20 Sep
Blog

Edifier NeoBuds Pro Review: Impressive, Affordable Audio

Edifier NeoBuds Pro.

Edifier NeoBuds Pro reviewed: A new standard for affordable audio

RRP $ 129.00

"You won't find better sound quality, ANC, or transparency for less than $ 250."

advantages

  • Great sound

  • Comfortable fit

  • Very effective noise cancellation

  • Excellent transparency mode

  • Good call quality

disadvantage

  • No wireless charging

  • No in-ear detection

  • Few phones offer LHDC support

The best true wireless earbuds have a lot in common: great sound, great noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, and lots of ways to customize your experience through a smartphone app. But they also usually cost between $ 200 and $ 350. So if a set of true wireless earbuds had all of these features but at a much lower price, say $ 129, they'd be a game changer, right? Edifier certainly hopes so – its $ 129 NeoBuds Pro has everything it needs on paper, at least, to challenge Apple, Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser. Deliver? Let's find out.

What's in the box?

Contents of the Edifier NeoBuds Pro pack.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Edifier went over the top when it comes to the presentation experience for the NeoBuds Pro. The box, with its large dimensions, magnetic closures, and tons of protective foam, screams high-end luxury, but that leads to a recycling nightmare. I'd love to see the company take a page out of Sony's playbook – the $ 280 WF-1000XM4 comes in a tiny, fully recyclable box.

In the box you will find the NeoBuds Pro, its charging case, a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, a nylon carrying case, some printed material and a huge selection of antibacterial silicone earbuds in seven sizes (one set is pre-installed ).

draft

Edifier NeoBuds Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The NeoBuds Pro belong to the same family of earphones as the Edifier NB2, NB2 Pro and Earfun Air Pro (Edifier helped design it). They look a lot like these other earbuds, with the same AirPods Pro-style ergonomic shape and tiny silver stems. However, the NeoBuds are more compact than their older siblings and have rounded contours on the stems that give them a more sophisticated look and feel. You may not agree, but I think they look great.

Thanks to their flat position, getting in and out is a breeze, although the charging case is slightly larger than models like the AirPods Pro.

The combination of matte black plastic and a brushed aluminum accent panel on the top of the lid continues the high-end vibe of the charging case, and the lid flips open easily and stays open until you fold it shut.

A huge selection of earplugs should enable a comfortable and secure fit.

But the coolest part of the NeoBuds Pro is the red LED charge indicator strip that sits right in the front groove of the case. It pulsates and animates from side to side, like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica or maybe Kitt from Knight Rider if you like your tech friendly rather than threatening.

The only thing missing is wireless charging. Edifier doesn't seem to like wireless charging as none of their true wireless earbuds offer it.

With an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, the earbuds are cheap compared to most high-end alternatives.

Comfort, controls and connections

Edifier NeoBuds Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Smooth, rounded contours and the huge selection of earplugs should make it easy to get a comfortable and secure fit with the NeoBuds. I found the standard tips ideal for my ears and was able to wear them for several hours without discomfort. Stem-style earbuds can sometimes feel a bit unsafe as the stems can prevent you from pushing the earbuds deep enough into your ear canals, but that wasn't a problem with the NeoBuds. While it's not quite as safe as models with ear hooks or ear fins, switching to one of the larger earbud sets should provide plenty of support while running or exercising at the gym.

The NeoBuds use touch-sensitive surfaces at the very top of the stems for control. They offer good sensitivity out of the box, but Edifier cleverly added the ability to adjust that sensitivity within the Edifier Connect app. You can also customize the function of the controls on each earbud, but there's a catch: despite supporting a wide range of functions, from volume to ANC mode, there are only two actions per earbud – double-tap and triple-tap. That means you can choose from a wide variety of commands, but only four of them can be accessed through the earbuds.

Do you want to turn your phone into a private cinema? Dynamic mode will do it like a boss.

Why Edifier chose not to support additional gestures like single-tap or tap-and-hold (which would give you a total of eight commands) is a mystery and hopefully will be changed with a future firmware update. The control options are also a bit bizarre – the volume control is available, but the volume is always reduced with the right earbud, while the volume must always be done with the left.

But perhaps the biggest oversight is the lack of an automatic pause when you remove the earbuds. In contrast to its sibling, the NB2 Pro, the NeoBuds Pro lack in-ear sensors.

