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Donnation

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Nov 2, 2014
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I got my PowerBeats Pro in yesterday, which I was very excited for because I loved the PowerBeats 2's, but hated the 3's because I thought they sounded terrible. With Apple stating that they focused so much on getting great sound out of the Pro's, I was very optimistic that these would be great.

Unfortunately, the audio on them is just really bad. I'm comparing the audio to the Airpods 1 and 2 (which I own). The audio is no where near the quality that it is on the Airpods. It just sounds hollow, and honestly its not nearly as loud as the AirPods. It honestly sounds exactly like the sound on the PowerBeats 3, which I found tinny and just overall poor.

What's sad about this is how great the feel and fit is of the PowerBeats Pro. The AirPods fit great in my ears as well, but I was just hoping for something with a little more ooomph in the sound, and I also loved the design of the Pro's. The fit and secure feel of them is the best I've ever felt in wireless headphones, but this poor sound quality is just killing them for me.

I'm not getting rid of them yet and will continue testing them, but thus far the audio quality is a major let down for me. I really don't want to return them because they look and feel so great to wear, but I'm just not sure that alone justifies the high price tag when the AirPods sound so much better to me.
 
I got my PowerBeats Pro in yesterday, which I was very excited for because I loved the PowerBeats 2's, but hated the 3's because I thought they sounded terrible. With Apple stating that they focused so much on getting great sound out of the Pro's, I was very optimistic that these would be great.

Unfortunately, the audio on them is just really bad. I'm comparing the audio to the Airpods 1 and 2 (which I own). The audio is no where near the quality that it is on the Airpods. It just sounds hollow, and honestly its not nearly as loud as the AirPods. It honestly sounds exactly like the sound on the PowerBeats 3, which I found tinny and just overall poor.

What's sad about this is how great the feel and fit is of the PowerBeats Pro. The AirPods fit great in my ears as well, but I was just hoping for something with a little more ooomph in the sound, and I also loved the design of the Pro's. The fit and secure feel of them is the best I've ever felt in wireless headphones, but this poor sound quality is just killing them for me.

I'm not getting rid of them yet and will continue testing them, but thus far the audio quality is a major let down for me. I really don't want to return them because they look and feel so great to wear, but I'm just not sure that alone justifies the high price tag when the AirPods sound so much better to me.
I have no idea how anyone in their right mind could state that the Powerbeats Pro's sound worse than the AirPods. Just about everyone on this forum with Pro's (myself included) and every review posted online will tell you differently.
 
A sample of one but I've had my PB Pro's since Sat. & now having run 20 miles so far w/ them they sound much better than my AirPods but sound is subjective so .........
 
I got my PowerBeats Pro in yesterday, which I was very excited for because I loved the PowerBeats 2's, but hated the 3's because I thought they sounded terrible. With Apple stating that they focused so much on getting great sound out of the Pro's, I was very optimistic that these would be great.

Unfortunately, the audio on them is just really bad. I'm comparing the audio to the Airpods 1 and 2 (which I own). The audio is no where near the quality that it is on the Airpods. It just sounds hollow, and honestly its not nearly as loud as the AirPods. It honestly sounds exactly like the sound on the PowerBeats 3, which I found tinny and just overall poor.

What's sad about this is how great the feel and fit is of the PowerBeats Pro. The AirPods fit great in my ears as well, but I was just hoping for something with a little more ooomph in the sound, and I also loved the design of the Pro's. The fit and secure feel of them is the best I've ever felt in wireless headphones, but this poor sound quality is just killing them for me.

I'm not getting rid of them yet and will continue testing them, but thus far the audio quality is a major let down for me. I really don't want to return them because they look and feel so great to wear, but I'm just not sure that alone justifies the high price tag when the AirPods sound so much better to me.
It seems that you may not be getting an adequate seal. Try the other silicone adapters to see if a different one works better for you.
 
Airpods sound like wired Earpods which sound a lot worse than anything named Beats. I’m not sure how Powerbeats Pro can sound worse than Airpods. Maybe your EQ needs to be changed?
 
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Airpods sound like wired Earpods which sound a lot worse than anything named Beats. I’m not sure how Powerbeats Pro can sound worse than Airpods. Maybe your EQ needs to be changed?

Hahahah, are you serious? Beats are absolutely not known for their audio quality. There is not one beats in ear headphone that sounds better than AirPods.
 
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It absolutely is. Every review I've seen posted online has said the Pro's sound better than the AirPods. And I'm confident it's the general consensus among Pro owners.

It absolutely is not. Here is a sampling from just this forum.

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I don't own Powerbeats, but this sounds 100% like an issue with the seal in the ear. I've had numerous in-ear's and the sound difference between a good seal and a bad seal is astonishing.I switched to Comply's on my Jaybird X2's and they sound awesome, but get a crap fit and they sound low and tinny.
 
I don't own Powerbeats, but this sounds 100% like an issue with the seal in the ear. I've had numerous in-ear's and the sound difference between a good seal and a bad seal is astonishing.I switched to Comply's on my Jaybird X2's and they sound awesome, but get a crap fit and they sound low and tinny.

Thank you for the tip, I will try out the different sizes and see if that's the case. I haven't put any of the other tips in as I felt the ones that came on the device fit really well, but maybe i'm not getting that good seal. Thanks again.
 
Thank you for the tip, I will try out the different sizes and see if that's the case. I haven't put any of the other tips in as I felt the ones that came on the device fit really well, but maybe i'm not getting that good seal. Thanks again.

No worries. TBH I bought some cheap foam covers for my AirPods and put holes in them where the sensors are, and they sound much better than without.
 
No worries. TBH I bought some cheap foam covers for my AirPods and put holes in them where the sensors are, and they sound much better than without.

