Soundpeats Capsule3 Pro

Since last year, SoundPEATS have been “flooding” the market with what can only be described as an ambitious number of new in-ear designs. Here in the editorial office, we have so far counted 20 (!) different models. Among them is the Capsule3 Pro, which is being tested here. They promise, among other things, LDAC Hi-Res Audio, touch control and a very effective ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) for a price that is currently less than 50 euros.

Technology of the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro

12-millimetre membrane drivers are supposed to effortlessly reproduce the frequency range of 20 Hz to 40 kHz, which is defined as Hi-Res. With these headphones, this is transmitted with Bluetooth version 5.3 and codecs SBC, AAC and LDAC, provided that these are supported by the playback device. They have a very good battery life of eight hours, which can be extended to 52 hours via stopovers in the charging case. However, the runtime is reduced when ANC is activated, as three microphones have been integrated per earpiece, which can nibble away at the battery power.

Using the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro

The handy packaging contains the charging case that holds the in-ears, a multilingual quick start guide and a 12-centimetre USB A to C charging cable. Three pairs of earplugs in sizes S, M, and L are also included. Once you have selected the right earpieces, these in-ears provide an amazingly secure hold in your ears between the tragus and antitragus after you give them a slight twist. The earpieces have a slightly oval shape, and this means that the SoundPEATS are extremely comfortable to wear for hours on end.

The USB-C socket for charging is located on the underside of the charging case. Hidden next to it is a small button that can be used to reset Bluetooth pairing. A variety of functions can be called up with various combos of pressing and holding, tapping once or several times: from switching noise cancelling (On/Off/Transparency mode) to media and phone call control, as well as calling up a voice assistant (Siri/Google). Touch operation via the contact surfaces on the back of the two in-ears is relatively secure. However, the contact surfaces for receiving commands are not particularly large, with a small sensory circle of just seven millimetres in diameter.

The SoundPEATS app

If you buy the SoundPEATS, you should definitely download the free app that comes with them because it offers significant added value: Not only can the exact battery status be monitored, the game mode with reduced latency can be activated, and the noise reduction mode can be selected. You can also select one of nine equaliser profiles (including bass boost/reduction, treble enhancement, and classical music). However, at this point, I should state that I doubt there will be many fans of the “folk song” pre-set. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you can create your own equaliser curve via nine fixed frequency equaliser bands.

A special highlight of the new app version 1.2.8 is the personalised sound adjustment. Here, you can carry out a short listening test with sine tones at three different volumes in eight frequency bands, and from this, a corresponding equaliser curve is then created. If you do this test carefully, the result is a clear improvement in the sound, and this can be repeated at any time. The only disadvantage is that the algorithm works by subtraction. If you make an A/B comparison, the unprocessed signal always sounds somewhat louder, making a decent comparison difficult. Even more problematically, the reduction is subtracted from the maximum possible volume of the headphones, so depending on the strength of the equalisation, it can result in these in-ears being a bit too quiet even at maximum volume.

How effective is the ANC of the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro?

The Active Noise Cancellation is completely satisfactory, considering the price range. Ambient noise, from street sounds to a babble of voices or indoor sound, is effectively reduced – not to the point of inaudibility, but in individual cases well below the “annoyance threshold”. The speech quality of the integrated microphones is also quite useful. This is where the transparency mode comes into its own because it is extremely pleasant to be able to hear yourself in the room when you are on the phone.

How do the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro sound?

The first time we tested the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro, we uttered an appreciative “wow” because the sound they deliver to the eardrums is dramatically and positively disproportionate to their price. Available for just fifty euros in some online shops, the Capsule3 Pro clearly sound like headphones from a much higher price category – especially when you activate the personalised sound adjustments, which elegantly compensate for slight unevenness in your hearing.

I would describe the basic characteristic of these in-ears as muscular, which – depending on the style of music you are listening to – can be a lot of fun. The sub-bass foundation of “Woe”, the opener on Shygirl’s excellent pop concept album “Nymp”, is presented as wonderfully round and punchy by the SoundPEATS. Even in the highs, the Capsule3 Pro leave little to be desired and reproduce the crunchy, finely resolved percussion in “Treading Water” from “The Maghrebean” with great precision and plasticity. Only when it comes to reproducing the sound structure and space of a live ensemble, especially when the music is very airy and dynamically mixed (for example, Bobo Stenson Trio with “Sphere”), do you notice that the SoundPEATS lack a bit of the tonal depth and agility that is needed to make the delicately played acoustic instruments really “resonate”. Accordingly, the Capsule3 Pro tend to perform much better with electronic, up-front music.