Beats (Apple) - Powerbeats Pro

Got them today. I had the PBP1 for about 3 years. I tried swapping them back & forth during the same songs & PBP1 sounds fuller, deeper. I used the xl tips to make sure it was a tight seal. The PBP2 sound tinnier, the midrange/treble sounding slightly lower quality, probably due to the new smaller driver size. I’m torn on returning them because I was really looking forward to these. But my old ones sound just fine/possibly better : /

After comparing them some more, there’s no question about it; the old ones just sound fuller/better. As much as I like the new design I’m gonna return them this weekend.

I have the bose ultra open earbuds and love them for the design, ease of use and sound quality. I had previously used beats powerbeats pro, samsung earbuds fe and airpods pro and realized running isolated with noise cancelling has a lot of risks but there is nothing better than the bose in the market that lets you be sound aware as well as enjoy the music. Got good deal during BF so that helped

Just got my v2, updated it, tested the fit, and then did an extensive sound comparison test against Powerbeats Pro 1, AirPods Pro 1 & 2, Sony XM4, and DT990 Pro (Motu M2). The most disappointing comparison was against its own gen 1...as the OP said, the highs are tiny, harsh, and the mids are muddy/unclear overall at some point. I would rank the PBPv2 last on my list. I will promptly return it and continue to use the gen 1, despite its battery issues.

They are terrible for $29.95 TJ Maxx grab and go so the $250 they cost hurts. Coming from Galaxy Buds Pro 2 these are ridiculously bad sounding. Tinny and flat. MKBHD was lavishing the praise for these so I thought I'd give them a try. Super disappointed. What is another over the ear option that someone could recommend.

Seconding the power beats. Great battery life and also you can still hear your music if you turn them down low so you can hear runners coming up behind you on the trail, or just be aware of your general surroundings.

Got these today. I can’t stress enough how important it is to choose the correct ear tip for your ears. I usually use medium or large tips, but after playing a couple of songs, I immediately hated the sound. Then I tried the small tips, and they fit me best—what a difference in sound. Remember, larger tips don’t always mean a better seal. If you have small ear canals like me and choose a larger tip thinking they will over seal, it won’t fit properly and will likely pop back out instead of sealing correctly. Take the time to find the size that fits you best. If you’re still not happy with the sound, it might not just be the “fit” for you—the sound signature, rather than the quality seems to be a reason why many people dislike these headphones. I personally am not a big fan of this new neutral sound Apple is “testing out” for the AP3, but I don’t hate it either. If they still don’t work for you, don’t force yourself to like them, just return them.

Do the ear fit test for them. On an iPhone it’s in Settings> Bluetooth>info & scroll down. I had to change my ear tip size & it definitely improved sound. However that being said the sound is good but yes I would have liked it to be better at the price point. The main feature I wanted was conversation awareness like the AirPods Pro

Completely unrelated to thread, but i am searching for new headphones (broad term) for running because my powerbeats pro are shitting the bed. I tried on the shokz openfit at bestbuy and i worried that they will just flop and smack my ear while running. Does this happen or do they stay put? Also, sit seemed i would never be able to hear them over, say, the lawn mower the way they sit, would you agree?

Agree! It’s a shame they are discontinued but the can still be found online.

Exactly this happened to me.

i have the og and i’m subscribing to “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” sure it’s missing newer amenities but they work great. not sure what the price difference is but if it’s not much ig just go with the newer ones.

I back this as well. Truly disappointing audio quality and anc. A big step backward.

I watched the YT reviews as well and after buying and experiencing them, I find myself thinking that those reviews were heavily influenced by Beats along the lines of the recent insta360 scandal. The PBP 1’s are definitely superior in terms of audio AND ergonomics (try not accidentally pausing music when adjusting fit on the PBP2’s) and I think that the seal they form around the ear is nearly as good as the bad ANC in the PBP2’s.

Beats Powerbeats pro! I clean mine every time after a workout/run and it has held up for 3 years so far without any issues. They also feel secure with the over the ear hook feature and won’t slide down or fall off like some of the other headphones (looking at you airpods)

Can also confirm, just bought them, tried different tips and it still sounded like crap. Then I tried the old powerbeats pro 1 tips, then it sounded awesome! It totally is because of the tips

I bought and returned these. Still have my AirPod 4’s despite them sometimes falling out doing certain extreme exercises. It’s not so frequent that I NEED workout designed earbuds. I thought the heart rate sensors and more snug fit would keep me more engaged in my workouts but the software implementation of heart rate on iPhone is not front and center, having to use external apps for clear real time data in the background.  Why oh why is Apples health app not updated to support real time heart rate tracking at the tap of a button. Instead an anomalous green light on the earbuds is your only indicator that it’s tracking. I can only assume a better implementation is coming with next AirPod pros, typical Apple. The earbuds still wiggle out of my ears reducing bass response so despite them not falling out it does not keep them tight inside the ear. I have always had this problem with ear tips, ear hooks unfortunately didn’t solve it.  These issues do not pair well with a 250$ price tag and a sound signature that has very little engagement. AirPods 4 sound right, bass response is simply more dynamic in comparison. Soundstage is more engaging as well, I can only assume beats marketing makes you expect an Apple experience that misses the mark on purpose. The only great thing about these is instant paring and long battery life. For heart tracking I may try a chest strap or something, the software implementation for these beats is surprisingly lackluster and unintuitive. Couple workout YouTube channels elaborating on this more.  If you are a highly active person and swayed by all the videos released after the embargo period I would suggest lowering your expectations.  

Full-time glasses wearer here - I love my Powerbeats Pro! The loop over the ear fits fine with my glasses, never had an issue on that front. Plus the battery life is pretty great, I think 8-ish hours with a full charge. And unlike the regular Beats Fit Pro, the Powerbeats Pro have volume control right on the earpiece. While I like the fit of the Beats Fit Pro, you have to use a separate device to control volume (Apple Watch, phone, etc) or set up Siri, which I find all very distracting/disruptive when I'm just needing to adjust the volume quickly.

I couldn’t agree more - these sound terrible. I love the sound profile of the original Powerbeats Pro, but I would like to maybe upgrade to something newer. Does anyone have a recommendation for headphones or earbuds with a similar sound profile to the original Powerbeats Pro?

I couldn’t agree more - these sound terrible. I love the sound profile of the original Powerbeats Pro, but I would like to maybe upgrade to something newer. Does anyone have a recommendation for headphones or earbuds with a similar sound profile to the original Powerbeats Pro?

I returned my Powerbeats Pro 2’s as well. The sound quality wasn’t a major concern for me, but the fact that I could never get them to sit comfortably in my ears, even after trying all the tips, was a significant issue. I had love my Powerbeats Pro 1s, so I was really excited about these. I probably could have learned to live with the fit but not with the high price tag ($270 after tax), especially since the high price seemed to be due to a feature I didn’t even need (heart rate monitor) since I already have an Apple Watch. If they had offered two options, one with and one without the heart rate monitor, for around $50-$75 less, I might have considered it. But ultimately, I couldn’t justify spending $270 on them. I’m quite disappointed. ☹️

I returned my Powerbeats Pro 2’s as well. The sound quality wasn’t a major concern for me, but the fact that I could never get them to sit comfortably in my ears, even after trying all the tips, was a significant issue. I had love my Powerbeats Pro 1s, so I was really excited about these. I probably could have learned to live with the fit but not with the high price tag ($270 after tax), especially since the high price seemed to be due to a feature I didn’t even need (heart rate monitor) since I already have an Apple Watch. If they had offered two options, one with and one without the heart rate monitor, for around $50-$75 less, I might have considered it. But ultimately, I couldn’t justify spending $270 on them. I’m quite disappointed. ☹️

Second this, I've used mine daily for several years and they're great.

I don’t love the highs on mine too. I’m wondering what are the chances that a future firmware update could fix this? I already did the day 1 one, but still don’t love the sound I’m trying to avoid returning them as I don’t have a lot of options for earbuds, they never stay in my ears, but I’m sick of over-ears

Even if I like hold them in my ear with what feels like a perfect seal it sounds so tinny, certain voices in the show I’m watching are like nails on a chalkboard

Do you have a link that explains what I need to do?

AirPods always fall out of my ears when I run so I have the Beats Powerbeats Pro and love them

I agree. The trebles are so sharp that I need to turn the volume down to avoid giving myself a headache or to avoid making myself wince (about 58% loud on iPhone). Doing this to a comfortable level makes the mids quiet and the bass nearly nonexistent (about 48% loud on iPhone). I tried every different bud size, slightly better with the larger ones, but still definitely a driver problem. Shame you can’t adjust the EQ manually. The accessibility settings were basically useless (for this, I’m sure others will find use). They should have kept the insides of the original Pros, swapped to USB-C and reduced the case size and considered it a refresh not an upgrade. The heartbeat sensor is cool, but when the key feature of the headphones, the sound, is bad then what’s the point. I will be returning these and praying my original Pros never break so I don’t get stuck with these again.

Same with me. I tried a few others before because nothing stays in my ears. The Beats stay in even if I’m sweating buckets in the summer or running in the rain battery life is also awesome.

