Page 3 - Subjective Audio Analysis
Reviewing audio devices require extensively trained ears, lots of experience, and sufficient technical knowledge. Even for the experienced auditioner, it may prove challenging at times to obtain an accurate evaluation of a product without a thoroughly familiar product to use as a simultaneous reference. Furthermore, many self-proclaimed audiophiles are susceptible to biased write-ups due to placebo effects from false advertising. While I am not going to even try to claim that I am the only trustworthy or best evaluator for sound, it is fact that most computer review sites have editors who are insufficiently trained in reviewing audio equipment. Give them anything and all you will read about goes along with the line of "good bass, nice midrange, impressive treble, really clear sound, 10/10". While there are many knowledgeable audio reviewers at various respected online media outlets, they are by far the minority.
As I have mentioned in my past audio reviews, there are no true objective measurements for sound quality. As the evaluator, however, I will put it through a series of subjective tests to try to produce the most objective rating possible. Yes, it sounds like a paradox. For all tests, I used an Apple iPhone 15 Pro over Bluetooth 5.3. After over 60 hours of break-in time -- well above typical required time -- I put the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS to the test. All test tracks are high-quality CD-equivalent files. The earphones were left in their default sound and equalizer settings.
One thing I should note is the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS sound quality is quite dependent on the fitment of the two earphones. If you push them into your ear and stay stationary, they will remain there and provide a surprisingly good seal. However, after some time, the Air6 HS might slowly become dislodged from your ear, which will affect all the sound characteristics. This is typical for this style of earphones, as there is no ear tip to wedge in or a hook to keep it secure.
Starting at the low end, with a good fit, the bass of the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS was more than expected. In fact, there were times at which I wanted a bit less bass, but this was easily achieved by slightly wiggling the Air6 HS out of my ears. The sub-bass was not too present, but the mid to upper bass was pronounced. On the other hand, there was a bit of lacking clarity in this region. Instruments seemed to blur in this region and lacked definition. This left the bass feeling a bit muddy and messy. While I can appreciate the presence, especially when considering the physical design of the earphones, the overall character of the low end could have been refined.
Moving to the midrange, the region is clear. Instruments like pianos and guitars were distinguishable but lacked a natural sound. Similarly, vocalists were audible but lacked richness. Instead, singers in both lower and higher ranges sounded slightly dry, thin, and lacking warmth in the voice. Overall, the midrange was less pronounced compared to the other two regions, but it did not sound recessed.
At the highest frequency range, the treble of the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS was good but not necessarily great. Instruments came through well and distinctly, including the flutes, horns, and electric guitars. They were bright without being too piercing. Sibilance was also not a concern as it was noticeable without being too shrill. High-hat taps and cymbal crashes are also sharp and clean. All three regions together were a mild V-shaped curve, with roll off at the high end. Again, this is typical for a fun-sounding pair of earphones.
In terms of soundstaging and imaging, I found the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS were surprisingly wide, but not as deep. This is helped by the semi-in-ear design that allows some outside noise in. The left-to-right separation and directionality were quite noticeable in tracks and provided a larger listening experience, but it felt like the stage was shallow. Even background voices in live tracks felt close to the singer.
As for frequency layering and separation, the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS was good at keeping all voices audible and maintained a good balance of separation with cohesion. Layers were still distinguishable from each other and with more voices, everything was still audible. At times, some finer details that felt a bit drowned out, which resulted in a loss of sound definition. The sound was generally clean with no audible muffle or background hiss.
For microphone testing, I recorded myself twice, first indoors and second outdoors. This would give a better idea of how the microphone performs in both ideal and less ideal environments. Inside, the microphone was sufficient for calls, as it was able to pick up my voice easily. However, the whole recording sounded a bit robotic and unnatural. Outside, there were a few external sounds in my environment, but the Air6 HS did not pick them up. I was walking about my complex, with a slight amount of wind outside. Altogether, my voice was still distinguishable, and the Air6 HS is very usable for calls.
In terms of its wireless capabilities, the SOUNDPEATS Air6 HS performed as expected. In testing, I was able to get around 8 hours and 40 minutes at 50% volume before one side died. Curiously, it was always the right ear that died before the left one. This runtime is twenty minutes shorter than the quoted 9 hours per charge. The case provided four more charges, which meant I was able to get closer to 43 hours of total use, instead of the rated 45 hours. Charging the entire unit took around 90 minutes, which was as expected. Unfortunately, we do not have wireless charging for the case. Wireless range was good, as I was able to maintain a consistent connection up to 30m away with direct line of sight until I started hearing the music drop. In terms of delay, it was not as noticeable when watching videos, but those gaming may feel it. The gaming mode helps reduce the noticeable latency.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
