OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Review
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is the latest flagship wireless earbuds from global technology brand OnePlus, designed to deliver high-quality audio and unique features. In collaboration with Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio, the earbuds offer an immersive listening experience like no other.
OnePlus sent over this product for us to take a look at and I am surprised with how it managed to deliver its features’ promises. Don’t get me wrong: it isn’t a perfect device as there are several things that requires improvement; but it’s definitely worth the price it asks for.
Features
- Co-created with Dynaudio for superior audio quality
- MelodyBoost Dual Drivers: 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter
- Crystal polymer diaphragm for enhanced connectivity
- One default EQ and three customizable EQs
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 combines OnePlus’s innovative technology with Dynaudio’s expertise in sound quality, offering exceptional audio performance. The earbuds feature MelodyBoost Dual Drivers for deep bass and clear vocals, customizable EQs for personalized listening, and a crystal polymer diaphragm for improved connectivity between frequencies.
People prefer the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 for its exceptional audio quality, customizable EQs, and seamless integration with OnePlus devices. The collaboration with Dynaudio adds a layer of sophistication, making it a top choice for audiophiles.
Coaxial dual driver system for handling high and low frequencies
The coaxial dual driver system on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 provides superior sound quality by effectively handling high and low frequencies. In this configuration, the system features two separate drivers within each earbud, one for high-frequency sound reproduction and another for low-frequency sound reproduction. This unique design allows the earbuds to deliver a full and balanced audio experience, despite their compact size.
The high-frequency drive is responsible for reproducing the upper range of the audio spectrum, delivering crisp and clear treble notes. Meanwhile, the low-frequency driver focuses on reproducing the lower range of the audio spectrum, providing deep and powerful bass tones.
The key advantage of the coaxial dual driver system in earbuds is its ability to deliver a more coherent and accurate soundstage. By placing both drivers in close proximity within the earbud, the system can minimize the phase and time differences between the two, ensuring that the sound waves from both drivers arrive at the listener’s ears simultaneously. This results in a seamless and more natural audio experience.
On this front, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 performed well, but it didn’t quite reach my expectations especially when compared to the Apple AirPods Pro 2. Thankfully for OnePlus, the latter is a more expensive option; and the Buds Pro 2 is clearly a better and more affordable option.
Dome and edge design for improved connection between frequencies
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 features an innovative dome and edge design that significantly improves the connection between different frequency ranges, resulting in a more balanced and cohesive audio experience for the listener. This unique design approach allows for a seamless transition between the various frequency bands, delivering an immersive and harmonious soundstage.
The dome and edge design in the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 works by integrating a dome-shaped diaphragm with an edge-mounted driver. The dome-shaped diaphragm is responsible for reproducing mid and high-frequency sounds, providing clarity and detail to vocals and instruments. The edge-mounted driver, on the other hand, handles the low-frequency sounds, producing rich and powerful bass tones.
By combining these two elements, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 achieves a more unified audio reproduction across the entire frequency spectrum. The dome and edge design allows for better phase and time alignment between the different frequency bands, ensuring that all sound components reach the listener’s ears simultaneously. This results in a smooth and natural audio experience without any noticeable gaps or inconsistencies.
Furthermore, the dome and edge design also contributes to the overall build quality and durability of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The integrated construction helps to minimize any potential resonance or distortion that could arise from separate components, ultimately leading to a more reliable and consistent audio performance.
Silicone edge for better ear fit and enhanced flexibility and texture
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 features a silicone edge design that provides better ear fit, enhanced flexibility, and improved texture, ensuring an optimal listening experience for users. This design choice emphasizes comfort, stability, and adaptability, making the earbuds suitable for various ear shapes and sizes.
The silicone edge on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 plays a crucial role in achieving a secure and comfortable fit. The soft, flexible material gently conforms to the contours of the user’s ear, providing a snug and personalized fit. This helps to keep the earbuds in place during various activities, such as working out, running, or simply moving around throughout the day.
In addition to ensuring a better fit, the silicone edge also enhances the flexibility of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The pliable nature of the material allows the earbuds to adapt to different ear shapes with ease, making them suitable for a wide range of users. This flexibility also contributes to the overall durability of the earbuds, as the silicone edge can withstand regular wear and tear without losing its shape or effectiveness.