Bought a pair today, going back tomorrow. Impossible to get a good fit/seal with any of the ear tip sizes and sound is not good. The originals I had were much better (other than the charging issues) and my current Beats Fit Pros are much better. Oh well.

Bought a pair today, going back tomorrow. Impossible to get a good fit/seal with any of the ear tip sizes and sound is not good. The originals I had were much better (other than the charging issues) and my current Beats Fit Pros are much better. Oh well.

Absolutely loving the Powerbeats Pro 2, so is my wife

They are Android compatible, and the clip design is great for keeping them on ear even during sweaty runs. I found that the medium ear tips slightly push out after a very sweaty run, so I went up to the large tips and have had zero issues. They are expensive but have great deep sound, and ANC + Transparency mode. But I know some people don’t like how the hooks feel after a while. Food for thought!

I don’t recall having bad wind noise, but lately it’s been cold on my morning runs so I wear an ear warmer over the headphones. Will test this on a run later today though!

If you have a iPhone .. set up the Spatial Audio .. and will sound way better.. I hated the audio compared to my last generation.. soon as I did the spatial setup it’s way better and definitely has better drivers than the last generation

This! The tinny sound is so bad in these that it hurts my ears. EQ'ing doesn't help much either.

I second this as an owner of the PBP 1 & now PBP 2. A bit more adjustment to fit the seal on the PBP 2. I think perhaps it’s due to the PBP 2 buds being lighter in weight and simply not weighing more to press themselves in for a tighter seal. Once sealed, they are fantastic. No complaints and I really like the ANC personally. As a disclaimer, my ANC expectations were low.

I had a pair of dre powerbeats pro for 4 years battery was great. I’d still have them except a dog i watch chewed them to pieces

I mean, if you want to stick with wired you could, you’d only need a headphone jack to USB-C adapter. That being said, Powerbeats Pro 2 is generally safe to recommend for those like you that have a hard time with them staying in. They are pricier, but they’re more of a no compromise product. Anker with their Soundcore brand make the Sport X lineup that I’ve heard some good things about. When it comes down to it, it may be a little bit of trial and error. For me, I find most earbuds to be fine if you wear proper ear tips. For example, AirPods Pro 2 and CMF Buds Pro 2 fit me very well with the right tips.

I love my power beats but my right earbud just refuses to charge 70% of the time

I didn’t realise this was a common issue. What a shame, when they work they are fantastic!

Apple Powerbeats pro and Sennheiser momentum

It’s not you. These are trash in terms of sound. All of the reviews (Tong, Floss, etc) were positive, most said they sounded “as good” as AirPod Pros 2. Some said they were better. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not an audiophile, but I can discern quality sound. To me, this proves that these high-earning YouTube reviewers are either not interested in real reviews, or don’t have the time. They’re just going through the motions — part of the machine. I returned mine to the Apple Store less than an hour after getting them in the mail. I was the first one to return. So I hung out and even tried another one from their stock. It’s anecdotal, but two more people came in to return in the 15-20 minutes I was there. I imagine they’ll be restocking a ton of these. Major, major, major….trash.

CORRECTION | UPDATE - it was the fit after all. I chatted to a journalist who gave a strong review and although I’ve never had seal issues, it was the tips. I ordered a new pair and it turns out the supplied tips are just too shallow for my ears. Slapped on old pi7 large tips (I usually don’t need large) and they sound really, really good. Similar to APP2. Nuts!

I wouldn’t even believe me, I’m such a cynic. But trust me, this worked 1000%. For me, at least. It’s making me rethink my whole identity tbh. I was so sure these were junk. I was wrong.

Yeah well, I was fine bringing my own tips until the case stopped charging the buds tonight (the case is fully charged). Garbage is garbage. Apple spent their money on athletes. Not quality. Going back to the store tonight.

I say the power Beats Pro 2. I have the previous version and they are great. Good sound quality. They are wrap around so they don’t fall out. I wear them for all my runs. Plus the new ones have noise cancellation and passive mode, so you can hear your surroundings on your run. Highly recommend.

Seconded, I’ve had Powerbeats Pro for many years now, I replaced the silicon caps at some point as I lost one, but otherwise a solid product!

Same issue here, they sound awful. I'm on 7B30 so I believe it's the latest firmware. The highs/trebles are pretty harsh (what you would expect for a $15 pair), the "beats" signature with heavy bass is actually non existent somehow. And if you crank the volume past 50% you can start hearing the distortions. I tried with spatial audio turned off etc. I'm using the XS ear tips as I have small ears. I'm going to try replacing the tips with triple or double flange conical ones to see if it helps but might not compatible with the design of the beats casing/shape.

The main reason why I have bought power Beats Pro 2 and I have been using them since day 1 of the launch, is for gym. I have AirPods Pro 2 how ever they don’t stay in my ears when I run or do strength training. Keeps falling off. I tried beats fit pro for sometime but that didn’t work well as my ears started hurting a little from the wing tip that stays inside of your ears unlike power Beats Pro 2. I tried Sony wf1000xm5, I am not sure if the earbuds I received had an issue or it is generally like that( I have seen quite a number reviews of what I experienced ) noise cancellation was pathetic. Then finally Powerbeats pro 2 launched and I purchased it. Happy with the purchase no regrets. It is great fit for gym and running outdoor with noise cancellation close to AirPods Pro 2 with right fit ear tips and transparency mode for outdoor use. You get sizes xs to xl which is great. Sound is not very bass heavy as it used to be in beats and no sound leakage with right sized ear tip. If your primary use is for workout and running this is best especially you use iPhone which works seamlessly with Apple. Purchase from an Apple Store as i don’t think it will be on sale anytime soon and if you not happy with the purchase atleast you can return them. I hope you will find it enjoyable.

Powerbeats pro are so good

The wife and I use the Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless earbuds. They allow sharing of music. They have a loop over the ear and don’t block out road noise, which is a positive for us. They work with my running glasses which have a straight earpiece.

I have used the Beats Powerbeats Pro for years now just for running (same pair!) maybe going on 3 with no issues. They charge and last great. Work wonderful in sweaty summer runs and also winter apparel running… easy to change songs/volume, great sound. They have the over-ear hook thing—- love them!!!

skullcandy dime 3's, $30 new and genuine, better than my $200 piece of shit powerbeats pros that they wanted another $170 to swap fresh batteries for when they stopped holding a charge after a year.

I just got these and found that any sound issues are entirely related to spatial audio. When I turned spatial audio off entirely (no fixed or head tracked), the bass was more punchy and the treble not tinny. It sounded almost exactly the same as my Powerbeats Pro version 1, if not slightly better. And I tested spatial audio both on/off with dolby atmos and lossless apple music tracks vs apple music stereo non-lossless. In all cases, turning on spatial audio messed up the sound. It was fine without spatial audio on -- if not great. I think spatial audio via Apple for stereo headphones is simply collapsing the sound towards the center, and removing punch. It is just an emulation anyway -- so it's fake (like doing dolby digital 5.1 on a stereo track. So I think leave spatial audio off, and these headphones are great.

Might be obvious but I’m a heavy sweater and being using my Apple AirPods Pro for a couple years without any issues. They’re specifically supposed to be suitable for sport

Thanks! I was debating about getting these. I love my OG Powerbeats Pro but just hate how just one earbud isn’t charged or not connected sometimes. Will hold on to these for a while longer!

Powerbeats Pro! No bounce, no falling, great sound, great battery life and no problem with glasses!

I have the wired Earpods, an Airpods 2, an Airpods 4 ANC and now the new Powerbeats Pro 2. From all of them, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sounds the worst. I have small ears, I tried out at least 25 several wireless earbuds within 1,5 years, only the Airpods 2 stays in my ear, and the new Airpods 4. I hate and can’t wear eartips. I think the poor sound quality of the PBP2 is becuse of the eartips. I have small ears, but the Sound Test says, I have a good seal only with the XL sized tip. Weird. The PBP2 should be pushed deep into the ear canal for better sound quality, but the width of the tips doesn’t allow this. So that’s why the sound quality is and will be trash - in my opinion. All earbuds I own sound better than the PBP2. The Airpods 4 ANC is the best, Earpods is 2nd, Airpods 2 is 3rd for me. But also a simple 12$ Redmi Buds 6 Active sounds better. Really.

Powerbeats Pro 2 absolutely SUCK ASS comparted to Powerbeats Pro Worst waste of $300 EVER. Total garbage.

I bought one of each color and purple sounded amazing while all else sounded like $5 earbuds. Very disappointed. Worst product ive had and they had like 4 years to work on this

Powerbeats Pro 2. Lightweight, crazy battery life, ANC, and transparency mode.

I would ignore the original Powerbeats Pro. They are really old and are missing a lot of nice to have features (ANC, transparency, Spatial Audio with head tracking, etc).  Instead if you want Beats you should choose between the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2, which have a different form factor (wing tip vs ear hook) but a mostly similar feature set. And for that it really just comes down to which one fits better for you and provides better sound quality and noise control (ANC, Transparency). You won’t know which one is better for you unless you try them both out. 

