We review the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2, which is a 2nd generation hybrid dual-driver True Wireless System with ANC and LDAC decoding capability. It is priced at $129.99
Disclaimer: This is a sample sent in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. We thank the team at Edifier for giving us this opportunity.
To read more about the Edifier gear we have reviewed previously on Headfonics click here.
Note, that this review follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read up on in more detail here.
I first heard about Edifier as a brand brand while browsing bang-for-the-buck speakers back in 2018. Their speaker lineup still makes a buzz, especially with first-time buyers.
The brand has been in the market for 27 years, producing high-quality speakers and headphones. I’m personally intrigued with their previous TWS, the NeoBuds Pro in 2019, one which was reviewed by Louis back then.
Sadly, I do not have that one with me but I’ve heard praises, making it one of the better LDAC and dual-driver TWS models in the market.
Priced the same as the NeoBuds Pro at $129, the NeoBuds Pro 2 has the same DNA with modern-day improvements, bringing this TWS line up to date with recent technologies. Will the NeoBuds Pro 2 continue to impress us? Let’s find out.
Tech Highlights
The NeoBuds Pro 2 is a Hi-Res true wireless (TWS) noise cancellation in-ear headphones designed for mobile use. When we say Hi-Res, it’s a capable device with LDAC decoding as well as the latest LHDC 5.0HD codec with sampling at up to 192kHz/24bit.
It’s equipped with a hybrid driver configuration with 1 dynamic driver and 1 Knowles balanced armature driver with an active cross-over.
The NeoBuds Pro 2 features a wide-band multi-channel active noise cancellation of 5000Hz bandwidth and -50dB noise cancellation depth. There are also multiple modes of noise cancellation such as high noise cancellation, low noise cancellation, wind reduction, ambient sound, and medium noise cancellation.
The spatial audio with a visualized head-tracking feature offers a 3D and immersive listening experience. Multiple sensors such as a built-in gyro meter and accelerometers enable the NeoBuds Pro 2 to track head movement and change sound stage in real-time.
Call qualities are also considered here with a 4+4 built-in microphone and AI ML algorithm to filter environmental and wind noise to enhance voice clarity.
Design
Like the NeoBuds Pro, the NeoBuds Pro 2 are a stem and ball type which are good for people who just want to pop them and forget them. They do stay put well enough when I biked with them, the IP54 rating does help.
Nothing has changed with the cradle with its egg-shaped design with a matte finish. There are 2 colors to choose from, black and ivory. What I have here is the ivory color, which reminds me of a classy cream-colored box.
The LED indicators are a nice touch. They’re customizable through the app, which we will get more into later. For mine, I like to pair the cream color with an orange indicator LED.
Controls
Controls are touchpad-based. In my experience, it responds quickly with just the right amount of delay to recognize double taps. It was not buggy at all, unlike the previous NeoBuds Pro.
Comfort & Isolation
The NeoBuds Pro 2 is one of the most comfortable TWS I’ve tested, next to the Apple AirPods Pro, (1st gen). I do tend to have a bias with ball and stem models as my ears have a small cavity, making big TWS have hot spots over time.
For isolation, they have a decent working ANC system. They do have 7 settings: high noise cancellation, medium noise cancellation, low noise cancellation, ambient sound, wind reduction, and noise cancellation off.
Both the high noise cancellation and medium noise cancellation were able to conceal the clacks of my mechanical keyboard.
The clacks do penetrate the low noise cancellation, ambient sound, and wind reduction modes. Judging from the icons, the high noise cancellation is best used when on a plane while the medium cancellation is best perhaps when working in a coffee shop.
Cradle & Battery Life
The lightweight nature of the charging cradle makes it a suitable choice if weight is a concern, particularly for easy pocket carrying. Its rounded design ensures a comfortable and smooth carry without any sharp edges.
The battery life is not great with ANC active or on at around 4 hours for the earbuds and 12 hours from the charging case. That improves slightly when turning the ANC off at 5.5 hours for the earbuds and 16.5 hours from the cradle. When in a pinch, fast charging of 15 minutes gets you 2 hours of playback time.