Each earbud can be used independently, but you should make sure that the earbud you choose has the commands it needs. Thankfully, answering / ending calls is available on both headphones by default.

The NeoBuds Pro are very easy to pair – just open the lid and search for the device in your Bluetooth settings. The connection is rock solid and surprisingly strong. Edifier claims a working distance of only 32 feet, but I was able to move 50 feet from my iPhone 11, even through two walls.

Sound quality

Edifier NeoBuds Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Edifier has positioned the NeoBuds as the first true wireless earbuds with "Hi-Res wireless audio" thanks to their ability to reproduce sounds between 20 Hz and 40 kHz and their support for the LHDC Bluetooth codec. But unless you happen to own one of the few smartphones that comes with LHDC, you probably won't experience these buds to the fullest. In fact, the only phone listed on the LHDC website is the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, a model that is not sold in the US.

Hi-res chops aside, the NeoBuds Pro sound fantastic. They use a hybrid driver design that couples a dynamic low-frequency driver with a Knowles balanced armature driver that delivers the highs. It's an unusual setup for true wireless earbuds, and the result is big, bombastic sound that is also well-detailed. The sound is not quite as nuanced as with the Sennheiser or Master & Dynamic earphones, but it is still exciting and very haunting.

With very good stereo imaging, your soundstage is wide and detailed, so you can follow individual instruments and vocals as you enter and exit the mix.

The NeoBuds Pro's ANC is impressive – by far the best you'll find in a set of earbuds at this price point.

You can choose from two preset EQ modes in the Edifier app: Classic, which offers a relatively neutral signature, and Dynamic, which drives both the lows and highs for an almost overwhelming performance, with bass levels that make your fills rattle bring. Do you want to turn your phone into a private cinema? Dynamic mode will do it like a boss. You can also enable a special low latency gaming mode if you find there is a delay between your screen and the audio, but I found the regular mode perfectly adequate.

By default, the NeoBuds Pro seem best for bass- and beat-heavy genres like rap and hip-hop, but there's plenty of leeway to tweak the signature for other genres via the custom EQ mode that lets you create your own and can save presets. Unfortunately, it's a confusing user interface with items like “Q-Factor” and frequencies that can be adjusted in 1 Hz increments. However, it is possible to make various settings. If the bass is too strong or the mids are too weak for you, you can change them.

Noise cancellation and transparency

The NeoBuds Pro's ANC is impressive – by far the best you'll find in a set of earbuds at this price point. And frankly, they come very close to the performance you get from the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or the Apple AirPods Pro. You get two ANC modes: Low and High. Low reduces background noise while high mode does its best to eliminate it completely. Strolling through a busy downtown neighborhood to listen to a podcast is a perfect test of ANC, as spoken word content tends to suffer much more than music when it has to compete with other sounds. With High mode enabled, I could hear my podcasts with ease. It also does a great job of booming noises like bathroom fans – a good barometer of how those buds deal with the constant white noise of a jet engine on board an airplane.

The transparency mode (which Edifier calls Ambient mode) is just as good, letting in a lot of external noise, including your own voice, which makes it feel like you're not wearing any earbuds at all. This is something that less transparent systems can hardly achieve. It's also adjustable in the app, so you can choose to let a little less noise enter your ears or just amplify those sounds a little.

The best part is that toggling between ANC and transparency with the tap controls is quick and doesn't force you to go through "standard" mode. The standard mode turns off ANC and transparency, which can save some battery life, and you can activate it from the app at any time if necessary.

Battery life

Edifier NeoBuds Pro charging case ..Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Edifier claims that you get five hours per charge in the earbuds and 20 hours of total listening time in the charging case when using ANC, and that those numbers increase to six and 24 hours, respectively, when you run without the ANC. After playing a music stream at 50% volume with the ANC on, I had exactly five hours of life before the earbuds were turned off.

A quick 10 minute charge gives you an extra hour of playtime, and both the earbuds and charging case can be fully charged in an hour.

Those stats aren't exactly the best – in fact, they're on the low end of what we can expect these days – but you should still use them for a full day without finding a charger.

Call quality

Get decent calls with the NeoBuds Pro. Background noises are kept in check, and I only noticed a little compression when those noises were particularly loud. Your voice won't always sound full and detailed, but it will remain clear and audible, which is the most important thing.

