Soundpeats Air6 HS Review

Intro 

Hello everyone, today I have with me one of the latest semi in-ear true wireless earbuds from the very well-established brand Soundpeats named the Soundpeats Air6 HS ($39). The Air6 HS comes to market with quite a few upgrades from its predecessor the Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS (Air3 Deluxe HS Review) as well as some real improvements in the actual shape/fit/design over other semi in-ear earbuds. This is a style popularized by the Apple Airpods and have for years been a staple in the wireless audio community. No doubt there have been many brands which try to usurp dominance over the Apple kingpin. However, I find that Soundpeats has done just that, many times in the past already with a handful of models. Also, for a fraction of the cost. This newer model (Air6 HS) promises even better fitment, better musical engagement, battery life, Bluetooth 6.0, and a host of other features to warrant a newer version. I suppose I will find out just how much of an upgrade the Air6 HS is when it gets here. I’m pumped. 

Soundpeats 

Friends, I have been reviewing Soundpeats wireless products for years now and I never tire of seeing those sweet contacts show up in my email to feature one of their new products. I have yet to be let down by Soundpeats. I make it very plain to all who read my reviews that I “only” review what I enjoy. Or I’ll review and feature sets that don’t quite fit my preferences so long as they may fit a large number of hobbyists’ preferences. Basically, if the set is good (for what it is) then I’ll review it… whether I like it or not. There are very few brands that I work with which I have never turned one of their products down and Soundpeats is one of those brands. This Hong Kong based audio brand got its start around fifteen years ago, seemingly shot out of a cannon, producing fairly well recognized price-to-performance products at the beginning stages. Soundpeats have never slowed down. Never. There have been no lulls in production, and to be perfectly honest, there haven’t really been many duds either. Did you know that it is estimated, Soundpeats have sold roughly 20 million units worldwide in that span? Take a moment, think that through…20,000,000! In truth, there really isn’t any brand which does wireless for less quite like Soundpeats. Granted, there are plenty of excellent “primarily” wireless brands like Tozo, Soundcore, Earfun, Edifier and a few others, but Soundpeats seems at the top of the class when it comes to budget oriented wireless gear. 

Reviews

As I said, I’ve reviewed a number of past Soundpeats releases and again, I have yet to be disappointed. When I conduct these reviews, I have to look at these sets through a budget lens. When doing so everything will always come down to “price-to-performance”. Budget products will always be some of the most popular items for obvious reasons. We aren’t all made of money, we don’t have money trees growing in our backyards, and not everyone grew up with a silver spoon in their hands. So, it makes sense that the budget space is where you’ll have your greatest potential for sales. I’ve always been on a “semi-quest” to find those brands, and more precisely those products which tend to offer the best sound benefits for the cost. I think this is where Soundpeats thrives. Most budget brands will offer similar specs and features, but when a brand offers sound value, then everything else is just icing in the cake. Furthermore, the good thing about Soundpeats is that they typically stretch, bend, and somehow endow their products with very solid internals. Chipsets, drivers, and solid build quality. They always add in the more pertinent features too. You can check out some of my Soundpeats reviews below if you’d like. Who knows, maybe there’s a set in there that might just fit what you are looking for…

Capsule3 Pro Review–Air3 Deluxe Review–RunFree Lite Review–Mini Pro HS Review–Engine4 Review–Air4 Review–Air4 Pro Review–Clear Review–RunFree Review–GoFree2 Review–Space Review–Capsule3 Pro Plus Review–PearlClip Pro Review–Pop Clip Review–Soundpeats Air5 Pro Review– Soundpeats Q40 HD Review–Soundpeats H3–Air5 Pro+–Clip1

They Arrived, Nice Too! 

The Air6 HS has just arrived, and this will be a no brainer review. Folks, I can already tell you that I enjoy this semi in-ear more than any past Soundpeats semi in-ears. No doubt there is still plenty of competition but for $39 the cost already seems very nice. Of course, I have quite a bit more time needed to make a solid determination for myself. But, so far, so good. That said, let’s get this review underway. So, without further ado, the Soundpeats Air6 HS… 

Non-Affiliated Purchasing Links:

–Amazon US 

–Amazon UK

–Amazon AU

–Amazon CA

–Amazon UAE

*Note: For Launch of the Air6 HS (Good from April 13th to April 20th) I have a coupon code which can be stacked with Amazon coupons for up to 30% off. That code is:    SPA6HSPR01

Packaging / Accessories 

Unboxing 

This is not going to take long. Seriously, semi in-ear sets typically won’t have a slew of accessories added into the packaging and thus it leaves me with very little to speak on. However, I will do my due diligence and go through the motions. So, the Air6 HS arrived at my home in a pretty small white box (4” x 4” x 1 ½”) which came adorned in a nice line drawing picture of the Air6 HS on the cover in gold imprint. You’ll see certain distinctions nicely added to the cover of the box like the “Hi-Res” audio certification, “LDAC” too. On the back you’ll see some run-of-the-mill specs as well. Nothing out of character for this type of wireless product. Open the box and you’ll see the charging case in all of its glory wrapped in a nice and tight cellophane wrapping and sitting in a plastic tray. Under the lid you’ll see a small pull tab which releases the tightly fitting thin box holding certain reading materials. If you take out the plastic tray, you’ll also find the USB-C charging cord as well. And that’s about it. Oh, obviously inside of the charging case you’ll see the Air6 HS. Last thing, before use, make sure to take off the blue stickers covering the battery terminals on the earbuds. Again, not much to it folks and no further accessories. Let’s check out the charging case. 

