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I tested these 1More headphones and I’m convinced they’re some of the best cheap cans money can buy

7:00 pm | March 27, 2025

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51: two-minute review

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are a pair of budget-friendly over-ear headphones that set out to do it all. They aim to serve up adept audio, noise-crushing ANC and an eye-catching design – all for less than $100 / £100. I must confess, that’s quite the tall task, and I did have my reservations at first. But after two weeks of testing, I’m pleased to report that these 1More cans do all of those things… and more.

Before we really drill into things, let’s take a glance at the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51’s headline info. These headphones come in with a modest list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 and offer ANC and transparency mode, LDAC for ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming and up to 100 hours – yes 100 hours – of battery life.

Let’s zoom in on the area that matters most – sound. Now, you’re not going to get audio quality that competes with the more premium options in our guide to the best headphones, nor indeed the more aspirational models in our best noise-cancelling headphones roundup, but they still perform commendably for the money. You get clear audio that’s free of tinniness, even at higher volumes. Also, these cans certainly have a more bass-heavy sound signature, which is ideal for fans of dance music, for example, but you can temper low-end output with the 1More Music app’s EQ settings if you so please.

You also get a fairly detailed listen, especially when using the aforementioned LDAC option (if your source device supports it) – or wired connectivity. And sound quality is solid with ANC turned on or off – though I preferred to keep this on for the most part. That ANC is pretty effective too – chatter on public transport, keyboards clacking away and cars zooming past were severely dulled – if not muted when listening to my favorite tracks.

I mentioned that excellent 100 hour battery life, but that’s only if you have LDAC and ANC turned off. But still, even with ANC on, you get 65 hours out of these cans – that’s more than enough for the money! These over-ears are also super comfortable thanks to their generous use of padding on the headband and earcups. So rest assured, the Sonoflow Pro have the battery and design for high-comfort, long-lasting listening sessions.

In addition, these headphones are awesome-looking when in-use. They’re angled forward slightly, giving them a curved, sleek look. They also have a tidy matte finish – there’s style and substance on tap here. The only real downside is that the button controls are a little plasticky and the headband feels a touch feeble – but that’s perhaps to be expected for cans in this price range.

There aren’t too many other downsides to note, luckily. One small thing: the app situation is a little unclear. I could only connect these headphones to the 1More Music platform, rather than the typical 1More app, which was a little frustrating. 1More Music is a little dated, with certain features such as multi-point connectivity (why would you not want this?) hidden in a sub-menu, which made for a less-than-ideal user experience.

But all in all, I’d certainly recommend the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51. They nail the basics: impressive audio, plenty of playtime and a ruthless approach to external noise. And to do all of that at such a low cost is really worth shouting about. If you want truly premium sound and have a more generous budget to spend on headphones, they might not be the best option in the world – perhaps consider some headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4, but the quality on offer from 1More’s Pro cans is more than good enough for anyone on a tighter budget.

3.5mm and USB-C ports on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: price & release date

$89 / £99 / AU$130
Launched in 2024

The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 – sometimes just listed as the 1More Sonoflow HQ51 – have a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130. They launched in 2024 in three colorways: Black; Blue; and Silver.

Price can vary slightly by color variant, but typically, these are in the same kind of ballpark. And good news – I’ve already spotted the Sonoflow Pro on sale with retailers like Amazon US and UK, where they’ve dropped to around $70 / £70 in the past.

Button controls on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: Specs

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: features

Up-to-scratch ANC
Phenomenal battery life
Companion app could use some work

The Sonoflow Pro come through with all the features you’d hope to find from some modern day Bluetooth headphones – and then some. You get Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, multi-point and a handy companion app too.

A quick note on that companion app, though. I downloaded the 1More app – as advertised on the webpage for this model – but had no joy on my Samsung phone. Instead, I found that I needed to use the 1More Music app, which seems a bit more old-fashioned and clunky to navigate, but works fine.

Anyway, when I finally got things working, I wanted to explore the ANC options. You get three settings: ANC off; ANC on; or passthrough. Now firstly, I have to say that I was surprised by how successful the ANC was here. That’s meant to be one of the key areas of improvement over the original Sonoflow, and 1More pulled it off. When I was in the office, I could barely hear anything aside from my music when listening at 50% volume. Even when out and about or on public transport, external noises were pleasingly kept to a minimum.

Sure, you’re not going to get the best-in-class ANC you’d expect from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, for instance, but that’s to be expected given these are a fraction of the price. And the passthrough mode works well too – you’ll hear a few more sounds from your surroundings, which can be handy for when you’re walking in a busy area and want to keep your whits about you.

As well as toggling between ANC, you can activate hi-res music streaming and adjust EQ – there’s a tidy selection of genre-specific presets as well as a custom option. There’s also an indicator to show battery levels. Speaking of, these cans are seriously long lasting – you’ll get days, if not weeks of use from one single charge. They boast a playtime of 65 hours with ANC on or 100 hours with it off. That will vary if you have hi-res streaming active and listen at top volumes – but still that’s an exceptional amount of listening time.

On top of all of this, there are a few less common features that I unearthed in the 1More Music app. The first is smart burn-in, which is essentially meant to ‘break in’ the drivers and optimize sound quality. I didn’t pick up on any real difference and the whole burn-in deal is a controversial one in the audiophile community, so its inclusion was neither here nor there for me. The second is Soothing Sounds, which plays noises like ‘Waterfall’, ‘Volcano’ and ‘Medium Fire’. This one’s a dud. Sound quality is poor and the audio files stop pretty abruptly, then replay – but you can always just leave it alone.

Features score: 4/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 using wired connection — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: sound quality

Clear quality with rich bass
Solid detail levels with wired and LDAC listening
Customizable sound thanks to EQ options

I’ll be honest, reader, I wasn’t expecting much from these 1More headphones in the sound department. But they only went and blew my expectations out of the water! OK, you’re not going to get that premium, beautifully balanced, neatly separated and layered sound that some more premium cans can deliver, but what’s on offer here is pretty tasty for the humble outlay.

Like a lot of budget-friendly headphones out there, the Sonoflow Pro certainly lean into a more bass-heavy signature – ideal if you’re a lover of dance music or hip-hop for instance. If you want a more balanced sound, just head into the 1More Music app and adjust EQ with the five-band equalizer or included presets – nice and easy.

So, let’s start with bass. Unlike a lot of budget options, the big bass doesn’t sound overly cluttered or lethargic here. For instance, when I tuned into Black Eye by Allie X, the punch of the drum machine was rapid and didn’t overstay its welcome. And there’s impressive depth on offer too. When tuning into tracks with imposing sub bass – like The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – the low-end boom rumbling through the track hit with massive impact, but was still clear and controlled.

But booming bass output doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality. In I Want You by Moloko – a busy, layered track – breathy, grand vocals maintain admirable presence and clarity, even alongside the punchy bass and flurry of strings, keys, percussive elements and more.

Even when listening to more mellow tracks like I Remember You by Masayoshi Takanaka, rhythmic guitar was tonally accurate, sweet harp trills never sounded tinny and smooth bass, though prominent, never overstepped its remit. Instrument separation isn’t bad at this price point, but I did feel some of the string and guitar elements could’ve sounded a little more spaced out, for a more airy, nuanced listen.

Having said that, you will get to pick out some neat details with the Sonoflow Pro – that’s thanks to the inclusion of both a 3.5mm headphone slot for wired listening and higher-resolution Bluetooth audio via LDAC. Delicate synths that gradually build are audible early in Kolter’s Overflow and light samba drums in SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe add some added seasoning to an already groovy tune.

All in all, you get surprisingly good sound from these budget-friendly 1More headphones. General audio isn’t as crisp as I’ve heard from cans like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and you won’t get stunning spatial audio like the Sonos Ace. But if you want clear, decently detailed sound, the Sonoflow Pro have you covered.

Sound quality score: 4/5

Earcups of the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: design

Sleek on-ear look
Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
A little flimsy

Something I really appreciate about the 1More Sonoflow Pro is their curved on-ear look. They’re angled slightly, which gives a more defined, sharp look to them in use – something I already liked about the original Sonoflow model. On top of that, the Black model I tested had an attractive matte finish, making for a very attractive pair of over-ears.

But they’re more than just a pretty face. The Sonoflow Pro are also pretty comfortable to wear – even for longer listening sessions. They might not quite have the cushion-like comfort of the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, but there’s still plenty of padding on the headband and plump earcups and so I was happy to listen with these for hours on end. They’re also foldable, making them a compact option for on-the-go use.

The only thing I didn’t really love design-wise is that these cans don’t feel the most durable. The headband is pretty thin and the buttons appear and feel quite plasticky. There’s also no waterproofing or dustproofing here – but that’s pretty common for over-ears. This is no dealbreaker, just don’t expect premium build quality.

Back to the positives though: I loved the hard carry case which is included in the box. It will keep your headphones damage free if you want to throw them in a bag when traveling – that’s an enticing bonus. There’s also a USB-C charging wire and 2.5mm to 3.5mm cable with an attached mic, which offers relatively clear, albeit not ultra-crisp quality for phone calls.

Design score: 4/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 in carry case — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: value

Awesome all-round budget package
Included case makes for staggering overall value
Similar price to original Sonoflow, but some key improvements

It will come as no surprise that the category these cans perform best in is value. Their list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 is already great, but again, these are available on sale semi-regularly, meaning you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Solid sound, sleek design and even a carry case – not bad at all!

Not only that, but these are priced exceptionally closely to the original 1More Sonoflow cans, while still offering some significant improvements. You get enhanced ANC, longer battery life and faster charging – specifically, the Pro give you ten hours of playtime with a five minute charge, double as fast as the standard model.

There are some amazing cheap headphones out there, like the Earfun Wave Pro, for instance. But these 1More cans have better battery life, a more distinct on-ear look and color options. It's a case of several smaller improvements adding up to one big uptick in value. You really can’t ask for much more from some sub-$100 headphones.

Value score: 5/5

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 headband — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51?

Buy them if…

You want capable ANC
I found that the Sonoflow Pro offered better-than-expected ANC, which kept me focused on my music at all times, even when in busier, more chatter-filled areas. There’s a passthrough mode if you want to keep some ambient sounds, too, which is a nice touch.

You’re not looking to spend your life savings
With a list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130, the Sonoflow Pro are certainly on the more budget-friendly side of the spectrum. They’re also available at a cut-price from time to time, meaning you’re getting up-to-scratch audio and a sleek design at a more than reasonable price.

Don’t buy them if…

You want S-tier audio
The Sonoflow Pro have a pleasingly customizable sound and given their price, you’re getting very solid audio quality too. But they’re not going to offer that immersive, carefully separated, premium sound that audiophiles will be looking for. If you’re looking for peak performance, you’ll be better served by cans like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or the Apple AirPods Max.

You want phenomenal build quality
Now don’t get me wrong, I like the way the Sonoflow Pro look on, but there’s no denying they’re still pretty plasticky. The headband and button controls aren’t the sturdiest, so if you’re looking for premium build quality, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

USB-C port on the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 — (Image credit: Future)

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: also consider

Earfun Wave Pro
For some time, the Earfun Wave Pro have held the title of best budget option in our guide to the best over-ear headphones. And it’s easy to see why. These cans supply stupendous battery life, above-average sound and a neat design all at a temptingly low price. You can’t ask for much more than that! Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review.

Sony WH-CH720N
I’ve personally owned the Sony WH-CH720N for well over a year and can comfortably recommend them. They offer great sound for the price you pay, as well as upscaling technology for lower-quality music files. On top of that, you get effective ANC, a handy companion app and a classy set of color options to choose from. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review: How I tested

Tested for two weeks
Used at home and on public transport
Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 over the course of two weeks. I used the over-ears in a variety of environments, including at home, on walks near built-up roads and on public transport. Typically, I connected the headphones to Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy 24 FE with the LDAC codec enabled for the best quality audio.

When listening to music, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. I also tested the headphones with my Windows laptop to test out quality using a wired connection. When appropriate, I also compared the Sonoflow Pro directly to the Soundcore Space One Pro.

First reviewed: March 2025
Read more about how we test

The Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding open-ear headphones I’ve ever tested – and they’re surprisingly cheap

6:00 pm | March 24, 2025

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

Huawei FreeArc: One minute review

With audio brands and tech companies announcing open-ear earbuds left, right and center, it was only a matter of time before Chinese giant Huawei got in on the action too.

It was only minutes into the testing for this Huawei FreeArc review, though, that I understood these to be some of the best open-ear buds on the market right now. Huawei’s onto something here!

The reason for this is simple: as of their release, the Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding examples of this form factor, and that’s a really impressive selling point given how earbuds like this work.

For those who aren’t familiar, open-ear headphones like these dangle the earbud over your eardrum, instead of plonking it straight in there; this means you can still hear sounds beyond your music. Useful for people in busy areas or who need to hear announcements, but less useful for audiophiles as having a bud centimeters from your ear can spell doom for well-tuned music.

Not with the FreeArc, though. Music has an impressive soundstage, sounds delicately tuned and maintains bristling energy. The best compliment I can give to Huawei is that I often forgot I was listening to open-ears.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up in the audio department, then, although the FreeArc do struggle just a little in a few other departments. The battery life is one, with the 23-hour lasting power of the case in particular an area that might dissuade certain buyers.

If you’ve got an Android phone, you’ll also find the app install process an absolute pain, as you have to side-load multiple apps through APKs. The process is only suitable for technophiles, or someone who can rope in a tech-savvy relative or friend to help.

OK so great-sounding, just slightly annoying to set up? Yes, but we're missing the big draw. Huawei has priced these buds to sell, making them some of the most affordable open-ears on the market right now.

You can overlook a few of issues in tech with competitive pricing, and the Huawei FreeArc do benefit from that when you consider their feature set. But purely from a sonic perspective, these are an absolute steal at the price.