Unfortunately, Edifier does not support sidetone (the ability to hear your own voice clearly during a call). When you make or answer a call, the earbuds automatically turn off ANC and transparency, and there is no way to turn them back on via the tap controls or the app until the call is over. In fact, there is no way to use the app while on a call – it thinks the headphones are disconnected during the call.

Edifier Connect app

Speaking of the app, I think Edifier still has a lot to do. The home screen offers a great overview of the NeoBuds Pro's battery level – including the case the buds sit in – as well as quick access to ANC / transparency modes. And if you're an iOS user, you can add a widget to your Today home screen. However, access to features like EQ and customizing the controls is not intuitive as they are buried in secondary screens or menus.

But I really don't like the Mall and Discover tabs, which are simply windows into Edifier's website to buy more of the company's products. They have nothing to do with how the earbuds work and make it difficult to navigate an already confusing user interface.

Our opinion

The Edifier NeoBuds Pro set a new standard for sound quality, ANC and transparency at an affordable price. They're missing some features, and I wish they had more control options, but they're still a great set of true wireless earbuds.

Is there a better alternative?

I'm confident you won't find better sound quality, ANC, or transparency at this price point, but if other features are more important, consider these options:

  • Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro, $ 100: Great Sound, Wireless Charging, In-Ear Detection. They also have more control than the NeoBuds, but their ANC and transparency are not that good.
  • Amazon Echo Buds (Gen 2)$ 120 ($ 140 with wireless charging): Great sound, in-ear detection, and great call quality, plus the ability to use hands-free voice commands with Alexa. But the battery life is poor and their ANC isn't as good as the NeoBuds. If you want, you can charge wirelessly.

How long will they last?

The NeoBuds Pro seem to be very well made and offer good protection with their IP54 rating. I suspect they will last for many years if you take care of them. Edifier supports them with a one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. the NeoBuds Pro may not have all of the competition's features, but for sound, ANC, and transparency – arguably the most important features – they kill it.

Editor's recommendations



18 Sep
Blog

Edifier TWS NB2 Earbuds Review: Best in class

edifier tws nb2 earbuds review 1

"The Edifier TWS NB2 looks great, sounds great, and is full of value."

  • Incredible value

  • Great sound quality

  • Solid ANC performance

  • Great battery life

  • Nervous, appealing design

  • Responsive touch controls

  • No charge indicator on the housing

  • No wireless charging

  • Medium call quality

Updated on 09/17/2020 by Jaron Schneider: Edifier significantly reduced the price of the TWS NB2 earphones shortly after their availability in the USA. This changed our rating, including our final score.

We did not expect that Edifier would bring out the successor to the very good TWS NB earphones so quickly. We recently reviewed the first iteration and found that the $ 120 price tag (which recently dropped to $ 70, which makes it even more valuable) is pretty nice with minor complaints like mediocre battery life, bulky design, and uninspired behavior App.

And while I can't say that much has changed with the app, Edifier has been listening clearly when it comes to the buds themselves. With an all-new design, improved active noise cancellation, longer battery life, and even more features, while the price has been cut to $ 100, it's clear Edifier was listening to critics.

The Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds have everything they want, making it clear that you shouldn't be spending more than $ 100 on a pair of excellent earbuds.

What's in the box

Edifier packed the TWS NB2 earbuds with very little fanfare. My box was even damaged a bit with the main cover sleeve unfortunately stuck to the inner box in such a way that I had to destroy it to get inside the packaging (so I can't share box pictures with them).

In this main box, the buds sit wrapped in foam, with three additional eartip sizes, a USB-C charging cable, a neat little drawstring bag, and a tiny (really tiny) instruction manual above it in a narrow insert. It's simple and effective, but not particularly sustainable (this type of foam is neither recyclable nor compostable).

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The total number of the four earbud sizes also turns out to be below average, and personally I haven't found a supplied tip that fits me exactly. In contrast, Buds like the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro come with a total of nine eartip sizes, and almost every JLab set comes with at least six. It's a minor complaint, but since it's all cheap silicon, we'd like to see better here from Edifier.

design

I want to point out that it would have been okay if Edifier had decided to change the name of these buds to something other than the NB line, as these buds don't look like their predecessors. The case is completely different, as is the shape of the buds themselves.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Edifier did not repeat the original design. They blew it up and started over. I have to especially applaud the success here, considering how quickly this second generation hit the market – it was less than a year ago.

