The Powerbeats Fit aren’t designed to be neutral-sounding earbuds. Instead, they’re for those who want a pair of workout buds that can help motivate them while they exercise. It’s unsurprising, then, that they emphasize bass and pull back on the mids somewhat. Despite the focus on bass, I wouldn’t label it as excessive.
On a track like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” which relies on sub-bass content to complement elements like the bass synth and kick drum, the heavy bass provides a nice, rounded kick drum that helps drive the track without overshadowing the lead synth or percussion. Instruments like the synth are pulled back somewhat, but are still present enough to be noticeable, while the percussion, such as the shaker, has enough crisp detail to add dynamics to the track.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty” also relies heavily on sub-bass, and on this track, the bass boost feels a little too much at times. The buds do a great job of ensuring that the bass line is heavy and consistent, and they even reproduce the lowest low note, which very few buds can do. Further, the percussion sounds pleasantly crisp, although I think Lamar and Rihanna’s vocals sound a little thin and are somewhat overshadowed by the bass.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
“Drover” by Bill Callahan sounds clean, through and through. This track doesn’t have naturally elevated bass, so the buds’ bass response creates a driving, round kick drum, while giving Callahan’s signature baritone vocal plenty of body and richness—without overdoing it. The acoustic guitar is somewhat thin compared with what you’d find from neutral headphones, but it doesn’t detract significantly from the listening experience and still sounds crisp and percussive. Additionally, the cymbals are detailed and present, which helps round things out.
I quite like how orchestral music, such as the opening scene to John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sounds through the earbuds. It isn’t exactly neutral, but it gives the strings some extra body, which is a pleasant effect. The vocal soloist cuts through the mix well, too, and while the soundstage isn’t huge, it is broad enough to give each section some breathing room.
The spatial audio here is quite impressive. It’s subtle without being over the top, and on content that supports it, it uses the actual Dolby Atmos mix instead of just spatializing stereo content. Even spatialized stereo content sounds pretty good. While I generally keep it off when listening to music, I like to use it when watching movies and TV shows, especially when everyone else in the house is sleeping.
The microphones sound fine when used for tasks such as voice calls. When recording through the Voice Memos app on an iPhone, my voice has some body but not much high-end crispness, and some background hiss is present. It’s perfectly fine for voice calls, and I can hear the words I speak clearly.
