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I test audio kit for a living, and these earbuds’ death-proof battery and regal design blew me away

12:00 pm | August 23, 2025

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Two-minute review

Noble FoKus Amadeus wireless earbuds, in front of their carry case, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Can earbuds make you feel like royalty? Well, Noble Audio are here to give it a good old college try with their Noble FoKus Amadeus earbuds; the latest and cheapest in the FoKus series, but which benefit from some posh new engineering in both soft- and hardware. Specs-wise, these true wireless ‘buds knock it out of the park with LDAC and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity (other codecs are available), customizable sound profiles and an extensive battery capacity I actively struggled to exhaust during review.

Sound is the primary reason to buy something like the FoKus Amadeus – and these do sound great, with a cushy low-end and plucky transient response that makes for a playful listening experience straight out of the box. But these earbuds’ ergonomics are almost more noteworthy than their fidelity. Noble’s expertise in custom IEMs shows, with an asymmetrical design that follows the contours of the average ear canal better than any other generic-fit ear-thing I’ve tried. A glut of spare and swappable ear tips seals the deal with a thoughtful kiss.

These earbuds are only really let down by a lacklustre ANC, which is far from best-in-class – though their stock sound profile could be a little divisive, too, depending on your taste. That said, this writer found them to auditorily succeed exactly where they promise to, and even exceed expectations in other areas. If you’re looking to put some serious money behind a serious set of the best high-fidelity earbuds out there, these are very likely the earbuds you seek.

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Price and release date

Release date: June, 2025
Price: $320 / £299.99 / approx. AU$615

Noble sits pretty at the cutting edge of the in-ear monitor (IEM) market, with a suite of four-figure products that are as much to look at as they are to listen to. Noble’s custom IEMs are rightfully lauded for the incredible attention to detail they possess in practically every sense. With the recent FoKus series, Noble offers that rarefied approach to quality audio at a (slightly) more palatable price.

Indeed, the Noble FoKus Amadeus (the brand's latest offering) are clearly designed to evoke a different form of rarefied quality, often ascribed to classical music. If the presence of “Amadeus” in the name (for ~~Falco~~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, no less) wasn’t enough, look instead to that regal red finish on the earbuds. It's at once a refined finish in its own right, as well as a subtler nod to the firebrand composer via his oft-painted tailcoat. These surface-level signifiers are here to guide your thinking on the Noble FoKus Amadeus’ guts, too, where Noble has aimed to “[blend] classical artistry with contemporary engineering”. Rich stuff indeed.

The FoKus Amadeus wireless earbuds retail for $320 / £299.99 / approx. AU$615, putting them firmly above the peloton as far as the average earbud is concerned. That retail price does, however, make these the cheaper earbuds in Noble’s FoKus range, and hence the most accessible in Noble’s entire premium-quality oeuvre. Still, for your money, you’re buying a rarefied piece of portable kit, with multiple modes of Bluetooth connectivity, 42 hours of out-and-about-iness and a considered approach to conveying your faves ear-ward.

Given the highly competitive entry-level price band some dozens of dollars below, this price could be a bit rich for some consumers’ blood – but Noble Audio does an excellent job of justifying their expense, in theory and in execution.

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Specs

Type:	True wireless ANC in-ear
Dimensions:	17 x 25 x 25mm (WHD)
Weight:	8.6g (earbuds); 55.5g (charging case)
Drivers:	8.3mm, triple-layer
Frequency range:	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Battery life:	Up to 12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 42 hours (charging case)
Control:	Capacitive touch controls; native voice assistant; Noble FoKus control app
Bluetooth:	5.4 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and aptX Adaptive compatibility, USB-C charging

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Features

Noble FoKus Amadeus in-ear headphones on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Excellent Bluetooth connectivity
Exceedingly decent battery life
Shame the ANC isn’t great

The key audiophilic selling point for Noble’s latest buds is the new driver design. The Amadeus sport a single triple-layer diaphragm driver per earbud, utilizing three skins of different materials – ceramic, titanium and PEEK – for enhanced frequency control. This commitment to single-driver superiority is backed-up by a holistic approach to audio excellence; there’s multifarious Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, with support for SBC, AAC, LDAC and aptX Adaptive codecs.

While this driver's sound profile is great out of the box (more on which later), there are extensive EQ-fiddling opportunities in the Noble FoKus app, which is a pretty sweet one-stop shop for controls and customization. As well as graphic EQ bands, curves and presets, you’ll find a nifty Personal EQ algorithm, courtesy of algorithmic boffins Audiodo. Complete a short hearing calibration process, and you get a fully personalized sound profile with which to enjoy your investment all the more.

The Amadeus purport to provide three different listening modes: standard listening, ANC, and an Ambient mode which boosts the sound of the outside world for safer public groovin’. These features can be accessed and toggled via the aforementioned Noble FoKus app, or more readily via the Amadeus’ dual-bud capacitive-touch control capabilities.

Unfortunately, the latter two modes leave a little to be desired. I was willing to make concessions for the ANC mode when testing it on a loud rush-hour bus, but even in my quiet living room, it did little to quell incidental sounds from elsewhere. The Ambient mode possesses quite a high noise floor, too, which naturally proved a little distracting at times.

All that said, these earbuds do an excellent job of passive sound isolation anyway, so I didn’t really feel additional noise cancellation to be necessary. For the Ambient mode, sharp and loud sounds cut through any music with remarkable fidelity – fundamentally, I’d rather suffer a hissy soundtrack and not get hit by a car, than the opposite.

Lastly but no less importantly, the Amadeus offer up to 12 hours' continuous battery life in one sitting – and up to 42 hours using the charging case (thus outliving mayflies, but that's only part of the story, as I'll explain). It’s never easy to estimate what on-paper battery-life specs mean for real-life usage, so let me say this: outside of early days review-related stress-testing, these earbuds made it through six weeks of casual everyday usage on a single full carry-case charge. If that’s not enough for you, a 10-minute charge will gift you two hours of playback. You’ll never be caught short with these.

Feature quality score: 4.5/5

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Sound quality

Noble FoKus Amadeus in-ear headphones, inside their carry case, on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Broad, comfy, forgiving low-end
Transients and dynamics handled marvellously
Customizable sound profiles

For the majority of my time with the Noble FoKus Amadeus, I elected to listen at their stock, undoctored best, reserving the ‘calibrated’ experience for after I’d gotten a feel for what exactly they’re aiming for. In a nutshell, I can describe what they aim for as ‘presence’.

They lean warm and cushy, giving you a real solid base of bass to lean on; that warmth is a great foil for the pluckier high-end, which shines when handling percussive brilliance. Gelli Haha’s Bounce House is a catchy piece of slant-pop ear candy and all the more, er, moreish for the combination of speedy transient response and supple low-end on display. It's a great primer for these earbuds' capabilities out of the box.

The Amadeus landed on my desk around the same time I discovered the discography of 1970s American soul underdog Leroy Hutson, who replaced Curtis Mayfield in The Impressions. As such, quintessential DJ-fodder albums like the eponymous Hutson were frequent listens through the Amadeus’ smoooth-with-three-‘o’s drivers. Standout fave and stone-cold banger Lucky Fellow is resplendent in its tactile width. Hard-panned percussive guitars, leaping dynamic drums and fulsome, reedy vocals-in-harmony are all presented at their level best

Moving on to less-novel territory, one of my more common tester albums is Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf. This is a record I have known inside-out and back-to-front since its 2002 release, and which hasn’t lost a speck of luster in all 13 intervening years (because it is absolutely 2015 right now, Bowie’s absolutely still alive, and I am absolutely NOT an ancient fossil of a tech reviewer).

I’m pleased as punch to report that, through the FoKus Amadeus earbuds, this benchmark album still very much punches me in the face with urgent snares, sausage-fat guitars, growling bass and Mark Lanegan’s gruesome gravel-words. Again, the Amadeus' transient capabilities shine – spiky but not sharp, sudden but controlled, and in possession of a unique tactile clarity. It’s actually a bit addictive.

Nevertheless, there are some minor criticisms to be made –sometimes, energy can be a little misplaced. That plush, supple low-end can allow kick drums to take up a little too much real estate on occasion and, otherwise, can serve to cover for an occasional lack of width in the upper ranges.

Also, I did briefly test Audiodo’s sound profile calibration via the Noble FoKus app, and will say that I’m personally not a fan. The test is fun, using different volumes of tones at different pitches in each ear to develop a picture of your hearing sensitivity across the spectrum, but I found the results a little disarming first time round.

I won’t be knocking the Amadeus for featuring this algorithmic tech. I do think it’s a great thing to have – particularly as a way for people with gig-battered ears to improve the audibility of spoken voices in podcasts or phone calls. For music, though, my personalized EQ curve only served to put an uncanny mid-scooped sheen over sounds I was already familiar with and mentally compensating for. The great thing about these EQ options is exactly that: they’re optional.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Design

Noble FoKus Amadeus in-ear headphones (in their carry case), eartips of different sizes, USB-C charging cable and felt carry bag. — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Satisfying satin-red carry case
Absurdly comfortable in-ear fit
Touch controls are great, but finicky to start

You don’t design a set of wireless earbuds to look like this without wanting someone to talk about it. The FoKus Amadeus are waggling their figurative eyebrows at you, and trying not to drop a monocle in the process – an image befitting something non-ironically named for a classical composer.

There’s the glossy red finish on each earbud that recalls at once a luxury guitar plectrum and a Rover 800 dashboard (a lesser-spotted Sterling 800 if you're in the U.S.) – it serves to turn your head into an oddly proportioned executive sandwich accordingly. There’s also the delicious satin-red charging case lid, which incidentally possesses one of the more satisfying clasps I ever did feel. I could open and close this little box all day long.

The Amadeus earbuds are presented so lushly that you daren’t simply drop the case in your tote bag, among your keys and other scratchy effects – and Noble thought of that too. To prevent the marring of that pleasing finish, you can slip the case into a tiny velour drawstring pouch, and feel delightfully dainty in retrieving your earbuds from within.

Striking as these are as objects d’art, it’s my view that comfort is really where these buds stand above the rest. It’s not an easy job to make something relatively substantial fit so comfortably, and yet Noble’s achieved it with more success than any other brand I’ve tried.

For one, I’m a big fan of the different eartip options, handily provided by Noble in a little plastic case for your perusal. There are three sizes of single- and double-flanged eartips respectively; I personally got on best with the mid-sized double-flanged eartips, which delivered a security of fit hitherto unexperienced in other wireless earbuds.

This level of security is aided all the more by some clever topology. These earbuds share the same design principles as moulded in-ears, with angled drivers that seek to nestle close by the second bend in your ear canal. This, coupled with a clever balance of weight above the drivers, makes for a supremely snug and happy fit.

The capacitive touch functionality on the Noble FoKus Amadeus earbuds is great, by virtue of being very difficult to engage accidentally. The control scheme, though, is a little difficult for the sheer amount of functionality there is.

Noble has tried to make this as intuitive as possible, dividing tasks between earbuds – double- and triple-tapping the left earbud controls volume, while the same actions on the right move between tracks – but this isn’t the easiest to internalize without frequent revision. Even after a month of daily use, it’s still 50-50 whether I switch ANC mode on or activate my phone’s voice assistant.

Mercifully, the Noble FoKus app enables you to customize these controls to your own liking; a small but crucial gesture, that soothes the old-man-yelling-at-cloud in me. That something so insignificant (and readily rectified) commands so much of my attention is, in fact, proof that these earbuds are probably doing something right.

Design quality score: 5/5

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Value

Great feature-set
Outstrips competition
Worth it if you’ve got it

That $320 / £299.99 / approx. AU$615 price point isn’t one to be sniffed at. The vast majority of wireless earbuds come in well below this price, as do the vast majority of soundbars, consumer-grade monitor speakers and even integrated hi-fi systems. If you’re willing to spend this much, you obviously care a great deal about your mobile listening experience and understand that spending a little over the odds is the only way to get clear of that entry-level quality trap.

With an extensive battery life and some excellent Bluetooth connectivity, the FoKus Amadeus meet the basics well. With a great build quality and reassuring carry case, there are no qualms to be had about their design either. With an incredible set of newly engineered drivers, capable of providing all the oomph and splat you could ever want on the move, their sound fidelity is quite simply excellent.

All together, these facts make for a very compelling argument as to the Noble FoKus Amadeus’ value. Still, it’s a lot to drop on some earbuds. Which is exactly why you might have noticed some heightened scrutiny, with respect to the miniature frustrations I experienced during my testing.

This higher standard is an unfortunate function of pricing something in that difficult “middle” range (which looks indistinguishable to the top shelf, from the point of view of the average, budget-conscious buyer). Such frustrations would be somewhat forgiven in cheaper earbuds, and absolutely unforgivable in a set that dared to ask for more.

Even with this nitpicky frame of review, the Noble FoKus Amadeus earbuds absolutely pass muster. And that’s without noting the various ways in which Noble have outstripped the competition at this same price range – with longer battery life, better sound and better connectivity besides. If you’re spending this much on earbuds, you’re buying these, their twee, reverential branding notwithstanding.

Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Noble FoKus Amadeus?

Features	Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and aptX Adaptive; extensive battery capacity; lots of EQs and listening modes; but ANC not up to scratch.	4.5 / 5
Sound quality	Truly excellent warmth and pluck from single-driver earbuds, but a little overwarm sometimes.	4.5 / 5
Design	Visually arresting, ergonomically delightful and highly customizable inside and out.	5 / 5
Value	Competitive features and addictive sound profile justify the inflated price point.	4.5 / 5

Buy them if...

You need earbuds that go the distance
These are the least-fatiguing in-ears I’ve ever tested, thanks to both their excellent fidelity and impeccable ergonomic design. Throw in some astonishing battery longevity, and you’ve a pair of quality wireless earbuds built for endurance – be it a long-haul flight, or a long and drudging week.

Tech-bro earbuds bore you
Everything’s a soulless white, grey or greige nowadays – and this includes earbuds, which often fall prey to the grosser minimalist instincts of their manufacturers’ head honchos. Look upon these deep-red, wood-finished wonderbuds, and rejoice in the return of romantic design!

Don't buy them if...

You can’t afford them
A pithy suggestion, sure, but one that bears repeating; if you have to stretch to reach the asking price, you probably shouldn’t invest in them. Outside of their incredible comfort and unique sound profile, there’s nothing here you can’t find in some form at a cheaper price (albeit, with some concessions).

You’re looking for peerless ANC
It’s a small shame that the Noble FoKus Amadeus don’t sport especially effective ANC, though I do think ANC and earbuds are a difficult marriage. The Amadeus’ passive attenuation is more-than good enough by itself. Still, if you want the blissful silence only technology can provide, you may be better off with a pair of ANC-equipped headphones.

Noble FoKus Amadeus: Also consider

	Noble FoKus Amadeus	Sony WF-1000XM5	Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Price	$320 / £299.99 / AU$615 (approx.)	$229.99 / £175 / AU$331	$220 / £199 / AU$399
Drivers	8.3mm triple-layer	8.4mm Dynamic driver X	10mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Quoted battery life	12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 42 hours (charging case)	8hr earbuds, 24hrs total with the case	6 hours (buds) 24 hours total with the case
Weight	8.6g (earbuds); 55.5g (charging case)	4.2g per earbud	6.24g per earbud
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and aptX Adaptive compatibility, USB-C charging	Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Sony 360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme upscaling	Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, aptX Adaptive, Snapdragon Sound
Frequency range	20Hz - 20kHz	Not stated	Not stated
Other features	Noble FoKus app, capacitive touch, ambient sound	Sony Headphones Connect companion app, ambient sound, wind-reduction bone conduction mics	Immersive Audio, sound 'modes'

Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony’s a popular name for all things head- and ear-phone-y. These earbuds take after their over-ear siblings with some sweet design and a decent tackling of noise-cancelling tech. They might be a little more clinical than Noble’s FoKus Amadeus in some senses, but they could be more practical in others. Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Bose’s top-flight QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are pretty darn solid, with aptX Adaptive compatibility and some fun head-tracking capabilities. They sound pretty nifty, too. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

How I tested the Noble FoKus Amadeus

Noble FoKus Amadeus in-ear earbuds in front of their carry case on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

Tested for six weeks
Used at home and on the go
Predominantly tested using streaming services Bandcamp and Spotify, on a Samsung Galaxy S23 smartphone

The Noble FoKus Amadeus became my daily-driver earbuds, taking up a permanent space in my tote bag for daily usage on public transport and while gallivanting about town. I streamed music from Spotify and Bandcamp mostly, via my Samsung Galaxy S23; I occasionally used them at home, too, using my HP Pavilion laptop and the same services.

