TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - With the TWS50, SoundMagic makes an impressive debut in the market of true wireless earphones. Not every aspect is as good as the sound, however.
SoundMagic TWS50/ TWS 50 specs:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
IPX7 water proof (heavy rain, sweat and dust)
+-5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 5 sets ear tips and a micro-USB charging cable
$70 on Amazon US, Amazon Europe or AliExpress - check current price!
Below this review you can find direct comparisons between the SoundMagic TWS50 vs 1more Stylish TWS, Bomaker Sifi, Fiil T1X, QCY T5 and Alien Secret Predator QCC010.
battery, comfort and design
Everyone that looked further than cheap wired Sony and Sennheiser earphones over the last decade must have seen the name SoundMagic passing by.
For years in a row, the British audio magazine WhatHifi dubbed the SoundMagic E10, the best wired earphones under $50. And then China came along. Not only changing what you may expect of an earphone under $50 but also what you can expect from a headset under $10! Dirt-cheap earphones like the KZ ATE competed easily with the SoundMagic E10. SoundMagic faded away onto the background a bit and seemed to miss the boat on truly wireless earphones altogether.
Until now, that is. The SoundMagic TWS50 (also written as TWS 50) is the first wireless earphone of the brand. It has a compact, flat, and round charging case you slide open like on the SSK BT03 and Aukey Key Series T10. It shows its battery charge handily via green LEDs on the lid, and it looks fun. Charging can be done via micro-USB. The case seems to lose its battery faster than other earphones in standby mode - and it's a bit finicky to get the earpieces out.
The earpieces have a bean-like shape on the inside and reside firmly in your ears, although you will probably keep feeling them because of the slight thickness in the middle. Happily, they're rather flat and don't protrude much out of your ears. These can be worn in bed perfectly.
Comfort is further improved by the different ear tips SoundMagic provides - some have smaller designs with wide openings (increasing the bass a bit), and some have smaller openings (decreasing the bass). They last around 5 hours on medium playing volume - although medium is more like background level here. The Soundmagic TWS 50 isn't the loudest of earphones.
Connectivity and controls on TWS50
The TWS50 has touch controls that respond well to your touch. The control scheme is... interesting. A single tap plays or pauses the music; a slightly longer tap changes the volume. On the right side, a more prolonged tap decreases (!) the volume and two taps make you return a song. On the left side, you increase the volume or forward to the next track. It's a bit counter-intuitive, but it's nice you can change the volume on your earpieces.
Connectivity on the SoundMagic TWS 50 is mediocre. The earpieces pair and connect fast, and the Bluetooth 5.0 is stable up to ten meters, including in areas more crowded with wireless signals. Unfortunately, it can occur that the right earpiece doesn't play any music after you take it out of the case. To solve it, you need to put it back in the case and take it out again. Re-connecting then goes fast, but it's annoying - especially when you're in a rush.
Calling and watching movies
The SoundMagic TWS50 is powered by a Realtek chip that has problems catching up audio with video on the YouTube app on the iPhone. YouTube-videos are almost never in lipsync on iPhone. On Android and video services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, watching videos goes flawlessly. Gaming goes with a severe delay in the sound, however.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $100
Sound quality of SoundMagic TWS50: non-offensive
The sound quality is the best part of the SoundMagic TWS 50. It delivers a warm and balanced sound with plenty of detail.
Just like the respected SoundMagic E10 wired earphone, this wireless SoundMagic seems to be tuned so that it won't offend anyone. Starting with the bass; it has a steady thump supporting modern genres like dance and pop, but doesn't push itself down your throat. The (sub) bass doesn't rumble in your ears, and the bass doesn't overpower other notes in the music.
The SoundMagic has only a slight emphasis on lower-mids. There's enough of it to make drums sound clear, enough to hear darker details in guitars and pianos - but not so much that it fills up the music. The lower-end of the TWS 50 sounds cleaner than on many competitors.
The highs further help the warm sound character. Or better spoken: the highs you can't hear. Cymbal, vocals, trumpets, lighter electronic tones, and violins are well-controlled. They never enter bright, harsh territory; the SoundMagic ensures a pleasant, relaxing listen. The downside of it is that some vocals can sound a bit thin. You'll also miss out on the gasps and other nuances more prominent vocals, and higher tones can offer.
Happily, the TWS 50 does deliver a good soundstage, with all kinds of details coming from the left and right of you. Instrument placement may not be the most precise out there, but separation is great.
The same cannot be said about the volume. The SoundMagic doesn't go as loud as most earphones.
The SoundMagic TWS50 is a sweet, warm, yet detailed sounding pair of wireless earphones - which will appeal to many listeners and not offend anyone. Except maybe for people that love to listen on the higher volumes.
Selected Comparisons
SoundMagic TWS50 vs Fiil T1X
The outstanding $65 Fiil T1X is another balanced sounding wireless earphone under $100. It extends both the highs and the lows further than the SoundMagic, delivering more sub-bass, a heavier bass thump, and more detail in the lower frequencies. The TWS50 sounds cleaner in the bass-area. Soundstage between the two is comparable, but the T1X has better instrument placement and tonality. As a finishing touch, you can equalize the sound via the Fiil+ app.
Soundmagic TWS50 vs Bomaker Sifi
The excellent $40 Bomaker Sifi is a tad more compact and comfortable than the TWS50. The Sifi can go much louder and has more presence in the upper-mids, giving instruments more space to shine. Bass guitars sound groovier, and its bass strikes harder. The Sifi also has a bigger soundstage, with a more precise instrument placement. The SoundMagic still sounds great in comparison, though. It's a bit more laidback and balanced - and it's the better pair for in bed too, without the bright blinking lights of the Sifi.
SoundMagic TWS50 vs 1more Stylish TWS
As they're both brands that stood out just before the abundance of cheap Chinese earphones, the TWS50 just has to face the 1more Stylish TWS. The 1more has a fatter, more bloated bass and sounds smoother than the SoundMagic. The TWS50 sounds more open, with more separation and detail in bass, mids, and highs. The 1more sounds congested, sometimes even muffled in more crowded tracks, whereas the TWS50 can seem a little thin in the most challenging songs.
SoundMagic TWS50 vs QCY T5
The comparison between the $80 SoundMagic and $25 QCY T5 has to be made, as both offer a balanced, yet warm sound signature. The TWS50 puts more body in the lower-frequencies and sounds a bit darker. The T5 has more lifted upper-mids and highs, giving vocals more presence and detail. Surprisingly, its bass also strikes a bit harder. The TWS50 delivers an easier listen. Both are comfortable, but the T5 is more suitable for calling and watching videos.
SoundMagic TWS50 vs Alien Secret QCC010
The newly released and just reviewed $30 Alien Secret has a bigger soundstage than the SoundMagic, with a more 'airy' feeling. The Alien Secret extends highs much further too, making it sound brighter - but also more hollow and thin - than the TWS50. The TWS50 has more weight in the lower-mids and sounds not only a bit darker in comparison, but also easier to listen to.
Alien Secret Predator QCC010 review here
Verdict
The SoundMagic TWS50 is an impressive debut in the market of wireless earphones, delivering a balanced, warm, and detailed sound.
Four STARS - very good
Buy SoundMagic TWS 50/ check current price:
I bought the SoundMagic TWS 50 myself for testing and reviewing purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
Also read:
