Mackie MP-20TWS

Call-quality kings with battery for days, but the music tuning is a letdown. Buy them for work, not for playlists.

The mic array is the real surprise here. Six Knowles SiSonic mics with noise cancellation put these at the 97th percentile for calls, which is basically best-in-class territory. Battery life is right behind at 96th percentile, so you can leave the charger at home for a full work week. Sound sits at 91st percentile on paper, but the music score of 57.8 tells the real story: the hybrid 10mm dynamic plus balanced armature setup delivers clear mids and crisp highs, but the low end feels polite rather than punchy. ANC is strong at 86th percentile, filtering a wide range of ambient noise without making your head feel like it's in a fishbowl.

The Sony WF-C700N is the obvious alternative if you care about sound quality first. Sony's tuning is warmer and more engaging, though the battery life is nowhere near the Mackie's 53 hours. The Anker Space A40 gives you better ANC and a more balanced sound signature for less money, but the mic quality falls short of the Mackie's six-mic setup. If calls are your priority, the Mackie beats both. If music is the main event, look elsewhere.

At USD 160 in the US, these are priced like premium buds but deliver a mixed bag. The EUR spread is interesting: you can find them from EUR 124 to EUR 140 depending on the vendor, so shop around if you're in Europe. The GBP 51 listing is a steal if you can find it, but that's a weird outlier. For the US price, you're paying for the mic array and battery, not the music experience.

Mackie is a pro audio brand, and the MP-20TWS is their swing at true wireless earbuds with a hybrid dual-driver setup. The one thing to know? These are call-quality monsters with battery life that embarrasses most of the market, but the music tuning won't win over bass heads or detail freaks. You're getting 13 hours in the buds and 53 total with the case, plus six Knowles mics that put you in the top 3% for mic performance. That's a serious work-from-anywhere package.

If you're buying earbuds to enjoy music, skip these. The 57.8 music score tells you everything: the tuning is clear but flat, and bass lovers will be bored. Go get the Sony WF-C700N or Anker Space A40 instead. They won't match the Mackie's call quality, but they'll make your playlists sound alive.

Buy the Mackie MP-20TWS if you live on conference calls and hate charging your earbuds. The mic quality is genuinely elite, and the battery life is ridiculous in the best way. But if you're buying earbuds primarily for music, the tuning will leave you wanting more. These are work tools first, entertainment second.