TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless  Headphones Review

Reviewed Dec 23, 2020 at 08:16am
Tested using Methodology v1.4 
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless
5.9
Mixed Usage 
6.0
Neutral Sound 
5.8
Commute/Travel 
7.5
Sports/Fitness 
5.1
Office 
4.7
Wireless Gaming 
4.6
Wired Gaming 
5.6
Phone Calls 
 0

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless are budget-level truly wireless headphones. These simply-designed earbuds have a glossy stem design and feel well-built. However, they're prone to inconsistent audio delivery and lack a bit of low-bass. They also have a dark, underemphasized treble. They also passively isolate against very little ambient noise around you, and some users may find their one-size-fits-all design uncomfortable. On the upside, while their 5.2-hour battery life may not be enough to get you through your workday, their charging case offers around three additional charges.

Our Verdict

5.9
Mixed Usage 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are sub-par for mixed usage. They're well-built, as well as adequately comfortable and stable, but they may fall out of your ears during moderate exercise. They're also somewhat prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery and have a warm sound profile that lacks low bass. They don't block out any bass or mid-range noise either, so you hear bus and train engines while on your commute or ambient chatter at the office. They're also Bluetooth-only and have high audio latency on PC, so they may not be ideal for gaming.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • Somewhat inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
  • Poor controls.
6.0
Neutral Sound 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are mediocre for neutral sound. These well-built headphones have a somewhat inconsistent bass and treble delivery. They also struggle to deliver a thumpy low bass, their treble sounds dark, and they don't have a companion app to help tweak their sound. On the upside, they have a neutral mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments are present and accurately reproduced.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Somewhat inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
5.8
Commute/Travel 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are disappointing for commute and travel. Their one-size-fits-all design may not be comfortable for all users, and they don't cut down any bass-range noise around you, like bus or plane engines. They also have a continuous battery life of just over five hours, which may not be enough for longer commutes. Luckily, their carrying case comes with around three additional charges.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • Poor controls.
7.5
Sports/Fitness 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are good for sports and fitness. These small and portable headphones are somewhat comfortable and stable. Since they're truly wireless Bluetooth headphones, you don't need to worry about snagging a cable on something and pulling them off your head either. However, they don't come with stability fins or ear tips, so they may fall out of your ears with moderate exercise. They also don't have an IP rating for dust or water resistance.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
  • Okay stability.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
5.1
Office 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are inadequate for office use. They don't reduce almost any mid-range noise like ambient chatter, and some users may find their fit a little uncomfortable. Their 5.2-hour battery life may also not be enough to last throughout your 9-5 workday. However, the case offers around three additional charges, so you can replenish their battery when they're not in use.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • Poor controls.
4.7
Wireless Gaming 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are Bluetooth-only headphones. While they can be used via Bluetooth on PCs, their latency is likely too high to be recommended for gaming.

4.6
Wired Gaming 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are Bluetooth-only headphones and can't be used wired.

5.6
Phone Calls 

The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are sub-par for phone calls. While your voice sounds somewhat natural and clear to whoever you're speaking to on the other end of the line, the mic struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise around you. These earbuds also have a bad noise isolation performance, so you can struggle to hear your phone call if you're talking, even in a moderately noisy environment.

Pros
  • Good build quality.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation.
  • Disappointing noise isolation.
  • Poor controls.
  • 5.9
    Mixed Usage
  • 6.0
    Neutral Sound
  • 5.8
    Commute/Travel
  • 7.5
    Sports/Fitness
  • 5.1
    Office
  • 4.7
    Wireless Gaming
  • 4.6
    Wired Gaming
  • 5.6
    Phone Calls
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Dec 23, 2020: Review published.
    2.  Updated Dec 17, 2020: Early access published.
    3.  Updated Nov 23, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated Nov 18, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. You can see its label here. The 'White' variant should perform similarly to our test unit. 

    If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussion section below and we'll update our review. 

    Popular Headphones Comparisons

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are budget-friendly truly wireless headphones. They have a similarly sleek and glossy look as the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, but they don't feel as well-built or comfortable. Even though they have a closed-back design, they also struggle to isolate almost any ambient noise around you and lack a thumpy low-bass. That said, they offer low audio latency on iOS and Android. Check out our recommendations for the best budget wireless headphones, the best earbuds under $50, and the best AirPods Alternatives.

    Apple AirPods Pro

    The Apple AirPods Pro are better wireless headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable and stable, and they have a better build quality. Their sound profile is better balanced too, and they have a great active noise cancelling feature that helps reduce ambient noise around you. They also have an H1 chip so that you can seamlessly pair with Apple devices, and their carrying case also holds five additional charges.

    TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 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. 

    Mpow X3 Truly Wireless

    The Mpow X3 Truly Wireless are better earbuds than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The Mpow are more comfortable and stable. Their sound profile is better-balanced and while it doesn't offer the best performance, they have an ANC that's able to cut down a bit more ambient noise around you. However, the TaoTronics have lower latency on iOS and Android. 

    TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The SoundLiberty 79 are more comfortable, stable, and have a better-balanced sound profile. They're able to isolate more ambient noise around you and have four additional charges in their carrying case.

    Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

    The Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are better earbuds than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The Apple are more comfortable, feel better built, and offer a longer continuous battery life. They also have an H1 chip, which allows you to connect with different Apple devices more easily. However, the TaoTronics have better bass accuracy.

    Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2

    The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are better earbuds than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The Anker are more comfortable as well as stable and their sound profile is better-balanced. They're also able to isolate more noise passively and have a companion app with a graphic EQ plus presets to help customize their sound.

    TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 Truly Wireless

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 Truly Wireless are more versatile than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless. The 94 have a superior control scheme, more consistent audio delivery, far better noise isolation performance, and better mic recording quality. They also have a better-balanced sound profile and leak less audio. Meanwhile, the 95 have a slightly more spacious soundstage and even lower audio latency on mobile devices.

    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 95 look very similar to the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless. They have a long stalk design and glossy plastic casing. They come in two color variants: Black and White.

    6.5
    Comfort
    Weight0.02 lbs
    Clamping Force
    0 lbs

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 are adequately comfortable. They have a one-size-fits-all design, so their comfort can vary across users depending on the shape and size of your ears. While they feel light in the ear, they're also made of hard plastic, which isn't the most comfortable material for your ear. They feel like they could fall out of your ear and could be fatiguing if worn for a while.

    4.9
    Controls
    OS Compatibility
    Not OS specific
    Ease Of UseOkay
    FeedbackDecent
    Call/Music ControlYes
    Volume ControlNo
    Microphone ControlNo
    Channel Mixing
    No
    Noise Cancelling ControlNo
    Talk-Through
    No
    Additional ControlsVoice Assistant

    These headphones have a poor control scheme. While they offer decent feedback, the touch area is very small, so it could take you several tries to enter the correct command. Tapping twice on the left earbud activates voice controls, while twice on the right earbud allows you to play/pause. However, the play/pause command also won't work if only the right earbud is connected. Instead, it activates voice control. Tapping twice on either earbud can also answer or hang up a call. You can also triple-tap the left or right earbud to return to a previous track or skip to the next one, respectively. Triple-tapping on either bud also declines a call.

    9.4
    Portability
    L1.8"
    W1.3"
    H0.7"
    Volume1.5 in³
    Transmitter RequiredNo

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have exceptional portability. They're small, lightweight, and easy to take with you on-the-go. They also come with a hard case, which should easily fit into a small pocket or bag.

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

    These headphones have a good hard case. It's made of all matte plastic and has a light near the bottom of the case to let you know if your earbuds are charging. There's also a reset button for the buds inside the case.

    7.5
    Build Quality

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95's build quality is good. The headphones and case are both made from glossy plastic, which makes them feel a bit sturdy. However, they're very prone to fingerprints. They also don't have an IP rating for dust or water resistance.

    6.5
    Stability

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have okay stability. They have a one-size-fits-all size design, so their stability really depends on the shape and size of your ear. If you get a good fit, you should be able to wear them during light physical exercise without them falling out of your ears.

    Headshots 1
    Headshots 2
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    In The Box

    • TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 Truly Wireless headphones
    • Charging case
    • USB Type-C charging cable
    • Manuals
    Sound
    Sound Profile
    See details on graph tool
    Bass Amount
    -5.14 dB
    Treble Amount
    -4.4 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have a dark and warm sound profile. They struggle to reproduce a thumpy, rumbly bass, and instruments sound harsh while lacking in detail and brightness. Unfortunately, they don't have an EQ or presets. Their audio delivery varies slightly, and you may experience deviations in bass and treble.

    6.2
    Frequency Response Consistency
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Avg. Std. Deviation
    0.87 dB

    These earbuds have a mediocre frequency response consistency. They have a one-size-fits-all design, so their bass and treble delivery can vary a bit depending on their fit, seal, and positioning in your ears.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    6.5
    Bass Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    4.59 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    71.27 Hz
    Low-Bass
    -9.32 dB
    Mid-Bass
    -1.44 dB
    High-Bass
    1.79 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have an okay bass accuracy. They really struggle to deliver a thumpy low bass and are still a little overemphasized in the mid-bass range, which means that they lack a bit of punch and body. They're overemphasized in the high-bass, giving instruments warmth. Note, their bass delivery varies noticeably across users and is sensitive to their fit and seal. The response here represents the average bass response, and your experience may vary.

    8.2
    Mid Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    2.38 dB
    Low-Mid
    0 dB
    Mid-Mid
    0 dB
    High-Mid
    3.79 dB

    These headphones have great mid accuracy. The low and mid-mids are exceptionally neutral, resulting in present and accurate vocals and lead instruments. That said, there's a bump in the high-mids that makes vocals and lead instruments honky and harsh.

    4.7
    Treble Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Std. Err.
    7.01 dB
    Low-Treble
    -5.68 dB
    Mid-Treble
    -6.25 dB
    High-Treble
    -8.44 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have poor treble accuracy. It's underemphasized across the range, resulting in veiled vocals and lead instruments. Sibilants like cymbals also sound dull and lispy. That said, these headphones are prone to inconsistent treble delivery, so your real-world experience may vary.