Huawei FreeArc review: Specifications

Huawei FreeArc review: Price and availability

The Huawei FreeArc on a white shelf. — (Image credit: Future)

Announced in February 2025
Priced at £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200)
Not on sale in Australia or US

The Huawei FreeArc were announced in February 2025, at the same time as a slew of rivals, and went on sale shortly afterwards.

You can pick up the buds for £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200) so they’re priced competitively against many of these competitors. There’s no US or AU pricing at the time of writing and I don’t expect the buds will go on sale in either region.

There are a few open-ear buds priced around that general area, or a slight amount cheaper, but most competitors cost up to 50% more. So Huawei has put out a really tempting option here.

Huawei FreeArc review: Design

Mid-sized charging case
Comfortable and reliable bud fit
Temperamental touch controls

The Huawei FreeArc comes in a square carry case; it’s not the smallest I’ve ever seen from open-ear buds, but it’s definitely at the smaller end of the spectrum.

The case measures 67.8 x 67.8 x 26.5mm and weighs 67g, and it has basically what you’d expect from an earbuds case: place to lay each bud, a pairing button, and a USB-C port for charging.

The buds themselves weigh 8.9g so they’re not the lightest open-ears I’ve ever tested, but the difference is just a gram or so and they are by no means heavy. Like most open-ears (although not ear-clip/cuff designs – see the Bose Ultra Open), they consist of the main body as well as a sports loop that circles and slips behind the ear, which in the Huawei’s case ends in quite a pronounced teardrop shape.

I found them reliably comfortable and lightweight to wear, and they didn’t shift much during exercises or runs, a problem some other open-ears have. Instead they’re firmly held pretty close to the ear, so you can hear your music well.

The buds’ body supports gesture controls, but I found them a little bit temperamental in picking up my touch. You’re meant to be able to swipe to change volume, double tap to pause or play songs and triple-tap to skip songs, and while the tapping ones worked well, I had to fight with the buds to pick up swiping.

The charging case doesn’t have any protective certification but the earbuds are IP57, which was a pleasant surprise to see given that most rivals are IP54. The ‘5’ in common means that they’re dust resistant and the ‘7’ means that they’re waterpoof up to a depth of 1m for half an hour, whereas most rivals are simply splash-proof. I don’t think this means that you should swim with the buds, but it still means they’re protected from the elements.

You can buy the FreeArcs in black, white or pale green, and as you can tell from the images, my review sample was the former.

Design score: 4/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Features

Battery life is 7 hours (only 23 for case)
App has convoluted installation process
Could do with extra features

The feature set is the Huawei FreeArc’s Achilles Heel, so let’s get the criticisms out the way upfront.

Firstly, the battery life isn’t amazing. At 7 hours of listening per bud, it’s not awful, though plenty of other buds (especially open-ears) beat it. But worse is the charging case, which only gets you 28 hours of listening, a stat that’s got to be one of the lowest I’ve seen in buds like this.

My biggest issue was that downloading the Huawei AI Life app, to unlock extra features, was an absolute pain (on Android, at least, but on iOS it’s simple). To get it on my Realme phone I had to download Huawei’s AppGallery (as an APK on my browser, as it’s not on the Play Store), which took some convincing on my phone, then use the AppGallery to download the AI Life, convince my phone to let me side-load apps from this app, and then set it up via this app. It’s a lot of faff and it took me about 10 minutes, which is approximately 9 and a half minutes more than this process generally takes me during reviews.

I’m not entirely convinced that the process is worth it either. It mainly lets you find your earbuds if you’ve misplaced them, manage which devices your buds are connected to, and change what the gesture controls do.

The main feature of the app is access to four music presets (default, Elevate for workouts, Treble boost and Voices for boosting vocals). You can also make your own, which gives you access to a 10-band equalizer.

Unlike at least one contemporary rival (that would be the Honor Earbuds Open) there’s no active noise cancellation, no low latency mode and no gimmicky AI feature – yes, I’m looking at the Honor Earbuds Open's AI translator here. None of these are ubiquitous in open-ears so I can’t detract points for that, but the FreeArc do feel like they’re missing some kind of USP.

Features score: 4/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Sound performance

The Huawei FreeArc on a man's head. — (Image credit: Future)

Large 17mm x 12mm drivers
Impressive sound stage
Could have done with ANC

The core selling point of the Huawei FreeArc is that they’re the best-sounding open-ear earbuds I’ve tested to date. That’s not the biggest compliment in the world, given that the form factor naturally leads to worse audio (the speaker is dangling away from your ear, of course, and bass clout is usually the first casualty), but I was still impressed with how the FreeArcs sound.

The most palpable and immediately-obvious positive of the FreeArcs’ audio is the soundstage: it’s unprecedented for open-ears, and I was surprised to be able to pick out the strums of guitars and range of piano keys when I was listening.

Music is energetic and exciting, zealous and crisp, and it was a joy to listen to my favorite workout songs and actually hear the details in them. Admittedly, lots of my excitement came from the sheer fact that I could make out individual lines in songs (I hate to harp on, but open-ears generally sound pretty bad), but the Huawei’s do sound great.

Each earbud has a single 17mm x 12mm driver, which is bigger than I can recall seeing in past open-ear headphones, and that might go some way in explaining the quality of the Huawei FreeArc's sonic performance.

I would have liked to hear a little more bass in the FreeArc, as it ended up sounding just a touch underwhelming during workouts when I wanted a bassy kick. The aforementioned Elevate mode does improve things in terms of bass clout, but it also makes more complex songs sound oddly ‘crunchy’ and distorted, so I stopped using it.

It was almost a shame to listen to such high-quality audio in open-ears – it sounded amazing when listening in quiet environments, but as soon as I left the house or went somewhere busy, the extraneous noise that can't help but enter your ear makes it hard to appreciate the detail. ANC would be a blessing on these buds.

Sound performance score: 5/5

Huawei FreeArc review: Value

Given that Huawei tends to release premium products, I was surprised to see the FreeArcs go for £99, which makes them fairly affordable as open-ears go.

They'd be decent value if they only had 'good' sound quality, but the fact that they sound great really helps cement the Huawei FreeArc as one of the best-value open-ear buds you can buy right now.

Value score: 4.5/5

Huawei FreeArc review: scorecard

Huawei FreeArc: Should I buy?

Buy them if...

You're an audiophile

If you care about audio fidelity but still need to use open-ear headphones, the FreeArcs are your go-to pick.

You're on a middling budget

While I can't recommend the Huawei FreeArc for people on a low budget, those willing to spend a middling amount will find these a great pick..

You have an iPhone or Huawei mobile

I've waxed lyrical about the app installation pains, but this isn't an issue for people who use iPhones or Huawei devices.

Don't buy them if...

You wait a while before charging

The FreeArcs' battery life isn't awful, but the case charge is. If you don't often get a chance to power up your gadgets, their 23-hour lasting time might not cut it.

You don't listen when it's quiet

Due to their design, you can only make the most of the Huaweis if you listen somewhere quiet. If you only use earbuds in noisy environments, you might not appreciate these buds.

Also consider

Honor Earbuds Open

These buds cost a little more and don't quite match the Huawei buds in sound, but their battery life is better, plus they offer effective active noise cancellation (I know, it shouldn't work, but it does).

Read our full Honor Earbuds Open review

OpenRock Pro

Fitness users should look perhaps to the OpenRock; they have an incredible battery life and a sturdy design – don't expect quite the levels of sonic brilliance as the Huawei or Honor options above though.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

How I tested

I listened to the Huawei FreeArcs for two weeks before writing this review, and the testing process coincided with that of two rivals: the Honor Earbuds Open and the EarFun Openjump, which helped me better understand all three.

I used the Huawei FreeArc alongside my Android smartphone for most of the review, and also paired them to my Windows laptop at several times. Mostly I listened to music on Spotify but also tested podcasts, games and TV shows. I tested them at home, in the office, on walks around my area and also for various workouts (road cycling, running and gym workouts).

The FreeArcs are the latest of many products I've reviewed for TechRadar; I've been doing so for over six years and have reviewed headphones, smartphones, tablets and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: March 2025

I’m an open-ear headphones naysayer, but the Honor Earbuds Open won me over for sound

2:00 pm | March 23, 2025

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

Honor Earbuds Open: One minute review

I’ve long been a naysayer of open-ear earbuds, despite (or probably because of) testing a huge number of them. However the first few months of 2025 brought a slew of impressive such buds to make me change my mind, and the Honor Earbuds Open is one of the ringleaders of the operation. While making it onto our list of the best open-ear earbuds is a relatively low bar, the Honors hurdle over it with ease.

Open-ear earbuds, for those of you who don’t know, are wireless earbuds that don’t sit in your ear, but rather very near your ear canal, to allow outside noises to get in too (useful for if you want to hear public service announcements on a commute, the noise of traffic that you’re nearby or light conversation). While Shokz popularized the category, most tech brands are now starting to reveal their own takes on an open-fit approach (production of such designs is reportedly up 600%, according to rival Huawei), and Honor is simply the latest company to take up the challenge. But the Chinese electronics firm, perhaps best known for its aspirational smartphones, has done a very good job here.

Given their design quirks, you have to forgive a few things with open-ear buds. But the slam-dunk of the Honor Earbuds Open is that they deliver everything you want in normal headphones, not just gimmicky "Ooh I can still hear you" ones.

For example, the Honors sound great, a compliment I’ve never once paid to open-ears. They offer energetic bass, bristling treble and a soundstage that’d be most welcome on normal earbuds, let alone ones that don’t even sit within your ears.

The fit is fantastic too, which is often the area that ruins otherwise-great open-ears. The Earbuds Open fit comfortably and securely, whether I was lounging at home, working out at the gym, cycling or going on runs. It was easy to forget I was wearing them at times!

Honor has also offered a feature that is incredibly rare in open-ears: active noise cancellation. When I first saw that the buds had this, I was baffled; after all, the entire point of open-ears is that they allow you to hear surrounding sounds. However in practice, it worked really well, with its light-touch implementation ensuring you can hear important environmental sounds without drowning your music in the hustle-and-bustle of city life.

A few issues affect the Honor Earbuds Open, most annoyingly the limited battery life which rules these out for long-distance runners. I also found the touch controls a little annoying to use, and you can easily mark any earbuds down for some of the features they don’t offer (an equalizer here) but none of these are deal-breakers… as you can probably tell, from the glowing review score and verdict.

The unfortunate release right at the same time as a cheaper, better-sounding rival (more on that in the 'Also consider' section) will only hurt the Honors, but they remain some of the best open-ear headphones on the market right now.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Specifications

Honor Earbuds Open review: Price and availability

The Honor Earbuds Open on a brown table. — (Image credit: Future)

Announced in February 2025
Priced at £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300)
Not on sale in Australia or US

The Honor Earbuds Open were announced at annual tech conference MWC in February 2025, alongside a few other Honor gadgets.

You can pick up the buds for £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300). Honor doesn’t seem to have a huge presence in the US or Australia, so I wouldn’t expect to see the buds go on sale in either region.

That’s a price slightly north of what some impressive rivals cost, (see the Shokz OpenFit Air, priced £119, which is around $150 or AU$229) but there are also big-name open-ears that cost a lot more, and the difference between Honor’s buds and its close rivals isn’t huge.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Design

Light-weight buds that are comfortable to wear
Comes in black or beige
Cigarette-case holder

The Honor Earbuds Open case reminds me of a cigarette case from an old movie. It’s wide and flat, incredibly slim and opens in a clamshell-style to reveal the curled earbuds hidden underneath. More practically, this compact design makes the case particularly easy to slip into pockets without it being a burden.

The case weighs roughly 80 x 61 x 20mm, and weighs 52.5g, so it’s smaller than a lot of other open-ear cases.

Now onto the buds: you can see the pictures, and you know what open-ear buds are like (hopefully, at least, if you’re considering buying some!). Like sport earbuds, they have a round-the-ear hook, holding the bud itself close to your ear and, hopefully, steadily in place.

I found the Honors to be some of the more comfortable open-ears I’ve tested, thanks to the light weight (7.9g) and their soft plastic material. They also held the bud surprisingly close to the ear, which probably helps explain the superior audio quality which we’ll get to.

Rarely, for a pair of open-ear buds that isn’t being marketed towards athletes, the buds are secure enough for intense sports. I took them for several runs and gym workouts and never had an issue – they stay in place just fine.

Each bud has a touch control, which you can toggle by double- or triple-pressing the body of the bud (the silver bit in the images). It readily picked up my touch every time, but since you have to repeatedly hit the part of the bud that hangs down, I found myself repeatedly pushing it into my ear when I wanted to pause, which was a little bit annoying.

Two other things to note: firstly, you can pick up the buds in black or beige (which Honor calls Polar Gold). Secondly, they have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash- and dust-proof – but don’t get them too wet.

Design score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open: Features

ANC is rare showing for open-ears
A few extra features with Honor app
Battery life is only 6 hours (40 for case)

The Honor Earbuds Open are the first open earbuds I’ve ever seen that have noise cancellation. What the point of noise cancellation is on an earbud form factor that people pick to let in outside sound I won’t understand, but it worked surprisingly well, so I can’t complain.

It’s by no means industry-leading noise cancellation, but its ‘less-is-more’ approach worked wonders. The open-ear frame lets you hear important sounds around you like train station announcements, the engines of nearby vehicles or calls from people in shops you’ve just left letting you know you’ve left your credit card behind. And the noise cancellation removes the unimportant sounds: distant traffic, annoying screeching trains and horrible weather conditions. Honor has found the Goldilocks spot for ANC: just right.

I personally chose to keep ANC off, not because I love hearing winds announcing that it was about to rain half-way through my 15k run, but because the battery life needs it. The buds only last for 6 hours of listening time when you’ve got ANC off, and even less when it’s on – I’d estimate about 4.5 hours. The charging case brings that total up to 22 hours which again isn’t great, and many rivals beat it.