Charging Case 

This is a budget set and so you’ll get a pretty straight forward style case added into the packaging. It isn’t some ornate and gorgeous case made of the finest materials, nor should it be, this set costs $39. However, I’d argue that the case is just about perfect for its use and covers everything you really need in a case at this cost. The case comes in two different colorways based on the colorway that you choose at purchasing. That is either black or white. It comes in a fairly neat and well dimensioned clamshell style. Open top, battery indicator for battery status, and extremely pocket friendly. That’s my favorite part. This case slides perfectly into that small 5th pocket of my jeans, where I always, always, always will have a set of tws on the ready. It’s made of a matte plastic material which slides in really well. Perhaps a hint slick if your hands are dry. The magnets which hold the Air6 HS are strong and hold the Air6 HS earbuds inside very well. No moving around. Not heavy either, around 40-50 grams. Now, I don’t know the battery size within the case, but Soundpeats claims an additional 40 to 45 hours of battery life as well as fast charging, which is huge for me. Again, this case won’t change your life, but it’ll likely fit into any pocket you need very easily, and it’ll charge your earbuds pretty fast too. 

Build / Design / Internals / Fit / other Misc. Features

Build Quality 

One thing that you can always count on with a Soundpeats set is nice hard plastics and earbuds which don’t feel or look chinsy or weak. Made of solid plastic with a hearty enough feel in hand. As you are likely aware the Air6 HS is a stem style true wireless with a medium length stem that feels good in the ear. Also, the Air6 HS is not at all heavy. In fact, they are very lightweight at only 4 grams per earbud. Folks, 4 grams is like wearing nothing at all. However, for whatever reason the Air6 HS fit my ears much better than previous semi in-ears from Soundpeats. I used to have to fiddle with their semi in-ears everytime I yawned, talked, and moved my head. Not anymore, so that’s great. If I were to describe the build in the best way possible, I would say that it is more functional rather than it is extravagant and has been nice for my usage. You will notice two microphones on each earbud as well and the touch surface is at the top of the stem as usual. 

Aesthetic Design

As I said, more functional than ornate but still classy, just like any Soundpeats product in the budget category. It’s a simple design. No need to go crazy trying to craft some oddly adorned earbuds. Just a two-part build, with a glossy black plastic. The stems still have the Soundpeats logo on them which extends from the touch surface near what I’d call the faceplate area and goes down the stem. Which is typical for all of Soundpeats stem style earbuds. I like the colorway choice here however as Soundpeats decided on making the logo a gunmetal gray rather than gold. It’s a dope look. 

Internals 

It’s what’s inside that counts in life… and in audio. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is true in the Air6 HS. The engine (SOC Chipset) inside of the HS isn’t quite disclosed, and so I don’t have any idea of what chip Soundpeats used, but it has to be a pretty capable one. At least accompanied by a solid amplifier as the Air6 HS has solid dynamism, good headroom in volume, and it needs to power that big driver. Speaking of the driver, Soundpeats chose a very large 13 mm Single DD with a PU bio-composite diaphragm and sitting between a triple neodymium magnet, which is absolutely awesome. Soundpeats also incorporates two microphones on each earbud, and they come with AI ENC which basically blocks noise for phone calls (more on that later). Each earbud also carries a 40-50 mah battery as well. Lastly, inside Soundpeats chose to add sensors for use with spatial audio/surround sound. 

Fitment / Comfort 

To be perfectly honest, it’s the fit which has been the largest improvement for me. This is the first pair of semi in-ear earbuds that I don’t have to fiddle with every now and again to keep a solid fit. One thing about semi in-ear earbuds is that they are generally very comfortable. Nothing is shoved in your ear adding pressure to your inner ear. They are actually quite nice. Anyways, the fit is great for me. 

Chipset

As I said earlier, I have zero idea what chipset was used in the Air6 HS. Whatever Soundpeats chose, it has to be quite solid. It offers Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, AI ENC for calling, a nice powerful sound, multipoint connection, and low-latency mode as well. To add to that, the Air6 HS has flat-out nice Bluetooth stability and range. Obviously, Soundpeats didn’t need to add the latest and greatest Qualcomm chipset, that would’ve been a mindless waste. In the past they’ve used a few different non-Qualcomm chips which easily challenge any Qualcomm chips for many different features. If I find out what it is I will edit that into my review. 