I would ignore the original Powerbeats Pro. They are really old and are missing a lot of nice to have features (ANC, transparency, Spatial Audio with head tracking, etc).  Instead if you want Beats you should choose between the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro 2, which have a different form factor (wing tip vs ear hook) but a mostly similar feature set. And for that it really just comes down to which one fits better for you and provides better sound quality and noise control (ANC, Transparency). You won’t know which one is better for you unless you try them both out. 

So you’ve tried ear buds with a wing tip and they wouldn’t stay in?  In my experience the Fit Pro provides an even more stable and secure fit than the Powerbeats Pro 2. But I’ll still adjusting to the fit of Powerbeats Pro 2, as they are the first earbuds I’ve ever used with an earhook. 

Beats powerbeats pro... But I've switched to no headphones, and it's actually not as bad as I expected😂 My breathing has been more structured,

Try the PBP2 and see if they work for you first. If you’re able to get a precise fit, they’re pretty great, but they’re very dependent on you getting a good, precise fit, otherwise they don’t sound great. Otherwise, if you buy them from Apple, you can return it within 14 days, no questions asked. For me, they fit very well with the XL tips and noise cancellation is nearly as good as my APP2, while sound quality is somewhere between the BFP (try those too, wing tips are great) and APP2. I can’t recommend the PBP1. They have amazing sound but they’re very old, have connectivity issues, and have a long standing problem with charging consistently in their case. If you want an alternative, try the Beats Fit Pro. You’ll be surprised how well they fit.

Yeah I returned mine. Could never got a good fit and I tried every singe tip size. The highs were so harsh and I was shocked at how bad they sounded for $250 headphones. Picked up some AirPods 4 instead and am 1000x more happy with them.

https://a.co/d/ftN8m7P The Beats Powerbeats Pro are my forever workout headphones. Been using them for years now and they never move.

I returned mine too. Wanted to love them but the sound is ass. Went back to Powerbeats pro 1s

I personally say don't go cheap (doesn't sound like you are). So I've loved my Powerbeats Pro. Over the ear and stays nice and snug. Sound quality has been very good for me. Only downside is that after nearly 4 years of use (2,000+ miles), they are having trouble charging in the case. I've also used them a lot watching movies and videos. They came with different sized silicone caps for the ears as well. I've also liked Shokz. My wife recently got the swimming ones, and I have borrowed them for swimming and running. I like the sound quality and feel like I can still hear the world around me. The charger also attaches magnetically, which is very nice. Hoping to upgrade to those fairly soon. Only downside is figuring out how to get the MP3s (SwimPro version only). But that was easy enough using a Spotify-MP3 conversion site.

What are you looking for? For me I would pick both the Powerbeats Pro 2 and BFP over the APP2 but it's simply because the APP do not fit well in my ears. If they did fit my ears well I would pick them over the PP2 but not the BFP. BFP sound better and have physical controls which I prefer over squeeze controls. If you need good ANC (BFP isn't bad but APP is better), wireless charging, or prefer having a better case then APP are better. I still pick BFP over APP even if APP had good fit because I don't care about wireless charging or having a kinda flimsy case

Agree that the sound profile is not great—too shrill on the trebles, and if your ear tips don’t fit just right, the bass can sound far away. Having said that, the orange is pretty. I will keep them for travel, where I don’t care quite as much about the music and the podcasts, etc. are fine.

After trying several, Powerbeats Pro finally worked for me.

Beats Powerbeats Pro. Everything else would fall out of my ear mid-set.

Powerbeats Pro 2. You don’t have to worry about them falling out.

I tried many ear buds. The only ones I could keep in my ear are the Beats Powerbeats Pro. They wrap around the ear. I tried headphones once, but I didn’t like it.

I’ve gone through a similar struggle with finding the right pair of earbuds for running, especially when it comes to a secure fit and good sound quality. It’s frustrating when you think you've found "the one" and then it just doesn't work during intense runs or doesn’t hold up against sweat. From my experience, I ended up loving the Beats Powerbeats Pro. They stay in place no matter how intense the run, and the sound is solid—clear highs and punchy bass without feeling overwhelming. They’re sweat-resistant too.

When I think about the perfect earbuds for running and workouts, a few key things really stand out. First off, the fit is everything. There’s nothing worse than constantly adjusting earbuds while you’re moving around. I love ones with ear hooks or adjustable tips, like the Jabra Elite Active 75t or Powerbeats Pro—they stay in place no matter how intense the workout gets. Water and sweat resistance are a must too. I’ve had earbuds die on me because I didn’t pay attention to the water resistance rating, so I now always look for something with at least an IPX4 rating. The Beats Fit Pro or Jaybird Vista 2 are solid choices for this—they’re tough enough to handle a sweaty gym session or a run in the rain. Sound quality is another big one. I need earbuds that deliver clear audio, especially when I’m trying to get into the zone. Bose Sport Earbuds and Sony WF-SP800N both give great sound, with enough bass to keep me pumped up. Battery life is always a factor too. I want something that lasts at least a few hours and has a charging case for those longer sessions. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro and JBL Reflect Flow are great for that. If I’m running outside, I need to hear my surroundings, so I really appreciate earbuds with transparency mode, like the AirPods Pro or Sony WF-1000XM4. They let me enjoy my music but still stay aware of what's going on around me. Lastly, touch controls and voice assistant features make life so much easier. I don’t want to fiddle with buttons when I’m in the middle of a workout, so being able to control everything with a tap or my voice is a game-changer. When all these things come together, you get earbuds that just work. What about you? What kind of earbuds do you prefer when you’re running outdoors or working out in the gym?

If you're looking for gym earbuds, I'd recommend the Jabra Elite Active 75t and Beats Powerbeats Pro.The Jabra earbuds are sweatproof, stay in place during intense workouts, and have solid bass for that extra motivation. They also offer just the right amount of noise isolation without completely blocking out the environment. The Beats Powerbeats Pro are super secure with their over-ear hooks, perfect for weight training. They have great bass, are sweatproof, and have long battery life. They’re a bit bulkier but stay put no matter how intense your session gets.

I use the my Max’s when taking public transportation or flying. The noise cancellation is unreal. However they can be a bit overkill and look out of place in quieter settings like coffee shops, libraries and the like. For those situations I prefer the Pros. For exercising the all metal Max are a just too heavy and move around too much even when doing less ballistic exercises like powerlifting movements. If you like that over ear sound quality and noise cancellation the Beats Studio Pros are pretty light and work if you’re not changing directions abruptly. Think squats, bench press, power walking. For running and explosive movements like the Olympic lifts the Beats Powerbeat Pros with the ear hooks have never fallen out. I’ve had both the AirPod Pros and even the Beats Fit Pros with the mini ear hooks fall out on a run or doing power cleans or overhead snatches several times.

I know beats don't have the greatest reputation but after being a audiophile nerd for years but just wanting solid sports headphones, the Beats Powerbeats Pro absolutely slap

Agreed. I’m returning mine. They sound awful!

I'm an audiophile and I've been through quite a bit of true wireless earbuds and headphones. I just recently purchased the Powerbeats Pro 2. I definitely understand the concerns with the sound. I would say that the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a more balanced sound profile, as compared to my Beats Fit Pro, which are a little more bass heavy. I actually like the punchiness of the Powerbeats Pro 2, but I would agree that they are a bit more pronounced in the mids and highs, providing a little bit of air and defined treble. But again, I still feel they have a balanced sound profile, and not too bass heavy. The H2 chip is amazing, just like in the Airpods Pro 2. In regards to the harshness or sound quality some users are complaining about, I also experienced this at first. But if you are experiencing harshness or sound quality issues, I highly recommend going up a size in ear tips. It's likely that these users do not have the proper ear tip fit. The goal is to get a good seal in your ear canal, and this harshness that we are experiencing is due to an improper seal and leakage. The Ear Tip Fit Test is pretty accurate, but if you are not consistently passing the test, you definitely should try going up in ear tip size. Once I got a good seal, the harshness I was experiencing diminished and the sound quality was great. Another piece of advice is to make sure that you are wearing them properly. I find this video on YouTube by r/SoundGuys to be great at showing how to wear them properly: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExLfk2\_0AVs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExLfk2_0AVs) Regarding the latest firmware, I see some comments mentioning that. It's always good to make sure you are on the latest firmware, but I think the root of the issue is finding a proper fit and seal. I hope this helps.

