In-Ear Fidelity

crinacle's

Buyer's Guide

Best (sounding) True Wireless Earphones

Ah yes, “wireless”. A word that sends shivers down the spine of any self-proclaimed audiophile and the catalyst for many an internet argument. And yet its popularity grows, unfettered by claims of inferior audio and further bolstered by the success of Apple’s AirPods.

But you know, given its appeal to what is mainly the mainstream consumer market, there doesn’t seem to be anyone doing a proper comparison of these true wireless buds solely on the metric of “sound quality”. And so here I am, bringing to you my perspectives on these little things ranked in the order of worst to best.

Here is when I remind everyone again that this is my opinion on the best sounding TWS earphones. Let the other tech review sites talk about the build, the usability, the UI etc. whatever. I’ll focus on what I’m good at and what most readers skip to in the first place.

Overwhelmed? Refer to the list of recommendations

Master list of reviewed TWS IEMs

(Alphabetically ordered)

1More Stylish: “The Award Winner”
Advanced Model X: “The Pandering”
AKG N400: “The Sweet Spot”
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro: “That Linus TWS”
Apple AirPods Pro: “The Mainstream”
Audio Technica ATH-CK3TW: “The Imbalanced”
Audio Technica ATH-CKS5TW: “Acoustically Challenged”
Audio Technica ATH-CKR7TW: “The Banshee”
Audio Technica ATH-SPORT7TW: “Combo Breaker”
AVIOT TE-D01: “Eastern Appeal”
BGVP Q2: “The Wired”
Bose SoundSport Free: “The Open”
Edifier TWS1: “The Expected”
Edifier TWS5: “Excellence in Theory”
Fostex TM2: “The Exotic”
Hifiman TWS600: “TWS: The Worst Sound”
Jabra Elite Active 65t: “The Popular”
Jabra Elite 75t: “The Anticipated”
Jaybird Vista: “The Has-been”
Kinera YH623: “The Bassiest”
KZ E10: “Mould Breaker”
KZ S2: “The Beater”
Lypertek Tevi: “The Acclaimed”
Master & Dynamic MW07: “The Hypebeast”
Noble Falcon: “The Unmagical”
Nuarl NT01: “Middle of the Road”
Nuarl NT100: “Local Hype”
QCY T5: “The Threat”
Samsung Galaxy Buds: “The Dark Horse”
Samsung Galaxy Buds+: “Objectivist’s Dream”
Samsung Galaxy Buds2: “The Refinement”
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro: “The Plateau”
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless: “Carried by Name”
Sony WF-1000XM3: “Top Dog”
Sony WF-1000XM4: “Second Dog”

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.

The list below is specially curated as a showcase of all the TWS IEMs that I would recommend at different price points. For IEMs not shown below, refer to the master list of links above.

This list is arranged by grading (lowest first), followed by MSRP for those within the same grade (highest first).

Nuarl NT100

"Local Hype"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://nuarl.com/en/nt100/

MSRP: 120SGD (~$90)

Here’s an interesting one from a brand that many of you probably haven’t heard of yet: Nuarl.

It’s a Japanese brand that’s more known well in my hometown of Singapore for reasons still unknown to me. The NT100 is one of the cheaper TWS models in this list and is pretty much the kind of sound that you would expect for a sub-$100 IEM. Pretty standard and almost generic V-shaped signature that should appeal to many, but ultimately doesn’t really stand out from the crowd in any technical way.

Safe buy I guess. You get what you pay for.

Grade: C

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Edifier TWS1

"The Expected"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.edifier.com/us/en/headphones-earphones/tws1-true-wireless-earbud-headphones

MSRP: $50

It’s cheap. It sounds average. And it’s probably Edifier’s zero effort cash-in on the TWS boom. 

The average stuff are the hardest to talk about because there’s nothing to praise nor to roast. The TWS1 has decent bass but with issues in the upper midrange, making things sound overly harsh and/or forward. Other than that, it’s more or less a case of “you get what you pay for”.

Grade: C

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

KZ S2

"The Beater"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.linsoul.com/pages/kz-s2

MSRP: $50

Driver configuration: 1DD + 1BA

The name of the S2’s game seems to be “adequate performance for bottom-dollar price”, and to that I think KZ has done it. The S2’s sound quality does not impress and neither does its plasticky build quality, but for $50 you don’t have much grounds for complaining.

The S2 has a mainstream house; elevated bass and treble for an exciting V-shaped response, though the shape of the V is slightly biased towards the treble. Unfortunately the S2 strays into sibilance, a flaw that is arguably its biggest sonic dealbreaker, but overall there’s nothing too offensive about the S2’s sound, tonally or technically.

