Soundpeats Sonic TWS
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RC019
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Model: Soundpeats Sonic
Price: £39.99
Vendor Website: Soundpeats
Review Reference: RC019
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Pair Silicone Tips
1 x User manual
1 x Cloth Carry Case
Real Life Experience
The Sonic were another exciting release from the fast-paced SoundPEATS brand, offering a new colour scheme and the use of the Qualcomm QCC3040 chip, which supports the efficient aptx-adaptive codec, Bluetooth 5.2 and offers a monstrous single charge battery life.
SoundPEATS' back catalogue is becoming longer than Katie Price's list of conquests, and the Sonic Pro have already been added, essentially offering little different to the non-Pro version besides a more neutral sound signature and the lights no longer stay on. Result!
The Sonic are their mid-range offering, with the H1 being their flagship. The H1 lead in terms of clarity, the Sonic are their all-rounders, with a better mic (albeit with a questionable fit). The T2 are specialist ANC buds, and the excellent TrueAir2+ their 'Airpod' equivalent.
It's sometimes difficult to keep track of the SoundPEATS range, so I'm always happy when I get feedback that reviewing their offering has helped clarify the differences and ensured buyers know what they're getting. I probably get more feedback about SoundPEATS reviews than any other brand - which says more about SoundPEATS than my reviews! Their reputation continues to go from strength to strength, and the Sonic are another excellent release - but not for everyone. Read on and enjoy!
The Unboxing - 7/10
Soundpeats have definitely upped their game. The old budget packaging is gone - the new finish is glossy, the new Soundpeats logo is prominent, and it clearly shows the key features - aptx-adaptive, 35 hours playtime and the use of the QCC3040 chip. The unboxing is not on the level of Edifier or Tronsmart yet, but it's decent. The soft shell still remains - it's on the level of Taotronics now, rather than Mpow or Boltune.
Inside, they've added the nice feature of QR codes to extend the warranty to 21 months, and the case is presented minimally and in compact packaging. A small rectangular foam protection casing encloses the box, with the USB-C cable and spare tips in the cardboard insert above.
The Case - 7.5/10
The finish is a very nice brush metallic effect with a gold lip around the edge, with the Soundpeats logo on top. The case is powered by USB-C (no QI) and the adjacent indicator light tells you when the case is charging and when it is finished
The case also has a lighting scheme on the inside, with 100-50% charge designated with a green light, 50-10% in amber, and below 10% red. The light is in the middle of the two buds directly below. Whilst charging, the lights flash slowly in red when below 20%, amber when below 70%, green when charging up to 100%, at which point the green light turns solid. This is a nice feature that Soundpeats have had for a while.
The case is nice overall, and the magnets are strong, but the hinge is very flimsy and I can't imagine particularly durable. It does however give the already mammoth battery life a boost - a further two charges takes the playtime to 45 hours in total (3 x 15 hours). Sadly it lacks the wireless charging functionality of many of its peers, and does not support quick charge.
The case measures just shy of 6cm wide - one of the thinner cases I've tested, around 3.5cm high (slightly taller than the FIIL T1 series) and just under 4cm depth (one of the girthier cases around). This still makes them delightfully portable.
Ergonomics - 5/10, Build Quality - 7.5/10
The Soundpeats Sonic look great - the finish of the buds matches the case. They also feature a lighting scheme whereby the buds glow red when not connected (well, more an orange colour), flash until connected, and then when connected, stay lit in white until media starts playing.
This is the first problem. I woke up to find the room to resemble Blackpool illuminations during then I fell asleep listening to an audiobook. Due to Audible's sleep timer kicking in, the buds stopped playing media and stayed lit up, so absolutely do not consider these for falling asleep with, as this is the last thing your circadian rhythm will want, but they do act as a useful 'ready to talk' light for anyone who wants to interrupt you during the day!