First reviewed August 2025

Shokz’ first clip-on open earbuds just beat the Bose Ultra Open in testing, for me – smart price; flexible design

2:01 am | August 21, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: EQ | Comments: Off

Shokz OpenDots One: Two minute review

Shokz is one of the best-known names in the fitness headphone space and finally it has turned its attention to a burgeoning new market and thus challenge a big rival: clip-on open earbuds (and Bose).

Clip-ons are a kind of the best open earbuds that don’t loop all the way around your ear, but ‘clip’ onto your auricle to take up less space and hold the sound drivers further into your ear itself. Companies haven’t taken to the design quite as readily as the now-standard sports loop open-ears (production of that design is through the roof in 2025), but perhaps Shokz’ attention is about to change that.

So meet the Shokz OpenDots One, new clip-style (cuff style?) headphones which are here to challenge the big name on the market, the Bose Ultra Open. They’re Shokz’ first readily-available bud in this form factor, not counting a limited-run beta product. And due to a few smart decisions, they are a big success.

The OpenDots aren’t cheap headphones but they do undercut the Bose by a significant margin, releasing at a competitive price point that sees them match Shokz’ sports-loop and bone conduction options. In fact they also beat the recent Shokz OpenFit 2+ which may push some prospective buyers of those open-ears into the clip instead.

Shokz has given the OpenDots a more natural curved, ergonomic look than certain rivals, both ensuring that they look a little more understated and classy, and helping them fit the shape of an ear for a reliable hook and comfortable fit. And it totally works, with these Shokz some of the most pleasant open-ears I’ve ever used. I could easily forget I was wearing them when I wasn’t listening to music.

The sound profile is pleasing too, which may sound like a muted word if not for how low expectations for open earbuds can be. Shokz has fine-tuned the sound to ensure there’s hearty but well-defined bass, which sits in harmony with treble instead of blowing it out. Audiophiles who need open-ears will find these some of the best picks on the market.

Even when you’re not using the Shokz OpenDots One, you’ll find them easy to tote around with a tiny carry case that totally disappears in pockets. Banish the thought of the giant carry cases sports-loop open-ears come in.

I’ve avoided prolific comparisons to the Bose in this intro because you may come to the Shokz without having ever heard of their competition; and the OpenDots One stand apart for being significantly cheaper than the Ultra Open. They ask you why you need to pay extra, even if Bose offers some advanced audio modes.

The OpenDots One might be a harder sell for people who’ve not used a clip-on earbud before, especially with many other options on the market that are a cheaper option to experiment with. But if you’re going to try a new form factor, why not buy an option that nails it?

Shokz OpenDots One review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	IP54
Battery life	10 hours (earbuds), 40 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	5.6g / Charging case: 52g
Driver	2x 11.8mm

Shokz OpenDots One review: Price and availability

The Shokz OpenDots One on a white windowsill — (Image credit: Future)

Announced in May 2025 (available in many markets August 2025)
Priced at $199 / £179 / AU$339
Undercuts Bose, but pricier than many other rivals

The Shokz OpenDots One were announced in May 2025 and went on sale in the US immediately, though they took a few months to release globally (the UK is only just seeing them now, at the time of writing: August 21, 2025).

You can pick up the OpenDots for $199 / £179 / AU$339. While they’re more expensive than many other types of clip-on earbud like the Huawei FreeClip, JLab Flex Open or Soundcore C40i, they undercut their big rivals.

The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds sell for $299 / £299 / AU$449 so the Shokz aren’t just a hair cheaper, but a fair way more affordable.

Shokz OpenDots One review: Design

The Shokz OpenDots One in a man's hand. — (Image credit: Future)

Small charging case which is easy to use
Lightweight buds that cling to the ear well
Handy touch controls

The Shokz OpenDots One come in two color options: Black or the curiously-named Gray, which is actually beige with silver highlights. The latter is what my tester units were.

The case is pretty small and lightweight, as you’d imagine for micro-headphones like these, tipping the scales to 52g. It’s rather featureless, bearing only a small pairing button and USB-C charging port, but there’s elegance in simplicity. It opens with a horizontal divide; in a neat twist you can put either earbud in either gap, cutting down on all the faff headphone users can face (or, at least, I can face) when trying to work out which bud to put on which side.

Now onto the buds. They consist of a cylindrical counterweight and spherical bud which sits in your ear, all joined by a band made of titanium alloy according to Shokz. This middle is lovely and flexible and I never felt at risk of accidentally snapping it or bending it too far.

It’s hard to believe for any open earbuds, especially clip-style ones, but the OpenDots fit like a dream. I barely felt them during many hours of testing and, although I ran, cycled, rowed and did various gym workouts with them in, they never fell out or moved around enough to affect my listening experience.

Another benefit over Bose’s alternatives is that they don’t look like a cyborg accoutrement, with the nice flowing design making them appear more like jewelry than a piece of robotic equipment.

Following on from my praise about the versatile any-bud-in-any-case-side compliment, you can actually also put either bud in either ear with no issue. The Shokz will automatically detect which ear they’re in to deliver music.

Like most earbuds, the OpenDots One have touch controls: you can double- or triple-tap the connective band, double-pinch the spherical counterweight or pinch and hold, for four triggers in all (it doesn’t matter which side you use, both do the same). You can customize what each control does and I found each relatively easy to trigger (which isn’t saying much compared to the competition) though I did take a while to remember that single-tapping or single-pressing didn’t do anything: double or nothing!

Shokz has certified the OpenDots One at an IP54 rating, which means the buds are protected from dust and limited water splashes but not full immersion or even beams of water. Basically, don’t take them swimming.

Design score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenDots One review: Features

Battery life is 10 hours, 40 hours with case
App brings EQ but not that much else
No connectivity problems in testing

If you thought it was time to start finding something to criticize the Shokz OpenDots One about, it’s not yet. The battery life is above average and you can even charge the case via wireless powering.

According to Shokz, the OpenDots last for 10 hours of listening on a single charge, and while I didn’t listen for that long in one burst, the power drain for the periods I did listen for suggests it’d hit that figure almost dead on. The charging case brings three extra charges, for a full listening total of 40 hours, which is better than lots of open-ear options on the market.

You won’t get noise cancelling here, though surprisingly some open earbuds do offer that (see the Honor Earbuds Open, although granted, they're not the cuff-style type). Throughout my testing period I had no connectivity issues to speak of.

As with any good headphone, there’s an app you can download to get extra features. In this case it’s just called Shokz, with the company using one platform for all its earbuds.

Perhaps the main reason to download the Shokz app, beyond customizing the touch controls, is for the equalizer it provides access to. There are four modes: Standard, Vocal, Bass and Private (designed to reduce audio bleed, although that basically just muffles your music), but you can also create a custom mode via a five-band equalizer.

A few other features available via the app include the ability to toggle wear detection, find your lost earbuds, customize multipoint pairing and enable Dolby Atmos (though toggling this just seemed to boost the treble when playing music). It’s not the biggest feature-set I’ve ever seen at earbuds at this price, but it offers everything you need or would expect.

Features score: 4/5

Shokz OpenDots One review: Sound performance

The Shokz OpenDots One clipped into a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

Two 11.8mm drivers per bud
Decent sound, though lack of spacing
Lots of bass

You’re totally right to assume that an open-ear headphone would sound poor, because that’s generally the case, but the Shokz OpenDots One buck the trend: they’re the rare case that sound good.

A highlight of the buds, which Shokz leans into in its marketing and promotion, is the bass. This is something oft lost by open-ears, but the OpenDots enjoy a well-defined lower-register, giving your music a meaty tone but without ever blowing it out with overwrought thumping or booming. I opted to listen in the bass enhancement mode when working out for that little extra kick, but you’ll enjoy loads of bass even if you don’t.

Unlike some super-bass earbuds, the treble still holds its head high, offering crisp and clear vocal lines and letting you hear the spacing between instruments a little. As sound gets towards the mids they do lose some detail and clarity, but you can still enjoy tunes beyond their bassline.

Fixing another open-ear problem, the OpenDots have a nice high max volume so they can fight against noisy traffic if you want to hear your tunes.

Shokz uses a lot of home-brewed tech in the OpenDots One. Highlights include Bassphere, which has the effect we’ve already discussed, and DirectPitch designed to stop sound leaking from the buds and everyone around you having to hear your embarrassing music choice.

These are some of the better open earbuds I've used for audio quality, and they compare to your average in-ear headphone, but it's important to be clear: audiophile-grade favorites shouldn't feel any heat from the Shokz.

Sound performance score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenDots One review: Value

The Shokz OpenDots One in front of a green bush. — (Image credit: Future)

Despite not being that expensive in the grand scheme of things (and in a crowded market), it’s still worth considering the Shokz OpenDots One are some of the more premium open or clip-on earbuds out there, simply due to how cheap the rivals are.

With that in mind, the OpenDots have a lot to prove – but they largely succeed. They provide great sound and a flawless design and cost a hearty amount less than their big-name rivals.

Of course you’re paying for their quality with many other similar-form-factor options available for a fraction of the price, so if you want clip-ons and quality doesn’t matter, you can get better value for money with cheaper options. It's just a question of whether you should.

Value score: 4/5

Shokz OpenDots One review: scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	They're solid earbuds which give you decent value for money, but you're paying for what you get.	4/5
Design	Lightweight, a reliable fit and a slender carry case: what's not to love?	4.5/5
Features	The battery life is good and the existing features are useful, though rivals offer more.	4/5
Sound	The sound may fall short of truly great, but it's very good, especially compared to other open earbuds.	4.5/5

Shokz OpenDots One: Should I buy?

Buy them if...

You want a lightweight earbud

Banish the thought of having to work out with a large earbud; the Shokz OpenDots One are nice and small, and I could barely feel that I was wearing them while out and about.

You need a small charging case

I loved how the Shokz' small charging case could easily fit in my running shorts' pocket or a small compartment of my bag, with most open-ears having much larger cases.

You wear glasses

Sports-hook earbuds are hard to wear for glasses users due to their hook needing to go where your glasses are. Clip-ons are a great alternative as there's no issue.

Don't buy them if...

You want in-depth equalization

If you’re the kind of person who likes to spend ages tweaking the sound of their headphones, the Shokz’ five-band equalizer might not offer you the versatility you’re looking for.

You're a cyclist

I tried using the buds quite a bit while cycling and, more so than sports-loop buds, their design caught on my helmet's strap. I could see the buds being knocked out by said strap, so perhaps cyclists should avoid.

Also consider

Component	Shokz OpenDots One	Bose Ultra Open Earbuds	Huawei FreeClip
Water resistant	IP54	IPX4	IP54
Battery life	10 hours (earbuds), 40 hours (total)	7.5 hours (earbuds), 27 hours (total)	8 hours (earbuds), 36 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	5.6g / Charging case: 52g	6g / Charging case: 43g	5.6g / Charging case: 44.5g
Driver	2x 11.8mm	12mm	10.8mm

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

These pricier clip-on options have some audio chops that the Shokz OpenDot One doesn’t. However the battery life is worse, the IP rating isn’t as high and, at least if you ask me, they don’t look as natural.

Read our full Bose Ultra Open review

Huawei FreeClip

Now a more affordable option: Huawei is a company I trust to make decent-sounding open earbuds due to past attempts, and the FreeClip use a slender-body bud to take up even less space on your ear. The battery life isn’t as good as the Shokz though.

How I tested

My testing period for the Shokz OpenDots One cover just over two weeks of use, which is our standard review period for headphones.

The buds were paired to an Android phone for the entirety of the testing. I used them at home at work and also on runs, at the gym and while cycling, and I also tried to use them while playing tennis like promotional images show but this felt incredibly rude to my fellow players.

I've been testing products for TechRadar since 2019 and this has included plenty of other workout headphones.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: August 2025

I tested these chic sub-$100 true wireless earbuds, but their lacklustre sound is too hard to ignore

12:30 pm | August 5, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: AAC, ANC, LDAC | Comments: Off

Final Audio ZE3000 SV: Two-minute review

The Final Audio ZE3000 SV arrive in a very competitive sector of the best budget earbud market equipped to compete. A combination of app and touch control, very decent battery life, some swanky new 10mm dynamic drivers (that word in conjunction with a port to keep pressure levels within the earbuds acceptable), and a light, comfortable design all bode very well.

Then you realize the app and the touch controls don’t really do as much as you’d like. And that Final Audio has deliberately tuned the active noise-cancellation to impact as little as possible on sound quality rather than to impact as much as possible on external sounds. As a result, you start to wonder if perhaps spending $99 on a pair of ZE3000 SV might not be as good an idea as spending it on, say, a pair of Sony’s excellent WF-C710N.

Fortunately, the Final Audio reassert themselves, to an extent, when it comes to audio performance. No, the ZE3000 SV aren’t the most exciting listen you’ve ever experienced, and for some people this lack of audio energy will be enough to rule them out of the best earbuds race, irrespective of budget. But they are balanced, detailed, fairly dynamic and very revealing of the minutiae of a recording. Their midrange reproduction, in particular, is naturalistic and convincing, while low-frequency presence is impressive too. Or, at least, it is provided you’ve made sure the earbuds fit just so.

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Price and release date

Final Audio ZE3000 SV ANC wireless earbuds on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Released on February 27, 2025
Priced $99 / £89 / AU$169

The Final Audio ZE3000 SV have been on sale since the very end of February this year, and in every territory in which they’re on sale, they’re aggressively priced. That’s not the same as saying they have a clear shot, of course – very similar money to this buys well-regarded alternatives from the likes of JBL, Nothing and Sony, to name just three…

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Specs

Type	True wireless in-ear
Drivers	10mm ‘F-Core SV’ dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds, ANC on), 28 hours (including charging case)
Weight	4g per bud
Frequency response	20Hz - 20kHz
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Waterproofing	IPX4
Control	Touch; app

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Features

10mm ‘F-Core’ SV dynamic drivers
Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC codec compatibility
28 hours of battery life (including charging case) with ANC on

The Final Audio ZE3000 SV use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and have multipoint connectivity if you need to connect them to two devices at once. They’re compatible with the LDAC codec as well as the bog-standard SBC and AAC alternatives, so an appropriate source player will be able to stream at half-decent quality.

Once audio information is on board, it’s delivered to your ears by a couple of newly developed 10mm ‘F-Core SV’ dynamic drivers. Final Audio is claiming a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz from this new design, and they work in conjunction with ‘F-Link’ port technology in an effort to optimize acoustic pressure within the body of the earbud.

Active noise-cancellation is a four-stage system: ‘off’, ‘on’, ‘wind-cut’ and ‘ambient sound’. With ANC on, you can expect around seven hours of action from the earbuds, and there are a further three full charges stored in the case. Ten minutes charging via the case’s USB-C slot should be good for around an hour's listening.

