Overview

The Edifier WH950NB are wireless over-ear headphones aimed at the budget ANC segment. They feature 40 mm titanium-coated drivers, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, and a long 55-hour battery life (34 h with ANC; manufacturer spec) alongside hybrid active noise cancelling, Hi-Res Audio certification, multipoint, and app EQ [2].

Scientific Validity

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Independent measurements report notable frequency-response deviations: an enormous peak around 4.5 kHz that can make vocals sound forward or “shouty,” plus an additional treble peak near 8.5 kHz; the midrange dips after ~2 kHz accentuate these peaks [1]. On the noise-control side, measured passive isolation averages 23.15 dBA and ANC averages 28.41 dBA reduction (A-weighted per IEC 61672:2003), with >40 dB reduction at parts of the treble and strong low-frequency attenuation in High ANC mode [1]. Manufacturer battery specs (55 h; 34 h with ANC) are included for context [2].

Technology Level

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The WH950NB package standard mid-range tech: 40 mm dynamic drivers with conventional DSP/EQ, hybrid (feedforward/feedback) ANC, Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, and efficient power management for long runtime. It’s competent, but doesn’t push the state of the art in drive-unit design, acoustic architecture, or DSP beyond class norms.

Cost-Performance

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At 149 USD market price, there are cheaper models with equivalent or better user-visible features and solid measured performance. The Soundcore Space Q45 supports LDAC, offers a robust app with multi-level/adaptive ANC, and is widely reported to block noise effectively across the spectrum; manufacturer battery life with ANC is 50 h (vs 34 h for WH950NB) [3][4][5]. Current new-unit pricing as low as 99.99 USD is available from major retailers [3].

CP calculation: 99.99 USD ÷ 149 USD = 0.671… → 0.7.

(Equivalence note: LDAC + hybrid/adaptive ANC + app EQ; ANC effectiveness and battery life are comparable or better on Q45 per third-party testing and manufacturer specs [4][5].)

Reliability & Support

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Edifier provides a standard one-year warranty and routine firmware updates via the app. Long-term failure-rate data for this specific model isn’t broadly published. Support coverage and ecosystem feel typical for this price class.

Rationality of Design Philosophy

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While WH950NB’s feature set is modern (LDAC, multipoint, long battery), the measured FR peaks and irregular treble response work against transparent reproduction [1]. Emphasis appears placed on convenience and stamina over neutral tonality. The approach is practical, but not strongly aligned with measurement-driven fidelity goals.

Advice

Choose the WH950NB if you value very long battery life, LDAC, and strong ANC in a travel-friendly package. If value is paramount, the Soundcore Space Q45 delivers similar features—including LDAC—and longer ANC-on battery at a much lower price [3][4]. If you prioritize a more neutral tuning, plan to use EQ or consider models with flatter measured FR.

References

[1] HeadphonesAddict, “Edifier WH950NB Review – Overwhelmingly Feature-Rich”, accessed 2025-08-16. (FR commentary incl. ~4.5 kHz & 8.5 kHz peaks; passive isolation 23.15 dBA avg; ANC 28.41 dBA avg; A-weighted per IEC 61672)
https://headphonesaddict.com/edifier-wh950nb-review/

[2] Edifier USA, “WH950NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones” (official specs: 55 h battery, 34 h with ANC, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint), accessed 2025-08-16.
https://edifier-online.com/products/edifier-wh950nb-p

[3] Walmart (US), “Soundcore by Anker Space Q45 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Over Ear Headphones” (new-unit price listings as low as 99.99 USD), accessed 2025-08-16.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Soundcore-by-Anker-Space-Q45-Adaptive-Active-Noise-Cancelling-Headphones-Reduce-Noise-by-Up-to-98-50H-Playtime/1338916337

[4] Soundcore (official), “Buy Space Q45 – LDAC, Adaptive/Custom ANC, 50 h with ANC / 65 h off”, accessed 2025-08-16.
https://www.soundcore.com/products/space-q45-a3040011

[5] RTINGS, “Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless Headphones Review / Best Noise Cancelling Headphones (mid-range pick)”, accessed 2025-08-16.
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/anker/soundcore-space-q45-wireless
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/by-feature/noise-cancelling

(2025.8.16)