TWS true wireless earphones - under $150
FIVE STARS - The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro convinces with fantastic build quality, solid noise cancelling, great app support, and multipoint connectivity. The sound quality is also a step up from previous Soundcore models - but it's still a sound signature you may or may not like.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro specs and features:
Bluetooth with AAC and LDAC codec
IPX4 waterproof (splashproof)
6-8 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 4 sizes ear tips, 4 sizes of ear wings, USB-C cable, English manual
$150 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, from other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro review, you will find comparisons of the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM3, Sennheiser CX, Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, and Lypertek PurePlay Z3.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Liberty 3 Pro is another model in Soundcore's extensive wireless earphone lineup that punches above its weight in presentation. The 'L3P' has a slick, matte pebble-like charging case with glossy accents - whether you're buying the black, white, or light blue one. It's thin enough to slide into a jeans pocket and looks neat, with three LED lights on the front to indicate the remaining battery and a USB-C connector at the back. Like the Liberty 2 Pro and Liberty Air 2 Pro, you slide the lid open - it all feels sturdy and even luxurious.
The earbuds design is a continuation of the Liberty 2 Pro, meaning a big part of the earbuds sticks out of your ears and is held in place by the rubber ear-tip and a rubber wing you put behind the back flap of your ears. The earbud is much lighter than before, and from the glossy finish to the rosé gold-coated nozzle, it looks 'premium'. The IPX4 splashproof-rating should ensure it survives a light rain when you're commuting or running with them, but a higher waterproof rating would have come in handy.
While Soundcore's manual and free app do everything to ensure you get the right fit, ergonomics leave something to be desired. It can be a bit clumsy to get the earbuds out of the case and in again, and it requires a bit of fiddling to align the rubber ear wing with the rest of the earphones. Besides, the ear tips sometimes turn inside out when you take the earpieces out of your ears.
Battery life on the L3P is rock solid, delivering around 6 hours of playtime with ANC on, and up to 8 hours with the function turned off. The charging case can recharge the earphones up to four times fully before needing new power via USB-C or wireless charging.
Controls and connectivity
Out of the box, the controls of the Liberty 3 Pro are pretty basic.
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Hold L or R to cycle between ANC on, Transparency mode (and ANC off, if you opt for this from the app)
You can add controls to a single-tap and triple-tap with the free Soundcore app, making it easy to add skipping and return tracks and change volume from the earbuds. Every action is confirmed by different beeps, although the ANC on/ off ones could have been clearer. Most importantly: the L3P responds very well to your touch. It's convenient to use, whichever control setup you choose.
You can add and change controls from the app
The app shows to which devices you're connected
The LDAC codec and multi-point don't work together
One of the best value-for-money features of the Liberty 3 Pro is its multipoint connectivity, meaning these earbuds can connect to two devices simultaneously. You can listen to music on your laptop, but when you receive a call, the L3P will switch the sound to your phone automatically. When the call ends, and you resume playback on your laptop, it will switch back just as easily. It's a rarity on affordable wireless earphones and works very well.
Standard connectivity is solid on the Soundcore too. Apart from rare hiccups in the sound, the Bluetooth connection holds strongly up to 9-10 meters away from your device. It's possible to always switch between listening to one or two earbuds, and music playback automatically pauses when you take an earbud out - and resumes when you put it back in your ears.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos is a breeze with the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro. Synchronization between audio and video is flawless on iPhone and Android. Both with the standard-setting or LADC codec-setting activated from the app, there is still a slight delay in sound effects when you're playing games, as you can hear shots in Fortnite a bit later than you see them on screen.
The Liberty 3 Pro handles phone and video calls very well, like Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings. Your voice sounds full and loud, and has enough clarity to rise about sounds around you. Darker sounds around you are reduced well or left out of the call entirely, but sudden brighter sounds like accelerating scooters and wind noise can still come through - although they're toned-down enough. Your voice still sounds louder and clearer than those sounds around you.
Addition: the L3P needs a firmware update for laptop with older Bluetooth chips. On the MacBook early 2015 test model, audio is out of sync with videos, and the sound output drops entirely after ending a Google Meet or other video conferencing session. With Soundcores reputation on app and firmware updates, this problem hopefully doesn't last too long. Please share your laptop/ desktop experience in the comments.
Soundcore Life P3 app quality
The free Soundcore app can be downloaded for iPhone and Android and offers a tons of features, while it’s still easy to operate. The list of options is near endless:
Update the firmware of the buds
Customize and add controls (see Controls part)
Switch between ANC on, Transparency mode, ANC off and activate a 'Reduce wind noise' option
Choose between with ANC functions you want to switch on the earbuds themselves
Setup HearID ANC which lets you choose between adaptive ANC or manual ANC settings (see ANC part)
Do a Fit Test to see if you have a good seal with the ear tips
Do a Hear ID Hearing test to adjust the sound to your hearing (see sound quality part)
Despite all the options, the app is easy to operate
The Hear ID Test can optimize your sound
There's another Hear ID Test for the noise cancelling
Switch between regular sound quality or LDAC codec (see sound quality part) (ANDROID ONLY!)