Hello universal_cereal. I got my PBP 2 as well the first day they launched and yeah the sound quality is worst the my original pbp. I read through this conversation and I’m gonna try to figure out if indeed it’s the tip fit. I’ll also contact apple support and let you know if there were able to help

So I’m speaking to them right now and I reseted them checked the speakers changed out the tips and they still don’t sound as good as my pbp 1s. They said they’re gonna send me a box to check them and figure out the issue. I asked them if I could just get a new pair but they have to inspect them to see if they will replace it :/

Hello universal_cereal. I got my PBP 2 as well the first day they launched and yeah the sound quality is worst the my original pbp. I read through this conversation and I’m gonna try to figure out if indeed it’s the tip fit. I’ll also contact apple support and let you know if there were able to help

So I’m speaking to them right now and I reseted them checked the speakers changed out the tips and they still don’t sound as good as my pbp 1s. They said they’re gonna send me a box to check them and figure out the issue. I asked them if I could just get a new pair but they have to inspect them to see if they will replace it :/

I wear glasses and have the Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds. They do NOT budge and do not fall out of my ears like the galaxy buds I had before these. A more budget friendly version is the Sport X20 by Anker, True-Wireless Workout Earbuds. They're also great (my partner has them and I've recommended them to a friend who loves them). I just find the part that goes over the ear a little too flexible so it nudges my glasses more than I prefer. Other than that, they are pretty solid and I'd use them if I didn't wear glasses!

Just updated mine, they sound OK. Behind my APM and APPs in sound quality. But these are for being active running, working out, and just staying in your ear. I’ll keep my PBP2s just for those purposes.

May be a bad set, might return or try another set.

Update: I've opted for the PBP2. Ordered tonight direct from Beats/Apple, with full intention of returning them if they simply aren't for me. But I'm hoping that they are. Long Story? Popped by a Liquidation Store, had some Powerbeats Pro's for $120 CAD. Very reasonable price. Gave 'em a go, they were . . . fine. Couldn't get a good fit, could only get a decent sound if I physically pressed them into my ear . . . they were fine. I returned within 30 mins, decided to move on from those. Tried my wife's Beats Studio Buds. The sound was insanely better. Much louder - bass hit better . . they were better. However, they were falling out of my ears with the slightest movement just sitting on the couch watching TV. No good, I'm out. I ordered the PBP2's on the spot. However, I wish I took another 30 mins, and watched the reviews of the Beats Pro Fit's before I did . . . likely would have just ordered those . . . however, I'm excited for the PBP2's. Here's hoping I don't want to return them. If I do, I'll just order the Pro Fit's. Cheers!

Thanks. It would be the Powerbeats Pro 2. Fit Pro look interesting, but again, I simply cant' wear ear buds. Have never stayed in my ear no matter what I do.

Yes. I love them for the Gym and Hiking. Around the house I prefer my Studio 3s. Powerbeats Pro 2s are the perfect fitness headphone for me. If I lost them, I would replace them immediately with another set of Powerbeats Pro 2s.

You have to really push the ear tip into the ear with these. My OG PB1 didn't require much adjusting because the ear tip is longer. The PB2 have a shorter tip and I have to grab the ear bud and rotate it to direct the tip in more to get a good seal. L worked for me.

I had PBP until they died and loved them. I got Beat Fits Pro after that and they were goodish not as good as the OG PBP. The PBP 2 are just disappointing. Wish I would have returned them when I was in the window to do so.

I’m having to take mine back to the Apple Store. Randomly my right ear bud started to disconnect and after going through some trouble shooting I forgot this device but now what’s happening is the right ear bud won’t charge at all. Cleaned etc… ( taken into consideration that these are 11 days old and I’ve not used them every day). With the right earbud not making connection at all I can’t even get the case to connect either lol. Oh the sound, don’t get me started on that one. Going to return them, stick to my older power Beats 1. Over rated crap, no idea what MKHBD was on about.

Agree, literally disappointed with the audio! Seems like they weren’t event tested before being manufactured :(

Preparing to do the same aswell

Similar experience in the gym, they actually ruined the workout lol

I’ve worn Powerbeats Pro for the past 3 years with a lot of success. I’m like you in that I need something around my ears or something that isn’t just a bud. When I did research on it 3 years ago they were one of the best options. I will say that if you go this route, just wait until the new Powerbeats Pro 2 comes out. PbP have a really crappy charging case where the headphones have to be perfectly placed in there otherwise they won’t charge at all. Supposedly this will be fixed with the second version coming out in 2025.

I agree I preferred the PBPs....I did a test with both on purchase...one in each ear and switching between them. I gotta be honest though...after a month of use....I can't even remember the difference and they sound fine/good

Same here. Maybe I had the wrong tips in, but I used them on a plane today and the ANC was awful. Could still hear the plane engines and the music sounded super tinny. Def not worth 250 for awful sound on a plane

Powerbeats Pro. Can probably find a good deal since a newer version just came out

My 5 year old Powerbeats have more of a studio sound feel than these Powerbeats Pro 2. Was very disappointed in them. Tried messing with the settings all day yesterday.

This is already outdated- there’s a Powerbeats Pro 2 that are significantly better than the original. Just got them for running and they’re incredible for anyone who has issues with earbuds falling out/sweats a lot.

Damn mine arrive today and my pbp are still working from 2020. Will have to compare

Yea I by no means am an audiophile. Literally just use them for the gym. I had a slight issue with my pbp like 2 months ago with the left not charging but it works now. In the meantime I bought a pair of skullcandy push anc and the sound quality was immediately noticeable to me as being worse than pbp and like I said I'm pretty casual. So if I notice it the quality is definitely worse. Will let you know what I think.

So the main noticeable difference for me is the bass. The pbp 1 definitely have more bass. Outside of that they sound pretty similar to me

Really hard for me to say. I primarily use headphones for the gym and that's it. Don't really listen to music on them outside of yard work or the gym so I'm about as casual listener as you can find. Listening to a few songs and swapping between pbp 1 and 2 I really couldn't tell much of a difference in audio quality. I did swap to XL for pbp 2 and now feel they pretty much sound the same as pbp 1 with still maybe slight less bass but it's barely different if at all to my ears. Don't need the HR monitor and I'm not a runner or anything so I don't even really need ANC. Starting to wonder if these are even worth the upgrade since my pbp 1 still work fine. I also don't even think they're any more or less comfortable than pbp 1. The case being smaller is nice but I always keep them in my gym bag so that doesn't matter. I'm an android user so USB- C over apple charging port is nice.

Also had this issue! Gave up on them about 6 months ago. The sound quality and fit / comfort was great though.

I’ve enjoyed the Beats Powerbeats Pro for several years. Used daily on walks, hikes, and other excursions. Not sure about ANC and are probably just a bit above your range.

I live in fear that mine will break/die and that will be the day I find out that they discontinued the line.

And now you have heard that they work great! Good luck!

That feeling of panic when you put your powerbeats pro in your ear, and it feels uncomfortable in one ear...

Neither. I still have the original PBP’s, those lasted like a year or so before they started malfunctioning. Left bud turns off and shows 0% battery even if it’s fully charged. PBP 2, just read the reviews about how poor sound quality is. My suggestion? Go for the Beats Fit Pro. Good ANC, sound quality similar to the original PBPs, great fit for the gym and battery life is great.

Neither. I still have the original PBP’s, those lasted like a year or so before they started malfunctioning. Left bud turns off and shows 0% battery even if it’s fully charged. PBP 2, just read the reviews about how poor sound quality is. My suggestion? Go for the Beats Fit Pro. Good ANC, sound quality similar to the original PBPs, great fit for the gym and battery life is great.

I bought the PBP2 to be my daily drivers for the gym as well. I returned them yesterday due to how terrible the sound was. I tried every trick, messing with Spatial Audio, turning it off, different ear tip sizes, Apple Music vs Spotify, nothing helped to bring them near the level of AirPod Pro 2s. The ANC was terrible too. I went to warm up on a rowing machine and could hear everything around me. I thought it was a fluke and turned off ANC, then back on, and still could hear everything, including treadmills and stairmasters that had steady motor noise. I loved the original Powerbeat Pros until my right earbud stopped charging. It’s a common complaint with them. They also pretty consistently sucked at connecting to my phone. I would have to take them out of the charging case multiple times sometimes to get them to work. These would be a filler option imho. Honestly, if you can wait for a DEEP discount on the PBP2 or a fix for the sound quality and ANC, I would. I’m keeping them in mind if Apple intends to improve the product through software. But right now, I’m just going to rock my old APP2.

I bought the PBP2 to be my daily drivers for the gym as well. I returned them yesterday due to how terrible the sound was. I tried every trick, messing with Spatial Audio, turning it off, different ear tip sizes, Apple Music vs Spotify, nothing helped to bring them near the level of AirPod Pro 2s. The ANC was terrible too. I went to warm up on a rowing machine and could hear everything around me. I thought it was a fluke and turned off ANC, then back on, and still could hear everything, including treadmills and stairmasters that had steady motor noise. I loved the original Powerbeat Pros until my right earbud stopped charging. It’s a common complaint with them. They also pretty consistently sucked at connecting to my phone. I would have to take them out of the charging case multiple times sometimes to get them to work. These would be a filler option imho. Honestly, if you can wait for a DEEP discount on the PBP2 or a fix for the sound quality and ANC, I would. I’m keeping them in mind if Apple intends to improve the product through software. But right now, I’m just going to rock my old APP2.

Just retuned mines, def not worth the $250.

Beats Powerbeats Pro

Gotcha. You could always look on eBay or FB marketplace to see if you can find some used. I’ve been jumping for 5-6 years and they’ve lasted the whole time. Never fallen out once. IMO worth the investment even new.

