency is excellent - I saw no delay in lip synchronisation on videos and even casual gaming was OK without gaming mode. Toggle gaming mode, and basic games like Roblox and PubG get close to synchronisation. I'm not a gamer by any means, but I do usually notice misalignment issues, but the Q30 seemed to perform to my expectations.
Battery Life
Battery life is often the Achilles heel with budget sets, and whilst the Q30 did give me just short of 7 hours with ANC switched off (Spatial switched on), with ANC and multipoint both activated, I only got just shy of 4.5 hours. Whilst this isn't bad by any means, bear in mind that the use of these additional features, as well as making and taking calls, will erode your total battery life with the case to around the 18-20 hour mark.
That said, 1More have offset this a little by including an excellent Quick Charge feature - giving you two hours of playtime from 10 minutes plugged in - and have also reduced the total charge time down to 1 hour. For me, I can't think of too many real-life instances where I regularly don't have access to a USB socket for an hour over a prolonged period of time, so this more than balances out the slightly-below-average total battery life.
Summary
The Q30 are a very solid choice in the sub $50 category, giving you a step up from the better performing $30 sets with the inclusion of some very useful features, such as (effective) Wind Noise Reduction, Quick Charge, Spatial Audio and comprehensive sound customisation in the 1More Music app.
The Harman-inspired tuning gives you a warm, mild v-shape sound that translates well to most music styles, and ANC is also very good for the money. Call Quality isn't bad - handling those environmental sounds well, albeit a bit aggressively. Overall, the Q30 are definitely worthy of consideration if your budget is tight, but not too tight.
Other 1More Regancipher Reviews:
Fit Open S50
ComfoBuds 2
Comfobuds Pro
Comfobuds
Colorbuds
Omthing Airfree
Stylish
About 1More:
In the past years, as a professional headphones brand, 1MORE has won many international awards, including 38 International Design Awards (such as iDEA, Red Dot Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF Design Awards and etc.), 12 CES Awards, 3 EHA Awards and 19 VGP Awards.
In addition, many of 1MORE’s headphones have been receiving awards from top-tier media outlets across the world and are being highly recommended by those editors who rigorously tested our products to ensure they meet the highest standards in the headphone market. These media include but are not limited to Forbes, Rolling Stone, WIRED, Digital Trends, CNET and more.
4-time Grammy Award-winning Sound Engineer Luca Bignardi uniquely tunes all of 1MORE’s headphones to deliver a precise representation of the artist’s intended sound.
1MORE has branches in the US, the UK and China. Our channels reach 40 countries and regions, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.
regancipher
@tronth thanks! I added a bit more on the Air4 Pro comparison, including a link to my review of them. Both are very good, it comes down to your preferred sound and fit really as ANC strength and call quality are quite similar
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Simgot EA1000
Price: $219.99 - Linsoul
Review Reference: RC114
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable High-Purity Litz-style OFC Silver Cable (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Magnetic Carry Case
1 x Warranty Card
3 x Interchangeable Nozzles (three target curves)
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Are SIMGOT the IEM brand of the year? It's hard to argue with an incredible run of releases throughout 2023 that has culminated in, quite possibly their piece de resistance, the EA1000.
Fermat's Last Theorem, stated in 1637, perplexed mathematicians for over three centuries. It proposed: no three positive integers a, b, and c satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than 2. Many brilliant minds failed to prove this elusive theorem over the years until finally, in 1995, Andrew Wiles presented his (corrected proof). I was in senior school back in 1993 when he had his first stab at it, and I remember at the time my school making a seriously big deal about it - if you saw the alumni from where I went to school, you'll probably understand why, but put it this way - I doubt any of them are furiously trying to recount the details to help them review their latest set of IEM's now thirty years later!!
The EA1000 pays homage to this mathematical mystery, as SIMGOT's journey to master their own house sound (finally with a deviation away from Harman!) echoes the unwavering persistence required to prove Fermat's theorem...ish! After honing their craft with previous models like the EM2R, EA500 and EW200, SIMGOT have rounded off the year presenting the EA1000 as an encapsulation of their learnings - a beautifully crafted IEM that might just resolve the equation of <$200 = supreme audio fidelity! Wiles was knighted for his travails, and even earned the 2016 Abel Prize - I'm pretty sure SIMGOT would be happy with IEM of the year in the New Year's Honours List, and at least as far as I'm concerned, they're looking pretty damn good for it!
The EA1000 includes some pretty impressive tech. It isn't cheap - $219.99 - and you would be forgiven for being slightly taken aback at what is, on paper, a single DD arrangement. However, this is where cutting through marketing bullsh*t is essential - firstly, they've used 'SPGD Technology', a special diaphragm manufacturing process which results in a high rigidity, lightweight diaphragm coloured in purple-gold. As you'll see later, the macros bear testament to its existence at least! Secondly, DMDC, or dual-magnetic and dual-chamber driver technology is geared up to provide exceptional dynamic range and precision high-frequency performance. Finally, the 1DD plus 1PR architecture means the pairing of a single, 10mm full-range dynamic driver and a passive radiator for a more responsive full range with improved stability and driveability.
They've also chucked in replaceable nozzles, giving you three target curves:
Gold Nozzle, Gold Curve: SIMGOT-Golden 2023 Curve
Red and Steel Nozzle, Red Curve: Harman 2019 Curve (pre-fitted)
Black and Steel Nozzle, Blue Curve: SIMGOT-Classic Curve
So essentially, you've got a single DD which breaks away from the usual production process and materials. You've got a passive radiator to get more from the lower frequencies, and you've got an overall arrangement that is designed to enhance clarity and imaging, giving you a fuller, more precise sound. And to top it off, you've got three different sound profiles in the box based on your personal preference.
The EA1000, or at least the tech they've included, is over three years in the making. Was it worth the wait? Let's find out....
Unboxing
To unveil the true beauty of the EA1000, I suggest watching my YouTube review, because still images really don't do it justice. The shiny, 'milk tray' purple and gold outer exterior mirrors the purple-gold diaphragm technology I waxed lyrical about in the intro, and the focus on the front is very much the theme SIMGOT have applied to the release - Fermat's Last Theorem.
This theming continues as you peel back the layers of the box to reveal the array of accessories, which include six pairs of eartips, a stunning, shimmery high purity silver-plated OFC Litz-structure cable, the three detachable nozzles I mentioned in the intro and some coloured rings to denote and identify the nozzle.
The carry-case has a magnetic, flip-open lid. It's leather-look, with the SIMGOT branding on the top.
The back continues the theming with the expression 'Salute to Art and Science'. The case is a decent size, measuring 97 x 71 x 38mm.
There's plenty of space inside the case to fit the IEM, the cable, the spare tips and the spare nozzles, which come fitted into a screw plate so they won't be easily damaged if stored inside. Here you see the shimmering properties of the cable in the sunlight.
The theming continues, with the warranty card not able to escape a brush with Fermat!
Build Quality and Design
In my review of the EM6L, one of my minor quibbles was the resin design, which lacked a little curvature on the inside. With the EA1000, SIMGOT remedied both of those issues effortlessly. Despite weighing just under 11g per IEM, the EA1000 is a delicate, lightweight, beautifully designed IEM that combines a fingerprint-magnet-high polished steel body and patterned crystal glass faceplate with an elegant profile that looks as good in the ear as it does resting precariously on a railway bridge above!
On the inside, note the improved curvature, which we also saw in the EA500. This gives the EA1000 better fit and improved isolation. Here you also get your first glimpse of the passive radiator, and what the IEM looks like with the nozzle removed.
While we have the IEM open, here you see the Puple-Gold SDPGD driver in all it's glory.
Move to the outside and you'll find a slightly recessed 2-pin connection terminal and the 'Fermat' insignia. Whilst testing the sound with each of the nozzles, I got a few snaps - here is the EA1000 with the gold nozzles fitted. I enjoyed all of the sound signatures, as I'll come onto in the Audio & SS section, but whilst the gold nozzle looked the best, it wasn't my favourite of the three sound signatures sadly.
Removing and replacing the nozzles is a simple and pain-free process. The stock and black options have some black foam at the base of the filter, whereas the gold has a thin membrane with a hole in the middle. Removable nozzle mounts and filters allow endless sound fine-tuning without compromising comfort. Each earpiece contains threaded nozzle sockets, letting users swap between included targets with ease. The nozzles themselves integrate securely while permitting adjustment.
Here you get a glimpse of the fit of the EA1000. There's no pressure on the tragus at all - the line you see here is from me pulling the ear hook back. It's an extremely subtle design which doesn't protrude regardless of side or front profile. The ear hooks are quite loose - this makes them super comfy, but it impresses on you to get the fit right from your tip selection. I've tried a few different tips and so far none fit better than the stock.
The IEM measures 22mm (height) x 17mm (width) x 20.7mm (max depth) - it's noticeably leaner looking than the EM6L, but very similar in dimensions to the EA500.
Looking closely at the construction, it's very evident that no corners were cut. The metallic shells exude precision craftsmanship with their lustrous chamfered edges, and their robust but streamlined profile strikes an ideal balance between aesthetics and durability. Both the EM6L and EA1000 rank among my most comfortable IEM's, making them both ideal for long listening sessions, with the EA1000 edging it thanks to that more tailored inside profile. They aren't as bulky as many of their competitors, and the nozzle length and depth seems to be optimal for a non-invasive, fully-immersive experience.
Audio & Sound Signature
As per the intro, SIMGOT claim to have leveraged innovative driver technologies to deliver pristine audio reproduction. At the heart sits its new purple-gold sputtered diaphragm, crafted through a complex multi-layer deposition process for optimal rigidity and low mass. This enables the 10mm dynamic driver to resolve the finest details and dynamics with minimal distortion.
The diaphragm pairs with a dual-magnet motor system for enhanced control across frequencies. This dual-magnetic circuitry widens the dynamic range and transient response compared to traditional single-magnet designs. Treble reproduction sees particular improvements, providing crispness without harshness.
A rear 6mm passive radiator adds tactile bass texture and natural ambience. It resonates symbiotically with the front dynamic driver to augment low-frequency presence and dimensional realism through its added airflow interaction. The effect is addictive, highly detailed bass that is palpable yet controlled. There are no coherence issues due to the unorthodox but highly effective driver arrangement.
The three filters provide three different sound signatures, as shown here in the FR measurements above. Regardless of which filter is used, the EA1000 has a natural, accurate tone, even moreso than the EM6L, and the beauty of not using a BA. Natural tone has characterised all of SIMGOT's releases this year - even the low cost EW200 - but it hits new levels here due in no small part to the magnificent lower frequencies, masterfully facilitated by the passive rad.
The Red curve is the stock curve, based on the Harman 2019 target. Out of the box, the thing that hits you with the EA1000 is the vast, expansive soundstage that immediately places you at the centre of a disparately-assembled orchestra. The midrange on the EA1000 particularly impresses, with clarity and naturalism. Vocals dazzle with their intimacy and nuance, marrying richness with airy transparency in the upper registers. Instruments similarly feel lifelike with striking realism.
In Paul Wasabii's review I noticed he used Madonna's 'Holiday' as a reference track, and using that as an example, the cowbell, tams, shakers and other percussive elements in the intro expand before your horizon, with wah wah guitars entering from a distant point to the right with precision positioning. The wasp-style synth and bassline are lightweight but controlled and full of texture, and Madonna's vocals sound as sweet as they ever did, with her gasps perfectly evident.
Move over to 'All of Me' by John Legend and you get another glimpse of how well the midrange is handled on the EA1000. The piano intro sounds articulate - full but crisp at the same time, whilst John Legend's vocals dissipate around you with an engaging resonance at the centre. The midrange timbre is very natural - regardless of male or female vocals are clear and open with great depth. The midbass depth is dense but the bass is well controlled - there's no bleed or blur, everything is immaculately controlled.
Putting the bass through its paces with Hans Zimmer's Time showcases the impact of the passive radiator. The EA1000 isn't a bass canon, but the lower frequencies have magnificent depth and resonance. It is a thick and fast bass response that is tightly controlled - layers and layers are knitted together very smoothly and naturally. The boosted bass leaves a visceral impact without bloat or muddiness. Its outstanding texture and detail are rare among even pricier competitors.
The treble captivates with its smooth, effortless extension. Cymbals shimmer brightly without aggression. The added airiness provides a pristine top-end complement to the resonant bass, avoiding harshness or sibilance. The tightness, control and accurate decay and reverb are illustrated nicely in 'Good Times' by Chic, where you can even hear 'fingers' in the claps. Yusef Lateef's 'Bishop School' brings tambourines, horns and sweet-sounding flutes to life around you as the stage sweeps out before your very ears separating very clearly. Really incredible stuff.
The EA1000 are better served with jazz, classical, opera, and generally orchestrally-complex tracks than more energetic genres, where they can feel a little too immersive, leaving you to catch your breath a little.
Micro-details and technicalities, as you probably guessed, are top tier - especially so with the 'Red curve' filter. It's a transparent and analytical sound that still offers great dynamics. The 'Gold curve' nozzle expands the soundstage even further, but detracts a little from the depth. The sound is a bit too bright for my liking, with a cleaner, leaner and more analytical sound to it that dulls the bite of the trebles and boosts vocals. The black ring nozzle is a bit more sparkly with more energy - I can't quite decide which curve I prefer so I reserve the right to circle back to this review and edit in the future!
Summary
Once again, hats off to SIMGOT for a remarkable release that well and truly stamps their authority on the IEM market. They got pretty much everything right here, from the overall experience and accessories to the build and design, and most of all the sound signature. It's easily a five star review that remedies man of the 'areas of improvement' noted in their previous releases.
The soundstage and dynamic performance are so moreish that I haven't used anything else since I got them. They aren't for pure-bassheads and the presence of the upper mids may be a little much with the stock nozzles, but the three filter options means there's probably something for everyone here.
In the sub $200 category, there's quite a bit of competition for your hard earned dough, but the EA1000 convinces with a super-textured, airy bass, lush mids and sparkly-enough, natural trebles. Its expansive soundstage, natural timbre and excellent resolving capabilities all constitute top-tier performance, and the straightforward driveability and coherence put the icing on the cake for a well-presented, great looking, high performing IEM that cements SIMGOT's seat at the top table.
Is it my IEM of the year? So far, I think that's a resounding yes.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: Simgot EA1000
Price: $219.99 - Linsoul
Review Reference: RC114
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Simgot
- Model: EA1000
- Driver: Second Generation DMDC 10mm Dynamic Driver, Sputter Decomposition Purple-Gold Diaphragm, 1PR
- IEM Weight: 10.97g
- IEM Dimensions: 22mm (height) x 17mm (width) x 20.7mm (max depth)
- Shell: High-polished full metal body with transparent crystal face plates
- Impedance: 16Ω±15%(@1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 127dB/Vrms(@1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 10Hz-50kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable High-Purity Litz-style OFC Silver Cable (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Magnetic Carry Case
1 x Warranty Card
3 x Interchangeable Nozzles (three target curves)
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Are SIMGOT the IEM brand of the year? It's hard to argue with an incredible run of releases throughout 2023 that has culminated in, quite possibly their piece de resistance, the EA1000.
Fermat's Last Theorem, stated in 1637, perplexed mathematicians for over three centuries. It proposed: no three positive integers a, b, and c satisfy the equation an + bn = cn for any integer value of n greater than 2. Many brilliant minds failed to prove this elusive theorem over the years until finally, in 1995, Andrew Wiles presented his (corrected proof). I was in senior school back in 1993 when he had his first stab at it, and I remember at the time my school making a seriously big deal about it - if you saw the alumni from where I went to school, you'll probably understand why, but put it this way - I doubt any of them are furiously trying to recount the details to help them review their latest set of IEM's now thirty years later!!
The EA1000 pays homage to this mathematical mystery, as SIMGOT's journey to master their own house sound (finally with a deviation away from Harman!) echoes the unwavering persistence required to prove Fermat's theorem...ish! After honing their craft with previous models like the EM2R, EA500 and EW200, SIMGOT have rounded off the year presenting the EA1000 as an encapsulation of their learnings - a beautifully crafted IEM that might just resolve the equation of <$200 = supreme audio fidelity! Wiles was knighted for his travails, and even earned the 2016 Abel Prize - I'm pretty sure SIMGOT would be happy with IEM of the year in the New Year's Honours List, and at least as far as I'm concerned, they're looking pretty damn good for it!
The EA1000 includes some pretty impressive tech. It isn't cheap - $219.99 - and you would be forgiven for being slightly taken aback at what is, on paper, a single DD arrangement. However, this is where cutting through marketing bullsh*t is essential - firstly, they've used 'SPGD Technology', a special diaphragm manufacturing process which results in a high rigidity, lightweight diaphragm coloured in purple-gold. As you'll see later, the macros bear testament to its existence at least! Secondly, DMDC, or dual-magnetic and dual-chamber driver technology is geared up to provide exceptional dynamic range and precision high-frequency performance. Finally, the 1DD plus 1PR architecture means the pairing of a single, 10mm full-range dynamic driver and a passive radiator for a more responsive full range with improved stability and driveability.
They've also chucked in replaceable nozzles, giving you three target curves:
Gold Nozzle, Gold Curve: SIMGOT-Golden 2023 Curve
Red and Steel Nozzle, Red Curve: Harman 2019 Curve (pre-fitted)
Black and Steel Nozzle, Blue Curve: SIMGOT-Classic Curve
So essentially, you've got a single DD which breaks away from the usual production process and materials. You've got a passive radiator to get more from the lower frequencies, and you've got an overall arrangement that is designed to enhance clarity and imaging, giving you a fuller, more precise sound. And to top it off, you've got three different sound profiles in the box based on your personal preference.
The EA1000, or at least the tech they've included, is over three years in the making. Was it worth the wait? Let's find out....
Unboxing
To unveil the true beauty of the EA1000, I suggest watching my YouTube review, because still images really don't do it justice. The shiny, 'milk tray' purple and gold outer exterior mirrors the purple-gold diaphragm technology I waxed lyrical about in the intro, and the focus on the front is very much the theme SIMGOT have applied to the release - Fermat's Last Theorem.
This theming continues as you peel back the layers of the box to reveal the array of accessories, which include six pairs of eartips, a stunning, shimmery high purity silver-plated OFC Litz-structure cable, the three detachable nozzles I mentioned in the intro and some coloured rings to denote and identify the nozzle.
The carry-case has a magnetic, flip-open lid. It's leather-look, with the SIMGOT branding on the top.
The back continues the theming with the expression 'Salute to Art and Science'. The case is a decent size, measuring 97 x 71 x 38mm.
There's plenty of space inside the case to fit the IEM, the cable, the spare tips and the spare nozzles, which come fitted into a screw plate so they won't be easily damaged if stored inside. Here you see the shimmering properties of the cable in the sunlight.
The theming continues, with the warranty card not able to escape a brush with Fermat!
Build Quality and Design
In my review of the EM6L, one of my minor quibbles was the resin design, which lacked a little curvature on the inside. With the EA1000, SIMGOT remedied both of those issues effortlessly. Despite weighing just under 11g per IEM, the EA1000 is a delicate, lightweight, beautifully designed IEM that combines a fingerprint-magnet-high polished steel body and patterned crystal glass faceplate with an elegant profile that looks as good in the ear as it does resting precariously on a railway bridge above!
On the inside, note the improved curvature, which we also saw in the EA500. This gives the EA1000 better fit and improved isolation. Here you also get your first glimpse of the passive radiator, and what the IEM looks like with the nozzle removed.
While we have the IEM open, here you see the Puple-Gold SDPGD driver in all it's glory.
Move to the outside and you'll find a slightly recessed 2-pin connection terminal and the 'Fermat' insignia. Whilst testing the sound with each of the nozzles, I got a few snaps - here is the EA1000 with the gold nozzles fitted. I enjoyed all of the sound signatures, as I'll come onto in the Audio & SS section, but whilst the gold nozzle looked the best, it wasn't my favourite of the three sound signatures sadly.
Removing and replacing the nozzles is a simple and pain-free process. The stock and black options have some black foam at the base of the filter, whereas the gold has a thin membrane with a hole in the middle. Removable nozzle mounts and filters allow endless sound fine-tuning without compromising comfort. Each earpiece contains threaded nozzle sockets, letting users swap between included targets with ease. The nozzles themselves integrate securely while permitting adjustment.
Here you get a glimpse of the fit of the EA1000. There's no pressure on the tragus at all - the line you see here is from me pulling the ear hook back. It's an extremely subtle design which doesn't protrude regardless of side or front profile. The ear hooks are quite loose - this makes them super comfy, but it impresses on you to get the fit right from your tip selection. I've tried a few different tips and so far none fit better than the stock.
The IEM measures 22mm (height) x 17mm (width) x 20.7mm (max depth) - it's noticeably leaner looking than the EM6L, but very similar in dimensions to the EA500.
Looking closely at the construction, it's very evident that no corners were cut. The metallic shells exude precision craftsmanship with their lustrous chamfered edges, and their robust but streamlined profile strikes an ideal balance between aesthetics and durability. Both the EM6L and EA1000 rank among my most comfortable IEM's, making them both ideal for long listening sessions, with the EA1000 edging it thanks to that more tailored inside profile. They aren't as bulky as many of their competitors, and the nozzle length and depth seems to be optimal for a non-invasive, fully-immersive experience.
Audio & Sound Signature
As per the intro, SIMGOT claim to have leveraged innovative driver technologies to deliver pristine audio reproduction. At the heart sits its new purple-gold sputtered diaphragm, crafted through a complex multi-layer deposition process for optimal rigidity and low mass. This enables the 10mm dynamic driver to resolve the finest details and dynamics with minimal distortion.
The diaphragm pairs with a dual-magnet motor system for enhanced control across frequencies. This dual-magnetic circuitry widens the dynamic range and transient response compared to traditional single-magnet designs. Treble reproduction sees particular improvements, providing crispness without harshness.
A rear 6mm passive radiator adds tactile bass texture and natural ambience. It resonates symbiotically with the front dynamic driver to augment low-frequency presence and dimensional realism through its added airflow interaction. The effect is addictive, highly detailed bass that is palpable yet controlled. There are no coherence issues due to the unorthodox but highly effective driver arrangement.
The three filters provide three different sound signatures, as shown here in the FR measurements above. Regardless of which filter is used, the EA1000 has a natural, accurate tone, even moreso than the EM6L, and the beauty of not using a BA. Natural tone has characterised all of SIMGOT's releases this year - even the low cost EW200 - but it hits new levels here due in no small part to the magnificent lower frequencies, masterfully facilitated by the passive rad.
The Red curve is the stock curve, based on the Harman 2019 target. Out of the box, the thing that hits you with the EA1000 is the vast, expansive soundstage that immediately places you at the centre of a disparately-assembled orchestra. The midrange on the EA1000 particularly impresses, with clarity and naturalism. Vocals dazzle with their intimacy and nuance, marrying richness with airy transparency in the upper registers. Instruments similarly feel lifelike with striking realism.
In Paul Wasabii's review I noticed he used Madonna's 'Holiday' as a reference track, and using that as an example, the cowbell, tams, shakers and other percussive elements in the intro expand before your horizon, with wah wah guitars entering from a distant point to the right with precision positioning. The wasp-style synth and bassline are lightweight but controlled and full of texture, and Madonna's vocals sound as sweet as they ever did, with her gasps perfectly evident.
Move over to 'All of Me' by John Legend and you get another glimpse of how well the midrange is handled on the EA1000. The piano intro sounds articulate - full but crisp at the same time, whilst John Legend's vocals dissipate around you with an engaging resonance at the centre. The midrange timbre is very natural - regardless of male or female vocals are clear and open with great depth. The midbass depth is dense but the bass is well controlled - there's no bleed or blur, everything is immaculately controlled.
Putting the bass through its paces with Hans Zimmer's Time showcases the impact of the passive radiator. The EA1000 isn't a bass canon, but the lower frequencies have magnificent depth and resonance. It is a thick and fast bass response that is tightly controlled - layers and layers are knitted together very smoothly and naturally. The boosted bass leaves a visceral impact without bloat or muddiness. Its outstanding texture and detail are rare among even pricier competitors.
The treble captivates with its smooth, effortless extension. Cymbals shimmer brightly without aggression. The added airiness provides a pristine top-end complement to the resonant bass, avoiding harshness or sibilance. The tightness, control and accurate decay and reverb are illustrated nicely in 'Good Times' by Chic, where you can even hear 'fingers' in the claps. Yusef Lateef's 'Bishop School' brings tambourines, horns and sweet-sounding flutes to life around you as the stage sweeps out before your very ears separating very clearly. Really incredible stuff.
The EA1000 are better served with jazz, classical, opera, and generally orchestrally-complex tracks than more energetic genres, where they can feel a little too immersive, leaving you to catch your breath a little.
Micro-details and technicalities, as you probably guessed, are top tier - especially so with the 'Red curve' filter. It's a transparent and analytical sound that still offers great dynamics. The 'Gold curve' nozzle expands the soundstage even further, but detracts a little from the depth. The sound is a bit too bright for my liking, with a cleaner, leaner and more analytical sound to it that dulls the bite of the trebles and boosts vocals. The black ring nozzle is a bit more sparkly with more energy - I can't quite decide which curve I prefer so I reserve the right to circle back to this review and edit in the future!
Summary
Once again, hats off to SIMGOT for a remarkable release that well and truly stamps their authority on the IEM market. They got pretty much everything right here, from the overall experience and accessories to the build and design, and most of all the sound signature. It's easily a five star review that remedies man of the 'areas of improvement' noted in their previous releases.
The soundstage and dynamic performance are so moreish that I haven't used anything else since I got them. They aren't for pure-bassheads and the presence of the upper mids may be a little much with the stock nozzles, but the three filter options means there's probably something for everyone here.
In the sub $200 category, there's quite a bit of competition for your hard earned dough, but the EA1000 convinces with a super-textured, airy bass, lush mids and sparkly-enough, natural trebles. Its expansive soundstage, natural timbre and excellent resolving capabilities all constitute top-tier performance, and the straightforward driveability and coherence put the icing on the cake for a well-presented, great looking, high performing IEM that cements SIMGOT's seat at the top table.
Is it my IEM of the year? So far, I think that's a resounding yes.
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Model: SoundPEATS Air4 Pro
Price: £79.99 (Currently £63.99 at Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC113
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
6 x Eartip Pairs (SML)
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
We knew this was coming, probably before SoundPEATS did! The Air4 Pro is here - SoundPEATS' iterative update to their Air3 Pro, a popular model, but it's fair to say probably not my favourite due to its slightly bloated sound signature, average call quality and rather weak ANC. Put it this way - when the Capsule3 Pro arrived, I called it 'what the Air3 Pro should have been'!
SoundPEATS' product ranges seem to be based on the chipset these days, with the Air4 and Air4 Pro both following the Air3 and Air3 Pro in selecting Qualcomm as their SoC of choice. That brings pros and cons - instead of LDAC, you're handed Qualcomm's confusing smorgasbord of 'Snapdragon Sound' features - from AptX Lossless (which isn't actually lossless, and isn't actually a codec) to AptX Voice (which isn't selectable anywhere - you just have to 'trust' that you're getting it!). But despite these reservations - it does seem to the be the direction of travel for most major manufacturers right now, and the logical progression for SoundPEATS with this release.
But aside the codec questions - there are more important conundrums to answer, such as how do they sound? How is the ANC? How is call quality? What are the features like? I'll aim to answer all of these questions - read on for my thoughts on the Air4 Pro.
Unboxing
The unboxing is a straightforward but smart affair. SoundPEATS have upped their game since the release of the Air3 Deluxe HS, and this one follows a similar pattern, in a harder-wearing enclosure with the visuals on the front and key parameters on the back. Inside the pack, you're getting a USB A-C charge cable, user manual (in seven different languages) and tips in Small and Large to go with the factory fitted Medium.
Charge Case
The charge case is unmistakeably 'SoundPEATS'! In two-tone black/grey with pink-ish gold accents on the back and around the USB charge socket at the base, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Air4 and Capsule 3 Pro cases. It's portable - at 64 x 48 x 24mm, it's around 15-20% smaller and lighter than the Capsule3 Pro case, weighing in at just under 40g.
The finish is nicer than the Capsule3 Pro and Air4 cases - the 'charcoal' effect looks better than the basic colour tone applied to the two former models, and they've also dialled down the amount of pink in the rose gold.
There's also a more contoured lip at the front of the lid to make the case easier to open with one hand. There's also a nice little cutout on the side that displays the 'Hear Your Imagination' tagline - I know some people think this stuff is a bit cheesy, but I quite like it - I think it gives the case a little more character without looking distatesful.
There's a reset button next to the type C charge socket, which you'll probably need if your phone is anything like mine when it comes to dealing with Qualcomm chip earbuds - a bit temperamental - which is surprising given it is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1! The case has hall switch mode, so it begins pairing the moment you open it, but if you want to reset the connection, holding the button down turns the LED on the front to white - it will flash a few times and then you're into pairing mode. The LED otherwise indicates your remaining battery life - Green means the case has above 50%, Yellow is between 49 and 10%, and if it's Red you'd better find a charger sharpish! Unfortunately, there's no Wireless Charging and no Quick Charge - it's around 90 minutes for a full charge.
It's a nice looking charge case that has improved portability, feels a bit more robust, and the added design features mitigate the generic-ness you would sense with some of their older cases. Here you see it again alongside the Capsule3 Pro case (left) and Air4 case (right), and the smaller profile compared with the Capsule3 Pro case is particularly evident here.
Ergonomics
The design of the Air4 Pro has seen only micro evolutions since the Air3 Pro. At 34mm, the stem length has edged ever-so-slightly longer, and the stem width is a bit thinner, but these are things you would probably only notice if you had each model side by side.
The other minor differences include the look of the inside of the bud, which is now shiny rather than matte (same as the Air4).
The touch control sensor area is very slightly larger than the Capsule3 Pro and Air3 Pro, but otherwise it's only very minor cosmetic differences. Here you see it alongside the Capsule3 Pro, Clear and Air4 (left to right). You'd be hard pushed picking it out of an identity parade without knowing its intimate details!
Touch controls have not changed from previous SoundPEATS 'ANC' releases - you've got volume control (single taps) but there's no option to cycle tracks back. The default controls with SoundPEATS are good, but the inability to be able to customise the controls to your personal preference is long overdue remediation. The sensors are responsive though, and aren't as prone to accidental touches as their semi-in-ear options.
The Air4 Pro, like their previous models, are very comfortable. The nozzles are oval-shaped, but there's enough of a gradient on the inner side to ensure they sit nicely in your ears initiating barely any fatigue when used over a prolonged period of time. They are marginally heavier than the Air3 Pro, but I used them in the gym and even on the treadmill - the stability is very good, but their assumed IPX4 rating means whilst getting caught in the rain won't cause them any problems, you probably shouldn't consider extreme sports with them.
I found the Air4 Pro absolutely fine for using over prolonged periods - they don't feel too invasive due to the shallow nozzle, and they're comfortable and very stable for in-ear stem designs too.
ANC
ANC on the Air4 Pro is the star of the show, and it's probably SoundPEATS strongest performer yet in this department. The Air4 Pro pretty much obliterate fans and air conditioning units indoors, and keyboard taps are also surprisingly a little more muffled. They are also the most proficient SoundPEATS release at dealing with traffic and road noises when you're out and about. You'll still hear something, but it's reduced to a higher frequency, white noise-style sound. Even with voices close-by, they are subdued substantially, and with music playing they're practically inaudible.
Transparency mode is also very good, although it doesn't feel like as big a stride forward as the ANC level. It's very natural sounding - if people are talking to you close-by, you'll be able to hear every word of the conversation, but if someone is talking to you 10-15m away in a busy environment, you may have to guess a few words. There's certainly no obvious lispiness to voices that you get with some transparency modes - everything sounds pretty much as it should.
If I'm scoring ANC on previous models based on Q4 2023 standards, I'd rate them as follows:
Air 4 Pro - 8/10
Mini Pro HS - 7.2/10
Capsule3 Pro - 7/10
Air 3 Pro - 6.5/10
Life - 5.5/10
You can hear a sample of their ANC on my 'Best under $100' video:
Audio & Sound Signature
SoundPEATS boast of their support for Snapdragon Sound, which amongst other things ensures CD-quality lossless(ish) sound, with 16-bit, 44.1kHz transmission combining with their 13mm ultra-fine biological fiber, pure wood pulp fiber and PU diaphragm dynamic drivers to deliver a high quality audio experience. Phew!
Both of SoundPEATS new releases have gone with a slightly different sound signature to their previous 'house sound', and the audio delivery is quite convincing, and definitely an improvement from my perspective. Their 'SoundPEATS Classic' sound signature has evolved quite a bit over time, and the new iteration of less onus on bass and a little more attention paid to the mids and highs is reflected in the Air4 Pro
The lower frequencies are, as always, accentuated, but unlike the Life and Capsule3 Pro, it isn't the point of emphasis. Instead, it's a slightly tighter, better textured bass response that doesn't lose that 'subwoofer'-style sound altogether, but it makes for a nicer balanced bass that is faster and doesn't bleed into the mids quite as much. It's less muddy and less boomy than pretty much every previous SoundPEATS release, but the bass doesn't sound disattached, and male vocals have a more balanced, less thunderous nature to them. Still, there is a subbass growl, and whilst the balance is definitely better, I still had to tweak the EQ to my preferred sound, which I'll share below.
The lower mids are also cleaner and leaner. The balance with the upper mids has changed, with the warm, thick sound of the Capsule3 Pro ditched in favour of a more forward upper midrange. As a result, both male and female vocals are a bit clearer, and there's better separation between the bass and low mid range. The more-forward vocal representation gives much more presence to tracks compared with the Mini Pro HS and Capsule3 Pro, but the improved balance means you're getting a more energetic sound without the buds sounding fatiguing.
I think SoundPEATS were hoping to move away from their historical v-shape sound even further by improving the midrange performance whilst still dealing with the driver and transmission constraints, and I think they've achieved that here. Vocals are definitely hotter than previous releases, but for me it's a welcome improvement over their most recent sound, which could feel a bit muffled from a vocal perspective.
Even accounting for the pinna gain at 8k, the trebles are crispier too. This balances really nicely with the tighter bass on pop and house tracks, because you're getting a bit more attack to kick drums giving them more punch and definition.
Like many releases in the sub $100 category, it isn't the most resolving sound. The staging is medium width, medium depth, but you can open up the sound a little with the following tweaks:
20Hz: +1
100Hz: +1
150Hz: 0
320Hz: -1
500Hz: -1
800Hz: 0
2.5kHz: +2
5.5kHz: +3
12kHz: +3
The out of the box sound on the Air4 Pro is far nicer than the Air3 Pro, and it's more detailed and more enjoyable than the Capsule3 Pro. With a few tweaks, you can adjust it to your personal preference using the EQ in the SoundPEATS app too.
Call Quality
The Air4 Pro claim 'crystal-clear call quality with AptX voice' - a Qualcomm-native technology as part of the Snapdragon Sound suite of features, which supports a 32kHz sampling rate and 16kHz flat frequency response. In other words, there's more bandwidth to allow your voice to sound a bit richer, and your voice is meant to sound less peaky and sibilant. This, combined with their environmental noise reduction, should bring better call quality than we've seen previously.
And experience with AptX-voice supported earbuds has indeed been very positive so far. Both the Edifier W220T and QCY T18 performed exceptionally well, and the Earfun Air Pro 3 didn't do too badly either on my 2023 Indoor and Outdoor comparison videos, so I was expecting another good performance here, and I wasn't too disappointed.
The Air4 Pro perform very well on outdoor calls in medium-busy environments, where you're perhaps walking through town with a bit of traffic noise and moderate environmental sound. Your voice comes through very clearly with great weight and tone. Introduce more environmental sound, and it doesn't remove the sound altogether, but it reduces the prominence of it whilst retaining good weight. You'll notice the definition in your voice softening a little, but I'm OK with that as you still sound very coherent. Introduce wind into the scene and you'll definitelty notice the odd gust as the algorithm adjusts to cope, but overall it's a strong performer outdoors, improving from the already pretty decent Capsule3 Pro.
In busy indoor scenes, it's a similar story, without being quite as effective. In my coffee shop tests, the ambient noise is dulled to a very distant sound, with indistinct chatter becoming, well, even less distinct! Again, the weight of your voice is retained and again the sharpness is softened a little. It isn't a revolutionary performance on calls, but it's good for the money, and an improvement from previous releases.
Features
The Air4 Pro have a host of codecs - AptX-Lossless, AptX-Adaptive, AptX, AAC & SBC. This makes them a great choice if you own a Snapdragon-based Android phone in particular, but if you own a Google Pixel or older phone, you'll still benefit from the presence of AptX. If you're lucky enough to have a newer Snapdragon phone, you'll definitely enjoy the solid latency performance - with gaming mode activated, the Air4 perform well on casual games, only falling a shade short on first-person shooters. Along with the Air4 and Air3 Pro, this is SoundPEATS' best gaming performance so far.
Multipoint is adequate. It's a bit of a faff to set it up (you need to disconnect from your primary device, then connect to the secondary, then reconnect to the primary) and to initiate you need to pause the primary device and the secondary device plays a second or two later. However, if you then pause the secondary device, playback does not resume on the primary device - I found I had to disconnect and reconnect again. There's no ability to see which devices are connected in the app, unlike the Realme/Oppo/OnePlus range, which is a shame - you may find yourself (like I did) hearing the 'Connected' voice prompt twice and wondering what else you're connected to!
There's no quick charge and no wireless charging, but SoundPEATS have re-introduced in-ear detection, and it works ok-ish. There's no selectable mode like you get with 1More for example, who give you the ability to choose between single ear or both ears, pause or pause/play, and it could be a bit random at times, but you can always switch it off if you find it annoying.
The SoundPEATS app is one we've discussed many times before, and having prioritised stability over features, is reasonably mature albeit a bit lacking. Adaptive EQ is back (and again, didn't really work for me). In case you haven't seen it, it's similar to Soundcore's 'Hear ID', with tones generated at different frequencies, requiring you to tap the screen when you hear something. At the end, you get a hearing curve customised to your hearing, but the reality is less exciting - stick to the equalisers and custom EQ.
The custom EQ section is very useful, with ten bands. It isn't parametric, but it does seem to give you the most customisation at the points where you probably need it the most. If you're on Android, you always have Wavelet to fall back on if you don't want to use the app.
The app also gives you the ability to toggle ANC and gaming mode, and you can also switch off touch controls altogether. It doesn't, as mentioned in the ergonomics section, give you the ability to customise controls, which is a little annoying and is perhaps something SoundPEATS should be looking to introduce sooner rather later, since even budget brands like Baseus and QCY can offer this now.
Bluetooth version is 5.3, and when connected to my Sony Xperia 1 IV I got an impressive 15m line of sight - a strong connection performance. Outdoors, even in congested areas, the Air4 seemingly prioritise connection, dropping the quality as opposed to intermittent dropouts when you try and push them to their distance limits.
One problem I did have with the Air4 Pro was compatibility. They wouldn't connect to one of my Windows 11 PC's, and to confuse matters further I had no issue connecting them to the same PC when I dual-booted Ubuntu. It's not a Windows issue because they connected to my laptop without a problem. I also had a few occasional glitches where the 'This device supports Snapdragon Sound' message you get on Android when you connect for the first time would flash up periodically, suggesting random disconnections, although these disconnections were never long enough to interrupt the music. I'm hoping we see a firmware update from SoundPEATS remedying this - alternatively I may have a duff set, let's see what feedback is like from the market.
Battery Life
Battery life has, on paper, not really improved from the Air3 Pro. The headline figure of 6.5 hours with ANC off is reasonably accurate, not least because they are quite loud and don't require the buds being pushed much more beyond 60-70% volume.
Second time around, I tested them in the office, with multipoint connecting me to my phone (using AptX-Adaptive at 96k) and laptop at the same time, and mixing watching YouTube videos with Teams calls and listening to a podcast in the gym, with ANC on the whole time. That time I got just over 4 hours before the 'Battery Low' message appeared, at which point one bud died immediately - so that's actually better than advertised, although I think if I'd been more active with them (i.e. using them constantly rather than intermittently) then you could probably chop 15-30 minutes extra from that. So overall, not terrible, but not great really - especially when you consider you can get much better battery performance from something like the Earfun Air Pro 3 - an inferior-sounding, but same chipset device.
It takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, and that gives you an additional 19 hours (total 26 hours with ANC off), but with ANC on you're talking a total of around 17-18 hours. That's pretty low compared to the EarFun Air Pro 3 (which use the same SoC), and whilst it is comparable to other Snapdragon Sound ANC buds - the likes of Final ZE8000 and Edifier NeoBuds S, for example, those models have a lot more technology to haul around. So overall, a bit of a disappointment from that perspective.
Summary
If you're assessing the Air4 Pro in isolation, SoundPEATS have done a great job of bringing a convincing budget AirPod Pro 2 alternative to the market that ticks a lot of boxes. The sound is enjoyable, ANC is excellent, calls are solid, and they're equipped with the latest technology that ensures you can maximise performance, particularly with newer Android Qualcomm-based devices, today and probably any time in the foreseeable future. They've included useful features like in-ear detection and Multipoint, and their app works on both Android and iOS, giving you lots of control over the EQ. Pretty, pretty, pretty good!
By the same token, SoundPEATS release a lot of products over the course of a year, and we're still waiting for some basic features like Quick Charge and customisable controls to be introduced. For me, acknowledging the need to include these fundamentals is key if SoundPEATS want to truly make a statement to that mid-tier market. Boxing off these basics and improving battery life should be high on the SoundPEATS agenda. Even so, overall, it's a strong release from SoundPEATS, and a big improvement over the Air3 Pro - highly recommended!
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
SoundPEATS Air4
SoundPEATS Engine4
SoundPEATS RunFree Lite
SoundPEATS Life Classic
SoundPEATS Opera05
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro
SoundPEATS H2
SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini
SoundPEATS Air3
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2
SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS T2
SoundPEATS Sonic
About SoundPEATS:
SoundPEATS seem to have become an overnight sensation, wiping up a large portion of budget TWS earbud market share with a business model that has served them (and Anker before them) exceptionally well - good distribution channels (via Amazon), good support, a catchy name and product that performs well at a very competitive price point. In reality, they have been around a long time - whilst Shenzhen SoundSOUL IT Co LTD is a different trading name to Ginto E-Commerce, they share the same business address (including room number) as them - you may know their brand name better as Dudios. With Dudios not sounding quite so cool as Soundpeats, maybe the brand transition has been instrumental in their success, but having been around since 2010 and patents in Bluetooth tech stretching back to 2015, they are not the plucky upstarts that some may think - they know their stuff, have a great network of contacts, and now a very solid brand in Europe, and deservedly so.
The thing that sets SoundPEATS apart from other vendors, and makes them my favourite budget earbud vendor, is that they are completely transparent over their components. Whether they use Realtek, Qualcomm or Airoha chips in their buds, they are totally open about it, and as a reviewer this really helps, because whilst I have, and do, dismantle buds to check the way that certain things have been implemented (such as the power management, mems mics, etc) and I really don't like having to do it with every set of earbuds, because they then become unusable.
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Model: SoundPEATS Air4 Pro
Price: £79.99 (Currently £63.99 at Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC113
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: SoundPEATS
- Model: Air4 Pro
- Driver: 13mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3071
- Mic: 6 mic ENC & AptX Voice
- ANC: Yes - Adaptive up to 45dB
- Codecs: AptX Lossless, AptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- In-Ear Detection: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 4.53g
- Earbud Dimensions: 34mm stem length
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 39.95g
- Case Dimensions: 64mm {maximum} (width) x 48mm (height) x 24mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 330mAh
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 90 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 6.5 hours (ANC off) 4 hours (ANC on)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 26 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX4
- Firmware Version Tested: V0.1.1
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
6 x Eartip Pairs (SML)
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
We knew this was coming, probably before SoundPEATS did! The Air4 Pro is here - SoundPEATS' iterative update to their Air3 Pro, a popular model, but it's fair to say probably not my favourite due to its slightly bloated sound signature, average call quality and rather weak ANC. Put it this way - when the Capsule3 Pro arrived, I called it 'what the Air3 Pro should have been'!
SoundPEATS' product ranges seem to be based on the chipset these days, with the Air4 and Air4 Pro both following the Air3 and Air3 Pro in selecting Qualcomm as their SoC of choice. That brings pros and cons - instead of LDAC, you're handed Qualcomm's confusing smorgasbord of 'Snapdragon Sound' features - from AptX Lossless (which isn't actually lossless, and isn't actually a codec) to AptX Voice (which isn't selectable anywhere - you just have to 'trust' that you're getting it!). But despite these reservations - it does seem to the be the direction of travel for most major manufacturers right now, and the logical progression for SoundPEATS with this release.
But aside the codec questions - there are more important conundrums to answer, such as how do they sound? How is the ANC? How is call quality? What are the features like? I'll aim to answer all of these questions - read on for my thoughts on the Air4 Pro.
Unboxing
The unboxing is a straightforward but smart affair. SoundPEATS have upped their game since the release of the Air3 Deluxe HS, and this one follows a similar pattern, in a harder-wearing enclosure with the visuals on the front and key parameters on the back. Inside the pack, you're getting a USB A-C charge cable, user manual (in seven different languages) and tips in Small and Large to go with the factory fitted Medium.
Charge Case
The charge case is unmistakeably 'SoundPEATS'! In two-tone black/grey with pink-ish gold accents on the back and around the USB charge socket at the base, it bears more than a passing resemblance to the Air4 and Capsule 3 Pro cases. It's portable - at 64 x 48 x 24mm, it's around 15-20% smaller and lighter than the Capsule3 Pro case, weighing in at just under 40g.
The finish is nicer than the Capsule3 Pro and Air4 cases - the 'charcoal' effect looks better than the basic colour tone applied to the two former models, and they've also dialled down the amount of pink in the rose gold.
There's also a more contoured lip at the front of the lid to make the case easier to open with one hand. There's also a nice little cutout on the side that displays the 'Hear Your Imagination' tagline - I know some people think this stuff is a bit cheesy, but I quite like it - I think it gives the case a little more character without looking distatesful.
There's a reset button next to the type C charge socket, which you'll probably need if your phone is anything like mine when it comes to dealing with Qualcomm chip earbuds - a bit temperamental - which is surprising given it is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1! The case has hall switch mode, so it begins pairing the moment you open it, but if you want to reset the connection, holding the button down turns the LED on the front to white - it will flash a few times and then you're into pairing mode. The LED otherwise indicates your remaining battery life - Green means the case has above 50%, Yellow is between 49 and 10%, and if it's Red you'd better find a charger sharpish! Unfortunately, there's no Wireless Charging and no Quick Charge - it's around 90 minutes for a full charge.