You can use the capacitive touch surface on the left earbud to toggle between ‘on’ and ‘ambient sound’. The left earbud also takes care of ‘skip backwards’ and ‘volume down’, while the right earbud is in charge of ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards’ and ‘volume up’.

The Final Connect control app is similarly brief – there are no playback controls here, and no ability to embed a streaming service. All you get, in fact, is the ability to check for firmware updates, an indication of remaining battery life, full ANC control, and access to a seven-band equaliser with storage space for one custom setting. You can also switch ‘gaming mode’ on or off. Final reckons latency is down below 60m/s when it’s engaged.

Features score: 4/5

Screenshots of the Final Audio ZE3000 SV in-ear headphones app — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Sound quality

Balanced, detailed and quite direct sound
Decent dynamism and good low-end presence…
Provided you’ve got the fit just right

Some earbuds at the more affordable end of the market like to make things as exciting as possible, a sort of sonic grabbing by the lapels that seems designed to make you ignore their shortcomings in favor of marveling at their vigor. The Final Audio ZE3000 SV are not those earbuds.

They have plenty going for them in terms of sound quality, of course. A listen to Ty Segall’s version of Hot Chocolate’s Every 1’s a Winner reveals them to be a nicely balanced and quite informative listen, able to extract and present even quite fine details buried in the mix. They control their low frequency presence well, so bass sounds hit respectably hard but don’t overstay their welcome or drag at the rhythm. The midrange is open and natural-sounding, so voices get to reveal a lot of their character as well as their tone. And the top of the frequency range is, again, open and detailed, and has just about enough substance to balance out its shine – there’s a reasonable amount of crispness to the way the earbuds attack treble sounds, even if they’re just slightly rolled off in absolute terms.

Frequency integration is smooth, and the tonal balance is quite neutral too. There’s a decent amount of dynamism on display too, both where the big shifts in volume and the more subtle harmonic variations are concerned. And the ZE3000 SV can lay out a soundstage in a clear and easy-to-understand manner, keeping plenty of elbow room between every competing element of a recording but at the same time delivering it as a whole.

Final Audio ZE3000 SV wireless earbuds place on an Apple iPhone 14 Pro — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

All the above depends very much on your achieving a correct fit with the earbuds, though. Every true wireless or wired in-ear monitors require a decent fit in order to sound its best, but the Final Audio ZE3000 SV are more fit-dependent than any other earbuds I’ve heard in a long time. It’s just as well the company provides so many pair of eartips – you're gonna need them.

Still, at least you can take active measures to ensure the ZE3000 SV sound as good as they can. What you can’t do is mitigate their fundamental sonic attitude, which is rather matter-of-fact and undemonstrative. It’s one thing to not be one of those ‘eyes out on stalks’, ‘excitement at all costs’ listens, but it’s quite another to go too far the other way. With a little more energy and animation to their presentation, the ZE3000 SV would be an even more competitive proposition.

Mind you, if their active noise-cancellation got anywhere close to ‘cancellation’ they’d be more attractive, still. Yes, it’s true that Final Audio’s decision to ensure its ANC algorithms don’t impact on sound quality means the ZE3000 SV sound exactly the same whether it’s switched on or off, but it’s so light-touch in its effectiveness that it almost seems worth some sonic disruption for ANC that does what it’s supposed to do.

Sound quality: 4/5

Final Audio ZE3000 SV in-ear headphones on a white surface — Note the stabilizer fins and separate tips (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Design

4g per earbud
‘Shibo’ textured finish
Five sizes of eartip included

What do you want from your true wireless in-ear headphones' design? If you’re anything like me, you want them to be small, light and comfortable, and ideally with a good range of eartip sizes to help with the fit. If that sounds familiar, you’ll be very pleased indeed with the design of the ZE3000 SV.

The little pebble-shaped earbuds themselves are a nicely ergonomic shape, and at 4g each are no kind of burden. A choice of five differently sized pairs of eartips helps to achieve a secure and comfortable fit, and the ‘Shibo’ finish that Final Audio has been so keen on lately not only makes them look mildly distinctive but also helps when taking them out (either of the charging case or of your ears).

The charging case itself is similarly compact, similarly light and, thanks to that aforementioned ‘Shibo’ finish, is less likely to show any marks or scuffs than is usual. A single tiny LED on its front face lets you know what the state of play is.

The standard of build and finish is very acceptable indeed. The ZE3000 SV may be necessarily lightweight, but that doesn’t translate to a feeling of flimsiness. The earbuds’ IPX4 rating lets you know that things have been properly screwed together.

Design score: 5/5

Final Audio ZE3000 SV wireless earbuds in their carry case — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: value

Good specification, build and finish
Lots to like in audio terms
Need greater sonic liveliness

‘Nice’ is not automatically faint praise, and the Final Audio ZE3000 SV are a nice product. They're well-made, properly finished, competitively specified, comfortable to wear, and quite pleasant to listen to in any number of ways. Judged against their obvious rivals from the likes of the Sony WF-C710N and Nothing Ear (3), the ZE3000 SV are an interesting option and represent, I suppose, the path less traveled.

Unless you’re easily overstimulated, though, the earbuds’ lack of sonic animation has to count as a negative when you're talking about outright value for money.

Value: 4/5

Bird's-eye view of the carry case for the Final Audio ZE3000 SV wireless earbuds — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should I buy the Final Audio ZE3000 SV?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Four ANC options, solid capacitive touch possibilities and good battery life, but limited app functionality	4/5
Sound quality	Balanced and detailed, natural-sounding midrange, but only if the fitting is spot-on	4/5
Design	Comfortable, with excellent standard of build and finish, lots of (necessary) eartips	5/5
Value	A solid product, nicely finished, but lacks sonic liveliness	4/5

Buy them if…

You like a long listening session
The Final Audio ZE3000 SV have the battery life and the comfort to keep you listening for hour after hour.

You have a decently specified source of music
LDAC codec compatibility means access to one of the better forms of Bluetooth streaming.

You value understatement
Between their compact dimensions and the ‘Shibo’ finish, the ZE3000 SV manage to look unusual and subtle at the same time.

Don’t buy them if…

You crave sonic stimulation
‘Grown up’ is a perfectly valid audio attitude, ‘slightly dull’ not so much.

You like full control
Both the touch controls and the app give partial, rather than complete, control over the ZE3000 SV.

Your ears are of peculiar dimensions
The Final Audio rely even more than most earbuds on the fit being exactly right if they’re to sound their best

Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Also consider

	Final Audio ZE3000 SV	JBL Live Beam 3	Nothing Ear (3)	Sony WF-C710N
Drivers	10mm ‘F-Core SV’ dynamic	10mm dynamic	11mm dynamic	5mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds, ANC on); 28 hours (charging case)	Up to 12 hours (buds), up to 48 hours total	5.2 hours (buds); 24 hours (case)	8.5hrs (ANC on) 12hrs (ANC off); plus 30 hours in the case
Weight	4g per bud	5g per bud	4.62g (buds); 51.9g (case)	5.2g (per bud)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)	Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, USB-C	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (SBC, AAC)
Waterproofing	IPX4	IP55	IP54	IPX4

JBL Live Beam 3
Solid audio quality and great battery life add to the appeal of the JBL's remote screen control, but the standard of ANC detracts from it more than somewhat.
Read more in our JBL Live Beam 3 review.

Nothing Ear
They score over the Final Audio where low-end heft and excitement are concerned, and they’re attractive lookers in a kind of ‘try hard’ way. Meager battery life is an obvious down-side, though.
Get the full picture in our Nothing Ear review.

Sony WF-C710N
Now routinely available for less than £100, these junior Sonys have the beating of the Final Audio where noise-cancellation and energy of sound are concerned. No LDAC, though, and they’re not as visually sophisticated as the ZE3000 SV, either.
Get the full picture in our Sony WF-C710N review.

How I tested the Final Audio ZE3000 SV

Connected to a FiiO M15S and Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Used indoors and outdoors
With a range of music and of file types

I made the Final Audio ZE3000 SV my default true wireless earbuds for well over a week during the course of this review.

When listening outdoors I almost always used my iPhone 14 Pro as a source (using the AAC codec) – it’s loaded with Presto, Spotify and Tidal apps, so there’s plenty of accessible music.

Indoors, I tended to link it to my FiiO M15S DAP using LDAC. The player has a lot of very hi-res music stored locally, so I was able to listen to everything from DSD128 and 24bit/192kHz FLAC down to 128kbps stuff.

First reviewed in August 2025.

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Learn more specifically about how we test earbuds at TechRadar

I tested Denon’s even cheaper AirPods Pro rivals and while the ANC is very effective, they fall short in a few key areas

1:30 pm | July 31, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: ANC | Comments: Off

Denon AH-C840NCW: Two-minute review

Sometimes when testing some of the best earbuds (and sets that don't make it into that group), it feels like products can easily be broken down into three categories: buds trying to rival AirPods, buds trying to rival the AirPods Pro, and buds which are clearly doing their own thing. The Denon AH-C840NCW can easily be filed into the middle category.

These are the siblings to the Denon AH-C500W, buds listed straight in the former category, but the set you're reading about here come with a key difference: these buds come with silicon ear tips, and noise cancellation to boot. That’s what gets them bumped from the first category to the second.

Denon is a high-end audio company based in Japan that has made a respectable name for itself with home audio, AV systems and speakers, and while it’s also no stranger to personal audio (like headphones and earbuds – see also the PerL Pro), this clearly also isn’t its bread-and-butter diet. Case in point: the AH-C840NCW are perfectly fine earbuds that certainly are a viable option given Apple’s expensive earbuds… but they don’t quite match all the other AirPods Pro alternatives on the market.

The Denon AH-C840NCW hark a lot closer to Apple’s options than most rivals, and that’s most obvious in the design department. There’s no denying that these are doppelgangers – Denongangers if you will – and there’s nothing wrong with that. Denon has aped the well-respected build and these lightweight buds are easy on the ear, even if the tips let the side down a bit.

In audio quality too, these buds are inoffensive. The audio mix is fairly neutral-sounding, skewing slightly towards bass but otherwise offering an easy-to-like (though hard to truly love) quality to songs.

So far, so AirPods Pro, and that isn’t necessarily a flaw – the buds undercut Apple’s premium buds by a meaty margin. But Denon isn’t the only company trying to offer prospective earbuds buyers a Pro option on a non-Pro budget, with so many alternatives at this price point that my word count forbids me from listing even a fraction of them.

It’s the feature set that lets the AH-C840NCW down. Despite some impressive active noise cancellation there’s an overall dearth of extra functionality, and a few stumbles within what’s actually there. This is the area that most often than not defines the best earbuds you can buy, and so I struggle to find a unique selling point for the Denon.

I generally enjoyed listening to the Denon AH-C840NCW during my testing, but that’s not the same as recommending them to buy with your own money. Their myriad rivals typically have a lot more to offer, so they’re only worth buying if you’re looking for buds that match the AirPods Pro exactly, instead of beating them in any way.

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Price and release date

The Denon AH-C840NCW against a wooden table. — (Image credit: Future)

Unveiled and released in April 2025
Costs £149 (roughly $200, AU$300)

The Denon AH-C840NCW were announced in released in April, alongside the AH-C500W which are similar but slightly cheaper and miss ANC.

You can buy the AH-C840NCW for £149 (around $200, AU$300) so they’re mid-ranged in price. I couldn’t find them on sale in Australia or the US, but Denon does offer earbuds in those countries (especially in the US, which saw the AH-C500W and AH-C830NCW) so a launch in those regions is possible.

Judging at least by the UK price, that’s about an 8% price hike on the last-gen model but a 50% higher price than the non-ANC siblings.

I have to point out that, writing three months after the buds’ release, it’s pretty easy to find them discounted. Not by a huge amount, but by 10%-15% depending on which color you want, which is still worth bearing in mind.

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Specs

Drivers	12mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life (ANC off)	10 hours (buds) 35 hours (case)
Weight	5.1g (buds) 54g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Features

Solid noise cancellation
7-hour battery life with ANC on
Relative lack of extra features

Unlike their siblings, the Denon AH-C840NCW offer ANC, which I think is what the ‘NC’ in the name refers to. I wasn’t expecting much – why would the company skip ANC on that other product if it had anything worthwhile up its sleeves – but was pleasantly surprised by what this model offered.

The AH-C840NCW’s noise cancellation is meaty, wiping out annoying background noises without a trace. The app also offers you a Transparency mode which seemed to work slightly differently from others: instead of scanning for important noises to filter in to your ears (such as voices and important, twig-snapping-in-the-woods treble sounds), I got the impression it was just a weaker ANC. I could be wrong about this, but things felt quieter in Denon’s Transparency mode than in equivalents I’ve tested.

Talking about the app, it’s simply called 'Headphones', but you can find it in the Play Store or App Store by searching Denon’s name. As well as changing ANC modes, it lets you customize the touch controls, monitor the buds’ connections (multi-point pairing allows for two concurrent pairs), turn on LE Audio, change the wear detect to only apply for one earbud and monitor battery levels.

Finally, there’s an equalizer, which is only a 5-band one and doesn’t offer presets. If you’re used to customizing your own earbuds' sound, you might find this one just a little restrictive.

Battery life hits 7 hours with ANC turned on or 10 hours with it off, figures which can go up to 24 or 35 respectively when you factor in the case. The battery life is ever so slightly above average and my own testing roughly matched Denon’s stats provided.

This might be one of the shortest ‘Features’ sections I’ve ever written in a review, because the Denon don’t offer much in the way of useful features beyond the basics. That’s a shame because it’s in the feature set that (headphone) boys become (headphone) men, and with rivals offering plenty of extra modes and functions, it affects the competitiveness of the AH-C840NCW.

Features score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Design

Small pebble carry case
AirPods Pro lookalikes
Sensitive touch controls

By referring to the Denon AH-C840NCW as ‘AirPods Pro lookalikes’, I’ve probably conjured certain images of stem-toting earbuds with silicon tips and slight tilts. This description doesn’t necessarily denote AirPods – the world of wireless earbuds is much more varied than that, with buds of different shapes and sizes – but in this case it’s totally right. You’ve seen the pictures, you knew where this sentence was going.

The buds weigh 5.1g so they’re nice and light, and as that description suggests, they’re made up fo a stem that says ‘Denon’, a round body and a tip which protrudes at a slight angle. You can buy the buds in black or white (which also applies to the case) but the design is identical.

Hidden somewhere is a touch control, which you can customize in the app to change volume, play or pause music, and so on. I say ‘somewhere’ because I never quite figured out where to tap to trigger it – usually tapping the top of the stem worked but occasionally I’d accidentally press it while readjusting the buds in my ear, when my fingers were nowhere near the top.

On that topic, I did have to readjust the buds quite frequently in my ear; never when sitting around at home, but when running with the buds (ill advised; these aren’t running earbuds), when walking with them, or when working out at the gym (sit ups is the ultimate fit test!). I even tested different tip sizes in the box (there are four, not counting the ones on the buds by default) and this didn’t help – I’m going to point the finger at the material used in the tip, for not offering enough friction.

If you’re not going on walks and constantly having to readjust the earbuds, they’re pleasant to wear, with the light build ensuring you never get earache from long periods of listening. The buds also have an IPX4 rating which protects them from splashes of water, but not a serious drenching.

Equally lightweight and portable is the AH-C840NCW’s case, which is nice and small at 58 x 21.3 x 25.4mm and light at 54g. Something bijou like this is easy to slip into trouser pockets without it bulging out, or hide it on your desk when you’re charging it up via its USB-C port.

