Soundcore’s Aerofit 2 Pro earbuds attempt a bold feat: combining the situational awareness of open-ear design with the noise isolation of traditional in-ear ANC. These buds uniquely transform between open and sealed modes, adapting their sound profile accordingly. While innovative in concept, they ultimately fail to deliver on the promise of a truly versatile audio experience.
The Design Dilemma
The Aerofit 2 Pro stand out with a bulky charging case – reminiscent of early 2000s Nokia phones – that houses a surprisingly long-lasting battery (7 hours standard, 34 with the case, or 5/25 hours with ANC). The buds themselves, while not as large as the case suggests, are heavier than typical open-ear models. Their unusual earhook design requires consultation of the manual to master the five fit positions, with levels 1-2 for open listening and 4-5 for noise canceling.
The physical adjustment between modes, while clever, is cumbersome. The buds’ default tone when switching to ANC can be disabled, but the sonic transition remains jarring. Initial impressions of closed-mode sound are unbalanced, with exaggerated bass, requiring a brief recalibration period.
Sound Quality: A Mixed Bag
In open mode, the Aerofit 2 Pro deliver a surprisingly good sound profile – clear highs with more resonance in the low end than most open earbuds. However, the true test lies in noise cancellation.
Unfortunately, the lack of eartips compromises effective noise isolation. High and mid-range frequencies, particularly voices, leak through inconsistently. The ANC struggles to adapt to head movements, resulting in a disorienting audio experience where sounds shift between ears. Low-frequency noise is manageable, but performance in real-world scenarios (like moving garbage bins) remains unreliable.
The Hybrid Problem
Soundcore acknowledges the Aerofit 2 Pro’s limitations, stating they are not intended to compete with fully sealed ANC earbuds in extreme environments. This highlights a core issue: attempting to merge two fundamentally different designs results in a compromised experience. While the idea of a hybrid earbud is intriguing, the Aerofit 2 Pro proves that traditional open or closed-fit earbuds perform their respective functions more effectively.
The Aerofit 2 Pro represent a worthwhile experiment, but ultimately fall short of practical recommendation. A better path forward might be to focus on refining either open-ear designs or conventional ANC models, rather than forcing a hybrid solution that doesn’t excel in either category.