The silicone edge also adds an appealing texture to the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. This textured surface not only improves the overall aesthetics of the earbuds but also offers an additional layer of grip, making it easier for users to insert and remove the earbuds from their ears. This feature contributes to the overall user-friendly design of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, making them a reliable and enjoyable audio solution.
Unlike other cheaper earbuds, what I truly like on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is how its material helps in reducing bacteria build up, which leads to infection and ear-fatigue. In an article by the Soundguys, they recommend consumers to often clean their earbuds, apart from limiting usage. I have been cleaning the silicon tips of the OnePluds Buds Pro 2 often, and while the tips are comfortable to use, I also try to limit my time in using it.
Customizable EQs: Bold, Serenade, and Bass
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offers customizable EQ (equalization) settings to enhance the listening experience by tailoring the audio output to the user’s preferences. These EQ settings allow users to optimize the audio performance of the earbuds based on their personal taste and the type of content they are consuming. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 comes with three pre-defined EQ settings: Bold, Serenade, and Bass, all tuned by Dynaudio.
- Bold: This EQ setting is designed to provide a well-rounded audio experience with a focus on clarity and balance across all frequency ranges. It emphasizes the midrange and treble frequencies, ensuring that vocals and instrumentals are crisp and clear. This setting is ideal for listeners who prefer a more natural and balanced audio output, suitable for various music genres, podcasts, and video content.
- Serenade: The Serenade EQ setting is designed to deliver a more immersive and soothing audio experience by accentuating the midrange frequencies while gently rolling off the extreme high and low frequencies. This setting is ideal for users who prefer a warm and enveloping sound signature, making it perfect for listening to acoustic music, classical compositions, or relaxing soundscapes.
- Bass: As the name suggests, the Bass EQ setting emphasizes the low-frequency response, delivering a powerful and punchy bass output. This setting caters to users who enjoy an energetic and impactful audio experience, especially for music genres such as EDM, hip-hop, or rock, where bass plays a significant role.
The customizable EQ settings on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 allow users to tailor the audio performance to their preferences, ensuring an enjoyable and personalized listening experience. By offering a choice of Bold, Serenade, and Bass EQ settings, OnePlus provides a versatile audio solution that caters to different listening styles and content types.
Before I forget, there’s also a Hans Zimmer Tuning, which gives users a surround and immersive audio experience. I tried using this, and proved it to be the perfect EQ setting when watching movies.
Game Mode and other features
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also has Game mode, which helps reduce latency when playing games. Audio latency is a huge issue when playing competitive games while using a Bluetooth Earphone. Just a single tap of this feature enables this feature, which works based on experience.
There’s also Golden Sound, which analyzes the best audio settings based on ear fit and how sound is project in the user’s ear. Its wild how they thought and integrated this on the Buds Pro 2.
Apart from this, you can also connect the headphone to two devices, which is starting to become a standard to modern wireless earphones.
It also has Noise Cancelling features, which work decently, but not as good as the one from Samsung and Apple.
Pairing this with the iPhone or Android is easy. It works just as easy as other bluetooth earphones, but it’s also compatible with HeyMelody app, which is both available on AppStore and Google PlayStore. This allows all features to be accessible regardless of the phone you’re using.
Verdict
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offers unparalleled audio quality, thanks to its partnership with Dynaudio, and is packed with innovative features that make it a worthy investment for audiophiles.
It delivers an immersive listening experience with its collaboration with Dynaudio and innovative features. For those seeking exceptional audio quality and a premium listening experience, these earbuds are an excellent choice.
It is, however, a little expensive; but as I mentioned, it’s good enough for the price it asks for.
Frequently Asked Questions about OnePluds Buds Pro 2:
- Are the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 compatible with non-OnePlus devices? Yes, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled devices.
- What is the battery life of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2? The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offers up to 38 hours of battery life with the charging case.
- Are the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 water-resistant? Yes, the earbuds have an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance.
- How do I customize the EQ settings on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2? EQ settings can be customized through the OnePlus Buds app, available on Android and iOS devices.
- Does the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 support active noise cancellation (ANC)? Yes, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 features active noise cancellation for an immersive and uninterrupted listening experience.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
