The PaMu Quiet Mini is a TWS earphone with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It is priced at $69.
Padmate is a company that manufactures Bluetooth and Smart devices. The company was founded in 2010 and specializes in design, R&D and manufacturing.
Padmate website: https://padmate-tech.com/
Disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own based on my experience with the product.
- ANC quality
- Good audio quality
- Wireless charging
- Microphone and call quality
- Mediocre battery life
- Maximum volume is a little low
Padmate PaMu Quiet Mini
Features
- Active noice cancellation
- Low latency gaming mode
- 10mm PEN + titanium diaphragm
- IPX4 water-resistant
- Bluetooth 5.2
Packaging & Accessories
The PaMu Quiet Mini comes in a high-quality white box with a colour image of the earbuds on the front. Inside the box you get the earbuds, charging case, 3 pairs of silicone eartips (S, M, L), a vinyl storage pouch, USB Type-C charging cable and some documentation.
Design
When it comes to design, the PaMu Quiet Mini adopts a traditional TWS earbud style similar to the Apple Airpods. The shells have a bulbous top with a short stem hanging down. It’s at the top of the stem where the touch controls reside. There’s also a small LED that shows the pairing status of the earbuds.
Each of the earbuds weighs just 5g so you’ll hardly notice they’re even there, even during long listening sessions. At a glance, the shells appear to be black but on closer inspection, you’ll see they’re actually a deep midnight blue and I think they look great.
The earbuds come with 3 pairs of silicone eartips that can help you to get a good fit. In addition, the Pamu Quiet Mini has an IPX4 water-resistance rating so you don’t need to worry about sweat or getting caught in light rain.
The charging case is about average in size so it can easily fit in a pants pocket. It is the same midnight blue colour as the earbuds and has stylish silver branding on the lid. That lid is made from thin plastic but it closes magnetically and the hinge feels sturdy.
On the back of the case is a USB Type-C port for charging and on the front side there’s a horizontal LED that displays the battery level and charging status. The earbuds snap into place magnetically inside the case so they don’t fall out by accident.
For those with larger ears, if you want to use large third-party eartips like me, the case can accommodate them as well which is a real bonus. Finally, the case also supports wireless charging which makes topping up the battery really convenient.
ANC
If you think a budget TWS earbud can’t have good Active Noise Cancellation the PaMu Quiet Mini might change your mind. These have the best ANC by far that I’ve heard on a sub 100 USD earbud. With the Dual Hybrid ANC turned on, the noise from my computer and air conditioner is all but eliminated. It also works great at cutting out traffic noise.
The Quiet Mini also has a transparency mode that amplifies outside noise. This is great for when you want to be aware of your surroundings or even if you want to have a conversation with someone without removing the earbuds from your ears.
Call Quality
When it comes to calls and microphone quality, the PaMu Quiet Mini is slightly above-average. Voice quality is good and clear. It’s even pretty decent when you’re talking in a noisy environment. If you’re someone who uses TWS earphones for phone calls, the Quiet Mini has got you covered.
PaMu Quiet Mini phone app
The PaMu phone app is available for iOS and Android. Within the app, you can easily switch between ANC sound modes, enable the game and Original sound modes. In addition, you can assign custom button controls.
Low Latency/Game Mode
The latency between your phone and TWS earbuds can make or break your mobile gaming experience. The PaMu Quiet Mini has a special low-latency game mode that cuts down any sync issues to make your game experience better. With game mode enabled, the Quiet Mini has a 70ms response time. That’s not quite as good as the 50ms on the AUVI Studio-G but it’s still much better than most TWS earbuds.
PaMu Quiet Mini: Sound
When it comes to audio quality, the Quiet Mini performs well. One of the things I like best about it is that the sound doesn’t change depending on which ANC mode you’re using. A lot of TWS earphones have drastically different sound signatures depending on the ANC setting (the Tronsmart Apollo Bold is a good example). The Quiet Mini’s sound stays consistent regardless of whether ANC is on or off which is exactly how it should be.
Another interesting feature of the Quiet Mini is the “Original sound” setting in the phone app. With this mode enabled the sound is less coloured and closer to neutral. With the Original sound mode off, there’s more bass, the sound becomes thicker and more full-bodied. Both variants actually sound good and it’s yet another reason to like the Quiet Mini.
The Quiet Mini has a warm sound with elevated bass and a non-offensive treble. If you want to get the full bass response, make sure you’re getting a good fit with the right eartips. Don’t forget you can use regular eartips as well, so choose ones that give you the best in-ear seal.
The bass is punchy and full-bodied. It’s fairly thick and has a blunted leading edge. However, enabling the “Original sound” mode in the PaMu app tightens it up a bit. But is tuned for fun and toe-tapping so it is still fairly emphasized. Vocals and instruments sound clear and engaging although the main focus is on the bass.
Midrange notes are slightly warm but not cloying or congested. The overall sound is smooth and good for long listening sessions thanks to the relaxed treble. However, that also means the Quiet Mini doesn’t have the most detailed sound but rather one that is more suited for casual listening.
Comparisons
AUVI Studio-G ($59)
The AUVI Studio-G is a TWS earbud similar to the Quiet Mini in many ways but is aimed more at mobile gamers. When it comes to audio quality, I would put the Studio-G slightly ahead due to its resolution and detail retrieval.
Where the Quiet Mini stands out in this comparison is its extra features, such as the excellent ANC, wireless charging and onboard volume controls. Both of these earbuds have a similar physical stemmed design and the charging cases are roughly the same size.
Furthermore, both Studio-G and Quiet Mini have comparable battery life. The AUVI gets around 20 hours while the Quiet Mini is about 18 hours. For the best game performance and audio quality, Studio-G would be the better choice. But for those who want Active Noise Cancelling, more versatile control options and wireless charging, the Quiet Mini is the way to go.
Conclusion
The PaMu Quiet Mini earbuds offer great value for money. My only minor complaint is that I would like to see better battery life. Having said that, for just $69 you’re getting good build quality, great expressive sound and some of the best Active Noise Cancelling you’ll find on any earbuds under 100 USD.
