SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS Review

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS, in many ways, outperform the non-HS version and retake the “AirPods killers” title for only $50. But they suffer from subpar Bluetooth range and strange channel shifts using EQ.

In most cases, Hi-Res audio certification is a red flag, purely specs-driven marketing nonsense that doesn’t mean much in the real world.

So how can SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS, a hi-res version of already affordable earbuds, actually deliver better results? Well, SoundPEATS understood their assignment.

The HS model not only outperforms the non-HS in sound quality and call quality but also in battery life: lasting almost 2 hours longer per charge.

But, they aren’t perfect, as they suffer from below-average Bluetooth connection range. Are there any other flaws? Or are they a steal at $50? Let’s read the review.

Sound

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS have similar tuning over the non-HS version but offer a greater EQ customization and, as it appears, better DSP that brings out overall clearer, higher quality sound.

Learn how to understand sound comparisons.

Typically, hi-res headphones (or updated versions of existing models, like the Air3 Deluxe HS) are a gimmick that doesn’t live up to expectations. Like Anker Soundcore Life Q35 compared to Life Q30, for example.

However, SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS are, albeit small, a noticeable improvement over the original Air3 Deluxe. Both share almost identical tuning, but the sound quality is higher in the HS version.

While seemingly using the same 14.2mm dynamic driver, the hi-res version packs a different DSP (chipset WQ7033M rather than Qualcomm QCC3040, also seen in the teardown) that squeezes more out of that driver.

Furthermore, you now get a wider 10-band +/-6dB custom EQ instead of the 7-band +/-3dB one in the non-HS model, so you can make them sound far more neutral.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS Frequency Response

Bass: Impressively controlled for classic earphones

Low-frequency response is an enemy of open-back headphones and classic earphones (earbuds without ear tips), as it quickly loses power and can distort if you boost it.

Surprisingly, SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS earbuds deliver a boost without causing distortion. That said, Apple AirPods 3 and the non-HS version have a louder bass if that’s what you seek.

On the other hand, the bass in the HS is more controlled than the other two, rendering bass guitars with good precision.

You can even expect some sub-bass rumble when listening to pop or hip-hop music, but only if you’re someplace quiet. During the commute, external noise will sadly mask it up.

Midrange: Uneven but easily fixed with EQ

The original and HS model have similar dips in the midrange at 800Hz and 4kHz. However, the latter is slightly deeper in Air3 Deluxe HS, which takes away energy from electric guitars.

Consequently, songs like “Promise” from Voyager can sound completely off during a chorus riff.

Fortunately, raising both regions in the app’s EQ balances out the midrange and makes it sound natural.

Furthermore, the HS version feels airier, with vocals pushed further away. That makes the sound less intimate and more relaxing. There’s also no sibilance to speak of.

Treble: Clear, with decent texture

With Air3 Deluxe HS, the treble got clearer and airier. Boosting the 16kHz gives a better sense of clarity without adding harshness.

Cymbal crashes have decent texture and sizzle, definitely better than most other earbuds at around $50. You don’t get the same realism as in premium earbuds, but nobody expects that.

As mentioned, the sounds are pushed further away, giving a wider soundstage than in the non-HS version. Overall, it’s decent in size so that the music doesn’t feel like it’s playing in your head.

The imaging is also relatively accurate. However, you’ll need to opt for eartip earbuds for better accuracy.

Overall, SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS beat the non-HS model in audio quality, making them the best new alternative to AirPods 3 and the best-sounding classic earphones on the market.

We’re unsure how SoundPEATS made these improvements and added LDAC support without raising the price. Actually, the HS is currently cheaper than the non-HS version.

Custom equalization

Here are our custom EQ settings for SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS:

During our review, the SoundPEATS app sometimes acted strange when tweaking the sound. When switching from “Classic” to “Custom” EQ, the channel balance shifted (one earbud was louder than the other).

If that happens, go into custom EQ and re-tweak one of the frequency bands. It normalizes the channel balance. You can distinctly hear balance shifts in the EQ presets comparison above.

Comfort & Fit

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS are small and don’t cause any pressure in your ears, so you can wear them indefinitely. In contrast, they lack stability for anything more than walking.

The design of the Air3 Deluxe HS is identical to the Air3 Deluxe, with the only difference being a golden touch-sensitive surface on the HS instead of a silver one.

As a result, they share the same comfort and stability characteristics. Starting with comfort, earbuds are small and slightly oval with side-firing speakers.

The shape nicely adapts to your ear and does so comfortably. They should remain comfy even if you have smaller earlobes.

In comparison, Apple AirPods 3 are slightly larger and not universally suitable for kids’ ears.

On the other hand, Apple’s TWS earbuds have a glossy finish and larger contact area, making them less slippery than Air3 Deluxe HS.

The latter have a matte and rougher finish with a smaller contact area, so they tend to bounce and twist in your ears along with head movements.

We can’t recommend them for intense workouts or running.

Outdoor walking is the most extreme thing you can do with these buds before slipping and falling on the floor.

That said, some people’s ears are more compatible with classic earphones than ours, so your mileage may vary.

Durability

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS are rather plasticky earbuds with an IPX4 sweat-resistant rating and a charging case, which feels a bit better this time than the original.

The entire package is made of plastic, which is expected at $50. Earbuds have a matte, rough finish that feels okay, although you can tell that the plastic isn’t the highest quality.

They’re lightweight earbuds (only 0.14 ounces or 4.06 grams per bud) and glued together from at least 4-5 parts. Not ideal, but it doesn’t seem they could break by falling on the floor.

