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I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional for NextPit and would like to share my full assessment of those ultra-compact wi-fi earbuds with ANC that includes the brand new Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC).
NEXTPITTV
Good
- Very compact and discreet design
- Very neat premium end
- First rate audio high quality
- Pretty complete companion app
- Efficient ANC
Unhealthy
- EQ and ANC not customizable sufficient
- Autonomy too honest
- Too many Samsung-exclusive options
Galaxy Buds 2 Professional in a nutshell
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional has been since August 10, 2022 at a worth of $229. They’re true wi-fi earbuds with high-end energetic noise discount (ANC) that may match comfortably into your ears.
The massive information this yr is the brand new audio codec from Samsung, SSC Hello-Fi (Samsung Seamless Codec). Like a lot of its attention-grabbing options on paper, this codec solely works in the event you use the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional with a appropriate Samsung product.
Design
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional from Samsung are very compact true wi-fi earbuds. They’re very when worn within the ear and I discover that Samsung has notably taken a particular curiosity of their design in addition to that of the charging case.
What I preferred:
- Very compact and visually discreet type issue.
- Matte coating and premium end.
- IPX7 certification (may be submerged as much as 1 meter of contemporary water for half-hour).
What I disliked:
- Lower than optimum match within the ear.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional is out there in three colours: White, Charcoal, and Lavender. The earbuds are very compact with dimensions measuring 21;6 x 19.9 x 18.7 mm for every earbud and 50.2 x 50.1 x 27.7 mm for the case. That is much more compact than Apple’s AirPods Professional 2. The earbuds tip the scales at solely 5.5 g every whereas the case weighs 43.4 g.
This makes them visually very discreet as soon as they’re lodged in your ear, however they’re additionally gentle sufficient to be forgotten once you’re sporting them. I actually just like the matte coating that Samsung opted for. It is much less flashy than on earlier fashions, a really understated class that I discover to be stylish.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional is provided with touch-sensitive controls which we’ll discover additional under. We are able to additionally see a speaker grill on every earbud that’s used for energetic noise discount and transparency mode. That is an in-ear format, so the earpieces match properly in your ear canal. You may select from three completely different sizes, too. Whereas I discovered the assist relatively common, they didn’t resist that effectively to my very critical benchmark of intense headbanging as you possibly can see under.
The case advantages from the identical end within the coating. It matches very simply in any pocket due to its small measurement. The hinge of the quilt appeared very strong to me and the storage of the earbuds, though fairly complicated at first, is sort of simple through the magnetic fasteners.
Options and software
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional supply some very attention-grabbing options, however most of them are solely accessible in the event you use it with a Samsung smartphone. The Galaxy Wearable companion app, whereas very complete, can be lacking from some producers, notably Apple.
What I preferred:
- A really full Galaxy Wearable companion software.
- Some gadget features are fairly enjoyable to make use of.
- Bluetooth 5.3 codec supported.
- Google Quick Pair and Microsoft Swift for pairing.
- Mono use is feasible.
What I disliked:
- No aptx/HD codec assist.
- No Bluetooth multipoint assist (besides between a number of Samsung units).
- Equalizer, ANC, and contact controls should not customizable sufficient.
- Samsung’s SSC Hello-Fi codec is simply too unique.
- No iOS app.
To arrange your Galaxy Buds 2 Professional, entry the equalizer, customise the contact controls, you’ll have to undergo the Galaxy Wearable app. This software is sadly unavailable on iOS. There’s a Galaxy Buds app that you would be able to set up in your iPhone, however solely the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Reside are supported.
However even on Android, the place the Galaxy Wearables app is out there nearly in every single place, some options stay unique to the Samsung ecosystem.
The brand new Samsung Seemless Hello-Fi codec is simply too unique
Probably the most notable factor in regards to the well-known SSC Hello-Fi codec (Samsung Seamless Codec) is that this: the Samsung proprietary audio codec comes along with the essential SBC and AAC assist, and is meant to permit the transmission of an audio sign with out compression with a sampling price of 24 bits.
Principally, the codec is ready to encode a full 24-bit sound, transmit it to the Galaxy Buds Professional 2, which is then in a position to decode the sign and keep the high-quality 24-bit sound. The concept is to stop the lack of data and knowledge within the transmission of the audio sign for higher sound high quality.
However, already, this codec works solely with a smartphone or pill Galaxy working underneath One UI 4. And above all, it’s already mandatory that the sign on the supply is of fine high quality. So in the event you take heed to your music primarily on Spotify, this codec is ineffective. For those who’re utilizing apps like Tidal or listening to FLAC information regionally, it is a bit extra attention-grabbing. However in all honesty, I haven’t got a pointy sufficient musical ear to let you know if I perceived a distinction with or with out the codec.
When it comes to stability, the Bluetooth 5.3 connection labored simply high quality. We do not have multipoint assist besides between a number of Samsung units, and the sign vary was relatively disappointing. Once I moved to a different room in my home, all it took was a single wall to separate me from my smartphone and the headphone sign was already a bit disrupted.
An equalizer and contact controls are too inflexible
The Galaxy Wearable software could be very full, however I discover the extent of customization to be a bit too restricted. The equalizer solely presents presets for instance, and you may’t modify it manually to your preferences.
Not all contact controls may be reassigned. Nevertheless, Samsung presents a number of variations with a single contact, a double and even triple contact, and a protracted contact. Usually, that needs to be sufficient. I simply want I may have switched the contact controls to completely different faucet gestures.
It’s also not possible to regulate the depth of the energetic noise discount or the transparency mode. Now that may be a actual disgrace, as a result of it is rather like Apple.