Design score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Sound quality

Single 12mm driver
Ever-so-slightly warm audio profile
Max volume is too low

Denon has fit the AH-C840NCW with a 12mm driver. That’s the same piece of kit that its sibling saw but with the eartips ensuring surrounding sound doesn’t leak in, the buds sound a lot better.

The AH-C840NCW have a gently warm sound profile that emphasizes bass just a little, but it's so slight that it won’t put off people who prefer a more neutral sound. Bass is scooping and well-defined, but treble is also is also crystal-clear and sharp.

I’d have liked to see a more pronounced, expansive and layered soundstage, as the buds seemed to lose instruments and harmonies that weren’t prominent, but they’re fairly detailed where it counts in vocals, drums and keys.

The maximum volume isn’t too high though. It’s fine for everyday listening when you’re at home or in an office, but if I wanted to hear music well over traffic, or get some extra oomph for an energetic song on a run, I found myself continually pressing my phone’s volume up button – and it didn't really help.

Sound quality: 4/5

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Value

Decent value compared to AirPods...
...not so much compared to other rivals

Compared to the Apple AirPods Pro, I’m willing to say that the Denon AH-C840NCW offer decent value for money. They undercut the big name buds without cutting down on the quality too much.

However, when you consider some of the other options on the market at this price, you realize you could still be getting a lot more for your money. Rivals within a similar $/£/AU$ range offer hardier designs, wider feature sets or better audio quality, and usually a combination of all three.

Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Denon AH-C840NCW?

Denon AH-C840NCW score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Above-average ANC and slightly above-average battery life compensate for a basic feature set.	3.5/5
Design	They're light but not wholly reliable in the ear.	3.5/5
Sound quality	Music sounds detailed and a tad warm but it's still not perfect, and lacks energy.	4/5
Value	They don't pull in front of rivals enough to offer a genuine value proposition.	3.5/5

Buy them if…

You want AirPods-similar design
If you’ve seen the AirPods and want a similar-looking pair of earbuds, these certainly are options, as they’re some of the closest Doppelgangers we’ve seen so far.

You need decent noise cancellation
While it’s not the tippy-top bubble-of-silence performance I’ve ever heard, the active noise cancellation offered by the AH-C840NCW is robust, removing all but the most persistent background sounds.

You need a slender carry case
Some earbuds carry cases can sit in your pocket like a boulder. Denon wouldn’t be seen with anything like that, though, and the AH-C840NCW’s holder is lovely and slender.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You like customizing your audio
While the Denon does have a 5-band equalizer, that’s not much control over your music for audiophiles. There aren’t any presets, and no option for toggling higher-resolution audio should you want to stream it.

You rely on transparency mode
If you like toggling this and thus hearing what’s going on around you, I wouldn’t recommend the Denons. The transparency mode here sounded to me like weaker noise cancellation (yes, odd), and doesn’t let in much surrounding sound.

You’re sporty
Some eartip-toting buds are reliable for gym workouts, cycling or running. Not the Denon, as I found they’d slip out of my ears even on walks.View Deal

Denon AH-C840NCW review: Also consider

	Denon AH-C840NCW	OnePlus Buds 4	Skullcandy Method 360	Nothing Ear
Drivers	12mm	11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter	12mm	11mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	10 hours (buds) 35 hours (case)	11 hours (buds); 45 hours (case)	11 hours (earbuds), 29 hours (total)	5.2 hours (buds) 24 hours (case)
Weight	5.1g (buds) 54g (case)	4.73g (buds); 40g (case)	11g (buds) 77g (case)	4.62g (buds) 51.9g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4	IP55	IPX4	IP54

OnePlus Buds 4

A very recent competitor, the OnePlus Buds 4 have the best noise cancellation I’ve tested in earbuds at this price point. They sell at the same price as the Denon and offer a much more bass-heavy sound profile.

See our full OnePlus Buds 4 review

Skullcandy Method 360

Another bassy option is the Skullcandy Method 360. Ignore the ludicrous case size; these have solid in-ear design, a fun and funky sound profile and a long-lasting battery. Again, these go for roughly the same price as the Denon. Our review is incoming…

Nothing Ear

Finally – and yes, for the same price as the AH-C840NCW, although they’re a bit older and more prone to price cuts – we’ve got Nothing’s most recent top-end earbuds. These have a really impressive feature set and I loved the sound profile, but be warned for an awful battery life.

See our full Nothing Ear reviewView Deal

How I tested the Denon AH-C840NCW

Tested for two weeks
Tested at home, in the office, working out and on walks

My testing period for the AH-C840NCW earbuds was two weeks long, and it came straight after I wrote the Denon AH-C500W review, so I got to test the siblings back-to-back.

I paired the Denon with my Android smartphone for the whole testing period and tested apps like Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and certain games. Testing was done at home, around my neighborhood (on runs and on walks), on public transport, at my office and at the gym.

I've been reviewing audio products for TechRadar for years now, including products made by many of Denon's rivals and all three competitors mentioned above.

First reviewed in July 2025

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I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen thinking they couldn’t better the originals for ANC – but wow, was I wrong

4:55 pm | July 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: ANC, LDAC | Comments: Off

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen: Two-minute review

I've been wanting Bose to lighten up a bit for years where its earbuds are concerned and with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, the usually oh-so-serious audio heavyweight got the memo. Would you look at that 'Deep Plum' hue?

When setting up the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen (try saying that three times in quick succession after 5:30pm) you're prompted to rename them if you'd like – and someone on Bose's payroll clearly had a jolly old time coming up with cheeky suggestions such as "Cherry Wine", "Burgundy Buds" or "Sonic Sangria". You love to see it. (They're also available in black and white, naturally.)

But that's far from the end of the fun times where this particular Bose vintage is concerned. These buds are the most sonically exuberant listen I've heard to date in this type of form factor, a fact only enhanced by their rock-solid, near-impenetrable active noise cancellation (ANC), which you can usefully tweak on a slider when creating Bose's hugely successful 'Modes' (more on that later).

This time around, you also get wireless charging from the box and multi-point connectivity that works seamlessly, something the original Ultras bizarrely lacked on their release. Some of the best earbuds on the market then? Oh absolutely.

But not everyone will be wholly happy with the update. If you were expecting a complete design overhaul from the inaugural late-2023 Ultras (which were not too dissimilar in design to the September 2022-issue QuietComfort Earbuds 2), you're still not getting that.

My colleague in Australia, Sharmishta Sarkar has been waiting for a rework there for some time now – and to be clear, she means an alternative to wedging the buds in with stability bands because these silicone accessories eventually wear out (even though a total of three, in different sizes and separate from the interchangeable tips, has been provided in the box). Anyone who wanted Bose to take its smaller QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 design and Ultra-fy it for 2025 (are you out there?) will also be disappointed.

I am not disappointed. The ovoid nozzle actually slips happily into my bijou ear canal and serves up exciting, expansive audio that nixes more low-level constant noise than anything else I've tested on the market. And with the (admittedly incremental, but still welcome) upgrades Bose has given me in the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen, I'll be thoroughly recommending them to anyone who'll let me for some time.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Price and release date

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) in purple color, next to some flowers of a similar shade but held in a hand — (Image credit: Future)

Released on June 12, 2025
Priced $299 / £299 / AU$450
Available in black, off-white and 'deep plum' (pictured)

Key things to note here: they're newe,r and while they're not cheaper, they're also not more expensive than what's gone before them. Bose has generously carried over the original Ultra Earbuds' 2023 launch price (which was the same as the prices listed above) to 2025 and ignored inflation, although you can now find the older set for nearer $220 / £199 / AU$399.

Why mention this? Because if the deep plum limited colorway and wireless charging as standard don't matter to you, you might think the smart money goes on the older set. I actually disagree, as you'll see, but there's definitely a case to be made for it…

In terms of direct competition, your rivals at the level are of course AirPods Pro 2 which can be yours for around $50 / £70 less than the Bose (though often drop to being much cheaper), the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (which are pricier, at $399 / £349 / AU$599), or the Technics EAH-AZ100 which are virtually the same price as the Bose depending on where you live, at $299 / £259 / AU$478.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Specs

Drivers	9.3mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes, plus Immersive audio and 'Modes'
Battery life	6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total)
Weight	7.7g per bud
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Features

Up to 24 hours of battery (up to 6 from the buds)
Excellent and useful Modes options
Option to switch off on-ear controls

Via a few clicks within the Bose companion app, Bose has added (drumroll)… the ability to switch off on-ear controls with this iteration. Why you'd want to switch off the capacity to scroll through your listening modes (you can customize the long-press function too, if you'd rather use it to switch source devices manually, access your voice assistant or deploy a hotline to Spotify), stroke the stem to alter volume or tap to pause and play your tracks is strange to me – but if you want to, you can now. And you couldn't before.

Now: Modes. It's not new, but I was a huge fan of the feature in the original Ultra Earbuds and I still love it now. What are these Modes? Essentially, you can combine however much of Bose's excellent ANC or ambient passthrough you want on a slider – although take note, the solo slider starts at full transparency or awareness and goes through to maximum ANC – along with Immersive Audio.

You can pick whether you want Immersive Audio on or off, 'Still' (so you can move your head around your source device and feel the different sounds being piped into each ear accordingly) or in 'Motion' (which means that whichever way you turn your head, the three-dimensional immersive soundstage will not change).

There are three presets from the box: Quiet (max ANC, Immersive Audio off); Aware (max Ambient passthrough, Immersive Audio off); and Immersion (max ANC, Immersive Audio set to 'Motion'). I created a fourth preset: Work. Here, I set ANC to 75% and select 'Still' under Immersive Audio. This way, all but the most important noises are gone at my desk, and said desk is my fixed audio source – so I'm less tempted to leave it!

The thing is, if these profiles didn't do exactly what they promised to do, you'd say they were surplus to requirements. But because they genuinely enhance the listening experience better than any similar solutions currently offered by rivals (for me, it's better than JBL Spatial Sound, for example), they're emphatically worth using and celebrating.

On the ANC, Bose says there are new AI algorithms included this time, for better filtering of sudden noise spikes via its ActiveSense system. What I can tell you is that I've never heard more effective ANC in a set of noise-cancelling earbuds. Better than the outgoing model? Yes. I even missed my own doorbell while testing (which meant an extra journey to collect my next review product) – and my music was not loud.

Image 1 of 4

The QCUE and QCUE 2 next to each other, outside on a sunny day, showing their similarities — Not to hammer the point home, but from a design perspective, there's a new wax guard and… not much else, to differentiate the original QCUE (left) from the QCUE 2 (right) (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 4

Image 3 of 4

Image 4 of 4

It's not all great news: your Bluetooth version is still 5.3 (when 6.0 now exists) and although you get Snapdragon Sound again, which means aptX Adaptive is on the menu as well as aptX Lossless, you've still got to be using an Android non-Samsung device with a compatible Qualcomm chip (see our aptX explainer for more on that tricky business).

None of that is Bose's fault, of course, but it is a roundabout way of saying that LDAC would've been a great addition this time around – especially when cheaper options such as the Nothing Ear (a) proudly offer it.

Also, the three-tab EQ graph is relatively basic compared to some flagship options and there are no listening tests to augment certain frequencies to create your own 'Personi-Fi' type profile – which is a feature of the JBL Live Beam 3, for example.

However, that doesn't mean there's no sonic tailoring whatsoever in the QCUE 2 – just that you might not be aware of it. CustomTune is a feature that actually made its debut in the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but it's worth noting nonetheless, because I think it's a big part of what makes the sound and ANC so effective.

Basically, that thwomph sound in each ear when you put them on? It's not performative. What's happening is that this test sound travels through your ear's unique canals, bounces back to the buds nestled within them and is picked up by the microphones.

Then, Bose's CustomTune tech gets to work, potentially amplifying some frequencies while pulling back a touch others, depending on the architecture of your auricles. It's just that you don't take an active part in this test, in the way you do with lengthier tests offered by the Nothing Ear, for example.

Battery life? It's fine, but not exceptional. In my tests, I managed to get the promised six hours from them with my 'Work' mode deployed, but not a minute more – and that's largely because I found (unlike many rivals) they're able to play relatively loud and I was able to listen at just under 45% volume at my desk.

Features score: 4.5/5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Sound quality

Loud, zealous, crisp and expansive audio
Excellent across the whole frequency range
Immersive Audio is beautifully handled

Let's take the excellent ANC performance as read (scroll back if you missed that). Sonically, the QCUE 2nd Gen are also a rare treat across the frequencies, with a layered and expansive soundstage that allows bass registers ample space to rumble and clack, midrange vocals and instruments to sound textured and fully realized, and treble trills to soar unaffected above it all.

If you love a considered hip-hop album (and I really do) you'll find much to celebrate here. I cue up OutKast's Stankonia and through the Bose buds Gasoline Dreams is an emotive romp filled with guitar kerrangs, drum fills and sonic articles lesser earbuds cannot unearth. Big Boi sounds extra indignant; Andre 3000's playful Georgian twang is just that bit more noticeable.

Switching to Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon (thank you, Ozzy), the complex layers of laughter, driving guitars and bass are faithfully captured and held dutifully in a cohesive but energetic mix – and when that guitar glances from left to right through the soundstages, it whooshes past each ear like a Tokyo bullet train.

For detail, they're also very good, and while there will always be that old argument about integrated, neutral hi-fi sound versus fun and excitement, for me, Bose has absolutely aced the sonic treatment here.

For detail and neutrality, you'll get just a little more from the aforementioned Technics EAH-AZ100, but for bass impact and zeal, the Bose buds take it. And there's so little in it this time around, I cannot dock any stars.

Sound quality: 5/5

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Design

Excellent mics for call-handling
On-ear touch controls work very well
Winning 'deep plum' finish

As mentioned (and pictured), the earbuds and case are extremely similar to the older model in terms of size, shape and driver array. What I didn't mention before is that there is a small difference to the build, and it's the addition of something Bose calls an embedded ear wax guard, to prevent any of the stuff produced naturally by our ears (let's not be weird; a healthy body creates ear wax) finding its way beyond the casework and into the driver housings.

I cannot say I had this issue with the older set, but having seen a few Reddit threads that mention it, it's a sensible addition from Bose.

Bose also promises improved voice pickup from the four mics per bud and thus improved call quality this time around, and I think the company has made good on that claim. It was a sore point in the older set, and this time callers felt I sounded much clearer and more present.

You can also tweak how much of your own voice you'd like to hear in the app (something rival Technics calls 'Sidetone') and it is beneficial if you prefer to hear a little more of your dulcet tones in calls, to avoid shouting at your recipient.

In the Bose app, there's a fit test to work out whether you've got the correct tips and fins fitted, and although it's quick and relatively rudimentary (I passed first time with the pre-fitted options, no issue) I did find the buds secure and comfortable during my testing.

Basically, if you've liked the fit of Bose's flagship earbuds to date, it's more of the same here. OK, in today's money the charging case could be considered a touch on the large side. For me it's no biggie, since its flat underside means it sits happily in my hand and in my bag without issue.

Design score: 5/5

Three screengrabs from the Bose app, using the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen — (Image credit: Bose)

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: value

Simply the best ANC earbuds on the market
…but not the cheapest

Value is an odd thing to quantify here, since it really is horses for courses. I keep coming back to this: there will be those out there who simply want the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, that also do great things with their music. This is that pair of earbuds.

No, they're possibly not the absolute best earbuds for small ears (although to clarify: I had no issue with fallouts and I have bijou ears, but they do protrude more than rivals) nor do they ask you various questions about what you're hearing and when you stop hearing certain frequencies to create sound profiles.

If you want to take an active part in augmentation, you'll be better served by AirPods Pro 2 or Nothing Ear. That said, not everyone wants this – and for me, the overall sound quality here is so good I wouldn't touch it anyway.

