INTRODUCTION

    For far too many years, wireless headphones were the “easy” choice, not the audiophile one. They were built for convenience, quick pairing, fewer cables, lighter bags, but they rarely delivered the kind of fidelity that made you stop and really listen. That started to change when Hi‑Res Wireless technology entered the picture. Suddenly Bluetooth audio had the bandwidth, the codec support (LDAC for most), and the headroom it always lacked, giving manufacturers the freedom to tune for nuance instead of just efficiency. Edifier’s ES850NB arrives right in the middle of this shift, aiming to prove just how far everyday listening has come.

    Edifier specializes in premium sound systems that showcase technological innovation and design elegance, delivering outstanding audio experiences through a wide range of headphones, speakers, and music systems, for personal entertainment and professional excellence. Established in May 1996 in Beijing, Edifier is the brainchild of a small group of enterprising music lovers. Over the past 25 years, Edifier has been guided by the “passion for sound” principle, which helped the brand emerge as a world-class designer and manufacturer of award-winning sound systems. Today, Edifier serves audio lovers worldwide through its distributors in over 70 countries, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions.

    The Edifier ES850NB (currently available in black, brown, ivory and pink colors) come packed with a surprisingly deep feature set for their category, starting with Hi‑Res Audio and Hi‑Res Audio Wireless certification and a pair of 40mm dynamic stereo drivers using titanium‑coated composite diaphragms for clear highs, detailed mids, and solid low‑end performance (20-40kHz frequency response). Wireless quality is handled through LDAC and SBC codec support, while Bluetooth v5.4 and multipoint connectivity keep the connection stable and flexible across devices. Edifier’s upgraded hybrid ANC system can reduce ambient noise by up to -45 dB, complemented by over‑ear passive isolation for a more immersive experience. Battery life is another standout delivering up to 92 hours with ANC off, or around 53 hours with ANC on, making the ES850NB genuinely week‑long headphones for daily use. Comfort and practicality are also part of the package, with skin‑friendly leatherette cushions, a light 265g frame, foldable design, and an included travel case. Add in AI‑assisted call noise reduction, Touch‑to‑Chat, wired USB‑C audio support, and app integration through Edifier ConneX (Android) and TempoHub (iOS), and the ES850NB rounds out as a feature‑rich, modern wireless ANC headset built for everyday versatility.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The company and Hi-Res logos are placed at the front of the box right over a large product picture and the battery life further down.

A partial product picture is located at the rear of the box next to the main product features.

Typically, the entire bundle is placed inside a hard storage/carrying case.

Along with the ES850NB and their carrying case Edifier also bundles a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, statement of compliance, warranty information paper and the manual.

THE ES850NB

The 265g heavy ES850NB are primarily made by aluminum, plastic and leatherette.

In terms of size the ES850NB are small to medium ones.

The exterior of the earcups is also dressed with what seems to be leatherette.

At the rear end of the left earcup we find the microphone, USB-C port, and an activity LED.

The Bluetooth pairing, ANC/mode button and increase volume/next track, decrease volume/previous track and power on/off/play/pause/mute microphone/answer call/end call/make call buttons are placed at the front end.

The leatherette dressed earpads are good in size but certainly not large.

Both earcups can rotate and fold for easier storage (the headband can extend up to roughly 27mm on each side via 9 increments).

The headpad is also dressed with leatherette.

Edifier has bundled a hard storage/carrying case with the ES850NB with plenty of room for the entire bundle and more.

CONNEX APP

As with past Edifier products you should use the ConneX app for more and easier control over the ES850NB.

First tab displays remaining battery and allows the end user to adjust noise cancellation (5 modes), sound effects (4 modes) and sound modes (music, game and spatial).

From the top right of the initial tab, you can access the settings menu from where you can read the user manual, check connected devices, adjust touch area sensitivity, adjust the multi-function button, change the audio codec (again, 96kHz is not enabled by default), enable multi-point connectivity, find your headphones and adjust prompt audio volume.

Again, just like with past speakers and headphones by Edifier once you enable 96kHz the Hi-Res logo lights up in the main tab.

CONCLUSION

    The Edifier ES850NB may be a somewhat affordable wireless headset but it actually delivers on more than what I was hoping for. Music comes through clear, smooth, and pleasantly warm, the kind of tuning that works for almost anything you throw at it. Voices sound natural, instruments have space to breathe, and the bass has enough punch to feel satisfying without drowning everything else. It’s the sort of sound that feels instantly comfortable, no harsh highs, no muddy lows, just a clean, enjoyable balance that most people will appreciate right away. Combine that with strong noise cancelling, excellent battery life (with LDAC at 96kHz it does get reduced to less than 65/40 hours without and with ANC), and a design that stays comfortable even during long listening sessions, and the ES850NB feel like a very complete package. Yes, they’re far from perfect since both call quality and controls could be better, but for everyday listening, they deliver a level of sound quality and ease of use that fits their price extremely well.

    Right now, the ES850NB by Edifier retail for USD129.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 149.99Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) so they are priced well overall (you should also be able to find them for even less in local stores). At the end of the day the ES850NB weren’t designed by Edifier to impress, they were designed to deliver accurate audio reproduction and equally good ANC and since they deliver just that the Golden Award is in order.

PROS

- Good Build Quality (Aluminum/Lambskin/Top Grain Cowhide)
- Overall Audio Reproduction
- Hi Resolution Certified
- Multipoint Support
- Touch Controls
- Foldable / Rotatable Earcups
- Battery Life (Up To 92 Hours)
- Available In 4 Colors
- ConneX App

CONS

- Call Quality (Could Be Better)
- Controls (Could Be Better)
- 96kHz Not Enabled By Default