How Do You Improve An Already Excellent Pair Of Earbuds?
It was coming up to three years ago when Status got in contact to see if we fancied checking out their Between 3ANC Wireless Earbuds for review. Being tech heads as well as gamers, we snapped up the chance, amazed by the listening experience they offered.
That experience was then upped in late 2025 when Status brought the Pro X buds to market – a refinement of everything that came before it, now in a smaller, sharper, smarter package.
Here in 2026, that same company is raising the bar again, taking those Pro X buds and injecting some GoldenSound into them. Quite literally.
Does it make for the best set of earbuds Status have ever created in the Status Pro X GoldenSound edition? We think so. But equally, we don’t think that you have to buy them…
The Pro X Was Already A Tough Act To Follow
We’ll start with what we can see as pretty much the only negative in the Status Pro X GoldenSound package – these are only a very slight incremental improvement on the standard Pro X buds. In fact, aside from a new colour scheme, as well as an additional EQ setting in the App, you’d struggle to tell the difference between the GoldenSound and the standard piece of kit, whether that be the old Black Alloy, or slightly newer Moonbeam colour variant.
But incremental is probably all that Status really needed to do with the Pro X, for these are already some of the very best wireless buds on the market today. If you have a bit of spare cash, or are coming in fresh to the scene, we’d say these are the ones to go for. Should you already have a set of Pro X’s in your back pocket though, the GoldenSounds are a tough sell.
Familiar Hardware, Excellent Performance
What you’re getting here in the Status Pro X GoldenSound package is fundamentally the same hardware as found in the standard Pro X. We will point you to our review of the Status Pro X for the finer details, but expect 12mm Dynamic Drivers combined with Dual Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers handling the audio, alongside Bluetooth 5.3, IP55 Water and Dust Resistance and some seriously brilliant ANC workings and accompanying Transparency Mode for good measure. The same physical and touch sensitive buttons that control things are present too.
They come with the same eight hours of runtime, upped via a quick case charge to some 24 hours in total. No matter whether you are listening to tunes, or playing some Game Pass games on your mobile or ROG Ally X, these hit the mark. Further, a teeny tiny sensor on the buds detects when they are, and aren’t, in your ears, pausing music playback for instance as you take them out. This works perfectly, each and every time.
GoldenSound Adds A New Audio Profile
So far, so Pro X. What is different here then with the Status Pro X GoldenSound edition is in the name – a collaboration with GoldenSound. We’ll admit that we were about as unaware of that name as we were of Status themselves back in 2023, but GoldenSound is in fact the renowned high-end audio reviewer and engineer Cameron Oatley. If you’re an audiophile, we’re pretty sure you’ll know.
It means that Status and GoldenSound have pooled their resources to be able to craft a new, pretty bespoke, tuning profile for the Pro X buds. This is found in the superb Status Hub App (we’ve been using the Android version through the Google Play Store, but there’s an iOS drop too if you need it), with emphasis on transparency, some soundstage accuracy, tonal balance and Oatley’s own signature acoustic style.
The GoldenSound Difference
We’ll be honest, we’ve had the GoldenSound EQ setting switched on from the get-go with these new buds, and they do sound extremely impressive. So much so that it’s definitely the way to go. But, to us, the Pro X already sounded extremely impressive anyways, particularly with the previously default Status Signature setting ticked up. We found that to be particularly warm to our ears, and so we weren’t ever really looking for anything else. At least, we didn’t think we were looking for anything else.
The GoldenSound box definitely ramps things up a tad though. Apparently, at least according to the press blurb, this new setting ensures we’re getting a precise representation of how our ears receive real world sound, delivering true-to-life timbre and superb detail. For us, we’re mostly focused on the bass response, and have been delighted by how this version of the Pro X handles things. Status are hopeful that this addition ensures the Pro X performs not just as an every day earbud, but as a proper wireless In-Ear Monitor that is worthy of the GoldenSound seal of approval.
We cannot however pretend that we’d miss the GoldenSound options, especially if we didn’t know any different. In fact, during this review period, running over the last few weeks, we’ve flipped and flopped happily between this new set and our Moonbeams. We’ve been more than happy with each.
If you’re wanting that new GoldenSound option in the App, then you’ll have to splash out on the GoldenSound version of the Pro X too; you won’t find it available should you be using the Black or White editions.
A Golden Makeover For A Premium Pair Of Buds
Attempting to sell the GoldenSound Edition some more is a new styling and aesthetic, and we’re of the opinion that these are the best looking Pro X buds yet; they are probably one of the very best looking earbuds you’ll find. The case is black all over, with a gold top and gold detailing around the USB-C power input. With some subtle branding on the upper side, it looks superb in hand. And upon opening it up, the buds themselves are striking; a Gold-and-Black metal-plated chassis gives the buds a highly distinct look. It’s a colourway that oozes quality and is quite possibly worth the extra £20 premium that Status have slapped on the price tag.
The Finest Pro X Yet, But Not An Essential Upgrade
There is no doubt that the GoldenSound Edition is the finest version of the Status Pro X buds yet. They feel as great in ear as ever, they sound as super as before, and now they come with a newly added GoldenSound EQ setting. Chuck in the striking colourway, and it all means that should you be looking for some new buds, the Status Pro X GoldenSound Edition is worthy of a place at the very top audio table.
If you’re already on board with the Black Alloy or Moonbeam versions of the Pro X though, this is an altogether tougher sell.
Huge thanks go out to Status for providing us with a review unit of their Status Pro X GoldenSound Edition buds. Pick up a set for yourself from Status direct. You should expect to be found paying around £249 for them. Whether you decide to save yourself £20 for the standard version of the Pro X is up to you.
