AirPods 4vs.Gate
Sound & Specs Comparison
Information
Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.
Objective Comparison
Facts, details, stuff.
| General Info | AirPods 4 | Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Apple | Truthear |
| Country | USA | China |
| IEM Description | – | – |
| Price Level | n/a | < 100 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | – | Single Dyn. Driver |
| Driver Types | – | Dynamic Driver |
| Shell Material | – | – |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | – | – |
| Impedance (Ω) | – | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | – | – |
| Crossover | – | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 1 |
| Visit Count | 20 | 31 |
| External Reviews | 0 | 0 |
Meta Ratings
AirPods 4 delivers evidently better sound reproduction, offering a more immersive and engaging experience overall. Its tonal balance, clarity, and spatial imaging stand out clearly compared to Gate (5 vs 4). For comfort fit, Gate performs materially better (7.5 vs 5). The tactile feel and solidity of AirPods 4 suggest distinctly greater robustness and longevity compared to the more fragile impression left by Gate. Gate's accessories are substantially better curated, reflecting greater attention to usability, presentation, and value-added content compared to AirPods 4.
| AirPods 4 | Gate | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Comfort Fit | 5.0 | 7.5 |
| Build Quality | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Stock Cable | – | 5.0 |
| Accessories | 1.5 | 4.5 |
Sound Characteristics
AirPods 4 enhances basslines with a more energy and grip, giving them a livelier feel compared to Gate (5.5 vs 5). It translates bass vibrations into a b more visceral experience, while Gate lacks this tactile feedback (5 vs 4.5). The lower midrange on It blends a more smoothly into the bass region, avoiding the disconnect found in Gate (5.5 vs 5). It offers c greater shimmer and nuance in the lower treble, revealing micro-details that Gate misses (6.5 vs 5.5). The upper treble of It extends m further, offering more sparkle and openness than Gate (6.5 vs 5). It paints a a broader sonic landscape, offering better instrument positioning across the stage (6 vs 5). The retrieval of faint audio cues on It is s more convincing, while Gate tends to gloss over them (5 vs 4.5). In complex arrangements, It separates layers b more distinctly, preventing overlap that Gate occasionally suffers (5 vs 4.5). Instruments remain intelligible on It even during busy sections, showing a better handling of masking than Gate (5 vs 4.5). It delivers a stronger slam and physicality, making drums and transients hit harder than Gate (5 vs 4). Listeners may experience a fewer sharp edges in 'S' and 'T' sounds with It, whereas Gate can get fatiguing (6.5 vs 3.5). Timbre on It sounds d more realistic and natural, whereas Gate feels slightly more artificial or colored (5.5 vs 4). It achieves a better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in Gate (5 vs 3.5). The grain and surface of instruments are rendered c more vividly by It, while Gate feels flatter (4.5 vs 3.5).
| AirPods 4 | Gate | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Bass | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| Bass Feel | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Lower Mids | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| Upper Mids | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Lower Treble | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| Upper Treble | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Detail | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Layering | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Masking | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Note Weight | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Slam | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Sibilance | 6.5 | 3.5 |
| Timbre Color | 5.5 | 4.0 |
| Tonality | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Texture | 4.5 | 3.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.