SoundPeats is known for making earbuds with exciting sound signature at an affordable price. SoundPeats Truegine 3 SE was a big hit, and their latest SoundPeats H1 – a Hybrid Dual Drivers pair of true wireless earbuds is expected to take things one step further. The SoundPeats H1 retails for S$97.99.
Unboxing
In the box, you will receive the following items:
- SoundPeats H1 Earbuds
- Charging case
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Silicon ear tips x 3 pairs (S, M , L)
- Comply TrueGrip Foam ear tips
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver | Knowles Balanced Armature Driver & 8.6mm Dynamic Driver |
| Battery Life | 10 hours per full charge 35 hours in charging case |
| Weight | Earbuds: 6.5g each Charging case: 44.0g |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth chipset | Qualcomm QCC3040 |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, SBC, AAC |
| Water resistance | IPX5 |
| Charging port | USB-C Support Qi-wireless charging |
Build quality and features
The SoundPeats H1 has a two-tone design going on for both their earbuds and case. The case has a gunmetal finish combined with a matte black finish on it plastic. The shape and size of the case is very similar to the SoundPeats Truegine 3 SE, so it is still on the thick side of cases. Magnets in the case are strong as there weren’t any rattling heard when shaking it. You can also see 4 levels of charging indicators inside the case.
The earbuds feel similar to the SoundPeats Truegine 3 SE as well. It retains the slightly grippy texture and is rated IPX5 for water-resistance rating. The gunmetal part of the earbuds functions as the touch panel for controls. There is a small transparent housing to show off the dual-drivers.
Controls
SoundPeats H1 utilises touch controls which is able to control everything from play/pause, adjusting volume, skipping of tracks, and handling calls. It is basically the same set of controls as the SoundPeats Truegine 3 SE, except that a triple tap now engages ‘Gaming’ mode.
The touch controls is responsive and are easy to use. The touch surface is not overly sensitive so I do not encounter any accidental mis-touches.
Battery life
SoundPeats H1 is rated to last 10 hours of play time per full charge, which is almost a 50% improvement from the Truegine 3 SE. 10 hours is a lot of play time and the charging case still provides additional 35 more hours. However, I have noticed that the case of the battery losing its charge rather quickly – which could be a quality issue.
Charging is done via USB-C at the back of the case. Alternatively, you can also opt for wireless charging which is great to see supported even at a budget price point.
Fit
The fit of the SoundPeats H1 is very similar to the Truegine 3 SE, as the earbuds have similar contoured curves and grooves to nestle well in my ears. I got a comfortable relaxed fit as the nozzle of the earbuds is not too long so it does not go in deep into my ear canal.
It seems to be a default now and I’m glad that SoundPeats continues supply a pair of Comply TrueGrip foam ear tips. Using the Comply foam tips allowed for a better seal and greater comfort. I would recommend you to use the Comply foam tips over the silicon ear tips.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
SoundPeats H1 comes with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 and utilises a QualComm QCC 3040 chipset.
Pairing can be a little fussy at times – sometimes only one side of the earbuds can connect to my phone so I have to put them back and re-do the connection. You will see the SoundPeats H1 as one Bluetooth device on your iPhone. The connection during my time of testing was largely stable, and there was no latency or lag when watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11 when using the default mode (not ‘Game’ mode).
Update:
I am facing issues with the right earbud and being able to pair with the left. One remedy would be to try removing the right earbud then left one when you intend to use. And when keeping, keep the left earbud first in the case and then right one.
If you want to use just one earbud, you can use either the left or right earbud. The connection from one earbud to two resumes instantly the moment you remove second earbud from the case.
Sound quality
SoundPeats H1 also features a dual driver system like the Truengine 3 SE had, but the combination of the Knowles balanced armature driver & 8.6mm dynamic driver bears greater dividends than the Truengine 3.
The overall sound signature of the SoundPeats H1 is actually similar to the Truengine 3 – dynamic bass bossted sound. However, you can easily tell the the SoundPeats H1 is far superior as it has greater clarity and refinements across the board. Bass is still punchy and offers a satisfyingly thump. Compared to the Truengine 3, the H1 has more defined bass that hits cleaner and does not let it smear into the mids.
Speaking of midrange, it is more forward on the H1 than on the Truengine 3 – vocals no longer sound recessed on bass heavy songs. Highs are also better controlled not sounding overly bright or too warm and obscured on bass heavy songs. Soundstage and imaging is also better on the H1 as the distinction is clear and sounds more open when you’re listening to complicated music with many layers.
Microphone quality
You can expect average microphone performance from the SoundPeats H1. The way it pickups my voice resembles that of answering via speaker phone – fairy distant but still clear enough. The microphone does struggle in a noisy background as it fails to isolate my voice. It is best to use the SoundPeats H1 for calls when you’re in a decently quiet environment.
Conclusion
For S$98, the SoundPeats H1 is an incredible bargain if you’re looking for a budget pair of true wireless earbuds that offers a dynamic bass boosted sound signature. The H1 also has many convenient features such as single-earbud use and support for wireless charging. Fit shouldn’t be an issue as the provided Truengine 3 does offer very comfortable wearing experience.