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Jun 21, 2023

Reviewing Edifier’s W820NB active noise cancellation headphones

Active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones have become increasingly popular in

Active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones have become increasingly popular in recent years, and the Edifier W820NB is one of the latest entrants in this space and catching many people's attention at just $80. These over-ear headphones promise to provide excellent noise cancellation, superior sound quality, and long battery life. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Edifier W820NB and evaluate its performance.

The Edifier W820NB headphones come in a sleek and modern design with a matte finish. The ear cups are adjustable, and the headband has a soft padding for added comfort. The headphones are lightweight at just 280 grams, making them easy to carry around, and they come with a carrying case for additional protection. The ear cups are made of plastic, but they don't feel cheap or flimsy. They are available in five different black or white color shades, and the overall design is minimalistic, understated, and very professional.

The ear cups of the W820NB have a comfortable fit that provides a good seal around the ear. The padding on the ear cups and headband is soft and cushioned, making the headphones comfortable to wear for extended periods. The headphones are also adjustable, allowing users to find the right fit for their head size. The ear cups can be rotated and flattened for easy storage in the carrying case.

One thing worth noting is that the ear cups don't fold, which may be a drawback for some users who prefer more compact headphones. However, they can be flattened and rotated for easy storage in the included carrying case. The carrying case is made of a soft material that provides ample protection for the headphones.

The Edifier W820NB headphones are comfortable to wear for extended periods. The ear cups are large and have soft padding that conforms to the shape of your ears, creating a good seal that blocks out external noise even for those who have fairly larger ears. The headband's soft padding distributes the weight of the headphones evenly, reducing pressure on the top of your head. The ear cups can be adjusted to fit your head size, and they swivel and tilt to provide a more natural fit.

The ear cups also have a breathable material that prevents sweating and heat buildup, making the headphones suitable for use during exercise or outdoor activities.

One of the key features of the Edifier W820NB headphones is their sound quality. They come with 40mm drivers that deliver clear, detailed sound with good bass response. The headphones also have support for Bluetooth 5.0, which provides a stable wireless connection and high-quality audio transmission. The W820NB headphones support both AAC and SBC codecs for Bluetooth streaming, ensuring a high-quality audio experience regardless of the source device. The headphones also have a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections, which provides an option for users who prefer the higher sound quality that comes with wired connection.

The Edifier W820NB headphones deliver excellent sound quality that is balanced and detailed. The headphones feature 40mm drivers that deliver crisp highs, detailed mids, and punchy bass. The bass response is powerful but not excessively deep without overwhelming the other frequencies, making the headphones suitable for a wide range of music genres. The highs can even be described as amazing when listening to, for example, deep house music. The soundstage is wide and open, creating a spacious and immersive listening experience.

The Edifier W820NB headphones have an effective active noise-cancellation feature that uses four microphones to capture external noise and cancel it out. The noise cancellation is effective at blocking out most low-frequency sounds such as airplane engines, traffic noise, and background conversations. The noise cancellation can be turned on or off using a dedicated button on the ear cup. Turning on the noise cancellation reduces the overall volume slightly, but the reduction in external noise more than compensates for it. It cuts out bass and rumbling very well while allowing some of the higher notes through.

The headphones also have a transparency mode that allows you to hear external sounds without taking off the headphones. The transparency mode can be activated by pressing and holding the noise-cancellation button on the ear cup. This feature is useful for situations where you need to be aware of your surroundings, such as when walking on a busy street.

The Edifier W820NB headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity of up to 10 meters, and support for both AAC and SBC codecs. They also have a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired connections, allowing users to enjoy their music even when the battery runs out. The headphones have built-in controls on the ear cup for adjusting the volume, skipping tracks, and answering phone calls. The controls are easy to use and responsive.

The headphones can connect to two devices simultaneously, making it easy to switch between them without having to disconnect and reconnect.

The headphones also have a built-in microphone for hands-free calling. The microphone is located on the ear cup and provides clear and crisp voice quality, making it suitable for phone calls or voice commands. The headphones also support voice assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant, allowing you to access your smartphone's features without taking it out of your pocket.

The controls for the Edifier W820NB headphones are intuitive and easy to use. The right ear cup has a touchpad that allows you to control playback, volume, and call functions with simple gestures. Swiping up or down adjusts the volume, swiping left or right skips tracks, and tapping once pauses or resumes playback. Double-tapping skips to the next track, and triple-tapping skips to the previous track. A long press activates the voice assistant, and a double-tap answers or ends a call.

And a quick note on the app, it comes with three levels of ambient sound volume while in general you will be able to choose from four different equalizer settings for pop, rock, classical, and classic. While I’m not exactly certain about the difference between the last two but I think "classic" is another way of saying just "flat". The app also provides a library of ambient sounds such as waves, crickets, campfire, meditation music, nature sounds, birds, rain, creek, baby babbling, and so forth, with a total of 32 to choose from. The sounds are in 3D, giving you a feeling that they are moving around your head.

The Edifier W820NB headphones have a battery life of up to 50 hours with ANC turned off and up to 40 hours with ANC turned on. This is impressive and makes the headphones ideal for long flights, commutes, or road trips.

The headphones also support quick charging, with just five minutes of charging providing up to two hours of playback time. It takes around three hours to fully charge the headphones, and the battery status is indicated by a LED light on the ear cup. As I’ve said in other reviews, don't make quick charging a habit as it will gradually wear down the lifespan of your battery.

Overall, the Edifier W820NB headphones are a great choice for those looking for a pair of active noise-canceling headphones with good sound quality, long battery life, and a comfortable fit. The headphones are lightweight, cozy, and easy to carry around, making them ideal for travelers or commuters. The sound quality is excellent, with clear and detailed audio and effective noise cancellation. The battery life is impressive, with up to 50 hours of playback time, and the quick charging feature is convenient. The W820NB headphones are also reasonably priced, making them excellent value for money.