The cradle features a commonly used USB-C female plug for charging on the rear. The cradle clasp does not feel plasticky, which is nice to the touch. The LED in front also works well as both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Software
The NeoBuds Pro offers an app called Edifier Connect, a comprehensive application packed with various functionalities.
It includes an equalizer with customizable presets, DSP presets, volume and balance adjustments, LED light customization, and additional features such as the option to incorporate feature-controlling widgets into the iOS device.
Within the app, users can tweak noise-canceling settings, activate ambient mode, or engage the game mode, significantly reducing latency for an enhanced gaming experience. Frankly, during most of my testing, I consistently kept the game mode activated for low latency.
A new feature is the spatial audio feature. While I thought it was a bit gimmicky, it does work well and smoothly.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging of the Edifier NeoBuds Pro appears visually appealing, although I find it excessively large considering its contents. In terms of environmental impact and storage efficiency, a smaller and more streamlined package would have been preferable, despite the positive impression it creates.
The interior of the box is well-protected with foam, ensuring the safe transportation of the contents unless subjected to rough handling akin to a full-contact football match at the Post Office.
The additional tips are placed on a separate cradle, accompanied by six additional pairs, totaling seven. Additionally, a high-quality cloth sack is provided for carrying the cradle or for storage purposes.
Other items included are a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a user manual in multiple languages, and a quick guide.
Sound Impressions
Bass
The bass on the NeoBuds Pro 2 is impressive. It has a warm and impactful bass punch, offering both quantity and quality in the sub-bass and mid-bass regions.
In terms of quality, the bass hits are full-bodied with a good amount of rumble. I did enjoy listening to bass heavy hits rocking my head with every thump. It’s been a while since I had a TWS with this quality.
There is nothing to complain about with the NeoBuds Pro 2’s bass response. Bassy tracks do bring out the best in them, maximizing the fullness and depth felt with them.
Mids
The mids of the NeoBuds Pro 2 would be the weakness of this monitor. Although the midrange has good clarity and no bass bloom, the V-shaped sound signature on the NeoBuds Pro 2 fails to highlight good vocals.
Serious listeners would find the vocal and musical details are dropped, with not much texture and articulation heard. However, this is not a dealbreaker as the TWS is still impressive as it is. It is still presenting a good midrange performance that most people would love.
The clarity of the midrange region is still something that the NeoBuds Pro 2 does really well and something I look for in TWS system performance in general.
Treble
The treble has a moderate uptick, which is expected from a V-shaped sound signature. It’s neither harsh nor sharp which is good for overcoming fatigue over long periods. It has a good level of control and treble extensions.
Vocals present an airy layer on them, which presents a good sense of brilliance with enough airiness and sparkle. Cymbal crashes sound natural and crisp, with just the proper amount of energy emulated.
Soundstage (including imaging)
The soundstage of the NeoBuds Pro 2 is impressive, the best that I have reviewed. It is expansive and has a good level of width and depth.
Imaging is also fairly accurate. Aside from the vocals being presented a bit farther back, they still have a good layering into them. Instruments can be felt in a 3D area surrounding the environment.
I find that the NeoBuds Pro 2 has nailed both soundstage and imaging where there is very little to complain about in this department.
Select Comparisons
FiiO FW5
Technical
The FiiO FW5 has a far longer listening time of 7 + 21 hours compared to Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 5.5h+16.5h with ANC off. The FW5 has an up-to-date Qualcomm chips QCC5141.
Although the NeoBuds Pro 2 did not mention any chip technicalities, it does support BT 5.3, which is more recent than the FW5’s Bluetooth 5.2.
Both have a hybrid design with a 10mm dynamic driver although the FW5 has 2 BA Knowles and NeoBuds Pro 2 with only 1 BA Knowles.
Design
First off, the cradle of the FW5 comes in a matte bluish-black color as opposed to the NeoBuds Pro 2’s ivory matte finish. Inside, the buds of the FW5 are consistent with a bluish-black shell and the NeoBuds Pro 2 also have a consistent ivory matte finish.
The FW5’s monitors are also of an IEM shape design which is significantly bigger, which at times, makes the fit difficult. The NeoBuds Pro 2 are a stem and ball shape, which makes the overall design easy and comfortable to use.
