Very similar to their pricier predecessors, the $349.99 Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 noise-cancelling headphones sport a refined design, ship clear audio, and work with an outstanding in-app EQ. Core enhancements embrace markedly higher battery life and broader Bluetooth codec help. If energetic noise cancellation (ANC) efficiency is your prime concern, you are higher off with the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones ($429) or the Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399.99). However Shure’s Aonic headphones are in any other case a compelling different because of their lower cost and extra correct default sound signature.
Understated Seems and High quality Equipment
Obtainable in black, the circumaural Aonic 50 Gen 2 headphones function massive earcups with faux-leather lining and ample cushioning. The Shure emblem seems on the surface of every earcup and the underside of the padded headband. They appear stylish general, however each the aforementioned Bose and Sony fashions come in additional colours when you’re on the lookout for a bit extra design selection.
Internally, 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers ship a frequency vary of 20Hz to 20kHz. The headphones are suitable with Bluetooth 5.2 and help the AAC, AptX, AptX Adaptive, AptX HD, LDAC, and SBC codecs. Whether or not you pay attention on an Android or iOS system, these headphones will present a high-quality playback choice. You’ll be able to pair them with as much as two gadgets on the similar time.
(Credit score: Tim Gideon)The correct earcup homes the on-ear controls. An unmarked three-way change cycles between the ANC on, ANC off, and Atmosphere (transparency) modes by default. As a result of Shure makes use of a bodily change as a substitute of a button for the ANC controls, you possibly can’t change the energetic mode by way of the companion app out of the field. Nonetheless, you possibly can assign a unique operate to the change and achieve in-app ANC controls when you do not thoughts that changing into the one technique to make associated adjustments.
A 3-button array sits to the proper of the change. The central multifunction button handles playback (press as soon as), monitor navigation (press twice for ahead, 3 times for backward), and voice assistant entry (press and maintain). It additionally solutions calls (press as soon as), toggles Mute mode (press twice when you allow this function), ends or declines incoming calls (press and maintain), and locations calls on maintain (press 3 times). Plus and minus buttons on both facet of the central button change the amount.
Persevering with across the fringe of the proper earcup, there is a energy/Bluetooth button and a USB-C port for the included USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable that additionally allows hi-res wired playback at as much as 32-bit/384kHz. The left earcup homes a 2.5mm connection for the included 2.5mm-to-3.5mm audio cable that enables for passive or powered wired listening.
Along with the cables, the headphones ship with a hard-shell zip-up case. It has a strap for simple hanging and options an inside mesh pocket for the cables. The headphones flatten and collapse on the hinges to suit inside.
(Credit score: Tim Gideon)Shure estimates the headphones can final roughly 45 hours per cost, assuming combined utilization. For reference, it claims that utilizing the ANC can cut back battery life by roughly between 20 to 25%. Your real-world outcomes will differ tremendously relying on how loud you pay attention, whether or not you utilize ANC, and which codec you select. Shure does not present steering on the time wanted to totally recharge the headphones, however says plugging in for quarter-hour nets 5 hours of playback.
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 App Expertise
The ShurePlus Play app (obtainable for Android and iOS) takes longer than most to load—typically greater than 20 seconds. On the primary display screen, the app exhibits a picture of the product, a battery life readout, and the energetic noise cancellation mode (no label seems if noise cancellation is off).
The Noise Management tile beneath that prime part additionally exhibits what noise cancellation mode you might be utilizing, however does not allow you to change it by default. That stated, when you set the bodily change on the headphones to the ANC or Environmental modes, you possibly can no less than regulate their ranges. For ANC, that features Gentle, Reasonable, Max, or MaxAware (which blends ANC and Environmental modes), whereas for Environmental, a fader controls the ambient mic ranges.
Subsequent up is the Personalize part, which gives a Spatializer impact with Music, Cinema, or Podcast choices. These spatial audio modes depend on quite a lot of bizarre results and omit head monitoring, so I do not suggest utilizing them. Farther down is a set of normal settings for adjusting tone suggestions, switching between hi-res and communication modes for wired listening, and the like. You may as well configure the on-ear change to cycle between the ANC depth ranges (Gentle, Reasonable, and Max), the three Spatalizer choices, and a few preset EQ modes (Loudness, Bass Enhance, and Vocal Enhance).
(Credit score: Shure)On the backside of the display screen, you possibly can navigate to the Equalizer, Music, and Settings sections. The EQ part is among the many finest I’ve seen. Along with offering some primary presets, it provides a guide instrument with a low-shelf band, two midrange parametric bands, and a high-shelf band to regulate. Every band exhibits its corresponding frequency, how a lot achieve you’re including or subtracting, and the adjustable bandwidth—in brief, actual EQ parameters.
In the meantime, the Music part is a extra disorganized tackle no matter music streaming app you utilize. Lastly, the Settings space exhibits product info and allows you to obtain firmware updates.
Unremarkable Noise Cancellation
In my noise cancellation exams, the Aonic 50 Gen 2 headphones carried out positive. They dialed again highly effective low-frequency rumble pretty properly, however some nonetheless got here by. Towards a recording of a crowded cafe, they tamped down the lows and mids to a level, although a lot of the greater frequencies handed by freely. General, these headphones do not compete with the Bose QuietComfort Extremely and even the earlier class chief, the $349 Bose QuietComfort, which is considerably disappointing given the high-end worth.
The Transparency mode is kind of efficient, nevertheless. When you set the related fader to its highest degree within the app, your environment will sound barely louder and brighter than in actuality.
Clear, Adjustable Sound
I can affirm that the in-app EQ is efficient for making tweaks to the sound signature, however I turned it off (together with the spatial audio modes) for my testing.
On tracks with intense sub-bass content material, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones ship a wealthy low-frequency response. The drivers do not distort at prime volumes and the lows nonetheless have a sturdy presence at average ranges.
(Credit score: Tim Gideon)The headphones can reproduce a lot of the sub-bass on the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” The bottom word within the sub-bass development, nevertheless, is simply past their attain. Boosting the lows wildly by way of the EQ can get you a touch of extra bass depth on the subwoofer degree, however these drivers aren’t designed for that function; they emphasize readability and steadiness general. The vocals profit from a wonderful degree of element.
The drums on Invoice Callahan’s “Drover,” a monitor with far much less deep bass, sound pure. Callahan’s baritone vocals obtain a wonderful mix of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, whereas the acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits are brilliant. The sound signature leans towards accuracy with a full sense of the mids. Bass lovers would possibly discover the audio signature a bit weak out of the field, however barely boosting the low-end by way of the in-app EQ lends it some extra physique with out destroying the steadiness.
(Credit score: Tim Gideon)On orchestral tracks, just like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel Based on the Different Marythe headphones give attention to the mids and highs. The lows are nonetheless current however do not sound as elevated as on different fashionable headphones.
The voice mic array works pretty properly. I had no challenge understanding each phrase from a check recording on my iPhone because of the sign’s trace of low-frequency presence and adequate loudness. That stated, the sign is considerably much less crisp than that from the Sony WH-1000XM5.
For Audio Purists
The Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2 headphones ought to attraction when you want readability over booming bass. They provide hi-res playback by way of USB-C, a wonderful vary of Bluetooth codecs, good battery life, and a high quality array of equipment for much less cash than their predecessors, however they do not cancel distracting noise as successfully because the Bose QuietComfort Extremely or the Sony WH-1000XM5. If high-quality ANC is central to your choice, both of these two fashions is a greater choose. Shure’s headphones are price contemplating, although, if you wish to avoid wasting cash or want a extra audiophile-friendly sound signature.