If you download the Honor AI Space app on your smartphone, you get access to a few extra features. One of these is the ability to toggle the ANC on and off, another is the ability to connect to multiple smartphones, and you can also find your earbuds or change what the gesture controls do.

There’s technically an EQ toggle, but you can only change it between two modes: ‘Original’ and ‘Workout amplifier’, the latter of which I tested when I was working out and also in a more controlled sound environment. From what I can tell, the latter reduces the bass and the audio quality in favor of more volume and treble; I can see the reasoning for these changes, but they’re not pronounced enough for it to be worth the switch.

Another feature I need to flag is AI Translate; Honor’s website says you need the Honor Magic 7 Pro to use it, but it worked fine on my Realme phone. This is basically an interpreter app that lets you converse with someone in two of eleven languages, using both your phone’s speaker and the earbuds.

From what I can tell, and coming from someone who’s monolingual, it seemed to work well. It’s just a curious feature to come packaged with earbuds, especially when you could equally download and use Google Translate’s app.

Features score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Sound

The Honor Earbuds Open in a man's ear. — (Image credit: Future)

Large 16mm drivers
Impressive treble and bass
No equalizer

I was ready to declare the Honor Earbuds Open the best-sounding open earbuds I’d ever tried; unfortunately, another pair of open-ears I was testing alongside them somehow managed to just pip them to the post, but they’re still great to listen to. I regularly forgot that I was listening to open-ear buds!

Tech-wise, the Honors each boast a 16mm dynamic driver each, which is bigger than on most rivals I’ve tested. And it tells.

Perhaps the most noticeable improvement the Honor Earbuds Open offer over other open-ears I’ve tested is that they have this thing called ‘bass’ – I can’t remember the last buds with this form factor that I’ve tested that have any noticeable amount of bass, a natural side-effect of buds hovering above ears. However the Honors offer warm and energetic low tones, perfect for thumping workout tunes.

But that’s not all: the buds have crisp treble, which is another useful component that lets the Earbuds Open cut through noise, and a pronounced sound stage that makes songs sound detailed and rich when you’re wanting to enjoy your tunes.

The only audio problem I faced was one that’s pretty common in all kinds of wireless earbud: mid sounds fell by the wayside a little compared to treble and bass. But in the eternal words of Meat Loaf “two out of three ain’t bad”, and the Honors are the first open-ears I’ve tested that I’ve actually been glad to put on my ears.

Sound performance score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Value

Given that the open-ear bud market is still rather new, it’s hard to make decisive statements about the price categories for this kind of audio product. But I’d roughly say that these are at the cheaper end of the mid-range market.

With that in mind, there are definitely cheaper options available to you, although picking them up will naturally saddle you with worse-sounding earbuds (except in one case; more on that below). But there’s more to life than audio quality and some more affordable buds are better for certain uses, with longer battery life or more robust builds.

So if you’re looking for any passable pair of open-ears, the Honors might not offer you great value for money, but if you really care about good-sounding audio they’ll arguably be worth the higher price.

Value score: 4/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: scorecard

Honor Earbuds Open: Should I buy them?

Buy them if...

You need workout and non-workout open-ears

While many open-ear buds are best for exercising purposes, the Honors were equally good for that and for general use.

You need noise cancellation

There are very few open-ear buds that offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but the Honors do – and in use, it is effective.

You need earbuds that translate for you

Admittedly a very niche use case, but if you need an on-the-go translator, I can't think of another pair of earbuds that offer it as a feature!

Don't buy them if...

You need a longer battery life

If you want to listen for long periods of time, whether it's through a full work day or a long run or a journey, the Honors won't help you much.

You like to fiddle with your audio mix

It's pretty easy to find wireless earbuds with some kind of EQ tab, even many open-ears, so the Honors won't suit people who like to tinker with their tunes.

Also consider

Huawei FreeArc

These open-ears from Honor's ex-parent-company Huawei are cheaper than the Earbuds Open, plus they sound better and have a few more features. The battery life is even worse though.

Our full Huawei FreeArc review is just days away…

OpenRock Pro

These open-ears have a fantastic battery life, and they're really sturdy too, perfect for fitness users.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

How I tested

I used the Honor Earbuds Open for two weeks in order to write this review. I tested them at the same time as two rival open-ears: the Huawei FreeArc and EarFun Openjump, which provided ample opportunity for comparison.

Through the review I used them alongside my Android smartphone, largely for music streaming on Spotify but also for streaming TV shows and playing games. As mentioned through the review I used them at home, on walks around my neighborhood, on cycle rides, on runs and at the gym.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years now, and have reviewed, amongst other things, many other open-ear earbuds.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: March 2025

Recensione Redmi Buds 6

3:44 pm | February 4, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone & Communications Pro | Tags: AI, ANC, EQ | Comments: Off

Redmi Buds 6: Recensione rapida

Gli auricolari true wireless sono diventati un accessorio indispensabile per chi desidera ascoltare musica, effettuare chiamate o seguire contenuti multimediali senza fili e con la massima libertà di movimento. Xiaomi, con la serie Redmi Buds, ha sempre puntato su un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo, offrendo dispositivi accessibili ma ricchi di funzionalità. Con i nuovi Redmi Buds 6, il brand cerca di alzare ulteriormente l’asticella, proponendo un doppio driver per una qualità audio superiore, cancellazione attiva del rumore fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata.

Rispetto ai modelli precedenti, i Redmi Buds 6 migliorano diversi aspetti chiave, come la qualità del suono, la riduzione del rumore e il comfort. Pur mantenendo un prezzo competitivo di circa 43 euro, offrono funzioni avanzate che si trovano solitamente su dispositivi più costosi. Tuttavia, ci sono anche alcune limitazioni da considerare, come la mancanza della ricarica wireless e la scelta di un cavo USB-A a USB-C invece di un più moderno USB-C a USB-C. In questa recensione analizzeremo nel dettaglio tutti i pro e i contro, valutando se i Redmi Buds 6 rappresentano davvero la scelta ideale per chi cerca auricolari economici ma performanti.

Redmi Buds 6: Design, comodità, ergonomia

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un design moderno e compatto, progettato per un uso quotidiano confortevole e discreto. La custodia ha una finitura opaca che migliora la presa e riduce le impronte, un dettaglio che la rende più elegante e resistente nel tempo. È disponibile in tre colorazioni: Ivy Green, nero e bianco, permettendo una scelta estetica più ampia rispetto a molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo.

Il peso ridotto della custodia (43,2 g con gli auricolari inclusi) la rende facilmente trasportabile in tasca o in una borsa senza risultare ingombrante. Anche gli auricolari, che pesano solo 5 g ciascuno, sono leggeri e ben bilanciati, riducendo la fatica anche durante sessioni prolungate di ascolto.

Per garantire la migliore vestibilità possibile, Xiaomi include punte in silicone intercambiabili in più misure. Questo dettaglio è fondamentale per migliorare sia l’isolamento passivo dal rumore esterno sia il comfort, evitando che gli auricolari si spostino o risultino fastidiosi dopo un uso prolungato. Inoltre, la certificazione IP54 assicura resistenza a polvere e schizzi, rendendoli adatti all’uso in palestra o sotto la pioggia leggera.

Un aspetto da considerare è l’assenza della ricarica wireless, una funzione sempre più diffusa anche in modelli economici. Sebbene comprensibile per un dispositivo dal prezzo contenuto, avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente la comodità d’uso. Inoltre, il cavo incluso è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che potrebbe risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C.

Redmi Buds 6: Applicazione per smartphone

I Redmi Buds 6 sono compatibili con l’app Xiaomi Earbuds, disponibile per Android e iOS, che aggiunge un livello di personalizzazione e controllo avanzato alle cuffie. L’interfaccia è intuitiva e ben organizzata, permettendo di monitorare la batteria sia degli auricolari che della custodia, nonché di regolare impostazioni fondamentali per l’esperienza d’ascolto.

Tra le funzioni principali, spicca la possibilità di personalizzare i comandi touch per ogni auricolare, consentendo di assegnare azioni diverse a tocchi singoli, doppi o prolungati. È possibile, ad esempio, attivare/disattivare l’ANC, gestire la riproduzione musicale, rispondere alle chiamate o attivare l’assistente vocale.

L’app include anche quattro preset EQ per adattare il suono alle preferenze personali:

Bilanciato – un profilo neutro per la maggior parte degli ascoltatori.

Bassi potenziati – ideale per chi ascolta generi come EDM, hip-hop o rock.

Voce enfatizzata – perfetto per podcast, audiolibri e videochiamate.

Alti migliorati – consigliato per generi musicali con strumenti ad alta frequenza, come jazz o musica classica.

Un aspetto molto apprezzato è il supporto al dual device pairing, che permette di collegare due dispositivi contemporaneamente. Questa funzione è particolarmente utile per chi lavora con un laptop e uno smartphone, evitando la necessità di riconnessioni manuali. Ad esempio, si può ascoltare musica dal computer e passare automaticamente alle chiamate in arrivo sul telefono.

L’app offre inoltre strumenti pratici come il test di tenuta delle punte auricolari, che aiuta a verificare la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo per migliorare isolamento e comfort. Infine, consente di aggiornare il firmware, garantendo che gli auricolari siano sempre ottimizzati con le ultime migliorie software.

Redmi Buds 6: Isolamento passivo

Grazie al design in-ear, i Redmi Buds 6 offrono un buon isolamento passivo già senza la necessità di attivare l’ANC. La forma ergonomica e il peso ridotto (5 g per auricolare) permettono una tenuta salda e confortevole, riducendo naturalmente il rumore esterno. Questo aspetto è particolarmente utile in ambienti rumorosi, come uffici, trasporti pubblici o palestre, dove un buon isolamento passivo migliora l’esperienza d’ascolto senza dover sempre ricorrere alla cancellazione attiva del rumore.

Un ulteriore supporto all’isolamento è dato dalle punte in silicone intercambiabili, che consentono di adattare gli auricolari alle diverse conformazioni dell’orecchio. L’app Xiaomi Earbuds include inoltre un test di vestibilità, che verifica la corretta aderenza degli auricolari al condotto uditivo e aiuta a scegliere la misura di gommini più adatta. Questo non solo ottimizza l’isolamento acustico, ma migliora anche la resa sonora complessiva, evitando dispersioni di bassi e assicurando un audio più definito.

La leggerezza e la forma compatta delle Buds 6 le rendono ideali anche per l’attività fisica, garantendo stabilità anche durante movimenti intensi, come corsa o allenamenti in palestra.

Redmi Buds 6: Riduzione del suono ANC

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una cancellazione attiva del rumore (ANC) fino a 49 dB, un valore notevole per questa fascia di prezzo. Grazie ai quattro microfoni integrati, gli auricolari analizzano i suoni ambientali e li eliminano in tempo reale, migliorando sensibilmente l’esperienza d’ascolto, specialmente in ambienti rumorosi.

Nei test effettuati su voli, trasporti pubblici e uffici affollati, le Buds 6 si sono dimostrate molto efficaci nel ridurre rumori di fondo costanti, come il ronzio dei motori, il brusio delle persone o il ticchettio delle tastiere. Anche se non raggiungono il livello di cancellazione di modelli premium, la loro performance è più che adeguata per la maggior parte degli utenti.

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds consente di regolare l’intensità dell’ANC in base alle necessità, permettendo di scegliere tra più livelli di cancellazione. Questo è utile per trovare il giusto equilibrio tra isolamento e comfort, evitando quella sensazione di pressione auricolare che alcuni utenti avvertono con ANC troppo aggressivi.

Un’altra funzione apprezzata è la modalità trasparenza, che permette di amplificare i suoni ambientali, rendendo più facile ascoltare annunci nei trasporti pubblici o interagire con le persone senza dover rimuovere gli auricolari. La modalità voce migliorata è particolarmente utile per chiamate o conversazioni rapide, enfatizzando il parlato e filtrando il rumore di sottofondo.

Grazie alla combinazione di ANC efficace e modalità trasparenza ben implementata, le Buds 6 risultano ideali sia per chi vuole immergersi completamente nella musica o nel lavoro, sia per chi ha bisogno di rimanere consapevole dell’ambiente circostante.

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità musica

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono una qualità audio sorprendente per la loro fascia di prezzo, grazie all’architettura a doppio driver. Ogni auricolare è dotato di un driver dinamico in titanio da 12,4 mm, responsabile dei bassi potenti e della resa delle frequenze medio-basse, e di un driver piezoelettrico in ceramica da 5,5 mm, che migliora la riproduzione degli alti e la separazione dei dettagli sonori. Questa combinazione, solitamente riservata a modelli più costosi, garantisce un suono ricco e bilanciato, con un’ottima definizione degli strumenti e delle voci.

La mancanza di un equalizzatore personalizzabile può risultare una limitazione per gli utenti più esigenti, che preferiscono regolare manualmente le frequenze in base ai propri gusti. Tuttavia, la qualità audio offerta dal doppio driver compensa questa assenza, garantendo una riproduzione fedele e ben equilibrata.

Nel complesso, le Buds 6 si distinguono per una resa sonora dettagliata e dinamica, rendendole una scelta eccellente per chi cerca auricolari economici senza rinunciare a una buona esperienza musicale.

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità audio in chiamata

I Redmi Buds 6 sono progettate per garantire una qualità audio in chiamata chiara e affidabile, grazie a un sistema a quattro microfoni con riduzione del rumore AI. Questa tecnologia analizza e filtra i suoni di sottofondo, migliorando la nitidezza della voce e riducendo le interferenze ambientali.

Nei test effettuati in ambienti chiusi, come uffici o stanze silenziose, le Buds 6 garantiscono una trasmissione vocale pulita e naturale, senza distorsioni o eccessiva compressione del suono. All’aperto, in contesti più rumorosi come strade trafficate o luoghi affollati, la riduzione del rumore AI si dimostra efficace nel minimizzare il vento e i rumori di fondo, permettendo all’interlocutore di sentire chiaramente la conversazione.

