TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Sep 08, 2020 at 08:03am
Tested using Methodology v1.4 
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless
5.8
Mixed Usage 
5.7
Neutral Sound 
5.7
Commute/Travel 
7.5
Sports/Fitness 
5.1
Office 
4.7
Wireless Gaming 
4.6
Wired Gaming 
5.5
Phone Calls 
 0

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are budget-level truly wireless earbuds that come with a portable charging case. Their one-size-fits-all design isn't ideal for everyone, but with a good fit and seal, they can be stable enough to wear during light exercise. Thanks to their truly wireless design, they're also very portable. While their over 5-hour continuous battery life may not be enough to get you through your work day, their charging case offers around five additional charges for when you're on the go. Overall, their sound profile is lacking a bit of bass and treble, and they have an inconsistent audio delivery. There's also a noticeable difference between the performance of the left and right drivers of our unit, but your experience may vary.

Our Verdict

5.8
Mixed Usage 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are sub-par for mixed usage. These headphones have a terrible noise isolation performance, so they won't be able to block out background noise at the office or during your commute. They don't have a very neutral sound profile, and their performance depends on their fit, seal, and positioning in your ear, which isn't ideal. On the upside, their truly wireless design is very portable and if you get a good fit and seal, they're stable enough to use during light workouts.

Pros
  • Very portable.
  • Truly wireless design.
Cons
  • Blocks out almost no background noise.
  • Not a very neutral sound profile.
  • Inconsistent frequency response performance.
5.7
Neutral Sound 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are middling for neutral sound. They're missing a touch of sub-bass, and their treble range is underemphasized, so vocals, cymbals, and other sibilants are lacking in brightness and presence. Their mid-range is very well-balanced and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are accurately reproduced in the mix. However, these headphones perform differently depending on their fit, seal, and positioning in your ear, so their sound may be different each time you use them.

Pros
  • Neutral mid-range.
Cons
  • Not a very neutral sound profile.
  • Lacking sub-bass.
  • Inconsistent frequency response performance.
5.7
Commute/Travel 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are sub-par for commute and travel. They have a terrible noise isolation performance, and they don't block out the sound of bus or plane engines or the voices of other passengers. Unfortunately, their all-plastic design can feel fatiguing in your ear, so they may feel uncomfortable if you wear them for a long time. Their 5-hour continuous battery life isn't ideal for long trips, but on the upside, their charging case offers around five additional charges. They're also very small and portable, and the hard case can help protect the buds when you're on the go.

Pros
  • Very portable.
Cons
  • Blocks out almost no background noise.
  • One-size-fits-all design not ideal for everyone.
7.5
Sports/Fitness 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are good for sports and fitness. They're small, lightweight, and portable, and their hard charging case makes it easy to bring them on the go. Their truly wireless design ensures that you won't have to worry about wires getting tangled or caught during your workout, either. That being said, their one-size-fits-all design won't be ideal for everyone. However, if you can get a good fit and seal, these earbuds can be stable and comfortable enough to use during light physical activity. They also have an IPX8 rating for water resistance, though we don't test for this.

Pros
  • Very portable.
  • Truly wireless design.
  • IPX8 rating for water resistance.
Cons
  • One-size-fits-all design not ideal for everyone.
5.1
Office 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are disappointing for office use. Their one-size-fits-all design isn't comfortable for everyone, and their all-plastic build can get fatiguing after a long listening session. They block out almost no background noise, so they aren't ideal to use in a noisy office setting. Their 5-hour continuous battery life is sub-par, but on the upside, their charging case offers around five additional charges to help you get through the work day. They also leak a bit of noise, but it falls below the noise floor of an average office, so they shouldn't disturb your coworkers too much.

Pros
  • Leakage falls below noise floor of most offices.
Cons
  • Blocks out almost no background noise.
  • One-size-fits-all design not ideal for everyone.
4.7
Wireless Gaming 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are Bluetooth-only headphones. They aren't compatible with the PS4 or the Xbox One. While they can be used with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, due to their high latency, they aren't recommended for wireless gaming.

4.6
Wired Gaming 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 can only be used wirelessly, so they aren't suitable for wired gaming.

5.5
Phone Calls 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are disappointing for phone calls. Like most truly wireless earbuds, their integrated microphone doesn't have the best recording quality. People on the other end of the line should be able to understand you, but your voice may sound thin and muffled. Unless you're calling from a quiet environment, your voice can be drowned out by background noise. These headphones also have a terrible noise isolation performance and block out almost no ambient noise, which may be distracting during your calls.