Value: 5/5

Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Excellent ANC and now, wireless charging. Every perk is class-leading	4.5/5
Sound quality	Immersive audio is wildly fun and engaging but even with all profiles off, the sound is zealous and powerful	5/5
Design	A case of 'it wasn't broken, so we didn't fix it' but the added wax guard is a nice touch	4.5/5
Value	Simply the best earbuds for ANC on the market – and that's worth paying for	5/5

Buy them if…

You need class-leading ANC in earbuds
I've never heard bubble-of-silence noise cancellation in earbuds quite like it – no, not even in the older set.

You like immersive, head-tracked audio
With Bose's earbuds, you get to choose whether you want your own personal surround-sound performance fixed or moving, and in conjunction with whatever level of ANC you want.

You like vivacious, dynamic, pro-active audio
Want your grime tracks with a thumping bassline? Bose can give it to you and then some. If I had to use just one word to describe the audio performance here, I'd go with 'powerful'.

Don’t buy them if…

You've already got the Ultras
If wireless charging doesn't matter to you, you're not fully sold on the new color, the incremental upgrade in the inaugural set's very good ANC isn't a deal-breaker and, er, wax buildup has never been an issue for you, you might give this update a miss.

You prioritise stamina
The battery life here isn't terrible exactly, but compared to certain rivals, it can certainly be bettered – the Technics EAH-AZ100 lasted a lot longer on a single charge, for example.

You want LDAC
No dice here, friend. If you need Sony's higher-resolution Bluetooth audio codec, look to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Also consider

	Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)	Technics EAH-AZ100	Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Drivers	10mm	10mm free-edge dynamic	10mm Neodymium dynamic
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	6 hours (earbuds, ANC off; 4 hours with it on) case not specified	12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 17 hours (charging case)	11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case
Weight	7.7g per bud	5.9g per bud	4.7g per earbud
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless / Adaptive	Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and LC3 compatibility	5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless
Waterproofing	IPX4 earbuds only	IPX4 earbuds only	IPX5 earbuds only

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Cambridge Audio also offers an excellent listen in its latest earbuds with good ANC. No immersive audio profiles (Cambridge doesn't believe in tinkering with recorded music in that way) but if it's an integrated hi-fi listen you seek, add them to your list – and they'll last longer than the Bose option. Read more in our Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review.

Technics EAH-AZ100
Another option with better stamina that also offers excellent sound quality and decent noise cancellation. Here, you even get multi-point to three devices (rather than the standard two) though, and the classy finish makes them nothing short of a joy to own. Get the full picture in our Technics EAH-AZ100 review.

How I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen

Tested for two weeks
Tested at home, walking along a crowded beach and on a packed train

I used the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen for two weeks when writing this review, and my testing involved listening to music, podcasts and watching streamed movies from various devices – including Android and Apple sources.

I listened at home when working and taking calls, during several beach-combing walks and on a busy commuter train – and let me tell you, with these as my musical companion, it was no hardship.

I've been testing audio products full-time since 2019, firstly over at our sister publication What Hi-Fi? as a staff writer (locked in our hi-fi testing facility for two years, I was), then as senior writer at TechRadar and, since early 2024, audio editor. My background as a professional dancer is what drives me to search for faithful timing, precision, clarity and good old fashioned fun in recorded music.

First reviewed in July 2025.

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I just tested the first cheap AirPods rival that I didn’t prefer to Apple’s earbuds

7:00 pm | July 22, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Denon AH-C500W: Two-minute review

It’s something of a cliche among tech writers and audio fans to refer to any stem earbuds as a ‘cheap AirPods alternative’, before heaping upon it praise for being just as passable a pair of headphones as Apple’s are, or superior in some arbitrary way. I was almost ready to trot out that same, somewhat tired comparison with the new Denon AH-C500W to be perfectly honest. That was until I realised it was actually incorrect.

Not the part about them being AirPods rivals – you’ve seen the picture at the top of this review, even AirPods’ mom wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between her child and the Denon. And not about them being cheaper either; the AH-C500W do undercut Apple’s options.

No, I’m talking about the new Denon earbuds being superior. The Denon don’t have any unique selling point to beat the AirPods, no untouchable audio quality to keep them competitive, and a price that isn’t actually that cheap, in the grand scheme of things. If you’ve got an Android phone and so can’t use AirPods to anywhere near their full potential, here’s Denon, but if not they’re harder to recommend – and that's coming from me, an AirPods naysayer.

If you’ve not heard of Denon (not to be confused with Danone of yogurt fame), it's a celebrated Japanese audio company mainly focused on larger speakers, soundbars and AV set-ups, but also selling choice premium headphones and earbuds too. In this gilded array the AH-C500W are the odd duck, coming at a much more affordable price point than basically everything else on Denon’s website.

A blast from the past, the C500W use an open-fit ear design. No, not the fully open earbuds that’ve been launching left, right and center throughout 2025, but like AirPods: they sit in your ear but without any tip to wedge it in there. Instead, you cross your fingers and pray to whomever you believe in that they don’t fall out. In my testing the Denon never actually did, but they’d often move around in my outer ear slightly, which would affect music quality – and when I tried to fix it, the oversensitive touch controls would think I’d pressed ‘pause’ and stop my music. Not very handy.

Audio quality is actually fair, at least when you’re at home, but step outdoors into the noisy world and the lack of any kind of noise cancellation will have an audible effect on your listening. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) isn’t mandatory in earbuds, but open designs block virtually no noise, and I found myself wishing for ear tips to offer some relief from background noise.

Something else missing from the Denon AH-C500W is an app… that does anything truly meaningful. That is to say there is an app, but its only functions are to turn off touch controls or adjust your listening using the most barebones EQ I’ve ever seen.

If there’s anything resoundingly positive to be said for the Denon, it’s the design. AirPods comparisons aside these are sleek-looking, lightweight when in your ear and easy to tote around thanks to the tiny carry case. The latter in particular was a source of joy when going out with the earbuds – sometimes I test buds with huge containers that are a pain to put in my pocket, but not the Denons.

Denon AH-C500W review: Price and release date

The Denon AH-C500W buds next to the case. — (Image credit: Future)

Unveiled and released in April 2025
Costs $99 / £99 (roughly AU$209)
Already available cheaper

The Denon AH-C500W earbuds were announced in April 2025 and went on sale shortly afterwards. They were joined in this release by the AH-C840NCW, a slightly more expensive alternative which comes with ear tips and noise cancellation.

When announced, the buds were given the price of $99 / £99 (roughly AU$209) but three months later at the time of writing this review, the UK price is already down by £10 on Denon’s official website (and not via a sale, but as the default price) so you can pick them up for below RRP very easily.

I’ll save you clicking over to its review; the also-devoid-of-ANC Apple AirPods 4 cost $129 / £129 / AU$219 so they’re only slightly more expensive. That’s not the only competitor at this price point though and the splendid Nothing Ear (a), the Skullcandy Method 360 and Sony WF-C710N all match the Denon (in at least one country each, although in some others they're a hair pricier).

While the Denon AH-C500W are cheaper than the AirPods 4, it wouldn’t be right to refer to them as ‘cheap’ earbuds, and they’d need to cost at least 30% less to be considered budget alternatives.

Denon AH-C500W review: Specs

Drivers	12mm
Active noise cancellation	No
Battery life (ANC off)	7 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)
Weight	4.5g (buds) 50g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4

Denon AH-C500W review: Features

The Denon AH-C500W's bud next to the case with the other bud inside. — (Image credit: Future)

7-hour battery life, 25 with case
No noise cancellation of any kind
App has few features

Pick up the Denon AH-C500W if you think the AirPods 4’s 5-hour battery life is awful – the Denon doesn’t do an awful lot better, but at least it’s not so noticeably below the class-leaders.

According to Denon’s stats – which I’d back, from my experience – the earbuds will last for 7 hours on a full battery. That’s roughly in line with industry standards, but remember that anything that’s average is worse than literally half of all other options. The charging case brings the full figure up to 24 hours which isn’t amazing either, and actually falls short of Apple, possibly because Denon opted to add wireless charging support instead of a bigger battery.

In the ‘Features’ section of our reviews, we generally talk about earbuds’ noise cancellation. The C500W doesn’t have any, something I bring up just in case anyone skipped the introduction to this review (no judgement, I sometimes do the same thing). If you use these, expect to hear what’s going on around you.

For the vast majority of my testing time, I used the Denon without a tie-in app, finding that searching ‘Denon’ in the Play Store brought up an AVR remote, and the buds work just fine without an app. Towards the end of the review period I realised that had I simply scrolled down I would have discovered that there actually is an app, called Denon Headphones, which I missed below myriad other apps from the company.

The Denon AH-C500W next to a phone with an equalizer open. — (Image credit: Future)

Downloading the app didn’t actually make much of a difference to my user experience though, and that’s because it doesn’t really add too many perks and features.

Nowhere is that exemplified more than in the equalizer, a feature which many would argue is all but necessary in earbuds these days. It’s the most barebones music customizer I’ve seen, offering a 5-band EQ and no presents, and I needed to slide each band to its extreme to hear even a noticeable difference.

Beyond that you’ve got a way to turn off and on touch controls, and to change some of the triggers (but not all of them), monitor which devices are connected to the buds and turn on LE Audio. Regarding the middle point, the buds offer Multi-point connection so you can use the Denon alongside two phones, tablets or computers at once, which is useful and becoming an industry standard now. Also, they're Auracast ready, another (hopefully) soon-to-be industry standard perk.

The AH-C500W do have one feature I really liked though. There’s wearer detection which you can customize by bud, so you can set up music to pause if you remove, say, the left earbud but not the right one, or only if you remove both buds. As someone who likes the idea of auto-pausing music but finds it annoying that songs stop if I remove one bud just to readjust it or as a polite gesture, this was a wonderful fix.

Features score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Design

The Denon AH-C500W's closed case. — (Image credit: Future)

Light, compact case and buds
Unreliable fit due to lack of tip
Black or white color options

I loved how small the Denon AH-C500W case is, definitely one of the teeniest carry cases I’ve seen in the wireless earbuds realm. It measures 58 x 48 x 28mm, and weighs 50g.

In a rare diversion from the AirPods playbook it’s a short and wide pebble-style case that opens to reveal the whole bud, not just the top, and I find this kind of design makes it easier to remove the bud. The only feature of note is a USB-C charging port on the back.

You can pick up the Denon in either white or black, and both the buds and case come in your chosen hue.

The earbuds weigh 4.5g and they’re dead ringers for AirPods, from their open design which means they hang (relatively) loose in your ear, to the stem which dangles down from your ear, and even down to the fact that the bud is angled slightly along your cheek.

The Denon AH-C500W buds inside a glass. — (Image credit: Future)

Copying is largely accepted in the tech world, but I wish Denon had copied from another design playbook than the AirPods’, because the AH-C500W carries over all of the design's shortcomings. With that comment I’m largely looking at the open design, which means the body of the bud is wedged in your ear without a silicon tip or sports loop to keep it in place. A replaceable ear tip can offer some insulation from outside sound and keep an earbud from jostling around in your ear. The lack of it also means that the Denon is susceptible to sound leakage (both from outside to the listener, and from the buds to people nearby) and doesn’t sit particularly still in your ear.

The latter point isn’t horrible, and I’ve tested earbuds (even tip-bearing ones) that are worse, but almost every time I took the C500W for a walk I’d find myself fiddling with them to ensure they were sitting in my ear right – and after 10 minutes of walking they’d have shifted, and I’d have to repeat this process all over again.

The Denon have a touch control that you can press several times or hold for different controls, and the lack of a visual or touch indicator as to where this haptic button is means that you have to get used to the design yourself. And do you remember me saying I had to constantly fiddle with the earbuds in the last paragraph? Yeah – good luck doing so without accidentally pressing the enigmatic ‘pause’ button.

The buds have an IPX4 resistance to water, which makes them sweat-proof but not ready to survive jets of water.

Design score: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Sound quality

Sole 12mm driver
Detailed sound, if you can even hear it
Lots of distortion in certain genres

The Denon AH-C500W in a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

The Denon pack 12mm drivers and 2 microphones each. A more intriguing feature present is called Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology or Masimo AAT, which Denon previously used in some other of its wireless earbuds. This is mentioned only on Denon’s website right at the bottom, and not in its app or marketing materials, so it’s hard to know what it actually does. Masimo’s own website suggests that it’s a listening test to create a personal listening profile, but no such feature is present in the app.

The audio quality of the AH-C500W is mixed, but that’s a mix of highs and lows. There’s a lot of quality and detail in music – you can hear the timbre and individual strings of a guitar strum, the bowing of a violin – but then there’s also quite a bit of peaking on instruments like hi-hats, acoustic guitars and percussions.

Your mileage with the buds will vary dramatically based on what kind of music you listen to. Certain genres will feed you a cacophony of hisses and hums, with instruments that the Denon distorts too easily, but when listening to other genres I could go for multiple songs without hearing an issue, and while enjoying top-quality music.

The sound profile of the buds is largely neutral, though there’s a more emphatic and pronounced bass than I was expecting given the form factor. That form factor is, at the end of the day, the biggest issue with the AH-C500W’s music quality. However songs sound in a vacuum (or at home), they sound a lot worse when outside noise is leaking in, or when your buds are constantly slipping in your ear to change position.

Sound quality: 3.5/5

Denon AH-C500W review: Value

The Denon AH-C500W buds in the case, which is open. — (Image credit: Future)

Not amazing value by default
Wait for sales to pick up

When I first saw the Denon AH-C500W – and indeed, for the fortnight of testing before I started writing this review – I thought the buds cost about half as much as they actually do.

That’s because I made an assumption based on the feature set, sound quality and design, comparing it to similar traits in other buds on the market, and I presumed that these would cost about £50 / $70 / AU$100. The fact that they actually cost a lot more probably tells you all you need to about their value as a proposition in a hugely congested market.

If you can find them discounted further, the AH-C500W might be worth buying – you don’t have to wait for them to get as low as my presumed price – but at the original retail price, my verdict is that they don’t offer great value for money.

Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Denon AH-C500W?

The Denon AH-C500W buds in a hand. — (Image credit: Future)

Denon AH-C500W score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Passable battery life but not many other features to talk about.	3/5
Design	The buds are lovely and lightweight, though they're just not secure in your ear.	3.5/5
Sound quality	Sound is textured and detailed but it peaks often, and that's only when you can hear it in the first place.	3.5/5
Value	You're not getting amazing bang for your buck when you consider other budget options.	3/5

Buy them if…

You have an Android phone
Apple users can buy AirPods which are better for you, but Android owners need alternatives like the Denon.

You only listen in one spot
Bobbing up and down while you walk risks dislodging the Denons, but if you're only ever going to listen while seated at your desk, you'll appreciate the music quality.

You want a slender carry case
I've seen some monster charging cases in my time, ones that'll weigh your trouser pockets like rocks. Not here though.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You're not sold on the open design
I found the lack of ear tips infuriating, both for allowing in sound and for letting the buds wobble and move so much..

You need noise cancellation
Very few earbuds nowadays outside of true budget options lack active noise cancellation – just AirPods 4 (and even they have an ANC version nowadays).

Denon AH-C500W review: Also consider

	Denon AH-C500W	Nothing Ear (a)	Sony WF-C710N	Denon AH-C840NCW
Drivers	12mm	11mm	5mm	12mm
Active noise cancellation	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	7 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)	5.5 hours (buds); 24.5 hours (case)	12 hours (buds) 30 hours total (with case)	10 hours (buds) 35 hours (case)
Weight	4.5g (buds) 50g (case)	4.8g (buds); 40g (case)	5.2g (buds); 38g (case)	5.1g (buds) 54g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IPX4	IP54	IPX4	IPX4

Nothing Ear (a)
Released at the same price as the Denons, these buds may have a worse battery life but they have a solid feature set, energetic sound and reliable design. There's a reason we gave them a five-star review.

