The SoundPEATS Air5 Pro true wireless earbuds deliver surprising performance for their budget-friendly price. This review delves into the Air5 Pro's strengths and weaknesses, comparing it to competitors like the CMF Buds Pro 2, Nothing Ear (1), Earfun Air Pro 4, Soundcore Liberty 4, and OnePlus Buds 3. We'll explore its noise-cancellation capabilities, microphone quality, transparency mode, sound profile, and app functionality. Expect an in-depth analysis of its active noise cancellation across various environments, assessing its effectiveness against competing models and highlighting its unique features.Key areas of focus include the Air5 Pro's call quality in noisy settings, the customizability offered by its accompanying app, and an evaluation of its overall sound signature. We'll determine whether the Air5 Pro truly earns its claim as a budget champion, weighing its impressive features against potential shortcomings and ultimately providing a comprehensive assessment of its value proposition. The review culminates in a final verdict, comparing it to its top competitor and concluding whether it's a worthwhile purchase for the discerning consumer.
Pros And Cons
- Attractive price (under $100)
- Good microphone pickup in noisy conditions
- Effective noise cancellation, especially for bass and mid-range noises (comparable to CMF Buds Pro 2)
- Decent transparency mode with open, airy feeling
- Customizable sound quality via SoundPeats audio app
- Snapdragon Sound certified, supporting APX Adaptive and APX Lossless codecs (LDAC available but not simultaneously with multipoint pairing)
- Sound quality not well-tuned out of the box (boomy bass, shrill mids)
- Compact sound stage and average track separation, leading to messy sound in fast-paced music
- App experience could be smoother (slow page changes, slow graphic EQ loading)
- Not very effective at rejecting wind noise in noise cancelling or transparency modes
- Reviewer's choice for best budget earbuds
- Good microphone pickup
- Effective noise cancellation
- More natural and less hissy transparency mode compared to SoundPeats Air5 Pro
- Good sound quality (thick, smooth, great track separation)
- Supports both multipoint pairing and LDAC codec simultaneously
- Outperforms SoundPeats Air5 Pro in mid-range noise cancellation
- Good sound quality (thick, smooth, great track separation)
- Good sound quality (thick, smooth, great track separation)
- Supports both multipoint pairing and LDAC codec simultaneously
Read more: EPZ P50 In-Ear Monitor Review: A Breakout Performer?
Microphone Performance: A Top Contender
The SoundPEATS Air5 Pro boasts impressive microphone performance, particularly in noisy environments. It effectively reduces background noise and offers moderate voice filtering. This capability places it in the top tier of budget earbuds, alongside the CMF Buds Pro 2 and Nothing Ear (1). The reviewer's tests in various noisy conditions confirmed its high ranking.
Further tests comparing it with other popular models such as Earfun Air Pro 4, Soundcore Liberty 4, and OnePlus Buds 3 revealed a clear advantage for the Air5 Pro in noise cancellation during calls.
Tests included quiet room calls and noisy café/fan settings. The A ranking shows its superior performance against comparable models in noise-cancellation technology.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Impressive Performance
The Air5 Pro's active noise cancellation is surprisingly effective. It offers various modes (outdoor, traffic, indoor), with outdoor and traffic modes performing similarly well to the adaptive mode. The only earbud that surpassed it was the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, and only marginally.
The Air5 Pro's ANC effectively reduces bass and mid-range noises, making it ideal for canceling out public transportation sounds and reducing fan or air conditioning noise.
Its ability to reduce these common background noises stands as one of its key strengths compared to other earbuds in its price range.
Transparency Mode and Sound Quality: Strengths and Weaknesses
While not the most transparent, the Air5 Pro's transparency mode offers a pleasant, open feeling. It's slightly clearer than the OnePlus Buds' transparency mode, making it suitable for general awareness and conversations.
However, the CMF Buds Pro 2 and Earfun Air Pro 4 provide a more natural, less hissy and muffled transparency experience during verbal exchanges.
The Air5 Pro's sound quality is initially clean and dynamic, but the tuning isn't ideal. There's an overemphasis on bass and mids, potentially causing vocals to sound shrill.
Sound Customization and Codec Support: App and Features
The SoundPEATS app allows significant customization of the Air5 Pro's sound profile. By adjusting the EQ, users can improve track separation, open up the soundstage, and manage the bass response.
Despite having auto-calibration, it's a basic function that calibrates both ears simultaneously, which can be less accurate than other models like SoundQuest Hear ID.
The Air5 Pro supports Snapdragon Sound with APX Adaptive and APX Lossless codecs (when supported by the device). It also supports standard LDAC, but not simultaneously with multi-point pairing.
Overall Performance and Conclusion
The SoundPEATS Air5 Pro offers excellent performance considering its price point. The noise-canceling, microphone pickup, and (customizable) sound quality are impressive.
However, the app experience could be smoother. The slow loading times when adjusting the EQ are frustrating.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 remains the reviewer's top pick due to superior wind noise rejection, an all-around excellent performance, and its user-friendly app. Still, the Air5 Pro presents a compelling and feature-rich alternative.