Pros
  • Integrated mic.
Cons
  • Blocks out almost no background noise.
  • Microphone makes voice sound muffled.
  • Mediocre noise handling performance.
  • 5.8
    Mixed Usage
  • 5.7
    Neutral Sound
  • 5.7
    Commute/Travel
  • 7.5
    Sports/Fitness
  • 5.1
    Office
  • 4.7
    Wireless Gaming
  • 4.6
    Wired Gaming
  • 5.5
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Sep 08, 2020: Review published.
    2.  Updated Aug 26, 2020: Early access published.
    3.  Updated Aug 11, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated Aug 06, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

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    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are budget truly wireless Bluetooth earbuds. Aside from their portable charging case, they don't have a lot of features, and their noise isolation performance is terrible. Even compared to other truly wireless earbuds at this price point, they don't have a very consistent performance and there's some mismatch between the left and right drivers for our unit. If you're looking for more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best true wireless earbuds, the best cheap wireless earbuds, and the best earbuds and in-ears.

    TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless are better, more versatile headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. While the 92 have a sound profile that lacks sub-bass, the 79 have a better-balanced, more neutral sound profile with an extra punch in the bass range, making them more suitable for a wide variety of music genres. The 79 perform more consistently, too. The 79 have a more comfortable and more stable fit, and they have a much better noise isolation performance.

    SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless

    The SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless are better, more versatile headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. The SoundPeats have a more neutral sound profile and a more consistent performance. They also pack an extra punch in the bass range, whereas the TaoTronics lack sub-bass. The SoundPeats have a more comfortable, more stable fit thanks to their multiple earbud tip options, and they have better noise isolation and leakage performance. That being said, the TaoTronics have a longer continuous battery life, and their integrated microphone has a better recording quality.

    Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2

    The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are better overall headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a more comfortable fit and a more consistent audio delivery. The Anker also have a more neutral sound profile, though it's slightly bass-heavy, especially compared to the TaoTronics' lack of sub-bass. Unlike the TaoTronics, the Anker have a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. The Anker are also a better choice for isolating background noise, and they leak less noise, too. 

    Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless

    The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are better headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable, and they have a more neutral though bass-heavy default sound profile. These over-ears also do a better job isolating background noise, and they leak less sound. Their over 32-hour continuous battery life surpasses the TaoTronics, and their microphone performs better, too. That said, the TaoTronics' earbud design and charging case makes them much more portable, so they're a better choice for sports and fitness.

    Anker SoundBuds Curve 2019

    The Anker SoundBuds Curve 2019 are better headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. The Anker have a more neutral, though slightly bass-heavy sound profile compared to the TaoTronics. The Anker perform more consistently across different users, and they have a more comfortable, more stable fit thanks to their ear-hook design. They also have better noise isolation and leakage performance, and much longer battery life. However, the TaoTronics come with a portable charging case with extra charges, and their truly wireless design may be preferred by some listeners.

    JBL TUNE 220TWS Truly Wireless

    The JBL TUNE 220TWS Truly Wireless are somewhat better headphones for sports and fitness than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless. Both earbuds have a similar, all-plastic design that isn't comfortable for everyone, but the JBL have a more stable fit. The JBL's bright sound profile is lacking a lot of bass, even compared to the TaoTronics. However, they have a more accurate treble range than the TaoTronics, so overall, they have a bit more neutral sound. They also have a more consistent performance than the TaoTronics. That being said, the TaoTronics feel better-built, and they have longer continuous battery life.

    TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Truly Wireless and the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless are truly wireless earbuds with similar performances. The SoundLiberty 92 have better controls and offer around five additional charges. However, the SoundLiberty 95 have lower latency on iOS and Android. 

    Overhauling Our Audio Measurements And A New Multi-Curve Graphing Tool

    We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.

    For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.

    We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    TypeEarbuds
    EnclosureClosed-Back
    WirelessTruly Wireless
    TransducerDynamic

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have a similar design to the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. They have a sleek, all-plastic design, and with a long stalk that protrudes from the ear. Unlike the Apple headphones, they're all black.

    6.5
    Comfort
    Weight0.02 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0 lbs

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are adequately comfortable. They're very lightweight, but their one-size-fits-all design means that comfort and stability can vary between different users. Also, their hard plastic design can be fatiguing after a little while, so they may not be ideal for long listening sessions.

