W820NB Edifier Bluetooth ANC Headphones – Overview
Edifier has a solid history of putting out great-sounding headphones at a fraction of the cost of comparable brands. Having reviewed their previous models, the W860NB’s and the W830BT’s I have seen a consistent improvement in quality. The W820NB offer a lightweight alternative to previous models with additional features such as an ambient sound mode and smartphone app integration.
Read our full review of the Edifier W820NB headphones to find out what sets these apart from all the other sub-$100 active noise-cancelling headphones.
Price and Availability
| Bluetooth Headphone Model |
| Edifier W820NB Bluetooth Active Noise Cancelling Headphones |
| Features |
| Lightweight, Over the Ears, ANC, Hi-Res Audio, Ambient Sound Mode, 49 Hours Battery Life, Low Latency Gaming Mode. |
Full Review
The Edifier W820NB’s headphones come inside a good quality retail box. Inside You’ll find a Type-C USB charging cable and a small user guide. The manual is very minimal in content, however, once you’ve installed the ‘Edifier Connect’ app, you’ll have access to a full user manual directly on your phone.
Design and Build Quality – 8 out of 10
Anyone familiar with the Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones will notice the similarity in design. The Edifier W820NB’s are basically a slightly less bulky, lighter and more affordable alternative to Sony’s flagship Active Noise Cancelling headphones. The distinctive aesthetic of the chamfered edges and integrated brackets give the earcups a clean and minimal look.
The W820NB’s are predominantly made of plastic which certainly helps with their overall weight. The strap adjustment is also made from plastic rather than sprung steel which could potentially be a weak point if placed under a lot of stress. That said, the only time I’ve ever excessively stretched or twisted a set of headphones is during a product review. For day-to-day wear and tear, I see no issues with durability.
Comfort and Fit – 9.5 Out of 10
As with previous Edifier Headphone models, the comfort level is about as good as it gets. The combination of the lightweight design and soft padding on the earcups and headband make the Edifier W820NB’s a pleasure to wear. Furthermore, the over-the-ear design along with the pitch and swivel brackets ensure a balanced fit with zero ear fatigue.
The Edifier W820NB Controls and Features. – 7 Out of 10
The controls, which are found on the underside of the right earcup are tactile to touch and responsive. The volume and track selection share the same button, with a short tap to adjust volume and a long press to skip a track. The power button will play and pause with a short tap and turn on and off when held down.
The Bluetooth pairing button is separate from the main headphone controls. Found alongside the Type-C USB charging port. This multi-function button will toggle between ANC on/off and Ambient Sound on/off when pressed. A double tap will switch on and off the low latency game mode.
Active Noise Cancelling mode is the default setting when turning on the headphones. The ANC performance is extremely impressive for a set of headphones at this price range. Additionally, the headphones’ standout feature is the ability to switch to ambient mode swiftly in situations where heightened awareness of surroundings is required.
The latency in standard mode is pretty spot on thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 and perfectly fine for watching videos. With the headphones set to Game Mode, it’s practically impossible to notice any delay.
Battery Life for Days!
Edifier has a pedigree of producing headphones with ridiculously long battery times, the W820NB’s boast an impressive 49 hours. I wish I could give you confirmation on that, but it’s practically impossible to log the time over that period. – I think the 49 hours is without ANC, which means you’ll probably lose around 10 hours off that number, but that’s still a whopping playtime.
Keeping track of the battery and accessing the headphones settings is a doddle with the Edifier Connect app. I’ve seen dozens of apps for headphones, and very few of them end up staying on my device. This one is a keeper, it’s clean, well-designed and has an easy-to-access shortcut on your phone’s drop-down menu.
Sound Quality – 8 out of 10
The W830NB headphones feature large 40mm, dynamic drivers, with titanium diaphragms and offer Hi-Res Audio with AAC codecs. They offer a well-balanced sound that feels natural throughout the ranges. The bass is present, but not overpowering which is a common issue with low-cost headphones. The highs are very clean but sit a little behind the mids, it’s a really nice balance for long periods of listening to music.
Verdict
I can highly recommend the W820NB’s for a multitude of reasons. They’re lightweight, super comfy, have an amazing battery and offer top-notch ANC quality for the price range. They look and sound better than just about any other headphones in their price range. Furthermore, the addition of the ambient and game modes, accompanied by an impressive app, really set these apart.
Price and Availability
| Bluetooth Headphone Model |
| Edifier W820NB Bluetooth Active Noise Cancelling Headphones |
| Features |
| Lightweight, Over the Ears, ANC, Hi-Res Audio, Ambient Sound Mode, 49 Hours Battery Life, Low Latency Gaming Mode. |
