Despite similar builds, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro have very different sound architectures. Headphones Made in Cupertino It features a single transducer that is well-kept secret, while the South Korean native opts for a two-way design using bass/midrange transducers and a dedicated planar tweeter for treble. This difference only has an impact on paper, as both models exhibit remarkable acoustic balance. However, some subtle differences remain for the best ears.
Offering fairly flattering sound reproduction with slightly sharper bass and treble, the AirPods Pro 2 demonstrate admirable accuracy. Each frequency range is reproduced naturally, without major overflow, with an added edge that never changes the integrity of the music. Brassiness is accurately reproduced without veiling, and bass is expressed with clarity and transparency without any heaviness. Of course, the ranges are balanced enough so that instruments and vocals developed in the midrange can express themselves clearly.
Despite being well controlled, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro’s sound signature is much lighter than the AirPods Pro 2’s. However, their frequency response is slightly more uneven with a particular emphasis on extreme bass. If the character is capable of offering a great deal of body to compensate, this by no means precludes some of the artificial shimmer that taints the medium’s intelligibility. Regardless, the audio performance provided by the Galaxy Buds3 Pro is worthy of their status as high-end headphones.
With a better balance between treble and bass, the AirPods Pro 2 manage to reproduce the nuances of the midrange with greater accuracy. In this they win this round.
