Top three earbuds that beat the Apple AirPods Pro in sound quality (with reviews)

Let’s admit it. Apple made wireless earbuds popular among the masses, to the point that people started finding a use for them outside fitness-related activities or for work. Although, Apple wasn’t the first one in this game, nor have they always had the most cutting edge technology (even though it is pretty great). There a host of earbuds from other manufacturers that have made earbuds that come close to Apple’s third-gen AirPods Pro or even best them. Unfortunately, they don’t get their fair share of attention.

We are here to fix that and take a look at some of the most compelling propositions in the same price range (Rs 20,000-30,000). To ensure an apples to apples (pun intended) comparison, we will only be looking at wireless earbuds without any cord. However, a preread before we dive deeper into these alternatives to understand what makes these gadgets worthy of their price and what should you be looking out for.

PREREAD

Noise cancellation vs. sound isolation: While both the terms may sound similar, the technology behind them is miles apart. Sound isolation is a passive technology. Unsurprisingly, it is also called passive noise cancellation. Earbuds with noise isolation work actively to block background noise from reaching your ears by minimizing the gap between the earbud and your ear. Such earbuds form a seal or a bubble around your ears that prevents the noise from reaching your eardrums.

Noise cancelation (or active noise cancelation) is a vastly superior technology that works on the principle of canceling the ambient noise by generating sound waves that are out of sync with the background noise. Of course, noise cancellation also uses the traditional ways of blocking the sound reaching your ears similar to noise isolation technology. This technology is greatly effective against canceling out low-frequency noise in the background. The only downside is that it consumes battery life. But even with the feature turned off, you still get noise isolation.

Recently, we’ve been seeing a new technology within noise-canceling called adaptive noise canceling. It is a more refined version of active noise canceling that allows you to choose the degree of noise cancellation you wish to apply. Generally, loud noises are canceled more aggressively in this tech while low noises which are sometimes necessary (such as an in-flight announcement) may not be completely erased intentionally. Of course, all of this can be controlled using your smartphone or built-in touch controls on the earbuds.

That said, there are restrictions to the amount of noise cancelation possible with earbuds. While they do a decent job, they can’t match up to the headphones in the same price range that also offer active noise cancelation.

Controls: This is the other thing that differentiates earbuds. Most advanced earbuds let you change a host of settings by on-body controls such as volume, track skip, and even pause when you take off the earbuds.

Impedance: A lower impedance results in a better quality of output. Usually, earbuds are rated for impedance varying between 12-35 ohms.

Sound codec: Codec plays an important role in latency and sound quality. Using vanilla Bluetooth won’t get you much in terms of high sound quality. Earbuds supporting Qualcomm’s aptX can offer a bit rate of 352 kbps (aptX lower latency) while aptX HD transfers audio at up to 576 kbps. Sony’s LDAC can transmit data at up to 990kbps in priority mode. Apple devices use AAC which is on par with aptX HD.

Although for these codecs to work, they should be supported on your phone as well (most phones do).

Charging case: That’s where your earbuds will be spending most of their time so it’s important that the charging case is sturdy and can handle wear and tear. Ideally, a charging case with a bigger battery and a solid hinge should be preferred. That said, keep in mind that more battery juice comes at the cost of portability. The great thing about AirPods is that they fit great in the pocket. Some of these options below don’t. And while it might seem like a trivial issue, it is a huge one that comes in the way of experience. For reference, the Airpods Pro case measures 60.6mm wide, 45.2mm tall, and 21.7mm thick, and weighs 46 grams.

What if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem: Well, this is a tricky one. Honestly, if you already have an iPhone, a MacBook, and an iPad, or a combination of any of these, and you care more about accessibility than sound quality, get the AirPods Pro. Don’t get us wrong. The AirPods Pro sound great, but there are better options available.

However, these options can’t match the level of integration that the AirPods Pro offer on Apple devices. Features like multiple simultaneous connections to different Apple devices and always-on Siri can make a huge difference to your experience.

