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Tom's Guide
26-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I usually give budget earbuds a tough time, but not this $29 pair — here's why I won't stop until everyone owns them
I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to audio products. I find that if my earbuds/headphones/speaker/soundbar falls short of expectations, I can't ignore it. When I'm listening to music I want to be immersed in that music. That's why I'm on a mission to find the best wireless earbuds — although so far, there's a clear winner, and it's the $249 Apple AirPods Pro 2. But still, I'm yearning for the best budget earbuds. Why must all semi-decent earbuds be so pricey, I thought, while testing pair after pair of cheap buds, slowly losing hope. I was beginning to think that good inexpensive earbuds were a myth. But then, I tested the JLab Go Pods ANC. Without a shadow of a doubt, these are the #1 top budget earbuds money can buy right now. That's the whole article — you don't need to read any further. If you want the best cheap earbuds, it's the JLab Go Pods ANC or bust. If you want a little more information, though, please do keep reading. The JLab Go Pods ANC are some of the cheapest earbuds I've ever seen... and they're on sale for $29 right now. These earbuds can do it all: surprisingly excellent sound quality, an impressive IP66 durability rating, 26 hours battery life, and 3 ANC modes. These are truly the best cheap earbuds money can buy. As a professional audio reviewer, I've tested my fair share of earbuds now. I've tested $30 pairs, $50 pairs, $80 pairs, $100 pairs, $150 pairs... you get the picture. I've tested a lot of earbuds. And the truth? More often than not, the sound quality is disappointing. Some of the best sounding earbuds I've tested are the $129 Skullcandy x Bose Method 360 ANC and the $70 EarFun Air 2 NC. But these are rare diamonds in the rough, and trust me when I say there's a lot of rough. I've been impressed by JLab gear in the past (the JLab JBuds Lux ANC are, to date, the only budget over-ear headphones I've ever recommended), but the JLab Go Pods ANC seemed too good to be true. Why? Because they're literally $36. So it's fair to say that I didn't have high hopes — but boy, was I wrong. The JLab Go Pods ANC sound awesome. Thanks to the fully-configurable 10-band EQ in the JLab app (which I'll discuss in full later), the sound style can be adjusted to suit your tastes. Listen to bass-heavy electronic? Up the bass. Want to get the most out of your singer-songwriter's voice? Up the treble. I found an EQ that suited most genres of music and I stuck to that. I enjoyed a balanced yet complete soundscape, with loud and infectious bass and strong, clear treble without a smidge of tinniness. Truly, for $36, the sound quality is unmatched. No other cheap earbuds come close to the JLab Go Pods ANC — not even other JLab earbuds. These earbuds literally have me tearing my hair out and screaming, "Why? How?" How are they so cheap? Why do they sound so good for $36? I don't get it. These earbuds are truly a miracle. But you best believe it. Most budget earbuds I test have a companion app, but sometimes it either doesn't work (Mixx StreamBuds Ultra Mini, $69) or is only available on one pair of earbuds (Belkin). The JLab app has a huge range of functions: the aforementioned 10-band EQ customization; a range of ambient soundscapes like bird noises and waves; volume limiter to protect your hearing; touch control customization; interval timer for HIIT workouts; activate music or movie mode. As you can see from the image above, the JLab app is absolutely stuffed full of features. I had a blast customizing my EQ one band at a time, finding the optimal setting, cycling through the ambient noise soundscapes, and playing with the touch controls to find my ideal setup. I absolutely adore this app, and made my experience with the JLab Go Pods ANC even more enjoyable. Here, I will give an honorable mention to the EarFun app, which I think it just as great as the JLab app. EarFun also makes affordable earbuds, but none are quite as affordable as the $36 Go Pods ANC. I can't really do much else now but let the numbers speak for me. These earbuds are the same price as an entree at a nice restaurant, a week's worth of gas, just a couple days of groceries. It's very rare to get earbuds of this quality at this price. I'd expect the