Soundpeats RunFree
Intro
Soundpeats have their hands in almost all wireless pots friends. Today I am completing a review for the Soundpeats RunFree. The RunFree is a special wireless device which uses a special new tech called “Air Conduction” and just so happens to be the winner of the 2023 Red Dot winning device for its Design. Now, we’ve seen Bone Conduction devices in the past, but this is a bit different, I will. Explain as best I can further into the review. However, for right now I’ll stick to the introduction. The Soundpeats RunFree is an over-ear style of neckband wireless device which doesn’t actually push into the ears or even cup tight to the ears. Hence, the open-ear design. It is very cool and works like an absolute charm.
I actually previously reviewed the Soundpeats RunFree Lite (RunFree Lite Review) earlier in the year and I was impressed. Truly this is a niche type of device which will work perfectly for those folks who need the ability to hear their surroundings as well as listen to a dynamic sound. There are a number of valid reasons why this is a perfect device for many different use-cases, and I do intend to fill you in about those. Now, folks I think you know that reviewing a set like this is a huge departure from what I’m used to but I kind of like the challenge. I like trying new things and I’m happy to check this set out.
Soundpeats
Soundpeats is one of those brands which must never rest. Folks I have reviewed quite a few Soundpeats products over the course of the last year or two and I am not joking when I say that I’ve been impressed every single time. Each set is “close to” or “at” the tops in their respective price points and each device always has some sort of a leg-up on the competition. Soundpeats is always innovating and staying connected to the latest trends and always seems to be keeping a much lower cost. I love that this is a brand who crafts affordable devices that most anyone can at some point get their hands on.
One last thing
Just so you know, I purposefully spent a very long time getting to know this set. I wanted to have a long window of actual usage to judge the usefulness as well as the actual audio ability of the RunFree. Thankfully I received these from an awesome company who doesn’t pressure and knows that there is a method to my madness. So thank you Soundpeats and thank you Ellen. So with that all said I’d like to jump into this review, the Soundpeats RunFree everyone….
Purchase Links:
RunFree Pros
-Price
-Built well
-Extremely Lite, feels like nothing
-Battery life is outstanding at 14 hours
-All features work flawlessly
-Soundpeats App
-Nice design
-Red Dot Design Award Winner
-Bass actually has some feel to it
-Surprisingly nice sound using Air Conduction
-Fit is very nice
RunFree Cons
-You cannot adjust the neckband (not really a con)
-No real cons for what the RunFree is
Packaging
Unboxing
Not much to report here folks. With a device like this you don’t have any eartips, cables, and no extras. Really the unboxing consists of opening the box and pulling out the headset. Nothing too world changing. Then again, did you expect to be surprised? You also receive a type-c charging cable as well as some reading material but that’s about it. Not bad.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality / Design
One thing that Soundpeats is always able to do is craft devices which seem built nicely as well as at the lowest cost to the consumer. The RunFree is no deviation from that. It is built using a hard plastic material yet with a soft rubber or silicone covering that feels very nice when worn. I’m not joking, Soundpeats really made a nicely built set here.
What you have is a slim band which goes around the neck and on both sides behind the ear are little blocks. I’m assuming the battery and other tech is on the left side and the controls are on the right. The button placement is in a very ergonomic place that makes it easy to build muscle memory. I love the earpieces themselves as they hover over the ears and are very classy looking. I love the clear plastic with the Soundpeats logo underneath. They look slick and sleek and not cheesy or gaudy at all. I think Soundpeats did a fine job creating the RunFree.
The earhooks themselves sit very nicely against the ear. I have had enough time with the previous version, the RunFree Lite and so I had gotten very much used to how they feel when worn and it’s nice. Another thing is the rubber which covers the RunFree is a very soft feeling silicone. It is very unique and makes for a comfortable fit. The RunFree literally just sit behind the ear and the earpieces hover right over the ear. The control buttons took a minute to get used to but are very intuitive after a couple minutes.
Internals
Soundpeats chose an enormous 16.2 mm Dynamic Driver to use for the RunFree. I don’t know the driver material but will edit this review when I find out. Now this dynamic driver is also making use of a patented tech called “Bass enhancement technology” which is able to pump the sound into the ear and really bring a hard hitting low-end. Also, inside is a ATS3019E + HT97220 chipset which provides the RunFree with Bluetooth 5.3 as well as a few other nice features. Not much else to report here. I suppose I could say that the battery is also crammed inside the housing.
