"The Shure AONIC 215 are comfortable and have a soft sound, but only a few functions."
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Clear, balanced sound
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Comfortable, light design
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Exceptional call quality
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No volume or track controls
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No active noise cancellation
If Shure's mission with his Aonic 215 headphones was to create something strikingly different from the popular rivals in his field … well, mission accomplished. The audio company's new $ 279 real wireless buds stand out from the crowd. This is evident in everything they find from their design and fit to the package they are delivered in. But is that a good thing?
I wish I could bluntly answer yes or no and storm the gates with an explanation of how much better or worse these headphones are due to their comparable uniqueness. But it's just not that easy with the Aonic 215.
Out of the box
I wouldn't go so far as to call it the industry standard, but there is some perception regarding the package in which a set of earphones comes in. Usually, but not always, it's small and square.
Nick Woodard / Digital Trends
Enter the Aonic 215 headphones, which come in a large, circular package, as if they were going to set the tone immediately. Lifting the lid reveals the headphones, which rest on a foam bed and whose charging case sits in the middle of the pair. Also included: a micro-USB-C charging cable, a selection of replacement earplugs (I replaced the foam tips supplied with the buds for a pair of smaller soft-flex tips) and a quick guide. circular in line with a growing trend here.
The Bluetooth pairing process was the only segment of the initial setup that reflected other earbuds. The Aonic 215 should automatically switch to pairing mode when switched on and should be easy to find in your phone's Bluetooth settings. If it doesn't, Shure includes a manual option to connect. I didn't need it to pair it with my smartphone, but it was nice to know that it is available as a failover.
design
The over-the-ear style of the Aonic 215 means that the headphones have a larger footprint than, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds +. However, they are pleasantly light and comfortable, at least after you have played around briefly to attach the stems of the buds behind your ear.
Nick Woodard / Digital Trends
The part of the headphones that actually sits in your ear – which to me was a teal blue, but is available in black, white, or clear variations – is so understated that you might forget that they were there, if not for the rest the headphones stick to the ears.
That brings me to the hot button problem here. The design of over-the-ear earphones is somewhat polarizing. Some people love them, others can't stand them. I had always considered myself connected to the latter because most of the ones I used were heavy and my ears felt cramped. The Aonic 215 are just the opposite.
Her style also suits a lifestyle on the go. I haven't seen a single shift when I walked through the park while jogging, while traditional earphones haven't stayed in place more than a handful of times.
The case is the outlier in terms of design. Most earbuds have taken on a compact, pills-like look for their charging cases, but the Aonic 215 is in a circular case that's closer to the size of a wallet. It's by no means an uncomfortable size, but not as pocket-friendly as other models available.
characteristics
Compared to other earphones in (and below) their price range, it's hard to overlook how little the Aonic 215 has in the functional department. To be clear, the features they have are solid. But it's 2020. For almost $ 300, it's a mistake to omit coveted capabilities like active noise cancellation.
Nick Woodard / Digital Trends
According to Shure, the Aonic215 is equipped with sound-insulating technology that blocks up to 37 dB of noise, as well as an environmental mode that introduces noise from your surroundings. In my experience, both worked well. However, active noise cancellation in products such as the Sony WF-1000XM3 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 is superior.
The Aonic 215 is said to last up to eight hours on a single charge, with three additional charges built into its carrying case. These specifications were checked during testing during my time. But unfortunately for Shure, the bar was raised. When the Samsung Galaxy Buds + can last up to 11 hours at a half price, I wanted more. Especially a pair without ANC, which shortens playback times, as is the case with both Sony and Sennheiser.
I had no connection problems thanks to the Bluetooth 5 technology built into Aonic 215, except a few times when my phone was connected to the headphones but did not play any media through them. However, I am using an older phone in a Google Pixel 2, so it may be more Google than Shure to blame.
My biggest problem with the functionality of the Aonic 215 is a very basic function. Or rather, it should have been. The buttons on the bottom of each headphone work well for what they are designed for. It takes a lot of pressure, but you can play and pause music effectively, answer and end calls, turn ambient mode on or off, or activate your voice assistant. What you can't do, which frankly confuses me about the price, is adjusting the volume or switching between tracks. They are two very simple commands that you won't really miss until you are forced to jog through an entire pit bull soundtrack.
Audio quality
Nick Woodard / Digital Trends
Shure has been in the audio business for almost a century and has a product line that ranges from budget options to price tags that only an audiophile can love – this is a company with a proven track record of producing great sounds, from microphones to headphones .
After listening extensively with the Aonic 215, I can say with certainty that these headphones do justice to the family tree of their brand. They are remarkably clear and some of the more balanced buds I've dealt with. Testing with a variety of genres was a lot of headache to the point where I looped songs like "Red Hot Chili Peppers" Under the Bridge just because it sounded so crisp.
In my view, these are not well equipped for a good low-end. They are useful, but for songs like Brothers Osborne's rum, where a low note is the backbone of the entire track, I found that the bass is not as critical as I am used to. The equalizer in the associated ShurePlus Play app helped, but was not a miracle worker.
The call quality was exceptional, although for some reason some conversations only had audio in my right bud. It is by no means a deal breaker, but it was a remarkable quirk.
Do these sound better than the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2? In a word, no. Is that a fair comparison? Usually it shouldn't be, but that's the type of weight class the Aonic 215 fights in thanks to its cost. Do they sound better than cheaper alternatives like the Galaxy Buds +? Absolutely, although I'm not sure if the average listener can say that it sounds twice as good.
Our opinion
With the Aonic 215, Shure has produced a pair of comfortable, soft-sounding headphones that are easy to grip and carry. Given what competitors with similar prices have to offer, they dropped the ball in the feature section.
Are there any better alternatives?
Yes. The Sony WF-100XM3 are regularly retailed for $ 229. Although they are a bit older, they offer better functions. The same goes for the $ 299 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, and they're our pick for the best-sounding real wireless earbuds. If you already want to spend money at the Shure headphones at the baseball stadium, it's worth spending the extra $ 20 on the Sennheiser.
How long will they last?
Shure is not approaching the 100-year mark by making products with a short shelf life. Expect these headphones to be durable and ready for the long haul.
Should you buy them
Only if you are specifically looking for over-the-ear headphones with great sound. Otherwise there are better buds, often at much better prices.
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