Headphones have advanced features, a comfortable fit, and quality sound, but at a fraction of the cost of competitors.
When it comes to quality headphones, the phrase “you get what you pay for” seems to ring true. However, sometimes one will come across a rare gem that provides more features than expected – like the Edifier W820NB Over-ear Headphones.
Main Features & Details
The Edifier W820NB over-ear Earphones arrived in a 7 1/2 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches tall by 3 1/2 inches wide silver-grey hanging style retail package. The main focus of the cover panel was the large 4 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches tall slightly-raised, glossy image of the white/grey over-ear headphones. I liked the visual contrast with the background, the crisp, clean lines, and the port/cutout details.
Additionally, I enjoyed the gold-on-silver font accents of the Edifier name along the top left, the Hi-Res Audio logo along the bottom left, and the W820NB product name (Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Stereo Headphone) along the bottom right. The left side panel provided the Edifier logo along the top of the panel and a QR code to download the “EDIFIER CONNECT APP” along the bottom of the panel.
The opposite side panel provided eight descriptive icons: 1. HYBRID ANC. 2. Ambient Sound mode. 3. DNN Call Notes Cancellation. 4. Lightweight Design. 5. AAC High Definition Audio. 6. Game Mode. 7. 49 Hour Playtime. 8. Titanium Diaphragm. The top panel housed the black plastic hanging tab, while the bottom panel remained unadorned.
The rear panel provided four side-by-side images of the headphones along the top of the panel, and a multilingual feature review along the midsection (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese) relaying feature and specification details.
Features:
- Lightweight Headset.
- Hi-Res Audio Standard for Rich Listening Experience.
- Ambient Sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds like traffic or flight announcements.
- DNN noise cancellation technology ensures clear phone calls.
- Acting Noise cancellation technology isolates unwanted noises.
- Large driver with titanium diaphragm delivers crystal clear sound.
- Low Latency for game mode gives players an immersive gaming experience.
- Up to 49 hours of continual playback. Specifications: BT 5.0, A2DP/AVRCP/HFP profiles, 10m BT distance, 29-hour playback with ANC on and 49 hours with ANC off, 1.5 hours charging time, 20Hz-40KHz, input 5V/1A, 32 ohms impedance.
Lastly, along the bottom of the panel, you will find product manufacturing labels, three points of caution regarding hearing/noise trauma, a paragraph about Bluetooth, and product SKU labels.
Getting Started
I cut the tape at the top of the panel, removed the tab, and then removed the thin white plastic tray. Next, I removed the 8.2-ounce earphones from the tray and evaluated the device’s features. The headband section measured 12 1/2 inches long from earcup swivel to earcup swivel and had extension segments located 2 1/2 inches from the swivels. For added comfort, you can grip the earcups and pull them outward. This will allow you to gain up to an additional 1 1/4 inches per side.
Even with the extension segments fully deployed, the clean-white outer surface remained unadorned except for dual shimmering metallic silver Edifier logos at each end. I loved the matte white surface and felt near surgical cleanliness to the headphones. Even the light grey accents added a soft subtle visual contrast to the white backdrop. The headband’s underside had a soft, squishy, 7/8 inches wide by 5 inches long by 1/2 inches thick arcuate grey headband pad, a few visible silver screws, and an “L” “R” printed for alignment.
The inner surface of the left headband segment provided the Edifier name and product manufacturing labels. When applied to the head, the padding successfully reduced the pressure at my scalp vertex and decreased the fatigue experienced with prolonged use.
Each of the 3 1/4 inches wide by 3 3/4 inches tall by 1 3/4 inches thick earcups had a 3/4 inches thick grey padding segment and a 1-inch thick white plastic outer section. The earcups were attached to the main headband segment at a swivel junction point. The swivel allowed the right earcup to rotate up to ninety degrees clockwise and approximately 10 degrees counterclockwise, while the left earcup was able to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise and approximately 10 degrees clockwise.
Additionally, both earcups had a stirrup segment that allowed the top section to angle up to 45 degrees inward. The headphone function buttons, microphone, and input power port were easily accessible along the lower rim of the right earcup. Starting from back to front, you will find a + button, a multifunction power button, a – button, an LED, the Bluetooth button, a USB-C input port, and then the microphone.