Some good gimmicky features
I am going to finish this part by mentioning a couple of options that aren’t important, however discovered them to be relatively humorous and typically, even sensible.
We start with the Voice Detect operate, which is analogous to Sony’s Converse to Chat, which robotically switches to transparency mode when the earbuds detect your voice. Principally, when you have the ANC enabled and begin speaking to somebody, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional will amplify ambient noise as a substitute of attenuating it in order that the individual you are speaking to is extra audible and you do not have to take away the earbuds.
There’s additionally 360-degree spatial audio with a head-tracking characteristic (HRTF) that’s much like what Apple presents. With appropriate content material, the stereo scene could be very effectively represented in 3D and the impact continues to be cool. As soon as once more, this selection is simply appropriate with Samsung smartphones and tablets withat run on One UI 4.1.1 or newer.
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional additionally presents a characteristic that notifies you once you’re slouching an excessive amount of. You may calibrate the earbuds to detect in case your head is tilted too far down. You’ll then obtain an alert to straighten your posture and stretch.
Audio high quality, microphones and ANC
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Professional has the particularity to combine two transducers in every earbud. One is devoted to the bass and the mediums whereas the opposite will deal with the highs. The primary has a diameter of 10 mm whereas the second measures 5.3 mm.
What I preferred:
- The mediums are closely emphasised.
- ANC is superb.
- Pure transparency mode.
What I disliked:
- Disappointing microphone efficiency for calls.
I am typically not impressed with the audio high quality supplied on most true wi-fi earbuds available on the market. Additionally, I am nonetheless satisfied that the audio signature of the Samsung headphones is AKG betrays its title.
An audio signature that’s overly centered on the midrange
Nevertheless, even when the sound is just not transcendent, it’s greater than sufficient to take heed to streaming MP3s. I used the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional alternately with a Galaxy Z Fold 4 and an iPhone 14 Professional whereas listening to digital tracks on Spotify and 24-bit tracks on Tidal.
We are able to say that it presents a reasonably balanced audio signature that may be described as “W”. The bass is effectively current, we’ve a peak on the mediums and an increase of the highs on the finish of the frequency vary. However the earbuds have slightly an excessive amount of tendency to flatter the mediums an excessive amount of, in my view. With very vocal tracks, it makes the bass sound a bit muffled.
Personally, I shortly opted for the “dynamic” EQ preset to spice up the bass and higher mids whereas attenuating the mids which might be too flattered by the default settings. Principally, it flattens out a bit that well-known “W” that I discussed earlier. Other than that, the sound is relatively clear and detailed general, however the stereophonic scene is just not going to move you to an entire new degree. We aren’t on an all-encompassing rendering that immerses you, making it slightly too backward for my style.
Disappointing microphones for calls
As for name high quality, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional come geared up with 6 microphones. As with nearly each pair of true wi-fi earbuds I reviewed, I discover the standard of the microphones to be very common. When indoors, it’s high quality, however as quickly as there is a little bit of noise air pollution, it is turns into disappointing. Conversations are nonetheless audible, but it surely’s not so good as what you get with the microphones of a smartphone.
ANC is efficient, however is just not the market chief
As for the ANC, the well-known energetic noise discount, I discovered it fairly efficient on the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. It is not the most effective reference available on the market, however Samsung’s efficiency is sort of good. For my part, it is even fairly good in contrast to what’s obtainable available in the market.
I nonetheless managed to get rebuked by slightly woman whom I used to be blocking on the street and I could not hear her till she tapped me on the shoulder. Wind noise was additionally fairly effectively attenuated, as are most structure-borne noises. As at all times with this type of know-how, attenuation of voices and noises which might be too irregular is just not successfully tuned out sufficient.
The transparency mode labored very effectively. I discover the replica of amplified ambient sounds to be notably pure and the voices of your interlocutors are completely audible and intelligible.
Battery life
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional integrates a 58 mAh battery in every headset and one 500 mAh battery within the charging case. Samsung’s claimed battery life is 5 hours for the earbuds and as much as 18 hours after recharging through the case.
What I preferred:
- Wi-fi charging supported.
What I disliked:
- Battery life is in satisfactory at this worth level.
A 5-hour battery life, even with ANC enabled, is fairly low in 2022. On common, I used to be in a position to final for roughly 5 hours with the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. I say roughly as a result of the batteries in each earbuds do not drain on the similar price. Usually, the best earpiece would run out of juice earlier than the left.
That is regular in case your earphones have a master-slave system for Bluetooth connection as a result of typically the best earphone is the primary connection level and due to this fact the relay for the left earphone. However the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional can be utilized in mono mode, so they can not work on this master-slave configuration, which suggests there shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a distinction in battery life from one earbud to the opposite.
As for the recharging case, it lets you get better 30% of battery life after simply 10 minutes of charging. It takes slightly over an hour to totally cost the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional. The case may be recharged through a USB-C cable or wirelessly through a Qi charger.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Buds 2 Professional are just like the AirPods Professional, however for Samsung. I discover nearly precisely the identical flaws as on their Apple counterpart. The very common battery life and the exclusivity of quite a few options, and even settings are reserved for a restricted ecosystem of merchandise on this case.
On the plus facet, the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional additionally sport good sound high quality. I discovered the energetic noise discount (ANC) to be notably efficient. Their design can be elegant and neat along with being tremendous compact and visually discreet.
In case you have a Samsung smartphone, I feel the Galaxy Buds 2 Professional makes for an excellent selection. It’s much less appropriate when you have a non-Samsung Android smartphone and undoubtedly price a miss when you have an iPhone.
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