Soundcore has a reputation for creating audio products that return 90 % of the performance you ’ll get from big brands like Sony , Bose , and Apple , for around half the price . Soundcore ’s late open - ear model , the $ 100 AeroFit 2 , shows that its reputation is still intact — these are fabulousopen - capitulum earbudsfor the price .
Despite the name , it ’s voiceless to see the AeroFit 2 as a true second - gen machine . compare to the firstAeroFit , it feels like Soundcore has start out from loot , with a totally dissimilar design plan of attack .
What’s changed?
Soundcore AeroFit 2 specs
Design and comfort
By now , I ’m assuming most folks know the difference between traditional semi - exposed and unopen earbuds that sit down inside the ear , versus open - ear , which sit outside ( or wrap around the side ) of the ear , but just in case : Unlike semi - open or closed model , open - ear earbuds provide no isolation between your ears and out-of-door auditory sensation . depend on your needs , this can be a vast benefit or a potential disadvantage . However , most kinsfolk concord that when it comes to comfort , open - ears are hard to beat .
This is the area that is most improved on the AeroFit 2 .
The silicone - wrapped conducting wire that connects the rear battery mental faculty to the front speaker mental faculty is a hair thicker than on the AeroFit , but it ’s more flexible and has a larger , more oval arc . The real innovation , however , is the four - position hidden hinge inside the speaker unit module .
It assist to customize the conniption . The first - gen ’s shape seemed to work best with smaller pinna , while the second - gen can suit a great variety of size . But I ’d argue that the biggest benefit is the power to reposition the speaker for maximum sound quality . With open - capitulum earbuds ( much more so than traditional designing ) , speaker location is critical . A millimetre here or there can make the departure between bass you’re able to hear and bass that ’s scantily there .
With some earhook models , solace and sound quality are mutually exclusive . Soundcore ’s invention increases the prospect that you may have both .
I had no problem wear them all day , even with deoxyephedrine . They are n’t quite as secure as theShokz OpenFit 2 , but they remain put during a gym workout , including when I was lying on my back .
With anIP55 paygrade , these earbuds can handle almost any fooling meeting with water or sweat . Just make certain you do n’t fully swallow up them and always dry them off before putting them back in the type .
Speaking of the cause , I love that Soundcore construct it to accommodate the AeroFit 2 in any of the four positions , and the addition of wireless charging is a welcome betterment .
The typesetter’s case is a bit bigger than the first AeroFit , so it wo n’t be quite as pocket-sized . Still , it ’s about the same size as many competition like the Shokz OpenFit 2 and Earfun OpenJump .
Controls and connections
The AeroFit 2 do n’t support Google Fast Pair , but they ’re quick and easy to mate to a smartphone — just launch the case lid and search for the earbuds in your twist ’s Bluetooth menu . you may pair additional machine with the pairing push button on the back of the example , or , if you need to couple two devices simultaneously ( multipoint ) , the three-fold connector carte in the Soundcore app get you see previously pair devices , select which 1 should be dynamic , or add new machine . Shokz uses a standardized user interface on the OpenFit 2 , and they both work well .
alas , Soundcore and Shokz are also likewise in their deficiency of support forLE AudioandAuracast , which will become increasingly important in the next two old age .
The AeroFit 2 use touch dominance instead of strong-arm push button . This keeps things clean and streamlined ( and belike helps with water resistance ) but they are n’t as precise .
Most of the time , I had no problem tapping the right arena , mark by the Soundcore “ d ” logos on the speaker modules , but there were a few inadvertent taps now and then , especially when placing the earbuds back in their casing . Tip : snaffle them by the earhook wire , not the speaker modules .
The Soundcore app provides plenty of control customization and there are four gesture per side : single- , double- , and three-fold - hydrant , plus tap - and - hold . Playback , call reply / end , track skipping , volume , and voice assistant access are all available . The one deletion that would be handy for call option is a mute occasion .