Earbud Controls

I have found that all controls in the Air6 HS are very easy, still very intuitive, and easy to commit to memory. Granted I’ve also had a ton of Soundpeats sets over the years and not much has changed. Anyway, you can complete almost all functionality from the earbuds themselves, except for a couple features. So, one click on the left side brings the volume down and one on the right will increase volume. A double click on either side either play/pause music or videos. Triple click on either side brings up the voice assistant. And a 1.5 second long click on the left will take you to the previous track and 1.5 seconds on the right is the next track. Double click also answers and hangs up phone calls too. I think that’s everything. At any rate, every click is recognized well and I’ve yet to have ghost touches. Many of these sets are too sensitive but the Air6 HS seems to be just right. At least for me. 

SoundPEATS Air6 HS – Full Specifications

General Information

Model: Soundpeats Air6 HS

Type: True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earbuds

Design: Semi-in-ear (earbud style, no silicone tips)

Weight:  4g per earbud 

Audio & Hardware

Driver Type: Dynamic driver

Dynamic Driver Size: 13mm

Driver Structure: Triple-magnet circuit

Diaphragm: Bio-composite

Hi-Res Certification: Yes (Hi-Res Audio Wireless)

Supported Codec(s):

LDAC (up to 24-bit / 96kHz)

AAC (standard support implied)

Spatial Audio: Yes (3D / SISA spatial audio support) 

Connectivity

Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 6.0

Wireless Range:  10 meters (typical)

Multipoint Connection: Yes

Low Latency Mode: Not specified

Battery & Charging

Playback Time (Earbuds): Up to 9–10 hours

Total Battery Life (with Case): Up to 45 hours

Fast Charging: 10 minutes = ~3 hours playback

Charging Port: USB Type-C 

Microphones & Calls

Microphone System: Multi-mic array (up to 6 mics)

Call Noise Reduction: AI ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation)

Wind Noise Reduction: Supported 

Features

Touch Controls: Yes (on-ear touch interface)

Companion App: Yes (SoundPEATS App)

Custom EQ

Preset EQ profiles

Adaptive EQ

Firmware updates (OTA)

Dynamic EQ Mode: Yes

Multipoint Pairing: Yes

Transparency Mode: Mentioned in some listings

ANC (Active Noise Cancelling): None

Build & Durability

Water Resistance: IP54 (dust & splash resistant)

Materials: Plastic housing with metallic accents

Fit Style: Ergonomic semi-in-ear (based on ear-shape data modeling) 

Design & Comfort

Form Factor: Open-fit / semi-in-ear

Pressure-Free Fit: Yes (no ear canal seal)

Intended Use:

Long listening sessions

Office / commuting

Casual everyday use

What’s in the Box

SoundPEATS Air6 HS earbuds

Charging case

USB-C charging cable

User manual

(Typical minimal packaging, no extra accessories) 

Features

Audio Codecs

It’s always good to look at the product specs and see LDAC. I’d love to also see Aptx, but for $39 I am not complaining. The fact that we can get LDAC at all in tws still amazes me. Did you know that there was a time when it was thought of as impossible to get LDAC in tws form? It wasn’t that long ago folks! Anyways, I was happy to see that. The Air6 HS also makes good for any IOS users and adds in AAC codec support. Also, of course, like every Bluetooth set in planet earth the Air6 HS also has the default SBC audio codec. Honestly, I use nothing but LDAC. Getting hi-res audio does make a difference, no matter what people say. Pay attention long enough and you’ll start to discern the differences. Trust me on that. 24-bit 96 kHz audio with bit rates up to 990 kbps makes a certain difference against 256 kbps AAC. Anyways, nice! 

Low-Latency Mode

I don’t always add “Low-Latency Mode” into my “Features” section, but I am now. I say that because I noticed a solid difference in latency while playing some games than I’ve noticed on other sets under $50. Granted, latency can only get so good. But still, I even like this set in FPS games, which is pretty good. Of course, there will be moments when action is high that the Air6 HS suffers and lags a bit. Just too much going on at once to process. However, by-and-large the Air6 HS performs very solidly by my standards. 

Multi-point 

Soundpeats also added in a feature that used to be unheard of in true wireless only a couple years ago. Nowadays it is much more prevalent, that is “Multi-Point Connection”. Multi-point Connection is a neat feature that will be very useful… for those who can make use of it. Basically, you can be connected to two devices at one time. Why is this helpful? Well for instance, it’s useful for those folks who are watching a video on a tablet or playing a game, and they get a call on their phone. What happens is when you answer the phone it will automatically click over to your phone whilst being connected to the other device. It is a nice feature that you don’t know how much you enjoy it until it’s gone. I should add that I haven’t tried out the Air6 HS’s multi-point yet as I simply don’t use it, or need it, ever. Still, it’s a nice feature for those who do need it or want it and its worthy of being talked about. One more thing, you cannot use Multi-point on the Air6 HS while also being connected to LDAC. Keep that in mind.

