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Review: Beats Powerbeats Pro

Still among our favorites

Top-class wireless range, fully-fitted fit - Beats Powerbeats Pro delivers a very engaging sound.

Karakter
Beats Powerbeats Pro
forfatter
Published 2020-10-01 - 10:16 am
Our opinion
Very engaging sound, and a fit that never falls off. Seamless integration with Siri. Class-leading wireless range.
There are earplugs with better resolution at the very top. Missing some of the features of AirPods Pro.
Specifications
  • Type: completely wireless earplugs
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Waterproof: IPX4
  • Code: AAC, SBC
  • Battery: 9 h + 15 h from case
  • App: No.
  • Weight: 2 x 20.3 g (weight of case not specified)
  • Charging cable: Lightning
  • Number of ear cushions in the box: 4
  • Web: beatsbydre.com

If you would like to have AirPods Pro, but think the protruding microphones are a deal breaker, or you think the sound is too loud at the top, then Apple-owned Beats Powerbeats Pro has virtually the same functionality.

Powerbeats Pro has the same fantastic wireless range as the AirPods Pro (around 50 meters according to my own experience), is water and sweat repellent, and easily connects to the iPhone by leading them up. And they charge through the Lightning plug. Powerbeats Pro will also be able to appeal to Android users, because the only features reserved for Apple users are the aforementioned connection method, and that Google Assistant can not be called.

Powerbeats Pro
Photo: Geir Nordby

The beats do not have Apple’s noise reduction function, and you can not use the “Where Is” app on the iPhone to find them if you have put them in a slightly too clever place. And since the microphones do not protrude, the other party will not hear you quite so clearly during a mobile call.

Powerbeats Pro has a long battery life; a full nine hours in the plugs and an extra 15 hours in the case. The case is admittedly a bit large for the trouser pocket, to make room for the ear hoops. We have to endure that.

The ear hoops that go all the way around the ear make it impossible for the plugs to fall out. It also means that the pillows stay in place very well, so there is very little squeaking noise against the ear canal. Also when you exercise! Which in turn makes it much more comfortable to listen to these than many others.

The sound of Powerbeats Pro

Powerbeats Pro is an energy bomb of dimensions in the midrange range, and has the bass to follow up. Pop music engages thousands, and rock is reproduced with rock-hard guitars. This is the sound Klipsch should aim for, with its T5 True Wireless.

There is also great touch and speed in grand piano and piano. There is a lack of air and a feeling of space in relation to the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless and Technics AZ70, and also the Bang & Olufsen plugs have more sound structures than Beats. But compared to the Jaybird Vista training plugs, Beats is far more energetic and engaging. The Jabra Elite Active 75t also sounds more woolly than the Beats straight out of the box, although those with a swipe through the EQ function can be adjusted to actually sound better.

It is still clear that Powerbeats Pro has real gaming fun, and never gets boring to listen to. Still among those I would rather spend my own money on.

Conclusion

The earloop is not for everyone, but it means that the plugs never fall out, and they make almost no squeaking sounds in the ears at all. Thumbs up from here!

The sound is well balanced and very rhythmic and engaging. The only thing missing is a little more air at the top, but this is a damn good overall package.

It is also no minus that the connection is super stable, wireless range is superb, and the battery life as well.

Also in this test

Technics EAH-AZ70W

The icing on the technological cake

Technics EAH-AZ70W has everything you could want from technology in a pair of earbuds, and also excellent sound with great resolution.

Good noise cancellation, neutral and resolved sound
We want more punch

Beoplay E8 3.0

Luxury that finally sits

Bang & Olufsen have tried and failed sometimes with their completely wireless Beoplay E8. Beoplay E8 3.0 is the best so far.

Nice sound with lots of details. Ambient sound that is let through sounds very natural. Wireless range is finally good, and support for wireless charging is fine.
The sound could well have been louder. Touch features are quite knotty, and the Bluetooth connection could have been more intuitive. Not NFC.

Klipsch T5 True Wireless

I really want these earplugs to be good!

Klipsch likes it best when the music is thrown into the listener's face. It also happens here, but we have to make some reservations.

Energetic midrange, lots of dynamics. Fantastically satisfactory charging case.
Coarse-grained and fairly sharp sound.

Skullcandy Sesh Evo

Do what it's supposed to

Skullcandy's cheapest completely wireless earbuds Skullcandy Sesh Evo have rhythmically enough bass, and sound pretty good. When set correctly.

Energetic bass, works for training. Movie sound mode sounds pretty good.
Missing details, especially in the overtones. Default setting sounds woolly. Poor call quality.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Our new favorite

Review: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 - Sennheiser reaches the top with its latest edition of Momentum True Wireless.

Excellent sound quality, improved operation, great fit and - finally - long playing time! Active noise reduction comes in handy in some situations.
Outgoing call sound is a bit more confined than with its predecessor. Sound delay a bit big for action games and movies.

Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW

Affordable and good from Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica has finally come up with some completely wireless plugs that fit well in the ears.

Full bass, clear overtones, good call quality. Better fit than previous plugs from the same manufacturer.
The midrange range is too restrained, instruments and vocals lack emphasis here.

Jaybird Vista

Sports earbuds with an impact

Jaybird Vista is stable, and with lots of bass energy! But here, too, some weird choices have been made.

Wireless connection is very stable. The user can customize sound and features.
Dark tone, bass-focused and a fairly sharp midrange reproduction. Only the Sub Band Codec (SBC) limits the sound quality.

Creative Outlier Gold

Good idea, poorly executed

Creative Outlier Gold has some smart stuff in it, but the sound can not be approved.

Full-bodied and rhythmic bass, interesting Super X-Fi function for holographic sound. Fantastic battery life!
Sharp treble, too little midrange. Very "hammock" sound! EQ function does not work outside the app.

Jabra Elite Active 75t

Superior training earbuds

The Jabra Elite Active 75t is perhaps the best wireless training earbuds you can buy.

Effective "passive" noise cancellation, excellent and solid sound and excellent battery life. They are waterproof and firmly attached to the ears, and are therefore also perfect for training.
The effective noise cancellation can create a kind of cheese bell feeling. Operation directly via the plugs is a bit difficult.

Panasonic RZ-S500W

Packed with technology

Panasonic RZ-S500W serves the best noise cancellation found in a pair of earbuds is combined with good speech sound and a neutral music reproduction. Why is it not enough?

Good noise cancellation, neutral sound
Lacks dynamics, sounds flat and tame.
A tempest in a teacup

The Argon Audio Quiet Storm looks like a set of more expensive headphones. However, the sound doesn't live up to the design.

Jabra Elite 4 with ANC and multipoint

The Jabra Elite 4 are fully wireless earbuds with noise cancellation at a comfortable price.

Headphones for music lovers

They look the same, but the sound of the latest Sennheiser headphones is better than ever.

A dream for both studio and pleasure

The MM-500 has been developed by and for studio engineers, to reveal the full substance of a recording. Something that also provides pure enjoyment for "ordinary people".

Even more utopian?

Focal has updated the uncompromising Utopia headphones. But is it really possible to improve them even further?

A different kind of Sound Blaster

The Creative Sound Blaster X5 isn't just a sound card for the gaming community. It's also a nice little DAC, even if it does have a few oddities.

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