Airpods Pro 2 USB-C Comparison

Shipping 🚢

TigerBuilder (TB) v5.2 [From Tao Bao] 8/10 - Only sea shipping is available, so it took roughly 10 or so days from dispatch to arrival. Received the parcel faster/earlier than EarHive surprisingly (More on this below).

NOTE: This set was bought through Tao Bao (no specific links will be provided), and verified by moderator "Kitzu" on the discord server that it was from a similar factory to the "high tier" options from Jenny/HiCity. It has a serial ending with ".SW".

Huilian H2S Ultra [From Earhive] 5/10 - The initial tracking number given by EarHive did not have any updates/movement seen on the tracking website after 7 days, and EarHive guys did not actively tell me they were about to issue another tracking number. 

Only after contacting them, did they provide a new tracking number, and seemingly they had just shipped the item. The second tracking number took 13 days to reach me (Singapore) which was surprisingly slow. Paid using AliPay, and got a "branded box".

Sound 🎵

Disclaimer: I'm not an audiophile, but rather an audio enthusiast trained in music/audio engineering. Each person's ear gain and HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function) are different, and my experience may be slightly different from yours. I am used to listening to neutral responses (such as studio monitors, which are boring and flat-sounding to general consumers).

All sound profile comparisons will be referenced to Retail/Genuine Airpods without any EQ, to keep things as objective as possible.

TB v5.2 [Z-EQ AKA default EQ] 4/10 - Bad tuning. 

• Bloated bass, however, has good sub-bass rumble (< 60 Hz). Great for K-Pop, HipHop, Trap, EDM.

• Recessed mids (therefore vocals sound distant and not as engaging), and there is a weird "ChiFi" boost of 2-4 kHz. 

• Shouty lower treble. The lower treble would sound a bit more "-shh" (or sibilant) than "-sss".
  (Try making a continuous "tssss" sound, but instead roll the tip of your tongue back slightly away from your teeth. It will start to sound a bit more "shh".)

• Likely to be referred to as "V-shaped" tuning, great for general consumers who love booming bass and sibilant treble.

H2S Ultra 7/10 - Close to Retail Airpods Pro's tuning.

• Bass is slightly weaker than retail (more on this under ANC & Transparency), but fast enough and slightly below average sub-bass (< 60 Hz) rumble.

• Mids are slightly recessed compared to retail, so vocals may not sound as "intimate" and/or "forward".

• Treble lacks some airiness and sparkle between 10-16 kHz, and has more upper mids (3 - 6 kHz) causing it to sound a little hollow and "shouty".

• Overall, the soundstage is decent, just not the most analytical due to the lack of upper treble (> 10 kHz).

ANC & Transparency 🎵

TB v5.2 [ANC - 3/10, Transparency - 3/10]

ANC:

• Lowers a little of the ambient noise, which allows me to hear the noise floor of the earbuds (slight hissing, in quieter environments). 

• The ANC also seems to be "pumping" and leaks a verrrryyyy slight bit of ambient sound every time my heart beats, before quickly recovering and suppressing which was quite distracting. This is more noticeable in quiet environments than in loud environments (Public Transports, Gym, etc).

• Struggles to suppress bass (< 100 Hz) whenever my heart beats, so it sounds like it is "reverse ducking" (ramps up the loudness then back to before).

• Struggles with moderately loud sounds. The lower treble is still quite prominent.

• ANC "works", but is not effective and only slightly reduces external sounds. Nowhere close to Retail.

Transparency:

• Sounds muffled.

• Only partially useful if you are playing music/audio at low volumes (2-4 clicks from 0 volume on iOS).

• Transparency exists but is not effective compared to Retail.

Adaptive:

• Well, it exists... Sounds like "Off" with a small pinch of "Transparency" passing through. 

• Does not actually "adaptively" suppress unwanted sounds, basically a useless mode. It did play the sound when switching to this mode like the Retail unit. 

H2S Ultra [ANC - 3.5/10, Transparency - 4/10]

Turning on either mode affects the EQ in some weird way. ANC seems to boost the bass and affects the lower mids/mid-bass, while transparency cuts the bass.

ANC: 

• Passable, lowers most external sounds, but struggles with higher frequencies (> 6 kHz) and sub-bass rumbles (< 60 Hz such as engine sounds, vehicle movement rumble).

• Better than TB v5.2, since it does not "pump" or "reverse duck".

Transparency:

• Not useful except when playing low-volume music/audio (2-4 clicks above 0 volume on iOS).

• Sounds unnatural and muffled, likely due to the limited hardware/firmware abilities to dynamically tune its EQ, unlike the Retail unit.

• Sounds slightly clearer than TB v5.2.