JLab Go Pods ANC to cost at least $70 — and that's still cheap. Some of our highest-rated budget earbuds so far are as follows: EarFun Air 2 ($49), EarFun Air 2 NC ($69), EarFun Air Pro 4 ($99), Soundpeats Air5 Pro ($79), and the Soundcore Liberty 5 ($129). But what do all of these earbuds have in common? They're not as cheap as the JLab Go Pods ANC. Some of them are three times the price, actually. Seeing as the JLab Go Pods ANC have an IP rating of IP66, they have a companion app, a 2 year warranty, excellent sound quality for the price, 3 ANC modes, 26 hour battery life (better than AirPods Pro 2), and the case isn't flimsy... I'm just lost for words. And I write for a living. As I said above, I just don't get how these earbuds are so cheap. I can't wrap my head around it. It's unfathomable, unbelievable, inconceivable... And yet, the earbuds exist. They are sitting on my desk next to me as I write this. At just $36, these are — realistically — a pair of earbuds that everyone could have as a backup pair. Obviously they're good enough to be your only pair, but in a pinch, the JLab Go Pods ANC won't let you down. They didn't let me down. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
18-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested the new Final ASMR earbuds — and now I want Kathryn Hahn to read me a bedtime story through these every night
I test some of the best wireless earbuds and I've never come across a pair specifically designed for ASMR and audiobooks — until now. I've spent a week testing the Final ZE500 for ASMR and I have to say, these earbuds will turn the staunchest of ASMR haters into believers. They just sound too darn good! The ZE500s have been finetuned to create immersive, three-dimensional soundscapes that make you feel like someone is whispering right in your ear. Instrument separation is fantastic and vocals are crystal clear. These earbuds also boast great bass response and a pressure-relieving design for continuous listening. While not without their flaws — as battery life is poor and there's no customizable EQ — these buds are competitively priced and it's very difficult to deny their charm. Should you buy these earbuds? Yes, no doubt about it. Why? Read my full Final ZE500 for ASMR review to find out. Specs Final ZE500 for ASMR Price $74 / £69 Colors Dark gray, Cream Frequency response 5Hz-20KHz Battery life (rated) 4.5 hours, 18 hours (charging case) Multipoint connectivity No Paired devices max 1 Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and AAC Weight 0.1oz (each earbud) Durability IPX4 The Final ZE500 for ASMR are the latest addition to Final's lineup of true wireless earbuds. Unlike their stablemates, such as the Final ZE8000 MK 2 ($349), they are the cheapest buds in the ZE series, retailing for just $74 / £69 at Amazon. While they're cheap, they still offer a premium listening experience. They're available in either Dark Gray or Cream colorways. Given their competitive price point, the ZE500s find themselves competing with the likes of the EarFun Air 2 NC ($69) and the Soundpeats Air5 Pro ($79). However, the ZE500s have a very specific use case: they're designed for ASMR, binaural sounds and audiobooks. Good news is that they are also good for everything else, making them fantastic value for money. I test a lot of earbuds here at Tom's Guide and it's not often that I put them in my ears, straight out of the box, and am blown away — but the Final ZE500 for ASMR did just that. They are ridiculously comfortable, featuring a pressure-relieving design. They're very small and each earbud weighs just 0.1oz, so I barely felt them in my ears. For context, they're lighter than the EarFun Air 2 NC (1.69oz) and the Soundpeats Air5 Pro (1.76oz). But despite their light weight (and compact size), they fit extremely snugly and not once did they fall out of my ears — while briskly walking, turning over in bed, et al. I stuck with the default tip sizes but in case you want different ones, there are two extra pairs in the box. I wore the earbuds for four straight hours before they had to go back into the charging case and I never felt any discomfort. I would say the ZE500s are as comfortable as the pricier Sony WF-C710Ns ($119) if not more. The ZE500s look great too, and they definitely look and feel like they're premium earbuds rather than budget ones. This extends to the case too which is, again, tiny and looks great. It