Each of the earcups had a sleek grey inner mesh that matched the outer light grey cushions. With the earcups positioned over the ears, the headband section extends forward about ten degrees from parallel. Thanks to the design, the headband rested comfortably along the vertex of the scalp. I loved the look, the feel, the clean colors, the weight, and the general design of the headphones.
Before you dispose of the inner white plastic shell, make sure that you remove the accessory bag hidden on the reverse side. The accessory bag contained a 48 1/2 inches long USB-A to USB-C, a small rectangular Edifier FCC regulatory panel, a 2 1/8 inches wide by 2 15/16 inches tall W820NB instruction manual, and a multilingual warning pamphlet (English, Chinese, French, Italian, Indonesian, Netherlands Dutch, Korean, German, Spanish, Russian, Saudi Arabian Arabic, Japanese, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Danish, Portuguese, Greek, and Ukrainian).
Prior to using the headphones, I plugged the USB-A to USB-C cable into a 5V/2A output USB-A port and allowed the Edifier W820NB to charge. While charging, I opened the instruction manual and perused the contents. Each of the languages was granted a single page of the instruction manual, except for several extra panels within the Russian section (4 pages used).
For those with bad eyesight, you may need a magnifying lens or a photograph with the ability to expand images to read the English Panel. The User guide detailed the functions of the buttons, reviewed Bluetooth connections, and how to restore to factory default. I liked the layout of the buttons and the design of the over-ear Edifier setup. A short press of the + button will increase the volume, while a press-hold will take you to the next track. Similarly, a short press of the – button will decrease the volume, while a press-hold will take you to the previous track.
The power button and Multi-function buttons (labeled with Bluetooth Icon) had six features each. To power on/off the device, you can press and hold the power button for 3 seconds. By double-pressing the button, I found that I could activate Siri. A single button press will allow you to play/pause the music/video, or accept/end a call during call mode.
If desired, you can double press the power button during an incoming call to reject the call. The features of the multi-function button proved a bit more advanced. You can single press the MFB button to rotate between the following looping modes: Noise Reduction Off, Ambient Sound, Noise Reduction On. A double press of the button will cause the female announcer to vocalize the presence of game mode. Lastly, if needed, you can press the MFB button to force the device into BT pairing modes.
Listening Experience and Testing
To connect to my iPhone 13 Pro Max, I powered on the Earphones by holding the power button x 3 seconds, and then navigated to Settings, to Bluetooth. When I selected Edifier W820NB from the list, the earphones announced the connected status with a triple ascending tone jingle. Once paired, I navigated to the audiocheck.net website and ran the Edifier over-ear headphones through several tests. With the headphones in Noise Reduction Mode, I selected the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz) and listened as the announcer verbalized each 10Hz increase in sound. I was able to hear the bass at 20Hz but noted a nice boost around 30Hz.
I repeated the test in Game Latency mode and with the Ambient Sound Mode, plus the Noise Reduction off Mode. I found that I preferred the Noise Reduction mode when listening to test tracks, as it seemed to improve the crispness of the sound. Next, I selected the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz) from the list. Similar to the low-frequency test above, I listened as the announcer verbalized each drop in the frequency. Even though the upper limit of human hearing is 20kHz, most adults cannot hear above 15kHz due to loss with time.
Unfortunately, some individuals lose higher frequency hearing due to noise pollution from work, concerts, machinery, etc. Like most other in-ear and on-ear devices, I was able to hear the high-pitched ringing sound at 15kHz, while my 10-year-old and 12-year-old sons could hear the sound at 17kHz. The moral of the story is to protect your hearing because, when it is gone, it is gone.
I selected the Left/Right/Center test for the third test and found appropriate headphone programming. For the final audiocheck.net test, love to utilize the “Real Thing” Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test. This mode provides a binaural recording of someone knocking, which may take you aback if you have not experienced this before. My children regularly request to turn the lights off to experience the knocking in a near pitch-black environment.
Honestly, f you have not used the feature, I would recommend that you give it a try. Once the audiocheck.net tests were complete, I turned to Amazon Music Unlimited to run through my test tracks. I started with The Dark Knight Joker Theme “Why So Serious” and navigated to the ~3:30-4:00 mark. I love the heavy bass call/response at that section, the climactic build, and then the crash to bass. I listened to the throaty, yet somber “Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold” from The Hobbit, and then transported myself into the jazz club vibe of the bounding bass within Holly Cole’s Train Song.