Transparency Mode

Once again Soundpeats has added a Transparency Mode to help with hearing your surroundings. I find this mode to be pretty nice. It’s as good as you should expect. A little tinny, somewhat thinner sounding as the atmosphere of what you are listening to will always change to a degree. However, it does prop up your surroundings. Also, keep in mind that the Air6 HS is a semi in-ear or semi-open earbud which already has very nice passive transparency by way of the style of earbud that they are. I really never need Transparency Mode. But I’m not you. 

Battery Life

In my opinion, one of the best attributes to the Soundpeats Air6 HS is that they come with excellent battery life. Soundpeats have them clocked in at 9 hours in a single charge for the earbuds and 45 hours in total. The Air6 HS carries a very efficient 22nm Bluetooth chipset (still don’t know which one) that is a very low current setup using only 4.0mA. So, battery life is pretty awesome on this set. Of course, you won’t get that 9-hour total with LDAC enabled. Be aware of this. With LDAC be prepared to shave off about 4 hours. Also, higher volumes will bleed the battery down quicker too. Still, even if it was 5 hours of battery life, I’d say that this set is pretty good for battery life for a small set using LDAC. Soundpeats didn’t want to add an even larger battery as this set would be enormous and probably no longer ergonomic. There’re trade-offs folks. Also, who listens for over 5 hours in one sitting?! That’s not healthy folks, don’t do that! However, if you happen to bleed the battery dry you can always give the Air6 HS a 10-minute charge which will afford you 3 hours of battery. Furthermore, this set also has fast charging too. 

Water Resistance

Soundpeats also made sure to provide an excellent IPX5 water resistance on the Air6 HS which is great for any joggers who get caught in the rain or anyone who sweats profusely. Now, you cannot fully submerge this set, but if you happen to get hit with water jets at multiple angles… you’re good. Literally, look up IPX5. I do the homework, so you don’t have to. Anyways, accidental splashes shouldn’t be a problem either. 

Call Quality 

This is one feature which actually stands out against other equally priced tws iems. I don’t know what it is but the Air6 HS has an uncanny ability to sound natural. Also, this set has AI ENC call noise reduction in the form of N-reduce 2.0 Noise Reduction tech which blocks out ambient noises in the background during phone calls. Trust me, it works. I’ve used this set in a few meetings on Zoom, and it has worked flawlessly for me. Certainly, a strong suit at $39. Don’t expect them to beat out sets costing twice as much, but it’s very good for what it is. 

PeatsAudio App

*Note: Because nothing has changed about the PeatsAudio App from when I conducted the Soundpeats Clip1 Review, I am going to copy/paste much of what I spoke on in that review. Just full disclosure here folks. I feel that I have to tell you that. 

The best feature is not a feature on the Air6 HS earbuds, but instead it is a feature which can be used for anyone who purchases a Soundpeats product. That is, the PeatsAudio app. Folks, I have praised this app up and down over the years and watched as it has gotten better and better. I should note that I’ve used many tws companion apps on the market. Based on what I’ve seen in those other apps I truly and honestly believe that the PeatsAudio app is one of the best. I say that because it flawlessly functions without any issues whatsoever, every time I use it. It’s a clean looking app, it has a ton of features, and it’s easy to use with a simple to understand UI. In truth, it is the essential hub of all controls and functions of any Soundpeats product. Many of the controls are not available through each respective device’s touch surface. This app is a very easy to use audio app which allows the user to control every single aspect of their earbuds. No doubt the Air6 HS benefits greatly because of it. For instance, I paired up my Air6 HS earbuds, launched the PeatsAudio app, and within seconds it was already connecting to the Air6 HS. Instantly I checked for a firmware update (you should too) and within three minutes I had a completely updated set of earbuds. That is not all though… 

What is inside of the app? 

I will do a very quick rundown of the app. After all, this isn’t a review of the PeatsAudio app. So, the very first screen you’ll connect the Air6 HS to the app and once that is completed (mere seconds) you will be taken to the home screen. On the home screen you have all the features included with the Air6 HS. Stuff like, multipoint connection, game mode (Low Latency Mode), you can customize the touch controls, as well as enforce LDAC. Here you can see the battery level of both earbuds as well as the charging case. At the top right there are three parallel lines. Tap those and you’ll be taken to another screen with certain settings and info. Here you can firmware upgrade, conduct an earbud water drain (if you’ve dropped them into water), find your earbuds, see device info, reset the earbuds, as well as change the language from English to Japanese. If you back out of that and go to the bottom middle icon you are taken to the EQ page within the app…. 

EQ

One of the coolest parts of this app is the fact that Soundpeats provides a total of 10 preset EQ profiles with names like “Bass Boost”, “Rock”, “Folk”, “Treble Boost”, “Classical”, “Soundpeats Classic” and so on. Basically, different well-made profiles which can help dial in the sound to your preferences. However, you can also use the 10-band graphic equalizer as well. The nice thing about this graphic EQ is that any profile that you create can save to the buds themselves for use in any app and any device. You can save many multiple different custom-made profiles. Yes, there are many other apps which can do the same from other earbuds, but the Soundpeats graphic EQ is seamless in how well it operates and also, it’s nice to have so it’s worth mentioning. Beyond that you also have the option to perform an Adaptive EQ. The Adaptive EQ will basically align the EQ to your actual hearing abilities. I haven’t used this that much because my raring is great and it honestly doesn’t help for me. But I could see how it may help some folks with hearing issues. Now, I personally enjoy the actual 10-band equalizer the best. I like adding a little here, take away a bit there and I like dialing in the sound to fit my likes and dislikes. So, EQ is certainly a nice feature in my book. 