Fit
This is the only area where there may possibly be an issue and that is the fit. Now, I think the only real problem would arise if you had a giant head as the headband itself gives plenty of room for this issue. I think the fit should work for 99% of the world’s people as the ear hooks naturally rest right at your ears. I suppose if you have some oddly shaped ears then this may present a slight issue, but I do think the vast majority of people will find the RunFree works as it is intended and the fit will be perfect.
Features
The RunFree doesn’t have a million features, but they do have some which makes total sense. However, you won’t see “Passive Mode” or “Pass-through” mode due to the fact that these already are open-ear headphones. So, they have thee “best” Passive mode of any set. Obviously, you won’t see any ANC as that would completely defeat the purpose of this device and you won’t see stuff like wireless charging. So those are some of the things that by nature of the device you would never have on board.
SOC Chipset
Like I stated earlier the RunFree uses a ATS3019E + HT97220 chipset which just so happens to give the RunFree Bluetooth 5.3 which is the latest and best Bluetooth available. This chip is good for both Android as well as IOS users as the RunFree uses both AAC & SBC audio codecs. Fear not iPhone users because Soundpeats has you covered.
Game Mode
Oddly enough and also pretty cool that Soundpeats also added in “Game Mode” or “Latency Mode” which definitely helps with lip syncing issues or while playing games on your device. I found that the game mode worked very well for everything except 1st person shooters, some of the time. I don’t hear & see any real lag at all when watching videos and I was quite surprised how nice these actually are in this regard. Of course, I’ve used many sets from Soundpeats with a game mode and all of them have worked very well so I don’t know why I was surprised.
Multi-point Connection
The RunFree also has another great feature in multi-point connection where the RFL can actually connect to two devices at one time. Again, this used to be unheard of except in very expensive models, but Soundpeats was able to put it in a set which costs less than $60. It works as advertised though setting it all up takes a minute of patience. However, once a connection to two devices is established then it is easy-peasy going back and forth between them. I actually used two phones just to see how well it works and sure enough, the multi-point actually functions very well.
Soundpeats App
The Soundpeats app has come a long way. It capably runs on both Android and IOS very smoothly. Thankfully Soundpeats realizes how important a good app can be for us consumers. The Soundpeats App actually gives you many options. You can upgrade firmware through the app (don’t forget to do this right away). There is also a 10-band equalizer which is very effective at switching up the sound to your liking.
Personally, I don’t use eq for reviews, but I did play around and the RFL does very well in reaction to EQ. Soundpeats also offers 9 preset EQ settings as well as the custom user EQ. One huge plus is the fact that whatever setting you choose it will save on the buds themselves. You can also toggle between ANC, Transparency mode and Normal mode as well as toggle on or off game mode. Finally, you can check the battery status of each Earbud. It isn’t the most in-depth app, but it is exactly what we need. Very nice.
Battery Life
Now, this is an area where the RunFree absolutely excels and dwarfs any competition as they will get you a total of 14 hours of battery life on one charge. That is awesome. Charging is easy, all you have to do is connect a type-c charger to the type-c port of the RunFree and you are good. This is definitely a bright spot for this set and certainly a “Pro”. The battery itself has a 140mAh capacity which probably means nothing to you but just know… That’s pretty large friends.
Call Quality
I had many uses for the RunFree but one of them was constant Teams meetings at my office. Another huge bright spot is the RunFree’s ability to display my voice to others. Whether it was hours long meetings or speaking with my wife and kids, I never heard my voice was anything other than natural. Soundpeats makes use of three mics in total which helps tremendously with phone calls. In fact, I have grown to absolutely adore using this set for Zoom or Teams meetings online. I can hear everything around me so well but somehow Soundpeats has created a device which helps the user concentrate on the phone call too. It really is refreshing, and you’ll only know when you try them. Let’s put it this way, I usually use a $400 pair of headphones specifically built for these types of calls. Folks, I prefer RunFree. No joke.
Waterproofing
Soundpeats made sure to add at least some sort of protection from spills, splashes and rain drops on the RunFree as it is rated with an IPX4 waterproof rating. This means that you can go running, and while you are running a rainstorm can happen across your jog and you won’t have to worry at all. You can spill something on them and there shouldn’t be an issue either. However, you cannot dunk this set-in water or completely submerge them.