See our full Nothing Ear (a) review

Denon AH-C840NCW
The AH-C500W's contemporary may cost a little more, but it fixes all of the problems of the cheaper buds. The battery life is better, there's noise cancellation and the buds have tips to stick into your ear well. Our review is incoming – watch this space!

How I tested the Denon AH-C500W

Tested for at least three weeks
Tested at home, in the office and on walks

I used the Denon AH-C500W for at least three weeks before writing this review, and possibly for a month (I didn't keep track religiously). I tested them alongside their contemporary siblings, the AH-C840NCW.

The buds were paired with my Android smartphone for testing and I used them on apps like Spotify, YouTube, Netflix and certain games during the testing period. Spotify was the main one though. Testing was done at home, around my neighborhood and at the gym.

I've been reviewing audio products for TechRadar for years now, including products made by many of Denon's rivals.

First reviewed in July 2025

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

My favorite outdoor open earbuds finally have a successor – and I still can’t tell if I like them or not

2:30 pm | July 15, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

OneOdio OpenRock S2: Two minute review

I’ve tested so many of the best open earbuds recently that they’ve almost started to blur into one, but I’ve never forgotten two of the first open-ears I tested for how unique they were. One of these was the OneOdio OpenRock S – and it has finally seen a successor in the OneOdio OpenRock S2. But the thing is, it’s quite a different proposition.

The OpenRock Pro and OpenRock S were pretty big and bulky open-ears compared to what we’re seeing in 2025 but they were perfect for outdoor adventures or running thanks to their absolutely huge battery life, rugged design and solid, robust, inflexible design.

For better or worse the OpenRock S2 aren’t like the first-gen model but keep closer to current market trends in terms of design and feature set. I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but these new buds could be more appealing to a wider audience so I can understand the change.

These are slightly more affordable alternatives to most of the other major open earbuds we’ve seen this year, the majority of which sit just north of the $100 / £100 / AU$200 price line. I’d recommend them to people who want decent open-ears but don’t need the very best audio, fully-rounded feature set or long-lasting batteries.

The S2 are lightweight buds with a more flexible design and much smaller carry case, so won’t take up so much space in your bag or on your head than the last-gen model. I did find that this design presented a few issues with fit though, as the buds would sometimes move position on my head or get stuck on my ear’s antitragus, and I found myself missing the older buds’ design.

Another downgrade is a battery life in that it's roughly half that of the predecessors, but other areas compensate: OpenRock finally has a phone app for its earbuds, which wasn’t the case upon the release of the previous-gen buds.

The sound profile is warm with a clear focus on bass, with tech from the company emphasizing bass not to give it extra oomph, but to ensure you can even hear it in this form factor (which often loses it). They’re good options if you’re looking for something to work out with.

If you were put off by the original OpenRock’s rugged, chunky look and huge carry case, thinking it a bit too much of a fringe option for you, you’ll definitely think the S2 an interesting new pair of earbuds. But if those traits were the entire selling point of the originals for you (as they were for me), the S2 just don’t have that uniqueness.

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	IPX5
Battery life	8 hours (earbuds), 32 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 6.0
Weight	7g / Charging case: 58g
Driver	12mm

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Price and availability

The OpenRock S2 on the edge of a camp chair. — (Image credit: Future)

Released in June 2025
Costs $98.99 / £79.99 / AU$154

The OneOdio OpenRock S2 went on sale in June 2025, officially marking the second generation of OpenRock’s sports-specific open-ear headphones.

You can pick up the buds for $98.99 / £79.99 / AU$154 , so they’re cheaper than their predecessors, which released in October 2023 for $99 / £89 (roughly AU$150) although price cuts have seen the OpenRock S go for half that.

That also puts the OpenRock S2 as some of the most affordable open earbuds to come out this year, a good option for cost-cutters. You can find some competitors below, but let me speak plain: the options worth buying are all about $130 / £100 / AU$200.

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Design

The OpenRock S2 in a man's hands — (Image credit: Future)

Small and lightweight case
Lightweight buds, slightly wobbly design
Hard-to-press physical buttons

Having tested previous OpenRocks, I was expecting a similarly huge carry case (relatively – earbuds cases can be like boxes of dental floss now) for the S2, but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a much smaller pebble-shaped holder which weighs just 58g and easily fits in a hand.

While it’s made from a fairly brittle plastic that doesn’t feel like it’d survive much of a battering (I didn't try any drop tests), the speckled pattern on it makes it more distinctive-looking than the vast number of its rivals I've used.

The earbuds themselves are also smaller and more svelte than previous offerings from the company. They weigh just 7g each and are made up of a small bud, a thin rubbery sports loop and a larger counterweight/battery pack that sits behind your ear.

As stated, I’ve tested loads of open-ears and these have got to be some of the most comfortable, thanks to how small and lightweight they are. Often I’d completely forget I was even wearing them.

Despite being comfortable, the fit isn’t reliable, likely due to just how thin, flexible and wobbly the sports loop is. When running, working out or sometimes even walking, the driver housing near my ear would wobble or change position a little, which can have a big knock-on effect on audio quality.

Another thing to criticize on the design front is the touch controls. On-ear controls, be they touch capacitive sensors or physical clicking buttons, are a hard thing for companies to get right, but the S2 is possibly the worst example yet on an open earbuds design.

The button is on the bottom of the counterweight, so if you want to pause your music, you have to press upwards — which shoves the thing straight out of your ear. Now that’ll stop your music! The solution is to hold the bud in place with your other fingers or hand to keep it in place, but this is a much more convoluted process than, say, picking up your phone and pressing ‘pause’.

Design score: 3.5/5

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Features

8-hour battery, 32 hours from case
New app with extra features
Reliable connection via Bluetooth 6.0

OpenRock has seriously cut the S2’s battery life from its predecessor, which is a big shame. You’re now looking at a lasting power of 8 hours per bud, or 32 hours when you factor in the case, which is about average for open-ears but far short of the 19/60-hour life of the OpenRock S. It’s a shame to see a downgrade like this from one of the S’ best selling points.

As with most open earbuds, there’s no noise cancellation here; in fact, the form factor makes it easy to hear surrounding sounds. In truth, the buds’ relatively low max volume means that often, you might not even hear your music over the surrounding din in built-up cities, say.

The OpenRock S2 work alongside the OpenRock phone app which brings a few extra features. The most important one of these is the equalizer, which has three presets (Rock Mode, Relax Mode and Boom Mode, a graphic of the equalizer curve being the only way you’ll know what any of them do) and a seven-band custom mode.

This was a little infuriating to use as every time you change profile, music quickly flickers off and back on, so repeatedly tweaking the sound creates a strobe-like effect.

The app offers a few premium features like Spatial Sound, a way to adjust the left-right balance of music, a Hi-Res Mode and Multi-Point Connection. Some expected features appear like the ability to customize touch controls and there are two rarer ones: the ability to set an alarm to let you know you’ve been listening for a set amount of time, and a maximum volume limiter (ironic, given what I said about the volume).

Throughout testing, I found the OpenRock S2 quick and easy to connect to my phone, and reliable at maintaining a connection.

Features score: 4/5

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Sound performance

The OpenRock S2 on a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

14.2mm driver
Bass tech returns for warm sound profile
Low max volume, can be hard to hear

Each bud of the OpenRock S2 has a 12mm driver. It supports LDAC, AAC and SBC codecs, the former once you enable it via the app. The buds sound decent for their cost, though they’re not the best open-ears for audiophiles.

A selling point of OpenRock’s first-gen open-ears is back here: TubeBass, which boosts low-end sounds to fix a common complaint of the form factor, that thumping rhythms can be lost in the gap between earbud and ear canal.

TubeBass works well in ensuring the S2 is one of the better open-ears for bass fans, ensuring that you hear the bump of a bass guitar, synth or double bass in your chosen song. It makes the buds useful for people who listen to lots of workout songs, though obviously they don’t compare to any over-ear or in-ears which will deliver far more bass.

The bass isn’t overwhelming though, so it doesn’t drown out the treble in sounds. The overall sound profile of the buds is undeniably warm though, so guitars are crunchy and brass can be punchy but vocal lines lack some sparkle and sharpness through the upper mids and trebles. Mids can also be lost in songs, even rockier ones that enjoy extra ‘oomph’ from their rhythm guitars.

The soundstage is fairly limited, combining instruments into a bit of a thick lump at times, but this isn’t as damning as it sounds because the kind of nuance that a detailed soundstage can offer can also be quickly lost in open-ears when surrounding sounds get in the way.

Sound performance score: 3.5/5

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: Value

The OpenRock S2 on a camp chair. — (Image credit: Future)

OpenRock’s decision to price these as more affordable than most other open-ears from major brands was a smart one. It makes them tempting as an alternative to top options from brands like Nothing, Huawei and Honor, for people who want to save money.

The S2 isn’t so fantastic value for money that it’s an instant must-buy, but they still provide lots of bang for your buck. That’d be doubly true if a discount ever comes to them to reduce the price a little further, especially for US buyers.

Value score: 4/5

OneOdio OpenRock S2 review: scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	It's an affordable option that doesn't have the feature set of rivals (or predecessors) but isn't that much of a downgrade.	4/5
Design	Much more lightweight and svelte than before, perhaps too much so.	3.5/5
Features	Most of the features you need are present, even if some have seen a downgrade from past models.	4/5
Sound	A warm sound profile that'll appeal to people working out, though it has its limitations.	3.5/5

OneOdio OpenRock S2: Should you buy them?

Buy them if...

You want something lightweight
Both the buds and the case of the OpenRock S2 are easy to wear or carry due to their light nature.

You're on a budget
One of the most affordable options around right now, the OpenRock S2 will appeal to people looking to save.

You like your bassy, fiery sound
The OpenRock S2 won't offer you sonic perfection but instead a sound profile that lists to the warm, bassy and fuzzy.

Don't buy them if...

You'll listen in busy areas
The low max volume of the OpenRock S2 makes them unsuitable for use in busy and noisy areas, where they'll compete with other surrounding sounds.

You need rugged earbuds
The unique appeal of past OpenRock buds is lost here with a shorter battery life, looser design and less-protected carry case.

Also consider

Component	OpenRock S2	Earfun OpenJump	JLab Epic Open Sport	OpenRock S
Water resistant	IPX5	IPX7	IP55	IPX5
Battery life	8 hours (earbuds) 32 hours (total)	11 hours (earbuds) 42 hours (total)	7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (total)	19 hours (earbuds), 60 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 6.0	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	7g / Charging case: 58g	8g / Charging case: 67g	16.8g / Charging case: 49.6g	12g / Charging case: 132g
Driver	12mm	14.2mm	14mm	16.2mm

Earfun OpenJump
One of the other affordable open earbuds you might want to consider comes from Earfun, and they're cheaper in the US but pricier in most other places. These buds don't sound as good but their equalizer has plenty more customization and they last longer.
Read our full Earfun OpenJump review

JLab Epic Open Sport
These contemporary open-ears sound a little better than the OpenRock, however their features don't quite match especially in the battery life.
Read our full JLab Epic Open Sport review

How I tested

The OpenRock S2 underwent roughly two weeks of testing in order to write this review, and as the introduction implies they're just the latest in a long chain of open-ears I've been testing.

During the review period the buds were connected to an Android smartphone and I generally used them for music on Spotify but also occasionally for calls, games, TV show streaming and listening to voice notes. This took place on runs, at the gym, on walks around my neighborhood and at home.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar since early 2019 and have used a huge range of tech. This includes other open-ear buds as well as past earbuds from OpenRock and other headphones from parent company OneOdio.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: July 2025

Well, I just found the best earbuds for noise-cancellation I’ll ever test (probably)

4:23 pm | July 9, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: DAC | Comments: Off

OnePlus Buds 4: Two-minute review

It’s easy to dismiss earbuds made by smartphone companies as a cheap add-on made to sell alongside a handset, a job made easier by the fact that many are. But the OnePlus Buds 4 shows that this isn’t always the case.

Let me speak plain: these earbuds are really good for ANC. Some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds around, then? Absolutely, but that's not the end of the story – if it were, you'd be right to utter 'So, why the four-star review, not five?' and I'll get to that, I promise.

The OnePlus Buds 4 are the successors to last year’s OnePlus Buds 3, but with a little of the DNA of the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. And these new fourth-gen buds are independent from OnePlus phones to such a degree that they weren’t actually released alongside any flagship handset from the company (though their launch did coincide with some new cheaper Nord 5 phones from the brand).

I appreciate it when companies do what OnePlus has done here: create buds that focus on offering a few key superb selling points that beat the competition. It ensures it’s easy to compare them positively to other buds, and makes my job of writing an intro that much easier!

One such department on the OnePlus Buds 4 is the Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC. Once the most important arms-race of any headphone maker, though now slightly forgotten in the reverse arms-race of open earbuds, ANC is still an important feature for many buyers… and the Buds 4 have easily the best noise cancelling performance in any earbuds or headphones I’ve tested at this price. It absolutely eradicates background sound, no matter how noisy, and you’d have to buy buds for double the price to get something competitive.

The design of the buds also needs to be commended. You might not be able to tell from photos, but these earbuds themselves are perhaps the lightest I’ve ever tested at under 5g (I haven’t gone through every review I’ve written to check, but quite a few!) and they’re really comfortable as a result. The case is also really small, and equally lightweight (see above, about me having written too many reviews to check these against every one). Sometimes, fantastic design isn’t a funky look or weird features or LEDs, but the meat-and-potatoes of a light, comfortable wear.

You’re getting a (mostly) fantastic feature set from the OnePlus Buds 4 too, again one of the best selections of extras in any buds I’ve tested at this price. I won’t go through them all, as I’ve already exceeded my word count in the Features section talking about them, but goodies like a listening test, Spatial Audio and high-res listening are all working well.

But wait! I haven’t mentioned how the things sound yet! That isn’t because it’s bad, just that the features and design are so great I got distracted. Like the Buds 3, there's a strong focus on bassy booming sound, but it’s much better balanced this time around. Music is punchy and exciting, with plenty of customization options to take it further.

The main issue I had with the OnePlus Buds 4? It's a big one I'm afraid: the app had a ton of connectivity problems, which really affected my experience with the buds. I need to preface this statement by saying that I used the buds before their official release and it’s very possible that by the time they are in your ears, these software kinks will be ironed out, but it's also important for me to be honest in my write ups – and this was my experience. I have tested myriad sets of earbuds, and if it was challenging to me, it will surely be for any owner.

Some buyers will also find the price increase over the OnePlus Buds 3 hard to swallow, but the significant uptick in ANC efficacy justifies it.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Price and release date

The OnePlus Buds 4 on a window sill. — (Image credit: Future)

Unveiled in June 2025, officially launched July 8, 2025
Costs $129.99 / £119 (roughly AU$200)
Price hike over predecessor

The OnePlus Buds 4 became available on July 8 2025, alongside a Nord-y line-up of phones from the company’s affordable line of Androids.

TechRadar was provided with the buds’ UK price prior to launch: £119, and they've been released in the US for $129.99, which means in Australia they'll set you back around AU$200 or just above.

Many buyers will probably get these buds for free, though, as OnePlus likes to offer gadgets like this for free if you buy its mobiles.

It’s worth pointing out that this price is a noticeable hike from the $99 / £89 / AU$179 price point of the previous-gen buds, but is still far south of the $179 / £199 (roughly AU$400) price of the Buds 3 Pro.

