How to get the full 100% sound quality from your true wireless earbuds

Sometimes we hear that earbuds don't sound as good as expected. The vast majority of these complaints actually come down to settings, not hardware. Don't worry: we'll explain exactly how to get 100% of the sound quality your earbuds can deliver. You'll then realize that the settings were making the sound harsh or tinny.

The problem in brief

To get 100% of the sound quality your earbuds can deliver, the input also needs to be 100%. If your device (phone, computer, laptop or tablet) sends a signal at, say, 70% sound quality, you'll only get 70% of the quality from your earbuds. 

In this blog post, the one you're reading now, we'll explain how to feed your earbuds 100% sound quality.

Think of a phone call. If the person you're talking to has earbuds with a really poor microphone, their voice won't sound clear and detailed to you either.  

What causes poor sound in earbuds?

Poor sound from your earbuds' speakers can have several causes. But the most important thing is to check that the signal your device sends to your earbuds is the highest quality possible. So check:

• the quality of the signal you're playing.

Most of our earbud users listen to music on Spotify. And that app has several data-saving features. 

Spotify: how to set the highest sound quality

Spotify has all these data-saving features because many people don't want listening to music to use up their data. 

These days, many people have unlimited data, so these features are becoming less relevant. You can also download songs. 

Data saver

Data saver compresses your music into a small file so it uses less data to stream. That reduces its quality. You could have really good earbuds, even ones costing €200 or more. But as we explained earlier, the sound is only as good as the quality your device sends. So if your device sends a compressed version that's 50% of the original size, it sounds half as good in your ears. 

Here's how to turn off data saver:

1. Go to Settings in Spotify (tap the gear icon on your home screen). Make sure data saver is turned off, as shown in the screenshot below. 
   
2. Then select 'Very High' under Music Quality (or Audio Quality). 
   You can also select 'Very High' under 'Download'. I don't download music myself, but if you do and want the best sound quality, choose 'Very High'. 
   

Now you've made sure your device is sending the best possible sound quality to your earbuds. 

Others also viewed:

• Browse all our blog posts about wireless earbuds
• These are the best earbuds under €50
• Check out our in-depth blog post about QCY earbuds
• And check out our blog post about alternatives to AirPods
• Also check out the 3 best earbuds for running
• Also check out our hands-on with the Eardopes B6 pro. They cost a little more, but the quality is worth it.