Soundpeats Air4 aptX Lossless Audio Wireless Earbuds
Overall, the Air4 Earbuds provide a high-quality sound, but there are some features that are lacking. The ANC isn't as good as I hoped and some of the packaging is misleading.
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
Upgrade your audio experience with Soundpeats Air4 aptX Lossless Audio Wireless Earbuds.
Sometimes I feel like headphones are an extension of my body. I end up using them throughout the day to listen to music as well as participating in video conferences. Because of that, I need a good set of earbuds that provide active noise cancelling and a premium sound quality. I decided to give the Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds a try.
About Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds
The Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds, powered by Snapdragon Sound™ technology, are designed to deliver a high-quality audio experience. They support Qualcomm aptX Lossless, providing bit-perfect CD-quality audio up to 16-bit/44.1 kHz, with an option for 24-bit/96kHz aptX Adaptive to dynamically adjust audio quality based on usage. These earbuds offer up to 45dB of noise reduction and feature a 6-mic system with CVC noise-cancellation for clear communication, particularly in noisy surroundings.
A snug fit is meant to enhance the noise cancellation feature. With Bluetooth 5.3, they offer fast, seamless multipoint connection to two devices, and a low latency mode of 88ms for gaming and video calls. The battery life can last up to 26 hours with the charging case, ensuring uninterrupted use.
Main Features
- Bluetooth: V5.3
- Profiles: A2DP/AVRCP/HFP/HSP
- Chipset: QCC3071
- Supported Bluetooth Codec: aptX Lossless/AAC/SBCBattery
- Battery Capacity: 35*2 mAH(Earbuds) 330mAH (Case)
- Charging Time: ＜1.5H (Earbuds）＜2H(Case)
- Charging Port: Type-C
- Total Playtime: 26 hoursWhat’s in the Box
- SOUNDPEATS Air4 aptX Lossless Wireless Earbuds
- Type-C Charging Cable
- Charging Case
- User ManualPackage
- Single Earbud Weight: 4g
- Charging Case with Earbuds: 38g
- Control Type: Touch
- Waterproof Rating: IPX4
Pricing & Availability
The Soundpeats Air4 earbuds have a list price of $89.99, but are currently found on Amazon for $63.99. They are available in Matte Black and Matte White.
User Experience
Unboxing
The earbuds come in a standard retail package. When you open the box, you will find the earbuds’ charging case with the earbuds stored inside. Below that, is a compartment for ear gels and the USB-C charging cable. I was surprised to find the space for the ear gels when they are not needed for this product. That tells me this packaging is not customized for the product. This might be economical for the manufacturer, but it leaves the user thinking that something is missing from their newly acquired headphones.
Set-up
Pairing the earbuds to my iPhone 14 Pro was easy. I simply opened the charging case and then waited for the Soundpeats to appear in my Bluetooth menu. There is a pairing button on the front of the charging case that can force the process if needed. I found the user manual to be less than helpful. It provides basic information, but isn’t very in depth.
After I paired the headphones to the phone, I downloaded the Soundpeats app. I did have to register but it is free to use. I did have a little trouble with the password step. I tried to use a secure password (one with letters, numbers, and special characters), but it wasn’t accepted. When I regressed to a less secure password (letters only) the registration process progressed. There is also a subscription checkbox that cannot be unchecked.
I updated the firmware, which took a few minutes, and then went through the Adaptive EQ listening test. I actually had to go through it twice because the prompt reads, “I hear voices,” instead of, “I heard it.” So, I was waiting to hear voices. There are no voices — only tones at different pitches. Once that was completed, I started listening to music.
Experience/Testing
One of the first features I tested was the ANC. I use noise cancelling on a daily basis so this was an important feature to me. When I activated it I did notice a change in what I was hearing in my environment, but it didn’t block out 100% of the ambient noise. In fact, I could still hear air handling from our HVAC system and that is usually completely diminished with ANC. It could be the design of the headphones that diminishes the ANC effects. With them being semi-open earphones, their natural isolation is not as good as in-ear headphones would be.
After testing the ANC, I moved on to listening to music. Since I had experienced some oddities with getting the earbuds setup, I was surprised that the overall sound quality was very good. I would say that they provide ‘above average’ quality when it comes to sound output. I could hear nuances in music that I don’t always hear without headphones like this.
While the natural listening mode was good on its own, I found that my experience was enhanced by the presets provided by Soundpeats in their app. Those presets include Bass Boost, Bass Reduction, Electronic, Rock ‘n Roll, Folk, Treble Enhancement, Pop, and Classical Music. An adaptive EQ setting is also include but I got more from the presets.
Other features I appreciated were the ergonomic design and the charging case. I thought the earbuds were very comfortable to wear — even for longer periods of time — and the charging case closes securely and is easy to carry in a pocket.
Good value or not?
So, are the Soundpeats Air4 earbuds a good value? If you can find them on sale, I would say, yes they are a good value. At their list price of approximately $90, I think that’s a little high for what you get considering other earbuds in that price range have better ANC and premium sound quality.
Pros
- Overall, the sound quality is above average — especially when you use the presets.
- Solid charging case.
- Comfortable to wear.
Cons
- A spot is included for ear gels, but they aren’t needed with these earbuds. The packaging is not customized for the product.
- Ugly static sound when they first connected to iPhone. It went away on its own, but it was concerning.
- Battery life not listed on website.
- Poor ANC quality.
Conclusion
The Soundpeats Air4 earbuds offer a mixed experience, with underwhelming packaging and a somewhat lackluster active noise cancellation feature, likely due to their semi-open design. On the positive side, they provide above-average sound quality, revealing subtle nuances in music. The Soundpeats app enhances the listening experience with various presets, and the earbuds are comfortable for extended wear. When found on sale, they represent a decent value proposition, but at their list price of around $90, they face stiff competition from earbuds with superior ANC and premium sound quality.
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