Adaptive:

• Well, it exists... but doesn't serve much purpose as it sounds practically the same as "Off". Maybe with a hint of "Transparency"?

Shared Audio 🔗 (Two pairs of Airpods, one iPhone)

TB v5.2 - 4/10

• Works, but may blast your eardrums at maximum volume. The volume played through the buds is locked to the max, regardless of adjusting through swiping on the buds or the iPhone. 

H2S Ultra - 10/10

• Works pretty well like the retail unit, volume can be controlled with no issues.

Spatial Audio 🔊

Both TB v5.2 and H2S Ultra work pretty well. 9/10 for overall functions compared to the Retail unit (ignoring the small details that the average person won't notice).

"Fixed" mode - 10/10

Both TB v5.2 H2S Ultra have no issues, sounds pretty similar to the Retail unit. 

"Head Tracked" mode - [TB: 6/10, H2S: 7/10]

Closed range (30 cm - 150 cm from iPhone): 

• TB v5.2 and H2S Ultra can replicate this function. 

• However, both units have a much more noticeable latency than the Retail unit (roughly 150ms delay relative to head movement). 

• TB v5.2's positioning seems to drift off the actual positioning if your head movement is too rapid (switch "Off" and "On" to recalibrate).

Long range (> 151 cm from iPhone):

• No noticeable differences from "Close range".

• Retail unit will automatically switch to "Fixed" sonically, once it is past certain conditions (distance and/or angle from the iPhone).

• H2S Ultra does automatically switch to "Fixed" sonically, but it is way more difficult to replicate compared to the Retail unit.

Connectivity 🛜

TB v5.2 - 10/10

• No issues as of iOS 17.4.1, supports multi-point connection between iPhone and Android.

H2S Ultra - 10/10

• Same as above.

Note: I do not own other Apple devices, therefore I can't test all that "seamless and automatic" handover across other Apple devices.

Casing color 🎨

Unless you are under strong sunlight or perfect lighting using high CRI (≥ CRI 95) studio lights with the retail unit as a reference, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.

BUT! It is indeed slightly different. Both are slightly warmer white than retail, however H2S Ultra is ever so slightly warmer white (as in yellowish) than TB v5.2. Technically and objectively speaking, TB v5.2 is closer to retail colors.

Magnet strength 🧲

This will be split into three categories - MagSafe, Casing Lid, and Buds to Casing. I do not have 1st party MagSafe charger, only a 3rd party one with magnets for testing.

MagSafe

TB v5.2 [3/10] - Magnets are... reverse polarity? Seems to slightly repel itself off the charger, therefore unable to stick to the charger if it is placed vertically.

H2S Ultra [8/10] - Magnets are slightly weaker than the Retail unit. Otherwise, works perfectly. 

Retail - Well it's retail... Strongest magnetic force/flux.

Casing Lid

TB v5.2 [7/10] - When opening the lid, it requires slightly more force than H2S Ultra. When closing the lid, it has a satisfying snap, but not as good as retail.

H2S Ultra [5/10] - Passing grade. Weaker magnets than TB v5.2. When opening the lid, requires lesser force than TB v5.2. When closing the lid, the snap is less satisfying than TB v5.2.

Retail - Retail has the strongest magnet. Opening requires the most force, closing has a satisfying snap.

Note: When the lids are fully open, TB v5.2 requires the most force (more than retail's) to unlatch and close. Not sure if is it due to a stronger spring or reverse magnets. 

Buds to Casing

TB v5.2 [9/10] - Relatively strong magnetic force. Almost as satisfying as retail's.

H2S Ultra [9/10] - Similar to TB v5.2.

Retail - Well you guessed it, it's retail.

Battery 🔋

Battery life

--- Requires a little more testing --- Initial results, both TB v5.2 and H2S Ultra have decent battery life (~7 hrs) without using ANC or Transparency.

Retail Airpods (Adaptive EQ) -> Lasts roughly 6 hours.

Microphone 🎤

4/10 for both TB v5.2 and H2S Ultra.

Both units have poor microphone quality, resulting in muffled, tinny, and distant-sounding recordings.

Not that much better for retail too... soooooo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 🤷🏻🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♀️¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Phone calls

TB v5.2 [6/10] - 

• It does a slightly better job than H2S Ultra. In the settings menu under "Microphone", you can select which earbud to use as the preferred mic. 

• However, this setting is only applied after reconnecting the earbuds. 

• For example, current session "left" is selected as the preferred mic, and now it is changed to "right". It will stay as the "left" until you re-insert the buds into the case, close it, open it and remove them. Now it switches to the "right" bud as the preferred mic.

• Sounds kinda like speaking through a tin can on the receiving end.

H2S Ultra [4/10] -

• For some reason, regardless of "left" or "right", it will always be the "left".