Exact same experience here. They sound poor and treble is almost painful. Especially when turning up volume beyond 60%.

I’ll give them a look. I’ve tried all sizes. Tried the tipless AirPods, and the only thing that doesn’t fall out are earbuds [like these](https://www.bestbuy.com/site/beats-powerbeats-pro-totally-wireless-earbuds-black/6341988.p?skuId=6341988). I’m not sure why. Thank you very much :>

As you said, it's all preference and different people have different preferences, but let me just say: Beats Powerbeats Pro. The design means that all of the weight of the earbud doesn't have to be held up by "insertion force" into the ear canal. And, when it's a less noisy environment, you can wear them a bit "less inserted" and they hardly feel like anything.

Just returned my PbP2 today. The ANC is basically transparency mode. The size and weight is amazing of these headphones but the beats fit pro ANC is superior and still #1 over the airpods/other headphones I think they intentionally left them out of top tier functionality in order to have people come back to upgrade/order a 3rd gen version in the future.

Brand name aside, the Beats Fit Pros. They're near the middle of my list for sound quality, but take the top spot for security of fit and comfort for activity. Comparing against the best sounding sets, like the Technics AZ80, Denon Perl Pro, Sennheiser TW Momentum 4, they're overall fairly average and fall below those sets. ANC is also subpar compared to the current top contenders, like the QC Ultra, XM5s, and APP2. That said, if you want a set that will stay in while active, they're the easy choice. Another user mentioned the Powerbeats Pros, and those were my top pick before the Beats Fit Pros launched. I would prefer we got an upgrade to that set instead, as the ear hook design will always be superior. I believe that upgrade is coming eventually, as it has been rumored for a while.

Just got mine, tested them a bit in direct comparison to the AirPods Pro 2. "Tinny" describes the sound best, I think. Had the constant urge to push them into my ear canal further (yes, tested different size tips) in order to make the bass sound fuller. Increasing the volume quickly lead to the treble being painful and the bass not really improving much. Shame, wanted something I can wear on the bike a little bit more safely than the AirPods. But not with that sound quality/ price (and limited feature set, to be honest - though that would not be a deal breaker for me)

I need to weigh in as a Beats Fit Pro user and someone who never used the original PBP1’s. When I first put the PBP2’s in they immediately sounded terrible, like a tin can, and my response was “return these immediately”. Two days later, playing with different ear tips, and adjusting the angles how they sit in the ear I can tell you these are great buds. It’s all about the fit and making sure you play around with the ear tip test to make sure you have the right seal. Once you do, these come to life. I hope there are not too many people returning these immediately as was my first reaction. Now how much better are they than the Beats Fit Pro on sound? I would say 10-15%, but noticeable. The beats fit pro’s have been my daily workout driver for three years and I love the fit and sound. Do they have the latest tech no, and the PBP2’s definitely have all the latest bells and whistles which differentiate them enough to keep them as part of my collection. I can tell you these PBP2’s are growing on me and the sound was full and rich on my morning run. My takeaway here is they don’t sound amazing I would definitely play with the seal and fit for a bit. Some combinations didn’t feel good at first but I think I found my perfect size now. Initial thoughts for anyone looking to return them immediately, give it time, but it is true everyone’s ears are different and only you will know if they make sense. Am I eagerly anticipating the Beats Fit Pro 2’s, absolutely, but I can see a place for both because I am a workout earbud junkie. Hope this helps anyone that had first doubts about the PBP2’s to be a bit more patient as the fit/seal out of the box did make them feel like $50 headphones. Now if I can just get this heart rate monitoring to work…

I wear an older version of the Beats Powerbeats Pro for a couple of reasons. First, they are sweat resistant which is a huge plus if you get sweaty when you run/workout like I do. Also, they do not fall out like my AirPods Pro have when I worked out with them. They are totally secure.

I spent 40 dollars on a pair of Jlabs and they sound so much more better that my Powerbeats pro 2. Idk why but my standards for ear buds are through the roof so maybe that's why I'm so harsh on them

I couldn’t agree more. I was so excited i bought the OGs on launch day in 2019…. Fast forward and this week I was refreshing my UPS link every 10 minutes… I can’t believe they thought this was their answer to the 6 year wait…

Wow I did the exact same thing, and had the exact same takeaway, I’m also super torn because I was so excited and I still love the way these fit, and look, and of course the case. I was so excited at the prospect of drowning out gym music during quiet parts of my songs… but I can’t unnotice how small they sound … it sounds like really nice phone speakers … tinny as hell .. and just because the bass is louder, doesn’t make it richer or deeper

Same. I really hope apple / beats takes notice and releases an updated version… I’ll happily buy them again… also not having double flanged tip option kills me. It’s the perfect design for getting deep in the ear but keeping the wider opening sealed. And I think even with the hook and the XL tips, the seal gets loose

I returned mine today too…I’m a headphone person and compared them to fit pro..AirPods pro 2, xm5, etc….the pbp2 sounded terrible compared to these and the fit pro sounded way better to me. Plus they were hurting my ears after about 15 mins of use. I wanted to keep them but just couldn’t Justify the purchase. I don’t need the hr cause I have an Apple Watch too….

Sorry this is an old thread, but this convinced me not to upgrade my Pro Gen 1’s, which actually replaced my dying AirPod Pro Gen 1’s for gym/productivity. I guess I might just look back into other IEM’s like Kiwi’s Orchestra Lites.

I’ve been using the Powerbeats pro 2 for years and they are the most comfortable and secure for me by far. The sound quality isn’t amazing but it’s decent and they let some outside noise in but that’s not a bad thing outdoors. I have weird shaped ear holes and anything that doesn’t go over ear falls out for me during even light jogging. Powerbeats stayed in during the most intense heavy bag workouts and have dealt with torrential sweat.

I back this comment. The sound absolutely sucks. It’s insane that these made it to market sounding so bad.

I loved my Beats Powerbeats pro. They did not come off when I did HIIT/yoga/weight training, jogging. They also did not give me ear fatigue after 1hr+. I lost the left side down the drain so I had to get something else. If Beats Fit Pro don’t hurt your ears after wearing them for a long period of time, I’d say that’s the best option. They hurt my ears so I went with the AirPod pro and they do fall off once in a while even when I do yoga.

I love them! They never fall out.

New and Powerbeats pro 2 are incredible and feel Comfortable for hours on end.

I use Powerbeats pro 2. They're rock solid in my ear, no troubles with water and the ANC is pretty decent

I absolutely loved the beats fit pro, you should give those a try. But beware, the wing takes a few days for your ears to get used to. There’s also the Powerbeats pro 2, which I think outclass the beats fit pro in features, but I thought the fit pro sounded better. Take my sound opinion with a grain of salt though. Either of those 2 pairs should do

While that might be true, larger drivers can push more air and have more bass potential by design. What companies do with that is what matters more but a 9.5 mm driver has substantially less surface area than a 12mm driver, so it has to work harder to create equivalent bass energy. PBP2 and BFP both having the same driver size now and similar acoustic chambers is probably why they sound so similar. I work with audio gear all the time as a musician and driver sizes are something that matters, but not to a large extent outside of things like subwoofers and stage speakers.

Agreed. Sound quality and ANC both really poor. The influencers/reviewers pretty much talking rubbish when they say sound quality as good as APP2.

I like anker soundcore sport. They wrap around and have a good battery life. Decent noise transparency.  A lot of folks love their aftershokz.  Hates the beats sport with passion.  I have to use ear buds that wrap around the ears. 

One of them would randomly not charge in the case and would reverse charge. They would also drop connection with my garmin at least once per run. 

I will never own beats again after my experience with their sports earbuds. 

No. They were owned by Apple. They would constantly not charge or only one would charge. I would also lose Bluetooth with my garmin if I dropped my arms to walk. And sometimes for no reason as well. 

Yes pros. I’ve never dropped with any other headphone.  The powerbeat pros sucked, and I will never buy beats again. I’ve never had worse sports headphones than those. 

All my issues were known issues. It wasn’t unique to my set. And Apple was crappy about it.   And replacing something due to design flaws doesn’t help. It wasn’t a lemon. They were just poorly Designed. 

I'm pretty much feeling the exact same way as OP. I REALLY wanted to love these things, but when I put them in, at first, I didn't feel like there was much bass at all, so I increased the volume, and the tinny highs were borderline painful on my ears. Went on YouTube to see if there was anyone else having this issue, and some dude is just aggressively attacking anyone that says these aren't the best earbuds ever because they use the same driver or some nonsense, in other words, don't believe your lying ears. Seeing a lot of these comments though on Amazon and Bestbuy and even YouTube in addition to here, so it's definitely a widespread problem. I didn't say anything to my wife, I told her to check these out, she normally utilizes the fit pro's, and she immediately scrunched her face up, and shook her head saying she didn't care for them at all. We both agree that the originals and fit pro's sound better than these, maybe we're both just crazy?! Glad to see that some people enjoy them, and I'm jealous of that too, because I really wanted to keep them, I like the ear hooks, but I think I'll be returning these, they don't sound like $250 earbuds in my humble opinion, and that tinny sound actually hurts and distracts me from my workout, rather than helping me power through it. I too expected these to be amazing after all of the reviews, I'm just left stunned over just how terrible mine sound.