How does the Clip1 take to EQ? 

Okay, now this is one area that I feel the Air6 HS does a pretty nice job. Please believe me that not all sets are created equal when it comes to their ability to take well to EQ. I’ve found that Soundpeats tws sets are typically pretty nice, but the Air6 HS has some very distinct changes that feel natural rather than forced. It is on the warmer side out-of-the-box and so adding that presence region treble lift does wonders. You can tighten up the bass, reduce the mid-bass a tad, uplift the top end and have a more balanced sound if you’d like. Or, throw caution to the wind and have a heavy bass hitter, which is not a common thing with semi in-ear sets. All in all, I am impressed for such a low cost. 

Sound Impressions

*Note: before I continue to sound impressions, I first want to clarify that all critical listening was done in the “out-of-the-box” default sound. I may make remarks about how EQ or EQ Profiles may affect the sound, but for the most part I am speaking on the default sound. For all listening I use flac or better files (some MP3) which are stored on my devices and rarely do I stream any music. Typically, the music player app of my choice is UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro), or Poweramp whenever listening to Bluetooth sets. 

What’s It Sound Like? 

To my ears the Soundpeats Air6 HS is all about musical engagement, smooth dynamism, with a very liquid style sound and a certain richness which flavors every last inflection that I hear. It’s a very full sound, which is not normal for a semi in-ear tws (at least for me). I am used to slightly thinned note weight, an airy and usually very open sound, less low-end weight and authority too. With the Air6 HS that all gets turned in its head due to much better fitment, a better tuning, and a much weightier experience down low. I am so impressed, folks. I’d describe the sound as a bass focused, warm leaning, smoothly rendered and totally forgiving sound with lush mids and a very non-offensive treble. You could listen all day long without any issue whatsoever. If I were to call the Air6 HS anything, I’d say it has a warm U-shaped signature. I’d even be happy with mild V-shaped with a warmer hue. I think what makes me happiest, is that with this warmer sound, nothing comes across blatantly muffled, no veil, and clarity doesn’t come across as overly suppressed. There is some separation between instruments though the sound is mostly predicated around fluid tone and rhythmicity rather than precision. 

EQ

No doubt you can attenuate the bass a hair and add some upper end brilliance, thin stuff out, define note edges to become more porcelain-smooth rather than lush-velvet, like it is out-of-the-box.  As I said earlier in my “EQ” section, the Air6 HS takes very well to any changes made using the graphic equalizer. Shoot, even the EQ Profiles that Soundpeats made make a huge difference in the overall sound. Having said that, I do add some very-very subtle changes when EQ’ing which helps the sound to fit me a hair more. I lessen the mid-bass just a hair (3-4 db’s), roll it off a touch sooner, which adds clarity to the low mids without losing richness. I also prop up the presence region in the treble a few db’s as well. That’s it, nothing crazy. But the sound does come across a bit sprightlier while keeping its musically inclined nature to it. Just a thought. 

Sound cont… 

Anyways, back to the sound “out-of-the-box”. To be 100% honest, I enjoy the default sound a lot. Fantastic for movies, great for videos, any podcasts as well, and listening to music is fun, it has some depth to the sound, some rumble, and nothing (at all) comes across as aggressive to my ears. Vocals are forward enough and weighted enough which makes the Air6 HS very nice for podcasts or Singer-Songwriter music, solo Vocal-Centric tracks etc. You see, the mids aren’t very recessed in the default sound which gives off a very intimate feel when listening. As if the stage (sound field) is closer. However, the Air6 HS also has this warmly rendered airiness due to the style of the earbuds being semi in-ear or semi-open, coupled with decent depth of field which gives the sound field some nice spatiality. Especially for $39 earbuds. Furthermore, timbre is great for vocals and instrumentation as it is natural, earthy, organic, and without any metallic tinge, sibilance, or artificial glare. There’s nothing artificially boosted on this set. It’s actually a nice canvas to start from if you are someone who likes to EQ. However, again, I really enjoy Soundpeats default tuning. I love a warmer sound. Especially when it has just enough offsetting brilliance up top. 

