In the second review that we are covering Edifier after the NB2 Pro, we are covering the Neobuds Pro which cost £99 via Amazon.
When you consider a pair of TWS what do you look for most will say a quality sound, comfortable fit, adjustable EQ and noise cancellation. However, these demands can be expensive.
Audio Brand Edifier has sent us the Neobuds Pro that on paper offer everything you expect with the more expensive offerings in the market but at £99 let’s see if they can challenge the likes of Sony, Jabra & Sennheiser.
Who is Edifier?
Edifier landed on the scene back in 1996 and specialize in premium audio solutions that showcase technological innovation and design elegance. They deliver outstanding sound experiences through a wide range of sound systems for personal entertainment and professional excellence. Edifier products are now enjoyed by customers from over 70 countries.
Unboxing
With this offering, Edifier reminds me when you look at the presentation and packaging something that has become the norm from 1More. You get a large presentation box that gives the impression of a high-end product. Inside the box, you have the Neobuds Pro inside their charging case you also get the following:
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- Nylon Carry bag
- Large selection of silicone eartips
- User guide
Design
The Neobuds Pro look very similar to that of the NB2 Pros we have reviewed recently when you place these next to each other it would not surprise me if you got them mixed up.
The NB2 Pro (Left) vs the Neobuds Pro (right)
The main differences are the Neobuds Pro are more compact and have rounded contours on the stems which adds to the overall style. They both still keep that futuristic design as mentioned when reviewing the NB2 Pros.
They fit really nicely in the charging case and are very easy to remove from the case as they lay flat in the charging case. The case has a blend of matte black plastic and aluminium on the lid that continues that futuristic design. The lid opens with ease and when it’s closed you have no real risk of the case opening my mistake. What I love about the case is the red LED indicator for when the case is charging. Reminds me of that 80’s classic KnightRider.
The Neobuds Pro also offer an IP54 rating meaning they are water and dust resistant meaning they can handle being out and about so if you get caught in the rain they will be fine and also you could also use these in the gym and they will be fine.
The only real disappointment in design is the fact it’s not Qi-compatible so wireless charging is not possible. However, Edifier tries to get around this by offering 5 hours of playback in the buds and an additional 20 hours from the case and you get a slight increase if you don’t use the ANC as you may expect.
Edifier also provides you with quick charge options where 10 minutes of charge will give you 30 minutes of listening time. When it’s time for a full charge you can go from 0% to 100% in just 1 hour of charging. Overall you will find you should have no issues using these buds for the daily commute with ease.
Everyday use
Edifier has made comfort an important aspect of the Neobuds Pro and with the large selection of eartips, they are offering you will find something comfortable and with that secure fit. I found wearing the buds ideal for long periods of use without any discomfort.
The NeoBuds Pro like the NB2 Pro use touch controls at the very top of the stems and are fairly sensitive from outside the box. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the buds via the connect app. The app also lets you customize the controls of each bud. However, be warned you can only select two actions per bud for the double and triple tap actions meaning you are limited to what you can control at any one time. Fingers crossed a firmware update will resolve this issue.
I feel the biggest negative for a pair of buds like these are the lack of an auto-pause feature whereby if I took the bud out of my ear they would automatically pause the music. However, you can just use a single but the controls might become an issue.
Last but not least is the Bluetooth they come with version 5.0 as you might expect connecting the buds to your phone is a simple process. The distance you have the manufacture says 32 feet but in testing the distance did reach a longer distance than what edifier said which is a bonus.
Audio Quality
Edifier has described the Neobuds Pro as the first Wireless Hi-Res Audio earbuds and this is due to the ability to reproduce sounds at both 20Hz and 40kHz plus the support of LHDC, LDAC, AAC & SBC codec. However, the LHDC codec is only available on a few selected handsets so if you don’t have it you won’t feel the benefit and hear these buds in their full potential. If you have a Sony Xperia 10 III or Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro then you can enjoy the LHDC codec.
Moving on to the overall sound quality you get a fantastic overall sound quality. The hybrid driver pairs with a dynamic driver for low frequencies paired with a balanced armature driver offering quality highs. It’s not something you see every day in a pair of TWS. What you get as a result is a well detailed wide soundstage allowing you to pick up all the instrumentals in the music you listen to.
There are two EQ modes via the Edifier connect app – Classic & Dynamic. The classic provides more of a neutral sound signature where dynamic pushes both the lows and highs to an overwhelming experience with very heavy bass. If you enjoy bass and beat-heavy tracks you can tweak the EQ via a custom mode which allows you to set what you like. The only downfall is the app has a rather confusing interface for you to customise the EQ.
ANC & Transparency Mode
The NeoBuds Pro also come with ANC which for the cost I was really impressed with something you might only expect in a pair of AirPods Pro. The ANC comes in two levels:
Low- takes a lot of the edge of unwanted background noise but you still hear it to a degree.
High- Completely kills off unwanted background noise.
When testing these over the week I used them I found the high mode my favourite when walking to work in central London I could hear my music or podcast with ease without the unwanted noise it also did a fantastic job of drawing out unwanted conversations while i was on the train or at work.
There is also Transparency Mode which is basically ambient mode and it does a great job of letting outside sounds in when you listening for a train announcement or eventually when we all start to travel on a plane again. You can also adjust the levels via the app but I found the level great as it was set by default.
Moving between ANC and the transparency modes is just a simple tap rather than multiple taps or via the app when using other TWS. You can also use the buds with both ANC & transparency mode off but this can be done via the app which the only benefit is it will extend the battery a little.
Finally, the Edifier connect app you could say is a work in progress. The home screen is as you might expect it provides an excellent overview of the battery levels of the buds and the charging case. You can also access ANC mode with ease. The issue with this app comes with the EQ customization you will need a degree in computer science to get around
Call Quality
The Neobuds Pro also lets you receive and make calls with and when having a conversation I found background noises are limited and found my voice stayed clear and the other person could understand what I was saying which is the most important.
When you answer a call you will notice the ANC or transparency mode will be switch off and you won’t be able to turn ANC back on while you’re on a call finish that call and it’s back.
Verdict
My overall view of the Edifier NeoBuds Pro is they are an excellent pair of true wireless earbuds that offer excellent sound, the ANC and transparency modes worked very well and you got a decent level of battery life. I also found the fact you have an IP54 rating offers extra protection for longer life.
I was disappointed in the lack of wireless charging but they provide a quick charge so it’s not all bad. Another feature I feel that was missed is the lack of in-ear detection. I also found the app to be a little tricky, especially when customizing the EQ.
So if you can look past some of the missing features what you do get is excellent audio paired with a quality ANC and let’s face it the most important aspect we buy a pair of earbuds is the sound so these get a massive YES to buying them as your next pair of TWS and at £109 they are well worth the investment.
Product Rating:
- Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
- Audio Performance: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
- ANC Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
- Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
- Value for Money : 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars 4.8 Stars
Thanks for reading this review, please continue to support us and check out our other reviews and follow us on Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below.
How would these compare with last gen flagship, the Sony WF-1000XM3 ? Kinda torn between the two now that the Sony buds have dropped in price to a similar level.
I can see your issue but after reviewing the Neobuds Pro I would pick these over the Sony pair as I was more impressed with the audio quality over the Sony option.