REVIEW – 4 years in the past (has it been 4 years?), I reviewed the Edifier W860NB Bluetooth Lively Noise Canceling headphone. I favored these headphones however had some reservations I’ll get into later within the assessment. 4 years later, Edifier has launched the brand new WH950NB headphone—and boy, did they study some issues!
What’s it?
The Edifier WH950NB headphone is a successor to the W860NB mannequin. It options many enhancements whereas solely rising the worth by 10 bucks. They’re nonetheless made from high-quality plastic with a steel headband body. Ear cups are a fairly gentle protein (pretend) leather-based that helps seal out ambient noise.
Shade selections are solely black or white (this assessment). The headphone is all white (extra an eggshell coloration than brilliant white) with gold accents. This coloration seems softer than my most well-liked black model, however it pictures a lot better for reviewing. Buttons are lowered to only two—one is a toggle that performs many capabilities.
The case is now a tough canvas that feels extra premium than the earlier case. The WH950NB headphone folds right into a extra compact form for transporting. There are solely 3 equipment: USB A to USB-C wire, a mini audio jack wire, and an airline headphone adapter which appears a bit retro at the moment.
{Hardware} specs
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- 40mm dynamic driver
- Codecs: LDAC, SBC
- Playtime: 34 hours (ANC On), 55 hours (ANC Off)
- USB-C charging
- Dimension: 193 x 169 x 82mm (L x W x H)
- Weight: .65 lbs
Design and options
Utilizing the Edifier WH950NB headphone brings again reminiscences of what I favored concerning the W860NB headphone. It additionally brings out the various enhancements Edifier has made. They nonetheless really feel a bit just like the Bose QuietComfort telephones, however the design has been improved with refined copper accents on the black mannequin and a extra noticeable gold for the white mannequin. They’re nonetheless principally plastic which reduces weight they usually additionally really feel simply as premium. One large enchancment is that the WH950NB headphone now folds. In consequence, the case is extra compact. It’s additionally canvas-covered onerous shell, relatively than the cheaper-feeling fake leather-based case of the W860NB. Packing the case right into a backpack or messenger bag is now a lot simpler.
Edifier properly omitted the stylish (and now foolish) trackpad capabilities from the W860NB. The WH950NB makes use of extra conventional buttons constructed into the outer proper ear cup shell. One toggle button performs on/off/play/pause/reply name capabilities depending on what the headphone is doing on the time. This multi-functional heart is sandwiched between the quantity up and down buttons—all inside one oval-shaped button.
Resulting from its studying curve, I’m not a fan of this strategy, however it’s means higher than the short-lived and problematic trackpad strategy on the W860NB. That’s a characteristic I can’t miss. At first blush, it appears to be like cool till you reside with it for some time.
Under the toggle button, there’s a second “M” button that switches the WH950NB between three audio modes: Lively noise canceling (ANC), Ambient (letting all outdoors noise in), and Off. This button makes switching modes tremendous simple. Word that there’s a slight delay between the modes as a voice immediate says which mode is now getting used. I discover the delay barely irritating, however it might not be an enormous deal to others.
The decision high quality has improved a bit. Folks I converse with can hear me clearly though I’ve a little bit of hassle listening to myself, even in ambient mode. So I often transfer one of many ear pads off my ear to listen to higher. That is one thing that occurs with different headphones additionally.
Edifier provides the Edifier Join app (iOS or Android) that allows you to management greater than the ear cup buttons, although it’s pretty bare-bones. There isn’t a equalizer included past some presets. I attempted the app as soon as and rapidly forgot about it.
The WH950NB headphone makes use of the brand new Bluetooth 5.3, which permits pairing with two units on the identical time. I can now pair with each my iPhone and iPad and simply swap between each. I like that. The WH950NB additionally quick pairs with Google units. Nevertheless, as an unrepentant Apple fanboy, I don’t care (sorry, Google).
Bluetooth 5.3 additionally has good-sounding codecs. Let’s be sincere, wi-fi audio might not equal hard-wired audio, however audio high quality is now shut sufficient to not matter a lot. I fairly take pleasure in listening to music wirelessly with out questioning what I could be lacking. LDAC is supported by all these non-Apple individuals.
Talking of audio, I favored how the W860NB headphone sounded, however ANC noticeably degraded its music high quality. I a lot desire how the WH950NB sounds—it sounds the identical in any mode—ANC, ambient, or off!
For days, I listened to music I like and it was enjoyable—regardless of the mode. Except I wanted absolute quiet, I might simply put on them in ambient mode for hours as I labored. Every time I came across a track I actually favored, I might crank the headphones up with no distortion ruining the sound. Solely my audiologist would cringe on the quantity I hearken to! The WH950NB headphones by no means faltered.
What I like
- A lot improved ANC
- A lot improved Audio
- No trackpad controls!
- Solely $10 greater than W860NB
What I’d change
- The Join app might do extra
Closing Ideas
I like it when an organization gives much-improved headphones over a earlier mannequin. The Edifier WH950NB headphone is such a headphone. It’s cheap sufficient to purchase, even if you happen to already personal the W860NB. It’s that a lot better.
Worth: $179.99 US.
The place to purchase: Amazon
Supply: The pattern of this product was offered by Edifier.
