In-ear headphones are already quite good at isolating from noise, but what if you add active noise reduction to them? We are testing HONOR Magic Earbuds with just such a system.
Not so long ago, active noise cancellation was used only in on-ear headphones. It seemed overkill for in-ear channels, and it’s not so easy to implement this function in them.
Now more and more often, we hear about “plugs” with noise reduction. The recently launched Honor Magic Earbuds are from this series. They cost about $75.00, until May 15 you can get a gift in the manufacturer’s official store.
Honor Magic Earbuds: Design
Honor Magic Earbuds outwardly strongly resemble AirPods Pro. This is neither good nor bad. It is well known that some people like miniature headphones that are placed in the auricle, others – just such with a “leg”, which greatly facilitates the process of picking out gadgets from their ears. The set includes as many as 4 sets of silicone ear tips of different sizes.
Although it turned out to be a little larger than we expected when looking at the photos, the case is quite compact and stylish. There are magnets inside that make it easier to tuck the headphones into niches.
Just below the hinge of the case is a USB-C connector for charging and a button that is needed to connect headphones.
The headphones themselves are IP54 protected. Or, more simply, they are not afraid of splashing water – of course, it is undesirable to wet them under a shower.
How does active noise canceling work?
Each of the headphones has three microphones. Two of them are involved in the noise reduction system. One is outside: it picks up the noise, and the electronics creates the same wave of inverse amplitude, which dampens the original one.
The second microphone is located on the inner part adjacent to the ear. He does the same with the noises that have filtered through the “first cordon.”
Honor Magic Earbuds: Connection
There is nothing complicated about connecting the Honor Magic Earbuds. To enter pairing mode, you need to hold the button on the back of the case for a couple of seconds. After that, all that remains is to find a new device in the Bluetooth list.
If you have Huawei or Honor, it’s even more comfortable. Open the lid of the case, and you will be prompted to connect.
Honor Magic Earbuds: Control
Honor did not trick with the location of several buttons on the outer surface of the small earpiece. There are only two buttons, and those are touch-sensitive. To perform any action, you need to touch the earphone. For instance:
- double tap on the right earphone switches to the next track,
- the same on the left – returns to the previous one,
- press and hold on any – turn on / off the noise reduction system.
If something does not suit you, you can download the proprietary Huawei AI Life application and reassign the functions.
When you remove any of the headphones from your ears, playback will automatically pause. You can turn it on (if you decide to leave only one) with the same double-tap on the button.
How do they sound?
A pleasant trend in new models of in-ear headphones: they no longer require indulgences from the “well, it’s not full-size” series. Honor Magic Earbuds with 10mm drivers provide sufficient sound quality, and even low frequencies are quite expressive. If you don’t find fault with it, you can even listen to the instrumental and have fun.
The inclusion of active noise cancellation slightly spoils the picture. The sound becomes slightly flatter, less expressive. Therefore, it is not worth using noise reduction when it is already quiet around.
If we evaluate Honor Magic Earbuds as a headset for conversations, we will put the new gadget at a maximum of 4 out of 5. The interlocutors usually do not tolerate extraneous noises and low volume levels for a short time and ask to switch to the phone. While this is a problem for all TWS, but some models do better with it.
Actually, the rather high (for Chinese TWS-headphones) cost is due precisely to the presence of noise reduction. And in that case, there is something to pay for: it perfectly dampens both the hum of cars and individual sounds. Plus, again, good passive insulation.
Honor Magic Earbuds: Autonomy
In music playback mode, Honor Magic Earbuds can work up to 3.5 hours (in our test, they lasted exactly 3 hours, the use of noise reduction affected). In this case, the battery in the case will be enough to recharge the “ears” 3 more times – a total of about 13 hours without connecting to an outlet.
Honor Magic Earbuds: Conclusion
There are still not so many in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. Especially in the budget up to $80.00. Magic Earbuds can compete, for example, Huawei Freebuds or Sony WF-1000X. Honor has a modern Bluetooth 5.0, a relatively good reserve of autonomy, and noise reduction for subjective sensations works better than both of these competitors. So the price is justified. Do you want cheaper? Try to find “plugs” without active noise canceling system.