doesn't have the same plasticky feel to it as the WF-C710N's case or the Bose QuietComfort's ($179). Similar to the Sony and Bose earbuds, the ZE500s are IPX4-rated, making them resistant to water at a splash level, so I wouldn't recommend diving into a pool. You can wear them for workouts though, as they're sweatproof. The Final ZE500 for ASMR buds utilize Bluetooth 5.4 with support for AAC and SBC codecs. Unfortunately, there's no LDAC or aptX lossless support, but considering these earbuds are primarily designed for listening to ASMR and audiobooks, I don't believe this is a major flaw. If you do want support for hi-res codecs, though, I'd recommend the Soundpeats Air5 Pro, or spending a little extra on the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($99). Unlike the EarFun Air 2 NCs, the ZE500s don't feature multipoint connectivity to connect to multiple devices at once. But you do get wear detection so if the earbuds fall out of your ears (which, again, never happened in my testing) or you need to speak to someone by removing one, playback will automatically pause and resume. Similar to most other wireless earbuds, the Final ZE500 for ASMR earbuds don't house any physical buttons — all commands are executed via touch controls. By using a combination of touching and tapping, you can change the volume, answer and hang up on calls, and play and pause playback. Even though the earbuds are tiny, I found the touch controls easy to use and each command was promptly registered in my testing. The ZE500s are accompanied by a brand new companion app that shares its name with the earbuds, and it's available to download for free on both iOS and Android. The app is extremely easy to use and sports a user-friendly interface. It enables you to toggle the ASMR Mode on and off. Toggling this disables tap controls, voice guidance and notifications for a disturbance-free ASMR listening experience. I also noticed that it enhances vocals and refines finer sounds, and it works well. There's also a Volume Step Optimizer which gives you more precise control over the earbuds' volume. You can choose Low, Medium or High in the Step Optimizer and it refines the volume. To me, it feels more like a gimmick than anything else, and I would have much preferred a customizable EQ in its place. Also, if you grab the Patra Edition for $169 in the U.S., you'll need to download the Final Connect app onto your smartphone. Full disclosure: I wasn't a fan of ASMR. I didn't understand the hype and it used to trigger my fight or flight syndrome… until I tested the Final ZE500 for ASMR earbuds. And now? Call me a convert. These earbuds have been finetuned for voice-first listening, and they deliver a natural and lifelike sound, so they're great for ASMR, podcasts, spoken word, audiobooks, what-have-you. They have a frequency response range of 5Hz-20KHz so you can hear every soft and loud sound clearly. To test these earbuds, I had to diverge from my usual testing procedure where I listen to songs I'm familiar with (I did that too, don't worry, and I'll discuss sound quality in the following section) and listen to ASMR. What better place to find ASMR than YouTube? The first video I watched — listened to, rather — was an 8-hour long montage of waves, which I tune into when I can't sleep at night. Let me tell you, I have never felt this calm before. The waves traveled from one earbud to another, while each and every movement of the water sounded crystal clear. It actually boosted my productivity because I was in such a tranquil state of mind, all my stress melted away. Speaking of, I love how the ZE500s transfer sound from one earbud to another. Most ASMR content creators use two mics, so when they speak into the left one, you're meant to hear it in your left ear, and vice versa. I used a couple videos to test this: a video of Kathryn Hahn playing with a hard-boiled egg (there's a sentence you don't hear every day) and another of her discussing real estate. In the first one, I could hear every subtle sound of the egg shell being peeled and, as this was happening away from the mic, I could tell so without even watching the video. ASMR tracks are usually layered, and the ZE500s do a great job of adding a distinct separation between primary triggers and ambient background sounds. The video, through these earbuds, sounded almost three-dimensional. Also, in both videos, I could hear the audio in the respective