I know the "golf tee" look isn't popular with everyone, but it serves a purpose. Call quality improves due to the better position of the microphones and gives the buds more room for a bigger battery. And if you go for the golf tee, I think Edifier did it to make them look chic.

I can't stress enough how great the Edifier design is here.

I cannot emphasize enough how great Edifier's design is here. They took their original bulky, boring design and spiced it up with a whole new aggressive look that I totally like. What Edifier has done is nothing very revolutionary, but small changes to popular design choices that just showcase the entire product nicely.

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The case is pretty as expected with its rounded polygon shape, flip-up lid, and magnetic charge points that keep the buds in place. But Edifier gave the solid package a nice finishing touch with a faux leather exterior that is comfortable to the touch. Even the completely unnecessary cord pocket feels good. It's not your typical nylon, but a high quality woven canvas material.

Annoyingly, there is no way of telling how much battery life is left in the buds or in the case without using the app (more on that later in the app), but even then the app only shows the charge level in the buds. There's a little LED on the back next to the charging port that flashes at me, but I don't know what they're trying to tell me. There's another little LED in the case, but as far as I can tell it just tells me the buds are locked into place and charging. The lack of an easy way to determine the remaining battery life of the case seems like a huge oversight to me.

The original case of the NB earbuds has a series of LEDs that indicate the remaining charge in the case. Why this wasn't carried over to the new set is confusing.

properties

Edifier's original TWS-NBs were rather easy to use, but brought active noise cancellation into the very affordable price range of $ 120. With the TWS NB2s, Edifier added a huge list of new features and brought the price down to $ 100, an almost unheard-of combination of a company's actions.

First, let's talk about active noise cancellation. The ANC in the original buds was fine but relied entirely on feed-forward technology, which means the buds analyzed and muffled outside noise but couldn't tell how good they were with it. In the NB2s, Edifier added a second pair of microphones to the earbuds so they could better respond to noise by hearing what was still coming through. This is known as hybrid ANC and is common on high-end earphones, which generally cost twice what Edifier charges.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The result is noise cancellation that has been vastly improved over the original and competes very well with other hybrid ANC systems, but still doesn't match the sheer soundproofing power of the big boys like the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Technics TWS, AZ70s, Apple AirPods Pro or Sennheiser Momentum 2s. But all four of these buds cost at least twice as much as the Edifier NB2 earbuds, and as such, the quality of the ANC on offer for the price makes them leaders in their class.

Edifier also added a proximity sensor that pauses the music when you take a bud out of your ear and picks it up again when you put it back. It works fine.

The quality of the ANC on offer for the price makes them leaders in their class.

The small physical buttons on the original NBs have been replaced with two touch sensors on each bud, and overall they're … okay. You can't control the volume or map them to your own specifications, but they work just fine. All controls require at least a double tap. This is a design option to prevent accidental tapping. However, some of the touch functions require a long tap that actually doesn't take that long, and I accidentally launched Game Mode and accidentally turned ANC on and off by just recording it. However, you can change the sensitivity of these features, which I also did and this problem has stopped appearing.

As I just mentioned, there is a "Game Mode" included which Edifier claims has extremely low latency so that you can react faster to the action on the screen. I don't play much with bluetooth and these earbuds won't change that: it just reduces the latency to 80 milliseconds, not nearly fast enough for fast-paced action.

For what it's worth, I didn't experience any latency while watching videos in regular listening mode, including videos from video game situations. Whether or not this feature is enabled, the buds here are solid.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

All of these features come at a cost, however: the NB2 lose their predecessor's IPX4 water / dust resistance instead of a much less weatherproof IP54. These are not sealed against dust and only protect against light splash water, instead of the originals being completely submersible. Even so, IPX4 is perfectly acceptable for most earbuds, and the Edifier TWS NB2 are no exception.

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edifier tws nb2 earbuds review 11 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/edifier-tws-nb2-earbuds-review-11 - 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAJaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Edifier has an app that can be used with the NB2s, and it's … fine. You can use it to control little things like the sensitivity of the touch controls (ANC) and see the battery life remaining in each bud. It looks good but has very little function. I really wish it was possible to make EQ adjustments. This app was a complaint in the original NB rating and remains inconspicuous here to this day.

Battery life

The NB2 improves from the 5-hour playback time of the originals with active ANC to 8 hours per charge. In our tests, they actually took a little longer with the ANC active, around 8.5 hours. That's very good, almost double what the AirPods Pro offer, and is the equivalent of $ 230 for the Sony WF-100XM3 (though Sony's ANC is better).

