Noise Master Buds 2 Review: Premium Sound Without The Premium Price

The TWS earbuds category, at least in India, is a tricky business. There are too many players, each with their specific appeal. Noise is one such homegrown brand that’s always appealed to budget-conscious buyers. I was one of the early adopters when they first started doing smart bands. Their earphones have been solid overall, but have struggled to stand out among more established players like OPPO and OnePlus. On the flip side, Bose is the most recognized player in the premium headphone space, as they essentially invented ANC back in the 90s.

So, what if you combine the value proposition of Noise with the premiumness and sound of Bose? You get the Noise Master Buds. The first generation of these unique collaboration earbuds was a hit, with experts praising the sound quality and the ANC capabilities. Fast forward to today, and the second generation of the Master Buds are out, bringing some meaningful updates in the sound department. And I called Noise to get these for a review. It’s been a month since that call, and I even took them with me to Thailand. Spoiler alert: these earbuds are a hit. Here’s why.

Design & Comfort

When I first got the Master Buds 2, I was genuinely in awe of the design. I genuinely haven’t seen a case this pretty before, yet still functional. The concentric circle pattern on the front is a really nice touch that adds character to the stale world of TWS earbuds. The semicircle shape is also unique and something I have yet to see from other makers. One more benefit of this shape is that you can keep the case standing vertically, almost resembling the clocks of the past, or maybe I’m just too old at this point.

Nevertheless, I was constantly asked by my friends and family what earbuds I was using, all of whom adored the design, so you know it’s not just me yapping. I’d recommend sticking to the silver color, as it’s the best and doesn’t pick up random scratches, but the black also looks pretty decent. There’s a diagonal white LED strip that’s meant to indicate when the earbuds are on. You also get a dedicated pairing button, so no hand gymnastics is needed. Still, the best part of the design for me is the opening/closing mechanism. There’s a good amount of weight behind it, which makes that heavy thud that I love.

I do, however, have a problem with the size. I know these earbuds pack a lot of hardware, but the case size is just massive. I’ve been daily driving the Enco Buds 3 Pro+ for months, and compared to them, the Master Buds feel huge.

Moving to the earbuds themselves, comfort is highly subjective, as everyone’s ears are different. All that being said, though, the first day of me using the Master Buds wasn’t the best. My ears are small, and the medium-sized tips that come pre-installed were just too big for my liking. Thankfully, when I put on the small eartips, the experience was much better. You’ll still feel them sticking out, but the rubber fins work well to keep them from falling out during my everyday gym struggles with weights. It’s been a couple of hours since I started writing this review, and the Master Buds 2 are still sitting comfortably in my ears.

Sound Quality & Battery Life

Often, budget earbuds lean heavily towards bass and compromise everything else. Well, that’s not the case with the Master Buds 2. The 10 mm drivers tuned by Bose prioritize balance over everything else, and I love that. The mids, where most of the vocals live, are crisp, with you being able to hear the small nuances of a singer’s voice. The highs are decent without that sharpness that pinches through, and I love the separation between the different elements. Everything is placed perfectly, and that’s what many earbuds fail to do. Bass isn’t the selling point of the Master Buds, but the lows are still there, working hard in the background. Just don’t expect a rumble.

If you’re not happy with the signature Bose tuning, which would be surprising, Noise does bundle a few different listening modes like Jazz, Club, and Rock, each with its unique style. For audiophiles, there’s also a custom equalizer. Beyond the basics, Noise has bundled spatial audio with head tracking. I tried some songs on Apple Music, and it works great with instruments placed around you that change as you move your head. Call quality was excellent, with the other person hearing me loud and clear. Speaking of loud, though, there’s a new feature called Sidetone that lets you hear yourself on calls to check if you’re talking too loudly. Honestly, I can think of a lot of people needing that feature.

The Master Buds 2 use their 6 microphones for up to 51dB of active noise cancellation, and I put that number to the test. Using the ANC at Max, the buds do a stellar job of quietening the everyday hum of an AC or fan without a hitch. Voices were muffled enough that I couldn’t hear someone talking near me at half volume. For commuters, the Master Buds 2 will be enough to block out the chatter of a metro, but sudden loud noises, like a horn, will still find their way through. Last but not least, the battery on the buds is very decent. I got about 4-5 hours of use on a single charge. The case can recharge the buds at least 3 times, and once you do run out, fast charging should come to the rescue.

Companion App

It’s no secret that controls are super easy to mess up. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the Noise Master Buds. In fact, there’s a lot going on. Everything is controlled via the Noise Audio app, and it looks really well designed. It’s sophisticated, and everything is laid out neatly. Still, there are plenty of ways you can control music.

The obvious choice is the touch controls on the earbuds themselves. You can configure a single touch, a double touch, a triple touch, a quadruple touch, and even a tap-and-hold. But that’s not it. Noise has incorporated motion controls, meaning if you nod your head twice, you can play/pause the music. Beyond that, shaking your head twice to the right will skip to the next track and vice versa. This is a pretty niche feature that I thought would be a gimmick at best. Surprisingly, it works quite well, except for the occasional misses. You can also nod to accept calls.

No review of a 2026 product will be complete without mentioning AI, and the same is true here. Noise has bundled something called Noise AI, which, in theory, is meant to answer your questions. I gave it a go with one of the recommended questions: suggesting a good cafe near me. The answer was that it doesn’t have access to live restaurant listings and that I should search Google instead. If I have to search Google, then what’s even the point?

Verdict

At ₹8,999, the Noise Master Buds 2 sit in a very competitive segment, but they do enough differently to stand out. The design alone is a conversation starter, and unlike many flashy earbuds, these actually back it up with substance. The Bose-tuned sound signature focuses on balance rather than overwhelming bass, making everything from vocals to instruments sound clean and detailed. ANC performance is strong enough for everyday commutes and flights, the gesture controls are surprisingly useful, and the companion app is genuinely well-designed rather than feeling like an afterthought.

Of course, they aren’t perfect. The case is noticeably larger than most competitors, and bass lovers might find the tuning a little too restrained. Noise AI also feels half-baked right now and adds very little to the experience. Still, if you’re shopping in this segment, the Master Buds 2 are a must-consider.