Looking for a pair of overhead headphones with solid bass and decent ANC under £100 then continue reading this review!

 

The Edifier W820NB Plus on first look are identical to the previous model the Edifier W820NB and that is because they basically are the same.

The main differences are as follows:

 

Edifier W820NB Plus  Edifier WB820NB
Hi-Res Audio wireless & LDAC Hi-Res Audio
ANC Depth – Around -43dB ANC Depth – Around -38dB
Playback – ANC ON: 33hrs，ANC OFF: 49hrs Playback – ANC ON: 29hrs，ANC OFF: 49hrs
Fast Charging – 10mins = 7hrs Fast Charging – 10mins= 1.5hrs
Bluetooth – V5.2 Bluetooth – V5.0

 

First Impressions

 

Now as you can see they are the upgraded model and I am wearing them as I write this review. They are the same as the previous model but better they have made a few small changes and really took these to the next level.

 

When you look inside the headphones you can see where the upgrades occur. For example, you are given Hi-Res audio that adds the LDAC codec normally found in Sony headphones in the W820NB Plus this really helps when you have a wired connection. Other improvements include:

 

  • Stronger Hybrid ANC
  • 40mm titanium-coated drivers
  • Increased noise reduction when making calls.
  • More battery life when ANC is switched on
  • Even faster fast charging.
  • Up-to-date Bluetooth 5.2. 

 

The Edifier W820NB Plus is available in the following colours – Blue, Green, Bright Black, Grey, and Ivory.

All of this for the crazy price of £79.99 which in fact is the same cost as the previous model which makes you think why would you not get this upgrade?

 

Design

 

In terms of the design, there is not too much difference from the previous model for example you still have pleather earcups that also use a mix of memory foam faux leather within the earcups and headband which does a good job of removing that dreaded clamping force and allows you to wear them for long periods.

 

In terms of durability, the Edifier W820NB Plus is built using the same material as the previous model so you are getting a durable plastic design but the headband extension is still made of plastic which is a shame. The headband is made using aluminium and does offer a good level of flexibility.

The Earcups will fit most ear sizes with ease and the use of memory foam offers a better fit and more importantly, offers a chance to wear them for long periods of time. If like us we do not want to take them off the earcups are replaceable and new cups are not very expensive. It would have been nice to have been given a spare pair but we will forgive them.

In terms of where you could use these they could be used wherever and whenever you like and if you wanted to hit the gym the fact they are (IP rating) means if you go hard in the gym they will be able to handle a sweaty season. Plus if you are going for a full-on gym session the fit means they won’t fall off.

 

I love wearing these while out cycling on my Honbike Uni4 E-bike and being able to enjoy wearing these for long periods means I can really go for a long ride without feeling that headphone clamp.

 

The build offers a uniform style and they really do look stylish. They are also lightweight coming in at 221g and have the following dimensions  164.8mm x 191.3mm x 82.3mm (LxWxH)

Now the controls are all on that right cup which is pretty standard you have a plus and minus with a multifunction button in the middle. In terms of controls, the volume controls also offer track control. The button in the centre provides the following:

  • Pairing
  • Power
  • Play/Pause
  • Voice assistant
  • Call Controls

I found when navigating the controls they did an excellent job and was very responsive. The button under this is the magical button it allows you to turn on that ANC, Switch to Ambient Mode and activate the gaming mode. You will also notice just in between the ANC buttons and the main control is a small LED to indicate when powered up, when in pairing mode and also when on charge.

Battery Life

 

Here is an area where the Edifier W820NB Plus really does shine; they offer a massive 33 hours with ANC on and switch ANC off and this jumps up to 49 hours. Considering the price point it’s excellent value for money but goes higher to the more premium models then they sit about average.

 

What you also get is fast charging and this has been improved. The previous model’s 10 minutes of fast charging gives you 1.5 hours of playback but the new Plus model in the same 10 minutes gives you 7 hours!

 

Connectivity 

 

The Edifier W820NB Plus are provided with the latest Bluetooth connectivity 5.2 which means you can easily connect them to your phone, tablet or laptop without an issue. I also found the range to be very good coming in at a massive 20M which is really impressive especially compared to the rest of the market at this price point. The only downside to these headphones is the lack of multipoint but when the range, ANC and audio quality are this good we can forgive them for this missing.

 

When it comes down to codecs Edifier has your back by providing you with the following:

  • SBC
  • LDAC- 44.1kHz to 96kHz

 

Features

 

The Edifier W820NB Plus comes with a good range of features such as-

  • Advanced ANC
  • Built-in Mics with DNN (deep neural network)
  • Ambient Mode
  • Gaming Mode
  • Edifier App

 

The Edifier app really does give the user that chance to create a custom experience, for example, a number of EQ Presets such as Classic, Rock, Pop.

 

Gaming mode with low latency as low as 0.8  is ideal for those who enjoy playing the latest games on their mobile or laptop and allow you to really feel part of the game.

 

The headphones also allow you to switch modes from ANC, ambient mode and gaming mode but there is also a button at the rear of the headphones which allows you to do that.