Unfortunately the existence of the S2 in KZ’s lineup seems like a mystery, especially when you can get their very own E10 for just $10 more.

Now the ergonomics are different between the two of course; the E10 has those odd ear hooks that some have complained about, while the S2 is a more traditional “bud”-type fit that should work for more people. But in terms of sound, the E10 has a better tonal balance and does not come with the sibilance that the S2 has.

But if you absolutely have to spend $50 on a TWS set (possibly cheaper on the street), the S2 is an adequate pick. Just don’t expect too much.

Grade: C

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Audio Technica ATH-SPORT7TW

"Combo Breaker"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/1120979bd3a753ac/index.html

MSRP: $200

And so Audio Technica breaks out of the D ranks and into the high Cs.

The SPORT7TW has a more unique tuning, sporting (heh) a U-shaped signature that emphasises the sub-bass and upper treble regions. Unfortunately, there is also rather bad sub-bass rolloff so the SPORT7TW can’t quite dig deep when the track calls for it. The treble boost also unfortunately strays into the sibilance regions, resulting is potential harshness and stridency for many ears.

In general, the SPORT7TW earns the award of being “above average” having clean bass lines and tonally correct (if a little shouty) midrange, which is already more than what I can say for many wireless earphones here.

Grade: C+

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro

"That Linus TWS"

Frequency response measurement

MSRP: $150

Driver configuration: 1BA + 1DD hybrid

If you’re like me, you probably first heard of the Liberty 2 Pro when LinusTechTips shilled talked about them on his YouTube channel

I didn’t have much hope in them in the beginning since it was my belief that most general-tech-reviewer-sponsored headphones usually doesn’t live up to the expectations of the average audiophile, and instead are targeted towards the mainstream consumer. So imagine my surprise when I actually liked the Liberty 2 Pro.

Yes, it has its fair share of problems. The bass quantity is probably too much for a lot of people, the midrange is shouty and I detect the treble straying into sibilance at times. But the Liberty 2 Pro really is my “guilty pleasure” listen in the sense that I absolutely love the bass presentation. It’s rumbly, it’s impactful and yet retains a sense of cleanliness not normally heard of in IEMs with this level of bass quantity. 

If they had reined in the midrange tonality a little better, I probably would’ve purchased one myself. Alas, that’s my personal dealbreaker.

Grade: C+

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Edifier TWS5

"Excellence in Theory"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.edifier.com/us/en/headphones-earphones/tws5-true-wireless-earbud-headphones

MSRP: $80

I’ve told this to a few others IRL: the TWS5’s FR response is basically a screwed up version of my neutral target curve with my desired bass response of a sub-300Hz boost.

By all accounts I should be absolutely gushing over the TWS5’s sound, but it sounds pretty normal and unexceptional to me. Yeah, the bass response is pretty nice with the nice and low controlled boost, the midrange isn’t overly forward and screaming in your face, but there’s still a little bit of that TWS1 harshness creeping into the TWS5’s signature. 

Overall, pretty good still. Not the worst you can do with your cash and can still service most audiophiles well.

Grade: C+

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

KZ E10

"Mould Breaker"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.linsoul.com/products/kz-e10

MSRP: $60

Driver configuration: 1DD + 4BA hybrid

This E10 was kindly provided by Linsoul.

Colour me surprised, KZ made a pretty good pair of IEMs. And it’s TWS!

The E10 has its fair share of flaws, for instance the overly-shouty midrange that pushes vocals straight in your face, or perhaps the slightly thinness in the midrange that isn’t as satisfying as the other lower-midrange heavy stuff on the guide. But apart from all those, the E10 does the whole neutral Diffuse Field-y signature very well.

It’s definitely the most un-KZ sounding IEM in KZ’s lineup, so diehard fans of the brand should stay away. It’s not going to have KZ’s traditionally massive bass boost nor its liberally-tuned treble response, and it’s for that reason that I really believe that the E10 is the best KZ IEM you can get.

As a TWS IEM though? (Almost) no contest. At 60 bones max, it outshines many of the mainstream competitors and establishes itself as a unicorn in the TWS market: a neutrally-tuned option.

Grade: C+

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

QCY T5

"The Threat"

Frequency response measurement

No proper product page so here’s an affiliate-less Amazon link instead:
https://www.amazon.com/QCY-Headphones-Compatible-Smartphones-Black/dp/B07YTTF3BN/

MSRP: $35

Yeah, you saw the price right. A sub-$50 TWS IEM that can dip below $20 if you’re lucky. And, it’s not utter trash.