At that price, I could hear arguments for these counting as cheap earbuds, and other points in favor of these being mid-rangers. Either way, there are lots of rivals at this price point, and you can find them described in the Competition section below.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Specs

Drivers	11mm woofer + 6mm tweeter
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life (ANC off)	11 hours (buds) 45 hours (case)
Weight	4.73g (buds) 40g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4
Waterproofing	IP55

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Features

The OnePlus Buds 4 in a man's hands. — (Image credit: Future)

Amazing noise cancellation
…but we need to talk about the app
6/24 hour battery life (ANC on)

When I first turned on the OnePlus Buds 4’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), I was in a busy gym – it’s a great test case due to all the noises going on (and the music they play at my local is absolutely awful). I was absolutely floored by how much background sound the buds removed, which I’ll aptly summarize simply as ‘basically all of it’.

This is on the buds’ High ANC mode, which uses an algorithm to automatically adapt for wherever you are. There’s also a moderate and low, and also an Auto which… also chooses between those three automatically. You’ve also also got a Transparency mode to block out ambient noise but allow loud nearby ones, and yet another adaptive mode which selects between Transparency and standard noise cancellation. If you’ve been keeping count, that’s three different auto modes.

Using the HeyMelody app was a pain. It never remembered the buds between listening sessions so I kept having to re-add them, which was hard when it could only detect them about 50% of the time. And when it could and I pressed ‘Connect’, I wouldn’t get taken through the the app pages where I could control the buds. Oh no.

Instead a pop-up would appear telling me that I can find more settings for the earbuds by going to my phone’s Bluetooth settings. Okay, good to know. But pressing ‘Cancel’ just hides the pop-up so I need to press ‘Connect’ again, and pressing ‘Go’ just takes me to my phone’s Bluetooth settings. It took me ages to figure out I’d need to go to this menu (not a page in HeyMelody, I should add), and then select the headphones, and then press ‘Earbud functions’ which would take me back to HeyMelody. It’s an absolutely infuriating and long-winded process and I can’t imagine that this is actually how it’s meant to function.

It’s a shame because you really do need to use the HeyMelody app as most of the Buds 4's features are within it – and because those features are some of these earbuds' biggest draws.

You’ve got OnePlus 3D Audio, the company’s version of Spatial Audio. You’ve got an equalizer, which offers a 6-band custom mode or three presets along with a separate bass booster called BassWave. You’ve got the ability to set up ways to control your phone camera with the buds, toggles for High-Res mode, a find-my-earbuds function and, most importantly Golden Sound.

Golden Sound combines two tests we infrequently see in earbuds: an ear canal scan and a listening test, which together create a custom sound profile to enhance your music. I was impressed to see results which back ups hat I’ve independent learnt about my ears (one being better than the other) and the created sound profile did mark an improvement on the buds’ sound (albeit a smaller improvement than on some other buds which also have this test).

Some other features of the Buds 4, like a live translation feature, are exclusive to owners of a OnePlus phone.

Throughout testing, the connection between my phone and the buds was flawless, with the Bluetooth never dropping once. That wasn’t the case with the app itself, as I’ve already said, and every time I plugged the buds in it defaulted to their Transparency ANC mode, so I’d have to open up the app and change it.

With all these features, and more to list in the Sound Quality section, there’s a knock-on effect. The OnePlus Buds 4 battery life is fine, but nothing to write home about, and it can suffer if you’re using all the features.

The buds have a battery life of 11 hours… with ANC switched off. Turn it on and that drops by nearly half to 6 hours, and using LHDC codec drops it even further by about an hour. The case itself has quite a bit of gas in the tank as it starts at 45 hours of listening time, dropping to 24 with ANC and 22 with LHDC.

Those are all OnePlus’ figures but my own testing backed them up. With ANC but without LHDC, I’d get just over 6 hours of listening time on one charge.

Features score: 3.5/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Design

Incredibly light case and buds
Fiddly touch controls
Black or green color options

Banish the thought of the square-cased OnePlus Buds 3; in the Buds 4, the company has borrowed the case design of the Buds Pro 3. That means it’s a pebble-shaped container that opens horizontally to reveal the top of the buds.

The case weighs 40g, so it’s very lightweight, and it’s certainly one of the smallest I’ve seen recently, clocking in at 65.4 x 52.4 x 25.3mm according to the very-specific figures OnePlus provided TechRadar.

I did find it a bit fiddly to get the buds back into the case at times, frequently putting the wrong one in the gaps. It’s probably only a concern to people who identify as klutzes, so I can’t list it as a ‘Con’, but it’s worth pointing out.

Like the buds themselves, the case comes in green or black. As someone who’s tested loads of OnePlus tech over the years, I’ve got to say the colors are very… ‘OnePlus-y’.

The buds weigh 4.73g so they’re incredibly lightweight. They use a stem design like previous buds from the company, so they consist of a body which stays wedged in your ear with a rubber tip, and a small stem that dangles down

Both buds have a stem that you can stroke up or down to change the volume. I found these really hard to use, as a light touch wouldn’t be triggered, and a hard one would invariably dislodge the buds in my ears. I quickly figured that it was better to stick to using my phone for volume controls. The actual double-tap controls worked a lot better though.

The buds are IP55 rated which means they’re protected against dust ingress, and can survive against low-pressure water jets. Yes, that includes sweat and rain, but I wouldn’t wear them during a water fight or while you swim.

Design score: 4/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Sound quality

11mm+6mm drivers, dual DAC
Emphasis on bassy sound
Supports Hi-Res Audio, LHDC

The OnePlus Buds 4in a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

OnePlus has absolutely stuffed the Buds 4 full of audio-specific features.

Take, for example the drivers: each has two, an 11mm woofer for bass and 6mm tweeter for the higher stuff. There’s also a dual DAC solution, offering a separate one for each driver, so let each specialise. Buds 3 Pro users might be getting some Deja vu right now.

If you’re picking up what I’m putting down, you will have noticed that I’ve referenced plenty of bass features. Like the previous-gen buds, these models offer absolutely loads of bass – they’re punchy and exciting, but crucially it’s not as lopsidedly-balanced as the last-gen buds.

Vocal lines, guitar rhythms, piano harmonies are all crystal clear and defined, with the buds’ new focus on dynamic balance ensuring other parts of music can cut through the bass surprisingly well.

Listeners who like finely-balanced audio may still find the Buds 4’s heavy bass off-putting (even though you can strip lots of the excess away using the app’s EQ), but if you don’t mind a bit of oomph, the buds are fantastic.

The buds also support streaming High-Res audio via the Hi-Res Audio Wireless standard, the LHDC 5.0 Bluetooth codec and offer a sampling rate of 192Hz.

Sound quality: 4/5

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Value

Good value at full price
Great value on sale
Incredible value as bundle gift

I mentioned before that you may be receiving these as a pre-order or buying bonus with a phone, and if that’s the case… yep, a 100% discount is pretty good value for money!

In a hypothetical situation in which you’re buying these at full price, they’re still really good value for money due to the stand-out features. You’d be hard-pressed to get buds for cheaper with ANC, a feature set or a design like this.

However, if you don’t mind compromising in a few areas, you can definitely get buds for under $100/£100/AU$200 which equal the Buds 4 in most departments – if not the ANC.

Value: 4/5

Should I buy the OnePlus Buds 4?

OnePlus Buds 4 score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	A fantastic feature set and top-notch ANC are a little hard to use thanks to the app experience.	3.5/5
Design	Incredibly lightweight buds that you'll forget are in your ear.	4/5
Sound quality	Heavy bass that doesn't obscure the rest of your music and is energetic and punchy.	4/5
Value	They're not too expensive and the entire package could cost twice as much without it being a rip-off.	3.5/5

Buy them if…

You need top-of-the-line ANC
I can't stress just how impressive the OnePlus Buds 4 noise cancellation is. If you hate background sound, buy it.

You have a OnePlus phone
A few features of the Buds 4 are exclusive to OnePlus users, so if you have such a phone, you're getting a little extra out of the purchase.

You want lightweight buds
Some earbuds are a pretty noticeable presence in your ear, for better or worse. The OnePlus buds certainly aren't that.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You're not a bass fan
While not as overwhelming as on last year's model, the Buds 4 certainly offer lots of bass which isn't for everyone.

You want earbuds for long journeys
When you switch on all of its features, the OnePlus Buds 4 don't really last all that long.

OnePlus Buds 4 review: Also consider

	OnePlus Buds 4	Nothing Ear	Earfun Free Pro 3	OnePlus Buds 3
Drivers	11mm + 6mm	11mm	7mm	10.4mm + 6mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life	11 hours (buds) 45 hours (case)	5.2 hours (buds); 24 hours (case)	7.5 hours (buds) 25.5 hours total (with case)	10 hours (buds) 44 hours (case)
Weight	4.73g (buds) 40g (case)	4.62g (buds); 51.9g (case)	41.5g total	4.8g (buds) 40.8g (case)
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing	IP55	IP54	IPX5	IP55

Nothing Ear
These similar-priced earbuds also offer loads of bass and a top-end feature set that's comparable. The battery life is even worse but a few unique features may clinch the deal.

See our full Nothing Ear review

Sony WF-C710N
You could save a little money and buy these Sony buds, which have a stem-less design. They too have great ANC and some useful features, including from Sony's impressive suite, and their battery life is also much better/

See our full Sony WF-C710N review

How I tested the OnePlus Buds 4

Tested for 14 days
Tested at home, in the office and on walks

The testing and writing period of the OnePlus Buds 4 took roughly two weeks, most of which were testing and a few of which were writing.

I used the buds alongside my Realme Android phone and the apps I used included Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, Netflix and various games. I tested at home, around my neighborhood, at the gym and on public transport.

For TechRadar I've tested plenty of other earbuds including the previous-gen OnePlus Buds 3, and have other reviewed other gadgets from the company including the buds' contemporary smartphones.

First reviewed in July 2025

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

They’re ‘fine’, but JLab’s new open earbuds fall victim to just how many ace pairs I’ve tested this year…so fine no longer cuts it

1:00 pm | June 28, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

JLab Epic Open Sport: Two minute review

The hottest earbuds craze of 2025 is open earbuds. These are usually hook-like headphones (no headband or neckband) that don't invade your ear canals and as such, let in surrounding sound so you can be safe and aware outdoors.

That said, not all makers have figured out to solve the fit and sound quality problems that come with the design territory. Key player JLab isn’t going to be left out of the tournament, but its most premium offering – the Epic Open Sport and the subject of this review – in the space doesn’t do enough to compete with what I've seen in the first half of the year.

The JLab Epic Open Sport were released over six months after JLab’s last offering in the area, the JBuds Open Sport, and our list of the best open earbuds has been changing near-constantly during that time. Back when those older buds were released, I hadn’t tested any that I thought provided decent sound quality, and was constantly facing buds which fit poorly and without a tip to anchor the buds in the ear.

That’s no longer the case though and while the Epic Open Sport match some of their top contemporaries in terms of price, the buds lack refinement in a few key areas and they simply don’t have that one unique selling point or draw that’ll cause you to consider them over their rivals.

When I say ‘lack of refinement’, I’m primarily looking at design. The case is bulky and cheap-feeling, with a poking-out-logo that catches dust. The grooves for the buds within said case don’t hold them very well. The buds too are bigger than many rivals (although I never had any comfort problems when wearing them).

The earbuds don’t have too many features either, beyond the relative must-haves in 2025 (an equalizer; the ability to customize what touch controls do) with a battery life that’s decidedly average too. And in terms of sound, the JLabs are nothing to write home about, although the sound profile does feel custom-picked to appeal to sports users so I’ll give kudos for that.

You can probably guess, given that my main issue with the JLab Epic Open Sport is that I don’t think they offer value for money or a competitive hook in a crowded marked, that there’s not anything particularly wrong with them either. They work well and rarely in my testing did I find something to grumble about. Purchase them and you won't be disappointed – you just won't be wowed either.

But if you’re on the market for open-ear buds, you’ve got plenty of superior options to consider for the money (more on those later), so it’s hard to make a case for the JLabs over those, in this busy market.

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Specifications

Component	Value
Water resistant	IP55
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	16.8g / Charging case: 49.9g
Driver	14mm

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Price and availability

The JLab Epic Open Sport on a tennis racquet. — (Image credit: Future)

Released in April 2025
Cost $114.99 / £99.99 / AU$199.99
JLab's priciest sports or open-ear buds

The JLab Epic Open Sport were announced in April 2025 and put on sale near the end of that month.

The buds cost $114.99 / £99.99 / AU$199.99, which makes them JLab’s priciest open-ears, $55 / £40 / AU$50 more than last year’s JBuds Open Sport. It also makes them JLab’s most premium sports-hook earbuds too.

In the open-ear market, you can also find the likes of the excellent Huawei FreeArc, Honor Earbuds Open and (less fantastic, but still) Acefast Acefit Pro for roughly the same asking fee – it’s a really competitive price area.

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Design

Case has a few minor issues...
... but supports wireless charging
Buds feel bulky, but fit well

Both the case and the buds for the JLab Epic Open Sport feel a little on the big side – in the former case at least it’s far from the chunkiest I’ve seen though.

Let’s start with that case. It weighs 49.6g (discounting, I presume, the buds themselves), measures 26 x 76 x 67mm and comes adorned with a large and slighty-jutting-out JLab logo (you can actually push it in a tiny bit if you want, which seems like an unintentional design decision). It opens in a clamshell style and there’s a USB-C charging port at the back.

The case’s plastic material feels a little cheap in the hand, and the looks of the thing make it seem unrefined. The buds also don’t sit in the case properly if you lightly drop them in, and I had to push down on them to make sure they were charging properly. However, points awarded for one premium feature: the case supports wireless charging.

Onto the buds themselves, these weigh 16.8g each so are some of the heavier open-ear buds I’ve tested, but it’s a negligible difference of a few grams. They consist of a bulky bud, a sport loop and a counterweight, all of which you can see in the images.

What you may not see is all the touch controls: the button atop the bud is obvious but you can also tap the JLab logo for a different function. I found the latter pretty unreliable in picking up my touch but the use of a physical button for the former made these buds much easier to use than some touch capacitive solutions I've tested.

Despite being a little heavier than the norm, I found the JLabs comfortable to wear. I could use them for long periods of time without feeling them weigh me down or rub my ears, and they stayed in place solidly without moving around too much above my ear.

There’s only one color option: black, for both the buds and case – so if you want snazzier colors you're out of luck here. The buds do have an IP55 rating which offers limited protection against dust ingress and also protection from low-pressure water jets (including rain), but they can't be immersed in water – so no swimming, OK?

Design score: 3.5/5

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Features

7-hour battery life (30 for case)
Useful 10-band EQ
Small ambient sounds library within the app

JLab has put the Epic Open Sport battery life at 7 hours, a figure I’d roughly back from my testing time, with the charging case bumping that up to 30 hours.

Those figures are both basically standard for earbuds, although some open-ears beat that figure by a considerable margin. Like most (though not all) same-form rivals, there’s no noise cancellation at play here – you may laugh, but the aforementioned Honor Earbuds Open do have ANC, and very good it is too.

To get the most of your Epic Open Sports, you can download the smartphone app, simply called ‘JLab’.

This lets you adjust both the touch and button controls of the buds, set a volume limit and toggle between Music Mode and Movie Mode (nowhere on JLab’s site or app can I find information on what this does but, judging by rival devices’ equivalents, the latter likely reduces latency at the expense of detailed audio quality). The app also has a limited library of ambient sounds you can listen to, which is a fairly unusual – though hardly unheard-of – inclusion.

Its equalizer is perhaps the main reason you’d download the JLab app. There are two presets, simply called EQ1 and EQ2, but a 10-band custom mode lets audiophiles design their bespoke mix.

