SoundPEATS Opera05 Dual BA Single 12mm Dynamic Driver LDAC TWS

Inside the box, one finds the air phones, a charging cable. The packaging is nicely decorand looks premium.

The opera is made exceptionally well, and has a gorgeous gold trim to it. It is comfortable and provides a decent isolation as well as excellent ANC and call quality.

The bass presents with good control, decent depth, and speed.
The mids are clear and have decent body with warmth and richness, they are forward in the upper mids but a little recessionis heard in the lower.
The treble is airy and has nice sparkle. And also maintains a nice control and no harshness.
Soundstage is accurate, has good positioning and separation with a good width and depth.

The Soundpeats Opera 05, is a well made really fun sounding and detailed ANC Wireless earphone with good features. I think it will definitely fit in my favorites.

General Info/Build/Comfort/Packaging
Soundpeats is a reputable company which produces high performance as well as cost effective TWS earbuds. I have no prior experience in Soundpeats product and Opera 05 is my first encounter with it, I am actually liking it except for one small caveat. The fitting, which we will get to later on.

Build quality is very solid, the TWS itself carries some weight to it, overall it has a very solid feel to it. The faceplate of the TWS is also a mirror finish, which will attract fingerprints easily.

Packaging itself is rather straightforward, and comes with 3 pairs of eartips, a charging cable, the charging case and the TWS itself. Minimal and straightforward.

As for comfort, this is where I'm having some challenges. The TWS itself is rather big, the nozzle of the TWS is also short and the bundled eartips doesn’t exactly help to give a good seal and fit (Based on my ear’s shape and my own experience, your mileage might vary), i have to resort to 3rd party eartips (Spinfit CP360) in order to give me a secure fit and good seal to achieve good noise cancellation performance.



Specifications


Battery Life

• Overall battery life is good for me, using it with Macbook and iPhone yielded approximately 6 hours + of continuous usage with ANC and on AAC codec
• It is quite in line with the battery life claimed by Soundpeats

Connectivity/Codecs

• AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs are supported, i am mainly using AAC because iPhone doesn’t support LDAC
• iPhone 12 Mini uses Bluetooth version 5.0 while Opera 05 supports up to 5.3 which is the latest version, however, despite connected to a Bluetooth 5.0 device, the connection remained solid without any dropouts
• However, i do notice a slight interference or stuttering when i’m out in the public, not sure if this is something to do with my device itself or it is due to the RF interference, but after disconnecting and reconnecting it, the issue seems to go away

App Functionality

• Opera 05 is compatible with Soundpeats app
• The app offers the functionality to change the EQ, either preset EQs or your own customisation
• You are also able to cycle through ANC, Normal, or Transparency mode (Audio passthrough mode/Ambient sound mode)
• Firmware upgrade of the Opera 05 is also possible via the app itself
• The app also offers the overview of battery life on both the L and R earbuds

Sound Impression (Based on default EQ preset Soundpeats Classic)
Opera 05’s sound tuning is tilting towards V-Shaped to my ears. Bass and the treble is boosted whereas the mids are a little recessed. In terms of timbre, they are not as natural due to the presence of BA timbre.

Bass

• Bass is certainly being emphasised here, sub bass rumbles whenever the track calls for it
• Mid bass has good punch to it, it is very pleasant and fun to listen to overall
• Bass has good texture and in terms of speed, it is doing quite well as it handled Slipknot’s People = crap! effortlessly without sounding muddy

Mids

• Mids are not as forward as the bass, it does sound a little recessed but not to the point where it is bad
• Male vocal sounded slightly recessed whereas female vocal sounds a little forward
• Male vocal has good texture whereas female vocal does sound a little thin sometimes

Treble

• The treble here is energetic and lively, take note that when you crank the volume too high, it might be a little fatiguing for those who are sensitive to treble
• Certain song can sound sibilant while some are very fun to listen with it due to its liveliness
• Some 3rd party eartips can help to tame the treble if you are very sensitive to it, E-Pro Horn TWS, Final Type E TWS are well known for their ability to tame the treble or rather smoothen it if you are someone who are sensitive to it or prefers a slightly warmer signature