That’s all we had. Now on to the best AirPods Pro alternatives.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are successors to the SoundSport Free, which while had a great sound, faced some connectivity issues. Thankfully, those have been taken care of and the newly redesigned competitors from Bose are serious contenders to the wireless earbuds crown. They are more expensive than the AirPods Pro, yes, but Bose has put in every tech in there to justify that premium charge.

• • Active noise cancellation
  • 8.5g earbud each
  • 4 microphones
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • SBC and AAC support
  • 6 hours battery life
  • 3.5″ L x 2″ W x 1.25″ D, 76 grams
  • Additional 12 hours battery with case
  • Wireless charging

Build: If you’re looking for the smallest or the lightest earbuds, probably, this isn’t the right one for you. The QuietComfort are large and will protrude out of your ears noticeably at all times. They are also significantly heavier than the AirPods Pro. That said, they are pretty comfortable and fit snugly in your ears. This is due to StayHear Max ear tips that fit into the ear ridge for added stability.

Once you find the right ear tips you don’t have to worry much about the earbuds falling off, even when doing physical activities like running. The earbuds are IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance and don’t mind a splash or two.

The case is rather large though. Much larger than that for the AirPods Pro but smaller than the one on SoundSport Free. This makes it rather inconvenient to put in your pant’s pocket and will need to be carried in a backpack or a pouch.

The lid requires some effort to open, although, it does keep the earbuds safe in case of an accidental fall. It supports charging over both USB C and wireless standards.

Performance: The QuietComfort really excel at noise cancellation and are ahead of much of the competition, AirPods included. The earbuds allow you to toggle through 10 different modes of noise cancellation. At the peak, the active noise cancellation is better than most rivals.

Sound quality is top-notch again, as to be expected from a Bose product. The sound is rich with a good base that’s often better than Apple’s AirPods Pro. EDM and pop genre fans are in for a treat with these earbuds. The voice is also clear and without distortion or cracking.

The controls on the earbuds allow functions like pausing and resuming, answering calls, activating voice assistant, and toggling noise cancellation presets. Surprisingly, you can’t adjust the volume using the earbuds. It offers in-ear detection uses sensors to identify when you’re wearing the earbuds. You can automatically play/pause audio, answer phone calls (if enabled), and adjust noise cancellation by inserting or removing an earbud.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 6 hours comfortably. You can charge the earbuds twice fully off the case. The quick charge feature lets you crank up the battery for two hours worth of juice in just 15 minutes.

Sennheiser – MOMENTUM True Wireless 2

Another second-generation product that builds on the credibility of the first one. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds have been designed with improved battery life and noise cancellation over their predecessor while offering exceptional sound quality, living true to the brand’s name.

• Active noise cancellation
• 6g earbud each
• 2 microphones (one on each earbud)
• Bluetooth 5.1
• SBC, aptX, and AAC support
• Case – 76.8 x 43.8 x 34.7 mm, 58g
• 7 hours battery life
• Additional 21 hours battery with case

Build: The premium pricing demands a more up-class look and finish. Thankfully, Sennheiser delivers. While the case and the earbuds look similar to the original, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The earbuds are well built, having a metallic cap on one end. Although, they are slightly larger and heavier than the AirPods Pro. Having noise cancellation, they fit in snugly in the ear. Despite not having wings to position them in one’s ear cartilage, they manage to stick in and not fall off. You can choose from four different pairs of silicone plugs to ensure a tight fit.

However, people with smaller ears might find them slightly uncomfortable after long sessions of use. Being IPX4 rated, they don’t mind a splash or some sweat.

The fabric case upholds the premium charm. It features a magnetic enclosure for the earbuds to fall in their slots with the case with a satisfying click.

Performance: There are enough features on the Momentum True Wireless 2 to keep users happy. The earbuds can remember up to eight devices. Although, you can only connect to one device at a time.

There’s little to complain about in terms of sound quality. The earbuds are definitely ahead of AirPods and offer clear and crisp sound with individual frequencies not mixed up together as seen in some cheaper earbuds. Better hardware and software improvements have made the earbuds one of the best sounding ones in the market. The earbuds exhibit strong control over their bass without compromising on other tones and sound in the track. They also support the high bitrate aptX codec, provided, it is also supported on your phone.