I liked using the double flange seals on the original Powerbeats pro so I was a little disappointed that these did not have that as an option. I tried putting the ones from my og powerbeats and they worked but dont fit in the charger with the double seals on (too long). I was able to get good sound with the large seals but I miss the double flange seal as I feel it really created the best sound.

I liked using the double flange seals on the original Powerbeats pro so I was a little disappointed that these did not have that as an option. I tried putting the ones from my og powerbeats and they worked but dont fit in the charger with the double seals on (too long). I was able to get good sound with the large seals but I miss the double flange seal as I feel it really created the best sound.

It depends on how much you effort and expense you want to endure -- this kind of experience almost always is because of poor fit which usually different (i.e., third party) ear tips can remedy. I had problems with the OG Powerbeats Pro with all of the stock tips as they don't seal properly and had to buy third-party tips which fit my weird ears better. This is common for me for many earphones, both wired and wireless.

I've used the pbp1 for years and have held off on the 2s due to the very mixed reviews. Unless you absolutely must have anc, if you can find a pair at a good discount I think they are still pretty good. I wish there was more of a market for earhook style buds I also just cant wear regular buds. You are basically stuck between powerbeats or much cheaper and crappier options.

I do a lot of calisthenics and I need something that will stay in my ear no matter what. So I’m using the pb pro 2. I’d say try them . They solved the connectivity and charging issues and if you can get a good fit they’re golden

I just got the Powerbeats Pro 2 and tested that, my gf couldn’t even tell I was outside! Let alone keeping up with traffic (20ish mph no wind noise could be heard)

I think it would been faster and easier to google that, but in ear.

I absolutely agree with this suggestion. I’ve had mine for years and love them so much. I’ve been looking for a replacement since my mic no longer works for calls but outside of that issue they are still great!

Idk how this is possible. I am an audiophile and know audio and technical specs and the components they are made with and I find this as close to as impossible as anything could be. You should go return them then cuz they are defective cuz according to the specs there is no way. I’ve been waiting for these to be made for so long I still use my Powerbeats pro OG headphones and these have 10 plus different massive improvements over these. Idk what your expectations were but they’re still headphones it’s not gonna sound like a $20,000 focal 12.2 audio system it can only reach a certain frequency range but that’s constrained literally by the laws of physics there’s a limit on what they can do no matter what tech goes in them.

It’s more DSP and audio source fidelity than anything requiring a firmware update or any modified fit besides what’s most comfortable tho a minor tweak in DSP settings might be needed to compensate for different figment adjustments.

Turn off Spatial Audio to reduce the treble and the tiny sound. They sound much better with it off.

Second this! I’ve got these and regular power beats (with the wire between the buds) that I can’t bear to get rid of so I use them during outdoor workouts that I’m afraid of loosing one of the others

I also back these comments. Returned mine because they do indeed so awful. Keeping my Powerbeats Pro Gen 1 for the gym because they sound great (way better than the new ones) and they're comfortable. OP, much like you I watched the YouTube reviews and was sold on them. I've been excited about them for months now and I wanted to love them. But they really truly do sound THAT bad. Like free earbuds you get from an airline. But the only way you'll really know it's to try them. If they sound great and the fit is good, awesome! If youre not happy with them, you have 14 days to return them. So no harm in trying them!

Just got my PBP 2, and I can't believe how awful they sound. There is no way I can justify spending $250 on these and I will returning them. Hell, my OG Powerbeats Pro sound better. I first tried them with the tips they were shipped with and my jaw hit the floor, couldn't believe how bad they sounded. Like listening through a tin can. So I did the ear fit test and it told me I had a poor seal, which lead my to try the L and XL. The XL ended up sounding a little bit better (fuller bass/mids) but the highs were so harsh and distorted. It was almost unbearable. And yes, I'm using Apple Music on lossless (not that lossless really matters for these but my point still stands). I tried several different songs/types of music and keep switching between my OG PBP and these, and the OG PBP blow them out of the water in regards to sound. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I've been looking forward to these for a long time now, following all the updates and reviews on this sub. If anyone has any suggestions other than the XL ear tips I'm open for them, I just can't believe how horrible these sound after the reviews hyped them up. EDIT: I retuned them today (2/19/2025) to the Apple Store. Was chatting with two Apple Employees when one asked me why I was returning them. I said something to the effect of "I'm not trying to rip on Apple or anything, but these are the worst sounding earbuds I've ever used. And I own APP 2, OG PBP, and AirPods 4. And I love them all". The guy understood and said they appreciated the feedback (I know, that's his job lol). But, the girl looked at me and said "omg don't feel bad. I've been hearing the same thing from a lot of my coworkers, they're telling me the highs are harsh and they don't like the way they sound". I thanked her for being honest and I thought it was pretty cool for her to share that with me. Made me feel less crazy lol, since there are a lot of people here on Reddit who think the PBP 2 are the best earbuds ever lol. TLDR: Even some Apple Employees think they sound bad.

Ok, mine updated and honestly I don't notice much of a difference. It has to be the size and shape of my ears, although I have no problems with my APP 2 and PBP gen 1. Directly comparing these to gen 1, the mids and highs sound tinny and distorted, like a cheap $5 pair of earbuds. Bass is ok I guess, but I can't get past the poor mids/highs. Another thing that makes me think it's my ears is the poor noise cancelling. Doesn't drown out much of anything and I don't notice a big difference between it being on or off, which means the tips aren't sealing or have a poor seal- which ultimately leads to poor sound. Maybe it's just me lol. I'm glad everyone else likes them, not gonna I'm a little jealous😂

Just got my PBP 2, and I can't believe how awful they sound. There is no way I can justify spending $250 on these and I will returning them. Hell, my OG Powerbeats Pro sound better. I first tried them with the tips they were shipped with and my jaw hit the floor, couldn't believe how bad they sounded. Like listening through a tin can. So I did the ear fit test and it told me I had a poor seal, which lead my to try the L and XL. The XL ended up sounding a little bit better (fuller bass/mids) but the highs were so harsh and distorted. It was almost unbearable. And yes, I'm using Apple Music on lossless (not that lossless really matters for these but my point still stands). I tried several different songs/types of music and keep switching between my OG PBP and these, and the OG PBP blow them out of the water in regards to sound. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I've been looking forward to these for a long time now, following all the updates and reviews on this sub. If anyone has any suggestions other than the XL ear tips I'm open for them, I just can't believe how horrible these sound after the reviews hyped them up. EDIT: I retuned them today (2/19/2025) to the Apple Store. Was chatting with two Apple Employees when one asked me why I was returning them. I said something to the effect of "I'm not trying to rip on Apple or anything, but these are the worst sounding earbuds I've ever used. And I own APP 2, OG PBP, and AirPods 4. And I love them all". The guy understood and said they appreciated the feedback (I know, that's his job lol). But, the girl looked at me and said "omg don't feel bad. I've been hearing the same thing from a lot of my coworkers, they're telling me the highs are harsh and they don't like the way they sound". I thanked her for being honest and I thought it was pretty cool for her to share that with me. Made me feel less crazy lol, since there are a lot of people here on Reddit who think the PBP 2 are the best earbuds ever lol. TLDR: Even some Apple Employees think they sound bad.

Second this. Had my pair for 3 years and not had a single issue

That seal is everything with these. With these I found you have to really twist them way in the ear to get that seal. Sometimes going 1 size smaller helps with this however you have to twist and push way in the ear which most people don’t like. It’s literally the difference between garbage sound or glorious sound. This is such an issue with Apple and other companies that make in ear buds. The only way around it is try another company or use a traditional headphones set which completely defeats the purpose of buds.

neither of those 2, they will fall out powerbeats pro/pro 2 will stay in no matter what

Powerbeats Pro. Besides the usual things other options also have like good sound quality and ear hooks, these also have easy to use physical buttons, so you can play/pause and change tracks and volume without having to reach for your phone.

I second this, I own or have owned airpod gen 1, airpod pro 1, airpod pro 2, studio pros and now these. most wired cheap chinese IEMs would outclass these in terms of sound so I never went searching for that in the first place. my two cents: sounds meh, nothing offensive, maybe the treble if the eartips are two small or not securely fit. I think the airpod pro 2s sound a hair better (full or richer?\_) and are more comfortable for me at least for longer durations. But I do think airpod pro 3 could be way better so I'll stop the praise here. Powerbeats pro 2 starts hurting my ears after a couple of hours but these are my first workout buds so I'm very happy with the secure fit. I never owned the previous generation so I cannot compare. The only thing that sucks is the price. I guess that's the Apple tax for slick UX.

The powerbeats pro 2 are essentially airpod pro 2’s with ear hooks

I have weirdly shaped ears and AirPods always fell out. But I’ve had the PowerBeats Pro and really love them. Only thing is they start to die out after about 2 years which is pretty sad considering the price. That said it got me more active so I consider it an overall win.