• Mic gain is higher than TB v5.2, so the perceived loudness is higher/louder on the receiving end.

• Mic gain may be higher but did not actively suppress random background noises.

Retail -

• Sounds the fullest/best under the right conditions (No random loud sounds or wind noise).

• Seamlessly switches between "left" or "right" mic when selected, without restarting or reconnecting the earbuds.

Find My 🔍

4/10 for both TB v5.2 and H2S Ultra. (Function and sound samples available under the sound samples section below)

• The last known location is shown on "Find My" based on the last connection to the iPhone.

• The beeping sound only works for the earbuds. 

• No UWB precision location tracking, no proximity tracking.

Retail - Playing the beeping sound works for the case when closed with earbuds inside it. 

• UWB precision tracking for the casing only.

• Proximity tracking is based on the signal strength of the earbuds relative to the iPhone when they are out of the case.

• Buds and casing can play the beeping sound (buds vs case sound different though).

Frequency Response Graphs, Sample Recordings, and EQ

Frequency Response Graphs - Currently unavailable. 

I currently do not own any proper "simulated ear dummies" or "couplers" to do such recordings for reference, as it costs a butt load of money to purchase. I may upload some here in the future once I have enough money to purchase.

Miscellaneous Nitpicks

In this section, I will try to list out as many minute differences between retail vs clones, that do not fit the above categories. These are just "nitpicks" and not "dealbreakers", but to help people realize certain differences and how close the clones are compared to the retail unit. 

Casing Speaker Sounds

TB v5.2 by default has that annoying chime/tone whenever the lid is opened regardless of whether the earbuds are in or out. You can turn this "feature" off using Flycc app, but that would also mean upon charging, there will be no sound played from the casing's speaker (refer to the above "Case Sound Samples" video clip).

H2S Ultra by default does not have that chime whenever the lid is opened, acting closer to the retail unit. The chime only plays when charging using the cable and not wirelessly (MagSafe). The chime played sounds pretty close and realistic to the retail unit.

App support

TB v5.2 has more options to tweak compared to H2S Ultra, which allows the user to change and apply EQ locally on the earbuds themselves. This allows the EQ to be consistent across all apps and possibly devices that TB v5.2 will connect to.

iOS Users - Go to App Store and search for "Flycc". It should be available for download.

Android Users - This link brings you to the ultimate guide.

Sound effects

The various sound effects of the clones relative to the Retail ones... are lower in quality and some even sound completely different. 

Changing volume using the sliding gesture to increase/decrease volume:

TB v5.2 - Very different from retail. The sound effect heard from the earbuds is more like a "boop" type of sound. No differences when max/min volume.

H2S Ultra - Similar to Retail.

Retail - The sound effect is more like a hybrid between a "click" and "boop" type of sound. When approaching max volume, the "click" becomes a "pop" sound, and when approaching min volume, the "click" becomes a low "boop" sound.

Initial insertion of earbuds immediately after removing them from the case:

TB v5.2 - Same sound as Retail, but sounds a bit lower quality and muffled. 

H2S Ultra - Similar to Retail.

Retail - Highest fidelity.

Changing sound modes (Off, ANC, Adaptive, Transparency):

TB v5.2 - Same sounds as retail, but sounds a bit lower quality.

H2S Ultra - Same sounds as retail.

Retail - Highest fidelity.

Pinching (Play, Pause, etc):

TB v5.2, H2S Ultra - Same sounds retail, but less full sounding.

Retail - Highest fidelity and the "click" when releasing the pinch, sounds fuller than the clones.

Casing charging sounds:

TB v5.2, H2S Ultra - Similar sound effect, but TB v5.2 is lower quality (louder and distorts a little) than H2S Ultra.

Retail - Highest fidelity.

Noise floor

TB v5.2 - whenever something stops playing, a hissing noise can be heard shortly before it cuts off. In louder environments... probably not noticeable but it is annoying in quieter environments.

H2S Ultra - Not perceivable.

Retail - Not perceivable.

Pinching pressure sensitivity

Not scientific by any means...

TB v5.2 - Default sensitivity has random false triggers. I'd suggest decreasing from 75% (default) to 69% or lower, but that would also mean you may have to pinch harder.

H2S Ultra - Can't be changed AFAIK (As Far As I Know)... I have not experienced random false triggers.

--- I might add more if I happened to notice something else ---

The End

Hey there! Thank you for your patience for sticking through, reading this whole "Wall Of Text". 

I hope that this article has helped you and/or your friend(s) in some way to see (or hear) the differences and some of my opinions/views.

Last but not least, do take the sound review portion with a pinch of salt. Everyone's ear gain, hearing, ear training experience, and exposure to equipment and media are different.

🎉🥂🍻 Cheers! 🍻🥂🎉