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Surprised galaxy buds didn’t make the mix. I’m also super intrigued about the Microsoft Surface earbuds (but I don’t believe they are released yet). Hopefully, you’ll do this again.

im loving my AirpodsPro (and the better half loves Powerbeats Pro)
 
Airpods pro sound quality 10? Phuahahahahah!!!
Y'all sleeping on the Galaxy buds. Small, great sound/fit good battery life and wireless charging. Just wish the call quality was better. Not sure how well they work on iphones though.

I'm really interested in the Lypertek Tevi purely for sound quality and 10hr battery. Just wish the case had wireless charging.
 
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I love my QCY2 earbuds myself. They are made in China by Dongguan Hele Electronics, and cost $30. Automatic connecting between my computer and the earbuds, last about 3 hours on a charge and the case has another 4 hours or thereabouts (I don't know, I haven't draw it down to empty, I recharge them every night). They also have a good fit as well in the ears.

I'm sure it's not as good as Apple's or Samsung's earbuds, but the price can't be beat.
 
Shocking... The AirPods Pro come out on top... on an Apple fan site. Nothing is ever objective.
But the Powerbeats Pro are also an Apple product and they rated the sound quality as a barely better than the AirPods which is a huge injustice to it as it’s sound quality competes with the AirPods Pro which is rated 2 notches higher.
 
I just hope the prices come down on all of these. They all appear to be very cool and all. But more than I want to pay for ear-buds.
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Where, exactly did that happen? When you didn't agree with the review?
Posts are being deleted that mention it
 
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Posts are being deleted that mention it

Hey all. You don't agree with the review, you are welcome to say. You think Sony is the best, you are welcome to say. You think the reviewer is biased b/c of the subject of this site you can say that too. But, you want to post conspiracy theories that someone paid us for a review? Then, no, that gets deleted. If you want to continue this conversation, please move it to site feedback. Thanks!
 
If you own both the Sony and the APP, you know just how flawed this “review” really is. I like my APP for convenience, low profile in the ear, and rock solid connection, but the claim of superior SQ and ANC over the Sony is laughable.
 
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I wish this review had covered the talk/listen quality of these earbuds - both from the wearer’s POV as well as the other party’s viewpoint.

I’ve got a pair of Powerbeats Pro and my daughter makes me take them off when talking with her on the phone. She said they make my voice come through muffled.

I didn’t believe her until I phoned my work voicemail and listened afterward. She’s right.
Strange, though I have only used powerbeats pro mics for calls infrequently, I actually have asked about sound quality during call and always told it sounded clear. Not saying your experience is “wrong“ but maybe there is some other variable in play. Is firmware up to date?
 
I actually think it’s a really nice write up by the author. Regardless if someone doesn’t ‘agree’ with what the sound is from each manufacturer, _everybody_ perceives sound differently. I think there’s obvious examples in this very thread here of those contradicting each other with what they think sounds the ‘best’, which is subjective. What really matters, is the comfortability of the fit with the Bluetooth device/battery life and let the user make the judgment call of what they feel is the best in terms of sound.
 
I actually think it’s a really nice write up by the author. Regardless if someone doesn’t ‘agree’ with what the sound is from each manufacturer, _everybody_ perceives sound differently. I think there’s obvious examples in this very thread here of those contradicting each other with what they think sounds the ‘best’, which is subjective. What really matters, is the comfortability of the fit with the Bluetooth device/battery life and let the user make the judgment call of what they feel is the best in terms of sound.

fine, except there are numerous instrumented, documented test articles proving otherwise. Both the SQ and the ANC of the Sony is superior, and in the case of the ANC this is a measure able and very obvious difference.

again, I have both and have no dog in the fight, but the actual and measurable difference in those two specific areas is seriously misaligned with the conclusions of the article in question.

add to that the fact that the latest Sony firmware update allows for on-bud volume control, and you can point to the feature set comparison being flawed as well.
 
I don't expect reviews like this to be "accurate". What is accurate? Sound is a very subjective thing. All I'm looking for is a ballpark comparison, not someone who agrees with my opinions. If my opinion was that valuable, I wouldn't even bother seeing what others think.

If I'm serious about purchasing, this would be just one of many, many reviews I'd check out on the sets I'm interested in. The effort on behalf of the writer, as well as the commenters, is appreciated and I know more now than when I started. Still happy with my AirPods 2 at the moment, but I like knowing about my options.
 
I just hope the prices come down on all of these. They all appear to be very cool and all. But more than I want to pay for ear-buds.
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Where, exactly did that happen? When you didn't agree with the review?

Airpod Pro is a 10/10 for sound? Sound is subjective but come on, that's a stretch right there.
 