Soundstage/Imaging

• Soundstage is good, good depth, height, and width to give a big perception of the soundstage
• Imaging is average in my opinion, it does well on normal track but during complex track where many instruments are playing at the same time, Opera 05 does struggle to image properly at times, with all that aside, considering the price point, it is actually pretty good

Noise Cancellation Performance

• ANC performance is very good
• Most lower frequency are being cancelled except for some high frequency which Opera 05 struggles at
• Considering the price point and the ANC performance that Opera 05 offers, also having an AirPod Pro for noise cancellation performance comparison, it’s safe to say that Opera 05 does offers at least 80% of AirPod Pro’s noise cancellation performance at a fraction of the price

Final Thoughts
Opera 5 is a very solid TWS overall. If I were to score it from an audiophile’s perspective, it would be a 3.5 out of 5. If I were to rate it based on the general consumer’s perspective, it will be an easy 4.5 out of 5. The reason why is that the sound of Opera 05 is tilting towards the preference of general consumer, an as a general consumer, the sound coming from Opera 05 is very easily likeable, whereas for audiophile, the demand and preference is slightly different in terms of sound preference, critical listening capability and technical performance (in terms of audio’s technical performance). Nonetheless, I find myself enjoying Opera 05 when I'm out and about. Let's be real, who listens critically when they’re out and about? The only caveat that i have with the Opera 05 is the fitting issue, the earbud itself is quite big, which i understand due to Soundpeats needing to fit in the drivers, as well as the battery and also the PCB boards, so the size is understandable.

*Big thanks to Ellen from Soundpeats for sending the Opera 05 over for the purpose of this review, All thoughts are of my own.

Opera 05 will be launched via Kickstarter’s Platform, at the time of writing, the super early backer’s package is still available at 69$ which is a steal in my opinion, The SRP could be 99$, i am not exactly sure, but i will update the price once i have the correct SRP from the rep

Head over to the page if you are interested in getting yourself a unit
Opera 05’s Kickstarter’s page - Non affiliated

How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
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Model: SoundPEATS Opera05
Price: Kickstarter - $79 (likely to be $99 on Amazon)
Website: SoundPEATS
Review Reference: RC089

Manufacturer Specification:

• Brand: SoundPEATS
• Model: Opera05
• Driver: 12mm Dynamic Driver, Dual Balanced Armature Drivers
• Chipset: WUQI WQ7033AR
• Mic: 4 mics with ENC
• ANC: Yes, up to 30dB
• Codecs: LDAC, AAC, SBC
• App Support: Yes
• Volume Control: Yes
• Gaming Mode: No
• Earbud Weight: 7.2g
• Earbud Dimensions: 23.5mm height, depth approx. 28.5mm
• Gross Case & Buds Weight: 58.9g
• Case Dimensions: 69.2mm (width) x 45mm (height) x 31mm (depth)
• Case Charge Capacity: 300mAh
• Quick Charge: No
• Wireless Charging: No
• Single Use Playtime: Up to 8 hours (ANC off, SBC), Up to 5 hours (ANC on, LDAC)
• Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 33 hours
• Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.3
• Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HFP 1.7/ A2DP 1.3/ AVRCP 1.5
• Water Resistance: IPX4

Includes:

1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
1 x User Manual: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
3 x Pairs Eartips

YouTube Review:



Introduction

Welcome to the @regancipher review of SoundPEATS' imminent release, that is currently only available via Kickstarter (but will launch soon on Amazon and other good retailers) and is essentially their 'flagship' release for 2023.

SoundPEATS have been relentless with their releases recently, most of which I've reviewed and you can find my thoughts on each of those models in the list at the bottom of the review. However, despite polishing and refining their sound signature and adding LDAC support across their portfolio, they've not added a hybrid driver release since the H1 & H2 - both of which were released back in 2021, and with the likes of Huawei, Oppo, Edifier, Soundcore and even Tronsmart all getting there first in 2022, a bud of this ilk had been long overdue.