Yeah that's the weird thing. The AirPods 1 and 2 both sound phenomenal in my ears. But like you said, it is a different type of fit so maybe that's the problem. I really hope it does fix this for me because if it does they are the perfect workout headphones.
 
I have no idea how anyone in their right mind could state that the Powerbeats Pro's sound worse than the AirPods. Just about everyone on this forum with Pro's (myself included) and every review posted online will tell you differently.
I returned my Powerbeats Pro for quite a few reasons. The most important one being that the sound quality just was very similar to my Airpods 2. For me, the Airpods 2 does everything better than Powerbeats Pro so it was a simple decision.

I wanted to love the Powerbeats Pro and was hoping for a significant increase in sound quality, but I just didn't hear it.
 
It really depends on the music you listen to.
The Beats product range sound great if you're into music that is bass heavy. They don't necessarily sound so good with more laid back instrumental music.
Most popular music today is heavy on bass which is why beats products are cool with the kids.
 
Any Powerbeats sound better than AirPods.
Powerbeats can be customized to your size ear openings while AirPods is a one-size-fits-all solution (which never works.)

Make sure you take the time to try out all the different ear tips and consider that each one might need a different size. Ear canals are not symmetrical.

I have two pairs of PBS - the ones I use and a back-up pair. Sound wonderful.
 
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OP is it possible you may have gotten a defective pair? I think its worth a shot trying another pair in an Apple store or something just to be sure.
 
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Hahahah, are you serious? Beats are absolutely not known for their audio quality. There is not one beats in ear headphone that sounds better than AirPods.

AirPods not even close.
In-ear earphone sound quality is highly dependent on fitting to the ear canal. This is a simple fact.
Powerbeats (or the like) utilize rubber/silicone/foam tips to ensure a tight, close fit.
Hard plastic, a la AirPods cannot ever achieve that.
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OP is it possible you may have gotten a defective pair? I think its worth a shot trying another pair in an Apple store or something just to be sure.

Good point.
 
AirPods not even close.
In-ear earphone sound quality is highly dependent on fitting to the ear canal. This is a simple fact.
Powerbeats (or the like) utilize rubber/silicone/foam tips to ensure a tight, close fit.
Hard plastic, a la AirPods cannot ever achieve that.

I don't think you understand how headphones work. Just because head phones are in-ear doesn't mean they have better sound quality automatically than ones that sit outside the ear canal. I'm not sure where some of you guys are getting your information from. In-ear doesn't = better. It has to do with the components of the headphones. Don't try and tell me that its not possible for AirPods to have better sound than in-ear phones because you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Now maybe trying the other tips will work for me and give me better sound, but please stop with what you think are audio qualities of good headphones.
 
I don't think you understand how headphones work. Just because head phones are in-ear doesn't mean they have better sound quality automatically than ones that sit outside the ear canal. I'm not sure where some of you guys are getting your information from. In-ear doesn't = better. It has to do with the components of the headphones. Don't try and tell me that its not possible for AirPods to have better sound than in-ear phones because you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Now maybe trying the other tips will work for me and give me better sound, but please stop with what you think are audio qualities of good headphones.

You’re trying to change the narrative. This thread is/has been about in-ear earphones, not headphones which are a completely different animal.
Never said said in-ear are better. Stop trying to put your twisted words in my mouth.
Have AirPods also. No comparison to Powerbeats.
Why should I stop stating what I think are audio qualities of good EARPHONES, isn’t that exactly what you are doing?
Get your nomenclature and subjects straight.
It’s been nice. Enjoy your next 24 hours.
 
You’re trying to change the narrative. This thread is/has been about in-ear earphones, not headphones which are a completely different animal.
Never said said in-ear are better. Stop trying to put your twisted words in my mouth.
Have AirPods also. No comparison to Powerbeats.
Why should I stop stating what I think are audio qualities of good EARPHONES, isn’t that exactly what you are doing?
Get your nomenclature and subjects straight.
It’s been nice. Enjoy your next 24 hours.
I have Airpods and also had Powerbeats and to me the sound is about the same. I’m not trying to change any narrative other than sound is subjective and to me there isn’t a significant difference in sound. That’s why I returned my Powerbeats Pro after 3 days and over 12 hours of listening.
 
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I don't think you understand how headphones work. Just because head phones are in-ear doesn't mean they have better sound quality automatically than ones that sit outside the ear canal. I'm not sure where some of you guys are getting your information from. In-ear doesn't = better. It has to do with the components of the headphones. Don't try and tell me that its not possible for AirPods to have better sound than in-ear phones because you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Now maybe trying the other tips will work for me and give me better sound, but please stop with what you think are audio qualities of good headphones.

Right and out of the majority we are going to take your word that ear... I mean Airpods have better sound quality than anything Beats.....

Granted I havent tried Airpods 2, but Airpods 1? Sound quality was decent at best
 
You’re trying to change the narrative. This thread is/has been about in-ear earphones, not headphones which are a completely different animal.
Never said said in-ear are better. Stop trying to put your twisted words in my mouth.
Have AirPods also. No comparison to Powerbeats.
Why should I stop stating what I think are audio qualities of good EARPHONES, isn’t that exactly what you are doing?
Get your nomenclature and subjects straight.
It’s been nice. Enjoy your next 24 hours.

You specifically said that since AirPods cannot achieve in-ear fitting that it’s not possible for them to sound better than in-ear fitting headphones, which is ludicrous.

I never stated anything about audio qualities of good headphones. I only said that to me, the Airpods 2 sound better than PowerBeats, which you seem to think is impossible, which is laughable. You don’t know what you are talking about because it most certainly is possible.

And thank you friend, I hope you have an enjoyable upcoming 48 hours!!
 
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