Even calling the T5 “not garbage” would be doing it a massive disservice. The T5 is good, not just in the realm of the highly-priced TWS market but even in the highly competitive budget IEM market.

You’re obviously going to have to make concessions in terms of build, usability and unit QC, but you all know that I’m not here to talk about all those. In terms of sound and tuning, the T5 is tasteful. Inoffensive yet competent, exciting yet clean.

Everyone else should treat the T5 as a massive threat to the status quo of highly-priced, average-sounding TWS buds. You don’t have a place in the market anymore.

Grade: C+ ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Apple AirPods Pro

"The Mainstream"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.apple.com/airpods-pro/

MSRP: $250

The AirPods Pro needs no introduction but I’ll do one anyways: it is Apple’s first true wireless in-ear and their third IEM overall (shoutouts to the legendary Addiem and the less-legendary iPod in-ears in case anybody remembers these relics).

Now I know what you’re thinking: this is Apple we’re talking about. There is no way that an audiophile would ever like something so mainstream. And in terms of the EarPods and the original AirPods, you would be right. They aren’t bad, but they certainly don’t do anything to distinguish themselves in terms of tuning or raw “sound quality”.

But the AirPods Pro is a little different. It is, and I can’t believe I’m saying it, pretty dang good. Yeah sure, it’s pricey and you can probably still do better with other models on this list. Yeah, it’s probably not going to be better than other established wired IEMs in the same price bracket. But you can certainly do a lot worse.

The AirPods Pro is tuned to be somewhat reminscient of the Diffuse Field target but with that last-octave sub-bass boost, with a smooth and natural midrange tonality that many IEM companies tend to get wrong. My only real gripe with it is that it probably could use some extra midtreble presence, but overall this is a surprisingly good entry by Apple that shouldn’t be overlooked in the audiophile community simply for being mainstream.

Grade: B-

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Bose SoundSport Free

"The Open"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/earphones/soundsport-free-wireless.html

MSRP: $200

Yeah, I know. Buy Other Sound Equipment, No Highs No Lows etc. etc. and all that. We audiophiles all know that Bose has a reputation of churning out subpar products and masquerading them as “hifi” as part of their marketing. I too, had low expectations going into the SoundSport Free and had no qualms bansishing them into the depths of the lowest ranks if required.

But alas, the SoundSport Free… impressed me. The tonal balance is almost spot on, with minor niggles regarding the upper midrange/treble presentation being a tad too subdued. The bass boost is beautifully done, and the fact that it extends as low as it does despite the open-backed construction is a grand feat by itself.

Yeah, the SoundSport Free kind of cheats in soundstage size by virtue of essentially open, but the benefits in stereoimaging performance is undeniable. It may not be the most detailed, but its combination of great tuning and imaging certainly warrants its high placing on this list.

Grade: B

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Jabra Elite Active 65t

"The Popular"

Frequency response measurement

Product details: https://www.jabra.com/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-65t

MSRP: $190

I’ve never held Jabra to a high regard before. They seemed to cater to an audience that were more interested in making handsfree calls than actually listening to music; or at the very least, they gave off that impression.

The Active 65t is… balanced. Very balanced. There is clearly an emphasised bass response but I’d struggle to call it V-shaped; it doesn’t quite have the upper end sparkle for that classification. There are its faults of course, extensions on both ends are mediocre though nothing that really constitutes as a dealbreaker IMO. But as a whole, as one big coherent package, the Active 65t is a damn fine IEM, even in the realm of wired gear.

In a way, they’re a dark horse in that I expected almost nothing yet got served with a nice, ice-cold bucket of reality. A solid product that should deserve its popularity, if there weren’t a thousand posts a week on r/headphones asking for technical support about it.

Grade: B-

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Lypertek Tevi

"The Acclaimed"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.lypertek.com/tevi

MSRP: $90

I have read many great reviews on the Tevi. I also get asked to review them very often, so this is me finally running out of excuses not to do so.

I must admit, the Tevi didn’t blow me away when I first heard it. My reaction was more “hm, this is pretty alright” as opposed to the “oh my god how does this sound so good” response that you’d probably expect for a TWS set that’s priced as it is and placed at this rank position.

And that’s the thing, as I pondered it over and gave it a little more reflection and analysis, I realised that the Tevi… didn’t do anything particularly excellent, but in the same vein it didn’t do anything wrong either. It was instead rather focused on being a general all-rounder, hence my initial lack of enthusiasm. Sure you could say that the midrange is a little too emphasised, but it’s not like the tonality is out of whack or even just mildly off. Everything was more or less on point, from the control of the bass emphasis to the delicate balance of treble…

Now if you liked the Etymotic house sound, and I’m not saying that you automatically will (it is kind of an acquired taste), the Tevi is probably the closest you can get to a TWS, bass-boosted Etymotic.