Ok. I was just about to return these after the redoing the settings, update, changing ear tips and it was still crap. Sounded like cheap earbuds until I unpaired it and re-paired it and now it works just like it should finally! To those having problems try to pair and re-pair it. It worked magically for me after that. I was THIS close to chucking them at the wall….lol

After changing the tips, did the bass become heavier and fuller or no? Mine sound like they have very cheap bass.

Man, I’m so pissed. I can’t even return mine because of hygiene reasons/laws. I’m so disappointed. I so regret this purchase. The highs are pretty cheap imho, not unbearable, but the bass is so flat i cannot enjoy my workout.

Shokz are open ear headphones and therefore, sound quality will not be as good as in ear earphones or over the ear headphones. If you must have your ears open to listen to the external/surrounding sounds, then get Shokz. If you are looking for excellent sound quality and want to close the world around you and surround yourself with sound, then get earphones with a hook, so that they can’t keep falling off your ear. I have several and my favorite are Powerbeats Pro (the original/first version) and the Powerbeats 4 (wires connecting both earphones) which have lasted me for a few years. Be a guinea-pig and test the new Powerbeats Pro 2s.

I’ve been using the Powerbeats for a long time and I like them a lot. They have a loop over the ear and they’re comfortable to wear.

Power beats pro. Got them like 2 years ago or something. Not for audible but shortly after getting them I started using audible and they worked amazing. Great battery, pretty good range away from phone even though I rarely have them in use whole away from phone. I mean really great battery though. If I'm only using 1 earbud, usually at work, I wouldn't have to charge it (and the case) for multiple days at a time despite at least 4 hours of use a day. And amazing quality of sound. I mainly got them because I wanted some good wireless earbuds for music, YouTube, and anime without bothering other people, especially at lunch at work and back then I was working closing shift so I had more free time at work, but I wanted the hook around the ear too. The sound quality is so much better than I was expecting. In some audiobooks I can even hear when the narrator pauses their recording between chapters LOL Controls are pretty simple. 1 tap for pause/resume. 2 for skip foward 15 seconds. 3 to skip back 15. They were a bit expensive when I bought them, 200, but it was SO worth it. And the case is sturdy! Dropped it more than I'd like to admit but onyl a few minor scratches to the exterior.

No bro you have to understand that brunching randoms cheering and yelling at you for the gram is the only way to obtain marathon running nirvana bro; otherwise, if you hear even one note of your music, you didn't actually run the marathon bro come on bro I'd second Shokz since they're purpose built for this type of thing, Powerbeats Pro for still hearing some crowd and runners but more of your music, and Samsung Buds+ for "I'm running to my jams and ignoring the crowd" bc they last 10 hours even with noise canceling, which should cover the majority of people

I've been using the PowerBeats3 for 6+ years. The little cord annoys me when it gets caught in my collar and pulls on one ear. I bought the PowerBeats Pro and they seem to have no depth or bass. Idk I've only used them for an hour or two and put my old ones back in which have thousands of hours of use. Some people have said they haven't broken in yet but I don't remember the 3's being "tinny" when they were new and this is my 2nd pair.

Agree. These are the only ones i've tried that have decent controls for volume, stop, fast fwd, rewind.

As someone who has killed many pairs of headphones. I have now switched to Shokz. Power beat pro worked for me in the past ( until I forget them on an airplane 🙃) I recommend staying away from AirPod pro’s. I’ve killed pairs with my sweat!

Used my Powerbeats pro for the last two years! Right bud doesn’t hold a charge anymore though so I’m looking for new options!

I'm assuming Powerbeats Pro's? Yeah, the charging case has a tendency to have the contacts oxidize after contacting sweat, if you don't clean them once in a while. I find it a minor inconvenience compared to how much I love them otherwise. The bluetooth thing sounds like either a fluke or an issue with your Garmin, because both pairs of mine worked flawlessly up to several meters (or more) away from the source device (be it a watch, phone, or laptop).

I'm very happy with my Powerbeats Pro.

Still like my Powerbeats Pro

Love mine. Try my best to just stay aware lol

AirPods kicked it on a sweaty run. Have had Powerbeats pro for 2 years and no issues. No marathons but have ran a few halves.

Love my Power Beats Pro. Great battery, over ear loops so they don’t fall out- which is a huge problem for me. Outside of Shokz these are the only ones that work for me and are much better sounding.

Not a diesel mechanic but, I've been using the Power Beats Pro for over 2 years now. The ear phones have an 8 hour charge and the case holds/charges them. One complaint is, the case is pretty big - about the size of my palm. I like that they have hooks so they never fall out of my ears

Powerbeats Pro. Wrap around your ear and are comfortable

I’ve lifted with both (and still do from time to time). It depends on the headphones and earbuds. Headphones I’ve had success with using Bose over ear headphones because they are lighter and don’t slide around. My AirPod max are terrible because they are so heavy and slide when my head is horizontal to the ground. Earbud wise: Regular AirPods fall out of my ears, AirPod pros are my bread and butter, Bose QC2 earbuds will stay in place but protrude a bit more than AirPods, and Beats Pros were my favorite (best fit and comfort) but they crapped out just after my apple care on them expired so I refused to buy another pair.

I switched from Powerbeats Pro that went over the ear and had some connectivity problems to the Beats Fit Pro that twist into your ear and I love them. Small form factor, attractive, and flat out work. I stream music from my Garmin Forerunner. They’ll also work great with any Apple device.

I can get sweaty depending on the activity. Over-ear is just too hot for me and any in-ear is just going to keep slipping out. So I like the ones with a wrap around behind the ear. Using JBL Endurance Peak 3 currently and have been fairly pleased with them. Technically not noise cancelling, but with the music cranking I can't really hear anything anyway. I've also used Powerbeats Pro before and they were good as well.

Keep getting this skipping sound when they’re in my pocket at the gym. Have to think it’s a connection issue? Hopefully there’s a fix soon. Love the sound quality and button touch features. Never had this issues with beat pro in ears. Really annoying.

I love my PowerBeats Pro and will cherish them until they die

Powerbeats Pro fit very well and feature an ear loop

I use Beats Pro ear buds. Sound is great and there is no wind noise. Might be going deaf though.

I’ve had my Powerbeats Pro for ~3-4 years. I just used them now for a 20 min jumprope session! They still work fine, but the only issue I have with them is they pause on their own sometimes :/ Maybe 1 or 2 times every few different day sessions, so nothing major. It started about a year ago.

Pros 2 best ear buds I ever used, then there’s Beats Pro

I have two pairs of near dead Powerbeats pro headphones. Missed the recall Worked very well for me but wow are they defective

I wear shokz outside and have had various models for a decade. No thump. I wear Sony WF100XM5 on the treadmill. No thump. AirPods pro, Powerbeats pro? Thump.

Agreed, over the ear keeps them snug so they don't fall out. Easy to use and go forward or backwards between tracks just by pressing the button. One downside is wearing them with a winter hat on causes issues. Charging can be tricky but is easy once you figure out the system.

AirPod pros because moisture. Or the new Beats Pro too is the direction you want to go. I have all three but I don’t use the APM in the gym for sweat and moisture prevention. I enjoy the new beats heart rate capability but my ears are weird they don’t stay as inserted as I like. But the bass is great in comparison to APP2

Powerbeats Pro. I had Galaxy Buds 2. They wouldn't stay in my ear, the screens came off the first week, and the right one had the speaker just fall off one day. I tried Raycon. Absolute shite. Returned within 48 hours. Beats aren't perfect if there's a lot of ambient noise, but at least they stay in my ears.

Same for me. I feel like it kinda depends on ear shape, but earbuds never stay in for long while I run, and the anxiety of dropping an expensive earbud off a ledge or in some bushes stresses me out. I switched to powerbeats pro and they've been great.

The new Powerbeats pro are basically AirPods with a hook. They’re great.

I have beats pros. The navigation for swapping songs is annoying. I do only run with one earbud though so I can still get ambient noise in.

Powerbeats Pro. You can still hear traffic and other noise just fine. I've been using the same pair for years and they will handle sweat, during rain etc for hours. I also bike and the battery life easily lasts 10+ hours. They're unmatched

Powerbeats pro. They have ear hooks and you can still hear other noise (traffic etc) just fine

Depends if you like bone conduction, it’s not for me, I like the new Powerbeats pro

Have had Powerbeats Pro twice and they’ve been great - bar some connecting issues and the slow death of one earbud before the other. Now working with the Jabra Elite Active 8 (I think) and they’re excellent.

I’ve since moved on to the Jabra Elite 8 Gen 2 - which are good, but perhaps not as ‘premium’-feeling as the PowerBeats. I don’t think Jabra are that easy to find any more either

I've used the same powerbeats pro for about 2yrs now, no issues yet, its a one and done solution, but there are more recent ones with more tech, not sure what extras you would want it with, but they sound great, have hooks and stay put. if you need more ideas [check this out](https://earbudswireless.medium.com/best-sound-amplifier-earbuds-0581e8c035a1?source=user_profile_page---------11-------------fc3dda9b0019---------------)

Either the Beats Fir Pro or Powerbeats Pro. Just keep in mind the Powerbeats Pro are due for an upgrade early next year. Apple has discontinued them and they aren’t worth buying now. Next year’s Powerbeats Pro 2 are rumored to add ANC, hear rate monitoring, and a charging case with USB C instead of the dead Lightning format.