It's a nice looking charge case that has improved portability, feels a bit more robust, and the added design features mitigate the generic-ness you would sense with some of their older cases. Here you see it again alongside the Capsule3 Pro case (left) and Air4 case (right), and the smaller profile compared with the Capsule3 Pro case is particularly evident here.
Ergonomics
The design of the Air4 Pro has seen only micro evolutions since the Air3 Pro. At 34mm, the stem length has edged ever-so-slightly longer, and the stem width is a bit thinner, but these are things you would probably only notice if you had each model side by side.
The other minor differences include the look of the inside of the bud, which is now shiny rather than matte (same as the Air4).
The touch control sensor area is very slightly larger than the Capsule3 Pro and Air3 Pro, but otherwise it's only very minor cosmetic differences. Here you see it alongside the Capsule3 Pro, Clear and Air4 (left to right). You'd be hard pushed picking it out of an identity parade without knowing its intimate details!
Touch controls have not changed from previous SoundPEATS 'ANC' releases - you've got volume control (single taps) but there's no option to cycle tracks back. The default controls with SoundPEATS are good, but the inability to be able to customise the controls to your personal preference is long overdue remediation. The sensors are responsive though, and aren't as prone to accidental touches as their semi-in-ear options.
The Air4 Pro, like their previous models, are very comfortable. The nozzles are oval-shaped, but there's enough of a gradient on the inner side to ensure they sit nicely in your ears initiating barely any fatigue when used over a prolonged period of time. They are marginally heavier than the Air3 Pro, but I used them in the gym and even on the treadmill - the stability is very good, but their assumed IPX4 rating means whilst getting caught in the rain won't cause them any problems, you probably shouldn't consider extreme sports with them.
I found the Air4 Pro absolutely fine for using over prolonged periods - they don't feel too invasive due to the shallow nozzle, and they're comfortable and very stable for in-ear stem designs too.
ANC
ANC on the Air4 Pro is the star of the show, and it's probably SoundPEATS strongest performer yet in this department. The Air4 Pro pretty much obliterate fans and air conditioning units indoors, and keyboard taps are also surprisingly a little more muffled. They are also the most proficient SoundPEATS release at dealing with traffic and road noises when you're out and about. You'll still hear something, but it's reduced to a higher frequency, white noise-style sound. Even with voices close-by, they are subdued substantially, and with music playing they're practically inaudible.
Transparency mode is also very good, although it doesn't feel like as big a stride forward as the ANC level. It's very natural sounding - if people are talking to you close-by, you'll be able to hear every word of the conversation, but if someone is talking to you 10-15m away in a busy environment, you may have to guess a few words. There's certainly no obvious lispiness to voices that you get with some transparency modes - everything sounds pretty much as it should.
If I'm scoring ANC on previous models based on Q4 2023 standards, I'd rate them as follows:
Air 4 Pro - 8/10
Mini Pro HS - 7.2/10
Capsule3 Pro - 7/10
Air 3 Pro - 6.5/10
Life - 5.5/10
You can hear a sample of their ANC on my 'Best under $100' video:
Audio & Sound Signature
SoundPEATS boast of their support for Snapdragon Sound, which amongst other things ensures CD-quality lossless(ish) sound, with 16-bit, 44.1kHz transmission combining with their 13mm ultra-fine biological fiber, pure wood pulp fiber and PU diaphragm dynamic drivers to deliver a high quality audio experience. Phew!
Both of SoundPEATS new releases have gone with a slightly different sound signature to their previous 'house sound', and the audio delivery is quite convincing, and definitely an improvement from my perspective. Their 'SoundPEATS Classic' sound signature has evolved quite a bit over time, and the new iteration of less onus on bass and a little more attention paid to the mids and highs is reflected in the Air4 Pro
The lower frequencies are, as always, accentuated, but unlike the Life and Capsule3 Pro, it isn't the point of emphasis. Instead, it's a slightly tighter, better textured bass response that doesn't lose that 'subwoofer'-style sound altogether, but it makes for a nicer balanced bass that is faster and doesn't bleed into the mids quite as much. It's less muddy and less boomy than pretty much every previous SoundPEATS release, but the bass doesn't sound disattached, and male vocals have a more balanced, less thunderous nature to them. Still, there is a subbass growl, and whilst the balance is definitely better, I still had to tweak the EQ to my preferred sound, which I'll share below.
The lower mids are also cleaner and leaner. The balance with the upper mids has changed, with the warm, thick sound of the Capsule3 Pro ditched in favour of a more forward upper midrange. As a result, both male and female vocals are a bit clearer, and there's better separation between the bass and low mid range. The more-forward vocal representation gives much more presence to tracks compared with the Mini Pro HS and Capsule3 Pro, but the improved balance means you're getting a more energetic sound without the buds sounding fatiguing.
I think SoundPEATS were hoping to move away from their historical v-shape sound even further by improving the midrange performance whilst still dealing with the driver and transmission constraints, and I think they've achieved that here. Vocals are definitely hotter than previous releases, but for me it's a welcome improvement over their most recent sound, which could feel a bit muffled from a vocal perspective.
Even accounting for the pinna gain at 8k, the trebles are crispier too. This balances really nicely with the tighter bass on pop and house tracks, because you're getting a bit more attack to kick drums giving them more punch and definition.
Like many releases in the sub $100 category, it isn't the most resolving sound. The staging is medium width, medium depth, but you can open up the sound a little with the following tweaks:
20Hz: +1
100Hz: +1
150Hz: 0
320Hz: -1
500Hz: -1
800Hz: 0
2.5kHz: +2
5.5kHz: +3
12kHz: +3
The out of the box sound on the Air4 Pro is far nicer than the Air3 Pro, and it's more detailed and more enjoyable than the Capsule3 Pro. With a few tweaks, you can adjust it to your personal preference using the EQ in the SoundPEATS app too.
Call Quality
The Air4 Pro claim 'crystal-clear call quality with AptX voice' - a Qualcomm-native technology as part of the Snapdragon Sound suite of features, which supports a 32kHz sampling rate and 16kHz flat frequency response. In other words, there's more bandwidth to allow your voice to sound a bit richer, and your voice is meant to sound less peaky and sibilant. This, combined with their environmental noise reduction, should bring better call quality than we've seen previously.
And experience with AptX-voice supported earbuds has indeed been very positive so far. Both the Edifier W220T and QCY T18 performed exceptionally well, and the Earfun Air Pro 3 didn't do too badly either on my 2023 Indoor and Outdoor comparison videos, so I was expecting another good performance here, and I wasn't too disappointed.
The Air4 Pro perform very well on outdoor calls in medium-busy environments, where you're perhaps walking through town with a bit of traffic noise and moderate environmental sound. Your voice comes through very clearly with great weight and tone. Introduce more environmental sound, and it doesn't remove the sound altogether, but it reduces the prominence of it whilst retaining good weight. You'll notice the definition in your voice softening a little, but I'm OK with that as you still sound very coherent. Introduce wind into the scene and you'll definitelty notice the odd gust as the algorithm adjusts to cope, but overall it's a strong performer outdoors, improving from the already pretty decent Capsule3 Pro.
In busy indoor scenes, it's a similar story, without being quite as effective. In my coffee shop tests, the ambient noise is dulled to a very distant sound, with indistinct chatter becoming, well, even less distinct! Again, the weight of your voice is retained and again the sharpness is softened a little. It isn't a revolutionary performance on calls, but it's good for the money, and an improvement from previous releases.
Features
The Air4 Pro have a host of codecs - AptX-Lossless, AptX-Adaptive, AptX, AAC & SBC. This makes them a great choice if you own a Snapdragon-based Android phone in particular, but if you own a Google Pixel or older phone, you'll still benefit from the presence of AptX. If you're lucky enough to have a newer Snapdragon phone, you'll definitely enjoy the solid latency performance - with gaming mode activated, the Air4 perform well on casual games, only falling a shade short on first-person shooters. Along with the Air4 and Air3 Pro, this is SoundPEATS' best gaming performance so far.
Multipoint is adequate. It's a bit of a faff to set it up (you need to disconnect from your primary device, then connect to the secondary, then reconnect to the primary) and to initiate you need to pause the primary device and the secondary device plays a second or two later. However, if you then pause the secondary device, playback does not resume on the primary device - I found I had to disconnect and reconnect again. There's no ability to see which devices are connected in the app, unlike the Realme/Oppo/OnePlus range, which is a shame - you may find yourself (like I did) hearing the 'Connected' voice prompt twice and wondering what else you're connected to!
There's no quick charge and no wireless charging, but SoundPEATS have re-introduced in-ear detection, and it works ok-ish. There's no selectable mode like you get with 1More for example, who give you the ability to choose between single ear or both ears, pause or pause/play, and it could be a bit random at times, but you can always switch it off if you find it annoying.
The SoundPEATS app is one we've discussed many times before, and having prioritised stability over features, is reasonably mature albeit a bit lacking. Adaptive EQ is back (and again, didn't really work for me). In case you haven't seen it, it's similar to Soundcore's 'Hear ID', with tones generated at different frequencies, requiring you to tap the screen when you hear something. At the end, you get a hearing curve customised to your hearing, but the reality is less exciting - stick to the equalisers and custom EQ.
The custom EQ section is very useful, with ten bands. It isn't parametric, but it does seem to give you the most customisation at the points where you probably need it the most. If you're on Android, you always have Wavelet to fall back on if you don't want to use the app.
The app also gives you the ability to toggle ANC and gaming mode, and you can also switch off touch controls altogether. It doesn't, as mentioned in the ergonomics section, give you the ability to customise controls, which is a little annoying and is perhaps something SoundPEATS should be looking to introduce sooner rather later, since even budget brands like Baseus and QCY can offer this now.
Bluetooth version is 5.3, and when connected to my Sony Xperia 1 IV I got an impressive 15m line of sight - a strong connection performance. Outdoors, even in congested areas, the Air4 seemingly prioritise connection, dropping the quality as opposed to intermittent dropouts when you try and push them to their distance limits.
One problem I did have with the Air4 Pro was compatibility. They wouldn't connect to one of my Windows 11 PC's, and to confuse matters further I had no issue connecting them to the same PC when I dual-booted Ubuntu. It's not a Windows issue because they connected to my laptop without a problem. I also had a few occasional glitches where the 'This device supports Snapdragon Sound' message you get on Android when you connect for the first time would flash up periodically, suggesting random disconnections, although these disconnections were never long enough to interrupt the music. I'm hoping we see a firmware update from SoundPEATS remedying this - alternatively I may have a duff set, let's see what feedback is like from the market.
Battery Life
Battery life has, on paper, not really improved from the Air3 Pro. The headline figure of 6.5 hours with ANC off is reasonably accurate, not least because they are quite loud and don't require the buds being pushed much more beyond 60-70% volume.
Second time around, I tested them in the office, with multipoint connecting me to my phone (using AptX-Adaptive at 96k) and laptop at the same time, and mixing watching YouTube videos with Teams calls and listening to a podcast in the gym, with ANC on the whole time. That time I got just over 4 hours before the 'Battery Low' message appeared, at which point one bud died immediately - so that's actually better than advertised, although I think if I'd been more active with them (i.e. using them constantly rather than intermittently) then you could probably chop 15-30 minutes extra from that. So overall, not terrible, but not great really - especially when you consider you can get much better battery performance from something like the Earfun Air Pro 3 - an inferior-sounding, but same chipset device.
It takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, and that gives you an additional 19 hours (total 26 hours with ANC off), but with ANC on you're talking a total of around 17-18 hours. That's pretty low compared to the EarFun Air Pro 3 (which use the same SoC), and whilst it is comparable to other Snapdragon Sound ANC buds - the likes of Final ZE8000 and Edifier NeoBuds S, for example, those models have a lot more technology to haul around. So overall, a bit of a disappointment from that perspective.
Summary
If you're assessing the Air4 Pro in isolation, SoundPEATS have done a great job of bringing a convincing budget AirPod Pro 2 alternative to the market that ticks a lot of boxes. The sound is enjoyable, ANC is excellent, calls are solid, and they're equipped with the latest technology that ensures you can maximise performance, particularly with newer Android Qualcomm-based devices, today and probably any time in the foreseeable future. They've included useful features like in-ear detection and Multipoint, and their app works on both Android and iOS, giving you lots of control over the EQ. Pretty, pretty, pretty good!
By the same token, SoundPEATS release a lot of products over the course of a year, and we're still waiting for some basic features like Quick Charge and customisable controls to be introduced. For me, acknowledging the need to include these fundamentals is key if SoundPEATS want to truly make a statement to that mid-tier market. Boxing off these basics and improving battery life should be high on the SoundPEATS agenda. Even so, overall, it's a strong release from SoundPEATS, and a big improvement over the Air3 Pro - highly recommended!
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
SoundPEATS Air4
SoundPEATS Engine4
SoundPEATS RunFree Lite
SoundPEATS Life Classic
SoundPEATS Opera05
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro
SoundPEATS H2
SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini
SoundPEATS Air3
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2
SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS T2
SoundPEATS Sonic
About SoundPEATS:
SoundPEATS seem to have become an overnight sensation, wiping up a large portion of budget TWS earbud market share with a business model that has served them (and Anker before them) exceptionally well - good distribution channels (via Amazon), good support, a catchy name and product that performs well at a very competitive price point. In reality, they have been around a long time - whilst Shenzhen SoundSOUL IT Co LTD is a different trading name to Ginto E-Commerce, they share the same business address (including room number) as them - you may know their brand name better as Dudios. With Dudios not sounding quite so cool as Soundpeats, maybe the brand transition has been instrumental in their success, but having been around since 2010 and patents in Bluetooth tech stretching back to 2015, they are not the plucky upstarts that some may think - they know their stuff, have a great network of contacts, and now a very solid brand in Europe, and deservedly so.
The thing that sets SoundPEATS apart from other vendors, and makes them my favourite budget earbud vendor, is that they are completely transparent over their components. Whether they use Realtek, Qualcomm or Airoha chips in their buds, they are totally open about it, and as a reviewer this really helps, because whilst I have, and do, dismantle buds to check the way that certain things have been implemented (such as the power management, mems mics, etc) and I really don't like having to do it with every set of earbuds, because they then become unusable.
Hernan
Very good review! Thanks!
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Socials: Biolink
Model: 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50
Price: £149.99 (currently £127.99 Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC112
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x 1More Carry Case
4 x Sets of 'buffer' earloops (S/M/L & 'cover')
1 x User Manual
1 x QR for tech support
YouTube Review:
Introduction
2023 has definitely been the year of the sports wearable earbud, with manufacturers scrambling to bring the latest tech to their open-ear, air conduction and bone conduction products. Slightly late to the party is 1More, with two releases - the S30 and S50 - and the latter is what we are taking a look at today.
The S50 are the higher-priced of the two, retailing at around £127 (MSRP £150). They are towards the top end of this category in terms of cost, but with an impressive feature-set and intriguing design, I was very keen to see what they were like. Optimising sound, style and comfort for vendors in this space has been a challenge, with few managing to combine those facets sufficiently to offer an outright leader. Until now!
I won't spoil the review at this early stage too much - but the 1More Fit Open S50 are the most convincing sports earbud to date. Read on for my thoughts on why they have obliterated the competition by not only getting the basics right, but delivering a string of must-have's and desirables that more than justify their premium price tag.
Unboxing
When you're priced above $100, getting the unboxing experience right becomes arguably infinitely more important. Nobody wants to give a cheap tatty box as a gift, and whilst a smart unboxing won't trump how they sound, it's always nice to see the manufacturer paying attention to these areas. The 1More Fit comes in an impressive, large outer enclosure that screams 'no expense spared' - there's some images of the product on the front, and a full synopsis of the features and parameters on the back.
This isn't the first time I've reviewed a 1More product, and it isn't the first time I've seen these beautiful sketches of the product alongside some of the headline features. The way the box folds out to reveal this is typical of the effort and care that has gone into making the unboxing experience as extravagant as possible.
In terms of accessories, you're getting a little more than the usual USB cable and a manual. Because of the unique way that the S50 wear, you've got a variety of different 'tip-ish' fittings that can (but aren't necessary to) attach to the earbud, in small, medium and large. There's also a small ring adapter that basically substitutes for a full adapter, and allows you to wear them a little looser whilst still protecting the driver surround.
1More have also included a small carry bag, and this is ideal for carrying the tips in. If, like me, you end up liking at least two of the tip configurations, then this is a nice solution to ensure you can swap them over if you need to, wherever you are. There's also a USB A to C charge cable, a QR code to allow you to register the product, and a manual. The user guide is in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Russian, and makes use of diagrams and simple explanations to good effect.
Charge Case
Getting the charge case right for buds of this style is not something manufacturers have found easy, but 1More seem to have cracked it with an attractive-looking, but also portable case that features hall-switch mode, fast charge and wireless charging, as well as having an LED on the front to denote charge level.
The case is quite lightweight for its size - weighing just over 80g fully loaded - and measuring 86mm x 30mm x 565mm. It's one of the few cases that I can actually carry whilst out for a run - fitting in the front pocket of the vest I wear whilst out jogging.
It's finished in a light silver matte colour that shimmers nicely in the sunlight. There's also a matte black version available. At the front, the LED tells you roughly how much charge is remaining in the case - green means more than 80%, amber is 20-80%, red is below 20%. The case takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, but offers up to 2 hours playback for the earbuds from just 5 minutes plugged in. There's a USB socket (bevelled) at the back, and the case also supports Qi wireless charging, taking a bit longer to fully charge than wired, as is expected.
The case is straightforward enough to open - flip the lid at the front - and once inside you see more examples of the intelligent design. Each side bud sits in the corresponding side of the case with the control units sat together in the middle. There's a nice magnetic pull - not too strong but not too loose - pulling the buds in, and holding them firmly in place. The hinge has good strength to it too - it won't be slamming shut in the wind.
There's a reset pairing button in the centre. With both buds in the case, if you hold this down for 8 seconds, that will reset the pairing history. You can also triple tap this button, again with the buds in the case, to revert back from single to dual mode.
Ergonomics and Design
Open-ear designs like the S50 have become especially popular during 2023 as consumers have increasingly sought to separate out their use cases. IPX7 on every set of earbuds on the market isn't feasible, for example, but you would still want that peace of mind in certain scenarios - such as when you're out for a long walk exposed to the elements for prolonged periods of time, or even doing extreme sports. This has seen a rise in models that support this increased IPX rating, but are also able to offer other features that work especially well in this kind of bud, such as long battery life and an ergonomic design that combines comfort, stability and the capability to hear your surroundings clearly without fumbling around to activate ambient mode.
Typically, these sorts of designs can be a little cumbersome, but the S50 is easily one of the most attractive-looking open ear sets I've see yet. In two-tone grey/silver, with the bottom areas in brush metallic to match the case, you've got the 1More logo across the side, and it's here that the touch controls are activated. Usually, I'm not a fan of touch controls on open ear buds, but on this model they work - 1More have removed single touch, which pretty much negates accidental touches altogether, and double-tap performs call functions as well as pausing and playing your audio. Triple tap is reserved for voice control, but this can be adjusted via the 1More app - and yes, you can choose for one of the configurations to give you volume control.
The memory wire that comprises the ear hook is soft and fairly malleable, and although you don't have a huge amount of adjustment with it, there's no pinch against the skin, and it's thin enough that it partners without any issues with glasses too.
Flip it around and you see there's a wear detection sensor on each earbud, and above you'll notice that I have fitted one of the 'tip-ish' ear tips that comes with the S50. These tips are not designed to go inside your ear canal in the way silicone tips do with IEM's, instead they are designed to negate and disperse the pressure of hard plastic against your ear that pretty much every other manufacturer has failed to accommodate.
I'm beta testing another manufacturers product currently, and I simply can't get on with it because the plastic where the driver expels is resting against my tragus and causing discomfort. It's these problems that 1More has overcome with this unique fitting that reminds me a little of when they solved the problem of half-in-ear buds causing discomfort with their original Comfobuds.
The tip is shaped to rest against your antihelix with a softer material, and give you a bit more stability. I found this to ensure the buds are extremely comfortable and stable in pretty much all environments.
Here you can see I tested the S50 out on the bike, with helmet and sunglasses. Absolutely no issues whatsoever - in fact, they are probably the most comfortable I've tried yet for cycling, and the tip actually serves another purpose here - preventing bounce back from the wind, which on other buds has made for a slightly frustrating experience.
Their IPX7 rating is pretty much best-in-class, allowing you to wear the buds in all conditions without having to worry about moisture eroding the life of the product.
The slim profile of the buds also means they are perfectly fine to use in the gym - for weights, they aren't going to get knocked out when you're doing shoulder press, for HIIT they stay nice and firm regardless of your position, and it's a similar thing with treadmill and spin. The 'no-pinch' ear hooks keep the buds in place with absolutely no discomfort at all.
The S50 are super-comfortable open ear buds, and they aren't too protrusive to look at either. I even used the S50 to listen to podcasts whilst falling asleep. You can switch the tips out for the slim rings, and this will allow to lie down on your side without the controls being activated or having any discomfort. The only drawback is the relatively high minimum volume level, which may prove to be a little too loud for some in this kind of scenario.
Audio & Sound Signature
Four-time Grammy Award winner Luca Bignardi has been 1More's long-term partner, assisting in tuning many of their key product releases over the years, and his magic touch is evident here again with the S50 punching above their weight for earbuds of this style.
Sound on the S50 is quite balanced for open ear buds, and the 'hifi-grade diamond-like carbon diaphragm' & PurePower 13.6mm dynamic drivers have been tuned with clarity and longevity in mind. This translates into a pleasant, moreish audio experience that has very quickly become my go-to for running and cycling, where I need good detail, sufficient volume and no excessive coarseness or sibilance.
Taking a look at the bass first, it is quite lean in the subbass in particular as you would expect. At 50-150Hz you've got a tight bass response that gives you a bit of body without ever sounding bloated or distorted. As far as open ear buds are concerned, what they lack in bass quantity they make up in bass quality - when listening to pop, house and techno, there's plenty of punch to kick drums and sufficient weight to basslines to prevent tracks sounding too thin or limp. With tracks with lots of midbass - bass guitars, etc., the sound is more smooth than excessively energetic. I tested with a variety of styles from the likes of Tears for Fears and other 80's rock bands, as well as the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Eric Clapton, and with all it was a similar experience - good harmonics to lower frequencies, and an articulate sound kept lean to avoid distortion and bleed. This translates well into open ear style, where you'll probably need high volumes at times to counteract your surroundings.
Move into the midrange and this is probably where the S50 shine the most. Pianos and guitars sound realistic, and vocals pop out sufficiently to place emphasis on them without ever sounding shrill or harsh. Male vocals separate out from instruments nicely. Female vocals still retain 'gaspy' qualities, and come to the fore more prominently than male vocals. The upper mids are quite elevated, and whilst the peak at 4.5k is probably accentuated due to pinna gain, the bigger picture is still valid, with vocals and instruments in those frequencies well represented with plenty of presence.
The trebles aren't ignored either. There's great texture to percussion in particular - snares, tams and castanets are audible, distinguishable, natural-sounding and retrievable. Claps can sound a shade subdued, but again this benefits the design because it prevents them sounding too harsh or peaky but at the same time retains definition. There's lots of air to the sound, making tracks sound very spacious.
The staging is very good considering the form factor - they have nice width with better-than-average depth and height. Imaging is comfortably the best of this form factor I've tried so far.
Comparing the sound to some other options on the market, the S50 sounds more natural and less fatiguing than the Soundcore Aerofit Pro. The Aerofit Pro can sound rather shrill with vocals on some tracks, and whilst the bass has a decent thud to it, there's not much in the way of detail. The S50 are cleaner and clearer.
Call Quality
Dealing with environmental noise on calls is another area where the S50 excel. They use a combination of 4 high-performance MEMS microphones and AI environmental noise reduction algorithms which they claim are capable of intelligently reducing ambient sound around you of up to 30dB.
In my busy indoor tests, the algorithm copes with indistinct chatter and mid-frequency sounds pretty well, with only particularly loud sounds overtaking your own voice, which comes through pretty much loud and clear, with decent weight.
Outdoors, the S50 are particularly strong. I tested the S50 first in general outdoor scenes where you've got a mixture of traffic and road sounds, as well as the elements, and it handled those sounds effortlessly. I also took them to a wind trap to see how they coped with that, and again it was an exemplary performance - of course some wind gets through, but not enough to derail your call.
If you're out for a run, hike or bike ride, taking a call with the S50 is definitely doable.
Connectivity and Other Features
Ok, where do we start! The S50 have lots of really nice additional features, and these are made possible thanks to the use of the newest in the range of Airoha chipsets, the AB1562E. This is a Bluetooth 5.3-supported chipset, and it provides rock solid connectivity. I had the buds connected to both my phone and laptop at work, and forgot I was connected to the laptop at one point (despite the fact I was connected to a teams call!). I wandered over to the water machine - a good 20m away at the other side of the office - and was still connected (just!) with the signal only starting to degrade as I approached it. Impressive stuff.
Other features are mostly delivered hand-in-hand with the 1MORE MUSIC app, which is tidy and easy to use application that doesn't try and do too much, but what it does, it does well. Also, there's no requirement for a username and password - a big benefit IMO.
Firstly, the app allows you to see the battery life of both the case and buds together on the main screen. It then gives you 7 options to select from:
Multipoint is very good on this model. It took me a little while to get both devices to connect, but once I did, switching between devices was extremely quick (almost instant). The earbuds are not multipoint enabled from the factory, so this is something you'll have to activate yourself.
Battery Life
Battery life on the S50 is not quite at the marathon levels of some open-ear offerings, but it's still excellent by earbud standards. In my own independent testing, I almost hit the 13 hour mark - this included a few calls and testing out low latency mode (two things that typically erode battery life quite a bit) as well as initiating and using Dual-Device connection. For the average user, 13 hours is going to be more than enough, and the ability to get an additional two hours playtime from 5 minutes of charge is a handy feature that shouldn't be underestimated.
The case can be charged wirelessly, and a full charge can be fulfilled in just 90 minutes. With a full charge, the case is capable of delivering an additional two charges - taking the total battery life to 38 hours. Whilst this isn't topping out in its category, it's still more than enough for the average user.
Summary
Having spent most of 2023 reviewing sports earbuds, it's fitting that as we approach the time of year where I'm probably going to be out running and cycling less, I find a model that finally ticks all of the boxes!! The S50 delivers both on paper and in the real world, doing the basics exceptionally well and delivering useful features that aren't simply a 'lift and shift' of the capabilities of the chip.
The sound is probably as good as it gets from an open-ear design. The lower frequencies are lean and clean and the imaging is great. For calls, they are probably the best of this style I've tested, handling environmental sound effortlessly thanks to the AI ENC and 4-mic combo. The comfort and ergonomics are great, and the case isn't too big or bulky. You've got long battery life, quick charge and Qi wireless charging too.
The additional features, such as multipoint and in-ear detection, are handy, and the app is also a trouble-free experience too. That they support moisture resistance up to IPX7 is a testament to the build quality, but also an indicator of the variety of use cases you should be able to find for the S50 - from being able to hear your surroundings in offices or coffee shops all the way through to weekend hikes, rough camping and maybe even to accompany you doing Tough Mudder.....you can see why these kind of earbuds are so important to me!
The S50 are by no means the cheapest open-ear design on the market, but they are the first where I've been genuinely satisfied with the whole package. An excellent return for 1More!
Other 1More Regancipher Reviews:
ComfoBuds 2
Comfobuds Pro
Comfobuds
Colorbuds
Omthing Airfree
Stylish
About 1More:
In the past years, as a professional headphones brand, 1MORE has won many international awards, including 38 International Design Awards (such as iDEA, Red Dot Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF Design Awards and etc.), 12 CES Awards, 3 EHA Awards and 19 VGP Awards.
In addition, many of 1MORE’s headphones have been receiving awards from top-tier media outlets across the world and are being highly recommended by those editors who rigorously tested our products to ensure they meet the highest standards in the headphone market. These media include but are not limited to Forbes, Rolling Stone, WIRED, Digital Trends, CNET and more.
4-time Grammy Award-winning Sound Engineer Luca Bignardi uniquely tunes all of 1MORE’s headphones to deliver a precise representation of the artist’s intended sound.
1MORE has branches in the US, the UK and China. Our channels reach 40 countries and regions, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: 1More Fit Open Earbuds S50
Price: £149.99 (currently £127.99 Amazon UK)
Review Reference: RC112
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: 1More
- Model: EF906 S50
- Driver: 13.6mm Diamond-like Carbon Diaphragm & PurePower Driver
- Chipset: Airoha AB1562E
- Mic: 4 mic ENC
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: Yes - double and triple tap
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- In-Ear Detection: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 8.53g
- Earbud Dimensions: 50.68mm x 38.27mm x 20.26mm
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 80.10g
- Case Dimensions: 86mm {maximum} (width) x 30mm (height) x 56.5mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 500mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours playtime from 15 minutes chargetime
- Wireless Charging: Yes
- Charge Time: approx. 90 minutes (buds and case), 80 minutes (buds only)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 11 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 38 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX7
- Firmware Version Tested: V1.5.7
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x 1More Carry Case
4 x Sets of 'buffer' earloops (S/M/L & 'cover')
1 x User Manual
1 x QR for tech support
YouTube Review:
Introduction
2023 has definitely been the year of the sports wearable earbud, with manufacturers scrambling to bring the latest tech to their open-ear, air conduction and bone conduction products. Slightly late to the party is 1More, with two releases - the S30 and S50 - and the latter is what we are taking a look at today.
The S50 are the higher-priced of the two, retailing at around £127 (MSRP £150). They are towards the top end of this category in terms of cost, but with an impressive feature-set and intriguing design, I was very keen to see what they were like. Optimising sound, style and comfort for vendors in this space has been a challenge, with few managing to combine those facets sufficiently to offer an outright leader. Until now!
I won't spoil the review at this early stage too much - but the 1More Fit Open S50 are the most convincing sports earbud to date. Read on for my thoughts on why they have obliterated the competition by not only getting the basics right, but delivering a string of must-have's and desirables that more than justify their premium price tag.
Unboxing
When you're priced above $100, getting the unboxing experience right becomes arguably infinitely more important. Nobody wants to give a cheap tatty box as a gift, and whilst a smart unboxing won't trump how they sound, it's always nice to see the manufacturer paying attention to these areas. The 1More Fit comes in an impressive, large outer enclosure that screams 'no expense spared' - there's some images of the product on the front, and a full synopsis of the features and parameters on the back.
This isn't the first time I've reviewed a 1More product, and it isn't the first time I've seen these beautiful sketches of the product alongside some of the headline features. The way the box folds out to reveal this is typical of the effort and care that has gone into making the unboxing experience as extravagant as possible.
In terms of accessories, you're getting a little more than the usual USB cable and a manual. Because of the unique way that the S50 wear, you've got a variety of different 'tip-ish' fittings that can (but aren't necessary to) attach to the earbud, in small, medium and large. There's also a small ring adapter that basically substitutes for a full adapter, and allows you to wear them a little looser whilst still protecting the driver surround.
1More have also included a small carry bag, and this is ideal for carrying the tips in. If, like me, you end up liking at least two of the tip configurations, then this is a nice solution to ensure you can swap them over if you need to, wherever you are. There's also a USB A to C charge cable, a QR code to allow you to register the product, and a manual. The user guide is in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Russian, and makes use of diagrams and simple explanations to good effect.
Charge Case
Getting the charge case right for buds of this style is not something manufacturers have found easy, but 1More seem to have cracked it with an attractive-looking, but also portable case that features hall-switch mode, fast charge and wireless charging, as well as having an LED on the front to denote charge level.
The case is quite lightweight for its size - weighing just over 80g fully loaded - and measuring 86mm x 30mm x 565mm. It's one of the few cases that I can actually carry whilst out for a run - fitting in the front pocket of the vest I wear whilst out jogging.
It's finished in a light silver matte colour that shimmers nicely in the sunlight. There's also a matte black version available. At the front, the LED tells you roughly how much charge is remaining in the case - green means more than 80%, amber is 20-80%, red is below 20%. The case takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, but offers up to 2 hours playback for the earbuds from just 5 minutes plugged in. There's a USB socket (bevelled) at the back, and the case also supports Qi wireless charging, taking a bit longer to fully charge than wired, as is expected.
The case is straightforward enough to open - flip the lid at the front - and once inside you see more examples of the intelligent design. Each side bud sits in the corresponding side of the case with the control units sat together in the middle. There's a nice magnetic pull - not too strong but not too loose - pulling the buds in, and holding them firmly in place. The hinge has good strength to it too - it won't be slamming shut in the wind.
There's a reset pairing button in the centre. With both buds in the case, if you hold this down for 8 seconds, that will reset the pairing history. You can also triple tap this button, again with the buds in the case, to revert back from single to dual mode.
Ergonomics and Design
Open-ear designs like the S50 have become especially popular during 2023 as consumers have increasingly sought to separate out their use cases. IPX7 on every set of earbuds on the market isn't feasible, for example, but you would still want that peace of mind in certain scenarios - such as when you're out for a long walk exposed to the elements for prolonged periods of time, or even doing extreme sports. This has seen a rise in models that support this increased IPX rating, but are also able to offer other features that work especially well in this kind of bud, such as long battery life and an ergonomic design that combines comfort, stability and the capability to hear your surroundings clearly without fumbling around to activate ambient mode.
Typically, these sorts of designs can be a little cumbersome, but the S50 is easily one of the most attractive-looking open ear sets I've see yet. In two-tone grey/silver, with the bottom areas in brush metallic to match the case, you've got the 1More logo across the side, and it's here that the touch controls are activated. Usually, I'm not a fan of touch controls on open ear buds, but on this model they work - 1More have removed single touch, which pretty much negates accidental touches altogether, and double-tap performs call functions as well as pausing and playing your audio. Triple tap is reserved for voice control, but this can be adjusted via the 1More app - and yes, you can choose for one of the configurations to give you volume control.
The memory wire that comprises the ear hook is soft and fairly malleable, and although you don't have a huge amount of adjustment with it, there's no pinch against the skin, and it's thin enough that it partners without any issues with glasses too.
Flip it around and you see there's a wear detection sensor on each earbud, and above you'll notice that I have fitted one of the 'tip-ish' ear tips that comes with the S50. These tips are not designed to go inside your ear canal in the way silicone tips do with IEM's, instead they are designed to negate and disperse the pressure of hard plastic against your ear that pretty much every other manufacturer has failed to accommodate.
I'm beta testing another manufacturers product currently, and I simply can't get on with it because the plastic where the driver expels is resting against my tragus and causing discomfort. It's these problems that 1More has overcome with this unique fitting that reminds me a little of when they solved the problem of half-in-ear buds causing discomfort with their original Comfobuds.
The tip is shaped to rest against your antihelix with a softer material, and give you a bit more stability. I found this to ensure the buds are extremely comfortable and stable in pretty much all environments.
Here you can see I tested the S50 out on the bike, with helmet and sunglasses. Absolutely no issues whatsoever - in fact, they are probably the most comfortable I've tried yet for cycling, and the tip actually serves another purpose here - preventing bounce back from the wind, which on other buds has made for a slightly frustrating experience.
Their IPX7 rating is pretty much best-in-class, allowing you to wear the buds in all conditions without having to worry about moisture eroding the life of the product.
The slim profile of the buds also means they are perfectly fine to use in the gym - for weights, they aren't going to get knocked out when you're doing shoulder press, for HIIT they stay nice and firm regardless of your position, and it's a similar thing with treadmill and spin. The 'no-pinch' ear hooks keep the buds in place with absolutely no discomfort at all.
The S50 are super-comfortable open ear buds, and they aren't too protrusive to look at either. I even used the S50 to listen to podcasts whilst falling asleep. You can switch the tips out for the slim rings, and this will allow to lie down on your side without the controls being activated or having any discomfort. The only drawback is the relatively high minimum volume level, which may prove to be a little too loud for some in this kind of scenario.
Audio & Sound Signature
Four-time Grammy Award winner Luca Bignardi has been 1More's long-term partner, assisting in tuning many of their key product releases over the years, and his magic touch is evident here again with the S50 punching above their weight for earbuds of this style.
Sound on the S50 is quite balanced for open ear buds, and the 'hifi-grade diamond-like carbon diaphragm' & PurePower 13.6mm dynamic drivers have been tuned with clarity and longevity in mind. This translates into a pleasant, moreish audio experience that has very quickly become my go-to for running and cycling, where I need good detail, sufficient volume and no excessive coarseness or sibilance.
Taking a look at the bass first, it is quite lean in the subbass in particular as you would expect. At 50-150Hz you've got a tight bass response that gives you a bit of body without ever sounding bloated or distorted. As far as open ear buds are concerned, what they lack in bass quantity they make up in bass quality - when listening to pop, house and techno, there's plenty of punch to kick drums and sufficient weight to basslines to prevent tracks sounding too thin or limp. With tracks with lots of midbass - bass guitars, etc., the sound is more smooth than excessively energetic. I tested with a variety of styles from the likes of Tears for Fears and other 80's rock bands, as well as the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Eric Clapton, and with all it was a similar experience - good harmonics to lower frequencies, and an articulate sound kept lean to avoid distortion and bleed. This translates well into open ear style, where you'll probably need high volumes at times to counteract your surroundings.
Move into the midrange and this is probably where the S50 shine the most. Pianos and guitars sound realistic, and vocals pop out sufficiently to place emphasis on them without ever sounding shrill or harsh. Male vocals separate out from instruments nicely. Female vocals still retain 'gaspy' qualities, and come to the fore more prominently than male vocals. The upper mids are quite elevated, and whilst the peak at 4.5k is probably accentuated due to pinna gain, the bigger picture is still valid, with vocals and instruments in those frequencies well represented with plenty of presence.
The trebles aren't ignored either. There's great texture to percussion in particular - snares, tams and castanets are audible, distinguishable, natural-sounding and retrievable. Claps can sound a shade subdued, but again this benefits the design because it prevents them sounding too harsh or peaky but at the same time retains definition. There's lots of air to the sound, making tracks sound very spacious.
The staging is very good considering the form factor - they have nice width with better-than-average depth and height. Imaging is comfortably the best of this form factor I've tried so far.
Comparing the sound to some other options on the market, the S50 sounds more natural and less fatiguing than the Soundcore Aerofit Pro. The Aerofit Pro can sound rather shrill with vocals on some tracks, and whilst the bass has a decent thud to it, there's not much in the way of detail. The S50 are cleaner and clearer.
Call Quality
Dealing with environmental noise on calls is another area where the S50 excel. They use a combination of 4 high-performance MEMS microphones and AI environmental noise reduction algorithms which they claim are capable of intelligently reducing ambient sound around you of up to 30dB.
In my busy indoor tests, the algorithm copes with indistinct chatter and mid-frequency sounds pretty well, with only particularly loud sounds overtaking your own voice, which comes through pretty much loud and clear, with decent weight.
Outdoors, the S50 are particularly strong. I tested the S50 first in general outdoor scenes where you've got a mixture of traffic and road sounds, as well as the elements, and it handled those sounds effortlessly. I also took them to a wind trap to see how they coped with that, and again it was an exemplary performance - of course some wind gets through, but not enough to derail your call.
If you're out for a run, hike or bike ride, taking a call with the S50 is definitely doable.
Connectivity and Other Features
Ok, where do we start! The S50 have lots of really nice additional features, and these are made possible thanks to the use of the newest in the range of Airoha chipsets, the AB1562E. This is a Bluetooth 5.3-supported chipset, and it provides rock solid connectivity. I had the buds connected to both my phone and laptop at work, and forgot I was connected to the laptop at one point (despite the fact I was connected to a teams call!). I wandered over to the water machine - a good 20m away at the other side of the office - and was still connected (just!) with the signal only starting to degrade as I approached it. Impressive stuff.
Other features are mostly delivered hand-in-hand with the 1MORE MUSIC app, which is tidy and easy to use application that doesn't try and do too much, but what it does, it does well. Also, there's no requirement for a username and password - a big benefit IMO.
Firstly, the app allows you to see the battery life of both the case and buds together on the main screen. It then gives you 7 options to select from:
- Smart Playback: The ability to toggle in-ear detection. You can choose auto-pause only, auto-play and pause, or switch it off. I found this feature to be very accurate.
- Custom Settings: Here you are able to customise the double and triple tap functions, with each side configurable separately.
- Low Latency: Gaming mode. Toggling this will give you a 'setup complete' message, and it reduces latency even further. I found latency to be excellent - easily achieving lip sync on my Sony Xperia 1 IV when watching videos. LL mode reduces this further, improving the performance for casual gamers.
- Equaliser: 12 presets in total. Bass Booster is a handy tweak that does improve the subbass performance and increases the overall volume. Most of the presets are useful - they don't alter the sound ridiculously - but I typically preferred to come back to the more neutral-sounding default 'Studio' preset. Sadly the app does not have a parametric EQ.
- OTA Firmware Upgrade: As it says, an opportunity to update your firmware.
- Quick Guide to Product: Graphical instructions
- Soothing Sounds: a series of ASMR-style sounds you can leave running. The only problem is they only run for 10 seconds before pausing for a second until then re-looping. Not ideal.
Multipoint is very good on this model. It took me a little while to get both devices to connect, but once I did, switching between devices was extremely quick (almost instant). The earbuds are not multipoint enabled from the factory, so this is something you'll have to activate yourself.
Battery Life
Battery life on the S50 is not quite at the marathon levels of some open-ear offerings, but it's still excellent by earbud standards. In my own independent testing, I almost hit the 13 hour mark - this included a few calls and testing out low latency mode (two things that typically erode battery life quite a bit) as well as initiating and using Dual-Device connection. For the average user, 13 hours is going to be more than enough, and the ability to get an additional two hours playtime from 5 minutes of charge is a handy feature that shouldn't be underestimated.
The case can be charged wirelessly, and a full charge can be fulfilled in just 90 minutes. With a full charge, the case is capable of delivering an additional two charges - taking the total battery life to 38 hours. Whilst this isn't topping out in its category, it's still more than enough for the average user.
Summary
Having spent most of 2023 reviewing sports earbuds, it's fitting that as we approach the time of year where I'm probably going to be out running and cycling less, I find a model that finally ticks all of the boxes!! The S50 delivers both on paper and in the real world, doing the basics exceptionally well and delivering useful features that aren't simply a 'lift and shift' of the capabilities of the chip.
The sound is probably as good as it gets from an open-ear design. The lower frequencies are lean and clean and the imaging is great. For calls, they are probably the best of this style I've tested, handling environmental sound effortlessly thanks to the AI ENC and 4-mic combo. The comfort and ergonomics are great, and the case isn't too big or bulky. You've got long battery life, quick charge and Qi wireless charging too.
The additional features, such as multipoint and in-ear detection, are handy, and the app is also a trouble-free experience too. That they support moisture resistance up to IPX7 is a testament to the build quality, but also an indicator of the variety of use cases you should be able to find for the S50 - from being able to hear your surroundings in offices or coffee shops all the way through to weekend hikes, rough camping and maybe even to accompany you doing Tough Mudder.....you can see why these kind of earbuds are so important to me!
The S50 are by no means the cheapest open-ear design on the market, but they are the first where I've been genuinely satisfied with the whole package. An excellent return for 1More!
Other 1More Regancipher Reviews:
ComfoBuds 2
Comfobuds Pro
Comfobuds
Colorbuds
Omthing Airfree
Stylish
About 1More:
In the past years, as a professional headphones brand, 1MORE has won many international awards, including 38 International Design Awards (such as iDEA, Red Dot Design Award, GOOD DESIGN AWARD, iF Design Awards and etc.), 12 CES Awards, 3 EHA Awards and 19 VGP Awards.
In addition, many of 1MORE’s headphones have been receiving awards from top-tier media outlets across the world and are being highly recommended by those editors who rigorously tested our products to ensure they meet the highest standards in the headphone market. These media include but are not limited to Forbes, Rolling Stone, WIRED, Digital Trends, CNET and more.
4-time Grammy Award-winning Sound Engineer Luca Bignardi uniquely tunes all of 1MORE’s headphones to deliver a precise representation of the artist’s intended sound.
1MORE has branches in the US, the UK and China. Our channels reach 40 countries and regions, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Australia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.
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Socials: Biolink
Model: BASN MMCX
Price: £60.79 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC111
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair MMCX IEM
1 x Detachable Silver-plated cable (no mic)
1 x Detachable Mic cable
3 x Single Layer Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Double-Flange Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Triple-Flange Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Memory Foam Eartips (SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Cable Clip
1 x Cleaning Brush
1 x 1/4 inch adapter
1 x Carry Case
YouTube Review:
Introduction
BASN is an acronym for 'Be a sincere newcomer', which would serve as a reminder to passionate audiophile Louis Lee when he founded the brand back in 2009 of his intentions and values. The MMCX Series are one of several product lines in the BASN portfolio, starting from the dual-driver entry-level Bsinger through to their MTPro 14.5mm Planar and ASONE models, reviewed here recently at Headfi.
The MMCX is in the middle somewhere, with a hybrid triple-driver arrangement (2DD & 1BA) and a specific sound signature aimed at drummers and guitarists in particular. BASN seem to have been very popular with performers - for stage instrumentation or recording studio mixing - so I'll be taking a look at how the MMCX perform from that perspective and seeing how it translates into everyday use.
The MMCX are currently available for £60.79 at Amazon UK in Green (reviewed here), blue and white, but there are other colours available - see the BASN website for details.
Unboxing
The unboxing experience with BASN is pretty much unparalleled, with the IEM set into the inlay, making it visible from the front, and the key parameters listed about the whole box. I read a review that said they felt like they were unboxing something from Tiffany's with the MMCX, and whilst that might be overegging the pudding a little bit, it's not by much - peel away the outer layer and you have a jewellery box-style enclosure, which you lift up to reveal the IEM's and carry case, and slide the drawer out to find two sachets of accessories. Impressive stuff.
The accessories that come with the MMCX are impressive in their number and quantity. Firstly, you've got no less than 12 sets of eartips - 9 silicone, 3 foam. The eartips are reasonably good quality - nothing special, but as you would expect for a sub $100 IEM.
There's standard fit in SML, and you've also got double-flange and Etymotic-style triple-flange in the same configurations. Foam also come in three sizes and are Comply-style unbranded. You've also got a small, black zippered carry case - it's probably too small to hold the IEM's as well as the mass of accessories unfortunately, but useful nonetheless.
And that's not all. You also get a 1/4 inch adapter, a cleaning brush and a small clip, as well as two MMCX cables.
The first is a standard brown 3.5mm cable which has a three-button control unit (two volume, one MFB) and microphone built in. It's OK quality, and although the metal adjustable earhook guides aren't really my preferred style, it still wears well enough. The other cable is silver-plated, with an anti-tangle thingy in the middle and no microphone. Both cables are quite long - 4.9ft - and have single pin MMCX connectors at the end. I'm not a huge fan of this connector generally, but tolerances seem fine - there's a satisfying 'click' when you insert them into the earbud, and whilst there is some swivel, I didn't notice any issues with them unclipping or anything like that. It's the preferred connector for active use, so it makes sense they've used that in this model. Plus they'd have had to think of a new name!
