Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2
Leveraging 50mm dynamic drivers, a new DSP mode, and support for LDAC and aptX HD, it delivers studio-derived sound with precise detail. A 45-hour battery, quick-charge that yields 5 hours from 15 minutes, and a foldable design enhance its commuting practicality, while the spatial awareness mode keeps you connected to your surroundings. This headphone best serves music enthusiasts and travelers who want reference-grade wireless audio and strong noise cancellation in a portable package.
Об этом Headphones
About Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Engineered from decades of stage and studio experience, the second generation of the AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones deliver premium, high-fidelity audio with improved active noise cancelling technology. New Spatialized Audio takes your listening experience outside of your headphones to a whole new level by replicating the experience of listening through high-end speakers. A modern “all-black” design and up to 45 hours of battery life keep the music going in comfort and style, while customizable EQ and environment mode provide a personalized, unparalleled audio experience. Premium, studio-quality soundThrough custom-engineered 50mm dynamic drivers developed from decades of professional experience made for critical listeners.
Spatialized Audio technologyProprietary algorithm enhances the depth of your listening experience by widening the sound stage without introducing unnatural artifacts. Available in three unique modes - Music, Cinema, or Podcast. Music mode replicates listening through high-end speakers in a room and maintains the original integrity of the track. Cinema mode enhances low-frequency response and clarity of speech for a movie theater experience. Podcast mode brings the voice of your favorite speakers close to your ears.
New Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technologyANC blocks out distractions for a truly immersive andnatural listening experience improved over the prior generation. Using microphones inside and outside of the earcup, the second generation ANC allows you to control how much (or how little) of the outside world you hear.
Environment modeAllows you to hear the outside world with the flip of a switch. Refine the ambience settings via an adjustable slider in the ShurePlus™ PLAY app.
Upto 45 hours battery life with quick charge capabilitiesMore than doubling runtime from the prior generation. Fifteen minutes of charge provides 5 hours of use.
High-Resolution USB Streaming up to 32-bit/384 kHzConnect to wired sources with included 3.5mm analog audio cable or USB-C digital input for charging and High-Resolution streaming audio.
Features Premium, studio-quality soundSpatialized Audio technologyNew Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technologyEnvironment modeUp to 45 hours battery life with quick charge capabilitiesCustomizable EQLong-wearing comfort and durabilityCustomizable fingertip controlsPremium communication with clear call qualityBluetooth® 5 wireless technologyPremium headphone amplifierHigh-Resolution USB Streaming up to 32-bit/384 kHzShurePlus™ PLAY app Warranty InformationThis product has a limited warranty of 24 months.https://www.shure.com/en-US/legal/warranty-information800-516-2525Join VIP PROEarn 2X Points + Exclusive Perks!Sell or Trade your GearGet started in 3 easy stepsKey FeaturesImmerse yourself in premium audio with these Shure wireless headphones, offering crystal-clear sound.Enjoy long-lasting comfort with the AONIC 50 Gen 2's over-ear design, perfect for extended listening.Experience up to 45 hours of battery life for uninterrupted music and calls on these headphones.Effortlessly connect via Bluetooth for seamless pairing with your devices and high-quality audio.Use active noise cancellation to block out distractions and focus on your audio-ideal for travel.Charge quickly with the USB-C port, ensuring your Shure headphones are always ready to go.What's in the box:Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones (Black)USB-C to USB-A Cable (1m)2.5-3.5mm Cable (1.5m)Zippered Carry CaseShure 2 Year Limited WarrantyArticles & VideosBest Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Immerse yourself in premium audio with these Shure wireless headphones, offering crystal-clear sound.
- Enjoy long-lasting comfort with the AONIC 50 Gen 2's over-ear design, perfect for extended listening.
- Experience up to 45 hours of battery life for uninterrupted music and calls on these headphones.
- Effortlessly connect via Bluetooth for seamless pairing with your devices and high-quality audio.
- Use active noise cancellation to block out distractions and focus on your audio-ideal for travel.
- Charge quickly with the USB-C port, ensuring your Shure headphones are always ready to go.
The 30-Second Version
The sound is best-in-class, period. ANC and battery are excellent too. But they're heavy and get uncomfortable fast, so they're only for listeners who prioritize audio above all else.
Overview
These Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 headphones are built for one thing: sound. And they deliver. The tuning out of the box is already impressive, but dive into the parametric EQ app and you'll pull out detail most wireless cans can't touch. If you're the type who geeks out over frequency response charts, these are your headphones.
But the rest of the package is a mixed bag. At 334g they're heavy, and the clamp force doesn't do any favors for long listening sessions. ANC is near class-leading, battery life is solid, and the controls are physical but awkwardly placed. The case is huge and the 2.5mm jack is a weird choice, but none of that matters once the music starts.