 

The Edifier App has also introduced something I have only seen on the Tozo Golden X1 and that is a selection of relaxing sounds which really came in handy for my wife when she needed to get into the zone. This is a really useful function to have on the app allowing you to chill out when the stress levels hit the high figures.

 

Audio Quality 

 

The Edifier W820NB Plus sounds just fantastic thanks to the 40mm drivers and the option to select one of their preset EQs. When testing these out the sound signature is just a joy the balance is just spot on when it comes to the bass, mids and highs though the highs are an area that needs a little improvement.

 

The bass comes with a real neutral response that does change a little with ANC on but that is to be expected. Turn the ANC on and you get a real boost when it comes to sub-bass which adds to that warm sound. You will also notice ambient mode actually also gives the bass that extra boost as well.

 

If you are looking for that controlled bass ideal for more hardcore music with also giving you what you need when listening to other genres of music these headphones tick that box.

 

The mids are also neutral which is good as if you are listening to something like “Alice Merton’s No Roots” It will really benefit the tone of her vocals within a natural tone and also offer that smooth experience.

 

You will also notice the mids also benefit from tracks with a strong instrumental like the god-like tones of “Prince- Purple Rain” That electric guitar solo is just incredible in these headphones.

 

The treble is controlled to stay under 10kHz as this will help increase resolution provide that boost and make the track even brighter than it should. This brings me to the detail you get a decent level with a nice level of texture perfect for when it’s time to chill out. When you want to really take the sound to church, select the classical mode it takes the treble to heaven.

 

Overall the soundstage is intimate and will feel like the music just floats around you. These headphones will put a smile on your average audiophile who needs to consider their budget at under £100 who can complain. When watching WWE videos on YouTube there was no audio lag and the current Bluetooth offering really does optimise these headphones.

 

Now what you will notice is that there is no 3.5mm jack and there is a good reason for that. Instead, they provide a USB-C port to allow connection for a wired audio experience by using the USB-C option over the 3.5mm jack there is no change to the audio quality compared to a Bluetooth signal.

Built-in Mic

Now the Edifier W820 also allows calls to be made and received and does an excellent job regardless of my environment. I found any unwanted outside noise was massively reduced and this resulted in my voice being picked up very well. However, on occasion, I did notice my voice sounded a little muffled and this might have been down to the fact I tested this function at London Liverpool St station which can be very busy and this could be why the built-in mic had to pick up my voice but contend with a lot of background noise. However, the majority of the time the mic worked as expected.

ANC

The ANC on the Edifier W820NB Plus is simply impressive. I found the ANC on the previous model to be excellent but Edifier has taken the ANC on these up a notch. I work in quite a busy office and drowning out some of the people I work with can be very tricky to do. The ANC on these is like when I put them on my head it’s almost like someone presses the mute button on my team. The headphones block all of that unwanted noise out allowing me to immerse myself in the music I am listening to especially when it’s time to play some “Prince- Purple Rain”.

You get zero distractions and I have found these a joy to use when on the train I could be sitting on a six-seater with a group of noisy ladies chatting, put the headphones on and that unwanted sound is gone! If you want to make small adjustments to the ANC the app offers the chance to adjust the EQ which might help you personalise that ANC experience.

Edifier does this with a depth of -43bB of hybrid ANC technology that can automatically identify noise and correct itself to cope with noisy environments such as if I was at my busy office or even on the daily commute the noise stays out of my ears. Incredible!

In terms of what is on the market at this price when you consider ANC they really are on pair 1More Sonoflow ANC we reviewed recently.

Verdict

The Edifier W820NB Plus I would go as strong as saying are the best pair of overhead headphones I have reviewed in the last 5 years!

These headphones provide the user with a balanced and non-fatiguing experience without any headphone clamping force. Would I have liked a headphone case possibly but then it would mean I would not be listening to these headphones and we do not want that to happen.  The W820NB Plus offers a stand-out Bluetooth connection (5.2) as well as LDAC & SSC codecs there is also a low latency gaming mode which is a real bonus.

Design-wise they are lightweight and very comfortable, especially for long periods of use. You could even use them for the gym but am unsure of the IP rating. I will update you once I have found out. In terms of durability and stability as long as you look after them they will be fine they are made of durable plastic but I see why some readers might have preferred a travel case.

In terms of battery life, 33 hours with ANC on and 49 hours with ANC off and 10 minutes fast charge to give 7 hours of you is very pleasing and surely up there with the premium models on the market.

It’s madness how Edifier has created a pair of premium headphones at such an affordable price tag. I 100% recommend you go and buy these headphones in fact that is an order they are that great!

I found the sound quality to be fantastic I have listened to a wide range of music from Prince to Fifth Harmony and everything in between and they rock how they are only £79 is a crime I would pay double for these headphones they offer an impactful soundstage with clear and detailed mids and the highs are great and that bass has taken me to heaven.

I have been looking for a long time for a pair of headphones with ANC that when switched on just turns all the unwanted noise off and these headphones are a massive tick in that box!

My advice is simply to go and buy these!

 

Product Rating   

Design/Build: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Connectivity: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars

Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Call Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

ANC: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

 

Overall ranking: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars – 4.8 stars  

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