Easy Going & Engaging 

Now, out-of-the-box you aren’t going to hear some detail beast. The Air6 HS is not going to resolve every last detail folks. Note separation is nice and notes are cleaner than they aren’t, but transients are closer to natural, more atmospheric and so you won’t have that ultra fine-lined and snappy sort of sound. Very pleasant and perfect for casually listening to music. Just a hair less distinct in note contour than some folks may desire. If I were to label the Air6 HS’s musical/analytical spilt, I’d call the Air6 HS 70/30%. A very engaging sound, very emotionally immersive and less precision focused acuity. Notes are smooth, fluid, and roll like a wave rather than sharp edges, crisp note peaks, and vibrant tonal contrast. To add to that, macro-dynamics aren’t going to jump out at you. It isn’t that type of tuning. If easy-going and engaging had a name together, it’d be Soundpeats Air6 HS. Sure you can EQ a slightly cleaner and more precise version of this tuning, but if you are one who really loves to feel the velvet emotion in Adele’s voice, or the angst and heartbreak of a lost-love track, then the Air6 HS really does a nice job of propping up melodies and voices sound realistic & pronounced. Of course, please don’t confuse this set with anything costing twice or three times as much. We have to keep the correct expectations here. In my opinion the Soundpeats Air6 HS has a very musically gifted and harmonious sound for a $39 semi-open tws earbud. Let’s quickly run through each 3rd of the mix… 

Bass Region 

The bass is the focus of this set. I think that is pretty clear. In my opinion the mid-bass carries a slight emphasis edge on the sublevels, but neither range is weak. The Air6 HS comes with a nicely weighted low-end which will surprise anyone who isn’t used to semi-open earbuds having ample sublevel weight. It has some rumble folks. Of course, don’t go overboard with that statement. For a “semi-open” set of earbuds, the rumble is solid. I actually get some haptic feedback, some vibrational cues which brings upon a foundational style judder to many tracks. Bass guitar generally carries that meaty and gravelly low drone, full bodied, bullish enough. Kick drums have that juddering hollow boom, slightly soft on attack, but dense for a semi-open earbud. I’d also say that while the mid-bass carries an ever-so-slightly softened snap, the Air6 HS has a good punch to it. This set can be very satisfying if you enjoy a nicely focused and fairly clean bass that can slam with good presence. However, please don’t confuse me as saying that this is a basshead set, it is not, at all. Truth is that while the focus of the Air6 HS’s tuning is bass elevated, there is still enough offsetting upper ranges to keep somewhat of a balance. Basically, the Air6 HS isn’t what I’d call a fully warmed and L-shaped earbud. I should also note that the mid-bass does bleed into the midrange adding weight, smoothness, and warmth to the mids without entirely killing any transparency or resolving ability. Honestly, Soundpeats had me at “elevated bass” and they backed that up for a much more gratifying listen then I would’ve initially expected. 

Midrange

While the low-end is the focus, it’s the midrange which is the crown jewel of this set’s default tuning. I really enjoy the Air6 HS’s milky, rich, and somewhat vocally forward sound, pronouncing the fundamental body of notes. Certainly, great for a set of semi open earbuds which don’t usually translate to velvety rich and juicy without a slew of less wonderful side effects mudding up the sound, creating veil, and congestion the mix. This is why I am most definitely propping up the Air6 HS. I’m not saying they are the best earbuds I’ve heard under such-&-such price, and I’m not proclaiming them a flagship killer set either. What I’m trying to say is that the midrange comes across very charmingly with a penchant for embossed vocal passages that seem to exude the emotional intentions within my music. Granted, for me, I will always choose iems over anything and everything else, but while I’m out and about with some earbuds, I find that the Air6 HS have been a treat. Instruments come through with solid body, a denser body, and that warmly rendered dynamism which doesn’t sound bland or dull. Actually, there’s some good toned-down and realistic energy within the mids. Males sound authoritative and poignant enough with that nice organic timbre, pretty darn nice. However, to me the females are what stick out. The upper mids have even more energy, a hair more lustrous, and they don’t sound thin, edgy, or abrasive. Also, females carry that nice note weight. While the mids aren’t the outright focus of this set, they are great for a warmer and more musically engaging sound. 

Treble Region 

As far as the treble is concerned, I find it to actually have a nice bit of crispness, without calling the treble “crispy”. If that makes sense. There’s a nice balance within the treble, in that it preserves a mildly lustrous energy and airiness without sacrificing timbre by becoming too sibilant, tizzy, or bright. In fact, if I were to call the default treble anything I’d say it was moderately lifted and open sounding. Just enough emphasis to offset and counter the low-end enough to provide some clarity frequency wide. The beauty of this treble is that it is very smooth in cadence, similar to the rest of the mix without a sharp edge to be found. Now, you won’t have that clean-lined and punchy treble bite etching every last detail, but Soundpeats was okay sacrificing details and perfect resolve for something that sounds good. I’m okay with the tradeoff. One of those tradeoffs is the excellent extension we’ve heard in previous Soundpeats semi-open earbuds. So, you won’t have those ringing cymbals or chiming hi-hats to the extent that some sets have had. What you will have is a much better controlled, cleaner, and more refined sound from previous sets. Not as tizzy and treble doesn’t sound as splashy up top. Again, Soundpeats was all about tone, timbre, and flow with this set. The treble rides those rails perfectly whilst also coming across with some pretty nice detail retrieval up top. Not treble head worthy (obviously), and the treble won’t quench the desire of those who truly enjoy a brighter uplifted top end, but it has a nicely lifted lower treble/presence region with nice note contour, and open sound, and one which smoothly navigates even complicated tracks fairly well. For $39 I’m impressed folks. You may not hear what I’m saying right away but give this set some time and you’ll hear the control, the lack of treble smear, and the richness of its well contoured notes. 