With the ANC off, the original NBs were able to play for 11 hours before needing to be charged. Unfortunately, the NB2s are only designed for a service life of 9 hours. I got them to run for about 9.5 hours in my tests, but that's still not the previous mark.

The noise isolation is very good and it is likely that you do not need ANC to be active. 9.5 hours is still very impressive. It's just strange to see a regression here. Still, let's be clear that the battery performance here is very impressive and well above average.

You can charge an additional 18 hours when ANC is on and an additional 23 hours when the charging case is off.

Unfortunately, Edifier didn't say anything about a quick charge feature for these buds. However, you can fully charge them in just over an hour.

Audio quality

Edifier did a very good job with their original NBs when it came to sound quality and I'm happy to report that this is still the case with the NB2s. These have a surprising amount of bass. You won't chatter your teeth, but you can absolutely hear and appreciate those lows.

Overall, the sound quality is warm and accessible. They don't sound as good as the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, the Jabra Elite 75t, or the Sony WF-1000XM3 (three of our regular favorites for sound quality), but I prefer the sound quality over the Apple AirPods Pro. However, the TWS TB2 are cheaper than all four of these earbuds, with most of them well spaced. These are a great many of the best sounding buds you can get for the price.

I am pleased to report that the mix remains balanced across the volume range. Either at a low whisper or at maximum volume, the earphones never let one of the areas overwhelm another.

When I had a review, the soundstage is a bit tight. The highs don't get too much (which many who are sensitive to high highs will actually appreciate), and the lows are largely included too. However, the mids are well represented. Together, it's more like listening to a band at a house party than watching them perform at the Shoreline Amphitheater.

Again, the sound signature is different between NB and NB2 as Edifier blows up their original design instead of that design. Not remarkable, but you can tell. These feel like a completely different set of earphones, not a successor.

Call quality

As mentioned earlier, the golf tee shape of these buds tends to affect call quality. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case with the Edifier TWS NB2 earphones. They sound good, but the longer you speak, the longer you speak, the more distant and difficult they make your voice.

You can hear the other end of the line very clearly, but they didn't work as well as I'd hoped the voice would do. They are serviceable but not nearly class leading.

While the Edifier NB2s have an ambient mode that allows you to hear your own voice during a call, I wish it was a little better. You can hear outside noise, but the volume isn't as loud as I would like it to be.

Our opinion

Edifier fixed almost every complaint we had with the original TWS NB earbuds and went further to add more features and improved battery life. The thing is, we seem to have gotten these improvements at the cost of others.

The Edifier TWS NB2s are a bit of a head scratch in this way. The company seemed to have chosen to start over on this second generation rather than repeating the previous design. But maybe they threw the baby out with the bath water because the benefits we received are less potent thanks to the functions we lost. We have touch controls, a better design, longer battery life with the ANC active, a better ANC, and a smaller case, but they cost no charge indicator in this case, mediocre call quality, and poorer battery life with no ANC active (albeit) still above average ).

Instead of giving us a product, we can clearly say that it replaces the original. Instead, we have two products that still give us a reason to recommend one another depending on the application. Edifier doesn't just compete with the other great options with the TWS NB2 earbuds. They're also competing with their own, older product.

Are there any better alternatives?

A great alternative to the Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds is the Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds at $ 100, the price of which has dropped to $ 70. However, they have different functions. So if you want longer battery life without ANC, consider getting the original NBs. If you're into pretty much anything else, the NB2's are your best bet.

I think the best alternative at this point is the $ 99 JLab Epic Air ANC Buds, which have tons of features (if only with good ANC performance) and great sound control through their app.

How long will they last?

I'm impressed with the build quality of the NB2 and expect it to last until the lithium-ion battery degrades. Edifier also includes a 1 year limited warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. They sound great, they look a lot better, and they have added some features that I like. They are the best ANC you can get for the price too.

Editor's recommendations




13 Jun
Blog

Edifier TWS6 Review: Affordable Audio For Athletes

Edifier tws6 earphones

"Edifier has successfully developed affordable real wireless earbuds for active listeners."