Choose between 20 sound equalizers
See and remove the currently connected devices
Activate or deactivate wearing detection - automatic pause/play when putting in and out earbuds
Activate or deactivate prompt tones for controls and wearing detection
Select automatic Power Off time when not playing any music
Read the Quick Start guide
The L3P lets you bath in-app options, and it's fun to check them out and play with them. At the same time, the app is so logical, that it doesn't overwhelm you with options. Soundcore is reknown for updating both the app and the earbuds, making the app not only a useful addition to these earbuds - but a vital part.
ANC Noise cancelling test of Liberty 3 Pro
While the Soundcore app gives you the option to set up and select adaptive noise cancelling optimized for your ear canals, you probably don't need it to get the most out of the solid ANC active noise cancelling the Liberty 3 Pro delivers.
ANC quality: Even without touching an option from the app, the ANC active noise cancellation on the Liberty 3 Pro is effective. It filters out many noises from your surroundings. Especially constant and darker noises are heavily reduced, with sounds like dishwashers, fans, and electronic buzzes mostly or completely gone. Brighter sound effects, like wind rustling and some traffic noise, still come through, but the result a white noise that's neatly evened out. If you want, you can weaken the ANC from the app or adjust it manually - but why would you?
Transparency mode quality: The Transparency mode, meant to put through traffic noises and/or chatter on moments you need it, fails to impress. It emphasizes brighter sounds around you, so you can hear where some cars are moving from, but the effect isn't strong enough to rise above even moderate music playback volume.
Wind noise reduction: With the option to turn ANC off from the app or the earbuds, and to switch a Wind noise reduction switch, the Liberty 3 Pro does an outstanding job of leaving out wind noise while you're using the ANC mode. Even in the Transparency mode, wind noise doesn't overtake the music.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
Despite claiming to be backed by '20 Grammy Award-winning producers', so far, previous Soundcores wireless earphones didn't sound very balanced or refined.
Releases like the Liberty 2 Pro, Liberty Air 2 Pro, Life P3, and cheaper models like the Life A1 or Life P2 Mini sound fine to really pretty good - but always in a generously thumping bass kind of way, with prominent but often artificial higher tones.
With the Liberty 3 Pro, Soundcore took a step up.
Let's start off with the bass - without a doubt the weightiest part of any Soundcore. What a performer it is. The sub-bass (the darkest tones you can feel as much as hear) is incredibly strong, diving deep and able to stab and tickle you with vibrancy. It can rumbly fiercely but still gives acoustic basslines loads of texture. The mid-bass has a proper impactful slam, and it can be overly thumpy and a bit bloaty, but not nearly as much as on previous Soundcore models. Bass strikes roll-off quickly and can follow each other in truly rapid procession - this is one heavy-hitting, fast-pacing bass.
Higher frequencies got proper attention as well. Female and higher-pitched male vocals sound upfront, come with plenty of nuances, and appear very clear overall. Switch to a random wireless earphone afterward, and it may feel the vocals are in the backseat - that's how forward they are on the L3P. At the same time, they're not overdone. Vocal outbursts are kept in control, and even Björk's outhauls in It's Oh So Quiet aren't too piercing. It doesn't matter whether you're listening on low or high volumes - the clarity in the upper regions is consistent. The same goes for listening with ANC on, off, or Transparency mode: the sound doesn't change.
On top of that, the soundstage is lovely wide. Even without the 3D Surround Sound-option, the music feels around you - specifically on your sides. Instruments and details come from your left and right, they have their own places, and it's easy to position them in the music. Staging is a point where Soundcore didn't impress so far - until now.
Make no mistake, though: the Liberty 3 Pro still has the rather aggressive Soundcore approach to music. That means center mid-tones fall a bit behind in between the outspoken bass and upper-mids. Snare drums and piano play can be a bit recessed, and some male or darker female vocals can lack body in the lows. The biggest problem might be that the treble is a bit hissy, however. Especially in rock songs - whether it's Rage Against the Machine, Placebo, or plain Coldplay - guitars and higher-pitched vocals sound brighter than usual and somewhat artificial. They don't sound harsh overall, but higher notes can be a bit overblown in their own songs. This artificialness is never gone, but it can be toned down by the various other sound options from the app.
These are the most noteworthy sound options:
3D Surround Mode tweaks the soundstage from wide to more around you, makes music sound 'thicker' and more immersive. The setting places vocals more central and reshuffles some of the positions of instruments, but it doesn't give you the 3D-vibe Sony products can. That's okay though, as this mode keeps the sound quite natural. It even tops off the harsher higher notes in vocals and guitars a bit, making this equalizer both pleasant and engaging to listen to.
