Yahoo Autos 5 wireless earbuds that beat the AirPods Pro 2 on sound
Despite being one of the best wireless earbuds around thanks to great audio features that include personalized options such as noise cancelling and spatial audio, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 aren't known for having the best sound. They're competitively priced and set the benchmark for advanced features at $249, but most sound experts rank them below legacy brands like Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser, and Sony. Not to mention several of the best wireless earbuds outperform the AirPods when it comes to overall sound quality with music.
I'm not saying the AirPods don't have good sound. Apple did upgrade audio on the AirPods Pro, and has remained consistent on the latest AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro 2 releases. Additions like adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and spatial audio have also made music and movies more engaging on iOS/macOS devices, but despite these upgrades, AirPods are not for audiophiles.
I’ve been testing wireless earbuds since the original AirPods released and have reviewed over 100 models. Believe me when I say that the market offers plenty of superior-sounding AirPods alternatives if audio quality is your goal. With that in mind, I've listed 5 recommendations. Some are similarly priced but drop features to concentrate on delivering the best sound quality above all else, while others match the AirPods Pro models for sound and features, but cost significantly less.
To discover which are the best-sounding AirPods alternatives for your budget, read on.
Best audiophile earbuds
1. Campfire Audio Orbit
The $249 Campfire Audio Orbit are the brand’s first soiree into the true wireless space. Available to buy from the company's online store, not only do these buds crush category leaders like the AirPods Pro 2 in sound performance, but they also rank among the best audiophile headphones.
The Orbit will satisfy the most audio-driven music lover who cares little for extras. There's no active noise cancelling here, but the audio spec sheet runs to custom 10mm dynamic drivers, liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragms, and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX codec elevates sound across all media platforms.
When it comes to sound quality, Campfire Audio knocked it out of the park.
When it comes to sound quality, Campfire Audio knocked it out of the park. The acoustic chamber and drivers give these buds a wide and impactful soundstage that lays out instruments and vocals precisely for a depth-filled listening experience. They handle minimal bass line with aplomb to sound more vibrant, while smaller details, like the feel more prominent and everything sounds crisp and transparent no matter what you're listening to.
The Orbit’s sound profile gives a default EQ and 7 presets, but they're difficult to identify since they're not named and they don't show the frequency curve. You’re left to trust Campfire Audio’s sonic judgement, which is pretty spot on. If you don’t like the default EQ or presets, there’s an option to create a sound profile by playing with the seven-band EQ.
Flagship audio and ANC
2. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
The Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds launched at a similar price to the AirPods Pro 2 ($249 / £219 / AU$399), and can also currently be found discounted to $199 at Amazon. They're an all-around beauty, with everything that made the over-ear Momentum 4 noise-cancelling headphones a critical success carried over to these sleek-looking buds. Sennheiser’s sound profile is dexterous and informative and can be personalized through a variety of customization tools.
In every circumstance these earbuds let you know exactly what’s going on.
The TW3 are a poised and dextrous listen, able to give rhythms full expression while keeping the tempo moving forwards. The soundstage they generate is expansive, wide-open and properly organized — so every element of the recording gets sufficient elbow-room to do its thing unhindered. There's a gratifying amount of information throughout the frequency range, and in every circumstance these earbuds let you know exactly what’s going on. The midrange, in particular, is packed with information, so what’s an already characterful vocal is absolutely explicit via these earbuds.
There’s an equalizer with six effective presets, plus adaptive settings like Sound Check and Sound Zone that tailor audio to your hearing and automatically adjust the EQ to your location. Everything works exceptionally well. AptX Adaptive dynamically scales the bitrate to increase streaming quality on hi-res music services. Other notable hallmarks include powerfully adaptive ANC, strong connectivity, and terrific touch controls.