  • 8 hours of playback

  • IPX5 waterproof

  • Exceptional sound quality

  • Comfortable

  • Limited touch controls

  • Ear wings required for proper fit

Edifier is committed to taking the world of affordable real wireless earphones by storm this year by releasing two products with identical prices: the TWS NB and the TWS6.

The TWS NB impressed us enough to be called our new favorite budget e-wireless earbud. As a result, expectations were understandably high for the $ 120 TWS6, a pair of buds with similar functions and some important differences that target an active audience. After a week of keeping these earphones in my ears, you should consider that these expectations have been met.

Out of the box

With the last edifier buds I checked, I was impressed with the luxury of the packaging in which they were delivered. It seems that this is a trend in the brand as I came across the same takeaways when I opened the TWS6.

Edifier TWS6 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Both the charging case with the buds and the four (!) Pairs of additional earplugs waited patiently in foam pads. Directly under the earplugs was a small box with a USB-C charging cable, installation instructions and silicone ear wings, as Edifier calls them.

There is a pairing button on the housing itself that starts the connection process. Following the standard procedures for locating the buds in my phone's Bluetooth settings made setup quick and easy. The process is neither unusual nor unusual, but the ability to simply plug in a new pair of earphones is always appreciated.

However, I will point out that if you are looking for more detailed instructions on the functionality of the earbuds or the correct way to attach the ear wings to the buds, you will not find any in the compressed physical version of the manual. You must venture online for the full edition to receive this information.

design

I am fascinated by the way the TWS6 looks, but also a bit perplexed. Because I liked the initial aesthetics of the buds so much, I have some concerns about the methodology of the overall design.

First, the TWS6 are elegant and simple and present themselves as buttonless buds in black (white is also available). They're not heavy on your ears and don't stand out like other options like the Sony WF-XB700. But they're fat, something you should keep in mind when you're stuck against a "clogged ear". Regardless, it was pleasant to have them in my ears for longer test periods.

Edifier TWS6 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

There are both memory foam and silicone earplugs to choose from. In my tests, I chose a smaller silicone alternative to the one on the buds and found that it fits well. There are also the ear wings above that started my confusion. The TWS6 doesn't come with ear wings that are already attached to the buds, but part of me really thinks this should have been. This is because if you just took the buds out of their suitcase like I did, put them in your ears and wanted to start listening, you would have a completely different experience.

This is important to note as the buds would not fit my ears very well without these wings. Finding the right wing has completely changed this and made the TWS6 much more suitable for the intense workouts and activities that Edifier is targeting with this product. I accept the possibility that this is a user error and most buyers know how to attach the ear wings without referring to the instructions. But for those who have a similar attitude, I offer this advice: wrap the buds in your preferred ear wings and save yourself the hassle of constantly having to readjust yourself during a walk.

When we look at the case, it has the same black finish as the buds and essentially looks like a wider copy of the case for Apple's popular AirPods. I was initially worried about how the buds with the wings attached would fit in the case. I will say for the sake of clarity that they sit a little closer, but still sit tight and are charged without hiccups.

properties

When comparing the function sets between these buds and the TWS NB, it becomes clear that Edifier has taken two different demographic characteristics into account in these products. While the TWS NB was more geared towards the serious music listener, the TWS6 has features that suggest that it is much more geared towards lifestyle.

Edifier TWS6 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The TWS6 supports 8 hours of playback with a total of 32 hours of battery life with the charging case. Technically speaking, the TWS NB can last 11 hours at a time, but only without active noise reduction (ANC). With this coveted feature, playback drops to 5 hours.

The differences between the buds become clear when looking at the waterproof ratings. The TWS NB have IPX4 water resistance, which is reasonable but not special. Meanwhile, the TWS6 offers IPX5 resistance, which protects it from the continued use of moisture-like rain. Having gotten into a downpour the morning before completing this review, I can vouch for her ability to withstand harsh weather.

Both edifier buds we've discussed here support Bluetooth 5.0, and I've found similarly strong connections with each pair. Where the TWS6 falls behind significantly, however, are the controls. The TWS NB have multifunction buttons for a variety of applications. In contrast, the TWS6 has touchpads, which unfortunately lack a lot of functionality.

I can pause and resume tracks with a double tap on the right bud and call up my voice assistant with a double tap on the left side. There is no possibility to change tracks and to increase or decrease the volume. While asking Alexa to create a particular song or playlist helps, it still doesn't relieve the pain of missing a couple of what I categorize as both standard and crucial controls.