Controls
I already briefly touched on this, but I find it awesome that Soundpeats added in all controls on the headset itself. You have forward/back track, volume up/down, answer/hang-up calls, game mode, as well as the ability to summon your devices’ personal assistant. Another great thing is how easy these controls are. On the right-side block behind the ear is three buttons. A “+” button on top, a master button in the middle and a “-” button on the bottom. I love that there is actual texture to these buttons and the middle button is raised just a bit more off the surface for better feel, so you aren’t seeking to figure out which one does the actual commands.
I’m impressed, Soundpeats saw to it to make everything very simple with a very short learning curve and I’m sure many will appreciate that. It isn’t easy to create a set such as this and also map out such useful button placement as they have. On top of that it is equally great that Soundpeats was able to create such an intuitive set of controls. There was never really an issue for me figuring out how to use the controls. I uploaded a couple pics of the actual control layout from the included manual below…
Specifications
Core Specs
-Bluetooth: Version 5.3
-Profiles: A2DP/AVCTP/AVDTP/AVRCP/HFP/HID
-Chipset: ATS3019E + HT97220
-Supported Bluetooth Codec: SBC,AAC
Battery
-Battery Capacity: 140mAh
-Charging Time: 1.6 hours
-Total Playtime: 14 hours
Features
-Game Mode: Yes
-Waterproofing: IPX4 rating
-Multi-point Connection: Yes, up to two devices
What’s in the box
-SOUNDPEATS RunFree Open-ear Wireless
-Type-C Charging Cable
-User Manual
Sound Impressions
I have to preface this entire section with a couple things. First off, folks this is not a set which will compete against in-ear true wireless in overall sound quality. Simply by design alone and for the use case of these headphones. This is a set meant for use while running, doing chores, phones calls and they are meant to provide the listener with the ability to hear their surroundings. I say that but I’ll also say this; this set sounds absolutely crystal clear and very fun for what it is. The RunFree works entirely off air-conduction which is a process of basically shooting the sound directly into a specific area of the ear. Basically, you’ll hear nothing until you hover the speaker directly over your ear hole.
Bass Region
The Bass Region is one area where Soundpeats should have had the hardest time getting right. It is very difficult to have good and full bass without an actual seal in the ear. Hence why in-ears are so nice, or of course over-ears. These are on-ear earphones, and they are actually not bad in the low-end. Now, you won’t have that ultra guttural drone down low and you won’t have an authoritative slam either, but you do get a nice punch. Obviously, you shouldn’t expect much but also, you’d be surprised how nice a heavy low-end track can sound. It certainly surprised me.
The sub-bass doesn’t really show up much unless the fit is perfect, and the speaker is tight to your ear, but I do get some decent haptic feedback with the volume up a bit. I find the sub-bass very swift with nice agility and can maneuver around even very fast bass passages very well. The mid-bass is a bit more prominent in the mix as I can audibly hear a solid boom as I would usually hear on the track “2040” by Lil Durk. There is a slight density to the sound which is strange that I can perfectly hear my outside environment while I hear the boomy bass.
Further thoughts about the bass
I am so very surprised, folks. I definitely hear an upgrade from the Soundpeats RunFree Lite in terms of bass note definition, clarity, punchiness and solidity of the bass region. This is a very dexterous low-end with good macro-details and enough emphasis down low for most genres. Just don’t expect anything that will boom like you’re in-ears. Also, remember that you can go into the Soundpeats app and use the custom equalizer to bump up the low-end which does help quite a lot.
Midrange
The midrange is more forward than it isn’t, and I hear a nice and clear timbre that is pretty natural to my ears. I feel this midrange is absolutely lavished in clarity and a very nice transparency. Without the low-end masking the sound what you are left with is a crystal-clear representation of your music. The large drivers and tech housed within the RunFree are obviously very good as I get zero distortion at loud volumes, and they handle complicated tracks like a breeze, something I did not expect. I find the technical ability of the midrange is great as details emerge very easily. I can hear the slightest plucks of a guitar string, the finger slides, the breath in the mic when a vocalist is doing their thing. The RunFree is a very competent set for what it is.
Sweet Undertones
Male vocals come across slightly lean but there is still good note density, and each male vocal comes across stout and has a smoother inflection to them. Of course, I could use a bit more warmth to add some weight to the sound, but I didn’t expect that in the first place. Males have a lean body but can still sound very masculine in that leaner umbrella of sound.