The Opera03 and Opera05 are SoundPEATS' answer to that conundrum - the former offering dual-drivers, and the latter, which we will look at today, triple-drivers - two balanced armatures and one 12mm dynamic moving coil, as well as support for the high resolution LDAC codec. Based on the design of the Mini Pro, I knew we were in for a bulky design that may not jive well with my ears - read on to see whether my suspicions were correct, and for a thorough analysis of the SoundPEATS Opera05.

Unboxing - 7/10

Unboxing SoundPEATS' releases is pretty consistent - like with most of SoundPEATS recent releases, they've opted for the 'environmentally-friendly' approach, minimising the use of unnecessary plastics in the packaging with a predominantly cardboard-centric enclosure, including the tips and manual, which are held in custom holders.



The instruction manual is, as always, in seven different languages (mostly European), and there's also a card indicating how to update the firmware. This is worth having to hand - mine shipped with v0.88 and immediately triggered an update to v1.0, and whilst you are prompted in the app, it may be that you navigate away from the prompt - like with many apps the firmware update section isn't immediately obvious.

The tips look to be the same as those included with the Capsule3 Pro - grey in colour, with an orange ring on the inside. They're ok - nothing special, like most budget TWS, and you've only got small, medium and large options.

Case - 7.5/10

The charge case of the Opera05 is unmistakably SoundPEATS, combining the pill-shape design that we've seen on a variety of models from the Mini onwards, with the a gold accent applied to the edge of the hinge that works well, complementing the design a little more than the usual recessed grey strip, although it does make the lid slightly harder to flip open with one hand. The slogan 'hear your imagination' is screen printed very subtly on the rail that runs around the lid, and this is repeated on the buds themselves too.



Once the case is open you're greeted with a familiar-looking cockpit. The buds slot in the top in the same way they do on the Mini Pro HS, although because of the size and weight of the buds they are slightly more difficult to prize away from the magnets holding them in place, especially if you have the case resting down on the desk in front of you, which you may need to do as the case does conveniently support hall switch mode. The hinge has a hold point at 45 degrees, but it lacks the gradual friction hinge of the Mini Pro HS case, which was a really nice feature. Even so, it isn't likely to snap shut on you. The hinge also has a bit more play, and doesn't quite feel as premium.

You're also greeted by an LED on the front, which utilises the usual green-amber-red traffic-light-style schema to denote remaining charge in the case. When the case is in normal use, the LED will show green for 50-100% (basically 1.5 additional charges), amber for 10-49% and red for below 10%. It's slightly different when you're charging the case - green stays solid at fully charged, pulses at 70-99%, it's amber for 20-69% and red for below 20%. Whilst this is slightly confusing, the figures are only approximate anyway and my rule of thumb of 'if you're green - you're good for the day' hasn't let me down so far.



The rear is nicely finished, with the gold rail meeting a rectangle with the SoundPEATS logo, although to my eyes that looks a slightly different shade of gold (more rose-gold, although not quite the brassy colour of the Opera03. The usb charging socket is augmented by a metallic gold border, giving it a little more rigidity. There is no wireless charging on this model, and the case battery is 300mAh - not the greatest, but it does offer an additional three charges.

There is a reset button on the left outer edge of the case that is a little difficult to see, but it will put the buds back into pairing mode, and you can see this from the case LED pulsing white.



The case construction is a hard-shell plastic that feels more aluminium alloy, and is robust enough to withstand kicking around in your pocket or handbag. This hefty design contributes to the weight of almost 60g - nearly double some of SoundPEATS previous releases! Whilst it will fit in your trouser pocket, it is probably a little too beefy for most.

Whilst it isn't the most portable case, and the absence of quick charge is a shame, it is a hard-wearing and functional case that does the basics OK.

