Soundcore Sleep A20 Review: Sweet Dreams Are Made Of ZZZs

Design

One of the first things you’ll notice is just how dainty the Sleep A20 buds are. Because they are so small and lightweight, they are designed to be more comfortable when worn while still providing a stable fit in the ear canal, even when laid on one’s side. The default ear tips aim to create an isolated experience that blocks out external noise while there’s also the option to change to one that lets a little sound sneak through.

The charging case has something of a Zen-like quality to it, with the top cover sliding up to reveal the buds neatly ensconced. There’s a USB-C port at the rear with a handy reset button next to it, so there’s no need for pins to be inserted into any holes if you do need to start from scratch.

Comfort

Tiny and lightweight, the Sleep A20 buds fit snugly in the ear. While you can feel that the pillow-facing ear has a bud inserted, it’s not uncomfortable. The snug fit not only helps the bud stay inserted throughout the night but also works to minimize external noise from disturbing you.

One of the reasons that the buds are so sleek is that Soundcore hasn’t included any unnecessary features.

You’ve got the choice of different eartips which either block all external sound or allow you to hear what’s going on around you, and there are a bunch of different bud sizes to help provide the perfect fit.

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Performance

Let’s be clear, without Active Noise Cancelation, don’t expect the Sleep A20 buds to totally block out the sound of the neighbor having a party or the woodchipper known as your partner next to you in bed. Instead, the Sleep A20 buds, thanks to the pair of seals, passively block external noise, and it works well in that regard.

When you first put the buds in, it’s almost too quiet at first and you’ll hear the sound of your breathing and heart rate for the first few minutes before you relax. This eases as you settle into sleep mode and the music or white noise begins.

By not including ANC, Soundcore can make the buds so small and snug while still claiming up to 14 hours of continuous use. Something else missing is microphones because as Soundcore notes, you probably don’t want to make calls while you are sleeping. It also means less weight, and fewer components, making the Sleep A20 buds lighter and cheaper.

Speaking of sound, once you’ve paired the Sleep A20 buds with the Soundcore app, you’ll have the option of Bluetooth connectivity to listen to things like podcasts, music, or other audio content. You can also choose to listen to the sleep sounds from categories such as water, nature, everyday scenarios, or meditation in three dimensions, all of which will be stored locally on the buds.

The sound quality is pretty good with just enough bass to avoid being tinny. At low volume, the sound is clear and audible, which is a necessity considering that you are probably trying to get to sleep. Default playback and volume controls aren’t ideal if you are trying to sleep, with the need to tap the bud which almost results in a sonic boom in your ear if you aren’t careful. You can, however, customize the controls so it needn’t be an issue for long.

Soundcore App

You can use the Soundcore app to mix your sounds too, with the results being stored locally in the buds, negating the need for a Bluetooth connection, thus aiding battery life. Soundcore claims 14 hours of usage with the Sleep A20, and I’ve experienced nothing to indicate otherwise. The case offers 80 hours of charge (55 hours if using Bluetooth), which means it’s good for around ten days of usage if using them 8 hours per session.

Something to be aware of regarding the Soundcore app is that it’s a little finicky, and I wouldn’t advise tinkering with it in the minutes before getting your head down. Instead, take a few minutes while you are fully awake to set your preferred listening mode, content, and any alarms you might need. Hopefully, the Soundcore app gets updated before the Sleep A20 buds go on general release to make the setup less complicated.

The good thing is that if you find the Soundcore app too much, you can bypass it totally and use your content library or streaming app such as YouTube Music, Spotify, etc. via the Bluetooth connection on your smartphone.

The Sleep A20 buds can discern whether you are in light or deep sleep fairly accurately and will let you know how many times you toss and turn during the night in the Soundcore app. It’s important to note that it doesn’t offer in-depth information and to access your sleep history, you’ll need to have the buds connected to your phone to do so.

While the Sleep A20 buds generally fit quite snugly, there’s always the chance that one might be dislodged while you are sleeping. Soundcore has thought of this and included a ‘find my bud’ feature which activates a beeping sound from the wayward bud so you can find it without tearing the bed apart.

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Conclusion

Soundcore’s Sleep A20 buds sit in a class of their own, with few rivals to speak of in the sleep buds category right now. If you are a chronic insomniac, don’t expect them to be a silver bullet but rather another tool to use in the fight for sleep, with an array of options to try out before hopefully finding a solution that works.

I’ve found that on the nights I struggle to sleep, the Sleep A20 buds have helped me clear my head – especially when listening to white noise. I’m not one to generally enjoy wearing earbuds while sleeping but thanks to their slim and lightweight design, it’s been a comfortable experience.

Sporting an RRP of $150 when they launch on Amazon, the Sleep A20 buds can be ordered on the fully-funded Kickstarter campaign for as little as $105 right now.