Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

REVIEW: Edifier TWS NB Headphones

Tested extensively during CES 2020, these truly wireless headphones with ANC deliver exceptional sound quality, clear calls and blissful active noise cancellation - all for an affordable price.

Verdict:

The Edifier TWS NB earbuds provide great noise reduction and perform well when receiving calls in loud environments. Additionally, the long battery life and sound performance make these truly wireless headphones worth the investment, although the large form factor may not appeal to those who want a sleek AirPod look.

Image credit: Future

Pros:

  • Noise reduction works well
  • Long lasting charges
  • Calls very clear on both ends

Cons:

  • Earbuds stick out more than most truly wireless earbuds
  • No volume controls
  • Can look awkward with smaller ears

I’ve tested many headphones and earbuds in my career, but I think I have a new favorite truly wireless (TW) set – the Edifier TWS NB. I took these earbuds with me to CES 2020, the largest consumer electronic show in the world, this past month in hopes that it would help block out some of the noise with some relaxing tunes and help make navigating through thousands of people less stressful.

MY TESTING EXPERIENCE

Image credit: Future

Full disclosure: I’ve been recently disappointed with other TW earbuds brands that claimed to be noise reducing, but had underperformed in actual noisy situations such as commuting on public transport, but as I connected the Edifier TWS NB set to my phone as I boarded my flight and switched on the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), my ears breathed a sigh of relief. Near silence.

I could still hear nearby muffled conversations, but the droning of the plane engine and the constant buzz of people was blocked out and I enjoyed my music the entire flight. When I did need to listen to a flight attendant or announcement, the press of a button switched over to “ambient sound” mode, which allowed me to hear what was going on around me as well as my music. This mode also worked great when I was walking on the busy streets of Vegas, keeping me from being an unaware, and squished, zombie commuter.

Receiving calls was surprisingly clear and hassle-free. I was able to hear clearly and be heard with hardly any “can you repeat that” from myself or the caller. And that was in noisy convention halls and casinos filled with hundreds or thousands of talking people and various sounds. I am impressed with the quality of the microphones in this regard, and found myself feeling confident in my tech when a call came through.

Image credit: Edifier North America

The Edifier TWS NB earbuds are larger than AirPod-style earbuds, extruding outwards instead of down. This form factor helps the noise cancellation as the mics are able to pick up more ambient noise and allows for the use of Φ13mm graphene diaphragms to deliver punchy bass and clear tones.

The larger style is a common complaint with these models, especially when people have smaller ears. I’m a big guy at 6’3”, and I always worry about my AirPod-style earbuds falling out when I walk about or exercise at the gym, but the Edifiers fit my ear canals well and never felt like they were going to pop out at random times during my testing, even when jogging to catch the monorail to the convention center. Additionally, the Edifiers are IPX4 splash resistant, protecting the earbuds from sweat or rain, making it possible for you to enjoy them at the gym or on wet commutes.

SOUND

The sound of the Edifier TWS NB is great! Granted, they are not equivalent to any high quality over-ear cans, but compared to other ANC earbuds on the market, the Edifier TWS NBs rank in my top three for sound. I enjoyed crisp clarity with mids and highs, deep, punchy bass with my music – ranging from metal, to classical, R&B and Top 40 – and I found myself noticing sound effects normally lost to our ears as I watched shows and movies on my tablet.

Unfortunately, there are no volume controls on the earbuds themselves, but having the ambient noise mode helps to quickly reduce the volume to hear a conversation. Another feature I appreciate is the long battery life of the Edifier TWS NBs. With ANC turned on you can expect up to five hours of playback and around 11 hours with ANC off between charges. These times are accurate with my testing experience.

Image credit: Edifier North America

The charging case charged my NBs twice beyond the initial charge, giving me three full charges for the headphones, and I only ran out of juice on my longest day of CES 2020 coverage as I had ANC on the entire time – it gets really loud in those exhibition halls. Fortunately, the case recharges itself and the headphones quickly and I was back to listening to music within 30 minutes on a partial charge, enough to get me back to the hotel.

The Edifier TWS NB comes with a one-year warranty, a 30-day return policy and you can contact customer service and support online or by phone.

VERDICT

I truly enjoy the Edifier TWS NB headphones and rank them in my top three TW earbuds alongside the Sony WF-1000XM3, and Apple AirPods for overall performance, sound quality and ANC. The Edifier TWS NB earbuds provide great noise reduction and perform well when receiving calls in loud environments. Additionally, the long battery life and sound performance make these truly wireless headphones worth the investment, although the large form factor may not appeal to those who want a sleek AirPod look.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • BLUETOOTH VERSION: Qualcomm 5.0
  • BLUETOOTH PROFILE: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
  • EFFECTIVE DISTANCE: 33 feet (10m)
  • PLAYBACK TIME:
    ANC On: Approx. 5 hours (earbuds) +10 hours (charging case)
    ANC Off: Approx. 11 hours (earbuds) +22 hours (charging case)
  • CHARGING TIME: approx. 1 hour for full charge (earbuds)
  • INPUT: DC 5V 60mA (earbuds) / DC 5V 500mA (charging case)
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz-20KHz
  • IMPEDANCE: 32Ω
  • SENSITIVITY: 94dB

For more information about Edifier audio products, visit www.edifier.com.

See also: CLEER Audio Shines At CES 2020

Featured

Close