Females have plenty of shimmer and sit more forward than male singers. I really enjoy listening to good vocalists while cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or out and about at the market and females seem to sound the best to me with this set. They have a very sweet undertone and can be just as soft and whispery on lighter and more gentle tracks or they can sound resounding in a ballad. The timbre is closer to natural than I would have thought and there is plenty of vibrance to female voices.
Further thoughts on the Midrange
The only other thing I’d add is that instruments come across very snappy and sound great for an air conduction set which relies on a Bluetooth transmission. I’m very surprised folks! Strings sound natural and have some sharpness to them and secondary harmonics sound realistic. Violin is also silvery in sound or soft and melodic. Piano can be so tuneful too. The only drawback is any instruments which rely on that weighted warmth like bass guitar, kick drums, even snares can feel a bit dull at times. However, everything else sounds very nice. Remember what this set is folks. For doing out and about tasks or running etc. the RunFree is really great.
Treble Region
The treble comes across non-offensive and non-fatiguing as it is a more laid-back treble region. Obviously, you can EQ till your heart’s content and that does help to bring a lift to this area but even without I find the treble to have plenty of elevation. The treble is a bit punchier with adequate bite to treble note definition. The treble area is very detailed as the minutiae is illuminated very easily so if you are the type who loves a technical sound then this set is for you.
Put in any Billy Strings track and you’ll hear the rapid-fire banjo play and listen as the RunFree quite literally hits every note with great agility and a very fast transient attack and decay. Extension up top is also very good for a wireless set as the harmonics of a cymbal strike are certainly not lost. The treble has a slight brilliance that elevates the entire mix to have a more luminous sound, a more energetic sound and a sprightlier sound. I feel Soundpeats did a great job tuning this set and is great for what it is.
Technicalities
Starting with the soundstage, the RunFree has a very wide sound with a big stage size which not only reaches wide but also tall. Now, like most bluetooth devices I don’t hear the deepest sound, but I feel the stage is of a better-than-expected size. It stands to reason that with an open set that uses air-conduction would also sound very open and airy. Separation follows the same trajectory. I hear all separation of elements of a stage to be very well delineated with defined edges to each instrument.
Also, the same can be said for imaging. It is easy to place right to left and there is the slightest but of depth which helps to come across moderately decent layering of sounds. I do find the fast transient attack and decay, coupled with the airiness, good note definition and the fantastic separation helps to have a controlled and refined stage.
Is it worth the asking price?
This is a no brainer for me. If you are in the market for a budget open ear set which is ultra safe for any situation in which you need to hear your surroundings, then I’d say don’t go any further than the Soundpeats RunFree. Look at what you get for such a cheap price and folks, everything works as Soundpeats said it would. Please trust me, I’ve been actually using this set for two whole months… on purpose. I did so just to get a good feel for the sound and how the RunFree actually operates. This set is fantastic.
The Why
The build is great, the tech works like a charm, the fit is top notch, and the sound is way better than I expected. I think this is an absolute champ for what the RunFree is. One of the nicer qualities of this device is that the call quality is so good. I cannot tell you how nice it was using this set for Teams meetings. Such an easy device to just loop around your ears, pairing is instant, and the connection is great.
I want to stress about the sound though because this was the best surprise for me. No, the volume isn’t the loudest, but it also isn’t supposed to be and no this won’t match in-ears. Still, for style of device I find the RunFree to be a very nice sounding device with clarity and accuracy as the mainstay and a musically adept sound that should keep your feet moving.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the Soundpeats RunFree, I want to again thank Soundpeats. Soundpeats is a special company who seems absolutely bent on creating the best value possible no matter the style of device. I am utterly impressed by this company and the value they add to the audio space. The RunFree is not a set I would usually look to purchase, and it is a niche device that certainly has a particular use-case but what I’ve found was… It is a very well-done set! I am an in-ear guy through-&-through, but I have gotten so used to having these on my ears that I’m kind of sold on their usage. Like I said earlier I purposefully gave myself a very long time of actual experiential usage with this set so I could get a good grasp on what exactly the consumer would be getting.
What I found was something I didn’t even know I needed. For my professional life they are perfect and for simply doing chores around the house etc. the RunFree has changed my mind. I don’t want you to take my word for it though. Please check out other reviewers & their thoughts about the RunFree. Everyone is different folks. No two of us are exactly alike and I do think it would be very beneficial for you to research as best you can to make an educated decision. I think that’s about it. Thank you for reading! Take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless.
