1MORE PistonBuds Pro TWS ANC earbuds hands-on: When budget pricing meets next-tier audio experience

[Redaktion]

While the 1MORE PistonBuds Pro are not special, these TWS ANC headphones come with a low-latency gaming mode, four microphones for enhanced audio in calls, as well as the brand's proprietary QuietMax noise cancelation tech. Despite their wallet-friendly price tag, they also come with drivers tuned by Luca Bignardi.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/1MORE-PistonBuds-Pro-TWS-ANC-earbuds-hands-on-When-budget-pricing-meets-next-tier-audio-experience.668676.0.html

[Adam222222]

Not a single word about the quality of ANC in comparison to other earbuds. Very disappointing.

[Codrut Nistor]

Well, there is nothing much to say about the ANC. I didn't compare it to other earbuds because it's different. Seems to cover a rather narrow area of frequencies compared to the EVO or the Aero, for example. If that seems bad, it's not - at least that what I think. Less intense ANC means a lower impact on the quality of the music when it is enabled. In most other ANC-enabled headphones, this leads to a much more present low end spectrum and nothing more. Sure, it gets the desired effect, but to what end?
Bottom line, the ANC keeps out less stuff than most competitors, but also delivers a more refined sound, while still actually reducing some frequencies. I say it again, it is... different.

If you have other questions, I'll be pleased to answer them.

[anon]

I dislike "low latency gaming modes." What is the tradeoff (why should someone leave it disabled)? Battery life? Audio quality? The manufacturers don't say, so maybe there is none, they ship the device with this setting disabled by default to encourage app usage and to signal that their product has good latency, regardless of the actual delay length.

I am glad they are thinking about it, but I would much rather see support for good codecs and latency specifications given in ms. I doubt these earbuds, with SBC, achieve less than 120ms.

[Codrut Nistor]

Low latency gaming modes sometimes lower the bitrate to lower the audio latency/chance for hiccups. In this case, I didn't notice any difference. As I said, they are surprisingly snappy compared to other SBC-only earbuds, even some apt-X ones. In the end, for most users it's enough to be able to watch a YouTube video properly, without feeling the need to adjust audio/video sync. For games... I'd usually just go with a wired headset or something with a USB-C dongle (the EPOS GTW 270 that I reviewed a while ago, for example - https://www.notebookcheck.net/EPOS-GTW-270-Hybrid-hands-on-More-than-just-an-excellent-solution-for-gaming-on-the-go.562115.0.html).