Audio quality

Edifier was not silent about promoting the Knowles Balanced Armature drivers built into the TWS6, and for good reason. With a diameter of only 12 mm for the entire bud, these drivers are rather small, but offer an exciting punch.

Edifier TWS6 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Based on my listening experience, the TWS6 has all the audio qualities required to create solid buds for workouts and other activities. I've heard a healthy dose of soca music lately (it's a long story), and the TWS6 has skilfully processed the bass-heavy Caribbean beats of Michael Montano's Toco Loco.

They also go well with more mainstream genres. One of my favorite test tracks, Blues Travelers & # 39; Hook, was once again a fun ride that demonstrated the TWS6's ability to dance through a range of frequencies. Other genres and tracks led to the same result: these earphones have a wonderfully pleasant sound that I think will satisfy most people looking for buds in this price range.

However, I would prefer the TWS NB to these buds in terms of sound quality. Although the TWS6 also supports aptX, the NB has an advantage in terms of definition and clarity, as well as ANC to support the listening experience. Thanks to its fit, the TWS6 has efficient passive noise suppression, but does not meet the advantages of ANC, e.g. B. listening to music or making phone calls without interruption.

Our opinion

Edifier did it again with the TWS6 and created an affordable pair of real wireless earphones with nice features and exceptional audio quality. This time they only did it for another listener.

Are there any better alternatives?

I would probably still choose the $ 120 TWS-NB for its audio quality and control benefits, though they're not ideal for active scenarios. Outside of the Edifier brand, the $ 130 Amazon Echo Buds or the $ 130 Sony WF-XB700 are solid competitors in this price range.

How long will they last?

The TWS6 has a build quality that feels solid and impressive waterproofness to protect it from nature. It is a safe bet that you will get your money's worth with these buds.

Should you buy them

Yes. Restricted touch controls are crap, but they don't interfere with what leads to a valuable pair of buds ready for training in the Edifier TWS6. Remember to attach these ear wings.

Editor's recommendations




28 May
Blog

Edifier TWS NB Earbuds Review: Lose The Noise, Keep The Cash

Edifier TWS-NB

"By lowering the price of ANC, Edifier has raised the bar for real wireless earphones everywhere."

  • Solid Bluetooth range

  • Affordable active noise cancellation

  • Exceptional sound

  • Good price

  • Bulky design

  • Uninspired app

Earbud enthusiasts get good news courtesy of Edifier. We have reached an important milestone in the actual wireless timeline as legitimate active noise cancellation has entered the budget-friendly atmosphere.

For $ 120, Edifier's new TWS NB earphones offer the coveted ANC feature in one of the cheapest real wireless packages we've seen so far. Apart from the monetary savings, what is the value of these buds on the table?

Out of the box

For better or for worse, I got used to trying out new headphones or earphones first and then scrolling through the data sheet. It leads to some funny comparisons; For example, because of the packaging and components of the Edifier earphones, I would have sworn that this is a far more expensive product.

Edifier TWS NB caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The TWS NB arrive firmly in their own foam bedding when you lift the lid of the packaging. In addition to the buds and the carrying case, Edifier included a USB-C charging cable, a start guide and a manual as well as additional ear plugs and ear fins.

The setup is standard, with Edifier using Bluetooth 5.0 in the TWS NB. The company also built an antenna technology called Laser Direct Structuring into the earphones to ensure a stable connection and fight interference.

Edifier projects a range of 33 feet, and I would say that this is somewhat conservative. I moved around the house and between the back yard and the front yard while my phone stayed in the kitchen. Impressively, there were no signal drops.

design

The metallic finish of the TWS NB exudes a futuristic atmosphere with its somewhat strange shape. It is undoubtedly a subjective matter, but at least I enjoy the aesthetics. On the other hand, I caused a little controversy by saying that I liked the unique design of the Microsoft Surface Earbuds 2. So maybe my style tastes of the mainstream.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

They also felt comfortable and made the TWS NB worthwhile for longer listening sessions. They are large and unfortunately there is no way around it. Pulling off a hoodie became a problem because the earbuds were likely to get caught and then get lost in a dark fabric cavity when I threw the garment into the laundry basket. Sure, you know, you could remove the earbuds before you peel off that layer, but that feels like an unnecessary inconvenience, however minor it may be.

