Edifier WH950NB Gen 2 Wireless Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Review

The Edifier WH950NB Gen 2 wireless headphones offer best-in-class noise cancellation and impressive sound quality for the price. They're packed with features like LDAC and 8-level ANC, making them a great value for travelers and audiophiles on a budget. Just don't expect the 80-hour battery to hold up with ANC cranked on.

If you're hunting for wireless noise-cancelling headphones that punch way above their price tag, the Edifier WH950NB Gen 2 should be on your radar. These over-ear cans promise a lot: hybrid ANC with 8 levels of adjustment, Hi-Res Audio support via LDAC, and a frankly ridiculous 80-hour battery claim. They're aiming squarely at the premium travel and commuter market, but with a price that starts around $150, they're asking you to consider them against giants like Sony and Bose. So, are they a budget king or just another pretender? Let's dig in.

Let's start with the star of the show: the noise cancellation. In our tests, it's one of the best on the market, living up to its near-perfect 98th percentile ranking. That -49dB reduction depth is no joke. On a busy street or a flight, the world just melts away. The sound quality is also a standout, landing in the 92nd percentile. With LDAC enabled, you get crisp, detailed audio that's perfect for critical music listening. The spatial sound mode is a fun gimmick for movies, but it's the core clarity that impresses. The mics are fantastic for calls, intelligently filtering out background chatter. The only real performance letdown is the battery life score, which lags behind most competitors. While the 80-hour spec is a headline grabber, real-world use with ANC on will cut that down significantly.

Here's where things get interesting. The WH950NB Gen 2 has a wild price spread, from about $150 to over $430 depending on the vendor. At the lower end of that range, they're an absolute steal. For $150, you're getting ANC and sound quality that competes with headphones costing $300 or more. At the higher end, closer to $400, you're entering Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sennheiser Momentum territory, and the competition gets much tougher. Our advice? Shop around. If you can snag them for under $200, they represent fantastic value. Pay much more, and you should probably look at the established flagships.

So how do they stack up? Against the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Edifiers hold their own on ANC and sound, but Sony wins on overall polish, battery life, and a more natural transparency mode. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 offers arguably better sound tuning for purists and much better battery life, but often at a higher price. The Apple AirPods Max are in a different league (and price bracket) for Apple ecosystem integration but are heavy and lack features like foldability. For budget seekers, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 (or Q45) is a direct competitor, but the Edifiers generally offer better ANC and mic quality. It's a tight race, but the WH950NB Gen 2 carves out a niche with its combination of top-tier ANC and strong audio at a mid-range price.

Skip these if you need the absolute longest possible battery life for multi-day trips without charging. The claimed 80 hours is a best-case, ANC-off scenario. Also, if you're a bass head who loves a thick, pounding low end, you might find the sound signature a bit too balanced. And finally, if you demand luxury materials and a flawless companion app, you're better off spending more on a Sony or Sennheiser flagship.

Should you buy the Edifier WH950NB Gen 2? If your top priorities are blocking out the world and hearing every detail in your music without breaking the bank, then yes, absolutely. They deliver where it counts most. Just manage your expectations on the all-day battery life and the slightly utilitarian feel. They're a fantastic choice for travelers, commuters, and home listeners who want serious performance without the serious price tag of a Sony or Bose. If you find them on sale, it's a no-brainer.