The Status Pro X earbuds are the audio world's 'best kept secret' — they sound as good as Bose, Sony, and Apple rivals and now they're $100 cheaper

A pair of black Status Pro X wireless earbuds — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I tested the Status Pro X earbuds a couple of weeks ago and bestowed upon them our coveted "Recommended" award. There are a multitude of reasons why, but the short answer is this: they are some of the best earbuds on the market right now.

But you're here for the long answer, right? Sure, I can do that too, just let me roll up my sleeves, crack my knuckles, and get typing. The Pro X are premium earbuds, and they sure sound like it. The soundscape is rich, dynamic, and clear, with the enviable instrument separation you'd expect from flagship Bose, Sony, and Apple earbuds.

I will shout about the Status Pro X from the rooftops until my voice is raw. I'm a sucker for an underdog, and Status is the underdog of the audio world. Most people have never heard of the NYC-based brand, but that's okay. Everything will change soon, I'm sure of it. If the Pro X are anything to go by, Status is here to stay. Right now, they're $199 — between $50-$130 cheaper than AirPods Pro 3, QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra Gen 2, and Sony WF-1000XM6.

Sound of my dreams

You'd expect $300 earbuds to sound good, right? That's like, the absolute bare minimum.

But do you expect them to sound this good? Of course, you'll never truly relate until you give these earbuds a spin yourself, but I'll do my very best, using every audiophile-approved word in my brain. As discussed in my 4-star review of the Pro X, I loved how ‘Soft Shock’ by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs sounded through these tiny little 'buds.

If you don't know it, 'Soft Shock' "is built over a pulsing synth bassline and electronic-tinged guitar riffs, with Karen O’s distinctive vocals taking center stage." For the Yeah Yeah Yeahs fans in the house, I'll say that, "O’s vocals sounded particularly decadent; so affecting, complex, and emotive. There was no muffled bass, no tinniness, and fantastic instrument separation."

Instrument separation is one of the most important aspects of sound quality. You don't want all the instruments to sound cramped or clogged. You want a clean, expansive soundscape, where the instruments are working cohesively rather than fighting for dominance (or in one big muddy mess).

Don't think only lighter genres sounded good, though. Die Spitz, a heavy metal-tinged rock band, are one of my recent sonic obsessions, and their music sounded phenomenal, too. The band's track ‘Groping Dogs Gushing Blood’ was "utterly monstrous — rolling guitars reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age thrashed their way across the soundscape, bodacious percussion rounding out the female vocal."

It's difficult for headphones and earbuds to balance heavy tracks — even my favorite budget audiophile cans, the FiiO JT3, struggle with this sometimes — but the Pro X handle it as well as Bose's bass-heavy buds.

AirPods-rivaling ANC

Sure, claiming that an underrated brand is as good at ANC as Apple is bold, but it's true.

The Status Pro X block out as much noise as the revered AirPods Pro 3 and even more than the AirPods Pro 2. In my review, I wrote "I couldn’t hear any traffic noise outside my apartment. The ANC was just as good as AirPods Pro 3, better than AirPods Pro 2."

You seriously won't be disappointed with the ANC on the Status Pro X. These earbuds are Apple-beating and so close to Bose's industry-leading ANC that I can't wait to see where these buds take this independent audio brand. Hopefully to the top of many "Best surprise of 2025/2026" lists.

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Erin Bashford is a senior writer at Tom's Guide, focusing on reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista, she knows her way around a coffee machine, and as a music lover, she's constantly chipping away at her dream of having a multi-room home sound system. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games.

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