The Neobuds Pro 2 are the latest true wireless noise-cancellation in-ear headphones from manufacturer Edifier. Compact and powerful, the Neobuds Pro 2 aims to offer an impressive audio profile and powerful wide-band multi-channel active noise cancellation (ANC). Other features such as intelligent wearing detection, spatial audio and Hi-Res wireless audio work together to make the Neobuds Pro 2 look quite impressive on paper.
The Neobuds Pro 2 features a fairly compact design, opting for a slender body to house components much like the Apple Airpods or Razer Hammerheads. Weighing only 5.6g per earbud, they are exceptionally light when worn. Thanks to the silicone ear tip the Neobuds Pro 2 fit comfortably and securely in the ear canal. Edifier has opted to include 7 interchangeable ear tips of different sizes to ensure that, no matter the person, the Neobuds will fit well.
As for overall comfort, thanks to the aforementioned weight and ear tips, the Pro 2 are quite comfortable to wear over long periods. Even during an 8-hour work day with only a small break for charging (more on this later), the Neobuds never caused irritation or discomfort. More impressive was that even after a full day of testing, the Neobuds never seemed to apply too much pressure to any one area of the ear canal, an issue I’ve experienced with some other earbuds we’ve tested this year.
The Neobuds Pro 2 also comes with an RGB-enabled carrying case that doubles as a charging dock for the earbuds. The 49g case relies on magnetic connection points to secure the Neobuds and instantly begins charging them when they are docked. A unique feature of this case is that as long as one earbud is in the case, you can monitor battery levels on the case (as well as the earbuds) and control the RGB lighting thanks to the Edifier Connect App. It’s a nice feature that provides additional information without the need for a display or indicator on the case itself.
“The Neobuds Pro 2 also comes with an RGB-enabled carrying case that doubles as a charging dock for the earbuds.”
As for battery life, when testing the earbuds (with ANC on), it averaged about 3.5 to 4 hours of use between charges. With the case fully charged, this works out to about 15 to 16 hours of usage before needing to plug the case in. Turning off ANC will prolong battery life, but thanks to the built-in quick charge capabilities of the Neobuds Pro 2, I never went long without the earbuds running.
Speaking of the Edifier Connect app, this Android and iOS application is exceptionally easy to use and provides a lot of useful tools. ANC control, EQ mode and case control are all managed easily thanks to a user-friendly interface. The Neobuds Pro 2 also features touch controls, which are also programmed from the app. It’s one of the cleanest control apps I’ve worked with in recent memory.
As for how the Neobuds Pro 2 performs, there is a lot to unpack. For starters, the Pro 2 includes Knowles Balanced Armature Driver as well as a 10mm Dynamic Driver in each earbud. Balance armature drivers are designed to produce incredible realism and detail in audio reproduction. Originally designed and found in hearing aids Armature drivers are incredibly small, produce exceptionally accurate audio and draw very little power.
When coupled with a traditional dynamic driver, the resulting audio reproduction is robust and crystal clear. In the Neobuds Pro 2 application, the result is an impressive audio listening experience. The audio profile is clear, detailed and balanced. Listening to music is an absolute treat, Bass feels powerful while the mid and highs (especially in vocals) are clean, clear and beautifully balanced with the instruments. While there are options to manually EQ the audio, thanks to Edifier Connect, the default “classic” profile sounds beautiful.
This, of course, is also thanks to the Neobuds Pro 2 Hi-Res LHDC 5.0 HD codec. The Pro 2 offers a lossless listening experience with the latest Hi-Res wireless audio. This means that audio reproduction is as close to the original recording as possible. With support for 192Khz/24bit, it’s some of the most impressive Bluetooth streaming experiences I’ve heard in earbuds.
The Neobuds Pro 2 also offers an audio listening mode called Spatial Audio mode. This mode is designed to track head movement to produce a three-dimensional listening experience. Leveraging the built-in gyro sensors and accelerometer, the Pro 2 tracks head movement and then adjusts the way audio is presented in real-time. The result is an incredibly immersive audio-listening experience. As you move your head, the audio simulates movement as well, making a source feel closer or farther away from your ears based on the relative position of your head. It works exceptionally well and offers a unique way to listen to audio.
“Smart, comfortable design, along with incredible audio and a handy case, make the Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 a great option for someone in the market for exceptional audio quality without breaking the bank.”
Even with such impressive design and audio capabilities, Edifier attempts to push the capabilities of the Neobuds Pro 2 even further with wide-band multi-channel ANC. Boasting a 4-mic environmental ANC system, the Neobuds Pro 2 is capable of noise cancellation to a depth of -50dB and a noise cancellation bandwidth of 5kHz.
In practical terms, this means that the Neobuds Pro 2 is capable of registering and actively cancelling frequency at the low end of the spectrum. Historically this low-end range is more difficult to block because of how low-end audio frequencies carry. Likewise, with a wider band, the Pro 2 can filter out across a larger range, helping to isolate troublesome audio signals.
In testing, I was impressed with the range of cancellations that the Newbuds Pro 2 could achieve. However, the overall active cancellation wasn’t as powerful as I would have liked. With ANC on, it was still possible to hear some background noise unless the earbud volume was turned up past 90%. Thankfully, when at this level, most background noise is cancelled except for some low-end rumble. While it’s not the best in-ear ANC I’ve experienced, it is the best in-ear ANC I’ve experienced in the sub $150.00 range.
It is worth noting that thanks to the Edifier Connect software, you can easily adjust the intensity of the ANC. With six distinct ANC profiles to choose from, the app allows you to quickly adjust the ANC to fit the setting you find yourself in. Like the other features in Edifier Connect, it’s responsive and easy to use.
The Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 are an exceptional pair of earbuds. While the ANC isn’t quite as powerful as I would have liked, the audio profile of the Neobuds Pro 2 more than makes up for this small critique. Smart, comfortable design, along with incredible audio and a handy case, make the Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 a great option for someone in the market for exceptional audio quality without breaking the bank. Priced at USD $129.99, the Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 are some of the best bang for your buck earbuds on the market.
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