Ergonomics & Build Quality
The MMCX is an attractive looking IEM, with a green-marbled effect to the plate, and BASN MMCX screen printed in gold. They have a teardrop-style shape with quite average measurements of 21.5mm in height and 16.4mm in width. They also weigh in around average too, at just over 5g - pretty much the median for triple driver designs.
Guess what type of cable connects to the MMCX?! It's a single pin connector - not a connection I love in all honesty as it is guaranteed to trash a cable or two per lifetime! I did not stray far from the supplied cable, because as much as I'd have loved to have tried it with a balanced one, I've been bitten by engineering tolerances in the past. However, the connection was quite tight and it clicked into place nicely, and the cables have blue and red dots to remind you which side connects to which IEM.
Flip them over and you see the transparent plastic design of the MMCX. For a £60 IEM, you'd probably hope to get something a little more premium-looking and premium-feeling - it's a similar build quality to earbuds much cheaper, and whilst the materials aren't everything, even so I'd be looking for something metallic in shell for the MSRP (around £78). At least it gives you an opportunity to view the drivers - you've got a dual-chamber dynamic driver and a balanced armature in the nozzle. The nozzles are standard 6mm diameter, so aside the plethora of tips that come supplied with the buds, you've got plenty of third party options too.
The depth - 22mm - is also pretty much about average, so they fit well both inside your ear and around the shape of your ear. It's a lightweight and easy-wearing IEM that has good fit and strong isolation. BASN claim around 30dB - and this sounds about right. Their core market has typically been for drummers and bassists, using these in live or recording environments, so isolation is going to be very important to them - and it shows, because the MMCX do blot out a lot of background noise.
Audio & Sound Signature
First thing to mention on the MMCX is that they needed an overnight burn-in, sounding much more controlled on second marathon listen. The second thing is the tip selection - they are seemingly much boomier with silicone tips than foam, which tames the slightly wild lower frequencies a bit, opening out the clarity of trebles. Driving the MMCX is fine - I tested with a variety of sources, including my Sony Xperia 1 IV and a couple of different DAC's.
Given these are targeted at bassists, I was expecting a beefy, full-sounding lower frequency response, and I wasn't disappointed. On first listen, it was a little too beefy, but the tips and burn-in seemed to remedy that, and you're left with a fun sounding bass that, despite the subbass roll-off, has loads of rumble to it and gives drums and percussion a hefty slam. There's good density thoughout the lower frequencies.
Given the buds peak at 50-60Hz, you won't be surprised when you hear basslines thundering in. The deepest notes in rock and acoustic tracks are full of body though - despite the dip in the higher bass, you've got decent harmonics, good texture and adequate decay. On 'Break up with your girlfriend' by Ariana Grande, the bassline comes in unrelentless, and move over to something like 'Layla' by Eric Clapton and there's plenty of intensity to guitars. With 'Fly Away' by Lenny Kravitz there's good separation and quite accurate imaging. There's a little bleed into the mids, but overall it's good texture and heft - the bass is without question the star of the show, but it doesn't overpower the mids and trebles, thankfully.
The midrange is quite well balanced and neutral sounding, with some warmth, good detail and body. Male vocals are a bit softer, a bit further back but with better depth, whereas female vocals have medium dynamism, not jumping out nor retreating into the mix. There's no sharp peak in the upper mids, it's a gradual climb that brings a pleasant smoothness.
The trebles are about as natural sounding as a balanced armature can get, but for trebleheads, you may find them a tad uninspiring. Cymbals and claps are a little muted, albeit realistic. Pianos and brass instruments sound pleasant. There's a moderate mid treble peak at 8kHz, and the trebles don't then roll off completely, and that makes for a realistic-sounding response across the upper frequencies with quite good separation. The BA timbre is more evident with silicone tips, but with the foam tips it sounds much more organic. There's a moderate amount of air, and little to no sibilance or coarseness. All in all it's a controlled treble - the MMCX certainly aren't a fatiguing set, but they do admittedly lack a bit of shimmer and sparkle - this is most notable when you listen for percussive detail, which falls a little short.
Staging on the MMCX is fairly natural - they aren't especially wide, but have reasonable depth. Imaging is also OK - they're accurate rather than precise - and this translates to a pleasant experience for the casual listener. It is quite easy to see why these are popular with guitarists and drummers, because the sound is quite realistic and balanced, with strong emphasis on the midbass. There's good harmonics and balance between the frequency ranges.
Summary
The MMCX is a performer-friendly IEM that looks good, has decent enough build quality and an enjoyable, dense, bassy sound with a softer treble response that does a solid job for casual listening.
At the discounted price of £60, they represent fair value for money, especially if you are fairly new to the game and haven't amassed a cupboard full of spare tips and cables. The presentation and accessories are a big plus if you're dipping your toes into IEM's and don't want to have to pick up a load of bits and pieces from different places.
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Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: BASN MMCX
Price: £60.79 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC111
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: BASN
- Model: MMCX Triple Driver
- Driver: 2DD hybrid dual 10mm diaphragm & 1BA Driver
- IEM Weight: 5.63g
- IEM Dimensions: 21.5mm (height) x 16.4mm (width) x 22mm (max depth)
- Shell: Plastic
- Impedance: 24+-1 Ohm @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 107dB/Vrms @ 1kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-22kHz
- Connector: Single pin MMCX
1 x Pair MMCX IEM
1 x Detachable Silver-plated cable (no mic)
1 x Detachable Mic cable
3 x Single Layer Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Double-Flange Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Triple-Flange Silicone Eartips (SML)
3 x Memory Foam Eartips (SML)
1 x User Manual
1 x Cable Clip
1 x Cleaning Brush
1 x 1/4 inch adapter
1 x Carry Case
YouTube Review:
Introduction
BASN is an acronym for 'Be a sincere newcomer', which would serve as a reminder to passionate audiophile Louis Lee when he founded the brand back in 2009 of his intentions and values. The MMCX Series are one of several product lines in the BASN portfolio, starting from the dual-driver entry-level Bsinger through to their MTPro 14.5mm Planar and ASONE models, reviewed here recently at Headfi.
The MMCX is in the middle somewhere, with a hybrid triple-driver arrangement (2DD & 1BA) and a specific sound signature aimed at drummers and guitarists in particular. BASN seem to have been very popular with performers - for stage instrumentation or recording studio mixing - so I'll be taking a look at how the MMCX perform from that perspective and seeing how it translates into everyday use.
The MMCX are currently available for £60.79 at Amazon UK in Green (reviewed here), blue and white, but there are other colours available - see the BASN website for details.
Unboxing
The unboxing experience with BASN is pretty much unparalleled, with the IEM set into the inlay, making it visible from the front, and the key parameters listed about the whole box. I read a review that said they felt like they were unboxing something from Tiffany's with the MMCX, and whilst that might be overegging the pudding a little bit, it's not by much - peel away the outer layer and you have a jewellery box-style enclosure, which you lift up to reveal the IEM's and carry case, and slide the drawer out to find two sachets of accessories. Impressive stuff.
The accessories that come with the MMCX are impressive in their number and quantity. Firstly, you've got no less than 12 sets of eartips - 9 silicone, 3 foam. The eartips are reasonably good quality - nothing special, but as you would expect for a sub $100 IEM.
There's standard fit in SML, and you've also got double-flange and Etymotic-style triple-flange in the same configurations. Foam also come in three sizes and are Comply-style unbranded. You've also got a small, black zippered carry case - it's probably too small to hold the IEM's as well as the mass of accessories unfortunately, but useful nonetheless.
And that's not all. You also get a 1/4 inch adapter, a cleaning brush and a small clip, as well as two MMCX cables.
The first is a standard brown 3.5mm cable which has a three-button control unit (two volume, one MFB) and microphone built in. It's OK quality, and although the metal adjustable earhook guides aren't really my preferred style, it still wears well enough. The other cable is silver-plated, with an anti-tangle thingy in the middle and no microphone. Both cables are quite long - 4.9ft - and have single pin MMCX connectors at the end. I'm not a huge fan of this connector generally, but tolerances seem fine - there's a satisfying 'click' when you insert them into the earbud, and whilst there is some swivel, I didn't notice any issues with them unclipping or anything like that. It's the preferred connector for active use, so it makes sense they've used that in this model. Plus they'd have had to think of a new name!
Ergonomics & Build Quality
The MMCX is an attractive looking IEM, with a green-marbled effect to the plate, and BASN MMCX screen printed in gold. They have a teardrop-style shape with quite average measurements of 21.5mm in height and 16.4mm in width. They also weigh in around average too, at just over 5g - pretty much the median for triple driver designs.
Guess what type of cable connects to the MMCX?! It's a single pin connector - not a connection I love in all honesty as it is guaranteed to trash a cable or two per lifetime! I did not stray far from the supplied cable, because as much as I'd have loved to have tried it with a balanced one, I've been bitten by engineering tolerances in the past. However, the connection was quite tight and it clicked into place nicely, and the cables have blue and red dots to remind you which side connects to which IEM.
Flip them over and you see the transparent plastic design of the MMCX. For a £60 IEM, you'd probably hope to get something a little more premium-looking and premium-feeling - it's a similar build quality to earbuds much cheaper, and whilst the materials aren't everything, even so I'd be looking for something metallic in shell for the MSRP (around £78). At least it gives you an opportunity to view the drivers - you've got a dual-chamber dynamic driver and a balanced armature in the nozzle. The nozzles are standard 6mm diameter, so aside the plethora of tips that come supplied with the buds, you've got plenty of third party options too.
The depth - 22mm - is also pretty much about average, so they fit well both inside your ear and around the shape of your ear. It's a lightweight and easy-wearing IEM that has good fit and strong isolation. BASN claim around 30dB - and this sounds about right. Their core market has typically been for drummers and bassists, using these in live or recording environments, so isolation is going to be very important to them - and it shows, because the MMCX do blot out a lot of background noise.
Audio & Sound Signature
First thing to mention on the MMCX is that they needed an overnight burn-in, sounding much more controlled on second marathon listen. The second thing is the tip selection - they are seemingly much boomier with silicone tips than foam, which tames the slightly wild lower frequencies a bit, opening out the clarity of trebles. Driving the MMCX is fine - I tested with a variety of sources, including my Sony Xperia 1 IV and a couple of different DAC's.
Given these are targeted at bassists, I was expecting a beefy, full-sounding lower frequency response, and I wasn't disappointed. On first listen, it was a little too beefy, but the tips and burn-in seemed to remedy that, and you're left with a fun sounding bass that, despite the subbass roll-off, has loads of rumble to it and gives drums and percussion a hefty slam. There's good density thoughout the lower frequencies.
Given the buds peak at 50-60Hz, you won't be surprised when you hear basslines thundering in. The deepest notes in rock and acoustic tracks are full of body though - despite the dip in the higher bass, you've got decent harmonics, good texture and adequate decay. On 'Break up with your girlfriend' by Ariana Grande, the bassline comes in unrelentless, and move over to something like 'Layla' by Eric Clapton and there's plenty of intensity to guitars. With 'Fly Away' by Lenny Kravitz there's good separation and quite accurate imaging. There's a little bleed into the mids, but overall it's good texture and heft - the bass is without question the star of the show, but it doesn't overpower the mids and trebles, thankfully.
The midrange is quite well balanced and neutral sounding, with some warmth, good detail and body. Male vocals are a bit softer, a bit further back but with better depth, whereas female vocals have medium dynamism, not jumping out nor retreating into the mix. There's no sharp peak in the upper mids, it's a gradual climb that brings a pleasant smoothness.
The trebles are about as natural sounding as a balanced armature can get, but for trebleheads, you may find them a tad uninspiring. Cymbals and claps are a little muted, albeit realistic. Pianos and brass instruments sound pleasant. There's a moderate mid treble peak at 8kHz, and the trebles don't then roll off completely, and that makes for a realistic-sounding response across the upper frequencies with quite good separation. The BA timbre is more evident with silicone tips, but with the foam tips it sounds much more organic. There's a moderate amount of air, and little to no sibilance or coarseness. All in all it's a controlled treble - the MMCX certainly aren't a fatiguing set, but they do admittedly lack a bit of shimmer and sparkle - this is most notable when you listen for percussive detail, which falls a little short.
Staging on the MMCX is fairly natural - they aren't especially wide, but have reasonable depth. Imaging is also OK - they're accurate rather than precise - and this translates to a pleasant experience for the casual listener. It is quite easy to see why these are popular with guitarists and drummers, because the sound is quite realistic and balanced, with strong emphasis on the midbass. There's good harmonics and balance between the frequency ranges.
Summary
The MMCX is a performer-friendly IEM that looks good, has decent enough build quality and an enjoyable, dense, bassy sound with a softer treble response that does a solid job for casual listening.
At the discounted price of £60, they represent fair value for money, especially if you are fairly new to the game and haven't amassed a cupboard full of spare tips and cables. The presentation and accessories are a big plus if you're dipping your toes into IEM's and don't want to have to pick up a load of bits and pieces from different places.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: OneOdio OpenRock S
Price: Currently with 30% off - $62.99
Review Reference: RC110
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
It's another day and another new sports wearable - the TWS world has been well and truly overshadowed during 2023 with release after release of bone and air conduction sets, each looking to topple Shokz, who must be wondering what they did to invite all of this competition!
One of the best Shokz alternatives during 2023 has been OneOdio's OpenRock Pro, with an uncharacteristically bassy sound signature and market-leading battery life, but it was slightly pricey - topping the £100 mark at times on Amazon UK - so OneOdio have decided to add a complementary model, scaling back some of the features, adjusting the ergonomics slightly, giving the case a revamp and upgrading to a Bluetooth 5.3 chipset.
Priced at around $62.99 with voucher code, this is pretty competitive, going head to head with the likes of TrueFree and their 01 'Oladance-clone' which I reviewed a few days ago here at Headfi. Inevitably though, there are some compromises - are they worth it? Read on for my views, along with a comparison to the Pro version.
Unboxing
When the OpenRock S arrived in the mail, I did get slightly excited thinking I may have ordered a new mobile phone whilst drunk - the box is shaped as such, but thankfully for my bank balance I had in fact stayed true to my trusty Sony Xperia 1 IV, and instead was in the process of of discovering what OneOdio had to offer with their latest release.
The unboxing is much more professional than something like the TrueFree 01, which is very basic and lacks the finesse of what we're looking at here - OneOdio are quite consistent with this, delivering a premium affair quite consistently, and this is no exception despite the scale-back in cost.
Despite the glossy exterior and hard case, you aren't really getting much inside - there's a quick user guide with big visuals that is quite useful, as it outlines how to adjust the buds. Apart from that, you've got a basic USB A to C charge cable, a longer manual in English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and Chinese.
Charge Case
The charge case for open ear style buds is always a conundrum. Due to their size and shape, there's no easy way of concealing them, certainly in a way that makes it vaguely portable. The OpenRock S case is almost like a sunglasses case - and similarly sized too, measuring 143.5mm x 30.1mm x 56.8mm and weighing 137g full loaded - a bit of a beast, but it's slimline profile does at least stand in it's favour. I went for the cream model (they also offer them in black) and the case matches the colour of the buds - it's matte, plastic and has some heft to it that definitely sets it apart from some of the budget cases I've tested lately.
However, despite the premium feel to the outside, open the case up and you see some unfortunate design flaws. With the lid open, the weight of the lid is a little too much to ensure it can balance adequately, so it kinda tips itself backwards when you lay it down on the desk. This looks odd and makes getting the buds out with one hand a bit awkward. There's also some cut outs on the inner top of the lid, as you can see above, but they are a little too deep, and after adjusting the buds a little, I found on occasions the battery connectors would not always be touching, and the buds would remain connected to my device even with the lid closed, so this is something I'd advise to keep an eye on.
The area in the middle does reflect the case's adaptability, in that it allows you some wiggle-room to adjust the buds and place them in the case without the need to set them back to default. The case on the OpenRock Pro didn't have this level of wiggle-room, but it was also quite a bit smaller, albeit shaped somewhat unothodox.
The case is charged via USB-C only (charge socket at the rear). You've got an LED strip along the front of the lip, which is set into four portions. Those four portions correspond to a quarter each of the case's remaining charge. And since you get approximately two additional charges with the case, you can work out fairly routinely how much each of those quarters is in terms of hours remaining.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
The OpenRock S are a bit bulkier than the original OpenRock Pro, measuring 4mm wider than the Pro at 61mm but weighing the same (12.8g). This is probably a bit heavier than average, and it does show in how they appear, especially around the control area. This is the bit that is on show the most, and it looks OK - they've retained the OpenRock branding, but they look far nicer than the slightly cheap-looking Pro, benefitting from the absence of a metallic-looking surface, which wasn't really my thing.
The control area has to be slightly larger since it now houses the touch control sensor - unlike the Pro, they've gone for touch controls as opposed to tactile buttons, and I have to be honest and say I'm not particularly keen. When trying to switch EQ modes (holding both sensors down for 2s), I found I hardly ever got my fingers in the right place first time, and when I did, it still routinely changed the tracks instead.
The touch controls are actually a bit of a sore point - there's no volume control, and single tapping doesn't do anything. Double tap will play/pause and answer/hang up your call, holding the left and right respectively cycles tracks forwards and backwards. Triple tapping either bud activates voice assistant. Sadly, there's also no opportunity to customise the controls, because OneOdio does not have a dedicated smartphone app.
The ear hook is slightly larger too, but I do feel the ergonomics are slightly more balanced on the S. There's more adjustment area, so they are slightly more customisable in terms of the fit, and the driver opening has also been refined, positioned and shaped better with respect of channelling and concentrating the sound directly to your ear canals.
In terms of use-cases, like most open-ear buds, they're aimed at sports and recreational activities such as cycling, running, gym, etc. I had no issues with them on the bike - they wear fine around my helmet, and even when wearing sunglasses, they just sit on the outside of them quite securely. Despite them looking a bit unwieldy here, they still feel quite lightweight and I had no issues with stability at all. I also tried them out doing weights in the gym, HIIT and a 5km road run, and, like the Pro, the S were a comfortable and reliable companion.
They're IPX5, which is going to give you a bit more protection from rain and sweat than the likes of Oladance and TrueFree. IPX4 is only splash resistant, whereas IPX5 will resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray. In the real world, there's not a huge difference, but it's probably worth considering that if you go on long runs in the rain or bike rides without a helmet, that added protection will probably give you a bit more peace of mind. If you're an extreme sports person or are looking for something to swim with, IPX5 isn't going to give you the sustained protection, so do bear this in mind.
Audio & Sound Signature
With both models sporting a 16.2mm dynamic driver and supporting the AAC and SBC codecs, integrating their TubeBass technology and dynamic audio algorithm, designed to optimise the lower frequencies and automatically adjust the bass and treble to optimise sound quality.
I was intrigued to hear how the sound on each would compare, especially since the OpenRock Pro was one of the bassier-sounding open ear buds I've tested, with a powerful midbass that avoided distortion and gave it a warmer, upfront sound, not a characteristic usually applied to open ear designs.
However, this time around OneOdio have boosted the subbass but dialled back the midbass a little and focused the emphasis on clearer vocals and the perception of a wider, more open soundstage. The tone is a bit colder, without thinning to the extremes of their competitors, like the TrueFree 01, for example, so it's a different sound to the Pro, but evolution rather than revolution.
In the lower frequencies, it is apparent notably on rock & RnB, where midbass power is especially highlighted, that the S are cooler and less energetic. Bass isn't completely absent, but it is very tightly controlled - drums on house and techno are fast but quite lean, and the relatively flat midbass opens the sound out in the upper mids, so vocals, pianos and brass instruments have more presence, and come to the fore over basslines and drums.
In the trebles, the S are smoother than the OpenRock Pro, so there's a bit less stridence to cymbals and synths - the OpenRock Pro never sounded fatiguing, but the S have managed to bring vocals and instruments forward and give them more presence, without sharpening them to the point of shrill.
I wouldn't say the S sound better or worse than the Pro necessarily - they follow a similar brief, just with some minor adjustments. If you prefer more weight to your bass and a warmer tone, you'll probably prefer the Pro, and if bass isn't as important and you favour a leaner sound with cleaner instruments and vocals, you'll prefer the S - there's no real discernible difference in resolution, it's purely down to your preference in tuning. Remember, sound on this style of earbud is nowhere near as immersive as an IEM or TWS, so temper your expectations accordingly.
There is a second EQ mode - 'Relaxed' - which is activated by holding both buds for two seconds. It's meant for low-intensity workouts where the added energy might not be required, but I have only actually managed to activate this twice due to the finickiness of the touch controls, and as such haven't been able to measure it. However, subjectively there's an even leaner bass response and a slightly subdued treble extension - everything is designed to sound a bit flatter, and I suppose it's alright if you find the default sound overly bright, but like most presets I found it to do more harm than good.
Call Quality
Whilst the ability to make calls maybe isn't a priority with a set of sports-focused buds, for those using them on the commute or maybe taking or making a quick call whilst out on a run or bike ride without having to shout above the noise in the background definitely has it's merits. The OpenRock S feature AI four-mic ENC, and it actually works pretty well - giving a good balance between weight and clarity of your voice, and the reduction of environmental sounds that can typically scupper your calls. Outdoors, they handled the noise of traffic and other commuter sounds very well, only letting a little wind through, and elevating your voice without too much distortion or digitisation.
Indoors, they also handled background chatter in my coffee shop testing environment as well as any bud of a similar price, and the performance is actually marginally better than the OpenRock Pro, so that's one definitely a feather in the cap for OneOdio on this release and a pleasant surprise.
Other Features
Connectivity is good on this model - Bluetooth 5.3 - and like many releases over the last year, when you get to the connection distance limit, rather than cutting out altogether it drops the quality first rather than lose the connection altogether by default. I really like this feature, because if I'm listening to a podcast or webinar at home or in the office and forget that I've strayed too far from my PC / phone, it's handy to get a reminder that way rather than miss a few seconds of speech and lose my train of thought.
There's no app support on this model as previously mentioned, and it does seem like a bit of a shame that OneOdio haven't got round to supporting this yet, as there's certainly enough models in their range to justify it.
Battery Life
Battery life on the S is the star of the show, with an advertised 19 hours again, like on the Pro, and after my battery finally gave up just over the 17.5 hour mark, which I had to test across a week due to how long it lasted, I could finally breath a sigh of relief as I rushed for a pen to frantically scribble down that number before forgot.
The OpenRock S trounce Oladance and Shokz in the battery department, and the slightly bulkier frame of the earbud is a bit more forgivable when you take this into consideration. You can go for long bike rides or weekend hikes without even needing to worry about plugging the earbuds into a power socket, which is a welcome feature if you're a die-hard enthusiast.
The S also have a handy 'Quick Charge' feature, giving you around 1 hour extra playtime from 5 minutes extra juice. It's just 90 minutes for a full charge of the buds and case.
Summary
For OneOdio, I think the brief here of delivering a lower-cost alternative to their Pro offering, that retains many of the key features, such as long battery life, good ergonomics and a decent level of moisture resistance, and ignoring some of the arguably unnecessary features that many such products have like multipoint and gaming mode, has definitely been met.
The S are comfortable, stable, and offer clarity to the sound and surprisingly very decent call quality. The absence of an app is a shame, but hopefully that can be remedied in the future.
For those on a budget, looking for a solid air conduction earbud that does the basics well and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, this is one of the more attractive options on the market currently and a worthy complement to the Pro.
Other OneOdio Reviews:
OpenRock Pro
About OneOdio
At OneOdio, everything revolves around excellent sound, tapping the visceral power of music for all. We have infused decades of experience and passion into creating music to life. Fuelled by cutting-edge tech and unwavering passion for quality, we create high-end headphones and audio equipment designed to elevate your listening experience. So far we have firmly planted the OneOdio flag in the DJ, Monitor, ANC and HIFI industries. Besides, we are also devoted to the high-tech consumer electronics industry-sports open earbuds.
OneOdio have successfully branched into different product areas - now adding microphones and sports headphones to their portfolio, and this outward product development looks set to continue strongly into 2023.
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: OneOdio OpenRock S
Price: Currently with 30% off - $62.99
Review Reference: RC110
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: OneOdio
- Model: OpenRock S
- Driver: 16.2mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: BES (version unknown)
- Mic: 4 mic ENC
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: No
- Multipoint: No
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: No
- Earbud Weight: 12.87g
- Earbud Dimensions: 61mm (width) x 44.3mm (height)
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 137.18g
- Case Dimensions: 143.5mm {maximum} (width) x 30.1mm (height) x 56.8mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 450mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours playtime from 15 minutes chargetime
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 90 minutes
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 19 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 60 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
It's another day and another new sports wearable - the TWS world has been well and truly overshadowed during 2023 with release after release of bone and air conduction sets, each looking to topple Shokz, who must be wondering what they did to invite all of this competition!
One of the best Shokz alternatives during 2023 has been OneOdio's OpenRock Pro, with an uncharacteristically bassy sound signature and market-leading battery life, but it was slightly pricey - topping the £100 mark at times on Amazon UK - so OneOdio have decided to add a complementary model, scaling back some of the features, adjusting the ergonomics slightly, giving the case a revamp and upgrading to a Bluetooth 5.3 chipset.
Priced at around $62.99 with voucher code, this is pretty competitive, going head to head with the likes of TrueFree and their 01 'Oladance-clone' which I reviewed a few days ago here at Headfi. Inevitably though, there are some compromises - are they worth it? Read on for my views, along with a comparison to the Pro version.
Unboxing
When the OpenRock S arrived in the mail, I did get slightly excited thinking I may have ordered a new mobile phone whilst drunk - the box is shaped as such, but thankfully for my bank balance I had in fact stayed true to my trusty Sony Xperia 1 IV, and instead was in the process of of discovering what OneOdio had to offer with their latest release.
The unboxing is much more professional than something like the TrueFree 01, which is very basic and lacks the finesse of what we're looking at here - OneOdio are quite consistent with this, delivering a premium affair quite consistently, and this is no exception despite the scale-back in cost.
Despite the glossy exterior and hard case, you aren't really getting much inside - there's a quick user guide with big visuals that is quite useful, as it outlines how to adjust the buds. Apart from that, you've got a basic USB A to C charge cable, a longer manual in English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and Chinese.
Charge Case
The charge case for open ear style buds is always a conundrum. Due to their size and shape, there's no easy way of concealing them, certainly in a way that makes it vaguely portable. The OpenRock S case is almost like a sunglasses case - and similarly sized too, measuring 143.5mm x 30.1mm x 56.8mm and weighing 137g full loaded - a bit of a beast, but it's slimline profile does at least stand in it's favour. I went for the cream model (they also offer them in black) and the case matches the colour of the buds - it's matte, plastic and has some heft to it that definitely sets it apart from some of the budget cases I've tested lately.
However, despite the premium feel to the outside, open the case up and you see some unfortunate design flaws. With the lid open, the weight of the lid is a little too much to ensure it can balance adequately, so it kinda tips itself backwards when you lay it down on the desk. This looks odd and makes getting the buds out with one hand a bit awkward. There's also some cut outs on the inner top of the lid, as you can see above, but they are a little too deep, and after adjusting the buds a little, I found on occasions the battery connectors would not always be touching, and the buds would remain connected to my device even with the lid closed, so this is something I'd advise to keep an eye on.
The area in the middle does reflect the case's adaptability, in that it allows you some wiggle-room to adjust the buds and place them in the case without the need to set them back to default. The case on the OpenRock Pro didn't have this level of wiggle-room, but it was also quite a bit smaller, albeit shaped somewhat unothodox.
The case is charged via USB-C only (charge socket at the rear). You've got an LED strip along the front of the lip, which is set into four portions. Those four portions correspond to a quarter each of the case's remaining charge. And since you get approximately two additional charges with the case, you can work out fairly routinely how much each of those quarters is in terms of hours remaining.
Ergonomics & Build Quality
The OpenRock S are a bit bulkier than the original OpenRock Pro, measuring 4mm wider than the Pro at 61mm but weighing the same (12.8g). This is probably a bit heavier than average, and it does show in how they appear, especially around the control area. This is the bit that is on show the most, and it looks OK - they've retained the OpenRock branding, but they look far nicer than the slightly cheap-looking Pro, benefitting from the absence of a metallic-looking surface, which wasn't really my thing.
The control area has to be slightly larger since it now houses the touch control sensor - unlike the Pro, they've gone for touch controls as opposed to tactile buttons, and I have to be honest and say I'm not particularly keen. When trying to switch EQ modes (holding both sensors down for 2s), I found I hardly ever got my fingers in the right place first time, and when I did, it still routinely changed the tracks instead.
The touch controls are actually a bit of a sore point - there's no volume control, and single tapping doesn't do anything. Double tap will play/pause and answer/hang up your call, holding the left and right respectively cycles tracks forwards and backwards. Triple tapping either bud activates voice assistant. Sadly, there's also no opportunity to customise the controls, because OneOdio does not have a dedicated smartphone app.
The ear hook is slightly larger too, but I do feel the ergonomics are slightly more balanced on the S. There's more adjustment area, so they are slightly more customisable in terms of the fit, and the driver opening has also been refined, positioned and shaped better with respect of channelling and concentrating the sound directly to your ear canals.
In terms of use-cases, like most open-ear buds, they're aimed at sports and recreational activities such as cycling, running, gym, etc. I had no issues with them on the bike - they wear fine around my helmet, and even when wearing sunglasses, they just sit on the outside of them quite securely. Despite them looking a bit unwieldy here, they still feel quite lightweight and I had no issues with stability at all. I also tried them out doing weights in the gym, HIIT and a 5km road run, and, like the Pro, the S were a comfortable and reliable companion.
They're IPX5, which is going to give you a bit more protection from rain and sweat than the likes of Oladance and TrueFree. IPX4 is only splash resistant, whereas IPX5 will resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray. In the real world, there's not a huge difference, but it's probably worth considering that if you go on long runs in the rain or bike rides without a helmet, that added protection will probably give you a bit more peace of mind. If you're an extreme sports person or are looking for something to swim with, IPX5 isn't going to give you the sustained protection, so do bear this in mind.
Audio & Sound Signature
With both models sporting a 16.2mm dynamic driver and supporting the AAC and SBC codecs, integrating their TubeBass technology and dynamic audio algorithm, designed to optimise the lower frequencies and automatically adjust the bass and treble to optimise sound quality.
I was intrigued to hear how the sound on each would compare, especially since the OpenRock Pro was one of the bassier-sounding open ear buds I've tested, with a powerful midbass that avoided distortion and gave it a warmer, upfront sound, not a characteristic usually applied to open ear designs.
However, this time around OneOdio have boosted the subbass but dialled back the midbass a little and focused the emphasis on clearer vocals and the perception of a wider, more open soundstage. The tone is a bit colder, without thinning to the extremes of their competitors, like the TrueFree 01, for example, so it's a different sound to the Pro, but evolution rather than revolution.
In the lower frequencies, it is apparent notably on rock & RnB, where midbass power is especially highlighted, that the S are cooler and less energetic. Bass isn't completely absent, but it is very tightly controlled - drums on house and techno are fast but quite lean, and the relatively flat midbass opens the sound out in the upper mids, so vocals, pianos and brass instruments have more presence, and come to the fore over basslines and drums.
In the trebles, the S are smoother than the OpenRock Pro, so there's a bit less stridence to cymbals and synths - the OpenRock Pro never sounded fatiguing, but the S have managed to bring vocals and instruments forward and give them more presence, without sharpening them to the point of shrill.
I wouldn't say the S sound better or worse than the Pro necessarily - they follow a similar brief, just with some minor adjustments. If you prefer more weight to your bass and a warmer tone, you'll probably prefer the Pro, and if bass isn't as important and you favour a leaner sound with cleaner instruments and vocals, you'll prefer the S - there's no real discernible difference in resolution, it's purely down to your preference in tuning. Remember, sound on this style of earbud is nowhere near as immersive as an IEM or TWS, so temper your expectations accordingly.
There is a second EQ mode - 'Relaxed' - which is activated by holding both buds for two seconds. It's meant for low-intensity workouts where the added energy might not be required, but I have only actually managed to activate this twice due to the finickiness of the touch controls, and as such haven't been able to measure it. However, subjectively there's an even leaner bass response and a slightly subdued treble extension - everything is designed to sound a bit flatter, and I suppose it's alright if you find the default sound overly bright, but like most presets I found it to do more harm than good.
Call Quality
Whilst the ability to make calls maybe isn't a priority with a set of sports-focused buds, for those using them on the commute or maybe taking or making a quick call whilst out on a run or bike ride without having to shout above the noise in the background definitely has it's merits. The OpenRock S feature AI four-mic ENC, and it actually works pretty well - giving a good balance between weight and clarity of your voice, and the reduction of environmental sounds that can typically scupper your calls. Outdoors, they handled the noise of traffic and other commuter sounds very well, only letting a little wind through, and elevating your voice without too much distortion or digitisation.
Indoors, they also handled background chatter in my coffee shop testing environment as well as any bud of a similar price, and the performance is actually marginally better than the OpenRock Pro, so that's one definitely a feather in the cap for OneOdio on this release and a pleasant surprise.
Other Features
Connectivity is good on this model - Bluetooth 5.3 - and like many releases over the last year, when you get to the connection distance limit, rather than cutting out altogether it drops the quality first rather than lose the connection altogether by default. I really like this feature, because if I'm listening to a podcast or webinar at home or in the office and forget that I've strayed too far from my PC / phone, it's handy to get a reminder that way rather than miss a few seconds of speech and lose my train of thought.
There's no app support on this model as previously mentioned, and it does seem like a bit of a shame that OneOdio haven't got round to supporting this yet, as there's certainly enough models in their range to justify it.
Battery Life
Battery life on the S is the star of the show, with an advertised 19 hours again, like on the Pro, and after my battery finally gave up just over the 17.5 hour mark, which I had to test across a week due to how long it lasted, I could finally breath a sigh of relief as I rushed for a pen to frantically scribble down that number before forgot.
The OpenRock S trounce Oladance and Shokz in the battery department, and the slightly bulkier frame of the earbud is a bit more forgivable when you take this into consideration. You can go for long bike rides or weekend hikes without even needing to worry about plugging the earbuds into a power socket, which is a welcome feature if you're a die-hard enthusiast.
The S also have a handy 'Quick Charge' feature, giving you around 1 hour extra playtime from 5 minutes extra juice. It's just 90 minutes for a full charge of the buds and case.
Summary
For OneOdio, I think the brief here of delivering a lower-cost alternative to their Pro offering, that retains many of the key features, such as long battery life, good ergonomics and a decent level of moisture resistance, and ignoring some of the arguably unnecessary features that many such products have like multipoint and gaming mode, has definitely been met.
The S are comfortable, stable, and offer clarity to the sound and surprisingly very decent call quality. The absence of an app is a shame, but hopefully that can be remedied in the future.
For those on a budget, looking for a solid air conduction earbud that does the basics well and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, this is one of the more attractive options on the market currently and a worthy complement to the Pro.
Other OneOdio Reviews:
OpenRock Pro
About OneOdio
At OneOdio, everything revolves around excellent sound, tapping the visceral power of music for all. We have infused decades of experience and passion into creating music to life. Fuelled by cutting-edge tech and unwavering passion for quality, we create high-end headphones and audio equipment designed to elevate your listening experience. So far we have firmly planted the OneOdio flag in the DJ, Monitor, ANC and HIFI industries. Besides, we are also devoted to the high-tech consumer electronics industry-sports open earbuds.
OneOdio have successfully branched into different product areas - now adding microphones and sports headphones to their portfolio, and this outward product development looks set to continue strongly into 2023.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: TrueFree 01
Price: MSRP £44.99 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC108
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
SoundPEATS' subbrand TrueFree are back with another release that wraps around their portfolio offering something slightly different to their core product line, and this time it's another addition to the uber-popular air-conduction sports wearable segment of the audio market.
Hang on.....this looks familiar! The TrueFree 01 not only bear a striking similarity to the Oladance wearable, but I'm pretty sure SoundPEATS actually released this as the 'Go Free' in selected regions! Anyway, it never made it to market here in Europe, it has now, and that's what we are taking a look at today.
The TrueFree 01 have a bunch of features that actually look a bit out of place on a sports bud. They offer hi-res audio support through the LDAC codec as well as multipoint connectivity courtesy of the same WUQI chipset used in a number of SoundPEATS releases this year - both very much in the 'nice to have' bucket as far as features go, but more importantly how do they fit, sound and wear?
Unboxing
The unboxing experience on the 01, similar to the T3 which I reviewed here a couple of months ago, is quite basic and very reminiscent of the old SoundPEATS way - functional rather than eye-catching. Instead of focusing on those 'nice to have' features I mentioned in the intro, TrueFree have showcased three specific parameters on the front - the 16.2mm dynamic drivers, up to 45 hours playtime with the case, and dual-mic ENC to improve the quality of your voice calls, and these are all very relevant for buyers of a sports bud, who recognise the larger drivers are beneficial due to the way such earbuds wear, and require longer battery performance due to the nature of the use-cases (long runs, bike rides, etc)
The manual is very reminiscent of SoundPEATS user guides, with an identical page setup and lexicon style. Even the controls are replicated, and the diagrams will be very familiar to SoundPEATS customers as well - this is definitely a good thing, because it is very clear what each motion corresponds to.
And that's really about it when it comes to the unboxing - you do get a generic USB-A to USB-C cable to charge the case, but that's all you're getting, and that's all you need really.
Charge Case
Let's not try and pretend it's anything but - the charge case for the 01 is an absolute monster! With the TrueFree logo displayed on the front and measuring rather unorthodox dimensions of just over 9cm wide, 7cm deep and over 3cm high and weighing over 100g, do not expect to be taking this out for a jog in your trouser pockets! It's often the case with sports wearables that, due to their shape, trying to compromise between portability and sufficient battery re-charges turns out to be a thankless task - we've seen the likes of Haylou and you'll soon see OneOdio (with their OpenRock S) trying to balance the two out, to fairly limit degrees of success, and I think TrueFree have recognised that and just decided to optimise battery life as much as possible - and I for one don't really have an issue with that, because the single use battery life as we will see in the battery section is sufficient that you're probably not going to be rushing to put these in the case at every opportunity.
The case is a grey, plastic affair with a lip at the front and a decent-sized hinge at the back. There are quite sharp edges to lid and the lip, which definitely give the impression of a bit of expense spared. There's no wireless charging - it's USB-C only, which is located at the rear, meaning you can charge the case with it sat in it's default position.
Flip open the case and you'll notice that the hinge has a fairly rigid friction stop at 90 degrees, although give it a little shake and it quite easily snaps shut. Notice the three LED's on the front - this means the case has 60% of it's 45 hour full-charge capacity remaining. Two LED's lit means you're at 59-30%, and one means less than 30%. Happily, it's exactly the same when you're charging it with it plugged in - the LED's will flash, and then stop at 100%.
As with many cases for buds like these, the orientation takes a little getting used to. The left bud is on the left, and the right bud is on the right, thankfully, but they are in vertical rather than horizontal position, so you have to twist sideways to put them in your ears, and again when you put them back. Putting them back is more counter-intuitive, but I soon got used to it. You've got a pairing/reset button in the middle too - a fairly familiar charge case cockpit.
Ergonomics
The shape of the 01 is pretty much identical to the Oladance, with a bean-shaped control unit with the TrueFree logo on and a small LED, which is visible, but not super-bright, and is only lit when nothing is playing, or when they are in pairing mode where rather than white, it flashes blue and red.
They are constructed from mostly standard plastic, which is shiny on the outside to make sweat drip off a little easier. Each one weighs just under 10g, which sounds like a lot when you're comparing them to TWS, but is actually fairly standard, even on the lighter side for products of this ilk.
Flip them around and you see the more thoughtful side of the design - there's a matte, softer finish to the bits that make direct contact with your skin. The driver angles towards your ear canal a little, and there's some malleability to the ear hooks, meaning if your ears are larger (or smaller) than average, you do have a little wiggle-room.
For me, I wasn't overly-keen with the driver resting against my tragus (because I'm incredibly fussy when it comes to fit!) so this was very convenient - just bear in mind doing so moves the driver further away and gives you a less immersive audio experience.
Here you can see how the 01 wear - the control unit I guess could be a little smaller, but the lightweight nature means it isn't really noticeable when on the ear. The ear hooks are comfortable, and whilst they're not the prettiest, the profile isn't too obvious and when exercising, there's absolutely no issues with look or feel. It's a very comfortable, lightweight design that has good stability - I used them to do my daily Duolingo whilst out for a walk, and it was nice to know that the motion of my jaw moving wasn't going to result in the earbud coming a little loose - no such issues there.
The touch controls are located on the bean-shaped control unit, and this is one area where I do feel the buds fall a little short of their more-expensive-competition, which typically have a combination of tactile button and touch, or just tactile. I found that whilst the controls operated fine testing them out of my ears, when I tried using them whilst running, for example, I would routinely turn the volume up or down instead of pausing. I would imagine this would only be exacerbated with additional moisture from sweat or rain, so again something worth bearing in mind.
The typical use-cases for earbuds of this style are predominantly around activities whereby being able to hear your surroundings quickly without having to cycle through to transparency mode is beneficial. Open ear designs have no seal - so you are in constant contact with the outside world. One such scenario is out on the bike, and the 01 translated well to this activity. They are slimline enough that they fit well with a helmet, and I had no issues wearing sunglasses with them either due to their slim earhook.
I also tried them out in a number of activities in the gym, including lifting weights, HIIT and on the treadmill. The 01 have great stability, and have one specific benefit over banded-style designs, which is bench and floor work. When you're resting your head back with banded-designs, you will sometimes find the band is pushed forward, moving the drivers away from your ear canals. No such issues with the 01, so in terms of the fit I can highly recommend them for all of the above fitness-based activities - just do consider their IP rating - only IPX4 means you're going to have to be slightly careful if you get caught in torrential rain, and certainly don't think about swimming in them.
Granted, in the real world these differences (between IPX4 and IP67, for example) mean less than on the test bench, but do bear it in mind, particularly if you're into extreme sports, which may then pose you a selection dilemma.
Audio & Sound Signature
The 01, like most open-ear designs, is light on lower frequencies. They graph fairly flat across the midrange until the upper mids where you have a peak from 2-3k, a bump at 4k to give a little edginess to to percussion, and a tail-off at 8k - rather early even by open-ear standards. TrueFree have tried to balance accentuating vocal delivery whilst trying to minimise sibilance, and for the most part it works - you have a bright sounding audio experience that it is fairly clear, but lacks power and energy, especially with pop and techno, where kick drums can feel a bit thin and limp.
The bass is more something you can hear than feel - there's a bit of weight by open-ear standards, but don't expect throbbing basslines or anything like that. The staging is quite wide and open, and sound leakage isn't too bad either.
I always feel a little harsh graphing this style of earbud, because they shouldn't really be read in the same way an IEM or earbud should - the priority here is decent clarity, some bass without distortion, a little width to the soundstage and the ability to hear music in noisy environments without fatigue, and I think TrueFree get a good balance here - it isn't as organic sounding as the SoundPEATS RunFree, but it avoids the distortion that is apparent on the RunFree Lite.
My only issue here is the volume, which can be a little quiet when the scene gets really noisy. If you switch LDAC off, it bumps the volume up a fraction, but I found myself mostly at 100% outdoors, which is going to have an impact on your battery life.
My expectations are not overcooked when it comes to open-ear, and I think this sound is certainly good enough given the price.
Call Quality
The 01 actually perform pretty well on calls. Outdoors, wind is a challenge, but traffic and other road noises are mostly removed when you're taking a call on the daily commute. At the beach, the sound of the waves and kids playing is certainly not removed altogether, but it's relegated to behind your voice. Your voice has good body, but isn't as sharp as it could be.
In a busy indoor scene, it's a similar story, but those similar-frequency sounds to your voice aren't given any special dispensation, so whilst your voice is elevated over them, in a really busy scene you may lack a bit of coherence.
Performance is far better than the RunFree Lite, and comparable to the RunFree.
Other Features
Connectivity is pretty good - these are Bluetooth 5.3, using the same chipset as the Air4 Lite and some of the other LDAC-based SoundPEATS products. I had no disconnections or random cut outs.
They are capable of multipoint, although it's a bit of a faff - you have to disconnect from your primary, already paired device, connect to the secondary then reconnect to the primary. From pausing your primary to hearing audio on your secondary, it's a couple of seconds. You can do all of this with the buds still in the case, because it supports hall-switch mode, which is especially useful in this instance.
UPDATE: TrueFree have added support for their app, although to say it is beta-feeling is an understatement. You do have the ability to select presets, tweak the EQ, toggle gaming mode and multipoint, and impressively, customise the touch controls. You can pretty much adjust every gesture, including tap and hold, so hats off to TrueFree for continuing to support the product and looking for ways to improve it!
There's a dedicated Gaming Mode, which does improve latency a little, but again this is a feature I'm not really understanding the basis for inclusion of, other than that the chipset allows it. Regardless, you're getting close to lip sync on YouTube and other videos.
Battery Life
Battery life on this model is great by TWS standards, but a bit short compared to their competition. On a single charge, it's possible to get around 9 hours provided you switch LDAC off. This is a bit of a faff, but if you don't, be prepared to lose 20-25% as a result. I got upwards of 12 hours on models like Haylou Purfree Buds, Oladance OWS1 and OneOdio OpenRock S, so they're a bit behind those models on paper, but with the case you're getting 3.5 additional charges. This is fantastic - one of the leaders in their field in this respect, and whilst the case is a bit bulky, if you're out for hikes, camping for the weekend for example, you don't have to worry about getting power to the case - 30-36 hours is more than enough to last you the weekend and probably beyond!
The only disappointment is there's no quick charge feature - that's a shame, as most of the competition is supporting this feature these days. A full charge is around 2 hours, but that does reset you back to 45 hours (or 36 according to my tests) playtime again.
Summary
The TrueFree 01 are a very cost-effective alternative to the Oladance OWS Pro that feature similar specifications, a very similar design, and performance that exceeds their price tag.
Granted, you're not getting a powerful, dynamic sound - and they are a bit short of some of the recent open-ear releases like the OneOdio OpenRock Pro and Shokz OpenFit, at least from a bass perspective, but at 1/2 to 1/3 of the price, you're still getting a clear, bright sound that translates well to casual listening, podcasts and audio books.
They're super comfy, perform OK on calls and have adequate battery life that extends to great with the case. Do take into consideration the IP rating and whether this, and the other features, meet your needs as a buyer - for weekend campers/hikers, you're probably going to be fine. For occasional runners and cyclists, gym goers and HIIT enthusiasts, again, you'll get the best out of the 01.
