Review: Edifier W828NB
4 min read
Edifier W828NB
RM 399
Pros
- Decent build quality
- Comfortable
- Decent ANC performance
- Good sound quality
- Great battery life
- Value for money
Cons
- Soft travelling pouch instead of hardshell case
Edifier has been actively updating its audio lineup in conjunction with the recent logo refresh. In case you missed out our last year’s review of the W860NB, the W828NB we have here today is, in fact, the smaller brother of the flagship active noise cancelling headphone Edifier had.
At the price of RM399, let’s find out what kind of experience you can expect from this pair of mid-ranged active noise cancelling headphone.
What’s is Edifier W828NB
The W828NB is Edifier’s latest offering in their active noise cancelling headphone line up. As the name suggests, the code name “NB” stands for “Noise Cancelling & Bluetooth”. It uses the same chassis design as the W820BT.
The soft padding on the ear cups and headband translates to hours of comfortable listening experience. The overall build quality is pretty reasonable with metal headband structure and hinges. Just that the clamping force is a little on the weak side, hence for those with small heads might find the headphone to have a loose fit.
The control buttons are located at the back of the right ear cup. While it doesn’t have the touch control as its bigger brother, they are, however, easily distinguishable by just feeling the dimple on the physical button. Volume control is separated from the source so you can fix the volume on the device and adjust the headphone’s volume.
Toggling the switch on the left ear cup will enable/disable the active noise cancelling feature.
User Experience
I’ve been using the W828NB for a little over 3 weeks, including a return flight trip to Taiwan. Having the active noise cancelling is a godsend for the 4-hours journey. It cancels out the engine humming noise and most importantly, allow me to type my editorial peacefully. One can actually enjoy music while the transit noise being suppressed to the minimum.
As for the audio quality, with ANC turned on, you will notice a slight loss in the treble details. It is a common characteristic for ANC enabled headphones. However, I don’t see it as a problem as purist audiophiles would just stick to their custom cans. To be honest, I’m slightly inclined towards the sound signature of the headphone with ANC turned on. Well, that’s probably because I find the original sound signature (ANC off) being hollow and “noisy”. In other words, with ambient noise silenced, one can actually enjoy the music as if we’re at home.
Besides, I noticed that Edifier has quietly improved the ANC function since their previous release on the W860NB which posses a light buzzing noise. Well, at least it is only distinguishable if you have sensitive ears. Nonetheless, we’re happy to report that the W828NB has clean noise cancelling feature.
Apart from Bluetooth connectivity, users can opt for 3.5mm wired connection to the audio source as well. Just that the microphone on the headphone would not be functioning through cable.
Battery Life
The battery life of the headphone, on the other hand, is pretty similar to the W820BT because of the same specifications. A single full charge with ANC turned off would last you somewhere around 40 hours of continuous playback. With ANC turned on, expect the continuous play time to drop to ~20 hours. Always remember to turn off the ANC toggle switch after using the headphone because it will drain the battery even if you have turned off the Bluetooth.
Final Words
Unless you have deep pockets for a premium branded cans, the Edifier W828NB with Active Noise Cancelling at RM399 is actually a great choice for travellers who are looking for a wallet-friendly option. Look, it is not that premium brands are too overpriced, just that sometimes we’re paying extra for extra features or functions that we might not need or audio performance that one might not be able to differentiate.