Whilst there is no danger of them falling out when stationary, by laying the responsibility of keeping them in with the tips themselves, they are almost unbearably thuddy for exercise, and before long start to droop with any serious movement. This is such a shame, as their IPX6 rating does make them suitable for exercise, even a run in the rain. A wing tip would have really helped them, but the main problem is the weight displacement. There is a lot of tech in these buds, and that takes space. So ergonomically, the Sonic just don't agree with me in the same way the TrueEngine 3SE and H1, or even the T2, which have a shorter neck, do.
It isn't just exercise. They also wear quite awkwardly generally. The supplied tips are OK quality - which makes a change, and they have to be, as the top heavy buds try to rest in your ear canal.
The isolation is excellent when they are inserted and you get a seal, but because of their chunky design and lack of wing tips, they don't stay in place well at all and so the effort is lost. They've made an effort by contouring the buds heavier at the bottom, but whilst I'm sure this helps some, it doesn't really work for me. It makes them far less comfortable than the Alien Secret (pictured directly below the Sonic in the above image), and the angle isn't as ergonomic as the Tronsmart Apollo Bold, which rests in my ears much sturdier.
The price you pay for a lot of tech is the weight displacement, and this, along with the glowing buttons, makes the Sonic a no go for me as a daily beater.
Audio Quality - 7.5/10 (for the price paid), 7/10 (raw score)
The Sonic are definitely tuned with the consumer in mind, with a punchy, aggressive sound signature that can become fatiguing even on 60% volume. The bass and top end are, whilst well represented, not easy to take for prolonged listening out of the box. Bass in particular is very heavy - I had to notch the sub-bass quite a bit to get them to sing to me, and whilst they are boomy, the lower frequencies are discernible and separate quite nicely, especially with a little tweak of the EQ.
Treble is crisp, female vocals are crystal clear with only a little sibilance. 'Heaven Help' by Lenny Kravitz sounded better than I think it has with many other buds I've tested - very intimate with a nice, balanced soundstage that eeks out what it can from in ear wireless buds - vocals come to the front quite clearly, almost as well with John Legend as they do with Mara Carlyle. Instrument separation is good even on challenging tracks.
Overall, the Sonic don't disappoint. Even if the sound signature is not as I like it, the response to EQ is good and shouldn't be a barrier with apps like Wavelet available to tune as much as 10 bars now.
Call Quality - Indoors - 7.5/10, Outdoors - 7/10
This style earbud usually struggles compared to stem-based, which bring the mic closer to your mouth. The Sonic were a pleasant surprise - very impressive for in-ear form factor buds. Calls to my mum to talk her through how to use password managers on Vodafone UK were noted as being very clear indoors.
I recorded a call from Poco X3 to iPhone, again on cellular, and it was perfectly passable - very clear internally, and only a few struggles outdoors. Excessive traffic or wind will inevitably result in the compression algorithms kicking in, and your voice starts to thin and break up a little, but this is a function of form factor and technology limitations, and no different to most earbuds on the market.
On Zoom I found it sounded even more distant and a touch robotic, but still better than most. It's up there with the Tronsmart Apollo Bold and FIIL T1 Pro in the market leading mic for in-ear buds.
Connectivity, Controls and Other Features - 8/10
Connectivity is absolutely rock solid. I couldn't manage to get it to disconnect in my flat, making it the only earbuds to ever achieve this feat.
Controls are good - intuitive and accurate. They feature a tactile button - single tap for pause/play and answering calls, double tap left for volume down, right for volume up, triple tap left for game mode, right for voice assistant. Holding down the buttons when a call comes through rejects and skips tracks. All of these worked first time.
If you hold the button down for longer it even allows switching between calls. I did not test this. The only problem with the controls is the tactile button increases the pressure into your ear- the buttons are much firmer than the Whizzer E3 or Tronsmart Onyx Free.
Single mode is activated easily by simply taking one bud out. They do not auto pause, which will please many, as it seems it's a feature I am in the select few to appreciate!