The TWS industry is getting scary. Wired world better step up.

Grade: B ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Sony WF-1000XM4

"Second Dog"

Frequency response measurement

Full review here

Product page: https://www.sony.com/lr/electronics/truly-wireless/wf-1000xm4

MSRP: $280

While the average person would be splitting hairs between the sound of the XM3 and the XM4 (assuming they aren’t being biased by “newer = better”), for my money I’d rather spring for the XM3.

This doesn’t mean that the XM3 is a worse TWS overall, oh no. While I hesitate to bring in non-audio qualities into this list, the XM4 is far more ergonomic than the comparatively-bulky XM3 with improvements in QoL features across the board. Most would pick the XM4 over the XM3, and I don’t blame them.

But sound-wise, the warmer tuning is a little jarring in an A/B comparison. It’s not a bad tuning by any means, but the XM4 comes off as almost veiled next to the XM3 by virtue of its downsloping sound signature. But hey, maybe the extra warmth and heft in the notes might just be right up your alley.

Grade: B

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Sony WF-1000XM3

"Top Dog"

FR (NC on)
FR (NC off)

Product details: https://www.sony.com/electronics/truly-wireless/wf-1000xm3/buy/wf1000xm3-s

MSRP: $230

The WF-1000XM3 was mainly tested with noise-cancelling on due to slightly better sound quality.

Technically, I think the Galaxy Buds are just as good as the WF-1000XM3, but for my own money I’d pick the Sonys. A more mainstream sound, better bass response, noise cancelling… sorry, I caught myself straying away from audio for a moment there.

And yet, I don’t have a lot to say about the WF-1000XM3 without getting pretentious and technical with my words. It’s just… good. Or as James Pumphrey would put it, a new level of new good. They called it… great.

You’re pretty much getting “the works” with the WF-100XM3: boosted yet clean bass, correct tonality, treble that sparkles but doesn’t pierce, good definition and actually good imaging (this one is a rarity for me, I don’t mention this often). Similar to the Galaxy Buds, this is a great sounding set of in-ears regardless of technology, wires or not.

Grade: B

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Samsung Galaxy Buds+

"Objectivist's Dream"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/audio/headphones/galaxy-buds-plus-white-sm-r175nzwaxar/

MSRP: $150

Driver configuration: 2DD

The biggest question I think is on everybody’s mind right now is whether or not the Buds+ is a true upgrade to the original. And in my opinion, I think the Buds+ is a case of Samsung giveth and Samsung taketh away, improving on certain aspects but performing questionably on others.

While I wanted with all my heart for the Buds+ to be the undisputed upgrade to the Buds (and by extension, the rest of the TWS market), I found myself nitpicking far too much to consider the Buds+ truly superior. The midrange got even shoutier and intense compared to the original Buds, and the timbre of the treble (i.e. hi-hats and cymbals) sound a tad too odd for me (either being a bandwidth issue or one relating to its frequency response). On top of that, the Buds+ is an IEM I’d consider “fatiguing” and I honestly struggle to listen to them for long listening sessions.

However to end things on a high note, the bass response of the Buds+ is immaculate. Virtually perfect, even in the context of other wired IEMs. The bass is very clearly emphasised with satisfying impact and deep downward extension, yet remaining free from smearing or masking of the midrange frequencies. The bass response is probably the saving grace that prevents me from saying that the Buds+ is worse than the original.

Perhaps you could say that my problems with the Buds+ is less about the Buds+ itself and more about my issues with the Harman IE target. But regardless, it’s still a solid product that can still be considered as one of the best sounding TWS IEMs you can buy today.

Grade: B ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Samsung Galaxy Buds

"The Dark Horse"

Frequency response measurement

Product details: https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/galaxy-buds/

MSRP: $130

I didn’t think too much about these. I got it for free bundled with my S10 and just thought it would make a great sleeping IEM. Hey, it’s probably some cheapo, tinny sounding thing that Samsung slaps with their phones because they can, right?

In retrospect, the Galaxy Buds have every right to be as great as they are. Following Samsung’s acquisition of Harman International (and so AKG too), it would make sense that Samsung would make use of all that acoustic research now at their disposal and boy, it shows. The Galaxy Buds outperform nearly every TWS IEM on this list, and I daresay would give a huge chunk of similarly priced wired IEMs a run for their money as well. Controlled sub-bass boost, decently high resolution, proper tonality; it ticks so many boxes that many would struggle with.