Un ulteriore vantaggio è la possibilità di utilizzare un solo auricolare per le chiamate, utile per chi preferisce mantenere un orecchio libero per ascoltare l’ambiente circostante.

Queste caratteristiche rendono i Redmi Buds 6 particolarmente adatte a chi utilizza spesso gli auricolari per riunioni di lavoro, chiamate su piattaforme come Zoom o Teams, o semplicemente per conversazioni telefoniche in mobilità, senza preoccuparsi della qualità del microfono.

Redmi Buds 6: Batteria

I Redmi Buds 6 si distinguono per un’autonomia eccellente, superando molti concorrenti nella stessa fascia di prezzo. Gli auricolari offrono fino a 10 ore di utilizzo continuo senza ANC e circa 5 ore con la cancellazione del rumore attiva. Questo permette di coprire un’intera giornata lavorativa o lunghe sessioni di ascolto senza doverli ricaricare frequentemente.

La custodia di ricarica amplia ulteriormente l’autonomia, portandola a un totale di 42 ore, garantendo così diversi giorni di utilizzo senza necessità di collegare il dispositivo alla corrente. Un punto di forza è il supporto alla ricarica rapida, che permette di ottenere fino a 2 ore di riproduzione con pochi minuti di ricarica, una funzionalità particolarmente utile in situazioni di emergenza.

Un aspetto da considerare è la mancanza della ricarica wireless, che avrebbe migliorato ulteriormente l’usabilità, specialmente per chi utilizza caricabatterie wireless con il proprio smartphone o altri accessori. Inoltre, il cavo incluso nella confezione è USB-A a USB-C, una scelta che può risultare meno pratica per chi utilizza principalmente caricabatterie USB-C a USB-C, ormai standard nei dispositivi più recenti.

Nonostante questi piccoli compromessi, i Redmi Buds 6 si confermano tra le migliori opzioni in termini di durata della batteria e velocità di ricarica, offrendo un’ottima esperienza d’uso per chi cerca auricolari affidabili e con una lunga autonomia.

Redmi Buds 6: Confronto con altre varianti

La gamma Redmi Buds 6 include diverse varianti, pensate per soddisfare esigenze e budget differenti. Il modello Redmi Buds 6 Lite è la versione più economica, ma mantiene un buon livello di cancellazione del rumore fino a 40 dB e un driver dinamico da 12,4 mm. La sua autonomia arriva a 7 ore di utilizzo continuo e 38 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Play sono invece prive di ANC, ma offrono un driver da 10 mm e cinque modalità EQ per personalizzare l’audio. Hanno un’autonomia leggermente superiore, con 7,5 ore di utilizzo e un totale di 36 ore con la custodia.

I Redmi Buds 6 Active presentano un design semi-in-ear, che privilegia il comfort rispetto all’isolamento passivo. Sono dotate di un driver più ampio da 14,2 mm, ma l’autonomia è inferiore rispetto agli altri modelli, con 6 ore di riproduzione continua e 30 ore complessive.

Infine, i Redmi Buds 6 Pro rappresentano la versione più avanzata, con un sistema a triplo driver (11 mm + 2 piezoelettrici), supporto all’audio Hi-Res LDAC e una cancellazione del rumore fino a 55 dB. Questo modello è pensato per chi cerca la massima qualità audio e una cancellazione del rumore superiore.

Redmi Buds 6, ne vale la pena?

I Redmi Buds 6 offrono un equilibrio ideale tra funzionalità avanzate e prezzo accessibile, posizionandosi come una delle migliori opzioni nella loro fascia di mercato. Con un costo di circa 43 euro, questi auricolari garantiscono un’eccellente qualità audio grazie al sistema a doppio driver, una cancellazione attiva del rumore efficace fino a 49 dB e un’autonomia prolungata che permette di affrontare giornate intere senza preoccupazioni.

Alcune mancanze, come l’assenza della ricarica wireless e il cavo USB-A a USB-C anziché un più moderno USB-C a USB-C, avrebbero potuto migliorare ulteriormente l’esperienza d’uso. Tuttavia, considerando la qualità complessiva, queste limitazioni risultano secondarie rispetto ai numerosi vantaggi offerti.

I Redmi Buds 6 sono una scelta consigliata per chi cerca auricolari versatili, performanti e dal prezzo competitivo, senza rinunciare a funzionalità avanzate come l’ANC, la personalizzazione tramite app e il dual device pairing. Un prodotto solido, capace di soddisfare sia chi desidera un’esperienza musicale immersiva sia chi necessita di auricolari affidabili per chiamate e utilizzo quotidiano.

Ragioni per comprare

Audio di qualità con doppio driver

Il sistema a doppio driver (12,4 mm + 5,5 mm piezoelettrico) offre bassi profondi, alti cristallini e ottima separazione sonora.

ANC efficace fino a 49 dB

La cancellazione attiva del rumore riduce significativamente i rumori esterni, migliorando l’esperienza d’ascolto su voli, trasporti pubblici o ambienti affollati.

Autonomia eccellente e ricarica rapida

Le 10 ore di utilizzo continuo e le 42 ore totali garantiscono un’intera giornata di ascolto senza interruzioni.

Ragioni per NON comprare

Manca la ricarica wireless

L’assenza di ricarica wireless può essere un limite per chi possiede uno smartphone compatibile e vuole maggiore comodità.

No supporto a codec avanzati

Manca la compatibilità con aptX o LHDC, limitando la qualità audio per chi cerca un suono ad alta risoluzione su dispositivi compatibili.

No equalizzatore personalizzato

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds offre solo quattro preset EQ, ma manca la possibilità di regolare manualmente le frequenze audio preferite.

Alternative

Se i Redmi Buds 6 non ti convincono del tutto, esistono diverse opzioni valide nella stessa fascia di prezzo o leggermente superiore. Ecco tre alternative da considerare, ognuna con caratteristiche specifiche che potrebbero meglio adattarsi alle tue esigenze.

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2

Questi auricolari semi-in-ear offrono un’ottima ergonomia e una qualità audio equilibrata, con autonomia fino a 40 ore grazie alla custodia di ricarica. Pur non avendo ANC, la loro vestibilità garantisce un discreto isolamento passivo. Sono ideali per chi cerca auricolari leggeri e comodi per un utilizzo quotidiano.

Sony WF-C510

Sony è sinonimo di qualità audio, e i WF-C510 offrono un suono ricco e dettagliato con supporto DSEE, che migliora la resa delle tracce audio compresse. L’autonomia è eccellente, con 10 ore per carica e fino a 30 ore con la custodia. Non hanno ANC, ma compensano con una resa sonora superiore.

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS

Questi auricolari Hi-Res certificati sono tra i migliori nella loro fascia di prezzo per qualità audio. Supportano il codec LDAC, offrendo una maggiore fedeltà sonora rispetto ai normali SBC/AAC. Sono semi-in-ear, quindi non offrono ANC, ma la loro qualità audio e connettività stabile li rendono un’ottima alternativa.

Recensione Redmi Buds 6

3:44 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone & Communications Pro | Tags: AI, ANC, EQ | Comments: Off

Redmi Buds 6: Recensione rapida

Redmi Buds 6: Design, comodità, ergonomia

Redmi Buds 6: Applicazione per smartphone

L’app include anche quattro preset EQ per adattare il suono alle preferenze personali:

Bilanciato – un profilo neutro per la maggior parte degli ascoltatori.

Bassi potenziati – ideale per chi ascolta generi come EDM, hip-hop o rock.

Voce enfatizzata – perfetto per podcast, audiolibri e videochiamate.

Alti migliorati – consigliato per generi musicali con strumenti ad alta frequenza, come jazz o musica classica.

Redmi Buds 6: Isolamento passivo

La leggerezza e la forma compatta delle Buds 6 le rendono ideali anche per l’attività fisica, garantendo stabilità anche durante movimenti intensi, come corsa o allenamenti in palestra.

Redmi Buds 6: Riduzione del suono ANC

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità musica

Redmi Buds 6: Qualità audio in chiamata

Un ulteriore vantaggio è la possibilità di utilizzare un solo auricolare per le chiamate, utile per chi preferisce mantenere un orecchio libero per ascoltare l’ambiente circostante.

Redmi Buds 6: Batteria

Redmi Buds 6: Confronto con altre varianti

Redmi Buds 6, ne vale la pena?

Ragioni per comprare

Audio di qualità con doppio driver

Il sistema a doppio driver (12,4 mm + 5,5 mm piezoelettrico) offre bassi profondi, alti cristallini e ottima separazione sonora.

ANC efficace fino a 49 dB

La cancellazione attiva del rumore riduce significativamente i rumori esterni, migliorando l’esperienza d’ascolto su voli, trasporti pubblici o ambienti affollati.

Autonomia eccellente e ricarica rapida

Le 10 ore di utilizzo continuo e le 42 ore totali garantiscono un’intera giornata di ascolto senza interruzioni.

Ragioni per NON comprare

Manca la ricarica wireless

L’assenza di ricarica wireless può essere un limite per chi possiede uno smartphone compatibile e vuole maggiore comodità.

No supporto a codec avanzati

Manca la compatibilità con aptX o LHDC, limitando la qualità audio per chi cerca un suono ad alta risoluzione su dispositivi compatibili.

No equalizzatore personalizzato

L’app Xiaomi Earbuds offre solo quattro preset EQ, ma manca la possibilità di regolare manualmente le frequenze audio preferite.

Alternative

Huawei FreeBuds SE 2

Sony WF-C510

SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS

Earfun Air 2 NC review: budget earbuds that impress with tailored ANC and sound, though their design lacks refinement

12:00 am | January 27, 2025

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

Earfun Air 2 NC review: Two-minute review

The Earfun Air 2 NC endeavor to avoid the fate befalling far too many options in the budget audio tech space – being woefully disappointing in the sound department. Luckily, they manage to do just that, offering punchy bass, clean mids and controlled treble, as well as LDAC compatibility. Given their list price of $69 / £59 (about AU$110), that’s impressive.

Sure, the Earfun Air 2 NC won’t deliver audiophile-grade sound – I wasn’t wowed by supremely detailed, immersive audio or anything. But for what they are, the Earfun Air 2 NC perform very nicely, plating up well-weighted vocals and even solid sub-bass. You might get a bit of harshness at top volumes, but I personally never needed to listen quite so loudly.

Something that helps the Earfun Air 2 NC sound even better is an excellent EQ tab. Just hop into the Earfun Audio app and choose from a wide range of presets, including genre-specific ones. There’s also a custom option to use and an intriguing, yet perhaps unpolished personalized sound option, which is based on your own listening. Having tested many, I can confidently say that even some of the best wireless earbuds don’t offer quite as much scope for tailoring on this front.

Another area with impressive customization is active noise cancellation. You can switch between five noise cancelling modes, including ear-adaptive and wind resistance configurations. Given that you can also personalize touch controls here, you get plenty of ways to make these earbuds your own.

It’s not totally smooth sailing, however. There are a couple of small drawbacks to bear in mind, such as a disappointing spatial audio setting, called Theater Mode. Although this may expand the soundstage somewhat, overall audio quality takes quite the hit, making it a pretty redundant inclusion. They aren’t the prettiest on the market either and the stems may not be diminutive enough for anyone craving a more discreet look.

There are some neat design choices here, though, like IPX5 waterproofing, which will keep your buds protected against heavy rain or sweat for outdoor or intensive listening sessions. Battery-wise, they’re absolutely fine too. You get six hours with ANC on and nine with it turned off, but the charging case should give you enough juice to last a few days, even if you listen at fairly high volumes and with LDAC turned on.

So, given their low price, you get a lot out of the Earfun Air 2 NC. They’re not going to blow you away with next-level sound, battery life or looks, but they excel in all of the key areas. It’s pretty competitive in the budget wireless earbud department – there are some truly incredible alternatives out there, including the brilliant, albeit ANC-less, Sony WF-C510 or even the Earfun Air Pro 3 – regularly available at a discount. But, if you want a strong pair of wireless earbuds at an affordable price, I’d still happily recommend the Earfun Air 2 NC.

Earfun Air 2 NC in charging case against pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Earfun Air 2 NC review: price and release date

$69 / £59 (about AU$110)
Launched in 2024

The Earfun Air 2 NC were released in 2024 and initially had a slightly higher list price, which has since been reduced to $69 / £59 (about AU$110). However, you may be able to get these buds for even less. At the time of writing, I’ve spotted these going for just over the £40 mark on Amazon UK – that’s phenomenal value for money. If you’re not such a fan of the Black / Gray colorway shown in this review, you can alsograb the Earfun Air 2 NC in White.

Earfun Air 2 NC review: specs

Person picking up Earfun Air 2 NC bud out of charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Earfun Air 2 NC review: features

Effective, customizable ANC
Good EQ options
Solid battery life

The Earfun Air 2 NC boast a pretty impressive feature-set for a budget pair of earbuds. A lot of that comes courtesy of the Earfun Audio app, which opens you up to a whole host of options, including multi-point connectivity, EQ adjustment and much more.

Let’s start with EQ, which is a robust offering – something I’ve come to expect from testing other Earfun earbuds and speakers such as the Earfun UBoom X. There’s a custom option here, but you also get a lot of genre-specific EQ presets, such as Jazz and Hip Hop.

If you want, you can also use My Sound Profile, which allows you to create a personalized EQ calibration based on a series of listening tests. However, I found this didn’t work all too well and presented a fairly muted sound profile when in use. My Sound Profile is certainly a worthwhile feature in concept, with competitors like Anker nailing the similar HearID option on the Soundcore Space One Pro, for instance – I just wish the Air 2 NC delivered better results.

