SOUL ST-XS2 True Wireless Earbuds REVIEW | Mac Sources

SOUL ST-XS2 True Wireless Earbuds

8.7

Nice companions for an active user.

There are very few times that I am without some form of music. I really enjoy really good quality headphones because they can make it possible for me to isolate myself from the outside world. In my life that can be a necessity in order to get work done. Most of the time, I prefer to use on-ear or over-the-ear headphones, but sometimes, earbuds will do the trick. Naturally, my favorite earbuds is the true wireless option. I’ve recently had the pleasure of being able to test out the ST-XS2 True Wireless Earphones from Soul and I’m excited to share my experience with you.

DETAILS

The ST-XS2 True Wireless Earphones are high -performance earbuds designed for the active individual. The headphones are equipped with IPX7 weatherproof protection and an ergonomic C-shaped ear hook to hold it carefully in place no matter what activity you are participating in. The earbuds are available in four different colors — matte black, navy blue, pure white, or sakura pink. The earbuds are engineered with Bluetooth 5.0 technology and the AAC codec. The ST-XS2s feature Transparent Audio Mode which, “enables you to move to your favorite beats while still staying alert to your surroundings.” The earbuds come equipped with ear hooks and tips that are interchangeable. The c-shaped ear hooks are designed by Freebit and the headphones come with a portable charging box. The box will recharge using a USB-C cable and with a fully charged case, you can get up to 25 hours of playtime with the earbuds.

SPECS

• Weight: 5g
• Dimensions: 21W x 15H x 17D (mm)
• Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.0
• Speaker Diameter: 6mm
• Operating keys: Answer/End phone call, Play/Pause
• Bluetooth Profiles: HFP, A2DP, AVRCP, HSP
• Battery Life (Talk or Music time): Up to 5 hrs X 5(Up to 25 hours On-The-Go. Varies by volume level and content)
• Sensitivity: 91dB
• Frequency Response: 20–20KHz
• Bluetooth Range: 33ft
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Impedance: 16Ω

IMPRESSIONS

My first impressions of the earbuds were good overall. I love their small form and the fact that they have an ear hook option. Earbuds in this style like to work their way out of my ears the longer I wear them so it’s nice to have that added piece to help keep them in place. And, even though it’s pretty standard practice to include a charging case with True Wireless earbuds these days, I like the sleek, slim design of this one. I did have a little trouble getting the lid to open up, but it was a minor inconvenience.

Pairing the earbuds the first time was simple. I took them out of their case and they entered pairing mode. I tapped the option for “Soul ST-XS2” in my iPhone’s Bluetooth menu and started listening to music and watching videos. A couple of days later, I went to take the earbuds out of their case and they didn’t pair automatically. Instead, the right earbud went into pairing mode on its own. I connected it and then the left earbud paired on its own. The two didn’t pair together until I deleted the device from my Bluetooth menu and repaired them together. Again, it wasn’t a painful process, but I was surprised that I had to go through that series of events when the earbuds are supposed to remain paired to your device automatically.

As far as sound quality goes, I’ve been very impressed with the earbuds. There are many True Wireless earbuds that don’t fit my ears well, but the ST-XS2s fit snugly into my ear canal the way that earbuds should. Even though they aren’t ‘noise-canceling’ headphones, the fit helps to eliminate outside noise. This is a big reason why Soul includes the Transparent Audio Mode. When I was working in my office and wearing the earbuds, I found that it was really hard to hear any ambient noise. While most of the time that’s great, it became a problem when I couldn’t hear my office phone ringing. It’s really kind of like enhanced super hearing because small sounds like the clicks from my mouse or mechanical keyboard were very loud. Music and video audio quality don’t seem to suffer while you are using Transparent Audio it just basically amplifies sounds in your environment and allows you to hear through the barriers that the earbuds create.

The only thing I wasn’t a huge fan of with these earbuds is the ‘vacuum’ feeling that they caused for me. The button controls on the earpieces are very easy to press, but since they end up press the earbud further into my ear when I press them, it caused some discomfort for me. I also found that after about 90 minutes of wearing the earbuds, my ears were aching.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall I was impressed with the ST-XS2 earbuds from Soul. I thought the sound quality was WAY above average and the Transparent Audio Mode makes it easy to wear the earbuds in any environment. I do wish it had touch controls on the earpieces rather than clickable buttons. Aside from that, the earbuds basically disappear into your ears when you wear them and they don’t stick out awkwardly. I found them to be comfortable for don’t, but that’s typically how I feel wearing earbuds — they aren’t for long-term listening for me. I can recommend these for their intended use — audio listening while being active.

For more information, visit soulelectronics.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Originally published at https://macsources.com on June 20, 2019.