Apart from IPX4 water resistance, there is not much on the Edifier product page about the functions of the TWS NB as earphones for active people. As I learned from my own experience, there is a reason for this. The earphones are absolutely safe and move at the pace of everyday life. But take it with you for a jog and chaos will occur. They never fell out of my ear, but no matter how many times I adjusted the buds to keep the ear fins in place, I couldn't help feeling like I was wearing dangling earrings – or how I imagine that feeling.

I swapped the ear fins for the larger pair that came with it, and that helped to some extent, just not as much as I hoped.

The charging case, which Edifier calls "anodization-processed, light-resistant aluminum", is larger than alternatives such as the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds 2. The rectangular shape of the housing almost resembles a harmonica.

properties

Interestingly, when it comes to playback time, the TWS NB takes up space on both sides of the coin. When active noise cancellation is activated, they are only suitable for 5 hours of audio. This corresponds to devices with prices similar to the Amazon Echo Buds, but most people want more when the battery stops there.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

However, without ANC, the TWS NB will play for 11 hours, with two additional charges included in the case. This makes it one of the best – in particular the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and the Sony WF-SP800N – for a significantly lower proportion of changes.

There are only two buttons on the Edifier earphones, one each on the multifunctional variant. You can use both buttons to switch between active noise cancellation and ambient noise mode. The same applies to changing titles or answering and declining calls. It takes a bit of leg work to familiarize yourself with the controls, but they work well after the first learning phase.

Edifier has its own app that is paired with the TWS NB … and that's about all there is to say. The app can turn ANC on and off and change tracks, but the buds themselves can do it themselves. Unless I lack anything essential, the app is not a factor for the time being.

Audio quality

For the battery life and ANC features offered at this price, all I really hoped for from the TWS NB was passable audio to add to the ensemble. I have that and more.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The earphones each have a 13 mm graphene membrane, which Edifier announces as "one of the strongest materials in the world" with an "incredible strength-to-weight ratio". Of course this speaks mostly of the market, but in my experience these drivers have something to offer.

On tracks like Megan Thee Stallions Savage Remix (children hear that today, right?), The TWS NB showed an above-average low-end response. At the other end of the musical spectrum, songs like The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band have proven that the Edifiers offer more than reasonable clarity on costs. It is difficult to slaughter a good violin to be transparent, but the NWS-TB still delivered exceptional results.

The earbuds also have aptX support, which is a nice addition considering that some higher-priced options are missing. You are also able to with regards to call quality, although nothing in this part of my audio tests screams exceptionally. Still, I think the majority of listeners will enjoy Edifier's sound quality.

Active noise cancellation

I will take on the role of skeptic when I talk about active noise cancellation for $ 120 just because it hasn't really happened yet, at least not in a remarkable sense. Amazon's Echo Buds came closest, using noise reduction technology that worked well for $ 130. So far, active noise canceling wireless earphones have not been on the radar for this cheap price.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The TWS NB have feed-forward ANC technology, which means that microphones on the outside of the buds analyze and dampen outside noise. It's closer to the basic end of noise cancellation, but that's not a big deal at this price. Well done, it can still be an effective way to keep unwanted noise out of your listening experience.

Because of my time with these buds, the technology is indeed well done. During a walk along a fast flowing river, switching on the ANC function with a double press on one of the two buds completely canceled out the noise of the water. Another double tap on one of the buds brought Edifier's ambient sound mode into play, which was a nice touch when the need to repeatedly greet another dog walker came up again and again.

I wouldn't compare this to the top ANC technology in products like the Sony WF-1000XM3, but I would say that the TWS NB offers worthwhile noise cancellation features for what you pay for.

Our opinion

The Edifier TWS NB are part of a growing trend for bulky earbuds that I'm honestly not on board with. However, they are leading the way in another trend, namely, low-cost real wireless earbuds that do not limit functionality. That is why we can all gather together.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 130 Amazon Echo Buds literally fit some better, with the added benefit of Alexa’s hands-free feature. The Sony WF-XB700, which is also priced at $ 130, has a 9-hour battery life, though the noise cancellation features are missing.

How long will they last?

The TWS NB have a 1-year limited warranty and are equipped with scratch-resistant hardware. You should be able to deal with some wear and tear without the crack.

Should you buy them

Yes. You may want to find another pair if you are a runner. By lowering the entry fee for active noise cancellation, the Edifier TWS NB has raised the bar for real wireless earphones everywhere.

Editor's recommendations