But there’s still a lot of juicy goodness to sink your teeth into with the Air 2 NC. For instance, the companion app allows you to customize noise cancellation for various settings. There are five different modes: Normal, Ambient Sound, Wind Noise Cancellation, Ear-Adaptive ANC and Noise Cancelling.

When testing each (both indoors and in outdoor environments as well as public transport), I found all of them to be effective, but I typically leaned towards using Ear-Adaptive ANC, which optimizes noise cancelling according to the shape of your ear canal. When using this mode, I couldn’t hear the sound of loud typing in the office and loud external noises, like the roar of a car’s engine, were aptly dulled. Are you going to get the stunning near-silence that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 can offer, for instance? No. But for what you pay, you’ll be impressed with how well the Air 2 NC quieten the outside world.

You also get pretty solid battery life here – nine hours with ANC off and six with it on. This will vary if you’re playing at higher volumes or using the LDAC audio codec, of course. The charging case should help you keep the buds juiced up for intermittent listening over a multi-day period too.

On top of that, the Air 2 NC have customizable touch controls. You can select from a range of commands, like volume up/down, play/pause, skip/replay, which can vary for the left and right bud – just choose whatever feels best for you.

There’s a lot more here too: a Find Headphones option, LDAC toggle (more on this later), Voice Prompt options (which lets you switch between English, Japanese or Mandarin cues) and a Game Mode, which is designed to reduce audio latency. All of this is welcome, although there was one option I found to be a bit sub-par: Theater Mode. Earfun claims that with Theater Mode on, you get a wider soundstage and more immersive sonic experience. Does it do that? Well, partially. But this comes at the expense of lower quality audio, which instantly renders it pointless in my view.

So, although Theater Mode and My Sound Profile are a little unrefined, you still get all the main features you’d want from budget ANC earbuds, plus a little more. Overall, you’re still getting a great user experience with the Earfun Audio app too, which is easy to use and well laid out. Positive stuff, all in all.

Features score: 4/5

Earfun Air 2 NC earbuds on surface — (Image credit: Future)

Earfun Air 2 NC review: sound quality

Punchy bass
Clear and rarely harsh all-round audio
LDAC compatibility

OK, good news, the Earfun Air 2 NC perform impressively in the audio quality department for their humble asking fee. Yes, the caveat remains: they sound surprisingly zealous, detailed and musical given their modest price tag. No, you’re not going to get premium sound from these buds, but you can certainly expect a solid sonic experience for the money.

When listening to Too Young to Die - Extended by Jamiroquai, the track’s bass was smooth, rich and clean, with brass instruments and vocals in the mid-range coming through without harshness or distortion at around 60-70% volume. Higher-pitched percussion was never tinny either and background vocals sounded well-weighted, making for a satisfying, enjoyable listen.

The Air 2 NC also have LDAC compatibility, which can be activated via the Earfun app. This comes at the expense of multi-point – which has to be switched off manually (but that's the case with much pricier buds we've tested, including the triple-device multipoint in the Technics EAH-AZ100). LDAC is a nice addition for those who want a more detailed listen and I kept it switched on when listening to tracks on Tidal, which are a lot less compressed than those lossy Spotify streams.

Still, I wasn’t always struck by the Air 2 NC’s ability to unveil the finer details. For instance, I tuned into the densely layered I Want You by Moloko and although the Air 2 NC excelled in delivering the track’s low-end punch, the breathiness of vocals and discreet instrumental details throughout were perhaps a little lacking. That’s fine for some more budget earbuds of course, but it’s worth flagging that LDAC doesn’t always equal incredibly detailed audio.

Again, overall quality is strong here. When listening to Magic by Yung Gravy, booming bass was impactful and deep without drowning out main or background vocals. You even get up-to-scratch sub bass, which can often be a problem for cheaper wireless earbuds. I did notice a touch of sibilance from vocals when I cranked volume up to 100%, but I never really needed to listen quite that loudly.

Thanks to the extensive list of EQ presets here, you can easily tailor sound to your liking on the Earfun Air 2 NC. Will that mean you get that perfectly detailed listen audiophiles go mad for? No – but you’ll still get great audio quality for the price you pay.

Sound quality score: 4/5

Earfun Air 2 NC and charging case on surface against pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Earfun Air 2 NC review: design

Long stems on earbuds not for everyone
Fairly plasticky build
IPX5 water resistant

Onto perhaps a more controversial aspect of the Earfun Air 2 NC: their design. The earbuds have a curved design with long stems. These stems are handy for swiftly removing the buds from your ear, but they’re not the most beautiful looking. If you’re someone who prefers a more discreet look, you may also find the Air 2 NC’s earpieces a little oversized.

You can get these buds in either a white or black colorway – I tested the latter. This looked fine enough, but part of each bud has a gray coating with the Earfun logo, which isn’t particularly easy on the eye. The case, meanwhile, comes in a neat Black color with a USB-C port and an LED light to display whether it's charging – no complaints here.

In terms of build quality, you’re not going to get the most premium pair of earbuds ever. The Air 2 NC do perhaps feel a little plasticky, but that’s to be expected at this price point. In the ear, however, they are comfortable and I didn’t feel the need to take them out, even after multiple hours of listening.

They may not have the most high-durability construction, then, but they are fairly well protected against the elements. That’s because the Air 2 NC are IPX5 waterproof rated, meaning they can withstand water projected by a nozzle. That means if you’re listening in the rain or working out, you won’t have to worry about moisture damaging your buds.

Design score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air 2 NC review: value

Great audio for the cost
Great customizable ANC and comfortable in-ear fit
Sometimes even cheaper thanks to sales

One of the big draws of the Earfun Air 2 NC is their excellent low price. They have a list price of $69 / £59 (about AU$110), but I’ve already spotted them on sale with some retailers. Considering that you get impressive audio and a decent suite of features, you’re looking at brilliant value.

As the years go by, its becoming more common to get ANC at a budget price, but still, you get very customizable noise cancelling here, including ear-adaptive and wind-resistant options. OK, battery life is by no means exceptional, but it's not too bad – the same goes for design and build quality. But these are subordinate to the crucial areas of sound quality and in-ear comfort.

Value score: 4.5/5

Person holding Earfun Air 2 NC charging case — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Earfun Air 2 NC?

Buy them if...

You want customizable ANC
If you’re looking for active noise cancellation but don’t want to splash too much cash, the Earfun Air 2 NC are a worthy option. There are a ton of different noise cancelling modes to play around with here, including Wind noise reduction and ear-adaptive ANC – even some more expensive rivals don’t offer this level of customization.

You’re on a fairly tight budget
If you’re looking for some highly competent wireless earbuds but don’t have a blank check, the Earfun Air 2 NC are worth keeping in mind. At $69 / £59, you’re getting solid audio quality and ANC as well as a comfortable fit and commendable feature-set – at this price, you can’t ask for a whole lot more.

Don't buy them if...

You want premium audio quality
If you’re on the hunt for super-detailed, ultra-immersive and perfectly balanced audio, the Earfun Air 2 NC may not be for you. Quality here is by no means bad, but it’s not premium. If you have a bit more cash to play with, an excellent-sounding wireless option would be the Technics EAH-AZ100.

You’re looking for a discreet look
Each earbud here has a long stem, which may be to your liking if you want a more ‘pinchable’ design. But if you’re on the hunt for a more low-key pair of earbuds, this might be a little overbearing. Some excellent, small earbuds that I loved in 2024 were the LG Tone Free T90S, if that’s more your style.

Earfun Air 2 NC: also consider

JLab Go Pop ANC
If you’re looking for the ultimate, super-cheap pair of wireless earbuds, you’ll struggle to find better than the JLab Go Pop ANC. For less than $30 / £30, you get decent ANC, solid overall audio and companion app compatibility. If you’re looking for all the essentials at an incredible price point, this is an option well-worth considering. Read our full JLab Go Pop ANC review.

Sony WF-C700N
We still consider the Sony WF-C700N to be some of the best cheaper noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy. They offer detailed, immersive audio, an incredibly comfortable fit and a fantastic companion app to boot. Don’t be put off by their list price too, they’re often available for less than $100 / £70. Read our full Sony WF-C700N review.

Earfun Air 2 NC review: how I tested

Tested for two weeks
Used in the office and while on walks
Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I tested the Earfun Air 2 NC over the course of two weeks, listening with them for hours during each working day. I used them at the office, while at home and when on walks to assess the quality of ANC across multiple environments.

For the most part, I tested these wireless buds using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I did also try using them with both Spotify and YouTube. When listening to music, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres but I also tuned in to hours worth of tunes from my personal library.

Where appropriate, I compared these to my Sony WF-C700N earbuds on metrics such as comfort, audio quality, ANC capabilities and features.

First reviewed: January 2025
Read more about how we test

Technics EAH-AZ100 review: premium true wireless earbuds that bridge gap between ‘good’ and ‘great’

8:30 pm | January 7, 2025

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

Technics EAH-AZ100: Two-minute review

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Announced at a press conference at CES2025, the new Technics EAH-AZ100 are the company’s latest and (on paper, at least) and most thorough attempt to make meaningful waves in the stacked markets that are the best earbuds and best noise-cancelling earbuds.

There’s no denying the lengths to which the company has gone. From the extremely thorough specification (covering everything from multipoint connectivity and adaptive noise-cancellation to Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with LDAC compatibility) to design (smaller, lighter and yet somehow no less premium in look and feel to the model they replace), the Technics EAH-AZ100 are ready to compete. Control options are numerous and well implemented, and the carefully ergonomic design extends as far as providing five different sizes of ear tip.

Of course, if you’re competing at the upper end of the market it’s important to go to these sorts of lengths. The most obvious products the Technics EAH-AZ100 intend to usurp – Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the Pi6 by Bowers & Wilkins, the ubiquitous WF-1000XM5 from Sony – all look good on paper, too. The fight, as always, will be won or lost where sound quality is concerned.

And the sound quality that’s available here is convincing in pretty much every respect – or, at least, it is with ANC switched on. With noise-cancelling engaged, the AZ100 sound robust, insightful and thoroughly musical and sit easily among the best ANC earbuds out there. They can turn their hand to pretty much anything where styles of music are concerned, and are able to extract the most transient details in the most unpromising circumstances. Switch ANC off, through, and the solidly punchy and nicely controlled low frequencies lose a lot of their substance - and the Technics sound fractionally lightweight as a result. There’s a lesson there somewhere…

Technics EAH-AZ100: Price and release date

Release date: 7 January, 2025
Price: $299; £259; AU$478 (approx.)

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are on sale from 7 January 2025, having been unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. They are an update on Technics' much lauded EAH-AZ80, which arrived in 2023. A US price of $299 (the same asking fee as their predecessors) also puts the AZ100 into competition with any number of well-regarded rivals – think Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser and Sony just for starters…

Technics EAH-AZ100: Specs

Technics EAH-AZ100: Features

App screenshots showing settings for the Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codec compatibility
10mm free-edge dynamic drivers with ‘magnetic fluid’ technology
Three-device multipoint connectivity

No matter what you think of the way the Technics EAH-AZ100 perform, there’s no arguing with the feature set here. Technics has laid it on with the proverbial trowel.

For instance, the EAH-AZ100 use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and compatibility with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs means there’s something for everyone here. Perhaps it might have been nice to see Qualcomm’s aptX range of codec supported, too, but I guess you can’t have everything,

Once the digital audio information has been wirelessly received, it’s delivered to your ears by a pair of 10mm full-range dynamic drivers with free-edge aluminum diaphragms. The gap between the driver magnet and the voice-coil is filled with a viscous liquid charged with magnetic particles – Technics suggests this results in precise low-frequency response and low distortion throughout the frequency range. They quote a frequency response of 20Hz - 40kHz.

You’re able to enjoy this full-range sound for a good while, too. In the most favorable circumstances (using the AAC codec with active noise-cancellation switched off) the earbuds should play for around 12 hours between charges, and even if you go to town (using the hi-res LDAC codec with ANC switched on) you should be good for seven hours or so. The charging case is good for a respectable-but-hardly-startling one-and-a-half further charges, and you can go from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ in around two hours when charging via USB-C. Fifteen minutes on the juice is good for 90 minutes of playback. The EAH-AZ100 are compatible with Qi-certified charging pads, too, and need around three hours to become fully charged this way.

The noise-cancelling itself is of a new ‘adaptive’ design that intends to adapt to fit the wearer’s ear and deliver optimal results. Three mics per earbud also look after voice control telephony, and Technics has introduced ‘Voice Focus AI’ in order to provide the best possible call quality. The AI noise-reduction chip analyzes your surroundings in order to filter out unwanted sound, and at the same time assesses the incoming call quality in an effort to make conversations as pain-free as possible.

What else? Well, the AZ100 offer three-point connectivity for the inveterate multi-taskers among us. A suite of Dolby technologies – ‘Atmos’, ‘Audio’ and ‘Head-tracking’ – offers spatial audio, enhanced clarity for voice-based content, and a sound-field that responds to the movement of your head respectively.

Feature quality score: 5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Design

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphone case on white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

21 x 26 x 25mm (earbud); 36 x 69 x 27mm (charging case)
5.9g (earbud); 42g (charging case)
Five sizes of ear tip

Technics has long had a bee in its bonnet about the fit of true wireless in-ear headphones, and with the EAH-AZ100 it has gone to even greater lengths than before to ensure the earbuds are a secure and comfortable fit for lugholes of all shapes and sizes.

Both the earbuds and the case in which they charge are smaller and lighter than the outgoing EAH-AZ80 model. The concha shape and fit has been reworked, and there are now five sizes of ear tip provided in the package. It seems unlikely in the extreme that you’ll be unable to ensure your AZ100 fit snugly and remain comfortable for hours on end.

