Status Between 3ANC Review: They Exceeded My Expectations!
The Status Between 3ANC earbuds are the epitome of advanced technology and innovation in the world of wireless earphones. Building upon the success of their previous flagship model, the Between Pro, Status has taken things to the next level with the introduction of active noise cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging capabilities.
Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a frequent traveler, or someone who values convenience and comfort, these earbuds are certainly worth considering. With their active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and exceptional audio performance, the Between 3ANC earbuds are a testament to Status Audio’s commitment to delivering top-notch audio products.
Status Between 3ANC: Video Review
| Specs | Status Between 3ANC |
| Driver diameter | 10mm Dynamic Driver, 2 Balanced Armature Drivers |
| Audio Codec | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Active noise cancelling | Yes |
| Microphone | 6 External Microphones |
| Connector | USB-c, wireless |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hrs (ANC enabled), 12 hrs (ANC disabled) |
| Charge Time | 2 hours |
| IP Rating | IPX-5 |
| Weight | 63g (With earbuds inside) |
| Size | 68 x 32 x 30 mm |
| Color | Bone, Onyx |
Design
The Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds offer a sleek and modern design that combines style with practicality. Crafted from high-quality materials such as aluminum and polycarbonate, these earbuds are not only durable but also lightweight, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience.
The charging case is compact, making it easy to carry in your pocket or bag. Its slim and lightweight profile adds to the portability, allowing you to take your earbuds with you wherever you go. The elongated shape of the case contributes to its functionality, as it is effortless to open and close with one hand. This convenience is particularly useful when you’re on the move.
The case features a magnet that securely holds the earbuds in place, so you can rest assured that they won’t accidentally fall out. The magnet’s strength strikes a perfect balance, ensuring that the earbuds are firmly held in the case while still being easily removable when needed.
In terms of aesthetics, the charging case maintains a cohesive design. It primarily comes in a bone color, with a subtle strip of silver accenting the back of the case, adding a touch of visual interest. The front of the case features a battery indicator, allowing you to check the remaining power at a glance, while the back houses the Bluetooth connect button for easy pairing with your devices.
The Between 3ANC earbuds feature box-style stems that neatly fit straight down into the case, held securely by the magnetic connection. This design not only saves space but also ensures that the earbuds are protected and ready for use whenever you need them.
To enhance the comfort and fit, the Between 3ANC earbuds come with three different sizes of silicone ear tips. This allows you to find the perfect fit for your ears, ensuring a snug and comfortable seal. Additionally, the earbuds come with silicone supports called “fit-wings,” which provide extra stability and help keep the earbuds securely in place, even during active movements or workouts.
When it comes to wearing the Between 3ANC earbuds, comfort is a top priority. The soft and flexible ear tips conform to the shape of your ears, delivering a comfortable fit that doesn’t cause any discomfort, even during long listening sessions. This attention to comfort ensures that you can enjoy your music or audio content without distractions.
ANC feature
The Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds offer an active noise cancellation (ANC) feature that performs admirably. Each earbud is equipped with three beamforming microphones, working in tandem to effectively cancel out external noise during music playback and phone calls.
During my testing, I evaluated the ANC feature in a noisy street environment. The Between 3ANC earbuds were able to block out approximately 75-80% of the surrounding noise, allowing me to enjoy my music with a decent level of detail and immersion.
The ANC feature on the Between 3ANC earbuds provides two modes: a standard mode and a transparency mode. However, unlike some other models, there is no option to adjust the intensity of the noise canceling strength. You are limited to a single level of ANC. The transparency mode, on the other hand, allows you to hear your surroundings while still listening to your music. This can be particularly useful for outdoor activities like walking or running, where you want to remain aware of your environment.
While the transparency mode on the Between 3ANC earbuds provides a good balance between audio and external sounds, it doesn’t quite match the natural clarity of the transparency mode found on devices like the Apple AirPods Pro, which I consider to be a reference in this aspect. However, it comes close in terms of functionality and allows you to maintain situational awareness while enjoying your music.
Functions and Controls
The Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, ensuring a fast and reliable connection to your devices. When you remove the earbuds from the charging case, they automatically power on, and placing them back in the case turns them off, making for a convenient and seamless user experience.
One notable feature is the ability to use the left or right earbud independently. This flexibility allows you to customize your listening experience based on your preferences or needs at any given time. The Between 3ANC earbuds support popular Bluetooth audio codecs such as SBC and AAC, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices and delivering high-quality audio performance.
The earbuds are equipped with intuitive button and touch controls, granting you easy access to various functions. The touch controls located on the sides of each earpiece enable you to play/pause music, skip tracks, answer/end calls, and adjust the volume. Additionally, the buttons on the top of each earbud activate the ANC or Transparency modes, providing quick and convenient control over the level of noise cancellation or awareness of your surroundings. Moreover, you can activate the voice assistant with a dedicated button.