Where they are less relevant are perhaps those who are exposed to the elements for prolonged periods of time - the minimal IP rating and touch controls will shorten the life span and cause frustrations, so if extreme sports are your bag, you may want to look at a higher IP rated bud with tactile controls instead. If you're in a position where you need to carry the charge case around - bear this in mind too, because it will need a fair bit of real estate in your pocket or even in a bag! There's also the relatively low maximum volume to consider - again, this isn't going to be a deal-breaker for everyone, but if you are planning on using these in airport-levels of noise scenarios, you may want to reconsider if they're the best option for you.
Overall, it's a decent release that offers a good alternative to Oladance at a fraction of the cost - a great introduction into open-ear technology and provided your use-cases match that of the 01, you're getting a bit of a bargain here.
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Model: TrueFree 01
Price: MSRP £44.99 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC108
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: TrueFree
- Model: 01
- Driver: 16.2mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: WUQI WQ7033
- Mic: 2 mic ENC
- ANC: No
- Codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC
- App Support: No
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 9.69g
- Earbud Dimensions: 54mm (width) x 39mm (height)
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 101.3g
- Case Dimensions: 92.3mm {maximum} (width) x 33.8mm (height) x 71,6mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 700mAh
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 120 minutes
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 10 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 45 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX4
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
SoundPEATS' subbrand TrueFree are back with another release that wraps around their portfolio offering something slightly different to their core product line, and this time it's another addition to the uber-popular air-conduction sports wearable segment of the audio market.
Hang on.....this looks familiar! The TrueFree 01 not only bear a striking similarity to the Oladance wearable, but I'm pretty sure SoundPEATS actually released this as the 'Go Free' in selected regions! Anyway, it never made it to market here in Europe, it has now, and that's what we are taking a look at today.
The TrueFree 01 have a bunch of features that actually look a bit out of place on a sports bud. They offer hi-res audio support through the LDAC codec as well as multipoint connectivity courtesy of the same WUQI chipset used in a number of SoundPEATS releases this year - both very much in the 'nice to have' bucket as far as features go, but more importantly how do they fit, sound and wear?
Unboxing
The unboxing experience on the 01, similar to the T3 which I reviewed here a couple of months ago, is quite basic and very reminiscent of the old SoundPEATS way - functional rather than eye-catching. Instead of focusing on those 'nice to have' features I mentioned in the intro, TrueFree have showcased three specific parameters on the front - the 16.2mm dynamic drivers, up to 45 hours playtime with the case, and dual-mic ENC to improve the quality of your voice calls, and these are all very relevant for buyers of a sports bud, who recognise the larger drivers are beneficial due to the way such earbuds wear, and require longer battery performance due to the nature of the use-cases (long runs, bike rides, etc)
The manual is very reminiscent of SoundPEATS user guides, with an identical page setup and lexicon style. Even the controls are replicated, and the diagrams will be very familiar to SoundPEATS customers as well - this is definitely a good thing, because it is very clear what each motion corresponds to.
And that's really about it when it comes to the unboxing - you do get a generic USB-A to USB-C cable to charge the case, but that's all you're getting, and that's all you need really.
Charge Case
Let's not try and pretend it's anything but - the charge case for the 01 is an absolute monster! With the TrueFree logo displayed on the front and measuring rather unorthodox dimensions of just over 9cm wide, 7cm deep and over 3cm high and weighing over 100g, do not expect to be taking this out for a jog in your trouser pockets! It's often the case with sports wearables that, due to their shape, trying to compromise between portability and sufficient battery re-charges turns out to be a thankless task - we've seen the likes of Haylou and you'll soon see OneOdio (with their OpenRock S) trying to balance the two out, to fairly limit degrees of success, and I think TrueFree have recognised that and just decided to optimise battery life as much as possible - and I for one don't really have an issue with that, because the single use battery life as we will see in the battery section is sufficient that you're probably not going to be rushing to put these in the case at every opportunity.
The case is a grey, plastic affair with a lip at the front and a decent-sized hinge at the back. There are quite sharp edges to lid and the lip, which definitely give the impression of a bit of expense spared. There's no wireless charging - it's USB-C only, which is located at the rear, meaning you can charge the case with it sat in it's default position.
Flip open the case and you'll notice that the hinge has a fairly rigid friction stop at 90 degrees, although give it a little shake and it quite easily snaps shut. Notice the three LED's on the front - this means the case has 60% of it's 45 hour full-charge capacity remaining. Two LED's lit means you're at 59-30%, and one means less than 30%. Happily, it's exactly the same when you're charging it with it plugged in - the LED's will flash, and then stop at 100%.
As with many cases for buds like these, the orientation takes a little getting used to. The left bud is on the left, and the right bud is on the right, thankfully, but they are in vertical rather than horizontal position, so you have to twist sideways to put them in your ears, and again when you put them back. Putting them back is more counter-intuitive, but I soon got used to it. You've got a pairing/reset button in the middle too - a fairly familiar charge case cockpit.
Ergonomics
The shape of the 01 is pretty much identical to the Oladance, with a bean-shaped control unit with the TrueFree logo on and a small LED, which is visible, but not super-bright, and is only lit when nothing is playing, or when they are in pairing mode where rather than white, it flashes blue and red.
They are constructed from mostly standard plastic, which is shiny on the outside to make sweat drip off a little easier. Each one weighs just under 10g, which sounds like a lot when you're comparing them to TWS, but is actually fairly standard, even on the lighter side for products of this ilk.
Flip them around and you see the more thoughtful side of the design - there's a matte, softer finish to the bits that make direct contact with your skin. The driver angles towards your ear canal a little, and there's some malleability to the ear hooks, meaning if your ears are larger (or smaller) than average, you do have a little wiggle-room.
For me, I wasn't overly-keen with the driver resting against my tragus (because I'm incredibly fussy when it comes to fit!) so this was very convenient - just bear in mind doing so moves the driver further away and gives you a less immersive audio experience.
Here you can see how the 01 wear - the control unit I guess could be a little smaller, but the lightweight nature means it isn't really noticeable when on the ear. The ear hooks are comfortable, and whilst they're not the prettiest, the profile isn't too obvious and when exercising, there's absolutely no issues with look or feel. It's a very comfortable, lightweight design that has good stability - I used them to do my daily Duolingo whilst out for a walk, and it was nice to know that the motion of my jaw moving wasn't going to result in the earbud coming a little loose - no such issues there.
The touch controls are located on the bean-shaped control unit, and this is one area where I do feel the buds fall a little short of their more-expensive-competition, which typically have a combination of tactile button and touch, or just tactile. I found that whilst the controls operated fine testing them out of my ears, when I tried using them whilst running, for example, I would routinely turn the volume up or down instead of pausing. I would imagine this would only be exacerbated with additional moisture from sweat or rain, so again something worth bearing in mind.
The typical use-cases for earbuds of this style are predominantly around activities whereby being able to hear your surroundings quickly without having to cycle through to transparency mode is beneficial. Open ear designs have no seal - so you are in constant contact with the outside world. One such scenario is out on the bike, and the 01 translated well to this activity. They are slimline enough that they fit well with a helmet, and I had no issues wearing sunglasses with them either due to their slim earhook.
I also tried them out in a number of activities in the gym, including lifting weights, HIIT and on the treadmill. The 01 have great stability, and have one specific benefit over banded-style designs, which is bench and floor work. When you're resting your head back with banded-designs, you will sometimes find the band is pushed forward, moving the drivers away from your ear canals. No such issues with the 01, so in terms of the fit I can highly recommend them for all of the above fitness-based activities - just do consider their IP rating - only IPX4 means you're going to have to be slightly careful if you get caught in torrential rain, and certainly don't think about swimming in them.
Granted, in the real world these differences (between IPX4 and IP67, for example) mean less than on the test bench, but do bear it in mind, particularly if you're into extreme sports, which may then pose you a selection dilemma.
Audio & Sound Signature
The 01, like most open-ear designs, is light on lower frequencies. They graph fairly flat across the midrange until the upper mids where you have a peak from 2-3k, a bump at 4k to give a little edginess to to percussion, and a tail-off at 8k - rather early even by open-ear standards. TrueFree have tried to balance accentuating vocal delivery whilst trying to minimise sibilance, and for the most part it works - you have a bright sounding audio experience that it is fairly clear, but lacks power and energy, especially with pop and techno, where kick drums can feel a bit thin and limp.
The bass is more something you can hear than feel - there's a bit of weight by open-ear standards, but don't expect throbbing basslines or anything like that. The staging is quite wide and open, and sound leakage isn't too bad either.
I always feel a little harsh graphing this style of earbud, because they shouldn't really be read in the same way an IEM or earbud should - the priority here is decent clarity, some bass without distortion, a little width to the soundstage and the ability to hear music in noisy environments without fatigue, and I think TrueFree get a good balance here - it isn't as organic sounding as the SoundPEATS RunFree, but it avoids the distortion that is apparent on the RunFree Lite.
My only issue here is the volume, which can be a little quiet when the scene gets really noisy. If you switch LDAC off, it bumps the volume up a fraction, but I found myself mostly at 100% outdoors, which is going to have an impact on your battery life.
My expectations are not overcooked when it comes to open-ear, and I think this sound is certainly good enough given the price.
Call Quality
The 01 actually perform pretty well on calls. Outdoors, wind is a challenge, but traffic and other road noises are mostly removed when you're taking a call on the daily commute. At the beach, the sound of the waves and kids playing is certainly not removed altogether, but it's relegated to behind your voice. Your voice has good body, but isn't as sharp as it could be.
In a busy indoor scene, it's a similar story, but those similar-frequency sounds to your voice aren't given any special dispensation, so whilst your voice is elevated over them, in a really busy scene you may lack a bit of coherence.
Performance is far better than the RunFree Lite, and comparable to the RunFree.
Other Features
Connectivity is pretty good - these are Bluetooth 5.3, using the same chipset as the Air4 Lite and some of the other LDAC-based SoundPEATS products. I had no disconnections or random cut outs.
They are capable of multipoint, although it's a bit of a faff - you have to disconnect from your primary, already paired device, connect to the secondary then reconnect to the primary. From pausing your primary to hearing audio on your secondary, it's a couple of seconds. You can do all of this with the buds still in the case, because it supports hall-switch mode, which is especially useful in this instance.
UPDATE: TrueFree have added support for their app, although to say it is beta-feeling is an understatement. You do have the ability to select presets, tweak the EQ, toggle gaming mode and multipoint, and impressively, customise the touch controls. You can pretty much adjust every gesture, including tap and hold, so hats off to TrueFree for continuing to support the product and looking for ways to improve it!
There's a dedicated Gaming Mode, which does improve latency a little, but again this is a feature I'm not really understanding the basis for inclusion of, other than that the chipset allows it. Regardless, you're getting close to lip sync on YouTube and other videos.
Battery Life
Battery life on this model is great by TWS standards, but a bit short compared to their competition. On a single charge, it's possible to get around 9 hours provided you switch LDAC off. This is a bit of a faff, but if you don't, be prepared to lose 20-25% as a result. I got upwards of 12 hours on models like Haylou Purfree Buds, Oladance OWS1 and OneOdio OpenRock S, so they're a bit behind those models on paper, but with the case you're getting 3.5 additional charges. This is fantastic - one of the leaders in their field in this respect, and whilst the case is a bit bulky, if you're out for hikes, camping for the weekend for example, you don't have to worry about getting power to the case - 30-36 hours is more than enough to last you the weekend and probably beyond!
The only disappointment is there's no quick charge feature - that's a shame, as most of the competition is supporting this feature these days. A full charge is around 2 hours, but that does reset you back to 45 hours (or 36 according to my tests) playtime again.
Summary
The TrueFree 01 are a very cost-effective alternative to the Oladance OWS Pro that feature similar specifications, a very similar design, and performance that exceeds their price tag.
Granted, you're not getting a powerful, dynamic sound - and they are a bit short of some of the recent open-ear releases like the OneOdio OpenRock Pro and Shokz OpenFit, at least from a bass perspective, but at 1/2 to 1/3 of the price, you're still getting a clear, bright sound that translates well to casual listening, podcasts and audio books.
They're super comfy, perform OK on calls and have adequate battery life that extends to great with the case. Do take into consideration the IP rating and whether this, and the other features, meet your needs as a buyer - for weekend campers/hikers, you're probably going to be fine. For occasional runners and cyclists, gym goers and HIIT enthusiasts, again, you'll get the best out of the 01.
Where they are less relevant are perhaps those who are exposed to the elements for prolonged periods of time - the minimal IP rating and touch controls will shorten the life span and cause frustrations, so if extreme sports are your bag, you may want to look at a higher IP rated bud with tactile controls instead. If you're in a position where you need to carry the charge case around - bear this in mind too, because it will need a fair bit of real estate in your pocket or even in a bag! There's also the relatively low maximum volume to consider - again, this isn't going to be a deal-breaker for everyone, but if you are planning on using these in airport-levels of noise scenarios, you may want to reconsider if they're the best option for you.
Overall, it's a decent release that offers a good alternative to Oladance at a fraction of the cost - a great introduction into open-ear technology and provided your use-cases match that of the 01, you're getting a bit of a bargain here.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: Haylou Purfree Lite
Price: £37.22 - Haylou store AliExpress
Offer Price: $36.99 Haylou Website (Voucher code REGANBC04)
Review Reference: RC107
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
The Purfree Lite from Haylou are the latest addition to their burgeoning sports audio range, this time focusing on the budget conscious portion of the market, having reinvented themselves previously with their premium-feeling Purfree BC01 and Purfree Buds. Open-ear and Bone Conduction have become essential product-pivots for TWS and earbud manufacturers, and Haylou were one of the first to embrace this shift with those releases.
Those two prior models were notable by their impressive build quality, reflected in the Red Dot Award for Design that both models were proudly awarded as well as a bunch of other accolades from Forbes et al, but whilst they were priced competitively, they were still comfortably the highest-priced options in the Haylou audio portfolio. This time around, Haylou have pitched their tent at far more attractive price - just $36.99 direct from Haylou currently - which for a bone conduction headphone is a steal. But will the inevitable compromises be worth it? Read on for my thoughts...…
Unboxing
Unboxing the Purfree Lite leaves you under no illusions that this is their 'Lite' edition - that's not to say it's a painful experience or anything like that, but the luxury experience you had with their Purfree Buds definitely isn't replicated here. Instead, it's a brightly-coloured, cheap and cheerful enclosure with a USB-C charge cable rattling around in the bottom.
The manual is fairly straightforward with details on how to pair, how to wear, how to use Multipoint and the rather complex control scheme.
Design & Ergonomics
The PurFree Lite are a striking set of bone conduction headphones that have veered away from design of the original, which comprised of a titanium wire fully-wrapped with skin-friendly silicone. Instead, this time around it's a three-section titanium wire, with two ear hooks and a rear hang. The headset weighs just over 27g, which makes it slightly lighter than the BC01, and they've compromised slightly on the water resistance rating - this time it's IP55 as opposed to the IP67 rating of the original. That may be a deal-breaker for some - bear in mind it will limit the activities that you're able to do with this headset as a result.
The transducer areas are more 'cube' shaped than the original, possibly to give a tighter connection to the skin.
Looking at the lime green control units on each side, there are some notable differences between the models. The controls remain predominantly on the right side, although their usage is quite limited - there is a plus and minus button, which are there to control volume and switch the headset on and off, but you've also got a multi-function button on the top of the right side, and that's where most of the magic happens, with tracks progressed backwards and forwards by triple and double pressing respectively. I've seen something in Haylou's marketing material about the unit being capable of head-movement controls to answer calls and cycle through tracks, which is a great idea - but didn't work when I tried. The buttons are in a good, intuitive location and easier to use than the slightly odd position on something like the SoundPEATS RunFree Lite. The MFB is plastic and a little small - it could do with being a little bigger as I couldn't always feel it first time.
Under the controls you've got a power connector on both models. On the newer model, it's USB-C, and the socket is protected with a small silicone cover, which I suspect is responsible for the reduction in water resistance rating. There are pros and cons to this though - at least now with a universal connection, you don't have to worry about carrying a proprietary cable around in case the battery runs out.
The image above gives you the clearest representation of the compromise in quality of the materials. The soft silicone cover that made the original a pleasure to wear has been jettisoned for a tougher polymer covering, and whilst it is undoubtedly a step down, in reality you probably aren't going to notice it unless you're wearing them all the time and are a die-hard BC user. They do feel a little colder against your skin though, which is 100% down to the change in materials, but that's also one of the reasons you're paying around $40 instead of $80-100. Horses for courses.
I tried the Purfree Lite out in a number of different environments and throughout different activities. Like most BC headphones, their strength is in cycling and running. The band has good malleability, and the clamping force is about right for my slightly-larger-than-average-sized head. Whilst the ear hooks aren't as soft as the original Purfree, they don't feel uncomfortable, and sit OK even with slightly thicker glasses and a helmet.
I tried them out in the gym too, and this is where they perhaps fall a little short of the Oladance/OneOdio-style band-free open-ear designs that have been more popular over the last twelve months. With HIIT activities they generally work out fine - even with core exercises like mountain climbers and Russian twists, they stay in place without any issues. However, with some floor work and incline weight sets, the band can be a bit of an annoyance, moving them out of place if you need to rest the back of your head down for a prolonged period. That is the case with all headsets of this ilk - not just the Purfree Lite - but it is something worth bearing in mind.
Audio
The Purfree Lite has a Qualcomm QCC3044 chipset, which defaults to the AptX codec on supported devices. On iPhone, it will default to SBC. They also use a second generation transducer and 16mm dynamic driver, which is designed to improve sound quality by, according to Haylou, up to 17%. I'm not sure how they came to this quantified deduction, but subjectively, there are some minor differences between this model and the original.
Firstly, the lower frequencies. The Purfree Lite have more bass, certainly across the midbass. With bone conduction headphones, in normal everyday listening you aren't going to feel a rumbling subbass - that's a limitation of science and the associated hardware - but there's a little more warmth to the sound, with more presence to drums and guitars. If you use ear protectors to block the sound out of your ears altogether and divert everything through your cheekbones, you can clearly hear the elevated bass in comparison to the original. However, and it may be due to the design changing too, but the transducers vibrate a little more and a little harder. I wouldn't say it's off-putting, and it's something I come to expect with this style of headphone, but it's certainly noticeable.
Vocals are still pretty clear, but not as clean as on the original. Female vocals are less sharp though, so if you're listening to a lot of pop and trance, for example, this can benefit the experience.
One of the complaints of the original was that in really busy environments, they could be a little quiet, especially if you're on the bike and close to a busy road, airport, etc. Haylou have got around this by giving you an 'Outdoor' preset in the app. Select this and you get a sound signature closer to the original, but the volume cranks up a few notches as well. Trebles are sharper and the perception of space is enhanced a little. I think it's good to have the option.
However, one oddity is that when there's no bass in the arrangement of the song you're listening to - an acapella section for example - the volume suddenly seems to sound louder - take God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande - when the beat stops and her vocal interludes start, it sounds noticeably quieter when the beat kicks back in. It's less obvious when you're out on the bike or out for a run, and less obvious with 'Outdoor' selected, but it's still there.
If you're a bone conduction user, you probably realise an audiophile-style experience isn't on the menu. The priority is giving you sufficient volume without fatigue, which the Purfree Lite definitely deliver.
Call Quality
I tested the Purfree Lite in both indoor and outdoor environments. Your voice comes across much quieter on this model than the original, but they are better at handling environmental noises - this is a common trade-off, and something to consider when selecting your preferred model, particularly if calls are important.
Outdoors, where you get the opportunity to raise your voice a little, the performance is fairly good. Wind noise will get through, but traffic and other similar sounds of your daily commute are softened.
Indoors, where perhaps you can't raise your voice as much, whilst the weight and tone of your voice are OK, you'll notice that not every word is quite as legible as on the original.
The ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously make these and other such devices quite useful to wear in the home office. Where you don't have a great deal of background noise, your voice has good weight but is still a little soft, so do take this into consideration. However for the majority of users, it will be a case of taking a quick call whilst out for a run, and the PurFree Lite won't let you down in that respect.
Battery Life
Battery Life on the Purfree Lite has been extended over that of the original, now amassing a whopping 10 hours in the lab. In my own tests, with volume at around 90% and a smattering of calls taken throughout the duration, I achieved just over 9 hours before the set gave up on me. This is a two-hour improvement over the original, and definitely not to be sniffed at for a set of BC headphones, where the industry standard tends to be a little lower.
What's more, you're still getting an additional 2 hours juice from 15 minutes plugged in, and they're using USB-C rather than proprietary cable as we mentioned previously, so from a usability perspective it means you're rarely going to be struggling for battery regardless of the activity - do bear in mind that they now take around 2 hours, rather than the 90 minutes the originals took, for a full charge.
Other Features
Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.2, and I found no stability issues whatsoever. The Purfree Lite remained solid on the bike when cycling through built-up areas. They also support Multipoint connectivity, which is enabled or disabled either via the app or by holding the + and MFB for 3 seconds. Even better, is that within the Haylou app, you can see the names of the devices your Purfree Lite are connected to - this is for me a huge benefit and helps you identify very quickly something that may be draining your battery.
The app is a little limited in terms of what it does, but it is handy to have. The main screen shows you the headphones and their remaining battery. The 'Sound' section allows you to toggle 'Outdoor' mode, and 'Settings' allows you to set an automatic power-off time - again this is a useful feature to preserve battery. My device was running firmware V1.0.1.1 (the latest version) and the app also allows the potential for future updates.
Latency, like most Qualcomm devices, is fine for videos but isn't going to satisfy gamers. Even so, that's the case for almost all such devices whether TWS or Headphones.
Summary
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the Haylou Purfree Lite. One of the barriers to trying out bone conduction technology is the price - with Shokz typically charging upwards of £120, this prices the average consumer out of a purchase they may or may not jive with, and this was probably part of the problem with the original Purfree, that whilst they were and still are a fantastic product, at $80-100 it's still quite an expensive experiment if you decide you don't like them.
The Purfree Lite are pitched at a price tag that will hopefully attract more non-BC users to give the technology a go. Of course, there are compromises - they're only IP55, they aren't as comfortable as the original, don't feel as premium, and call quality probably isn't as optimised across all environments, but by the same token this release isn't just about compromises - there are now options to enhance the loudness, you've got app support that, whilst limited, has room for growth, and up to 20% longer battery life, as well as a more universal charger.
Sometimes I feel like Haylou perhaps aren't given the credit they deserve in sports tech because people associate them with their early, budget TWS releases. The brand has moved on and has a mature array of products, and the Purfree Lite definitely have a place in that line up - if you're new to BC and want to give it a try, swerve the no-name junk on Amazon and give Haylou a go, because at this price they are definitely a worthy introduction to the tech and a bit of a bargain!
Previous Haylou Reviews:
S35 ANC
Purfree Buds
Purfree BC01 Bone Conduction Headphones
W1
Moripods
About Haylou
The brand name Haylou is taken from the homonym of the English word "Hello". We believe that we can resonate with the sea through conch and listen to the voice of the ocean together, and we can also listen to the voice of users through Haylou and share the beauty of the voice together. Haylou is the messenger of sound and the medium through which we resonate with our users.
Haylou is a brand belonging to Dongguan Liesheng Electronic Technology. Dongguan Liesheng Electronic Technology, established in 2015, is a subsidiary of Dongguan Hele Electronics, having secured Series A funding from Xiaomi technology, becoming one of the earliest members of the Xiaomi Ecological Chain. Hele Electronics and Liesheng Electronic are the OEM for Xiaomi's Mi / Redmi Airdots, and their portfolio of products includes smart and sports wearables as well as a comprehensive range of audio products.
Haylou's product portfolio ranges from wireless audio, smart wearables, to IoT and other categories. And its business has covered more than 100 countries and regions, serving tens of millions of users around the world. We are committed to establishing a digital health ecology by integrating a "user-device-data" scenario via technological innovation. Embracing the values of "Empowering & Awakening", Haylou aims to inspire you to keep challenge, explore your potential and find a better self.
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Model: Haylou Purfree Lite
Price: £37.22 - Haylou store AliExpress
Offer Price: $36.99 Haylou Website (Voucher code REGANBC04)
Review Reference: RC107
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Haylou
- Model: Purfree Lite
- Driver: Bone Conduction 2nd Generation Transducer & 16mm TPU dynamic driver
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3044
- Mic: 2 mics with cVc Noise Reduction for calls
- ANC: N/A
- Codecs: AptX, SBC
- App Support: Yes (Basic)
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: No
- Weight: 26.29g
- Quick Charge: Yes - up to 2 hours from 15 min juice
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: 120 minutes
- Battery Capacity: 170mAh
- Charge Connector: USB-C
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 10 hours
- Standby Time: Up to 300 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IP55
1 x Pair Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
The Purfree Lite from Haylou are the latest addition to their burgeoning sports audio range, this time focusing on the budget conscious portion of the market, having reinvented themselves previously with their premium-feeling Purfree BC01 and Purfree Buds. Open-ear and Bone Conduction have become essential product-pivots for TWS and earbud manufacturers, and Haylou were one of the first to embrace this shift with those releases.
Those two prior models were notable by their impressive build quality, reflected in the Red Dot Award for Design that both models were proudly awarded as well as a bunch of other accolades from Forbes et al, but whilst they were priced competitively, they were still comfortably the highest-priced options in the Haylou audio portfolio. This time around, Haylou have pitched their tent at far more attractive price - just $36.99 direct from Haylou currently - which for a bone conduction headphone is a steal. But will the inevitable compromises be worth it? Read on for my thoughts...…
Unboxing
Unboxing the Purfree Lite leaves you under no illusions that this is their 'Lite' edition - that's not to say it's a painful experience or anything like that, but the luxury experience you had with their Purfree Buds definitely isn't replicated here. Instead, it's a brightly-coloured, cheap and cheerful enclosure with a USB-C charge cable rattling around in the bottom.
The manual is fairly straightforward with details on how to pair, how to wear, how to use Multipoint and the rather complex control scheme.
Design & Ergonomics
The PurFree Lite are a striking set of bone conduction headphones that have veered away from design of the original, which comprised of a titanium wire fully-wrapped with skin-friendly silicone. Instead, this time around it's a three-section titanium wire, with two ear hooks and a rear hang. The headset weighs just over 27g, which makes it slightly lighter than the BC01, and they've compromised slightly on the water resistance rating - this time it's IP55 as opposed to the IP67 rating of the original. That may be a deal-breaker for some - bear in mind it will limit the activities that you're able to do with this headset as a result.
The transducer areas are more 'cube' shaped than the original, possibly to give a tighter connection to the skin.
Looking at the lime green control units on each side, there are some notable differences between the models. The controls remain predominantly on the right side, although their usage is quite limited - there is a plus and minus button, which are there to control volume and switch the headset on and off, but you've also got a multi-function button on the top of the right side, and that's where most of the magic happens, with tracks progressed backwards and forwards by triple and double pressing respectively. I've seen something in Haylou's marketing material about the unit being capable of head-movement controls to answer calls and cycle through tracks, which is a great idea - but didn't work when I tried. The buttons are in a good, intuitive location and easier to use than the slightly odd position on something like the SoundPEATS RunFree Lite. The MFB is plastic and a little small - it could do with being a little bigger as I couldn't always feel it first time.
Under the controls you've got a power connector on both models. On the newer model, it's USB-C, and the socket is protected with a small silicone cover, which I suspect is responsible for the reduction in water resistance rating. There are pros and cons to this though - at least now with a universal connection, you don't have to worry about carrying a proprietary cable around in case the battery runs out.
The image above gives you the clearest representation of the compromise in quality of the materials. The soft silicone cover that made the original a pleasure to wear has been jettisoned for a tougher polymer covering, and whilst it is undoubtedly a step down, in reality you probably aren't going to notice it unless you're wearing them all the time and are a die-hard BC user. They do feel a little colder against your skin though, which is 100% down to the change in materials, but that's also one of the reasons you're paying around $40 instead of $80-100. Horses for courses.
I tried the Purfree Lite out in a number of different environments and throughout different activities. Like most BC headphones, their strength is in cycling and running. The band has good malleability, and the clamping force is about right for my slightly-larger-than-average-sized head. Whilst the ear hooks aren't as soft as the original Purfree, they don't feel uncomfortable, and sit OK even with slightly thicker glasses and a helmet.
I tried them out in the gym too, and this is where they perhaps fall a little short of the Oladance/OneOdio-style band-free open-ear designs that have been more popular over the last twelve months. With HIIT activities they generally work out fine - even with core exercises like mountain climbers and Russian twists, they stay in place without any issues. However, with some floor work and incline weight sets, the band can be a bit of an annoyance, moving them out of place if you need to rest the back of your head down for a prolonged period. That is the case with all headsets of this ilk - not just the Purfree Lite - but it is something worth bearing in mind.
Audio
The Purfree Lite has a Qualcomm QCC3044 chipset, which defaults to the AptX codec on supported devices. On iPhone, it will default to SBC. They also use a second generation transducer and 16mm dynamic driver, which is designed to improve sound quality by, according to Haylou, up to 17%. I'm not sure how they came to this quantified deduction, but subjectively, there are some minor differences between this model and the original.
Firstly, the lower frequencies. The Purfree Lite have more bass, certainly across the midbass. With bone conduction headphones, in normal everyday listening you aren't going to feel a rumbling subbass - that's a limitation of science and the associated hardware - but there's a little more warmth to the sound, with more presence to drums and guitars. If you use ear protectors to block the sound out of your ears altogether and divert everything through your cheekbones, you can clearly hear the elevated bass in comparison to the original. However, and it may be due to the design changing too, but the transducers vibrate a little more and a little harder. I wouldn't say it's off-putting, and it's something I come to expect with this style of headphone, but it's certainly noticeable.
Vocals are still pretty clear, but not as clean as on the original. Female vocals are less sharp though, so if you're listening to a lot of pop and trance, for example, this can benefit the experience.
One of the complaints of the original was that in really busy environments, they could be a little quiet, especially if you're on the bike and close to a busy road, airport, etc. Haylou have got around this by giving you an 'Outdoor' preset in the app. Select this and you get a sound signature closer to the original, but the volume cranks up a few notches as well. Trebles are sharper and the perception of space is enhanced a little. I think it's good to have the option.
However, one oddity is that when there's no bass in the arrangement of the song you're listening to - an acapella section for example - the volume suddenly seems to sound louder - take God Is A Woman by Ariana Grande - when the beat stops and her vocal interludes start, it sounds noticeably quieter when the beat kicks back in. It's less obvious when you're out on the bike or out for a run, and less obvious with 'Outdoor' selected, but it's still there.
If you're a bone conduction user, you probably realise an audiophile-style experience isn't on the menu. The priority is giving you sufficient volume without fatigue, which the Purfree Lite definitely deliver.
Call Quality
I tested the Purfree Lite in both indoor and outdoor environments. Your voice comes across much quieter on this model than the original, but they are better at handling environmental noises - this is a common trade-off, and something to consider when selecting your preferred model, particularly if calls are important.
Outdoors, where you get the opportunity to raise your voice a little, the performance is fairly good. Wind noise will get through, but traffic and other similar sounds of your daily commute are softened.
Indoors, where perhaps you can't raise your voice as much, whilst the weight and tone of your voice are OK, you'll notice that not every word is quite as legible as on the original.
The ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously make these and other such devices quite useful to wear in the home office. Where you don't have a great deal of background noise, your voice has good weight but is still a little soft, so do take this into consideration. However for the majority of users, it will be a case of taking a quick call whilst out for a run, and the PurFree Lite won't let you down in that respect.
Battery Life
Battery Life on the Purfree Lite has been extended over that of the original, now amassing a whopping 10 hours in the lab. In my own tests, with volume at around 90% and a smattering of calls taken throughout the duration, I achieved just over 9 hours before the set gave up on me. This is a two-hour improvement over the original, and definitely not to be sniffed at for a set of BC headphones, where the industry standard tends to be a little lower.
What's more, you're still getting an additional 2 hours juice from 15 minutes plugged in, and they're using USB-C rather than proprietary cable as we mentioned previously, so from a usability perspective it means you're rarely going to be struggling for battery regardless of the activity - do bear in mind that they now take around 2 hours, rather than the 90 minutes the originals took, for a full charge.
Other Features
Connectivity is Bluetooth 5.2, and I found no stability issues whatsoever. The Purfree Lite remained solid on the bike when cycling through built-up areas. They also support Multipoint connectivity, which is enabled or disabled either via the app or by holding the + and MFB for 3 seconds. Even better, is that within the Haylou app, you can see the names of the devices your Purfree Lite are connected to - this is for me a huge benefit and helps you identify very quickly something that may be draining your battery.
The app is a little limited in terms of what it does, but it is handy to have. The main screen shows you the headphones and their remaining battery. The 'Sound' section allows you to toggle 'Outdoor' mode, and 'Settings' allows you to set an automatic power-off time - again this is a useful feature to preserve battery. My device was running firmware V1.0.1.1 (the latest version) and the app also allows the potential for future updates.
Latency, like most Qualcomm devices, is fine for videos but isn't going to satisfy gamers. Even so, that's the case for almost all such devices whether TWS or Headphones.
Summary
Overall I'm pretty impressed with the Haylou Purfree Lite. One of the barriers to trying out bone conduction technology is the price - with Shokz typically charging upwards of £120, this prices the average consumer out of a purchase they may or may not jive with, and this was probably part of the problem with the original Purfree, that whilst they were and still are a fantastic product, at $80-100 it's still quite an expensive experiment if you decide you don't like them.
The Purfree Lite are pitched at a price tag that will hopefully attract more non-BC users to give the technology a go. Of course, there are compromises - they're only IP55, they aren't as comfortable as the original, don't feel as premium, and call quality probably isn't as optimised across all environments, but by the same token this release isn't just about compromises - there are now options to enhance the loudness, you've got app support that, whilst limited, has room for growth, and up to 20% longer battery life, as well as a more universal charger.
Sometimes I feel like Haylou perhaps aren't given the credit they deserve in sports tech because people associate them with their early, budget TWS releases. The brand has moved on and has a mature array of products, and the Purfree Lite definitely have a place in that line up - if you're new to BC and want to give it a try, swerve the no-name junk on Amazon and give Haylou a go, because at this price they are definitely a worthy introduction to the tech and a bit of a bargain!
Previous Haylou Reviews:
S35 ANC
Purfree Buds
Purfree BC01 Bone Conduction Headphones
W1
Moripods
About Haylou
The brand name Haylou is taken from the homonym of the English word "Hello". We believe that we can resonate with the sea through conch and listen to the voice of the ocean together, and we can also listen to the voice of users through Haylou and share the beauty of the voice together. Haylou is the messenger of sound and the medium through which we resonate with our users.
Haylou is a brand belonging to Dongguan Liesheng Electronic Technology. Dongguan Liesheng Electronic Technology, established in 2015, is a subsidiary of Dongguan Hele Electronics, having secured Series A funding from Xiaomi technology, becoming one of the earliest members of the Xiaomi Ecological Chain. Hele Electronics and Liesheng Electronic are the OEM for Xiaomi's Mi / Redmi Airdots, and their portfolio of products includes smart and sports wearables as well as a comprehensive range of audio products.
Haylou's product portfolio ranges from wireless audio, smart wearables, to IoT and other categories. And its business has covered more than 100 countries and regions, serving tens of millions of users around the world. We are committed to establishing a digital health ecology by integrating a "user-device-data" scenario via technological innovation. Embracing the values of "Empowering & Awakening", Haylou aims to inspire you to keep challenge, explore your potential and find a better self.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Simgot EM6L
Price: $109.99 - Linsoul
Review Reference: RC106
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable OFC Silver Cable (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Carry Case
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Having been on a wireless frenzy the last few months, it's been a little while since I tried out an IEM, and even longer since I reviewed one. Simgot hit the IEM market in 2015, developing products from their base in Shenzhen, China. The name stands for 'simple and elegant', and whilst the appearance of the EM6L is certainly both of those things, the arrangement of this IEM is slightly more ambitious - there's an 8mm high polymer diaphragm dual cavity dynamic driver dealing with the bass, and two pairs of balanced armatures handling mids and trebles, brought together in a hybrid configuration by a 3-way crossover. This isn't their first stab at this kind of IEM - they've given the EM6L the moniker 'Phoenix', because it represents the rebirth from the EM5, it's predecessor developed 5 years ago, but this time they've focused the tuning towards the Harman 2019 curve. So for me, a rather mouth-watering prospect from one of the new kids on the block that has taken the IEM market by storm during 2023 so far.
Priced at $110, they're competitive, but sit at the top end of Simgot's price list and are nothing if not ambitious. So how did they fare? Well, the initial positive reviews I'd read on this product weren't wrong - read on for my thoughts on a contender for IEM of the year in its price bracket.....
Unboxing & Accessories
The Phoenix theme that Simgot have attached to this release hits you immediately from the moment you encounter the enclosure. The box oozes class and is commensurate with the price tag, with a glossy black theme and a striking image on the front, with a frequency response curve and visual representation of the driver arrangement accompanying the key parameters on the back. When you slide out the inner box, you get a first glimpse of the Phoenix logo, which is also printed on the right earphone.
This symbolism continues - it's also represented on the manual, which lays out the very simple instructions and warranty details. Interestingly, Simgot have an anti-theft scheme where you scratch off a section on the box to reveal a 12-digit code which you then add on their website to be given any aftersales support you may require. In terms of accessories, you get a bag of three sets of tips, a small, unbranded carry case and a 'high purity OFC silver plated' 0.78mm 2-pin cable, which has a 3.5mm jack at one end and QDC connectors on the other. The carry case is a bit of a letdown - I'd have liked to have seen the Phoenix logo on here, but it's perfectly fine from a usability perspective. The cable is a bit better - it's lightweight but well made, looks and wears really well. I'd have liked to have seen more tip options here, too.
Build Quality & Design
The EM6L shells, according to Simgot, boast a 3D-printed high-precision resin shell and mirror-finished CNC processed faceplate. It's a simple and elegant design that sees the L/R printed on the inside in gold. Both the shell and plate are of reasonable build quality, albeit lightweight, and whilst this is arguably more comfortable in the ears, I always like to see a bit more craftsmanship here - a full CNC shell like the EA500 is more my scene, but nevertheless the EM6L seem well-made.
Each earphone weighs exactly 5g, and measures 21.4mm (height) x 17.4mm (width) x 22.5mm (max depth).
The aluminium alloy plates have a slight bevel to the edge, and the Phoenix logo on one earphone and the Simgot logo on the other. There's a small tuning hole just underneath, and at the top you've got QDC connectors with a vent alongside them. The plugs on the cable are angled outwards, which allows you to tell which is the Left and which is the Right. QDC connectors are not ideal for a number of reasons, but it's certainly not a deal breaker. The plates are fingerprint magnets - I had to give them more than a few cleans before snapping them.
The depth of the earphone is around average, and the nozzle is around 5mm in length and 6mm in diameter. There is a lip around the edge of it, but this doesn't detract from the comfort in any way.
Despite the flat inner side of the earphone, they still sit very snug against your ears without protruding outwards too much or feeling overly invasive. It's one of my most comfortable IEM's for prolonged listening sessions.
Sound Signature & Audio
The EM6L are a very smooth, well-balanced v-shaped IEM with a warmer tone and thick, natural timbre. Tuned to the Harman 2019 target, they use a 3-way crossover to bring together the drivers. Often, this is easier said than done, but in the case of the EM6L there is a smooth and natural cohesion that seems to get the best out of each set of drivers. They aren't especially technical, but they are a hugely enjoyable listen with great longevity thanks to the boosted bass, lush mids and smooth, understated trebles.
The bass has a fun, boomy nature to it that translates well into all music genres, particularly house and techno. Lower frequencies are dense and layered - kick drums are rich and punchy, if lacking a bit of texture. There's not quite the subwoofer feel I particularly enjoy, but the subbass still has a satisfying rumble. I found the midbass a little muddy until I switched the eartips out for the FiiO HS18, which have a slightly wider bore. From then, everything sounded a little more controlled whilst still fast and chunky.
The midrange is recessed, but not overly so. The EM6L are a seriously smooth, lush sounding experience and the warmer tone benefits male vocals - soprano in particular. Both male and female vocals are forward, female vocals more than male, and whilst both have good texture there's more body to male vocals. Some female vocals can be a little gaspy, but in almost all instances it is a clean and engaging vocal delivery that will have you coming back to the EM6L more often than not.
The trebles are very natural sounding with good control that makes them ideal for long listening sessions. There's absolutely no hint of fatigue or sibilance here, but the subtle peak between 6 to 8k brings enough vibrancy and definition to instruments to satisfy the average user, particularly those who prefer a slightly more laidback, rolled off sound.
Imaging is good for a $100 set. There's reasonable accuracy here, and placement outside the lower frequencies is very straightforward. Staging is quite wide and expansive with very good depth. Driving the EM6L was surprisingly easy enough too - both using my cheapy Ikkolot and plugging directly into my Sony Xperia 1 IV offered similarly enjoyable results with more than adequate volume.
From the perspective of a hybrid, the crossovers are really well done. It is a thoroughly smooth, engaging listening experience with the EM6L.
Summary
The Simgot EM6L is a pleasant surprise, and a release that really signals Simgot's intent to the market.
Other than a few minor quibbles, like the use of QDC connectors and lack of branded case, it is quite difficult to find fault with this release. They're super comfy and the shell is fairly well-made - although I prefer full CNC and more custom-feel fit, the lightweight footprint and straightforward driveability go hand-in-hand with the smooth, lush sound to make the EM6L ideal for marathon listening sessions.
The expansive soundstage, good imaging, fine vocal representation and bouncy bass will particularly satisfy those who like a subbass-centric, more natural v-shape sound. Don't expect a super-analytical experience, but do expect to be entertained - the EM6L are one of the most enjoyable IEM's in 2023 to date.
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Model: Simgot EM6L
Price: $109.99 - Linsoul
Review Reference: RC106
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Simgot
- Model: EM6L Phoenix
- Driver: 1DD & 4BA Hybrid Driver
- IEM Weight: 5g
- IEM Dimensions: 21.4mm (height) x 17.4mm (width) x 22.5mm (max depth)
- Shell: High-precision 3D-printed resin
- Resistance: 26Ω±15%(@1kHz)
- Sensitivity: 119dB/Vrms(@1kHz)
- Frequency Response Range: 8Hz-40kHz
- Effective Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Connector: 0.78mm 2Pin QDC style
1 x Pair IEM
1 x Detachable OFC Silver Cable (no mic)
1 x User Manual
1 x Carry Case
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Having been on a wireless frenzy the last few months, it's been a little while since I tried out an IEM, and even longer since I reviewed one. Simgot hit the IEM market in 2015, developing products from their base in Shenzhen, China. The name stands for 'simple and elegant', and whilst the appearance of the EM6L is certainly both of those things, the arrangement of this IEM is slightly more ambitious - there's an 8mm high polymer diaphragm dual cavity dynamic driver dealing with the bass, and two pairs of balanced armatures handling mids and trebles, brought together in a hybrid configuration by a 3-way crossover. This isn't their first stab at this kind of IEM - they've given the EM6L the moniker 'Phoenix', because it represents the rebirth from the EM5, it's predecessor developed 5 years ago, but this time they've focused the tuning towards the Harman 2019 curve. So for me, a rather mouth-watering prospect from one of the new kids on the block that has taken the IEM market by storm during 2023 so far.
Priced at $110, they're competitive, but sit at the top end of Simgot's price list and are nothing if not ambitious. So how did they fare? Well, the initial positive reviews I'd read on this product weren't wrong - read on for my thoughts on a contender for IEM of the year in its price bracket.....
Unboxing & Accessories
The Phoenix theme that Simgot have attached to this release hits you immediately from the moment you encounter the enclosure. The box oozes class and is commensurate with the price tag, with a glossy black theme and a striking image on the front, with a frequency response curve and visual representation of the driver arrangement accompanying the key parameters on the back. When you slide out the inner box, you get a first glimpse of the Phoenix logo, which is also printed on the right earphone.
This symbolism continues - it's also represented on the manual, which lays out the very simple instructions and warranty details. Interestingly, Simgot have an anti-theft scheme where you scratch off a section on the box to reveal a 12-digit code which you then add on their website to be given any aftersales support you may require. In terms of accessories, you get a bag of three sets of tips, a small, unbranded carry case and a 'high purity OFC silver plated' 0.78mm 2-pin cable, which has a 3.5mm jack at one end and QDC connectors on the other. The carry case is a bit of a letdown - I'd have liked to have seen the Phoenix logo on here, but it's perfectly fine from a usability perspective. The cable is a bit better - it's lightweight but well made, looks and wears really well. I'd have liked to have seen more tip options here, too.
Build Quality & Design
The EM6L shells, according to Simgot, boast a 3D-printed high-precision resin shell and mirror-finished CNC processed faceplate. It's a simple and elegant design that sees the L/R printed on the inside in gold. Both the shell and plate are of reasonable build quality, albeit lightweight, and whilst this is arguably more comfortable in the ears, I always like to see a bit more craftsmanship here - a full CNC shell like the EA500 is more my scene, but nevertheless the EM6L seem well-made.
Each earphone weighs exactly 5g, and measures 21.4mm (height) x 17.4mm (width) x 22.5mm (max depth).
The aluminium alloy plates have a slight bevel to the edge, and the Phoenix logo on one earphone and the Simgot logo on the other. There's a small tuning hole just underneath, and at the top you've got QDC connectors with a vent alongside them. The plugs on the cable are angled outwards, which allows you to tell which is the Left and which is the Right. QDC connectors are not ideal for a number of reasons, but it's certainly not a deal breaker. The plates are fingerprint magnets - I had to give them more than a few cleans before snapping them.
The depth of the earphone is around average, and the nozzle is around 5mm in length and 6mm in diameter. There is a lip around the edge of it, but this doesn't detract from the comfort in any way.
Despite the flat inner side of the earphone, they still sit very snug against your ears without protruding outwards too much or feeling overly invasive. It's one of my most comfortable IEM's for prolonged listening sessions.
Sound Signature & Audio
The EM6L are a very smooth, well-balanced v-shaped IEM with a warmer tone and thick, natural timbre. Tuned to the Harman 2019 target, they use a 3-way crossover to bring together the drivers. Often, this is easier said than done, but in the case of the EM6L there is a smooth and natural cohesion that seems to get the best out of each set of drivers. They aren't especially technical, but they are a hugely enjoyable listen with great longevity thanks to the boosted bass, lush mids and smooth, understated trebles.
The bass has a fun, boomy nature to it that translates well into all music genres, particularly house and techno. Lower frequencies are dense and layered - kick drums are rich and punchy, if lacking a bit of texture. There's not quite the subwoofer feel I particularly enjoy, but the subbass still has a satisfying rumble. I found the midbass a little muddy until I switched the eartips out for the FiiO HS18, which have a slightly wider bore. From then, everything sounded a little more controlled whilst still fast and chunky.