Technicalities 

Soundstage 

The soundstage to me feels wide, open, full, and generally more chasmic than in-ear models. This should go without saying as one of the great benefits of a semi-open earbud is the open stage. Now, please remember that this is a $39 set and so you won’t have that amazingly holographic display, or the ultra 3D sound field with a multi-layered expanse of sound. We know better. To be honest, you won’t hear any under $50 semi-open sets with that description. What makes the Air6 HS so unique is that in this warmer atmospheric stage there is a clean presentation. This is not the norm. Furthermore, I adore a presentation like this. Warm, rich, bodied, and open! That’s awesome. To my ears and in respect to every semi-open set of earbuds that I’ve heard; I would definitely go out on a limb and say that the Air6 HS has one of the better “presentations” of the sound field that I’ve heard under $50, maybe under $100 for this style. Not the grandest or most cavernous, but very well dimensioned with clean note separation even with the warmer and smoother sound. 

Separation / Imaging 

I’ve already spoken on this within this review, but sound separation is far better than one would expect with a bassier and more smooth tuning. I hear clear separation for $39. Nothing feels congested, clouded, smeared, and nothing sounds overcrowded either. Transients aren’t lightning quick, but they are precise enough, cleanly displayed, leaving the bass, midrange percussions, woodwinds, drums, and vocalists nicely separated and not blurring note lines. Basically, the sound separation is distinct enough for a clean sound. As far as imaging, that is a little less precise. There are definitely moments where the bass can mask some of the laser sharp focus of less bass enhanced sets. Still, left to right panning shows off fairly precise placement of elements within the sound field as well as decent enough depth of field. So long as you aren’t listening to some super bass lifted track, you’ll find that imaging is pretty good. However, everything in this hobby is a give and take. One tuning decision affects another and there are sacrifices to be had. 

Detail Retrieval

For a set costing so little (even less with coupons), and for a set which is tuned so musically focused, and so bass driven, I am very happy with how well the Air6 HS illuminate’s details. Especially using LDAC. I hear nice surface textures in most notes, especially past the bass, which is only aided by the Air6 HS’s openness and decently resolving sound. Listen folks, do not buy this set expecting some hyper-analytical earbud that will draw out every last-minute subtlety from your music. It wasn’t tuned for that, and quite frankly… I wouldn’t want that. What makes this set special is its rhythmic ability to harmoniously engage the listener. You can’t do that with thin, dry, and clinical notes or artificially boosted highs. So, it strikes a nice balance as far as clean-lined clarity and smooth fluidity is concerned. 

Genres

I find it at least moderately difficult to proclaim how any tws sounds with different genres. It’s hard because tws sets are typically EQ’d by most hobbyists. The only thing I can give you is the Air6 HS’s default tuning (as I’ve been doing all review) and how it responds to different genres. However, please take this as a grain of salt. Obviously, you can easily go back and EQ where the Air6 HS seems to fall short for your preferences. Beyond that also remember that with every genre that typically sounds great with this set, I can find many tracks which won’t suit it as well. On the flip side, for every worser genre I can find plenty of tracks which sound great. We reviewers always give you these black and white concrete subjective opinions as though they are gospel. The problem is that these are “only” opinions and also, nothing in this hobby is black and white and everything is gray. It is almost to the point that these genre opinions are useless. At any rate, I will keep doing my thing. Below are some of the notes that I’ve made during my time with the Air6 HS. 

Genres Which Work 

When it comes to genres which work in the Soundpeats Air6 HS, I’d say that any genre which takes advantage of its heavy bass focus, mid-bass slam, warm and intimate midrange as well as less energized and smooth treble. To be exact, I’d first say that just about any Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, or any Souls music seem to sound flat out great on this set. Those 808’s can rumble very nicely, drums, electronic beats, and those bass drops usually come across very fun. EDM also sounds pretty darn good too. Something I wasn’t expecting to say. The Air6 HS has that nice dense punch and believe it or not the synth layers in most EDM tracks are cleanly separate from the rest of the melody. Any Rock music will sound fantastic. I mean, Progressive Rock, Alternative, Classic Rock, Modern stuff, even Soft Rock sounds dope on this set. Vocals are close, clean, and intimate, drums beat with purposeful authority, and there is zero shout, anywhere. To add to that, Pop music (a very broad genre) will usually sound great, depending on the artist and track. Any set this engaging will usually present most Top 40 style hits well. Lastly, I really like Singer-Songwriter and Vocal Centric stuff. That is just my preference, but vocals do come through well. I’d say that some Metal is nice, some Classical music works too. Let’s check out some of the “less good” genres. 