    6.5
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseDecent
    FeedbackDecent
    Call/Music ControlYes
    Volume ControlYes
    Microphone ControlNo
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlNo
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsVoice Assistant

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have an okay control scheme but are easier to use than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. You can play/pause music, adjust the volume, skip tracks, answer/end phone calls, and activate the voice assistant by tapping on the touch-sensitive controls. There's some feedback in the form of beeps and voice prompts depending on the commands, but the beeps are the same, so it's hard to know which commands you've performed.

    9.3
    Portability
    L1.8"
    W1.7"
    H0.7"
    Volume2.1 in³
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    Like most truly wireless earbuds, these headphones are very portable. They're small, lightweight, and they even come with a carrying case to help you keep track of the buds when you're on the go. They can easily fit in your pocket or your bag.

    7.5
    Case
    TypeHard case
    L2.2"
    W1.9"
    H1"
    Volume4.2 in³

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 come with a hard charging case. It's made of matte plastic, and it protects the earbuds against minor falls and scratches. There's a light that indicates whether or not the earbuds are charging, and there's a reset button in the case to clear the pairing history, which is convenient.

    7.5
    Build Quality

    These headphones have a good build quality. They're made entirely of plastic, which feels solid and durable. They also have an IPX8 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. However, these headphones don't feel as premium as some of the other earbuds we've tested like the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. The glossy finish on the earbuds is prone to fingerprints, which isn't ideal.

    6.5
    Stability

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have mediocre stability. They have a one-size-fits-all design, so their stability depends on the size and shape of your ears. That being said, if you get a good fit, they should stay put in your ears during light physical activity.

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    Headshots 2
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    In The Box

    • TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 headphones
    • Charging case
    • USB-C charging cable
    • Manuals
    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    -4.83 dB
    Treble Amount
    -6.33 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92's sound profile is lacking a bit of low bass, so they don't provide the deep thump and rumble preferred by fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM. They're also lacking low-treble, which can hurt the comprehensibility of vocals and lead instruments. That said, they have a well-balanced mid-range, so it's ideal for vocal-centric content like podcasts and audiobooks.

    7.1
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    0.59 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have a decent frequency response consistency. Their one-size-fits-all design means that they can sound differently depending on how well they fit inside your ear. You may notice a difference in the bass and treble ranges.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    5.9
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    5.3 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    80 Hz
    Low-Bass
    -9.96 dB
    Mid-Bass
    -0.15 dB
    High-Bass
    2.88 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have sub-par bass accuracy. Their low and mid-bass are underemphasized, so they can't reproduce deep thumps and punches. There's an overemphasis in the high-bass that adds a boominess and muddiness to the mix.

    8.6
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    1.93 dB
    Low-Mid
    1.23 dB
    Mid-Mid
    0.2 dB
    High-Mid
    1.97 dB

    These headphones have amazing mid accuracy. The mid-range is very neutral and well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments are accurate, present, and clear in the mix.

    3.8
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    8.29 dB
    Low-Treble
    -6.7 dB
    Mid-Treble
    -7.7 dB
    High-Treble
    -13.7 dB

    These headphones have poor treble accuracy. The entire treble range is underemphasized, which may hurt the comprehensibility of vocals, lead instruments, and sibilants like cymbals. Audio sounds dull, lifeless, and not very airy.

    6.6
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    2.25 dB
    Dips
    1.83 dB

    These headphones have fair peaks and dips performance. There are a lot of wide peaks and dips that greatly affect the audio, but the two drivers of our unit perform quite differently. There's a matching peak in the high-mids that can make voices and lead instruments sound honky and harsh, while the matching dip in the low-treble can hurt the comprehensibility of those same instruments. These results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

    6.2
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.23
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    3.04
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    5.94
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    6.89

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have passable stereo imaging. The group delay is below the audibility threshold, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble reproduction. While the L/R drivers are well-matched in phase, there's a lot of mismatch in frequency and amplitude. There may be a noticeable difference between the left and right drivers, and there may be some holes in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

    2.8
    Passive Soundstage
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    N/A
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    N/A
    PRTF Distance
    N/A
    Openness
    9.5
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    3.0

    Like most in-ears, the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have a bad passive soundstage performance. Their in-ear design doesn't interact with the pinna, or outer ear, which is a key factor in creating a large and natural soundstage. As a result, audio may seem like it's coming from inside your head instead of all around you.