The active noise cancellation seems to do its job well and can filter even strong ambient noise easily. There’s a transparency mode as well when you just need to know what’s going on in your surroundings.

The earbuds do well when taking calls and the beam-forming mics (in addition to the noise cancellation ones) capture voice clearly.

You can control functions on the earbuds using a series of taps. It can get a little getting used to but, thankfully, you can customize this using the app. Like the competition, the earbuds offer auto-pause and auto-answer. Controls on the earbuds can let you play or pause your music, skip or go back a track, cycle between active noise cancelation and ambient mode, and even change the volume.

Although there are some gaps compared to the competition. If you want to use just one earbud and keep your other ear free, only the right earbud offers single-use functionality. Then, the case only supports charging over USB-C and lacks support for wireless charging.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 7 hours without active noise cancellation. You can charge the earbuds three times fully off the case. A single complete charge takes around 1.5 hours. A quick 10-minute charge can do you good for 1.5 hours. The case adds another 21 hours of battery.

Sony WF-1000XM3

A solid competitor to the AirPods Pro that also cost less. These earbuds have won universal praise for their sound quality. However, having used them in person, we can tell you that the case is almost twice as big as the AirPods Pro case.

• Active noise cancellation
• 8.5g earbud each
• 2 microphones (one on each earbud)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• SBC and AAC support
• Case – 142 x 119 x 64 mm, 79.3g
• 6 hours battery life (NC on)
• Additional 18 hours battery with case

Build:  The Sony WF-1000XM3 aren’t made for you if you’re looking for a small pair of earbuds. They are what we can only call bold and loud. The earbuds are large and protrude out of your ears. That said, they are smaller than the Momentum 2. The earpads are built extremely well and exude a modern and classy look. The rose gold or copper embossing, highlighting the Sony logo, only adds to the premium fit and finish. A circular area on one side takes your input for touch controls. Sony provides these earbuds with a range of silicones to make sure you have a perfect fit, which is also crucial for the noise cancellation feature to work as advertised.

A three-point fit ensures that the earbuds don’t fall from your ears. However, unlike the competition, the 1000XM3 isn’t waterproof. You need to take a little extra caution when going out for a jog in summers or on a rainy day.

The case comes with a copper lid which adds to the premium feel. The earbuds are held inside magnetically and the lid closes with a resounding click. That said, it’s rather large and you can forget keeping it in your pocket. Also, the case doesn’t support wireless charging.

Performance: The Sony WF-1000XM3 offer excellent sound quality, driven by DSEE HX processing and Q1Ne chip. In fact, the overall sound quality is better than the AirPods Pro, but behind Momentum 2.

The sound quality is clear with a well-balanced sound and ample bass while not being overbearing. While Sony’s own aptX isn’t supported, the QN1e processor supports 24-bit audio signal processing. The audio separation is good regardless of the genre. Each earbud also connects independently to the source. This ensures no audio lag and the ability to use the earbuds individually while the other one gets charged in the case.

The active noise cancellation benefits from the addition of a second microphone and the Q1Ne chip. Low-frequency noises are filtered efficiently. You can also adjust the level of active noise cancellation depending on how much of the outside world you want to listen to.

The connection is mostly stable and rarely breaks, making them a good option for taking calls. However, one can hear a small echo on the other end making it easy to know when you’re making the calls from the earbuds.
The earbuds do well when taking calls and the beam-forming mics (in addition to the noise cancellation ones) capture voice clearly.

The touch controls are pretty versatile and handy. You can adjust noise cancellation with the left earbud and audio playback with the right one. Tapping on the left earbuds toggles between noise cancellation. The right earbud controls audio playback, access your voice assistant, and call control. You can’t adjust the volume through the earbuds though. Like others, the earbuds offer in-ear detection and automatically pause whatever you’re playing if you take them off.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 6 hours with active noise cancellation. Turning it off takes that number to 8 hours. You can charge the earbuds three times fully off of the case. A single complete charge takes around 1.5 hours. A quick 10-minute charge can do you good for 1.5 hours.