There is no app - which is, whilst not a deal breaker, requires you having an EQ app to tone down the bass if you so require. (I recommend Wavelet on Android)
The earbuds support the aptX-adaptive codec, which I tested and verified on Android 11, and also the newest version of Bluetooth thanks to the BT5.2-ready Qualcomm QCC3040 chip. Whilst I didn't notice any obvious difference in sound quality, the excellent range, impressive latency (183 Ms on PC source to destination, and much lower on both IOS and Android) and long battery life reflect the enhanced chipset. For gaming they are a solid option.
Voice prompts are a little loud, but clear.
Battery Life - 9.5/10
15 hours from the buds themselves, a further two charges from the case. Amazing. Whilst I couldn't get 15 hours even on 60% volume, it wasn't too far short - approx 11 hours, and whilst not as advertised, the headline number is usually at 50% volume without taking into account calls (which use more battery than music) so this is very respectable compared to the marketed figure, and by far exceeding your average earbud.
Final Comments
The Sonic are unfathomably good for the low price - we really have come a long way in a short space of time. The sound quality is up there with FIIL as best-in-class for budget TWS, despite the very bass-heavy sound signature, which without a doubt will require taming with an EQ adjustment, and punching well above their weight for latency and mic quality (for this form factor). Battery life is incredible, and passive noise isolation is also excellent - albeit hamstrung by their outside-heavy form-factor, which often results in them drooping without some kind of adjustment.
Sadly the light up buttons and poor fit mean they are no good for me, but for others, as long as you can tolerate these nuances, don't hesitate to buy.
Price Weighted Score: 83%
Raw Score: 77%
2022 Score: 75% (since replaced by the Sonic Pro, not scored here)
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
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.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Model: Soundpeats Sonic
Price: £39.99
Vendor Website: Soundpeats
Review Reference: RC019
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: SoundPEATS
- Model: Sonic
- Driver: 10mm
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3040
- Mic: 4 cVc 8.0
- ANC: No
- Volume Control: Yes
- Codecs: SBC, APTX, APTX-adaptive
- Earbud Dimension: 18.3x20.5x27.2mm
- Charging Case Dimensions: 61x39x35mm
- Charging Case Power Capacity: 400mah
- Sensitivity: 94±3dB
- Resistance: 16Ω
- Frequency Response Range: 20-20000Hz
- Playing Time: About 15 Hours (volume at 60% on SBC)
- Earbuds Charging Time: About 1.5 hours
- Case Charging Time: 1.5 Hours
- Charging Case Recharge Earbuds: 2 times
- Earbud Power Capacity: 70mah
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: HSP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Pair Silicone Tips
1 x User manual
1 x Cloth Carry Case
Real Life Experience
The Sonic were another exciting release from the fast-paced SoundPEATS brand, offering a new colour scheme and the use of the Qualcomm QCC3040 chip, which supports the efficient aptx-adaptive codec, Bluetooth 5.2 and offers a monstrous single charge battery life.
SoundPEATS' back catalogue is becoming longer than Katie Price's list of conquests, and the Sonic Pro have already been added, essentially offering little different to the non-Pro version besides a more neutral sound signature and the lights no longer stay on. Result!
The Sonic are their mid-range offering, with the H1 being their flagship. The H1 lead in terms of clarity, the Sonic are their all-rounders, with a better mic (albeit with a questionable fit). The T2 are specialist ANC buds, and the excellent TrueAir2+ their 'Airpod' equivalent.
It's sometimes difficult to keep track of the SoundPEATS range, so I'm always happy when I get feedback that reviewing their offering has helped clarify the differences and ensured buyers know what they're getting. I probably get more feedback about SoundPEATS reviews than any other brand - which says more about SoundPEATS than my reviews! Their reputation continues to go from strength to strength, and the Sonic are another excellent release - but not for everyone. Read on and enjoy!
The Unboxing - 7/10
Soundpeats have definitely upped their game. The old budget packaging is gone - the new finish is glossy, the new Soundpeats logo is prominent, and it clearly shows the key features - aptx-adaptive, 35 hours playtime and the use of the QCC3040 chip. The unboxing is not on the level of Edifier or Tronsmart yet, but it's decent. The soft shell still remains - it's on the level of Taotronics now, rather than Mpow or Boltune.