earbud, and each breath, gentle tap and soft brush was reproduced with pin-point clarity, creating a binaural and immersive soundscape. Next up, Goodnight Moon's guided meditation which made me feel like I was attending an actual class. Every word and syllable she uttered sounded clear. The ZE500s also did a good job of ensuring that plosive pops (like the letter 'P') never sounded harsh and alveolar stops (like the letter 'T') didn't sound too sharp. Great success! For those who enjoy the feeling of someone whispering right in their ear or hearing every layer in ASMR media, the ZE500s are the earbuds for them. While the Final ZE500 are primarily designed for ASMR and audiobooks, they are fantastic for music too. Regardless of the song I played, the ZE500s delivered — bass-heavy and vocals-oriented tracks sounded equally as good. I listened to music on Qobuz, one of the best music streaming services, on my Google Pixel 7 Pro. I gave 'Music to Watch Boys To' by Lana Del Rey a spin, and her vocals sounded ethereal. Balanced well against backing vocals and echoes, the ZE500s ensured I could hear every detail. The subtle bassline in the bridge was clear too and added an atmospheric feel to the song. Similarly, the husk in Roger Waters' voice in 'Is This the Life We Really Want' was pleasant and had a lovely warmth to it. I could also very clearly discern the points where he laid the vibrato on thick, adding lots of depth to the song. I then turned to bass-heavy songs. 'Money' by Pink Floyd is my go-to testing song for bass, and the ZE500s didn't disappoint. For such tiny earbuds, they boast fantastic bass response. Though the bass was powerful, it never overpowered the vocals or other instruments. I could also hear the kaching and other sounds of slot machines ringing and coins falling in each ear as they struck, as the band intended, making for a very immersive experience. The ZE500s also did justice to 'Every Other Freckle' by Alt-J. This is a naturally scratchy track with many instruments playing at the same time, and yet, the track didn't overwhelm the earbuds. I could even hear the drumstick tapping against the drum's frame in the third phrase — and it's an easily missable sound. I remember listening to this track through the EarFun Air Pro 3s ($79) and thinking it lacked a full sound and sounded unpleasant, but the ZE500s rectified it. Overall, the ZE500s are amazing earbuds if you want to use them for listening to music alongside using them for ASMR, podcasts and audiobooks. Where the Final ZE500 for ASMR earbuds fall short is in the battery department. On a single charge, they last up 4.5 hours and the charging case provides 13.5 extra hours, so 18 hours in total. This will depend on the volume you're listening at, of course. I tested these claims by using the earbuds continuously to listen to an audiobook at 50% volume, and the ZE500s had to go back into the case after 4 hours. The ZE500s' rivals outclass it when it comes to battery life. The EarFun Air 2 NCs have a 9-hour battery life and 40 hours with the charging case, while the Soundpeats Air5 Pros have a 7.5-hour battery life and 37.5 hours with the case. Since the ZE500s are designed for ASMR and audiobook purposes, their battery life is disappointing because you don't want to run out of charge in the middle of listening to your audiobook's climax. On the plus side, the ZE500s are compatible with the best wireless chargers, just like the Air 2 NCs and the Air5 Pros. If you mostly listen to audiobooks, podcasts and watch ASMR videos, I can't recommend the Final ZE500 for ASMR enough. These earbuds make everything sound fantastic — whether that's a bass-heavy song or a heavily layered ASMR track. Layer separation is great and the earbuds create immersive soundscapes — almost like someone is actually whispering right into your ear. I really appreciate the ZE500s' pressure-relieving design. These earbuds are tiny and extremely light, so they fit snugly in your ears, almost like they're burrowing. They're also competitively priced, taking the fight to Soundpeat and EarFun and, honestly, emerging as the victor. The ZE500s are hard to fault, although I do wish they had better battery life and customizable EQ. But aside from that, for the price, you're getting ridiculously comfortable and great-sounding earbuds. I may have been an ASMR hater before testing the ZE500s, but now? I'm looking forward to using them again.
Tom's Guide
08-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I'm an audio reviewer — these are the best Prime Day earbuds deals as low as $34 from a brand that's totally underrated
We're tracking the best Prime Day deals from today (July 8) all the way until Friday (July 11). If you need a new TV, air fryer, phone, or anything in between, we've got you covered. However, I've got a very particular niche: audio gear. I test everything from soundbars, to speakers, and of course earbuds. EarFun is a unique brand in the audio world: known for budget-friendly gear, the new brand is carving a name for itself with cheap and cheerful products. I've tested enough EarFun stuff now to know what's worth your $$$ and what isn't. Let me tell you know: do not get any of its headphones. Earbuds, though? Ooh, the earbuds are so good. me help you figure out which deals are worth biting into — especially the $34 EarFun Air 2. These deals actually put big-name brands like Bose and Samsung to shame. I awarded the EarFun Air 2 wireless earbuds a nice 4-star rating in my review. The Air 2 earbuds are perfect for people who want decent sound quality for a ridiculously low price. As I said in my review, $49 is less than a week's groceries (where I live, anyway), and you get so much for that. No, these earbuds don't have noise canceling, but I didn't find this a major issue, even when on public transport. I just upped the volume of my music for that immersive experience. Yes, you read that right. Just twenty-eight Great British pounds. I awarded the EarFun Air 2 wireless earbuds a nice 4-star rating in my review. The Air 2 earbuds are perfect for people who want decent sound quality for a ridiculously low price. No, these earbuds don't have noise canceling, but I didn't find this a major issue, even when on public transport. I just upped the volume of my music for that immersive experience. Considering this awesome sale puts the EarFun Air 2 NC earbuds at just $43, I don't know if you can get better value earbuds anywhere else. These buds are basically the same as the Air 2 (above), but they have ANC. In my EarFun Air 2 NC review, I awarded these buds a lovely 4 stars, praising their sound quality for the price. These buds even have LDAC, which is perfect for hi-res listening. The bass is really epic on these buds — I was surprised too. These are the exact same earbuds as above, so all the specs will be the same. These buds are basically the same as the Air 2 (above), but they have ANC. In my EarFun Air 2 NC review, I awarded these buds a lovely 4 stars, praising their sound quality for the price. These buds even have LDAC, which is perfect for hi-res listening. The bass is really epic on these buds — I was surprised too. My colleague Nikita gave the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds an impressive 4-star rating in her review. She tested with Qualcomm aptX (a higher-res Bluetooth codec). She said that the Air Pro 3 buds "provide quite an immersive sound." She also said that the bass performance was really impressive, as the earbuds amplified the bass notes. While these buds don't have wear detection, the newer iteration (Air Pro 4) below do, so keep scrolling if you want to find out about these buds. These are the exact same earbuds as above, so all specs will be the same. My colleague Nikita gave the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds an impressive 4-star rating in her review. She tested with Qualcomm aptX (a higher-res Bluetooth codec). She said that the Air Pro 3 buds "provide quite an immersive sound." She also said that the bass performance was really impressive, as the earbuds amplified the bass notes. While these buds don't have wear detection, the newer iteration (Air Pro 4) below do, so keep scrolling if you want to find out about these buds. These are probably the best EarFun earbuds out there. If you want the best of the best, it's going to be the Air Pro 4. My colleague Nikita swapped her Bose QuietComfort earbuds for the Air Pro 4 — that's how good these budget buds are. In her 4.5-star review of the EarFun Air Pro 4, Nikita wrote, "How do the EarFun Air Pro 4s sound? In one word: magnificent", and she said that the ANC is awesome. And the best part? These buds have wear detection. These are the exact same buds as above, so all the specs will be the same. These are probably the best EarFun earbuds out there. If you want the best of the best, it's going to be the Air Pro 4. My colleague Nikita swapped her Bose QuietComfort earbuds for the Air Pro 4 — that's how good these budget buds are. In her 4.5-star review of the EarFun Air Pro 4, Nikita wrote, "How do the EarFun Air Pro 4s sound? In one word: magnificent", and she said that the ANC is awesome. And the best part? These buds have wear detection. Don't forget to check out our Prime Day live blog for a roundup of all the best deals, and be sure to find out everything you can get for free on Amazon this Prime Day.