The midrange is recessed, but not overly so. The EM6L are a seriously smooth, lush sounding experience and the warmer tone benefits male vocals - soprano in particular. Both male and female vocals are forward, female vocals more than male, and whilst both have good texture there's more body to male vocals. Some female vocals can be a little gaspy, but in almost all instances it is a clean and engaging vocal delivery that will have you coming back to the EM6L more often than not.
The trebles are very natural sounding with good control that makes them ideal for long listening sessions. There's absolutely no hint of fatigue or sibilance here, but the subtle peak between 6 to 8k brings enough vibrancy and definition to instruments to satisfy the average user, particularly those who prefer a slightly more laidback, rolled off sound.
Imaging is good for a $100 set. There's reasonable accuracy here, and placement outside the lower frequencies is very straightforward. Staging is quite wide and expansive with very good depth. Driving the EM6L was surprisingly easy enough too - both using my cheapy Ikkolot and plugging directly into my Sony Xperia 1 IV offered similarly enjoyable results with more than adequate volume.
From the perspective of a hybrid, the crossovers are really well done. It is a thoroughly smooth, engaging listening experience with the EM6L.
Summary
The Simgot EM6L is a pleasant surprise, and a release that really signals Simgot's intent to the market.
Other than a few minor quibbles, like the use of QDC connectors and lack of branded case, it is quite difficult to find fault with this release. They're super comfy and the shell is fairly well-made - although I prefer full CNC and more custom-feel fit, the lightweight footprint and straightforward driveability go hand-in-hand with the smooth, lush sound to make the EM6L ideal for marathon listening sessions.
The expansive soundstage, good imaging, fine vocal representation and bouncy bass will particularly satisfy those who like a subbass-centric, more natural v-shape sound. Don't expect a super-analytical experience, but do expect to be entertained - the EM6L are one of the most enjoyable IEM's in 2023 to date.
Attachments
GoneToPlaid
Nice review! I found the EM6L to be a bit too bright in the upper midrange, and that the bass was a bit lacking and a bit pillowy. I tried different eartips. Some helped. The thing which really made a difference was switching to the NIceHCK BlackCat zinc copper alloy cable. This cable tamed the upper midrange brightness and boosted the bass and lower midrange by around 1 to 1.5 dB, resulting in a much more balanced sounding IEM which also has killer sub bass. I totally agree with you that the EM6L is a surprisingly nice IEM at its price point.
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Model: SoundPEATS Air4
Price: £52.79 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC105
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
After taking the summer off, I've come back to a big pile of the latest and possibly greatest earbuds for 2023, but being a connoisseur of the semi-in-ear style of TWS, I think it's fair to say few were as eagerly anticipated as the SoundPEATS Air4. It's been a busy year for SoundPEATS, with the launch of their sub-brand TrueFree, LDAC re-rubs of their popular models hitting the market, and now the sequel to their esteemed Air3 series in two flavours - the 'Lite', and the regular. Whilst I haven't had chance to check out the Lite yet, I've been testing the Air4 for a good few weeks now, and with semi-in-ear being 'my thing', I've plenty of others on the market to benchmark it against.
Whereas the Lite version mimicked the Capsule3 Pro, Mini Pro HS and others released during 2023 in using the WUQI WQ70XX series chipset, the Air4 has seen SoundPEATS going back to Qualcomm, showcasing the QCC3071chip used previously by Earfun in their disappointing Air Pro 3. Like Earfun, SoundPEATS haven't flexed the full capability of the chip, with LE audio and Google Fast Pair not implemented at this stage. Even so, they've still included some nice features, such as Multipoint connectivity and support for the 'Snapdragon Sound' suite, which includes 'lossless' transmission of up to 44.1kHz/16bit and AptX-voice for wideband voice calls for phones with the Snapdragon 8 processor and above. Most interestingly, they've also decided to implement Active Noise Cancellation, which is dangerous given some will always try to compare the performance with in-ear designs (despite SoundPEATS' protestations otherwise in their marketing material!)
I reviewed the Air3 Deluxe HS a while ago here at Headfi, and have been a huge fan of this range ever since the TrueAir2, but for the first time in the trifecta they've made a notable change to the ergonomics, with the Air4 now more akin to the Apple AirPod 3 than the second generation. Would this somehow scupper SoundPEATS' bid to retain their crown as the best budget Airpod-clone? Read on.....
Unboxing
Since the Air3 Deluxe HS, SoundPEATS have been edging the professionalism and 'premiumness' of their unboxing experience upwards a notch with almost every release, and the Air4 thus follow the Engine4 and Wings2 with a smart outer enclosure that is now punching above the lower-midrange price point at which SoundPEATS typical retail. The SoundPEATS logo and Air4 text have a metallic shimmer, matching the accents on the product itself, and on the back you've got most of the key parameters.
Inside it is the usual fare of SoundPEATS manual and basic USB A-C charge cable. The manual is very good - as always coming in 7 different languages, with text and diagrams used well to convey their simple instructions. You've also got a small booklet telling you how to install and use the SoundPEATS app.
Charge Case
The charge case on the Air4 is instantly recognisable as being from the SoundPEATS stable - it has the matte, mono, two-tone look of the Capsule3 Pro, whilst the green LED resembles that which was used on their bassy in-ear stem release, the SoundPEATS Life. The LED on this case is actually a bit of a disappointment - it's rather dim, difficult to see in well-lit rooms even, but it does the job - letting you know when the case battery is dropping - staying green up until it drops below 50% where it turns amber until you've got below 10%, when it turns red. There's a slightly different percentage alignment when you plug the case in, where amber represents 20-69% whilst charging. You have to say it is pretty weird how they come up with these random numbers, so just follow the colour scheme and you'll be fine, unless you're colour blind....if you are, I don't think I have any answers for you! You've also got a small reset/pairing button on the front, which isn't easy to see here but is much easier to use than the fiddly buttons on the back and side you get with some earbud cases.
I think it would be a stretch to call the case premium-feeling - like most SoundPEATS cases, it's functional, but whether it's built to last the distance is less clear. Even so, it has been in my bag and pocket for the last 4-6 weeks, scratched up with my keys and covered in sun tan lotion on the sunlounger in Rhodes, and unlike the Air3 Case which scuffed up pretty quickly, most of the marks are not really visible. When compared to the Air3 case it is clearly more well-built - the hinge, lid, and general feel to the case are all 'next level up' although admittedly the Air3 case was one of their flimsier efforts.
The hinge to the lid has two positions - open and closed, and there's a hard friction stop at 90 degrees. Open the case and hall-switch mode will immediately trigger the pairing or connection to your last connected device.
In terms of size, SoundPEATS have been increasing the case dimensions steadily since the Air3, but they've also been enhancing battery life too. We've gone from 17 hours on the Air3, to 20 on the Deluxe HS, to up to 26 on the Air4. Just bear in mind if you're using ANC, that will erode a bit quicker. There's no quick charge feature and no wireless charging.
Ergonomics
The Air4 are, like the Air3 series before them, a stem-based semi-in-ear design earbud, which are ideal for those who don't like the invasiveness of silicone tips. SoundPEATS are widely recognised as the budget leader in this area due to their ability to tune their drivers to offer punchy basslines without distortion, something the likes of Edifier and 1More haven't successfully been able to achieve.
The touch control area, denoted by the gold accent and SoundPEATS logo, has increased ever-so-slightly in diameter, with the touch sensor remaining the same. This means they aren't quite so prone to accidental touches, but they're still in a bloody awkward place - exactly the position you will inevitably touch if you need to adjust them. You've got pretty much full control from the earbuds, except track back, because as with all SoundPEATS ANC models, holding the left bud for a couple of seconds toggles your ANC mode instead (whereas holding the right bud cycles tracks forward). This isn't a deal breaker for me, but I know others bemoan it.
You do have volume control (single tap) but unfortunately there's no option to customise the touch controls, and with even budget brands like QCY and Baseus now offering at least some customisation, it feels a little disappointing that SoundPEATS aren't even trying to address this.
The Air4, from the outside at least, are hardly an imaginative upgrade, and they still suffer from the problem of having a touch control sensor precisely where you need to adjust them if they start to come loose, but turn the bud around and you see a genuine difference. Firstly, the neck has been slightly elongated - an upgrade which, by itself, isn't going to do much, but when combined with a more targeted, narrower but longer nozzle, this has provided the Air4 with far greater stability than the previous iterations. They now not only pass the shake test, but require little additional readjustment if at all. This added stability makes them much better suited to taking out and about on the daily commute, for example. It's not the most original amendment - Apple did the same when they went from AirPod Gen 2 to Gen 3 - but it is most welcome, and I found the fit much more secure when out walking, although I still probably wouldn't run with them other than a light jog if I'm late for the train.
Otherwise, the only other real differences are cosmetic - the driver shroud is now copper-coloured, to match the accents on the back of the case and the SoundPEATS logo on the touch control area, and the section that sits on your ear is shiny rather than matte, but this doesn't detract from the 'grippiness' in any way. The flat ring around the driver nozzle (as opposed to protruding) is another micro-adjustment that has a very minor comfort benefit, and having brought this to SoundPEATS' attention myself in the past, I'm definitely going to fool myself into thinking someone in R&D read that email and thought - 'yeah, that's what I was thinking Regancipher - I'll change that next time around'!
Stems are still 33mm, charge connectors are still at the base, mics are in the same place, etc - evolution rather than revolution. The buds are IPX4 moisture resistant - as always with SoundPEATS buds, this means sweat and rain are fine, but anything else and you may find yourself invalidating the warranty if they go wrong.
It's possible to use the earbuds in single mode - you get stereo sound through the one channel. The earbuds will automatically shut down after three minutes of inactivity.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Air4, like previous SoundPEATS models, use a large dynamic driver (although it has been reduced from 14.2mm to 13mm) but with the SoC being from Qualcomm, instead of offering LDAC the hi-res codec support comes from the Qualcomm stable - namely aptX Lossless, one of the core tenets of the Snapdragon Sound suite. Lossless isn't strictly lossless here - 16bit/44.1kHz transmission is achieved at between 1,100 - 1200kbps, whereas a CD file is 1,411kbps, but it's very close, and beats the highest performing LDAC transmission of 990kbps.
Regardless of codec, the fundamentals to improving sound are via the drivers and the tuning. It's quite evident very quickly that the resolution and imaging are not really improved at all from previous versions. Despite my phone supporting Snapdragon Sound, I don't feel wowed by the texture or precision like I occasionally am with wired IEM's. I do come to expect this, as semi in-ear and wireless are hardly a killer combination for audiophiles, but it feels like the Air4 are just the Air3 Deluxe HS with a slightly different sound signature, and despite the strides SoundPEATS have made in other areas, I'd have liked to have seen a bit of progression here to truly distinguish between the regular and the Lite and demonstrate some genuine progress.
One of the problems with the Air3 DHS was the constrained midrange - in particular the upper mids, which could leave vocals sounding a little whispered. Well, on the Air4 they've gone the other way, with a peak and then drop between 1-2k, before a gradual climb up to around 5k which sustains until around 7kHz before a sharp drop. As a result vocals pop out a lot more than on the A3DHS, but it borders on shrill at times, with higher male vocals in particular.
This profile of sound is a little more like the original Air3, and I guess the idea here was to lift the bass a little and contrast that with greater attack to instruments and percussion and crisper vocals. And it kinda works, most of the time, but when it doesn't, you're left with an imbalanced and slightly awkward sound that benefits hugely from some minor, and some major, adjustments.
On 'Something Got Me Started' by Simply Red, the acoustic guitars come through with good harmonics and a warmer tone, and drums also have decent presence and body. The limitations are more evident when the vocals come in - Mick Hucknall hits as high as B4 in this track, and when he does it's just a bit too overpowering. With the woodwind instruments set too far back, you get an excessively sharp, bordering on shrill impact, which very quickly becomes fatiguing. A deeper voice - Curt Smith from Tears for Fears, for example, sounds much more balanced, and if you like opera, tenors are also better represented.
Female vocals on the other hand pop - Katy Perry on 'California Gurls' has great clarity, and the lisps and gasps in Cecilia Krull's 'My Life Is Going On' translate well to the representation. 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande in particular sounds great - it's not too complicated in terms of arrangement and it plays well to the Air4's strengths, with Ariana's vocal taking centre stage, the bassline coming through quite thick and lots of texture to the percussion.
On a more simple house track like 'Wombass' by Oliver Heldens, the combination works arguably even better - bass is fast, subbass is resonant, midbass is more balanced than the Air3 DHS and the kick drum has body, weight and punch. The coarse trebles work well, giving the illusion of detail as shakers come to the fore, and percussion sounds crispy - but it's on these type of tracks where the Air4, like the original Air3, are by some distance at their most comfortable - introduce complexity into the arrangement and they aren't anywhere near at home. The trebles in particular struggle with separation where you have a variety of clashes, cymbals and other percussive elements, and even on their own can at times sound a shade artificial in terms of their texture.
If you found the Air3 DHS too big a side-step from the rawer-sounding Air3, you'll probably welcome the return to this more energetic sound signature, and despite a just satisfactory staging, they are still a pretty enjoyable listen and can be fine-tuned with the EQ to bring a more natural sound to vocals. Of the presets, 'Pop' is almost a half-way house between the Air3 DHS and Air4, taking a little of the harshness out of trebles and upper mids - for more longevity and less fatigue, give this preset a try. If you're a basshead, maybe try bass boost - the lower frequencies can sound a bit bloated depending on what you're listening to, but this preset also rolls off the harshness of the higher frequencies, whilst retaining energy and drive.
You could also try my custom EQ: 1, -1, -1, -1, 0, 1, 2, -3, -1, 0. It isn't as energetic as SoundPEATS Classic, but it's more balanced and, IMO, makes them a far more palatable listen across each genre, taking the inconsistencies out of the treble and trimming the fat out of the bass.
And by the way, all of these observations are with ANC on - without ANC they are simply unusable. Even with the 'Bass Boost' preset activated, there's simply nowhere near enough depth to the sound. This obviously has implications on the battery life, as we will come to shortly.....
Active Noise Cancellation
Now being late to the party on this review, I've had chance to watch and read some other reviews especially on the ANC, and it doesn't cease to amaze me how many are disappointed by the performance. What exactly are you expecting?! Semi-in-ear style earbuds don't have a seal, and it's the seal which contributes the most in typical ANC buds, especially with the middle and higher frequency environmental sounds. So already, the Air4 are at a huge disadvantage due to their design. And yet, despite this, you can still hear the ANC kicking in immediately, as soon as you put the buds in your ears.
I tested them in a variety of environments - even on a plane, and whilst they aren't ever going to match the effect you get on an IEM-shaped bud, to dismiss it as 'non-existent' is harsh to say the least. If you're expecting them to negate voices or screaming kids, think again - it just isn't going to happen. However, if you're out and about or at home doing work and you get bothered by lower frequency sounds - the sound of engines, aircon or computer fans, then you'll notice these are subdued completely. Subdue is probably the best word to describe ANC - noises aren't cancelled, but they can make your environment much more comfortable, and having experienced this conundrum previously with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, I can honestly say the Air4 are miles ahead of those, for me, with my fit, at least. I've heard of other semi-in-ear models having this feature now - such as Huawei FreeBuds 5 and Edifier W320TN, so it will be an interesting comparison to see how they fare in relation to those models.
In case you were wondering - there's no selectable ambient mode, because there's no seal, so ANC off is the equivalent to your typical passthrough with ANC in-ears.
Call Quality
The Air4 boast 6 mics, which work harmoniously to facilitate the cVc noise reduction native to the Qualcomm chipset. As you'll see in the YouTube review, I tested the Air4 in a bunch of different real life environments - including a commuter train, a busy coffee shop, and outdoors on a windy day. After some initial problems with the mic not activating, the air4 settled down into a solid call performance. The Air4 are, in particular, first-class at negating background noise - only a very strong gust of wind was clearly heard out of all of those scenarios, and you can quite clearly see a couple conversing right next to me on the coffee shop scene, with none of that being relayed through the Air4.
The only drawback is on particularly busy indoor scenes, where your voice can soften a little, and with the boomy nature of the mids already making your voice sound quite bassy, it can leave you a little less coherent than you would like. Even so, it's a huge upgrade from the Air3, a tangible improvement from the Air3 DHS, and probably the best semi-in-ear performer alongside the Edifier W220T.
Features
The Air4 have a host of codecs - AptX-Lossless, AptX-Adaptive, AptX, AAC & SBC. This makes them a great choice if you own a Snapdragon-based Android phone in particular, but if you own a Google Pixel or older phone, you'll still benefit from the presence of AptX. If you're lucky enough to have a newer Snapdragon phone, you'll benefit from superb latency. With gaming mode activated, the Air4 perform well on casual games, only falling a shade short on first-person shooters. Along with the Air3 Pro, this is SoundPEATS' best gaming performance so far.
Multipoint is adequate. It's a bit of a faff to set it up (you need to disconnect from your primary device, then connect to the secondary, then reconnect to the primary) and to initiate you need to pause the primary device and the secondary device plays a second or two later. However, if you then pause the secondary device, playback does not resume on the primary device - I found I had to disconnect and reconnect again. There's no ability to see which devices are connected in the app, unlike the Realme/Oppo/OnePlus range, which is a shame - you may find yourself (like I did) hearing the 'Connected' voice prompt twice and wondering what else you're connected to.
There's no quick charge, no wireless charging, no in-ear detection (unlike the Air3) and no spatial audio, which we've started to see creep into even budget models recently (albeit badly) such as Oppo Enco Air3.
The SoundPEATS app is one we've discussed many times before, and having prioritised stability over features, is reasonably mature albeit a bit lacking. Adaptive EQ is back (and again, didn't really work for me). In case you haven't seen it, it's similar to Soundcore's 'Hear ID', with tones generated at different frequencies, requiring you to tap the screen when you hear something. At the end, you get a hearing curve customised to your hearing, but the reality is less exciting - stick to the equalisers and custom EQ.
The custom EQ section is very useful, with ten bands. It isn't parametric, but it does seem to give you the most customisation at the points where you probably need it the most. If you're on Android, you always have Wavelet to fall back on if you don't want to use the app.
The app also gives you the ability to toggle ANC and gaming mode, and you can also switch off touch controls altogether.
Bluetooth version is 5.3, and when connected to my Sony Xperia 1 IV I got an impressive 15m line of sight - a strong connection performance. Outdoors, even in congested areas, the Air4 seemingly prioritise connection, dropping the quality as opposed to intermittent dropouts when you try and push them to their distance limits.
Battery Life
Some comparisons (advertised):
TrueFree T3 - 7 hours / 28 hours
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro - 6.5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPEATS Air4 - (up to) 6.5 hours / 26 hours
FIIL CC2 - 5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ - 5 hours / 25 hours
Haylou Moripods - 5 hours / 25 hours
Tronsmart Battle - 5 hours / 25 hours
1More Comfobuds 2 - 6 hours / 24 hours
FIIL KEY - 5 hours / 24 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe - 5 hours / 22 hours
QCY T20 - 5.5 hours / 20 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS - 5 hours / 20 hours
QCY T12 - 4 hours / 20 hours
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 - 4 hours / 20 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 - 5 hours / 17.5 hours
Battery life on the Air4 is, on the face of it, very strong - up to 4.5 hours with ANC on, and 6.5 hours with ANC off, with 20 additional hours from the case puts them some way ahead of the Air3 and Air3 DHS. However, in reality, you're not going to use these without ANC on due to the dearth of lower frequency in the sound signature. With ANC on, my readings varied between 4 hours 4 minutes and 4 hours 19 minutes, using aptX-adaptive, 60% volume and taking the odd call. With ANC off, again I got around the advertised, with 5 hours 52 being my shortest and 6 hours 17 minutes being my longest. Semi-in-ear buds have always struggled with battery life, I suspect due to the larger drivers.
Summary
Let's start with the positives. SoundPEATS have basically done exactly what I said they would do in the comments of my review of the Air3 DHS - offer options for different consumers of different primary source devices. The Air4 and Air4 Lite show they aren't afraid to try to cater for everyone. Using the Qualcomm chips - not cheap - is a bold move that benefits in particular Snapdragon-based device owners, and they've integrated some nice features, like multipoint connectivity, lots of codecs and a subtle ANC that is an added bonus for seasoned semi-in-ear connoisseurs. Call Quality is amongst the best in class, and the superb latency performance will be a big benefit to casual gamers.
The problems that ANC has brought, however - diminished battery life and a sound signature that simply isn't viable without it activated, not to mention the inconsistencies in the tuning this has inadvertently introduced, might leave the market wondering if it was really worth it. For me, I think it's a bold and justified experiment, but a big part of me is left wondering what might have been - SoundPEATS still haven't bottomed out ensuring all of the fundamentals are met in the design brief, and an earbud in 2023 without quick charge, in-ear detection and mappable controls feels like SoundPEATS may lose ground with the competition if they aren't careful, in trying to be a little too extravagant.
The sound is good by semi-in-ear standards with a decent weight to lower frequencies when ANC is on. With some adjustments on the EQ, you can get the sound signature to a quite nice state, but it didn't seem that long ago that SoundPEATS were miles ahead of the competition here, and now....well, they are still probably the pick of the budget options, but the gap is closing. By downgrading the driver size and focusing most of the energy into features with this release, it feels a bit like SoundPEATS have accepted critical listening isn't for semi-in-ear wireless buds.....and you can see the logic in that, but it would surely be dangerous to relinquish their lofty position at the top of the budget tree without a fight?!
Despite my protestations, it's still hard to argue against the Air4 once again capturing the hearts and wallets of the budget semi-in-ear crowd - but next time around I'd love to see the evolution improving the audio even more, and adding some of those fundamentals we've been banging on about like Quick Charge and mappable controls.
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
SoundPEATS Engine4
SoundPEATS RunFree Lite
SoundPEATS Life Classic
SoundPEATS Opera05
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro
SoundPEATS H2
SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini
SoundPEATS Air3
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2
SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS T2
SoundPEATS Sonic
About SoundPEATS:
SoundPEATS seem to have become an overnight sensation, wiping up a large portion of budget TWS earbud market share with a business model that has served them (and Anker before them) exceptionally well - good distribution channels (via Amazon), good support, a catchy name and product that performs well at a very competitive price point. In reality, they have been around a long time - whilst Shenzhen SoundSOUL IT Co LTD is a different trading name to Ginto E-Commerce, they share the same business address (including room number) as them - you may know their brand name better as Dudios. With Dudios not sounding quite so cool as Soundpeats, maybe the brand transition has been instrumental in their success, but having been around since 2010 and patents in Bluetooth tech stretching back to 2015, they are not the plucky upstarts that some may think - they know their stuff, have a great network of contacts, and now a very solid brand in Europe, and deservedly so.
The thing that sets SoundPEATS apart from other vendors, and makes them my favourite budget earbud vendor, is that they are completely transparent over their components. Whether they use Realtek, Qualcomm or Airoha chips in their buds, they are totally open about it, and as a reviewer this really helps, because whilst I have, and do, dismantle buds to check the way that certain things have been implemented (such as the power management, mems mics, etc) and I really don't like having to do it with every set of earbuds, because they then become unusable.
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Model: SoundPEATS Air4
Price: £52.79 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC105
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: SoundPEATS
- Model: Air4
- Driver: 13mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3071
- Mic: 6 mics with CvC environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: Yes - approx. 20dB
- Codecs: AAC, SBC, Aptx-Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound
- App Support: Yes
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 4.19g
- Earbud Dimensions: 33.3mm stem, 18.8mm maximum depth
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 38.62g
- Case Dimensions: 54mm {maximum} (width) x 58mm (height) x 24mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 330mAh
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 60 minutes (buds), 90 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 6.5 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 26 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX4
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
After taking the summer off, I've come back to a big pile of the latest and possibly greatest earbuds for 2023, but being a connoisseur of the semi-in-ear style of TWS, I think it's fair to say few were as eagerly anticipated as the SoundPEATS Air4. It's been a busy year for SoundPEATS, with the launch of their sub-brand TrueFree, LDAC re-rubs of their popular models hitting the market, and now the sequel to their esteemed Air3 series in two flavours - the 'Lite', and the regular. Whilst I haven't had chance to check out the Lite yet, I've been testing the Air4 for a good few weeks now, and with semi-in-ear being 'my thing', I've plenty of others on the market to benchmark it against.
Whereas the Lite version mimicked the Capsule3 Pro, Mini Pro HS and others released during 2023 in using the WUQI WQ70XX series chipset, the Air4 has seen SoundPEATS going back to Qualcomm, showcasing the QCC3071chip used previously by Earfun in their disappointing Air Pro 3. Like Earfun, SoundPEATS haven't flexed the full capability of the chip, with LE audio and Google Fast Pair not implemented at this stage. Even so, they've still included some nice features, such as Multipoint connectivity and support for the 'Snapdragon Sound' suite, which includes 'lossless' transmission of up to 44.1kHz/16bit and AptX-voice for wideband voice calls for phones with the Snapdragon 8 processor and above. Most interestingly, they've also decided to implement Active Noise Cancellation, which is dangerous given some will always try to compare the performance with in-ear designs (despite SoundPEATS' protestations otherwise in their marketing material!)
I reviewed the Air3 Deluxe HS a while ago here at Headfi, and have been a huge fan of this range ever since the TrueAir2, but for the first time in the trifecta they've made a notable change to the ergonomics, with the Air4 now more akin to the Apple AirPod 3 than the second generation. Would this somehow scupper SoundPEATS' bid to retain their crown as the best budget Airpod-clone? Read on.....
Unboxing
Since the Air3 Deluxe HS, SoundPEATS have been edging the professionalism and 'premiumness' of their unboxing experience upwards a notch with almost every release, and the Air4 thus follow the Engine4 and Wings2 with a smart outer enclosure that is now punching above the lower-midrange price point at which SoundPEATS typical retail. The SoundPEATS logo and Air4 text have a metallic shimmer, matching the accents on the product itself, and on the back you've got most of the key parameters.
Inside it is the usual fare of SoundPEATS manual and basic USB A-C charge cable. The manual is very good - as always coming in 7 different languages, with text and diagrams used well to convey their simple instructions. You've also got a small booklet telling you how to install and use the SoundPEATS app.
Charge Case
The charge case on the Air4 is instantly recognisable as being from the SoundPEATS stable - it has the matte, mono, two-tone look of the Capsule3 Pro, whilst the green LED resembles that which was used on their bassy in-ear stem release, the SoundPEATS Life. The LED on this case is actually a bit of a disappointment - it's rather dim, difficult to see in well-lit rooms even, but it does the job - letting you know when the case battery is dropping - staying green up until it drops below 50% where it turns amber until you've got below 10%, when it turns red. There's a slightly different percentage alignment when you plug the case in, where amber represents 20-69% whilst charging. You have to say it is pretty weird how they come up with these random numbers, so just follow the colour scheme and you'll be fine, unless you're colour blind....if you are, I don't think I have any answers for you! You've also got a small reset/pairing button on the front, which isn't easy to see here but is much easier to use than the fiddly buttons on the back and side you get with some earbud cases.
I think it would be a stretch to call the case premium-feeling - like most SoundPEATS cases, it's functional, but whether it's built to last the distance is less clear. Even so, it has been in my bag and pocket for the last 4-6 weeks, scratched up with my keys and covered in sun tan lotion on the sunlounger in Rhodes, and unlike the Air3 Case which scuffed up pretty quickly, most of the marks are not really visible. When compared to the Air3 case it is clearly more well-built - the hinge, lid, and general feel to the case are all 'next level up' although admittedly the Air3 case was one of their flimsier efforts.
The hinge to the lid has two positions - open and closed, and there's a hard friction stop at 90 degrees. Open the case and hall-switch mode will immediately trigger the pairing or connection to your last connected device.
In terms of size, SoundPEATS have been increasing the case dimensions steadily since the Air3, but they've also been enhancing battery life too. We've gone from 17 hours on the Air3, to 20 on the Deluxe HS, to up to 26 on the Air4. Just bear in mind if you're using ANC, that will erode a bit quicker. There's no quick charge feature and no wireless charging.
Ergonomics
The Air4 are, like the Air3 series before them, a stem-based semi-in-ear design earbud, which are ideal for those who don't like the invasiveness of silicone tips. SoundPEATS are widely recognised as the budget leader in this area due to their ability to tune their drivers to offer punchy basslines without distortion, something the likes of Edifier and 1More haven't successfully been able to achieve.
The touch control area, denoted by the gold accent and SoundPEATS logo, has increased ever-so-slightly in diameter, with the touch sensor remaining the same. This means they aren't quite so prone to accidental touches, but they're still in a bloody awkward place - exactly the position you will inevitably touch if you need to adjust them. You've got pretty much full control from the earbuds, except track back, because as with all SoundPEATS ANC models, holding the left bud for a couple of seconds toggles your ANC mode instead (whereas holding the right bud cycles tracks forward). This isn't a deal breaker for me, but I know others bemoan it.
You do have volume control (single tap) but unfortunately there's no option to customise the touch controls, and with even budget brands like QCY and Baseus now offering at least some customisation, it feels a little disappointing that SoundPEATS aren't even trying to address this.
The Air4, from the outside at least, are hardly an imaginative upgrade, and they still suffer from the problem of having a touch control sensor precisely where you need to adjust them if they start to come loose, but turn the bud around and you see a genuine difference. Firstly, the neck has been slightly elongated - an upgrade which, by itself, isn't going to do much, but when combined with a more targeted, narrower but longer nozzle, this has provided the Air4 with far greater stability than the previous iterations. They now not only pass the shake test, but require little additional readjustment if at all. This added stability makes them much better suited to taking out and about on the daily commute, for example. It's not the most original amendment - Apple did the same when they went from AirPod Gen 2 to Gen 3 - but it is most welcome, and I found the fit much more secure when out walking, although I still probably wouldn't run with them other than a light jog if I'm late for the train.
Otherwise, the only other real differences are cosmetic - the driver shroud is now copper-coloured, to match the accents on the back of the case and the SoundPEATS logo on the touch control area, and the section that sits on your ear is shiny rather than matte, but this doesn't detract from the 'grippiness' in any way. The flat ring around the driver nozzle (as opposed to protruding) is another micro-adjustment that has a very minor comfort benefit, and having brought this to SoundPEATS' attention myself in the past, I'm definitely going to fool myself into thinking someone in R&D read that email and thought - 'yeah, that's what I was thinking Regancipher - I'll change that next time around'!
Stems are still 33mm, charge connectors are still at the base, mics are in the same place, etc - evolution rather than revolution. The buds are IPX4 moisture resistant - as always with SoundPEATS buds, this means sweat and rain are fine, but anything else and you may find yourself invalidating the warranty if they go wrong.
It's possible to use the earbuds in single mode - you get stereo sound through the one channel. The earbuds will automatically shut down after three minutes of inactivity.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Air4, like previous SoundPEATS models, use a large dynamic driver (although it has been reduced from 14.2mm to 13mm) but with the SoC being from Qualcomm, instead of offering LDAC the hi-res codec support comes from the Qualcomm stable - namely aptX Lossless, one of the core tenets of the Snapdragon Sound suite. Lossless isn't strictly lossless here - 16bit/44.1kHz transmission is achieved at between 1,100 - 1200kbps, whereas a CD file is 1,411kbps, but it's very close, and beats the highest performing LDAC transmission of 990kbps.
Regardless of codec, the fundamentals to improving sound are via the drivers and the tuning. It's quite evident very quickly that the resolution and imaging are not really improved at all from previous versions. Despite my phone supporting Snapdragon Sound, I don't feel wowed by the texture or precision like I occasionally am with wired IEM's. I do come to expect this, as semi in-ear and wireless are hardly a killer combination for audiophiles, but it feels like the Air4 are just the Air3 Deluxe HS with a slightly different sound signature, and despite the strides SoundPEATS have made in other areas, I'd have liked to have seen a bit of progression here to truly distinguish between the regular and the Lite and demonstrate some genuine progress.
One of the problems with the Air3 DHS was the constrained midrange - in particular the upper mids, which could leave vocals sounding a little whispered. Well, on the Air4 they've gone the other way, with a peak and then drop between 1-2k, before a gradual climb up to around 5k which sustains until around 7kHz before a sharp drop. As a result vocals pop out a lot more than on the A3DHS, but it borders on shrill at times, with higher male vocals in particular.
This profile of sound is a little more like the original Air3, and I guess the idea here was to lift the bass a little and contrast that with greater attack to instruments and percussion and crisper vocals. And it kinda works, most of the time, but when it doesn't, you're left with an imbalanced and slightly awkward sound that benefits hugely from some minor, and some major, adjustments.
On 'Something Got Me Started' by Simply Red, the acoustic guitars come through with good harmonics and a warmer tone, and drums also have decent presence and body. The limitations are more evident when the vocals come in - Mick Hucknall hits as high as B4 in this track, and when he does it's just a bit too overpowering. With the woodwind instruments set too far back, you get an excessively sharp, bordering on shrill impact, which very quickly becomes fatiguing. A deeper voice - Curt Smith from Tears for Fears, for example, sounds much more balanced, and if you like opera, tenors are also better represented.
Female vocals on the other hand pop - Katy Perry on 'California Gurls' has great clarity, and the lisps and gasps in Cecilia Krull's 'My Life Is Going On' translate well to the representation. 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande in particular sounds great - it's not too complicated in terms of arrangement and it plays well to the Air4's strengths, with Ariana's vocal taking centre stage, the bassline coming through quite thick and lots of texture to the percussion.
On a more simple house track like 'Wombass' by Oliver Heldens, the combination works arguably even better - bass is fast, subbass is resonant, midbass is more balanced than the Air3 DHS and the kick drum has body, weight and punch. The coarse trebles work well, giving the illusion of detail as shakers come to the fore, and percussion sounds crispy - but it's on these type of tracks where the Air4, like the original Air3, are by some distance at their most comfortable - introduce complexity into the arrangement and they aren't anywhere near at home. The trebles in particular struggle with separation where you have a variety of clashes, cymbals and other percussive elements, and even on their own can at times sound a shade artificial in terms of their texture.
If you found the Air3 DHS too big a side-step from the rawer-sounding Air3, you'll probably welcome the return to this more energetic sound signature, and despite a just satisfactory staging, they are still a pretty enjoyable listen and can be fine-tuned with the EQ to bring a more natural sound to vocals. Of the presets, 'Pop' is almost a half-way house between the Air3 DHS and Air4, taking a little of the harshness out of trebles and upper mids - for more longevity and less fatigue, give this preset a try. If you're a basshead, maybe try bass boost - the lower frequencies can sound a bit bloated depending on what you're listening to, but this preset also rolls off the harshness of the higher frequencies, whilst retaining energy and drive.
You could also try my custom EQ: 1, -1, -1, -1, 0, 1, 2, -3, -1, 0. It isn't as energetic as SoundPEATS Classic, but it's more balanced and, IMO, makes them a far more palatable listen across each genre, taking the inconsistencies out of the treble and trimming the fat out of the bass.
And by the way, all of these observations are with ANC on - without ANC they are simply unusable. Even with the 'Bass Boost' preset activated, there's simply nowhere near enough depth to the sound. This obviously has implications on the battery life, as we will come to shortly.....
Active Noise Cancellation
Now being late to the party on this review, I've had chance to watch and read some other reviews especially on the ANC, and it doesn't cease to amaze me how many are disappointed by the performance. What exactly are you expecting?! Semi-in-ear style earbuds don't have a seal, and it's the seal which contributes the most in typical ANC buds, especially with the middle and higher frequency environmental sounds. So already, the Air4 are at a huge disadvantage due to their design. And yet, despite this, you can still hear the ANC kicking in immediately, as soon as you put the buds in your ears.
I tested them in a variety of environments - even on a plane, and whilst they aren't ever going to match the effect you get on an IEM-shaped bud, to dismiss it as 'non-existent' is harsh to say the least. If you're expecting them to negate voices or screaming kids, think again - it just isn't going to happen. However, if you're out and about or at home doing work and you get bothered by lower frequency sounds - the sound of engines, aircon or computer fans, then you'll notice these are subdued completely. Subdue is probably the best word to describe ANC - noises aren't cancelled, but they can make your environment much more comfortable, and having experienced this conundrum previously with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, I can honestly say the Air4 are miles ahead of those, for me, with my fit, at least. I've heard of other semi-in-ear models having this feature now - such as Huawei FreeBuds 5 and Edifier W320TN, so it will be an interesting comparison to see how they fare in relation to those models.
In case you were wondering - there's no selectable ambient mode, because there's no seal, so ANC off is the equivalent to your typical passthrough with ANC in-ears.
Call Quality
The Air4 boast 6 mics, which work harmoniously to facilitate the cVc noise reduction native to the Qualcomm chipset. As you'll see in the YouTube review, I tested the Air4 in a bunch of different real life environments - including a commuter train, a busy coffee shop, and outdoors on a windy day. After some initial problems with the mic not activating, the air4 settled down into a solid call performance. The Air4 are, in particular, first-class at negating background noise - only a very strong gust of wind was clearly heard out of all of those scenarios, and you can quite clearly see a couple conversing right next to me on the coffee shop scene, with none of that being relayed through the Air4.
The only drawback is on particularly busy indoor scenes, where your voice can soften a little, and with the boomy nature of the mids already making your voice sound quite bassy, it can leave you a little less coherent than you would like. Even so, it's a huge upgrade from the Air3, a tangible improvement from the Air3 DHS, and probably the best semi-in-ear performer alongside the Edifier W220T.
Features
The Air4 have a host of codecs - AptX-Lossless, AptX-Adaptive, AptX, AAC & SBC. This makes them a great choice if you own a Snapdragon-based Android phone in particular, but if you own a Google Pixel or older phone, you'll still benefit from the presence of AptX. If you're lucky enough to have a newer Snapdragon phone, you'll benefit from superb latency. With gaming mode activated, the Air4 perform well on casual games, only falling a shade short on first-person shooters. Along with the Air3 Pro, this is SoundPEATS' best gaming performance so far.
Multipoint is adequate. It's a bit of a faff to set it up (you need to disconnect from your primary device, then connect to the secondary, then reconnect to the primary) and to initiate you need to pause the primary device and the secondary device plays a second or two later. However, if you then pause the secondary device, playback does not resume on the primary device - I found I had to disconnect and reconnect again. There's no ability to see which devices are connected in the app, unlike the Realme/Oppo/OnePlus range, which is a shame - you may find yourself (like I did) hearing the 'Connected' voice prompt twice and wondering what else you're connected to.
There's no quick charge, no wireless charging, no in-ear detection (unlike the Air3) and no spatial audio, which we've started to see creep into even budget models recently (albeit badly) such as Oppo Enco Air3.
The SoundPEATS app is one we've discussed many times before, and having prioritised stability over features, is reasonably mature albeit a bit lacking. Adaptive EQ is back (and again, didn't really work for me). In case you haven't seen it, it's similar to Soundcore's 'Hear ID', with tones generated at different frequencies, requiring you to tap the screen when you hear something. At the end, you get a hearing curve customised to your hearing, but the reality is less exciting - stick to the equalisers and custom EQ.
The custom EQ section is very useful, with ten bands. It isn't parametric, but it does seem to give you the most customisation at the points where you probably need it the most. If you're on Android, you always have Wavelet to fall back on if you don't want to use the app.
The app also gives you the ability to toggle ANC and gaming mode, and you can also switch off touch controls altogether.
Bluetooth version is 5.3, and when connected to my Sony Xperia 1 IV I got an impressive 15m line of sight - a strong connection performance. Outdoors, even in congested areas, the Air4 seemingly prioritise connection, dropping the quality as opposed to intermittent dropouts when you try and push them to their distance limits.
Battery Life
Some comparisons (advertised):
TrueFree T3 - 7 hours / 28 hours
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro - 6.5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPEATS Air4 - (up to) 6.5 hours / 26 hours
FIIL CC2 - 5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ - 5 hours / 25 hours
Haylou Moripods - 5 hours / 25 hours
Tronsmart Battle - 5 hours / 25 hours
1More Comfobuds 2 - 6 hours / 24 hours
FIIL KEY - 5 hours / 24 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe - 5 hours / 22 hours
QCY T20 - 5.5 hours / 20 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS - 5 hours / 20 hours
QCY T12 - 4 hours / 20 hours
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 - 4 hours / 20 hours
SoundPEATS Air3 - 5 hours / 17.5 hours
Battery life on the Air4 is, on the face of it, very strong - up to 4.5 hours with ANC on, and 6.5 hours with ANC off, with 20 additional hours from the case puts them some way ahead of the Air3 and Air3 DHS. However, in reality, you're not going to use these without ANC on due to the dearth of lower frequency in the sound signature. With ANC on, my readings varied between 4 hours 4 minutes and 4 hours 19 minutes, using aptX-adaptive, 60% volume and taking the odd call. With ANC off, again I got around the advertised, with 5 hours 52 being my shortest and 6 hours 17 minutes being my longest. Semi-in-ear buds have always struggled with battery life, I suspect due to the larger drivers.
Summary
Let's start with the positives. SoundPEATS have basically done exactly what I said they would do in the comments of my review of the Air3 DHS - offer options for different consumers of different primary source devices. The Air4 and Air4 Lite show they aren't afraid to try to cater for everyone. Using the Qualcomm chips - not cheap - is a bold move that benefits in particular Snapdragon-based device owners, and they've integrated some nice features, like multipoint connectivity, lots of codecs and a subtle ANC that is an added bonus for seasoned semi-in-ear connoisseurs. Call Quality is amongst the best in class, and the superb latency performance will be a big benefit to casual gamers.
The problems that ANC has brought, however - diminished battery life and a sound signature that simply isn't viable without it activated, not to mention the inconsistencies in the tuning this has inadvertently introduced, might leave the market wondering if it was really worth it. For me, I think it's a bold and justified experiment, but a big part of me is left wondering what might have been - SoundPEATS still haven't bottomed out ensuring all of the fundamentals are met in the design brief, and an earbud in 2023 without quick charge, in-ear detection and mappable controls feels like SoundPEATS may lose ground with the competition if they aren't careful, in trying to be a little too extravagant.
The sound is good by semi-in-ear standards with a decent weight to lower frequencies when ANC is on. With some adjustments on the EQ, you can get the sound signature to a quite nice state, but it didn't seem that long ago that SoundPEATS were miles ahead of the competition here, and now....well, they are still probably the pick of the budget options, but the gap is closing. By downgrading the driver size and focusing most of the energy into features with this release, it feels a bit like SoundPEATS have accepted critical listening isn't for semi-in-ear wireless buds.....and you can see the logic in that, but it would surely be dangerous to relinquish their lofty position at the top of the budget tree without a fight?!
Despite my protestations, it's still hard to argue against the Air4 once again capturing the hearts and wallets of the budget semi-in-ear crowd - but next time around I'd love to see the evolution improving the audio even more, and adding some of those fundamentals we've been banging on about like Quick Charge and mappable controls.
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
SoundPEATS Engine4
SoundPEATS RunFree Lite
SoundPEATS Life Classic
SoundPEATS Opera05
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro
SoundPEATS H2
SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini
SoundPEATS Air3
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2
SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS T2
SoundPEATS Sonic
About SoundPEATS:
SoundPEATS seem to have become an overnight sensation, wiping up a large portion of budget TWS earbud market share with a business model that has served them (and Anker before them) exceptionally well - good distribution channels (via Amazon), good support, a catchy name and product that performs well at a very competitive price point. In reality, they have been around a long time - whilst Shenzhen SoundSOUL IT Co LTD is a different trading name to Ginto E-Commerce, they share the same business address (including room number) as them - you may know their brand name better as Dudios. With Dudios not sounding quite so cool as Soundpeats, maybe the brand transition has been instrumental in their success, but having been around since 2010 and patents in Bluetooth tech stretching back to 2015, they are not the plucky upstarts that some may think - they know their stuff, have a great network of contacts, and now a very solid brand in Europe, and deservedly so.
The thing that sets SoundPEATS apart from other vendors, and makes them my favourite budget earbud vendor, is that they are completely transparent over their components. Whether they use Realtek, Qualcomm or Airoha chips in their buds, they are totally open about it, and as a reviewer this really helps, because whilst I have, and do, dismantle buds to check the way that certain things have been implemented (such as the power management, mems mics, etc) and I really don't like having to do it with every set of earbuds, because they then become unusable.
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Already using Air3 for more than 6 months, I'll wait for Air5 instead, right?
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: TrueFree T3
Price: MSRP £19.99 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC104
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Not content with releasing the heavy churn of earbuds under the SoundPEATS brand, the Shenzhen Ginto E-Commerce Company have added a budget moniker to their portfolio, and they didn't have to take too long to think about the name either! Today, we're taking a look at an interesting-looking semi-in-ear bud, the TrueFree T3.
I'm not sure whether the lack of imagination over the naming convention (or the brand for that matter) is deliberate or not, but it did make searching for additional content an impossible task without inverted colons!! The disconnect between the two brands hasn't been clarified yet, but as I see it, it seems TrueFree will be handling some of the more budget options - the T3 are definitely that, and as with many SoundPEATS releases, they are a pleasant surprise, offering a no-frills, 'do the basics well' option without too many features.
At £19.99 (with an additional 5% off via a voucher currently) they represent cracking value for money, and are definitely an option if you're in the market for a semi in-ear bud with a tight budget.
Unboxing
Unboxing the T3 feels like a trip back in time to Dudios and even some of SoundPEATS' early releases - even the manual has shades of the SoundPEATS brand, and it's in seven different languages, too, using diagrams and text to familiar, but expert effect.
The front of the box spells out the key features - 13mm bio-coated dynamic drivers, AI ENC for calls and up to 28 hours battery life. The back gives you a few other parameters, all of which are listed (and more) at the top of this review.
It's very much a 'no-frills' approach to the unboxing, that reduces unnecessary packaging and keeps you down to the bare essentials.
Charge Case
The T3 charge case is tiny, with a nice friction hinge that opens out to around 85 degrees, and has hall-switch mode, meaning they connect to your device as soon as you open the case. There's a small lip at the front that allows the case to be flipped open with your thumbnail, and due to this combination of features, single-handed operation is not only possible, but essential. Measuring 5cm x 5cm x 2.5cm and weighing just over 35g fully-loaded, it's a really portable case that can disappear in your trouser pockets nicely and not disturb you or look odd through excessive protrusion.
There's an LED at the front representing battery life, and when you shut the case it will glow depending on how much battery is remaining. It seems to have a red-amber-green configuration, and although I haven't managed to obliterate the battery enough to determine whether it does eventually go red, I think it's a fair assumption.
The top of the case is semi-transparent, allowing you to see the top of the buds in full glory, and the case for the most part feels pretty solid - it's more robust than the SoundPEATS Air3 case, and whilst it is slightly bigger in terms of depth, it is functionally and aesthetically a much more suitable option than the former.