For the final bass test, I listened to “Ring of Fire” by Homefree and enjoyed the sound/feel of the low F# Growl from Tim Faust. As I increased the volume from 10% through 75% (my upper limit), I found the bass to be supportive without becoming muddy or washing out the upper sounds.
To test the mids and upper frequencies/sounds, I navigated to Apple Music and listened to several instrumental soundtracks and Ensemble pieces. I listened to Holst Suite in Eb, Jupiter, Pevensey Castle, Palovetsian Dances, Lincolnshire Posey, and then the Braveheart, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Far and Away Soundtracks. I liked the blend, the clarity, the staging, and the color of the sound.
Similar to the other tests above, I tried Ambient mode, Noise Cancel mode, game on/off mode, and routinely settled on the combo Noise Cancellation with Game Mode. To further test the sound staging and placement, I used Yosi Horikawa “Bubbles” and one of my favorites, “Caribbean Blue” from Enya. I enjoyed the testing experience and was quite pleased with the mids and higher frequency sounds. The sounds remained clean and never felt tinny.
The headphones provided adequate bass to support the mids/uppers, and clear movement within the upper frequency. I returned to Amazon Prime Unlimited and listened to a variety of A Capella songs from Pentatonix, Home Free, and then enjoyed some Pitch Perfect Riff Offs. Again, the Noise Cancellation mode reigned supreme throughout the various tests.
With the above tests complete, I decided to listen to some comfort/fun tracks. I listened to the Money Heist soundtrack, to various tracks from Meghan Trainor, Lady Gaga, Alabama, #thatPower, The Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack, and the Rocketman soundtrack. Whether listening to Charlie Puth, Michael Jackson, Purple Rain from Prince, various Maroon 5 songs, Boys to Men, 4 Runner, etc., I enjoyed the blend.
I utilized various sources including Amazon Prime Unlimited, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, etc before moving to Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, Movies Anywhere, and Peacock. I watched the last few episodes of Money Heist, a few episodes of Star Trek Discovery, Lost in Space, and The Legend of Vox Machina. The Noise Cancellation mode allowed me to listen/watch my favorite programs, while my children practiced piano, watched Cocomelon on the television, and jammed on their Baritone and Trumpet.
Lastly, as I was putting my daughters to bed, I enjoyed laying on their floor while listening to He Who Fights With Monsters on Audible. The comfortable padding plus limited noise leak allowed me to listen with fatigue or pressure on my ears. I loved that I could lay supine or on my side to move into a comfortable position.
Final Thoughts
I have tested the headphones over the last 2 weeks and have only charged them once. Even with the Noise Reduction mode active, I was still able to use the headphones for 2-3 hours daily for an entire week. I put them on charge Sunday night, used them during the whole week, before returning them to charge the following Sunday again.
I loved the button layout, the intuitive programming, the comfortable padding, the adjustable swivel of the earcups, and the color scheme. Additionally, the Edifier headphones provided advanced features, while also hitting many of the basic features as well. You can control the volume, you can move to the next/previous tracks, you can activate the voice assistant, and you can pair with another device. However, there were a few features that were lacking. First, the setup lacked a case/bag for the headphones, which is a standard feature for other similarly priced headphones.
Second, I feel that the device should have had an auto-off feature. On one occasion, I had fallen asleep with my headphones next to me and awoke with the headphones still active. I felt that the charging time to utility time was more than fair and I enjoyed charging the headphones via USB-C. Whether listening to music, watching movies, enjoying audible books, communicating via phone or FaceTime, the headphones will provide an enjoyable experience.
For my final test, and perhaps my favorite use for the headphones, I played Torchlight 2 with my dad on Nintendo Switch. I held the MFB button for 3 seconds, activated Bluetooth, and then paired the Edifier Headphones to my Homuspot device. With the device plugged into the bottom of my Nintendo Switch, I pressed/held the blue button and enjoyed some game time.
I played Skyrim, Diablo 3, and Icarus Uprising. I loved that I could use the headphones with the Homuspot device and enjoyed a reduced distraction gaming session. To summarize the overall experience, I would give the headphones a 9.5/10 for comfort, 9/10 for sound, 10/10 for battery life, 9/10 for accessories, and 10/10 for packaging.
If I had input on version 2.0, I would include a USB-C to USB-C cable instead of USB-A to USB-C and I would add a travel carry case. The newer Bluetooth V5.0 standards provided crisp, high-quality sound, and the experience was quite rewarding.
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