Short answer: the Aful Performer 5. Both are rated 4.3/5 for sound quality (#188 and #233 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Aful Performer 5 costs $239.99 against $249 for the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
What the Aful Performer 5 does well: The median of 26 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.52 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Presence sits about 3.1 dB low with a 4.5 dB dip near 2.8 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Why pick the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: A preference score of 77 in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a smooth 1.8 dB standard deviation and every band from 20 Hz to 10 kHz within about 2 dB of target, gives a balanced and natural sound. Watch for: Treble above 10 kHz runs about 8 dB below target, with a 13.6 dB dip near 11.2 kHz, so cymbals and room ambience lose their airy shimmer.
Buy the Aful Performer 5. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $9.01 less than the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.
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The median of 26 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.52 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $239.99 eBay
A preference score of 77 in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with a smooth 1.8 dB standard deviation and every band from 20 Hz to 10 kHz within about 2 dB of target, gives a balanced and natural sound.
Amazon $249.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Aful Performer 5 | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.99 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #188 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #233 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 77 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.52 dB standard deviation | 1.78 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | True wireless |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | - |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | - |
| Impedance | 35 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (8.7 g) per earbud |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 10 hours (45 with case, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| IP Rating | - | IPX4 |
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