Performance
Sound quality is in the 100th percentile, absolute best we've seen. Vocals sparkle, bass is tight, and the soundstage on Spatialized Audio (when it works) is wide. ANC also impresses at 93rd percentile, killing low-end rumble on par with Sony. Battery life at 45 hours is well above average, matching most flagships. Connectivity is strong with LDAC and aptX support. The microphone is fine for calls, not outstanding, and the call quality in noisy environments is mediocre at best. But where these really stumble is comfort, where they rank in the bottom 15th percentile, and build, which feels premium but sits at a disappointing 35th percentile.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Absolutely top-shelf sound, especially with the parametric EQ app. 100th
- ANC that genuinely competes with Sony and Bose. 93th
- 45-hour battery keeps you going for days. 82th
- Great Bluetooth codec support including LDAC and aptX HD. 78th
Cons
- Heavy and uncomfortable for more than an hour or two. 15th
- Awkward physical controls that are easy to mis-click. 35th
- Bulky carrying case is a pain to travel with.
- The 2.5mm jack means you can't just grab any aux cable.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 50 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 22000 |
| Impedance | 39 |
| Sensitivity | 98 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, LDAC, SBC |
| Surround | Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Premium Studio Sound, Bluetooth 5, Customizable EQ, 45-Hour Battery, Over-Ear, Black | Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 Wireless Noise Cancelling | Shure |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | Hybrid |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
| Cable Length | 1.5 |
| Range | 9.1 |
Battery
| Battery Life | 45 |
| Charge Time | 0.25 |
| Fast Charging | 15 min for 5 hours |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 1 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
| Boom Mic | No |
| Detachable Mic | No |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | ShurePlus™ PLAY |
| Volume Limiting | No |
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the map, literally from $306 to an absurd $44,000 at one vendor. Obviously the $306 price is the one that matters, and at that level these are a very strong value for the sound alone. You're getting reference-grade audio, good ANC, and long battery life. Just know you're sacrificing all-day comfort to get here.
vs Competition
Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Shure demolishes them on pure sound quality. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 gets closer, but still can't match the nuance after EQ. For ANC, the Shure is right up there with Sony, slightly better than Bose. But comfort-wise, the Sony and Bose are in another league, they're way lighter and more plush. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 feels more premium and comfy, but costs more. If sound is your only priority, Shure wins. For an all-around travel companion, look elsewhere.
| Spec | Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 | Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 M4AEBT | Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B | Technics EAH-A800 EAH-A800 | Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT ATH-S300BT | JBL Tune 770NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | Dynamic | dynamic | PEEK/Polyurethane 3-Layer Diaphragm | dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 50 | 42 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 39 | 470 | 314 | 34 | 45 | 32 |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 45 | 60 | 30 | 50 | 90 | 70 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 | 92.5 | 66.7 | 34.6 | 99.6 | 81.5 | 15.2 | 51.7 | 78.1 | 66 |
| Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 M4AEBT Compare | 97.7 | 85.1 | 77.1 | 97.6 | 89.3 | 79.5 | 0 | 99 | 79 |
| Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B Compare | 97.7 | 85.1 | 77.1 | 95.1 | 72.7 | 50.8 | 70.4 | 99 | 98.8 |
| Technics EAH-A800 EAH-A800 Compare | 92.5 | 98.3 | 77.1 | 96.9 | 83.8 | 50.8 | 19.9 | 93.1 | 98.8 |
| Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT ATH-S300BT Compare | 92.5 | 78.6 | 77.1 | 85.1 | 97.2 | 50.8 | 0 | 99.8 | 98.8 |
| JBL Tune 770NC Compare | 97.7 | 66.7 | 92.3 | 73.2 | 93.2 | 50.8 | 70.4 | 99.7 | 87.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the 2.5mm jack really that annoying?
Yes, it means you can't use a standard 3.5mm aux cable without an adapter, which Shure includes, but it's one more thing to lose.
Q: Can I use the EQ app to match the sound to my taste?
Absolutely. The parametric EQ is powerful and lets you dial in exactly the sound profile you want, though it can be overwhelming if you're new to audio tweaking.
Q: How good is the microphone for Zoom calls?
It's decent for quiet environments, but in noisy spaces the noise cancelling mic doesn't isolate your voice as well as some competitors.
Who Should Skip This
If you need headphones you can wear for hours without fatigue, skip these. The Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra are lighter, more comfortable, and nearly as good at ANC, even if their sound isn't as pristine.
Verdict
Buy these if you're an audiophile who wants wireless headphones that sound like wired studio monitors, and you're willing to EQ to your taste. They're perfect for critical listening at a desk or during a commute where you can handle the heft. If sound quality is the only thing you won't compromise on, the Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2 are your pick.
