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Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear) all over again, so…
Super EQ Q2 Pro
Price: Check Amazon!
We briefly discussed the Q2 Pro in my rundown of Bluetooth headphones & IEMs ranked worst to first.
I wasn’t ecstatic about it then, but I’ve since gotten a new phone (with better volume functions) and wanted to revisit them again.
What sets them apart from other consumer-grade earbuds? Are they worthwhile gym companions?
We’ll take a close look at the Q2 and find out if they’re ultimately worth a purchase – discussing things like build, comfort, overall sound, and more.
By the end of this article,
you’ll be prepared to make a purchase or bypass them in favor of something else.
Sound good?
Cool.
Let’s dive in!
In The Box
1x SuperEQ Q2 Pro Hybrid ANC Earbuds
1x Type-C Charging Cable
1x User Manual
3x Eartips (Small, Medium, Large)
Specifications
Earbuds
- Driver Diameter: 12mm
- Bluetooth Version: 5.2
- Play Time: 11 Hrs. (ANC OFF)
- Play Time: 8 Hrs. (ANC ON)
- Charging Time: 2 Hrs.
Charging Case
- Charging Case Extends Playtime: 40 Hrs. (ANC OFF)
- Charging Case Extends Playtime: 28 Hrs. (ANC ON)
- Input Port: USB-C
- Battery Capacity: 370mAh
Introduction
As it turns out, finding a good Bluetooth earbud that doesn’t sound overly boosted in the mid-bass has been.. a challenge to say the least.
Being a guy who mixes beats a lot, I can immediately tell when the low-end is overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
It’s something that grates my nerves more than you could ever imagine.
Why?
Because it’s unnecessary. You can have some slight mid-bass emphasis without blowing your eardrums to smithereens.
But for whatever reason, companies still don’t get it.
It’s not cute, and it’s not sexy, but before I go off on a rant, does the Q2 suffer from this issue?
I’d say yes and no. So imagine me nodding and shaking my head at the same time.
On the one hand, the bass is clearly emphasized to an extent, but it feels nowhere near as bad as some headphones and buds I’ve demoed in the past (Cough Meze 99 Neo Cough)
The Q2 is a mostly smooth, enjoyable, relaxed listen with bass emphasis and a non-threatening treble.
Because of the mid-bass emphasis, the mid-range will sound slightly pushed back but it’s nothing too crazy.
These actually sound surprisingly decent for what they are.
Even so,
I will caution you that resolution isn’t quite up to snuff.
I’d wager to say much of this has to do with the cheaper drivers, but the mid-bass also plays a role.
In addition to that,
the treble, while it doesn’t grate my ears, does lack some sparkle and definition.
Again, this is a smooth sound. Easy going, etc.
You’re never going to feel as if the mids are shouting at you, and the treble is laid back and non-intrusive.
It’s funny; when I’m in the gym, it’s “Holy moly they sound great!”
This is likely a byproduct of being distracted and busy lifting, in addition to the other ambiance/noise going on that kind of mitigates the issues present.
The bass also doesn’t sound nearly as boosted when you’re exercising.
I’ve found this to be true with a lot of earbuds and it’s a really strange phenomenon.
In the heat of an intense lifting session, you may feel as though these are near-perfect earbuds.
But, In the quiet of a studio environment as I’m writing this?
You can tell they’re lacking in overall realism.
In other words,
the reproduction of recorded music isn’t that great.
Songs have an element of artificiality to them, and the overall Timbre sounds a bit plasticky.
- Related: What is Timbre?
If you’ve ever heard an HD600, 400se, K702, Ananda, Arya, etc. you can immediately tell the difference.
Still, I appreciate the fact that the bass doesn’t completely ruin this sound signature.
It’s veering in that direction, but they aren’t completely unlistenable as say a Mifo S&O.
If you were unaware, the “SuperEQ” brand is actually a subsidiary of OneOdio; a company that actually makes some very good products while completely missing the mark with others.