Tom's Guide
13-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Belkin SoundForm Play review: Middle-of-the-road budget earbuds
The Belkin SoundForm Play wireless earbuds are part of the brand's extensive budget audio lineup, and they'll please those who don't care much about bass-heavy music. They sport a comfortable design and boast long battery life to keep you listening for up to 38 hours. The earbuds cost £27 in the U.K. and for that price, they offer good value for money — but they cost $59 in the U.S. and I'd expect more for that price. Vocals-heavy and acoustic tracks sound great, but listeners who enjoy bass more than anything else will be left feeling short-changed. It's also worth noting that the earbuds keep playing music even when put back into the case… until you shut the lid. There's also no companion app for fine-tuning the EQ, and the earbuds' touch controls are laggy. Read my full Belkin SoundForm Play review to find out if these are the best cheap wireless earbuds for you. Specs Belkin SoundForm Play Price $59 / £27 Colors Black, blue, pink, white Frequency response 20Hz-20KHz Battery life (rated) 8 hours, 30 hours (charging case) Multipoint connectivity No Paired devices max 1 Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC Weight 0.17oz (each earbud) Durability IPX5 The Belkin SoundForm Play are extremely cheap earbuds, retailing for $59 / £27 at Amazon. In fact, these might be the cheapest earbuds we've reviewed at Tom's Guide (as the U.K. pricing goes at least). You can buy them in one of four colorways: black, blue, pink or white. These are priced similarly to the JLab Buds Mini ($39), the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 ($59) and the EarFun Air 2 NC ($69). I would say all three of these offer better value for money than the SoundForm Plays as their sound profiles are better balanced when compared to Belkin's offering, as proven by our testing. For a pair of budget earbuds, the Belkin SoundForm Plays look good, and they're comfortable too. Each earbud sports an oval design with a combination of matte and glossy finishes. I tested the subtle and minimalist black model. Two extra pairs of eartips are included in the box, and I used the biggest pair — they made the SoundForm Plays fit snugly in my ears. Each bud weighs 0.17oz, making them lighter than many more premium earbuds like the Sony WF-C710N (0.18oz each) and the Bose QuietComfort (0.29oz each). They're so light that there were moments I forgot I even had them in. The SoundForm Plays' case is very plasticky, which is fine as these earbuds don't cost upwards of $100. My issue, though, is that the case's lid keeps closing when it's angled even slightly downwards. There's also another glaring issue here: when the earbuds are popped back into the case, they keep playing unless the case is closed, which we've also noticed with the Belkin SoundForm Rhythm ($34) and Belkin SoundForm Bolt ($39) earbuds. I haven't had this issue with other brands' earbuds. The buds are IPX5-rated, similar to the EarFun Air 2 NC. This means that they are protected against splashes, light rain and sweat. The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 and the JLab JBuds Mini, on the other hand, are IP55-rated which means they're protected from dust too. The Belkin SoundForm Play earbuds utilize Bluetooth 5.2 to connect to a device within a 9.14m / 30ft range. In my testing, the connection remained stable and there were no drops until I was out of that range. The earbuds support the most standard SBC codec only, so you'll need to consider either the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 or the JLab JBuds Mini as alternatives if you want AAC support. The EarFun Air 2 NCs take it one step further with LDAC support too. Also, unlike these three pairs, the SoundForm Plays don't feature multipoint connectivity, so you can only use them with one device at a time. There's also no way to customize the SoundForm Plays' equalizer. There are three presets available — Flat, Bass Boost, Treble Boost — and you can swap between them via touch controls, but there's no companion app for fine-tuning the sound. Belkin does have an app called SoundForm but, at the time of writing, it supports only three specific models: Pulse, Immerse and Flow. Like many other modern wireless earbuds, the Belkin SoundForm Plays feature touch panels on each bud, so you'll need to use a combination of tapping and holding to change settings. Either earbud can be used to change playback settings, while the left bud is responsible for swapping between three EQ presets and the right bud can be used to toggle the voice assistant. You should be able to pair the SoundForm Plays with your Bluetooth-enabled device the first time you take them out of the case. But if you want to re-pair them, you need to hold down both earbuds' touch panels for three seconds to initiate pairing mode. This is all well and good but I found the SoundForm Plays' touch controls