Design & Ergonomics - 6/10



The Opera05 (and Opera03) are 'button-shaped' double-flange earbuds that, like the Edifier W240TN and Mini Pro HS, struggle to find room for everything they need to fit into their frame. However, the Opera05 is comfortably the largest TWS I've tested so far, without the thinner nozzle you see on some models, and this contributes to a rather awkward fit that those with small ears simply won't be able to use.

The build quality of the buds is very good though, with lots of attention to detail in the elements that comprise the design.



The outer edge is nicely finished in gold, with a bevelled edge allowing easier retractment from the case. The touch control area is large and very responsive, and the opening for the mic is nicely protected with a metallic-looking mesh finish, matching that which covers the driver and nozzle.



Along the top the gold border continues, and the slogan we saw on the case reappears here. I've seen some reviewers claim it looks a bit tacky but in reality you need macro eyes to see it - it's tiny and out of the way. The opening for the ambient mic is also very nicely finished, again with a gold rim. On the bottom, there is a strip battery connector as opposed to the unreliable pogo pins, which is a nice touch.



The bulkiness of the design can be seen in more detail when lined up alongside some of their peers. With a depth of 28.5mm, they measure a whole 0.5cm thicker than the Mini Pro HS. They are also thicker than the shell used in the Fiio FW5, Tronsmart Apollo Bold, Cleer Ally Plus, etc., and also have a larger, oval nozzle and steeper gradient.

When compared with their H1, it is a very different design - the H1 was more angled and directed towards the ear canal. Whilst this also wasn't perfect for everyone (it could feel obtrusive), it did contribute to a more stable fit, and Soundcore demonstrated similar thinking with the thin, angled nozzle and presence of a wing tip on their larger-designed TWS, the Liberty 3 Pro.



That improved build quality, larger battery and three driver array makes for a hefty 7.22g - the beefiest TWS I've tested after the 4BA KZ SA08 - and unfortunately that wasn't the most stable earbud either.



As a result, combined with my narrow ear canals, even with the largest (or smallest) ear tips to try and give the fit more support, the buds lean precariously out of my ears looking like they are ready to topple out at any moment - unfortunately, that's because they did!

I've watched a few reviews of the Opera05 and Opera03, and for many, the fit is absolutely fine. Annoyingly, they seem to nestle nicely in Kenneth Tanaka's ears whilst I can barely get them to stay in just for the tests! So the bulky design is down to your own ear anatomy as to whether it is something that will be a deal breaker. For me, I settled on using the largest tips and they just about stay in. It seems to be the trend of earbuds to cram as much in and go larger with a larger nozzle, so it's something I'll maybe tolerate at home, but for exercise this is a non-starter for me sadly. The buds do offer IPX4 resistance against sweat and raindrops though.



From the side profile, they are pretty large, but it's not quite the 'Frankenstein's Monster' look that you get from the front.

So a mixed bag really - the build quality is very good, but the ergonomics simply don't work for me sadly.

ANC - 7.5/10

ANC on the Opera05 is pretty good. It isn't quite as good as the Mini Pro HS or Capsule3 Pro, but I suspect that is mostly down to the fit. There's no dedicated Wind Noise Reduction mode, alternative passthrough modes or strength bar like you get on something like the QCY HT05 Melobuds, but I find them a little gimmicky anyway - the Opera05 has decent ANC that is either on or off, and a natural-sounding passthrough mode that works fine for conversations close-up, but isn't going to accentuate distant sounds artificially.

Indoors, air conditioning units and boilers are muffled and even keyboard taps are reduced to clicks. If you're sitting near a window, the noise of traffic is also reduced to a whisper, but it won't drown out the TV or noisy kids.

Outdoors you notice it isn't quite as effective as the Mini Pro HS in that you hear nearby cars slightly sooner. Wind is dealt with moderately well, although again, I suspect fit is instrumental in the level of performance expected here.

Audio Quality and Sound Signature - 8.75/10 (for the price), 8/10 (raw score)

The Opera05 positions itself as the 'audiophile' in SoundPEATS' range with a combination of triple drivers and LDAC support. There's a single dynamic driver and dual balanced armatures, and the Opera05 takes advantage of the capabilities of the WUQI WQ7033AR chipset, which permits a frequency response of 20Hz-40KHz, transfer rate of 990kbps and transmission up to 24bit/96KHz using the LDAC codec.