The USB-C socket is located on the bottom, and it gives three additional full charges. It takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, there's no quick charge feature and no wireless charging.
The buds slot into the top with the bases facing down and the nozzles facing outwards. This cigarette-box-style design is convenient for buds of this ilk, and overall using the case with the buds is a no-nonsense affair that translates well into everyday usage.
Ergonomics
The T3 are semi-in-ear style earbuds which, the colour scheme and semi-transparent shells aside, have more than a hint of the Apple Airpod Gen 3 about them, with a 33.8mm stem and a large neck with deep curvature to allow the oversized nozzles to rest just outside your ear canal. The opening is, by semi-in-ear standards, pretty large, suiting the 13mm dynamic drivers well. The battery connectors are bevelled and sit in the base of the buds.
Whilst, at only 3.5g each, they are lightweight, TrueFree have got the weight displacement just right. They don't feel uncomfortable like the QCY T20 did after a while, with no unsightly thick edges.
Look closely into the shells and you'll see the Jieli logo on the mainboard, signifying the 6972 Bluetooth 5.3-ready chipset. At the top of the stem, you've got a fingertip -sized and -shaped touch control area, and this makes it much easier to use and less prone to accidental touches than something like the SoundPEATS Air3, which could easily set the volume controls off if you needed to make a minor adjustment, and far better than the QCY T20, which had the least sensitive controls of all time!
The stability of this design is very good. Even with talking and a brisk walk, there's little movement. To get a secure fit, I have to tilt the earbuds upwards ever so slightly. It's the same on the Airpod 3 too - damn my weirdly narrow ear canals! I took them out for my daily walk/Duolingo session, picking up the pace periodically, and other than the occasional micro-adjustment, I didn't really have to think about them. Whilst they do pass the shake test, I don't think they will stay in your ears too long with heavy movement - well, they don't in mine anyway, but if you have the anatomy that allows you to run with Airpods then you'll probably be OK here - and with an IPX4 rating, you'll be fine with a bit of light rain or sweat from workouts.
We haven't addressed the colour scheme yet - bright orange is definitely going to divide opinion, but as a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter, I'm used to all shades of orange over the years, so it's no issue to me. In fact, it slightly-better colour-co-ordinates me on matchdays, but if you don't like orange...….well, let's see if TrueFree bring more colours to the table in the future, as currently you have only this as an option. One of the positives of this is you will almost certainly be less prone to losing them than monochrome colours, which can be easy to misplace and difficult to locate quickly.
Audio & Sound Signature
The T3, like the QCY T20, appear almost completely devoid of lower frequency response on the graphs, but it is worth remembering that this is largely determined by their design. Were you to push the earbuds right into your ears, you'd hear that they aren't tuned without any bass at all, it's just that by the time the sound makes its way into your ear canals, much of the impact of the lower frequencies has dissipated.
The T3 carry a little more presence, especially in the midbass. The bump at 100-150Hz boosts the bass harmonics, although never detracting from vocals which come through clearly front and centre. On 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande, the wasp-style sound that accompanies the verses definitely lacks the 'warp' which vibrates through you on bass-centric IEM's, and both her and Nicky Minaj's vocals take centre stage. Percussion has some texture but lacks detail, and the dip between 3-7k blunts things a little, with the energy of kick drums somewhat subdued.
On 'Everybody wants to rule the world' by Tears for Fears, there's a strong emphasis to synths and guitars, and vocals are given sufficient space to breath without blending into the acoustics. On rock and guitar tracks, the T3 particularly excel, with the drop-off in the trebles ensuring they never border on fatiguing, despite sounding a little thin overall. Even so, it is a more palatable sound over long periods than something like the QCY T20 - a similarly priced, similarly shaped bud with the same chipset - which could sometimes sound a little too bright.
Call Quality
Calls on the T3 are a welcome surprise. As always, I tested them both indoor and outdoor in busy scenes. Indoors, they are reasonably effective at nullifying ambient sound and lifting your voice somewhat. You can still hear the indistinct sounds around you, but the AI noise reduction isn't excessively powerful, and as a result most of what you say comes through quite coherently.
Outdoors, as always, the performance is better. Your voice is softened a little, but gentle breeze, traffic and engine noises are handled better than other voices. Your voice comes across with good weight and quite accurate tone. For calls, the T3 definitely punch above their weight at the price.
Features
The T3 use the Jieli 6973 Bluetooth 5.3 chipset, and I got very good stability over the course of my week-long testing period. Range is around 10m.
There is no app support on this model, so if you want to adjust the EQ, you're stuck with Wavelet on Android, or not at all an IOS. This is one of the compromises with this budget range, sadly. You are also stuck with the controls, although this is unquestionably a good thing - you've got the traditional SoundPEATS setup, with single tap adjusting volume, holding for 1.5s cycling through tracks, double tap for play and pause, triple tap right for voice assistant and left for gaming mode.
The addition of gaming mode is definitely welcome. Lip sync is OK without it, but activate it and your videos are spot on. For professional PUBG officionados you might find it falling a little short of the required latency level, but for casual gamers like myself it was adequate enough on my Sony Xperia 1 IV.
Battery Life
Battery life is actually quite good - certainly better than the Air3/TrueAir2 series. I got around 6 hours on the first go, and just under 6 on the second with a few calls. Volume for me is comfortable at around 70-80%, which explains the slight discrepancy over the factory-tested advertised.
You get an additional three charges from the case, which is great, and it takes around 90-120 minutes to charge from flat. There's no quick charge feature, and no wireless charging.
Semi-in-ear buds traditionally have a slightly weaker battery performance than in-ear, and the T3 compare favourably with their competition in this respect:
Some comparisons:
TrueFree T3 - 7 hours / 28 hours
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro - 6.5 hours / 27 hours
FIIL CC2 - 5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPeats TrueAir2+ - 5 hours / 25 hours
Haylou Moripods - 5 hours / 25 hours
Tronsmart Battle - 5 hours / 25 hours
1More Comfobuds 2 - 6 hours / 24 hours
FIIL KEY - 5 hours / 24 hours
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe - 5 hours / 22 hours
QCY T20 - 5.5 hours / 20 hours
QCY T12 - 4 hours / 20 hours
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 - 4 hours / 20 hours
SoundPeats Air3 - 5 hours / 17.5 hours
Summary
Overall, I think the T3 is a pretty good option if you are in the market for a semi-in-ear bud that feels and wears like the Airpod Gen 3. The T3 are a great backup pair of buds, doing all the basics well - they sound good enough for the money, perform well on calls and have great ergonomics. Their battery life is decent and the case is highly portable.
Sure, they lack a number of bells and whistles, but sometimes that's preferable to a pair with a dodgy app, suspect in-ear detection and spotty connectivity.
This is released around the same time as the Air4 is about to hit the market, and it will be interesting to see how successful it is as a result, but for me they've very quickly become a spare pair to have in the bag to get me out of jail when my main buds' battery has gone or I've forgotten to charge them - and they haven't let me down so far.
Price Weighted Score: 80%
Raw Score: 74%
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Model: TrueFree T3
Price: MSRP £19.99 - Amazon UK
Review Reference: RC104
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: TrueFree
- Model: T3
- Driver: 13mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Jieli AD6973D
- Mic: 4 mics with AI environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: No
- Multipoint: No
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 3.47g
- Earbud Dimensions: 33.8mm stem, 19.5mm maximum depth
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 36.82g
- Case Dimensions: 50mm {maximum} (width) x 50mm (height) x 25.7mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 300mAh
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: approx. 60 minutes (buds), 90 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 7 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 28 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX4
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Not content with releasing the heavy churn of earbuds under the SoundPEATS brand, the Shenzhen Ginto E-Commerce Company have added a budget moniker to their portfolio, and they didn't have to take too long to think about the name either! Today, we're taking a look at an interesting-looking semi-in-ear bud, the TrueFree T3.
I'm not sure whether the lack of imagination over the naming convention (or the brand for that matter) is deliberate or not, but it did make searching for additional content an impossible task without inverted colons!! The disconnect between the two brands hasn't been clarified yet, but as I see it, it seems TrueFree will be handling some of the more budget options - the T3 are definitely that, and as with many SoundPEATS releases, they are a pleasant surprise, offering a no-frills, 'do the basics well' option without too many features.
At £19.99 (with an additional 5% off via a voucher currently) they represent cracking value for money, and are definitely an option if you're in the market for a semi in-ear bud with a tight budget.
Unboxing
Unboxing the T3 feels like a trip back in time to Dudios and even some of SoundPEATS' early releases - even the manual has shades of the SoundPEATS brand, and it's in seven different languages, too, using diagrams and text to familiar, but expert effect.
The front of the box spells out the key features - 13mm bio-coated dynamic drivers, AI ENC for calls and up to 28 hours battery life. The back gives you a few other parameters, all of which are listed (and more) at the top of this review.
It's very much a 'no-frills' approach to the unboxing, that reduces unnecessary packaging and keeps you down to the bare essentials.
Charge Case
The T3 charge case is tiny, with a nice friction hinge that opens out to around 85 degrees, and has hall-switch mode, meaning they connect to your device as soon as you open the case. There's a small lip at the front that allows the case to be flipped open with your thumbnail, and due to this combination of features, single-handed operation is not only possible, but essential. Measuring 5cm x 5cm x 2.5cm and weighing just over 35g fully-loaded, it's a really portable case that can disappear in your trouser pockets nicely and not disturb you or look odd through excessive protrusion.
There's an LED at the front representing battery life, and when you shut the case it will glow depending on how much battery is remaining. It seems to have a red-amber-green configuration, and although I haven't managed to obliterate the battery enough to determine whether it does eventually go red, I think it's a fair assumption.
The top of the case is semi-transparent, allowing you to see the top of the buds in full glory, and the case for the most part feels pretty solid - it's more robust than the SoundPEATS Air3 case, and whilst it is slightly bigger in terms of depth, it is functionally and aesthetically a much more suitable option than the former.
The USB-C socket is located on the bottom, and it gives three additional full charges. It takes around 90 minutes for a full charge, there's no quick charge feature and no wireless charging.
The buds slot into the top with the bases facing down and the nozzles facing outwards. This cigarette-box-style design is convenient for buds of this ilk, and overall using the case with the buds is a no-nonsense affair that translates well into everyday usage.
Ergonomics
The T3 are semi-in-ear style earbuds which, the colour scheme and semi-transparent shells aside, have more than a hint of the Apple Airpod Gen 3 about them, with a 33.8mm stem and a large neck with deep curvature to allow the oversized nozzles to rest just outside your ear canal. The opening is, by semi-in-ear standards, pretty large, suiting the 13mm dynamic drivers well. The battery connectors are bevelled and sit in the base of the buds.
Whilst, at only 3.5g each, they are lightweight, TrueFree have got the weight displacement just right. They don't feel uncomfortable like the QCY T20 did after a while, with no unsightly thick edges.
Look closely into the shells and you'll see the Jieli logo on the mainboard, signifying the 6972 Bluetooth 5.3-ready chipset. At the top of the stem, you've got a fingertip -sized and -shaped touch control area, and this makes it much easier to use and less prone to accidental touches than something like the SoundPEATS Air3, which could easily set the volume controls off if you needed to make a minor adjustment, and far better than the QCY T20, which had the least sensitive controls of all time!
The stability of this design is very good. Even with talking and a brisk walk, there's little movement. To get a secure fit, I have to tilt the earbuds upwards ever so slightly. It's the same on the Airpod 3 too - damn my weirdly narrow ear canals! I took them out for my daily walk/Duolingo session, picking up the pace periodically, and other than the occasional micro-adjustment, I didn't really have to think about them. Whilst they do pass the shake test, I don't think they will stay in your ears too long with heavy movement - well, they don't in mine anyway, but if you have the anatomy that allows you to run with Airpods then you'll probably be OK here - and with an IPX4 rating, you'll be fine with a bit of light rain or sweat from workouts.
We haven't addressed the colour scheme yet - bright orange is definitely going to divide opinion, but as a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter, I'm used to all shades of orange over the years, so it's no issue to me. In fact, it slightly-better colour-co-ordinates me on matchdays, but if you don't like orange...….well, let's see if TrueFree bring more colours to the table in the future, as currently you have only this as an option. One of the positives of this is you will almost certainly be less prone to losing them than monochrome colours, which can be easy to misplace and difficult to locate quickly.
Audio & Sound Signature
The T3, like the QCY T20, appear almost completely devoid of lower frequency response on the graphs, but it is worth remembering that this is largely determined by their design. Were you to push the earbuds right into your ears, you'd hear that they aren't tuned without any bass at all, it's just that by the time the sound makes its way into your ear canals, much of the impact of the lower frequencies has dissipated.
The T3 carry a little more presence, especially in the midbass. The bump at 100-150Hz boosts the bass harmonics, although never detracting from vocals which come through clearly front and centre. On 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande, the wasp-style sound that accompanies the verses definitely lacks the 'warp' which vibrates through you on bass-centric IEM's, and both her and Nicky Minaj's vocals take centre stage. Percussion has some texture but lacks detail, and the dip between 3-7k blunts things a little, with the energy of kick drums somewhat subdued.
On 'Everybody wants to rule the world' by Tears for Fears, there's a strong emphasis to synths and guitars, and vocals are given sufficient space to breath without blending into the acoustics. On rock and guitar tracks, the T3 particularly excel, with the drop-off in the trebles ensuring they never border on fatiguing, despite sounding a little thin overall. Even so, it is a more palatable sound over long periods than something like the QCY T20 - a similarly priced, similarly shaped bud with the same chipset - which could sometimes sound a little too bright.
Call Quality
Calls on the T3 are a welcome surprise. As always, I tested them both indoor and outdoor in busy scenes. Indoors, they are reasonably effective at nullifying ambient sound and lifting your voice somewhat. You can still hear the indistinct sounds around you, but the AI noise reduction isn't excessively powerful, and as a result most of what you say comes through quite coherently.
Outdoors, as always, the performance is better. Your voice is softened a little, but gentle breeze, traffic and engine noises are handled better than other voices. Your voice comes across with good weight and quite accurate tone. For calls, the T3 definitely punch above their weight at the price.
Features
The T3 use the Jieli 6973 Bluetooth 5.3 chipset, and I got very good stability over the course of my week-long testing period. Range is around 10m.
There is no app support on this model, so if you want to adjust the EQ, you're stuck with Wavelet on Android, or not at all an IOS. This is one of the compromises with this budget range, sadly. You are also stuck with the controls, although this is unquestionably a good thing - you've got the traditional SoundPEATS setup, with single tap adjusting volume, holding for 1.5s cycling through tracks, double tap for play and pause, triple tap right for voice assistant and left for gaming mode.
The addition of gaming mode is definitely welcome. Lip sync is OK without it, but activate it and your videos are spot on. For professional PUBG officionados you might find it falling a little short of the required latency level, but for casual gamers like myself it was adequate enough on my Sony Xperia 1 IV.
Battery Life
Battery life is actually quite good - certainly better than the Air3/TrueAir2 series. I got around 6 hours on the first go, and just under 6 on the second with a few calls. Volume for me is comfortable at around 70-80%, which explains the slight discrepancy over the factory-tested advertised.
You get an additional three charges from the case, which is great, and it takes around 90-120 minutes to charge from flat. There's no quick charge feature, and no wireless charging.
Semi-in-ear buds traditionally have a slightly weaker battery performance than in-ear, and the T3 compare favourably with their competition in this respect:
Some comparisons:
TrueFree T3 - 7 hours / 28 hours
Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro - 6.5 hours / 27 hours
FIIL CC2 - 5 hours / 27 hours
SoundPeats TrueAir2+ - 5 hours / 25 hours
Haylou Moripods - 5 hours / 25 hours
Tronsmart Battle - 5 hours / 25 hours
1More Comfobuds 2 - 6 hours / 24 hours
FIIL KEY - 5 hours / 24 hours
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe - 5 hours / 22 hours
QCY T20 - 5.5 hours / 20 hours
QCY T12 - 4 hours / 20 hours
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 - 4 hours / 20 hours
SoundPeats Air3 - 5 hours / 17.5 hours
Summary
Overall, I think the T3 is a pretty good option if you are in the market for a semi-in-ear bud that feels and wears like the Airpod Gen 3. The T3 are a great backup pair of buds, doing all the basics well - they sound good enough for the money, perform well on calls and have great ergonomics. Their battery life is decent and the case is highly portable.
Sure, they lack a number of bells and whistles, but sometimes that's preferable to a pair with a dodgy app, suspect in-ear detection and spotty connectivity.
This is released around the same time as the Air4 is about to hit the market, and it will be interesting to see how successful it is as a result, but for me they've very quickly become a spare pair to have in the bag to get me out of jail when my main buds' battery has gone or I've forgotten to charge them - and they haven't let me down so far.
Price Weighted Score: 80%
Raw Score: 74%
sofastreamer
mine have a pretty neutral soundsignature. if you know shure se535 soundsignature, you get an idea of it. technicalities are no comparison tho. even subbass is absolutely fine for me, tested with Hans Zimmer Why so serious. i paid 7 EUR an prime day, and soundwise, plus long battery live it wont get much better even if you pay 100 for a semi inear. i got a lot of different pairs of these kind of headphones, even the Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS dont come even close in sound. the t3 is much much wider and deeper in soundstage, more neutral, less wooly, better seperation and imaging and a less wonky frequency response. these are my audiogear of the year, even though i bought much much more expansive headphones too. the t3 are no giant killers by any means, and my more expensive sets are well worth it, but if someone tells me i could just listen with the t3 for the rest of my life i wouldnt jump of a building.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Socials: Biolink
Model: OneOdio OpenRock Pro
Price: MSRP £119.99 - currently £89.99 from Amazon UK
Website: AliExpress
Review Reference: RC103
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x User Manual: 9 different languages
1 x Quick Wear Guide
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Sports-focused open ear buds seem to be all the rage at the moment, with even the budget vendors making headway into this market and adding them into their portfolio. My next review after this is probably going to be the SoundPEATS Wings2, we've seen the Haylou Purfree Buds in my previous reviews, QCY have their Crossky GTR, and of course there are the OG Oladance Open Ear and the pretenders to the crown, the new Shokz Openfit.
The OneOdio OpenRock Pro have been around a few months now, and with a fairly hefty price tag (MSRP £119.99) expectations are rather high for this release. I've been testing them over the course of the last few weeks across a number of activities - here's what I thought of them.
Unboxing
OneOdio unboxings are typically quite impressive, and the OpenRock Pro are no exception. In a yellow and black enclosure that has a hint of 'Poco' about it, the case and cable are held in with a foam inlay and the manuals and warranty card sit on top. These kind of earbuds don't tend to have too many accessories other than a charge cable, and the user manual, which comes in 9 different languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Polish. Everything in the manuals is very clear and they've used diagrams to pretty good effect here.
It isn't quite up there with the Haylou Purfree Buds as far as unboxings go, but it will do.
Charge Case
The clamshell style case is certainly different. The black plastic clamshell style design even looks a bit like a shell, with the lined outer edges adding a bit of friction to prevent it slipping out of your hand. It's a bit of a beast at around 7x5x4cm and just shy of 90g fully loaded. Put it this way - you won't be taking this case out with you on a run unless you want it to be a weighted one! The case is held narrow-way facing you, the OpenRock logo side. Flip it open and you'll immediately notice there's no friction on the hinge until you get to full extension, where it has a double-latch effect. Shake it hard enough, and that hinge will unfortunately slam shut. Due to the shape, where OneOdio have tried to reduce the overall dimensions by adding curvature to the edges, it won't stand on the desk - hence the picture above. Instead, you have to hold with one hand and remove the buds with the other. The case gives you plenty of room to unhook them, and away you go.
I've tried a few different releases of this ilk, and nobody has really come up with a consistent, winning case configuration in any of their products really - each has their pros and cons. The OpenRock Pro case is durable and hard-wearing, if not the most portable approach, but removing the buds is a little easier than, say the Haylou Purfree Buds, which operates more like a glasses case, lying the buds flat.
The case does give an impressive level of charge though. The buds are capable of around 19 hours playback - and even with the odd call I wasn't too far short of this - and the case takes that up even further to a total of 46 hours. There's a quick charge feature giving you an extra hour of playtime from 5 minutes juice, and OneOdio also supply a travel sleeve so you can at least pack them away if you're on a bike ride and you decide you don't want to listen any more - you can switch them off by long pressing the buttons.
On the bottom of the case you'll find a USB-C socket (there's no wireless charging) and an LED, which gives you indications of the battery level when charging and when not. When charging, you'll get a red pulse when it's below 20%, a red and green simultaneous pulse when 21-50%, pulsing green when 51-99% and then solid green when it's fully charged, and there's a similar configuration when it isn't charging that makes it very straightforward to learn how much battery you have remaining.
Ergonomics
Plenty of thought has gone into the OpenRock Pro, and as a result it is both very comfortable and extremely secure. The buds measure around 57mm at their widest and around 47mm high, and weigh in at 12.8g. That may sound heavy, but it's identical to the Oladance equivalent and only slightly heavier than the Haylou. They feel extremely lightweight until you start moving, and their mass is a big benefit at this point because there's no movement whatsoever, regardless of how rigorous you're moving around.
As you see above, the units are predominantly plastic, save for a flexible area around the top which allows you some minor adjustment if they don't sit perfect on your ear. I have averagely-large ears as a 43 year old male, and didn't need any adjustment personally, but it's there if you need it, and this could come in handy particularly if you're not getting the most out of the 16.2mm drivers. These drivers are spread over a single cylindrical area as opposed to the multiple points you see on some others, but this doesn't seem to really make any difference either way.
On the main body underneath the OpenRock logo, you will find the control buttons. Yep - there's no touch controls here thankfully, they are physical, tactile buttons. They do feel a little cheap admittedly, but it's still a far better solution than touch controls, and they have made them light enough that you don't have to fiddle around too much while you're moving. Pressing the button once operates play or pause, pressing the left ear twice turns the volume down and the right ear twice turns it up, whilst progressing songs is done by holding the respective button for a couple of seconds. Triple tapping the button hails your voice assistant. It takes a little getting used to, but I like that OneOdio haven't tried to overcomplicate it and are giving you all the basic controls you're going to need, even if in practice whichever solution vendors go for isn't going to be perfect when you're running.
I did wonder beforehand if the predominant use of hard plastic would result in the buds wearing a bit bulky or looking a tad intrusive, but this isn't the case at all. OneOdio seem to have got the dimensions pretty much spot on. The OpenRock Pro are extremely comfortable for long periods of time, and they pass the shake test with flying colours. I even used them doing ab exercises, where I'd be tilting my head back on the mat a fair bit, and they stayed in place a little better than the Haylou. Whether you could wear them under a motorcycle helmet is perhaps a little questionable, and they aren't as good for side sleepers as the Purfree Buds, but for running, cycling, hiking and use at the gym, the OpenRock Pro are ideal, and their IPX5 rating improves on the likes of the Oladance, which tops out at a slightly disappointing IPX4.
Here you can see how each of the vendors have taken an alternative route. For me, the Haylou (middle) have a better hook - made from titanium alloy and a soft rubberised edge, there's a little more maleability to them, and they feel a little more gentle on your ears, but the main control area is better on the OpenRock Pro, keeping a similar if not improved level of thinness to the profile without jutting outwards. The Haylou can look a little awkward at times, whereas the OpenRock wear a bit more intuitively, and don't make your ears stick out quite as much.
The build quality is good, and comfort is very good too. You've got some flexibility in the hooks and they wear well with sunglasses, so absolutely nothing to complain about the ergonomics at least. The only minor quibble could be the aesthetics - my ears are a little longer than average, so the slightly 80's-looking black and grey 'bluetooth headset'-esque look probably doesn't resonate as much as it does on smaller ears. I've seen some pictures where it seems to take over the wearers entire ear, and the silver panel is a little cheap looking under close scrutiny. It probably isn't going to win first prize in a beauty contest, so if this is a major thing to you check the pictures carefully, but for me at least I don't think they look too bad.
Audio
OneOdio have combined large, 16.2mm drivers with the AptX codec and their 'TrueBass' technology, and the result is, by open ear standards, fairly impressive. With open-ear designs, the focus in slightly different to TWS or IEMs, because there's also the form factor to consider - the drivers will be set back from your ear canal somewhat, and as a manufacturer you want to give users a tuning that balances appropriate acoustics and loudness with the requisite situational awareness for the specific use cases.
With the OpenRock Pro, the balance is about right. It's a v-shaped sound signature, with slightly muted vocals and harmonics and a warmer tone, with a fullness to lower frequencies. Uncharacteristically for open ear designs, you get a fair bit of oomph to kick drums and darker tones come through emphatically in electronic synths. There's also decent balance to the trebles, with percussive elements retaining texture and presence without ever sounding harsh, even on higher volumes. Whilst the bass is arguably a bit too strong when you're listening in silence, when you're out on a run or on the bike, this is where the OpenRock Pro sound signature shines - it's much more engaging than the Haylou Purfree Buds, sounding much less thin as a result. The trebles are rolled off a little, and this works really well, because out of the box you really don't want something etched and coarse - this is an absolute no-no, but many vendors don't necessarily follow that mantra.
The soundstage is quite nice too. It isn't as wide and open as the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, for example, but there's far better layering and dimension than most open ear offerings. OneOdio have favoured getting those lower frequencies across strongly without bordering on distortion, and in that respect it is mission accomplished. In my experience, this kind of tuning works really well for this type of earbud, because it retains plenty of energy and guards against fatigue.
The only blot on the copybook is the slightly-low maximum volume - like the Haylou Purfree Buds, it's perhaps a notch or two short of being perfect in all conditions. I took the OpenRock Pro out on the bike near Gatwick Airport, and the mixture of traffic and aircraft noises around the A23 left my audiobook a little incoherent even on maximum volume. You are also deprived of the ability to customise the sound, because OneOdio doesn't have app support. Of course, you can use Wavelet on Android, and there's some merit in that, but overall I think they've done a decent job with the tuning that won't have you desperately trying to EQ them.
So as far as open ear products go, it's one of the most impressive tunings out of the box I've tested so far.
Call Quality
Call quality on the OpenRock Pro probably wasn't their priority, but it's actually rather effective. Outdoors in particular, it handles traffic and general commuting noises pretty well, and whilst wind can take your call off course a fair bit, this is the case with most TWS, let alone open ear ones. The ambient noise reduction works well in this environment, taking the edge off engine noises and only really struggling with sirens and alarms. Outdoor calls are definitely possible - it's far better than something like the SoundPEATS RunFree Lite, for example.
Indoors, you can sense very quickly that the noise reduction wasn't tuned with a busy coffee shop or office in mind. Whilst calls aren't impossible, the NR battles to work out whether it is your voice or the incoherent chatter around you that needs to be dulled, and as a result your voice, whilst still elevated, is softened a little bit, making it hard to decipher every word. Even so, your voice comes across with a fairly natural weight and tone, it just isn't quite sharp enough to make them ideal for calling in a way the better performing TWS do.
You can also control volume with the physical buttons whilst on a call, which is a nice touch, and isn't always the case. I
Battery Life
The advertised 19 hour battery life on the OpenRock Pro almost knocked me for six - were they really going to over DOUBLE the battery life of the Haylou, almost TRIPLE the original Cleer Ally Arc and SMASH the 16 hours on the Oladance?!
Yes, they actually did! They didn't quite hit the heights of the advertised - using the aptX codec on Android on maximum volume with a few calls in there, I got a few minutes over 15 hours - still way more than the competition and incredibly respectable as an audio device of any description.
The case features a handy quick charge feature too, giving you can additional 1 hour of playtime from 5 minutes in the case, and the total playtime - 46 hours - is pretty much unparalleled, making up for the chunkiness of the case profile very quickly!
Other Features & Drawbacks
The OpenRock Pro use the Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset - a very popular Bluetooth 5.2 chip which we see a lot in sports wearable audio. It is extremely stable and gives you actually pretty good latency if you are going to watch videos with them. Gaming is probably out of the question as there's no low latency mode - again, not really an issue for me given their raison d'etre, but worth a mention. There's also no in-ear detection, although for me I tend not to worry about this with open-ear buds like these as pausing them is just easier.
Usually in my TWS reviews it's at this point I start tearing strips off the app, but sadly OneOdio don't have one. It's a gift and a curse- whilst they avoid my wrath, it does mean you're kinda stuck with the EQ and button configuration, especially if you're on IOS and can't benefit from Wavelet. An app isn't just about EQ and buttons though - they are also useful at seeing your battery percentage at a glance, and updating firmware. And once again, there's no option for this....and at around £100 this does once again feel like an opportunity missed.
The case, whilst fine for me, isn't going to please everyone. It won't fit in your pockets, and whilst there is a silicone carry case for the OpenRock Pro, you have to buy it as an extra. Whilst it's only an extra fiver, I think OneOdio could have won some PR points here by including it with the buds. Not a deal breaker, but still a bit of a shame.
Summary
2023 has definitely been the year of the open ear bud so far, and having been one of the early adopters, OneOdio remain a front runner if you're looking for a design that gives you plenty of long-term comfort, good stability, decent sound and outstanding battery life.
At £119.99, they are much cheaper than the Shokz Openfit and Oladance, and around the same price as they Haylou Purfree Buds. Given they've been on the market a while and with Prime Day coming up, I could foresee some decent discounts on the OpenRock Pro - if you're a runner or cyclist and these drop below the £90 mark I'd bite their hands off - they're a solid performer that will even stand the test for 50 mile ultramarathon runners.
About OneOdio
At OneOdio, everything revolves around excellent sound, tapping the visceral power of music for all. We have infused decades of experience and passion into creating music to life. Fueled by cutting-edge tech and unwavering passion for quality, we create high-end headphones and audio equipment designed to elevate your listening experience. So far we have firmly planted the OneOdio flag in the DJ, Monitor, ANC and HIFI industries. Besides, we are also devoted to the high-tech consumer electronics industry-sports open earbuds.
OneOdio have successfully branched into different product areas - now adding microphones and sports headphones to their portfolio, and this outward product development looks set to continue strongly into 2023.
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Model: OneOdio OpenRock Pro
Price: MSRP £119.99 - currently £89.99 from Amazon UK
Website: AliExpress
Review Reference: RC103
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: OneOdio
- Model: OpenRock Pro
- Driver: 16.2mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3040
- Mic: 4 mics with environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AptX, AAC, SBC
- App Support: No
- Multipoint: No
- Customisable Controls: No
- Gaming Mode: No
- Earbud Weight: 12.84g
- Earbud Dimensions: 57mm wide, 47mm high
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 89g
- Case Dimensions: 77.6mm (width) x 58.4mm (height) x 41.7mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 400mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - up to 1 hour from 5 min juice
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: 60 minutes (buds), 90 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 19 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 46 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x User Manual: 9 different languages
1 x Quick Wear Guide
YouTube Review:
Introduction
Sports-focused open ear buds seem to be all the rage at the moment, with even the budget vendors making headway into this market and adding them into their portfolio. My next review after this is probably going to be the SoundPEATS Wings2, we've seen the Haylou Purfree Buds in my previous reviews, QCY have their Crossky GTR, and of course there are the OG Oladance Open Ear and the pretenders to the crown, the new Shokz Openfit.
The OneOdio OpenRock Pro have been around a few months now, and with a fairly hefty price tag (MSRP £119.99) expectations are rather high for this release. I've been testing them over the course of the last few weeks across a number of activities - here's what I thought of them.
Unboxing
OneOdio unboxings are typically quite impressive, and the OpenRock Pro are no exception. In a yellow and black enclosure that has a hint of 'Poco' about it, the case and cable are held in with a foam inlay and the manuals and warranty card sit on top. These kind of earbuds don't tend to have too many accessories other than a charge cable, and the user manual, which comes in 9 different languages: English, Chinese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Polish. Everything in the manuals is very clear and they've used diagrams to pretty good effect here.
It isn't quite up there with the Haylou Purfree Buds as far as unboxings go, but it will do.
Charge Case
The clamshell style case is certainly different. The black plastic clamshell style design even looks a bit like a shell, with the lined outer edges adding a bit of friction to prevent it slipping out of your hand. It's a bit of a beast at around 7x5x4cm and just shy of 90g fully loaded. Put it this way - you won't be taking this case out with you on a run unless you want it to be a weighted one! The case is held narrow-way facing you, the OpenRock logo side. Flip it open and you'll immediately notice there's no friction on the hinge until you get to full extension, where it has a double-latch effect. Shake it hard enough, and that hinge will unfortunately slam shut. Due to the shape, where OneOdio have tried to reduce the overall dimensions by adding curvature to the edges, it won't stand on the desk - hence the picture above. Instead, you have to hold with one hand and remove the buds with the other. The case gives you plenty of room to unhook them, and away you go.
I've tried a few different releases of this ilk, and nobody has really come up with a consistent, winning case configuration in any of their products really - each has their pros and cons. The OpenRock Pro case is durable and hard-wearing, if not the most portable approach, but removing the buds is a little easier than, say the Haylou Purfree Buds, which operates more like a glasses case, lying the buds flat.
The case does give an impressive level of charge though. The buds are capable of around 19 hours playback - and even with the odd call I wasn't too far short of this - and the case takes that up even further to a total of 46 hours. There's a quick charge feature giving you an extra hour of playtime from 5 minutes juice, and OneOdio also supply a travel sleeve so you can at least pack them away if you're on a bike ride and you decide you don't want to listen any more - you can switch them off by long pressing the buttons.
On the bottom of the case you'll find a USB-C socket (there's no wireless charging) and an LED, which gives you indications of the battery level when charging and when not. When charging, you'll get a red pulse when it's below 20%, a red and green simultaneous pulse when 21-50%, pulsing green when 51-99% and then solid green when it's fully charged, and there's a similar configuration when it isn't charging that makes it very straightforward to learn how much battery you have remaining.
Ergonomics
Plenty of thought has gone into the OpenRock Pro, and as a result it is both very comfortable and extremely secure. The buds measure around 57mm at their widest and around 47mm high, and weigh in at 12.8g. That may sound heavy, but it's identical to the Oladance equivalent and only slightly heavier than the Haylou. They feel extremely lightweight until you start moving, and their mass is a big benefit at this point because there's no movement whatsoever, regardless of how rigorous you're moving around.
As you see above, the units are predominantly plastic, save for a flexible area around the top which allows you some minor adjustment if they don't sit perfect on your ear. I have averagely-large ears as a 43 year old male, and didn't need any adjustment personally, but it's there if you need it, and this could come in handy particularly if you're not getting the most out of the 16.2mm drivers. These drivers are spread over a single cylindrical area as opposed to the multiple points you see on some others, but this doesn't seem to really make any difference either way.
On the main body underneath the OpenRock logo, you will find the control buttons. Yep - there's no touch controls here thankfully, they are physical, tactile buttons. They do feel a little cheap admittedly, but it's still a far better solution than touch controls, and they have made them light enough that you don't have to fiddle around too much while you're moving. Pressing the button once operates play or pause, pressing the left ear twice turns the volume down and the right ear twice turns it up, whilst progressing songs is done by holding the respective button for a couple of seconds. Triple tapping the button hails your voice assistant. It takes a little getting used to, but I like that OneOdio haven't tried to overcomplicate it and are giving you all the basic controls you're going to need, even if in practice whichever solution vendors go for isn't going to be perfect when you're running.
I did wonder beforehand if the predominant use of hard plastic would result in the buds wearing a bit bulky or looking a tad intrusive, but this isn't the case at all. OneOdio seem to have got the dimensions pretty much spot on. The OpenRock Pro are extremely comfortable for long periods of time, and they pass the shake test with flying colours. I even used them doing ab exercises, where I'd be tilting my head back on the mat a fair bit, and they stayed in place a little better than the Haylou. Whether you could wear them under a motorcycle helmet is perhaps a little questionable, and they aren't as good for side sleepers as the Purfree Buds, but for running, cycling, hiking and use at the gym, the OpenRock Pro are ideal, and their IPX5 rating improves on the likes of the Oladance, which tops out at a slightly disappointing IPX4.
Here you can see how each of the vendors have taken an alternative route. For me, the Haylou (middle) have a better hook - made from titanium alloy and a soft rubberised edge, there's a little more maleability to them, and they feel a little more gentle on your ears, but the main control area is better on the OpenRock Pro, keeping a similar if not improved level of thinness to the profile without jutting outwards. The Haylou can look a little awkward at times, whereas the OpenRock wear a bit more intuitively, and don't make your ears stick out quite as much.
The build quality is good, and comfort is very good too. You've got some flexibility in the hooks and they wear well with sunglasses, so absolutely nothing to complain about the ergonomics at least. The only minor quibble could be the aesthetics - my ears are a little longer than average, so the slightly 80's-looking black and grey 'bluetooth headset'-esque look probably doesn't resonate as much as it does on smaller ears. I've seen some pictures where it seems to take over the wearers entire ear, and the silver panel is a little cheap looking under close scrutiny. It probably isn't going to win first prize in a beauty contest, so if this is a major thing to you check the pictures carefully, but for me at least I don't think they look too bad.
Audio
OneOdio have combined large, 16.2mm drivers with the AptX codec and their 'TrueBass' technology, and the result is, by open ear standards, fairly impressive. With open-ear designs, the focus in slightly different to TWS or IEMs, because there's also the form factor to consider - the drivers will be set back from your ear canal somewhat, and as a manufacturer you want to give users a tuning that balances appropriate acoustics and loudness with the requisite situational awareness for the specific use cases.
With the OpenRock Pro, the balance is about right. It's a v-shaped sound signature, with slightly muted vocals and harmonics and a warmer tone, with a fullness to lower frequencies. Uncharacteristically for open ear designs, you get a fair bit of oomph to kick drums and darker tones come through emphatically in electronic synths. There's also decent balance to the trebles, with percussive elements retaining texture and presence without ever sounding harsh, even on higher volumes. Whilst the bass is arguably a bit too strong when you're listening in silence, when you're out on a run or on the bike, this is where the OpenRock Pro sound signature shines - it's much more engaging than the Haylou Purfree Buds, sounding much less thin as a result. The trebles are rolled off a little, and this works really well, because out of the box you really don't want something etched and coarse - this is an absolute no-no, but many vendors don't necessarily follow that mantra.
The soundstage is quite nice too. It isn't as wide and open as the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, for example, but there's far better layering and dimension than most open ear offerings. OneOdio have favoured getting those lower frequencies across strongly without bordering on distortion, and in that respect it is mission accomplished. In my experience, this kind of tuning works really well for this type of earbud, because it retains plenty of energy and guards against fatigue.
The only blot on the copybook is the slightly-low maximum volume - like the Haylou Purfree Buds, it's perhaps a notch or two short of being perfect in all conditions. I took the OpenRock Pro out on the bike near Gatwick Airport, and the mixture of traffic and aircraft noises around the A23 left my audiobook a little incoherent even on maximum volume. You are also deprived of the ability to customise the sound, because OneOdio doesn't have app support. Of course, you can use Wavelet on Android, and there's some merit in that, but overall I think they've done a decent job with the tuning that won't have you desperately trying to EQ them.
So as far as open ear products go, it's one of the most impressive tunings out of the box I've tested so far.
Call Quality
Call quality on the OpenRock Pro probably wasn't their priority, but it's actually rather effective. Outdoors in particular, it handles traffic and general commuting noises pretty well, and whilst wind can take your call off course a fair bit, this is the case with most TWS, let alone open ear ones. The ambient noise reduction works well in this environment, taking the edge off engine noises and only really struggling with sirens and alarms. Outdoor calls are definitely possible - it's far better than something like the SoundPEATS RunFree Lite, for example.
Indoors, you can sense very quickly that the noise reduction wasn't tuned with a busy coffee shop or office in mind. Whilst calls aren't impossible, the NR battles to work out whether it is your voice or the incoherent chatter around you that needs to be dulled, and as a result your voice, whilst still elevated, is softened a little bit, making it hard to decipher every word. Even so, your voice comes across with a fairly natural weight and tone, it just isn't quite sharp enough to make them ideal for calling in a way the better performing TWS do.
You can also control volume with the physical buttons whilst on a call, which is a nice touch, and isn't always the case. I
Battery Life
The advertised 19 hour battery life on the OpenRock Pro almost knocked me for six - were they really going to over DOUBLE the battery life of the Haylou, almost TRIPLE the original Cleer Ally Arc and SMASH the 16 hours on the Oladance?!
Yes, they actually did! They didn't quite hit the heights of the advertised - using the aptX codec on Android on maximum volume with a few calls in there, I got a few minutes over 15 hours - still way more than the competition and incredibly respectable as an audio device of any description.
The case features a handy quick charge feature too, giving you can additional 1 hour of playtime from 5 minutes in the case, and the total playtime - 46 hours - is pretty much unparalleled, making up for the chunkiness of the case profile very quickly!
Other Features & Drawbacks
The OpenRock Pro use the Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset - a very popular Bluetooth 5.2 chip which we see a lot in sports wearable audio. It is extremely stable and gives you actually pretty good latency if you are going to watch videos with them. Gaming is probably out of the question as there's no low latency mode - again, not really an issue for me given their raison d'etre, but worth a mention. There's also no in-ear detection, although for me I tend not to worry about this with open-ear buds like these as pausing them is just easier.
Usually in my TWS reviews it's at this point I start tearing strips off the app, but sadly OneOdio don't have one. It's a gift and a curse- whilst they avoid my wrath, it does mean you're kinda stuck with the EQ and button configuration, especially if you're on IOS and can't benefit from Wavelet. An app isn't just about EQ and buttons though - they are also useful at seeing your battery percentage at a glance, and updating firmware. And once again, there's no option for this....and at around £100 this does once again feel like an opportunity missed.
The case, whilst fine for me, isn't going to please everyone. It won't fit in your pockets, and whilst there is a silicone carry case for the OpenRock Pro, you have to buy it as an extra. Whilst it's only an extra fiver, I think OneOdio could have won some PR points here by including it with the buds. Not a deal breaker, but still a bit of a shame.
Summary
2023 has definitely been the year of the open ear bud so far, and having been one of the early adopters, OneOdio remain a front runner if you're looking for a design that gives you plenty of long-term comfort, good stability, decent sound and outstanding battery life.
At £119.99, they are much cheaper than the Shokz Openfit and Oladance, and around the same price as they Haylou Purfree Buds. Given they've been on the market a while and with Prime Day coming up, I could foresee some decent discounts on the OpenRock Pro - if you're a runner or cyclist and these drop below the £90 mark I'd bite their hands off - they're a solid performer that will even stand the test for 50 mile ultramarathon runners.
About OneOdio
At OneOdio, everything revolves around excellent sound, tapping the visceral power of music for all. We have infused decades of experience and passion into creating music to life. Fueled by cutting-edge tech and unwavering passion for quality, we create high-end headphones and audio equipment designed to elevate your listening experience. So far we have firmly planted the OneOdio flag in the DJ, Monitor, ANC and HIFI industries. Besides, we are also devoted to the high-tech consumer electronics industry-sports open earbuds.
OneOdio have successfully branched into different product areas - now adding microphones and sports headphones to their portfolio, and this outward product development looks set to continue strongly into 2023.
anli
Hi, thanks. Whst is that LF cut frequency at which sound level rapidly starts to reduce? 100Hz? 80Hz? 60Hz? Or what? It is easy to define with any online tone generstor.
Also, has OpenRock Pro really got the deepest bass among all open ear buds you have tested?
Also, has OpenRock Pro really got the deepest bass among all open ear buds you have tested?
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: Baseus Bowie M2S
Price: Approx £25.00
Website: AliExpress
Review Reference: RC102
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Stickers Set
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
TBC
Introduction
Baseus are an oddity in the budget True Wireless Earbud market, in that their core business is, truth be told, chargers, cables and other electronic ancillaries. Established over a decade ago, the brand has expanded into the US market in particular, and adding audio into their portfolio has been a natural progression - even so, we've seen plenty of examples where this hasn't really taken off in a big way - TaoTronics, for example, without the protection of the Xiaomi ecosystem. So I wasn't altogether surprised when my initial experiences of Baseus were quite bad when it came to audio - I didn't even bother to review the original M2 because the ANC was so weak and the audio delivery so poor, despite the relatively lofty price tag.
Undeterred, Baseus have continued to explore the market, and the M2s seems to be their most compelling release yet. Priced very competitively (sub $30) and with a feature set that is highly compelling and belies their low price tag, I was keen to put them to the test. And whilst they aren't without their drawbacks, it does at least look like a major step in the right direction.
Unboxing - 8/10
Unboxing with Baseus is something they just do really well, as you would expect given their experience as a global manufacturer. On the front of the hefty cardboard enclosure you've got an accurate image of the earbuds, mentions of a few of their features and, rather annoyingly, a logo in the top right hand corner for 'Baseus Audio Tech Pack' that is modelled on the Hi-Res Certified Audio logo. This really isn't cool Baseus - there's absolutely no need to try and sneakily fool customers in this way. On the back, there are technical parameters in 13 different languages.
Inside the fold-out box you're getting the earbuds, case, cable and spare tips, as well as a small envelope containing some stickers, a warranty card and a user manual in 16 different languages. The eartips are similar to those on the Earfun Air Pro 3, with a cover protecting the driver area.
Case - 8.5/10
The charge case for the M2s is really quite cool. Sure, it is a blatant rip off of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro case, but I like this design a lot - it works really well. It is very compact at 6cm wide, 5cm tall and with a depth of just over 2.5cm, and weighing just 38g fully loaded, it is highly portable. It's construction is plastic throughout - the lid is semi transparent and the rest of the chassis is matte. Despite this, it is reasonably well-built and with two weeks in the pocket there aren't any major scuff marks. Yet!
There's an MFB button on the bottom alongside a USB-C socket, and just above you have a single case LED. The LED blinks for around 1-2 minutes every time you open and shut the lid, to tell you the buds inside are charging. It also blinks red when you plug it in, turning solid white when charge is complete. If you touch the MFB when the case is not plugged in, you'll get either a red glow (case battery is below 20%) or white (above 20%). Not especially useful, but certainly better than no LED at all. Hold the button for 5s and it will reset the buds back to factory setting and the LED will flash red a few times.
There is no lip on the hinge, instead it tilts backwards, and this clamshell design is really nice for flipping open and resting on the desk in front of you, with the buds facing you like a capsule. The hinge has some nice weight and friction to it, and there are no sharp edges. The magnets are just the right strength to pull in the buds when you get close, and aren't too strong that you would struggle to release them.
Whilst there's no wireless charging, you do get quick charge here with 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes juice.
Ergonomics - 9.5/10
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro, thankfully the M2s improve on their ergonomics with a very comfortable, stable stem-based earbud design with a small oval nozzle and short stems. The outer edges are shiny, the inner sides are matte, and they are grippy enough that removing and replacing them in your ears is very straightforward.