A unique feature of the Between 3ANC earbuds is the triple button press, which provides a battery status announcement. This allows you to quickly check the remaining battery life without needing to consult the companion app or a separate device—a handy feature for staying aware of your earbuds’ power levels.
For additional control and customization options, you can utilize the Between 3ANC companion app, available for both iOS and Android devices. Through the app, you can adjust ANC settings, fine-tune the headphone’s EQ to match your personal preferences, or choose from three pre-set audio signatures. This level of control ensures that you can tailor the sound to suit your specific tastes and enjoy an optimal listening experience. The app also enables over-the-air firmware updates, ensuring that your Between 3ANC earbuds stay up to date with the latest enhancements and features.
Sound Quality
The Status Between 3ANC earbuds differentiate themselves by utilizing three separate drivers in each earbud, rather than a single driver commonly found in other earbuds. This design choice incorporates a traditional 10mm dynamic driver alongside two balanced armatures, enabling a wider range of audible frequencies and advanced acoustic integration usually associated with higher-priced in-ear monitors (IEMs). To further enhance the sound, the Between 3ANC earbuds offer three tuning presets through the companion app: Original Between Pro EQ, Signature EQ, and Audiophile EQ.
While the Between 3ANC earbuds can be considered audiophile grade, the subjective interpretation of what that entails may vary. In terms of sound quality, they deliver a decent audio experience but do not provide the studio-style sound profile.
Comparing the EQ presets available through the Status App, all three follow a headphone preference curve by accurately reproducing upper mid and treble frequencies. However, all presets exhibit a slight deficiency in the low-end frequencies, as they emphasize the higher bass frequencies while scooping the sub-bass range. Status argues that this approach reduces muddiness in the music, although this kind of frequency adjustment is typically performed during the music production and mastering processes, making it unnecessary for headphones to replicate.
When set to the Signature EQ preset, the Between 3ANC earbuds allow for clear reproduction of most instruments in a track. Although the sub-bass response may be quieter, the volume boost centered around 100Hz ensures that kick drums and most bass guitar notes come through sufficiently.
In terms of instrument separation, cymbals and snare drums take prominence over backing vocals and guitars in the Signature EQ preset. Lead vocals are relatively clear in tracks with less busy arrangements. However, the treble emphasis in this preset can cause some early listening fatigue due to the imbalanced bass-to-treble ratio, although all the elements in the music are still discernible.
Microphone Quality
When it comes to microphone quality, Bluetooth earbuds have often faced criticism for subpar performance. However, Status has taken steps to address this issue with the Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds by incorporating three microphones on each earbud. This multi-microphone setup significantly improves the microphone quality compared to typical Bluetooth earbuds.
While the microphone on the Between 3ANC earbuds may not reach professional or studio-level standards, it surpasses the average quality found in many other Bluetooth earbuds. The microphone performs well enough that there are no significant concerns when using the earbuds for phone calls or participating in voice chats on platforms like Discord.
This enhanced microphone quality ensures that your voice comes through clearly and intelligibly during conversations. Whether you’re using the earbuds for work calls, virtual meetings, or casual voice chats, you can trust that the Between 3ANC earbuds will provide a reliable and satisfactory microphone performance.
Status Between 3ANC: Battery Life
The Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds come with a convenient charging case that offers multiple charging options. The case features a USB-C port, allowing you to charge it using the included USB-A to USB-C cable. This provides a fast and efficient charging method. Additionally, the earbuds support wireless charging, so you can conveniently place them on a Qi-compatible charging pad for a cable-free charging experience.
In terms of battery life, the Between 3ANC earbuds are designed to keep up with your daily activities. With active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on, they offer an impressive eight hours of battery life. If you prefer to conserve battery or don’t require ANC, you can enjoy an extended battery life of up to 12 hours. This means you can confidently use the earbuds throughout the day without worrying about running out of power. The battery life provided by the Between 3ANC earbuds ensures that they can easily accompany you during your daily routine without causing any inconvenience.
Status Between 3ANC: Conclusion
The Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds offer a compelling package of features and performance. With their sleek and modern design, durable materials, and comfortable fit, these earbuds are a stylish and practical choice for daily use.
The active noise cancellation (ANC) feature effectively reduces external noise and enhances your listening experience. The inclusion of three microphones on each earbud also elevates the microphone quality, ensuring clear and reliable communication during calls and voice chats.
While the sound quality of the Between 3ANC earbuds is decent, they may not satisfy the expectations of audiophiles seeking a studio-style sound profile for critical listening. However, the choice of three tuning presets through the app allows you to adjust the sound to your preference, providing a tailored audio experience.
Overall, the Status Audio Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds offer a well-rounded package with advanced features, comfortable design, and satisfactory performance. Whether you’re using them for music, calls, or other audio content, these earbuds provide a reliable and enjoyable listening experience.
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