As per usual, even the Galaxy Buds are not without its faults. The Harman Target (which these tries to follow) are characterised by a rather large upper midrange boost which can be, to put it nicely, a little intense. I like to call this signature “weeb” in that it sounds more suited for anime OSTs and their high pitched female vocals, but I digress.

Grade: B ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Samsung Galaxy Buds2

"The Refinement"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile-audio/galaxy-buds2/

MSRP: $150

Driver configuration: Dual dynamic driver

Many would make the argument that Harman is a little too “shouty”. And since Samsung is now going all-in on the Harman train, most of their Galaxy Buds lineup tend to edge towards shoutiness as well.

The Buds2 bucks that trend and sees the usual upper-mid-forward tuning of its predecessors rather drastically pulled back into what I’d consider as extremely natural. No shout, no scream, the melodic frequencies just sound as they should be without being emphasised or recessed. 

The lauded bass of the Buds+ is on full display here as well, and the Buds2 also improves on its predecessor in one crucial aspect: the treble. The treble no longer has the Buds+’s weird “bitcrushed” quality, though it sounds a little too sharp and forward for my tastes. Not quite sibilance territory, but not quite a complete elimination of treble issues either.

That said, the Buds2 still comes off as an overall plus over its predecessor and so slots itself as yet another one of the best TWS earphones you can get today. Samsung hasn’t completely nailed it, but they’re getting close.

Grade: B+ ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

"The Plateau"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/audio/headphones/galaxy-buds-pro-phantom-black-sm-r190nzkaxar/

MSRP: $200

Full review here

Where Samsung stumbled slightly with the Buds Plus, they’ve made up for in the Buds Pro.

Now sporting a warmer intepretation of the Harman Target, the Buds Pro reigns in the shout and harshness of its predecessor, as well as eliminating timbral problems in the treble. The Buds Pro is a slight deviation from the expected direction of Samsung’s tuning, but also ultimately a refinement of their entire lineup till today.

One minor criticism is that the warmer tuning also results in a slightly more bloated bass response, so buyer beware if one is a stickler for bass control and note definition. However at the end of the day, the Buds Pro represents a solid step in the right direction for Samsung, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Grade: B+ ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

AKG N400

"The Sweet Spot"

Frequency response measurement

Product page: https://www.samsung.com/sec/harman-audio/akg-earphone-n400/
(Available on Amazon)

MSRP: 185,000 KRW (~$155)

Full review here

AKG swoops in and shows their new parents how it’s done.

Where the Galaxy Buds+ was a “one step forward, one step back” situation, the N400 is the whole improvement to the original Buds. The bass response is boosted while maintaining clarity (just like the Buds+) without compromising on tone or treble response; in fact, the treble response is improved as well! And, as of the time of writing, the N400 is the IEM that is the closest to the Harman IE target (2019), surpassing that of the original Samsung Galaxy Buds and the Buds+.

Every other improvement would be in the non-audio qualities so I won’t bring them in here. But as of this moment, purely sound-wise, AKG finally flexes its audiophile pedigree and shows Samsung (and the rest of the TWS market) the new bar to beat.

Grade: B+ ★★

All awarded grades are in reference to the IEM ranking list.
For more information on the grading system, 
click here

Changelog

12/09/21: Added the following:

16/01/21: Added Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

26/06/20: Added AKG N400

10/04/20: Added KZ S2

19/02/20: Added Samsung Galaxy Buds+

17/02/20: Added the following

  • BGVP Q2
  • Kinera YH263

09/02/20: Added the following

  • 1More Stylish
  • Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro
  • Audio Technica ATH-CKS7TW
  • Edifier TWS1
  • Edifier TWS5
  • Jabra Elite 75t
  • Lypertek Tevi

13/12/19: Added the following

  • Advanced Model X
  • Hifiman TWS600
  • Jaybird Vista
  • KZ E10
  • QCY T5

05/12/19: Added Noble Falcon

01/12/19: Added the following

  • Apple AirPods Pro
  • Audio Technica ATH-CK3TW
  • Audio Technica ATH-CKS5TW
  • Bose SoundSport Free
  • Fostex TM2
  • Nuarl NT01
  • Nuarl NT100

14/07/19: Guide created with the following IEMs

  • Audio Technica ATH-SPORT7TW
  • AVIOT TE-D01b/d
  • B&O  Beoplay E8
  • Jabra Elite Active 65t
  • Master & Dynamic MW07
  • Samsung Galaxy Buds
  • Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless
  • Sony WF-1000XM3