Point out the title Earfun six months in the past and also you’d in all probability have been met with quizzical seems and even the odd giggle. However that was earlier than the nearly unknown audio agency launched an reasonably priced true wi-fi headphone proposition that was so good for the cash we handed it a What Hello-Fi? Award.
The corporate is looking for to construct on the success of its Earfun Air by cramming much more options into a brand new ‘Professional’ variant, the primary addition being lively noise cancellation. (There’s now a 10mm driver and three mics per earpiece, too.) However, contemplating the claims on the spec sheet, the value stays jaw-droppingly low at £70 ($80, AU$120).
Simply as bands battle with the tough second album, repeating that profitable formulation in a sophomore effort could possibly be a tricky ask. Can Earfun ship the products with a follow-up set of reasonably priced in-ears? We are able to’t wait to see…
Construct
The Earfun Air Professional’s cool black plastic case is pocketable, moveable and doesn’t acquire fingerprint smudges. In contrast to its older sibling, it opens like a suitcase, as an alternative of a backpack, and is pebble-shaped versus wanting like a premium field of dental-floss. Although it prices through USB-C, it doesn’t help Qi wi-fi charging.
Earfun Air Professional tech specs
Bluetooth model 5.0
Battery life 7 hours with ANC (earbuds), 18 hours (case)
Charging time 1.5 hours (earbuds), 2 hours (case)
Dimensions (hwd) 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.1cm
Weight 53g
As soon as the buds are again in it, it’s important to rapidly flip to the again of the case to search out the LED battery indicator, which is able to flash pink thrice when you’ve got greater than 60 per cent battery left, twice for over 30 per cent and as soon as whenever you’re at 5 p.c and actually need to cost.
One of many joys of the Award-winning Earfun Air true wi-fi earbuds was the straightforward and dependable pairing expertise. We’re pleased to report that’s nonetheless the case right here – Earfun constantly manages to do the fundamentals correctly. We open the lid, then snap it shut and rely to 30. We reopen the case, go away the earpieces inside, go to our cellphone’s Bluetooth menu, see the Earfun Air Professional as an ‘obtainable gadget’ and join. It’s simple. And as soon as they’re paired, the connection is stable.
Though three units of ideas are equipped, we discover the pre-fitted medium pair works for us. Additionally, becoming them in our ears is finished with out unintentionally altering playback or accessing Siri. That is each refreshing and an enchancment on some dearer fashions.
Consolation
The buds themselves are well-weighted, snug and safe in our ears, with the stems angling barely ahead to comply with the road of our cheekbones. The silvery sheen on the angular and trendy new stems completes a premium aesthetic that belies the Earfun Air Professional’s entry-level worth level.
It’s price noting that the 10mm composite dynamic driver in every earpiece is a swap up from the 6mm composite cellulose driver present in every Earfun Air driver housing, too.
The in-ear detection is now infrared, not capacitive, and is dealt with through an LED quite than {an electrical} cost. For those who’re fearful this would possibly make auto-pause a bit hit or miss, don’t – it’s spot on. It’s going to probably save on battery, however greater than that it’s an awesome consolation to know that you would be able to merely pluck the buds from their case, put them in your ears and choose up no matter you have been final listening to.
There’s no strategy to alter quantity or skip again to the beginning of a monitor with out accessing your supply gadget, and there’s no app help. These are the one small points within the Earfun Air Professional’s in any other case admirable function set – although we shouldn’t maybe count on the latter at this entry degree anyway.
The faucet-control performance is intelligent right here, although: extra proof that Earfun does the fundamentals effectively. One faucet truly serves no function – a intelligent strategy given that you would be able to simply alter playback on different buds by inadvertently touching them.
Two faucets on the precise bud pauses or resumes playback; three skips to the subsequent monitor. Double tapping the left earpiece accesses Siri on our iPhone and likewise solutions or ends a name. The essential perform you’ll need to apply is a triple-tap of that left earpiece, as this scrolls between the Earfun’s noise-cancelling, ‘regular’ and ‘ambient sound’ modes.
Past these three profiles, there’s no scope to tweak the degrees of noise-cancelling, and with out app help you may’t activate them in your cellphone. Nevertheless, as soon as we get the dangle of tapping just under the mic on the high of the stem quite than on the mic itself, it’s an answer that works effectively.
With noise-cancelling deployed, low-level fixed noises such because the hum of the washer are considerably diminished. Initiating ambient mode dutifully feeds the noise of passing vehicles and barking canine into our ears. Each by way of efficacy and value, it’s not fairly in the identical league because the Apple AirPods Pro – however at one-third of the value, to count on that will be unreasonable.
The great degree of noise cancelling is thanks partially to the six-mic array (three per bud), which additionally ensures clear voice calls in our exams. Battery life is sweet too, with a claimed complete of 25 hours with ANC on (seven from the buds plus 18 hours from the case) or 32 hours with it off.
The Earfun Air Execs boast an IPX5 ranking for water-resistance, which means that whilst you can’t submerge them absolutely in water, a spell in heavy rain or sweating on the fitness center should not do them any hurt. All in all, it’s a number of respectable tech and sturdiness for the cash.
Sound
Setting the sound profile to regular, we cue up a Tidal Grasp stream of Missy Elliott’s Get Ur Freak On. The Earfun Air Professional’s presentation actually fits the hip-hop monitor, celebrating the deep bass-heavy intro whereas nonetheless holding down the central riff and the assorted layered vocals.
It’s a zealous show with vitality and assault. Stormzy’s Vossi Bop is equally agile: the treble is ever-present and, whereas often a tad harsh by means of the midrange at larger volumes, alongside a rhythmic grime beat that isn’t afraid to go low, it’s a wonderfully acceptable pay attention.
Followers of the unique Earfun Air may have no complaints concerning the up to date mannequin’s sound. Additionally, each earpieces really feel very comparable when worn; the driving force housing is nearly an identical in form regardless of the brand new stems, further mic and bigger drivers inside.
Swap to Phrases Of A Idiot by Barry Gibb and Jason Isbell on Tidal Masters and there’s a lovely degree of separation and readability between the wurlitzer, piano, textured guitars and Gibb’s soulful vocal. Taylor Swift’s Willow is equally expansive by means of the three-dimensional string part and, though there’s that marginal contact of harshness by means of the midrange, Swift’s central, usually ethereal vocal stylings are well-handled.
Hearken to the marginally pricier, Award-winning Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 and, as compared, there’s an additional ounce of element and finesse over the Earfun Air Professional throughout the frequencies. However with out noise cancelling, USB-C charging or in-ear detection, and taking their larger price ticket under consideration, it’s an altogether totally different proposition.
Throughout our testing, the sound presentation is well-balanced, comparatively clear, taut and full by means of the bass, and musically pleasing general.
Verdict
When contemplating our minor points with how this finances proposition sounds, it’s simple to neglect that not way back, you’d have paid upwards of £200 to get one thing wherever close to as fully-featured. On the time of writing, we’ve not come throughout something at this degree that does every part these Earfuns do, in addition to they do it.
The Earfun Air Professional match securely, join simply, have dependable controls and have primary however efficient noise-cancelling profiles – for only a small premium on the Air mannequin. There’s additionally USB-C charging and wearer detection, plus the sound is fairly respectable for the cash.
As we mentioned in our evaluate of the Earfun Air, it’s uncommon that we award 5 stars to a pair of true wi-fi headphones at this ultra-low worth level, since low cost not often means good worth. Merely put, it does right here.
SCORES
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