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I don't expect reviews like this to be "accurate". What is accurate? Sound is a very subjective thing. All I'm looking for is a ballpark comparison, not someone who agrees with my opinions. If my opinion was that valuable, I wouldn't even bother seeing what others think.

If I'm serious about purchasing, this would be just one of many, many reviews I'd check out on the sets I'm interested in. The effort on behalf of the writer, as well as the commenters, is appreciated and I know more now than when I started. Still happy with my AirPods 2 at the moment, but I like knowing about my options.

Reference what I bolded in your post (And I said the same above)- sound is probably the most subjective thing that can’t be compared in terms of those who have different hearing experiences and variances. The perfect example is another member mentioned on a page or two back in this thread, that the ‘Liberty 2’ had ‘better sound’ over the AirPod Pros, and I’ve come across reviews were others were saying the Liberty sound was sub-par and you get what you pay for. So what’s my point? Not one person in this thread will have the same hearing standards what they believe will be the ‘best’ depending on their own personal belief based off hearing. [<— Which is completely variable]
 
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8 for portability on the on the AirPods and Powerbeats Pro while the beats pro have a much larger case :confused:.
This category also took into account overall battery life (more battery = less tethering to a cord), and the Powerbeats Pro got a higher score just because the battery life is so long.
Blending portability with battery life is an error in my opinion.

The original AirPods case which slips in my jeans coin pocket is one of its best features. Like they say with cameras, the best one is the one you have with you when you need it. My use of headphones has skyrocketed since I got AirPods because they're just so darn convenient to carry.

Battery life is a whole other parameter.
 
I was going to go and watch the video until I saw the scores - AirPods Pro scores 10 in sound and 9 overall. Even the normal AirPods score higher overall than the Jabra, contrary to what every real reviewer is saying. Really biased comparison in my opinion.
 
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After Apple came out with the AirPods, wire-free earbuds flooded the market, and there are now a ton of options from companies ranging from Sony to Razer.

In our latest YouTube video, we took a look at several popular wire-free earbud options, comparing the features and giving each one an overall score to figure out which ones are the best.


This comparison includes the following earbuds: Razer Hammerhead, Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, Jabra Elite 75t, Sony WF-1000XM3, AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, and Powerbeats Pro.

We're comparing the major features of each set of earbuds and assigning a score in four different categories, including comfort, portability, sound quality, and bonus features. Keep in mind that these are opinion-based scores. We have a quick overview below, but make sure to watch the video for the full comparison.

all-headphones-1-800x450.jpg

Razer Hammerhead ($99)

These earbuds are modeled after the AirPods with no silicone tips and a stem at the bottom. They're cheap at $99, and while the sound isn't bad, it does lack bass.

Razer-Hammerhead-800x450.jpg

They're not uncomfortable, and charging via USB-C is a nice bonus. Razer promises 60ms latency for gaming, and while we didn't notice a huge difference when playing a game, it was noticeable with videos. The battery lasts for four hours, with an additional 12 hours from the charging case.
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 7
  • Sound Quality: 6
  • Bonus Features: 6
  • Overall: 7
Soundcore Liberty 2 ($149)

Soundcore is an Anker brand, and Anker is known for its high-quality but still affordable hardware. Priced at $149 (but often on sale for less), these earbuds are standard wireless earbuds that are rather bass heavy out of the box. These have "Astria coaxial acoustic architecture," which is a fancy way of saying good sound, and these do indeed offer some pretty great sound quality.

Soundcore-Liberty-Pro-2-800x450.jpg

Sound profile can be customized with the Soundcore app, and there physical media controls. The battery lasts for 8 hours, and the USB-C charging case provides an additional 24 hours of battery life. These are comfortable to wear and provide a good seal in the ear, though there's no active noise cancellation technology (Anker does say these have noise reduction, but it's mostly for phone calls.)
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 8
  • Sound Quality: 7
  • Bonus Features: 7
  • Overall: 7.5
Jabra Elite 75t ($180)

Jabra has been making wireless headphones for a long time, and the Elite 75t are the company's wire-free option. These are small earbuds (the smallest of the bunch), but they fit well and offer a good in-ear seal, so good that there's a "hearthrough" mode. We weren't entirely sure what hearthrough mode was meant to do, but it didn't seem to work well.

jabra-elite-75t-800x450.jpg

Sound wise, these are a little bass heavy but can be adjusted with the Jabra app, and there's excellent instrument separation. A four microphone setup offers great call quality, unsurprising from a Jabra offering. The battery lasts for 7.5 hours and the charging case provides an additional 28 hours of battery life.
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 9
  • Sound Quality: 7
  • Bonus Features: 6
  • Overall: 7.5
Sony WF-1000XM3 ($229)

With noise cancellation, the Sony WF-1000XM3 are the earbuds that are closest to the AirPods Pro. There are 6 different silicone tips for a good fit regardless of ear size, but these are heavy which can lead to ear fatigue after awhile.