    0.0
    Virtual Soundstage
    Head Modeling
    No
    Speaker Modeling
    No
    Room Ambience
    No
    Head Tracking
    No
    Virtual Surround
    No App

    These headphones don't have a virtual soundstage feature.

    6.4
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.729
    WHD @ 100
    0.547

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have a mediocre weighted harmonic distribution performance. There's some distortion in the treble range, but it may not be noticeable to all listeners.

    Test Settings
    Firmware
    Unknown
    Power
    On
    Connection
    Bluetooth 5.0
    Codec
    SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
    EQ
    No EQ
    ANC
    No ANC
    Tip/Pad
    Default
    Microphone
    Integrated

    These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid with these settings.

    Isolation
    1.3
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -2.76 dB
    Noise CancellingNo
    Bass
    0.34 dB
    Mid
    0.95 dB
    Treble
    -9.34 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have a terrible noise isolation performance. They block out almost no background noise. They may be preferred by listeners who want to stay aware of their surroundings, but they won't block out your coworker's voices or bus engines during your commute.

    7.4
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    37.29 dB

    These headphones have a decent leakage performance. They leak a bit of noise, especially in the treble range, so people around you may be able to hear it even though it sounds thin.

    Microphone
    Microphone Style
    Integrated
    Yes
    In-Line
    No
    Boom
    No
    Detachable Boom
    No
    MicYes

    These headphones have an integrated microphone.

    6.6
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    213.57 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    3.19 dB
    HFE
    3,225.4 Hz
    Weighted THD
    0.551
    Gain
    -5.46 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92's microphone has an adequate recording quality. People on the other end of the line can understand you, but your voice may sound thin, dark, and muffled.

    6.0
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    Speech + Pink Noise
    Speech + Subway Noise
    SpNR
    10.87 dB

    The microphone has an unremarkable noise handling performance. Even in moderately noisy environments like a busy street, people on the other end of the line may struggle to hear you.

    Active Features
    6.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Rechargable
    Continuous Battery Life
    5.1 hrs
    Additional Charges
    5.0
    Total Battery Life
    30.6 hrs
    Charge Time
    1.3 hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    No
    Audio While Charging
    Yes
    Passive Playback
    No
    Charging PortUSB-C

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 have an unremarkable battery performance. Their continuous battery life of 5 hours may not last through your day. On the upside, their portable charging case offers around five extra charges, which is convenient. The manufacturer claims that they have a quick charge feature that gives you one hour of playtime after just five minutes of charging, but we don't currently test for this.

    0.0
    App Support
    App NameNo App
    iOSNo
    AndroidNo
    macOSNo
    WindowsNo
    Equalizer
    No
    ANC Control
    No
    Mic ControlNo
    Room Effects
    No
    Playback Control
    No
    Button MappingNo
    Surround Support
    No

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 don't have a dedicated companion app.

    Connectivity
    6.7
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    5.0
    Multi-Device Pairing
    No
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    167 ft
    PC Latency (SBC)
    241 ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    N/A
    iOS Latency
    218 ms
    Android Latency
    173 ms

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 are Bluetooth 5.0-compatible. On the downside, they don't have multi-device or NFC pairing, and they don't support aptX. They have quite a bit of latency with iOS, Android, and PC, which isn't ideal for watching videos. Some apps seem to compensate for lag, so your experience may vary.

    0.0
    Non-Bluetooth Wireless
    Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
    N/A
    Non-BT Latency
    N/A

    These headphones are Bluetooth-only.

    0.0
    Wired
    Analog Audio
    No
    USB Audio
    No
    DetachableNo
    LengthN/A
    ConnectionNo Wired Option
    Analog/USB Audio Latency
    N/A

    These headphones can only be used wirelessly. their USB-C cable is only for charging the case.

    PC / PS4 Compatibility
    PC/PS4 Analog
    No
    PC/PS4 Wired USB
    No
    PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
    No

    These headphones aren't compatible with the PS4. They can only be used via Bluetooth on PCs, but due to their high latency, they aren't recommended for gaming.

    Xbox One Compatibility
    Xbox One Analog
    No
    Xbox One Wired USB
    No
    Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
    No

    These Bluetooth-only headphones aren't compatible with the Xbox One.

    2.2
    Base/Dock
    Type
    Charging Case
    USB Input
    No
    Line In
    No
    Line Out
    No
    Optical Input
    No
    RCA Input
    No
    Dock Charging
    Yes
    Power Supply
    USB-C

    These headphones come with a hard charging case that offers around five additional charges. It can be charged using USB-C, but it doesn't have any additional inputs.