Otherwise, it’s high-end Technics earbuds business as usual. The EAH-AZ100 are available in silver or black, and no matter which finish you prefer, you’ll find yourself in possession of well-made, carefully finished and quite tactile earbuds that travel in a smooth, robust charging case with a nice slice of aluminum across the top which bears the company logo.

App showing different controls for Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Controlling the AZ100 can be done in a number ways, each nicely implemented and responsive. Your source player’s native voice assistant is available, of course, and interactions are rapid and reliable. The same can be said for the capacitive touch-surface on each earbud - it’s in the same spot as the brand logo, and is as responsive and reliable as these things ever get. And you can rearrange the meaning of the various ‘touch’ or ‘hold’ commands in the newly reworked ‘Technics Audio’ control app that’s free for iOS and Android. It’s not, perhaps, the most exciting-looking control app around, but it has a huge array of functionality (from adjusting EQ settings to finessing the amount of noise-cancellation you prefer) and proves utterly stable over the long haul.

Design quality score: 5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Sound quality

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones, one facing up and the other facing down, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Balanced, detailed and respectably dynamic sound
Energetic and unified presentation
Pronounced difference in sound depending on whether ANC is on or off

Asking a premium price for true wireless headphones means there’s really no hiding place when it comes to sound quality – ‘good’ is nothing like good enough. Happily, the Technics EAH-AZ100 are never less than ‘very good indeed’ and are capable of giving the class leaders plenty to worry about.

No matter if they’re dealing with a 16bit/44.1kHz FLAC file of Summon the Fire by The Comet Is Coming via AAC or a 24bit/96kHz copy of Weyes Blood’s Grapevine using LDAC, they’re a balanced and insightful listen, more than capable of bringing order to ear no matter how unruly a recording might think it is. Detail levels are high at every turn, and the AZ100 organize and lay out a recording with such confidence that even the densest tunes are easy to understand.

With ANC on and EQs set to ‘direct’ (which basically means ‘flat’), these Technics are a straightforwardly enjoyable and entirely convincing listen. Low frequency activity is deep, punchy and textured, and controlled with enough authority to make sure rhythms are expressed with assurance. The midrange is open and informative, with a whole stack of detail regarding tone and timbre not only made available but put carefully into context. And there’s proper drive and attack at the top end, but treble sounds have sufficient substance to ensure they never become hard or bitey.

Best of all is the way the AZ100 unify the entirety of the frequency range. They’re completely even-handed, and the sweep from the top end to the bottom is smooth – no area is given undue prominence, no area is underplayed. It’s possible to alter this stance quite radically if you fiddle with the EQ settings, of course, but it’s obvious Technics’ engineers have found a suitable balance – it’s called ‘direct’.

Despite the carefully judged frequency response and naturalistic tonal balance, though, the AZ100 are an energetic and decently dynamic listen when the material you’re listening to demands it. They fairly power through up-tempo stuff like Claro Intelecto’s Peace of Mind and make broad and fine dynamic variations completely obvious. They do this all with absolute authority – the Technics are always in control, and consequently the organization of the soundstage never gets blurred or uncertain.

All the above applies if you have active noise-cancellation switched on, and the ANC itself is pretty effective by the standards of any premium brand that isn’t Bose. Companies both large and small have tried in vain to replicate the almost eerie Bose Blanket of Silence, and all have failed – Technics is simply the latest. But if you accept that the ANC here can be bettered, it’s actually very effective where all but the most near-field, loud and toppy frequency occurrences are concerned.

Switch ANC off, though, and the AZ100 undergo a strange and obvious change in their sonic character. Low frequencies lose a degree of substance, and the overall presentation becomes rather flimsy and lightweight. It may well be fair to suggest that very few people buy a pair of true wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation in order to leave the ANC turned off, but it’s equally fair to point out that any number of alternative designs sound exactly the same no matter if the ANC is operating or not.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Value

Rear of Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones carry case, showing USB-C charging port — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Look and feel like a premium item
Balanced, convincing sound (with ANC on)
Very thoroughly specified

Touching and wearing the Technics EAH-AZ100 is a very pleasant experience. They’re nicely made and finished from tactile materials, and the care the company has taken where ergonomics are concerned means getting a secure and comfortable fit is no problem whatsoever.

Technics has been similarly thorough when it comes to specification, too. If you judge value for money by the spec-sheet yardstick, a) you’re not alone, and b) you’re in business here. The AZ100 are handsomely specified, with triple-device multipoint connectivity to boot. Only the lack of aptX compatibility sounding the mildest of false notes.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Technics EAH-AZ100?

Buy them if...

You value comfort
Small, light, very carefully shaped and with a very wide choice of ear tips, the EAH-AZ100 are no kind of burden to wear for hours on end

You enjoy vibrant, informative sound
Keep the ANC switched on and the Technics will reward you with an audio performance that strikes a very nice balance between ‘insight’ and ‘entertainment’

You’re a full-on multi-tasker
Triple-point wireless connectivity means your EAH-AZ100 can connect simultaneously to your laptop, your tablet and your smartphone, and switch seamlessly between them

Don't buy them if...

You’re far from mains power for days at a time
Seven hours (with ANC on) from the earbuds and another 10 hours or so from the charging case ain’t bad – but not if you like to rock around the clock…

Noise-cancellation is the most important thing
To be honest, Technics is far from alone in having ANC that’s not quite as good as that provided by Bose. If noise-cancellation is paramount, buy a pair of QuietComfort Ultra and be done with it

You’re not very dextrous
The earbuds fit snugly into their charging case, and unless you have fingers like cocktail sticks it can be a little tricky getting them out

Technics EAH-AZ100: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
If you’re after class-leading noise-cancellation along with very competitive ‘everything else’ you need to check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds – oh, and they are also available at a new and improved price-point. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

Sony WF-1000XM5
They’re surely not long for this world, but that just means that the Sony WF-1000XM5 are now routinely available for less than $230, and that means they are even more difficult to ignore than before. Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review.

How I tested the Technics EAH-AZ100

Connected to an iPhone 14 Pro and a FiiO M15S
Various codecs, various file types and various styles of music
Listened (on and off) for very nearly a month

When connected to my iPhone 14 Pro, I am of course limited to the AAC codec - but this is nevertheless a decent-sounding smartphone and reveals a lot of what makes the EAH-AZ100 tick. The best results, though, naturally come via the FiiO M15S digital audio player – it’s compatible with the LDAC codec, which means higher resolution and an altogether fuller audio experience.

I spent the best part of a month (not 24/7, obviously) listening to the Technics earbuds, and in that time listened to a lot of different types of music, of different file standards and resolutions. And it wouldn’t be any kind of hardship to have to do it all again…

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025

Sony LinkBuds Fit: The best fitness earbuds for people who don’t like earbuds

1:00 pm | December 21, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: ANC, Jabra Elite | Comments: Off

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Two minute review

The Sony LinkBuds Fit are the latest addition to Sony’s mid-range true wireless earbud lineup. Sony has a solid reputation for making some of the best high-end buds, while also catering to people on a budget with more affordable options. The LinkBuds range has already impressed in the past, with models like the original Sony LinkBuds, which have an open-ear design, and the Sony LinkBuds S with a closed design that are perfect for smaller ears.

The LinkBuds Fit take a slightly different approach. The name tends to suggest these buds are targeted at fitness lovers – and they are – but it also hints at their best feature, a fantastic fit. They stay put throughout rigorous workouts, but are also light and comfortable enough for all-day wear while you work.

They won’t beat the very best earbuds when it comes to sound quality or noise cancellation. Sony’s high-end models, like the WF-1000XM5, are considerably better on those fronts and Bose is still ahead of the competition when it comes to ANC, with the QuietComfort Ultra.

But although the LinkBuds Fit don’t have top-tier features, they make up for it with an option that we think is a reliable and versatile choice for most people. They’re perfect for movement, sports, and anyone who has struggled to find earbuds that fit securely without sacrificing comfort.

Becca holding one of the Sony Linkbuds Fit earbuds — (Image credit: Future)

Let’s start with the fit, which is genuinely excellent. I’ve reviewed many earbuds in this mid-range price bracket, including fitness-focused models, and these are among my favorites. They’re small, lightweight, and versatile, making them ideal for almost anything – whether you’re working at a desk all day or doing intense workouts at the gym.

The fit stands out for several reasons. Each earbud weighs just 4.9g, so light that you might forget you’re wearing them. While there are lighter options – like the budget Jlab Go Pop ANC at 4.1g per bud – few fitness-oriented earbuds with noise cancellation and robust features are this light. For comparison, the Jabra Elite 8 Active, some of my favorites, weigh 5g per bud, and the Sennheiser Momentum Sport buds come in at 6.4g per bud, which is a significant difference for such small devices.

The stability and comfort are enhanced by two key features. First, the silicone tips, which are standard with most true wireless earbuds. Although there are only three sizes included, I found the pre-installed tips surprisingly perfect for my ears, even though I usually size down. That said, the limited tip selection might not suit everyone. Second, the earbuds feature silicone fins that fit snugly into the cartilage of your ear. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of how the fins looked, but they’re very effective at holding the buds in place, which won me over.

These earbuds aren’t just comfortable; they’re incredibly stable. I tested them while running in the rain, perfecting calisthenics skills upside down on parallel bars, attending a yoga class, and working out at the gym. No matter the activity, they stayed firmly in place without ever feeling tight or uncomfortable.

Aesthetically, they have a minimal yet playful design, with an almost bubble-like appearance for both the buds and the charging case. Their small size and lightweight build make them look discreet in your ears, without protruding too much, like some competitors. The design seems aimed at a younger audience, which makes sense given they’re marketed as a collaboration with singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo.

The charging case is a bit chunkier and less streamlined than those of rival buds. While I personally love its unique, slightly marble-like finish (available on the white and green versions), it might not be as pocket-friendly. If you want other colors, the Sony LinkBuds Fit also come in black and violet.

A close up of the Sony linkbuds fit earbuds next to their case — (Image credit: Future)

The Sony LinkBuds Fit have two noise-cancelling modes: standard and ambient. The standard mode isn’t best-in-class. For example, I could hear myself typing at my desk and a baby crying in a cafe. However, it effectively blocked out low-frequency sounds like the hum of a heater or the rumble of a train. It seems particularly effective at dampening hums and rumbles rather than completely silencing all noise.

With that in mind, if you want near silence, the Sony LinkBuds Fit might not be the right choice. They’re designed to reduce noise rather than eliminate it completely, which I personally appreciate as it keeps me aware of alarms or emergencies. For those needing to hear their surroundings, the ambient mode also reduces noise while still allowing announcements and other key sounds to come through.

These settings can be adjusted in the Sony Connect app, which is packed with features. You’ll find expected options, like EQ settings (with an intuitive process to determine your favored presets), head-tracking sound, and multipoint pairing. There are also more unique features, such as a mode that makes your music sound more like background noise, adaptive sound control that adjusts based on what you’re doing, and a speak-to-chat feature that pauses music when you talk. If this all feels overwhelming, the good news is you don’t need to customize every feature to enjoy a great experience right out of the box.

Connectivity is robust, with Bluetooth 5.3 supporting AAC, SBC, LDAC, and LC3 codecs, catering to a wide range of preferences and devices.

You can also customize gesture controls via the app. Sony claims you can tap the area below your earlobe or between your ear and sideburn to activate gestures, but I couldn’t get this to work reliably. Instead, I had to tap the buds themselves, which occasionally required a firm tap to register.

Battery life is solid, offering 5.5 hours with noise-canceling on and eight hours without. This matched my testing, though it varies depending on the audio codec and extra features you’re using. With the case, you’ll get just over 20 hours in total. While decent by modern true wireless standards, it’s not exceptional. For example, the more affordable Sony WF-C510s deliver 11 hours of playback but lack noise-cancelling – so your choice depends on your priorities.

As expected for workout-focused earbuds, the LinkBuds Fit have an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to sweat. However, don’t take them in the shower or to the swimming pool.

The exterior of the sony linkbuds fit case — (Image credit: Future)

During testing, the Sony LinkBuds Fit delivered a sound that’s best described as powerful and punchy. While I wasn’t blown away by the detail or richness of the audio, the experience was undeniably enjoyable. The buds provide a bouncy, bass-heavy sound that’s perfect for powering through workouts.

If you’re a fan of boomy, high-energy tracks, these earbuds will hit the mark. I even boosted the bass in the EQ settings for extra impact. While this became fatiguing over time, tracks like Armani White’s Billie Eilish and Hanumankind’s Big Dawgs had an adrenaline-pumping intensity. Similarly, heavy rock like Queens of the Stone Age’s Sick, Sick, Sick sounded meaty and immensely satisfying.

Dramatic ballads like Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence also worked well, delivering an emotional punch. For work sessions, I found melodic tracks by Ólafur Arnalds especially enjoyable, often pairing them with the background music effect to improve focus.

However, these buds sacrifice some detail and subtlety in favor of their bass-forward profile. Sony’s DSEE tech, which upscales low quality sound, maybe worked some magic. But it felt like something was lacking a little when I listened to classical music, and expected the richness and expansiveness found in higher-end earbuds. At higher volumes, complex arrangements sounded a bit messy and restrained.

Which is all to say that the LinkBuds Fit excel at delivering a robust, energetic soundtrack for daily activities and workouts. However, if you’re looking to analyze every nuance of your favorite tracks, you’d be better served by a more refined option.

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Price and availability

The Sony LinkBuds Fit pictured in their charging case on a wooden surface. — (Image credit: Future)

Priced at £179 / $179 / AU$348
Released in October 2024

The Sony LinkBuds Fit cost £179 / $179 / AU$348. Although the buds are currently discounted on the Sony website in some regions. At the time of writing, the price in the UK has dropped from £179 to £149.

This price puts the buds in the mid-range category. Cheaper than Sony's WF-1000XM5 earbuds at $299.99 / £259 / AU$499 but more expensive than the Sony WF-C700N at $119 / £99 / AU$199.

