Pros:
- Supports wireless charging
- Supports aptX and aptX Adaptive codec
- Unique charging case design
- Lightweight and very comfortable
Cons:
- Build quality could be better
- Sound too much focused on bass
Introduction:
SoundMAGIC has been in the audio business for more than a decade now. The company was founded in 2005, and they were made famous by their bullet type IEMs. It was only recently that they ventured into headphones, and now, true wireless IEMs. The TWS50 is their second model in their TWS lineup and currently retails for 65.99 USD. The TWS50 was provided to me for free by SoundMAGIC in exchange for this review.
Specifications:
Bluetooth version: 5.2
Driver: 5.8mm dynamic with neodymium magnets
Transmission range: up to 13 meters
Continuous playback: 5 - 6 hours (+32 hours with the case)
Standby time: 45 days
IP rating: IPX6
SOC: Qualcomm 3040
Source:
Poco X3, Redmi Note 7 Pro
Test tracks:
Africano - Earth Wind and Fire
Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gurenge - Lisa
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
Monsters - All Time Low
Ours - Taylor Swift
Stay - Mayday Parade
Snuff - Slipknot
Yesterday Once More - Carpenters
So Slow - Freestyle
Aurora Sunrise - Franco
Attention - Pentatonix
Blue Bird - Ikimono-gakari
You're Still The One - Shania Twain
Anyone Who Knows What Love Is(Will Understand) - Irma Thomas
Salamin - Slapshock
AOV - Slipknot
Hey Jude - The Beatles
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
Unboxing and Accessories:
The TWS50 comes in a hefty, pretty basic white sliding box. Inside you'll find a user manual, the drivers, the charging case, 2 pairs of spare silicone tips with a third pair already attached to the drivers, and a 1 meter long charging cable. It's nice to see they included a cable this long, when most companies frequently give a rather short one.
Build:
The charging case is made totally of plastic. It has the SoundMAGIC logo at the center with the brand name below it. Below the brand name is a numerical battery level indicator that lights up whenever you put the drivers back, or while the case is charging. One notable thing about the charging case is that it supports wireless charging.
The overall design of the case is, I might say, unorthodox, with its circular shape and rotating lid. Rotating the lid 180 degrees will reveal the drivers firmly held in place by magnets.
The drivers are also made of plastic, but the nozzles are made of metal. The touch controls have this design that resembles a fingerprint, and a small vent at the top portion.
Touch controls:
Click once on either side to answer or hang up a call
Touch for 2 seconds on either side to reject a call
Click once on either side to play or pause the music
Click the left side twice for next song
Click the right side twice for previous song
Click the left side for 0.5 seconds to turn the volume up
Click the right side for 0.5 seconds to turn the volume down
Now let's get to the sound.
Lows:
The lows are definitely the highlight of this true wireless IEM. The subbass resonates with authority, accompanied by a very lengthy extension. Midbass is placed forward that hits heavy and hard. More often than not, there is a prominent bleed into the mids.
Overall, the lows of the TWS50 give more than enough boom to the music. It will definitely help you keep going especially if you're out and about probably going for a jog or burning some calories in the gym. However, I can see that it may cause fatigue when listened to for quite some time.
Mids:
The mids are slightly dark sounding. It is neutrally placed, with the male vocals having a substantially thick presentation, while the female vocals are more lively and articulate in comparison.
Overall, the mids of the TWS50 appeal more to the upper mids region. Although it has a hint of darkness, lower mids can still be enjoyable on acoustic tracks.
Highs:
The highs have a laid back presentation. Sparkle is below average and there are some points where it gets drowned out by the lows, and this is evident in cymbals where the crashing sound disappears quickly. Upper treble reach is subpar, with a fair amount of extension.
Overall, the highs of the TWS50 might leave you wanting for more. Treble with a laid back presentation is not at all bad but if the bass has a presence this strong, the treble needs to be able to catch up to it.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The soundstage is on the narrow side, mainly due to the fact that the lows want all the attention across all frequencies. Imaging is below average, along with the layering and instrument separation. There is a significant amount of details that get lost in the mix when the tracks start to get busy.
Conclusion:
The SoundMAGIC TWS50 is for those people who love bass more than anything. The sound signature may not be for those who prefer a balanced or neutral sound, but still, I know there are people who will enjoy these. With a battery life of 5 - 6 hours, it is certainly enough to last a daily workout routine, with some more juice to spare for the ride going home for the whole week.
Tags:
True Wireless Stereo