Inside, they've added the nice feature of QR codes to extend the warranty to 21 months, and the case is presented minimally and in compact packaging. A small rectangular foam protection casing encloses the box, with the USB-C cable and spare tips in the cardboard insert above.
The Case - 7.5/10
The finish is a very nice brush metallic effect with a gold lip around the edge, with the Soundpeats logo on top. The case is powered by USB-C (no QI) and the adjacent indicator light tells you when the case is charging and when it is finished
The case also has a lighting scheme on the inside, with 100-50% charge designated with a green light, 50-10% in amber, and below 10% red. The light is in the middle of the two buds directly below. Whilst charging, the lights flash slowly in red when below 20%, amber when below 70%, green when charging up to 100%, at which point the green light turns solid. This is a nice feature that Soundpeats have had for a while.
The case is nice overall, and the magnets are strong, but the hinge is very flimsy and I can't imagine particularly durable. It does however give the already mammoth battery life a boost - a further two charges takes the playtime to 45 hours in total (3 x 15 hours). Sadly it lacks the wireless charging functionality of many of its peers, and does not support quick charge.
The case measures just shy of 6cm wide - one of the thinner cases I've tested, around 3.5cm high (slightly taller than the FIIL T1 series) and just under 4cm depth (one of the girthier cases around). This still makes them delightfully portable.
Ergonomics - 5/10, Build Quality - 7.5/10
The Soundpeats Sonic look great - the finish of the buds matches the case. They also feature a lighting scheme whereby the buds glow red when not connected (well, more an orange colour), flash until connected, and then when connected, stay lit in white until media starts playing.
This is the first problem. I woke up to find the room to resemble Blackpool illuminations during then I fell asleep listening to an audiobook. Due to Audible's sleep timer kicking in, the buds stopped playing media and stayed lit up, so absolutely do not consider these for falling asleep with, as this is the last thing your circadian rhythm will want, but they do act as a useful 'ready to talk' light for anyone who wants to interrupt you during the day!
Whilst there is no danger of them falling out when stationary, by laying the responsibility of keeping them in with the tips themselves, they are almost unbearably thuddy for exercise, and before long start to droop with any serious movement. This is such a shame, as their IPX6 rating does make them suitable for exercise, even a run in the rain. A wing tip would have really helped them, but the main problem is the weight displacement. There is a lot of tech in these buds, and that takes space. So ergonomically, the Sonic just don't agree with me in the same way the TrueEngine 3SE and H1, or even the T2, which have a shorter neck, do.
It isn't just exercise. They also wear quite awkwardly generally. The supplied tips are OK quality - which makes a change, and they have to be, as the top heavy buds try to rest in your ear canal.
The isolation is excellent when they are inserted and you get a seal, but because of their chunky design and lack of wing tips, they don't stay in place well at all and so the effort is lost. They've made an effort by contouring the buds heavier at the bottom, but whilst I'm sure this helps some, it doesn't really work for me. It makes them far less comfortable than the Alien Secret (pictured directly below the Sonic in the above image), and the angle isn't as ergonomic as the Tronsmart Apollo Bold, which rests in my ears much sturdier.
The price you pay for a lot of tech is the weight displacement, and this, along with the glowing buttons, makes the Sonic a no go for me as a daily beater.
Audio Quality - 7.5/10 (for the price paid), 7/10 (raw score)
The Sonic are definitely tuned with the consumer in mind, with a punchy, aggressive sound signature that can become fatiguing even on 60% volume. The bass and top end are, whilst well represented, not easy to take for prolonged listening out of the box. Bass in particular is very heavy - I had to notch the sub-bass quite a bit to get them to sing to me, and whilst they are boomy, the lower frequencies are discernible and separate quite nicely, especially with a little tweak of the EQ.