The Opera05 are definitely tuned to be punchier than the other SoundPEATS sets I've tested recently, retaining that prominent midbass and clean, slightly-recessed midrange. However with the BA drivers, naturally you're getting a much stronger treble extension, and this makes for an engaging, energetic sound that works well with R&B, hip hop, house and techno.

Soundstage is probably not as open as the H1 and H2, but immediately you notice much greater depth - layering is good, and the warm timbre and deeper tone give the Opera05 a slightly more intimate sound than the airy H2. Instrument separation and imaging are also a notch above their other current models. Percussion and acoustics arrange nicely around you, and although resolution and detail retrieval improve on their other models, it's still not a stand-out feature - it is hard to grasp nuances of instruments at times, especially with classical and, coincidentally, opera.

The trebles are very crispy, much more so than the Capsule3 Pro and Mini Pro HS, and there is excellent texture to shakers, snares and tams. On the first track I tested - 'I'm So Into You' by Arianna Grande - there is a shimmer to the percussion that you don't usually hear on TWS - a good start! Female vocals sit back from the arrangement slightly but can sound sibilant. There's more brightness about the trebles than their other releases, but at times it feels a little too much, although this can be tamed slightly in the EQ.

The subbass starts slightly rolled off but is thick enough to compensate for the iffy fit and gives a really strong presence - it's SoundPEATS' usual punchy sound signature here - bassheads won't be disappointed. The midbass is elevated but well-controlled - this brings extra presence to R&B vocals and bass guitars, and as a result the sound is engaging and entertaining with nice tonality and decent detail.

Overall it is probably SoundPEATS' best sound yet - SoundPEATS have done a solid job of improving on their house sound - and it is definitely a step up from Capsule3 Pro and Mini Pro HS purely for the extra cleanness to the kick drums and improved resolution. For £79 they offer great bang for buck, and I get the impression it would be even better with a better fit.

Call Quality - Indoors - 7.5/10, Outdoors - 7.5/10

With one less mic than the Capsule3 Pro and Mini Pro HS has less hardware to cope with the ambient sounds around you, and it shows, with slightly weaker performance when there' environmental sound to deal with. Even so, considering the design constraints, the Opera05 does a pretty decent job of conveying your voice in a variety of environments.

Indoors, your voice comes across very clearly. With no other sounds around you, your voice is very coherent and authoritative although there's an element of digital noise that comes across you at times - with silence there is decent tone and weight though.

Outdoors, it's a similar story. Wind is handled well, and talking from nearby pedestrians seems to be eradicated better than indoors, although not perfectly.

For calls and voice notes, you certainly won't be rendered incoherent - if this is now the SoundPEATS default standard, then massive kudos for raising the bar - call quality is better than the likes of the Air3 Pro, but not quite at the level of the Capsule3 Pro.

Connectivity, Controls and other Interactive Features - 7.5/10

The SoundPEATS app is definitely a little more mature these days, although some of the experimental features are again missing, with SoundPEATS opting for stability over features. Adaptive EQ, like on the MPHS & Capsule3 Pro, has been left out, and really you only have a few functions available - ANC toggle, single-touch toggle, and gaming mode toggle. You do also have 9 EQ presets and a 10-band equaliser (-31Hz to +16KHz) so lots of room here to tailor your own preferred sound.

Just like with the MPHS, I didn't find many of the presets especially useful. Electronic boosts the upper and lower mids, giving vocals a little more sparkle, but also detracting from clarity a litle as the bass overwhelms a little. Rock&Roll and Treble Enhancement add hiss to the treble (although the latter sounds much thinner). Folk decimates the treble, Pop compresses the midrange, and the bass boost and reduction presets do exactly what they claim to, although not to a point you'd actually want to use it.