    6.5
    Peaks/Dips
    See details on graph tool
    Peaks
    2.25 dB
    Dips
    1.93 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have alright peaks and dips performance. There's an extended peak in the bass, which adds punch and boom to your mix. There's also a large peak in the high-mids, which makes vocals and lead instruments sound harsh and honky. However, the dip in the low treble veils the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments.

    8.6
    Imaging
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Weighted Group Delay
    0.2
    Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
    1.44
    Weighted Frequency Mismatch
    1.39
    Weighted Phase Mismatch
    1.28

    These earbuds have excellent imaging. Their weighted group delay falls entirely beneath the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, its L/R drivers are exceptionally matched in regards to amplitude, frequency, and phase response. This means that objects and instruments, like voices and footsteps, are accurately localized in the stereo image, resulting in a more immersive listening experience. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

    2.9
    Passive Soundstage
    PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
    N/A
    PRTF Size (Avg.)
    N/A
    PRTF Distance
    N/A
    Openness
    9.4
    Acoustic Space Excitation
    3.4

    These earbuds have a poor soundstage. Sound interacting with your outer ear is a key factor in creating a large and natural soundstage. However, these in-ears bypass the outer ear altogether, resulting in audio that sounds like it's coming from inside your head rather than all around you. It also sounds less open or spacious than that produced by open-back headphones.

    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.

    7.2
    Weighted Harmonic Distortion
    See details on graph tool
    WHD @ 90
    0.227
    WHD @ 100
    0.428

    These headphones have a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's an extended peak at max volume throughout the mid-range, but this can be a bit difficult to hear with real-life content.

    Test Settings
    Firmware
    Unknown
    Power
    On
    Connection
    Bluetooth 5.0
    Codec
    aptX, 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
    1.5
    Noise Isolation
    See details on graph tool
    Isolation Audio
    Overall Attenuation
    -3.39 dB
    Noise CancellingNo
    Bass
    0.09 dB
    Mid
    0.69 dB
    Treble
    -10.69 dB

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95's noise isolation performance is bad. Even though they have a closed-back design, they let in all bass and mid-range noise like bus and plane engines or ambient chatter. While they're able to cut down some higher-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit, it's not a very significant amount. If you're looking for similarly-priced truly wireless headphones that do a much better job of blocking out background noise, consider the noise cancelling TaoTronics SoundLiberty 94 Truly Wireless.

    7.0
    Leakage
    See details on graph tool
    Leakage Audio
    Overall Leakage @ 1ft
    39.66 dB

    The leakage performance of the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 is satisfactory. Their leakage is mostly concentrated between the mid to treble range, so escaping audio sounds mostly thin. If you like to listen to your audio at a high volume, people around you can hear parts of it, even in a moderately noisy environment.

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

    These headphones have an integrated microphone.

    6.8
    Recording Quality
    See details on graph tool
    Recorded Speech
    LFE
    171.98 Hz
    FR Std. Dev.
    4.84 dB
    HFE
    6,088.74 Hz
    Weighted THD
    0.608
    Gain
    -15.64 dB

    The recording quality of the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95's microphone is alright. Your voice sounds somewhat natural and full-bodied. You shouldn't have a problem being understood by whoever's on the other end of the line.

    5.9
    Noise Handling
    See details on graph tool
    Speech + Pink Noise
    Speech + Subway Noise
    SpNR
    10.39 dB

    The mic has disappointing noise handling. It struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise, even in a moderately loud environment.

    Active Features
    6.0
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Rechargable
    Continuous Battery Life
    5.2 hrs
    Additional Charges
    3.0
    Total Battery Life
    20.8 hrs
    Charge Time
    1.3 hrs
    Power-Saving Feature
    No
    Audio While Charging
    Yes
    Passive Playback
    No
    Charging PortUSB-C

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have a just passable battery performance. Although they're advertised to provide seven hours of continuous playback time, we measured just over five hours. Luckily, their charging case comes with three additional charges. You can also use one earbud while the other one is charging, which is quite handy in a pinch.

    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

    These headphones don't have a companion app.

    Connectivity
    6.9
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Version
    5.0
    Multi-Device Pairing
    No
    NFC Pairing
    No
    Line Of Sight Range
    163 ft
    PC Latency (SBC)
    359 ms
    PC Latency (aptX)
    323 ms
    PC Latency (aptX HD)
    N/A
    PC Latency (aptX-LL)
    N/A
    iOS Latency
    5 ms
    Android Latency
    19 ms

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 have fair Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device or NFC pairing. They also have high audio latency on PC, even when using aptX. However, their latency is much lower on iOS and Android, especially when compared to alternatives like the JBL Tune 225TWS True Wireless, which is ideal if you like to watch movies. That said, apps and devices compensate for latency differently, 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't be used wired. They come with a USB-C cable to charge the carrying case.

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

    The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95 can only be used via Bluetooth on PCs and aren't compatible with the PS4. Because they have high audio 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 headphones aren't compatible with the Xbox One as they're Bluetooth-only.

    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 small charging case that offers around three additional charges. The case is charged via its USB-C cable and doesn't offer any additional inputs.