I would've killed to keep my APP2, they sounded amazing, looked good. But the issue for myself and I think a lot of others on the PB series is they simply don't stay in ear. Especially during workouts

Powerbeats Pro - pretty decent sound and the loop over the ear keep them in on the sweatiest of days

I'll second this. Wouldn't pick Beats for audio quality for at home listening, but for running they are top notch.

This has happened to me, but I can fix it by using a qtip with a little rubbing alcohol on it to clean the contacts. I also have to purposefully "click" the headphone down on the contacts before I close the lid. I am on my second pair, but I don't mind because I use them all the time.

I have sensitive ears so my options were limited for comfort. I tried Apple pro pods and couldn’t make it 30 mins before my ears were aching. I then tried the Beats Pro and got a little more time before ear ache but also didn’t find the noise canceling to be that great. Ultimately went with the beats quiet comfort and have loved them. I can wear for probably 2 hours before I start experiencing any discomfort. I got mine during a sale so they were a little more affordable and they’ve last me I think like 4 or 5 years so far. I got my sister a pair of Sony ear buds that she’s really liked as well so could look into those too.

Another for shokz! Took some getting used too and honestly the sound quality isn’t great (especially when I’m listening to podcasts or audiobooks) but for music it’s fine. I have a normal head but use the mini size. I also have the Powerbeats Pro which wrap around your ear and really like those, but not so much for running because they do block out sound around you. But the nice thing about the Powerbeats is the ear part is bendable, so you can mold it to fit your ear.

Powerbeats pro are my go to

I’m bringing Powerbeats pros, the battery lasts 9 hours.

I like my PB Pro when they work, but sometimes one of the earbuds doesn't get charged in the case. Also, sometimes only one of the earbuds connects to Bluetooth so I have to put them both back in the case and then put them on again. I've had them for a few years and now the battery doesn't last for more than 40 mins, so looking for a different model.

I have Powerbeats Pro that are great. Recently purchased and tried JBL endurance race headphones. I use the smaller tips so I can hear my surroundings and I can wear my sunglasses without them being uncomfortable. They are doing good for being cheap, $40 at Best Buy

I have Powerbeats 2 & 3, beat fit pro, Powerbeats pro (x2), AirPod Pro 1 & 2 and an old pair of beat solo 2 I’ve spent my fair share and this doesn’t count all the versions I have given as gifts. Just got the Powerbeats Pro2 yesterday (as a gift) and as I sit here typing this I’m also thinking how can I tell my gf that they suck and I want to return and just get another pair of AirPod Pro2. It’s funny Apple states same chip but yet PBP2 have less features than AirPod Pro2. Isn’t hearing loss still important? And I’m sorry but as weird as this sounds the AirPod pro2 sounds better. The shape is not great either. The first gen fit great shape wise. They seemed to lock into the shape of my ear and they stayed put. These don’t move around (yet) but they feel loose and for some reason when playing a song they keep stopping. I’ve triple checked and my phone screen is facing outward. A quick press of the button and song picks up where it stopped but three times while playing one song. Again phone in loose shorts side pocket screen outward. I looked forward to these because I liked the thought of the heart sensor built in but very disappointed.

Beats Powerbeats pro are the best for me. Hangs around the ear so they don’t move or fall out. Sound is good and battery life has never been an issue.

I switched to Powerbeats Pro a few years ago and never looked back.

I, too, have small ear holes and have been fighting earphones since the 80’s because of discomfort. Best ones I have found are the power Beats Pro. The hook keeps them on my ears and the selection of ear tips actually included a super small one that didn’t immediately wiggle out. I never found over the ear or on the ear headsets comfortable. Too much pressure. If you’ve got normal hearing, the Power Beats Pros can also be left out of the ear canal and just play like an ear hung speaker. I’m too deaf for that for text to speech, but did use them to enjoy some background music that way.

When I go light, I just use my Power Beats Pro (in earbuds) and they have good noise cancellation. About 3 hrs in they start to hurt so I take a break and let them charge back up in their case. But honestly most my flights are like 2.5 hrs so not a big deal

These (the Powerbeats Pro) are the ones I had to buy for my mother-in-law :D She had the exact same problem as you have and these were the first and seemingly only ones that fit her ears without falling out immediately :) Good luck for you and always glad to help!

Powerbeats Pro. I’ve used these for several years and my wife has too. When the battery started to age on my wife’s she bought another pair without question. I run with only one in, that way I can still hear what’s going on around me. Also works well for mountain biking.

I too tend to sweat a lot... My airpods (pro 2) died (speakers rattling) from the sweat I presume. Only owned for 2 years. Cost to replace was $99 for ea bud. More than the price of new ones lolol. personally am not buying airpods anymore after that experience, but like I said, I do sweat a lot. The beats pros have been working well for me

Shokz for sure . I used Beats Pro for a year. Loved the sound and they never fell off . But I could never wear then and run on busy roads . Also they are Absolutly horrible with the charging pin issue . Would have never bought had I known how bad they are . Already changed then once from Apple but still not much of an improvement . It’s a design issue. With shokz they lack the sound quality but are way less hassle , safer and sturdy .

I use beats but they are big, bulky and uncomfortable

Thanks. My Powerbeats Pro are big and bulky. Can you hear the music clearly with these?

Beats Pro. Very reliable. Seemless connectivity to both iOS and Android.

I cannot recommend Powerbeats Pros enough. It’s all I’ve used for the last 8 or so years.

To me Power Beats Pros are still way behind than the AirPods Pros * ANC is not as good as AirPods Pros 👎🏾 * Wireless Charging without the Magsafe 👎🏾 and doesn't charge with Apple Watch Charger. * Automatic Switching between Apple Devices not there, a feature all Apple users live 👎🏾 * No conversation awareness like AirPods Pros 👎🏾 * Still Heavier than AirPods Pros 👎🏾 * No iPV6 👎🏾 * Heart rate to me is a gimmick and eats battery life. 👎🏾 Don't expect an upgrade after five years to be so underwhelming. I'm disappointed.

Status audio earbuds I've got both the anc and standard. Had them a 2-3 years Yes I'd recommend they are comfortable enough with the silicone tips they come with, but I did replace them with comply tips. I feel like they are secured better with them. I use them for the gym and everything else and they stay well, the sound quality is amazing with multiple drivers. I'd for sure recommend the ANC version of them it works really well. Powerbeats pro Would not recommend Used them for 2 years and hated them. Continued using them because they were 250 dollars in 2019 and didn't wanna buy more. Galaxy buds FE Good sound quality, would recommend but don't have them anymore. Gf lost one and one won't work without the other rip. Tldr; status audio ANC I'll buy again if they get lost or die, would recommend.

I use both Beats Pro and skulll candy Buds, no issue. But I typically switch the mic to the laptop bc both buds have a sensitive mic and people can always hear my birds. Apparently, they can't hear em as well when I use laptop mic.

PowerBeats Pro have changed my life. They are super comfortable, never fall out, very easy controls...

PowerBeats Pro is my fav of all time.

Love my Powerbeats Pro!

Used to have powerbeat pros but no matter how much I cleaned the contacts, after 3-4 months, they would never charges. Found a similar style with these [knock offs](https://a.co/d/0b2gmtZ7). Will see if they are still good in 3-4 months but they are only 25% the price of my powerbeats pros.

My AirPods Pro are mostly fine, but have fallen out once or twice. I used to own some PowerBeats Pro, and those are the most secure ones that I've ever owned (although I think Apple has stopped manufacturing them?). Shokz will get a lot of votes here as well. I don't like them myself - I find don't care for the sound quality. But they are a great choice if sound quality is not a primary concern.

Powerbeats Pro are awesome earbuds for exercise/outdoor activity. Built tough and sound great. Most importantly, they stay in place—if you don't mind eat hooks. I have the older generation, but they just released a new version with more features. I'm sure they are just as good.

Powerbeats Pro?

I use them every day for the gym and running. Airpods are fine as long as I'm not moving at speed - but anything more than a swift shuffle and they're coming loose.

I use Power Beats Pros. I really wanted to like Shokz (for the swimming ones, and running/cycling to hear others nearby) but I listen to a lot of podcast/audiobooks and I just struggled to understand speech as well as my power beats.

The Beats Studio buds or even the buds + both are really great options small and light weight and they’ve never slipped out of my ears during my workouts

I wore and still have my Beats by Dre PowerBeats headphones with the ear hooks! I tucked them in my spi belt before hand ☺️ FWIW I didn’t even listen to music for the first 18 miles because of the crowds, but do whats best for you

Love the PowerBeats!!!

When I’m running, I love to use my power beats. They stay in my ear, and they are very comfortable.