Controls are back to the old scheme, with no option to play the previous track unfortunately. Single tap on the left and right bud reduces and increases volume respectively. Double tap plays/pauses and answers calls, hold the left bud for a couple of seconds to toggle ANC mode, hold the right bud to progress track forward. Triple left tap for gaming mode, triple right tap for voice assistant. The controls are responsive and intuitive, although there are no control mapping options from the app. There are voice prompts for 'Pairing', 'Connect' and the various ANC modes, with tones for other functions.

Latency is OK - videos are close to lipsync, although not as impressive as the Air3 Pro. Volume is loud - I rarely went above 70%, a little lower than most of my earbuds, although not quite as loud as the Mini Pro HS.

Battery Life - 8/10

Battery life is very respectable on the Opera05, although as with all ANC and LDAC buds, it can vary depending on your usage. My findings were as follows:

ANC off, SBC, occasional call, 50% volume - 6 hours 58 minutes playtime (advertised 8)
ANC off, LDAC, one call, 50% volume - 4 hours 16 minutes (advertised 5.5 hours)
ANC on, SBC, 50% volume - 5 hours 10 minutes (advertised 6.5 hours)
ANC on, LDAC, 50% volume - 4 hours 11 minutes (advertised 4.5 hours)

The charge case enables the buds to be charged an additional three full cycles before it had to be charged again - this compares quite favourably with many other LDAC buds on the market, but lags behind the much more expensive Soundcore Space A40 - the pace setter when it comes to battery life in these conditions - and their own Capsule3 Pro.

Summary

The Opera05 are a fine addition to the SoundPEATS portfolio, improving on the sound of their recent releases further, having already 'refined' their classic sound signature to a much more palatable v-shape, this time offering greater energy and presence. It is very pleasing to hear sound like this in a mid-tier budget bud - whilst I wouldn't rate it ahead of the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, for example, it isn't far behind, and can be picked up for substantially cheaper at the Kickstarter price of $79.

The problem for me is the fit. Whilst the build quality is great, the ergonomics for those of us with small ears make them an impractical choice. There is also the question of whether you're prepared to trade off some of the big benefits you get with the Capsule3 Pro, for example, such as 43dB ANC, quick charge and better call quality, for incrementally better sound - for some, this will make sense, for others, not so much.

The Opera05 lack a few features that would befit a true flagship release, such as multipoint, customisable controls, spatial sound and a more feature-rich app, but maybe these will come with future releases - as it is, SoundPEATS have brought probably their best sound so far, without blowing it out of the water.

Price Weighted Score: 85%
Raw Score: 80%

SoundPEATS Review Inventory:

SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS
SoundPEATS Air3 Pro
SoundPEATS Mini Pro
SoundPEATS H2
SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini
SoundPEATS Air3
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2
SoundPEATS H1
SoundPEATS T2
SoundPEATS Sonic

About SoundPEATS:

SoundPEATS seem to have become an overnight sensation, wiping up a large portion of budget TWS earbud market share with a business model that has served them (and Anker before them) exceptionally well - good distribution channels (via Amazon), good support, a catchy name and product that performs well at a very competitive price point. In reality, they have been around a long time - whilst Shenzhen SoundSOUL IT Co LTD is a different trading name to Ginto E-Commerce, they share the same business address (including room number) as them - you may know their brand name better as Dudios. With Dudios not sounding quite so cool as Soundpeats, maybe the brand transition has been instrumental in their success, but having been around since 2010 and patents in Bluetooth tech stretching back to 2015, they are not the plucky upstarts that some may think - they know their stuff, have a great network of contacts, and now a very solid brand in Europe, and deservedly so.

The thing that sets SoundPEATS apart from other vendors, and makes them my favourite budget earbud vendor, is that they are completely transparent over their components. Whether they use Realtek, Qualcomm or Airoha chips in their buds, they are totally open about it, and as a reviewer this really helps, because whilst I have, and do, dismantle buds to check the way that certain things have been implemented (such as the power management, mems mics, etc) and I really don't like having to do it with every set of earbuds, because they then become unusable.