MobileTechTalk We’re looked at a number of SoundPEATS products in the past and we’re been largely impressed each time. This time around, the SoundPEATS Q30 is a departure from the Q29’s truly wireless solution, and instead brings IPX 6 rating, 7 hours of playback time and the aptX codec. Let’s take a closer look.
Let’s start by checking out some of the specs as well as the package contents.
- 1 x Q30 Sports Magnetic Bluetooth Headset Wireless Earphone
- 1 x Line Clamp
- 1 x USB Charging Cable
- 5 x Pairs of Ear Tips (XS/S/M/L/XL)
- 3 x Pairs of Ear Fins(S/M/L/)
- 3 x Slide Line Buckle
- 1 x Leather Bag
- 1 x User manual
Straight off the bat, the number of replacement tips and fins you get here almost guarantees you can find a combination to provide a perfectly tight and comfortable fit. When you’re as picky as me when it comes to IEM comfort, this is a welcome sight. There’s also a nice little carry bag included as well which is neat.
Specification wise we’re dealing with a Qualcomm CSR8645 Bluetooth chipset (I know, that means nothing) along with 6mm drivers. This chipset can handle a number of Bluetooth profiles and delivers aptX and cVc audio technology for better clarity over the Bluetooth 4.1 connection to your smart device. This can result in a big difference in terms of the connection at maximum range due to how the data is sent across to the headphones, and in this unit it certainly does help. I’ve reviewed countless IEMs and most of the Bluetooth ones have had issues at max range and truth be told I haven’t had more than a couple of stutters out of these.
The design here is not likely to offend anyone with a metallic IEM chassis, with silicone fins and tips along with a plastic control pod sitting on the right side of the band. Every finish is black on these units aside from the magnetic ends which show a small gold coloured SoundPEATS log on the ear piece. No, they aren’t the most gorgeous looking headphones, but they can most certainly be utilised in almost any situation without anybody double-taking at the garish design.
Let’s get onto that audio experience then. It’s surprisingly good for the 6mm drivers included. Let’s start with the bits I’m less enthusiastic about. First up it’s the bass profile here. It’s there but it’s quite muddy and lacks clarity in all but a few track scenarios. Rock tracks deliver decent thudding drum beats but they slowly bleed into the mids which doesn’t often cause a lack of enjoyment of the track, but can take some getting used to. In Hip-Hop tracks this is a little more evident however.
Secondly, to my ears, I needed to use an EQ (built in to my OnePlus 5 thankfully) to beef up the bass as well which surprised me. There are so many IEMs on the market that aim at the demographic that prefers bass-heavy tones, but here it’s quite flat. That is easily fixed however and having a relatively flat soundstage to begin with does allow for more versatility in tweaking to ones’ taste.
All other aspects of the audio here are quality though. Quality, for the price. £20 buys you quite a bit nowadays and this is evident in the SoundPEATS Q30 unit. Mids, when not affected by bass bleed are clear and crisp. Pianos and deep synths are present and filter in and out of the foreground depending on the genre. Highs on symbols and snares are also crisp. It’s really remarkable what you can get from such tiny drivers in 2017.
You also get some IP rating here to ensure that you gym goers don’t suffer. IPX 6 rating should not only protect these units from sweat whilst you’re working out but if you were to introduce some water jets they should survive also. They won’t necessarily do so if you submerge them so stay clear from open water!
Battery life wise we managed just shy of the stated 7 hours of playback time coming in at an average of 6 hours 50 minutes, however this was with some standby time too and variable volumes. The claims of 8 hours of playback on the SoundPEATS Q30 when at 60% volume can’t be far off the mark as far as I’m concerned and I’m happy to give them two thumbs up on the battery life.
I can’t fault these SoundPEATS Q30 IEMs. I had slight issues with the Q29’s in terms of the audio quality, but these are slightly better here. For the price of £20 (or less with Amazon Prime), I can’t do much but recommend trying these. If you didn’t like them for any reason you can re-gift at this price!
A bit of constructive criticism that hopefully SoundPEATS will address with the Q30’s or whatever they end up calling them; first either include a secondary counter-weight on the left to ensure there is absolutely no dragging on one ear over the other, and secondly tweak the soundstage slightly to deliver a bigger gap between mids and lows.
That’s about the size of it really. It’s a no-brainer if you’re after a cheap pair of IEMs for the gym! They’re excellent really for the price.
SoundPEATS Q30
£19.98
Pros
- Excellent price
- Good range of accessories
- Good sound
- Minimalist design
Cons
- The Control pod still weighs down one side
- Could have more clarity on low end