Other competitors in this space are the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC at $179 / £179 / AU$299 and the JBL Live Beam 3 at $199.95 / £179.99 / AU$249. There are several at a similar price that are also considered workout-friendly buds too, like the Jabra Elite 8 Active at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329, and the Beats Fit Pro at $199 / £199 / AU$299.

What this means is that although you will find good buds that are cheaper and can pay more for better audio performance and features, the wealth of features, the comfy fit, the design and the fitness-friendly specs make the Sony LinkBuds Fit competitively priced and good value.

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Specifications

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Scorecard

The Sony linkbuds fit true wireless earbuds pictured out of their case — (Image credit: Future)

Sony LinkBuds Fit: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’ve struggled to find buds that fit

Whether your ears are small or you get stressed when buds stick out and think you're going to lose one, give these a go. We can't make promises, but think some people will be pleasantly surprised.

You work out a lot

These buds did it all. They came running with me through fields and along the beach, to the gym, the yoga studio and swung around on some parallel bars. They’re super stable and not going anywhere.

You like a cute and considered design

They’re not premium-looking or particularly design-y, but the rounded shape, the marble case, the shiny surface and bubble-like vibe make them cute and Instagrammable.

Don't buy it if...

You want excellent ANC

I personally enjoyed what the noise-canceling here had to offer, but they’re not fantastic. No near-silent cocoon of sound to be found. Choose Bose or higher-end Sony buds instead.

You prioritize longevity

At 5.5 hours from the buds themselves, it's not like the battery life is bad, but you can find better if that’s a priority for you.

You value a seamless experience

I had to tweak the sound here a little and there's a lot to play around here in the app in terms of features. Is this a good thing? Yes But does it require a fair bit of setup? Also yes.

Also consider

Beats Fit Pro

A very similar proposition with enjoyable sound and decent ANC, as well as silicone ear fins. More expensive than the Sonys, but they've been around a while so you can find solid discounts.

Beats Fit Pro review

You'll find a better battery and more durable build from these Jabras – there's a Gen 2 version out now, too. They're also the only workout buds that come close to the Sonys in terms of comfort for me.

Jabra Elite 8 Active review

How I tested

I tested the Sony LinkBuds Fit every day for two weeks. This gave me the chance to trial them in a range of different environments and all sorts of situations.

I mostly used them to listen to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro with Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube music. I tested them when I was travelling on a train, working in a busy cafe and a quiet library and at home at my desk. I also took them to the gym when I was using the cardio machines and lifting weights, to the yoga studio, along the beach for several runs, and to an outdoor pull-up bar.

I’ve tested many headphones and earbuds over the past 12 years, with a focus on fitness devices. I’m interested in tech that prioritizes comfort and ease of use.

First reviewed: December 2024

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: head-tracked spatial audio and ANC on a budget, but these headphones have one fatal flaw

5:30 pm | November 2, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Tags: ANC, Australia, LDAC, US | Comments: Off

Baseus Bowie 30 Max: two-minute review

The Baseus Bowie 30 Max headphones are a perfect example of some cans that bite off more than they can chew. At a glance, you’d think these are an incredibly competent pair of Bluetooth headphones. They offer LDAC higher-resolution audio, proprietary head-tracking technology, active noise cancellation, customizable button controls and incredible battery life. But something may throw up a red flag fairly quickly – the low price.

That’s right, although the Baseus Bowie 30 Max have a list price of $149.99 / £109.99, you’ll realistically never have to pay quite so much. They’re already discounted on Amazon and the Baseus website has them available for less than that too. We’ve already spotted them going for as little as $69.99 in the US – that’s really cheap for some headphones with all of the above features. So is it too good to be true?

Frankly, yes it is. In fairness, getting up to 65 hours of listening is excellent, better than even some of the best headphones around, but things go pretty downhill from here. Head tracking, though functional, will worsen overall audio quality – though admittedly not as badly as the ‘fixed’ spatial audio option, which leaves you with almost sub-nautical sound littered with tinniness.

General audio quality isn’t amazing either. Out of the box, bass is thin and treble sounds are pretty grating at higher volumes. And sure, there’s a Bass Boost option in the Baseus app, or even custom EQ options, but these are only able to improve – not cure – the Bowie 30 Max of their sonic shortcomings. This means that the added detail you’d expect to uncover with the inclusion of LDAC never truly comes to fruition and fundamental flaws in sound means these headphones are held back from competing strongly against budget rivals.

It isn’t all doom and gloom. These are some decent looking cans with a relatively attractive rectangle-like design. Mic and call quality is decent too and ANC, though far from silence-inducing, is able to dull external noise competently. You can also customize the function of the headphones’ ANC button, which is a neat inclusion.

However, these are ultimately small wins in the context of disappointing audio quality. Unfortunately, if you’re in the market for some cheap ANC headphones, there are better options available to you. I have some personal recommendations in the ‘Also Consider’ section of this review, but if you’d like, you can consult our guide to the best cheap headphones, where we run you through some incredible alternatives that offer plenty of bang for your buck.

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: price & release date

$149.99 / £109.99 (around AU$230) list price, but already discounted
Launched in the US and UK September 2024
Australia release date and pricing TBC

To be honest, reader, I’m a little confused on pricing for the Baseus Bowie 30 Max. They have a list price of $149.99 / £109.99 (around AU$230) on Amazon US/UK, but just head over to the Baseus website and these are only $79.99 (or $69.99 with an in-site coupon). On top of that, despite only releasing in September, these have been hit with discounts and coupons on Amazon. So really, I’d aim to pay around that $70/$80 mark if you really want to grab these.

The Baseus Bowie 30 Max are available now in the US and the UK, although the company isn’t planning to sell them to the Australian market. They’re available in one color option – Black, although this is pretty clean in fairness (more on this later).

Baseus Bowie 30 Max placed flat on a gray surface — (Image credit: Future)

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: Specs

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: features

Decent head-tracked spatial audio
Companion app compatibility
Adequate ANC

When it comes to features, the Baseus Bowie 30 Max appear to pack in some seriously impressive options for often sub-$100/£100 cans.

I’m mainly talking about head tracking – a great inclusion for some budget headphones, but one that produces mixed results. Audio does dynamically shift with head movement quite well, which is ideal for following sound across a screen when viewing video content.

The catch? You take a hit to audio quality. When listening to Wasurechau Hitotoki by Fishmans, vocals and percussion became very tinny with head tracking active, which frankly, made it unpleasant to listen to. But as I say, this feature is predominantly for video, so I tried watching some Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth gameplay on YouTube. And again, although audio did shift as I turned my head, the actual quality was noticeably worse than when head tracking was turned off, making for a disappointing user experience.

Even worse was the Fixed spatial audio option. But when listening to Rock With You by Michael Jackson I didn’t get expansive, spacious sound at all; instead it sounded as if I’d journeyed around 10ft below sea level. Vocals sounded warped and inauthentic while percussion lacked sharpness, so I switched this off again pretty quickly. The out-of-the box audio didn’t exactly make this song sound amazing either, so I found myself playing around with EQ options a fair bit – but I’ll get onto that in the ‘Sound quality’ section.

OK, maybe spatial audio might not quite hit the spot, but how do the other features fare? Well, ANC wasn’t too bad. At around 60% volume a lot of outside sounds were fairly dulled, although a lot of sounds – whether lower or higher-frequency – still crept through with relative ease. For instance, even at around 75% volume, I could make out the sound of my colleague typing next to me. So don’t expect the near-silent listening experience you’d get from some more premium cans, like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, for example.

The story so far is certainly one of disappointment, although Baseus didn’t let me down on battery life. I kept the LDAC ‘hi-res’ codec activated throughout almost all of the testing process and predominantly listened at quite high volumes, but found my playtime to be in-line with the 50 hours ANC claimed. You even get up to 65 hours with ANC off, which is an excellent serving of battery life. So, if you’re someone that often forgets to charge their devices, this shouldn’t matter too much with the Baseus Bowie 30 Max – they can keep going (and going) for quite some time.

Features score: 3/5

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: sound quality

Thin bass out of the box
LDAC audio support
Highs can get quite tinny

I’ll be upfront – the Baseus Bowie 30 Max didn’t offer the best listening experience out of the box. When listening to I Want You by Moloko, I felt that percussion and higher-pitched vocals were pretty grating at higher volumes and even sounded a bit tinny. I should mention too, that was with LDAC audio turned on – the benefits of which never felt truly realized.

Something that puzzled me was Baseus’ claim that the Bowie 30 Max have “super bass”. I definitely didn’t feel that initially. When listening to Love Foolosophy by Jamiroquai, the groovy bassline was relegated to a small-part background actor and the choppy guitar riff and vocals sounded too forward. Admittedly, the thin low-end was improved significantly when I toggled on Bass Boost in the Baseus app, but of course, the grating highs didn’t stop.

I knew what I had to do… I took to the EQ settings to make amends to the Bowie 30 Max’s sonic shortcomings. Unfortunately, I found the different presets – including Baseus Classic, Clear Vocals, Hi-Fi Live, Pop and Rock Classic – lacked enough definition. There were noticeable differences between them, sure, but it was pretty minimal for the most part. Instead, I found the best solution was to create my own custom tuning, with a bit more low-end weight. A lot of users may be OK with tailoring their own sound, but if you’re someone that wants straightforward, hassle free listening that could be a bit of a turn off.

So, after customizing my own sound were my woes overcome? Well, not entirely. Despite having a bit more bite, bass and electric guitars in Walk Up by Geordie Greep sounded fairly muddy and instrumental separation was lacking. Vocals in White Mustang by Lana Del Ray also sounded boxy and constricted, resulting in an unnatural-sounding delivery. I would say, though, that lower-frequency sounds were no longer hidden away to a frustrating degree and the overall listening experience became at least adequate. So if you do decide to snap these up on a discount sale, it’s 100% worth shifting away from the top-heavy Baseus Classic EQ calibration.

One aspect sound-wise that was somewhat redeeming was mic quality. When recording the opening of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, my voice was pretty clear-cut, with only a bit of ambience in the background. Call quality, meanwhile, was a bit more middling in terms of quality, but still totally passable. I was still, however, underwhelmed with the audio on offer from the Baseus Bowie 30 Max – especially given the manufacturer's claim that they offer “superior audio quality”. I’m sorry to say that this is not the case.

Sound quality score: 2.5/5

Baseus Bowie 30 Max leaning against a block — (Image credit: Future)

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: design

Tidy design for the price
Although the headband is a little plasticky
Customizable button controls

I’ve been quite critical of the Baseus Bowie 30 Max so far, but one area I think they succeed more in is design. When at a discounted price, these headphones look great for the price you pay. They have a more rectangular, classic look than a lot of cheap options and small ring lights on each can add a nice splash of style too.

The headband isn’t the most padded thing in the world, but I was able to happily listen for multiple hours on end. Looks-wise it is a tad plasticky – and the glossy finish means you can see fingerprints fairly easily, but it’s not particularly ugly or anything.

Speaking of a plasticky look, the button controls suffer from a similar issue, feeling a little cheap. They are, however, nicely laid out and, despite volume down, up, and play/pause being quite close together, they’re easy to use. There’s also an ANC button that can handily be customized using the Baseus app to switch between noise cancelling modes, EQ settings, or spatial audio options.

The Bowie 30 Max are also decently portable. They’re not as compact as a model like the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro or anything, but they can be folded up for carrying in a backpack or tote bag. These are fairly lightweight headphones too weighing in at 11.3 oz / 320g and have decently soft earpads, so they’ll not be too uncomfortable for longer listening sessions, even if the headband isn’t top quality. My main complaint here though is that these cans don’t come with a carry case or similar for keeping them safe during longer journeys.

Finally, don’t expect anything super-fancy or hi-tech from these design-wise. There’s no waterproofing or touch controls – although this isn’t too bad if you’re getting them on discount for around $70/£70. What you do get though is an AUX port for wired listening and USB-C charging, the latter of which can give you as much as 14 hours of playtime from a 10-minute recharge – not bad.

Design score: 3.5/5

Baseus Bowie 30 Max semi-folded on a gray surface — (Image credit: Future)

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: value

Even when discounted, rivals perform better
Head tracking nice at this cost, but mixed quality
Ultimately, sound quality not good enough against competitors

If we’re going by their $149.99 / £109.99 list price, I’d argue that the Baseus Bowie 30 Max are totally outclassed by a wide array of competitors, competing against competitors in the same ballpark, like the Sony WH-CH720N, for instance (more on those later).

However, from early discounts, I suspect these will be available for far less for a lot of the time. Early sales and coupon offers on Amazon US/UK even put these as low as $69.99 / £68.79, so don’t look to pay much more than that. And sure, at this price, getting features like spatial audio is undoubtedly impressive. But, what matters above all is good sound quality and I would argue that’s adequate at best with these headphones. Some of the best cheap headphones – like the Earfun Wave Pro – will likely prove to be a much better value pick.

Value score: 3/5

Baseus Bowie 30 Max placed on block with ring light on — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Baseus Bowie 30 Max?

Buy them if…

You want head tracking at a low-price
Although sound quality isn’t top-rate, head tracking is still functional here. It’s not going to give you truly exceptional 3D sound, but if you simply want audio that will dynamically shift as you peer across a screen this is a budget option.

You’re looking for a splash of style
For all of my criticism, I do like the look of the Baseus Bowie 30 Max, they have a fairly unique appearance. There are no color options and the headband is a little plasticky, but overall they have a clean, attractive design.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re an audiophile
If you checked out the ‘Sound quality’ section, this will come as little surprise. Out of the box, bass is too thin, highs often sound tinny and the ‘hi-res’ details don’t really get the chance to breathe. Even with EQ adjustments, these aren’t going to cut it for the most keen listeners.