Sony-WF-1000XM3-800x450.jpg

Sound is excellent with impressive balance and an equalizer option in the app to adjust the sound to your preferences. Sound cancellation isn't as good as the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Pro Transparency mode wins out over the Ambient Noise control Sony offers. Battery life is 6 hours, with 24 hours from the case.
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 7
  • Sound Quality: 10
  • Bonus Features: 8
  • Overall: 8
AirPods Pro ($250)

AirPods Pro are Apple's newest AirPods and the priciest on this list at $250. AirPods Pro are super comfortable, fit well, and offer silicone tips in three sizes. Battery life is not as good as some of the other headphones on this list at 4.5 hours with ANC, but the charging case adds 24 hours.

AirPods-Pro-800x450.jpg

The press-based playback controls are easy to use, but no volume control is a major downside. Sound quality is impressive, though the AirPods Pro lack the option for customization via an app. The H1 chip for easy iPhone connections can't be overlooked, and the active noise cancellation works well.
  • Comfort: 9
  • Portability: 8
  • Sound Quality: 10
  • Bonus Features: 10
  • Overall: 9
AirPods 2 ($159 - $199)

AirPods 2 offer all of the features of the AirPods Pro when it comes to connectivity and device switching, but the design is the original AirPods design without the silicone tips. Most people find AirPods comfortable, but the AirPods Pro have the edge.

AirPods-Pro-2-800x450.jpg

There's no active noise cancellation and the sound quality isn't quite as good, but these still sound excellent for earbuds that are this portable. AirPods have become some of the most popular wire-free earbuds on the market for a reason, and we think they're almost as good as the AirPods Pro, but not quite as nice when it comes to fit or sound quality.
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 8
  • Sound Quality: 7
  • Bonus Features: 9
  • Overall: 8
Powerbeats Pro ($200)

Like the AirPods and AirPods Pro, the Powerbeats Pro have Apple's H1 chip for simple setup and fast device switching. Design wise, these are in a category of their own thanks to the earhooks that hold them securely in place even during vigorous workouts.

Powerbeats-Pro-800x450.jpg

The silicone tips offer a tight in-ear fit that can drown out ambient noise, but there's no active noise cancellation. Sound quality is solid, but again, there's no option for customization. Powerbeats Pro offer excellent nine hour battery life, but the charging case is enormous because it needs to accommodate those earhooks.
  • Comfort: 8
  • Portability: 8
  • Sound Quality: 8
  • Bonus Features: 9
  • Overall: 8
Conclusion

There's nothing quite like the AirPods Pro if you have an Apple device, given the noise cancellation and the deep integration with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Simple pairing, easy device switching, and Hey Siri support are features that third-party headphones can't matchl

The Sony headphones also have noise cancellation and great sound if you're looking for an AirPods Pro alternative, but you'll miss out on several of the aforementioned options.

If you don't need noise cancellation, you won't go wrong with the AirPods 2, and for those who want an in-ear fit along with secure earhooks for working out, the Powerbeats Pro are a great choice.

What are your favorite wire-free earbuds? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: True Wireless Earbuds Comparison: AirPods, Powerbeats, Sony, Jabra, and More
For classical-music me, I swear by my Cambridge Audio Melomanias
 
You can’t expect me to take this review seriously when you say the Powerbeats pro are competing more with AirPods than the AirPods Pro in sound quality.
 
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I bought some AirPods pro and the worst feature is not being able to control volume on them. Having to say “Hey Siri turn the volume down to 59%” is the worst thing ever. It never hears you, especially in noisey situations. I wish you could change the settings so it could be hold one side for volume up, hold the other side for volume down. I use volume wayyy more than anything else. They could really improve this aspect.
 
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Sony is missing out on those sweet H1 features, and they are missing out on the ability to analyze the shape of your ear canal to pick the best tips.
Apple are missing that sweet QN1e features. And they are missing out on quick pairing via NFC because iPhone doesn't support standards. And any normal person can choose the most comfortable fit out of the SIX included tips with the wf-1000xm3.
Perspective is everything, try not to be quite so taken in by marketing. The APP are surely quite good but there is zero innovation there and they are certainly worse than the Sony in many areas while better in others. Personally I prefer the Sony as they have better sound and noise cancellation. I don't use them for calling though which would probably change my choice.
 
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