These cheaper AirPods Pro 2 competitors have a High-Res Audio advantage
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Massachusetts-based company Atlantic Technology has been making loudspeakers for decades, but only recently entered the headphone arena. The new TWS1 wireless active noise canceling earbuds are the fifth pair of headphones to hit the market, and it looks like the company is making up for lost time by packing their new earbuds with much of the latest and greatest tech available in the category.
At $189 / £155 / AU$275 the TWS1 is competitively priced with the best wireless earbuds. And like other top wireless options, they offer active noise cancellation, along with a transparency mode that lets sound through for situations when you want to hear what’s going on around you without taking them out of your ears. Both the TWS1’s noise reduction and transparency modes are customizable, and there are also preset modes such as Talk, Workout, and Transparency Boost.
Like other top wireless earbuds, the TWS1 uses Bluetooth 5.2, a version that supports separate synchronized streams from a device to the individual earbuds for a more reliable wireless connection. And it has aptX Adaptive, a wireless system that can transmit audio up to 24-bit/96kHz High-Res quality and features dynamic low latency for gaming. The TWS1 also supports Bluetooth multipoint pairing, allowing the earbuds to pair up to two separate Bluetooth sources.
Atlantic Technology’s TWS app, which is used for setup and customization, offers an AI Tune feature. According to the company, this uses an AI algorithm to test the user’s hearing and create a custom profile with optimal sound. In addition, listeners can create and save two sound profiles using the app’s 7-band equalizer.
As for the design, the black with rose gold accent TWS1 uses 7mm titanium-coated drivers, has an IPX67 dust/water resistance rating and comes with seven comfort tips and four ear fins to create a secure fit for everyday use and to to exercise. Siri and Google voice assistants are supported, and a sidetone activation feature provides spoken feedback to help you avoid talking too loudly during phone calls in public areas. (Because, let’s face it, no one wants to be that guy.)
Analysis: There will be competition for the AirPods Pro 2
Apples AirPod Pro 2 earns its high ranking in our best wireless earbuds guide, alongside top contender, The WF-1000XM4 from Sony. Both models offer great sound and an impressive range of features, including high-quality noise reduction. But at $249 and $228 respectively, the best earbuds from Apple and Sony are expensive, though both have come down in price quite a bit since they were first released.
Looking at the specs and features of both the Atlantic Technology TWS1 and the AirPods Pro 2, there isn’t much difference between the two. Notably, the TWS1’s use of the aptX Adaptive codec allows it to transmit high-resolution audio, while the AirPods Pro 2 sticks to an older Bluetooth codec that delivers sub-CD quality sound. (Sony’s WF-1000XM4, meanwhile, supports the High-Res compatible LDAC codec.)
Is this a deal-breaker for the AirPods Pro 2? Hardly. Apple’s latest earbuds are the best sounding yet, and their design, features and battery life (6 hours on a single charge with 30 hours out of the case) all add up to making them a premium wireless earbud option. They also provide head-tracked Spatial Audio, which the Atlantic Technology TWS1 does not.
Still, there are new competitors like the aptX Adaptive-supporting TWS1 sport specs that in some ways leave Apple’s earbuds in the dust. For example, Atlantic Technology claims an AirPods Pro 2-beating battery life of 9 hours on a single charge and 35 hours with the case on. While some features of the AirPods Pro 2 are exclusively for iPhone users, the TWS1, along with top wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4, are perfect for use with both iPhones and Android phones.
Apple’s AirPods are an earbud juggernaut, so they’ll remain popular no matter what the competition does. But new products like the Atlantic Technology TWS1 remind us that there are more fish in the earbud sea that might offer better features for a lower price.