Any set of wireless earbuds is going to be compared to Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro. Fortunately, the AU-Stream Hybrid ANC Earbuds ($189.95) that Ausounds sent me to try have a lot of distinctions to make them a worthwhile competitor. First, they are compact enough to fit entirely in the ear with no microphone stalk extending towards the mouth of the user. That marginally impacts the quality of the speaker's voice, but it isn't too much of an issue since the primary focus is on listening not talking.
Speaking of sound, these remarkably tiny earbuds have a wide range, featuring a frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 KHz and use titanium speaker drivers for long-term performance. They get even better when you enable active noise canceling without degrading the sound quality, although that decreases the battery life from 25 hours to 20 hours. They are quite light, at just 6.5 grams per earbud with a waterproof rating of IPX5, so you can sweat in them but don't swim with them.
Next, they come in metallic crimson red, gold, and gray, as well as the typical black. If you want to stand out from the average Apple user wearing boring white AirPods, these will help you do that! They support Siri (or Google Assistant) through a long-press for one second on either of the earbuds. Other gestures are easy enough to master, so you can control playback and answer calls with a touch.
The earbud sports up to 9 hours of battery life and can be recharged using the included case for a total of 25 hours of battery life (20 when using ANC). Also supports a rapid charge with 15 minutes to deliver 3 hours of use. The charging case itself charges via USB-C as well as Qi wireless charging, with a complete charge in about three hours. The three different size eartips help ensure a solid fit as well.
Pros
- Compact enough to fit in the ear
- Nice color choices including metallic red, gold, and gray in addition to black
- Hybrid active noise cancellation
- 25 hours of total battery life (20 with ANC)
- Rapid charge with 15 minutes to deliver 3 hours of use
- Wireless charging for case
- Siri support
Cons
- Microphone is far from the speaker's mouth
Final Verdict
If you are looking for true wireless earbuds, the AU-Stream Hybrid ANC Earbuds from Ausounds should be high on your list.
