One of the things that has impressed me the most over the years is the quality of sound that low-end headphones can produce. I remember there used to be a big difference between low-end headphones and high-end headphones. If you weren’t prepared to pay the full price, you should expect to hear music that wasn’t very sparkling, with no depth in the bass. Sure, you could get some highs and mids with these headphones but not much more.
The three takeaways from the Soundpeats Air4 Pro headphones
- The Soundpeats Air4 Pro wireless headphones are available for €71.
- They are capable of producing very good sound with agile and tight bass, and well-balanced highs and mids.
- Updating firmware from the app doesn’t seem to work and there are no touch controls.
Today, it seems that any company can produce headphones capable of reproducing good sound like the competition. Even if it would still take a miracle for headphones under €90 to beat headphones costing €300 to €400. So when I received these Soundpeats Air4 Pros headphones, I was sure I knew what to expect. And while these headphones have their flaws, they definitely deliver in the area that matters most: sound.
Technical specifications of the Soundpeats Air4 Pros wireless headphones
- Snapdragon chip with aptX Lossless (requires aptX-enabled device).
- 13mm dynamic driver.
- Adaptive ANC technology with three microphones.
- 6.5 hours of playback, with a total battery life of 26 hours (with charging case).
- Bluetooth 5.3 support.
- 88ms low latency gaming mode and dual device connection.
- In-ear headphone detection for play and pause.
- Application for equalizer customization and firmware update.
My experience with Soundpeats Air4 Pros headphones
After connecting the Soundpeats Air4 Pros to my Pixel 8 Pro, I immersed myself in one of my favorite albums, Signals, by Rush. I think this album is perfectly well balanced when it comes to evaluating the audio quality of the headphones. In particular, Geddy Lee’s incredible bass lines are not easy to reproduce for all headphones.
When reading Subdivisions, I was not impressed. I’m not sure why, but I found these headphones dull. I was not satisfied at all.
An equalization curve that suits me. Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Luckily, I gave them a second chance, after installing the app and tweaking the EQ slightly. Then I picked up the album again and heard something completely different. When the piece Analog Kid started, the bass line was perfect and the Soundpeats Air4 Pros headphones were perfectly able to keep up with Geddy Lee this time. The bass wasn’t over-the-top, but it was rich and dynamic. I was able to sit back and enjoy the music. And when the keyboard sang during the chorus, the song was just the right size. As the verse returned, the bass took control again.
When it comes to headphones, nothing impresses me more than this. Especially if the sound doesn’t become too obtrusive when the song transitions to a part where keyboard playing is dominant.
When it comes to EQ, you can choose from a few preset options, including Soundpeats Classic, Bass boost, Bass reduction, Electronic, Rock & Roll, Folk, Treble enhancement, Pop, and Classical Music. I rarely find preset EQ to be of much use, which is why I always opt for the custom options. Having been exposed to Rush and Van Halen albums in the 1980s, I have a particular EQ curve that I prefer. Fortunately, these headphones are perfectly capable of producing this curve and the sound lived up to my expectations.
However, make no mistake, these headphones are not perfect. For example, every time I try to update the firmware it fails. The file downloads and then fails to transfer to the headphones. Or, if it is, it fails to install on the device. I have tried the update several times, but it still does not work.
I’m not sure what the new firmware has to offer, but it looks like I’ll never find out…
ZDNET Buying Tips on Soundpeats Air4 Pros Headphones
If your main concern is high-quality sound and you don’t care about touch controls, frictionless firmware updating, or other features found on more expensive products, these headphones are a bargain.
You won’t get the high-end depth you might find on the Denon PerL Pros, but the Soundpeats Air4 Pros are capable of reproducing rich, dynamic, and agile sound that I would usually associate with more expensive headphones.
Source: “ZDNet.com”