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Edifier ES850NB: A Deep Dive into Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Published

5 months ago

October 27, 2025

Edifier has been consistently releasing great headphones at an affordable price. While they may not quite match flagship ANC headphones from the likes of Sony or Bose, they typically come close while being considerably cheaper, providing a better bang for your buck compared to the big brands.

The latest launch is the Edifier ES850NB, which sits near the top of the Edifier product range and has a very impressive battery life of up to 92 hours with an upgraded ANC system that Edifier claims to provide up to -45dB noise cancellation.

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Specification

Features

All-day Comfort

The lightweight and ergonomic design provides a comfortable, pressure-free fit suitable for all-day use, allowing for hours of listening without discomfort.

Rich Details

Support for the LDAC codec enables Hi-Res Audio Wireless, transmitting up to three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs. This allows for a detailed, high-fidelity listening experience.

‘Hi-Res Audio’ and ‘Hi-Res Audio Wireless’ logos are used under licence from the Japan Audio Society.
LDAC and the LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Premium Audio

A 40 mm dynamic driver, featuring a titanium-coated composite diaphragm, reproduces audio with clear high frequencies, detailed mid-ranges, and powerful bass.

Personalised Sound

Select from three distinct pre-set sound profiles to create a personalised audio experience tailored to different types of entertainment.

Noise Cancelling

Hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) works in tandem with the over-ear design’s passive noise isolation to reduce ambient sounds by up to -45 dB. This creates an immersive listening environment, even in noisy surroundings.

Clear Hands-free Calls

An AI-driven algorithm isolates the human voice from background noise, ensuring that your hands-free calls are clear for both you and the person you are speaking to.

Power for Days

A maximum battery life of 92 hours provides over a week of power based on eight hours of daily listening, making the headphones suitable for extended travel.
Battery life data was obtained in the Edifier Lab, tested using the SBC codec at 50% volume. Actual performance may vary based on the listening environment, device, volume, and audio content.

Touch-to-Chat

Temporarily pause your audio and activate ambient sound mode by touching and holding the right ear cup, allowing for easy conversations. Releasing your touch will resume playback.
This function is available only in Bluetooth(R) mode.

Wireless and Wired Connection

Equipped with Bluetooth(R) V5.4 for a stable wireless connection. A wired connection is also possible via the included USB-C to USB-A cable, suitable for use with computers and other compatible devices.
Connecting the cable will disable Bluetooth(R) mode.
The Bluetooth(R) word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by EDIFIER is under licence. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Multipoint Connection

Connect to two separate Bluetooth(R) devices simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly. For example, you can move from listening to music on a laptop to answering a call on your phone without re-pairing.

Foldable for Portability

The headphones feature a fully foldable design for compact storage. An included travel case provides protection, making them easy to transport.

Apps for More Functions

Further features are available through the EDIFIER ConneX mobile app and the EDIFIER TempoHub computer application. These include:
Customise EQ settings
Switch between sound effects
Adjust control settings
And more

Design and Comfort

The ES850NB look modern but isn’t showy. The use of plastics is immediately noticeable; although functional and lightweight, they lack the density and polish of higher-end competitors. I found the extension arms rather dated in implementation – more modern cans tend to hide the mechanism, whereas Edifier has stuck with visible, sliding arms. There is a slight flex and creakiness when stretching them, which doesn’t instil much confidence.

Edifier offers these headphones in a muted cream finish, which is pleasant and contemporary, but the actual colour shade varies slightly from what’s shown in marketing materials. The earcups use soft protein leather pads, which feel comfortable on first use, although can get a bit warm after extended listening. On closer inspection, the faux leather, hard plastic and lack of real metal touches make it plain that Edifier has prioritised functionality and low weight over luxury.

One small frustration is finding the left and right markers. They are barely visible, blending into the frame – a simple contrast patch could have solved this.

Weighing in at around 265 grams, these headphones are relatively light compared to most competitors. The headband padding is generous, with a soft upper layer.

I found them very comfortable to wear, thanks to the generous padding and a moderate amount of force clamping the headphones to my head. I often find that like most closed headphones, especially those with faux leather, my ears start to feel hot relatively quickly, which can become uncomfortable as I tend to overheat easily.

However, the earcups on these headphones comfortably fit over my large ears and provide a good level of passive isolation.

Moving on to the Edifier Connex App, it offers access to various features and customization options for the headphones. You can easily adjust noise cancellation, sound effects, and sound modes through the app.

The app allows you to choose from four ANC levels: off, low, medium, and high. I personally found little reason to use anything other than the high setting as it provided the most effective noise cancellation. You can also customize which modes are available when cycling through them using the physical controls.

For sound customization, the app offers three preset EQ profiles and the option to create your own using a four-band equalizer. This level of control allows for more precise adjustments compared to simple bass/treble sliders found on other headphones. Additionally, the app includes sound mode options for music, game, and spatial presets.

In terms of sound quality, the ES850NB headphones impress with a balanced profile that covers the frequency range well. The bass response is defined and articulate, suitable for various genres without overpowering the mix. The midrange is clean and natural, providing good clarity for vocals and instruments.

Overall, the sound quality of these headphones is impressive, especially considering their price point. They offer a balanced sound signature that caters to a wide range of music genres. The midrange of the Edifier ES850NB headphones is not as refined as premium headphones in the £300+ range, but it competes well with other options around £150.

The highs have a slight sharpness to them, which adds detail to the sound. While I am sensitive to highs, I found that these headphones are not overly harsh, and you can adjust the settings in the EQ to reduce the sharpness.

The active noise-cancelling performance of the Edifier ES850NB is effective, especially considering its price point. The headphones use a hybrid ANC system that combines microphones inside and outside the earcups to counteract ambient noise, along with passive noise isolation from the over-ear design. Edifier claims this system can reduce noise by up to 45 dB, and in practice, it performs well against low-frequency constant noises.

The microphone system on the Edifier ES850NB uses an AI-driven algorithm to separate the user’s voice from background noise for clear communication. While it eliminates background noise effectively, it can add a slight distortion to the user’s voice.

The battery life of the ES850NB is exceptional, with up to 92 hours of playback with ANC off and up to 53 hours with ANC enabled. Quick charging is also supported, providing approximately 11.5 hours of use with just 15 minutes of charging.

Overall, the Edifier ES850NB offers impressive sound quality, excellent battery life, and capable ANC at a reasonable price. While they may lack the premium build and refinement of flagship models, they exceed expectations for their cost, making them a great value in the mid-range ANC headphone category.

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Last updated on 2025-10-27 / This article may contain affiliate links / Images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API

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