All things considered, that’s a pretty light feature set, with no unique selling point or range of extras to win over buyers. At least the Bluetooth connection was reliable, not dropping at all during testing, and pairing was quick and easy.

Features score: 3.5/5

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Sound performance

14mm driver
V-shaped audio profile helps sports users
Max volume could be higher

The JLab Epic Open Sport aren’t going to top my list of the best-sounding open ear buds I’ve ever tested, but they’re definitely nearer the top of the list than the bottom.

JLab has given the buds 14mm drivers and they connect via Bluetooth 5.4. They support the SBC, AAC, MPEC-2 and LDAC codecs which could appease some audiophiles but, as you can tell from the name, these are mainly for sports users.

The buds have a V-shaped sound, emphasising bass and treble and leaving mids by the wayside. As someone who likes balanced sound, initial impressions weren’t in the JLab’s favor, but when I started using them for sports (specifically, for Epic Open Sport, the only type I know), it all fell into place.

This kind of profile benefits exercisers: heavy scooping bass to keep the rhythm, piercing treble to cut through the noise at the gym. A little bit of peaking, some tinny sibilance, a limited sound stage can be overlooked. It’s not for audiophiles, but I think people who want tunes as they work out or run will appreciate how these sound more than some better-sounding rivals.

What isn’t as handy is the max volume, which isn’t quite as high as I would’ve liked. When I was running past busy intersections my tunes would fight against the sound of traffic — and lose, lots of the time.

Sound performance score: 3.5/5

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Value

The JLab Epic Open Sport aren’t cheap, and their price roughly matches some competitive rivals (read more in the next section of this review).

However the specs don’t quite match up — the JLabs are good, but you can get greatness for the same price and in light of these competitors, it’s hard to view the Epic Open Sport as offering that good value for money.

If you find these things reduced below the $100 / £100 / AU$200 mark, that’ll definitely change. But for now, their lack of refinement or a unique selling point makes them hard to recommend from a value perspective.

Value score: 3/5

JLab Epic Open Sport review: scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	At recommended retail price, the Epic Open Sport don't offer much to draw your attention away from other options that cost the same.	3/5
Design	The earbuds fit well and sit on the ear reliably, with a useful button for controls. But they're a bit big and the case isn't one of the better ones I've seen.	3.5/5
Features	The feature set is quite limited, although what the JLab does have works well.	3.5/5
Sound	Sports users will enjoy the V-shaped sound which offers ample bass and treble, though audiophiles will find the sound lacking.	3.5/5

JLab Epic Open Sport review: Should you buy them?

Buy them if...

You're buying sound for sports
The sound profile of the buds will appeal most to people who need thumping bass and clear treble as they run or work out.

You rely on an equalizer
An equalizer is no sure thing when you buy headphones, but the JLabs' 10-band one gives you customization over your sound.

You want an option with wireless charging
Wireless charging isn't a common feature in earbuds, let alone open-ear ones, so if you really want such a product, the JLab might be one to consider.

Don't buy them if...

You like a lightweight case
Sure, open earbuds cases tend to be pretty big, but you can find smaller and better-designed ones on other buds.

You want a full suite of features
If you look elsewhere on the open-ear market you can find noise cancellation, listening tests, 'find-my-bud' features and a lot more.

You want a budget option
JLab sells lots of cheap earbuds, including sports and open-ear options, but the Epic Open Sport aren't them. These are more premium offerings.View Deal

Also consider

Component	JLab Epic Open Sport	Huawei FreeArc	Honor Earbuds Open	AceFast AceFit Pro
Water resistant	IP55	IP57	IP54	IP54
Battery life	7 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (total)	7 hours (earbuds), 28 hours (total)	6 hours (earbuds), 40 hours (total)	6 hours (earbuds) 25 hours (total)
Bluetooth type	Bluetooth 5.4	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.4
Weight	16.8g / Charging case: 49.6g	8.9g / Charging case: 67g	7.9g / Charging case: 52.5g	7.8g / Charging case: 80g
Driver	14mm	17x12mm	16mm	20x8mm

Huawei FreeArc

The best-sounding open earbuds on the market right now come from Huawei, which match the JLab in price (though aren't available everywhere). They're also much lighter than the Epic Sport.

Read our full Huawei FreeArc review

Honor Earbuds Open

If it's the feature set you care about, then the same-price Honor Earbuds Open are worth considering. These offer noise cancellation, the ability to hunt down missing earbuds and even a translator. The case is also lovely and small.

Read our full Honor Earbuds Open review

How I tested

I used the JLab Epic Open Sport for over three weeks before I started writing this review, and I continued to test them during the writing process.

I wore them to the gym and on runs, but also in non-sports situations like walking to the shops or working at home. They were paired the whole time with my Android smartphone.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years and that's included plenty of open-ear buds, especially through the first half of 2025.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: June 2025

I tested Cambridge Audio’s all-new Melomania A100 earbuds and now I’m even crazier about music

11:00 am | June 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: ANC, LDAC | Comments: Off

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100: two-minute review

Until now, Cambridge Audio’s TWS earbuds efforts have been ‘pretty good’ – but this is a market in which ‘pretty good’ tends not to be good enough. And so the company is back with what is quite obviously a very concerted effort, in the shape of the new Melomania A100.

Here, $149 / £119 or its regional equivalent buys a pair of true wireless in-ears that travel in a very neat charging case, that follow the ‘stem’ style of design and that can be had in black or white finishes. It also buys high specification (Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connectivity with LDAC and aptX Lossless codec compatibility, Class AB amplification, nearly 40 hours of battery life, 10mm Neodymium dynamic drivers) that you’d be glad to see on a product costing twice as much. And by way of an encore, it buys a raft of control options that include an endlessly entertaining appearance by Matt Berry. Some of the best noise-cancelling earbuds around? And perhaps even some of the best earbuds irrespective of noise-nixing, then? For sure.

Most of all, though, money put Cambridge Audio's way for these particular buds buys insightful, controlled and thoroughly entertaining sound. The A100 manage to combine levels of insight that are the best around in this market with an energetic and engaging attitude that makes the description ‘musical’ entirely valid.

As far as value for money is concerned, not to mention a thoroughly enjoyable audio experience, the Melomania A100 are currently there to be shot at.

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 on white background — (Image credit: Future)

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Price and release date

Release date: June 26, 2025
Price: $149 / £119 / AU$TBC (but around AU$249)

At the time of writing this review, the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 wireless in-ear headphones are on sale from today (June 26, 2025) and in the United Kingdom they cost £119. The price in the United States is $149, and while no Australian pricing is confirmed as yet, it seems something around AU$249 is likely.

It’s an aggressive price from a company that’s most recently been making waves with equipment a fair bit further up the food chain, but that’s not the same as saying the A100 are without serious competition. Sony (another brand that can hold its own at the high end) will sell you a pair of its very accomplished Sony WF-C710N buds for pennies less than £100, just as a ‘for instance’. So these earbuds have to do a bit more than show up wearing an attractive price to get a seat at the top table…

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Specs

Weight:	4.7g per earbud
Drivers:	10mm Neodymium dynamic
Battery life:	11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case
Bluetooth:	5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Features

Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless and LDAC
Six-mic array for ANC and call-handling
Class AB amplification; 10mm Neodymium dynamic drivers

In the context of the asking price, the Melomania A100 are very impressively specified indeed. There are true wireless earbuds costing plenty more than this that don’t look as good on the page.

For example, the Cambridge Audio use top-of-the-shop Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity, and are compatible with aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless and LDAC codecs. Multipoint connectivity is available too, and the array of six mics that handle noise-cancellation, telephony and voice-assistant interaction are bolstered by Clear Voice Capture echo-cancelling and noise suppression.

There’s Class AB amplification on board, an unarguable step up from the Class D alternative that’s way more common in products like this. A dual-core Qualcomm Kalimba DSP minimises distortion and maximises clarity, and a pair of 10mm Neodymium drivers serve up the sound.

Screengrabs of the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100's companion app — (Image credit: Cambridge Audio)

In the most advantageous circumstances (volume down, ANC off and so on) the earbuds will run for a healthy 11 hours between charges, and you can eke out as much as 39 hours when the power in the charging case is taken into account too. Charging from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes around 70 minutes, and just 10 minutes on the mains power (there’s a USB-C slot on the case) should hold you for over three hours of playback (provided you keep that ANC switched off).

And because portable products like this need a degree of hardiness, of course, the A100 are IPX5-rated. Which means they should be absolutely fine in any realistic environment.

Features score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Sound quality

Energetic and entertaining sound
Detailed and dynamic in equal measure
Some trifling low-end integration issues

The temptation that’s been succumbed to by any number of true wireless in-ear headphones of similar price to the Melomania A100 is to ramp up low frequencies in the name of ‘excitement’ and let the idea of ‘balance’ go out of the window. This Cambridge Audio product, though, is a bit more sensible than that – and as a consequence, it’s ultimately a far more accomplished listen.

Leave the EQ settings in the app well alone and the A100 are quite neutral where tonality is concerned and have an almost ideal frequency response. High frequencies have bite and shine during a listen to Daniel Avery’s Diminuendo, but have sufficient substance and variation to prevent any suggestion of hardness or edginess. And at the opposite end of the frequency range there are similarly high levels of detail, and control that’s sufficient to allow very decent rhythmic expression. Bass sounds punch with determination, but their speed and variation means they never drag at the momentum of a recording.

Switch to a file of Last Night by Arooj Aftab and the midrange is revealed to be open and eloquent – the A100 can communicate a voice’s character and attitude in the most direct manner. Detail levels are, as elsewhere, impressively high, and there’s real positivity to the way the A100 ties the frequency range together. In absolute terms it could be argued that the lowest frequencies sound just slightly remote from the lower midrange and everything above that, but the commonality of their tone mitigates this quite significantly.

The soundstage the Cambridge Audio can generate is large, well-defined and carefully controlled – so even an element-heavy recording like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as performed by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein sounds open and carefully laid out. There’s elbow-room for every performer and a fairly explicit description of relative on-stage positions.

There’s plenty of dynamic headroom available for when the orchestra really ramps up the intensity, and the dynamics of harmonic variation are carefully attended to during the solo piano passages too. Transient response is good, and the result is an overall presentation that sounds very much like the complete picture.

All of the above might serve to make the Melomania A100 seem rather analytical – and there’s no denying they can peer into a recording and return with all sorts of pertinent observations. But primarily they’re an engaging and entertaining listen, and a pair of earbuds that give the strong impression that they’re just as keen on your favourite music as you are. It’s by no means easy to combine ‘analysis’ with ‘entertainment’ so that each discipline is properly attended to – and that’s the case no matter how much you’re charging – so Cambridge Audio is deserving of both congratulations and admiration.

And where active noise-cancellation is concerned, the Melomania A100 can go toe-to-toe with the best of their price-comparable rivals. The system doesn’t alter the sound of the earbuds in any way, it doesn’t betray itself with counter-signal or any sort of audible disruption – and it does a very agreeable job on all but the loudest and/or deepest of external noises. There’s a second tier of ANC that sits below the uncanny silence that’s available from a pair of Bose noise-cancellers – and these Cambridge Audio earbuds are now a part of it.

Sound quality score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Design

45 x 61 x 25mm, HxWxD (charging case)
4.7g (earbud)
Choice of black or white finishes

Unlike previous Cambridge Audio true wireless models, the Melomania A100 are from the Apple-inspired ‘dangly stem’ school of design. The earbuds are notably neat and tidy and, thanks to a selection of eartip sizes and a trifling 4.7g weight, fit comfortably even for the longest listens. ‘Neat and tidy’ covers the charging case too, which is 45 x 61 x 25mm (HxWxD) – this slender design does mean the earbuds are slightly trickier to get out of the case than they otherwise would be, but it’s not much of a price to pay for such pocket-friendly dimensions. The standard of build and finish is impressive in every respect, and the look is good no matter if you choose the black or white finish.

I might as well go with the word ‘impressive’ to deal with operability here, too. The A100 have a capacitive touch surface at the top of the stem of each–- a combination of presses and holds gives control of most playback controls, and lets you cycle between your ANC options or summon your voice assistant too. Interactions are swift and reliable, and the ‘Melomania’ control app gives the chance to customise the effect each sequence of presses or holds has.

The control app also has decent extended functionality. Six EQ presets are joined by a seven-band equaliser that allows you to store quite a few custom settings, while a defeatable ‘dynamEQ’ setting does its best to maintain full-range response at lower volumes. You can select between ‘transparency’, ‘normal’ and ‘noise-cancelling’ for ANC, and within this last option you can choose between ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’. Switching for ‘gaming mode’, ‘wear detection’ and ‘sleep mode’ are all available too – and within ‘audible feedback’ there’s the greatest Easter egg in any app anywhere ever. ‘Off’ and ‘tones’ are both options, and there are eight different languages to choose from too… but the eleventh option (‘Southwark’) lets your audible feedback be delivered by Matt Berry in highly fruity fashion.

Even without this delightful touch, though, ‘Melomania’ is a useful, stable and easy-to-navigate control app that’s only missing the ability to integrate music streaming services to be completely ideal.

Design score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Value

Great specification
Secure ergonomics
Excellent sound quality for the money

With the Melomania A100, Cambridge Audio has hit it so far out of the park it’s basically lost forever.

These true wireless earbuds are specified well beyond what any price-comparable alternative can offer, they’re comfortable, have battery stamina on their side, and each of their control options is well-implemented and effective. Oh, and they sound as good as anything else you can buy at anything like this money. Currently they offer the best value for money of any wireless earbuds you can buy for $149 / £119 – and by a wide margin.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100?

Section	Notes	Score
Features	Excellent codec support; geat mic array	5 / 5
Sound quality	Stunning clarity for the money – best at the level by some degree	5 / 5
Design	Solid, ergonomic, thoughtfully made	5 / 5
Value	The best sound-per-pound wireless design on the market	5 / 5

Buy them if…

You have a good source player
Top-end codec compatibility and exemplary sound quality make the A100 the perfect partner

You favour well-tailored clothes
The charging case is about as slim and easy to carry as these things ever get. So you won’t need to compromise your outfit

You enjoy added value
If you know who Matt Berry is, then you know his appearance as an ‘audible feedback’ option will prove endlessly satisfying

Don't buy them if…

You like properly extended functionality
If you want your heart-rate monitored, your steps counted and what-have-you, there are alternative designs that have you covered

You’re not a monochrome type of person
Lots of price-comparable rivals are available in many more finishes than just ‘black’ or ‘white'

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: Also consider

Sony WF-C710N
Until the start of this review, Sony’s still-excellent WF-C710N were your default £100-ish TWS choice, and they still have plenty going for them where sound quality is concerned. They’re made to look a bit limited by the A100’s spec-sheet, though…
Read our full Sony WF-C710N review

Technics EAH-AZ80
…And Technics’ slightly older flagship AZ80 might come down a bit closer to this pricing now too (owing to the arrival of their newer AZ100 siblings), but they're nowhere near it yet. The feature set and fit is fantastic, but you're still paying a lot more…
See our full Technics EAH-AZ80 review

How I tested the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Connected to an iOS smartphone and an Android DAP
Using a variety of digital file types and sizes
In a number of environments

Naturally, iOS devices don’t acknowledge wireless sound quality beyond the AAC codec – but happily my FiiO DAP does, and so I was able to let the Melomania A100 show what they’re capable of when it comes to optimum sound quality.

The DAP also features lots of genuinely high-resolution content on its local memory, as well as duplicating the music streaming service apps loaded onto the Apple smartphone, so I was able to listen to different digital audio file types and sizes.

I did this indoors and outdoors, in very quiet environments and in places where even the best active noise-cancellation struggles – and I did so for well over a week, because listening to these Cambridge Audio earbuds is really no kind of hardship.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: June 2025

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