Less Good Genres

I say “less good” because nothing is downright terrible with this set. There are simply some genres which rely on a more crystalline sound, better stage, and they may need a more brilliant and uplifted sound. One of those genres is Metal music. Yes, I said some works well and it’s true, but for the most part the Air6 HS doesn’t quite nail those shredding electric guitars as the Air6 HS seems to dull that satisfying and hard attack and aggression for me. Plus, the Air6 HS doesn’t quite separate sounds perfectly (not many under $50 tws do, by the way). Jazz also doesn’t quite do it for me. I miss those brighter sax harmonics, the delicate brushwork sounds less detailed, and I’d simply like a hair more shimmer up top. Lastly, I don’t enjoy Classical or Orchestral music quite as much as some other sets. I’m missing those vertical layers, the sparkle on cymbals, the slightly abrasive edge on violin, and I like sets which can take on a complicated and complex symphony with precision. The Air6 HS isn’t quite built for that. Again, these are just examples of what I hear per my subjective preferences. There are certainly outliers which go against my thoughts here and there are tracks which will make me a liar, of course. Once more, take these words for a grain of salt. 

Last Words on the Soundpeats Air6 HS 

Another wireless review is done from one of the premier budget oriented wireless brands. Once again Soundpeats absolutely kills it with a set that seems to thrive at its cost. Granted, you will have to enjoy its tuning (you can EQ), you have to have a good fit, and you have to be okay with its features too. True wirelesses are rarely judged solely on their ability to replay music. Without question there is a ton of competition in the Air6 HS’s price range which can easily pull your attention away. This hobby is ruthless folks. Hence why Soundpeats goes full-out trying to create the best price-to-performance true wireless sets that they can. No, the Air6 HS won’t be for everyone, that’s a given. However, I definitely feel that it’ll fit more people’s preferences than it won’t. Soundpeats did a tremendous job on this one. My opinion of course. Easy rec from me. 

The Why…

Because the Soundpeats Air6 HS only costs $39, and it costs $27 with coupons… which is utterly ridiculous. To say that I’m getting 9 hours of battery life (with caveats), LDAC, one of the best semi-open ear fitments, solid build, great functionality, a solid app, and a very well-tuned default sound for such a low cost is why I love Soundpeats. The Air6 HS really does embody all that Soundpeats has learned over the course of their history. One of the preeminent budget wireless brands which always push the boundaries of what they can provide per the cost. The Air6 HS is no different. I find the Air6 HS to seat very well in my ears, and this set is so lightweight folks. I can literally keep them in my ears all day, miss nothing around me, and never become fatigued. That alone is worth the measly cost. However, when you tie in all of its features and top it off with such a warmly rendered smooth sound, clean note separation, measured dynamism, and nice balance what you have is a bona-fide stud at its cost. Again, an easy no brainer for me. 

Conclusion 

To conclude my full review and feature on the Soundpeats Air6 HS, I first have to thank the awesome people of Soundpeats. The contact that I work with is truly a gem. Icy… thank you so much. Always so helpful, never overbearing, always supportive, and always extremely kind. In my mind there is no other wireless brand with as many awesome people as I find at Soundpeats. So once again, thank you. Also, I thank you, the person reading right now. I thank you for trusting MBA, for trusting my opinion, and I thank you for simply clicking the link to get you here. I and my partners at MBA put a crazy amount of work into these reviews and so it always brings us joy to know that we’ve helped anyone, in any way. Thank you very-very much. 

Different perspectives 

As I always do in each and every review, I must ask you to please check out other thoughts about the Soundpeats Air6 HS from other reviewers, as it’ll most certainly only help you to make an educated purchasing decision. $39 may not be a lot to you, but it is a ton of money for many people around the globe, and so getting the best understanding possible from as many reviewers as possible can only benefit you. We are all very different friends. We have different gear, music libraries, likes and dislikes, and we haven’t all been down the same journey in audio. Take the time to research a bit and you’ll be better for it. With all that said, I think I’m done folks. So, please take care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless! 

Air6 HS Pros

-Price-to-performance is very nice

-Very-very comfortable over long sessions

-Fantastic battery life at 9 hrs per charge (45 w/the case) 

-Bluetooth 6.0

-Game Mode, Low-Latency Mode, Multi-Point Connection and other features

-LDAC audio codec (Hi-Res wireless)

-PeatsAudio APP

-Takes to EQ very well 

-One of the best sounding semi-open (semi in-ear) earbuds I’ve heard, even at only $39

-Very smooth and organic sound, great timbre

-Solid bass for a semi-open set. Weighted rumble, fairly clean

-Nice vocals for a cheaper set, forward mids, never glaring

-Non-Offensive treble

-Nice note separation 

Very nice and open stage

Air6 HS Cons

-Semi in-ear earbuds aren’t for everyone

-Fit may be an issue

-Sound leakage definitely happens

-Look/Aesthetic is not as ornate as other sets (I happen to think they look nice)