Treble is crisp, female vocals are crystal clear with only a little sibilance. 'Heaven Help' by Lenny Kravitz sounded better than I think it has with many other buds I've tested - very intimate with a nice, balanced soundstage that eeks out what it can from in ear wireless buds - vocals come to the front quite clearly, almost as well with John Legend as they do with Mara Carlyle. Instrument separation is good even on challenging tracks.
Overall, the Sonic don't disappoint. Even if the sound signature is not as I like it, the response to EQ is good and shouldn't be a barrier with apps like Wavelet available to tune as much as 10 bars now.
Call Quality - Indoors - 7.5/10, Outdoors - 7/10
This style earbud usually struggles compared to stem-based, which bring the mic closer to your mouth. The Sonic were a pleasant surprise - very impressive for in-ear form factor buds. Calls to my mum to talk her through how to use password managers on Vodafone UK were noted as being very clear indoors.
I recorded a call from Poco X3 to iPhone, again on cellular, and it was perfectly passable - very clear internally, and only a few struggles outdoors. Excessive traffic or wind will inevitably result in the compression algorithms kicking in, and your voice starts to thin and break up a little, but this is a function of form factor and technology limitations, and no different to most earbuds on the market.
On Zoom I found it sounded even more distant and a touch robotic, but still better than most. It's up there with the Tronsmart Apollo Bold and FIIL T1 Pro in the market leading mic for in-ear buds.
Connectivity, Controls and Other Features - 8/10
Connectivity is absolutely rock solid. I couldn't manage to get it to disconnect in my flat, making it the only earbuds to ever achieve this feat.
Controls are good - intuitive and accurate. They feature a tactile button - single tap for pause/play and answering calls, double tap left for volume down, right for volume up, triple tap left for game mode, right for voice assistant. Holding down the buttons when a call comes through rejects and skips tracks. All of these worked first time.
If you hold the button down for longer it even allows switching between calls. I did not test this. The only problem with the controls is the tactile button increases the pressure into your ear- the buttons are much firmer than the Whizzer E3 or Tronsmart Onyx Free.
Single mode is activated easily by simply taking one bud out. They do not auto pause, which will please many, as it seems it's a feature I am in the select few to appreciate!
There is no app - which is, whilst not a deal breaker, requires you having an EQ app to tone down the bass if you so require. (I recommend Wavelet on Android)
The earbuds support the aptX-adaptive codec, which I tested and verified on Android 11, and also the newest version of Bluetooth thanks to the BT5.2-ready Qualcomm QCC3040 chip. Whilst I didn't notice any obvious difference in sound quality, the excellent range, impressive latency (183 Ms on PC source to destination, and much lower on both IOS and Android) and long battery life reflect the enhanced chipset. For gaming they are a solid option.
Voice prompts are a little loud, but clear.
Battery Life - 9.5/10
15 hours from the buds themselves, a further two charges from the case. Amazing. Whilst I couldn't get 15 hours even on 60% volume, it wasn't too far short - approx 11 hours, and whilst not as advertised, the headline number is usually at 50% volume without taking into account calls (which use more battery than music) so this is very respectable compared to the marketed figure, and by far exceeding your average earbud.
Final Comments
The Sonic are unfathomably good for the low price - we really have come a long way in a short space of time. The sound quality is up there with FIIL as best-in-class for budget TWS, despite the very bass-heavy sound signature, which without a doubt will require taming with an EQ adjustment, and punching well above their weight for latency and mic quality (for this form factor). Battery life is incredible, and passive noise isolation is also excellent - albeit hamstrung by their outside-heavy form-factor, which often results in them drooping without some kind of adjustment.
Sadly the light up buttons and poor fit mean they are no good for me, but for others, as long as you can tolerate these nuances, don't hesitate to buy.
Price Weighted Score: 83%
Raw Score: 77%
2022 Score: 75% (since replaced by the Sonic Pro, not scored here)
SoundPEATS Review Inventory:
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.
