MARCH 2022 T3 75Beats Fit Pro
On a brighter note, the Class 1
Bluetooth implemented is pretty
impressive. We were able to get over
60 feet away from our phones before
experiencing a drop.
Sounds familiar
One of the reasons for the regular
comparison to the Beats Studio Buds
in this review is the fact they sound
essentially the same.
You get that same very good (but
not great) sound with a bass forward
profile. The mids are balanced for a
fairly rich and rewarding listening
experience; the highs are prominent
enough to keep the earbuds from
sounding too warm while still being
slightly rolled off. Though bright
enough, these are not the most
detailed earbuds out there. When it
comes to buds however, that’s
probably a good thing as most buds on
the bright side end up sounding harsh.
Where the Beats Fit Pro really
shine is in the implementation of
their active noise cancellation (or
ANC) and transparency mode. While
the ANC on the Beats Studio Buds was
good, it’s better here. When on, it
easily blocks out the rest of the world,
whether it’s ambient noise from a
nearby fan or the noisy goings-on of
a busy gym. The transparency mode,
which wasn’t so great on the Studio
Buds, is just as good; you can listen to
music at reasonable volumes and still
hear announcements.
Something new is Spatial Audio,
Apple’s virtual surround sound tech.
Additionally, it comes with dynamic
head tracking so that the sound
source stays static when you move
your head around, as if it’s coming
from a physical speaker in front of
you. While it works well, we wouldn’t
suggest turning it on when doing a
Russian Twist – it’s disorienting. That
said, the Spatial Audio itself is a nice
way to make music and movies
especially more immersive.
The only place where these buds
take a step back is when making calls.
Using dual beam-forming mics to
pick up a user’s voice, the earbuds are
supposed to represent the voice
clearly. But while we could be heard
well enough, we sounded like we
were in an echo chamber. Maybe it’s
because of all the digital processing to
reject background noise, but the mics’
performance on the Fit Pro is average.When we tested the Fit Pro battery
life, we were pleasantly surprised to
get a full seven hours and two
minutes of playtime on one charge,
with ANC and transparency modes
turned off. And, once the charging
case fully restored the earbuds, it had
two full charges left. That means
you’ll end up with 28 hours of
playtime without ANC and 24 with it.
So, are the Beats Fit Pro worth the
cost? We think so. They’re not perfect,
particularly when it comes to making
calls or wearing them for long periods
of time. But, these are meant for active
use, whether that’s the gym, going for
a run, or something else. And you’ll
not be left wanting if you grab a pair
of these for your next workout.Battery life is very
decent: we got
seven hours on
one chargeBEATS STUDIO BUDS
If you’re not be ready to
pay £200 for earbuds,
these might be the way to
go. While the Fit Pro have
a better transparency
mode and battery life, the
Studio Buds are still an
excellent sounding pair of earbuds for the gym.
£129.99, beatsbydre.com
BANG & OLUFSEN BEOPLAY E8 SPORT
If you’re ready to
splurge, these buds
sound amazing. They
may not come with ANC
but their transparency
mode is well executed
and they come with the
kind of features you need in the gym.
£300, bang-olufsen.comTHE ALTERNATIVES
WE’RE IMPRESSED Fantastic
Transparency Mode and Active
Noise Cancellation; great battery
life; very secure fit; feature-rich.
WE’D IMPROVE Slightly too
bassy; mic could sound better;
could be more comfortable.
THE LAST WORD A stellar pair
of active earbuds. Great battery
life and features are paired with
solid sound. They’re only held
back by a less than stellar mic
and uncomfortable wingtips.VERDICT
Find the best deals for the
Beats Fit Pro at: bit.ly/t3btftpro