On the inside you've got an in-ear detection sensor, which needs to be switched on in the app. And you will probably need to, because the default controls don't really allow play/pause - double tapping each earbud facilitates skipping through tracks, long pressing either bud triggers ANC mode to be changed, and tap three times and you'll get voice assistant. In ear detection is a little inconsistent - it triggers regardless of whether you take out one or both, and doesn't always remember to re-play after re-insertion.
There's no volume control, and whilst you can remap the buttons in the app, it's quite limited - there's no ability to add volume control in, for example, and single tap does nothing and can't be programmed to do anything. You also can't turn gesture settings off. So a real mixed bag, but the touch sensors (located at the top of the stem) are at least reasonably responsive.
There's no IPX rating so use outside at your own risk, but I took them out during the summer rain here in the UK without any issues. They are also quite grippy in your ears so a light jog with them shouldn't pose any problems either. The battery connectors are in the base, and don't make direct contact with your skin - useful if you have metal allergies.
Audio & Sound Signature - 8/10 (for the price), 6.5/10 (raw score)
Sound on the M2S is very similar to the QCY HT07, with slightly less emphasis on the midbass, a little more recess in the mid-mids and a bit more presence in the upper midrange. It is a vocal-centric tuning, particularly favouring female vocals, with some texture to the lower frequencies. The recessed mid regions can leave tracks sounding a little thin, and like the HT07, the no-nonsense approach to the trebles means you aren't going to get a great deal of detail or texture to percussive elements, strings and synths. It's a straightforward signature sound that optimises the hardware limitations of a single 10mm dynamic driver.
Some tweaks to the EQ can definitely help here. In the app, you've got 12 different presets - and they aren't bad. Mega Bass keeps the v-shape and bumps up the subbass, but not ridiculously so. Jazz lifts the midrange and midbass a little, etc. The only unusable one is 'Original' - steer clear of that!
Unfortunately, you can't then take a preset and customise it like you can with the Creative app for example, but there is a custom EQ and it is based on 'Original' - a completely flat 8 band equaliser up to 10k. I found it quite painful to get a balanced sound here. It's probably easier to use Wavelet and adjust from the Baseus Classic. Whilst the upper midrange extension is good for vocals, because of the ridiculously low maximum volume, when you're maxed out eventually this can get a little tiring, so notching that a little is a good place to start. Add a little to the midbass, play around with the trebles a touch and you've got a reasonably palatable sound isn't going to set the world alight, but is completely acceptable at the price point.
We are spoilt at the sub $30 price category with the unparalleled QCY HT05, but if you can handle the low maximum volume, the M2s aren't chasms behind, especially if comfort is a priority.
There is also the BISA 'Baseus Immersive Sound Acoustics' technology - sadly it isn't as interesting as it sounds. You've got two modes in the app - Music Mode and Cinema Mode. The former opens the sound out a little, thins it a bit more and takes a bit of the edge/definition from kick drums and instruments. Cinema mode increases the effect even more. There's no real 'spatial' effect in play here - there's certainly no head tracking or anything like that. I found it quite similar to that used by Oppo in their Air3 - a bit of a gimmick that doesn't really offer the user anything other than a few wasted minutes testing it out.
ANC - 8/10
ANC on the M2s was a real surprise. Baseus really knocked it out of the park here for a budget bud - usually I don't pay too much attention to dB ratings, but the 48dB noise reduction Baseus talk about in their marketing material doesn't seem like too much of a stretch from reality, even over prolonged testing. Sure, it isn't Bose or Apple level, but it's worth remembering these are sub $30 earbuds - it's a long way from what we were subjected to a couple of years ago to say the least.
Switch ANC on by holding the left bud and you'll get an inverted 'warp' sound, and immediately you'll notice your environment close in - outdoors the fresh air sounds around you are eradicated altogether, engine noises turn to a 'woosh', and whilst the use of power tools and alarms aren't negated altogether with music off, their onus is notched enough for it to be comfortable.
Indoors they are also reasonably good, and if you select 'Indoor' mode in the app you'll notice fans and other similar such noises are handled better than the default 'Custom' setting. In terms of settings for ANC, you've got 'Commuting', 'Indoor', 'Outdoor' and 'Custom', and the latter has a dial with 10 strength settings on, although this doesn't seem to really work. For a well-rounded ANC I favour Custom on Level 10.
Conversations aren't eradicated altogether, but similar to the QCY HT07, when you're using them with music, they do a decent job for the money. Switch to 'Transparency' mode, and this does feel like a bit of an afterthought - it's pretty good with no sound playing, but with music on low volume you still can't really hear what people are saying. It is certainly more on the natural side than many other buds, but in terms of effectiveness it falls at little way short.
Call Quality - Indoors - 6.5/10, Outdoors - 7/10
Like many other earbuds around this price, the M2s do better on outdoor calls than indoor calls. The AI noise reduction is a little too aggressive, and takes the edge off your own voice to the point that in a busy coffee shop, I started to become a little incoherent over time. It isn't terrible by any means, but if you're subjected to prolonged periods of environmental sound, you will eventually find yourself looking for a quiet corner.
Outdoors, it handles the conditions much better. Wind can knock your voice out, as you would expect, and your voice is again softened albeit with slightly less strength, but an outdoor call on the daily commute is easily do-able.
Other Features - 7/10
Connection and latency are very good. They're using the Bluetrum BT8952F Bluetooth 5.3 ready chip, and I noticed no major dropouts and good connection strength for 10-15m. I easily got lip synchronisation on videos, and performance on causal gaming was not too shabby either- you need to switch ear detection on to be given the option of gaming mode, one of the many oddities of the app, but when you do it does marginally improve performance in that respect.
They also, very handily, have multipoint connectivity, although it is probably more a pain than a benefit, because there's no control over it with the buttons or via the app. You can't switch it off, there's no device list, etc. I'd suddenly get a sound effect blast through the earbud when half way down the road because it had decided to disconnect from the laptop I'd forgotten to connect it to. It would then connect to the laptop every time unless you factory default it, so a little mixed in terms of benefits.
The app in general is a bit of a nightmare. It needs a lot of permissions to be used without it breaking, and once you do allow all of this, you aren't exactly greeted with a user-friendly skin, with buttons hidden in menus which suddenly appear (like low-latency mode). You do at least have a comprehensive, although somewhat flawed EQ mode, the ability to (at least some degree) customise controls, some (very questionable) ANC customisation and the ability to toggle the fairly useless Spatial Acoustics section. You also have the ability to update firmware, although I haven't seen this given as an option yet, and if you login and register, you can activate the 'find my earbuds' option in the middle, provided you're prepared to give your location details to Baseus (I think I'll pass!). It's a frustrating experience that Baseus really need to polish a lot, otherwise the reviews on AliExpress will be even more scathing than they have been about it so far.
Battery Life - 6/10
In theory, 7 hours battery life is very good, but switch ANC, wear detection and other settings on, use multipoint and make and take a few calls, and in reality this is closer to 4-5 hours, especially as you'll probably find yourself at maxed out volume most of the time. Thankfully, you've got the quick charge feature to give it a top up when required, but if you are looking for a battery monster, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.
Summary
This is probably Baseus' most convincing earbud yet - a fantastic design that wears better than pretty much any earbud I've tested over the last 12 months, with a lovely case and some nice features that are useful, but can sometimes be hinderance due to weak implementation.
The sound is as you would expect for the price, perhaps slightly better and certainly Baseus' best sound to date, and calls are also OK provided you're in a quiet environment. ANC is the standout feature here, performing very strongly for the money, but the app is a bit of headache - definitely room for improvement here, Baseus.
In terms of sub $30 offerings, it falls some way short of the QCY HT05, and is a similar value proposition to the HT07, albeit with the useful addition of (a slightly ropey) multipoint. It lacks the polish of the Realme Buds Air 3S, but does give you ANC. It is some way ahead of products closer to home, like the SoundPEATS Life Classic, and gives you more features than Soundcore's budget offering such as the P2i.
Baseus have a little way to go to really make headway in the budget earbud market, but with this rocketing up as one of AliExpress' best sellers of 2023, you can't imagine it will be too long before these creases are ironed out and we see stability alongside the array of features.
Price Weighted Score: 83%
Raw Score: 77%
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Model: Baseus Bowie M2S
Price: Approx £25.00
Website: AliExpress
Review Reference: RC102
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Baseus
- Model: Bowie M2S
- Driver: 10mm Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Bluetrum BT8952F
- Mic: 4 mics with environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: Yes - 48dB Hybrid ANC
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes
- Multipoint: Yes
- Customisable Controls: Yes*
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 4.3g
- Earbud Dimensions: Stem Length 29mm, Depth 21.5mm
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 38g
- Case Dimensions: 61.4mm (width) x 27.5mm (height) x 48.9mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 400mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - up to 2 hours from 10min juice
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: 60 minutes (buds), 90 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 7 hours (ANC off), 5 hours (ANC on)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 30 hours (ANC off)
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: Not stated
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Stickers Set
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
TBC
Introduction
Baseus are an oddity in the budget True Wireless Earbud market, in that their core business is, truth be told, chargers, cables and other electronic ancillaries. Established over a decade ago, the brand has expanded into the US market in particular, and adding audio into their portfolio has been a natural progression - even so, we've seen plenty of examples where this hasn't really taken off in a big way - TaoTronics, for example, without the protection of the Xiaomi ecosystem. So I wasn't altogether surprised when my initial experiences of Baseus were quite bad when it came to audio - I didn't even bother to review the original M2 because the ANC was so weak and the audio delivery so poor, despite the relatively lofty price tag.
Undeterred, Baseus have continued to explore the market, and the M2s seems to be their most compelling release yet. Priced very competitively (sub $30) and with a feature set that is highly compelling and belies their low price tag, I was keen to put them to the test. And whilst they aren't without their drawbacks, it does at least look like a major step in the right direction.
Unboxing - 8/10
Unboxing with Baseus is something they just do really well, as you would expect given their experience as a global manufacturer. On the front of the hefty cardboard enclosure you've got an accurate image of the earbuds, mentions of a few of their features and, rather annoyingly, a logo in the top right hand corner for 'Baseus Audio Tech Pack' that is modelled on the Hi-Res Certified Audio logo. This really isn't cool Baseus - there's absolutely no need to try and sneakily fool customers in this way. On the back, there are technical parameters in 13 different languages.
Inside the fold-out box you're getting the earbuds, case, cable and spare tips, as well as a small envelope containing some stickers, a warranty card and a user manual in 16 different languages. The eartips are similar to those on the Earfun Air Pro 3, with a cover protecting the driver area.
Case - 8.5/10
The charge case for the M2s is really quite cool. Sure, it is a blatant rip off of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro case, but I like this design a lot - it works really well. It is very compact at 6cm wide, 5cm tall and with a depth of just over 2.5cm, and weighing just 38g fully loaded, it is highly portable. It's construction is plastic throughout - the lid is semi transparent and the rest of the chassis is matte. Despite this, it is reasonably well-built and with two weeks in the pocket there aren't any major scuff marks. Yet!
There's an MFB button on the bottom alongside a USB-C socket, and just above you have a single case LED. The LED blinks for around 1-2 minutes every time you open and shut the lid, to tell you the buds inside are charging. It also blinks red when you plug it in, turning solid white when charge is complete. If you touch the MFB when the case is not plugged in, you'll get either a red glow (case battery is below 20%) or white (above 20%). Not especially useful, but certainly better than no LED at all. Hold the button for 5s and it will reset the buds back to factory setting and the LED will flash red a few times.
There is no lip on the hinge, instead it tilts backwards, and this clamshell design is really nice for flipping open and resting on the desk in front of you, with the buds facing you like a capsule. The hinge has some nice weight and friction to it, and there are no sharp edges. The magnets are just the right strength to pull in the buds when you get close, and aren't too strong that you would struggle to release them.
Whilst there's no wireless charging, you do get quick charge here with 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes juice.
Ergonomics - 9.5/10
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro, thankfully the M2s improve on their ergonomics with a very comfortable, stable stem-based earbud design with a small oval nozzle and short stems. The outer edges are shiny, the inner sides are matte, and they are grippy enough that removing and replacing them in your ears is very straightforward.
On the inside you've got an in-ear detection sensor, which needs to be switched on in the app. And you will probably need to, because the default controls don't really allow play/pause - double tapping each earbud facilitates skipping through tracks, long pressing either bud triggers ANC mode to be changed, and tap three times and you'll get voice assistant. In ear detection is a little inconsistent - it triggers regardless of whether you take out one or both, and doesn't always remember to re-play after re-insertion.
There's no volume control, and whilst you can remap the buttons in the app, it's quite limited - there's no ability to add volume control in, for example, and single tap does nothing and can't be programmed to do anything. You also can't turn gesture settings off. So a real mixed bag, but the touch sensors (located at the top of the stem) are at least reasonably responsive.
There's no IPX rating so use outside at your own risk, but I took them out during the summer rain here in the UK without any issues. They are also quite grippy in your ears so a light jog with them shouldn't pose any problems either. The battery connectors are in the base, and don't make direct contact with your skin - useful if you have metal allergies.
Audio & Sound Signature - 8/10 (for the price), 6.5/10 (raw score)
Sound on the M2S is very similar to the QCY HT07, with slightly less emphasis on the midbass, a little more recess in the mid-mids and a bit more presence in the upper midrange. It is a vocal-centric tuning, particularly favouring female vocals, with some texture to the lower frequencies. The recessed mid regions can leave tracks sounding a little thin, and like the HT07, the no-nonsense approach to the trebles means you aren't going to get a great deal of detail or texture to percussive elements, strings and synths. It's a straightforward signature sound that optimises the hardware limitations of a single 10mm dynamic driver.
Some tweaks to the EQ can definitely help here. In the app, you've got 12 different presets - and they aren't bad. Mega Bass keeps the v-shape and bumps up the subbass, but not ridiculously so. Jazz lifts the midrange and midbass a little, etc. The only unusable one is 'Original' - steer clear of that!
Unfortunately, you can't then take a preset and customise it like you can with the Creative app for example, but there is a custom EQ and it is based on 'Original' - a completely flat 8 band equaliser up to 10k. I found it quite painful to get a balanced sound here. It's probably easier to use Wavelet and adjust from the Baseus Classic. Whilst the upper midrange extension is good for vocals, because of the ridiculously low maximum volume, when you're maxed out eventually this can get a little tiring, so notching that a little is a good place to start. Add a little to the midbass, play around with the trebles a touch and you've got a reasonably palatable sound isn't going to set the world alight, but is completely acceptable at the price point.
We are spoilt at the sub $30 price category with the unparalleled QCY HT05, but if you can handle the low maximum volume, the M2s aren't chasms behind, especially if comfort is a priority.
There is also the BISA 'Baseus Immersive Sound Acoustics' technology - sadly it isn't as interesting as it sounds. You've got two modes in the app - Music Mode and Cinema Mode. The former opens the sound out a little, thins it a bit more and takes a bit of the edge/definition from kick drums and instruments. Cinema mode increases the effect even more. There's no real 'spatial' effect in play here - there's certainly no head tracking or anything like that. I found it quite similar to that used by Oppo in their Air3 - a bit of a gimmick that doesn't really offer the user anything other than a few wasted minutes testing it out.
ANC - 8/10
ANC on the M2s was a real surprise. Baseus really knocked it out of the park here for a budget bud - usually I don't pay too much attention to dB ratings, but the 48dB noise reduction Baseus talk about in their marketing material doesn't seem like too much of a stretch from reality, even over prolonged testing. Sure, it isn't Bose or Apple level, but it's worth remembering these are sub $30 earbuds - it's a long way from what we were subjected to a couple of years ago to say the least.
Switch ANC on by holding the left bud and you'll get an inverted 'warp' sound, and immediately you'll notice your environment close in - outdoors the fresh air sounds around you are eradicated altogether, engine noises turn to a 'woosh', and whilst the use of power tools and alarms aren't negated altogether with music off, their onus is notched enough for it to be comfortable.
Indoors they are also reasonably good, and if you select 'Indoor' mode in the app you'll notice fans and other similar such noises are handled better than the default 'Custom' setting. In terms of settings for ANC, you've got 'Commuting', 'Indoor', 'Outdoor' and 'Custom', and the latter has a dial with 10 strength settings on, although this doesn't seem to really work. For a well-rounded ANC I favour Custom on Level 10.
Conversations aren't eradicated altogether, but similar to the QCY HT07, when you're using them with music, they do a decent job for the money. Switch to 'Transparency' mode, and this does feel like a bit of an afterthought - it's pretty good with no sound playing, but with music on low volume you still can't really hear what people are saying. It is certainly more on the natural side than many other buds, but in terms of effectiveness it falls at little way short.
Call Quality - Indoors - 6.5/10, Outdoors - 7/10
Like many other earbuds around this price, the M2s do better on outdoor calls than indoor calls. The AI noise reduction is a little too aggressive, and takes the edge off your own voice to the point that in a busy coffee shop, I started to become a little incoherent over time. It isn't terrible by any means, but if you're subjected to prolonged periods of environmental sound, you will eventually find yourself looking for a quiet corner.
Outdoors, it handles the conditions much better. Wind can knock your voice out, as you would expect, and your voice is again softened albeit with slightly less strength, but an outdoor call on the daily commute is easily do-able.
Other Features - 7/10
Connection and latency are very good. They're using the Bluetrum BT8952F Bluetooth 5.3 ready chip, and I noticed no major dropouts and good connection strength for 10-15m. I easily got lip synchronisation on videos, and performance on causal gaming was not too shabby either- you need to switch ear detection on to be given the option of gaming mode, one of the many oddities of the app, but when you do it does marginally improve performance in that respect.
They also, very handily, have multipoint connectivity, although it is probably more a pain than a benefit, because there's no control over it with the buttons or via the app. You can't switch it off, there's no device list, etc. I'd suddenly get a sound effect blast through the earbud when half way down the road because it had decided to disconnect from the laptop I'd forgotten to connect it to. It would then connect to the laptop every time unless you factory default it, so a little mixed in terms of benefits.
The app in general is a bit of a nightmare. It needs a lot of permissions to be used without it breaking, and once you do allow all of this, you aren't exactly greeted with a user-friendly skin, with buttons hidden in menus which suddenly appear (like low-latency mode). You do at least have a comprehensive, although somewhat flawed EQ mode, the ability to (at least some degree) customise controls, some (very questionable) ANC customisation and the ability to toggle the fairly useless Spatial Acoustics section. You also have the ability to update firmware, although I haven't seen this given as an option yet, and if you login and register, you can activate the 'find my earbuds' option in the middle, provided you're prepared to give your location details to Baseus (I think I'll pass!). It's a frustrating experience that Baseus really need to polish a lot, otherwise the reviews on AliExpress will be even more scathing than they have been about it so far.
Battery Life - 6/10
In theory, 7 hours battery life is very good, but switch ANC, wear detection and other settings on, use multipoint and make and take a few calls, and in reality this is closer to 4-5 hours, especially as you'll probably find yourself at maxed out volume most of the time. Thankfully, you've got the quick charge feature to give it a top up when required, but if you are looking for a battery monster, you'll probably want to look elsewhere.
Summary
This is probably Baseus' most convincing earbud yet - a fantastic design that wears better than pretty much any earbud I've tested over the last 12 months, with a lovely case and some nice features that are useful, but can sometimes be hinderance due to weak implementation.
The sound is as you would expect for the price, perhaps slightly better and certainly Baseus' best sound to date, and calls are also OK provided you're in a quiet environment. ANC is the standout feature here, performing very strongly for the money, but the app is a bit of headache - definitely room for improvement here, Baseus.
In terms of sub $30 offerings, it falls some way short of the QCY HT05, and is a similar value proposition to the HT07, albeit with the useful addition of (a slightly ropey) multipoint. It lacks the polish of the Realme Buds Air 3S, but does give you ANC. It is some way ahead of products closer to home, like the SoundPEATS Life Classic, and gives you more features than Soundcore's budget offering such as the P2i.
Baseus have a little way to go to really make headway in the budget earbud market, but with this rocketing up as one of AliExpress' best sellers of 2023, you can't imagine it will be too long before these creases are ironed out and we see stability alongside the array of features.
Price Weighted Score: 83%
Raw Score: 77%
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: Creative Sensemore Air
Price: MSRP £69.99
Website: Amazon UK, Creative UK
Review Reference: RC101
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C / Qi Charge Case
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
After spotting my review of the Outlier Pro, Creative very kindly got in touch and asked if I would be prepared to do the same for one of their newer releases, the Sensemore Air.
Keeping tabs on Creative's naming convention and release schedule, it appears the raison d'etre here is their outrageously strong ambient performance. It shares some similarities with the Outlier Pro in terms of specification, such as the Bluetooth version (5.2), the inclusion of ANC and Quick Charge, and the ability to customise controls courtesy of the Creative app, but there are some compromises - the Sensemore Air only feature 4 mics, the drivers have been scaled down to 6mm, and battery life has been cut to 10h/35h. However, one of the bones of contention with the Outlier Pro was the slightly chunky design and case - and that is something Creative have adjusted with this release, with a super lightweight, slimline in-ear design that will certainly attract an alternative buyer profile.
There's also the sound signature, which is very different, so read on for my thoughts on the Sensemore Air, and what you can come to expect from this mid-tier in ear TWS.
Unboxing
With a £69.99 MSRP, the Sensemore Air are definitely positioned slightly higher than the often-discounted Amazon-friendly brands such as Soundcore and SoundPEATS, and with a brand that is certainly better known and more established outside of the audio community, you are getting what you would expect - a fairly premium-feeling unboxing with an assortment of booklets, including a warranty card and instruction manual.
Even so, this feels a little less impressive than the Outlier Pro, with the initial user guide moved from the inside of the enclosure to a separate leaflet, and the leaflet itself is fairly slimline, with Creative taking the environmentally-friendly option of a QR code for offering multi-language support. When you follow the QR, you've got instructions in 17 different languages, with most of the major European, Slavic and Asian languages accounted for.
You're also getting a set of spare tips in Small and Large sizes, a USB-C cable to charge the case and buds, and a leaflet advertising the SXFI app, which is a separate application to the main Creative app and isn't part of the scope of this review as it is focused on the Asian market.
Charge Case
Creative charge cases have historically been very unique in their rectangular bar-style shape and hefty profile. I read and watched quite a few reviews that took umbrage with this design (although it wasn't something I really had an issue with) and as a result, Creative have gone with something a little more conventional. The dimensions are 6.7mm x 3.2mm x 4.7mm - this time comfortably fitting in the palm of your hand - and weighing in at 47g, it's about average in terms of portability when it comes to your typical TWS charge case enclosures. The buds, again, rest with the tips at the top rather than the bottom, so you have to turn them upside down when you put them back in the case - slightly counter-intuitive if you're not used to it, but nothing too inconvenient. Inside the case, you've got the Sensemore logo screen printed in the cockpit.
The case has a friction hinge, and it is actually pretty impressive - there's around 45 degrees worth of adjustment in it before it slams shut, and the hold on this adjustment is quite firm - it's unlikely it will slam shut unless you get a rather strong gust of wind. Creative have also retained the very useful charging LED configuration, that accounts for the charging status of the Left bud, Case and Right bud (from left to right). It uses the same traffic light configuration I talked about in the Outlier Pro review, which is not so useful for those that are colour blind, but there's also the display in the Creative app which has you covered.
The case construction is black matte and plastic, and for all the positive aspects it is a little cheap-feeling. You can't really use it single-handed due to the size and profile of the lip on the lid, and the shell itself is rather thin and has some slightly sharp edges. Even within the first week of use, the appearance is degraded, as we have often seen with cases of this design, with shiny patches appearing courtesy of contact with keys in your pocket, etc.
On a positive note, the case recharges the buds and additional three and a half cycles, and supports the same quick charge configuration as the Outlier Pro - when you plug it into a USB-C cable, ten minutes juice will give you two hours playtime. The case also supports Qi wireless charging, including reverse-charging from your mobile phone, which is impressive in this price category.
Ergonomics
The Sensemore Air are another release that has shunned the stem, favouring a traditional round profile, with a shallow insertion inside the ear canal that, combined with the slimline design, makes for an almost-flush fit in your ears. We've seen a bunch of manufacturers claim to be 'Mini', but Creative are probably the closest to achieving this tag, measuring in at a depth of around 23mm. Each earbud weighs around 5g, and whilst this isn't especially light, it feels feather-like in your ears.
The ring LED around the outer edge has been retained, only flashing when you do something significant such as pairing and connection. On the inside, you've got two slightly bevelled battery connectors and an ambient pickup mic. It's all pretty standard stuff.
You start to realise how slim the earbuds are when you compare them to others of a similar shape. Here we have the SoundPEATS Mini, Engine 4, Creative Outlier Pro, Creative Sensemore Air and QCY T17. The Sensemore Air is easily slimmer than the rest, and whilst the height is larger than the other brands, it fits the shape of the average ear much better. By spreading the electronics and battery longer, the earbuds wear better, are more stable and far more comfortable.
The design is a little generic in terms of look (it reminds me of the old Tronsmart earbuds from when I started these reviews) and there's certainly nothing fancy about it, but it is probably the most comfortable earbud of this design I own, and I've kept coming back to it when I've wanted something convenient for this very reason. Talking and chewing don't loosen the fit - at least not for me, which is handy because the 'Sensemore' ambient feature definitely encourages you to talk with these buds in without the need to remove them.
The buds are IPX5 water resistant, so absolutely fine for light rain and sweat. Personally, I don't like to exercise with in-ear earbuds because of the occlusion effect, but if that doesn't bother you then the Sensemore Air are a decent option here due to that enhanced stability. They fit so flush, you could probably wear them under a motorcycle or bike helmet, and they are even suitable for side sleepers - probably the only earbud of all of my 2023 reviews I could faithfully say this for.
You also get the same voice prompts telling you what is going on as the Outlier Pro - "Bluetooth turned on, now in pairing mode, waiting for connection"...etc.
Audio & Sound Signature
As mentioned in the intro, Creative have equipped the Sensemore Air with 6mm bio-fibre drivers as opposed to the 10mm units in the Outlier Pro, with a frequency response range of 20-20KHz and support for the AAC and SBC codecs.
The first thing to note from the graphs is how much Creative have deviated from the warm, bassy sound of the Outlier Pro, instead favouring a brighter, cleaner tuning, with a leaner bass and more open soundstage. This takes Creative back to their previous releases - the Outlier Air and Gold had a similar tuning, giving vocals a little more room to breath with decent tonality and a fresh feel that is pleasant and airy, and the Sensemore Air takes this and improves it, with marginally better detail retrieval and instrument separation.
The gentle rise in the upper mids gives a nice weighting to vocals and adds attack (perhaps too much) to percussion. The Sensemore Air also have a little more in the lower mids, and the balance favours males vocals too, without sounding too over-emphasized. The trebles are very crisp, and shakers and other percussive elements have plenty of texture, but on high volumes especially it can sound a little too expressive and you may find yourself dialing this back ever so slightly.
The uplift in the midbass between 100-300Hz means that you're getting a gentle but lush sound to your lower frequencies, although for bassheads it's likely to sound a little thin and detached - again, a minor adjustment via the EQ will resolve this.
The soundstage has plenty of width thanks to the airy profile, although there's not a great deal of depth as you would expect with a single 6mm dynamic driver. Overall, it's a pleasantly-tuned TWS that with some very minor adjustments is fun and enjoyable for casual listening.
ANC/Ambient Control
ANC is actually referred to as 'Ambient Control' by Creative, certainly in their app, and the app gives you lots of customisation, which is both useful and effective.
Let's start as Creative intended with Ambient Mode. There are two modes within Ambient - normal Ambient and Sensemore. Normal Ambient is pretty much as per the Outlier Pro - a little disappointing, certainly for conversations that are some distance away from you, but very natural. Sensemore is, as you might expect given their name, their secret weapon - their headline feature that is designed to boost surrounding sounds and amplify vocal range frequencies to levels you can't even imagine, and let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint.
There are five strength levels to all modes in Ambient Control. For normal Ambient Mode, I suspect you'll have it set to high permanently. For Sensemore Mode, unless you're hard of hearing I think the sweet spot is somewhere between Level 3 and 4. On Level 5, even eating a bag of crisps becomes an arduous experience as every crinkle of the wrapper and crunch of the crisp explodes in your ears. Move to Level 4 and you get a superb balance of the edge taken off the harsher sounds and ample amplification of everything else. Sure, your voice and even other voices sound a bit lispy, and it certainly isn't trying to be natural sounding, but if a very clear Ambient mode is critical to you then the Sensemore Air are absolutely unparalleled.
Active Noise Cancellation isn't too bad either. Unfortunately due to the shallow insertion style, it doesn't negate wind noise, and requires the largest sized tips to maximise effectiveness, which may detract slightly from optimal comfort, but, similar to the FIIL T1 Pro / T2 Pro, which suffer from the same form factor constraints, it does a decent job of nullifying the lowest frequency sounds, including air conditioning units and car engines, and does pretty well with conversations around you. On a walk around my local Aldi, I couldn't hear a great deal going on with no music playing, but when the cashier asked me if I was 'Cash or Card', I could hear him quite clearly. So it would be unfair to claim the ANC is top tier on the Sensemore Air, but it's a similar level of performance to others in that mid-tier price/performance category. ANC also has five levels, and you'll probably not deviate from Level 5.
One of the most impressive features of Ambient Control is the ability to set which mode you want it to stay on whilst on a call. It isn't something that I use, but I recall a user on reddit saying they pretty much swore by this feature, so if that floats your boat - well, Creative have got you covered there.
Call Quality
Calls on the Outlier Pro weren't their strong suit, and it's a similar story with the Sensemore Air. This model has scaled the number of microphones back to 4 as opposed to 6, and whilst the environmental noise reduction has been increased, this also detracts from the clarity of your own voice, which softens and becomes a little incoherent unless you are prepared to raise your voice substantially.
Outdoors, they fare slightly better than indoors, coping OK with the weather and traffic conditions that plague your calls and voice notes, but it certainly isn't a feature that Creative have or should be crowing about - calls are possible and passable, but that's about it.
App Support & Other Features
The Sensemore Air are supported by the Creative app, which is an absolute pleasure to use. Whilst it isn't awash with features and functions, what it does, it does well, and it's glossy, polished and intuitive. There's no requirement for setting up an account and sending them your keystrokes, national insurance number and inside leg measurements. It's a straightforward app with three main sections - EQ, ANC and Custom Buttons. Since we've covered the others, let's move onto Custom Buttons. Here, you can customise Double Tap, Triple Tap and Long Tap (music playing), and not only that, but the left and right tap in each configuration is independent.
My choice was to allow long tap to control volume up and down, double left for toggle ANC and right to play/pause, whilst triple tap left took tracks backwards and triple tap right to progress them forwards. For me, this worked really well.
What about Long Tap when music isn't playing? That ends your Bluetooth connection. Yep, it disconnects your connection so you can quickly connect to another device. They don't have multipoint, so this is Creative's, ahem, creative way of circumventing that. And it works OK....until you forget that it's what it does! It's a gift and a curse, that's great when you need it, and the last thing you need when you don't.
The buds use the Bluetooth 5.2-ready Airoha AB1562A chipset that we've seen used in a variety of products from FIIL, and a few from 1More. It's a solid, reliable chip that offers robust connectivity and efficient performance. Latency is very good - I got good lip synchronisation on YouTube videos, but there's no Gaming Mode on this model, so for gamers you may find them falling a little short of expectation.
In the EQ section you have 12 Music presets and a bunch of Gaming EQ settings, including game-specific ones like Genshin Impact and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Of the Music presets, I particular liked the R&B one as a starting point - you can take any EQ and adjust from there, and adding a shade more bass to that EQ whilst edging down the sharpness at 8k seemed to work quite nicely. There's also the ability to custom EQ from scratch, and you have adjustments at 31, 62, 125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k and 16k +-9. Nice!
Battery Life
Whilst not quite hitting the heights of the Outlier Pro, the advertised 10 hours is still no mean feat. With ANC off, I got just under 9 hours normal listening, and with just under 6.5 hours with ANC on and taking a bunch of phone calls whilst using the mic for Duo Lingo too, it's still a standout feature which outperforms many higher-priced buds on the market such as the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2.
The buds support quick charge - 10 minutes in the case gives you 2 hours playtime, and you get an additional 3.5 charges from the case.
Summary
The Sensemore Air don't really sit above the Outlier Pro in terms of features and functions, but their fresh sound and outrageous 'Sensemore' Ambient Control put them at the front of the queue in terms of Creative buds I would recommend for casual use.
Active Noise Cancellation performs reasonably well, comfort is top tier, and the customisable controls and EQ thanks to their polished app makes them versatile and convenient buds, which don't scrimp on battery life either.
If you need gaming mode and require the ability to make coherent calls in a busy environment, they may fall a little way short of your expectations, but otherwise the Sensemore Air are cracking all-rounders that are convenient companions with an enjoyable sound signature to boot.
At £69.99, the Sensemore Air are slightly over-priced in terms of market expectations. If you can get a good deal on Prime Day though, they are a solid, reliable and high performing alternative to similar-fitting buds, such as the Jabra Elite 3.
Price Weighted Score: 84%
Raw Score: 82%
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Creative Sensemore Air
Price: MSRP £69.99
Website: Amazon UK, Creative UK
Review Reference: RC101
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Creative
- Model: Sensemore Air
- Driver: 6mm Bio-cellulose drivers
- Chipset: Airoha AB1562F
- Mic: 4 mics with environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: Yes - Hybrid ANC (dB not specified)
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes - Creative and Super X-Fi
- Multipoint: No
- Customisable Controls: Yes, via Creative app
- Gaming Mode: No
- Earbud Weight: 5.35g
- Earbud Dimensions: 23.8mm depth , 24.8mm height
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 47.06g
- Case Dimensions: 67mm (width) x 31.6mm (height) x 46.5mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 400mAh!
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes
- Wireless Charging: Yes
- Charge Time: 90 minutes (buds), 120 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 10 hours (ANC off), Up to 7 hours (ANC on)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 35 hours (ANC off), Up to 25 hours (ANC on)
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C / Qi Charge Case
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
After spotting my review of the Outlier Pro, Creative very kindly got in touch and asked if I would be prepared to do the same for one of their newer releases, the Sensemore Air.
Keeping tabs on Creative's naming convention and release schedule, it appears the raison d'etre here is their outrageously strong ambient performance. It shares some similarities with the Outlier Pro in terms of specification, such as the Bluetooth version (5.2), the inclusion of ANC and Quick Charge, and the ability to customise controls courtesy of the Creative app, but there are some compromises - the Sensemore Air only feature 4 mics, the drivers have been scaled down to 6mm, and battery life has been cut to 10h/35h. However, one of the bones of contention with the Outlier Pro was the slightly chunky design and case - and that is something Creative have adjusted with this release, with a super lightweight, slimline in-ear design that will certainly attract an alternative buyer profile.
There's also the sound signature, which is very different, so read on for my thoughts on the Sensemore Air, and what you can come to expect from this mid-tier in ear TWS.
Unboxing
With a £69.99 MSRP, the Sensemore Air are definitely positioned slightly higher than the often-discounted Amazon-friendly brands such as Soundcore and SoundPEATS, and with a brand that is certainly better known and more established outside of the audio community, you are getting what you would expect - a fairly premium-feeling unboxing with an assortment of booklets, including a warranty card and instruction manual.
Even so, this feels a little less impressive than the Outlier Pro, with the initial user guide moved from the inside of the enclosure to a separate leaflet, and the leaflet itself is fairly slimline, with Creative taking the environmentally-friendly option of a QR code for offering multi-language support. When you follow the QR, you've got instructions in 17 different languages, with most of the major European, Slavic and Asian languages accounted for.
You're also getting a set of spare tips in Small and Large sizes, a USB-C cable to charge the case and buds, and a leaflet advertising the SXFI app, which is a separate application to the main Creative app and isn't part of the scope of this review as it is focused on the Asian market.
Charge Case
Creative charge cases have historically been very unique in their rectangular bar-style shape and hefty profile. I read and watched quite a few reviews that took umbrage with this design (although it wasn't something I really had an issue with) and as a result, Creative have gone with something a little more conventional. The dimensions are 6.7mm x 3.2mm x 4.7mm - this time comfortably fitting in the palm of your hand - and weighing in at 47g, it's about average in terms of portability when it comes to your typical TWS charge case enclosures. The buds, again, rest with the tips at the top rather than the bottom, so you have to turn them upside down when you put them back in the case - slightly counter-intuitive if you're not used to it, but nothing too inconvenient. Inside the case, you've got the Sensemore logo screen printed in the cockpit.
The case has a friction hinge, and it is actually pretty impressive - there's around 45 degrees worth of adjustment in it before it slams shut, and the hold on this adjustment is quite firm - it's unlikely it will slam shut unless you get a rather strong gust of wind. Creative have also retained the very useful charging LED configuration, that accounts for the charging status of the Left bud, Case and Right bud (from left to right). It uses the same traffic light configuration I talked about in the Outlier Pro review, which is not so useful for those that are colour blind, but there's also the display in the Creative app which has you covered.
The case construction is black matte and plastic, and for all the positive aspects it is a little cheap-feeling. You can't really use it single-handed due to the size and profile of the lip on the lid, and the shell itself is rather thin and has some slightly sharp edges. Even within the first week of use, the appearance is degraded, as we have often seen with cases of this design, with shiny patches appearing courtesy of contact with keys in your pocket, etc.
On a positive note, the case recharges the buds and additional three and a half cycles, and supports the same quick charge configuration as the Outlier Pro - when you plug it into a USB-C cable, ten minutes juice will give you two hours playtime. The case also supports Qi wireless charging, including reverse-charging from your mobile phone, which is impressive in this price category.
Ergonomics
The Sensemore Air are another release that has shunned the stem, favouring a traditional round profile, with a shallow insertion inside the ear canal that, combined with the slimline design, makes for an almost-flush fit in your ears. We've seen a bunch of manufacturers claim to be 'Mini', but Creative are probably the closest to achieving this tag, measuring in at a depth of around 23mm. Each earbud weighs around 5g, and whilst this isn't especially light, it feels feather-like in your ears.
The ring LED around the outer edge has been retained, only flashing when you do something significant such as pairing and connection. On the inside, you've got two slightly bevelled battery connectors and an ambient pickup mic. It's all pretty standard stuff.
You start to realise how slim the earbuds are when you compare them to others of a similar shape. Here we have the SoundPEATS Mini, Engine 4, Creative Outlier Pro, Creative Sensemore Air and QCY T17. The Sensemore Air is easily slimmer than the rest, and whilst the height is larger than the other brands, it fits the shape of the average ear much better. By spreading the electronics and battery longer, the earbuds wear better, are more stable and far more comfortable.
The design is a little generic in terms of look (it reminds me of the old Tronsmart earbuds from when I started these reviews) and there's certainly nothing fancy about it, but it is probably the most comfortable earbud of this design I own, and I've kept coming back to it when I've wanted something convenient for this very reason. Talking and chewing don't loosen the fit - at least not for me, which is handy because the 'Sensemore' ambient feature definitely encourages you to talk with these buds in without the need to remove them.
The buds are IPX5 water resistant, so absolutely fine for light rain and sweat. Personally, I don't like to exercise with in-ear earbuds because of the occlusion effect, but if that doesn't bother you then the Sensemore Air are a decent option here due to that enhanced stability. They fit so flush, you could probably wear them under a motorcycle or bike helmet, and they are even suitable for side sleepers - probably the only earbud of all of my 2023 reviews I could faithfully say this for.
You also get the same voice prompts telling you what is going on as the Outlier Pro - "Bluetooth turned on, now in pairing mode, waiting for connection"...etc.
Audio & Sound Signature
As mentioned in the intro, Creative have equipped the Sensemore Air with 6mm bio-fibre drivers as opposed to the 10mm units in the Outlier Pro, with a frequency response range of 20-20KHz and support for the AAC and SBC codecs.
The first thing to note from the graphs is how much Creative have deviated from the warm, bassy sound of the Outlier Pro, instead favouring a brighter, cleaner tuning, with a leaner bass and more open soundstage. This takes Creative back to their previous releases - the Outlier Air and Gold had a similar tuning, giving vocals a little more room to breath with decent tonality and a fresh feel that is pleasant and airy, and the Sensemore Air takes this and improves it, with marginally better detail retrieval and instrument separation.
The gentle rise in the upper mids gives a nice weighting to vocals and adds attack (perhaps too much) to percussion. The Sensemore Air also have a little more in the lower mids, and the balance favours males vocals too, without sounding too over-emphasized. The trebles are very crisp, and shakers and other percussive elements have plenty of texture, but on high volumes especially it can sound a little too expressive and you may find yourself dialing this back ever so slightly.
The uplift in the midbass between 100-300Hz means that you're getting a gentle but lush sound to your lower frequencies, although for bassheads it's likely to sound a little thin and detached - again, a minor adjustment via the EQ will resolve this.
The soundstage has plenty of width thanks to the airy profile, although there's not a great deal of depth as you would expect with a single 6mm dynamic driver. Overall, it's a pleasantly-tuned TWS that with some very minor adjustments is fun and enjoyable for casual listening.
ANC/Ambient Control
ANC is actually referred to as 'Ambient Control' by Creative, certainly in their app, and the app gives you lots of customisation, which is both useful and effective.
Let's start as Creative intended with Ambient Mode. There are two modes within Ambient - normal Ambient and Sensemore. Normal Ambient is pretty much as per the Outlier Pro - a little disappointing, certainly for conversations that are some distance away from you, but very natural. Sensemore is, as you might expect given their name, their secret weapon - their headline feature that is designed to boost surrounding sounds and amplify vocal range frequencies to levels you can't even imagine, and let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint.
There are five strength levels to all modes in Ambient Control. For normal Ambient Mode, I suspect you'll have it set to high permanently. For Sensemore Mode, unless you're hard of hearing I think the sweet spot is somewhere between Level 3 and 4. On Level 5, even eating a bag of crisps becomes an arduous experience as every crinkle of the wrapper and crunch of the crisp explodes in your ears. Move to Level 4 and you get a superb balance of the edge taken off the harsher sounds and ample amplification of everything else. Sure, your voice and even other voices sound a bit lispy, and it certainly isn't trying to be natural sounding, but if a very clear Ambient mode is critical to you then the Sensemore Air are absolutely unparalleled.
Active Noise Cancellation isn't too bad either. Unfortunately due to the shallow insertion style, it doesn't negate wind noise, and requires the largest sized tips to maximise effectiveness, which may detract slightly from optimal comfort, but, similar to the FIIL T1 Pro / T2 Pro, which suffer from the same form factor constraints, it does a decent job of nullifying the lowest frequency sounds, including air conditioning units and car engines, and does pretty well with conversations around you. On a walk around my local Aldi, I couldn't hear a great deal going on with no music playing, but when the cashier asked me if I was 'Cash or Card', I could hear him quite clearly. So it would be unfair to claim the ANC is top tier on the Sensemore Air, but it's a similar level of performance to others in that mid-tier price/performance category. ANC also has five levels, and you'll probably not deviate from Level 5.
One of the most impressive features of Ambient Control is the ability to set which mode you want it to stay on whilst on a call. It isn't something that I use, but I recall a user on reddit saying they pretty much swore by this feature, so if that floats your boat - well, Creative have got you covered there.
Call Quality
Calls on the Outlier Pro weren't their strong suit, and it's a similar story with the Sensemore Air. This model has scaled the number of microphones back to 4 as opposed to 6, and whilst the environmental noise reduction has been increased, this also detracts from the clarity of your own voice, which softens and becomes a little incoherent unless you are prepared to raise your voice substantially.
Outdoors, they fare slightly better than indoors, coping OK with the weather and traffic conditions that plague your calls and voice notes, but it certainly isn't a feature that Creative have or should be crowing about - calls are possible and passable, but that's about it.
App Support & Other Features
The Sensemore Air are supported by the Creative app, which is an absolute pleasure to use. Whilst it isn't awash with features and functions, what it does, it does well, and it's glossy, polished and intuitive. There's no requirement for setting up an account and sending them your keystrokes, national insurance number and inside leg measurements. It's a straightforward app with three main sections - EQ, ANC and Custom Buttons. Since we've covered the others, let's move onto Custom Buttons. Here, you can customise Double Tap, Triple Tap and Long Tap (music playing), and not only that, but the left and right tap in each configuration is independent.
My choice was to allow long tap to control volume up and down, double left for toggle ANC and right to play/pause, whilst triple tap left took tracks backwards and triple tap right to progress them forwards. For me, this worked really well.
What about Long Tap when music isn't playing? That ends your Bluetooth connection. Yep, it disconnects your connection so you can quickly connect to another device. They don't have multipoint, so this is Creative's, ahem, creative way of circumventing that. And it works OK....until you forget that it's what it does! It's a gift and a curse, that's great when you need it, and the last thing you need when you don't.
The buds use the Bluetooth 5.2-ready Airoha AB1562A chipset that we've seen used in a variety of products from FIIL, and a few from 1More. It's a solid, reliable chip that offers robust connectivity and efficient performance. Latency is very good - I got good lip synchronisation on YouTube videos, but there's no Gaming Mode on this model, so for gamers you may find them falling a little short of expectation.
In the EQ section you have 12 Music presets and a bunch of Gaming EQ settings, including game-specific ones like Genshin Impact and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege.
Of the Music presets, I particular liked the R&B one as a starting point - you can take any EQ and adjust from there, and adding a shade more bass to that EQ whilst edging down the sharpness at 8k seemed to work quite nicely. There's also the ability to custom EQ from scratch, and you have adjustments at 31, 62, 125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k and 16k +-9. Nice!
Battery Life
Whilst not quite hitting the heights of the Outlier Pro, the advertised 10 hours is still no mean feat. With ANC off, I got just under 9 hours normal listening, and with just under 6.5 hours with ANC on and taking a bunch of phone calls whilst using the mic for Duo Lingo too, it's still a standout feature which outperforms many higher-priced buds on the market such as the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2.
The buds support quick charge - 10 minutes in the case gives you 2 hours playtime, and you get an additional 3.5 charges from the case.
Summary
The Sensemore Air don't really sit above the Outlier Pro in terms of features and functions, but their fresh sound and outrageous 'Sensemore' Ambient Control put them at the front of the queue in terms of Creative buds I would recommend for casual use.
Active Noise Cancellation performs reasonably well, comfort is top tier, and the customisable controls and EQ thanks to their polished app makes them versatile and convenient buds, which don't scrimp on battery life either.
If you need gaming mode and require the ability to make coherent calls in a busy environment, they may fall a little way short of your expectations, but otherwise the Sensemore Air are cracking all-rounders that are convenient companions with an enjoyable sound signature to boot.
