Edifier WH700NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones Review

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Tech Specs

Introduction

I typically always wear headphones when travelling or commuting. I use them to listen to music, watch videos or participate in calls when on-the-go. Unfortunately, my usual go-to headset – my SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ – has proven prone to disconnecting from my phone on public transport. Its USB-C dongle limits my ability to charge my phone simultaneously, and I’ve nearly lost it more than once, too. This makes the headset impractical and inconvenient to use outside of the house or office.

As such, when presented with the opportunity to review the Edifier WH700NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones (pictured above, referred to as the Edifier WH700NB headphones from here on), I jumped at the opportunity. Their Bluetooth connectivity, simple yet professional design and advertised features promised to eliminate my commuting woes. I couldn’t wait to give them a try in the hope that they would do just that. Read on to find out what I thought of them in this Rapid Tech Review.

Appearance and Comfort

I received the Edifier WH700NB headphones in navy blue. My first impressions when opening them were that they are compact, lightweight and flexible. Their design is simple-looking and user-friendly, with accessible on-board multi-function buttons. They feature an extendable metallic telescopic headband as well as rotatable ear cups. This means that you can adjust them to your liking. The ear cups are also made of soft memory foam, meaning you can expect to wear the headphones comfortably for extended periods.

This said, I have found that – for me at least – the ear cups are somewhat too narrow, being oval-shaped. This unfortunately means that my ears are pinched inside the cups, causing some discomfort with extended wear, though the fit on my head itself is comfortable. If you have small ears like myself, you may wish to take this into consideration.

The plain design of the headphones – featuring only small Edifier logos on each side of the headband – is appealing. It makes them quite unassuming to wear, and gives them a professional aura. It also means that they are suitable for use in multiple settings. This could be at home, while commuting or in the workplace. The on-board buttons are subtle enough in their placement and positioning that they don’t stand out to look at, yet they’re easily accessible. They are also textured, ensuring you can always tell which is which.

My only other gripe with the appearance and shape of the headphones is the arched hinges for the ear cups. On rare occasions, strands of my hair get stuck in these, and thus when removing them, it causes mild pain. This issue may be more prominent for others, so is worth noting.

Build Quality and Battery Life

Having noted above the compact and and lightweight design of the Edifier WH700NB headphones, I worried at first glance that they would be flimsy and susceptible to breaking easily. The thin headband, flex points and hinges all inspire a certain amount of concern for chronically clumsy people like myself. They may, in time, prove to be fragile.

However – so far at least – the headphones have proven to be robust and resilient. Having taken them on days out folded in my bag, worn them around my neck and used them for long periods while exercising on my treadmill, they have so far suffered no damage. The fixings and screws used in the hinges are good quality, giving me confidence that they, at minimum, won’t wear out anytime soon. Sadly, I suspect the foam of the ear cups may crack or split in time. These unfortunately don’t seem to be replaceable in the event of wear-and-tear.

In terms of battery life, I am pleased with the performance of the Edifier WH700NB headphones so far. Having had active noise cancelling (ANC) turned on for the majority of the time, I have not needed to charge the headphones since receiving them over a week ago. As mentioned, I have taken multiple trips out, used them while exercising and worn them around the house too, and they’re still going strong. This is exceptionally impressive compared to other wireless headphones and earphones I have used, including the Cleer ARC Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds.

When I do finally need to charge the headphones, this will be easy to do with the provided USB-C cable. If, as the box says, ten minutes of charging time will provide eight hours of playback, this will make the headphones even more appealing and convenient to use.

Audio Quality and Bonus Features

Moving onto audio quality and the headphones’ features, considering the price point of the Edifier WH700NB headphones (£49.99 RRP), both are respectable. The audio quality is generally clear, crisp and on-key, though there is a tangible lack of bass. After testing a variety of music genres with the headphones, I found that higher-pitch or more upbeat tracks sounded the best, though all were still enjoyable to listen to. If you’re not a keen audiophile, the headphones will likely be fine for you.

The advertised active noise cancellation (ANC) does well to reduce excess environmental input (such as traffic sounds), however it sadly isn’t fully effective. I could still hear external sounds clearly, though not as prominently as when ANC was disabled. The on-board microphone – featuring environmental noise cancellation (ENC) – also works well, with no muffling or distortion. I encountered no issues or interruptions with the Bluetooth 5.3 connection, and this made my commutes much more enjoyable, knowing that I wouldn’t be missing the best parts of my favourite tracks.

The multi-function buttons on the Edifier WH700NB headphones were useful to pause and unpause my music, skip songs, change the volume and swap to a different mode, such as the ambient sound mode. However, I did find the sheer number of commands difficult to remember and input accurately. Each button has a minimum of two commands it can be used for.

Though some commands matched other headphone brands I’d used before, others didn’t. For example, on the Edifier WH700NB headphones, you hold Volume Up or Volume Down to skip a song rather than double-pressing. I’d recommend keeping a firm hold of the instruction booklet if purchasing the headphones, as this contains the full list of inputs.

Game Mode, Edifier Connect Application and Conclusion

For the types of games that I typically play and enjoy, the game mode of the Edifier WH700NB headphones was not too relevant for me. This said, I appreciated that it was available, and did utilise it while gaming on my phone and PC. Those who play fast-paced or frame-heavy games – such as first-person shooters – will get the best use out of this. The ability to connect the headphones to two devices simultaneously via the dual device connection is also handy for gamers. This meant that I could connect them to both my Nintendo Switch and phone, for instance.

The additional customisation features available via the compatible Edifier Connect mobile application – such as optimising the audio output for different music genres – are also desirable and beneficial. It is unfortunate that these require an external application to configure, however. It creates mild inconvenience for users, as you need to open the application each time you want to adjust a setting. Considering the options it offers, though, this shouldn’t be a big issue.

Overall, I have been very satisfied with the Edifier WH700NB headphones. I look forward to continuing to use them especially while commuting, travelling and exercising. Their price point is extremely reasonable for the audio quality and features that they offer, and their long battery life is impressive. As they are available in multiple colours, this also gives you a choice of which suits your aesthetic best. If you’re looking for an affordable, good-quality set of headphones for daily use, the Edifier WH700NB headphones could be ideal.

Thank you again to the team at Edifier for providing a pair of the Edifier WH700NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones for the purposes of this review.

3.5

You can purchase the Edifier WH700NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones from the Edifier EU store. Alternatively, you can purchase them from online retailers such as Amazon UK.

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