The Monitor 80 is an example of something I use daily for mixing, but their A70 and A71 were complete duds.
The Q2 Pro, to me, falls in between “complete dud” and “good”.
Do keep in mind that my preferences align with neutrality over coloration, but your mileage may vary.
I also think the track in question plays a big role.
For instance,
John the Blind’s “Paranoid” sounds rather sublime with the Q2, but it also sounds amazing with every headphone I’ve ever listened to.
This is because it was recorded, mixed, and mastered very well.
Overall, the Q2 is lacking in many aspects but still doesn’t sound awful.
Build & Comfort
Build is “okay.”
They come in a cheap-ish plastic case and feel rather light.
Put another way,
the case may crack under pressure like Henry Hill, and the buds themselves are really light as well.
In other words, this really feels like a $30 product.
The package itself has earbuds, a Type-C cable, a small user manual, and 3 sets of tips (one pair comes fitted on the buds).
One thing I really appreciate here is that the buds themselves mostly stay in place.
I am making some slight adjustments from time to time, but they fit well and are pretty comfortable to boot.
They also haven’t fallen out of my ears and as mentioned earlier, I’m pretty intense when I sling weights around.
Battery Life & Ease Of Use
is also one of their strong suits.
I’ve been listening to these on and off since around 2021 IIRC, and I’d venture to say I’ve had to charge them less than 5 times.
In addition, they pair seamlessly with my iPhone 11 and the button responsiveness is much better than the Gravastar Sirius Pro P9.
I also like the 3 LED indicator on the front of the case that determines the charge level.
- 1 Light: 0-30% and 30-70%
- 2 Lights: 70-99%
- 3 Lights: 100%
To power them on, just open the case.
Go into your phone and hit search.
They should appear immediately as “Super EQ Q2 Pro.” Pair and you’re set.
To power off, put the buds back in the case and close it.
Controls
Left Bud:
- Touch 1x to end a call
- 2x for the previous track
- 3x for voice assistant
- Left or Right Bud: Press 2s for ANC, Transparency mode, and to reject a call from your Aunt Miriam.
Right Bud:
- Touch 1x to answer a call
- 2x for the next track
- 3x for voice assistant
- Left or Right Bud: Press 2s for ANC, Transparency mode, and to reject a call from your Uncle Todd.
Put simply, the provided manual is compact and easy to read.
Points awarded.
Before we get into the Final verdict, let’s recap some things I liked as well as others that can be improved upon.
What I liked:
- Comfort is good. I can wear them for longer periods without feeling the need to take them out.
- ANC is very good. They block out a lot of sounds and isolate well.
- Battery life is good. I very seldom need to charge them.
- Touch controls are responsive. Let’s be honest; I’d rather have buttons but these definitely respond better than some others I’ve tried.
- Bluetooth distance. I was fairly shocked that I could walk to the bathroom without any interference even despite my phone being super far away.
What could be improved:
- The build is a bit lacking. They definitely feel on the cheap side when you’re holding them in your hand. The case is also prone to scratching.
- Sound. As mentioned earlier, this isn’t the worst in the world, but there’s still too much mid-bass emphasis and the overall timbre and resolution leave quite a bit to be desired.
- They sorely need a volume adjustment. I have no idea how or why OneOdio designed these without one, but they were inoperable on my previous phone because of it.
Many people have commented on this in Amazon reviews and it’s a huge problem – especially if you have a less than ideal phone.
With my iPhone, it’s a lot better and the issue isn’t quite as glaring, but this could still be improved.
Final Verdict
I suppose for the meager price of $30 some of these things can be excused, but I want the best.
I’m looking for that perfect cross-section of price to performance, and while the Q2 isn’t bad, you could do better.
And that’s ultimately what I want at HomestudioBasics. I want to help you find the best products possible.
The Q2 Pro?
Close, but no cigar.
What do I recommend instead?
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this SuperEQ Q2 Pro Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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What are your thoughts on these? Do you think they’re worth the price? I’d love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu