Edifier WH700NB Review: Best ANC Headphones Under $40?

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Edifier recently launched a new set of over-ear headphones, the W700NB, that are both affordable and feature rich. These headphones stand out for their impressive battery life. When you turn on the active noise cancelling feature, they can last up to 45 hours. Without noise cancellation, they can go even longer, up to 68 hours. Plus, a quick 10-minute charge gives you a solid 8 hours of use – perfect for those who are always on the go.

The W700NB headphones also come with various modes to enhance your listening experience. The ambient mode is great for when you need to be aware of your surroundings. For gamers and video streamers, there’s a gaming mode designed to reduce latency, ensuring that audio syncs perfectly with your content.

Priced at just $40, the Edifier W700NB is a steal. If even half of these features work as promised, I’d say they’re definitely worth recommending.

Design and Comfort

These headphones are designed with both practicality and aesthetics in mind. A key feature is their foldable design, making them more compact and travel friendly.

Edifier has strategically used a lot of plastic in the construction of these headphones. This choice serves two main purposes: firstly, it helps keep the cost of the headphones down, making them more affordable. Secondly, it reduces the weight of the headphones. At 271 grams, they are quite light for over-ear headphones, which enhances their comfort for extended use.

Durability is also a consideration in the design. The hinge, a common weak point in over-ear headphones, especially foldable ones, is reinforced with metal. This reinforcement ensures that the headphones can withstand the rigors of regular folding and unfolding.

Aesthetically, the headphones are understated yet elegant. The only gold accents are found in the Edifier logo, giving them a simple and sleek appearance. This minimalistic design choice means there’s less risk of noticeable wear and tear, such as scratches that can occur with more flashy materials like chrome.

Comfort hasn’t been overlooked. The headphones exert a gentle pressure on the ears, creating a tight seal which is essential for effective noise isolation. The ear cups are made with a memory foam material, which is soft and spongy. This material choice ensures that the cups slowly return to their original shape after being pressed, providing both comfort and an effective seal around the ears for enhanced passive noise isolation.

Features and Controls

It has a Type-C port for charging. It’s pretty quick to charge – just 2 hours for a full battery. But here’s the kicker: a mere 10-minute charge gives you a whopping 8 hours of use!

The battery life is impressive. With the SBC codec, which is the only one it supports, you get up to 68 hours of playback without noise cancellation. If you turn on the noise cancellation, it still lasts a solid 45 hours.

Pairing this device is a breeze, thanks to the Bluetooth status LED. Press and hold for 3 seconds to enter pairing mode. A single tap lets you toggle between different modes like ambient, noise cancelling, wind filter, and even a gaming mode.

Another great feature is its ability to connect to two devices simultaneously – think your tablet and phone. For controls, it has physical, rubber-coated buttons that are satisfyingly clicky. These buttons let you manage power, volume, track skipping, and even answer calls. They provide great tactile feedback, and unlike some other headphones, they’re not touch-sensitive, which many users find more reliable.

Sound & Microphone Quality

Edifier’s W700NB headphones have 40mm Dynamic drivers, which means they offer really good bass. They sound great, especially considering their price. The bass is deep and strong, but it doesn’t get messy or lose quality even at high volumes. The overall volume is pretty loud, although some might prefer it louder. The headphones handle high notes well without being too sharp, and the vocals sound clear and pleasant.

The headphones have different modes for noise cancellation. When you switch to the ambient mode, it lets in some external sounds. This is useful for hearing things like train announcements or people talking around you. Then, when you activate the active noise cancelling feature, it significantly reduces background noise. I tested this by playing recordings of noisy environments, like train stations and airplanes, and found that the headphones effectively lower the sound.

While they may not have the strongest noise cancellation compared to other headphones, it’s still very effective, especially considering their price. Just like their sound quality, the noise cancellation performance is quite good for what you pay.

They use Bluetooth 5.3, and I tested them by watching Netflix. I didn’t notice any lag or delay between the video and audio, which is great for watching movies or shows without any syncing issues.

The microphone quality isn’t the best. It’s okay for voice calls and people can understand you, but it could be clearer. There’s a bit of background noise from things like air conditioning, but the headphones do a decent job of blocking it out.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Edifier W700NB headphones offer an excellent combination of features, performance, and affordability. They provide a range of useful controls, such as physical press buttons and compatibility with the Edifier Connect app. The noise cancellation and passive isolation effectively block out external noise, and the sleek and minimalist design adds to their appeal.

Whether you’re a music lover, a gamer, or someone who enjoys streaming content, the Edifier W700 MBS headphones are a recommended choice. They offer great value for money and deliver an enjoyable listening experience.

Harpreet Singh

My fascination with technology inspired me to pursue a writing career. I am now a freelance writer at "The World's Best and Worst." In my downtime, you'll often find me catching up on sleep, browsing Netflix for something interesting, or immersed in playing video games.