Edifier W830NB Headphones – Review

By Steve Crabtree, September 2024

There’s something uniquely satisfying about over-ear headphones. My usual go-to when listening to music and podcasts on the go is a pair of earbuds, which I really love. However, after spending countless hours with earbuds you sometimes get a slight discomfort. Tired ears I call them, and I’m in need of giving my lugholes a rest.

So, seeking both comfort and quality, I came across the Edifier W830NB Over-Ear Headphones. They promise not just a respite from said ‘tired ears’, but but also a blend of good looks and deliciously rich sound—just what I was looking for.

What’s in the Box

• 1x Pair of Edifier W830NB Headphones
• 1x Type-C Charging Cable (USB-C)
• 1x Instruction Manual

First Impressions

The Edifier W830NB headphones looked stunning online, and the packaging did them justice. Upon unboxing, I wasn’t disappointed—the aesthetics were just as impressive in real-life. I opted for the grey pair, choosing a more subtle tone over the standard black or white, and I absolutely love the colour.

They feel quite lightweight; while not flimsy, they did initially make me think I’d need to handle them with care. However, as I used them more, this wasn’t an issue. They fold nicely for compact storage in a bag, or they’re light enough to hang around your neck comfortably.

I liked them on first look. But with headphones, it’s all about the performance, isn’t it?

Performance

I left them charging overnight before the first use, although Edifier promises a full charge in just one and a half hours for an astonishing 96 hours of listening time. If you’re pressed for time, a quick 15-minute charge gives you 10 hours of usage—that’s insanely good!

Straight out of the box, they connected to my phone quickly, and I was greeted by that deep, rich sound I’m accustomed to with Edifier products.

I chose to listen to Jungle‘s album Volcano to put the headphones through their paces. Their track ‘Candle Flame’ has a nice bass, some higher-pitched vocals, and a crisp musical arrangement—perfect for testing audio range.

And, as a fan of this brand I wasn’t surprised that the Edifier W830NB’s delivered flawlessly. Using them while waiting for a train, the noise of other commuters, announcements, and passing trains didn’t disturb the song. The noise cancelling at -45dB is top-notch.

But then, there was more.  I connected them to the Edifier app on my phone, and this took the headphones to even higher levels of performance.  You’ve got a load of control over the sounds at your fingertips with these things, and the app allowed me to adjust the equaliser to my preferences, and let me feel the music more. Just the way I like it.

As for comfort, absolutely no problems. The lightweight feel and soft, comfortable ear pads meant I could listen for hours without any issues. This is bound to cause me a dilemma in which headphones I choose when I next want to listen to my tunes privately.

Getting Technical

• Upgraded hybrid digital noise-cancelling technology. Enabling a noise reduction of up to -45dB.
• Features a built-in, large-capacity battery and a low-power consumption chipset. This offers an impressive 94 hours of continuous music playback with ANC off.
• Supports LDAC high-definition decoding for Hi-Res Wireless audio. Transmitting at a transfer rate of 990kbps, which offers three times the music detail of standard Bluetooth codes.

The Verdict

Unsurprisingly, once again, I’ve received an Edifier audio product that’ll form part of my lifestyle and will be used on a regular basis.

As well as listening to music, I can use them for work calls—quickly switching between my phone and laptop (you get crystal clear sound on phone calls too by the way).

But it’s music where it matters, and I’m highly impressed. For its price bracket, you get premium sound, which can be enhanced even further when you connect to the Edifier app. The battery life is superb. They’ve also taken comfort and aesthetics into account, and I’ve found myself with a pair of headphones that’ll let me feel the tunes just the way I want them to.

The Edifier W830NB Over-Ear Headphones are available at amazon.co.uk. RRP £79.99