Sound quality
clear - ear earbuds are n’t broadly speaking known for their awesome sound timbre . They have to get over a gravid distance between the talker and your eardrum and as I mentioned earlier , there ’s no seal to close up out haphazardness like dealings , wind , or conversations . In these scenarios , flashiness is your secure champion , and I found the AeroFit 2 loud enough for all but the noisy places . If you postulate something louder , hold in out the excellent Shokz OpenFit 2 .
Still , the AeroFit 2 manage to surrender substantial , pleasurable sound in most conditions . In quiet , indoor locations , you ’ll even get a surprising amount of bass voice — the Achilles heel of open - ear earbuds .
There ’s a moment of negotiation to be done with the 4 - position hinge . For my capitulum , I found I got the best sound when I “ open up ” the hinge to its maximum position , which placed the loudspeaker directly in front of my ear duct . But that ’s also the loosest position , and it allow the earbuds wiggle around a lot when I moved my head . I ’m o.k. with that — when sound really matters to me , I ’m in all likelihood sit fairly still — and even in the closed position , I was able-bodied to get satisfactory audio at the monetary value of some basso response .
Soundcore ’s app has a huge routine of EQ presets and you’re able to meld your own with the optional 8 - band counterweight . Some of the presets , like bass booster and volume booster , do exactly what they name — your mileage may deviate with others like Jazz , Latin , or Lounge .
There ’s also a 3D Surround Sound setting , which attempt to create an immersive , spatial audio gist . Soundcore says it works best with movies and games , and I concord — action motion picture like Edge Of Tomorrow sound nifty . On the other mitt , I did n’t wish what it did to euphony , so Soundcore was right about that too .
If you have an Android phone , you’re able to sample out Sony ’s LDAC Bluetooth howdy - rhenium codec ( dreary iPhone proprietor ) , but do n’t have a bun in the oven miracles .
In very still locations , when listening tolosslesssources of euphony , you may be able-bodied to try modest improvements in item and a more neutral sound signature tune that does n’t boost the depression and highs quite as much as SBC / AAC . Or , you may not find out a divergence at all . The open - pinna design does n’t contribute itself to decisive hearing as well as closed earbuds .
One matter ’s for sure : if you enable LDAC , you ’ll be sacrifice up Multipoint connectivity and shelling life will take a hitting . Most earbuds miss between 20 - 30 % of their playtime when they run LDAC .
Call quality
I ’ve noticed that non - active - haphazardness - canceling earbuds ( which report for almost every open - ear model ) tend to offer up much good call quality than their ANC vis-a-vis . This holds truthful for the AeroFit 2 , which are capital for calls , even in relatively noisy environment .
They had no trouble keeping my vocalism readable and distinct , and there was substantially less concretion than on flagship wireless earbuds like theApple AirPods Pro 2 .
The only weakness is fart randomness . in all probability due to the placement of the microphones and their deficiency of shielding , impractical conditions will affect how you sound to callers .
As with most open - ears , the AeroFit 2 are superb for medium to long calls . The ease means you are n’t dying to pull them off , and the fact that you may find out yourself mouth course ( alternatively of having your voice pipe back into your ears via the mics ) greatly reduces fatigue .
Battery life
Soundcore claims 10 hours of listening on a single bursting charge for the AeroFit 2 , with a total of 42 hours when you include the send case ’s capacity . That ’s very good for a set of open - ears , and means more than you may expect from regular wireless earbuds , which tend to provide between 6 - 8 hour per charge .
Still , it ’s not quite as impressive as the Shokz OpenFit 2 ( 11/48 hour ) . On the other hand , with a take flying charge giving an supererogatory four 60 minutes for just 10 minutes of charge , the AeroFit 2 ’s little lifespan may not weigh .
Conclusion
While I still prefer the Shokz OpenFit 2 overall , for their fit , sound timber , and call quality , the truth is they ’re not 80 % well than the AeroFit 2 ( even though that ’s the price agiotage Shokz commands ) .
That should make the AeroFit 2 very appealing to anyone who wants a great set of clear - ear earbuds at a price that will fit many more budgets .
The fact that they admit wireless charging and come in four different color , which we ca n’t say about the OpenFit 2 , is the icing on the bar . Soundcore still roll in the hay how to give people more for less .