Furthermore, buds have an IPX4 rating, meaning they can survive light sprays of water like rain or sweat.

Moving to the charging case, it now has a similar matte texture to the earbuds (compared to the glossy finish in the non-HS model). That makes it a fingerprint magnet but also more scratch resistant.

Another change is the case’s hinge, which is now tighter. We prefer a looser yet more “finely tuned” hinge in the non-HS version, but that’s a personal preference.

The charging case lacks any water protection, so keep it away from water or moisture.

Battery

• Real battery life: 6h 8min

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS surprisingly lasted 6 hours and 8 minutes during our test, which is longer than expected. You get another 15 hours of playtime in the charging case, which can’t charge wirelessly.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS Battery Comparison

SoundPEATS improved not only the sound but also the battery duration compared to the seemingly identical Air3 Deluxe.

A different chipset might be to “blame”, offering a more optimized performance. Even though you would think receiving and decoding an LDAC signal requires more energy.

Nonetheless, we let SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS play at 50% volume (LDAC enabled) and got:

• 6 hours and 8 minutes before shutting off.

That’s almost 2 hours more compared to the non-HS version and an hour more than what was advertised.

Moving to the charging case, it officially offers another 15 hours of battery life and can charge from 0 to 100% in 1.5 hours.

There’s no mention of fast charging support, nor does the case support Qi wireless charging.

Features

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS offer a companion app with custom EQ, Adaptive EQ, Game mode, and in-ear detection (auto-pause). On the flip side, no control customizer, but for only $50, that’s truly impressive.

Features don’t change much compared to the original model, like in-ear detection (which you can turn off) and the inability to customize touch controls.

Interestingly, the original model offers to disable one-tap gestures, whereas the HS model offers to disable touch controls entirely.

Here are some other differences we’ve noticed when comparing the two models.

• Touch controls seem to be more sensitive in the HS version. We activate them almost every time we try readjusting the earbuds.
• Custom EQ offers more frequency bands and a wider range of boosts, making it easier to correct the earbuds’ sound—more on that in the sound category above.

Adaptive EQ

Adaptive EQ also works differently in the HS version. You still have to listen to different frequency beeps and tap on the screen whether you hear them or not.

Previously, the result only boosted the bass and treble. Now, the effect is more subtle. However, we still don’t recommend using it. The feature makes the sound quiet and dull, crushing the dynamic range.

Microphone Quality

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS improve their call quality over the non-HS model, but they still struggle with loud background noise.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS Microphone Test

When making phone calls someplace quiet, the earbuds’ mic picks up your voice nicely and clearly. It’s decently full and a bit thin, but more than suitable for video calls with your colleagues or friends.

When exposed to loud ambient noise, the call quality degrades noticeably. You become more muffled, with some distortion that sounds like an echo.

Fortunately, the person on the other side can still understand your words. However, don’t be surprised if you need to repeat yourself occasionally.

Noise Isolation

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS block so little ambient noise you barely notice. That makes them only suitable for indoor use or someplace quiet.

Classic earphones’ greatest weakness is their poor passive noise isolation. With no ear tips to seal your ear canal, the outside noise easily passes through and interferes with your music.

Raising the volume helps a bit, but by doing that, you hurt your hearing in the long run. Also, you let other people know about your playlist due to sound leakage.

Consequently, Air3 Deluxe HS aren’t your best option for commuting. And since they also lack active noise cancellation, the engine noise quickly overpowers the music.

Therefore, to get the most out of the earbuds, you must use them indoors (at home, library, student dorm) or anywhere quiet.

Bluetooth

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS have a pretty short indoor range of only 35 feet (at best). At least they support LDAC high-res audio codec and Game Mode for a low-latency signal.

While most things about the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS were better compared to the non-HS version, Bluetooth performance takes a different turn.

In our indoor test:

• Earbuds started stuttering at around 30 feet and stopped playing at 35 feet (or 10.6 meters).

After returning to reacquire the signal, earbuds continue to stutter even at around 25 feet. Meaning that you should take your transmitting device with you when walking around the house.

How to pair SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS?

1. For first-time pairing, you open, close, and re-open the case, which wakes up the buds and initiates the pairing process (brand-new earbuds are already inside the charging case, without the plastic that would prevent them from charging, so you need to “wake them up”).
2. To pair them to another device, place the earbuds into the case and hold the button in front of the case until you hear a crackling noise from the buds (or when the LED in front of the case starts flashing).

What Bluetooth Codecs Do They Use?

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS use SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. You must enable LDAC codec inside Bluetooth settings on your Android device.

AAC isn’t listed as a supported codec on the official page, but it shows up in developer settings on Android.

Is There Any Audio Lag?

The lag is nonexistent on YouTube or social media videos, or movies playing through a laptop. Even by default, the latency in games is passable and only problematic if you’re in competitive titles.

Enabling gaming mode reduces the latency down to the supposed 80 milliseconds. Albeit still there, the delay improves noticeably after turning on the feature.

Should You Get SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS?

From a value standpoint, SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS are a steal at $50. Especially compared to the non-HS version, which we already recommended at $60.

If you want to listen to music as faithfully as possible and only tolerate classic earphone design (you find eartips too invasive), these are perfect.

We don’t know any classic buds with better sound quality than these. Not even Apple AirPods 3.

On the other hand, if you want better stability and multipoint support, you should look elsewhere.

How do SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS compare to the competition?

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS alternatives

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe

Apple AirPods 3

What’s in the Box?

• SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS true wireless earbuds
• Charging case
• USB-C cable for charging
• User guide

Specifications