finicky at the best of times. There was a short but very noticeable delay between tapping an earbud and the command actually executing. There were a few instances where I thought my touch hadn't registered so I tapped the buds again and that made the earbuds freak out. This isn't something we haven't seen before, though. The EarFun Air 2 NCs suffer from the same problem, so if you're happy to wait a second, this shouldn't be a major problem. For a pair of budget earbuds, the Belkin SoundForm Plays sound… decent. They utilize 6mm dynamic drivers to deliver clear vocals and crisp acoustics, but the earbuds fall short when listening to bass-heavy and electronic tracks, which I'll get into soon. I tested the earbuds by listening to a range of genres — rock, indie, electronic, etc. — on Qobuz, one of the best music streaming services, on my Google Pixel 7 Pro. I'm currently going through a Fleetwood Mac phase so I listened to 'The Chain' and 'Silver Springs' (the 1997 live version, of course) first. I like that I could clearly hear the tambourine in 'The Chain' and the earbuds made the vocals sound clear and crisp across both tracks. The collective vocals in 'Silver Springs' harmonized well, and the earbuds did Stevie Nicks' vocals towards the end justice too. Roger Waters' low voice in 'This the Life We Really Want' sounds fantastic too, with the husk and low growl in his voice sounding very clear. As for high notes, the vocals in Pink Floyd's 'Great Gig in the Sky' never sounded shrill or piercing, making for an enjoyable listening experience. My only gripe with the SoundForm Plays' audio quality is the bass response. I'm not expecting budget earbuds to reproduce powerful basslines that I can feel in my jaw, no, but the bass, in general, sounds muddy and gets lost easily. I immediately noticed this when listening to 'The Pines' by 070 Shake. The song has a consistent bassline through most of the track, but I barely noticed it when listening to the song through the SoundForm Plays. I noticed this in 'Navigating' by Twenty One Pilots too. While the bassline right at the beginning sounds fine with each note distinguishable, it immediately gets overpowered by the other instruments and vocals as soon as everything kicks in. The SoundForm Plays are a decent-sounding pair of earbuds for vocal-heavy or acoustic tracks, but you may want to consider the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 if you want a satisfying, well-rounded sound profile instead. It's like the bass takes a backseat when it is, in fact, each songs' backbone. I selected the Bass Boost preset to see if it made a difference and, to me, it sounded like the music was just playing at a higher volume without affecting the lows much. The earbuds don't handle electronic tracks very well either. In 'Von Dutch' by Charli XCX, her voice is meant to pop and sound powerful during the chorus, but it gets easily overshadowed by the synth and bass kicking in. Overall, the SoundForm Plays are a decent-sounding pair of earbuds for vocal-heavy or acoustic tracks, but you may want to consider the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 if you want a satisfying, well-rounded sound profile instead. The Belkin SoundForm Plays' battery life is really good, outclassing even some of its rivals. Belkin claims that the earbuds can last up to eight hours on a single charge, and the charging case can provide an additional 30 hours of playback time — so 38 hours in total. I used the SoundForm Plays for an 8-hour work day, and the earbuds died right before I left the office, which is great. In comparison, the OnePlus Nord Buds 2 have a maximum playback time of 36 hours and the JLab JBuds Mini offer a comparatively measly 20 hours. The EarFun Air 2 NCs, though, edge out the SoundForm Plays by an extra two hours. All in all, though, the Belkin buds have great battery life given the budget price tag. The Belkin SoundForm Plays are a decent pair of budget wireless earbuds. If you like acoustic music or tracks where vocals are at the forefront, you'll be pleased with their performance. They're very comfortable so you can keep wearing them for hours on end, helped by the long 38-hour battery life. But if, like me, you enjoy bass-heavy tracks, you'll be disappointed with the SoundForm Plays. Basslines sound muddy, and the earbuds don't handle electronics tracks well either as they are easily overwhelmed. There are other minor annoyances, like the earbuds continuing to play in the case unless the lid is closed, which can be frustrating. The buds' touch controls aren't the smoothest either, with some lag between tapping and the command being executed. If you want best-in-class sound on a budget, it might be worth considering the likes of OnePlus Nord Buds 2 or the EarFun Air 2 NC. If you're left stranded without your usual earbuds and need a pair in a pinch but also don't want to spend too much money, then the SoundForm Plays could be worth the (very small) spend.
