Our homes, vehicles and even our pockets are all equipped with some sort of entertainment device these days. That could be in the form of large screen televisions, games consoles, radios and mobile phones (although phones don’t seem to be in pockets for a majority of people and seem to be some kind of hand augmentation or body modification, especially with teenagers). And they all generate sound, competing for attention with other devices, people and life in general. So to listen to our devices in peace and comfort, we all have some sort of personal audio listening equipment in the shape of headphones, earphones, gaming headsets and earbuds. I personally now use a variety of different options depending on what I am doing – I use headphones at home for listing to audiobooks and video calls, a gaming headset when playing on the Xbox and earbuds when going out and about. I could just use one set for everything, but they do offer something different over each other depending on what they are being used for.
Edifier are experts when it comes to audio equipment which sound great but also look great and are available at very reasonable prices whilst keeping excellent quality. For this review I am trying out the Edifier Hi-Res W820NB Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Stereo Headphones.
The Edifier W820NB ANC Headphones are a wireless set of Hi-Res Audio standard headphones (using Bluetooth v5.0) with active noise cancellation technology. With a battery life of up to 49 hours they are perfect for everyday use.
Main Features:
- Hi-Res Audio standard for a rich listening experience
- Active noise cancellation technology isolates unwanted noise
- Ambient sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds such as traffic or flight announcements
- Built-in microphone with DNN (deep neural network) noise cancellation for clear phone calls
- Large driver with titanium diaphragm delivers crystal-clear sound
- Low latency for game mode gives players an immersive gaming experience
- Up to 49 hours continuous playback
- Lightweight headset assures comfortable fit
Specifications:
| Sensitivity | 98dB |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Audio Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Driver Unit | 40mm Dynamic Driver |
| Playback Time with ANC on | Approx. 29 Hours |
| Playback Time with ANC off | Approx. 49 Hours |
| Charging Time | 1.5 Hours |
| Battery Capacity | 400mAh |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-40kHz |
| Sound Pressure Level | 91±3dB SPL (A) |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Charging Port | USB Type-C |
Out of the box I put the W820NB headphones on to charge (they use a USB-C connection). There was charge in them but as I was unsure how much I put them on for a full charge which only takes 1.5 hours.
After charging and familiarising myself with the user manual (this really does need to be larger to be able to see what the buttons do, although if you install the Edifier Connect app you can view it in that) I popped them on my head and before even switching them on was very impressed. The fit and comfort are excellent, the padded headband is soft and comfortable keeping them snug on my head without feeling any pressure from the headband (this can be adjusted to fit larger heads than mine). The padded earcups are also soft and comfortable and did an excellent job of reducing the surrounding noise before even switching them on. The overall weight of the headphones is very light and you don’t really know that you are wearing them.
Once switched on, depending on whether you are at home or out and about you will need to decide whether you want the active noise cancellation (ANC) on or off – I prefer it ON at home and OFF outside (so that I can still hear a bit of ambient noise, this is so that I am still aware of traffic noise, crossing signals etc.). With ANC off you will get approx. 49 hours of continuous playback, with it turned on that reduces to approx. 29 hours – both options have a very impressive battery life.
With the ANC on it can reach up to 38dB, effectively cancelling out surrounding noise by using a Deep Neural Network technology that removes unwanted sounds and preserves clear voices during phone calls and it really works! With this on, you really only can hear your music, the video you are watching or the game that you are playing without interruption.
If you are still going to make and receive phone whilst wearing the headphones, the built-in microphone equipped with CVC / Call Noise reduction technology ensures Edifier’s signature crystal clear communication is maintained during even the most storm-like conditions (I haven’t tried in storm-like conditions, but it is very clear when I have used it in normal everyday situations, including over traffic noise whilst walking down the street and the other party could very clearly hear my voice).
You can also switch to game mode at the push of a button. The gives you a low latency when in game mode (as low as 80ms) ensuring that there is perfect synchronization between sound and images.
Then there is the Edifier Connect app for your phone that allows you to control all of the settings if you don’t want to use the buttons on the earcup – from the app you can customise EQ levels, change modes, check battery status, disable/enable ANC and view the user manual.
Overall, the Edifier W820NB Active Noise Cancellation Bluetooth Headphones are just perfect. The understated look is superb, the battery life is excellent in whatever mode you choose and the crystal clear sound quality is sublime.
The Edifier W820NB are a very comfortable and enjoyable set of lightweight headphones, giving a perfect listening experience and the active noise cancellation is superb (I might even suggest it as a way to block out those festive family arguments). At under £60, they are a excellent quality set of headphones that are well worth the money.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £79.99
For more information, visit www.edifier.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
Disclosure: I received this item for free for the purposes of writing an honest and impartial review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review uses an affiliate link which I may receive a small commission from if you purchase through the link.