You want the ultimate value pick
The world of wireless headphones is truly vast. There are so many amazing options out there for you, regardless of your budget. There’s no need to spend an arm and a leg to get top features like ANC – I’ve picked out some stronger budget options below that, in my view, offer cleaner audio and a better user experience overall.

Baseus Bowie 30 Max leaning against block — (Image credit: Future)

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: also consider

1More Sonoflow
The 1More Sonoflow still sit proudly in our guide to the best noise-canceling headphones – and for good reason. You get 50 hours of battery life with ANC on (and 70 hours with ANC off), solid overall sound, what is (in my opinion) quite a stylish build and solid ANC. Now that’s value. Read our full 1More Sonoflow review.

Sony WH-CH720N
I’ve owned the Sony WH-CH720N for over a year now and highly recommend them if you’re looking for a strong budget option. Yes, at first these may look a fair bit more than the discounted Baseus Bowie Max – but these cans are regularly available for closer to $90/£70. You get commendable ANC, quality customizable audio, DSEE upscaling and so much more. You can even choose from some neat color options, ensuring these are an excellent alternative. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.

Baseus Bowie 30 Max review: How I tested

Tested across the course of a week
Used in the office, while on walks and on public transport
Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent a week testing the Baseus Bowie 30 Max headphones in a number of settings, including: my apartment; a train; bus; and while on walks. This let me get a real taste for ANC quality, regardless of environment.

When listening to music, I played the entirety of the TechRadar testing playlist and listened to hours and hours of tunes from my own personal library. I predominantly tested using Tidal to make use of LDAC, but I also tested the headphones using Spotify, YouTube and Messenger (for calling). I mainly connected the headphones up to the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE when conducting tests.

Where appropriate, I compared these headphones to the Sony WH-CH720N, judging them side-by-side with the Baseus Bowie 30 Max to gauge audio quality, features and design choices.

First reviewed: October 2024

Read more about how we test

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: fantastic-sounding earbuds with a few issues in the feature set

4:00 pm | October 21, 2024

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

Edifier Stax Spirit S10: Two-minute review

Since I started testing the Edifier Stax Spirit S10, I’ve dropped the words 'planar magnetic' into conversation when describing them a few times. Given the number of blank looks I received at the phrase, I feel it’s important for me to explain it, given that it is the key selling point of these premium earbuds – and they may still enter our best earbuds buying guide as 'best planar magnetic buy' or similar.

A planar magnetic driver is a kind of flat headphone or earbud driver that's fragile, expensive and typically bigger than dynamic (cone-shaped) drivers, but it can offer a wonderfully balanced, detailed sound with less distortion – when done well. Planar earbuds are, as opposed to the homophone, definitely not plainer than dynamic ones.

The vast majority of devices touting planar magnetic drivers are headphones, including Edifier’s Spirit Stax S3 and S5, so the trick the company has pulled with the Stax Spirit S10 is using this tech for a new set of wireless noise-cancelling earbuds.

Cue earbuds lovers asking what audiophiles already know: “Do the Stax Spirit S10 sound good?” The answer is a resounding yes: they sound fantastic for true wireless earbuds, offering better audio than beloved rivals from Apple and Samsung. The dynamic range is wonderful, with pronounced bass and crisp treble, and I found them great for listening to anything from acoustic pop to synthwave and post-rock. The maximum volume could do with being a touch higher, but beyond that, it’s impossible to fault the sound of the Edifiers.

So why don’t the Edifier Stax Spirit S10 deserve a five-star review? Well, it’s hard to give a five-star review to a product with a five-star price like the Edifiers, given how high expectations are when you’re paying more for them than rival AirPods and Galaxy Buds. But that’s not the reason that the Edifier sheds a whole star.

The real reason is that the S10 have a few rough edges in the usability department that many rivals do better. My first gripe was pairing: they literally wouldn’t pair to my phone to begin with (leading me to blow the buds off for another pair I was testing initially, and it was only when I was about to hit ‘send’ on a message to my editor to tell her that the buds weren’t working that they finally decided to get their act together). Of course, this was just my personal experience – I'm unable to promise you'll have the same issues when trying to pair a set to your phone or tablet – but as someone who's tested literally scores of wireless earbuds, it's unusual and note-worthy for buds to simply refuse to pair to my trusted source devices.

All through the testing period, they were slow to connect to my phone, and the odd droppage here and there when I was out and about got in the way of my listening.

Lastly, the S10 are the first of Edifier’s Stax Spirit devices to have Active Noise Cancellation. But you might not be able to tell, because it’s incredibly light-touch. There are various modes to pick from, but even the strongest struggled to filter out moderate chatter in my office, and the adaptive mode was, there’s no other word for it, ‘janky’.

The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 in front of a sunset. — (Image credit: Future)

It’d sometimes change modes when I was sitting still, leading to a noticeable change in my audio despite not affecting the noise levels beyond it too much – and it changes dramatically. I wish there was an antonym for ‘seamless’ in a tech context; whatever it is, that’s how the adaptive noise cancellation sounds.

Edifier also triggers my pet peeve of audio companies: having multiple different pairing apps. I spent half of the testing period with Edifier Connect on my phone, thinking that the Stax Spirit S10 didn’t have an app, and it took me a while to realize that I actually needed to have downloaded EDIFIER Connex. Come on, Edifier!

Audiophiles are probably used to overlooking annoying quality-of-life issues in the quest for perfect sound, and the Stax Spirit S10 will be an enjoyable stepping stone in that journey. A comfortable fit, support for a nice range of codecs and other branded technologies, plus a distinctive look all help me overlook the strange quirks of the buds.

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Price and release date

Announced in September 2024
On sale in the US
Cost $299 (roughly £230, AU$450)

Edifier announced the Stax Spirit S10 in September 2024 and released them shortly afterwards, so they’re available to buy in some regions right now.

In the US, you can buy the Spirit S10 for $299 – that price converts to roughly £230 / AU$450. I can’t find them on sale from trusted retailers in the UK or Australia but Edifier does sell gadgets in both regions, so we could see it roll out the earbuds to those places in the future.

As you can tell from this price, the Edifiers are premium earbuds aimed at discerning buyers. They match in price the Technics EAH-AZ80 which top our list of the best earbuds and cost more than the AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro (individually).

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Specs

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Features

5-hour buds battery, 18-hour with case, when ANC is on
Noise cancellation leaves a lot to be desired
Some connection issues

The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 offer all of the features you’d expect in premium headphones… but they don’t all work perfectly.

The battery life is an example. Edifier doesn’t offer a battery estimate for the buds themselves, but says the case will offer 18 hours of playback with ANC on or 28 with it turned off. That’s not a huge number compared to competitors.

In my own testing, the Spirit S10 buds didn’t even last for five hours of playback when ANC was turned on – that’s one of the weakest battery lives I’ve tested in earbuds (it's close to that of the much cheaper AirPods Pro 4 with ANC, with noise-nixing deployed). They got to 4:55:17 until one earbud ran out, and the other was left on 6%. Based on Edifier’s case predictions, I’d estimate that the buds would last for 7 hours of listening if you don’t use ANC.

I didn’t find the battery-sapping ANC that great either; it did a fairly poor job at cancelling background noises. In my office it only succeeded in taking the edge off low-level surrounding chatter or the hum of the microwave, and alongside busy roads and railways it barely made a difference.

There are several different ANC modes: high, medium, ambient sound, wind reduction, adaptive and off. I stuck to high due to the fact that, as I said, it still didn’t feel like much, however I fiddled around with the others too. In adaptive, the modes would change for seemingly no reason, making quite dramatic and sudden shifts from time to time – this was often more than a little distracting.

The ANC is controlled by the tie-in app: EDIFIER Connex, which isn’t Edifier’s only audio app, confusingly. I tried to set it up with Edifier Connect for a while, which isn’t the right app.

Connex lets you play with an equalizer (and two presets), toggle noise cancellation, turn on a high-latency gaming mode, change the function of the on-bud buttons, turn off (or on) wear detection, change your audio codec and do a few other functions which we see in wireless earbuds. There are also a few extras which you don’t: you can change how sensitive the bud buttons are, which I appreciate, and also change the volume of low battery and connectivity prompts.

Something else I need to raise is that I had real connection problems when first setting up the buds – I could pair them once, but after that my phone just couldn’t find the buds, The way I solved the problem (admittedly after a week) was by unpairing the device and re-pairing it several times.

Also, even once the buds worked well, they’d always take a short while to connect to my phone. It wasn’t dramatic, but I’d always have to wait a few seconds before listening to music, wondering if they'd dropped out again. I even accidentally played my playlist out loud a few times, before getting wise to the fact that pairing from the case takes the Stax Spirit S10 a while longer than most earbuds I've tested.

Features score: 3/5

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Design

Clamshell case which holds the buds
Thick stems give a distinctive look
Buds stay in the ear well

The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 come in a ‘clamshell’-style case, which you open up to reveal the buds within. This case weighs 56g, is just a hair bigger than a golf ball, and has a USB-C port for charging. It’s definitely not the smallest headphone case I’ve seen, but it protected its contents well.

The earbuds themselves are fairly distinctive looking due to the width of the stem; you’re not going to confuse these for AirPods any day. The large size doesn’t really add to the ‘bulk’ of the buds, so it’s not an issue – it didn’t affect their ear grip from my experience – and it screams to people “these are serious earbuds for serious audiophiles!”.

For most of my testing period, the Spirit S10 were reliable at sticking in my ears. This was even the case through most of a gym session, until I hit the treadmills, so I wouldn’t recommend them for running with. They also fell out when I was doing certain stretches on mats so, again, these aren’t work-out buds unless you’re doing slower and more upright exercises.

The stems bear touch controls which you can customize in the Edifier app, but you’re meant to ‘pinch’ to trigger the control and I could never work out the right place to squeeze to get a reliable result.

You’re getting IP54-rated protection with both of the buds – this means that they’re mostly protected against solid particles (sand or dust), but can only survive splashes of water. Don’t wear them swimming, then.

Design score: 3.5/5

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Sound quality

Planar magnetic drivers provide fantastic balanced sound
Equalizer gives lots of customization over sound
Max volume could be higher

Any downsides that come from planar magnetic drivers (here 12mm ones) are easily outmatched by the positives: The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 sound really, really fantastic.

I most appreciate the balanced audio you’re getting from the S10. You can hear every line of music as though they’re spread out in Avid Pro before you, and they’re all totally equal, from the lowest rings of the bass guitar to the screechiest soprano; the whisper of the hi-hat and the sniffs of the cold-addled drummer are all even.

Such a balanced mix helps you appreciate the song as it was intended to be listened to, as Edifier isn’t blowing up the bass until it drowns out everything else, or positioning the treble as so dominant that you’d think every song is acapella.

If you like your music a certain way then there is an equalizer in the app (hidden in the ‘Sound effects’ menu) which lets you listen to the default balanced mix, Dynamic (ie bass-heavy), Electrostatic (treble-heavy) or a customized mode with an in-depth equalizer to play around with. However I found the default Original mix so great that I preferred it during testing.

Don’t worry about any distortion here, as another effect of planar magnet drivers is that it’s far less frequent. In fact, I didn’t notice any distortion during testing, however that may be partly because the Stax Spirit S10 don’t go very loud.

At the maximum volume, I found the S10 to put out music at a comfortable listening level… when I was at home in my quiet flat. Out and about, I’d often find myself struggling to make out parts of a song, especially with the lackluster ANC doing the bare minimum to cancel noise. If I had to commute into an office much more than I do, I’d probably opt for alternate earbuds. These aren’t the worst buds I’ve tested for volume issues, with the Nothing Ear still wearing that – crown? – but the Edifier really could do with being a touch louder.

True audiophiles (or technophiles) will appreciate the range of tech standards and codecs that the S10 support. These earbuds connect using Bluetooth 5.4 and support Snapdragon Sound, Google Fast Pair, aptX Audio, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC, LDAC and Hi-Res Audio Wireless. To use these better-quality protocols, you’ll need a streaming service that offers them (not Spotify), plus a source that can support them in addition to just using the Edifier buds – but if you want the highest resolution a wireless connection can bring, these earbuds will not be a barrier.

Sound quality: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review: Value

High-price earbuds with sound quality to match
Feature set needs to improve for better value

To answer simply on whether the Edifier Stax Spirit S10 offer value for money: of course they don’t. No premium earbuds do, not when great-sounding alternatives exist for under $100/£100/AU$200.

The nature of tech is that you get diminishing returns as you slide up the tower of price, and so the Stax Spirit were never going to offer you competitive value for money, and they’re not designed for shoppers on a budget.

Sure, they sound better than rivals, but they also cost more than these competitors too. Plus the feature set doesn’t work perfectly, and beyond the audio output there are no killer features here worth paying top dollar for. The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 are for audiophiles who have money to spend on their passion, don't care about ANC, and don’t need to get the most efficient value for their money.

Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Edifier Stax Spirit S10?

Buy them if...

Don’t buy them if…

Edifier Stax Spirit S10 review: Also consider

Technics EAH-AZ80
Triple device multi-point connectivity, LDAC support, supreme fit and excellent call-quality are just four reasons to buy these earbuds. The excellent sound is one more – but there's no dust ingress protection and they're just as pricey as the Edifiers, despite a May 2023 release date. See our Technics EAH-AZ80 review for the full scoop

How I tested the Edifier Stax Spirit S10

Tested for 4 weeks
Tested at home, in the office and on walks

The Edifier Stax Spirit S10 enjoyed a prolonged testing period; I used them for roughly a month to write this review, which meant I could really put them through their paces. I used them alongside an Android phone, mostly – so I could benefit from their support for LDAC.

I tested the buds at home, in the office, commuting between the two and on an international holiday; most of my listening was on Tidal or Netflix, but I tried other music and video streaming services as well as calls, podcasts and more.

My tech reviewing history for TechRadar spans more than five years now, including lots of earbuds – and a few pairs of Edifier headphones.

First reviewed in October 2024

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