Which ANC Headphones to Buy? Edifier W830NB vs WH950NB vs Stax Spirit S5!

Headphone Comparison: Which One Suits You?

Overview of Headphones

• Sean introduces three headphones from Edify at different price points to help viewers choose the best option for their needs.

• All three headphones share similar designs, including overhead style, clicky stems, rotating and swiveling ear cups, and identical button layouts on the right ear cup.

• They feature Type-C charging ports but lack water resistance ratings and support two-device multipoint connectivity.

Price Points

• The W830 MB is the most budget-friendly option at approximately $80 (329 Malaysian Ringgit).

• The WH H950 NB is priced around $149 (729 Malaysian Ringgit).

• The high-end Stack Spirit S5 costs about $500 (2,499 Malaysian Ringgit).

Technology Assessment

W830 MB

• Features Bluetooth 5.4 with L AAC and S SPC codec support; equipped with a 40 mm titanium plated dynamic driver.

• Receives a technology score of 16 out of 20 due to good specs but lacks water resistance.

WH H950 NB

• Comes with Bluetooth 5.3 supporting L deck and SBC codecs; also has a 40 mm titanium driver.

• Scores lower at 12 out of 20 because it’s considered outdated in terms of chipset as of 2024.

Stack Spirit S5

• Utilizes Qualcomm QCC 5181 Bluetooth 5.4 chipset with multiple advanced codecs; features a planar magnetic driver.

• Achieves an impressive score of 18 out of 20 despite lacking water resistance.

Battery Life Evaluation

W830 MB

• Offers exceptional battery life: up to 94 hours off and 54 hours on; quick charge capability allows for full charge in just 15 minutes.

• Earned full marks for battery life with a score of 10 out of 10.

WH H950 NB

• Provides decent performance: up to 55 hours off and about 34 hours on; quick charge takes only ten minutes for seven hours use.

• Rated five points for average battery performance.

Stack Spirit S5

• Delivers an impressive battery life of around 80 hours per charge without ANC or rated quick charging capabilities.

• Scores an eight out of ten for its strong battery performance.

Sound Quality Analysis

W830 MB

• Emphasizes higher frequencies that are sparkly yet can be sharp; mid-range is clear but bass could be deeper.

• Receives a sound quality score of 14 out of 20 due to its cold metallic sound profile.

WH H950 NB

• Known for well-rounded sound with strong bass that lacks some sub-bass depth; mids are slightly recessed while highs maintain clarity.

• Achieves a score of 16 out of 20 reflecting its balanced audio performance.

Stack Spirit S5

• Recognized for its polished sound signature, offering tight bass and prominent mids without distortion even at high volumes.

• Receives a perfect score of 20 in sound quality evaluation due to overall balance and clarity across frequencies.

Call Quality Performance

W830 MB

• Provides good environmental noise cancellation but call quality is slightly mechanical; scores 6 out of 10.

WH H950 NB & Stack Spirit S5

Call Quality Test of Edifi Headphones

Overview of Call Quality

• The speaker tests the call quality of the Edifi W950 NB headphones in a quiet environment, providing a baseline for performance.

• Background noise is introduced to simulate real-world conditions, allowing listeners to assess how well the headphones perform under less ideal circumstances.

• The speaker invites feedback on the call quality from viewers, emphasizing user experience and engagement.

Volume Performance Ratings

• The W30 NB headphones receive a score of 10/10 for volume, starting comfortably at 35% and reaching loud levels by 75%.

• The WH H950 MB scores 5/10; comfortable listening begins at 50%, with no issues even at maximum volume (100%).

• The S5 headphones are rated 8/10; they start comfortably at 60% volume but become too loud above 90%.

Design Evaluation

• All three headphone models share similar designs. The W30 NB features a plastic build with protein leather headband and memory foam padding, scoring 5/10.

• WH H950 NB has better build quality with metal components and fabric hard case, earning a design score of 7/10.

• The S5 stands out for its robust construction using high-quality materials, receiving a perfect score of 10/10.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Performance

ANC Effectiveness Ratings

• W30 NB performs decently in ANC tests but allows some environmental noise through; it receives a score of 7.7/10.

• WH H950 NB shows improved ENC performance over W30 NB, effectively masking more environmental sounds with an ANC rating of 8.5/10.

• Unfortunately, the S5 lacks any ANC capabilities and is rated zero out of ten.

Latency Performance Assessment

Latency Scores

• Both W30 NB and S5 demonstrate low latency during gaming and video playback, achieving scores of 8/10 due to minimal delay.

• WH950 NB experiences slight delays while gaming but remains playable; it earns a score of 6/10.

Final Rankings Summary

Overall Scores

• Stack Spirit S5 ranks highest overall with an impressive score of 80 out of 100 despite lacking ANC features.

• Second place goes to W30 NV with a solid score of 76.7 out of 100 as budget-friendly headphones.