At £69.99, the Sensemore Air are slightly over-priced in terms of market expectations. If you can get a good deal on Prime Day though, they are a solid, reliable and high performing alternative to similar-fitting buds, such as the Jabra Elite 3.
Price Weighted Score: 84%
Raw Score: 82%
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Creative Outlier Pro
Price: MSRP £69.99
Website: £42.99 at Amazon UK with voucher, Creative UK
Review Reference: RC100
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C / Qi Charge Case
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
When I started out trying to find the best value wireless earbud during the COVID lockdown, I never imagined I would make it to 100 models! But here we are, and this time around we are going back to a release from late last summer from Creative, the guys who have been making desktop speakers and sound cards since I can remember! Creative were founded in Singapore in 1981 and became synonymous with computer-audio thanks to their Soundblaster series.
Since then, market forces have dictated a logical segway into other product segments, including wireless earbuds. Their Outlier range started with the Outlier Air, released back in 2019. That particular model is now on it's third revision, with the Sensemore Air and Outlier Pro added to the portfolio in 2022. The Outlier Pro, on paper, has the most impressive set of features, and that's what we will be taking a look at today.
The Outlier Pro retail at £67.99, with a £25 off voucher taking the price down to £42.99. This sees them competing with the likes of Soundcore with their A3i, and SoundPEATS with the Mini Pro HS. Would the impressive feature set stack up in real life? Read on to find out.....
Unboxing
Unboxing the Outlier Pro definitely feels closer to the MSRP than the reduced price, with an impressively-premium affair that is commensurate with their standing in the commercial world. The fold-out, tough-cardboard exterior gives you a clear indication of the earbuds on the front, and lists the impressive array of features on the back.
Whilst there is a user-guide included, you also get a run-down of how to do the basics - such as charging and pairing - on the inside of the enclosure - a nice touch. There's a couple of leaflets in there - a notification of the SXFI app, a quick guide (which is in English only, with some compliance details below in various different languages), and a safety document, again in a bunch of different languages. You also get a USB-C charge cable and small and large sized tips to complement the factory fitted medium.
Charge Case
The charge case of the Outlier Pro will probably polarise opinion due to it's uncompromising size and build quality, but I love it. It feels premium, with a 'metallic umber' finish around the shell, black plastic on the sides and a Qi-wireless charge supporting pad on the bottom.
It is on the larger side at just over 8cm wide, nearly 5cm in depth and then just over 3cm in height, and it weighs a mammoth 86g full loaded, but it's bar shape design actually makes it rather convenient for popping in your pocket, arguably moreso than bucket-shaped cases like the SoundPEATS Life or Earfun Air Pro 3, whose cuboid-esque profiles can jut out in your trousers a little more.
To open the case, you push the right outer edge inwards and the buds slide out, as per the image above. Interestingly, the buds sit upside down, so when you pull them out you're kinda twisting them before putting them into your ears. After doing this a few times, it becomes second-nature - not something you even notice. Putting them back in the case is the same story, and there's a light magnet pulling them in to help you. The tray design is well-thought out, although it does wobble a little when fully retracted, as you would expect. There's no hall-switch mode here - the buds will continue charging with the case open, and won't connect until you take them out.
On the side, you've got a really helpful battery indicator section. There's three LED's - the middle denotes the remaining charge in the case, and the left and right show each bud respectively. They will pulse red when on a Qi wireless charger or plugged in. At a glance, it is very useful - the middle LED doesn't seem to turn off, but it is subtle enough to not light your room up when it's dark.
The case has the excellent quick-charge feature, giving you two hours playtime from 10 minutes plugged in. It takes around two hours for a full charge, giving you a cool 60 hours' worth of total playtime with ANC off, and 40 with ANC on.
Ergonomics
The Outlier Pro have a 'custom IEM' feel to the design, breaking away from the recent tendency to increase the nozzle diameter and thus sit against your concha. Instead, Creative have mixed the approach of a shallow insertion into the ear canal (a la Jabra Elite 75T) with a curved-fitting inner side (similar to the KZ SKS). This gives the Outlier Pro a very distinguishable fit - they aren't too invasive, fit very tightly against your concha, and make good use of the ergonomics to ensure they don't jut out too far either.
Here, you see how the approach contrasts with some of their competitors. From the left, you see that the Outlier Pro is larger than the SoundPEATS Engine 4, with a similarly small diameter nozzle to the KZ SKS. On the right, you see that the depth is actually roughly the same as the Engine 4, but because of the targeted insertion at the edge, it sits deeper and protrudes less. The result is an extremely secure-feeling earbud that even stays in place when running, despite it's rather heavy profile. This can leave the earbuds feeling a shade stuffy after a while, and if you leave them in for long periods of time, especially without getting the fit quite right, they can leave your concha aching a touch, but if you get the twist and insertion right, they can feel very comfortable for prolonged use - although note that due to their design, you will feel that they're in place if you put your mind to it.
From the side, it's not the most subtle look, but nor is it the most boisterous - their minimalist design, contoured shiny edges and flat plate for touch controls is rather unique-looking - there are shades of the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro about the overall profile, although they don't wear anything like as bulky.
There are voice prompts that tell you exactly what is going on with the earbuds when you take them out of the case - "Bluetooth turned on, now in pairing mode, waiting for connection"...etc.
The Outlier Pro are pretty unique in their design, and their IPX5 sweat resistance rating makes them a versatile earbud that can be used comfortably in a variety of scenarios.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Outlier Pro use a 10mm Dynamic driver and default to the AAC codec. The sound signature is definitely on the warmer side compared with the more boisterous-sounding v-shaped profile we often see with budget earbuds, favouring a bassy, 'subwoofer' feel, with an intimate, close-up staging. Tonally, the Outlier Pro border on dark at times, with vocals, strings and pianos taking a back seat over guitars, harps and drums. From the trebles perspective, there's no sibilance, and no excessive sharpness to synths, although this can give the impression of an absence of detail. The Outlier Pro are tuned with longevity in mind - inoffensive and easy to listen to a variety of music styles with, but out of the box, you may find the sound a little closed in, and perhaps not as lively or energetic as you might like.
On 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande, vocals are smooth and present around the rumble of the sub and lingering midbass. Percussion is less textured and not as sparkly as some of the sets I've reviewed - this is in no small part down to the dip between 4 and 8k, which takes the attack out of toms and snares. The peak in the high mids at between 2-4k means that whilst vocals can sometimes sound a little nasaly, they don't disappear altogether, and gives kick drums a bit more punch and ensures acoustic guitar chords don't disappear altogether. Move to 7 Seconds by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N’Dour, and you lose a little of the percussion to the relentlessness of the synths, whilst vocals and strings are a little constrained. The Outlier Pro are definitely tuned more on the intimate side - the staging is quite narrow with decent separation, and as you would expect with a single-driver bud the resolution and depth are adequate, but not mind-blowing.
However, the Outlier Pro have a secret weapon - the Creative app. Dive into the EQ section and you'll find 12 EQ presets for music and TONNES of presets for gaming. But more impressive, is you can take a preset and adjust it however you see fit, within the parameters of the ten frequencies across the X axis (31Hz-16KHz). I've only been playing around with a it a little while, but you can open the soundstage out a little, tame the 4k peak, cut a little fat out at around 200-250Hz and balance out the trebles. You're left with a similar sound to the original Huawei FreeBuds Pro, which, some notable exceptions aside, follows a similar brief. I put '7 Seconds' through my tweaked EQ and already you can hear far more texture to the percussive elements, whilst the vocals sounding much more up-front, opening out around the arrangement. Bravo. If you're patient, you can get the Outlier Pro sounding however you want them, without losing that smoothness that characterises the buds by default - but remember to switch the equaliser on in the app every time you use them.
Summarily, it's a palatable, inoffensive sound out-of-the-box that has plenty of customisation options to tailor the sound to your desired profile.
ANC
Active Noise Cancellation is something else that you have lots of control over, with five strength settings for both ANC and ambient mode. The Outlier Pro benefit from excellent passive noise isolation thanks to the tight fit, and the ANC strength isn't bad either. You activate ANC either by tapping the left bud twice, or selecting it in the app.
Outdoors, it does a decent job of nullifying the sounds around you. Traffic isn't removed altogether, more reduced to a barely-noticeable hum. Engine noises and wind are dealt with very well. Police sirens and nearby conversations are, like most earbuds of this form factor, more difficult to work with, but provided you're listening to music or audiobooks and aren't trying to simply blot out all sound alone, they work fine. I used them on a busy intersection with Duolingo, and had no issues hearing each of the instructions.
Indoors, it's a similar story. With the window open, all outdoor noise is nullified. The fans from my PC disappear altogether. Keyboard taps are still audible, although without the mechanical blue key click sounding quite as prominent. Conversations are far more difficult to hide, as you would expect.
Switching to ambient mode, it's quite a natural effect, albeit not especially strong. On levels 3 and below, it's even quite difficult to hear nearby conversations, but on 4 and 5 you'll certainly be able to have a conversation without too many issues, although if you're trying to hear details a little further away, they struggle a little.
Overall, it's a respectable effort that is aligned to others in it's price category, without knocking it out of the ball-park.
Call Quality
Indoors, with no sounds going on around you, the Outlier Pro leave your voice sounding natural, with good weight and tone. With some vague noises around you, they also perform fine. Introduce a lot of ambient noise however - a coffee shop, for example, and the buds really struggle to differentiate your voice from the environmental sounds, with indistinct chatter providing a particularly stern test. You'll probably find yourself needing to speak up to make yourself heard.
Outdoors, again without too much commotion they fare quite well. Moving along a main road towards a busy intersection, other than the odd blast of engine noise my voice came through very clearly without too much fuss. However, sat in the park on a windy day and the buds simply couldn't handle the gusts coming through. To be fair, this is quite normal with buds of this form factor - calls aren't the strong suit here despite the 6 mics, but if you're making and taking occasional calls and don't mind raising your voice a little, the Outlier Pro are fine.
Other Features
I mentioned the excellent Creative app and what you get previously, but let's dial it back a second. Not only is the look and feel to the app polished and intuitive, there's no requirement for setting up an account and sending them your keystrokes, national insurance number and inside leg measurements. It's a straightforward app with three main sections - EQ, ANC and Custom Buttons. Since we've covered the others, let's move onto Custom Buttons. Here, you can customise Double Tap, Triple Tap and Long Tap (music playing), and not only that, but the left and right tap in each configuration is independent.
My choice was to allow long tap to control volume up and down, double left for toggle ANC and right to play/pause, whilst triple tap left took tracks backwards and triple tap right to progress them forwards. For me, this worked really well.
What about Long Tap when music isn't playing? That ends your Bluetooth connection. Yep, it disconnects your connection so you can quickly connect to another device. They don't have multipoint, so this is Creative's, ahem, creative way of circumventing that. And it works OK....until you forget that it's what it does! It's a gift and a curse, that's great when you need it, and the last thing you need when you don't.
The buds use the Bluetooth 5.2-ready Airoha AB1562A chipset that we've seen used in a variety of products from FIIL, and a few from 1More. It's a solid, reliable chip that offers robust connectivity and efficient performance. Latency is very good - I got good lip synchronisation on YouTube videos. There's a low latency mode, which took me an eternity to find, and latency is OK on casual gaming. Remember, you do also have plenty of Gaming EQ presets, including game-specific ones like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike!
Battery Life
And onto the star of the show! If you want a bud that will last you the whole day, look no further than the Outlier Pro. They claim up to 15 hours battery life with ANC off and 10 hours with ANC on. And from my initial test, it looks like a pretty accurate estimate - I got just under 9 hours listening to a mixture of Tidal, Spotify, YouTube, some casual gaming, Duo Lingo, Audible and making a few calls, whilst mostly having ANC on other than the odd switch, with volume at between 70-80%, and just under 10 on the second try without calls or gaming. It's probably the strongest performer in the entire 100 I've put through the regancipher test bench so far - impressive stuff.
Not only this, but you get wireless charging, quick charge and a further three additional charges with the case. For a weekend companion, it's hard to see past the Outlier Pro, especially if you need ANC.
Summary
The Outlier Pro, as we mentioned in the intro, are a bit of a dark horse, that have gone under the radar a little here despite the impressive array of features. Creative have managed to harness these features and deliver an earbud that has their stamp on it - it isn't generic nor non-descript, and the case and ergonomics are bold and give them identity.
The custom-style fit is hardly unique, but goes against the grain on the market today and offers great stability and decent comfort. Sound is warm and intimate OOTB, but fully customisable. ANC is good enough at the price point, and calls are OK too.
When it comes to features, you've got quick charge, wireless charging, customisable controls via their polished app, and IPX5 sweat resistance, not to mention the mammoth battery life that will probably last you an entire weekend!
The Outlier Pro deliver great value at the current £42.99 price on Amazon UK. If you want to break away from the usual SoundPEATS, Soundcore and QCY releases for something a little more discerning, then the Outlier Pro are a worthwhile consideration, especially if your biggest requirement is staying power.
Price Weighted Score: 84%
Raw Score: 80%
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Creative Outlier Pro
Price: MSRP £69.99
Website: £42.99 at Amazon UK with voucher, Creative UK
Review Reference: RC100
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Creative
- Model: Outlier Pro
- Driver: 10mm Graphene-coated Diaphragm
- Chipset: Airoha AB1562A
- Mic: 6 mics with environmental noise reduction for calls
- ANC: Yes - Hybrid ANC (dB not specified)
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes - Creative and Super X-Fi
- Multipoint: No
- Customisable Controls: Yes, via Creative app
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 7.04g
- Earbud Dimensions: 24.9mm depth , 24.5mm height
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 86.31g
- Case Dimensions: 82mm (width) x 46.2mm (height) x 30.7mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 900mAh!
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes
- Wireless Charging: Yes
- Charge Time: 90 minutes (buds), 120 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 15 hours (ANC off), Up to 10 hours (ANC on)
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 60 hours (ANC off), Up to 40 hours (ANC on)
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IPX5
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C / Qi Charge Case
3 x Pair Silicone Eartips
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide
1 x Warranty Card
1 x Compliance Manual
YouTube Review:
Introduction
When I started out trying to find the best value wireless earbud during the COVID lockdown, I never imagined I would make it to 100 models! But here we are, and this time around we are going back to a release from late last summer from Creative, the guys who have been making desktop speakers and sound cards since I can remember! Creative were founded in Singapore in 1981 and became synonymous with computer-audio thanks to their Soundblaster series.
Since then, market forces have dictated a logical segway into other product segments, including wireless earbuds. Their Outlier range started with the Outlier Air, released back in 2019. That particular model is now on it's third revision, with the Sensemore Air and Outlier Pro added to the portfolio in 2022. The Outlier Pro, on paper, has the most impressive set of features, and that's what we will be taking a look at today.
The Outlier Pro retail at £67.99, with a £25 off voucher taking the price down to £42.99. This sees them competing with the likes of Soundcore with their A3i, and SoundPEATS with the Mini Pro HS. Would the impressive feature set stack up in real life? Read on to find out.....
Unboxing
Unboxing the Outlier Pro definitely feels closer to the MSRP than the reduced price, with an impressively-premium affair that is commensurate with their standing in the commercial world. The fold-out, tough-cardboard exterior gives you a clear indication of the earbuds on the front, and lists the impressive array of features on the back.
Whilst there is a user-guide included, you also get a run-down of how to do the basics - such as charging and pairing - on the inside of the enclosure - a nice touch. There's a couple of leaflets in there - a notification of the SXFI app, a quick guide (which is in English only, with some compliance details below in various different languages), and a safety document, again in a bunch of different languages. You also get a USB-C charge cable and small and large sized tips to complement the factory fitted medium.
Charge Case
The charge case of the Outlier Pro will probably polarise opinion due to it's uncompromising size and build quality, but I love it. It feels premium, with a 'metallic umber' finish around the shell, black plastic on the sides and a Qi-wireless charge supporting pad on the bottom.
It is on the larger side at just over 8cm wide, nearly 5cm in depth and then just over 3cm in height, and it weighs a mammoth 86g full loaded, but it's bar shape design actually makes it rather convenient for popping in your pocket, arguably moreso than bucket-shaped cases like the SoundPEATS Life or Earfun Air Pro 3, whose cuboid-esque profiles can jut out in your trousers a little more.
To open the case, you push the right outer edge inwards and the buds slide out, as per the image above. Interestingly, the buds sit upside down, so when you pull them out you're kinda twisting them before putting them into your ears. After doing this a few times, it becomes second-nature - not something you even notice. Putting them back in the case is the same story, and there's a light magnet pulling them in to help you. The tray design is well-thought out, although it does wobble a little when fully retracted, as you would expect. There's no hall-switch mode here - the buds will continue charging with the case open, and won't connect until you take them out.
On the side, you've got a really helpful battery indicator section. There's three LED's - the middle denotes the remaining charge in the case, and the left and right show each bud respectively. They will pulse red when on a Qi wireless charger or plugged in. At a glance, it is very useful - the middle LED doesn't seem to turn off, but it is subtle enough to not light your room up when it's dark.
The case has the excellent quick-charge feature, giving you two hours playtime from 10 minutes plugged in. It takes around two hours for a full charge, giving you a cool 60 hours' worth of total playtime with ANC off, and 40 with ANC on.
Ergonomics
The Outlier Pro have a 'custom IEM' feel to the design, breaking away from the recent tendency to increase the nozzle diameter and thus sit against your concha. Instead, Creative have mixed the approach of a shallow insertion into the ear canal (a la Jabra Elite 75T) with a curved-fitting inner side (similar to the KZ SKS). This gives the Outlier Pro a very distinguishable fit - they aren't too invasive, fit very tightly against your concha, and make good use of the ergonomics to ensure they don't jut out too far either.
Here, you see how the approach contrasts with some of their competitors. From the left, you see that the Outlier Pro is larger than the SoundPEATS Engine 4, with a similarly small diameter nozzle to the KZ SKS. On the right, you see that the depth is actually roughly the same as the Engine 4, but because of the targeted insertion at the edge, it sits deeper and protrudes less. The result is an extremely secure-feeling earbud that even stays in place when running, despite it's rather heavy profile. This can leave the earbuds feeling a shade stuffy after a while, and if you leave them in for long periods of time, especially without getting the fit quite right, they can leave your concha aching a touch, but if you get the twist and insertion right, they can feel very comfortable for prolonged use - although note that due to their design, you will feel that they're in place if you put your mind to it.
From the side, it's not the most subtle look, but nor is it the most boisterous - their minimalist design, contoured shiny edges and flat plate for touch controls is rather unique-looking - there are shades of the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro about the overall profile, although they don't wear anything like as bulky.
There are voice prompts that tell you exactly what is going on with the earbuds when you take them out of the case - "Bluetooth turned on, now in pairing mode, waiting for connection"...etc.
The Outlier Pro are pretty unique in their design, and their IPX5 sweat resistance rating makes them a versatile earbud that can be used comfortably in a variety of scenarios.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Outlier Pro use a 10mm Dynamic driver and default to the AAC codec. The sound signature is definitely on the warmer side compared with the more boisterous-sounding v-shaped profile we often see with budget earbuds, favouring a bassy, 'subwoofer' feel, with an intimate, close-up staging. Tonally, the Outlier Pro border on dark at times, with vocals, strings and pianos taking a back seat over guitars, harps and drums. From the trebles perspective, there's no sibilance, and no excessive sharpness to synths, although this can give the impression of an absence of detail. The Outlier Pro are tuned with longevity in mind - inoffensive and easy to listen to a variety of music styles with, but out of the box, you may find the sound a little closed in, and perhaps not as lively or energetic as you might like.
On 'Side to Side' by Ariana Grande, vocals are smooth and present around the rumble of the sub and lingering midbass. Percussion is less textured and not as sparkly as some of the sets I've reviewed - this is in no small part down to the dip between 4 and 8k, which takes the attack out of toms and snares. The peak in the high mids at between 2-4k means that whilst vocals can sometimes sound a little nasaly, they don't disappear altogether, and gives kick drums a bit more punch and ensures acoustic guitar chords don't disappear altogether. Move to 7 Seconds by Neneh Cherry and Youssou N’Dour, and you lose a little of the percussion to the relentlessness of the synths, whilst vocals and strings are a little constrained. The Outlier Pro are definitely tuned more on the intimate side - the staging is quite narrow with decent separation, and as you would expect with a single-driver bud the resolution and depth are adequate, but not mind-blowing.
However, the Outlier Pro have a secret weapon - the Creative app. Dive into the EQ section and you'll find 12 EQ presets for music and TONNES of presets for gaming. But more impressive, is you can take a preset and adjust it however you see fit, within the parameters of the ten frequencies across the X axis (31Hz-16KHz). I've only been playing around with a it a little while, but you can open the soundstage out a little, tame the 4k peak, cut a little fat out at around 200-250Hz and balance out the trebles. You're left with a similar sound to the original Huawei FreeBuds Pro, which, some notable exceptions aside, follows a similar brief. I put '7 Seconds' through my tweaked EQ and already you can hear far more texture to the percussive elements, whilst the vocals sounding much more up-front, opening out around the arrangement. Bravo. If you're patient, you can get the Outlier Pro sounding however you want them, without losing that smoothness that characterises the buds by default - but remember to switch the equaliser on in the app every time you use them.
Summarily, it's a palatable, inoffensive sound out-of-the-box that has plenty of customisation options to tailor the sound to your desired profile.
ANC
Active Noise Cancellation is something else that you have lots of control over, with five strength settings for both ANC and ambient mode. The Outlier Pro benefit from excellent passive noise isolation thanks to the tight fit, and the ANC strength isn't bad either. You activate ANC either by tapping the left bud twice, or selecting it in the app.
Outdoors, it does a decent job of nullifying the sounds around you. Traffic isn't removed altogether, more reduced to a barely-noticeable hum. Engine noises and wind are dealt with very well. Police sirens and nearby conversations are, like most earbuds of this form factor, more difficult to work with, but provided you're listening to music or audiobooks and aren't trying to simply blot out all sound alone, they work fine. I used them on a busy intersection with Duolingo, and had no issues hearing each of the instructions.
Indoors, it's a similar story. With the window open, all outdoor noise is nullified. The fans from my PC disappear altogether. Keyboard taps are still audible, although without the mechanical blue key click sounding quite as prominent. Conversations are far more difficult to hide, as you would expect.
Switching to ambient mode, it's quite a natural effect, albeit not especially strong. On levels 3 and below, it's even quite difficult to hear nearby conversations, but on 4 and 5 you'll certainly be able to have a conversation without too many issues, although if you're trying to hear details a little further away, they struggle a little.
Overall, it's a respectable effort that is aligned to others in it's price category, without knocking it out of the ball-park.
Call Quality
Indoors, with no sounds going on around you, the Outlier Pro leave your voice sounding natural, with good weight and tone. With some vague noises around you, they also perform fine. Introduce a lot of ambient noise however - a coffee shop, for example, and the buds really struggle to differentiate your voice from the environmental sounds, with indistinct chatter providing a particularly stern test. You'll probably find yourself needing to speak up to make yourself heard.
Outdoors, again without too much commotion they fare quite well. Moving along a main road towards a busy intersection, other than the odd blast of engine noise my voice came through very clearly without too much fuss. However, sat in the park on a windy day and the buds simply couldn't handle the gusts coming through. To be fair, this is quite normal with buds of this form factor - calls aren't the strong suit here despite the 6 mics, but if you're making and taking occasional calls and don't mind raising your voice a little, the Outlier Pro are fine.
Other Features
I mentioned the excellent Creative app and what you get previously, but let's dial it back a second. Not only is the look and feel to the app polished and intuitive, there's no requirement for setting up an account and sending them your keystrokes, national insurance number and inside leg measurements. It's a straightforward app with three main sections - EQ, ANC and Custom Buttons. Since we've covered the others, let's move onto Custom Buttons. Here, you can customise Double Tap, Triple Tap and Long Tap (music playing), and not only that, but the left and right tap in each configuration is independent.
My choice was to allow long tap to control volume up and down, double left for toggle ANC and right to play/pause, whilst triple tap left took tracks backwards and triple tap right to progress them forwards. For me, this worked really well.
What about Long Tap when music isn't playing? That ends your Bluetooth connection. Yep, it disconnects your connection so you can quickly connect to another device. They don't have multipoint, so this is Creative's, ahem, creative way of circumventing that. And it works OK....until you forget that it's what it does! It's a gift and a curse, that's great when you need it, and the last thing you need when you don't.
The buds use the Bluetooth 5.2-ready Airoha AB1562A chipset that we've seen used in a variety of products from FIIL, and a few from 1More. It's a solid, reliable chip that offers robust connectivity and efficient performance. Latency is very good - I got good lip synchronisation on YouTube videos. There's a low latency mode, which took me an eternity to find, and latency is OK on casual gaming. Remember, you do also have plenty of Gaming EQ presets, including game-specific ones like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike!
Battery Life
And onto the star of the show! If you want a bud that will last you the whole day, look no further than the Outlier Pro. They claim up to 15 hours battery life with ANC off and 10 hours with ANC on. And from my initial test, it looks like a pretty accurate estimate - I got just under 9 hours listening to a mixture of Tidal, Spotify, YouTube, some casual gaming, Duo Lingo, Audible and making a few calls, whilst mostly having ANC on other than the odd switch, with volume at between 70-80%, and just under 10 on the second try without calls or gaming. It's probably the strongest performer in the entire 100 I've put through the regancipher test bench so far - impressive stuff.
Not only this, but you get wireless charging, quick charge and a further three additional charges with the case. For a weekend companion, it's hard to see past the Outlier Pro, especially if you need ANC.
Summary
The Outlier Pro, as we mentioned in the intro, are a bit of a dark horse, that have gone under the radar a little here despite the impressive array of features. Creative have managed to harness these features and deliver an earbud that has their stamp on it - it isn't generic nor non-descript, and the case and ergonomics are bold and give them identity.
The custom-style fit is hardly unique, but goes against the grain on the market today and offers great stability and decent comfort. Sound is warm and intimate OOTB, but fully customisable. ANC is good enough at the price point, and calls are OK too.
When it comes to features, you've got quick charge, wireless charging, customisable controls via their polished app, and IPX5 sweat resistance, not to mention the mammoth battery life that will probably last you an entire weekend!
The Outlier Pro deliver great value at the current £42.99 price on Amazon UK. If you want to break away from the usual SoundPEATS, Soundcore and QCY releases for something a little more discerning, then the Outlier Pro are a worthwhile consideration, especially if your biggest requirement is staying power.
Price Weighted Score: 84%
Raw Score: 80%
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
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Socials: Biolink
Model: Oppo Enco Air3
Price: MSRP approx. $30
Website: AliExpress, Oppo
Review Reference: RC099
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide: Chinese
YouTube Review:
Coming soon
Introduction
When a new semi in-ear bud comes to the market, I'm on it - especially if it's this cheap! The Oppo Enco Air3 is available from AliExpress for the ludicrously low price of £22.13 at the time of review, which seems like a steal given the rather impressive specifications - including the provision of multipoint connectivity, app support, programmable controls and quick charge.
Today I'll walk you through the product and compare it to some of the other popular semi in-ear buds on the market currently which are pitched at a similar price.
Unboxing
Make no mistake at all, you aren't buying the Oppo Enco Air3 for the unboxing. I took the Chinese version given the global edition hasn't made it to market yet, and was surprised to discover it didn't even include a charge cable!
The manual is in Chinese only, and it's more of a user guide - but operating the earbuds is pretty straightforward so no major issues there.
Charge Case
The charge case for the Enco Air3 is semi-transparent, with a frosted lid with the Oppo logo screen printed across the centre. It measures around 5cm across the height and width, with a depth of 2.5cm. It weighs just over 38g fully-loaded, making it an attractive, portable case.
Flip the friction-hinged lid back, and the buds slot intuitively into the case with precision, aided by the appropriately-weighted magnets. You're greeted with an LED that gives you a green, amber or red denomination - when you open the case the LED colour represents the battery remaining in the buds, when you close it it's the battery remaining in the case. Simply, yet extremely effective. The case supports hall-switch mode, connecting a second or two after you open the case. This conveniently allows you to set up your multipoint connections and button configuration in the app while the buds are still in the case - fantastic.
The battery capacity is 300mAh, giving you 3 additional full charges, and it takes around 2 hours for a full charge. The buds charge fully after 80 minutes, and there is Oppo's trademark quick charge feature which provides a very handy 2 hours of playtime from just 10 minutes juice. There's no wireless charging - it's USB-C only, and the socket is located at the base - again, the LED denotes how much charge is remaining, staying solid throughout the charge duration.
Ergonomics
The Enco Air3 are a semi-in-ear bud, meaning there is no silicone tip and no seal. This design is for those that don't like the stuffy feel of a silicone tip, and it allows you to hear your surroundings better without messing around with transparency mode. As far as semi-in-ear buds go, the Air3 is a fairly standard design, with decent workmanship and quality - the bud weighs around 3.7g and measures 33mm in stem length. If there was a 'standard' in terms of dimensions, this would probably be it.
On the inside, you've got a vent for the tuning hole and mic, and the speaker output is perpendicular, meaning the earbuds wear slightly straight. There are battery connectors on the inside, slightly recessed from the stem. There's an attractive-looking 'teardrop' style semi-transparent edge, that matches nicely with the case.
The design is slightly different to some of it's peers. It lacks the curvature of the QCY T20, Yobybo X-Boat, Edifier W220T and SoundPEATS Air3 series, instead fitting perpendicular like the FIIL Key alongside it. This means it wears rather straight as a result, otherwise if you tilt the speaker will be aimed away from your ear canal. However, unlike the FIIL Key, the edge is narrow and targeted, which means it actually sits a little more securely in your ear.
The speaker opening is narrower than any other model you see here, which actually gives it a shade more stability as a result. It requires that you 'push it in' a little - once you do, it will stay there, provided you aren't too active. Sitting at my desk they were absolutely fine, but get a jog on and you will notice them start to move a little. Part of me think perhaps they would have been better off angling the driver downwards a little - this would have increased the stability further, or going a bit bulkier like the Soundpeats Air4 and QCY T20, because there's not enough inherent stability to really take advantage of the IP54 dust and moisture resistance unless you have particularly small ears. The stems are a bit thicker than the other models there too, which looks more attractive but probably doesn't help the weight displacement, adding to further potential stability woes.
The touch controls are at the top of the stem - they can be initiated accidentally from time to time, although the absence of curve at the top at least means they aren't as easily set off as the SoundPEATS Air3 series.
Above shows the way the buds should be worn, and how they fit in your ears from the sides. It's a subtle, attractive look which stamps it's own identity on the archetypal Airpod-style design.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Enco Air3 have a single dynamic driver and are the first earbud in their price category to use the Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP. This high-performing chip brings a number of tangible benefits, including enhanced audio processing - it's a whopping 25 times more powerful than the chip used in the Enco Air2. In terms of codec support, they default to AAC, and via the app they have three preset equaliser settings - Original, Bass Boost and Clear Vocals.
On the original setting, you've got a lower frequency response which is quite similar to the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS - strong in the centre, giving instruments a little body, and a gradual slope off in the high bass - enough to retain the harmonics and not too much to sound muddy. It's the kind of tuning that works with semi-in-ear, because their design means you automatically lose some of the sense of bass regardless, so over-cooking this can be highly detrimental, to the depths of distortion in the case of the 1More Comfobuds 2, for example.
Where the Enco Air3 differ is in the mids. The uplift between 1.5-3k adds more brightness to claps, percussion and vocals. Vocals are far more forward than the Air3 Deluxe HS - pianos and guitar chords hit a little more prominently and kick drums have a bit more bite, but this can border on excessively-bright at times. Switch to 'Bass Boost' and you get a little notch in those frequencies, but a slightly muddier mid-bass. 'Clear Vocal' kills the lower frequencies and boosts the upper mids and trebles even more - steer clear of that one!
Despite the trebles tailing of from 6k onwards, it's a bright, clean sounding TWS with forward vocals with plenty of bass given the form factor constraints. The soundstage is reasonably wide, with very moderate depth. Clarity is OK, and instrument separation is reasonable too.
There's another little treat - Oppo Alive Audio. This is another goodie facilitated by the chipset, and it's Oppo's answer to spatial audio. There's no head tracking, and the effect is almost placebo-like, but switch it on and you'll notice the perceived soundstage widen.
The Enco Air3 are one of the better sounding budget semi in-ear offerings, certainly up there with the Soundpeats offerings at the same sort of price.
Call Quality
The Enco Air3 feature on my 2023 Call Quality (Part 1) test which you can find below:
Outdoors, you can hear how they fare here:
It's very quickly evident that the AI/DNN algorithms they use for noise reduction are, like most earbuds, far better equipped at dealing with wind and traffic than they are at coping with the consistent sound of indistinct chatter. If you're making and taking calls on the move on the daily commute, the Air3 perform pretty well, elevating your voice with authority, albeit not always perfectly clearly. Indoors, they suffer the same fate as other budget buds, although performance really isn't bad - don't go thinking you can make presentations with them when it's noisy in the scene.
Battery Life
Battery life is the semi-in-ear standard fare of up to 6 hours. I got just under 5 first time around, and just over 4 with multipoint and making a number of calls. It isn't market leading or anything like that, but the quick charge feature of 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes worth of juice offsets this nicely, preventing the capacity from being a problem for most users. The total battery life of advertised 24 hours can thus be scaled back pro rata, but it's about what we expect with a set of semi-in-ear buds, especially in the budget category.
Other Features
The HeyMelody app is a BBK app which works for Oppo and OnePlus buds (amongst others). It is a straightforward app with a clean, easy to follow interface - the main page gives you case and earbud battery indications, there's an EQ toggle which has no custom EQ, but allows you to choose between the three audio presets. You can also toggle 'Oppo Alive Audio', 'Gaming Mode' (which reduces latency even further) and 'Dual Connection'.
Latency is pretty good - for YouTube videos the synchronisation is more than good enough, and for games, gaming mode gets you close to alignment, but it's not going to be perfect, even despite the impressive advertised 47ms latency.
Dual Connection is Oppo's answer to Multipoint, and it works extremely well. The connection isn't limited, so you can easily pause one device and then play on another, and there's no delay or lag. It actually seems to work better than on the Enco X2, a much higher priced and more premium product. You also get a list of connected devices in the app and the ability to toggle the connection - very impressive.
The app also allows you to customise controls - by default, single tap is play/pause, double tap left toggles tracks backwards, double tap right toggles tracks forwards. Triple left for Gaming Mode, Triple right for Voice Assistant. Holding the touch control for a couple of seconds for volume control - left is reduce, right is increase. All of these can be changed in the app, and there's a tutorial to walk you through controls too.
The global version of the product features 'Google Fast Pair', but given this is the Chinese version, it was not included.
Connectivity is using Bluetooth 5.3 - it's stable and you get 10m quite easily with line of sight. I did encounter a minor glitch, with the sound quality periodically dropping every so often when using Multipoint. It isn't the first set of earbuds I've encountered this occasional issue on, so I wonder what is causing it? It's a minor quibble and doesn't happen too often, but worth a mention.
Summary
When it comes to semi-in-ear buds, choice is very limited - other than Huawei, Sony and Samsung, the premium non-apple options are quite limited. Instead, the budget buds fight for supremacy, and SoundPEATS have had it their way for a very long time. The Air3 Deluxe HS are still the bud to beat - their sound is a little more natural with a tighter lower frequency and a more refined upper midrange, but the Enco Air3 isn't that far away, delivering a better sound than the Edifier W220T, Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro and FIIL Key, and far better than the QCY T20 & 1More Comfobuds 2.
The Enco Air3 has a better case than the SoundPEATS offering, multipoint and controls which are less sensitive to sudden movements. Their app is also far better. Call quality marginally edges it on the SoundPEATS - but again, not by much, but it is some way short of the excellent Edifier W220T in this regard. Had Oppo angled the nozzles down a little to give more stability, they would have nailed the ergonomics too.
The Enco Air3 finally gives users some options outside of SoundPEATS for semi-in-ear users, and provides a budget alternative to Huawei for those looking for the ability to use with simultaneous connections. The Enco Air3 will feature in my 'best under $30' video on YouTube, which goes live later in the year - they are a steal at the price, and some minor quibbles aside - are a great all-rounder.
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Squiglink: regancipher
Socials: Biolink
Model: Oppo Enco Air3
Price: MSRP approx. $30
Website: AliExpress, Oppo
Review Reference: RC099
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Oppo
- Model: Enco Air3
- Driver: 13.4mm Polymer Composite Dynamic Driver
- Chipset: Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP
- Mic: 4 mics with DNN noise reduction for calls
- ANC: No
- Codecs: AAC, SBC
- App Support: Yes - HeyMelody app
- Multipoint: Yes
- Volume Control: Yes (hold for 1s)
- Gaming Mode: Yes
- Earbud Weight: 3.68g
- Earbud Dimensions: 133mm stem length
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 38.64g
- Case Dimensions: 51.8mm (width) x 56.3mm (height) x 26mm (depth)
- Case Charge Capacity: 300mAh
- Quick Charge: Yes - 2 hours from 10 minutes
- Wireless Charging: No
- Charge Time: 80 minutes (buds), 120 minutes (buds and case)
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 6 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 25 hours
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
- Water Resistance: IP54
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x Quick Guide: Chinese
YouTube Review:
Coming soon
Introduction
When a new semi in-ear bud comes to the market, I'm on it - especially if it's this cheap! The Oppo Enco Air3 is available from AliExpress for the ludicrously low price of £22.13 at the time of review, which seems like a steal given the rather impressive specifications - including the provision of multipoint connectivity, app support, programmable controls and quick charge.
Today I'll walk you through the product and compare it to some of the other popular semi in-ear buds on the market currently which are pitched at a similar price.
Unboxing
Make no mistake at all, you aren't buying the Oppo Enco Air3 for the unboxing. I took the Chinese version given the global edition hasn't made it to market yet, and was surprised to discover it didn't even include a charge cable!
The manual is in Chinese only, and it's more of a user guide - but operating the earbuds is pretty straightforward so no major issues there.
Charge Case
The charge case for the Enco Air3 is semi-transparent, with a frosted lid with the Oppo logo screen printed across the centre. It measures around 5cm across the height and width, with a depth of 2.5cm. It weighs just over 38g fully-loaded, making it an attractive, portable case.
Flip the friction-hinged lid back, and the buds slot intuitively into the case with precision, aided by the appropriately-weighted magnets. You're greeted with an LED that gives you a green, amber or red denomination - when you open the case the LED colour represents the battery remaining in the buds, when you close it it's the battery remaining in the case. Simply, yet extremely effective. The case supports hall-switch mode, connecting a second or two after you open the case. This conveniently allows you to set up your multipoint connections and button configuration in the app while the buds are still in the case - fantastic.
The battery capacity is 300mAh, giving you 3 additional full charges, and it takes around 2 hours for a full charge. The buds charge fully after 80 minutes, and there is Oppo's trademark quick charge feature which provides a very handy 2 hours of playtime from just 10 minutes juice. There's no wireless charging - it's USB-C only, and the socket is located at the base - again, the LED denotes how much charge is remaining, staying solid throughout the charge duration.
Ergonomics
The Enco Air3 are a semi-in-ear bud, meaning there is no silicone tip and no seal. This design is for those that don't like the stuffy feel of a silicone tip, and it allows you to hear your surroundings better without messing around with transparency mode. As far as semi-in-ear buds go, the Air3 is a fairly standard design, with decent workmanship and quality - the bud weighs around 3.7g and measures 33mm in stem length. If there was a 'standard' in terms of dimensions, this would probably be it.
On the inside, you've got a vent for the tuning hole and mic, and the speaker output is perpendicular, meaning the earbuds wear slightly straight. There are battery connectors on the inside, slightly recessed from the stem. There's an attractive-looking 'teardrop' style semi-transparent edge, that matches nicely with the case.
The design is slightly different to some of it's peers. It lacks the curvature of the QCY T20, Yobybo X-Boat, Edifier W220T and SoundPEATS Air3 series, instead fitting perpendicular like the FIIL Key alongside it. This means it wears rather straight as a result, otherwise if you tilt the speaker will be aimed away from your ear canal. However, unlike the FIIL Key, the edge is narrow and targeted, which means it actually sits a little more securely in your ear.
The speaker opening is narrower than any other model you see here, which actually gives it a shade more stability as a result. It requires that you 'push it in' a little - once you do, it will stay there, provided you aren't too active. Sitting at my desk they were absolutely fine, but get a jog on and you will notice them start to move a little. Part of me think perhaps they would have been better off angling the driver downwards a little - this would have increased the stability further, or going a bit bulkier like the Soundpeats Air4 and QCY T20, because there's not enough inherent stability to really take advantage of the IP54 dust and moisture resistance unless you have particularly small ears. The stems are a bit thicker than the other models there too, which looks more attractive but probably doesn't help the weight displacement, adding to further potential stability woes.
The touch controls are at the top of the stem - they can be initiated accidentally from time to time, although the absence of curve at the top at least means they aren't as easily set off as the SoundPEATS Air3 series.
Above shows the way the buds should be worn, and how they fit in your ears from the sides. It's a subtle, attractive look which stamps it's own identity on the archetypal Airpod-style design.
Audio & Sound Signature
The Enco Air3 have a single dynamic driver and are the first earbud in their price category to use the Cadence Tensilica HiFi 5 DSP. This high-performing chip brings a number of tangible benefits, including enhanced audio processing - it's a whopping 25 times more powerful than the chip used in the Enco Air2. In terms of codec support, they default to AAC, and via the app they have three preset equaliser settings - Original, Bass Boost and Clear Vocals.
On the original setting, you've got a lower frequency response which is quite similar to the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS - strong in the centre, giving instruments a little body, and a gradual slope off in the high bass - enough to retain the harmonics and not too much to sound muddy. It's the kind of tuning that works with semi-in-ear, because their design means you automatically lose some of the sense of bass regardless, so over-cooking this can be highly detrimental, to the depths of distortion in the case of the 1More Comfobuds 2, for example.
Where the Enco Air3 differ is in the mids. The uplift between 1.5-3k adds more brightness to claps, percussion and vocals. Vocals are far more forward than the Air3 Deluxe HS - pianos and guitar chords hit a little more prominently and kick drums have a bit more bite, but this can border on excessively-bright at times. Switch to 'Bass Boost' and you get a little notch in those frequencies, but a slightly muddier mid-bass. 'Clear Vocal' kills the lower frequencies and boosts the upper mids and trebles even more - steer clear of that one!
Despite the trebles tailing of from 6k onwards, it's a bright, clean sounding TWS with forward vocals with plenty of bass given the form factor constraints. The soundstage is reasonably wide, with very moderate depth. Clarity is OK, and instrument separation is reasonable too.
There's another little treat - Oppo Alive Audio. This is another goodie facilitated by the chipset, and it's Oppo's answer to spatial audio. There's no head tracking, and the effect is almost placebo-like, but switch it on and you'll notice the perceived soundstage widen.
The Enco Air3 are one of the better sounding budget semi in-ear offerings, certainly up there with the Soundpeats offerings at the same sort of price.
Call Quality
The Enco Air3 feature on my 2023 Call Quality (Part 1) test which you can find below:
Outdoors, you can hear how they fare here:
It's very quickly evident that the AI/DNN algorithms they use for noise reduction are, like most earbuds, far better equipped at dealing with wind and traffic than they are at coping with the consistent sound of indistinct chatter. If you're making and taking calls on the move on the daily commute, the Air3 perform pretty well, elevating your voice with authority, albeit not always perfectly clearly. Indoors, they suffer the same fate as other budget buds, although performance really isn't bad - don't go thinking you can make presentations with them when it's noisy in the scene.
Battery Life
Battery life is the semi-in-ear standard fare of up to 6 hours. I got just under 5 first time around, and just over 4 with multipoint and making a number of calls. It isn't market leading or anything like that, but the quick charge feature of 2 hours playtime from 10 minutes worth of juice offsets this nicely, preventing the capacity from being a problem for most users. The total battery life of advertised 24 hours can thus be scaled back pro rata, but it's about what we expect with a set of semi-in-ear buds, especially in the budget category.
Other Features
The HeyMelody app is a BBK app which works for Oppo and OnePlus buds (amongst others). It is a straightforward app with a clean, easy to follow interface - the main page gives you case and earbud battery indications, there's an EQ toggle which has no custom EQ, but allows you to choose between the three audio presets. You can also toggle 'Oppo Alive Audio', 'Gaming Mode' (which reduces latency even further) and 'Dual Connection'.
Latency is pretty good - for YouTube videos the synchronisation is more than good enough, and for games, gaming mode gets you close to alignment, but it's not going to be perfect, even despite the impressive advertised 47ms latency.
Dual Connection is Oppo's answer to Multipoint, and it works extremely well. The connection isn't limited, so you can easily pause one device and then play on another, and there's no delay or lag. It actually seems to work better than on the Enco X2, a much higher priced and more premium product. You also get a list of connected devices in the app and the ability to toggle the connection - very impressive.
The app also allows you to customise controls - by default, single tap is play/pause, double tap left toggles tracks backwards, double tap right toggles tracks forwards. Triple left for Gaming Mode, Triple right for Voice Assistant. Holding the touch control for a couple of seconds for volume control - left is reduce, right is increase. All of these can be changed in the app, and there's a tutorial to walk you through controls too.
The global version of the product features 'Google Fast Pair', but given this is the Chinese version, it was not included.
Connectivity is using Bluetooth 5.3 - it's stable and you get 10m quite easily with line of sight. I did encounter a minor glitch, with the sound quality periodically dropping every so often when using Multipoint. It isn't the first set of earbuds I've encountered this occasional issue on, so I wonder what is causing it? It's a minor quibble and doesn't happen too often, but worth a mention.
Summary
When it comes to semi-in-ear buds, choice is very limited - other than Huawei, Sony and Samsung, the premium non-apple options are quite limited. Instead, the budget buds fight for supremacy, and SoundPEATS have had it their way for a very long time. The Air3 Deluxe HS are still the bud to beat - their sound is a little more natural with a tighter lower frequency and a more refined upper midrange, but the Enco Air3 isn't that far away, delivering a better sound than the Edifier W220T, Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro and FIIL Key, and far better than the QCY T20 & 1More Comfobuds 2.
The Enco Air3 has a better case than the SoundPEATS offering, multipoint and controls which are less sensitive to sudden movements. Their app is also far better. Call quality marginally edges it on the SoundPEATS - but again, not by much, but it is some way short of the excellent Edifier W220T in this regard. Had Oppo angled the nozzles down a little to give more stability, they would have nailed the ergonomics too.
The Enco Air3 finally gives users some options outside of SoundPEATS for semi-in-ear users, and provides a budget alternative to Huawei for those looking for the ability to use with simultaneous connections. The Enco Air3 will feature in my 'best under $30' video on YouTube, which goes live later in the year - they are a steal at the price, and some minor quibbles aside - are a great all-rounder.