Performance
The NeoBuds Pro 2 does give more power on the lower frequencies. The bass on the NeoBuds Pro 2 feels full with its deep rumble. The sub-bass hits are also more impactful and felt compared to the FiiO FW5.
The FiiO FW5 has a more forward midrange than the NeoBuds Pro 2. In terms of accuracy, the FW5 sounds more natural in terms of vocal presentation. The NeoBuds Pro 2’s vocals sounded a bit hidden at times when compared side by side with the FW5. The FW5 is more detailed and richer in terms of quality.
The treble extends well on both earbuds. The NeoBuds Pro 2 does have a gentler presentation with its treble extension. The FiiO FW5 does tend to sound sharp at times, which might be uncomfortable for non-treble heads. Guitar strums and cymbal clashes are good with the 2 monitors.
The soundstage and imaging are superior to the NeoBuds Pro2. Although the FW5 has an impressive soundstage, the NeoBuds Pro 2 takes it a notch with its wide and open sound.
Imaging is better with the NeoBuds Pro 2. The separation is far more accurate, where the sound has a more holographic presentation compared to the FiiO FW5.
Apple Airpods Pro
Technical
The Airpods Pro has a slightly longer battery life with a -hour listening time and an additional 20 hours from the case. While the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 only has a 5-hour listening time and an additional 16.5 hours from the case.
AirPods Pro’s connectivity is using Bluetooth 5.0, which is a little outdated compared to NeoBuds Pro 2’s newer Bluetooth 5.3.
There is not much information about the AirPods driver, but the tech specs say it’s a custom high-excursion Apple driver. The NeoBuds Pro 2 on the other hand has a 10mm DD+1BA hybrid driver.
Design
The Apple AirPods Pro has an iconic Apple white packaging with both the buds and case having a white finish. The NeoBuds Pro 2 doesn’t lag with its matte cream finish and premium feel in the hand.
The shape of the NeoBuds Pro 2 is similar to the Apple AirPods having a head with a stem setup, which is amazing for comfort.
Performance
Both the AirPods Pro and NeoBuds Pro 2 give a lot of heft in the bass regions. Both have a reasonably impactful bass, with quality and quantity that will be appreciated by bass heads.
The main advantage of the NeoBuds Pro2 would be its clear midrange despite the heavy bass region. The AirPods Pro midrange sounds nasal at times, with some bass bloom. The NeoBuds Pro 2 is clear from this problem, which makes the midrange enjoyable with a good bass response.
The treble extends well on both earbuds. The NeoBuds Pro 2 does have a better extension where the guitar strums sound sharper and crisper. The AirPods Pro tends to be conservative and reserved in this aspect.
The soundstage and imaging are superior to the NeoBuds Pro 2. The AirPods Pro felt cramped compared to the wide and open sound on the NeoBuds Pro 2.
Imaging is also far better with the NeoBuds Pro 2. The separation is far more accurate, where the sound has a more holographic presentation compared to the AirPods Pro.
Our Verdict
The Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 is a revamp of the NeoBuds Pro. Edifier has upgraded the new version with better noise canceling, updated CODECs, BT 5.3, and usability functions such as wearing detection which is a feature seen in top-of-the-line TWS models.
Although not specifically catered for audiophiles, the NeoBuds Pro 2 is a jack of all trades with a good balance of functionality and music quality. It does display a good amount of clarity which is rare in TWS devices.
For $129.99, the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 is an impressive performer in a competitive market.
Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 Technical Specifications
- Bluetooth 3
- Bluetooth Protocol A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
- Playtime
- ANC On: 4 hours(earbuds) + 12 hours (charging case)
- ANC Off: 5.5 hours(earbuds) + 16.5 hours (charging case)
- Charging Port USB-C (Type-C)
- Charging Time 1 hour (earbuds), 1 hour (charging case)
- Input 5V ⎓ 200mA (earbuds), 5V ⎓ 1A (charging case)
- Audio Coding LDAC, LHDC, SBC, AAC
- Driver Knowles Balanced Armature Driver + 10mm Dynamic Driver
- Frequency Response 20Hz – 40KHz
- Output Sound Pressure Level 92dB ± 3dBSPL(A)
- IP Rating IP54
- Weight 6g (each earbuds), 49.2g (charging case)