LDAC Audio Codec is a setting you can activate after an earbud update from the app (Android only!). You'll lose the multipoint connectivity and 2-3 hours of battery life per charge, but especially on Android phones, the leap from the SBC codec to the LDAC codec is fantastic. Center mid-tones are more prominent, vocals have more nuances, and almost each instrument has more impact and detail, from drums to violins. It would have been the go-to choice for audio lovers, except that some claps and snare drums can cause heavy, unbearable distortions in the music. Let's hope the L3P addresses this in another firmware update.
The Hear ID test analyses how many (higher) frequencies you hear and lets you adept the sound - in three different ways. As the results of this test are personal, it's hard to describe what it does for you. For me, the Hear ID adaptation brought a little more emphasis on upper-mids and highs, detracting from the body in the lower-mid tones - and I switched back to the classic sound or 3D mode quickly.
Then there are 20 equalizers in the app you can choose from. On previous models, the Acoustic EQ was an unskippable option, as it could turn acoustic instruments more lively and open up higher frequencies. As the L3P made such a leap in sound quality, the equalizers aren't as important as before. The Treble Reducer helps in taking away some hissier higher notes, but sounds a bit too toned-down to be enjoyable. It's good to know that you can still make your own EQ, though.
Soundcore has made a proper step-up in sound quality with the Liberty 3 Pro. Although it still bears slightly artificial center- and upper-mids, soundstage and vocals are crammed full of detail and the bass amazes in both quantity and quality. Add up all the different options that let you tweak and play with the sound, and the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro breaks Sony's years long dominance of combining good noise-cancellation with great sound.
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro comparisons
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM3
Now available under $150, the Sony WF-1000XM3 is the only other wireless earphone that combines ANC and great sound quality at a reasonable price. Sony's noise cancelling is a bit stronger, ruling out more lighter noises than the Soundcore, and its Transparency mode is more useful while listening to music. The Liberty 3 Pro is ahead on (video) call quality, multipoint connectivity, controls, and wearing comfort, as it's lighter in your ears.
The L3P has a more pronounced, impactful, heavier rumbling bass than the Sony, which lets the bass tones drag on longer. The XM3 has a warmer character; it elevates lower-mids more and gives more body and detail to higher-pitched vocals. The Soundcore is a bit colder, and its upper-mids are a bit thinner and splashier in comparison. Still, the L3P fights back with a wider soundstage and more precise instrument positions, maintaining them better in crowded parts than the Sony. Sony's 3D mode feels more 3D, but the Soundcores leaves music more intact, making it more than a gimmick. Basically, the Sony sounds warmer with fuller and more nuanced vocals; the L3P has more airiness and detail.
No Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Initial price too high | Amazon US | Amazon Germany | other Amazon countries ($140)
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro vs Lypertek PurePlay Z3
The $100 Lypertek PurePlay Z3 may have IPX7 waterproof rating so you can take them under the shower... but with better comfort, clearer calls, great app support, noise-cancelling, transparency modes, and so many sound options, the L3P feature set is on another level.
The Lypertek puts more effort into the bass and lower-mids, ensuring the Z3 has a darker sound than the L3P, including fuller lower male vocals. Acoustic basslines and sub-bass play a bigger role in the Z3 sound, yet they're fuller and more textured on the L3P. The Soundcore presents mid and upper-mid tones more vividly, with more natural tonality and more precise instrument placement. The Z3 separates convincingly on your left and right; the Soundcore feels more around you. The L3P sound is more open and even more engaging, thanks to the quicker bass and drum pacing. The Lypertek is less fatiguing to listen to.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 review ($100)
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro vs Sennheiser CX
Available at around the same price, the Soundcore looks and feels more expensive than the Sennheiser CX. Once again, the L3P feature set is better - as the regular CX lacks ANC, Transparency mode, and the same endless list of sound options the Soundcore has.
The Sennheiser has a more natural, straightforward sound than the L3P, with a warmer undertone. While the CX bass is quite generous, it isn't as punchy or dominant as the one on the L3P, and vocals and upper-mids are less aggressively forward than on the Soundcore. The CX has a smaller soundstage, but its sound feels around you, as close as it is. Lower mid-tones are more present on the Senn, and vocals appear smoother, are more easy-going on the ears. Yet, the Soundcore articulates better - it's as if every detail in the lows and highs is more pronounced, more impactful on the Soundcore.
Sennheiser CX review ($130)
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro vs Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
There's no ANC on the Melomania 1+, but as it's one of the best sounding wireless earbuds between $100 and $150, a comparison with these incredibly tiny earphones is still in order.
The Cambridge Audio still shows its magic against the newer Soundcore: the 1+ sounds more natural in the mid-tones, like snare drums and piano play. It doesn't overpower music with its sound character like the Soundcore can, but leaves it much more intact, meaning an old recording will sound much more like an old recording on the Melomania 1+. Especially in modern pop and dance genres, the L3P does sound more engaging: it has a wider soundstage, more space in between instruments, upper-mids are more open, and higher-pitched vocals are more vivid.
Verdict
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro has an almost neverending list of excellent features and combines it with a truly engaging sound. It's the hottest deal in wireless earbuds on the market right now.
Five stars - Excellent
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I bought the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro myself to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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