Edifier WH950NB Headphones Review

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Fast Facts

The Edifier WH950NB focuses on noise-cancelling with great audio features but did these headphones hit all the right notes? Find out in this Rapid Review.

A Sound Set-Up

Unlike the long name of the Edifier WH950NB, the set-up experience sure was short. When I first opened the black and gold box packaging, I was immediately impressed by the minimal design and colour palette which mirrored the box. Just like the NeoBuds Pro, an Edifier logo is subtly edged to the side of the headphones. The connection process was very simple; with a simple hold of the power button, the headphones were quickly ready to pair with my device.

Closed Comfort

Unlike the NeoBuds Pro which adopt an ‘earbud’ form factor, the WH950NB features a more traditional closed over-ear headphone design which I prefer. Both the headband and ear cups are well cushioned which created an immensely comfortable listening experience. I took several train journeys with my headphones and did not experience any discomfort at all, despite hours of listening. Rather than the circular shape of headphones such as the Anker SoundCore series, these earcups feature a more ovular shape which perfectly enveloped my ears. Without being too tight on my head, the headphones held firmly in place whilst sitting, walking or… headbanging. 

Sounds Good?

But what’s a comfortable pair of headphones without good audio? Fortunately, the WH950NB delivers a solid audio experience, albeit slightly lacking in the bass department. Podcasts sounded great, as did tracks by artists such as The Weeknd and The Arctic Monkeys. Hidden within the Edifier app are three listening modes, plus a customisable equaliser. The ‘dynamic’ mode amplifies the bass of music – although never quite as punchy as I’d like. One feature that I especially enjoyed was the ‘theater’ mode which widens the soundscape to replicate a cinema listening environment. I found this to work very well for live concert recordings as the expanded audio mirrored the acoustics of a stadium. I was very impressed by the battery life as the headphones show 80% battery despite many hours of listening. In fact, Edifier’s website promises a whopping 34 hours of battery with ANC; perfect for those on the go! 

Noise Cancellation

Where these headphones truly shine is with the noise-cancelling. With a tap of the mode button on the right side of the headphone, I could toggle noise cancellation, or enable the ambient feature which allows sound to pass through into my headphones. The difference between enabling or disabling noise cancellation in the Edifier WH950NB was one of the most distinct changes I’ve encountered. The noisy fan of my gaming PC simply vanished, as did the screeching of a train track. This removal of background noise drastically improved the listening experience of podcasts specifically, where silent gaps between conversations remained quiet despite the noisy environment. In fact, it was only after taking off the headphones that I realised the passenger next to me was talking to someone across the carriage aisle. Noise cancellation engineered specifically to reduce wind noise can also be enabled within the app and I found this worked well whilst walking outside. 

Summary

In summary, the Edifier WH950NB are a good pair of headphones that truly excel in their superb noise-cancellation capabilities. With the extended battery life and strong noise-cancellation, I recommend these headphones, especially if you’re a frequent commuter. 

Rapid Reviews Rating

4 out of 5

4

You can purchase the Edifier WH950NB for £179.99 from Amazon